ABS and RS to jointly develop Rules for Arctic LNG carriers

ABS and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping are to jointly develop classification Rules for Arctic Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers.

It is the first pairing of societies to create Rules for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market sector - under a wide-ranging cooperative agreement between the two IACS members. The announcement was made during the fourth Annual Arctic Shipping 2008 International Conference & Seminar in St. Petersburg, Russia. “We made the strategic decision that it was in the best interest of industry to combine our shared experience and technical expertise to address the need for guidance with these carriers in the Arctic, especially at a time when gas transport from the Arctic regions of Russia will increase over the next few years,” said Roger Basu, Director, ABS Corporate Research & Product Development. The principal elements in ice strengthening LNG carrier design are: strengthening of the hull; the interaction of the hull structure with the containment system; minimum propulsion power requirements and strength of the propeller. Development of the joint rules for arctic LNG carriers allows ABS and RS to share experiences gained in Russian, Canadian and US Arctic waters. This collaboration will benefit the industry by bringing together the extensive experience of RS with transportation in the Russian Arctic and the experience of ABS with operations in the Beaufort Sea and the Canadian Arctic. Combined with advanced technology using risk analysis, testing and computational methods, this will provide the basis for the new criteria.
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Ship scrapping regulations set for overhaul

The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization reports that it has made "substantial progress" in developing the draft text of the International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.

This new convention will provide globally applicable ship recycling regulations for international shipping and for recycling activities. The work paves the way for the committee to approve the draft at its next meeting in October 2008, taking the process one step closer to the holding of a diplomatic conference to adopt the Convention in Hong Kong, China, in May 2009, although such action is subject to endorsement by the IMO Council in June 2008. An intersessional correspondence group was instructed to prepare a draft conference resolution addressing the circumstances in which sufficient recycling capacity may not be available. An intersessional meeting of the Working Group on Ship Recycling will be held in October 2008 before the next full MEPC meeting. The new convention will provide regulations for the design, construction, operation and preparation of ships to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships; for the operation of ship recycling facilities in a safe and environmentally sound manner; and for the establishment of an appropriate enforcement mechanism for ship recycling, incorporating certification and reporting requirements.
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Paccship fined for pollution

PACCSHIP, which operates vessels trading in Asia and to the US has been fined US$1.7m for offences relating to improper transfers and discharges of oil-contaminated waste from two of its ships.

Paccship pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and for using falsified records that concealed improper transfers and discharges of oil-contaminated waste. The company was also sentenced to serve a four-year term of probation during which it must implement and follow a stringent environmental compliance program that includes a court-appointed monitor and outside independent auditing of its ships. The company will also hand over a $400,000 community service payment. The government’s investigation began on April 11, 2006, when inspectors from the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the PAC Antares operated and managed by Paccship, following the ship’s arrival in Morehead City, N.C. The inspection uncovered evidence that crew members aboard the ship had improperly handled and disposed of the ship’s oil-contaminated waste and falsified entries in the ship’s official Oil Record Book to conceal these activities. During the inspection, crew members lied to Coast Guard inspectors in an attempt to obstruct the investigation. In November 2006 similar evidence was found on another ship operated by the same company, the PAC Altair.

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Vinalines sets high target for ’08

Viet Nam National Shipping Lines plans to invest about US$3bil in development through 2010, Mai Van Phuc, Vinalines' director, said.

The money would mostly be invested in the building and development of its flotilla, the upgrade of seaport infrastructure and the development of transport services, Phuc added. Vinalines is currently building new ships and buying second-hand ones from foreign partners to increase its total ship capacity from 2.1mil tonnes by the end of 2007 to 2.8mil tonnes by the end of 2008, and up to 5mil tonnes by 2010. Current ships will gradually be replaced with more vessels that are modern. Those with 50,000-70,000 tonne capacity will replace ships with a capacity of 25,000-30,000 tonnes. Phuc said that Vinalines would have 11 projects related to seaport infrastructure development in 2008, including Hai Phong's Lach Huyen International Seaport, HCM City's Hiep Phuoc Seaport and the second phase of the Tien Sa seaport project in Da Nang. Regarding Vinalines' biggest seaport infrastructure project in 2008 - the construction of the Van Phong International Ship Container Terminal - Phuc recently confirmed that the project would be launched this June. Vinalines will also invest in upgrading Nha Rong and Khanh Hoi ports in HCM City, along with Song Han port in Da Nang, into tourism seaports with developed cargo storage systems and logistical services. Vinalines plans to diversify its capital mobilization channels, including loans from domestic and foreign financial institutions and loans from the State, building its plans to issue construction and enterprise bonds to the domestic and international markets, as well as towards establishing financial companies.

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China Shipping to spend US$3.3 billion on vessels

China Shipping Development plans to spend 23 billion yuan (US$3.3 billion) to buy 59 vessels over the next five years.

This will more than double its capacity to ride an anticipated upswell in global trade, its top executive said. Oil and coal carriers will build up to a fleet of more than 180 ships to meet the heavy resource needs of China's fast-growing economy. The world's fourth-largest economy currently maintains a total capacity of 7.82 million DWT, Chairman of China Shipping Development, Li Shaode said. The 59 vessels, to be delivered in the years until 2012, come with a collective capacity of 8.69 million DWT and will more than double the firm's shipping capability. China Shipping Development is also reports its 2007 net profits as jumping a staggering 66 percent, following a venture, late last year, into the iron ore business. Profits for last year have jumped from 2.8 billion yuan (US$0.4 billion) in 2006 to hit 4.6 billion yuan (US$0.66 billion). China Shipping Development says the big jump in earnings is largely due to expansions in its core business of ocean shipping. In any case, the fast-growing economy has meant much higher demand for oil, coal and iron ore.
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