daily collection of maritime press clippings 2008 –...

DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 239

Distribution : daily 4750 copies worldwide 9/12/2008

Number 239 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Friday 12-09-2008 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles taken from various news sites.

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The TSHD PRINS DER NEDERLANDEN seen rainbowing in Port Rashid (Dubai) Photo : Crew Prins der Nederlanden ©



CONTENTS EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

• Somali pirates free Japanese-run tanker - Puntland sources • UK FINES SHIPMANAGER • Waterpolitie bekeurt te diep liggende zandzuiger • Fire closes Eurotunnel services • Somali pirates free German-owned ship - group • India to renew search for missing MV Rezzak • INDUSTRY LOSES PATIENCE OVER PIRATES • Gunmen seize oil vessel in Nigeria- security source • Somali pirates want $1.4 mln for French tourists • UK. Flamborough lifeboat called to rescue crew from sinking coble Boys Own • Handhaving en redding liggen dicht bij elkaar

CASUALTY REPORTING • Crew rescued as Irish tall ship founders off France • WAKER ENCOUNTERED BLACK OUT OFF IJMUIDEN

NAVY NEWS • Canadian Frigate upgrade latest defence announcement timed for election • Navy Ship Events Delayed • Design & Preparations Continue for the USA’s New CVN-21 Super-Carrier

SHIPYARD NEWS • TV special: the latest Feadship F45 Vantage • Hanjin secures deal to build 2 VLCC worth $330 million • Hanjin to improve safety in Subic shipyard • AKER YARDS CONVERTING A FERRY TO EXPEDITION CRUISE VESSEL • Northrop Grumman Awarded $5.1 Billion Contract • No takers for STX’s coalition proposal for DSME

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES • Sulpicio ordered to pay P16-M fine for ramming Iloilo port • Rosyth ferry set for last crossing • Vale delays ore shipments to China • Imtech werkt aan marineschepen • US BRINGS IN SANCTIONS AGAINST IRISL • StealthGas orders Suezmax crude tankers • Meer slots bij MSC voor Zuid-Amerika • Cosco's 564-TEU Takeko calls first at Yantai on Japan-China short sea run • Customised DP solution for BP ships • Voorlopig geen opvolger dienst Zeebrugge-Rosyth • CHEMOIL HAPPY WITH FIRST YEAR IN GULF OF MEXICO • Dubai wil kanaal om olievervoer veilig te stellen • Seanergy Takes Delivery of Its Fourth Vessel • New hull-cleaning technology to cut fuel consumption • SR540 million for Saudi ports improvement • Port Fleet assists berthing of Costa Mediterranea, first vessel accepted by Marine Façade in St.

Petersburg • A2 rating for Panama Canal • Goldman Sachs Japan close to sealing Hiroshima shipping line takeover



EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS HIGH

DEEP

HEAVY

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Somali pirates free Japanese-run tanker - Puntland sources

Somali pirates have released a Japanese-managed chemical cargo and its 18-man crew, sources close to the pirates in the northern region of Puntland said on Thursday. News of the MT Irene's release followed confirmation that a German-owned ship was also freed on Thursday. About 10 other boats are still being held, however, after their seizure in the world's most dangerous waterway.

UK FINES SHIPMANAGER A SHIPMANAGER has been fined by a UK court for its part in the January 2007 grounding of the coaster Sunna on the Isle of Swona in the Pentland Firth NES of Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, pleaded guilty to breaches of the Collision Regulations, the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and Carriage of Cargoes Regulations. Southampton Magistrates fined the company a total of £10,500 (US$18,388) plus £5987 in costs for three offences. Charges against the owners of the vessel, Sunna Shipping, were discontinued as the company no longer exists following the sale of the vessel in 2007. The prosecution follows an investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency into the circumstances surrounding the incident involving the `Sunna' in the early hours of the morning of the 10th January 2007. The Mate of the vessel was alone on the bridge during the hours of darkness. Unfortunately he fell asleep and at about 04.40 AM. the Sunna ran aground on the western side of the island of Swona. The vessel was carrying 1900 tonnes of Ferrosilicone. The ship was re-floated as the tide rose the next morning with the help of an Orkney harbour tug and the Longhope Lifeboat and was towed into Lyness. The Sunna received severe damage to its hull with the ship bottoms damaged from stem to the engine room bulkhead. An investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) revealed that although the ship had a crew of seven, the watchkeeper was alone on the bridge as the master had instructed that the seaman were to be used as day workers and not stand a watch. It also showed that about three months before the incident, during a Port state Control at Moerdijk, Netherlands on the 2nd November 2006, the vessel was warned that a lookout as required by the STCW Code was required during the hours of darkness. Ferrosilicone is perfectly safe when kept dry however when in contact with moisture it can produce hydrogen, phosphine and arsine gas. For this reason the vessel was required to carry equipment for testing the atmosphere. The equipment for detecting phosphine and arsine were out of date. The phosphine equipment by as much as 4 years. The Sunna had carried Ferrosilicone on a regular basis prior to the grounding.



The master of the Sunna was prosecuted at Kirkwall Sheriff's Court on 11 January last year and fined £2500 for not having kept an adequate look out. Paul Coley, Assistant Director Seafarers & Ships at the MCA, said: "The requirement for a lookout on the bridge of a ship in the hours of darkness is clearly laid down in the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW) Code. The Bulk Cargo (BC) Code required monitoring equipment and records of measurements to be kept. The International Safety Management (ISM) Code requires the owners and managers of vessel to comply with national and international requirements. The ISM Code also requires owners and manager ensure that procedures are in place and that they are being complied with. This case acts as reminder to owners, managers and operators of all vessels to ensure that the bridge is properly manned at all times especially at night when in congested/pilotage waters." Source : Maritime Global Net

Waterpolitie bekeurt te diep liggende zandzuiger

De Waterpolitie van het Korps landelijke politiediensten (KLPD) in Vlissingen heeft dinsdag 9 september op de Westerschelde proces-verbaal opgemaakt tegen de kapitein van een Nederlandse zandzuiger omdat het schip een veel te klein vrijboord had. Het schip lag 55 centimeter dieper dan wettelijk toegestaan. Samen met medewerkers van de Inspectie Verkeer en Waterstaat controleerde de Waterpolitie de met zand en water geladen zandzuiger op de Wielingen bij Vlissingen. Het schip had op de Noordzee zand geladen en was onderweg naar een binnenvaartschip op de Westerschelde om de lading te lossen. De Waterpolitie mat het vrijboord op en constateerde dat het schip 55 centimeter dieper lag dan het minimale vrijboord dat volgens het ‘International loadline Certificate’ was toegestaan. De 61-jarige kapitein uit Vlissingen van de zandzuiger werd proces-verbaal aangezegd. Het ‘International Loadline Certificate’ is een verplicht veiligheidsdocument, afgegeven door een aangewezen controle-instantie. In het certificaat staan naast de vaste gegevens van het schip de verplichte minimale vrijboorden van het schip voor verschillende wateren en perioden van het jaar.

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Fire closes Eurotunnel services Train traffic through the Channel Tunnel, which links England and France, has been suspended following a fire, officials said. No-one was injured in the blaze that began at 1300 GMT in a freight train about seven miles from the French coast, Eurotunnel officials said.



About 30 people who were on the train - most of them said to be lorry drivers - were evacuated safetly from the tunnel. French firefighters have now brought the blaze under control. A Eurotunnel spokeswoman was unable to say when services through the tunnel would resume. Source : BBC NEWS

Somali pirates free German-owned ship - group

Somali pirates have released a German-owned cargo ship and its 13-member crew, a regional maritime watchdog said on Thursday. "I think a ransom was paid, but I am still getting details," Andrew Mwangura, of the East African Seafarers' Association, said of the ship which he named as the "BBC Trinidad".

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[email protected] India to renew search for missing MV Rezzak

After consistent pressure from families of the 25 Indians among the crew onboard the missing ship MV Rezzak, the government has finally renewed its search for the missing vessel. According to sources, PM Manmohan Singh convened a special meeting with the Interpol to convey India's urgency to restart the hunt for the missing ship. MV Rezzak, a vessel with 25 Indian crew members on board went missing off the Somali coast in February this year. The Shipping ministry had initially abandoned the hunt for the missing ship saying that the debris was found - but was pushed on the backfoot after the families of the crew challenged this claim. Now, India will request the International Maritime Agency in Kuala Lumpur to assist in the search of the ship. This agency could not be contacted by India initially as the ship was sailing with a Panamian flag and not Indian. Now that dialogue has been established with the Interpol, the hunt will be possible. In earlier instances, India had sought reports of the ship from Turkey and Russia through look-out notices. Source : indiatimes.com

The Carnival Splendor seen moored in Monaco - Photo : Giovanni Paolo Risso ©



INDUSTRY LOSES PATIENCE OVER PIRATES GLOBAL shipping industry organisation the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the specialist anti-maritime crime agency ICC International Maritime Bureau have both spoken out strongly in internal documents, seen by Anderimar Shipping News, against a “lack of political will” and “abrogation of responsibility” by governments with naval forces capable of acting against Somali-based pirates. And in the case of the ICS, shipowners throughout the world are likely to take an unusually high profile in lobbying for action. The industry moves come to light as no fewer than 10 commercial vessels, including large bulk carriers, and their crews are being held to ransom by Somali-based pirates. Attacks on ships transiting the Gulf of Aden continue on a daily basis. The ICS has called upon its member national associations to lobby their governments and to put the issue in front of the mainstream press. The ICS executive committee, which met Tuesday, has has asked its members to draw the attention of defence and foreign ministries to the urgent need for military naval forces in the Gulf of Aden to provide adequate protection to merchant shipping, in accordance with the UN Security Council mandate, and to “bring this serious problem to the attention of mainstream national media contacts”. The ICS circular speaks of the “apparent inadequacy of the protection being provided by the Coalition navy forces operating in the vicinity, notwithstanding the mandate they now have from the United Nations Security Council to take action against the pirates”. ICS says the underlying problem is that many of the military forces have not been given clear instructions or ‘rules of engagement’ by their governments, presumably due to a lack of political will. In addition to highlighting the inadequate action being taken against the pirates, not least against the pirate ‘mother ships’ which are understood to be operating with virtual impunity in the area, the ICS has asked its members to stress the need for the UN Security Council mandate to be extended when it expires in December. “It will,” ICS says, “be especially helpful if those national associations whose governments are part of the Coalition Task Force, and/or are members of NATO, can make every effort to discuss this issue with their defence and foreign ministries.” The circular also says: “Recognising that the safety of merchant shipping may not be amongst the highest priorities of governments, the Committee suggested that national associations should do everything they can to put pressure on governments by generating publicity in their national mainstream media about this threat to shipping and the lives of seafarers.” In an internal newsletter issued last week IMB that a significant reason for the upsurge in hijackings has been the inability of coalition naval units to deter the pirates. IT notes: “The coalition navies off the Horn of Africa are doing their best to respond to the attacks. Their priorities however are military operations in the Middle East and fighting terrorism. There are not enough coalition naval assets to effectively patrol this seaway in respect of piracy.” ICS recognises that the navies face other restrictions. It is unclear what a naval vessel is to do if they intervene and take pirates prisoner. There have been very few flag states and only one neighbouring country in the region which has accepted prisoners for investigation and prosecution. ICS says: “Naval vessels will understandably hesitate to intervene once hijackers have taken over a vessel and are holding crew hostage. Concern over the safety of the hostages may preclude armed intervention except in exceptional circumstances.” On the other hand, argues the IMB, “the naval units on the direction of their governments, could deploy in the high risk areas identified, for example, by attempted attacks reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre and interrogate suspected mother vessels and disrupt their operations. If suspected pirates cannot be detained for questioning then at least their weapons could be confiscated and their movements closely tracked as a deterrent. There is after all no excuse for a vessel on legitimate business in the Gulf to carry rocket propelled grenade launchers. UN Security Council Resolution 1816 is a valuable tool in the fight against piracy. It allows for foreign intervention inside territorial limits, provided permission is given by the Somali Transitional Federal Government. UNSCR 1816 was passed with the support of the Somali TFG and permission should therefore not be normally withheld if sought by



coalition countries. Reportedly, only a few countries whose naval vessels patrol off the coast of Somalia have sought permission. ICS concludes: “Perhaps there are more important geo-political priorities which preclude some of the coalition governments from intervening in cases of piracy in Somali waters. However, from an industry perspective this arguably amounts to an abdication of responsibility. The only forces who can respond robustly to piracy in Somalia are the coalition naval forces. If their operations are restricted by their governments, then merchant vessels are left with little protection against these pirate gangs who appear to operate freely in the Gulf of Aden. It is difficult to understand why in today’s highly trade-dependent world, the protection of maritime trade routes is not a top priority of the navies.” Source : Maritime Global net

Gunmen seize oil vessel in Nigeria- security source

Unidentified gunmen in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta hijacked an oil industry supply vessel with five foreign workers and eight Nigerians on board on Tuesday, a private security contractor said. The contractor said the vessel, H.D. Blue Ocean, was attacked at about 2:30 p.m. (1330 GMT) at the entrance of the Sambreiro River in the delta, a vast network of mangrove creeks which is home to Africa's biggest oil industry. Nigerian military officials were not immediately able to confirm the attack Source : Reuters

Somali pirates want $1.4 mln for French tourists

Somali pirates hijacked yet another ship on Wednesday and a maritime group said two French tourists kidnapped at sea a week ago were being held by gunmen demanding a ransom of more than $1.4 million. Seoul's Yonhap news agency said a South Korean cargo ship had been seized off the coast of Somalia. It said its crew included nine South Koreans, but had no other immediate details. The East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme named the French couple captured off the lawless Horn of Africa nation on September 3 as Jean-Yves Delanne and his wife Bernardette. It said their luxury yacht was now being used to hunt more victims. "Reports directly from Somalia indicate that the hostages were dropped at the Somali coast near Alula ... from where part of the gang have dragged them to a remote hideout in the Xaabo mountains," the Kenya-based maritime group said in a statement. It said the kidnappers were demanding a ransom "in excess" of $1.4 million to free the two hostages. It said they also wanted the release of six fellow pirates seized in the area in April during a helicopter raid by French commandos after another French yacht was hijacked.



"Naval operations or military interventions most likely will risk the lives of the hostages," the group warned. DANGEROUS WATERS Heavily armed Somali gunmen have seized more than 30 vessels so far this year, making the busy shipping lanes through the Gulf of Aden the most dangerous in the world. They are holding 10 ships for ransom and about 130 crew. The Seafarers' Assistance Programme said the French couple's yacht, the 24 metre (79 foot) twin-masted Carre D'as IV, was now being used by pirates to launch fresh attacks. "It might very well be used as a decoy to approach other unsuspecting yachts or simulate and signal an engine failure or other emergency at sea, whereby it then would attack any ship coming closer in order to provide assistance," it said. The maritime group said the yacht might be accompanied by a smaller speedboat crewed by between five and seven gang members armed with machineguns, bazookas and rocket-propelled grenades. "Such attack boats deliver a swift and heavy assault," it said. If either craft was spotted, the group warned, vessels should try to escape immediately while preparing to be boarded. Violence at sea has escalated as Somalia collapses into its worst insecurity for 17 years and a devastating humanitarian crisis. The impoverished nation has not had a working government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. The Seafarers' Assistance Programme said shipping companies had been told for years not to pay ransoms to the pirates, but that the owners of illegal cargos had routinely done so. "Now the renegade pirate groups got used to that, became much more sophisticated and the problem is spiralling out of any proportion," it said. Source : africa.reuters

UK. Flamborough lifeboat called to rescue crew from sinking coble Boys Own

Flamborough RNLI lifeboat was called to a shout on Wednesday 10 September 2008 to assist in the rescue of two men from the coble Boys Own that was taking on water off the Dykes at Flamborough.

The RNLI Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Elizabeth Jane Palmer was launched at 19:25 hours. The wind was Southerly, Force 5, sea conditions were moderate. Photo : RNLI © Coastguards had asked Flamborough lifeboat to remove the crew from the coble, however on reaching the stricken vessel they found that the crew did not want to leave the boat, despite the fact that it was taking on water. Two of the lifeboat crew then boarded the coble with a pump that they had taken with them to the rescue, and proceeded to help to try and get rid of as much of the water as possible. Once they had stabilised the situation, the RNLI lifeboat towed



the coble into Bridlington Harbour. The Bridlington lifeboat was also on hand with a pump and further assisted the coble when it reached the harbour area. Both men were unhurt, Flamborough lifeboat station has been operating since 1871. Source : BYM

Handhaving en redding liggen dicht bij elkaar Op 9 september j.l. trof het Kustwacht douane vaartuig Zeearend tijdens een reguliere patrouille een onverlicht schip aan. Bij onderzoek bleek dit een zeiljacht te zijn, wat water maakte. Hierdoor bleken de accu’s onherstelbaar beschadigd te zijn, waardoor de verlichting niet werkte en er ook geen alarm kon worden geslagen. Na het overzetten van een pomp is het jacht, met één opvarende aan boord, in samenwerking met twee KNRM reddingboten uit Ouddorp en Stellendam veilig de haven van Stellendam binnengebracht. Bron : Kustwacht

CASUALTY REPORTING

Crew rescued as Irish tall ship founders off France Ireland's national sail training yacht foundered off the northwestern coast of France early Thursday, forcing its 25 crew to take to liferafts, French maritime officials said. The five crew and 20 trainees were picked up unharmed by a French coastguard vessel off the island of Belle Isle in Brittany after the pre-dawn drama. The state-owned vessel, the "Asgard II", modelled on a historic Irish brigantine, was on its its way to the Atlantic port of La Rochelle when it started taking water. The master of the 32-metre (105-foot) wooden ship sent out a distress signal at around 3:00 am (0100 GMT), said officials in the coastal city of Brest. Left : The ASGARD II seen moored in Den Helder during Sail 2008 – Photo : Piet Sinke ©

Picked up by the French coastguard, they arrived safely in Belle Ile around three hours later. A spokesman for Ireland's defence forces confirmed the passengers, who included an Italian and a Briton, were unharmed. The ship's master "wasn't able to pump the water free of the vessel so the 25 crew had to embark on three life rafts. They were picked up by a French coastguard vessel," he told RTE state radio. "All are safe and well." He said it was hoped the ship, which sailed from Falmouth in the south of England to have maintenance work done in La Rochelle, could still be salvaged. "The ship has water up to its decks but hasn't sunk yet. We are looking at whether the ship can be salvaged or saved in any way." Two French maritime rescue vessels and two helicopters were sent to the scene, 12 miles (22 kilometres) west of Belle-Ile, and were warning off passing traffic. Built 27 years ago to offer sail training to

the public, the Asgard II was modelled on a historic Irish sailing ship used in July 1914 to smuggle guns to Ireland during its struggle for independence from British rule.



WAKER ENCOUNTERED BLACK OUT OFF IJMUIDEN

Coast Guard tug WAKER encountered a black-out after entering IJmuiden breakwaters yesterday, causing the tug drifting towards the old South breakwater head. Iskes' tug ARION rushed out to the casualty, but help was not

needed. Upon her arrival, the engines could be started again and the WAKER continued her arrival under own power, escorted by the ARION.

Photo : Jan Plug ©

NAVY NEWS Canadian Frigate upgrade latest defence

announcement timed for election The Conservative government plans as early as this week to announce a $1 billion contract to upgrade the navy's frigates, the latest in a series of defence procurements timed for the election campaign. But some of the announcements - such as the move of the Ottawa-based Joint Task Force 2 counter-terrorism unit to Trenton, Ont. - have been either long-planned or already underway. Lockheed Martin Canada, the subsidiary of the U.S. defence giant, will be awarded the $1.1 billion contract for a new command and control system for the frigates after its bid, the only one submitted, was found to be "compliant" in meeting the project's requirements. The announcement could come as early as Monday, say defence insiders. The frigate modernization program had been announced previously but the award to Lockheed Martin is yet another stage of that project. In April, the Conservatives were in Victoria and Halifax to release details about shipyards in those cities receiving work on the project. In July, Prime Minister Stephen Harper held a news conference in Halifax to announce the overall program to modernize the frigates. The most recent flurry of defence procurement announcements kicked off on Friday with Defence Minister Peter MacKay's news release stating that JTF2 would move from its Dwyer Hill base near Ottawa to Canadian Forces Base Trenton and that a new training installation would be built for the unit there. But the recommendation to move JTF2 to Trenton was made to the Harper government two years ago and in January the government released documents to the construction industry in preparation for working on the new facility. It is estimated the project and the move will cost the Defence Department more than $300 million. Source : canada.com



Navy Ship Events Delayed The public is advised that events related to the scheduled visit of the Royal Navy’s HMS Iron Duke from September 11-14 to the British Virgin Islands have been delayed. The ship has been diverted to the Turks and Caicos Islands, where it is providing hurricane relief. New details will be provided after the ship’s visit to the BVI is rescheduled.

Source : Platinum News Online - Tortola,British Virgin Islands

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

Design & Preparations Continue for the USA’s New CVN-21 Super-Carrier

Some nations have aircraft carriers. The USA has super-carriers. The French Charles De Gaulle Class nuclear carriers displace about 43,000t. India’s new Vikramaditya/ Admiral Gorshkov Class will have a similar displacement. The future British CVF Queen Elizabeth Class and related French PA2 Project are expected to displace about 65,000t (British) – 74,000t (French), while the British Invincible Class carriers that participated in the Falklands War weigh in at around 22,000t. Invincible actually compares well to Italy’s new Cavour Class (27,000t), and Spain’s Principe de Asturias Class (17,000t). The USA’s Nimitz Class and CVN-21 Gerald R. Ford Class, in contrast, fall in the 90,000t-105,000t range. Hence the unofficial designation “super-carriers”. Just one of these ships packs a more potent air force than many nations. As the successor to the 102,000 ton Nimitz Class super-carriers, the CVN-21 program aims to increase aircraft sortie generation rates by 20%, increase survivability to better handle future threats, require fewer sailors, and have depot maintenance requirements that could support an increase of up to 25% in operational availability. The combination of a new design nuclear propulsion plant and an improved electric plant are expected to provide 2-3 times the electrical generation capacity of previous carriers, which in turn enables systems like an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System (EMALS, replacing steam-driven catapults), Advanced Arresting Gear, and a new integrated warfare system that will leverage advances in open systems architecture. Other CVN-21 features include an enhanced flight deck, improved weapons handling and aircraft servicing efficiency, and a flexible island arrangement allowing for future technology insertion. Source : defenseindustrydaily

SHIPYARD NEWS TV special: the latest Feadship F45 Vantage



On 6 September 2008, Royal Van Lent launched the latest Feadship in the F45 Vantage custom-series. The 44.65m motoryacht was built for a client who has a long-standingrelationship with the Van Lent yard, which built a pair of groundbreaking Feadships for the owner’s father in the 1980s. “The fact that various craftsmen who worked on those projects a quarter of a century ago also helped create TV speaks volumes for the continuity of our operations,” commented Dick van Lent at the launch ceremony, which was attended by hundreds of invited guests and personnel. This F45 Vantage builds upon the success of Space and Harle. Like her predecessors, TV synthesizes all Feadship’s expertise in design,

construction, engineering, systems and materials. The hull, superstructure, bulkheads and exterior styling are set, and the equipment portfolio pre-selected. With the key technical parameters worked out, owners can choose between four interior styles. TV has a ‘Milano’ interior, a classic modern style that combines lovely architectural shapes and subdued colors in natural materials to emphasize the volume of the yacht. “The owner of TV was very attracted to the ‘proven platform’ concept of the F45,” explained Van Lent. “He loves the way a contemporary exterior profile is combined with the unmistakable timeless lines and well-defined curves of a Feadship. And the short delivery time offered by the custom-series approach to construction was another major attraction.” In addition to the unrivalled Feadship quality and consequent resale value, the F45 offers significant flexibility for clients within a smart layout. The owner of TV chose for a distinctive blue hull for his family yacht, which includes extra children’s accommodation and a wealth of sports equipment. He also opted to dispense with the traditional champagne at the launch ceremony, opting to christen TV with a bottle of the national drink of his country. Before doing so he thanked the management and staff at Royal Van Lent for the passion with which they built TV and described it an honor to work with Feadship. Three other F45s are currently at various stages of construction at Royal Van Lent. The yard is as usual also working on a number of full custom Feadships, the next three to be launched having an overall length of 65.22m, 68.00m and 77.70m respectively.

Technical specifications Builder: Feadship – Royal Van Lent Shipyard

Type: Twin screw motoryacht, steel hull and aluminum superstructure Length overall: 44.65m 146’6” - Beam max: 9.20m 30’2” - Draft (loaded): 2.70m 8’10”

Fuel capacity: 40,000 l 10,500 US Gallons - Fresh water capacity: 10,000 l 2,600 US Gallons Design: De Voogt Naval Architects - Naval Architect: De Voogt Naval Architects

Exterior styling: De Voogt Naval Architects / Sinot Design Associates Interior design: Sinot Design Associates - Interior decorator: Adriana Olmedo

Propulsion Main engines: 2x MTU 12V2000M70 – 788 kW / 1055 bhp

Propellers: 2x Wärtsilä Fixed pitch 5-bladed propellers Propeller shaft: Rubber Design

Reduction gears: ZF W7540 Stabilizers: VTNaiad Marine zero-speed

Max. speed: 14.5 knots Range: Transatlantic

Classification: Lloyd’s �100 A1, SSC, Yacht, Mono, G6, LMC, UMS, MCA



Air conditioning: Heinen & Hopman Entertainment system: Van Berge Henegouwen

Electric system Generators: 2x Caterpillar C9/Stamford 150 kW

Main electric system: 400/230 VAC/50 cy Shore connection: 400/230 VAC/50 cy/150 kVA

Accommodation Owner: Full-beam owner’s stateroom, combining bathroom and bedroom connected in two areas, with windows

reaching up to the ceiling providing a magnificent view. The extremely high central ceiling in this part of the yacht reaches up to 3.20m (10’6”), ending in a skylight that can be blinded.

Guests: Two guests in the VIP stateroom, which is located on the bridge deck. Eight guests in four guest staterooms, with two pull-out beds increasing the options on this family-oriented yacht. The

main deck location of these accommodations means guests enjoy superb views, including from the bathrooms. Crew: Ten in five cabins

Watersports: The boathouse is as a true watersports activity center. When the platform is folded out, this becomes an ideal place for all kinds of outdoor activities, such as swimming, diving and going out boating.

Interior: The interior style chosen is ‘Milano’, a contemporary, modern style. Natural materials such as leather, wood and glass provide a relaxed and open atmosphere.

Hanjin secures deal to build 2 VLCC worth $330 million

Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) announced Wednesday that it had secured a contract to build two units of Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) worth $330 million from a United Arab Emirates client. HHIC president Kyu Won Park identified the United Arab Emirates as Emarat Maritime LLC. This is the first time that HHIC will try to build a VLCC because of limited space at its Yeongdo shipyard in Korea. “With the completion of the Subic shipyard, we’re now able to build very large vessels,” the HHIC statement said. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator Armand Arreza said that with the recent deal between HHIC and Emarat Maritime the ship building industry in the country had a major boost.



“This is no small feat for Subic, considering that it has just recently shifted its focus to its maritime trade potentials. Now, the Subic Bay Freeport, as well as the Philippines, is gaining popularity for its capability to produce world-class ships,” Arreza added. The VLCC is expected to be finished in 2011. Source : Manila Times

The Song Cam -Damen, Haiphong-Vietnam, built Svitzer Sky seen commencing her first yard trials Photo : Jop N. Roggeveen ©

Hanjin to improve safety in Subic shipyard Shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction (HHIC) said it will improve safety conditions in its Philippine shipyard after the deaths of 15 workers in three years, an official said Wednesday. The news comes as the South Korean-based company enters into a contract to build two supertankers at the shipyard in the former US naval base at Subic Bay north of Manila. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza said Hanjin was working to improve safety standards, adding that the workers had died in accidents since construction of the shipyard began in May 2005. Arreza said the building of the shipyard, which he compared to an entire town, had been swift. The shipyard which Hanjin says is the biggest in the world, covers 354 hectares (875 acres) “This has been a challenge to us. Hanjin went from having zero employees in May 2005, when they began building the shipyard, to 20,000 employees this year,” he added. He said both Hanjin and the workers had to “comply with the culture of safety we seek to inculcate into all locators at the SBMA.” He added that “many construction site mishaps are the result of the construction workers not wearing their safety gear and we want to change that mindset.” Pyeung Jung Yu, the head of Hanjin’s business department in Subic, said the shipyard had signed a contract to build two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) for $330 million for Emarat Maritime LLC of the United Arab Emirates.



The 320,000-tonne, double-hulled vessels will be 333 meters (1,098 feet) long, 60 meters wide and 30.5 meters tall with a top speed of up to 16 knots. The tankers are expected to be delivered in 2011 and will be a first for Hanjin, which did not have the space to build them in its South Korea shipyards. “We simply don’t have the space in South Korea so it is only here in Subic that we can build these huge carriers,” Yu said. Hanjin’s Subic shipyard delivered its first ship, the 41,000-tonne container carrier M/V Argolikos in July, and launched its second vessel, the CMA CGM Turquoise a month later. It also has contracts to build bulk carriers with companies based in Hong Kong and Germany. Source : The Daily Tribune

The COMBI DOCK III seen under construction in Bremerhaven Photo : Jacco van Nieuwenhuyzen ©

AKER YARDS CONVERTING A FERRY TO EXPEDITION CRUISE VESSEL

Aker Yards and G.A.P Adventures, a world leader in adventure travel, have signed on 9 September 2008 a contract on converting a ferry to an expedition cruise vessel. The conversion work of MS Expedition is scheduled for delivery in April 2009 from Aker Yards in Rauma, where dismantling work has been going on since the design contract was signed in June. Both contracts were signed by Aker Yards Lifecycle Services unit, which offers vessel upgrades, modifications, conversions, lengthenings, and engineering consulting. The conversion work includes building of new cabins on former car decks, and the former tax free area will be converted into luxury cabins and suites. The main restaurant will be totally refurbished, and new service facilities created. An expedition cruise vessel also needs lots of special facilities for maritime activities. "We are very pleased that G.A.P. Adventures have trusted us this contract", says Vesa Marttinen, VP, Aker Yards Lifecycle Services. ""It shows that our customers believe in our ability to take care of their needs during the whole lifecycle of their vessels". "We're pleased to partner with Aker Yards, which is one of the top rated shipyards in its field," says Bruce Poon Tip, CEO of G.A.P Adventures. "Our exceptional marine program, led by our new ship the MS Expedition, takes our travellers to some of the most scenic destinations on earth, including Antarctica and the Arctic. It offers today's travellers a truly unique adventure of a lifetime." MS Expedition, which was originally built in Denmark in 1972, is 105 metres long and 18.6 m wide. After the conversion the vessel will offer cosy cabins and large public areas for 120 tourists joining the vessel's travels in polar waters, from the land of penguins to that of polar bears, the Antarctica and the Arctic. Onboard you can find a large dining room, fitness centre, sauna and up to the theme the Polar Bear pub and the Albatross Bar.



Northrop Grumman Awarded $5.1 Billion Contract for Detail Design and Construction of Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Aircraft Carrier

Northrop Grumman Corporation received a $5.1 billion, 7-year cost plus incentive fee contract award for detail design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. This new class of carrier is the replacement for the Nimitz-class design that originated in the 1960s. The company's Shipbuilding sector will perform the work, which includes ship construction, ship design activities, engineering services, procurement of materials and hardware to support construction and logistics activities. ``This contract award is an important and historic milestone for our company, our Navy and our country,'' said Matt Mulherin, vice president and general manager for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Newport News operations. ``It represents an incredible opportunity for the great shipbuilders of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding to build the first new aircraft carrier class in more than 40 years. The work we are doing today will play a significant role in America's defense for many generations to come.'' Advance construction of the Gerald R. Ford began in 2005 under a separate contract valued at $2.7 billion. This advance work allowed shipbuilders to test the design-build strategy, exercise new processes, prototype new features used on this ship before the overall construction contract was awarded, and to build a sufficient backlog of ship units to support production, undocking and delivery. About one third of the ship's 1,200 structural units are currently under construction. The ship's keel will be laid in the fall of 2009 and delivery to the Navy is scheduled for 2015. The Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) class will continue the legacy of highly capable U.S. Navy aircraft carrier ship platforms. Enhancements being incorporated into the design include flight deck changes, improved weapons handling systems, and a redesigned island, all resulting in increased aircraft sortie rates. It will also include a new nuclear power plant; increased electrical power generation capacity; allowance for future technologies; and reduced workload for the sailors, translating to a smaller crew size and lower operating costs for the Navy. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide. Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

No takers for STX’s coalition proposal for DSME

South Korean shipbuilder STX has not seen a take up of its offer to partner one of the four companies bidding for Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The company, which had held back from issuing an independent bid due to a negative market reaction to the proposed acquisition, recently jumped into the fray and offered to form a consortium for the purchase. "We want to participate in the Daewoo Shipbuilding bidding. But we will invest a maximum of 300bn won to grab some managerial rights for the world's third-biggest shipyard," Lee Jong-chul, the group’s vice chairman said. However, according to the Korea Times, three out of four bidders – POSCO, HHI and Hanwha Group – have declared that they are not interested in the offer, while the last bidder -GS Group – has shown no interest in the proposal. The paper speculates that strong opposition by the Daewoo's union and management's bid screening committee, which believe that STX involvement would result in major layoffs, has played a part in the rejection. Analysts estimate the acquisition to garner an estimated $8bn – double DSME’s current value. Source : Seatrade Asia



ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

REDWISE MARITME SERVICES B.V.Amersfoortseweg 12-E

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Phone : +31 (0) 33 42 17 860 (24 hr) Fax : +31 (0) 33 42 17 879 - [email protected]

www.redwise.com

Sulpicio ordered to pay P16-M fine for ramming Iloilo port

Well, it’s something like Peter’s Principle. Shortly after the Sulpicio Lines had undergone a lot of expenses for the MV Princess of the Stars’ sinking off Sibuyan in Romblon, the shipping company was again slapped a P16-million fine after its MV Cotabato Princess rammed the ongoing Fort San Pedro construction project in Iloilo City. That was an accident. But it also exposed the alleged poor pay for port pilots in Iloilo City. Actually, Cotabato Princess docked at the Iloilo port without a harbor pilot. This came after Undersecretary for Transportation and Communications Elena Bautista had ordered Marina to investigate the harbor master of the Iloilo port to answer why the Sulpicio ship was allowed to dock at the Iloilo harbor sans the support from the Iloilo pilot. It turns out that the harbor pilots are charging only P300 per vessel for their help in docking. Thus, it seems that the pilots have been discouraged from assisting docking ships; their expenses for gasoline alone cannot compensate for their services. Philippine Ports Authority is the one which regulates the hiring of harbor pilots to assist ships that dock at the Iloilo port and other ports in the country. That was hard luck for Cotabato Princess which reportedly destroyed 16 piles and a crane boom last week. But after that incident, it was allowed to sail out again the next day without a formal hearing into the incident. No word has been received from the PPA on how long it would take to replace the piles and recover the crane boom. For the moment, though, the Marine Board of Inquiry would try to finish its hearings into the sinking of the Princess of the Stars which resulted in the death of some 800 passengers. But prior to the final windup of its investigation into the Sibuyan Sea tragedy, the Marina had allowed Sulpicio lines to allow its cargo fleet to resume operations. Marina is reportedly poised to adjust the rates of Iloilo harbor pilots so they will be given the necessary incentives to guide docking ships to port.



The Cotabato Princes reportedly docked at the Iloilo harbor with only the boat’s skipper guiding the ship. He complained about the heavy current and strong waves that caused the boat to ram against the pier. Meanwhile, there was also the good news. Negros Navigation had its newest vessel, M/V San Agustin Uno, blessed and launched yesterday at the Banago port in Bacolod. M/V San Agustin Uno held its maiden voyage yesterday. It will serve the ports of Manila, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga City. The ship has a gross tonnage of 3,062 and has a capacity of 216 TEUs. It is 99.4 meters long. Pablo Torres, NN regional operations manager for the Visayas, said NN’s excellent record in safety handling and safety measures assures shippers of quality service. NN also has a well-planned stowage. This ensures vessel safety with security measures that include special seals to secure containers, security escorts for sensitive cargo transport, and ramp cameras on cargo deck, according of the shipping firm’s officials. That, of course, provides Negros Occidental an ancillary shipping line for its outgoing cargo. Source : Philstar

Rosyth ferry set for last crossing SCOTLAND WILL bid a sad "bon voyage" to the final Superfast sailing between Rosyth and Zeebrugge on Saturday. The withdrawal of the only direct ferry route between the country and mainland Europe comes only 15 weeks after Superfast Ferries made its shock announcement that it was pulling the plug on its flagship service. It is all so different from the optimism felt only six years before when it sailed off on its maiden voyage from the Rosyth port following years of campaigning and negotiations. It is thought Superfast's parent company, the Attica Group, made the decision based on a failure to build up the freight side of the business and the rocketing price of oil. The weakness of sterling against the euro is also believed to be a factor as the company's costs are paid in euros and they get their revenue in sterling. Experts maintain that the Rosyth-Zeebrugge service is commercially viable but despite behind-the-scenes discussions in the last three months no replacement operator has yet been found, although rumours are rife that an announcement on a successor is imminent. It was a bright summer's day on May 17, 2002, when excited tourists headed up the gangplank on the inaugural Superfast IX crossing. Along with German-built sister ship Superfast X, the two vessels would open up Scotland to continental Europe with daily sailings of 16 and a half hours for the first time. The roll-on, roll-off ferry carried more than 620 passengers, 115 cars, caravans and motorcycles and 110 lorries, as well as the hopes of many that Rosyth would become a major hub port. The fully booked Superfast IX was given a VIP send-off by the then Chancellor Gordon Brown and former First Minister Jack McConnell. It was the climax to years of campaigning from politicians and business leaders who fought to bring the service to Fife. Superfast was chosen as the preferred operator after a long tendering process and then work had to start on redeveloping the former naval base at Rosyth to cater for a new generation of commercial boats. The work, which cost between £10 million and £12 million, hinged on the government approving a freight facilities grant. This stalled the project and in 2001 those working on the project warned the whole thing could run aground if the grant was not released. Eventually, the green light was given and the old naval base was reborn as a ferry terminal.



However, even at the launch in 2002 the Greek-based Attica Group sounded a warning saying its survival would ultimately depend on its profitability and the key to that was the level of freight attracted. Only three years later the daily service was drastically reduced to a sailing every other day as one of the ships was redeployed to the Mediterranean. And then in May, almost six years to the day since its glittering arrival, came the bombshell that the entire service was being withdrawn. There were mixed feelings among local politicians yesterday over the loss of the link to Zeebrugge. However, the Greek company behind Superfast was praised for "putting Fife on the map." The council's environment, enterprise and transportation chairman Tony Martin said there was no doubt Superfast had made a major contribution to the life and economic prosperity of Fife. "We want to make Fife a great place to live work and visit," he added."Superfast has been extremely important in doing this. "Superfast put Fife on the map, bringing business and tourism to the kingdom. "It will be much missed but efforts continue apace to restore this vital link as soon as possible." Dunfermline West MSP Jim Tolson said it was encouraging that the Scottish Government was in talks about a Superfast replacement. "I was one of a number of people in west Fife who welcomed Superfast when it came in and I am sad to see it go, although there are reasons for that," said Mr Tolson. "I am now looking forward to a new service being introduced as soon as possible. Unfortunately, however, there will be a break in the service. "I hope the break in the service will be as short as possible, but it will probably be six months to a year. "The most important thing is that discussions are moving along in an attempt to make sure there will be a replacement ferry service." Mr Tolson's Lib Dem colleague, Dunfermline and West Fife MP Willie Rennie, said Fife had been like "an island" before the Forth bridges and the ferry provided important transport links. He said, "The ferry changed people's perception of the area. It not only boosted morale but has been tremendously important for the economy and the environment, because it has prevented lorries from having to trundle down to the north-east of England." Meanwhile Helen Eadie, the Labour MSP for Dunfermline East, said Superfast had provided a "tremendous" service. "It was a lifeline to the middle of Europe, and tremendously cut down miles travelled by road," she said. "To reduce carbon emissions, the highways of the sea are what we want to use in the future, not the highways of the roads." And Labour MEP Catherine Stihler said, "As far as I know there will be no ferry after Saturday, which is hugely disappointing and highly regrettable. "We have to put as much pressure on the nationalist administration to deliver a new service as quickly as possible. "I had hoped there could be the possibility of an almost seamless transition from Superfast to another operator but that is not to be. "The impact on the economy and jobs should have been avoided." She added that everyone should remember Scotland would be losing its only link with mainland Europe on Saturday. "I will be doing all I can to ensure another service. I would hope we could replace the Rosyth-Zeebrugge service before January. "The more delays, the more Scotland is left alone and isolated at a time when we need a continental route. "We are trying to get freight off our roads-environmentally a failure to have a freight service from Rosyth is detrimental to meeting our targets on climate change." Labour MSP John Park said the break in the service could have been avoided had the Scottish Government not "dithered." "Having said that, I am very keen to work on a cross-party basis to make sure we get a replacement service in place."



Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, said, "I am deeply disappointed that the Superfast service is to cease. "However, excellent facilities have been created at Rosyth through our successful attraction of freight facilities grants, and there was major growth in freight traffic after 2004. "That leads me to believe that an experienced operator can build on that infrastructure, and make a success of this route."

Scotland-Europe ferry link to run aground this weekend

THE only sea link between the Scottish mainland and Europe will end on Saturday without a replacement operator in sight. Greek firm Superfast is stopping its ferry service between Rosyth and the Belgian port of Zeebrugge after claiming it was not making enough money from the route. Forth Ports is in talks with a number of operators with a view to taking over the seven-year-old route but nothing has come to fruition so far. The Netherlands-based operator Norfolkline also said it is weeks away from deciding whether or not it will pursue the Rosyth link. Kell Robdrup, managing director of Norfolkline, said: "We are looking at the possibility of a Zeebrugge to Rosyth service, but we have still to take a decision. "We are always looking for new opportunities, but this is not an obvious choice for us." Mr Robdrup conceded that his firm had operational and profitability concerns about the route. The Superfast service started in 2001 and was heralded as a great boost for Scotland's tourism and freight industries. A £20 million terminal was built in Rosyth, using around £12m of public money. Alastair Short, policy manager with Sestran, said: "The loss of the Superfast link is a big blow, and we are hopeful that a replacement can be found in the shortest time possible. "The big problem is that a lot of the freight operators will have had to make alternative arrangements and once they are locked into agreements on other ferry routes it will be difficult to get them back." A spokesman for Forth Ports said: "The Rosyth ferry service has been very successful, having carried 918,448 passengers and 190,864 freight units since it was established in 2002. "Our priority is to ensure that Scotland does not lose this crucial service and talks are ongoing with a number of operators and we remain hopeful of finding a replacement service. "Once an operator has been identified we will work closely with them to ensure there is minimal break in service when the existing Superfast ferry stops on September 13." Source : edinburghnews.scotsman.com



Vale delays ore shipments to China VALE has postponed an unknown number of iron ore shipments to China, with one Chinese news agency claiming nearly 100 ore carriers are sitting off the coast of Brazil's loading ports today. China's Economics Reference, a newspaper of by state-run Xinhua News Agency, said that the Brazilian mining giant had delayed the voyages because of a dispute over iron ore pricing. Data showed around 24 vessels were currently waiting at the major Brazlian port of Tubarao, but Vale was unable to immediately confirm reports that further bulk carriers are also held up. On Tuesday, Vale demanded an 11%-11.5% price increase from its Asian buyers for its contracted iron ore. It said the move will bring prices into line with those paid by its European customers. The unprecedented contract amendment is understood to have been allowed because a clause in Vale's contract allowed price renegotiations if the gap between the Australian and Brazilian freight premium widened. Australian miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton secured better annual contract price increases than Vale from Chinese mills, based on the cheaper freight costs to ship iron ore. Castalia Fund Management's managing director Philippe van den Abeele told Lloyd's List that news of 100 ore carriers waiting off Brazil to load was "confusing" and that he was not sure which way to interpret it. On the one hand, if the vessels delayed are released the market will become flooded with tonnage and rates will fall further. On the other hand, if congestion builds up as the tonnage stays anchored off the loading ports, then rates will find support and rise. The forward freight agreement market responded positively to the news late yesterday, halting the slide in the capesize fourth quarter contract. Norwegian shipping analyst DnB NOR Markets also confirmed in its weekly report that cargoes out of Brazil had been cancelled or delayed this week as Vale attempts to increase the price of its iron ore. "This has been met with resistance from Chinese steel mills, and might even encourage more iron ore imports from nearer countries, such as Australia and/or India," said the Oslo-based analyst. A London broker said he understood that Vale is refusing to load ore until its terms are agreed by China's steel mills. But so far Vale's Asian customers have not agreed to the price increase. Vale chief executive Roger Agnelli told Reuters that the company's price negotiations with Asian steel mills would not take effect until 2009. Source : Lloyd's List

OPROEP VOOR DE LEZERS Ik hoop dat jullie lezer Serge kunnen helpen. Hij is op zoek naar informatie over 2 schepen.

1) de Anna (1). Was een oude loodsboot , die door reder anna jaren gebruikt werd als visserijschip voor de pleziervisser. Deze rederij is jaren geleden ermee gestopt. Het was nog een heel mooi schip, originele motor (draaide in 2 richtingen). Had toen thuishaven Oostende.

2) de Vacationer. hier heb ik de eerste vaart meegemaakt. Ik heb vernomen dat hij later Coral princess zou zijn gaan heten hebben (1999) maar nadien geen spoor meer.

Het lijkt me dat dit moet lukken want tenslotte zijn de newsclippings van scheepvaartliefhebbers voor scheepvaartliefhebbers [email protected]



www.mammoetsalvage.com

Imtech werkt aan marineschepen Technisch dienstverlener Imtech heeft orders gekregen voor werk aan marineschepen van Marokko, Australië en Turkije. Daarmee is een bedrag gemoeid van ruim 30 miljoen euro. Dat heeft het bedrijf donderdag bekendgemaakt. De marinevloten van deze landen worden uitgebreid met het oog op het toenemend aantal vredes- en handhavingsmissies. Imtech verzorgt de automatisering van drie fregatten voor de Marokkaanse marine, die op de werf De Schelde in Vlissingen worden gebouwd. Daarnaast levert het bedrijf ventilatie- en klimaatbeheersingsapparatuur voor twee grote Australische schepen en automatisering voor zestien patrouilleboten voor de Turkse marine. De laatste van deze schepen worden in 2014 opgeleverd.

US BRINGS IN SANCTIONS AGAINST IRISL TOP US officials told a press conference in Washington yesterday that the US has imposed sanctions on Iran's national shipping company Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). Acting Assistant Secretary for International Security and Non-proliferation Patricia McNerney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, and the Director of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control Adam Szubin outlined why IRISL had been singled out. They underlined the risks for non-US firms of doing business with IRISL. Mr Szubin said said the Treasury Department had designated the which we refer to as IRISL, as well as 18 other affiliated entities, for providing or attempting to provide logistical services to MODAFL, Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. One major implication of the US move is to freeze all IRISL assets in the US or controlled by US entities abroad. He continued: “The US also has information that points to an alarming pattern of denial and deception techniques by IRISL. Specifically, IRISL has employed the use of generic or cover terms to describe shipments so as to mask the content of those shipments and so as to avoid the attention of shipping authorities. They have also used front or cover entities to conduct official IRISL business. In 2007, IRISL transported a shipment of a precursor chemical destined for use in Iran’s missile program. The end user of this shipment was Parchin Chemical Industries, a company that has been designated not just by the US but by the United Nations Security Council because of its ties to Iran’s proliferation activities.” He warned : “Because of the high risk of unwittingly facilitating Iran’s proliferation activities, we call on banks, companies and insurers worldwide to re-evaluate any ongoing business relationships with IRISL. IRISL’s deceptive conduct makes it nearly impossible to determine whether its shipments are licit or illicit under the international standards put out by the UN Security Council in its resolutions.” Source : Maritime Global Net

StealthGas orders Suezmax crude tankers



Athens-headquartered StealthGas Inc. which primarily serves the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector, has ordered two new 156,000 deadweight Suezmax crude oil tankers with an option for two more. Delivery of the first is expected in May-July 2011 and the second in July-September 2011. The optioned third and the fourth vessels would be delivered in the first and second quarters of 2012. The company has also entered into an agreement to acquire from an unaffiliated entity its fourth new resale 50,500 deadweight M.R. type product carrier to be delivered in November 2009, when it will be named Stealth Argentina and go on a three year bareboat charter to a far eastern shipping entity. The aggregate cost of the five vessels detailed above, assuming the option for the two additional Suezmax ships is exercised, is around $403 million. "We have decided after lengthy study to strategically enter into the transportation of crude oil by ordering two, and optioning two, brand new 156,000 deadweight Suezmax Tankers," said CEO Harry Vafias. "We believe the outlook for these vessels at the time of their expected delivery as detailed above is very positive. I am pleased to say that despite the current difficult conditions within the banking sector that our bankers, both existing and new, have supported us willingly in regard to these new investments with well structured and competitively priced facilities." Source : MarineLog

Meer slots bij MSC voor Zuid-Amerika MSC is ver gevorderd met de vervanging van een reeks panamaxschepen tussen Noord-Europa en de oostkust van Zuid-Amerika door grotere postpanamaxtonnage met een capaciteit van 5.447 tot 5.762 teu. In de dienst die Antwerpen en Rotterdam met Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, en Navegantes verbindt, worden zes schepen ingezet. Daarvan is nu alleen de MSC Leigh (4.872 teu) nog een panamax. De postpanamax-schepen zijn voornamelijk afkomstig van reders die tussen Europa en het Verre Oosten hun capaciteit willen beperken. Zo beëindigde Hanjin de charter van de Hanjin Venezia die in de AEX-loop voer. Het schip gaat nu als MSC Venezia op Zuid-Amerika varen. Twee andere schepen, de MSC Los Angeles en MSC Shenzhen, hebben onlangs de vloot van China Shipping verlaten. De trade op Brazilië is niet het eerste noordzuid-vaargebied waarop MSC postpanamax-tonnage inschakelt. Tussen Noord-Europa en Zuid-Afrika zijn er ook al actief, waaronder de 5.900 teu grote MSC Marta. Bron : Nieuwsblad Transport

Cosco's 564-TEU Takeko calls first at Yantai on Japan-China short sea run

YANTAI Rising Dragon International Container Terminal Ltd. recently received Cosco's 564-TEU Takeko during the latter's maiden voyage to the mouth of the Bohai Sea in Shandong province. The Takeko now calls YRDICT weekly, and joins the same sized Umeko in Cosco's Yantai-Lianyungang-Tokyo-Yokohama service. "The opening of this shipping route offers great convenience to Chinese and Japanese foreign traders and improves the Yantai port," said Apollo Zhou, YRDICTL general manager. YRDICTL is a subsidiary of Manila's International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI), a leading developer of international ports and terminals with a global port network spanning 11 countries in four continents. Source: schednet.com



Customised DP solution for BP ships Dynamic Positioning Services (DPS) says it has developed a customised positioning sensor solution specifically designed for permanent installation on BP's IMT992 Caledonian 'V' ships operating in the North Sea. "DPS brought a local advantage to the installation, utilising time spent in-port at Aberdeen by the ships. While this extends the delivery time, it means that there is no disruption to the ships normal operations and scheduling," said the company. The project has involved close liaison between all of the involved parties – DPS, BP, Vector Offshore and Converteam – in order to determine the specific requirements. All required wiring, power distribution and equipment specifications have been designed to comply with DNV Class Regulations to avoid any possible future duplication of work when the vessels are attaining DP2 notation. The complete technical solution utilises a variety of standard DP sensors including Veripos LD2 dGPS, Radascan and Cyscan relative positioning sensors as well as heading attitude and motion sensors. The solution is dual purpose being shared between the ship's own positioning software suite and the DP system. It will provide a real-time representation of the ship position relative to offshore installations. Source: cgi.wn.com

Voorlopig geen opvolger dienst Zeebrugge-Rosyth

Er komt voorlopig geen opvolger voor de veerdienst van Superfast Ferries tussen Zeebrugge en de Schotse haven Rosyth. De Griekse rederij staakt die dienst zoals eerder aangekondigd volgende weekend. Met de snelle ro/pax Blue Star 1 werd om de twee dagen een afvaart geboden. De verbinding heeft zes jaar bestaan en leverde nooit grote winsten op. Het Zeebrugse havenbestuur en de Schotten hopen dat een andere rederij de dienst wil voortzetten. Norshukon Link was bereid om een geplande ro/ro-dienst tussen Kristiansund en Rosyth door te trekken naar Zeebrugge, maar komt niet uit de startblokken omdat er geen Europese steun werd toegekend. Initiatiefnemer John White zal volgend jaar opnieuw een aanvraag voor subsidie in het kader van het Marco Polo programma indienen. Wanneer de Schotse dienst wegvalt, zijn de klanten in Zeebrugge aangewezen op de diensten van P&O Ferries. Voor de vrachtklanten is Teesport de meest noordelijke haven die P&O Ferries bedient. Passagiers kunnen tussen Zeebrugge en Hull mee. Bron : Nieuwsblad Transport

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE EDITOR TO ALL READERS :

AT PRESENT I AM IN PROCESS TO SET UP AN FULLY AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR THE DAILY SHIPPING NEWSCLIPPINGS, WHICH MEANS THAT THE

DISTRIBUTION OF THE NEWSLETTER WILL BE DONE BY AN EXTERNAL MAIL-SERVER, THIS IN VIEW OF THE QUANTITY OF NEWSLETTERS WHICH ARE SEND OUT DAILY,

THE MAIL WILL BE SOON SEND AUTOMATIC FROM THE E-MAIL ADRESS :

[email protected] USING A SPAM FILTER ARE REQUESTED TO ALLOW THE E-MAIL PROGRAM

WHICH THEY ARE USING TO RECEIVE MAILS FROM THE ABOVE ADRESS I WILL INFORM YOU IN A LATER STAGE AT WHICH DATE THE ABOVE DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEM WILL START.



Referring to yesterdays newsclippings subject : “Kirkenes chosen before Murmansk” above seen FUGRO’s BAVENIT moored in the port of Scheveningen (File Photo)

Photo : Dirk Kleijn ©

CHEMOIL HAPPY WITH FIRST YEAR IN GULF OF MEXICO

MAJOR international physical bunker supplier of marine fuel products says it has experienced substantial demand for its “pioneering” offshore supply service in the Gulf of Mexico during its first year of operation. The Singapore-listed company says: “The surge has been underpinned by increasing numbers of vessels spanning VLCCs, smaller tankers and bulk carriers seeking new ways to create cost efficiencies amid rising fuel costs and higher charter rates. Since officially launching operations in August 2007 to end a five-year service gap in the US Gulf offshore market, Chemoil has tripled its capacity to over 50,000 dwt. It notes: “The decision to raise capacity to this level through chartering a second vessel, the 36,000DWT tanker Nordic Ruth in June 2008 reflects how operators are increasingly realizing significant operational and commercial benefits of combining lightering and refuelling activities in one location rather than making costly and time-consuming deviations to refuel in areas such as the Caribbean.” Adrian Tolson, Chemoil’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing said: “Ship operators of all sizes are now focusing on where they can maximize efficiencies and reduce costs to alleviate current financial pressures. This is vital as they are operating in tough economic times with volatile and high fuel prices but are still challenged with generating more efficiencies and cost reductions in their supply chain. During the first year of operations in the Gulf of Mexico customer demand has grown steadily and we anticipate that this will continue as more operators convert to refuelling offshore for these reasons.”

Dubai wil kanaal om olievervoer veilig te stellen



Dubai heeft plannen om een kanaal te graven naar de haven van Fujairah, een van de andere Arabische Emiraten, om daarmee in de toekomst de Straat van Hormuz te kunnen omzeilen. Dubai is bang dat Iran, als dat nog meer in conflict raakt met de westerse wereld, olievervoer via de Straat van Hormuz gaat hinderen. Eeen blokkade van de Straat van Hormuz zou grote gevolgen hebben voor de wereldwijde oliehandel; 40 procent van alle olie in de wereld wordt via deze vaarweg vervoerd. Het aanleggen van een kanaal tussen Dubai en Fujairah zou een heel karwei zijn. Er is dan een enorm sluizensysteem nodig om de Hajar bergketen over te komen. De kosten zouden naar schatting tweehonderd miljard dollar zijn. Bron : Nieuwsblad Transport Yahoo!My Yahoo!Mail Make Y! your home pageYahoo! SearchSearch:Welcome, salvagepiet [Sign Out, My Account]Finance Home -Help

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Seanergy Takes Delivery of Its Fourth Vessel Seanergy Maritime Corp. announced that it has completed the acquisition pursuant to the Master Agreement dated May 20, 2008, and took delivery of, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp., and its designated nominees, the M/V Bremen Max, a 1993 built, Panamax vessel with a capacity of 73,503 dwt. The vessel is chartered at the rate of $65,000 per day until on or about September 2009 to South African Marine Corporation, an affiliate of the Restis family. Dale Ploughman, the Company's Chief Executive Officer stated: "We are pleased to have taken delivery of our fourth vessel the M/V Bremen Max as scheduled. This is the first of two Panamax vessels we agreed to acquire. I would like to add that the current volatility in the dry bulk market has no direct effect on Seanergy. This is because all six of our vessels, the four currently in the water and the two we expect to take delivery of in September and October 2008 are secured under fixed time charter employment until September 2009 at strong rates." Source : SEANERGY MARITIME

New hull-cleaning technology to cut fuel consumption

A new technology has been launched to clean ship hulls without the use of abrasives that can damage or remove anti-fouling paint. Commercial Diving Services' Hull Service Treatment (HST) uses hot water instead of traditional abrasives. The HST aims to cut fuel consumption and ultimately greenhouse gas emissions. Research from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has shown that a large vessel heavily fouled needs 40% more fuel to maintain 20 knots, said local reports. “If 5% of a 250,000 tonne oil tanker is fouled, fuel costs increase 17%,” said the IMO. Reports say worldwide interest in the HST has been growing rapidly. Commercial Diving Services was earlier this year honoured with the Eco-Innovation in Business Award by the Futureworld Eco-Technology Centre at Coniston. And just last week, the HST technology won three Australian Business Awards for best new product, innovation and best eco-friendly product. According to local reports, the HST system uses the "thermal shock" of hot sea-water to kill marine slime, bacteria and algal growth and leaves it attached to a ship's hull.



Once the ship leaves port the material is removed by the hydraulic force of ocean and wave action. The process eliminates the need to use abrasives that can damage or remove anti-fouling paint and reduces the risk of ports being polluted, said the Illawarra Mercury. Anti-fouling reportedly costs shipowners worldwide about $1.85 billion a year. A Commercial Diving Services spokesman says recent surveys suggested that the average fouling resistance for a commercial ship is 30% if the condition is not corrected. “It appears that at least 10% may be saved in average fuel costs if regular anti-fouling procedures are undertaken and for an average ship which burns 100 tonnes of fuel per day, that represents a saving of around $5,800 a day,” he was quoted saying. Source: tankerworld.com

The BC Ferries vessel Spirit of Vancouver Island seen departing Tsawwassen, (photo taken from sister ship Spirit of British Columbia)

Photo : Captain Andy Patterson ©

SR540 million for Saudi ports improvement The Saudi Seaports Authority (SSA) has laid down plans to enhance the capacity of Kingdom's sea ports, particularly at the Jeddah Islamic Port and Dammam's King Abdul Aziz Port. As a short-term arrangement to counter the currently experienced congestion at the JIP, a SR540-million project will be implemented shortly, Khaled Boubasheet, president of SSA, said in a press statement in Riyadh yesterday. The new measures are expected to speed up loading and unloading of consignments and other related services. The measures also include construction of three additional wharfs at the northern container terminal, Boubasheet said. It was reported recently that many commercial ships are reportedly skipping the Jeddah Islamic Port due to extreme congestion and unload their consignments at nearby ports, causing problems to exporters and importers. They also skip the port fearing fines charged by authorities for the delay in unloading shipments. Denying the report that ships were skipping Jeddah port, Boubasheet said that only ships that failed to arrive to the port on their fixed schedule were forced to wait for their turn or leave. "The arrival of scheduled and late ships caused some sort of congestion at the port," he said. He also added no other ship changed its destination to other ports in the recent months except one ship, which did for its own peculiar reason. He also said that shipping charges to all ports in the Gulf region for consignments originating from European ports have gone up by 10 percent.



As a medium-term solution to the issue the SSA also intended to implement a SR1.6 billion project to enhance the annual capacity of the container terminals to a total of 6 million containers by the end of next year when the project would be completed. The long-term solution under consideration includes construction of another terminal that can handle 4 million containers annually at the initial phase. "Usually during the period from the beginning of the month of Ramadan and ending after the Haj season, the port used to experience hectic activities. This year it has been increased considerably because of the unprecedented economic development in the country and coincided with the regular peak season," Boubasheet said. Source: arabnews

A2 rating for Panama Canal The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has received an investment grade rating of A2 from Moody’s Investors Services. This is the first such rating for the Canal. The ACP says that the “A” rating classifies the ACP as “upper-medium grade and subject to low credit risk,” and reaffirms Panama’s growing presence in the global marketplace. “This announcement is a matter of national pride for Panama, because it is the result of the business model we use to manage the Canal to ensure its efficiency, safety and profitability,” said ACP administrator and CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta. He added: “This also underscores the dynamic growth and development of Panama – its booming economy, combined with the ongoing historic Canal expansion project and the effective management of the Canal, all contributed to the high score the ACP received.” Source: mglobal.com

Dockwise TARGET loaded with the MAERSK RESOLUTION was spotted off Cape Town Photo : Aad Noorland ©



Port Fleet assists berthing of Costa Mediterranea, first vessel accepted by Marine Façade in St.

Petersburg Tug-boats of Port Fleet CJSC, Leonid Bochkov, Heptun and Pluton (ensured fire safety), successfully fulfilled piloting and berthing of the cruise liner Costa Mediterranea, which moored at Marine Façade, new marine passenger terminal on Visiljevsky Island in St. Petersburg. According to the company’s press center, captain of the Leonid Bochkov tug-boat Yuri Zubashkov noted high safety level of the operations held at the new terminal. Port Fleet CJSC was set up in 1997. The company operates the fleet of 39 vessels being able to fulfill any tasks on integrated servicing of vessels both within the harbor waters of the port of St. Petersburg and outside it. Marine Facade is a strategic investment project of St. Petersburg. Complete implementation of the project envisaging construction of 7 marine passenger berths and a complex of coastal infrastructure is scheduled for 2010. The project on construction of a marine passenger terminal and development of the Vasiljevsky Island’s western part envisages reclamation of 476 hectares to be occupied by the terminal, residential area as well as social and commercial facilities. The terminal’ total financing is to make RUR 29 bln with RUR 6 bln to be allocated by the federal budget and RUR 23 bln to come from private investors. The project’s first phase envisages construction of three berths with necessary facilities. The capacity of the passenger terminal during the high season is supposed to make 12,000 passengers per day. It is planned that the city budget is to get from the terminal at least $56 mln per year, while the federal budget is to get some $69 mln.

The OLEANDER seen moored in Ostend Photo : Helen Hoogendijk ©



Goldman Sachs Japan close to sealing Hiroshima shipping line takeover

Goldman Sachs Japan, the Japanese arm of the US investment banking giant, is in talks to take over Hiroshima-based shipowner Yamamoto Kaiun, according to the Kaiji Press. The line, run by the Yamamato family, has a history stretching back to the nineteenth century and has bulkers, tankers and containerships on its fleet which is thought to number up to 15 ships. Goldman Sachs is building up its shipping portfolio having recently gone into a capesize owning joint venture with a Greek owner. Source : Seatrade Asia

MOVEMENTS

Above seen the disconnecting operation of the FPSO UISGE GORM in the FIFE FIELD in the

North Sea. The job was done with the assistance of the AHTSV MAERSK ATTENDER, the DSV EDT PROTEA and the TUG ZEUS / ELBE and

EMS as heading control tugs. The diving operation was conducted by GB diving, (SMIT), GLOBAL MARITIME in

Aberdeen was contracted as marine consultant. The tug ZEUS is main tug for the tow to

Rotterdam. The FPSO got finally disconnected Thursday

morning ( 11.08.08 - 05.30 ) and will start the tow voyage approx at 15.00 today towards

Rotterdam Photo : Capt. Christian Schmidt ©



For all who want to go and have a look at the UISGE GORM as it arrives at Hoek van Holland. The ETA is SATURDAY 12:30 hrs LT

OLDIE – FROM THE SHOEBOX

The 1960 built 42.500 dwt Shell tanker ZARIA seen rolling over the Pacific in 1964 underway from Mena to Anacortés (US), Newsclippings reader Peter Jansen made the picture, it was his first trip as apprentice mate, he joined the 213

mtr long ZARIA in Rotterdam and sailed first to Mena al Amahdi (Kuwait), via the Suez canal, from there to Mena-Anacortés via the Singapore-Straits then to Japan, Pacific, Anacortés.(discharging). In continuation via the Panama

Canal to Punta Cardon loading cargo for Gothenburg, the ZARIA (callsign PIWB) was powered by Pametrada Turbines with an output of 16.000 hp for a max. speed of 16 knots, At October 6th 1984 Inchon Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. Started

scrapping the tanker. This kind of trip is not every apprentice making nowadays as his first trip !!

Photo : Capt . Peter Jansen ©

…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..



Above seen Jumbo’s Fairpartner offloading 2 nos 600-ton reactors in Port Klang. Reactors were loaded onto a barge that is currently on its way to Melaka.Where they will be offloaded by SPMT’s and later installed on the PSR-2 refinery

by Mammoet’s cranes. Photo : Denis Brouwer - Mammoet Malaysia ©

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daily collection of maritime press clippings 2008 –...

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