daily collection of maritime press clippings...

DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 249

Distribution : daily 4825 copies worldwide 9/22/2008

Number 249 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Monday 22-09-2008 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles taken from various news sites.

SVITZER OCEAN TOWAGE Jupiterstraat 33 Telephone : + 31 2555 627 11 2132 HC Hoofddorp Telefax : + 31 2355 718 96 The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected]

KOTUG’s SD SEAL seen assisting the COSCO GERMANY upon arrival in Rotterdam Europoort

Photo : Fred Vloo ©



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CONTENTS

EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS • Giant step’ taken towards first offshore well in Malta • 1,500 passengers stranded in Bicol ports • Hong Kong, Greek ships hijacked near Somalia • Pirates Hit Again • 'India not negotiating with Somali hijackers' • Cruise lines' surcharges stay as oil prices drop • Migrant boat missing at sea-Egyptian ministry • France's plan to fight pirates • Navy: Preventing hijacks now a priority

NAVY NEWS

• China begins training first batch of aircraft carrier fighter pilots

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

• Port of Houston back in operation • Crowding crisis continues at Jeddah port • NOL definitely to bid for Hapag-Lloyd - paper • SIBA SHIPS CARRIES 3 MILLIONTH SHEEP • SAMSA and IMO to host World Maritime Day in Durban • Holland America Line Delivers Entertainment Enhancements • Ship Passengers Visa-Free to St. Petersburg from December • Mombasa gets tough with overstays • Grootste mobiele havenkraan ter wereld onderweg naar Rotterdam • Kenya’s Royal Star cruise operation folds - ship to be sold



EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

VLIERODAM WIRE ROPES Ltd. wire ropes, chains, hooks, shackles, webbing slings,

lifting beams, crane blocks, turnbuckles etc. Nijverheidsweg 21 3161 GJ RHOON The Netherlands

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The BB OCEAN arrived with the workbarge MONTECRISTO in Ijmuiden Photo : Willem Koper ©

Giant step’ taken towards first offshore well in Malta

Mediterranean Oil & Gas has recently announced a significant step forward on its interests in Malta. The oil and gas exploration company, with production in Italy, recently confirmed that it had signed a Production Sharing Contract with the Government of Malta to drill a well in Area 4, Blocks 4,5,6 and 7 offshore Malta. A previous exploration study on the area calculated the total most likely hydrocarbon potential at five billion barrels of oil in place, with resultant total most likely case prospective recoverable oil resources of 1.475 billion barrels. Mediterranean Oil & Gas said it will pay a signature bonus of $0.5 million, plus $0.27 million per year in rent, education and administration fees. The two primary targets for drilling will be the Upper Cretaceous Play, and the Eocene Play.



Mediterranean Oil & Gas added that the area has already been covered by 2D seismic, with a 3D survey over the western region of Block 7. The 2D and 3D surveys have identified four prospects and five leads. The three most mature prospects are located in Block 7 along the “ramp setting” of the Melita – Medina Graben, close to the Libya pelagic basin. The Production Sharing Contract grants the exclusive right to explore for and exploit oil and gas for a term of 30 years and is divided into exploration and production periods. The six-year exploration period is divided into three stages with an initial three-year stage in which the contractor is obliged to drill a 2,500 metre well. Following the current stage, the contractor can extend the exploration phase for two additional exploration periods of 18 months each by drilling a further one well commitment for each extension. If there is a discovery during an exploration period then the exploration phase can be extended up to another three years to enable the contractor to appraise the discovery and establish its commerciality, the company said. Mediterranean Oil and Gas also confirmed that Leni Oil and Gas would pay $2.5 million for a 10 per cent working interest in the Production Sharing Contract. Sergio Morandi, CEO, said: “In signing the Production Sharing Contract with the Maltese government, the company has consolidated its exploration portfolio in the central Mediterranean area. The operational expertise and experience of our technical staff in relation to the central Mediterranean area gives the company a distinct advantage in this area.” “We have identified most likely prospective resources of 1.5 billion barrels of oil in a series of large leads and prospects in the PSC Area. This giant potential upside provided by the PSC balances well with and adds high impact exploration to our portfolio of oil and gas assets in the central Mediterranean. “Our asset portfolio in the region already includes existing Italian gas production, our development of the 20 MMbbl (2P oil reserves) at Ombrina Mare and the pending exploration well at Monte Grosso.” Last week the company announced that the Masseria De Palma 1 exploration well on the Lucera Gas Production Concession, onshore Italy, had spudded. Mediterranean Oil & Gas has a 13.6 per cent interest in the concession; GPI is the operator. The well is expected to take around 25 days to reach target depth of 1872 metres, and is targeting a prospective gas resource of 5.5 to 9 billion cubic feet (best to high case on a 100 per cent basis) in the Pliocene Gas sand complex. Mediterranean Oil & Gas and its partners are already producing gas from other fields on the concession. The company also confirmed that the work on the Vigna Nocelli 1 well on the Torrente Celone Gas Production Concession, also in Italy, was successfully completed. The well opened six new gas sand levels between 950 and 1116 metres, and “should” resume production in early 2009. Mediterranean Oil and Gas has a 50 per cent interest in the well, which has gas reserves on a P1+P2 basis of 280MMcf. At Mediterranean Oil & Gas’s most recent success, the Ombrina Mare Oil & Gas Field, offshore Italy, the company stated that it had hired independent reserve engineers to assess the gas reserves at the field, which is expected to be completed before the end of the month. The company also commissioned a second engineering group to assist in the field development plan. Mr Morandistated: “The above Masseria de Palma and Vigna Nocelli operations are part of the company’s on-going gas production and reserves enhancement strategy. The company is maximising the gas production potential from its existing portfolio of production concessions and the utilisation of the existing production wells, gas production plants and other infrastructure.” Source : Malta Independent



The ANGLIAN EARL arrived with the ANNA 4 in Rotterdam Photo : Marco Breen ©

1,500 passengers stranded in Bicol ports Some 1,500 passengers were stranded in different ports in the Bicol region where public storm signals have been raised due to the onslaught of typhoon "Niña" (international codename: Hagupit), the Philippine Coast Guard said on Sunday. In Matnog, Sorsogon, some 1,183 are stranded after three vessels were grounded, the PCG District in Bicol said. In the port of Pilar, Sorsogon, 215 passengers were reportedly stranded while in Tabacco City Port in Albay, 200 passengers were reportedly stranded. In Bulan, Sorsogon some 64 passengers were marooned while in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, some 50 passengers were stranded after three motorboats were grounded by the PCG. In Virac, Catanduanes, 12 passengers were reportedly marooned while nine passengers had been stranded in Pioduran, Albay. Coast Guard units in the affected areas had been closely monitoring and rendering assistance for the security and safety of the stranded passengers, the PCG said. The grounding of vessels is in accordance to the orders of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that no ship or boat would be allowed to set sail when public storm warning signal has been raised in its port of origin. The order came after MV Princess of the Stars owned by the Sulpicio Lines Inc. sank off the coast of Romblon in June killing some 800 passengers and crew. Source : INQUIRER.net

Rickmers owned container ship CMA CGM ANAPURNA sailing from Cape Town after repairs. Photo: Robert Pabst ©



Hong Kong, Greek ships hijacked near Somalia

Armed pirates hijacked two ships carrying a total of 50 crew members off the coast of Somalia on Thursday, a maritime official said. The attacks bring the number of ships seized in the notorious African waters in the past two months to 14 and indicate pirates may be expanding their area of operation, warned Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau. A Greek ship with 25 crew en route to Kenya was captured off Mogadishu, on Somalia's eastern coast. Previously, pirates have largely threatened ships off the country's northern coast, said Choong, who heads the piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur. Four hours later, pirates hijacked the Hong Kong vessel also with 25 crew members in the Gulf of Aden, he said. Suspected pirates in speed boats also chased a Norwegian chemical tanker in the gulf but the ship managed to escape, he said. A multinational naval force patrolling the area has been informed of the attacks, and ships have been warned to stay clear from Somalia's coast, he said. "We advise ships to stay at least 250 miles (400 kilometers) from the coast and even then, they must maintain a strict watch," Choong said. "We urge the U.N. to take serious steps to stop this menace." Fifty-seven ships, including those seized Thursday, have been attacked off the Somali coast this year, most in the Gulf of Aden. The surge in attacks has prompted the U.S. Naval Central Command to establish a security corridor patrolled by an international coalition of warships. The Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, is one of the world's busiest waterways with some 20,000 ships passing through it each year.Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991. Pirates there are often trained fighters, many of them dressed in military fatigues and typically armed with automatic weapons, anti-tank rocket launchers and grenades.

Pulmantur’s cruise ship Oceanic seen arriving in the port of Civitavecchia Photo : Ronald de Bloeme o/b Noordam ©



Pirates Hit Again Somali pirates hijacked another Greek ship off the lawless Horn of Africa nation on Sunday (21 Sept) in the latest of a wave of attacks, a maritime official said. Andrew Mwangura, head of the Kenya-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, said the MV Capt Stephanos had 17 Filipino crew, one Chinese and a Ukrainian on board. No other details were immediately available. Heavily-armed pirates from Somalia have seized more that 30 vessels off the coast of their country so far this year, making its waters the most dangerous in the world. Last Wednesday, Somali gunmen hijacked another Greek ship, the Centauri. The pirates are holding more than a dozen vessels and more than 200 crew members for ransom. Source : ShipTalk

Above seen a photo of (a part of) Noordam in port of Kerkira, Corfu, 7 September 2008. Photo : Ronald de Bloeme - o/b ms Noordam ©

'India not negotiating with Somali hijackers' Authorities are not involved in negotiations currently underway to secure release of the 18 Indian crewmembers on board the hijacked ship, MT Stolt Valor, taken by pirates off Somalia, a shipping official said on Saturday. "We have got information that the hijackers have demanded a ransom of around Rs.60 million (around $1.50 million) but we have no further details," the official told IANS on condition of anonymity. The Japanese ship's management company in Hong Kong has appointed a third party negotiator and the Indian authorities are also awaiting the outcome of the ransom negotiations, he said. The authorities have also been assured that all the Indian crewmembers aboard the hijacked vessel are safe.



MT Stolt Valor, carrying a carrying a 24,000 tonnes consignment of oil products, was hijacked on Monday from near the Gulf of Aden, and is currently reported to be anchored at a port on the eastern coast of Somalia. Source : hindustantimes.com

Cruise lines' surcharges stay as oil prices drop Cruise passengers hoping that fuel surcharges will disappear just because oil prices have dropped got no encouragement Thursday from officials of the world's largest cruise company, Carnival Corp.

"I would expect them to be around for awhile," Howard Frank, Carnival's chief operating officer said Thursday during the company's third quarter earnings call. Photo : Ewout Hollemans © The Miami-based cruise company first announced a $5 per passenger per day surcharge last November. Since then, Carnival has raised it twice to $9 a day. Other lines, including Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise

Lines, also have fuel surcharges. The surcharges haven't settled well with many cruisers. The Florida Attorney General's office has received 528 complaints referencing cruise ship surcharges in the past six months. Cruise companies are so far reluctant to change their policies on fuel surcharges. They say the impact of rising fuel prices during the past year will affect performance into next year and passenger fees only recover part of the increase. Carnival said the amount offset will be about 25 percent of the $678 million fuel price increase for 2008. Extending the current surcharges into 2009 ― and assuming spot prices stay in place for all of next year ― about 43 percent of the total fuel cost increase since 2007 would be offset. Left : The CARNIVAL ECSTASY

seen departing from Bayport (Houston)

Photo : Robert Boeijen

o/b Jo Spruce © Oil closed at $97.88 a barrel in New York trading Thursday, down from a record peak of $147.27 on July 11. Carnival's third-quarter earnings dipped 3 percent compared with last year to about $1.3 billion. The cruise line reported a 77 percent increase in fuel prices in the quarter ended Aug. 31, compared with the third quarter of 2007. "Lower fuel prices are a clear positive for CCL [Carnival], but could be somewhat offset by slowing bookings and stronger dollar over [the] next 12 months," Citigroup analyst Joshua Attie said in a report Thursday. For the rest of 2008 and the first half of 2009, Carnival said occupancy levels are "running slightly behind" the same point in the prior year, though ticket prices are higher.



Royal Caribbean said in a statement that while it eventually hopes to "pass on the benefits of lower fuel costs" to its customers, "we believe it would be premature to lower the supplement at this time." Norwegian Cruise Lines spokeswoman AnneMarie Mathews declined to comment on the subject. Source : South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Migrant boat missing at sea-Egyptian ministry A boat carrying 83 Egyptian illegal migrants headed for Europe has gone missing off the coast of Greece after leaving Egypt three days ago, Egypt's foreign ministry said on Sunday. "The foreign ministry has learned that the boat left Damietta (on the northern coast) three days ago and that communications were cut off, and there has been nothing to suggest it reached the Greek shore," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said it had been alerted to the disappearance by Egypt's embassy in Athens, and that Egypt was coordinating with the Greek rescue authorities to locate the vessel. In Athens, a Greek Merchant Marine Ministry official, who declined to be named, said: "We are searching for the vessel, but haven't located it yet." Egyptian authorities have warned citizens of the dangers of trying to cross the Mediterranean illegally, saying many of the boats are overcrowded and unseaworthy. At least 21 Egyptians drowned in two incidents off the Italian coast in October 2007. But people are willing to pay around $2,000 for the chance of a new life, and authorities in Egypt and other Mediterranean countries have had to rescue survivors or locate the bodies of illegal migrants after several failed attempts. Source : africa.reuters.com

France's plan to fight pirates France on Friday circulated a draft resolution in the Security Council urging states to deploy naval vessels and military aircraft to join in the fight against rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia. The text "calls upon all states interested in the safety of maritime activities to actively take part in the fight against piracy against vessels off the coast of Somalia, in particular by deploying naval vessels and military aircraft". It urges states with naval vessels and military aircraft operating on the high seas and airspace off the Somali coast "to take all necessary measures, in conformity with international law ... for the prevention and repression of acts of piracy". Last June, the Security Council had adopted a resolution empowering states to send warships into Somalia's territorial waters with the government's consent to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea. The waters off Somalia - which has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity - are considered to be among the most dangerous in the world. The June resolution gave a six-month mandate to states co-operating with Somalia's transitional government (TFG) in fighting piracy to "enter the territorial waters of Somalia for the purposes of repressing acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea". But calls for an international naval anti-piracy drive off Somalia mounted this week in the face of almost daily attacks on ships and trawlers in the area. Dozens of ships, mainly merchant vessels, have been seized by pirates off Somalia's 3 700km of largely unpatrolled coastline. The pirates operate high-powered speedboats and are heavily armed, sometimes holding ships for weeks until they are released for large ransoms paid by governments or owners. On Tuesday, the UN World Food Programme welcomed an



European Union agreement to set up a "co-ordination unit" to help tackle the growing problem but the EU is only mulling whether to set up naval mission in future. Conflict, drought and rising food prices are threatening an unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the troubled Horn of Africa country. Pirate attacks on ships bringing food aid and supplies by sea have further complicated relief deliveries. Source : news24.com

The DEUTSCHLAND seen departing from Antwerp - Photo : Paul Struyf ©

Navy: Preventing hijacks now a priority Seven days have past since MT Stolt Valor with 18 Indians on board was hijacked off the Somalian coast, yet there has been no sign of breakthrough in rescuing the sailors. The Indian navy, however, has now decided to take tough measures to prevent international piracy of Indian ships. The navy is seeking a government nod for establishing a system to provide a befitting response to such situations, particularly when Indian crew was among the abducted. Speaking exclusively to TIMES NOW, chief of naval staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta said the navy will increase patrolling in the high seas; especially in zones where the threat of hijacking is higher. "There are certain policies - when to prevent, when to attack. We have to be proactive in preventing these incidents from taking place, which we feel is best way to do it...we are increasing patrols. By being present in areas under threat and escorting ships if so required," Admiral Sureesh Mehta said. "If an Indian ship is in difficult areas we have to be present or have partnership with others. The owners of the ship ask for military action and we will do anything to prevent further hijacking," he added. Despite a week having passed, authorities have not been able to pin-point the location of MT Stolt Valor - the Panama - owned merchant oil tanker with 18 Indian crew on board - is believed to be near the coast off the Horn of Africa. The ship was hijacked last week off the somalian coast. The sea pirates operate in large numbers in the African coast from South Africa to the Gulf of Aden in the west and the Malacca Straits in the east. Meanwhile the pirates have demanded a ransom of about 1.5 million dollars. Andrew Mwangura of the East Africa Seafarers Assistance Programme, who is negotiating with the hijackers, told TIMES NOW that the hijackers are trying to avoid military action.



"They have demanded a ransom of about 1-1.5 million dollars...they are moving the ships along the Somalian coast to avoid military action," Mwangura said. Source : timesnow

NAVY NEWS

The Brazilian frigate RADEMAKER seen patrolling the Brazilian oilfields. Photo : Crew Drilling Rig : Pride Carlos Walter ©

The RADEMAKER is the former Royal Navy’s BRAZEN (F 91). The frigate was transferred on 30-4-1997 to Brazil.

The frigate is assigned to the 1st Naval Division’s 2nd Frigate Squadron, based at Rio de Janeiro.

China begins training first batch of aircraft carrier fighter pilots

September 19 Indian maritime security experts are keenly watching China as it starts training its first batch of fighter pilots to operate from the country’s future fleet of aircraft carriers. A small article in a recent issue of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Daily announced that the first batch of 50 pilots cadets have been inducted at the Dalian Naval Academy to undergo training on ‘ship borne aircraft flight’. China remains the only major military power that does not possess an aircraft carrier but the country is fast moving towards acquiring a fleet of indigenous carriers and the training programme for pilots is a rare official acknowledgement of the project. As the article notes, the training programme is a significant milestone in China’s quest for a potent naval force. “The first pilot programme of recruiting pilot cadets is an important decision of the PLA Navy to realise a strategic transformation in the new period,” it says. The news is being keenly watched by Indian maritime security policy makers as it gives an insight into China’s secretive aircraft carrier project. The first batch of pilots undergoing training on ‘basic theories of surface ship and flight’ will pass out from the academy in four years ¿ indicating that China will have a potent training platform for actual ship borne fighters by that time. As reported by The Indian Express, the Indian Navy also estimates that China will get its first functional aircraft carrier — a refurbished Soviet era Kiev class warship — by 2012 and will use it exclusively to train Navy personnel. Incidentally, the Russian origin carrier, which has been renamed as the ‘Shilang’, has been transferred to the Dalian Naval Academy and is being fitted with a Chinese power plant. The Indian Navy believes that the carrier will never be able to function as a full fledged warship but will be used to carry out basic landing and take off practice. While China is fast moving towards acquiring an aircraft carrier, analysts say that it could take nearly two decades ¿ the time required to train crews and fine tune operations aboard warships of this size - to have a fully operational fleet.



The US also estimates that China is capable of starting construction of an indigenous aircraft carrier by the end of the decade. The latest Pentagon report on the Chinese military, however, says that the country ‘could not have an operational, domestically-produced aircraft carrier before 2015’. Source : indianexpress.com

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

SHIPYARD NEWS ANGLO DUTCH SHIPBROKERS bvba

Waterstraat 16 2970 SCHILDE BELGIUM Tel : + 32 3 464 26 09 Fax :+ 32 3 297 20 70 e-mail : [email protected]

Spotted in Constanta – Romania the CENTAUR 1 Photo : Hans van der Ster ©

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

Port of Houston back in operation



Port of Houston Authority facilities resumed normal operations at all terminals yesterday in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. PHA was granted U.S. Coast Guard clearance for all of its facilities late Wednesday and employees reported back to work yesterday. To accommodate its customers, PHA will open its Barbours Cut, Bayport and Turning Basin terminals on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. until noon, and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Carnival Cruise's Conquest arrived at the Port of Houston Authority's new Bayport Cruise Terminal yesterday and disembarked 380 passengers. Today, Carnival's Ecstasy will disembark approximately 550 passengers. These passengers opted to remain aboard the vessels following voyages that had departed Galveston prior to Hurricane Ike. Both Carnival's Conquest and Ecstasy vessels had been docked in New Orleans, where they were deployed following the closure of the Port of Galveston due to Ike. PHA expedited the opening of its cruise terminal at Carnival's request. PHA will operate Carnival's Conquest and Ecstasy cruise ships on Sept. 20-21, with 1,700 passengers expected on Saturday and 3,000 on Sunday. PHA has an agreement with Carnival to operate these vessels while the Port of Galveston recovery efforts continue. Yesterday, Galveston said its cruise terminal would be operational by October 1.

The CASTEL DELOVO seen departing from Rotterdam-Caland canal - Photo : Piet Sinke ©

REDWISE MARITME SERVICES B.V.Amersfoortseweg 12-E

3751 LK Bunschoten-Spakenburg The Netherlands

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

www.redwise.com



Crowding crisis continues at Jeddah port The crisis at Jeddah Islamic Seaport in Saudi Arabia caused by a lack of facilities for trans-shipments shows no signs of being resolved soon. The General Seaport Authority has been approached by seaport workers to reconsider the continuation of trans-shipment services due to the lack of necessary facilities at the seaport to absorb the loading containers of incoming ships. Several merchants and customs agents have suggested that the size of the trans-shipment service offered by the seaports to container ships be considerably reduced to make more space available for local containers. They have called upon officials at the port to overlook the financial gains generated from the transshipment service, at least for the time being, to help resolve the crisis, local newspapers said. Ebrahim Al Ugali, Chairman of the Customs Clearers Committee, has said that the authorities should grant the request, in order to ease the crisis and its negative effect on the price of essential commodities. Nashwa Taher, Chairperson of the Commercial Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, who is responsible for the formation of a joint team to find a solution to this ongoing crisis, has complained that seaport traffic and customs officials have yet to name their representatives. She urged the three agencies to name their representatives as soon as possible. As of now, many ships have gone to other seaports in the Gulf to unload their cargo to avoid the overcrowding at Jeddah seaport. Source : Gulf News

NOL definitely to bid for Hapag-Lloyd - paper Singapore's Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) will definitely bid for TUI container shipping unit Hapag-Lloyd, German paper Welt am Sonntag reported, quoting the NOL chief executive. NOL Chief Executive Officer Ronald Widdows said his company would bid for Hapag-Lloyd by Sept. 26, but said the chances of TUI selling the business were only 50 percent, according to a story to be published by the weekly paper on Sunday. The paper quoted Widdows as saying the global container-shipping business would remain difficult for the next 18 to 24 months. Source : reuters

SIBA SHIPS CARRIES 3 MILLIONTH SHEEP CLAIMED to be the world’s most technologically advanced livestock carrier, the Becrux, the carried its 3 millionth sheep. This was achieved at Doha, Qatar, on 18 September - just two months after its 500,000th cattle milestone was achieved. The ship is now returning to Perth in Australia to load another consignment for the Middle East.



The MV Becrux entered the Siba Ships livestock fleet in 2002 and has completed 77 voyages since its launch, the Becrux is able to carry 6,500 cattle or 30,000 sheep at 18 knots. Siba claims: “Its speed and animal welfare advances have cemented its position as the flagship of the world’s livestock fleet.” “With its superior feed, water and ventilation systems, the MV Becrux has been a resounding success for Siba Ships and for Australian sheep and cattle producers,” said Siba Ships Chairman

Mauro Balzarini. “It was that success which prompted Siba and Wellard to place our recently announced US$250 million order for two new sister vessels to the Becrux.”

The bulk of the cattle and sheep on the MV Becrux’s voyages have been supplied by Australia’s largest livestock exporter, Wellard Rural Exports, which has priority access to the Becrux.

“The Becrux doesn’t just exceed the industry standard in terms of voyage success rates - the sheep and cattle on board the Becrux arrive at their destination in better condition than aboard any other vessel,” said Wellard Rural Exports Managing Director Steve Meerwald. “That ability enables Australian producers to retain their competitive advantage in the global live export trade.” Source : Maritime Global Net

The GOTLAND MARIEANN seen approaching Rotterdam-Europoort Photo : Fred Vloo ©

SAMSA and IMO to host World Maritime Day in Durban

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) together with the Department of Transport (DOT) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will host the National World Maritime Day 2008 celebrations in Durban on Thursday, 25 September 2008.



SAMSA is the custodian of all maritime matters within South Africa and champion of the domestic maritime industry and was founded in 1998 to ensure the safety of life and property at sea, prevent pollution of the marine environment by naval activity and promote South Africa’s maritime interests. SAMSA regulates and promotes an industry accounting for well-over 95% of South Africa’s total trade. The Authority provides a wide range of services on behalf of Government as well as a maritime search and rescue function on behalf of the DOT through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). The International Maritime Organization was established in 1948 with the primary task of developing and maintaining a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its responsibilities include safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping. This year is an auspicious date in the maritime calendar as it marks the IMO’s 60th anniversary. Every year, the IMO and its affiliated organisations around the world celebrate World Maritime Day and, the exact date is left to individual Governments but is usually celebrated during the last week of September. The day is used to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO's work. This year the theme of World Maritime Day is “IMO: 60 years in the service of shipping”. The theme for World Maritime Day 2008 in South Africa as hosted by SAMSA under the IMO’s auspices is “Celebrating our past successes, showcasing our future.” National World Maritime Day 2008 in Durban kicks off with a showcase of maritime related role-players on 25 September at the ICC, during which delegates will hear an address read on behalf of the Secretary-General of IMO, Mr Efthimios Mitropoulos. Delegates will also be taken on a tour of Durban Harbour. In the evening at a Gala Dinner at uShaka Marine World, key players within the industry will be able to acknowledge and reflect on the important role played by the IMO, SAMSA and DOT in the maritime industry. Speakers at the dinner include Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe who will give a keynote address, KZN Minister of Transport Bheki Cele, SAMSA CEO Tsietsi Mokhele; CEO Port Regulator Riad Khan, CEO: South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents (SAASOA) Thato Tsautse and Chairperson of the SAMSA Board, Mohlolo Siko. “This is an important opportunity for people within the maritime industry to come together, network with key role players, and to gather updated information a variety of areas with the scope of what we represent.” said SAMSA CEO Mokhele. Source : ports.co.za

The MAERSK BARCELONA seen enroute Rotterdam Photo : Piet Sinke ©



Kon. Wilhelminahaven zz 22 3134 KG Vlaardingen (Port No 650) The Netherlands www.mariflex.net tel (24 hrs) : +31 (0) 10 434 44 45 [email protected]

Holland America Line Delivers Entertainment Enhancements

As part of Holland America Line's latest Signature of Excellence enhancements, entertainment on board five popular ships is evolving to feature a new music program, the new Showroom at Sea, expanded entertainment and enrichment activities and a video game room featuring the latest craze in high-tech entertainment. The enhancements are part of an extensive $200-million program that will occur during nearly month-long dry docks on ms Statendam, ms Maasdam, ms Ryndam, ms Veendam and ms Rotterdam beginning in spring 2009.

"The new musical offerings and entertainment initiatives are designed to be even more compelling and relevant to today's premium cruiser," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland America Line. "These enhancements will allow us to offer more venues and more choices to our guests." Photo : Piet Sinke © Joining the resident shipboard entertainment staff are three new musical groups catering to a wide audience: The HALCats, The Neptunes and Adaggio. Each ship in the fleet will now feature an ensemble of these

signature musical groups. An eight-piece party band, The HALCats play the music of the '60s, '70s and '80s throughout the ship. Charged with creating a sophisticated and sultry mood, The Neptunes, a three-piece combo, feature music from the Great American Songbook. Adaggio, a string quartet, comprised of a viola, cello and two violins, perform light classics in the Explorer's Lounge. Guests can dance to the tunes of Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr. in the newly refurbished Ocean Bar. Holland America Line has redesigned its main show space to combine modern stage technology and decor with the ambiance of a glamorous nightclub. Called Showroom at Sea, this venue will feature new show concepts along with production-style shows. Remodeled seating and a larger parquet dance floor will also feature movable tables and chairs complete with white-linen tablecloths and cafe lamps. The old-Hollywood atmosphere in this intimate room is just the place to dance the night away. The latest video game craze across the nation is now coming to Holland America Line ships. Interactive games and other high-tech entertainment, complete with large flatscreen televisions, are being installed in a new space called the



Sky Room and will test players' game skills. This high-tech game room features several "rooms within a room" and will include plenty of lounging chairs and couches for onlookers and participants alike. Entertainment and enrichment are taking on a new, contemporary look and feel across the fleet. A new Explorations Team employs cruise staff, each specializing in a particular area, to educate and entertain guests with an expanded menu of activities including flower arranging, hands-on cooking, dancing and working with digital photos, blogs and movies. Each team consists of a cruise director, a party planner, a travel guide, dance directors and a "techspert." On longer cruises, a book club leader joins the team to lead lively group discussions.

Dancing the night away onboard the Eurodam Photo : Piet Sinke ©

This $200-million phase in the Signature of Excellence commitment brings the latest innovations at sea to Holland America Line's Statendam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Veendam and Rotterdam. The first of the extensive dry dock periods begins with the Veendam in spring 2009 and the last will be completed on the Maasdam in late 2010. While in dry dock, ships will expand the aft deck to create a new resort pool concept, The Retreat, and create a new bar concept called Mix that features separate areas -- Martinis, Champagne and Spirits & Ales. Enhancements will be made to all existing staterooms and additional staterooms will be added to the five ships. The ships also will introduce 46 innovative lanai staterooms with direct access to the Lower Promenade Deck. New spa staterooms near the Greenhouse Spa and Salon will offer special in-room spa amenities.

Three tugs of the newly formed towage operator ANTWERP TOWAGE, the FAIRPLAY III, FAIRPLAY XVII and the MULTRATUG 5 seen moored outside the Zandvliet locks

Photo : Willem Kruit ©

Ship Passengers Visa-Free to St. Petersburg from December



Russia plans to allow passengers on scheduled ship services to spend up to 72 hours in St. Petersburg without a visa. The new rule comes into effect from the beginning of December. At present, only passengers on international cruise ships have been allowed into Russian port cities without visas. Now Russian officials want to extend the practice to regular scheduled services. The move is expected to considerably increase the number of tourists visiting the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad. Tourism to St. Petersburg is expected to triple. Some Russian ports are to remain closed to travellers without visas for security reasons. Currently, only one shipping line, Stella Lines, runs cruises between Finland and St. Petersburg. Stella Lines has departures to the Russian city every second day.

The container ship Cap Pasley sails from Lyttelton, New Zealand 19.09.08.Built in 2007 the ship trades between Asian Ports, Australia and New Zealand.

Photo : Alan Calvert ©

Mombasa gets tough with overstays



Following instructions from government that up to 7,000 containers and nearly 700 motor vehicles stored in the port of Mombasa must be disposed of to create space, the government now says it will charge the owners or importers for the cost of their destruction. “We will compel them to pay,” said acting finance minister John Michuki. Of the 7,000 containers identified as being overstays some 1,000 have been identified as carrying hazardous cargo and will have to be destroyed. The remaining 6,000 boxes contain a variety of goods including foodstuffs, electrical goods and tyres. Some of the containers were imported by speculators and appear to have been abandoned. The government said it wanted the motors cars, mostly used vehicles, to be crushed and sold for scrap. This has caused some outcry among the populace who say they should instead be donated to government departments including the police. A number of the containers and vehicles were intended for cross border destinations such as Uganda. Source : ports.co.za

The SWISSCO SOVEREIGN seen arriving in Cape Town Photo : Aad Noorland ©

Grootste mobiele havenkraan ter wereld onderweg naar Rotterdam

rhb stevedoring & warehousing koopt unieke 208 tons havenkraan



Het Rotterdamse stuwadoorsbedrijf rhb stevedoring & warehousing heeft voor het laden en lossen van zware industriële- en projectlading een Liebherr LHM 600 S gekocht. Deze grootste en zwaarste mobiele havenkraan ter wereld is uniek in Europa. Met een hefvermogen van 208 ton heeft de kraan zeven keer het hefvermogen van een conventionele kraan. Daarnaast is de kraan snel en flexibel waardoor laad- en lostijden van zeeschepen aanzienlijk kunnen worden verkort. De nieuwe kraan wordt vanaf de fabriek volledig gebruiksklaar verscheept op een ro/ro zeeponton en zal tussen 23 en 26 september a.s. arriveren aan de Waalhaven noordzijde 4 in Rotterdam. Volgens de huidige planning rijdt de kraan op zaterdag 27 september 2008, rond 12.00 uur, geheel op eigen kracht - vanaf het zeeponton - de kade van rhb op. Conventionele kranen hebben een beperkte capaciteit voor het behandelen van zware industriële- en projectlading zoals motoren, transformatoren, windmolens en fabrieksonderdelen. De Liebherr LHM 600 S heeft naast een enorm hefvermogen van 208 ton als bijkomend voordeel dat de kraan snel en flexibel is. De mobiele havenkraan heeft dertien assen met honderdvier wielen en kan op elke locatie op de 730 meter lange kade van rhb worden ingezet. De verbeterde kraancapaciteit zal bijdragen aan een verdere toename van behandeling van projectlading in de Rotterdamse haven. rhb stevedoring & warehousing is opgericht in 1930 en is een van de oudste stuwadoorsbedrijven van Rotterdam. rhb heeft een eigen kade van 730 meter, 15.000 vierkante meter loodsruimte en 30.000 vierkante meter open opslagruimte.

Technische specificaties Merk: Liebherr LHM 600 S Hefvermogen: 208 ton Radius: 58 meter Hefhoogte: 45 meter Hoogte kraan: 78 meter Breedte kraan: 16 meter Assen: 13 met in totaal 104 wielen Lengte kraan: 26 meter Eigen gewicht: 600 ton Locatie Waalhaven N.Z. 4 Havennummer:2157 Verwachte aankomst: 23/26 september 2008 Verwachte losdatum: 27 september 2008 rond 12.00 uur Aankomst is afhankelijk van de weersomstandigheden.



Kenya’s Royal Star cruise operation folds - ship to be sold

ROYAL STAR leaving Durban in January 2007. Photo : David Shackleton ©

The cruise ship ROYAL STAR (5,067-gt) which is owned by Starline Cruises on behalf of the Africa Safari Club has been placed under arrest and is to be sold. The ship has operated for a number of years between Mombasa and the Indian Ocean islands and in recent years has undertaken an annual cruise down the East African coast calling at Maputo, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. It is believed the company operating the vessel has been placed under judicial management. Papers read out in a Mombasa court stated that wages owing to crew had not been paid in several months and that there appeared little likelihood of the operation becoming successful. The failure of the cruise operation is thought to be a result of the political unrest in Kenya earlier this year, which saw tourists from Europe cancelling their planned visits to game parks and a cruise on the Royal Star.

The ship is to remain in detention in the port of Mombasa until an auction sale can be arranged. Royal Star was built in Italy in 1957 and carries up to 250 passengers. The vessel was originally a combined passenger/cargo ship with the name San Giorgio. In 1976 she was sold and became the City of Andros being resold in 1984 and renamed Ocean Islander, sailing the Dalmation coast during the summer months and in the Caribbean during the northern winter. In 1990 the ship passed to her most recent owners who renamed her Royal Star and introduced the ship to cruising in the North Eastern Indian Ocean. Source : ports.co.za

MOVEMENTS

The SPAR GEMINI seen enroute Rotterdam - Photo : Lenie Kleingeld ©



…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..

The tug FAIRPLAY 23 arrived in Rotterdam with the barge BOABARGE 9 loaded with scrap steel from the MSC Napoli

Photo : Jan Oosterboer ©

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