Kirby launches first in new series

Following on the success of its 90 x 35-ft. series of towboats, Kirby Marine has taken delivery of the first in a new series of 76 x 35-ft. boats.

Building at the Raymond and Associates LLC shipyard in Bayou LaBatr, Ala., the Capt. Bill English, is the first of four currently under construction with the possibility of eight more to follow. Although shorter than the earlier series, these boats retain the robust beam of their cousins. Kirby operates more than 900 active inland tank barges, 241 active towing vessels and five fleets on the U.S. inland waterway network.With these boats, Kirby is setting a standard of excellence for both crews and clients for the delivery of petroleum products on America’s inland waterways.

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Ten new vessels for Rickmers-Linie

Rickmers-Linie, the Hamburg-based specialist in the global transportation of breakbulk, heavylift and project cargo, has secured for itself ten new purpose-built multipurpose vessels, which are to be added to its fleet between 2009 and 2011.

All ten will be built by Chinese shipyards and are to be deployed in Rickmers-Linie’s worldwide services, replacing older tonnage and securing capacity for the further development of the network. Six 19,000 dwt ships will be built by Tongfang Shipyard. Each vessel will be equipped with two 240-tonne cranes, capable of working in tandem to lift 480 tonnes. These ships, which are designed primarily for the Europe to Middle East/India trade, are planned for delivery in January, April, June, July, October and December 2010. Four 17,000 dwt ships will be built by Xinshun Shipyard and each will be equipped with two 150-tonne cranes, which can be combined for a maximum lifting capacity of 300 tons. A third crane will offer an 80-ton lifting capacity.

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Pacific Carriers buys PSA's offshore unit for $500m

Hong Kong, London PSA, the Singapore-based world number two container terminal operator, has disposed of one of its last non-container businesses by selling its offshore marine activities to Pacific Carriers for about $500 million.

The deal will help PSA, owned by Temasek, the Singaporean state investment company, to focus on its container terminal operations, which are centred in Singapore, the world's busiest container port, but include operations in Europe and other parts of Asia. The sale of the unit, which operates tugs, crane barges and other vessels that move and supply offshore oil platforms, is likely to be the last significant sale of a non-core asset by PSA.

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Sethusamudram to be completed by Nov 2008

Unfazed by the stiff opposition from various quarters to demolition of Ram Sethu as part of the Sethusamudram Project, Union Shipping and Surface Transport Minister T R Baalu said that the multi-crore project would be completed by November 2008.

The project will be completed in November next year and the first ship will be flagged off by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Reacting to AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa's claim that the Sethusamduram project was as good as dropped, the Minister said she has been sidelined by people in the last Assembly election. Baalu said the Centre had constituted a committee of experts to examine the project and the public could give their views to it till October 31. Based on that, a report would be submitted to the Supreme Court, he added.

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