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DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 029

Distribution : daily 3750+ copies worldwide Page 1 1/29/2008

Number 029 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Wednesday 30-01-2008 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles taken from various news sites.

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The BOURBON ASTYANAX seen in the Miskar Field (Tunesia) Photo : Jan Plug ©

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EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

The HAPPY BUCCANEER loaded an 824 tons shiploader in Zhangzhou and the loader was discharged in Port Hedland - Photo : Kees Visser ©

Boats adrift on the Dee FLINT lifeboat crews were called to deal with two boats that had come adrift from their moorings in high winds. The first call was received at 1pm on Thursday and the second at 2.30pm on Saturday. Both boats were towed back to Flint lifeboat station and made safe. A spokesman for Flint RNLI said: "Drifting boats are a hazard to other shipping on the Dee and the lifeboat crew were satisfied that no people were aboard the boats." Source : Evening Leader

Coast Guard investigates collision The US Coast Guard is continuing its investigation into the collision of two vessels - an orange juice tanker and a dredger - in Newark Bay last week. The collision took place between the tanker Orange Sun and dredger Newark Bay. No injuries were reported in the mishap, which occurred just before 14.00 on January 24th. After the accident, the dredger needed to be stabilized. Coast Guard investigators are still trying to determine exactly what happened. Five crew members were evacuated from the dredger, which began to take on water. Source : Dredging News Online



Philippines to Ban Single-Hull Vessels The Philippines will ban single-hull oil tankers from its waters from April, two years earlier than planned, after the worst oil spill in the country's history and a separate leak in South Korea. Vessels carrying "black" petroleum products such as crude oil and bunker fuel won't be allowed to dock at ports from April 1 without a double hull, said Transportation Undersecretary Len Bautista in a phone interview from Manila. The single-hull crude oil supertanker Hebei Spirit caused the worst spill in South Korea's history last month after it was struck by a crane causing it to lose 66,000 barrels of crude oil, about 1/3 the size of the Exxon Valdez spill of 1989. In August 2006, the tanker Solar 1 leaked 2.19 million litres of marine fuel, killing marine life and fouling the coastline of the Philippines's Guimaras islands. The country has yet to schedule a ban on single-hull tankers that ship gasoline, jet fuel and other refined petroleum products. At least one crude-oil tanker, the Atora, is sailing toward a Philippine port. The double-hull carrier built in 1991 is due to arrive at Bataan January 26, according to AISLive on Bloomberg. Two double-hull refined petroleum tankers, Petro Celine and Kirana Dwitya, are also sailing for the country's ports. Source: Bloomberg

ITC’s SABLE CAPE seen moored in Rotterdam-Waalhaven Photo : Piet Sinke ©

PANAMA CANAL CHARGES GO UP SHIPOWNERS will soon be paying more services they require when ships transit the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) says rates for tug services will increase 8% and those for line handling services will rise 7%. Additionally, a US$300-per-wire fee will be charged for ancillary locomotive services, up from the current $200. Wires are attached to the locomotives to ensure that the vessels stay centred as they transit through the locks. The ACP says the increasing are necessary due to rising operating costs brought about by fuel hikes. The increases come into effect o 1 March 1. Over the past eight years, says the ACP, $1,329m has been spent on buying a new fleet of state-of-the-art tugs, a new generation of locomotives and other improvements. Source : Maritime Global Net

China aids search for Russian ship Chinese maritime search and rescue forces are helping the search for a Russian ship which has been missing in the East China Sea, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.



The maritime search and rescue center of China's Ministry of Communications was informed last Thursday that a Russian boat with 17 crew went missing in sea area about 212 nautical miles east of Shanghai, according to a statement of the ministry. The ship was traveling from Japan's Hokkaido to Hong Kong, but it failed to arrive at the destination on last Thursday as scheduled, it said. The Chinese search center launched emergency rescue plans for the missing crew, and tried to use maritime satellite to locate the vessel, but no clues have been found. Maritime authorities in Yantai, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hainan have coordinated vessels that are sailing in the area to assist the search. A professional rescue ship "East China Sea Rescue-No. 196" has departed for the area where the Russian boat made its last radio contact. The foreign ministry's statement said in view of the strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries and humanitarian spirit, the Chinese side will take active measures and continue the search. Source : Xinhua

Ship with 17 Russians on board still missing in Pacific

The search for a cargo ship with 17 Russian crew on board continues in the East China Sea, a Russian diplomat in Beijing said on Monday, contradicting media reports that the vessel had been sighted. Earlier reports cited China's Foreign Ministry as saying that the Kapitan Uskov dry cargo ship - declared missing in Pacific waters on Thursday when it was due to arrive in Hong Kong with over 4,500 metric tons of rolled metal - had been spotted by Chinese rescuers. "China's Foreign Ministry has not confirmed reports that the Kapitan Uskov has been spotted," said Alexander Isayev, press attache of the Russian Embassy in the Chinese capital. The Cambodian-registered vessel, which left Russia's Far East port of Nakhodka on January 15, last had radio contact on January 20. The sea rescue center in Russia's Far East port city of Vladivostok also rejected the reports. "The latest reports from China said rescuers are continuing the search for the Kapitan Uskov cargo ship," center spokesman Veniamin Ivanychev said. Russian vessels and Japanese coastguard boats and aircraft suspended their search efforts on Monday. Ships passing the East China Sea, which have been informed of the disappearance, are monitoring the sea surface. Shipping experts have offered two main theories on the disappearance, saying the heavy cargo could have shifted causing the vessel to list and then sink, or that the ship could have been attacked by pirates wanting the rolled metal worth millions of dollars. "Rolled metal on board the ship could have slid during a storm and sunk the ship," said Pyotr Osichansky, head of the Far East Association of Sea Captains. "In that event, the cargo ship could have sunk quickly, leaving no traces on the surface." The area is not notorious for pirate attacks. The boat, with cargo capacity of 5,200 metric tons, was built in Japan in 1982. It flew a Soviet flag and was later sold to a private shipping company and registered in Cambodia. Ships are often registered in a foreign country to cut operating costs, avoid government regulations or simply to take advantage of a country's infrastructure or diplomatic support.



Cash Prize Two of Britain’s oldest and best-loved ships, the Cutty Sark and Mary Rose, were thrown a £31million Lotto lifeline. The Cutty Sark was given an "emergency" grant of £10million, by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to save it after it was ravaged by a fire in May last year. The remaining £21million will help build a new Mary Rose Museum to display the thousands of artefacts from Henry VII's flagship under one roof for the first time. The funding to the Cutty Sark Trust is an “urgent addition” to an HLF grant in September 2006 of £11.75million for the conservation of the 138-year-old ship. Once restored, the vessel will be lifted three metres above its current position, allowing visitors to walk underneath its uniquely-shaped hull. A spokesman said: “This exceptional and time-critical decision means that restoration work on Cutty Sark can now re-start next month.” A purpose-built museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard will bring together the Mary Rose, raised from the seabed in 1982, and more than 19,000 rare items recovered with the ship. Dame Liz Forgan, chairman of the HLF, said: “The Mary Rose is an amazing time capsule and one of our most precious heritage icons. “Many of us remember the moment when the ship was found and subsequently raised from the Solent’s sea bed. “This major Heritage Lottery Fund investment will help convert years of painstaking archaeological endeavour into an amazing living history experience.” The funding will also enable the final part of the conservation of the 16th century hull, which involves a special drying out process, to begin in 2011. John Lippiett, chief executive of the Mary Rose Trust, said the funding was a “last chance” for the country’s oldest ship, whose future was in doubt. He said: “The Trust is thrilled to receive news of this wonderful Heritage Lottery Fund support, which paves the way to complete the long conservation process and display the majority of amazing artefacts in a magnificent museum." David Starkey, historian and broadcaster, added: “The Mary Rose is one of the most important objects in English History. “It’s up there with the Doomsday Book, the Magna Carta and Hampton Court. "Indeed I would go further. The Mary Rose is the English Pompeii or Herculaneum; all Tudor life is there.” Source: ShipTalk

More Heavy Weather Cruise ship Pacific Star is again the subject of passenger complaints after being battered by the high seas and winds of Cyclone Funa which smashed glasses, moved fridges and left five passengers injured. The ship was recently in the limelight after a 46-year-old Auckland woman reported being raped by another passenger in her cabin on New Year's Eve. "It was chaos, people were screaming," Auckland woman Marilyn Farr said of her eight-day cruise to Vanuatu which returned to Auckland a day late. She said she was upset the company running the cruises, P&O, knew about Cyclone Funa and continued sailing into it, becoming caught in the worst of the storm. "There were people running around with life jackets on because water was coming into their rooms, it was absolute panic," she said. "Everything in the bar area was smashed, everything in the kitchen - all the plates were smashed. "It [the ship] started rolling from side to side, everything was shaking and it just got worse and worse. The fridges were flying out of their cubbyholes." Mrs Farr said she was thrown from a chair which landed on her and left her with a bruised arm. "If they knew the storm was there they should have stayed in Noumea one day more." Mrs Farr said she and nine family members, including her three children and three grandchildren, found the experience "terrible". She was given medication for shock during the storm and the family was left disappointed after spending $18,000 on the cruise.



Although Mrs Farr had experienced a better trip on the ship last May, she said she would not be travelling with the company again. Mrs Farr said the worst of the trip was when the ship was turned around and began rolling sideways - something she said occurred without warning. P&O, however, says passengers were warned by an announcement. P&O public affairs manager Anthony Fisk said five passengers reported injuries which included suspected sprains, bruises and a rib injury caused when someone fell out of bed. "We had swells of about 7 metres ... that's high and does cause illness on board," he said. "Obviously the weather's out of our control and we know that most of the journey was fine weather. It's just that the cyclone did move around a bit throughout the Pacific. We had to adjust our heading accordingly and, obviously, any inconvenience we apologise for. We've tried to do our best to make sure that passenger safety was paramount. "We tried as hard as we could to maximise the comfort for the passengers on board." Mr Fisk said warnings were issued on Sunday asking passengers to take care around the ship and avoid exposed decks. An announcement at 10.50pm asked passengers to return to their cabins or remain seated, explaining that the "rolls" the ship was experiencing were due to two swells coming from different directions. In July, passengers on the Pacific Star described a holiday in hell after a trip from Auckland to Vanuatu in which the ship got caught up in another storm. P&O has struggled to restore its reputation after the death of Dianne Brimble on another ship, Pacific Sky, in September 2002. Source : ShipTalk

Russians halt Norwegian fishing vessel The Russian Coast Guard stopped a Norwegian fishing vessel over the weekend, and directed it to the Russian port of Murmansk. The problem appears to be over fishing rights in northern waters. Norwegian Foreign Ministry officials confirmed Monday that the vessel Geir was stopped by the Russian authorities on Sunday morning. "There was uncertainty about the checkpoint to the Russian zone," said UD spokesperson Kristin Melsom. She said the ministry has contacted Russian authorities and was working to gather information to support the Norwegian vessel. The Norwegian vessel, under escort by the Russians, wasn't expected to reach Murmansk until Wednesday morning at the earliest. The Geir is owned by HP Holmeset AS of Vatne. The vessel's crew "got a visit by the (Russian) coast guard while they were fishing," the company's Hallgeir Holmeset told Aftenposten.no. He couldn't say exactly where the vessel was stopped, but hoped for a solution so that the Geir could be set free.

Vuil schip sneller te betrappen Er is een nieuwe en betrouwbare manier om te meten hoeveel van het verzurende SO2 (zwaveldioxide) zeeschepen uitstoten: light detecting and ranging (lidar). Het Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) heeft de methode ontwikkeld en beproefd vanaf een meetwagen langs de Westerschelde. Het RIVM adviseert het ministerie van Milieu het nieuwe meetinstrument in te voeren voor controles op de territoriale wateren. Daar mogen zeeschepen namelijk niet op de (goedkopere) zwavelrijke brandstof varen. Nu wordt nog gecontroleerd door steekproefsgewijs monsters af te nemen. Daarvoor moeten controleurs aan boord komen, zodat opvarenden de gelegenheid hebben een en ander te verdoezelen.



Met lidar wordt onopgemerkt vanaf de wal het SO2-gehalte in de rookpluim van het schip gemeten. Om overtreders te beboeten is echter nog steeds een brandstofmonster nodig. Want voor de uitstoot geeft de wet nog geen maximum SO2. Het RIVM bepleit aanpassing van de wet. Zeeschepen stoten jaarlijks in Nederland 74 miljoen kilo SO2 uit. De rest komt van huishoudens en industrie.

HMS Endurance finds sunken MV Explorer The Royal Navy Ice patrol ship HMS ENDURANCE, which amongst other tasks is carrying survey work in the Antarctic on behalf of the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) to improve Safety of Life at Sea products and services, has located the wreck of a cruise liner which sank last year.

Passenger liner EXPLORER hit ice and sank just south of the South Shetland Islands off the Antarctic Peninsula in November with all 86 passengers and 66 crew safely rescued. Whilst conducting hydrographic survey work of the area ENDURANCE pinpointed the position of the wreck. At the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office HMS ENDURANCE undertook a search for the wreck of EXPLORER to ascertain its position, assess the likely condition of the vessel on the seabed and observe any ongoing fuel seepage or other evidence of pollution.

The survey work contributes markedly to the Safety of Life At Sea in the Antarctic region, which is taking on more significance with the annually increasing number of passengers in cruise liners visiting this breathtaking wilderness. After an initial unsuccessful search earlier this month, ENDURANCE re-visited the area and carried out a systematic search of an area ten kilometres by five using her hull mounted multibeam echosounder. The seabed in the search area was flat and featureless, but a contact was detected at a range of 4373m from the reported sinking position of the vessel. When compared to the reported sinking position of M/V EXPLORER this was broadly consistent with the direction of the prevailing current. The wreck’s position is at the north-west end of the Bransfield Strait, and was located at a depth of approximately 1130 metres. The actual location is at 620 24.2929’ south 570 11.7748’ west. It is judged that the depth of the wreck showed that it presented no hazard to shipping. Apart from the oil slick, no debris was seen in the water and no debris was observed on any of the adjacent land in the vicinity of the wreck also visited by personnel from HMS ENDURANCE.

Both the FCO and Ministry of Defence consider that this work highlights the capability and fidelity of the work of ENDURANCE and the Royal Navy as a whole in the Antarctic Region.



Commanding Officer of HMS ENDURANCE, Captain Bob Tarrant, said: “I am very proud of my survey team who are operating our world class system at the edges of its performance. The Royal Navy continues to support UK responsibility to the Antarctic Treaty by surveying and charting the difficult waters of Antarctica to improve safety for all mariners.” ENDURANCE is on an 18 month deployment, which will include maximising the time she spends there in two separate Antarctic summers during this period to simultaneously support our national Antarctic Treaty obligations, gather survey data for UKHO, and support the scientific research of the British Antarctic Survey. ENDURANCE is fitted with both modern hull mounted survey equipment and with well equipped survey motor boats for work in support of, and away from, the ship. Her 2 Lynx helicopters also provide data from aerial photography. All the collated data is fed back and processed by experts at UKHO in Taunton and drawn into charts used by mariners visiting and working in this extreme environment.

Queen of the Netherlands arrives to spark protests

The QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS seen arriving in Melbourne - Photo : Jan de Jonge ©

GIANT dredger Queen of the Netherlands has arrived in Port Phillip Bay to some protests by approx 30 persons, having passed through the heads around 7.45am this morning. The 173m, 22,689-tonne vessel docked at Port Melbourne just after 10am Monday morning, with work expected to begin on the controversial channel deepening project by the end of the week. Anti-dredging group, the Blue Wedges Coalition, greeted the ship in a flotilla on the bay, making their presence felt as they continue to fight the project. One member of the group, watching the ship pass Point Lonsdale this morning, described it as a "warship coming to destroy the bay". Blue Wedges Coalition member John Lawler said there were 25 protest boats, all carrying passengers to capacity. "It was not an aggressive protest, it was a peaceful protest and there was strong police presence, which was good, making sure everything went smoothly,'' Mr Lawler, who is skipper of the boat Miles Ahead, said.



Mr Lawler said Dive Victoria had three chartered boats and there were several smaller, private boats that joined the flotilla as part of the protest. The Blue Wedges has launched a last-ditch bid in the Federal Court to overturn commonwealth approval for the project. Dutch company Royal Boskalis Westminster says it will earn $500 million from the project to deepen Melbourne's shipping channels, it was reported this morning. It will involve the removal of 23 million cubic metres of sand, rock and toxic sediment from the bay to enable larger, super container ships to dock. The Brumby government and the Port of Melbourne Corporation refused to say how much Royal Boskalis Westminster would be paid for its part, citing commercial-in-confidence restrictions. The PoMC and the Victorian government claim the project will bring $2 billion in economic spin-offs. Protest boats are in the water as the dredger steams into the bay, while hundreds of anti-dredging activists have gathered on piers at Point Lonsdale and Rosebud, and the mouth of the Yarra. A 1.4 square kilometre exclusion zone applies to all ships in the bay. Patrolling of the dredging operations will be carried out by private security guards employed by the Port of Melbourne Corporation. But water police will be called if anyone breaches the exclusion zone around the Queen of the Netherlands or any of its barges. Ports Minister Tim Pallas also has the authority to create a 12 square kilometre restricted area at any point on land to thwart any protests. Anti-dredging group the Blue Wedges Coalition denied protesters would break the law and slammed Australian Federal Police and the US Navy for listing the group as a risk to shipping. "The only threat to human life, property or the environment comes from the Queen of the Netherlands," Ms Warfe said. "This ship is set to cause irreparable damage to the Port Phillip Bay environment. There are also grave public health risks. "The threat of oil spills has also increased due to a greater risk of ships running aground at Port Phillip Heads." Blue Wedges will launch a last-ditch bid in the Federal Court tomorrow to overturn Commonwealth approval for the dredging. The $1 billion, two-year project to deepen Melbourne's shipping channels is set to begin on Friday. It will involve the removal of 23 million cubic metres of sand, rock and toxic sediment from the bay to enable super container ships to dock. Currently, ships with a draught of less than 12m can enter the bay. That will increase to 14m at all tides. The Brumby Government says the project will deliver spin-offs worth $2 billion. But Ms Warfe said the arrival of the Queen of the Netherlands was a dark day for the bay. "This ship is set to cause irreparable damage to the Port Phillip Bay environment," she said. "There are also grave public health risks. Port of Melbourne Corporation data reveals that people may develop serious illnesses as a result of swimming in the toxic plume." She said scientists predicted penguin deaths and fish stock losses, and indicated there was a significant risk of toxic algal blooms. Port chief executive Stephen Bradford says the project is essential for the state economy and will proceed subject to unprecedented environmental controls. They include the appointment of an independent monitor and a $1 million environmental bond. The corporation also says the project will reduce the risk of oil spills by keeping ship hulls further from the bottom of the bay. It claims its environmental management plan is the most stringent in the world attached to a dredging project. Surfrider Foundation's Melbourne beach representative, Bill Pemberton, said that US Navy and federal police interest in Blue Wedges was ridiculous. "It's just overkill and it's astounding that they feel so afraid," Mr Pemberton said.



"We have no plans to protest any other way than peacefully and legally and I don't know of anyone else who has plans for anything different." The huge dredging ship left Singapore on January 18 on its journey to Melbourne. Source : Herald Sun

Cook Strait ferries full speed ahead The Environment Court has given the thumbs up to new speed guidelines for Cook Strait ferries in the Marlborough Sounds, but granted exemption to three older ships. The guidelines follow concerns about wake from the ferries endangering small boats and causing damage to the seabed, beaches and wharfs. The court upheld Marlborough District Council's proposal that any operator wanting to

sail a ship over 500 gross metric tonnes in excess of 15 knots had to apply for resource consent so its bow waves could be tested against an environmental impact formula. Left : The ARAHURA Photo : Alan Calvert © But the Dominion Post newspaper reported today two of Toll's three ferries, the Aratere and Arahura,

and Strait Shipping's freight ferry Kent, had been been granted exemptions and permitted to continue to sail at up to 20 knots in the Sounds. The council's regulatory manager Hans Versteegh said the ships had been excused because they had been operating for a long time and would eventually be replaced by ships that would have to comply. Toll, Strait Shipping and the New Zealand Shipping Federation spent six years challenging the council's amendment because they felt it would be unworkable. Shipping Federation manager Paul Nicholas said slowing the Aratere and the Arahura would have limited the ships to two crossings a day instead of three. "If we didn't appeal against the decision it would be fair to say we couldn't operate or offer the service." The court found no legal basis for objection to the council's resource management plan. Source: TV3

Australia, Darwin – Sacked sailors refuse to leave ship

Up to 20 maritime workers will have to be physically removed from a customs ship in Darwin after being sacked and replaced by cheaper foreign workers, a union official says. The highly qualified crew of the Triton were told last month that their contracts would not be renewed when it left Darwin port after maintenance work next week. The British company which owns the ship, Gardline International, has a contract with the federal government to patrol northern Australian waters for illegal fishing. "That's the irony of it - here they are in border security and they're sacking an Australian crew and bringing in foreign workers," Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) national secretary Paddy Crumlin said. Just 12 months ago the workers signed a collective agreement with Gardline and had no problems until they received a letter from the company last month, sacking them all. The crew is determined to fight the decision. "These are tenacious professional seafarers - they're not too worried about the confrontation that's required in border security so they're not going to be too worried about a company that's sacking them and bringing in foreign nationals,"



Mr Crumlin said. "They're going to exercise their civil rights and I'd say they're going to have to be physically removed." Federal Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the company's action was out of line. "Gardline is behaving with a short-term perspective for a company that wants to go on doing business with the Australian government," the minister said. "Whatever the legality of Gardline's present action, it's just not possible that the present government can look favourably on the kinds of tactics that they have adopted." Mr Debus has referred the matter to the Workplace Ombudsman and will review the contracts involved. "It's obvious enough that into the future we don't want this kind of difficulty and trouble surrounding contracts of such importance to our national security." The present contract lasts until mid-2009. Mr Debus also has had brief discussions with Gardline and is hopeful it will soon resolve the situation. Nine crew members were refusing to leave the vessel on Monday morning and the 11 other affected workers were endeavouring to get aboard to join the protest. Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says the prime minister must resolve the maritime standoff in Darwin "fairly quickly" if he is serious about border security. Dr Nelson blamed unions for delaying important work in the region. "I noticed union banners and people speaking on behalf of unions holding up the ship," the opposition leader told reporters in Sydney. "If the government is fair dinkum about ... protecting Australia's borders from unlawful fishing, or people coming here through the back door, you'd expect they would resolve this fairly quickly. "This is of course happening under Mr Rudd's watch." Dr Nelson also said the nation's border protection had worked well over the past decade, and the incoming Rudd government did not need to make changes such as establishing a Department of Homeland Security. "Australian border protection has worked extremely well over the last decade," he said. "The last thing we need is a whole bunch of more red tape." Source : news.theage.com.au

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CASUALTY REPORTING Seadrill's West Navigator damaged

Seadrill's drillship West Navigator suffered damages to the BOP and the subsea equipment due to deteriorating weather during a planned disconnection from the well, the company said today.



As a result, drilling was temporarily halted. The extent of the damages and the subsequent repair time are uncertain, Seadrill said. The vessel is contracted to Shell on Ormen Lange on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Vessel aground, Gulf of Finland m/v RMS SAIMAA ran aground in 60.41.6N 028.42.9E, 0.2 nm SW off Vyborg port, Gulf of Finland. Fore stb 20 meters is aground, holes in forepeak and stb ballast tank #2. Vessel was enroute Imatra, Finland, to Brake, Germany, with pilot on board. Traffic not affected, salvage tug Vyborg with divers dispatched to the ship. m/v RMS SAIMAA - IMO 9313694, dwt 2634, built 2005, owner BWK RMS SAIMAA, cargo 2300 tonns cellulose, crew 6 – 3 including master Russians, 2 Polish, 1 Philippino. Source : Mike Voitenko

NAVY NEWS China lets first U.S. warship into HK since row

China has allowed a U.S. warship to dock in Hong Kong waters for the first time since a diplomatic tiff flared when Beijing denied a request for another ship, the USS Kitty Hawk, to stop in the territory in November. A source at the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said the USS Blue Ridge was allowed to enter Hong Kong waters on Monday morning. "We granted permission in line with our usual practices," said the source, who declined to be named and gave no specifics. The Blue Ridge, the flagship of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, was expected to dock in Hong Kong for several days to allow rest and recreation for more than 700 of its sailors. "Hong Kong is one of the crown jewels for our sailors," said the ship's Commanding Officer, Capt. David Lausman. "We continue to look forward to many future opportunities to visit this special place," he added in a press statement. China's approval of the Blue Ridge's docking was expected after the head of the U.S. forces in the Pacific, Admiral Timothy Keating, visited Beijing this month. He said he had been able to boost "mutual understanding" with Chinese counterparts. The port visit is the first by a U.S. navy ship since the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and its strike group were refused permission by Beijing to dock in Hong Kong for a long-planned Thanksgiving holiday in November. Hundreds of relatives of the 8,000 or so U.S. crew members in the Kitty Hawk strike group, had flown in for the holiday. Beijing later said the ships could dock, but by then the ships were heading back to Japan. Last week, Keating said the Kitty Hawk had not obtained final permission from China before setting off from its base in Japan. Earlier that month, two U.S. minesweepers, low on fuel and facing bad weather, were also denied permission to visit. Beijing said the whole affair had been a misunderstanding. But some analysts say China's actions may have been prompted by irritation over U.S. plans to help Taiwan upgrade its missile system and a meeting between President George W. Bush and exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of wide-ranging autonomy, but defence matters are still controlled by Beijing. Source : in.reuters.com

Indian Navy & Coast Guard strengthen security along coast



Amid speculation that LTTE cadres may sneak into Tamil Nadu due to intensified clashes between the Sri Lankan Army and the Tamil Tigers, the Navy and Coast Guard have strengthened security along the coast by deploying more ships and helicopters. A Naval defence Boat T-60 and Coast Guard ship Razia Sultana were deployed in the Palk Bay while speed boats had intensified patrolling, Naval officials stationed at Rameswaram base said. They said both Navy and Coast Guard had drawn up a comprehensive security arrangement, which included sorties by naval helicopters and high speed boats. The newly deployed vessels had been fitted with radars and 30 MM Medak guns and 12.7mm guns. The new security arrangements were made amid rumours that some LTTE cadres could enter India due to heavy fighting in north Sri Lanka. The ships were also expected to prevent Indian fishermen from entering Lankan waters as the island nations's navy had notified that it has mined several areas to contain LTTE activities in the sea. However, the fishermen in Rameswaram objected to the placement of mines by the Sri Lankan navy as it affected their livelihood. They also went on strike demanding release of 12 fishermen lodged in a Sri Lankan prison. Naval officials said that instances of Indian fishermen crossing into Lankan waters had been reduced. Source : ptinews.com

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SHIPYARD NEWS More jack-up deliveries from Keppel FELS

Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M), has completed the construction of its second jackup drilling rig for Gulf Drilling International Ltd (GDI), a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Japan Drilling Co., Ltd. (JDC). Named Al-Zubarah At a ceremony on January 26, the rig has been built to Keppel's proprietary KFELS B Class design, customized to GDI's requirements for drilling in the Arabian Gulf. Al-Zubarah is capable of operating in water depths of up to 300 feet, drilling 30,000 feet deep and accommodating up to 110 men. Mr Yousif R. Al-Khater, CEO of GDI said, "We are proud that Al-Zubarah is completed safely with a good record of construction progress. I appreciate the effort, dedication and professionalism of the Keppel FELS Management and their staff. Because of the excellent relationship that we share, the rig is completed and ready for delivery to our client." Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman and CEO of Keppel O&M, said, "With the addition of Al-Zubarah to its fleet, GDI is a step closer to realise its vision of becoming a world class drilling services provider. Keppel FELS is honoured to play an important role in helping GDI, and Qatar, to achieve its aim." Al-Zubarah is the second KFELS B Class jackup that Keppel FELS has completed for GDI. The first rig, Al-Khor, is successfully operating offshore Qatar in the Arabian Gulf. Apart from offshore drilling rigs, the Keppel Group is also building what will be Qatar's first integrated solid waste treatment facility and its largest wastewater treatment and reuse plant. Other collaborations include the setting up of a shipyard in the port of Ras Laffan and the survey, maintenance and repair of a fleet of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers chartered by Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Ltd (Qatargas). Keppel FELS also delivered another jackup drilling rig 10 days ahead of contractual schedule to Awilco Offshore ASA (Awilco), a member of the Anders Wilhelmsen Group.



Like Al-Zubarah, the jackup rig, WilBoss, is of the KFELS B Class rig design. Photo : John Bruinsma ©

Mr Tong Chong Heong, Managing Director and COO of Keppel O&M, said, "Keppel FELS aims to be the provider of choice and partner in solutions by creating value for our customers, delivering cost effective, high quality products, on time and within budget. We are happy to achieve this early delivery despite the tight market for labour and equipment. "We owe this to the support of our sub-contractors, vendors and customers as well as the excellent planning and hard work of our people at all levels." The rig is the second of three rigs Keppel FELS is building for Awilco. The first rig, WilCraft was delivered ahead of schedule in December 2006. The third rig is scheduled for delivery in second quarter of 2009. Mr Pete England, Area Manager of Awilco said, "On behalf of Awilco, I would like to congratulate Keppel FELS for delivering WilBoss on schedule and on budget. This is truly a major achievement." Keppel FELS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Corporation, through Keppel O&M, a leader in offshore rigs, shiprepair and conversion and specialised shipbuilding. Keppel O&M's near market, near customer strategy is bolstered by a global network of 20 yards in the Asia Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the Caspian Sea, Middle East and the North Sea regions. Integrating the experience and expertise of its yards worldwide, the group aims to be the provider of choice and partner in solutions for the offshore and marine industry. Source : MarineLog

Hyundai Heavy Plans to Deliver More Ships in 2008

According to reports, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., plans to deliver 25 percent more vessels this year as it increases production to work through almost four years worth of orders. The company delivered 11 vessels to carry consumer goods and fuel in January, the most in a month in the industry, the Ulsan, South Korea-based company said in an e-mailed statement today. The ships were all delivered as much as two-and-a-half months earlier than scheduled, it said. Hyundai Heavy delivered six large-sized container vessels, two LNG carriers, two oil tankers and one liquefied petroleum gas ship in January, the company said. The shipbuilder delivered a total of 81 vessels valued at $6.85 billion



last year, compared with 73 worth $4.81 billion in 2006. Of the total, 46 were container ships, 16 oil tankers and 10 LNG carriers. Source: Bloomberg

Total cost for construction of the three factories is put at VND 4.5 trillion.

According to Mr Nguyen Van Hoc, General Director of the Pha Rung Shipbuilding Industrial Company, with the construction of the Pha Rung VINASHIN-MAN Engine Manufacturing Factory, Vietnam will become the fourth country in the world to manufacture sea ship engines. Total investment for this factory is nearly VND 1.5 trillion. It is built on a total area of 57 hectares. Upon its completion, the factory will meet the essential demands for engines for newly-built ships of the sector, helping increase the localisation rate. As scheduled, the factory will be installed with modern equipment in order to be capable of manufacturing and installing engines for cargo vessels of 175,000 DWT under a transfer contract signed between VINASHIN and MAN B&M of Danmark. The factory is expected to start operation once the fisrt phase of construction is completed in June 2009. After that, the Pha Rung company will continue to invest in the second and third phases of the project to increase installing capacity and manufacture engines of bigger capacity as well as parts to gradually increase localisation ratio. The Yen Hung Shipyard has a total investment capital of over VND 1.45 trillion. It is built on 200 hectares in Hiep Hoa commune, Yen Hung district. Upon its completion, the factory will be able to build 10-16 ships of up to 150,000 DWT each. The factory is slated to be put into operation in early 2012. The 180 hectare ship repairing factory in Yen Hung Industrial Complex has a total investment capital of over VND 1.48 trillion. The factory is designed to be able to repair 20-40 ships of 50,000 DWT each a year. Upon their completion, the three factories will provide jobs for 15-20,000 workers. Source : nhandan.com.vn

Mitsui Delivers Tanker Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. completed and delivered on January 25 a 110,000 dwt type double hull tanker MV YASA GOLDEN MARMARA (MES Hull’s No. 1672) which had been under construction in Chiba Works of MES, to Lepta Shipping Co., Ltd., Liberia. This is the 6th ship of Aframax type tanker by MES. Source : MarineLink

Vietnam, Yen Hung - Construction of three biggest shipbuilding and repair factories kicks off, Nhan Dan Online – The Pha Rung Shipbuilding Industrial Company, a member of the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industrial Economic Group (VINASHIN), on January 27 launched the construction of three shipbuilding and repair factories which are considered to be the biggest in Vietnam so far. The launching ceremony was organised in Dong Bai Industrial Complex in Yen Hung district, Quang Ninh province These include the Yen Hung Shipbuilding Factory, the Sea Ship Repairing Factory in Yen Hung Supporting Industry Complex and the Pha Rung VINASHIN-MAN Engine Manufacturing Factory.

Fourth Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Tanker Launched

Vessel is to be first tanker sold under new terms following organizational split from ship-owning company



Hull 008, the fourth double-hulled tanker in Aker Philadelphia Shipyard’s current build program, was floated off its blocks in the yard’s 1,300 foot long Building Dock and transferred to the adjacent Outfitting Dock on the morning of Saturday, January 26. Testing and commissioning of the vessel’s systems will take place during the coming months, with the ship scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of this year.



Steady improvements in production efficiencies have contributed to the shortest duration from start of steel cutting to vessel launch of any of vessel built by the yard. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard’s tanker build program consists of firm agreements for twelve 46,000 dwt Veteran Class product tankers, with options for up to an additional 13 ships. Three of these tankers were delivered in 2007 and are currently in service; two of the remaining vessels will be converted for use as the first U.S. flag shuttle tankers to serve the emerging Gulf of Mexico market. All of the vessels in the historic build program will be owned by Aker American Shipping. Hull 008 will be the first tanker sold under new terms and conditions to Aker American Shipping following the corporate reorganization that split the group’s ship-owning and shipbuilding operations late last year. Following the split, Aker Philadelphia Shipyard was listed on Oslo Axess under the ticker symbol AKPS. Aker American Shipping remains listed on Oslo Bors under the symbol AKASA.

New Ship for AIDA Cruises Meyer Werft in Papenburg started the construction of the fourth club ship for the German cruise operator. Michael Ungerer, Member of the Board of AIDA Cruises (Rostock), pushed the button of the computer-controlled plasma torch to start the production of the first steel plate for the new ship. The newbuilding will be completed in 2010. The 71,000-gt ship has a length overall of 252 m, a breadth of 32.2 m and 1087 cabins onboard. The AIDAdiva, which is the first ship of this series, was delivered to the Owner in April 2007 and will be followed this spring by the AIDAbella. Next to the newbuilding whose construction has started today, also the AIDAluna is currently under construction at MEYER WERFT. Source : MarineLink

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

Ezra completes maiden pipelay and offshore construction project

Ezra Holdings Limited has announced that the Group's construction and production arm, 48.9 per cent-owned EOC Limited, has successfully executed and completed its first offshore construction and pipelay job.



The Greenfields International (GFI) platform, located in the Bualang Field in the Gulf of Thailand, is ready to begin drilling now that the jacket, topsides, pipelines and FPSO moorings have been safely installed. "The credit goes to Lewek Champion – the first dynamically positioned heavy lift, accommodation and pipelay vessel in EOC's fleet – which wrapped up the job well within schedule and specification," said Eara. The GFI contract was secured through Emas Offshore Construction and Production Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Oslo-Main Board listed EOC Limited. Lewek Champion's DP2 capability was used in the project for pipelaying, jacket installation and heavy lifting of the topsides, all performed without the use of conventional anchors and mooring systems.

"Zaliv America" Is Put into Operation On January, 23 a new tanker “Zaliv America” of 104 thousand tons deadweight was delivered to PRISCO, the press-service of the shipping company reports. The vessel was built at Hyundai Heavy Industries. The tanker has 1А class. She is the first in the series of 6 which will be delivered to Prisco during 2008-2009. Currently the total deadweight of PRISCO’s fleet is about 1 300 thousand tons. Source : SeaNews

Costa zet deze zomer tweede schip in vanuit Amsterdam

Gezien de populariteit van cruises vanuit Amsterdam met de Costa Atlantica, heeft Costa Cruises, de grootste Europese cruisemaatschappij, besloten deze zomer een tweede schip in te zetten. Met de Costa Marina als tweede schip hoopt de rederij te kunnen voldoen aan de grote vraag. De populariteit van Amsterdam als vertrekhaven kan eenvoudig worden verklaard. Voor Nederlanders is dat uiteraard de uitstekende bereikbaarheid. Voor de andere nationaliteiten is Amsterdam ook goed bereikbaar en aantrekkelijk om een paar dagen aan de cruise vast te plakken. Maar het zijn vooral de vaarschema's die een breed publiek aanspreken. Bijvoorbeeld de 11daagse cruise ‘Noordelijke hoofdsteden' waarbij o.a. Stockholm, Helsinki, Sint Petersburg, Tallinn en Kopenhagen worden bezocht. Onveranderd populair zijn de Noorse fjorden, waarbij gekozen kan worden uit een 7 daagse reis en een 11 daagse versie tot aan de Noordkaap! Het kan nóg noordelijker met een 14daagse cruise die vanuit de Noordkaap ook nog naar Spitsbergen gaat. Een ervaring om nooit te vergeten. Dan is er ook nog cruise die de fjorden combineren met IJsland en Schotland. Tot slot kunnen in het voorjaar de cruises vanuit de Middellandse zee via Spanje, Marokko, Portugal, Frankrijk, Guernsey naar Amsterdam worden geboekt en aan het eind van het seizoen deze route in omgekeerde volgorde. Mochten er twijfels zijn over het gemiddelde cruisepubliek: breng eens een bezoek aan de Passengers Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) als Costa aanlegt. Een blik op de passagiers maakt een eind aan het grote vooroordeel dat cruisen vooral voor ouderen is: opvallend veel gezinnen (juli en augustus) en jongeren gaan aan boord om te genieten van de Italiaanse gastvrijheid en de prachtige aanloophavens. Goed nieuws voor cruiseliefhebbers met een handicap, Costa Crociere heeft in de loop van 2007 een aantal belangrijke faciliteiten ontwikkeld die het verblijf voor gasten met een handicap er makkelijker op gaat maken. Allereerst is er voor doven en slechthorenden de introductie van een gebarentaal vertaling op de veiligheids video. Andere maatregelen zijn genomen met als doel de cruise beleving voor gehandicapte gasten te versterken: gereserveerde stoelen in het theater, gereserveerde stoelen op de eerste rij van bussen bij excursies en transfers, speciale tafels bij het buffet en voorrang bij in- en ontscheping. Daarnaast begint elke cruise met een bespreking met de Guest Relation Manager, waarbij speciale wensen worden besproken en reserveringen worden gemaakt.



Deze nieuwe services zijn tot stand gekomen dankzij het zogenaamde ‘G.U.E.S.T. (Generating Unique Excellent Service Together) programma. Via dit collectieve programma voor alle Costa werknemers kan het personeel suggesties doen voor nieuwe ideeën en oplossingen om de kwaliteit aan boord te verbeteren. Bron : TourpressHolland

The AL FARABI seen moored in Callao (Peru) Photo : Cesar Llanos ©

Orders 96 miljoen euro voor technologie in luxe jachten en cruiseschepen

Imtech (technische dienstverlening in Europa) maakt bekend dat het onlangs van diverse scheepseigenaren en scheepswerven in Nederland, Duitsland, Rusland, USA en de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten opdrachten heeft gekregen voor technologische oplossingen aan boord van diverse jachten en cruiseschepen. Deze opdrachten vertegenwoordigen een totale waarde van ruim 96 miljoen euro. Imtech ziet voortgaande groei op de markt van luxe jachten en cruiseschepen. Imtech is één van de sterkste spelers in dit segment. Vanuit diverse maritieme competentiecentra van Imtech in Europa, USA en Verre Oosten wordt deze markt bewerkt. Het innovatieve Imtech-dienstenpakket bestaat onder andere uit geïntegreerde en geautomatiseerde scheepsbruggen, voorstuwing & aandrijving, alarm & monitoring, navigatie & communicatie, IT-netwerken aan boord, elektrotechniek, lucht- en klimaattoepassingen, brandbeveiliging en integrale veiligheid. Hierbij staan duurzaamheid en energiebesparing voorop. Onlangs zijn orders verkregen voor luxe (mega)jachten met een lengte van circa 30 meter tot 85 meter van de Nederlandse werf Feadship in Aalsmeer en Makkum, de Duitse Nobiskrug werf in Rendsburg, de Russische werf Moscow Shipyard en de Delta Marine werf in Seattle USA. Tevens werd een bijzondere opdracht ontvangen voor het luxe gigajacht Swift 141. Dit is de voormalige ‘Hr. Ms. Piet Heyn’, een Nederlands fregat met een lengte van 130 meter uit de S-klasse dat in de periode 1997-1998 door de Nederlandse marine is verkocht aan de marine van de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten en daar werd omgedoopt tot ‘F02 Al Emerat’. Onlangs is besloten dit schip om te bouwen tot een extreem luxe gigajacht van 141 meter, waarbij Imtech verantwoordelijk is voor de complete automatisering, de energiezuinige aandrijving, de navigatie en communicatie aan boord, alsmede het volledige pakket aan elektrotechnische oplossingen.



Onlangs ontving Imtech ook de opdracht om technologische oplossingen te verzorgen voor drie nieuwe cruiseschepen die worden gebouwd op de Duitse Meyer werf (Meyer Werft) in Papenburg. Het gaat om drie luxe cruiseschepen met een lengte tussen 314 meter (één schip) en 340 meter (twee schepen) met respectievelijk bijna 1.400 cabines voor maximaal 2.800 passagiers en ruim 1.250 grotere cabines voor maximaal 2.500 passagiers. Imtech rust de schepen uit met moderne en energiezuinige oplossingen op het gebied van Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) en verzorgt ook grotendeels de engineering hiervan. Met de Imtech-oplossingen voldoen de schepen aan de hoogste comforteisen voor de kwaliteit van schone lucht, die individueel per cabine te regelen is. De jachten worden in de periode 2008-2010 opgeleverd en de cruiseschepen in de periode 2009-2010.

Tristan da Cunha: Harbour Repair and Refurbishment Project

Tristan Administrator David Morley recently took the opportunity to brief the Tristan community via the Island's newly relaunched radio station, Atlantic FM, about plans for the harbour repair and refurbishment project. This will begin with a visit on Thursday 24 January by 7 Royal Engineers on a specially chartered MV Kelso to conduct a reconnaissance study. If all goes well, this will be followed next month by the main event - a visit by the RFA Lyme Bay from the UK, carrying a party of 50 Royal Engineers as well as all the plant and materials necessary to repair the harbour and begin its refurbishment. David followed this excellent news by playing "Rule Britannia" in honour of the impending visit! This EDF-funded multi-million Euro project is a good example of cross-Departmental cooperation with FCO, MOD and DfID all working closely together to deliver, on behalf of the UK Government, a result which will be of enormous benefit to the Tristan community. It was SHG that secured funding from the EU and DFID for this project and managed to obtain additional aid for this purpose following the Mid Term Review of EDF9 activities. SHG also has responsibility for ensuring that the project's progress is monitored in line with EU requirements. Source : Office of the Governor - The Castle

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New West Africa – Brazil Ro-Ro service Italy’s Grimaldi has announced a new Ro-Ro service between West Africa and Brazil commencing in March 2008. Two ships are to be deployed – CARMANIA EXPRESS and FAST ARROW with a port rotation taking in Lagos, Luanda, Dakar, Paranagua, Santos and Rio de Janeiro on a monthly frequency. The new service will specialise in project cargo for the oil industries of Angola and Nigeria. Grimaldi already operates a regular Ro-Ro service connecting North Europe to East Coast South America (ECSA) via West Africa with which the new service will interconnect, providing transhipment options out of Dakar and Casablanca – the latter port being a new call on Grimaldi’s Europe-ECSA service. Source : ports.co.za



Bahamas tourist ship arrives at Aden The Bahamian cruise ship Astor has arrived at the Aden harbor coming from the Omani Salala port, on its aboard 550 tourists of various nationalities. A tourist source said that tourist programs have been prepared for the tourists included visits a number of historical and tourist landmarks in Aden province, especially the Aden water container, the Sirra castle and the heritage museum in addition to visit ancient popular quarters and markets in the city. Over 240 tourists headed for Sana'a city to acquaint with its historical and tourist landmarks. Source : sabanews.net

The COMBI DOCK I seen during her maiden voyage in Rotterdam-Waalhaven Photo : Piet Sinke ©

Madagascan patrol vessel launched in Mauritius ATSANTSA, the largest boat built by the Chantier Navale De L’Ocean Indien in Port-Louis (CNOI), has been delivered to Madagascar. This patrol ship of 35 metres is intended for the monitoring of illegal fishing within the region and is to be homeported at Mahajanga. Her mission is to prevent the plundering of Malagasy waters by poachers. The construction of the vessel was financed jointly by the Malagasy State and the European Development Fund. At the time of the Protocolar ceremony in November 2007, Claudia Wiedey, head of the European Commission in Mauritius underlined that the construction of this patrol boat was not only a sign of the potential of the private sector in Mauritius but was also a symbol of the success of regional co-operation. The Minister for Agro-Industrial and Fishing Arvin Boolell also stressed its importance, “to prevent those fishing vessels under foreign convenience flag states to practice an organised highly lucrative plundering of the seas of the sphere.” He said this was why Mauritius refused to allow the unloading of several fishing vessels not listed by the Tuna Commission of the Indian Ocean (CTOI). “These ships were suspected of devoting themselves to illegal fishing,” he said. The minister announced that he intended presenting the Fisheries and Marine Resources Bill at the next session of the National Assembly. “A bill in which the fight against illegal fishing holds a choice of place,” he added. Such surveillance



is necessary in Madagascar where the marine resources represent “an enormous potential for the country,” according to Bruno Ranarivel, Madagascar’s Ambassador to Mauritius. “The ship will have a very important role so that our resources are not plundered by pirate ships.” The choice of the name Atsantsa is appropriate, meaning ‘shark’ in Malagasy. Following the handover of Atsantsa, Pascal Piriou, chairman of the shipyard said the CNOI intends expanding during 2008 and that the quays will be doubled in length to 350m. The commissioning of an elevator (syncrolift) of 1,400 tons is also envisaged which will allow the simultaneous dry-docking of two vessels of up to 55 meters in addition to those dry-docking the conventional way. Source : ports.co.za

Van Oord’s JAN STEEN seen operating in the Champion Oilfield off Brunei Photo : Frank Winter ©

New faces, new ships Pacific International Lines (PIL) has deployed its newbuilding KOTA NAZIM, the first of eight 1,802-TEU container ships ordered from the Dalian Shipyard to its South East Asia, South Africa and West Africa service which it shares with MOL (SWAC/WA 3). Another new ship expected on the West Africa service is MAERSK INVERNESS when the 3,450-TEU container ship becomes the largest newbuilding to be deployed on a West African service. Maersk Inverness is the same size as LUETJENBURG also on this service after having ‘filled in’ for the damaged SA HELDERBERG last year following that ship’s collision near Singapore. Maersk Inverness will handle the first sailing of the revised service that now includes calls at Walvis Bay, Abidjan and Lagos/Apapa. The ship is 239m in length with a beam of 32.2m and a maximum draught of 12m. Another Maersk ship, the Maersk Darlington has been chartered to MISC for the ASA service (Asia – South Africa) operated jointly by MISC, K Line and PIL. Now renamed MISC DARLINGTON the 4,230-TEU capacity ship becomes the largest container ship on the ASA service. She replaces the 3,600-TEU NORTHERN DIVINITY which has transferred to MISC’s India – Europe joint service. source – axsliner.com

Preliminary deal inked for two modern ferries An initial technical agreement for the construction of two modern ferries in Guyana has been signed between the Ministry of Public Works and Communications and a Chinese delegation, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. This follows a feasibility study conducted recently by a ten-member Chinese survey team to determine the building capacity of local shipyards and meetings were held with various technical officials. Construction of the two roll-on roll-off ferries is being pursued as part of a bilateral technical co-operation programme that originally required the Chinese to design and construct the vessels in their country. However, according to GINA, a request was later made to have the ferries constructed locally in the interest of ensuring further development of the local ship-building capacity. This will enable local construction of vessels that are acceptable for use not only in Guyana and the region, but internationally.



Construction of the new ferries which are estimated to cost approximately US$8M is expected to be completed within two years. These were initially intended for the Rosignol/New Amsterdam crossing, but with construction of the Berbice River Bridge, the vessels will be assigned to the Essequibo crossing. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn were among those who held discussions with the delegation, GINA said. Minister Benn explained that the initial agreement provides for both parties to accept the designs and proposals to have the vessels constructed locally and other technical details for implementation of the project. GINA said that at present, government is spending more than $570M to construct a new stelling at Supenaam, Goodhope in Region Two, to accommodate the new ferries while previous upgrading was carried out to the infrastructure at Parika. A roll-on/roll-off vessel allows for easier and faster loading and off-loading since it connects directly to the stelling built to accommodate it. Acquisition of the ferries will be the first phase of a plan to replace the existing ferries which have been in operation for more than 70 years and which have been costly to maintain. Over the period 2001 to 2005, government spent approximately $2.4B to improve the services of the Transport and Hydraulics Department (T&HD), GINA reported. Heavy operational losses due mainly to low tariffs, an over-aged fleet and competition from private operators are some of the problems facing the ferry services. These were outlined in a transport sector study conducted by European Union (EU) consultants during 2005. The study recommended a refinement and implementation of a short-term investment programme with focus on the Essequibo crossings and a fleet development programme. It also recommended the strengthening of the legal and institutional framework of T&HD to focus on safety standards and regulations. Source : stabroeknews

The SHA'M (Damen Stan Tug 2608) conducted bollard pull tests in Rotterdam-Calandkanaal at the Heerema location the tug is built for SAQR PORT, this port is an important (oil) port in the United Arab Emirates.

Photo : Jan Oosterboer ©



MOVEMENTS

The COMBI DOCK I seen departing from Rotterdam with destination Barcelona where the deck cargo (dredging materials) will be discharged, in continuation the brand new vessel will proceed to Marina da Carrara ( near Genua )

where 2 reactors with a weight of 1000 tons each will be loaded with destination Houston (Texas), after Italy the vessel will proceed via Yemen and Cape Town to Houston.

In Rotterdam the handling agent was Maritime Transport Services Photo’s : Piet Sinke ©

MARINE WEATHER THIS SECTION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY :

Internet: www.spos.eu Tel : +31 317 399800 E-mail : [email protected]



Today’s wind (+6Bft) and wave (+3m) chart. Created with SPOS, the onboard weather information & voyage optimisation system, used on over 1000 vessels today.

…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..

Monday the Celebrity Millennium was docked in Ft. Lauderdale, The ship changed also Monday from the Bahamian to Maltese flag.

Photo : Jan Velthuis - Chief Engineer - m.s. Westerdam ©



LOOKING BACK AT BRITISH TUGS By : Andrew Wiltshire

The first in a new “Looking back” series, this all-colour album is in the

ever-popular “Janes” format and looks at the wide variety of British tugs ranging from steam-powered tugs to the motor tugs tug boats around the seas and waterways of Britain in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, then more modern methods of propulsion started to become popular. 102 top quality

photographs with detailed captions providing the background history of the vessels make this an appealing publication for all interested in Britain's

shipping .

This 80 pages book full with high quality colour photos is a must for tug boat lovers !

The beautiful book ( ISBN 978-1-902953-28-1 ) can be ordered from :

Bernard McCall 400 Nore Road

Portishead Bristol BS20 8EZ

www.coastalshipping.co.uk

Price : UK Pound 15.00 or 25 Euro plus 10% UK Post/packing

The compiler of the news clippings disclaim all liability for any loss, damage or expense however caused, arising from the sending, receipt, or use of this e-mail communication and on any reliance placed upon the information provided through this free service and does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information. If you want to no

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