daily collection of mar itime press clippings 2015 –...

DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 050

Distribution : daily to 32.250+ active addresses 19-02-2015

Number 050 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Thursday 19-02-2015

News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

The ENA FORTUNE assisting the EASTERN WB 300 out of the drydock in Batam

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EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

The SEABOURN QUEST in Antartica – Photo : Daniel Nikolov- Seabourn Quest ©

North Atlantic trade vessel sharing agreement between UASC, CMA CGM and

Hamburg Süd Dubai-based container shipping line, United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), is to enter the North Atlantic trade via a vessel sharing agreement (VSA) with CMA CGM and Hamburg Süd. The three partner companies will operate a service on the Transatlantic North trade, linking Northern Europe with the United States East Coast. The service, which will start in the third week of May, will call at the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, Southampton, New York, Norfolk, Charleston and Savannah and vice-versa, carrying around 3,300 teu weekly. Jørn Hinge, UASC’s President and CEO, stated that the collaboration would enable the shipping line to offer their customers the “lowest possible unit costs, whilst growing in a responsible fashion and without adding unnecessary capacity”. The announcement follows the launch of the Ocean Three alliance between UASC, CMA CGM and China Shipping Container

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Lines (CSCL), which began in January. Another general cooperation agreement between UASC and Hamburg Süd is to commence in April with the Arab company entering the South American trades and the German shipping line moving into the East-West trade. Source : container-mag

The MAYAN QUEEN moored at the marina in Keppel Bay – Singapore – Photo : Capt. Jelle de Vries – Sunshine

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WORLD OCEAN COUNCIL PARTNERS WITH THE ECONOMIST ON ARCTIC SUMMIT AND

WORLD OCEAN SUMMIT WOC and Ocean Business Community Participation at The Economist Arctic Summit 2015 and World Ocean Summit 2015

The World Ocean Council is partnering again with The Economist to help engage the ocean business community in upcoming events:

▪ Arctic Summit 2015 (Oslo, 12 March 2015) ▪ World Ocean Summit 2015 (Lisbon, 2-5 June 2015)

A special registration discount is available to WOC Members for these events.

For the third Arctic Summit, the WOC is working with The Economist to help ensure Arctic business community participation. The event will gather senior level politicians, government bodies, NGOs, indigenous groups, intergovernmental organizations, and corporations from across the insurance, infrastructure, oil gas and mining, logistics, shipping, tourism and risk management industries. A special registration discount is available to WOC Members.The speaker for Arctic Summit’s lead industry sponsor - DNV GL (a founding WOC Member) - is Elisabeth Tørstad, CEO, DNV GL Oil & Gas. Other speakers include: Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping (WOC Founding Member), the CEOs

and senior managers of companies participating in WOC Arctic Business Leadership Council developments; and leading Arctic authorities from business, government and other stakeholder communities.

The Arctic Summit discussions will provide input to WOC's Arctic program, which continues to work towards developing multi-industry leadership and collaboration on responsible economic activity in the changing Arctic region.For the 2015 World Ocean Summit, the WOC is also working again with The Economist to advance ocean industry multi-stakeholder dialogue on global ocean issues. This year's theme - "Blue economy; Blue growth" - is designed to capture the



opportunity presented by blue growth for businesses, governments and the international ocean community, and identify solutions in the tension between economic development and sustainability.The Economist has again invited the WOC to help shape the World Ocean Summit program and speaker's roster. Confirmed speakers from WOC to date include: Shontel Norgate, CFO, Nautilus Minerals (WOC Founding Member); John Lyras, Vice Chairman, International Chamber of Shipping (WOC Founding Member); and Paul Holthus, CEO, WOC.Other notable speakers include: Anibal Cavaco Silva, President, Portuguese Republic; Elisabeth Aspaker, Minister of Fisheries, Norway; Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs & Fisheries, European Commission; Assunção Cristas, Minister of Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning, Portugal; and Michael Shorrock, CEO, Tidal Lagoon Power.For information on the registration discount available to WOC Members, contact [email protected].

SAVE THE DATE!

Sustainable Ocean Summit 2015: 9-11 Nov 2015, Singapore

The next World Ocean Council Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS) will take place in Singapore the week of 9-11 November 2015. The specific venue will be announced soon. Mark your calendars for this unique global ocean industry event, which is held only every 2 years. The WOC is the only international, cross-sectoral alliance for private sector leadership and collaboration in “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”. Companies and associations worldwide are distinguishing themselves as leaders in ocean sustainability, stewardship and science by joining the WOC. Members to date include over 70 leadership organizations from a wide range of ocean industries: oil and gas, shipping, seafood, fisheries, aquaculture, mining, renewable energy, ocean technology, maritime law, marine environmental services and other areas. For the current list of WOC Members, click here. The WOC News Release is received by over 34,000 ocean industry stakeholders around the world. The WOC is a registered organization in the US and in the UK/Europe.

17-02-2015 : The AHT SALVAREE outbound in Vancouver harbour photo : Robert Etchell ©


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Everyone went flying' - chaos as ferry smashes into Auckland wharf

A passenger on a ferry that smashed into a wharf in Devonport this morning says "everyone went flying and all the chairs went flying".A dozen passengers and crew were injured, some needing hospital treatment after the terrifying crash. The Fullers ferry KEA ploughed into a concrete beam at the Devonport wharf at 10.40am with more than 60 people onboard."All of a sudden I saw this coming up at me, and I thought I think were gonna hit. And he did, he crunched right in," passenger Doug Lavery, a Canadian tourist, told ONE News."It kind of went straight into the wharf. He didn't really stop at all and it seemed like he just didn't know what was

happening," said Stacey Mannion, one of a dozen passengers hurt."Everyone went flying and all the chairs went flying. I just hit my knee and got a few grazes." Others were left with more serious injuries."Possibly some broken bones. One women was briefly knocked out and they're all being treated at North Shore Hospital," said Inspector Cornell Kluessien of Waitemata police. Police say the vessel had slowed down and was preparing to dock when it smashed into the wharf.Mr Lavery said it could have been much worse. "It could have been going at real speed and then it would have really been a disaster. We would have been thrown I'm sure."Passengers who spoke to ONE News have been critical of Fullers staff in its handling of the situation. They claim they were left to fend for themselves without a single crew member addressing the shaken passengers. Fullers management say they're aware of the complaints but are yet to speak to the crew involved. Fullers insisted the KEA was reliable and had made more than 10,000. The company and Maritime New Zealand are now investigating. Source : TVNZ

The ENCOFRADOR in Willemstad (Curacao) Photo : Kees Bustraan –

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Risk of oil spills shifts from big ships to smaller vessels, Coast Guard expert says

If you fear a big oil spill on Washington waters, you're wiser to worry about small spills and fret about them more often, according to several public and private agency experts.They told an oil spill forum earlier this month that pleasure craft and fishing boats leak more oil than do cargo ships, luxury liners or tankers.

And on the North Olympic Peninsula, they said, be grateful we have no train tracks because the threat from so-called crude by rail is greater than a marine spill.Still, no one dismisses the possibility of a disaster like the Arco Anchorage catastrophe in Port Angeles Harbor late in 1985 “when a lot of folks instead of spending

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Christmas with their families went out and worked on an oil spill,” said Jeff Ward of the Clallam County Marine Resources Committee.

The committee and the Northwest Straits Commission sponsored the forum Feb. 5 at Port Angeles City Hall.

Participants included representatives of the Coast Guard, the state departments of Ecology and of Fish and Wildlife, British Petroleum and the Makah tribe.“This is truly the safest place as far as a large port,” said Coast Guard Capt. Joe Raymond, commander of Sector Puget Sound, “and you are doing the most to take care of oil safety.”As of Jan. 1, he said, no more single-hulled tankers ply Puget Sound.“There's steel, air and steel before you get to oil,” he said, and the oil storage tanks themselves are divided into segments.Regulators also are insisting that bunker oil — fuel — be stored inside the hull instead of just beneath a ship's skin. Forty percent of ocean-going ships have been so equipped, Raymond said.

Of the estimated 10,000 freighters that travel the Strait of Juan de Fuca annually — about 800 a year fewer than a peak in 1990 — the Coast Guard detains between 30 to 40 ships a year, as it did the 748-foot Overseas Jademar last week in Port Angeles Harbor. The Marshall Islands-flagged ship filled with Malaysian crude resumed its journey to Anacortes on Thursday after fixing safety deficiencies.“If there is a safety or a security risk, we will meet them when they come into the Straits,” Raymond told the two-dozen people who attended the forum.Canada and the United States share vessel traffic control off the coast and through the Strait, “which keeps the big ships in our very wide channels, our very deep channels,” he said, adding that the biggest risk of collision comes from pleasure craft and fishing boats that cross vessel traffic lanes.

Derelict vessels — especially pleasure boats whose ownership changes and evades detection — also pose problems. One derelict in Penn Cove on Whidbey Island leaked 8,500 gallons of oil that closed a commercial mussel farm for a month.“We chase the same vessels over and over again,” Raymond said, “vessels coming down to the end of their lifetime that get passed on from owner to owner. They're sold for a buck on the back of a bar napkin.”Smaller sailors account for half the incidents and three-quarters of the volume of spilled oil.Simultaneously, large-vessel traffic remains stable as container ships grow as big as aircraft carriers and luxury liners get larger.

“We literally measure our spills today from tankers in ounces, literally in ounces,” Raymond said.The state Department of Ecology's Dave Byers, the state's response manager, said these precautions prevent major mishaps:

■ Prebooming, surrounding tankers with floating cordons when they transfer oil to or from barges or onshore tanks.

■ Caching spill-cleanup supplies in 99 locations around the state and training first responders to contain spills to immediate areas even before cleanup crews arrive.

■ Conducting three drills a year in hazard-likely areas: two exercises on the water, one a tabletop exercise.

■ “Fingerprinting” oil samples to identify polluters.

The state Fish and Wildlife Department oversees the rescue of oiled birds and mammals by volunteers who must undergo three days of free hazardous-waste operations and emergency response training, known as HAZWOPER, and annual one-day refreshers.HAZWOPER classes will be held in Clallam County in March, with oiled-wildlife classes scheduled in April.

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Meanwhile, the Makah tribe, whose treaty waters have endured 1 million gallons of spilled oil, is updating its 2010 study of tanker traffic.“Catastrophes usually start six or seven steps earlier,” said Keith Ledford of the tribe, citing human errors or equipment failures.

“We must try to interrupt the process at the beginning,” he said. “That's where our energy is best spent.” The tribe predicts a 25 percent increase in vessel traffic over the next decade, an 18 percent increase in oil spill risk and a 68 percent increase in spilled oil.The threat is three times greater at Haro Strait, which lies between Victoria and the San Juan Islands, than at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Ledford said. That, though, is less than the threat posed by oil moving by rail, the forum panel members said.The risk for spills is mounting in Eastern Washington, according to the Coast Guard's Raymond. Railroad accidents, Byers said, spilled more oil in 2014 than trains spilled in the previous three decades.Even with comparative safety of oil on the water, none of the participants could promise that no catastrophic spill could occur on the Strait of Juan de Fuca or the Pacific Coast, given the demand for petroleum products, the press of refinery schedules and the vagaries of tides and winds.“It's just the world we live in where it's not going to be safe,” said BP's Scott McCreery.“There's still always a risk, and that gives us concern for the wonderful creatures we have here,” said Dave Noviello of Fish and Wildlife.“Prevention is the best solution.” Source: peninsuladailynews

The PLSV TOP ESTRELA DO MAR operating in Brazilian waters – Photo : Capt Peter Franse Master PLSV TOP Coral do Atlantico ©

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Rotterdam remains the largest European port serving China

In 2014, Rotterdam became the first European port since the start of the economic crisis in 2008 to handle more than 3 million TEU (20-foot container units) going to or coming from China. Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO Allard Castelein announced this during the first quarterly meeting of the Rotterdam Port Promotion Council (RPPC). At the meeting he analysed the throughput figures for 2014 and indicated trends for a large group of port entrepreneurs.

The COSCO FRANCE inbound for Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Cees van der Kooij ©

In 2008, Hamburg in northern Germany still handled the most 'China containers' of 2.6 million against Rotterdam's 2.2 million. The German port suffered greatly during the crisis of 2008, whereas Rotterdam's throughput only declined moderately. Since then, Rotterdam has been the main European port for 'China containers', although the lead on Hamburg remains small. In 2013, Hamburg handled 2.3 million TEU; Rotterdam handled 2.4 million. Anticipating the definitive figures, the Port of Rotterdam Authority expects an increase of at least 10 percent over 2014.The Chinese share of Rotterdam's throughput will be significant and likely increase again in 2015.

Photo left : Kees Torn © There are currently 18 container services per week between Chinese ports and Rotterdam.The main battleground for rival European is very much China at the moment. It could hardly be otherwise, since about 70 percent of all container traffic to Northern Europe comes from this country. Joining alliances weekly rate to northern Europe from ten ports in mainland China brings

the total to 74 weekly trips. The freight carriers 2M (co Maersk Line and MSC) clearly predominate; every week 27 vessels from China travel to northern Europe, significantly more than Three Ocean (18), CKYHE (17) and G6 (12). For more information, please visit: http://www.portofrotterdam.com/nl/actueel/pers-en-nieuwsberichten/Pages/containerdiensten-azinoordwest-europa-herschikt.aspx Source : supplychaindigital.

Maersk Line’s Chinese New Year 2015 - Eastbound Blank Sailings

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The 4713 Chinese New Year begins Today, February 19th, 2015, and will run for 15 days as the people around the world reunite to celebrate the holiday. Manufacturing plants typically shut down during this time, with many workers in the world’s supply chain taking this time off to celebrate the festivities. With the expected decrease in export volumes during the Chinese New year and the volume spike after the holiday. Maersk Line always strives to minimize impact to our clients and manage the irregular exports at this time of the year. For Maersk Line's coverage of the Transpacific Eastbound strings, our schedules will be altered to accommodate these volume shifts over the course of the holiday. The Westbound strings will be confirmed next week via a follow up advisory. Please note the sailing week is defined by the departure date from the last port call in Asia for the Eastbound transits and North America for the Westbound. Source : American Journal of Transportation

EU, Japan Boost Anti-Piracy Cooperation Japan and the European Union are strengthening anti-piracy cooperation in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia to reduce the number of pirate attacks on commercial vessels.Their joint operation had helped an international mission to reduce piracy incidents from 174 in 2011 to just two last year, Japan's Jiji Press news agency reported. The first operation took place in January 2014 when EU naval forces and Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) troops teamed up to capture a pirate ship.

MSDF destroyer Samidare initially received information about a commercial ship coming under attack in the Gulf of Aden.It then sent a P-3C patrol aircraft to monitor the situation while an EU naval vessel from France was dispatched to the site to arrest five pirates.The trial of the five men began in January at a court in the Republic of Seychelles in eastern Africa, where they were indicted under an agreement between the EU and Seychelles. Japan and the EU have conducted three anti-piracy exercises together in the Gulf of Aden since October.EU and the MSDF have respectively extended their anti-piracy mission to the end of 2016 and up to July this year.The Gulf of Aden is a strategic waterway through which approximately 5,000 vessels pass every month carrying Middle Eastern oil and other goods. Source : BERNAMA

Gorilla out of the mist Expectations Euronav will end a four-year losing streak and reintroduce a dividend in the second half of 2015 have seen Evercore ISI begin coverage of the company with a buy rating. Analyst Jonathan Chappell describes Wall Street’s largest VLCC owner as an 800lb crude tanker gorilla with a ton of earnings leverage. Euronav booked its fourth successive annual loss last week with a $45.8m deficit for 2014.With the start of 2015 bringing the best VLCC market since 2008, Chappell believes the owner will see a huge profit in 2015 with more to follow.He projects a profit of $176.5m in 2015 to be followed by a $181.7m gain in 2016.

“Although we expect Euronav to look to remain the lead consolidator of the industry, we believe the most immediate use of cash will a resumption of dividends,” Chappell said.A $0.35 per share semi-annual dividend is projected for the second half of 2015 as the company becomes cash flow positive for the first time in three years. Euronav took a fleet of over 50 tankers to the New York Stock Exchange in January, raising $229m. source : Tradewinds

CMAL equips third hybrid ferry with Voith Schneider Propellers

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), a corporation owned by the Scottish government, continues to rely on Voith propulsion systems for its new hybrid ferry. The reason for that are the satisfactory results already seen on two

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other ferries equipped with Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP). Like their sister vessels MV Hallaig and MV Lochinvar, the new ferry will be built by Ferguson Shipbuilders in Glasgow. For its new hybrid vessel, the Scottish owner CMAL relies on two VSP 16R5 EC/90-1 as well as two bow-tooth couplings and the Voith electronic control system. Using the same electronic control system that is already installed on board of the MV Hallaig, the new ferry can be maneuvered effortlessly and operates efficiently. The control system consists of a modular hardware and software architecture and offers many control features and standardized interfaces, making it possible to actuate the two 375kW VSPs swiftly and with the utmost precision. As is the case with the other two ferries in CMAL’s hybrid fleet, the new ferry combines a

diesel-electric propulsion system with lithium ion batteries. To reduce the load on the diesel engine, the ferry’s two lithium batteries are charged

overnight via a land cable. On the sister vessels, CMAL has already achieved savings of 38%. The ferry will operate in Scottish waters characterized by strong currents. Thanks to the VSPs, the ferry can be maneuvered safely and comfortably, even under these adverse operating conditions. Many Scottish landings consist of concrete ramps where the vessels dock without being firmly moored. Accurate control and positioning as well as maximum maneuverability are imperative to guarantee safe operations when docking in rough seas. To ensure that the two VSPs are protected when docking, they are arranged diagonally in recesses and not in a central positon at the bow and in the stern as is normally the case. The vessel is expected to enter into service in spring 2016. It measures 43.5 meters in length and 12.2 meters in breadth and is capable of accommodating approximately 150 passengers and 23 cars. The service speed of the hybrid ferry is nine knots.Voith Turbo, a Group Division of Voith GmbH, is a specialist for

intelligent drive solutions and systems. Customers from highly diverse industries such as oil and gas, energy, mining and mechanical engineering, ship technology, rail and commercial vehicles rely on advanced technologies from Voith Turbo.Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transportation & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs more than 39 000 people, generates €5.3 billion in sales, operates in over 50 countries around the world and is today one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.

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On 17 February the crane vessel RAMBIZ , towed by the MULTRATUG 4, arrived at the Dutch port of IJmuiden.In IJmuiden it picked up the Offshore High Voltage Station (OHVS) for installation at the Eneco Luchterduinen offshore wind farm, some 23 kilometres off the coast. Installation will take place in the next few days depending on suitable weather windows. The OHVS already arrived last Sunday in the late hours. This almost 900 tonnes weighing transformer station was built at the Cofely Fabricom construction yard in Hoboken, Belgium. The four-stored station is 24 metres long, 23 metres wide and 16 metres high. The OHVS will collect the 33kV power produced by the 43 turbines and transform it to 150kV so it can be transported by the 26km long export cable to the landfall on the coast at Noordwijk. From here an 8km underground cable will transport the electricity to the onshore substation at Sassenheim. All foundations and cable connections for the wind farm were completed in 2014. Turbine installation will start soon, with full commissioning planned for Q4 this year. Photo : Marcel Coster ©

Royal IHC and Tompkins UK join forces to launch TI Geosciences

A new force in deep water geotechnical survey and site investigation

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Royal IHC (IHC) has joined forces with Tompkins UK – the parent company of Modus Seabed Intervention – to enter the deep and ultra-deep water, oil and gas geotechnical survey and site investigation market under the banner of TI Geosciences. Tompkins’ extensive experience and track record in offshore, subsea and geotechnical contracting fields, combined with IHC’s engineering and advanced system design and development capabilities, will deliver world-class services to the oil and gas industry in this challenging sector.TI Geosciences will initially provide cone penetration test (CPT)/gravity coring services. These will be based on Tompkins’ deep-push, buoyancy stabilised, deep-water CPT system – equipped with AP van den Berg’s digital pressure compensated Icone – deployed from a Swire Pacific Offshore G-class platform supply vessel. Remote seabed drilling services are also scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2015, with the first in a range of IHC’s SWORD (sonic wireline-operated remote drill) systems, which will also be deployed from a Swire G-class vessel. Services will be ISO 19901-6 and -8 compliant The SWORD systems will remain within IHC’s research and development programme. This will enable operating experience and new industry/technical demands to be fed into a process of continuous improvement, with the aim of each subsequent system continuing to raise the bar.This advanced technology and a new cloud-based data management system will enable the company to simplify processes, reduce reporting time, enhance quality and increase competitiveness. Overall, it will be equipped to gain and sustain a market-leading position.Supported by an initial investment of €17million, TI Geosciences will be based in Darlington, UK, with operating bases in Teeside, Singapore and Saldahna Bay, South Africa. It will benefit from the support and global reach of IHC’s international network of office, production and engineering facilities.

The MARCO POLO outbound from Amsterdam – Photo : Lourens Visser www.navcom.org

Second dry-bulk shipper files for bankruptcy as rates tumble

By Keith Wallis and Henning Gloystein

A second dry cargo shipper has filed for bankruptcy following a collapse in freight rates that has forced many companies to idle vessels used to haul iron ore, coal and grain rather than hire out the ships at a loss.Weaker demand from China and an oversupply of ships has led to the worst industry downturn in 30 years, pushing the Baltic dry index - the industry benchmark for freight rates - to an all-time low.

China's Winland Ocean Shipping Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States on Feb. 12, court documents show, the second banruptcy this month."Due to current market conditions, the financial position of the company and its subsidiaries has deteriorated, leading to immediate difficulties," the document states, adding that it had therefore filed for Chapter 11 protection. Privately owned Danish firm Copenship filed for bankruptcy earlier in February after losses in the dry bulk market. "The combination of lower steel demand in China and the huge volume of new tonnage coming on line is what is causing panic and making this the worst bulk market since the mid-1980s," said Hsu Chih-chien, chairman of Hong Kong and Singapore-listed dry bulk shipper Courage Marine.China's imports tumbled 19.9 percent from a year earlier as its economy grows at its slowest rate in 24 years.The current freight rate for carrying a cargo of coal in a panamax ship from Indonesia to southern China is about $3,000 per day, compared with more than $6,000 last year. The Baltic dry index has slumped by nearly two-thirds in the past 15 months.Adding to slowing demand is a swelling fleet, with the number of ordered capesize and panamax carriers for the next three years equal to 39 percent of the existing fleet, according to shipping services firm Clarkson. Yet dry-bulk seaborne trade rose only 4 percent last year.As a result, dozens of capesize and panamax vessels have been idle around Singapore, Hong Kong and off South Africa's coast, Reuters ship tracking data showed.Dry-bulkers are not the only shippers in trouble.

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Over 10 percent of the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker fleet is currently idled after Asian LNG prices fell almost two-thirds since February 2014. Source : Reuters (Additional reporting by Jonathan Saul in London; Editing by Richard Pullin)

GE confirms cape sale Great Eastern Shipping of Indian has confirmed the disposal of a capesize bulker.

Bombay-listed Great Eastern says the 164,000-dwt JAG ARJUN (built 1996) has been sold and will be delivered to its new owner in the final quarter of the company’s financial year.While details about the vessel’s destination were not disclosed, TradeWinds reported on Friday the ship was one of a number of capes sold for demolition. The latest shipbrokers’ reports suggest a price of $373 per ldt was secured for the bulker, meaning an $8.725m sum for the owner.JAG ARJUN had 280 tons of bunkers onboard. Erik Nikolai Stavseth of Arctic Securities says 14 capes have been among the 55 bulkers been scrapped this year.“Thus far in 2015, capes scrapped make up in excess of 50% of total scrapped volume,” he said in a report.“However, the increased scrapping activity coincides with a steep drop in scrap steel values – leaving owners with a lower incentive to scrap – and even more clearly showing the severity of the current situation.”He suggests there are 5.9 million dwt of capesize vessels still trading which are at least 25 years old and ripe for scrap. Great Eastern is left with a fleet of 30 vessels in the water, including nine bulkers.It also has five newbuildings to its name. Source : tradewinds

The 2014 Fincantieri built CYM flag 140m Superyacht OCEAN VICTORY leaving Grand Harbour, Malta bound to Port Said on her maiden voyage on Monday 16th February, 2015. She’s the 9th largest Superyacht in the world. Photo : Capt. Lawrence Dalli - www.maltashipphotos.com ©

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Hamburg Süd and CCNI sign Sale and Purchase Agreement

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Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrts Gesellschaft KG (Hamburg Süd) with headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, is pleased to announce that the company has signed a Sale & Purchase Agreement to acquire the container liner activities of Compañía Chilena de Navegación Interoceánica S.A. (CCNI) including the related general agency functions of Agunsa Agencias Universales S.A, (Agunsa), with headquarters in Valparaiso and Santiago de Chile.The take-over of the CCNI / Agunsa business is, subject to approval by the competent antitrust authorities, scheduled to become effective at the end of March 2015 Hamburg Süd will operate the CCNI container liner business under this well established brand name in the main trades between the West Coast of South America, Asia, Europe and North America respectively. Merging the experienced workforces of CCNI and Hamburg Süd will help to create an even stronger organization that will provide a first class service to the customers of both companies.CCNI will discontinue their container liner services and will only be using the CCNI name for the Car Carrier activities which they will retain. Agunsa will continue representing other shipping lines as agent and will also further develop its port and logistics services business in South America. Source: Hamburg Süd

Seen from the SEA CHARLIE whilst discharging in quintuple tow at the Al Faw Grand Port project.

Photo : Capt Radboud Polee – Master Sea Charlie ©

Greece’s new government remains vague on plans for shipping

Greek government policy announcements in parliament last week shed little light on its plans for shipping, other than stress the industry’s standing as a flagship of the country’s economy. In its much awaited policy statements the issue of squeezing more tax revenue from shipping companies was vague. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, spoke for more than an hour and failed to mention shipping at all.Althernate Shipping minister, Theodoris Dritsas was more to the point: “This ministry should change. In our country, shipping as a whole rightly should not only be presented as the flagship of the economy, but it should become the power that utilises to the maximum and honors to the full the invaluable contribution of workers.”There was no mention of taxes, but Dritsas did say: “Increasing the return of shipowners’ capital to Greek society is an absolute necessity, especially in the current conditions of economic and social catastrophe our country and people are under.”Source: Seatrade Global



The 1999 built 264 mtr long NAVION HISPANIA inbound for Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Krijn Hamelink ©

The 2014 built 78 mtr long 3878 DWT OSL GLORY off Mumbai – Photo : Ko Rusman ©

U.S. West Coast ports reopen as labor secretary arrives for talks

U.S. West Coast ports that were closed to incoming cargo vessels during the holiday weekend reopened in full on Tuesday as Labor Secretary Tom Perez arrived in San Francisco seeking to broker a settlement ending months of shipping disruptions. Perez was sent to meet with the two sides in the conflict at the behest of President Barack Obama, who has come under mounting pressure to weigh in on a labor dispute that has cascaded through the U.S. commercial supply chain and beyond.

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But there was no immediate word on exactly when or under what conditions he would join in talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, representing 20,000 dockworkers, and the bargaining agent for shipping companies and terminal operations, the Pacific Maritime Association.Neither side has spoken about the negotiations since agreeing on Friday to honor a news blackout requested by a federal mediator. No face-to-face talks between the parties are believed to have occurred since then.The PMA previously said the talks, which have dragged on for nine months, hit a new snag on a union demand for changes in the system of binding arbitration of contract disputes. The union has insisted the two sides are near an accord.Operations to load and unload cargo vessels at all 29 West Coast ports were halted through the holiday weekend as of Friday night but resumed Tuesday morning, port authorities said. More than 30 freighters idled through the weekend waiting for berths to open outside the adjacent ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s two busiest cargo hubs. It was the longest such suspension in the months-long labor dispute. Vessel operations were likewise suspended for two days last weekend, and again last Thursday, which was a union holiday.But shippers said work at the ports continued in the dockyards, rail yards and terminal gates to move cargo already unloaded from ships. The affected ports handle nearly half of all U.S. maritime trade and more than 70 percent of imports from Asia. A domino effect has rippled through much of the U.S. economy, extending to agriculture, manufacturing, retail and transportation. California farmers have been hit especially hard, with port disruptions posing a major barrier to perishable goods headed to overseas markets and export losses estimated to be running at hundreds of millions of dollars a week. Asian exporters faced rising shipping rates and some have been forced to reroute their goods by more costly air freight. One automaker, Japan’s Honda Motor Co, said on Sunday it would slow production for a week at plants in Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario, because of port-related delays in parts shipments to those factories.The shippers have said they were curtailing port operations because they were no longer willing to pay union workers premium overnight, holiday and weekend wages during work slowdowns the companies have accused the union of orchestrating.The union has blamed changes in shipping practices instituted by the carriers themselves for causing worsening backlogs and say that suspending vessel operations has only made matters worse.Port officials say it will take six to eight weeks to clear the immediate backlog of cargo containers piled up on the docks once the dispute is settled and several months for freight traffic to return to a normal rhythm.Shipping industry experts say a longer-term concern is that American export business lost to other countries and other ports, may not return once the crisis is over.The retail and manufacturing industries have projected that a full, extended shutdown of the ports could cost the U.S. economy some $2 billion a day.Source: Reuters (Reporting and writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Rancho, Mirage, California; Editing by Bill Trott)

The MUNKEBO MAERSK arriving in Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Jan Oosterboer ©

DEME gets orders for 1.6 billion EUR in Q1 of 2015

Recently, DEME secured a number of new contracts worldwide. The total value of these orders represents approximately 1.6 billion EUR, the company said in its press release. Foremost important is a Letter of Award received in Singapore. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has awarded Dredging International Asia Pacific Pte Ltd – Daelim Industrial Co Ltd Joint Venture the Tuas Terminal Phase 1 Reclamation, Wharf Construction and Dredging Project on 13 Feb 2015 The Joint Venture will be responsible for the construction of 8.6 kilometres of quay wall, the reclamation of about 300 hectares of new land and the dredging of the fairways. The quay wall will be constructed by fabrication, floating, transporting and positioning of over two hundred caissons of 15,000 ton each. The Joint Venture



has to complete the project within six years. Worldwide several other major contracts have also been awarded to DEME beginning 2015. In Belgium, DEME received, in JV, a five-year contract for the maintenance dredging on the River Scheldt between Flushing and Antwerp. The River Scheldt requires continuous dredging at these locations in order to guarantee safe access for deep-drafted vessels to the ports of Antwerp, Ghent and Terneuzen In Germany, Nordsee has been assigned, in JV, a two-year maintenance contract for the River Weser, which is set to start in 2015. This project is designed to maintain the accessibility of the ports of Bremerhaven and the ports along a 90 km long stretch of the river. On La Réunion, France, SDI (Société de Dragage International), together with a consortium of Vinci companies (SBTPC (Société Bourbonnaise de Travaux Publics et Construction), Sogea Réunion and EMCC) have been awarded the deepening works of the existing western basin of Port Est and its extension. The client is Grand Port Maritime De La Réunion. Material is to be dredged and further transported to a dry reclamation area.The project starts in June 2015 and is the second phase of the extension. SDI executed the first phase between 2006 and 2008. A second project in hand on La Réunion concerns the dredging and rock laying works for the ‘Nouvelle Route du Littoral’. The works have been awarded to SDI, in Joint Venture. The JV is a subcontractor of the consortium GTOI (Grands Travaux de l’Océan Indien), SBTPC (Société Bourbonnaise de Travaux Publics et Construction) and VCT (Vinci Construction Terrassement). The Project, ‘Nouvelle Route du Littoral’, is executed for the account of the French Région of La Réunion. The JV scope consists of preparation and foundation works for a dike offshore the existing ‘Route du Littoral’ between the regional capital Saint-Denis and La Possession. A trench has to be dredged wherein consequently rocks are placed using a side stone-dumping vessel. Also part of the JV scope is the installation of a scour protection. This project has started early February 2015. In India, DEME’s Indian subsidiary, International Seaport Dredging (ISD), secured two new contracts. At Kakinada seaport, ISD will execute the second phase of the reclamation works for Kakinada Seaport Ltd. The first phase of these reclamation works was already completed successfully by DEME in 2011.And in Mumbai, Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Pvt. Ltd. has awarded a contract for the dredging and reclamation works to ITD Cem. These subcontract works are part of the development of the 4th container terminal in the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP). ISD will perform the dredging part of the scope. The works start at challenging shallow depths impacted by high tidal ranges and consist of removing thick layers of soft and stiff clays in order to create the future berthing pocket and maneuvering area. In Nigeria, DEME recently signed a contract with South Energyx Development FZE for the development of the remaining phases of the EKO Atlantic City project in Lagos. Some 500 hectares of land have been created so far. The phases 3 till 6 of this prestigious project include the reclamation of 42 million m³. Works will be executed over 3 to 4 years.Another new project in Lagos is the first phase of the Ilubirin Lagos Lagoon Islands Project where DEME received the award for the dredging and reclamation works. Further in Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority awarded CTOW a towage license for Onne Port. The license secures towage operations to all port users and this for a period of 10 years. DEME is major shareholder in CTOW; co-owners are Multraship and Herbosch Kiere. Unloading operations of mobilized DEME equipment offshore Reunion Island Overview of the Tuas Peninsula in Singapore, with the Tuas Terminal Phase 1 reclamation area, indicated in red. Source : PortNews

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The CSD HAM 218 operating at the Suez canal expansion project

NOL and KWE enter into a sale and purchase agreement for APL Logistics

Neptune Orient Lines Limited and Kintetsu World Express, Inc., jointly announced that they have entered into a sale and purchase agreement for NOL’s logistics business, APL Logistics, for US$1.2 billion, the company said in its press release. “This is a strategic move that will allow us to focus on improving our liner shipping business, while at the same time enabling APL Logistics to grow. The transaction will also strengthen our balance sheet and unlock value for our shareholders,” said Ng Yat Chung, Group President and CEO of NOL.

NOL said that the divestment of APL Logistics follows a robust and highly competitive process, and that the net proceeds of the sale will be applied to strengthen its financial position, including to repay its borrowings. It further said that the divestment will allow APL Logistics to realise its full potential. This transaction is subject to NOL shareholder and relevant regulatory approvals. Citi and HSBC acted as financial advisors to NOL during the transaction. KWE’s financial advisor is Nomura Securities. Source : Portnews

The MEO EMPRESS starting her voyage from Batam towing the EASTERN WB300 to Songkhla – Thailand

Photo : Raymond Dumee - www.Dumee.net ©

Eidesvik takes delivery of largest OSCV Viking Neptun from Kleven Verft

Kleven Verft on 17 February, 2015 delivered Viking Neptun (build No365) to Eidesvik, the shipbuilder's press release said. The offshore subsea construction vessel designed by Salt Ship Design is the largest vessel built ever by

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Kleven shipyard. Ship's length overall is 145 m, breadth - 31 m. Viking Neptun will be a very powerful tool for the owner. Equipped with a 400 t offshore cran and a 100 t offshore crane, the vessel can handle heavy underwater installations. The vessel also has a carousel with a capacity for 4400 tons of flexible pipes. A 2600 m2 cargo deck and accomodation for 150 people also indicates the size of the vessel. Viking Neptun holds ice class ICE 1B, allowing it to operate in arctic waters. The naming ceremony will take place in Stavanger on February 28 2015, after which the vessel will start working for Technip.Kleven is a family-owned company engaged in shipbuilding and services. From August 2012 Kleven Maritime use

Kleven as the name for the shipbuilding group. Kleven yards are called Myklebust Verft and Kleven Verft. Kleven Verft in Ulsteinvik, Norway, builds advanced offshore vessels. The yard has effective facilities for early outfitting and hull assembly. Gursken, Norway based Myklebust Verft has extensive experience in newbuildings, service, repairs and rebuilding. Based in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Kleven ORN was established in 2011 offers services to shipowners with offshore vessels operating off Brazil. The company is a joint venture between Kleven Maritime Technology (Kleven 51%, Hareid Group 49%) and Offshore Reparos Navais (ORN).

Tides Stir Up Deep Atlantic Heat in the Arctic Ocean

Research led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), in collaboration with the University of Bangor, have identified how warm Atlantic water that is flowing deep into the Arctic Ocean is mixing with colder waters above to contribute to sea-ice loss in the Arctic. The results, published today in the Journal Nature Geoscience, show that tidal flows in the Arctic are causing deep, warm water (originating from the Gulf Stream) to mix with cold, fresh water lying above, in turn contributing to melting the floating sea-ice.

Past research on how warm layers of ocean water mix with cold layers lying above has focused on turbulence driven by winds and waves, rather than on tidal mixing, since tidal flows around the Arctic Ocean are generally weak. However, direct measurements of turbulence from across the seasonally ice-free Arctic Ocean show that tidal motions interacting with steep sea bed slopes are in fact a major cause of vertical mixing. Lead author, Tom Rippeth from Bangor University, explains “Our oceans are not made up of one body of water, but contain waters of different temperatures and salinity, lying in different ‘layers’, so the Arctic Ocean is a bit like a jam sandwich, where the “bread” is the cold water layers above and below the “jam”, which is the warm, salty water that enters the Arctic from the

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Atlantic. Sea-ice floating on the surface of the ocean is insulated from the heat of the Atlantic layer by the “top slice” of cold polar water.

“We studied the warm body of water from the Atlantic that represents the largest oceanic input of heat into the Arctic – it is four degrees Celsius warmer than the surrounding water, and it is the warmest it has been in nearly two thousand years. The top of the warm layer sits at depths between 40 and 200 m, and its heat slowly diffuses upwards into the cold, fresher water above, but sometimes this movement of heat can be greatly accelerated by turbulence which drives mixing. We have found that tides are producing significant amounts of turbulence over steep sea bed topography, and so are greatly enhancing the upward movement of heat in these regions. In areas where tidal currents interact with steep sea bed slopes, this process causes mixing of the warmer waters with the over-lying colder waters, and this in turn can generate ‘hotspots’ for sea-ice melt or thinning.”

Sheldon Bacon, from the NOC, who is leading this research project, says:

“Arctic sea ice is likely to retreat further in coming decades, and if it does, interactions between the wind and ocean currents may strengthen. These mixing hotspots may then grow into other areas of the Arctic Ocean with steep sea bed slopes, resulting in further sea-ice retreat. We know that the Arctic is already warming faster than the rest of the planet, and other research conducted in the past few years is pointing to the impact of Arctic warming on mid-latitude weather. So the Arctic may have had a role in recent weather extremes in the US, UK and Europe. Therefore the importance of this new mechanism, for moving heat up towards the surface of the Arctic Ocean, lies in its potential to further enhance Arctic warming.” Bangor University, the Norwegian Polar Research Institute (NPI) and the (NOC) collaborated on four extensive Arctic research cruises covering the Arctic Ocean north of Svalbard, north of eastern and western Siberia, and in the Canada Basin. This was done by directly measuring turbulence around the Arctic Ocean and showing its direct correlation with tidal energy dissipation estimates made using satellite data. The new research is part of the TEA-COSI consortium project (“The Environment of the Arctic: Climate, Ocean, Sea Ice: http://teacosi.org ), led by Sheldon Bacon. The project is a component of the Arctic Research Programme, a £15m programme to enhance the UK’s research effort in the Arctic, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). For more information, please visit: http://noc.ac.uk/

NAVY NEWS Indian Govt approves construction of 7

stealth frigates, 6 nuclear-powered submarines

NEW DELHI: In a major step towards building a formidable blue-water Navy for the future, the Modi government has cleared the indigenous construction of seven stealth frigates and six nuclear-powered attack submarines, which together will cost well upwards of Rs 1 lakh crore. The Cabinet committee on security (CCS) took these decisions in tune with the "critical necessity" for India to bolster its "overall deterrence capability" in the entire Indian Ocean Region (IOR), especially its primary area of strategic interest stretching from the Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait. Under the over Rs 50,000 crore 'Project-17A' for stealth frigates, four will be constructed at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai and three in Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata. "The contract will be inked with MDL and GRSE this month itself, with an initial payment of Rs 4,000 crore," said a source.

Both the defence shipyards are already geared up for the project because it's a "follow-on" to the three 6,100-tonne stealth frigates built by MDL, INS SHIVALIK, INS SATPURA and INS SAHYADARI, which were inducted in 2010-2012. The new multi-mission frigates will be larger, faster and stealthier than the Shivaliks as well as packed with more weapons and sensors to operate in "a multi-threat environment". But it could well take a decade, if not more, to build all the seven frigates.The complex project for the nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) will take longer. After the CCS approval, technical parameters or naval staff qualitative requirements (NSQRs) will now be drafted for the over 6,000-tonne submarines. The SSNs are likely to be constructed at the secretive ship-building centre (SBC) in Vizag, where India's first three SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines with nuclear ballistic missiles) are being built to complete the country's nuclear weapons triad. The government has basically "reworked" the 30-year diesel-electric submarine-building plan, approved by the CCS in 1999, which envisaged induction of 12 new conventional submarines by 2012, followed by another dozen by 2030. But with no new submarine inducted till now, the government has decided to go in for six SSNs and 18 conventional vessels, said sources.

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The Indian Navies GHARIAL (L23) off Mumbay earlier this week – Photo : Ko Rusman ©

Nuclear-powered submarines are much deadlier than diesel-electric submarines since they do not need to surface every few days to get oxygen to recharge their batteries. "SSNs, which usually carry only conventional missiles, can swiftly and quietly undertake long-range patrols. They can run at high speeds like 30 knots for much longer distances, hunting for targets and gathering intelligence," said an expert. INS CHAKRA, the nuclear-powered Akula-II class SSN taken on a 10-year lease from Russia, may not be armed with long-range missiles due to international treaties, but has bolstered India's depleting underwater combat arm that is currently grappling with just 13 ageing conventional diesel-electric submarines. Armed with 300km range Klub-S land-attack cruise missiles and advanced torpedoes, INS CHAKRA can be a potent 'hunter-killer' of enemy submarines and warships as well as provide effective protection to a fleet at sea. Source : indiatimes

Senior navy officer charged with drunkenness

A former senior officer on one of Canada’s frigates has been charged with drunkenness and disobeying a lawful command.Commander Joshua Yanchus was the executive officer – or second in command – of HMCS Calgary at the time of the alleged incident June 25, 2014. He was a lieutenant commander and the frigate was taking part in the U.S.-led exercise Rim of the Pacific. During the same exercise, allegations of drunkenness and inappropriate behaviour prompted the head of the Canadian navy to take the rare move and order another ship, HMCS Whitehorse, to return to its home port in Esquimalt, B.C.Yanchus was charged Monday by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, or CFNIS. He is at CFB Esquimalt.

“All members of the Canadian Armed Forces are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate and professional manner at all times,” Lt.-Comm. Mike Amirault, deputy commanding officer of the CFNIS, said in a statement. “The CFNIS and the military police consider these charges to be significant and have taken action accordingly.” Military police spokesman Maj. Yves Desbiens said the CFNIS was called in after receiving a complaint on Aug. 5, 2014, from a third party about a sexual assault. “After a thorough investigation we concluded that the evidence did not warrant the laying of a sexual assault-related charge,” he explained. Desbiens said the alleged incident occurred on the frigate when it was in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

No further details about what command the accused disobeyed will be released, he added. In December, navy commander Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, citing a number of incidents over the last several years, announced a new alcohol policy for the maritime force. “The consumption of alcohol will be prohibited while ships are at sea,” Norman said at the time.Sailors also face a curfew during their first and last nights in port. The navy hopes that will limit the unrestrained partying it has witnessed during such periods.

Alcohol will still be available but only when a ship is in port, Norman said. Booze will be served during specific hours to off-duty personnel. Currently, off-duty sailors can consume alcohol while at sea. There are also beer-dispensing



machines on some ships, which can be accessed during specific hours by off-duty personnel. The beer-dispensing machines will be removed because under the new policy there must be a designated server providing alcohol.Alcohol can still be served while ships are at sea but only for specific and highly controlled special events, such as Christmas and crew barbecues. Alcohol prices will also be raised to more closely correspond with the cost of alcohol served in the Royal Canadian Navy’s shore-based messes, Norman added.Norman pointed out that other navies also restrict or ban outright the serving of alcohol on board ships .source : ottawacitizen.com

PLA naval escort fleet commences visit to Greece

The 18th Chinese naval escort fleet arrived in the Greek port of Piraeus on Monday morning, commencing a four-day goodwill visit after such visits to Greece in 2002 and 2010. Rear Admiral George Leventis, the superintendent of the Hellenic Naval Academy, along with a Guard of Honour from the Hellenic Navy, held a welcome ceremony for the Chinese fleet. More than 300 Chinese, led by Chinese ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli, greeted the arrival of the fleet.

During the visit, Rear Admiral Zhang Chuanshu, who is the Fleet Commander and the deputy chief of staff of the South China Sea fleet, is scheduled to meet with Greek political heavyweights such as president Karolos Papoulias and the Hellenic navy chief of staff Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis.

The guests will hold a reception commemorating the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, on the deck of amphibious landing ship Changbaishan during the visit. The Chinese fleet is also scheduled to brief the Chinese Navy's escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. The Greek Navy is expected to organize a visit aboard the vessel and have a friendly basketball game with Chinese naval officers and sailors. Greece is the fifth and final stop of the 18th Chinese naval escort fleet's five-nation European tour, with the fleet previously visiting Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and France.After the conclusion of the visit, the Chinese fleet will embark on a joint military drill with the Hellenic Navy before setting sail on the voyage home. Source : Wantchinatimes

US to base four warships in Singapore as China flexes military muscles

Four US warships designed to fight in coastal areas similar to south-east Asian waters will operate out of Singapore by 2018, a senior US Navy official said Tuesday, further underscoring Washington’s military tilt to Asia. The “rotational deployment” of the vessels, called littoral combat ships (LCS), comes as China continues to flex its muscles in the South China Sea and tensions remain on the Korean Peninsula.“We will soon see up to four LCS here in Singapore as we rotationally deploy Seventh Fleet ships,” said Rear Admiral Charles Williams.

“We envision four ships here by May 2017 to sometime in 2018... but I think what you have is that by 2018, four LCS ships will be rotationally deployed here to Singapore.”Williams, commander of the Seventh Fleet’s Task Force 73, was speaking to reporters aboard the USS

Fort Worth, an LCS on a 16-month deployment to south-east Asia.It replaced another LCS, the USS Freedom, which recently ended an eight-month tour of duty.The USS Fort Worth is set to take part in exercise Foal Eagle, a joint military drill with South Korea from 24 February - 6 March. It will also join regional navies in the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercises and the International Maritime Defence Exhibition.“The role of the US navy in both south-east Asia and north-east Asia is about presence. It’s about being where it matters when it matters,” Williams said.Fast and agile, LCS vessels can be adapted for specific missions through a system of interchangeable



modules and crew. The US Navy plans to build 52 LCS vessels at a total cost of $37 billion but the programme has become controversial due to cost inflation, design and construction issues.In 2012 the then-US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that Washington would shift the bulk of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of a new strategic focus on Asia.China is embroiled in a maritime dispute with four south-east Asian countries - Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam - as well as with Taiwan over territorial claims in the South China Sea.While not a claimant, the United States has said it has an interest to ensure freedom of navigation in the area. source : theguardian

Vietnam-made submarine sector nearly a reality

Do Thai Binh, a renowned maritime expert, said a group of students from HCM City University of Technology has tested an ROV (remotely operated vehicle), a robot submarine that is tethered to a ship, where "pilots" control its movement and actions. Binh declined to give detailed information about the ROV before the students can be sure of the test success. He also said that the path to an unmanned sub like Tianjin that China has launched into the East Sea is still thorny.However, he said only if Vietnamese begin their navigation will they be able to reach their destination; in other words,if they do not try, they will never get success. Binh’s sources said that another school in HCM City has also started its research work on marine science, planning to launch its ROV in “the near future”.More and more Vietnamese have devoted themselves to creating diving devices, submarines and mini-submarines over the last two years.

In the north, the Truong Sa submarine invented by Nguyen Quoc Hoa, an engineer and businessman in Thai Binh province, has caught the special attention from the public. he said he hoped to develop it into a submarine with military capability.Truong Sa is equipped with an air independent propulsion (AIP), described as a technology breakthrough in the submarine manufacturing industry.In the south, the Yet Kieu submarine invented by Phan Boi Tran has been put into commercial development. Some consignments of Yet Kieu subs have been exported to Malaysia.In the central region, Hoang Sa,an unmanned mini sub invented by Le Nga has been

successfully tested and introduced to the public. Nga said he is planning an ambitious development plan with the submarine version.In late 2014, a group of engineers successfully tested a diving vessel named Hoa Binh as witnessed by Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan.Binh said though the inventions are not perfect, their appearance has prompted management agencies to rethink the development of marine sciences and sea-borne economy. He noted that Vietnam has more than 3,000 kilometers of coastline.Hoang Hung, deputy chair and secretary general of the Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Science Association, said that it was now the right time for Vietnam to think of making the most of people’s abilities to develop a sea-borne science economy.Hung said that his association is discussing measures to create a playing field for Vietnamese submarine inventors in 2015. Source : vietnamnet

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Eastern Shipbuilding launches Thunderbolt inland towboat design

US-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group has launched a new inland towboat design, the Thunderbolt, aimed at offering better efficiency, performance, manoeuvrability, crew comfort and capacity .Eastern Shipbuilding has worked with Gilbert Associates for more than a year to develop this new, hybrid, diesel-electric design. This 36.57m-long and 10.97m-wide inland towboat design has been developed in accordance with ABS Class 2014 rules for building and classing steel vessels for servicing rivers and intracoastal waterways, as well as proposed US Coast Guard 46CFR towing vessel rules and IEEE 45 2002 standards. The new, 4,200HP Thunderbolt will be equipped with twin azimuthing Verhaar Omega electric V-Pod propulsion and

diesel-electric technology. "Thunderbolt will be equipped with twin azimuthing Verhaar Omega electric V-Pod propulsion and diesel-electric technology."The Verhaar Omega V-Pods will have 360° rotation and will be able to rotate 180° in approximately 14 seconds. They will be installed from top to avoid emergency dry-docking if a unit is damaged.For this design, Cummins Mid-South will provide a generator package with three, identical diesel-electric power plants, Cummins QSK38-DM.The engines will offer optimal fuel consumption and also power a Cummins AVK DSG- 74 water-cooled generator, which can supply at 990kW, 690VAC at 1,800rpm.In addition, the power management system for this design will be provided by Beier Radio, while IEM Marine will deliver a switchboard that automatically starts and closes the appropriate main bus generator breakers with load-sharing controllers. Source : ship-technology.

The SKANDI HAWK in drydock at Keppel Benoi shipyard in Singapore

Photo : Capt. Jelle de Vries – Sunshine Offshore Services ©

Five more for Sungdong Korea’s Sungdong Shipbuilding has announced a deal to build up to five suezmaxes for a European owner.

The yard said on Saturday that the contract for three firm 158,000-dwt ships and two options is worth $330m, or $66m per tanker, the Asiasis website reported.The eco-vessels will be delivered in 2017. They are described as 277m



long and 48m wide.TradeWinds reported in January that Kyklades Maritime of Greece was in talks to order up to six suezmaxes at the yard, plus LR2s. The yard has been on a strong run for suezmax orders over the last few months. Nordic American Tanker paid $65m each for two ships of the same capacity in December, and the Tsakos group also ordered a suezmax that month. Five more were contracted earlier in 2014. Source : tradewinds

KOGAS, shipbuilders sign MOU on KC-1 The Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for the continual development of the KC-1-type LNG containment tank. Under the MOU, KOGAS will set up a task force with the 'Big Three' shipbuilders of South Korea prior to establishing a joint venture to develop the KC-1 tanks.KOGAS recently awarded the building of six LNG carriers to DSME and SHI after a tender in October last year: the world's single largest LNG buyer will install the KC-1 tanks in two of the ships, after 10 years of developing the KC-1 technology. The ships featuring the KC-1 tanks would be built by SHI and operated by SK Shipping. Upon delivery by 2017, all six ships would be deployed to import LNG from the Sabine Pass project in the United States.Developing the KC-1 tanks would mean that shipbuilders or shipowners could save the KRW10 billion (USD9.09 million) they pay in royalties to foreign tank manufacturers.KOGAS added that the development of KC-1 tanks would be a win-win solution as the components would be localised, bringing benefits to local small and medium enterprises. Source : ihsmaritime360

The MARLA fitting out at the De Hoop shipyard in Foxhol Photo : Kor Heidinga www.scheepvaart.macalro.nl ©

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The MSC JUDITH outbound from Haifa – Photo : Peter Szamosi ©

Maersk helps build biggest African port in Ghana

Danish shipping and energy company Maersk will invest US$1.5bn for the expansion of Port of Tema in Ghana, touted to be the largest in Africa. Nils Anderson, CEO of Maersk said that the funding arrangements were already in place and that the concession agreement between Meridian Port Services (MPS) – of which Maersk is a key partner – and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) was waiting to be signed. Maersk was also in early talks with Asian shipbuilders to order up to 10 container megaships worth around US$1.5bn.Anderson revealed that Maersk was exploring oil and gas investment opportunities in Ghana, adding, “First and foremost, we will be going in on the service sector and we are bringing in our drillship worth about US$700,000, and supply vessels and tugs. We are ready to do business in Ghana.” Source : African Review

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ASCIANO SEES FIRST HALF PROFITS STEADY IN SOFT CONDITIONS

Asciano has battled subdued economic condition to record a slight increase in first half net profits compared with the previous first half. Net profit after tax (NPAT) was $189.7 million, up 1.2 per cent despite a fall in revenues of 2.1 per cent to $1.857 billion.

"It was a strong half year result given the continuing tough operating environment," CEO and managing director John Mullen says.The group took a number of port-related hits which were made up through cost-control efforts, coal and container terminal boosts and rail synergies from the merger of two divisions.However, Mullen was generally happy with the stevedoring sector’s performance.

"The redevelopment and automation of Port Botany will deliver material improvements in safety, economic and customer service outcomes, as evidenced by the measurably superior metrics achieved at our Brisbane terminal," he says."The redevelopment will place the terminals business in a strong competitive position, enabling it to offer shipping lines servicing the Australian market a superior nationwide service, while also delivering the business the platform to grow and improve performance and returns over the terminal’s lifecycle."Despite that, moves to divest the group of all or part of the Patrick steverdoring arm continue as rumour continues around the identity of the buyer.


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China Merchants was said to be an early contender for Patrick but talk amongst sector observers is that a suitable price was elusive.Attention has now moved to the Maersk Group that controls the world’s biggest container shipping operation, Maersk Line, and its ports subsidiary, APM Terminals, possibly with the pair working in tandem domestically.

All that Asciano will say is contained in Mullen’s statement that the group "continues to be in discussions with third parties regarding the strategic opportunities across the Patrick businesses. These discussions are incomplete, but should they result in a definitive outcome we will advise the market at that time."A response from Maersk has been sought.

The bulk and automotive port services arm felt the most pain, with earnings before interest and tax down 55.3 per cent from $65.1million to $29.1 million.This was put down to softer volumes across stevedoring sites including the impact of the ongoing wind down of the Agility contract servicing the Gorgon project in Western Australia and lower storage volumes in the Autocare business, and soft demand for timber, amongst other issues.It was also burdened with a one-off $18.5 million settlement with the Port of Melbourne associated with the redevelopment of Webb Dock.

"An after tax material cost of $11.4m was reported primarily associated with the business disruption caused by the redevelopment of the Port Botany container terminal," Mullen states."In light of the sustained slow down in activity levels at bulk ports around Australia and New Zealand we have also moved to further restructure the Bulk & Auto Port Services Division incurring redundancy costs of $2.5m pre tax."Meanwhile, chairman Malcolm Broomhead will retire from the company’s board at the company’s annual general meeting later this year. Source : fullyloaded

New tanker for the Erdoğan family A shipping company owned by Turkish President Erdoğan’s son, brother and brother-in-law has expanded their fleet with a new $18 million tanker. BMZ Group Maritime Company, owned by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son Bilal Erdoğan, his brother Mustafa Erdoğan and brother-in-law Ziya İlgen, has further expanded its fleet with the purchase of the $18 million Armada Class river tanker M/T SHOVKET ALEKPEROVA.

Built in 2014 at the Beşiktaş Shipyard and owned by the Malta-based Armada Voyager Seven Company, a subsidiary of the Palmali Maritime Company, the 140 meter long, 16 meter wide vessel can transport 7,100 deadweight tonnage of chemical products.Having previously placed an order for five tankers along with five additional optional ships at the Yardımcı and Türkter Shipyard, the BMZ Group cancelled the five optional vessels and instead decided to expand its fleet via second-hand tankers with an average of 2 years. The ship allegedly bears a Maltese register, a flag considered a ‘flag of convenience’ in international shipping, and the sales transaction is said to have been conducted in Malta as well. Source : BGNnews

The VIVIAN inbound for Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Cees van der Kooij ©

FMC to see if demurrage fees for port congestion are unreasonable

A REPORT on US port congestion expected this summer will contain views from Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on whether increases in demurrage charges are warranted.The FMC received an increase in nationwide demurrage complaints this year but there were even more in recent months arising from US west coast port congestion, said commission chairman Mario Cordero.With marine terminals suffering near congestion gridlock, shippers complain increasingly they get hit with demurrage late fees even though terminal operators are unable to accept the return of empty boxes. Thus, shippers are charged for not picking up containers that operators cannot release, as well as being charged late fees for not returning containers terminal operators cannot accept."Is it reasonable that a shipper incurs a hypothetical US$200 demurrage charge per day because of the marine terminals inability to receive or release a container," Mr Cordero asked. "I can understand why these shippers are angry." Under the lens of the Shipping Act,



FMC staff is reviewing the complaints to determine whether the demurrage charges are unreasonable costs for services. If the demurrage costs are found to be unreasonable, the report, which includes the findings of the agency's four hearings on port congestion held last autumn in Baltimore, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Charleston, will outline ways the industry, the FMC and other federal governmental bodies can respond. Even after the ILWU and Pacific Maritime Association reach a new contract agreement, the threat of US port congestion won't fade, Mr Cordero said. That's why he has made port congestion the agency's top focus in 2015. Source : schednet

Six-week operation to remove wreck in Hong Kong waters

A HONG KONG Marine Department operation is being carried out for the next six weeks to remove a wreck in Hong Kong waters, west of the LCS 1 buoy.

The coordinates of the area are: WGS84 Datum: (A) 22 deg. 09.470'N / 114 deg. 11.720'E; (B) 22 deg. 09.200'N / 114 deg. 11.860'E; (C) 22 deg. 09.070'N / 114 deg. 11.580'E; and (D) 22 deg. 09.200'N / 114 deg. 11.500'E.

Four yellow marker buoys fitted with yellow flashing lights will be laid out to indicate the works area and the existing isolated danger mark in the area will be removed, reported Marine Department notice 18. The works will be carried out from 7am to 7pm daily by a heavy lift vessel with the assistance of one dumb steel lighter and three work boats.

Ships operating in the vicinity of the works are being urged to proceed with caution and keep well clear at slow speed, bearing in mind there may be divers working in the area.

(11) 01 deg. 15.109'N / 103 deg. 38.246'E; (12) 01 deg. 15.113'N / 103 deg. 38.540'E; (13) 01 deg. 14.980'N / 103 deg. 38.540'E; and (14) 01 deg. 14.850'N / 103 deg. 38.246'E.

Maritime Union settles dispute with Ports The Maritime Union has settled their long-running industrial dispute with Ports of Auckland. In a statement, union National President Garry Parsloe said a new collective employment agreement was passed in a unanimous vote at a stopwork meeting.He said the new agreement was a positive step for workers at the port and should ensure the continued success of the port going forward.The agreement would be signed off with the employer shortly, he said.

The dispute goes back to 2011. It centred on the ports of company seeking greater flexibility and productivity on the wharves and the union wanting a continuation of eight-hour shifts and job security. A ports spokesman said: "We are pleased to have reached agreement with the Maritime Union and look forward to working with them to deliver even better results for the people of Auckland."Mayor Len Brown, who was criticised by fellow members of the Labour Party for refusing to take the side of the workers, welcomed the settlement."Having agreement is good for Auckland, good for the Ports of Auckland and will provide much-needed certainty for the ports staff." Source : NZ Herald

Zeeuwse Zeehavens vanuit de Lucht Uitgave Sky Pictures Fotografie

ISBN 978-90-817779-0-9 128 pagina’s hardcover

Deze maand vindt de introductie in de boekhandel plaats van het boek De Zeeuwse Zeehavens vanuit de Lucht. Met dit boek, uitgegeven door Sky Pictures Fotografie, neemt de luchtfotograaf Izak van Maldegem u vanuit een bijzonder perspectief mee over dehavengebieden van Vlissingen en Terneuzen. Schitterende beelden van de motor van de Zeeuwse economie vanuit de lucht geven u een nieuwe kijk op de bedrijvigheid in de havengebieden en op de Westerschelde. Naast alles wat de Zeeuwse havens te bieden heeft is er aandacht voor een aantal karakteristiekelocaties in Zeeland.



Het boek is 2-talig uitgevoerd. De tekst, van de hand van Annemieke van Woercom, is tot stand gekomen in samenwerking met het havenbedrijf Zeeland Seaports. Het boek is verkrijgbaar via de bekende boekhandels in Zeeland of via de uitgever Sky PicturesFotografie ([email protected] ) via : http://skypictures.winkelkarretje.com/

Zeeuwse Zeehavens van uit de Lucht is een uitgave van Sky Pictures Fotografie. Het bedrijf van Erna- en luchtfotograaf Izak van Maldegem, met al meer dan 20 jaar de thuisbasis vliegveld Zeeland, voert opdrachten uit in de luchtfotografie voor bedrijven, instellingen en overheden in heel Nederland. Wie aan Zeeland denkt, denkt aan rust en ruimte. Aan mooie duingebieden en fraaie stranden. Aan landbouw en visserij. Aan historische steden en karakteristieke dorpen. Maar vrijwel niemand associeert Zeeland spontaan met economische bedrijvigheid, met handel en industrie. Wie het havengebied Zeeland Seaports voor het eerst bezoekt, is dan ook vaak verbaasd. Over de omvang van het gebied, het aantal bedrijven dat het havengebied telt en de bedrijvigheid in de havens.

Click HERE for the LIVE STREAM WEBCAM in Hoek van Holland Berghaven

…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..

The 1983 built GEELONG STAR ROS 7 ( ex Dirk Dirk) seen moored in IJmuiden is to depart soon for Australian waters – Photo : Marcel Coster ©

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