Panama Uses Electronic Logbooks

The Panamanian flag state administration has authorized the use of electronic logbooks onboard all Panamanian flag vessels.

Kongsberg Maritime's current generation electronic logbook, K-Log is already installed on several vessels and approved by IMO and SOLAS, and accepted by Norway (NOR/NIS), Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom (MCA), Bahamas, Singapore, Isle of Man, Marshall Islands and Malta. With Panamanian approval, a large proportion of the world's merchant fleet is now able to make use of this forward-looking system. Due to a recent legislative amendment, an E-license is required in order to use electronic logbooks onboard any ship. Users will benefit from the convenience of obtaining a single annual E-License rather than buying each of the traditional printed log books used onboard during the year.
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DCT Gdansk celebrates the festive season with cars galore

The new DCT Gdansk container terminal handled its first car carrier, the 55,729GT 'Asian Emperor'.

Part of the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics fleet, she discharged over 1,700 Mitsubishi motor vehicles manufactured in Asia. These have since been shipped out on board 'Nobleza', a shortsea car carrier operated by United European Car Carriers, to the Finnish port of Kotka for eventual delivery to Russian customers. On January 2, a second WWL vessel, the 44,219GT 'Maersk Teal', discharged further 1,576 vehicles for transshipment. The maiden call of 'Asian Emperor' brought 2007 to a very satisfactory conclusion while the arrival of 'Maersk Teal' was a great start to 2008.' DCT Gdansk is optimistic about its chances of landing more car carrier traffic and is also drawing the attention of motor manufacturers and their suppliers to the development of a major logistics area adjacent to the marine terminal.
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DP World furthers its Maputo footprint

Global port operator DP World has further committed to the growing Mozambique port of Maputo, investing more than US$32 million in the Maputo Port Development Company, joining in a partnership with Grindrod International Ltd and Mozambique Gestores SARL.

DP World holds the concession to operate the container terminal at Maputo Port and is already a 60% shareholder in Maputo International Port Services (MIPS), the container terminal operating company, with the Mozambique Ports and Railways Company holding the remaining 40%. The terminal has 100,000 teu capacity.
DP World has now purchased 48.5 % of Portus Indico - Sociedade de Servicos Portuarios, SA. Grindrod International Ltd holds another 48.5%, with Mozambique Gestores, SARL holding the remaining 3%. Portus Indico has a 51% interest in MPDC, which holds the concession for the overall Port of Maputo until 2018, with an option to extend to 2028. Portus Indico separately also holds the agreement for the management of MPDC. The Government of Mozambique holds the remaining 49% share interest in MPDC.
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Rowan swings another Gorilla deal

Houston-based Rowan Companies has won a six-month contract worth about $56 million for one of its Gorilla-class jack-up rigs off eastern Canada beginning in 2009.

It would commit its Rowan Gorilla 2 or Rowan Gorilla 3 to the contract, depending on which rig became available first. Rowan said the work was in addition to recently landed contracts for its Rowan Gorilla 6 rig in the North Sea. The company said the rig would complete six months of work for Canadian Natural Resources starting in the third quarter of 2009. The work was valued at $55 million. A further six-month contract with BG was expected to start in 2010, and also valued at $55 million.
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Rio Tinto to buy three new iron ore carriers

Rio Tinto will purchase three 250,000 DWT ore carriers to transport iron ore from its mines in the Pilbara in Western Australia to customers in China and elsewhere.

The Group has also reserved rights on another two vessels of similar size. The vessels, to be built by Namura Shipyards in Japan and delivered from late 2012, will play a critical role in consolidating Rio Tinto Iron Ore's leadership position in the global market. They will help Rio Tinto build upon its natural freight advantage in Asian exports. The cost of the three vessels will be about US$315 million. China's iron ore imports have grown substantially in recent years and forecast to continue to grow strongly with the potential to more than double post 2010. To maintain and increase its share of this growth, Rio Tinto Iron Ore is expanding the capacity of its Pilbara iron ore operations to 220 million tonnes by 2009, supported by long-term contracts, hybrid contracts and spot sales.
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Customs ship sets course for whalers

The customs ship Oceanic Viking has left its berth near Perth and is en route to intercept Japanese whalers in the Antarctic.

The 9000-tonne ship specially fitted for Antarctic conditions departed at Stirling Naval Base on Tuesday evening three weeks after Foreign Minister Stephen Smith promised action against the Japanese whalers “within days”. The ship is tasked with shadowing the Japanese whaling fleet to gather photographic and other evidence for use in possible future legal action by Canberra. The long awaited departure coincides with damaging accusations by the Sea Shepherd conservation group that the Japanese whaling fleet has been illegally killing whales inside Australia's Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ). Paul Watson the captain of the Sea Shepherd's newly named conservation enforcement vessel, Steve Irwin, said the Oceanic Viking would take at least a week to reach the Japanese. The Oceanic Viking, originally designed as a cable-layer, was converted in 2004 to an armed patrol vessel and chartered to the Australian Customs Service.
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