World's most luxurious boat builders to showcase latest designs in Dubai

Dubai will reaffirm its position as the region's leading showcase for luxury yachts and high-end craft, when the Dubai International Boat Show 2008 takes place at the Dubai International Marine Club - Mina Seyahi from 11-15 March.

DIBS will welcome over 800 participating companies and nearly 400 boats to this year's event, the highest number since the show was launched in 1992. A total of 10 superyachts will be talking pride of place at this year's event. Companies from every part of the industry, from boat-builders through to marine equipment, suppliers and service providers, are set to exhibit. The prestige and international positioning of this premier marine event, combined with the strong local demand for luxury boats, has propelled DIBS into a position where many of the world's leading boat-builders are competing for space. DIBS has become one of the world's primary show-grounds for superyachts, the outstanding 23 metres plus (82 feet) luxury craft that have come to represent the highest-end of the marine leisure market. Four of the worlds largest yachts - including the magnificent 160m Platinum - are now owned by individuals and organizations based in the Middle East. DIBS is sponsored Dubai Maritime City.

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Russia and India agree about aircraft carrier price

Russia and India have agreed to increase refit costs for the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, currently undergoing reconstruction at a shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkangelsk oblast.

The costs of modernizing the aircraft carrier will be announced in late March the Indian defense secretary Vijay Singh said. Vijay Singh, who has just returned from inspecting the Admiral Gorshkov, berthed at the Sevmash shipyard in north Russia for the last 12 years, said there would be "a substantial increase" in the "reworked estimate" for the modernization work on the carrier. "It should be completed by mid-2010. After that, it will undergo 18 months of extensive sea trials by the Russian navy to ensure all systems are working properly," he said. The defense secretary did not mention any figures but New Delhi is willing to pay another $600-800 million for the 44,570-tonne aircraft carrier. India contracted the $1.5 billion Admiral Gorshkov for its navy in 2004. Moscow has since demanded an additional $1.2 billion, which New Delhi replied was "exorbitant."

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Two Big Shipyards to be constructed in Pakistan

Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir says there is a plan to construct two big shipyards in Pakistan.

One each at Gwadar on Balochistan coast and other at Korangi Creek in Karachi. Speaking at keel laying of first small-cum-utility ship at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works KSEW, he said these shipyards would be "fairly big ones. A great deal of work is going on in this regard." Admiral Tahir said it would be his desire to try and reactivate KSEW. Naval Chief, who is also Chairman, KSEW Board of Directors said he is doing whatever he could in this connection. "We also have the support of government and its functionaries for such a program," he stated.
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Macduff Shipyards design steel hulled trawler 'Daystar' BF 151

The latest design by Macduff Shipyards is the steel hulled trawler 'Daystar' BF 151, built for Colin Mitchell from Gardenstown and Steven West from Fraserburgh.

Arranged as a twin rig trawler the hull is a modified version of 'Amethyst' BF19, 'Uberous' FR50 recently built by the same yard. Layout and deck arrangements were refined to suit the owners’ requirements, including an additional bulkhead on the fish handling deck to isolate the winch area. The fish handling area was insulated and lined. The vessel will operate from Fraserburgh through Westward Fishing Company. The layout is conventional and the hull form double chine with bulbous bow and bulbous skeg forward of the propeller. The keel is arranged in box form to carry ballast, and profiled bilge keels are fitted. The steel deckhouse is fitted rail-to-rail athwarships and is weather tight. The rest of the deckshelter is non-weather tight and is constructed of steel aft of the deckhouse and aluminium alloy forward of the deckhouse. The main engine is a Mitsubishi S6R2 MPTK rated 400kw at 1350 RPM with a Reintjes WAF374 reverse reduction gearbox with 6.12:1 ratio, driving a 2000mm dia nozzle propeller. This combination gives a shaft speed of 220 RPM, which will increase towing efficiency. Macduff Diesels supplied the Mitsubishi engines.

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UK coastguards to strike next week

The first strike in the history of the UK coastguard will be held on 6 March for 24 hours.

At the centre of the dispute is the view that coastguard pay rates have fallen well behind those of other emergency services. The strike is about pay and up to 700 employees of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency will participate. It will affect the operations at 19 UK search and rescue centres and have an impact on emergency calls. It will not affect staff called out to cope with emergencies. The staffs are members of the Public & Commercial Services and the Prospect unions. The vote of the PCS members was 91% in favour of strike action. The key issues are actual pay levels and the fact that coastguards have slipped back in comparison with other emergency services such as police and ambulance. The base salary of a coastguard watch assistant is £12,097 ($23,974) which is around 25-30% below other emergency services as far as comparisons can be made. This dispute has running for 18 months already. If it is not settled, further one-day strikes will be held.

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Catamarans 24-metre 'Rottnest Spirit'

Perth operator Oceanic Cruises has taken delivery of the latest high-speed catamaran ferry from the shipyard of Sabre Catamarans, Australia.

At 24 metres in length, it is slightly larger than the 22-metre vessels performing in seas around the globe, yet its home is in the West. Aptly named 'Rottnest Spirit', the 209 passenger vessel operates between the Pier Street Jetty in the heart of Perth, with passenger pick up points in iconic Fremantle, before plying the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean to picturesque Rottnest Island, a voyage of just over 10 nautical miles. The new owners of Oceanic Cruises, Tim and Tammy Shuttleworth have ordered a second vessel , currently under construction at Sabre Catamarans yard in Spearwood. Rottnest Island is a popular destination for day trips, lazy days vacationing and for many thousands of visitors each year, for bicycling. 'Rottnest Spirit', or 'Spirit' as she's affectionately known by her crew, is fitted with a crane and luggage crates and has been designed to accommodate bikes comfortably. With all three Rottnest ferry companies having changed hands in recent months, the Shuttleworths are flagging their intention to pick up both the pace and standard of service to tourists and locals alike.
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'Natchan world' takes to the water

Incat chairman extols virtues of Japan's new shallow-draught 112-metre craft.

The latest vessel yet to be built by Incat has been launched at the Hobart shipyard. The second ferry for Higashi Nihon Ferry will join her sister 'Natchan Rera', completed by Incat last August, in service across Japan's Tsugaru Strait between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. At nearly 11,000 gross tonnes the new 112-metre long 'Natchan World' is one of the largest vessels built by Incat. Yet she will operate with a loaded draught of just 3.83 metres, enabling her to operate into the shallowest of ports. Despite this however, the launch operation did cause Incat Chairman Robert Clifford a few anxious moments. 'The ship was launched at the lowest high tide I have had to contend with in 50 years of boat and shipbuilding. The level reached at 06:00 hrs on Monday February 18 was 150mm less than predictions, owing to the continued good weather. We had no choice but to launch however, as the next predicted suitable tide is not until May 5, some two months away, Mr. Clifford said. Drivers crossing the River Derwent via the Bowen Bridge will now be treated to a glimpse of the 'Natchan World's' eye-catching livery, the design of which was publicly sought in Japan. Before leaving Hobart for Japan the 'Natchan World' will be officially named in a ceremony at the Incat shipyard.
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Havyard Leirvik delivers the first Havyard-design

Havyard Leirvik has delivered NB 092 'Havila Saturn', a Havyard 842 Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel (AHTS) to owner Havila Saturn.

The first vessel of Havyard-design has now been delivered and is ready for starting operating for her owners. 'Havila Saturn' is a Havyard 842 AHTS, which is designed for operation both in the Norwegian North Sea and worldwide. Main criteria for the design process was to develop a vessel which can execute 90 percent of the AHTS work in the North Sea and being cost efficient during operations and building world wide at the same time. Since NB 092 was ordered at Havyard Leirvik AS, in November 2005, further 12 vessels of Havyard 842 design have been ordered. Four at Havyard Leirvik, four in India and four in China for owners from Norway, India and Singapore. The Havyard-design has been a big success since the launching in 2005. It is fantastic to see the first vessel of own design sailing, ready to serve her new owners. The building period and testing of the vessel before delivery has given positive answers. The shipyard has long experience in building of large, advanced offshore support vessels and is one of the Norwegian shipyards building most AHTS.
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Genoa to kick PSA out of Voltri?

Genoa Port Authority has threatened to withdraw its terminal concession to Voltri Terminal Europa if productivity does not improve.

The president of the port authority, Luigi Merlo, summoned Eddie Teh, the boss of VTE’s owner PSA Corp to a crisis meeting this week – a meeting that ended with Teh receiving an ultimatum to sort the problems our within six months or lose the concession. Voltri has been beset by productivity problems, largely due to its new Cosmos software program which was paralysed for three full weeks, at one point forcing to port to close to export cargo. The original business plan forecast a 2M-teu throughput within two years against 1.16M achieved in 2007. “We explained to PSA that we are very concerned by the damage caused to [Genoa’s] image and the economic drawback,” the President of Liguria Region, Claudio Burlando, said afterwards. “The company must sort out the deep problem of lack of communication between the Italian middle management and foreign high management,” he added.
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DYT Completes First Voyage to Dubai

Dockwise Yacht Transport recently delivered a shipment of pleasure yachts to Jebel Ali, Dubai for the Dubai International Boat Show that commence from March 11.

The operation took place aboard the Lady Gloria, a ship supplied by BBC Chartering and Logistics, which collaborated with DYT last October to expand global shipping options for DYT customers and will now regularly service Dubai and other previously hard-to-reach destinations. The same loading masters who manage DYT's float-on/float-off service for its fleet of four semi-submersible ships managed the lift-on/lift-off service aboard the Lady Gloria, one of 140 BBC vessels in operation worldwide. On its voyage from Port Everglades to Dubai via Genoa, Lady Gloria loaded an impressive set of yachts, including a new, 105-ft. Mangusta and a 30-ft. limousine tender from Royal Denship.

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Inuit village seeks climate change payout

A village on Alaska's Arctic coastline has filed suit in a US District Court against 24 energy companies in an attempt to link erosion damage from global warming to the companies' actions.

Residents of Kivalina, a village of about 400 native Inupiat on the tip of a barrier reef between the Chukchi Sea and two river mouths, filed suit against the companies this week in US District Court in San Francisco. Village residents claimed that greenhouse gas emissions from the companies help warm the atmosphere and melt sea ice that used to protect them from winter storms. "Houses and buildings are in imminent danger of falling into the sea as the village is battered by storms and its ground crumbles from underneath it," the suit said. The residents seek relocation costs, which could run to $400 million. The defendants, including oil giants ExxonMobil, BP and Chevron Corp; coal miner Peabody Energy Corp, and power generator American Electric Power, are some of the largest producers of products that emit the main greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, or sell coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. Late last year, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offered a gloomy report on global warming's impact on the Arctic, finding less ice and warmer temperatures.
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More shipping lines to switch to Malaysia within the next decade

More shipping lines are expected to switch hubs to Malaysia within the next five to ten years, drawn by Malaysian ports' attractive pricing and capability in handling cargo volumes.

Westports Malaysia director Ruben Emir Gnanalingam said that while Singapore has more shipping line hubs, the island state had limited capacity and prices in Malaysia were still substantially cheaper. Singapore is also currently the largest handler of trans-shipment cargo volume in the Southeast Asian region, handling 28 million TEU of the 50 million in Southeast Asia while Malaysia handles 15 million TEU. Of the 15 million TEU, Westports is aiming for five million TEU this year. The three main ports for trans-shipment cargo currently are Westports, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Singapore. Ruben added that trans-shipment cargo volume in the Southeast Asian region was growing between 10 percent and 15 percent a year with an estimated 55 million TEU in 2008. Westports expects its new 600-metre berth to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of this year. The berth is part of CT5; a new container terminal Westports is constructing as part of its RM800 million (US$249.4 million) three-year expansion plan to boost annual capacity by some 30 percent.
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Yantai delivers for Marine Subsea

China’s largest rig builder Yantai Raffles Shipyard has delivered an accommodation barge to Norwegian oil and gas service company Marine Subsea.

The barge, African Caribe, is 102 metres long by 30 metres wide, and can accommodate 350 people and is equipped with a 150-tonne crawler crane. Yantai Raffles is expected to supply Marine Subsea with a second similar barge, with berths for 400 people, later this year. Oslo-based Marine Subsea focuses on construction support and well intervention. Yantai Raffles is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange but plans to list on the Singapore bourse. Its experience includes constructing jack-up drilling rigs, semi-submersible drilling rigs, floating production, storage and offloading vessels, pipe-laying vessels and prototype vessels.
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India's shipbuilding industry finally gets its period right

When state-run Cochin Shipyard Ltd delivered the sixth and last of a series of bulk carriers built for Denmark's Clipper Group on 30 November 2007, it achieved a first for the Indian shipbuilding industry.

The ship was handed over to the owner 105 days before the scheduled date of delivery. The building of six bulk carriers, each having a capacity to carry 20,000 tonnes of dry bulk cargo, for the Clipper Group signifies India's transition from a shipbuilding country that is notorious for missing delivery deadlines to one that meets globally acceptable standards on delivery time and quality of ships. The delivery sequence of the Clipper ships has scripted this transition. The delivery of the first ship was 45 days behind schedule and the second was delayed by 15 days. The third ship was delivered on time, the fourth five days ahead of time and the fifth 45 days ahead of schedule. Delayed delivery means a yard has to spend more on labour costs, which erodes the firm’s margins. Besides, the firm will have to pay liquidated damages to the shipowner to compensate for loss on freight for each day of delay. ''Cochin Shipyard delivering ships for Clipper ahead of schedule is good for the Indian shipbuilding industry. We need a couple of more examples to boost the confidence of global shipowners to build their ships in India,'' said Ray Stewart, chief executive officer, Pipavav Shipyard Ltd, India’s newest private sector shipbuilder.
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Second aircraft carrier for Russia

Russia would prefer to keep the 'Admiral Gorshkov' for its own navy if it is not possible to reach the financial agreement with India.

At the moment, according to the deputy general director of ROE Victor Komardin, 'Russian party prepared and passed over to the Indian party the detailed information necessary for objectively considering the problem questions and making correct decisions'. Komardin believes that this is sufficient for the forthcoming consultations between the experts and the official delegations. In the past week, various sources have been seriously considering the rumours that 'Admiral Gurshkov' may stay with the Russian Navy. Officially, Sevmash has no comment except to say they are 'continuing the negotiations regarding the amendments to the existing contract on the ship'. 'The problems concerning the reconstruction of the ship are being discussed at the top-level and by the experts', said the Director of the Second Department of Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Maryasov. 'There is a number of technical, legal and financial problems that are being discussed, and in the near future the working group will meet.'
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Celebrity Cruises Orders Solstice-Class Ship

Celebrity Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, has ordered a fifth big cruise liner from Meyer Werft in Papenburg.

The previous contracts for four ships of the Solstice class are now followed by a pre-contract for the construction of a fifth cruise ship. Delivery of the fifth ship is scheduled for the autumn of 2012. The first ship of this class, the Celebrity Solstice, will be delivered in the autumn this year. The other ships will follow at one-year intervals each. The 122,000-gt ships for Celebrity Cruises will have a length overall of 315 m and a breadth of 36.8 m. 2,850 passengers will be accommodated in 1,425 cabins. All standard cabins will offer more space than is usual for this type. More than 90% of all cabins are outside cabins, 90% of which have their own balconies. Other architectural highlights of the new ship will be the Lawn Club featuring natural lawn, the Corning Museum of Glass where the art of glassblowing is presented, and a couple of different restaurants. Meyer Werft already built five cruise ships for Celebrity Cruises in the early and mid-1990s.

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'Touchdown' christened and delivered by Rigdon Marine Corporation

Billy Guice, Vice President of Marketing and Sales of Rigdon Marine Corporation announced the christening and delivery of the 'Touchdown' in Lockport, Louisiana.

Mrs. Laura Rabalais, wife of JR Rabalais, RMC Maintenance and Repair Superintendent, christened the sixth of ten Rigdon 4000 Class vessel with the traditional champagne against the bow. The 'Touchdown' was immediately deployed on a term charter in support of a deepwater drilling program in the GOM. The 'Touchdown' is a 58-metre x 14-metre x 5.5-metre, diesel electric, DP-2 PSV, which features a capacity of 4,000 barrels of liquid mud in an oval, self-cleaning, segregated tank system. The PSV will also include three Z-Drives and two large forward tunnel thrusters. The Rigdon 4000 Class PSVs are capable of serving a wide array of marine applications in all water depths. The remaining four Rigdon 4000 class PSVs will be delivered in approximate forty day intervals during through the third quarter of 2008.

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Ship building industry in crisis over steel price rise

JFE Steel Corp has agreed on a 65 percent hike in the prices of iron ore it procures in fiscal 2008 from a major Brazilian metals and mining company compared with a year ago.

Masamoto Tazaki, chairman of the Shipbuilders' Association of Japan has described the agreement as 'shocking'. 'We do not know if the steel makers will shift their entire increase in costs to the price of their products, but it seems that this increase will end up being absorbed by all other industries such as the shipbuilding, automobile and machinery industries. ' He added that, 'While other industries can quickly reflect the increased costs in the prices of their products, only the shipbuilding industry, where the ship prices are determined in advance, has no capacity to absorb the increased costs. 'Another issue we need to tackle is to devise the structure of contracts that can slide along with the costs. Amid the speedy development all over the world, the shipbuilding industry will not survive if we do not do this,' adding that, 'We hope to veer away from high-risk, low-return businesses and shift to middle-risk, middle-return businesses instead.'

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Bangladesh Makes Debut in Int'l Shipbuilding Market

Bangladesh will debut in the international shipbuilding market with two ships being handed over to Denmark on Monday.

Western Marine Shipyard Ltd, one of the shipbuilding companies in Bangladesh, will formally kick-start its historic journey Monday when two ships, made by the company, will be handed over to Denmark. A ceremony marking the auspicious occasion will be arranged at the country's largest shipyard at Patia on Monday. Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry administrator Syed Manjur Elahi will attend the program as chief guest while Danish Ambassador Einar H Jensen as special guest. The company has already received orders for making 18 oceangoing ships. Five will be made for Denmark while 12 for Holland and one for Singapore. It will be possible to earn US$ 180 million worth of foreign exchange by exporting those ships.

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Neptune to acquire rig for deepwater conversion

Neptune Marine Oil & Gas Ltd. has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Zelie Industrial Limited, a Cypriot incorporated company.

The agreement is to acquire the semisubmersible drilling rig Atlantic Venture, originally known as the Sedco 708, for a purchase price of US$67 million. Sedco 708 is a second-generation semi originally built by Kaiser Steel Shipyard in California in 1977 to the Sedco 700 design. Atlantic Venture last operated as a drilling rig in 2002 while owned by Transocean. The rig has changed hands several times. In 2005, Thule Drilling bought the rig from Dubai-based Momentum Engineering, and Thule later sold the rig to Atlantic Marine Offshore Services in 2006. Also known as the Gulfdrill 7, the rig has had a sale restriction preventing it from being upgraded or maintained as a drilling unit, but that ban ends in July of this year. In April of last year, Atlantic Venture was picked up in Dubay and delivered by Fairmount Marine B.V. heavy-lift barge Gavea Lifter in Saldanha Bay, South Africa, where the rig was scheduled to undergo a life enhancement program.

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Star suffers massive loss

Star Cruises collapsed even further into the red on currency translations and fuel expenses, but will reap gains from its Apollo deal in 2008.

Star reported a loss of $201M for full-year 2007 and a loss of $124M for 4Q07, versus losses of $156M for 2006 and $148M for 4Q06. Stripping out various non-operating factors such as currency, Star’s losses totaled $157M in 2007 versus $104M in 2006. Star’s Asian division saw 4Q07 revenue increase 21% on higher capacity, but this was counterbalanced by a 2.6% drop in yield and a 7% hike in operating costs, due to fuel and charter fees. Star’s NCL unit in North America grew 4Q07 revenue by 15% on 4% more capacity and an impressive 11% jump in yields. NCL’s fuel prices shot up 46% in 4Q07, but operating expenses grew only 5% thanks to lower payroll and startup costs. Apollo’s $1bn equity infusion into NCL closed on 7 January, and Star said that it would record a gain of $74M in 2008 from that transaction. Star stressed that the Apollo deal will allow it to “concentrate its management and financial resources on its Asia-Pacific/Greater China cruise businesses”.

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New rail service launched at Thamesport

Thamesport (London) has welcomed the start of a new rail service.

After an absence of 18 months from the Port, EWS Railway has returned to the Kent facility to launch its Thamesport to Daventry service. The service operates five days per week, and is able to offer capacity for high cube containers, in addition to standard units. Chris Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK), which owns Thamesport, said: 'It is important that we offer shippers a rail option through our ports, and this new service provides a boost to the range of destinations that are served by rail from Thamesport. We are committed to increasing the share of freight transported by rail through the Port, and we were pleased to reach a record throughput in 2007, with a total of 50,000 containers passing through the Port's rail terminal.' Importantly, expansion work to the Port's rail facility is due to commence in September 2008. This work will extend the rail terminal's sidings to allow 24-wagon-length trains to be worked without the need to break and shunt individual units. Three other services connect Thamesport to Birmingham, Leeds/Coatbridge, Manchester, Doncaster and Birch Coppice.
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Yinxing Shipyard lo launch $32m expansion

South China's Jiangmen Yinxing Shipbuilding has announced that it plans to invest CNY 228m ($31.9m) to build a 50,000-tonnage shipbuilding addition to the current yard.

The 15-hectare expansion is scheduled for completion by 2010 and will boast an annual capacity of four vessels of 50,000dwt each. The current yard boasts an annual shipbuilding capacity of ten 1,000-12,000dwt ships, and is due to deliver a 6,500dwt oil tanker and two 4,500dwt oil supply ships in February and March respectively.
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New 'Operation Stack' to be introduced at the Port of Felixstowe

New arrangements for 'Operation Stack' are to be introduced on the A14 approaching the Port of Felixstowe on March 6, 2008.

'Operation Stack' is the name given to the traffic management plan used by Suffolk Police and other agencies when, as a result of restrictions at the Port of Felixstowe, traffic builds up on the A14. Although port restrictions occur for a variety of reasons, the main cause is high winds, which prevent safe operations at the Port's container terminals. Initially, when the Port is closed, container vehicles are queued or 'stacked' in the on-port holding areas. However, when these areas are full and traffic begins queuing on the A14, 'Operation Stack' is implemented to help manage this traffic. The current arrangements for 'Operation Stack' involve container vehicles being stacked on Port of Felixstowe Road the last section of the A14 before arrival at the Port. From 6 March 2008, the location of the first phase of 'Operation Stack' will be moved to the old A45 at Levington. Vehicles traveling to the Port of Felixstowe will be notified that advanced warning signs along the various routes leading to Felixstowe have implemented 'Operation Stack'.

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Boat sinks, all passengers safe

A motorized boat carrying 80 passengers capsized in river Gangadhdar along the Indo-Bangladesh border in lower Assam's Dhubri district on Sunday evening, but all were rescued safely.

The engine fitted boat locally knwon as 'bhut bhuti' capsized on Gangadhar river, a tributary of Brahmaputra, near Pidyachara village under Golokganj police station around six pm, when it was proceeding from Golakganj town to Gangadhar town, sources said. On receiving information about the mishap, the BSF and police reached there and launched rescue operations. Several of the passengers swam to safety while the others were rescued from the water by the security forces. There was no casualty or injury reported.
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'I saw shark eat my buddy'

A man fought for his life against a great white shark before it dragged him off and killed him during a diving trip.

Justin Rowntree told the Coroner's Court in Adelaide today about the attack on 23-year old Jarrod Stehbens at Glenelg in August 2005. The pair was carrying out research for the University of Adelaide at the time. "I was looking at Jarrod when I felt a whack on the back which rotated me around," Mr. Rowntree said.
"Initially I thought it was a dolphin but pretty quickly I realized it was not." Mr Stehbens, a "highly experienced diver" then fought for his life against the 5m shark.
"It went straight towards Jarrod, initially he whacked it directly on the snout and it seemed to go away momentarily," Mr. Rowntree said. "Then it came back and took his leg and dragged him under ... it happened like a flash." The students had almost finished their dive for cuttlefish eggs at the popular Glenelg Tyre Reef. Mr. Rowntree said the dive would have been Mr. Stehbens' last in South Australia before he went to live in Germany.
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Fish quota offences cost £500,000

A boat owner has been ordered to pay almost £500,000 after his company admitted exceeding fishing quotas.

Dumfries and Galloway firm TN Trawlers admitted 26 offences, which broke European regulations controlling catches of specified species of fish. Owner Tom Nicholson, of Annan, was ordered to pay £472,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He has six months to raise the cash or face a jail term. He was also fined £27,000 at Newcastle Crown Court. The case followed an 18-month investigation between January 2004 and July 2005 by the Marine and Fisheries Agency into the so-called "black fish" trade. Nicholson's fleet operates in the Solway Firth and the South of England including Padstow, Newlyn, Falmouth and Brixham. Last year, six of his skippers were fined in connection with the probe. Judge David Wood told Nicholson that a message had to be sent out to people in the fishing industry that breaking the rules would not be tolerated and would be met with large penalties. It is well known that fishing stocks around the UK and European countries are seriously depleted and some stocks are threatened with extinction.
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Sailing record halted after year at sea

Nearly a year into a three-year voyage around the globe, seasickness finally has the better of American sailor Soanya Ahmad.

The 25-year-old rookie sailor was being rescued off Perth today after becoming too ill to continue her bid to circumnavigate the globe four times without stopping. Ms Ahmad set off on the 1000-day voyage with 56-year-old American adventurer Reid Stowe on April 21 last year aboard his 21-metre gaff-rigged schooner, the Anne. On their website, Mr Stowe says the pair set out to follow global trade winds and circumnavigate the southern hemisphere four times, non-stop. Together they had hoped to set a series of world records, including the longest sea voyage by a man and a woman and the longest voyage out of sight of land. Mr. Stowe will now sail on alone "since this is my life at sea". But Ms Ahmad was to leave the boat today, after 306 days at sea, because she has suffered recurrent and debilitating seasickness since entering the stormy Southern Ocean in November. The Anne was about 15 nautical miles off Perth today, waiting for Royal Perth Yacht Club general manager Stuart Walton to rescue Ms Ahmad. The boat was to maintain a position beyond sight of land so Mr. Stowe can continue his attempt to break records.
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Subprime loan problem slowing down newbuilding talks

Newbuilding talks in Japan are now at a standstill due primarily to the difficulty some owners are facing in the procurement of funds.

This occured because of the subprime problem, which involved the provision of loans to individuals with low creditworthiness, since the fall in 2007. Coupled with the sluggish dry market at the turn of 2008, shipowners are increasingly losing interest in placing orders for newbuildings. As for shipbuilders, they remain unable to figure out cost estimates for newbuildings until negotiations for steel prices in/after April 2008 are wrapped up. Amid the standoff between the two parties, there is a high probability that the newbuilding talks will be deferred to in/after March 2008 at the earliest. Japanese shipyards have been saying that, 'The tides have changed,' since around November 2007. The slowdown in newbuilding talks lingered well into the turn of 2008. One of the main reasons behind the decline is the subprime loan problem. Domestic and overseas owners, who used to actively engage in newbuilding deals, have manifested weakening interest in newbuilding talks due to the difficulty in securing necessary funds for the vessels.

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Cosco Corp wants to invest in overseas repair yards

COSCO Shipyard Group's main shareholder, Cosco Corp, will buy foreign shiprepair yards as China is getting too expensive.

CSG itself has become a major shipbuilder bagging $6.6bn of orders since it moved into newbuilds at the start of last year. According to Ji Hai Sheng, president of Cosco Corp and also chairman of CSG, it is facing higher labour costs, particularly following China's new labour laws, which were promulgated at the start of 2008. He said shiprepair was highly labour intensive. "We are really looking to the future for overseas expansion," Mr Ji said, adding that he wanted to buy into existing facilities rather than taking the Greenfield option. Cosco Group has been in negotiations in the Philippines about investing in yards and ports there.

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Gulf Finance House to form First Energy Bank

The first Sharia'a compliant bank focused on the investment, financing and service needs of the energy sector is now under formation after having obtained approval in principal of the Central Bank of Bahrain.

With a planned paid-up capital of US$750 million, First Energy Bank is the latest strategic business concept from Gulf Finance House (GFH). The institution is designed to capitalize on the huge anticipated demand for investment in the global energy industry. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) report World Energy Outlook 2007, the energy infrastructure for the Middle East/North Africa region alone requires approximately US$56 billion per year from now through 2030. This implies the region's energy sector will need US$280 billion in investment within the next five years. Commenting on the formation of First Energy Bank, Chairman of the Founding Committee for First Energy Bank Esam Janahi said, "A great opportunity comes from the significant demand that is projected for investment in the global energy sector over the next 25 years. First Energy Bank is a response to this imperative and we're proud to be associated with a Sharia'a banking concept that will be the very first to offer exclusively tailored investment, financing and service solutions to the energy industry.
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Fishing pressure driving sharks towards extinction

Once plentiful sharks are vanishing from the world's oceans, and some species are even at risk of extinction a shark expert told fellow scientists at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The global status of large sharks has been assessed by the IUCN-World Conservation Union, which maintains the Red List of Threatened Species. The assessment finds that many large shark species have declined by more than half due to increased demand for shark fins and meat, recreational shark fisheries, as well as tuna and swordfish fisheries, where millions of sharks are taken as by catch each year. 'As a result of high and mostly unrestricted fishing pressure, many sharks are now considered to be at risk of extinction,' said Julia Baum, a member of the IUCN's Shark Specialist Group and a postdoctoral fellow at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. Of particular concern is the scalloped hammerhead shark, an iconic coastal species, which will be listed on the 2008 IUCN Red List as globally 'endangered' due to over fishing and high demand for its valuable fins in the shark fin trade.
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EPA Tier 2 engine for EPA vessel

The 'Lake Guardian' (ex: 'Marsea XIV') is the US Environmental Protection Agency's largest research and monitoring vessel, and is operated by EPA's Chicago-based Great Lakes National Program Office.

The 'Lake Guardian' is in its eighteenth season in the Great Lakes, and has been used, extensively, to support monitoring and research activities ranging from investigations of toxic contaminants to the health of the biological communities of the lakes. The EPA continues to use the 'Lake Guardian' to support a wide range of research activities conducted by Federal, State, and local agencies and universities. Every effort is made to keep the Lake Guardian's equipment up-to-date, to make possible sampling for a wide range of chemicals in the air, water and sediments as well as aquatic plants and animals. The boat is fitted with two 2,268 kilogram and one 13,607 kilogram deck winches and a HIAB 450 Se Crane and a HIAB 80 Sea Crane. Accommodation is provided for a crew of 13 and 29 scientists. The vessel has tankage for 304,000 litres of fuel, 105,000 litres of potable water, 7,529 litres of lube oil, 5,807 litres of hydraulic oil, 237,777 litres of effluent and 289,600 litres of ballast water. Launched from Halter Marine's Pascagoula shipyard in 1981, the Lake Guardian was converted to a research vessel in 1990.

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Queen Victoria cruise ship arrives in Sydney

The Queen Victoria cruise ship has arrived on a sparkling morning for her first visit to Sydney.

The two-month-old luxury liner entered Sydney Harbour just before daybreak surrounded by an escort of private yachts. Stretching 294 metres in length, the 90,000-tonne ship is the second largest in the Cunard fleet and the newest liner ever to visit Australia. Her much older sister, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), arrives in Sydney tomorrow. The Queen Victoria will have stay overnight in Sydney, and the two ships will pass each other around 6.30pm (AEDT) at Fort Denison tomorrow evening. While this is the first world voyage of the Queen Victoria, it will be the last visit to Sydney and final world voyage for the QE2. The royal rendezvous will come almost a year to the day after the QE2 and the Queen Mary 2 passed each other in Sydney Harbour. That historic event brought traffic chaos to Sydney when hundreds of thousands descended on the CBD to get a glimpse of the two ships.
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Incat investing in youth for future trades

Incat, through its membership of the Tasmania Maritime Network, is playing a pivotal role in the development of training initiatives for Tasmania's youth seeking trade and career opportunities within the marine industry.

The Grade 10 Marine Training Initiative, fostered by the Tasmania Maritime Network in conjunction with the Department of Education, provides interested grade 10 students with the chance of studying towards an Apprenticeship whilst still at school. The students are then offered paid work placements over December and January in order to gain awareness of trade careers in the marine industry and to determine if a trade skill is the career option they wish to pursue. If the student does not wish to secure an apprenticeship they then have time to return to school for Grade 11. From feedback received so far the training initiative has been a great success with TAFE and host Employers highlighting that the interest and participation from the students is extremely high and positive. Incat has taken on 13 students under the program, with nine of those having already commenced apprenticeships. 'Tasmania has a bustling maritime sector and a vibrant manufacturing industry. Based on the success of the marine industry project, the number of student placements and industry options is being significantly expanded for 2008 to build on these early successes.

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“K” Line opens Philippines maritime academy

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) inaugurated the “K” Line Maritime Academy (KLMA) at Pasay City in the Philippines.

The academy, which was declared open in the presence President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, will be able to accept a total of 10,000 trainees per year and is line with the group’s K” LINE Vision 2008. The academy will implement a special KLMA Basic Training Matrix and Syllabus for all its training courses. These range from prevention of ship collision and grounding to use of the new ship-handling simulator. It will also offer courses for engineers that incorporate a full-mission engine room simulator as well as an LNG training course in accordance with SIGTTO Standard. Additionally, training for stress management and to promote teamwork will also be provided.
A clinic furnished with modern equipment has also been set up to manage the health of all seafarers who go onboard “K” Line group vessels.
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First Reserve acquires CHC for US$3.65 billion

International private equity firm First Reserve Corp. is acquiring CHC Helicopter Corp., the world's largest supplier of helicopter services to the offshore oil and gas industry, through a fund.

The all-cash transaction values CHC Helicopter at C$3.7 billion (US$3.65 billion), the largest-ever oilfield services buyout. Under the agreement, an affiliate of the First Reserve fund will acquire all of the outstanding Class A Subordinate Voting Shares and all of the outstanding Class B Multiple Voting Shares for C$32.6 (US$32.1) per Class A and Class B share. All together, the deal will total C$1.5 billion (US$1.48 billion). Following the transaction, the shares will be de-listed and no longer traded publicly. CHC's headquarters will remain in Vancouver, Canada. CHC operates aircraft in over 30 countries with regional headquarters in Aberdeen, Scotland; Stavanger, Norway; and Vancouver, Canada.
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India Cochin Shipyard seeks govt OK for IPO-source

Indian state-owned Cochin Shipyard Ltd is awaiting government approval for an initial public offering to help raise funds for building a new dock and meet rising demand for ships.

"We submitted a proposal to the government last month," the senior official told. Another company official also confirmed the plan but declined to give details of how much the company, which can build ships up to 110,000 dead weight tonnage at its yard in the southern state of Kerala, aimed to rise in the IPO. There are 32 shipyards in India, including seven owned by the government, while a jump in demand for ships has brought many private companies into the fray. Consultants KPMG said in a report last year that the shipbuilding industry in India was expected to invest about 185 billion rupees ($4.6 billion) over seven years for capacity expansion and new yards. Pipavav Shipyard, a private-sector yard co-founded by Indian engineering and construction firm Punj Lloyd, is awaiting the market regulator's approval for an estimated 12.5 billion rupees IPO. Other firms such as ABG Shipyard and Bharati Shipyard are also expanding, with annual industry sales expected to reach $20 billion by 2020 from about $5 billion.
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US Navy missile hit wayward spy satellite on first bid

A missile launched from a U.S. Navy cruiser soared 130 miles (210 kilometers) above the Pacific and smashed a dying and potentially deadly U.S. spy satellite.

Several defense officials said it apparently achieved the main aim of destroying an onboard tank of toxic fuel. Officials had expressed cautious optimism that the missile would hit the satellite, which was the size of a school bus. However, they were less certain of hitting the smaller, more worrisome fuel tank, whose contents posed what Bush administration officials deemed a potential health hazard to humans if it landed intact. The Pentagon said, “Confirmation that the fuel tank has been fragmented should be available within 24 hours.'' It made no mention of early indications, but several defense officials close to the situation said later that all indications point to the destruction of the fuel tank. One explained that observers saw what appeared to be an explosion, indicating that the tank was hit. The Lake Erie and two other Navy warships, as well as the SM-3 missile and other components, were modified in a hurry-up project headed by the Navy in January. The missile alone cost nearly $10 million (euro7 million), and officials estimated that the total cost of the project was at least $30 million (euro20 million).

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New owners for Oyster

Top UK yacht builder Oyster Marine has been sold to UK based private equity fund Balmoral Capital for an undisclosed sum.

Current Chairman Richard Matthews founded the company in 1973. Oyster yachts have a worldwide reputation for quality and performance and are recognized throughout the sailing world for their distinctive Deck Saloon configuration. Oyster has twice been awarded the Queen's Award for Industry. Their current yacht range starts at 14 metres and includes twelve modern designs including two new super-yacht models, the 'Oyster 100' and '125', which will be launched in 2010 and 2011. There are almost 1,200 Oyster yachts in commission and the company has a strong forward order book and annual sales in excess of £50 million (US$97 million). Although Oyster are primarily known for their comfortable live aboard cruising yachts, many of which have completed circumnavigations, in 2007 Oyster yachts were class winners in both the Fastnet and Sydney Hobart races.

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19 rescued from fire-struck Kinmen-Xiamen ferry

All 19 crewmembers aboard a passenger ferry that caught fire at a port in the outlying Kinmen county were rescued after being trapped by the blaze, which was finally extinguished.

Only one crewmember was suffering from minor smoke inhalation. The fire occurred on the Xiamen-registered 'Tong An' vessel with a seating capacity of 380 and 1,000 tonnage after it had arrived at Shuitou Wharf in Taiwan-controlled Kinmen from Xiamen on China's southeastern coast, and all its 37 passengers had disembarked. Immediately after learning of the fire news, the fire department under the Kinmen County Government dispatched 15 fire engines and ambulances, as well as over 70 fire fighters to the Shuitou Wharf. In addition, the coast patrol squad of Kinmen also sent two patrol vessels to join the rescue, while Kinmen county magistrate Lee Chu-feng also arrived at the site to show his concern over the incident. As the fire occurred on the sea, the fire fighters could hardly do anything to put out the fire. On another front, Xiamen harbor authorities also sent four ships to rescue those crewmembers trapped by the fire. It was the first time a passenger ship sailing the Mini Three Links route between China and Kinmen had caught fire since the links were opened in 2001.
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Greenpeace fuels New Flame row

Greenpeace activists today breached maritime security in Gibraltar by boarding the almost sunken bulk carrier New Flame, lying in British waters off the Rock.

Several activists were able to reach the vessel and place a yellow banner reading “Vertido Diplomatico” (Diplomatic Spill) on its bridge. Greenpeace is attacking Spanish and Gibraltarian authorities for failing to reduce oil spills in the Bay of Gibraltar, lambasting both administrations over their alleged inefficient management of shipping in the area. Its move comes as Spain, preparing for a general election on 9 March, is embroiled in a diplomatic row with the UK over the New Flame wreck. An industry observer comments that the Gibraltar government is the victim of dithering in Whitehall. The issue revolves around one recommendation from the Donaldson Report, commissioned after the Sea Empress oil spill in Milford Haven in 1996 that remains equivocal. Under the UK Merchant Shipping Act, if a shipwreck causes pollution in a port, port authorities must make all possible efforts to remove the wreck and make the area safe. But if more pollution is caused in the removal operation, the port authority could be prosecuted under environmental legislation.
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The 'Queen Victoria' arrives at the Port Melbourne

Cunard's luxury cruise ship 'Queen Victoria' has arrived in Melbourne, the first Australian port of call on her maiden around-the-world voyage.

She docked on schedule at 7:00 a.m. at Melbourne's Station Pier. The ship was formally greeted on her arrival at 7:00 a.m. by a water cannon display and a traditional Aboriginal welcome. After leaving Southampton on January 6, Queen Victoria made her inaugural visit to the US West Coast city of Los Angeles before proceeding to Australia. Most of the 2,000 passengers, including more than 360 Australians, have disembarked and are being bussed into central Melbourne, and are expected to generate $1 million for the Victorian economy during their stopover. The 16-deck luxury liner, the second largest in the Cunard stable, offers 13 bars and clubs, seven restaurants including the two-storey Art Deco-style Britannia Restaurant, a cigar lounge, a casino, three pools, a 6,000-book library, including two librarians, and a $2.3 million art collection. Queen Victoria's famous older sister, the 'QE2', will make her 14th and final visit to Melbourne on February 29 during her final world voyage.

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New Towboat from McGinnis, the 'JA Ward'

McGinnis of South Point, Ohio at Mile 318 on the Ohio River delivered a new towboat to sister company Excel Marine of Cincinnati Ohio with a christening ceremony at Ashland Kentucky on January 26 2008.

The 23 by 8-metre boat is the first new build for McGinnis in over 20 years. The new vessel was named in honor of James Allen Ward III who has worked for McGinnis since 1978 and 'oversaw the construction of the $3.5 million vessel.' Main engines on the vessel are a pair of 12-cylinder Cummins KTA 38 M1 engines each with a continuous duty rating of 1050 HP at 1800 RPM and turning 72 by 58-inch props through Twin Disc MG532 gears with 5.96:1 ratios. Cummins 6BT engines power the twin 80kW generators sets. The area distributor Cummins Bridgeway through McGinnis who are a part of the Cummins dealer and service network supplied all engines. McGinnis has 35 boats in their fleet.
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Strong quake kills three, damages buildings in Indonesia

A powerful earthquake struck western Indonesia, killing three people and injuring 25 others.

A tsunami warning was briefly triggered, but no waves were detected. The US Geological Survey said the quake on Wednesday had a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 and struck under the island of Simeulue off the western coast of Sumatra, the region worst hit in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The undersea quake struck at 3:08 pm (1338 IST) some 312 kilometres west-southwest of the North Sumatra capital Medan, at a depth of 34 kilometres. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert saying coastlines close to the epicenter were at risk of a possible tsunami. It cancelled the warning two hours later after no large waves were generated. The quake was felt across much of western and northern Sumatra, where many people led swaying homes and buildings. In coastal areas, residents ran to high ground in fear of a tsunami. There is no possibility of a tsunami hitting any Indian region following the massive undersea earthquake off Sumarta. There have been no changes in the water level in the sea, said the official at INCOIS, which houses the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System.

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Stranded ship strayed too close

The Zhen Hua 10, which stranded at Rotterdam-Maasvlakte, was too close to shore as it waited for get permission to enter the port.

According a survey report of the Dutch Inspectorate of Transport, insufficient engine power (main engine 12,357 kW) and heavy winds – 7 to 8 Beaufort – may have combined to cause the grounding. However, experts point out that the ship – a converted oil/products tanker – had adequate power for a ship of its size operating under normal conditions, and might even have been over-powered for its present use. The Inspectorate suggests further investigation into whether the ships’ master was right to have the vessel with five high cranes onboard wait so close to the coast in such weather conditions. The captain’s counter argument is that he wanted to avoid a collision with neighboring vessels. The findings have been presented to the Dutch disciplinary court of shipping, the Chinese authorities and the Chinese shipping line. It recommends that master’s sail further off the coast or have tug escorts in weather conditions.

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Iran's container handling capabilities boosted

Phase one development of the Shahid Rajaie Container Terminal (SRCT) project in Bandar Abbas, with a handling capacity of some 1.5 million teu, will open tomorrow.

It will be the port's second container terminal and will form part of the SRCT facilities in the Bandar Abbas Shahid Rajaie Port Complex. Shipping facilities in Bandar Abbas are divided into two sections: the new port named the Shahid Rajaie Port Complex (where all containers move through) and the old port called Shahid Bahonar. The SRCT facilities are Iran's main container gateway, handling about 90% of the country's total throughput. Data last year showed current capacity at Shahid Rajaie (Bandar Abbas) at about 1.8 million teu, according to the Iranian Ports & Shipping Organization. Phase one and two developments are intended to boost the port's total capacity to some 3.5 million teu and then 6 million teu. Phase one and two developments include the installation of new handling equipment along with the expansion of the port's operational areas and a deepening of draft levels to accommodate larger ships. It is unclear when phase two will be operational since initial estimates had scheduled for phase one to come on stream early last year and phase two to be ready by 2009.

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Oceaneering earnings splash

Houston subsea engineering and services group Oceaneering International reported record fourth quarter and full-year net earnings on strong demand from the booming deep-water sector in Gulf of Mexico and continued hurricane repair work.

Oceaneering reported full-year net income of $180.4 million, or $3.24 per diluted share, up 45% from net income of $124.5 million, or $2.26 per share, in 2006. Revenues for the year hit $1.74 billion from $1.28 billion previously. The company said it was its fourth consecutive year of growth in its annual earnings. Oceaneering reported fourth-quarter net income of $45.5 million, or 81 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $29.9 million, or 54 cents per diluted share, in the same quarter in 2006. Quarterly revenues rose to $481.6 million up from 342.4 million in the previous period. Oceaneering chief executive T Ray Collins said the company’s remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) business, its subsea products, subsea projects businesses, and its inspection operation had all achieved record results. He said the gains were due to strong demand and high utilization rates, strong execution by the company and a successful business expansion strategy.

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Baffling giants in the ocean depths

Scientists investigating the icy waters of Antarctica had collected mysterious creatures including giant sea spiders and huge worms in the murky depths.

Australian experts taking part in an international program to take a census of marine life in the ocean at the far south of the world collected specimens from up to 2,000 m beneath the surface, and said many of them have never been seen before. Some of the animals far under the sea grow to unusually large sizes, a phenomenon called gigantism that scientists still do not fully understand. “Gigantism is very common in Antarctic waters,” Martin Riddle, the Australian Antarctic Division scientist who led the expedition, said in a statement. “We have collected huge worms, giant crustaceans and sea spiders the size of dinner plates.” The expedition is part of an international effort to map life forms in the Antarctic Ocean, also known as the Southern Ocean, and to study the impact of forces such as climate change on the undersea environment. Three ships — Aurora Australis from Australia, France’s L’Astrolabe and Japan’s Umitaka Maru — returned recently from two months in the region as part of the Collaborative East Antarctic Marine Census. The work is part of a larger project to map the biodiversity of the world’s oceans.
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Search after Japan navy collision

A Japanese naval vessel has collided with a fishing boat east of Tokyo, leaving two anglers missing.

The Atago destroyer hit the Seitoku Maru fishing boat early on Tuesday off Chiba prefecture's Nojimazaki Cape, splitting the boat in two. Coastguard ships and helicopters were searching for the missing anglers. The Atago is one of several Japanese navy ships equipped with the high-tech Aegis radar tracking system. "It is extremely regrettable that this sort of accident has happened," Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba told journalists. "We must do all we can to search for and save the missing men and find out what caused it as soon as possible." The two men, 58-year-old Haruo Kichisei and his son Tetsuhiro, had been out fishing for tuna. It was the first serious accident involving a navy vessel and a civilian ship since a submarine and a fishing boat collided in Tokyo Bay in 1988, killing 30. The Atago, the newest of Japan's Aegis-equipped vessels, was on its way back to the Yokosuka naval base from a training exercise in Hawaii when the incident occurred.
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SEACOR Marine LLC christens first crewzer class vessel

SEACOR Marine LLC christened its first CrewZer Class vessel, the SEACOR CHEETAH, in Galveston, Texas.

Joyce McCall, wife of nearly fifty years to offshore industry pioneer Norman McCall, acted as the vessel's sponsor in recognition of her life-long contribution to the McCall legacy. The SEACOR CHEETAH was designed to provide customers a faster and more stable delivery platform than the industry standard. After examining various hull types, SEACOR chose the Catamaran's twin-hull design for its ability to reach top speeds in excess of 40 knots while increasing passenger comfort and safety.
It enables logistics managers to establish efficient loop-style routes between high-traffic platforms and shore-base operations. Following an evaluation of several personnel transfer methods, SEACOR selected Reflex Marine to develop the 9-person FROG personnel transfer system. Built at Gulf Craft shipyard, it is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics, communications and navigation systems. Its DP-2 rating, combined with its wide, stable work deck allows the vessel to hold station in weather conditions where other vessels simply could not work. SEACOR Marine is a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc. (NYSE:CKH). SEACOR Marine operates one of the world's largest fleets of offshore marine support vessels, serving the global offshore oil and gas exploration and production industry.
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French sailors set to sail again on salvage mission

Ten French sailors plucked to safety from their capsized yacht off the Otago coast yesterday will be back as they begin a mission to recover their vessel.

The crew, who were taking part in the Jules Verne round-the-world yacht race, was rescued uninjured when their craft overturned in heavy seas 80 nautical miles (145km) off the coast. Three rescue helicopters winched the crew off the hull of the Groupama III and flew them to Dunedin about 3.30pm. The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) launched a rescue mission after its equivalent in France called at 1.20pm (NZ time) to report it had picked up a signal from the yacht's emergency position indicating radio beacon. Head of Search and Rescue at Dunedin police Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said the sailors had been busy today finding a boat and organizing the salvage mission. The sailors had been well looked after during their stay in Dunedin and spent last night celebrating and reliving the day's adventures. The French Embassy thanked New Zealand rescue services. The Groupama III had just passed the halfway point in the circumnavigation, and was heading for Cape Horn after a relatively slow passage across the southern India Ocean.
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Sri Lanka to take up sea attack issue with India

The chief of the Sri Lankan Navy is to take up the issue of an attack against a Sri Lankan naval ship from a flotilla of Indian fishing boats.

Commander Wasantha Karannagoda, who is currently on an official visit to India, would raise the issue, among other things, with Indian officials. The Sri Lankan Navy said that on February 5 up to six sailors had gone missing after a naval boat was fired upon from a flotilla of 400 Indian fishing boats, which were poaching off the seas off Talaimannar in the north. The Navy said it had lodged a protest with the Indian embassy in Colombo, calling for a thorough investigation into the incident. The Sri Lankan Navy maintains close monitoring of its northern seas with India. The Navy's sea patrol troops have often been accused of firing at Indian fishing boats.
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WLDPO sets up China office in Beijing

World Logistics Development and Promotion Organisation (WLDPO) got approval from the Chinese authority to set up its China office in Beijing recently.

Mr. Xu Shouzhen was made president of the WLDPO China office, the report said. WLDPO held an opening ceremony for the China office on January 26 in Beijing and a promotion conference for mega logistics projects in China on the same day, the report said. As an international logistics organization, WLDPO will boost regional logistics development with its mature experience. The opening of WLDPO China office will better unite logistics forces of different nations to promote logistics development in the Greater China region, a statement of WLDPO said.
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DPWN chief quits after police raid his home, office in million dollar tax evasion case

German logistics giant Deutsche Post World Net CEO Klaus Zumwinkel has resigned in the face of tax evasion charges that he secreted EUR1 million (US$1.4 million) of taxable income into a Liechtenstein bank account.

DPWN executive committee of the supervisory board of Deutsche Post AG, the DHL parent company, issued a statement that they had received Mr Zumwinkel's resignation as chairman of the board of management of Deutsche Post AG and as chairman of the supervisory board of Deutsche Postbank AGMr Zumwinkel, CEO of Deutsche Post since 1990, experienced dawn police raids on his home and office. He was taken in for questioning at the state prosecutor's office in Bochum before being bailed. The UK's Transport Intelligence agency said there is widespread belief that Mr Zumwinkel's tenure would have been be shortened in any case because of an expected restructuring to address DPWN's ailing US DHL express operation and press on with the sale of Postbank.
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Wenzhou to add 10 deep-water berths in five years

WENZHOU, in Zhejiang province, plans to add 10 berths with over 10,000 tonnes capacity

Wenzhou, in Zhejiang province, plans to add 10 berths with over 10,000 tonnes capacity each in the next five year, providing basis for the 100 million tonne throughput goal in the 12th Five Year Plan period (2011-2015), Xinhua reported. The port authority of Wenzhou will lay emphasis of its work in port planning and construction and establishment of ports alliance with Ningbo port in 2008, the report said.Major port projects in Wenzhou this year will include the opening of Wenzhou-Ningbo feeder service, construction of four 10,000-tonne multi-use berths for containers in Lingkun, the inauguration of an international container service in Zhuangyuan Ao port area, which follows the completion of the 50,000 tonne container berths in Zhuangyuan Ao, the report said. Zhuangyuan Ao port area will also attract calls of more container services to Southeast Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa in the coming years, the report added. Wenzhou port authority started to compile development plans for the seven port areas including Oujiang and Yueqingwan in 2007. This year the port authority will launch fundamental research to the three major port areas including Yueqingwan, Daxiaomen Island and Zhuangyuan Ao and boost the construction of two 50,000 tonne berths in Yueqingwan as well as set up strategic alliance with Ningbo port, the report said.

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Panama Ports Company receives four Super Post-Panamax Quay Cranes at Port of Balboa

Panama Ports Company (PPC) has taken delivery of four Super Post-Panamax quay cranes at the Port of Balboa.

These tandem-lift dual-hoist cranes have a lifting height of 36 metres above the rail and an outreach of 52.1 metres to span 19 rows of containers. This equipment is part of the US$300 million Phase IV Development of the Port of Balboa, which is part of a larger-scale modernization project. The delivery puts the total number of quay cranes at the Port of Balboa that are capable of servicing 19-container-wide Post-Panamax vessels at 18, more than most ports in Latin America. Commenting on the arrival of the cranes, Alejandro Kouruklis, General Manager of PPC, said, 'These four new quay cranes will significantly enhance the capacity and efficiency of the Port of Balboa by providing additional craneage to current Post-Panamax and larger vessels calling at Balboa. Therefore they will facilitate the growth of trade in the region and help transform Balboa into a mega port.'
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True scale of shipping emissions revealed

A leaked UN report shows that international shipping accounts for 4.5 percent of global emissions of carbon dioxide.

Friends of the Earth's Head of Campaigns Mike Childs said that ‘The UN study highlights the alarming growth in carbon dioxide emissions from the shipping industry. It reinforces Friends of the Earth's call for the Government to include all the UK's emissions, including the UK's share of emissions from international shipping and aviation, in its new climate change law. It is ludicrous to leave them out. A bit like introducing a drink-driving law, that discounts whisky. We hope the Government's acknowledgement that shipping must take its share of the responsibility for tackling climate change means that they will now be included.' The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth campaign for a strong climate change law, which includes UK's share of emissions from international shipping and aviation, commits the UK to cutting its emissions by 80 percent and ensures steady progress by cutting emissions by at least three percent a year.

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