Coral reefs, the "rainforests of the ocean," are the spine of Abu Dhabi's biodiversity.
They are home to thousands of marine species and are believed to host between one and eight million undiscovered species of organisms. Despite the direct impact coral reefs have on economy and lifestyle, little is being done to protect them. An investigation report on coral reefs in the Abu Dhabi Emirate and eastern Qatar waters was recently completed, showing not only the status of corals, but also explaining why is it important to protect and conserve them. Abu Dhabi and eastern Qatar corals already grow in one of the most stressful environments for corals anywhere in the world, with sea temperatures varying up to 20 degrees Celsius between summer and winter time. In addition, the summers of 1996, 1998 and 2002 brought new thermal anomalies, when the sea experienced extreme temperatures. This has caused the death or near death of the majority of coral reefs. Some of the worst human provoked threats include climate change (rise in temperature, increasing carbon dioxide levels in seawater), naval activities and urban development. Reefs in the Gulf are close to major commercial shipping lanes and small or large shipping groundings as well as anchor dragging are destroying coral structures that took hundreds of years to form. Construction in Abu Dhabi's coastal area is creating further specific threats. Reefs around Abu Abyad island, Sir Bani Yas, Delma island, Jebel Dhana and Mubarraz have been subject to dredging and filling or damaged due to construction of petroleum installations.
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Saturday, July 12, 2008
NASSCO Awarded Contract for Amphibious Assault Ship Modernization
General Dynamics NASSCO has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy to modernize San Diego-homeported LSD 41 and LSD 49- class amphibious assault ships.
The total potential value of the contract if all options are exercised is approximately $210 million for work to be performed through 2014. Under the contract, NASSCO will perform as many as six scheduled availabilities in San Diego. The work to be performed includes routine maintenance as well as shipboard alterations that are intended to extend the service lives of the ships. The initial value of the modernization contract is approximately $100,000 for the preparatory work leading to the maintenance availability aboard USS Germantown (LSD 42), which is scheduled to begin in December. NASSCO was awarded a seven-year contract for maintenance and emergent repair of LSD 41 and LSD 49-class ships, as well as LPD 4-class ships, in December 2005. The San Diego shipyard also leads the repair and maintenance work conducted aboard all San Diego-homeported LHA and LHD-class amphibious assault ships and FFG 7-class frigates and participates in the upkeep of other ship classes.
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The total potential value of the contract if all options are exercised is approximately $210 million for work to be performed through 2014. Under the contract, NASSCO will perform as many as six scheduled availabilities in San Diego. The work to be performed includes routine maintenance as well as shipboard alterations that are intended to extend the service lives of the ships. The initial value of the modernization contract is approximately $100,000 for the preparatory work leading to the maintenance availability aboard USS Germantown (LSD 42), which is scheduled to begin in December. NASSCO was awarded a seven-year contract for maintenance and emergent repair of LSD 41 and LSD 49-class ships, as well as LPD 4-class ships, in December 2005. The San Diego shipyard also leads the repair and maintenance work conducted aboard all San Diego-homeported LHA and LHD-class amphibious assault ships and FFG 7-class frigates and participates in the upkeep of other ship classes.
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Mozah: the name of a new era in gas shipping
Qatargas and Nakilat have named the world’s biggest LNG vessel at the Samsung Heavy Industries yard on Geoje Island.
Ordered and to be operated by the Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), Mozah, the first 'Q-Max'-sized vessel with a capacity for 266,000 cubic-metres of LNG, will carry almost 80% more cargo than conventional ships. Onboard reliquefaction adds to operational efficiencies. “We are very proud to have been involved in the design and construction of these revolutionary new vessels, which are destined to make a cleaner form of energy available to more of the world’s consumers,” David Moorhouse, Chairman of the Lloyd’s Register Group, said at the naming ceremony today, pointing out that LR was the classification society of choice for nine of the first 10 Q-Max LNG vessels. The Q-Max model - “Q” for Qatar and “Max” for the maximum size of ship able to dock at the LNG terminals in Qatar - features onboard slow-speed diesel engines that are more fuel- and thermally efficient than steam turbines. In all, 14 Q-Max and 31 Q-Flex-sized LNG ships have been ordered from the big three Korean shipbuilders by Qatari interests and their partners, 17 of which will be built to Lloyd’s Register class. In tribute to the contribution that Lloyd's Register has made to development of the Q-Max and Q-Flex vessels Moorhouse was prersented with a scale model of the Mozah.
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Ordered and to be operated by the Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), Mozah, the first 'Q-Max'-sized vessel with a capacity for 266,000 cubic-metres of LNG, will carry almost 80% more cargo than conventional ships. Onboard reliquefaction adds to operational efficiencies. “We are very proud to have been involved in the design and construction of these revolutionary new vessels, which are destined to make a cleaner form of energy available to more of the world’s consumers,” David Moorhouse, Chairman of the Lloyd’s Register Group, said at the naming ceremony today, pointing out that LR was the classification society of choice for nine of the first 10 Q-Max LNG vessels. The Q-Max model - “Q” for Qatar and “Max” for the maximum size of ship able to dock at the LNG terminals in Qatar - features onboard slow-speed diesel engines that are more fuel- and thermally efficient than steam turbines. In all, 14 Q-Max and 31 Q-Flex-sized LNG ships have been ordered from the big three Korean shipbuilders by Qatari interests and their partners, 17 of which will be built to Lloyd’s Register class. In tribute to the contribution that Lloyd's Register has made to development of the Q-Max and Q-Flex vessels Moorhouse was prersented with a scale model of the Mozah.
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'ZIM Rio Grande' delivered
‘ZIM Rio Grande’, a new 4250 TEU vessel built by Samsung Heavy Industries, Korea, was delivered earlier this week to Israeli shipping company ZIM Integrated.
‘ZIM Rio Grande’ is the first out of a series of eight similar long-term chartered newly-built vessels, to be delivered over the coming months, with the eight vessel scheduled for delivery in June 2009. The new 50,630GT vessel measures 260 metres by 32. Metres and has a maximum speed of 24 knots. The vessel also has 400 plugs for reefers.The new vessel joins ZIM’s East-West Express Service (EWX) this week. ZIM’s recently introduced the new East-West Express Service, linking Asia and Europe, and now operates nine 4,250TEU vessels. Beginning this month, the EWX service will add the port of Rotterdam to its rotation, offering excellent transit time of about 27 days from Shanghai to Rotterdam. The service also added the UK port of Southampton (replacing Tilbury) in order to streamline operations and further improve service to customers.
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‘ZIM Rio Grande’ is the first out of a series of eight similar long-term chartered newly-built vessels, to be delivered over the coming months, with the eight vessel scheduled for delivery in June 2009. The new 50,630GT vessel measures 260 metres by 32. Metres and has a maximum speed of 24 knots. The vessel also has 400 plugs for reefers.The new vessel joins ZIM’s East-West Express Service (EWX) this week. ZIM’s recently introduced the new East-West Express Service, linking Asia and Europe, and now operates nine 4,250TEU vessels. Beginning this month, the EWX service will add the port of Rotterdam to its rotation, offering excellent transit time of about 27 days from Shanghai to Rotterdam. The service also added the UK port of Southampton (replacing Tilbury) in order to streamline operations and further improve service to customers.
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Aker signs contract with DOF in Brazil
Aker Yards, Norway, has signed a contract with DOF for building of three Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels (AHTS).
All the vessels will be of Aker Yards' own design and equipped for operations in the Brazilian market. The three ships are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2010, mid 2011 and towards the end of 2011 respectively. Aker Yards Project in Ålesund has developed this new design, and the vessels will be built at Aker Yards in Brazil. Aker Yards, Norway, has signed a contract with DOF for building of three Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels (AHTS). All the vessels will be of Aker Yards' own design and equipped for operations in the Brazilian market. The three ships are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2010, mid 2011 and towards the end of 2011 respectively. Aker Yards Project in Ålesund has developed this new design, and the vessels will be built at Aker Yards in Brazil. Each of the vessels will have accommodation for 60 persons. Each of the vessels will have accommodation for 60 persons.
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All the vessels will be of Aker Yards' own design and equipped for operations in the Brazilian market. The three ships are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2010, mid 2011 and towards the end of 2011 respectively. Aker Yards Project in Ålesund has developed this new design, and the vessels will be built at Aker Yards in Brazil. Aker Yards, Norway, has signed a contract with DOF for building of three Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels (AHTS). All the vessels will be of Aker Yards' own design and equipped for operations in the Brazilian market. The three ships are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2010, mid 2011 and towards the end of 2011 respectively. Aker Yards Project in Ålesund has developed this new design, and the vessels will be built at Aker Yards in Brazil. Each of the vessels will have accommodation for 60 persons. Each of the vessels will have accommodation for 60 persons.
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