DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 226newsletter.maasmondmaritime.com/pdf/2008/226-30-08-2008.pdf · MOPUstor ENROUTE LOCATION By : Danny Spaans Above seen the

DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 226

Distribution : daily 4700 copies worldwide Page 1 8/29/2008

Number 226 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Saturday 30-08-2008 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles taken from various news sites.

The BG ROTTERDAM and RHEINTAL exchanging berths at APM terminal Rotterdam Photo : Herman Broers ©



CONTENTS EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

• Mexico prosecutes 'drug submarine' crew • MOPUstor ENROUTE LOCATION • Somali pirates a growing threat to shipping • FOOD POISONING ONBOARD STOLT SAPPHIRE • Maersk Contractors becomes Maersk Drilling and Maersk FPSOs • Natuurorganisaties tegen verdieping Westerschelde • Powerboat shows need for new lifeboat • Nordost- und Nordwestpassage in der Arktis erstmals beide eisfrei • Belgen baggeren voor fel omstreden megahaven in India • Hurricane Gustav stops production in the Gulf of Mexico • Stricken Portishead lifeboat is rescued • ‘Few used Japan ships in market’

CASUALTY REPORTING • Ship explosion kills 1, injures 19 in Vietnam • Noodlottig ongeval aan boord van veerboot

NAVY NEWS • General Dynamics delivers nuclear-powered attack submarine New Hampshire to U.S. Navy

ahead of schedule • Navy may have to make do with low-tech supply ships • Russian nuclear sub tested

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES • Bourbon posts earnings for 1st Half 2008 • Hutchison-led consortium wins Thessaloniki Port's cargo terminal tender • Greek Thessaloniki Port H1 net sinks 34% on strike • Maersk orders 4 VLCC's from South Korea's STX • DP World increases net profit to US$287 million in H1 • 'K'Line launches Amazon feeder service • Grand Alliance adds Valencia to Med-Asia route • Tall Ship "TENACIOUS" visits Scheveningen • AMORAS PROJECT AWARDED • Mols-Linien in free fall • MPL MERGES WITH MINNOW MARINE SERVICE • Wärtsilä’s acquisition of Vik-Sandvik closed • Hurtigruten doubles fuel surcharge • MARAD's Now Rapid Pace of Ship Disposal Evokes Nostalgia at MarEx • EERLAND 4 DEPARTED FROM ROTTERDAM • Schat-Harding launches new freefall lifeboat • Great Offshore subsidiary acquires high-end tug vessel • Legal action against Finnlines • Bay's ferry service trial begins • Bulgaria, Japan sign loan for new container terminals • DFDS to lengthen three ro-ro vessels • EVERGREEN SEES POOR SECOND QUARTER • RI wins port crane repair contract • Fire in Novorossiysk Port • Seanergy Announces Acquisition of Its First Three Dry Bulk Vessels • New deep-sea port for Murmansk • Tailwind Financial to buy 20 ships from Hellas’ GrandUnion



EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

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The KOTA NAGA seen in Cape Town - Photo : Aad Noorland ©



Mexico prosecutes 'drug submarine' crew Mexican prosecutors say they have filed drug and organized crime charges against the four-member crew of a semi-submersible craft found packed with cocaine in July. The attorney general's office said Wednesday the four Colombian men were taken to a prison in the northern state of Tamaulipas to await trial. The 10-meter (yard) covered craft was carrying nearly 6 tons of cocaine when it was intercepted by Mexican Navy personnel on July 16. The suspects claim to be fishermen forced by drug cartels to move the cargo from the Colombian port of Buenaventura. Semi-submersibles are used by Colombian traffickers to move drugs. The craft can ride just beneath the waves using breathing tubes, but cannot dive as true submarines do. Source : KGBT4

MOPUstor ENROUTE LOCATION By : Danny Spaans

Above seen the tow-out of the MOPUstor substructure in Norway which is being performed by SMIT.

As can be seen on the photo the substructure is towed by 2 anchor handling tugs (FAR Scout 190 ton BP and Skandi Giant 200 ton BP) and is assisted throughout the narrow passage of the fjord near Olen by the harbour tugs Stadt Master and SILEX.

The picture was taken just after the actual tow-out from the Westcon yard commenced on the 28th of August at around 15:00 hrs, after which the configuration slowly proceeded towards the first narrow passage in the fjord. Final destination of the substructure will be the Yme field (Talisman) where she will be installed by SMIT Marine Projects. The ballasting and subsequent installation will be performed by a custom built multi million dollar "Mechanical Equipment Module (MEM)" which allows the operators of SMIT on the Installation Vessel to control and monitor the substructure in any possible way. Furthermore, (back-up) assistance of 3 ROV's onboard the Installation Vessel Polar Prince is available and on standby in order to deploy 2 ROV's at once. With the current weather forecast in hand it has been decided to proceed towards the field immediately with an average speed of about 3 kn giving an ETA on the 31st of August. Upon arrival in the field and weather permitting the substructure will be accompanied by 2 other anchor handling tugs (the newbuilt FAR Sapphire and the Skandi



Mogster). They will be connected to the remaining free corners of the substructure after which all 4 vessels will connect their bows to the pre-laid moorings, which have already been installed in a star pattern by the FAR Sapphire.

From this moment it should take approximately 12 days to ballast the substructure 93m down to the seabed, subsequently obtain full skirt penetration by suctioning, perform skirt grouting and finalise the installation. The demobilisation of the equipment and personnel is planned to be performed in Stavanger soon after that.

Somali pirates a growing threat to shipping Rapidly spreading lawlessness as Somalia collapses in the worst fighting for two nearly decades is fuelling a wave of piracy that increasingly threatens one of the world's most important waterways. Although shipping costs have not been affected so far, it is forcing Western navies to take action to protect shipping. Some suspect that ransom payments to pirates could be helping Islamist insurgents fight the weak interim government. The piracy is also hampering aid shipments to Somalia and thereby worsening a humanitarian crisis that encourages the anarchy. Heavily-armed pirates from Somalia have hijacked at least 30 ships so far this year in the Gulf of Aden -- last week seizing a record four vessels in 48 hours. "All the shipping companies are taking this very seriously and are very concerned. This is an unprecedented rise in attacks," said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the International Maritime Bureau, a global piracy watchdog. The waters between Somalia and Yemen are a major artery used by nearly 20,000 vessels a year heading to and from the Suez Canal. The 700 million tonnes passing through the canal in 2007 was over 9 percent of an estimated 7.7 billion tonnes carried by global shipping. Merchant shipping carries more than 90 percent of the world's traded goods by volume. In May, the advisory Joint War Committee of Lloyd's Market Association designated the strategic channel at high risk of "war, strikes, terrorism and related perils". "But it's just a recommendation, and some underwriters may not follow it for their very important clients," Mukundan told Reuters. "Costs have not gone up. Of course, if you are hijacked they go up quite significantly. But there is no contingent cost to piracy." Somali pirates are currently holding about 130 crew members hostage on at least seven vessels, including huge chemical tankers and bulk-carriers. Gunmen are holding vessels from Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Nigeria, Germany and Iran. REBELS BEHIND ATTACKS? Attacks at sea have boomed as lawlessness increased in Somalia, where there has not been a working government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Since the start of last year, more than 8,000 civilians have been killed in fighting between allied Somali government and Ethiopian soldiers and Islamist rebels. Another 1 million have been driven from their homes. There are many theories about who exactly is behind the latest spate of hijackings. Most captured ships bring ransoms of more than $10,000, and in a few cases much more. Some security experts say there are signs insurgents may receive some of the ransoms and use them to fund attacks on the government. Last week, the rebels seized the key southern port of Kismayu. The United States says they have links to al Qaeda. Other experts point to ties forged between Somali pirates, most of whom are based in the northern Puntland region, and criminal networks in Yemen during years of people-smuggling. The Islamists deny masterminding the recent attacks at sea, and other analysts say the insurgents get most of their money from wealthy Somalis abroad, as well as backers in Arab nations.



Analysts say some members of the interim government, many of whom are former warlords, may also profit from piracy. All agree that the inability of Puntland's administration to crush organised crime has fed the chaos offshore. When the mineral-rich region declared itself semi-autonomous in 1998, it hoped to provide a model for a future, stable Somalia -- clan-based federal governance with free elections and an effective parliament. "Now we are seeing Puntland essentially breaking down as an entity," said Rashid Abdi, Somalia expert at the International Crisis Group thinktank. "You're seeing a gradual takeover of the state by criminal gangs." COALITION TASK FORCE Puntland officials have been powerless in the face of sophisticated pirates equipped with speed boats and heavy weapons. Onshore, the authorities have also failed to stop money counterfeiters and kidnapping gangs. That has created a climate where the pirates' new homes, lavish weddings and flashy cars attract more and more young men desperate for work in the one of the poorest countries on Earth. Locals say recruitment is also fed by resentment at European fishing fleets harvesting tuna from Somali waters, and what they say is regular dumping of toxic waste on their shores. "The problem of piracy has to be looked at in the broader context of the failure of Puntland," the ICG's Abdi said. "It cannot be dealt with separately" The insecurity has also put a choke on the ability of the United Nations to get food aid to the fast-growing numbers of needy. That figure has leapt 77 percent this year to more than 3.2 million -- more than a third of Somalia's population. Canadian naval ships are escorting World Food Programme shipments to Mogadishu until September, and U.N. officials say it is hoped that French and then German forces will take over. Further north in the Gulf of Aden, the recent attacks have also stung the anti-terrorist Combined Task Force 150 into action. The multinational unit, part of Washington's Operation Enduring Freedom, is based in neighbouring Djibouti and has come to the aid of many ships attacked by pirates. This week, it announced a string of waypoints marking a Maritime Security Patrol Area or safe corridor, which navy warships will patrol while coalition aircraft fly overhead.

FOOD POISONING ONBOARD STOLT SAPPHIRE

Stolt Tankers B.V., managers/owners of M/T Stolt Sapphire, report that 23 of the 35 crew members on the ship have been reported sick with apparent food poisoning. They are currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Stolt Sapphire was en route from Richards Bay, South Africa to Freeport, Texas, USA. The vessel is now safely anchored at Ponce. Stolt Tankers has been working closely with the United States Coast Guard, Puerto Rico health officials and the ship’s flag state to resolve this issue. This incident is not related to cargoes on board. The ship is safely at anchor and at no risk and is being monitored by the remaining officers and crew with additional support from USCG. Replacement officers and crew are being dispatched to the ship, after which the voyage will resume. The health and well being of our officers and crew are of prime concern and all steps are being taken to ensure proper care and attention is being provided. Source : STOLT Tankers



The HAPPY RANGER seen in Rio Grande (Brazil) Photo : Marcelo Vieira ©

Maersk Contractors becomes Maersk Drilling and Maersk FPSOs

Effective from August 28, Maersk Contractors, Denmark, will launch its activities under two separate trade names. Maersk Drilling is re-introduced to cover all drilling activities across the globe and a new trade name, Maersk FPSOs is established to encompass all floating production, storage and offloading activities. By operating the two business areas under separate and self-explanatory trade names each activity now has a clear and logical identity and can focus on their individual core competencies. “We are changing the name to strengthen our profile, but our ownership and the people taking care of our business will go on unaffected”, said CEO Claus V Hemmingsen. Mr Hemmingsen will be responsible for both business units. In Maersk Drilling, Paul Carsten Pedersen will continue as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and Deputy. The name of the Chief Commercial Officer for Maersk FPSOs will be announced shortly and until then, Paul Carsten Pedersen will remain CCO also for this area. For the offices around the world, the parent company will change name from Maersk Contractors to Maersk Drilling. Maersk FPSOs will be established either as a division of this company or as a separate entity subject to the most beneficial local set-up. Source : Baird online

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Natuurorganisaties tegen verdieping Westerschelde

De Westerschelde mag nog niet worden verdiept. Dat zeggen verschillende natuurorganisaties vrijdag. De Zeeuwse Milieu Federatie, Stichting Het Zeeuwse Landschap en Natuurmonumenten tekenen daarom beroep aan tegen de verdieping van de Westerschelde, die dit najaar zou beginnen. De natuurorganisaties vinden dat er eerst duidelijkheid moet zijn over de natuurcompensatie. Nederland en België spraken in 2005 af dat de Westerschelde zou worden verdiept, waardoor meer en grotere schepen de haven van Antwerpen kunnen bereiken. In deze Scheldeverdragen was met natuurorganisaties afgesproken dat de natuur daarvoor zou worden gecompenseerd. In eerste instantie was het plan om in Zeeland 600 hectare landbouwgrond te ontpolderen, maar daarop ontstond veel commotie. Een andere oplossing is nog altijd niet gevonden. Desondanks willen Nederland en Vlaanderen dit jaar al beginnen met de verdieping, maar volgens Marten Hemminga van Het Zeeuwse Landschap zorgt dat voor onoverkomelijke problemen voor de natuur in de Westerschelde. ,,Er moet eerst overeenstemming zijn over de te nemen maatregelen, voor de Westerschelde kan worden verdiept. Er was een afspraak dat in 2007 zou worden begonnen met natuurherstel, maar hoe dat moet gebeuren is nu nog een slepende discussie.'' Volgens de organisaties is de Westerschelde nu nog niet bestand tegen een verdieping, maar moet eerst een begin zijn gemaakt met het herstel. Daardoor wordt de rivier robuuster en kan het de klap van de verdieping beter opvangen. Bij schade valt te denken aan morfologische veranderingen in de Westerschelde, waarbij platen hoger en steiler worden. Daarmee ontstaat volgens Hemminga minder ruimte voor planten en dieren.

Powerboat shows need for new lifeboat VISITORS flocked to an action packed open day held by the RNLI at Exmouth Marina. The event gave the public a chance to view Exmouth's new offshore lifeboat, which is normally moored in the Exe Estuary. In an ideal demonstration for the need for an offshore lifeboat, the day suddenly got more interesting when the crew were called out to a powerboat, which had broken down on Saturday afternoon. Tim Mock, the coxswain mechanic, said: "We had a good stream of visitors throughout the day. "It's good for the public to see what we do.”The open day had planned to run between 10am and 4pm but we were called out at about 12.30pm. We're very much in need of this lifeboat, Exmouth is a very busy station," he said. The inshore lifeboat was also on show with an accompanying stall, which raised money for the RNLI.

Nordost- und Nordwestpassage in der Arktis erstmals beide eisfrei

Die Nordost- und Nordwestpassage in der Arktis sind erstmals beide zugleich eisfrei und für Schiffe befahrbar. Das geht aus aktuellen Satellitenfotos hervor, wie Prof. Rüdiger Gerdes vom Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI) am Freitag in Bremerhaven sagte. Der Forschungseisbrecher "Polarstern" habe bereits vergangene Woche die Nordwestpassage durchfahren und steuere derzeit auf die Nordostpassage zu. "Dies könnten jetzt sogar normale Schiffe, die nicht verstärkt sind", sagte Gerdes. Nach seiner Kenntnis nutzen Reedereien die neuen Seewege aber noch nicht für Handelsschiffe: Es fehle derzeit an langfristigen und regelmäßigen Vorhersagemodellen für die Region. Das Arktis-Eis ist in diesem Sommer rekordverdächtig geschmolzen. Gerdes zufolge ist nicht mehr auszuschließen, dass der niedrigste je gemessenen Wert der Eisausdehnung aus dem Jahr 2007 noch unterboten wird. Das Minimum trete erst Mitte bis Ende September ein, und die Eismasse nehme nach wie vor sehr schnell ab. 2005 waren im Nordpolarmeer noch 5,7 Millionen Quadratkilometer mit Eis bedeckt, 2007 waren es 4,28 Millionen. In den 90er Jahren lag der Wert fast doppelt so hoch.



Belgen baggeren voor fel omstreden megahaven in India

In India groeit het verzet tegen de activiteiten van het Belgische bedrijf Dredging International, dat momenteel baggerwerken uitvoert voor een nieuwe haven in Dhamra. Milieuverenigingen vrezen dat de haven het milieu en de belangrijkste legplaats van de bedreigde warandaschildpad zal verstoren. De Dhamra Port Company Limited (DPCL) is een joint venture tussen de Indiase gigant Tata Steel en het eveneens Indiase ingenieursbedrijf Larsen & Toubro. De haven komt in de staat Orissa aan de oostkust van India en moet vooral de staal- en aluminiumindustrie in het binnenland bedienen. Met achttien meter diepgang wordt het de diepste haven van India. Er zijn dertien ankerplaatsen voorzien voor supercontainerschepen met een capaciteit tot 180.000 ton. In India groeit echter het verzet tegen de aanleg van de megahaven. Niet enkel van lokale inwoners die vrezen hun gronden te verliezen zonder voldoende compensatie, maar ook van milieuorganisaties die waarschuwen voor de ecologische gevolgen van het project. De haven is immers amper vijf kilometer verwijderd van twee natuurreservaten en zou er in de oorspronkelijke plannen zelfs deel van hebben uitgemaakt. Maar nog zorgwekkender is de nabijheid van een keten van stranden die levensbelangrijk zijn voor de beschermde waranaschildpad. De stranden, waar de schildpadden elk jaar hun eieren komen leggen, liggen op amper vijftien kilometer van de havenwerken. Het dier heeft in India dezelfde “Schedule 1”-status van bedreigde diersoort als bijvoorbeeld de tijger. “De haven zou een ecologische blunder zijn”, aldus Sanjiv Gopal van Greenpeace India in de Britse krant The Independent. “Uit een snel biodiversiteitonderzoek bleek dat er in het gebied naast de warandaschildpad ook zeldzame krabetende kikkers en mangroveslangen voorkomen. Die resultaten tonen aan dat het project stilgelegd moet worden tot er een omvangrijk en objectief milieueffectenonderzoek gedaan is.” Bij Dredging International zijn ze zich van geen kwaad bewust. “De milieu-impact van de haven is onderzocht”, zegt communicatiedirecteur Hubert Fiers. “Mocht er een zware invloed gevonden zijn op het milieu en de omgeving, dan zouden wij nooit met de baggerwerken gestart zijn.” Bron : Gazette van Antwerpen

Hurricane Gustav stops production in the Gulf of Mexico

SSG-GÖTEBORG. The tropical storm Gustav is expected to increase in strenght when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. The port in Louisiana – the only deep water port in USA, normally receiving 1 million barrels of crude oil per day – is expected to close during the weekend. Energy companies in the area have stopped their production and ordered employees on rigs to evacuate. If Gustav causes as much damage as previous hurricanes, members of the International Energy Agency say that they are prepared to use their strategic oil reserves.

Stricken Portishead lifeboat is rescued A Portishead lifeboat crew on a training exercise in the Bristol Channel had to be rescued themselves. Two crewmen and a trainee were on the boat just off the coast of Clevedon at about 8.25pm yesterday when the vessel hit something in the water. It is understood that the boat, which the independent Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat Trust bought three years ago at a cost of £40,000, was badly damaged. Crew on the boat had to radio the coastguard in Swansea for help.



They came to the rescue and were towing the stricken boat and its crew back to the trust boathouse at Sugar Loaf Bay by 10pm. Members of the lifeboat trust waited at the boathouse for the boat, a 6.5-metre rib, and its crew to return. No one was injured. Trust chairman Colin Wilson said: "The crew was out on a regular training exercise when it hit something. We do not know what it was but we think it may have been a large tree." The boat is likely to be out of water for at least a couple of weeks while the damage is assessed. Crews have launched the boat into the channel 232 times since the trust's formation 12 years ago. Source : This is Bristol

‘Few used Japan ships in market’ THE difficulty of buying second hand cargo vessels from Japan due to stiff competition from other countries is the reason why local shipping companies can't augment the present load capacity of ships plying the Manila-Cebu route. “Even if we like to help or invest in another vessel to augment the present load situation, there are a few second hand ships that are sold from Japan,” said Chester Cokaliong, president and general manager of Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc. Cokaliong, president of Visayan Association of Ferryboats and Coastwise Service Operators, said 95 percent of the shipping companies buy vessels from Japan. “Our engineers are familiar with the engine in Japanese ships. Spare parts are also easy to order (because we are from the same region),” he said. But it is not only Philippines that buys second-hand vessels from Japan. Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are among the countries closest competitors in buying ships from Japan. Even European countries such as Greece buy ships from Japan, said Cokaliong. “Way before the Sulpicio incident happened, we were already experiencing shortage of cargo vessels. Generally, it is hard to obtain replacement vessels (for old ships) or new vessels if we want to expand operations,” he said. Cokaliong said the company was just lucky last year when they bought MV Filipinas Cebu (from Japan), which is currently classified by Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) as the youngest roll in, roll off vessel in the country. “We cannot just buy new vessels or have them built because that is too costly. How about our ROI (return of investments)?” he told . “We have to find the right vessel. If we find it, we have to undergo bidding process so it's really hard to look for ships,” Cokaliong added. With the recommendation of the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) to suspend the certificate of public convenience, Cokaliong said more shortage of food products should be expected. “It’s a basic law of supply and demand. Less products but more demand so prices will increase and it will not just be one item. This is going to be bad for the general public.” Meanwhile, Clarito Fruelda, vice president for external affairs of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), described the BMI recommendation as a “discouraging development.” “I thought the suspension has been lifted and allow both cargo and passenger vessels to sail so that cargoes will transported but now it seems that the board is singing a different tune,” said Fruelda. Fruelda, who owns a logistics company, said he is “surprised” and felt “awkward” about the BMI recommendation. Source : Cebu Daily News



CASUALTY REPORTING

Tel: +31 115 645000 - www.multraship.comShip explosion kills 1, injures 19 in Vietnam A ship exploded when exploiting metal scraps in Vietnam's sea waters, killing one local man and injuring 19 others, local newspaper Young People reported Thursday. The ship owned by Le Van Cu from Ninh Phuoc district, southern Ninh Thuan province, exploded on Wednesday some 17 km off the NinhPhuoc coast, making itself and a nearby ship sink. Some fishing ships brought all the victims, including eight seriously injured people onshore. Local relevant agencies are probing into the cause of the accident, the newspaper said. Source: news.xinhuanet

Noodlottig ongeval aan boord van veerboot Woensdagmiddag rond kwart over drie is aan boord van een veerboot van rederij Cobelfret een medewerker van die rederij omgekomen bij een ongeval. De man kwam klem te zitten tussen twee vrachtwagens en overleed ter plaatse aan zijn verwondingen. Brandweer en ambulance rukten met diverse voertuigen uit naar het schip, dat lag aangemeerd aan de terminal aan de Merseyweg. Helaas kwam alle hulp te laat. De medewerker assisteerde de vrachtwagens die aan boord rijden voor de overtocht naar Engeland. Toen een vrachtauto het schip op reed zag de chauffeur de ferry-medewerker niet, waardoor hij klem kwam te zitten tussen de truck en een vrachtwagen die al aan boord geparkeerd stond. De arbeidsinspectie gaat onderzoeken hoe het ongeval op het zogenaamde Ro-Ro (roll-on - roll off) schip exact heeft kunnen plaatsvinden. Bron : Blik op het Nieuws

NAVY NEWS General Dynamics delivers nuclear-powered attack submarine

New Hampshire to U.S. Navy ahead of schedule General Dynamics Electric Boat, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics on Thursday said it delivered the New Hampshire, an advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine, to the U.S. Navy eight months ahead of schedule. The company noted that Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding have received contracts to build the first 10 submarines of a planned 30-ship Virginia Class under a teaming agreement that splits the construction workload between the two shipyards.

www.tos.nl TOS Rotterdam (+31)10 – 436 62 93 E-Mail [email protected]



Navy may have to make do with low-tech supply ships

Conventional vessels may take place of scrapped $2.9-billion program

The Canadian Forces are considering buying two fuel tankers and a transport ship after plans to purchase a fleet of new multi-role resupply vessels ran aground. The plan -- if it proceeds -- would signal a back-to-basics direction for the navy and the acquisition could be done within the $2.9-billion budget that the Defence Department has set aside for new resupply ships, defence and industry officials said privately. The navy was to have purchased three Joint Support Ships capable of refuelling and resupplying warships at sea, as well as being outfitted with a headquarters and hospital. Those new ships were also to have transported army vehicles and a variety of other equipment. There is no similar type of ship like it in the world, as most navies use two types of vessels to do the two distinct roles. But last week the Harper government shut down the process to purchase the ships, noting that the consortiums bidding on the program could not build the vessels within the allotted budget. Ken Bowering, an official with the Navy League of Canada, said it is critical the navy be allowed to replace HMCS Preserver and Protecteur, the two vessels now used to resupply warships at sea. Without such ships, the navy could not operate far from Canadian waters. Bowering said Preserver and Protecteur are 40 years old and rely on an obsolete steam propulsion system. He echoed comments from defence insiders that the navy is looking at various options in light of the announcement on the cancellation of the joint support ship procurement process. "They may have a scaled-down requirement as it is," said Bowering. "It may not be a joint support ship. They may revert to replacing the tankers." Defence Department officials did not respond to a request for comment. Last week's announcement has also fuelled concern in the defence industry that the Harper government will change existing federal policy that ensures government ships be built in Canada. Some in government would like to see such vessels constructed overseas to save money. But an official in Paradis's office noted that the government is committed to building ships in Canada. However, the St. John's Telegram newspaper quoted Newfoundland and Labrador's business minister Paul Oram as stating he was told last month by federal Industry Minister Jim Prentice the Harper government was looking to build the joint support ships offshore. Source : Times Colonist

Russian nuclear sub tested The nuclear submarine ”Dmitrii Donskoy” has undergone successful testing at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast. The vessel, an upgraded Typhoon submarine, is now ready for the installation of state of the art Russian missile systems, the plant informs. The “Dmitrii Donskoy” was put on the water after a period of significant upgrades in 2002. After that, the vessel has on several occasions been tested with new Russian technology in the White Sea, the Sevmash yard informs in a press release. '



The upgrades will make the submarine able to handle the latest Russian missile technology, otherwise developed for the new generation of subs. More than 170 men are currently working with the “Dmitrii Donskoy”, hundred of them employees at the Sevmash plant and 70 from other involved companies. The Sevmash is also constructing the submarine “Yuri Dolgorukii”, the first fourth-generation Russian sub.

SHIPYARD NEWS

The newbuilding tug PETER seen during bollard pull tests in Rotterdam-Caland canal Photo : Ruud Zegwaard ©

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

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Bourbon posts earnings for 1st Half 2008 Bourbon performed extremely well in the first half of the year. The Offshore Division was up, the Bulk Division was highly profitable and the investment program proceeded as planned. Gross operating income (EBITDA) remains high on a comparable basis despite a 15% depreciation of the dollar. Overall, BOURBON posted an excellent return on capital employed of 17.3% (excluding installments on vessels under construction) which reflects the optimization of vessel acquisition prices. explained Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BOURBON. In the first half of 2008 the Offshore Division experienced strong organic growth, particularly in the "Subsea Services" activity, which accounts for 20% of the total for the Division. The Bulk Division posted an exceptional performance in a market that remains highly buoyant. Revenues rose by 31% at constant exchange rate to 433.6 million euros, +16.9% at current exchange rate. Gross operating income (EBITDA) amounted to 138.1 million euros, in line with the same period in 2007 despite a depreciation of 15% of the US dollar. This includes 6.3 million euros in capital gains from vessel disposals compared with 11.7 million euros in the first half of 2007. Operating income amounted to 90.4 million euros compared with 93.7 million euros in the first half of 2007. Net income (group share) amounted to 78.2 million euros, compared with 99.3 million euros in the first half of 2007. On that date, net income included a capital gain of 21 million euros from the disposal of part of the sugar activity in Vietnam. The ratio of "EBITDA to average capital employed excluding installments” amounted to 17.3%, very close to the objective of 18% expected for the year 2012. Taking into account the 765 million euros in installments on vessels on order and the 250 million euros in future asset disposals, BOURBON had a net operating debt of 175 million euros as of June 30, 2008, emphasizing the group’s sound position. Hence investments are funded, the financial risks associated with current business are low, and BOURBON is generating high EBITDA on a recurring basis. The Offshore Division posted revenues of 285 million euros, up 23.1% over the first half of 2007 (36.1% at constant exchange rate). This growth was driven mainly by sustained organic growth in a buoyant market, particularly in Africa and Asia; the strong increase in external charters and the build-up of the "Subsea Services" activity. Starting in 2009, results will be broken down by "Marine Services" and "Subsea Services" activities and will meet the new IFRS 8 standard. Gross operating income before capital gains from vessel sales was stable at 94 million euros. The capital gain from vessel sales totaled 6.3 million euros compared with 11.7 million euros for the first half of 2007. During this half year, BOURBON complied with the delivery schedule set out in the Horizon 2012 strategy, with the delivery and commissioning of 10 supply vessels, including 1 dedicated to IMR (Inspection, Maintenance and Repair). The margin rate (EBITDA before capital gains on revenues) amounted to 33%, down by 7.4 points from the first half of 2007 owing to the following: The 15% decline in the average price of the dollar, The nearly threefold increase in revenues with external chartered vessels, which generate less profit, The increase in personnel and maintenance costs, as well as current expenditure designed to guarantee future growth. Operating income amounted to 52.8 million euros, down 21.5% from the first half of 2007, reflecting increased depreciation figures corresponding to the build-up of the fleet. BULK DIVISION The Bulk Division posted revenues of 133.4 million euros in the first half of 2008, up 13.6% at current exchange rate and 30.8% at constant exchange rate compared with the same period in 2007. This activity reaped the benefits of a market that remained extremely buoyant, with Baltic Supramax Index rates of USD 55,292/d compared with 36,450 in the first half of 2007 and 58,603 in the second half of 2007. Gross operating income amounted to 38.8 million euros, up 30.1% over the first half of 2007. Operating income totaled 37.1 million euros, up 38.5% over 2007. OUTLOOK



BOURBON’s activity in the second half will continue in line with the Horizon 2012 plan. The Offshore Division will be boosted by the commissioning of 32 new vessels and by the renewal of contracts in a still buoyant offshore market. The Bulk Division’s results will include a $40.6 million capital gain following the July sale of the Supramax Fructidor bulk carrier and the Division will take delivery of two new vessels in January 2009. BSI rates are expected to remain at a high level, albeit lower than levels in the first half. The disposal of the shares held in the Rigdon companies in early July will yield a capital gain of 58.2 million euros and will have a positive effect of some 170 million euros on BOURBON’s indebtedness. Finally, BOURBON’s financial results will continue to be influenced by the euro-dollar exchange rate. Source: bourbon-offshore.no

The MCT MONTE ROSA seen in Rio Grande Photo : Marcelo Vieira ©

Hutchison-led consortium wins Thessaloniki Port's cargo terminal tender

The Thessaloniki Port Authority on Tuesday announced that the consortium Hutchison Port Holding Ltd-Hutchison Port Investments Sarl-Alapis SA-Lyd SA was declared the provisional winner of a tender to award management of the port’s cargo terminal. The consortium had offered the higher price for the cargo terminal, 419.5 million euros in current value, while it pledged to invest another 490 million euros (in current value) to expand the port’s No. 6 pier and to boost the cargo terminal’s capacity. Speaking to ANA-MPA, the port authority's chief executive, Yiannis Tsaras, said the next step in the process would be the start of small procedural negotiations with the winning consortium - expected to last around 30 days. The contract with the provisional winner is expected to be signed by the end of September or early October and then to be ratified by Parliament. Tsaras said the consortium was expected to take over the management of the terminal in early 2009. Meanwhile, a union representing port workers continued protesting against the Organisation’s decision to tender the cargo terminal, warning of strikes in the next few days. Conversely, SBBE, the Federation of Northern Greece Industries, in a statement, praised the port’s decision and said results of the tender created favourable conditions to boost transit cargo and business activities in Thessaloniki, the country's second largest port. Source: emportal.co.yu



Greek Thessaloniki Port H1 net sinks 34% on strike

Greece's Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTH) said on Thursday that first-half net profit dropped 34 percent due to strike action which led to reduced revenues. Net profit at Greece's second-largest container port slipped to 4.3 million euros ($6.36 million) from 6.6 million in the same period last year, while sales fell 16 percent to 26.6 million euros, the company said in a statement. "The drop is mostly attributed to the strikes through the first half of the year, that led to a decline in container traffic as companies diverted some of their business to ports other than Thessaloniki," the company said. OLTH, which is 74 percent state-owned, said annual financial results are expected to be further affected by the strikes by dockers, who oppose the government's privatisation of the port's container business. In July, Hutchison Port and Greek pharmaceutical Alapis were named the preferred bidder in a tender to update and run the port's cargo facilities for up to 35 years. OLTH shares have lost about 13 percent since the start of the year, outperforming the Athens stock market general index which is down about 37 percent. Its shares trade at about 20 times estimated 2008 earnings, compared to a multiple of about 13 for the pan-European sector of marine ports, according to Reuters Estimates. Source: reuters.com

Maersk orders 4 VLCC's from South Korea's STX

Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday it had placed an order for four very large crude oil carriers from South Korea's STX Shipbuilding and had an option for two more ships. "We are in place with the transaction and the contract will signed next week," Maersk Tankers director Soren Skou told Reuters. Skou did not disclose the value of the deal. Source: reuters.com



The STAR PRINCESS moored in Juneau (Alaska) Photo : Marc Hennes ©

DP World increases net profit to US$287 million in H1

Dubai-based port operator DP World posted on Thursday a 123 percent increase in net profits in the first half of 2008, which hit 287 million dollars, despite a global economic slowdown. The world's fourth-largest container port operator said its revenues grew by 32 percent to 1,598 million dollars, compared to the corresponding period last year. "The business has performed very well in the first half of 2008 despite a deteriorating global financial and economic background, and these uncertainties remain," DP World chief executive officer Mohammed Sharaf said in a statement. "In the last few months the industry has reported early indications of weakening growth in some markets," he said, but insisted that DP world has "continued to perform ahead of the market." Sharaf also told reporters that there was a slowdown in the whole industry in the markets of South Asia and China, while the Middle East and Africa continue to see stronger growth. DP World operates 45 terminals, in addition to 13 new developments in the pipeline, across 29 countries. Its throughput of containers in the first half of 2008 increased 21 percent to 13.6 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units), the statement said. The Dubai government-controlled DP World became one of the world's top container port operators after its 6.9-billion-dollar acquisition of Britain's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co two years ago. But the company had to relinquish the US part of that acquisition following fierce congressional opposition to the deal on security grounds despite the support of President George W. Bush. Source: afp.com

'K'Line launches Amazon feeder service



Japan's 'K' Line is launching a feeder service between the US East Coast and Brazil's Amazon region from October. The service will be jointly operated with US partner Bringer Lines and will be served by two 500 teu vessels on bi-weekly basis. The service will run between Savannah, Port Everglades, Manaus and Vila do Conde. Source: http : mglobal.com

Tall Ship "TENACIOUS" visits Scheveningen

Photo : Koos de Jong ©

The TENACIOUS was built and constructed by the Jubilee Sailing Trust at their own Jubilee Yard. She was built by a team of professional shipwrights and volunteers of mixed ability bringing the JST ethos of integration ashore. She is

the largest wooden tall ship of her kind to be built in the UK in the last 100 years and her Maiden Voyage was 1 September 2000. Since then she has taken over 5,760 people to sea, of these over 2,210 have been physically

disabled. Since commencing voyages in 2000 TENACIOUS has sailed 112,916 miles.

More at : www.jst.org.uk



AMORAS PROJECT AWARDED IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, BUILD AND OPERATE CONTRACT ‘AMORAS’ FOR THE PORT OF

ANTWERP AWARDED TO THE JOINT VENTURE SeReAnt (Dredging International, DEC, Jan De Nul, Envisan,)

Today an important assignment for the design, construction and exploitation of a silt treatment and storage system in the port of Antwerp – the AMORAS project – has been awarded to Dredging International and Jan De Nul, supported by their respective environmental subsidiaries DEC (DEME Environmental Contractors) and Envisan. This group of specialised contractors has joined forces within the joint venture company SeReAnt. The contract calls for a design and construction period of 30 months, followed by the exploitation of the installations for a period of 15 years. The entire operation represents a total turnover of 400 million Euro, excl. VAT. Guaranteeing sufficient draught to shipping traffic is an essential condition for the Port of Antwerp to prosper now and in the future. In order to do so, the Antwerp Port Authorities need to dredge and store large volumes of siltation material on annual basis. However, the available deposit areas for dredged spoil are insufficient. The Flemish Government, therefore, has decided to build a mechanical silt dewatering plant in the port area as a lasting and innovative solution for the treatment and storage of dredged spoil. This ambitious project has been given the name AMORAS.

The acronym A.M.O.R.A.S. stands for “Antwerpse Mechanische Ontwatering, Recyclage en Applicatie van Slib” (Antwerp Mechanical Dewatering, Recycling and Application of Silt). The project shall provide a permanent solution for recycling and storage of dredged sediments in the port of Antwerp. AMORAS will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 will cover detailed engineering and construction of the dewatering plant and will be executed in a period of 30 months. In phase 2 the actual exploitation of the plant will start for a period of 15 years. Calculated in ‘dry material’ some 500,000 tonnes will have to be treated and storage on annual basis.



The partners taking part in the SeReAnt joint venture company have extensive and specialised experience with all distinctive aspects of the AMORAS project, such as the exploitation of various silt treatment centres, dredging and transport of dredged spoil, desanding and mechanical dewatering including storage of dredged spoil. Moreover, these companies can count upon a substantial in-house diversified environmental expertise. In terms of sustainability the proposed silt dewatering installation meets all contemporary ecological demands, pursuing maximum efficiency of used energy in every phase of the process applied. Moreover, the plant has a reliable and user-friendly design as a result of far-reaching automation, in-depth control systems and optimal use of available capacity, allowing SeReAnt to guarantee a very long life cycle for the AMORAS project. For the DEME Group the award of this contract has a high strategic value, since it confirms the pioneering and innovative status of DEME’s environmental specialists on European level. It constitutes the fifth long-term contract for environmental treatment and remediation on European level, obtained by DEC in only a couple of years. The other contracts cover the remediation of acid tar basins for Total in Ertvelde (Belgium), the construction and exploitation of a recycling installation for Nyrstar in Balen (Belgium), the remediation of Chesterfield Coke Avenue brownfield (UK) and the decontamination of the London Olympics 2012 site (UK). The attached drawing shows the seven important steps in the AMORAS project : 1. The underwater cell : the maintenance dredging material from the harbour docks is stocked temporarily by the Antwerp Port Authority in an underwater cell (capacity 150,000 m3) to be created in the Canal Dock B1. A dredging unit pumps the dredged spoil to the shore for the treatment process to start. More or less heavily contaminated spoil is not stocked temporarily but pumped ashore directly using a barge unloading dredger. 2. Sand separation : The material pumped ashore is diverted to a sieving installation to remove all coarse elements. Depending on the environmental quality of the material and/or the detected sand fraction percentage, the decision is taken to de-sand the material in a sand separation plant. 3. Discharge line : Next, the material is pumped through a discharge pipeline to the treatment plant on the Bietenveld, 4 kms away. 4. Consolidation ponds : On the Bietenveld site the material is deposited temporarily in 4 consolidation ponds, having a capacity of 120,000 m3 each. In the consolidation ponds, the process water required for sieving, de-sanding and pumping of the material is separated again. Less contaminated spoil is deposited in three consolidation ponds, whereas more contaminated material goes to the fourth pond. An innovative dredging system with rotating gantry spanning the consolidation ponds allows fully automated steering of the process. The dredging gantry is equipped with two mobile dredge pumps that can move along the entire span and that are able to work independently from each other. 5. Dewatering plant using filter presses : In the dewatering hall the consolidated spoil is conditioned and dewatered to form a residue of filter cakes. A number of membrane chamber filter presses dewater the material, pressing the water through a filter cloth. 6. Water purification plant : The filter process water and other effluent water is gathered in the buffer pond for waste water and subsequently pumped to a water purification plant. There the particles in suspension are removed through a physico-chemical process. In a second step the organic material and nitrogen is removed by means of biological cleaning. 7. Deposit site : The controlled deposit of the filter cakes is located on the site “Zandwinningsput”, situated between Hooge Maey, Indaver and the A12 motorway. On this site a stack of filter cakes, over 50 m high, can be deposited on top of an existing 10 m layer of medium consolidated silt that has been deposited there earlier.



Grand Alliance adds Valencia to Med-Asia route

The Grand Alliance, a shipping consortium whose members include Hapag-Lloyd, NYK, OOCL and MISC, has added Valencia to its service between the Mediterranean and Asia. Port rotation for the enhanced Mediterranean service is now Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Klang, Jeddah, Damietta, Genoa, Fos, Barcelona, Valencia, Damietta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Busan. Eight vessels with a capacity of 6,000 TEUs each have been deployed on this route. Source: cargonewsasia.com

Mols-Linien in free fall With the Kattegat bridge on hold Mols-Linien has a good future thinks Mols-Linien's President Carsten Berger. On Thursday Mols-Linien value was reduced by half a billion DKK** after the share price fell on the stock exchange - the company still has a good future ahead of them, after a bridge across the Kattegat is abandoned reaffirms the company's chairman Carsten Berger. -- Now that the Kattegat bridge is put on hold, there is a good future for Mols-Linien, says Carsten Berger to Ritzau. Berger was sad over the sharp slide, in which shares fell the last few days. By Thursday when the stock fell by 36.4 percent and ended the course at 105 DKK. -- I'm sorry the excessive and unjustified price fluctuations in recent days, said Carsten Berger, who owns nearly 17 percent of the shares of Mols-Linien. The sharp share price fall follows the Danske Markets assessment that the stock is overvalued on the stock exchange. In Berlingske Thursday says share price analyst in Danske Markets John Miller, that over the past year has not been a credible price on the stock. Tuesday shares also fell 8.7 percent, and Wednesday the stock lost nine percent of its value. The Danish Bahamas-based shipping company Clipper, with a share of ownership in 30 percent of the shares interested in taking over the whole Mols-Linien. **67 million Euro Source : Scandinavian shipping gazette

MPL MERGES WITH MINNOW MARINE SERVICE Marine Projects Ltd (MPL) a BVI registered company is pleased to advise, agreement has been reached with Minnow Marine Services (MMS) of Dubai, to merge the two companies into one ship building, owning and Operations Company to be renamed Minnow Marine Projects Ltd. (MMPL) The merger has been agreed based on a swop of share by the shareholders to create a one stop company who are now able to offer, Offshore Vessel new builds, chartering BB and TC, of AHTS’s / PSV’s, Accommodation vessels, plus brokering services to the offshore support vessel market in the Mid East / Far East and Indian sub continent.

Wärtsilä’s acquisition of Vik-Sandvik closed SSG-ÅBO. Wärtsilä has taken over the ship design group Vik-Sandvik. The acquisition consists mainly of Vik-Sandvik’s Norwegian companies Vik-Sandvik AS, Vik-Sandvik Marine Services AS and Skipkonsulent AS. The deal was closed after Wärtsilä received the relevant regulatory approvals in Norway. According to Wärtsilä, this is a major step in the company’s strategy to strengthen its position as a total solutions provider. Vik-Sandvik will be integrated into Wärtsilä Ship Design in the business area Ship Power.



In Soyo-Angola the IJSSELSTROOM of van Wijngaarden was lifted onboard the COMBI-DOCK 1 for transportation back to the Netherlands

Photo : Tony Hen (Angola) ©

Hurtigruten doubles fuel surcharge SSG-GÖTEBORG. During the second quarter, Hurtigruten introduced a fuel surcharge of NOK 40 per passenger. This proved to be insufficient and the shipping company has announced that the surcharge will be increased to NOK 75. In its financial report for the second quarter, the company reports a fuel cost increase of 38 per cent, i.e. NOK 25 million. The profit for the period was NOK 25.93 million, about a quarter of the profit for the same period, last year. The company has also reserved NOK 30 million to cover increased fuel costs in its shore-based transport activities. After a weak first quarter, the company’s figures are now in the red. One measure being discussed is to sell older vessels and activities that are not part of the company’s core activities. However, it says that the market conditions for selling are bad at present and that it could take time before sales can be completed.

MARAD's Now Rapid Pace of Ship Disposal Evokes Nostalgia at MarEx

76th Ship Departs James River Reserve Fleet, the ex-USNS Rigel, to be recycled at the All-Star Marine facility in Brownsville, Texas. MarEx Managing Editor Keefe was briefly assigned to the vessel in 1982. I am officially getting rather old. With the impending scrapping of the RIGEL, this leaves perhaps just two ships from my abbreviated seagoing career still left afloat. I believe that the BLUE RIDGE, a product / chemical tanker and the crude carrier KENAI are the last two in service. Preceding the RIGEL's ultimate demise, the USNS MARIAS has since been scrapped, and the USNS HOYT S. VANDENBERG is being prepared to be sunk as an artificial reef off of Key West, FL (although I hear that there may be some issues still to be ironed out with that deal). The official end of the RIGEL's lifespan made me think of another ship. Another vessel, the S/T "DAVID D. IRWIN," a UNOCAL chemical tanker that I sailed on for the better part of three years, has also long since gone to scrap, following a grain run to either Bangladesh or India (I forget which). A few years after I got laid off from



UNOCAL in late 1985, I was sitting in the waiting room of a marine consultant's office in New York City and happened to look up at the picture on the wall over the sofa. I did a double take and realized it was my old ship. In the photo, the stack had been repainted, of course, and the name on the bow was "FAIRWIND." I asked the person I was visiting about the photo and he admitted that the folks sharing the suite were in the business of preparing ships for scrapping. "Why the name FAIRWIND?" I asked. He replied gravely, "It involved the least amount of letter alterations on the bow." The picture was taken at Capetown, fully loaded with grain. He explained that the vessel was taking on bunkers there. I remember well my last couple of weeks on the "DAVID D. IRWIN," or the "Daisy D," as we affectionately called her. We had arrived in Smith's Bluff, Texas, from yet another coastwise run, where we discharged a load of chemicals, lube oils, gasoline, Toluene, Xylene, Heptane, Hexane and a few other really nasty products at five ports and at least ten berths. As soon as we docked in Texas, however, the office called the officers down one at a time to the office to let us know of our impending termination (my wife still refers to this moment as when I was fired). Probably two or three were to be retained and reassigned to another vessel. Not long after that, we had loaded our final cargoes on board and took last line for a final time at the vessel's home port. At about the same time we were to depart the berth, the other tanker in UNOCAL's Gulf Coast fleet, the S/T "BLUE RIDGE," was inbound to the same berth. And, although we could have sailed promptly and passed her nicely in a port-to-port fashion, the company elected to keep us firmly alongside until the BLUE RIDGE was safely beyond us. I often wondered whether they were nervous about a potential collision which might wipe out the entire two ship fleet in one fell swoop, or rather, did they think a bitter seaman might do it for them on purpose. In any event, I know that I have never seen so many tugboats in one place in my entire life; before or since. Two pushed us at 'Half Ahead' onto the pier, another lingered in mid-channel and there were at least three fully made up on the other ship as it eased by on a dead slow bell. When we finally reached Philadelphia, PA on that final trip, we had just a little cargo left to discharge. Before then, a group of so-called "consultants" had boarded at a previous berth. They scoured the vessel, taking inventory, and generally picked our brains as to the nuances of the vessel. The consultants also tempted us with possible employment on the grain run, in exchange for specific knowledge on the vessel's different systems. As there wasn't much in the way of shipping opportunities at the time, most of the officers cooperated to one extent or another. None of those jobs, to the best of my knowledge, ever materialized and the vessel sailed off to be scrapped with a skeleton crew on board. The IRWIN, having been jumboized many years before (1961, I think), had 33 tanks and 16 pumps and about a million headers fitted with a jungle of crossover deck piping. Any tank on the ship could, in theory, be pumped by any of those pumps, through an elaborate labyrinth of crossovers and isolation valves. The vessel's new (interim) owners found out very quickly that they had their hands full and that the clean-up for the grain run would not be an easy one. I, for one, was glad that I would not be eating any of the grain loaded onto a ship that had, for more than 40 years, carried every conceivable kind of liquid cargo except perhaps asphalt. It was here that I learned a little bit about the scrapping business. At the time, most of these old hulls were headed overseas. The fully cleaned vessel was usually loaded with grain, fueled up and off they went to the final port of call. There, the grain was unloaded and then the vessel would be run up onto the beach to be dismantled. In general terms, it was explained to me, the (freight on the) grain paid for the operating costs and bunkers during the final sea passage and the scrap value of the boat represented the profit in the deal. I have no idea whether those metrics still hold true in today's markets. The James River Reserve Fleet is one of three National Defense Reserve Fleets (NDRF) anchorage sites. The Maritime Administration maintains the NDRF as a reserve of ships for national defense and national emergencies and arranges for responsible disposal when the ships are no longer considered viable for those purposes. The ex "USNS Rigel," fitting into the latter category, is a breakbulk ship, built in 1955. Today, the U.S. Maritime Administration's effort to dispose of the old vessels berthed at their three National Defense Reserve Fleets is finally picking up some real steam (no pun intended). Long stymied because of legal and



environmental challenges, here and abroad, the vessels are fairly flying out of the fleets these days. Of course, the intended depletion of the Suisan Bay, CA fleet is a notable exception to the rule. There, California is demanding that the vessel's hulls be cleaned prior to movement so as to prevent the spread of invasive species. Look for the pace of scrapping operations to pick up in the near term. With some domestic steel mills working full tilt in the face of higher steel prices, MARAD is even receiving money in exchange for the old hulls. In the past, they had to pay in some cases, just to get the vessels taken away. What a difference a couple of years can make. – MarEx.

EERLAND 4 DEPARTED FROM ROTTERDAM

The GPS tug ALEXANDRA departed with a barge and the 1958 built (as the KAPELLE and later renamed in SMIT SPANJE) tug EERLAND 4 bound for the UK - Photo : Ruud Zegwaard ©

Schat-Harding launches new freefall lifeboat Lifeboat and davit manufacturer Schat-Harding is to launch a new generation freefall lifeboat for the offshore industry. The FF1200 boat and matching davit will have a capacity for up to 70 people and will be suitable for drop heights from platforms and other offshore units up to 108 feet (33 m) above sea level in extreme conditions. The new design meets all the new OLF (the Norwegian Oil Industry Association) design criteria for lifeboats in the Norwegian offshore sector. Schat-Harding said that compared to all existing lifeboat designs, the FF1200 has additional clearance inside the boat for safety and comfort with a more streamlined shape and powerful engine to give better headway in waves. Improved structural design will maximize canopy strength during the drop and splash-in and a new seat design is based on heavier workers, with an average weight of 220 pounds (100 kg). Five point seatbelts will keep passengers from 4.6 feet (1.4 m) to 6.9 feet (2.1 m) tall safe and comfortable, even with high drop heights into heavy waves. Once safely in the sea, a high-power diesel engine will deliver approximately three times the thrust of current freefall boat engines, and extensive model tests have resulted in a form that gives improved performance in a seaway. New research has shown that some passengers in high-drop freefall boats can be exposed to very high g-forces, especially when the boat is launched into heavy seas. Current lifeboat regulations do not take these into account, and that has led to rig shut downs in some sea conditions as lifeboat capacity has had to be derated to suit the conditions. So Schat-Harding, working with the OLF, has introduced a new seat, seat belt and head protection arrangement that will ensure that all personnel in the lifeboat are protected from high g-forces when launched even into the troughs of large waves. The new seats and head restraints have been tested at the TNO Automotive test center in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The tests are based on a worst case scenario with waves up to 49 feet (15 m) high. Seats and restraints based on the principles proven in the test will be fitted to the new FF1200 and will also be available for retrofit to the FF1000 and FF48 freefall boats in service. The FF1200 boats are 53 feet (16 m) long, 13 feet (3.9 m) wide and 16 feet (4.9 m). It can be loaded up to 33 tons (30 tonnes), but unloaded it remains at 25 tons (23 tonnes).



They will be constructed from fiberglass reinforced polyester and manufactured with infusion or closed vacuum molded techniques to ensure a strong and consistent laminate. The laminates will be dimensioned to the highest standard based upon maximum loads acting when free-falling into large waves. A full size prototype will be tested at the end of 2008. Orders for the new boats have already been received from BP Norge for the Skarv floating production, storage and offloading vessel and Valhall RD, and Talisman Energy for the Yme RD. The first delivery is due in March 2009. Source : Energy Current

Great Offshore subsidiary acquires high-end tug vessel

Great Offshore said it has taken delivery of a high-end modern Anchor Handling Tug cum Supply Vessel for an undisclosed sum. The vessel has been chartered to Murphy Oil for USD 47,000 a day, Great Offshore said in a statement. The vessel was acquired by Great Offshore's subsidiary, it said in a statement. With this vessel, Great Offshore has 14 vessels capable of deep water operations. Seven vessels are deployed in international waters in North Sea, South and West Africa, Gulf, Far East and Russia. With this acquisition, the company's fleet stands at 41, including rigs, offshore support vessels, barge and tugs. Source : Trading Markets

Legal action against Finnlines SSG-ÅBO. Finnlines Plc’s second largest shareholder after Grimaldi, the mutual pension insurance company Ilmarinen, has initiated legal action against Finnlines Plc in the City Court of Helsinki. Ilmarinen objects to the decision of Finnlines’ Annual General Meeting last May to distribute EUR 180,216 as a minimum dividend. Ilmarinen is demanding that the minimum dividend be raised to EUR 17.2 million. Finnlines considers the action groundless and points out that the decision is based upon commercial grounds, in all respects taking the best interest of the company and its shareholders in consideration.

Bay's ferry service trial begins A new fast ferry service will begin a month-long trial in Devon on Friday. The 138-seat catamaran will be operating a 15-minute service between Torquay and Brixham.



The £200,000 Bayfast trial has been organised by Stagecoach and Torbay Council, to test the potential for a permanent link. It will provide up to 15 return trips on weekdays, with services also operating at the weekend for the four-mile (6km) crossing. The trial will operate from 29 August to 29 September. Fares will be £4 for a single and £6 for a return trip, with concessions for senior citizens and children. At the moment, the only public transport link between Torquay and Brixham is a bus service which takes about 42 minutes, but can take up to 90 minutes during the summer tourist season. Stagecoach Group chief executive Brian Souter said the ferry would be a "faster, greener and smarter" travel option than the car. Story BBC NEWS

Bulgaria, Japan sign loan for new container terminals

Bulgaria signed an agreement with Japan Friday to borrow 36.9 billion yen (230 million euros, 339 million dollars) for the construction of new container terminals at two Black Sea ports, the finance ministry here said. The loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will be used by the Bulgarian government to co-finance the construction of new container terminals at Bulgaria's two major Black Sea ports of Varna and Burgas, the ministry said in a statement. Bulgaria's government will provide the remaining 110 million euros for the project from its budget, the ministry added.

DFDS to lengthen three ro-ro vessels SSG-GÖTEBORG. DFDS has signed a contract with MWB Motorenwerke Bremerhaven AG to lengthen the ro-ro vessels Tor Begonia, Tor Freesia and Tor Ficaria 30 metres. The conversions will take place in 2009 and will increase DFDS’s North Sea freight capacity by 25 per cent. ”Even though the ships represented a large increase in capacity when they were delivered a few years ago, we already lack capacity on our North Sea routes between Sweden and the United Kingdom, which continue to show good growth”, says Peder Gellert Pedersen, Executive Vice President with responsibility for the ro-ro division. The total investment amounts to DKK 280 million. After the conversions the vessels will have a length of 230 metres and a capacity of 4,700 lane metres.

EVERGREEN SEES POOR SECOND QUARTER Taiwan's Evergreen Marine has reported a fall in second quarter net profits to NT$829m, down from NT$1.28bn in 2007, while first half profit was down from NT$1.63bn to NT$1.2bn. High fuel costs and a slowing market caused the drop, as well as a heavy loss from EVA Airways, in which Evergreen holds a 19% stake. Source : Maritime Global Net

RI wins port crane repair contract Florida container terminal JAXPORT has awarded a $1.6 million contract for the cleanup and repair of several container gantry cranes involved in a weather-related accident at the Blount Island Marine Terminal earlier this month. Rigging International of Alameda, California, submitted the winning bid and will now be responsible for removing two cranes destroyed in the incident and repairing three other cranes that may have been affected. In addition, the contract calls for Rigging International to transport a crane from JAXPORT’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal to Blount Island to temporarily assist in terminal operations. All of the work is expected to be completed in four to six weeks.



On August 13, 2008 high winds associated with a severe thunderstorm pushed a crane several hundred feet along on-dock rails into a row of four other cranes. The cranes were not in use and no workers were in the area at the time of the incident. Cargo coming through Blount Island has been since been handled through careful reallocation of the terminal’s existing resources, which include three unaffected container cranes. “We are grateful to our tenants for their continued patience as we move towards resolution of this current challenge,” said Rick Ferrin, JAXPORT’s Executive Director. “With the awarding of this contract and the continued hard work of our staff and partners, we are well on our way to ensuring recovery of our full operational capacity.” Source : Cranes Today

Fire in Novorossiysk Port On August, 28 at 1.50 pm fire blazed up at the berth N1 in the Vostochny freight region of the Novorossiysk commercial sea port. According to the press-service of the RF Ministry of transport, as a result a conveying belt of the grain loader “Mobiload” burned up. Nobody suffered. In January-July 2008 the Novorossiysk commercial sea port handled 1443.3 thousand tons (-42.5%), including 606.8 thousand tons handled at the new grain terminal.

Seanergy Announces Acquisition of Its First Three Dry Bulk Vessels

Seanergy Maritime Corp. announced that it has completed the acquisition, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp., and its designated nominees, of the first three of six dry bulk carriers to be acquired pursuant to the Master Agreement dated May 20, 2008. The Company took delivery of two 2008 Built Supramax vessels, the M/V Davakis G. and the M/V Delos Ranger, and the Handysize M/V African Oryx.

The M/V Davakis G. and the M/V Delos Ranger each have a capacity of 54,000 dwt and are chartered at a rate of $60,000 per day until on or about September 2009 respectively. The M/V African Oryx, built in 1997, has a capacity of 24,110 dwt and is chartered at a rate of $30,000 per day until on or about September 2009. Each of the vessels are chartered to South African Marine Corporation, an affiliate of the Restis family. The Company's Chairman, Mr. Georgios Koutsolioutsos, added: "As the Chairman of Seanergy, I am very proud that as of today we will be an operating company in this attractive shipping sector. Our strategic vision is to position Seanergy among the shipping industry leaders and generate shareholder value for the long term."

New deep-sea port for Murmansk The Russian Transport Ministry will in the near future start the construction of a new deep-sea port in Murmansk Oblast, Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov said in a government session this week. Mr. Ivanov, who is in charge of key government infrastructure issues, said he recently had chaired a meeting on the development of the Murmansk Trade Port. -The Ministry of Transport will in the near future start construction works, he confirms, Murman.ru reports with reference to RIA Novosti The new port is part of a major modernization process of industrial facilities along the Kola Bay. In addition to the improved Murmansk Trade Port, new terminals and industrial plants will be built on the western shore of the bay. Also a new 26 km long railway line will be constructed to the new industrial areas.



A total of 300 million RUB will be invested in the area. Port capacities are believed to increase to an annual 28,5 million tons in 2010 and 52 million tons in 2020. Source : Barents Oberver

Tailwind Financial to buy 20 ships from Hellas’ GrandUnion

Tailwind Financial Inc., a Canadian acquisition company, said Wednesday it intends to buy 20 vessels, including nine still in development, from Greek shipping operator GrandUnion Inc. Toronto-based Tailwind said it signed a letter of intent giving it a period of exclusive negotiations. Closing the deal hinges on several factors including financing for ships and approval by Tailwind shareholders. Financial terms were not discussed. Tailwind said details would be disclosed after a definitive agreement is reached. Tailwind said the 11 existing vessels in the deal are valued at more than $600 million and will form a dry bulk shipping company generating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of more than $113 million for 2009. The nine vessels in development are scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2010. Nicholas Fistes, a GrandUnion principal and chairman, will be chairman and chief executive of the new shipping outfit, and GrandUnion CEO Michael Zolotas will become chief operating officer. U.S.-traded shares of Tailwind rose 5 cents to $7.97 in afternoon trading. Source: ap.org

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