Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Zim to dock at new Jamaican terminal

Israeli container shipping line, Zim Integrated Shipping Services, has been allocated space at the new US$ 248 million Western Berth at Jamaica's Kingston Container Terminal.

Port Authority of Jamaica president Noel Hylton said Zim has a 10-year agreement with PAJ to use Kingston as a hub. The new berth marks phase five of the port's 14-year expansion program. The ten-year Zim contract has been in effect since 2006, noting the Israeli line has been in business with Jamaica since 1975 and was one of the first lines to call on Jamaica. The new Western Berth is to be used exclusively by Zim. The Kingston Container Terminal (KCT) is managed under contract by APM Terminals Limited, and currently has an annual container handling capacity of 3.2 million TEU. Mr. Hylton said the PAJ is targeting annual business of 5 million TEU by 2014. The report added that the expanded port facility adds 475 metres of berth, with a depth of 15 metres; an extended 65-metre container yard; ten trailer trains; 976 reefer plugs; six super post-Panamax ship-to-shore gantry cranes, two of which have already been commissioned into service; 24 straddle carriers and one 4,475KW tug. The PAJ is the largest port operation in Jamaica, handling 1.8 million TEU last year, down from 1.98 million TEU in 2006.
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Samudera Shipping launches new service to Myanmar

Container shipping firm Samudera Shipping Line, Singapore has launched a new service to Myanmar, connecting it with other markets in the region.

Dubbed the Yangon Express, the new line kicks off from Singapore today. Plying the route will be one 1,100 teu capacity container ship, which will call at Port Klang, Yangon and Singapore on a round trip over 12 days. Samudera Shipping is seeking to expand its Asian network. Three weeks ago, it launched an express service to the Bangladeshi port of Chittagong.
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ZPMC to establish parts plant in Singapore

Zhenhua Port Mechanic Corporation of China has recently set up a new spare parts centre in Singapore to meet the requirements of its clients in the region.

Zhenhua Port Mechanic Corporation of China is the world’s largest port cranes and equipments producer. It is also the first subsidiary of ZPMC established in Southeast Asia. Since 1995, ZPMC has provided more than 60 gantry cranes to PSA in Singapore. As its port business moves on, PSA will order more equipment from ZPMC. Besides the new one in Singapore, ZPMC also has parts plants in Amsterdam and Los Angeles.
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New Ship Class Begins Logistics Operations in 7th Fleet

Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Richard E. Byrd entered the waters of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, marking the first Lewis and Clark-class multi-product combat logistics support ship in service to the 52 million-square-mile region.

Byrd replaces MSC combat stores ship USNS Niagara Falls, which has been forward, deployed supporting 7th Fleet since 1994. Though the entry into the fleet’s territorial waters was unceremonious, it signals a significant change for Logistics Group Western Pacific, also know as Commander Task Force 73, which will operationally control the ship while in theater. The 689-ft.-long underway replenishment vessel, known as a T-AKE, replaces the current capability of the Kilauea-class ammunition ships and Mars-class combat stores ships, and it also possesses the capability to refuel ships at sea. Byrd has a crew of 124 civil service mariners working for MSC as well as a military detachment of 11 sailors who provide operational support and supply coordination. When needed, Byrd can also carry a supply detachment.
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Keppel secures three upgrade projects

Keppel Shipyard has secured contracts for the upgrading, modification and conversion of three vessels, bringing in US$110 million.

The first contract is from Bumi Armada Bergad for the upgrading of a tanker into a floating production storage and offloading facility (FPSO). When completed in the first half of 2009, FPSO Armada Perdana will have a storage capacity of 1 million barrels of oil and be capable of processing 40,000 b/d. The scope of work includes the fabrication, installation and integration of a 12-point spread mooring system, riser balcony, topside facilities and upgrade of accommodation and auxiliary support systems. The second contract is for the enlarging or "jumboisation" of a dredger from Boskalis Westminster Shipping, and operating company of Royal Boskalis Westminster in the Netherlands. The project will enhance the dredging capabilities of trailing suction hopper dredger Queen of the Netherlands, making it one of the largest of its type. The third contract is from BW Offshore for the upgrading and modification of an FPSO for the Tupi field offshore Brazil. FPSO BW Peace will be renamed BW Cidade de Sao Vicente, and converted according to Petrobras' specifications. It will be the first FPSO in the Tupi deepwater field.
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