Marine security and safety

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority stressed the importance of ensuring 'marine security and safety' to all users of marine transport modes envisaged under the extensive marine projects.

RTA Marine Agency started these projects last year as part of its plan to provide safe and smooth transport for all besides offering an additional mode of transport-to-transport systems in Dubai. Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, CEO of RTA Marine Agency said that the agency was taking all steps to provide marine security and safety. RTA assigns great importance to this matter, as marine transport is very popular and getting increasingly attractive to commuters of marine transport modes such as rowing and motorized abras, compressed natural gas-operated abras, and the waterbus. With these integral projects, Dubai Marine Gate will be a key carrier capable of providing assistance in containing the congested spots and easing traffic bottlenecks using the highest security and safety marine standards applicable worldwide, with top quality service to users of marine transport.
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Radio Holland awarded Great Lakes VSAT order

Radio Holland, a globally renowned maritime electronics solutions provider, has been awarded a significant, multi-year contract to supply communication network services to a consortium of maritime shipping companies.

They are members of the Canadian Ship-owners Association (CSA) and the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). The CSA and LCA member companies operate 131 Canadian-flagged and American-flagged ships providing bulk carrier shipping services on the Great Lakes, coastal and Artic waters of Canada. The site surveys are already underway, and the installations will begin in January. Jack Haynie, President of Radio Holland USA Inc., said that their objective is to implement and operate a modern vessel communications solution that will be responsive to the diverse requirements of the member companies of the CSA/LCA, for the supply and installation of communications hardware, the broadband satellite airtime, and the post-installation service maintenance. The communication network services supplied by Radio Holland include, amongst others, Seatel VSAT equipment, iDirect, Linksys and Cisco. Each solution will be seamlessly integrated with existing on-board systems and upgraded when necessary.
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Submarine collides with cargo ship

An Indian naval submarine on a routine mission collided with a cargo ship in the Arabian Sea off Pakistan.

The 2500-ton INS Sindhughosh, with a crew of 53, sustained only superficial damage to its conning tower. However, according to naval official, the vessel was seriously damaged. The navy declined to comment on the extent of damage to the Cayman-registered merchant vessel or reveal its current whereabouts. The ship MV Leeds Castle was in restricted waters and in that area the depth is not much and hence the mishap. The submarine has been towed to a naval dockyard at the western Indian city of Mumbai. The naval officials said the submarine was submerged and had its radars off and periscope down when it slammed into the ship off India's Diu Island, 400 nautical miles from Mumbai. Diu lies 70 nautical miles from Pakistani waters. The diesel-powered Sindhughosh, which was acquired from the then Soviet Union in 1986, had returned from Russia last year after an extensive refit. It carries Russian-designed land-attack Klub-S cruise missiles.
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Stage set for offshore sailing race

The stage is set for the first-ever offshore sailing race with the arrival of 11 teams for the race, which will be held from Kochi to Lakshadweep and back under the aegis of the Offshore Sailing Association of India.

The championship spread over an enduring 10 days would be conducted from January 12 to 23. Of the 14 teams that have registered for the championship, two teams are from the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association and one from the Kerala Yachting Association. Besides, there will be 11 teams from various Watermanship Training Centres of the Indian Navy. One of the prominent participants would be Cdr. Dilip Donde of the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC), Mumbai, who will be the first Indian to undertake the Indian Navy solo circumnavigation mission ‘Sagar Parikrama’ on a 56-feet ‘Tonge’ boat. At the same time 18 sailboats of the INWTC, Kochi, will participate in a ‘Sail Parade’ - a sailing tradition in which the sailboats unfurl their sails as they sail past the cheering crowds.
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NYK to invest in Shanghai's Yangshan container terminal

NYK, the Japanese transportation company, states that it expects to be admitted as an investor in Phase 3B of the Yangshan Container Terminals, which is currently being developed by Shanghai International Port (Group) Co.

The Yangshan Container Terminals are being developed on the Da Xiao YanShan islands, 34 kilometers from Shanghai. The port project is expected to create 32 new container berths, which will boast an annual capacity of 25 million TEU by 2020, with the space to further raise the total container handling capacity to 35 million TEU at an unspecified date. The Phase 3B, expected to be finished by 2009, individually, will build three berths and reach an annual throughput of 1.8 million TEU. These container terminals are being developed through a joint venture between Dalian Port Container and China Shipping Group, called Dalian International Container Terminal. NYK has a 20 percent stake in the venture, expected to commence operations in April. NYK estimates its container handling volume for Shanghai will amount to over 500,000 TEU in 2007.
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