Chongqing Marine breaks into Japan-China market

Shanghai: Chongqing Marine Shipping has announced that it is to extend its existing Pusan-Taicang/Jiangyin loop to include Kyushu later this month.

The service, which is the first for the company in the Japan-China market, will boast additional calls at Moji and Hakata making it the first direct service to Japan from Jiangyin. The move follows in the footsteps of companies such as Pan World Logistics Co, Centrans International Marine Shipping and Qingdao Marine Noah's Ark Shipping which all recently became players in this market. The new Chongqing Marine Shipping fixed-day weekly service will deploy a 332teu vessel following the port rotation: Moji (Wed), Hakata (Wed), Taicang (Fri/Sat), Jiangyin (Sat/Sun), Pusan (Tue), Moji.

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Navy Rolls Out Littoral Combat Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package

A ceremony to mark the rollout of the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission module for the littoral combat ship (LCS) was held at Naval Base Point Loma.

The Program Executive Office for Littoral and Mine Warfare, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Space and Naval Warfare Command (SPAWAR) and Space and Naval Warfare Systems, San Diego, hosted the event. According to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisitions, Anne Sandel, this is the third mission package to be released for use with the LCS class of ships. The other two packages are the mine and surface warfare mission modules. The LCS can be configured to deploy with any one of the three interchangeable mission modules typically within 96 hours depending on the nature of the mission. The new mission module package offers new technologies, such as a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV), the vertical takeoff unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV), new dipping sonar and towed array sonar devices.

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Orbit’s OrSat Antenna Successfully Completes Extensive Global-Ku Coverage Tests

Completely independent and hands-free, OrSat performs flawlessly; OrSat is presented at SMM and Monaco 2008.

Netanya, Israel - Orbit Technology Group, a well established leader in the field of advanced mobile satellite communication and tracking antenna systems for marine, air, rail, and other ground applications, announces another milestone for its Marine Mobile Satellite Communication System – the OrSat. Having successfully completed a rigorous field test onboard a ship that traveled from a north western European port, through the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, Indian Ocean and up to Yokohama, Japan – and then back, OrSat demonstrated flawless connectivity throughout the voyage, with seamless roaming between satellites on the rout. Throughout the entire trip, personnel onboard enjoyed uninterrupted, full satellite communication connectivity via Internet, engendering enthusiastic responses from the crew – all without having to change or replace any parts in the system throughout the voyage, and without any other human intervention. The OrSat is now ready for use as a Global-Ku Satcom system, the only antenna system in the world that has been both fully tested on the global rout and also Type-Approved by all satellite companies that cover this route. In addition to being ready for Global Ku satellite coverage, OrSat offers the largest gain possible for an antenna enclosed inside a 1.28 m radome. This highly efficient, service oriented, mature and proven system continues to build on its uniqueness and customer satisfaction record, with hundreds sold worldwide. OrSat distinguishes itself through sophisticated and innovative design – simple to operate, with plug-and-play architecture and unmatched cost effectiveness.

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COSCO subsidiary bags $256m in contracts

Singapore: COSCO Corp, through 51% owned Cosco Shipyard Group (CSG) - has won newbuilding and conversion contracts worth $256.2m.

'We are glad to receive further votes of confidence from our repeat and new customers from across the globe despite the current economic uncertainties,' said vice-chairman and president Jiang Lijun. ‘In light of high input costs, our group will continue to sharpen our focus on getting more high-value jobs to better optimize the returns from our expanding capacities.’ The newbuilding contracts, its first new orders since July, were awarded by a German customer to CSG's subsidiary, Cosco Dalian Shipyard, which will build two 80,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carriers for a total contract value of $108m. The contracts were awarded by various customers from the US, China, Hong Kong, India and Italy. Cosco said the first 30% instalment payments for the contracts have been received, and the two vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The other orders were nine conversion contracts valued at $148.2m, which CSG secured through subsidiaries Cosco Nantong Shipyard, Cosco Dalian Shipyard, Cosco Zhoushan Shipyard and Cosco Guangdong Shipyard.

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Launching of giant work boat

A new giant offshore vessel was launched from Ulstein Verft last weekend. Owned by Norway’s Eidesvik Offshore, ‘Viking Poseidon’ measures 130 metres long and 25 metres wide.

‘Viking Poseidon’ will now be completed by the quay and tested before delivery in December, said Ulstein Verft managing director Karsten Sævik. ‘Viking Poseidon’ is the first ship Eidesvik has ordered from the Ulstein Group, but the ship owner has also ordered two seismic vessels of the Ulstein SX120 type from Ulstein with delivery in 2010. Viking Poseidon is an Ulstein SX121 with Ulstein X-Bowdesign. The vessel is fitted out for 105 persons and is equipped with a 250-tonnes offshore crane, a ROV garage and a helideck. The vessel will have diesel electric propulsion. Upon delivery, the vessel has a long-term charter contract of eight years with options with Veolia ES Special Services in USA.

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Dubai World Security to provide marine protection to the world

Nakheel’s iconic Island development progressing well.

Dubai World Security, the security solutions arm of Dubai World, and Nakheel, another Dubai World company and creator of the iconic island development ‘The World’ signed a major Marine Security Services contract aimed at providing end-to-end marine security cover for The World. Under the contract Dubai World Security will deploy its full service capabilities, making use of highly trained manpower and ultra modern equipment to ensure safety and security to the upcoming island community. The contract, signed by Mahmood Amin, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai World Security, and Hamza Mustafa, Managing Director of The World, at a ceremony held at Tamani Hotel (Dubai Marina) marks an important step for the security service provider in its drive to maintain a qualitative edge in the area of large-scale multi-layered operations. It is also an important milestone for The World, which is progressing towards completion. The two sides aim to put in place a comprehensive security mechanism which will be operational by the time the project is completed. Under the contract, Dubai World Security will provide two lines of security through highly trained Marine Service personnel. Well-equipped power boats with top-of-the-line navigation and communication facilities such as radar, GPS and portable radios will be used for patrols. Through its round-the-clock security cover to The World, Dubai World Security aims to set a new benchmark for quality excellence.

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