The Royal Australian Navy ship, 'HMAS Maryborough', has intercepted a vessel with 44 potential illegal immigrants and three crew off the coast of Western Australia.
The vessel was first sighted by an Air Force AP-3C Orion aircraft. Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB) ‘HMAS Maryborough’ apprehended the vessel as it crossed into Australian waters. Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas, of the Royal Australian Navy said that the Navy played a principal contribution to Australia’s offshore maritime security and had a vital role in protecting Australian waters and borders. ‘HMAS Maryborough’ has a range of 3000 nautical miles at 12 knots and a maximum speed of about 25 knots. It is equipped with high-definition navigational radar, high and ultra high frequency communications equipment, gyro compasses and echo sounder. The vessel is also fitted with a satellite navigation system that enables the ship's position to be determined with great accuracy.
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Friday, December 12, 2008
Piraeus Port to triple capacity to 4.7 million TEUs
Focusing on the long-term prospects of the shipping industry and not on the dim picture of the past couple of months, the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) is pushing ahead a broad investment programme worth approximately 500 million euros, which will see the port emerging as a new transshipment hub for the broader East Mediterranean region.
In a speech handed out yesterday, OLP’s CEO, Nikos Anastasopoulos commented on the board’s decision to approve this project, as well as the concession agreement signed with Cosco Pacific Singapore, which will take control of container piers II and III. As for container pier I, Mr. Anastasopoulos said that the terminal will increase its handling capacity to 1.1 million TEUs annually, an investment of 160 million euros. Further to that, pier II will see investments of 320 million euros, undertaken by Cosco. All together, the port is expected to more than triple its annual capacity from 1.5 million TEUs today, to about 4.7 million TEUs by the year 2015. At the same time, there is at least one major guaranteed client, which is of course the Cosco Group and its affiliates. The rail link which is to be completed soon will also help to make the port as a full transshipment hub, capable of competing for the cargoes of the Black Sea, said Mr. Anastasopoulos. He went on to give some details about the relative investments, already undertaken on in progress, by competing ports in the region. Port Said has increased its capacity by 2 million TEUs, Damietta by 2.8 million TEUs, Marsaxlokk by 1 million TEUs and Israel’s port of Haifa, also by 1 million TEUs, not to mention the neighboring ports of Turkey, which are also on the hunt for Black Sea cargoes.
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In a speech handed out yesterday, OLP’s CEO, Nikos Anastasopoulos commented on the board’s decision to approve this project, as well as the concession agreement signed with Cosco Pacific Singapore, which will take control of container piers II and III. As for container pier I, Mr. Anastasopoulos said that the terminal will increase its handling capacity to 1.1 million TEUs annually, an investment of 160 million euros. Further to that, pier II will see investments of 320 million euros, undertaken by Cosco. All together, the port is expected to more than triple its annual capacity from 1.5 million TEUs today, to about 4.7 million TEUs by the year 2015. At the same time, there is at least one major guaranteed client, which is of course the Cosco Group and its affiliates. The rail link which is to be completed soon will also help to make the port as a full transshipment hub, capable of competing for the cargoes of the Black Sea, said Mr. Anastasopoulos. He went on to give some details about the relative investments, already undertaken on in progress, by competing ports in the region. Port Said has increased its capacity by 2 million TEUs, Damietta by 2.8 million TEUs, Marsaxlokk by 1 million TEUs and Israel’s port of Haifa, also by 1 million TEUs, not to mention the neighboring ports of Turkey, which are also on the hunt for Black Sea cargoes.
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Indian pair for GeoGlobal
India has confirmed the award of 100% stakes in two new onshore exploration blocks to Calgary-based GeoGlobal Resources under the seventh round of its New Exploration Licensing Policy, which closed in June.
GeoGlobal said in a statement that the adjacent exploration blocks VN-1 and VN-2 covered 3776 and 4908 square kilometres respectively on the eastern Vindhyan basin in Madhya Pradesh state. GeoGlobal will operate both blocks. It said minimum work programmes under Production Sharing Contracts for both blocks would span two phases over eight years, with the first phase covering five years. As part of the first phase of exploration, the company said it had committed to gravity and geomagnetic surveys, geochemical sampling and the shooting of 50 square kilometres of 3D seismic surveys on each block, as well as the sinking of two exploratory wells respectively to a depth of 1700 metres each. It will also reprocess 255 kilometres of 2D seismic on the VN-1 block and 340 kilometres on the VN-2 block over the next five years, the company said. GeoGlobal said it expected the PSCs to be signed on 22 December in New Delhi.
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GeoGlobal said in a statement that the adjacent exploration blocks VN-1 and VN-2 covered 3776 and 4908 square kilometres respectively on the eastern Vindhyan basin in Madhya Pradesh state. GeoGlobal will operate both blocks. It said minimum work programmes under Production Sharing Contracts for both blocks would span two phases over eight years, with the first phase covering five years. As part of the first phase of exploration, the company said it had committed to gravity and geomagnetic surveys, geochemical sampling and the shooting of 50 square kilometres of 3D seismic surveys on each block, as well as the sinking of two exploratory wells respectively to a depth of 1700 metres each. It will also reprocess 255 kilometres of 2D seismic on the VN-1 block and 340 kilometres on the VN-2 block over the next five years, the company said. GeoGlobal said it expected the PSCs to be signed on 22 December in New Delhi.
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Oil slips under $47 after spike
Crude headed lower for the first time in three days today after jumping nearly $6 in the past two days as the Opec president called for more 'severe' production cuts at its meeting next week.
By 0018 GMT, crude for January delivery traded down $1.15 at $46.83 a barrel, after settling up $4.46, or 10.3%, yesterday in the biggest single-day percentage gain since 4 November. Crude prices have lost about $100 from a record peak of $147.27 scaled last summer as the global financial crisis hits consumer demand for fuel. The previous day's strong gains came after Opec President Chakib Khelil said in remarks published that Opec should agree on a more "severe" reduction in output at the 17 December meeting in Algeria. Traders are closely watching Opec for any more signals on what some analysts perceive to be a further 1 million to 2 million barrels per day output cut due at the group's meeting next week. There was no trading in London Brent crude after it settled up $4.99, or 11.8%, at $47.39 yesterday. The dollar fell broadly yesterday, hitting seven-week lows against the euro and yen, which also helped crude's gain. Support also came after Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said the country was ready to work with Opec on possible crude output. A prediction from the International Energy Agency that world oil demand growth would rebound in 2009 after shrinking this year for the first time since 1983 also helped the market. The IEA's view that demand will grow in 2009 contrasts with that of the US government's Energy Information Administration, which this week forecast consumption would fall by 450,000 barrels per day next year. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said the world's largest exporter pumped 8.49 million barrels per day of crude in November, less than estimated by analysts and in line with its Opec target. That would put the kingdom's output at 560,000 bpd less than the IEA's estimate of Saudi November production, published yesterday, of 9.05 million bpd, reported.
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By 0018 GMT, crude for January delivery traded down $1.15 at $46.83 a barrel, after settling up $4.46, or 10.3%, yesterday in the biggest single-day percentage gain since 4 November. Crude prices have lost about $100 from a record peak of $147.27 scaled last summer as the global financial crisis hits consumer demand for fuel. The previous day's strong gains came after Opec President Chakib Khelil said in remarks published that Opec should agree on a more "severe" reduction in output at the 17 December meeting in Algeria. Traders are closely watching Opec for any more signals on what some analysts perceive to be a further 1 million to 2 million barrels per day output cut due at the group's meeting next week. There was no trading in London Brent crude after it settled up $4.99, or 11.8%, at $47.39 yesterday. The dollar fell broadly yesterday, hitting seven-week lows against the euro and yen, which also helped crude's gain. Support also came after Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said the country was ready to work with Opec on possible crude output. A prediction from the International Energy Agency that world oil demand growth would rebound in 2009 after shrinking this year for the first time since 1983 also helped the market. The IEA's view that demand will grow in 2009 contrasts with that of the US government's Energy Information Administration, which this week forecast consumption would fall by 450,000 barrels per day next year. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said the world's largest exporter pumped 8.49 million barrels per day of crude in November, less than estimated by analysts and in line with its Opec target. That would put the kingdom's output at 560,000 bpd less than the IEA's estimate of Saudi November production, published yesterday, of 9.05 million bpd, reported.
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New Wartsila Office in South Korea
Wartsila's added to its presence in South Korea with the inauguration of its new service center and office in Eomgung, Busan, on Dec. 9.
By opening these premises, Wartsila will be able to centralize its business units in Korea, as Services, Ship Power, Power Plants and Industrial Operations, together with finance and administration, will eventually relocate to the new office. The new facility, located close to the new port in Busan, covers an area of 39,370 sq ft and will be fully operational by July 2009, by which time all workshop equipment will be in place. The global demand for Wartsila services in the ship power sector continues to grow. This growth is reflected in the increasing number of personnel employed by Wartsila in Korea. During 2008 alone, Wärtsilä's personnel in Korea has increased by more than 25% to about 350, with plans to further employ more than 70 people in the coming year. Most will be located at the new Eomgung facilities. Wartsila's involvement in Korea goes back to 1986 with the establishment of the Wartsila Korea Liaison Office, which organized License Agreements with SsangYong Heavy Industries for engine production under licence. Wärtsilä Korea Ltd was established in 1993. In May 2007, Wartsila opened its Land & Sea Academy in Busan, which was followed in September, 2007 by a new service centre at Incheon. The new centre now opening in Eomgung, Busan, will consolidate all of the Korean operations to better serve our customers. The new facility means that Wärtsilä now has four locations in the world's principal shipbuilding country.
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By opening these premises, Wartsila will be able to centralize its business units in Korea, as Services, Ship Power, Power Plants and Industrial Operations, together with finance and administration, will eventually relocate to the new office. The new facility, located close to the new port in Busan, covers an area of 39,370 sq ft and will be fully operational by July 2009, by which time all workshop equipment will be in place. The global demand for Wartsila services in the ship power sector continues to grow. This growth is reflected in the increasing number of personnel employed by Wartsila in Korea. During 2008 alone, Wärtsilä's personnel in Korea has increased by more than 25% to about 350, with plans to further employ more than 70 people in the coming year. Most will be located at the new Eomgung facilities. Wartsila's involvement in Korea goes back to 1986 with the establishment of the Wartsila Korea Liaison Office, which organized License Agreements with SsangYong Heavy Industries for engine production under licence. Wärtsilä Korea Ltd was established in 1993. In May 2007, Wartsila opened its Land & Sea Academy in Busan, which was followed in September, 2007 by a new service centre at Incheon. The new centre now opening in Eomgung, Busan, will consolidate all of the Korean operations to better serve our customers. The new facility means that Wärtsilä now has four locations in the world's principal shipbuilding country.
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HKSOA condemns Hebei Spirit appeal verdict
Seoul: The Hong Kong Shipowners' Association has added its voice to the various independent and international associations protesting the judgment and treatment of the officers of the Hebei Spirit.
Captain Jasprit Chawla (pictured right) and Chief Officer Syam Chetan (pictured left), were found guilty of criminal negligence for the Hebei Spirit oil spill and sentenced to 1.5 years and eight months imprisonment respectively by a South Korean court. The two were also fined 20m Korean Won ($14,000) and 10m Korean Won ($7,000) respectively.
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Captain Jasprit Chawla (pictured right) and Chief Officer Syam Chetan (pictured left), were found guilty of criminal negligence for the Hebei Spirit oil spill and sentenced to 1.5 years and eight months imprisonment respectively by a South Korean court. The two were also fined 20m Korean Won ($14,000) and 10m Korean Won ($7,000) respectively.
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