Colombo: Sri Lanka’s military said the LTTE’s Sea Tiger cadre carried out a suicide attack, targeting merchant ships MV Ruhuna and MV Nimalawa.
Navy spokesperson D. K. P. Dassanayake claimed three LTTE suicide vessels were involved in the attack. “Navy sailors providing onboard security fired at the approaching boats and destroyed two of them,” he said. One of the boats exploded in close proximity to MV Nimalawa, damaging the ship’s hull. The third craft has been captured and the cadre operating the boat killed. The Navy described the incident as a cowardly attack to deny essential supplies to the civilians living in war-affected areas. The pro-LTTE TamilNet said the Sea Tigers carried out a “Black Tiger attack on Sri Lankan ship MV Nimalawa, which carried military and other supplies, in the Sri Lankan naval harbour in Kankeasnthurai, Jaffna. The supply ship was sunk and another vessel, MV Ruhuna, sustained heavy damage, the Tigers said,” it said. Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry website said the attack on merchant vessels with essential cargo to Jaffna’s civilians comes within a week after LTTE shelled a U.N. food convoy to the internally-displaced persons in Mullathivu and Kilinochchi.
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Thursday, October 23, 2008
Drydocks World – SE Asia Expansion
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, one of world’s largest holding companies, visited the Nanindah and Graha shipyards last week, at Batam in Indonesia and Singapore.
They are part of Drydocks World SE Asia, the recent addition to Drydocks World, the group’s global ship building, repair and conversion arm. The visit was part of an inspection and review tour to evaluate progress achieved by these shipyards and to study the prospects of expanding Drydocks World SE Asia’s operations in the region. Mr. Bin Sulayem was accompanied by senior officials of Drydocks World and a team of journalists from UAE. Drydocks World – SE Asia was formed in March 2008 to manage the shipyards Drydocks World acquired in Asia, primarily in Singapore and Indonesia. It now operates four yards acquired after signing deals to buy Pan-United Marine and Labroy Marine in 2007.
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They are part of Drydocks World SE Asia, the recent addition to Drydocks World, the group’s global ship building, repair and conversion arm. The visit was part of an inspection and review tour to evaluate progress achieved by these shipyards and to study the prospects of expanding Drydocks World SE Asia’s operations in the region. Mr. Bin Sulayem was accompanied by senior officials of Drydocks World and a team of journalists from UAE. Drydocks World – SE Asia was formed in March 2008 to manage the shipyards Drydocks World acquired in Asia, primarily in Singapore and Indonesia. It now operates four yards acquired after signing deals to buy Pan-United Marine and Labroy Marine in 2007.
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ClassNK releases updated degraded marine fuels guide
Tokyo: ClassNK has announced that it will release the English edition of Version II of its previously well-received Guidance for Measures to Cope with Degraded Marine Fuels: Taking into Account the Poor Combustibility of Fuels in November.
While the first 1996 edition (Ver. I) dealt with methods to prevent increases in major damages attributable to fuel oil, the updated 2008 edition (Ver. II) focuses on means to avert FO problems that can arise from poor combustibility. The text gives a good technical explanation of the many factors that contribute to problems caused by poor combustibility and the various measures that can be taken to address these issues. Key factors affecting FO problems noted in 1996 consist of the four “highs”: high density, high viscosity, high sulfur, and high catalytic fines. Key factors affecting FO problems in 2008, however, have shifted to one “high” and three “lows”: high density, low viscosity, low sulfur, and low catalytic fines. The contents of this updated and revised Guidance include a discussion on the shift in factors affecting FO problems and examine FO with poor combustibility, low-sulfur FO, ISO standards, emission regulations, FO processing systems, and countermeasures for improving FO use.
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While the first 1996 edition (Ver. I) dealt with methods to prevent increases in major damages attributable to fuel oil, the updated 2008 edition (Ver. II) focuses on means to avert FO problems that can arise from poor combustibility. The text gives a good technical explanation of the many factors that contribute to problems caused by poor combustibility and the various measures that can be taken to address these issues. Key factors affecting FO problems noted in 1996 consist of the four “highs”: high density, high viscosity, high sulfur, and high catalytic fines. Key factors affecting FO problems in 2008, however, have shifted to one “high” and three “lows”: high density, low viscosity, low sulfur, and low catalytic fines. The contents of this updated and revised Guidance include a discussion on the shift in factors affecting FO problems and examine FO with poor combustibility, low-sulfur FO, ISO standards, emission regulations, FO processing systems, and countermeasures for improving FO use.
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Shanghai Port lowers annual container throughput target
Even mighty Shanghai port is feeling the ill effects of the global financial turmoil.
Yesterday state media reported the port has lowered its 2008 box throughput by 5% from 30m teu to 28.5m teu. Chen Xuyuan, president of Shanghai Port Group, said that the slowdown in the global economy is having a major impact on the container business. As evidence, the freight on the Shanghai - Europe shipping route that stood at US$1,000 per teu at the beginning of the year, has now slumped to nearly US$200 per teu. Shanghai will not overhaul Singapore as the world's largest container port this year. The ports container throughput rose 10.4 per cent from a year earlier to 13.82 million teu in the first half, sharply slower than the growth in 2007, when throughput jumped 20.4 per cent to 26.2 million teu. In the first nine months of 2008, container processing in Chinese ports rose 14.9 per cent to 94.5 million teu, 2.2 per cent lower than the first half, according to Ministry of Transport figures.
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Yesterday state media reported the port has lowered its 2008 box throughput by 5% from 30m teu to 28.5m teu. Chen Xuyuan, president of Shanghai Port Group, said that the slowdown in the global economy is having a major impact on the container business. As evidence, the freight on the Shanghai - Europe shipping route that stood at US$1,000 per teu at the beginning of the year, has now slumped to nearly US$200 per teu. Shanghai will not overhaul Singapore as the world's largest container port this year. The ports container throughput rose 10.4 per cent from a year earlier to 13.82 million teu in the first half, sharply slower than the growth in 2007, when throughput jumped 20.4 per cent to 26.2 million teu. In the first nine months of 2008, container processing in Chinese ports rose 14.9 per cent to 94.5 million teu, 2.2 per cent lower than the first half, according to Ministry of Transport figures.
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Former Ukraine Minister of Defense cynical about foreign combat ships and subs
Ukraine is resorting to foreign made combat ships and subs rather than building up its own Navy.
However, this is most likely to be exaggerated or misinterpreted comments about the recent contacts regarding the potential deal of acquiring decommissioned US warships and subs by the Ukraine. Publicly, former Defense Minister and MP Alexander Kuzmuk spoke about a purchase of two to three corvettes and two subs. He maintains that the cost to do so is totally unacceptable for the Ukraine in the conditions of the global financial crisis and internal chaos. Kuzmuk said: “Ships are not bought within a year. It is a year – a year and half period, it is necessary to study the matter on site, to train crew, minimum two crews, then to arrange new base and solve the problem with technical support and maintenance. “One should keep in mind that a combat ship or sub is not mere metal, it has many complexes of arms and control. It requires stocks of spare ammunition, rockets, mines, torpedoes.” A large proportion of the Ukrainian experts are also highly pessimistic about the potential deal. They believe that it will cause negative consequences in US-Russia relations regarding military-technical cooperation.
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However, this is most likely to be exaggerated or misinterpreted comments about the recent contacts regarding the potential deal of acquiring decommissioned US warships and subs by the Ukraine. Publicly, former Defense Minister and MP Alexander Kuzmuk spoke about a purchase of two to three corvettes and two subs. He maintains that the cost to do so is totally unacceptable for the Ukraine in the conditions of the global financial crisis and internal chaos. Kuzmuk said: “Ships are not bought within a year. It is a year – a year and half period, it is necessary to study the matter on site, to train crew, minimum two crews, then to arrange new base and solve the problem with technical support and maintenance. “One should keep in mind that a combat ship or sub is not mere metal, it has many complexes of arms and control. It requires stocks of spare ammunition, rockets, mines, torpedoes.” A large proportion of the Ukrainian experts are also highly pessimistic about the potential deal. They believe that it will cause negative consequences in US-Russia relations regarding military-technical cooperation.
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Global economic crisis hits Asian shipping industry
The Asian shipping lanes and ports are facing difficulties due to the global financial downturn.
The Australian has reported that share prices of major shipping companies have plummeted 50-70 percent in the past few months and that the Baltic Dry Index has dropped 85 percent from May to its lowest point in six years. There are concerns about new ship orders, a decline in output, and slowdowns in all areas of the industry. The crisis is affecting industries in Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong, with a drop in demand from the United States and Europe impacting on manufacturing and electronics.
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The Australian has reported that share prices of major shipping companies have plummeted 50-70 percent in the past few months and that the Baltic Dry Index has dropped 85 percent from May to its lowest point in six years. There are concerns about new ship orders, a decline in output, and slowdowns in all areas of the industry. The crisis is affecting industries in Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong, with a drop in demand from the United States and Europe impacting on manufacturing and electronics.
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Shipping Australia impressed by coastal shipping policy report
CEO of Shipping Australia, Llew Russell, said that he was impressed with the way the House of Representative Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development & Local Government handled the complex issues involved in the coastal shipping policy report.
“The report had to deal with many differing, at times, opposing views in 68 submissions plus twelve supplementary submissions.” The submissions covered a broad range of issues, demonstrating the complexity of the issues involved in strengthening the industry’s competitiveness and sustainability. Russell said, “The report challenges the collective shipping industry in Australia, relevant stakeholders and governments to come up with the detailed solutions to meet many of the objectives outlined in its recommendations. “We are particularly pleased with the recommendation regarding the creation of a national port development plan to address current and potential capacity constraints in Australia’s ports.” The report was tabled on October 20, 2008.
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“The report had to deal with many differing, at times, opposing views in 68 submissions plus twelve supplementary submissions.” The submissions covered a broad range of issues, demonstrating the complexity of the issues involved in strengthening the industry’s competitiveness and sustainability. Russell said, “The report challenges the collective shipping industry in Australia, relevant stakeholders and governments to come up with the detailed solutions to meet many of the objectives outlined in its recommendations. “We are particularly pleased with the recommendation regarding the creation of a national port development plan to address current and potential capacity constraints in Australia’s ports.” The report was tabled on October 20, 2008.
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