The CHART OF THE DAY shows how the number of LNG tankers sitting at anchor, the red line, has expanded in line with the world fleet, in white, indicating insufficient cargoes. "Some of these ships will remain long-term unemployed, for three or four years in the worst case," said Morten Frisch, senior partner at Morten Frisch Consulting, an East Horsley, U.K.-based consultant to the LNG industry. Algeria, Nigeria, Qatar, Indonesia, Egypt and Equatorial Guinea are leading cutbacks in LNG cargoes as demand weakens, JPMorgan Chase & Co. said in a report yesterday. LNG exports fell 5.5 percent to 24.1 billion cubic feet a day in January and February compared with a year earlier, the bank said. The plunge in business may encourage some owners to lease out their vessels for storage, Frisch said. Others may mothball ships, he said.
Read More
Thursday, April 30, 2009
LNG Tankers May Idle for Years as Fleet Expands
Some liquefied-natural-gas tankers may lie idle for years because too many are being built as the global recession erodes demand for the fuel.
OPEC, Asian officials call for curbs on oil speculation
CAIRO: OPEC and Asian energy officials called Sunday for new oil investments and tougher measures to combat speculation in crude markets that some have argued helped fuel last year's oil price spike.
The call came during a one-day energy meeting in Tokyo to discuss volatility in the world oil market. Officials are concerned about another price spike once the world emerges from the global recession. The slowdown has sharply eroded oil demand and driven crude prices down about 65 percent from mid-July levels of $147 per barrel.
Read More
The call came during a one-day energy meeting in Tokyo to discuss volatility in the world oil market. Officials are concerned about another price spike once the world emerges from the global recession. The slowdown has sharply eroded oil demand and driven crude prices down about 65 percent from mid-July levels of $147 per barrel.
Read More
Sirichai Fisheries embroiled in new legal battle
Senator Khun Wicharn Sirichai, the Managing Director of Sirichai Fisheries, Thailand, has exclusively released documentation of a legal case in which Indonesian authorities have accused a Thai-flagged trawler of illegal fishing in the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone to BairdMaritime.com.
Sirichai Fisheries was also the owner of the ‘Ekawatnava 5’, a vessel which was sunk in November 2008 in a dramatic explosion caused by the Indian Navy on the false presumption of it being a Somali pirate mother ship. According to documents released, the Thai-flagged trawler ‘Or. Sirichainava 18’ left Somali waters on February 2, 2009, and headed back to the Port of Samutsakhon Province, Thailand.By February 20, the vessel had arrived at the mouth of the Malacca Strait, and was, according to Sirichai, within the vessel’s rights to freedom of navigation, as stated by UNCLOS 1982.
Read More
Financial crisis affecting shipping safety performance
Oslo: Updated figures from DNV for 2008 show that losses from navigational accidents within the shipping industry are continuing to increase. This trend is also confirmed by the insurance industry which describes 2008 as a “black year for catastrophes”
DNV monitors the annual frequency of serious accidents. Over the past six years, there has been an increasing incidence of serious navigational accidents in several shipping segments. This is confirmed by leading insurance companies. Collisions, groundings and contact accidents now account for 60 per cent of the most costly accidents. Ola Skauge, Director of Client Services Norwegian Hull Club, said: “In the previous year we noticed a significant raise in claims frequency which hit ship owners and insurers hard. Now the financial crisis is battering us, adding even more challenges to the maritime industry. It is in these times responsible players emerge and investments in safety excellence are proven right. Norwegian Hull Club support the Class’ pro active efforts to send some warning signals, and we expect determined and long term ship owners to continue to focus on safety also amidst the financial turmoil. Cost cutting may be a necessary operational exercise, but cutting corners and losing safety focus will surely jeopardise a sustainable shipping industry.Read More
DNV monitors the annual frequency of serious accidents. Over the past six years, there has been an increasing incidence of serious navigational accidents in several shipping segments. This is confirmed by leading insurance companies. Collisions, groundings and contact accidents now account for 60 per cent of the most costly accidents. Ola Skauge, Director of Client Services Norwegian Hull Club, said: “In the previous year we noticed a significant raise in claims frequency which hit ship owners and insurers hard. Now the financial crisis is battering us, adding even more challenges to the maritime industry. It is in these times responsible players emerge and investments in safety excellence are proven right. Norwegian Hull Club support the Class’ pro active efforts to send some warning signals, and we expect determined and long term ship owners to continue to focus on safety also amidst the financial turmoil. Cost cutting may be a necessary operational exercise, but cutting corners and losing safety focus will surely jeopardise a sustainable shipping industry.
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding SWOT Analysis
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. completed a SWOT analysis company profile.
The report examines the company's key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy. Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (Mitsui) is engaged in manufacturing of ships, installing steel structures, construction of plants, and manufacturing of power electronics equipment. The company is also engaged in the information communication engineering business. The company primarily operates in Japan. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and employs about 9,900 people. The company recorded revenues of approximately $5,787.9m during the financial year ended March 2008 (FY2008), an increase of 5.8% over 2007. The operating profit of the company was approximately $317.1m during FY2008, an increase of 74.4% over 2007. Its net profit was approximately $145.4m in FY2008, a decrease of 14.7% over 2007.
Read More
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Ocean Services Expands Offshore Fleet
Ocean Services, a member of the Stabbert Maritime Group of Companies, has acquired the Ocean Carrier, an 279 ft X 59 ft deep-water construction vessel in order to expand their commercial fleet.
This new asset marks Stabbert Maritime’s strategic move toward deep-water construction including ROV support, saturation dive support, and core drilling operations. The Ocean Carrier is currently under complete rebuild at Stabbert Maritime’s satellite yard in Houston, Texas. The refit consists of installing a new Dynamic Positioning (DPII) Kongsberg control system, 200-ton crane, and high end interior package. The Ocean Carrier is set for completion on July 15th.
Read More
This new asset marks Stabbert Maritime’s strategic move toward deep-water construction including ROV support, saturation dive support, and core drilling operations. The Ocean Carrier is currently under complete rebuild at Stabbert Maritime’s satellite yard in Houston, Texas. The refit consists of installing a new Dynamic Positioning (DPII) Kongsberg control system, 200-ton crane, and high end interior package. The Ocean Carrier is set for completion on July 15th.
Read More
Philippines asks for ship escorts to fight pirates and protect its seafarers
Manila: The Philippines, the largest single provider of the world's seafarers, urged Pacific Rim transportation ministers Tuesday to aid its ships and sailors through pirate-infested Somali waters amid a slump in global trade.
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza appealed to officials from the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation addressing the menace of piracy to the world's merchant ships to provide armed escorts to Philippine ships, said Transportation Undersecretary Maria Elena Bautista.The Philippines supplies about 30 percent of the world's 1.2 million merchant sailors, and the Foreign Affairs Department says 81 Filipino seafarers are among Somali pirates' prisoners.A strengthened international naval force has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since the beginning of 2009 following a surge in hijackings in the area last year.The Philippines is in "Category E," which Bautista said is the lowest priority in receiving naval escorts near Somali waters."The appeal of Secretary Mendoza is for the Philippines to be given additional assistance because we have a lot of Filipinos serving in their vessels," she added.
Read More
Incat delivers new Dover-Boulogne fast ferry
Incat Australia has delivered a new 112-metre high-speed catamaran to France’s LD Lines.
The largest ever fast ferry to operate on the cross channel routes between England and France will enter service between Dover and Boulogne on May 29.‘MGC 66’ will be the first-ever freight-carrying, high-speed vessel to operate across the Dover Straits, and LD Lines will become the first-ever French ferry company to operate high-speed ferries on the short sea routes from Dover. The vessel is also the world’s largest diesel-powered catamaran and it is the first Incat 112-metre to operate in Europe.At nearly 11,000GT, the new craft is one of the largest vessels yet built by Incat.
Read More
Sinopec spuds Great Auk-1 in the Puffin field
DARWIN, AUSTRALIA: Sinopec has spudded the Great Auk-1 exploration well in the Puffin field of the Vulcan-Sub Basin in the Timor Sea off the coast of Australia.
Sinopec is using Seadrill jackup West Atlas to drill the well.Great Auk-1 has multiple targets, which the company previously referred to as Predator and Sea Eagle. More specifically the well is aiming for the Puffin K1a and Upper Vulcan structures, which are the primary and secondary targets, respectively, and possibly deeper sands.The exploration well is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Champagny-1 and 2.2 miles (3.5 km) southeast of Grebe-1. Drilling of the well is likely to take about 30 days, but may be extended subject to the results or the decision to drill deeper.
Read More
VLCC spot rates flat on MEG tonnage over-supply
The VLCC spot market has seen its second week of heightened activity on the back of May requirements, but current rates remain flat as charterers have the advantage of a lingering over-supply in tonnage avails, brokers tell Tankerworld.
Rates had finally climbed last week after a long decline, but levels remain the same this week with brokers reporting MEG-East voyages around WS 35 and MEG-West voyages around WS 25.The Atlantic market, however, saw a rise in rates on the back of increasing volumes used for floating storage which has put a slight squeeze on available VLCCs in the area.Brokers were reporting the benchmark Bonny-Loop route at WS 50 towards the end of last week, compared to WS 42 in the previous week “It's been another active week in the VLCC market as the May cargo program has come under-way in earnest. Ominously for owners, however, they have not been able to capitalise on this to any meaningful degree,” said Bassøe last Friday.
Read More
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tanker sector not looking good
Things are looking quite bleak for the tanker sector, which has been caught in duldrums during the first quarter of the year.
Tanker owners have to cope with multiple negative factors, which are dragging rates downwards. Low oil demand and production are the main reasons, but this is not the only reason of concern. Perhaps the most dangerous issue to be dealt is the tanker fleet's potential growth. Gibson's latest report highlights this danger exactly. Indeed, analysts said that if tanker rates plunged, then owners would be looking for ways to dispose, renegotiate and postpone their shipyard contracts. Gibson said that as “one would expect, to date the drybulk market has seen the most cancellations, bu relatively few have emerged in either the crude or the clean petroleum products sectors. Perhaps, this is because the tanker market has only recently experienced the squeeze in rates already encountered in other sectors. However, we do anticipate more cancellations as the pressure intensifies on the market. What can confuse the issue is when owners cancel orders for legitimate contract violations, such as lack of refund guarantees or late delivery, but the shipyard announces that they intend to complete the vessel anyway”.
Read More
Tanker owners have to cope with multiple negative factors, which are dragging rates downwards. Low oil demand and production are the main reasons, but this is not the only reason of concern. Perhaps the most dangerous issue to be dealt is the tanker fleet's potential growth. Gibson's latest report highlights this danger exactly. Indeed, analysts said that if tanker rates plunged, then owners would be looking for ways to dispose, renegotiate and postpone their shipyard contracts. Gibson said that as “one would expect, to date the drybulk market has seen the most cancellations, bu relatively few have emerged in either the crude or the clean petroleum products sectors. Perhaps, this is because the tanker market has only recently experienced the squeeze in rates already encountered in other sectors. However, we do anticipate more cancellations as the pressure intensifies on the market. What can confuse the issue is when owners cancel orders for legitimate contract violations, such as lack of refund guarantees or late delivery, but the shipyard announces that they intend to complete the vessel anyway”.
Read More
Coral Triangle Initiative seeks funds for coral reef preservation
The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) is planning to set aside US$250 million for the preservation of reefs in the Coral Triangle, which is home to over 50 percent of the world’s coral reefs.
Countries in the CTI are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Solomon Islands. Leaders of CTI countries will attend a CTI Summit in Manado on May 15.
Read More
Countries in the CTI are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Solomon Islands. Leaders of CTI countries will attend a CTI Summit in Manado on May 15.
Read More
Canaveral Creates Seaport Police Department
Joseph Hellebrand, a 30-year law enforcement veteran, will serve as chief of the newly created Port Canaveral Police Department.
The Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners established the department late last year as culmination of a four-year initiative to enhance public safety at the world’s second busiest cruise port and Central Florida’s outlet to the sea.“The formation of the Police Department is simply the next step in the evolution of public safety at Port Canaveral in the aftermath of 9/11 and the increased demands of both federal and state laws and regulations,” said Port CEO Stan Payne.
Read More
The Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners established the department late last year as culmination of a four-year initiative to enhance public safety at the world’s second busiest cruise port and Central Florida’s outlet to the sea.“The formation of the Police Department is simply the next step in the evolution of public safety at Port Canaveral in the aftermath of 9/11 and the increased demands of both federal and state laws and regulations,” said Port CEO Stan Payne.
Read More
EC ready to crack down on illegal fishing in Somali
The European Commissioner for fisheries, Joe Borg, has said that the EC would investigate and take action against any European boats or European-owned companies flying flags of convenience if caught engaging in illegal fishing off Somali coasts.
Mr Borg’s comments were made in response to a statement by Abdirahman Ibbi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of the new Somali national unity government in which Mr Ibbi said that an estimated 220 foreign-owned vessels were engaged in unlicensed and illegal waters in Somali waters. Mr Ibbi said that most of the vessels were of European origin.
Read More
PLA Navy kicks off 60th anniversary celebrations
China: The People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently held a grand ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of its navy.
Twenty-nine naval delegations from all over the world attended the event on April 20 off the coast of the eastern city of Qingdao. PLA Navy Commander Admiral Wu Shengli announced the start of festivities, which included seminars, a sampan race and a fleet parade. A total of 21 naval vessels from 14 other countries then joined in a naval parade. There were 21 warships including destroyers, escort ships, patrol vessels, landing vessels and supply ships.
Read More
Monday, April 27, 2009
CMA CGM flagship vessel calls at Hamburg
The new flagship of French shipping company CMA CGM has recently docked at the Port of Hamburg, Germany.
With a slot capacity of 11,356TEU and 800 connections for reefer containers, the 363-metre ‘CMA CGM Andromeda’ is the biggest container ship to have been handled at the Port of Hamburg to date. According to CMA CGM, the flagship vessel uses six percent less fuel than comparable ships. Its design moreover incorporates a number of technical innovations including an environmentally-friendly method of oil recovery. ‘CMA CGM Andromeda’ is being deployed on the company’s French Asia Line 1 (FAL 1) service between Asia and Europe. With a load carrying capacity of 135,000 tonnes, the ship has a maximum draught of 15.5 metres.Read More
With a slot capacity of 11,356TEU and 800 connections for reefer containers, the 363-metre ‘CMA CGM Andromeda’ is the biggest container ship to have been handled at the Port of Hamburg to date. According to CMA CGM, the flagship vessel uses six percent less fuel than comparable ships. Its design moreover incorporates a number of technical innovations including an environmentally-friendly method of oil recovery. ‘CMA CGM Andromeda’ is being deployed on the company’s French Asia Line 1 (FAL 1) service between Asia and Europe. With a load carrying capacity of 135,000 tonnes, the ship has a maximum draught of 15.5 metres.
Maersk builds green container ships
A completely new design will reduce the discharge of CO2 from the future container ships of Maersk Line by up to 22 per cent.
The new design will be tested on a series of 16 container ships that Maersk Line is building in South Korea. "We want A.P. Moller-Maersk to be leading in the development of a more environment friendly shipping. That is why we are seizing the moment, now that the Asian shipyards are in need of orders and therefore are willing to go far to fulfil the wishes of shipping companies, to put considerable focus on initiative, which can reduce fuel expenditure and thereby reduce CO2 discharge", says Bo Cerup-Simonsen, vice president of Maersk Maritime Techonology at A.P. Moller-Maersk's technical organisation, to business.dkThe additional cost of the new 16 ships is approx. 15 pct. more compared to a standard container ship of 7.450 TEU.The 16 container ships, which from the beginning of 2010 will sail Maersk's container services South America - Europe and South America - Asia, make their fuel savings from a series of small initiatives on different parts of the ship.
Read More
The new design will be tested on a series of 16 container ships that Maersk Line is building in South Korea. "We want A.P. Moller-Maersk to be leading in the development of a more environment friendly shipping. That is why we are seizing the moment, now that the Asian shipyards are in need of orders and therefore are willing to go far to fulfil the wishes of shipping companies, to put considerable focus on initiative, which can reduce fuel expenditure and thereby reduce CO2 discharge", says Bo Cerup-Simonsen, vice president of Maersk Maritime Techonology at A.P. Moller-Maersk's technical organisation, to business.dkThe additional cost of the new 16 ships is approx. 15 pct. more compared to a standard container ship of 7.450 TEU.The 16 container ships, which from the beginning of 2010 will sail Maersk's container services South America - Europe and South America - Asia, make their fuel savings from a series of small initiatives on different parts of the ship.
Read More
Poseidon-1 flirts with ConocoPhillips
The Poseidon-1 exploration well in WA-315-P in the Browse Basin off Western Australia has unveiled more hydrocarbon shows for ConocoPhillips and Karoon Gas.
Since penetrating the top of the Middle Jurassic Plover Formation and intersecting a 10 metre sand that was interpreted to contain hydrocarbons late last week, the well has hit two additional hydrocarbon-bearing intervals of 67 metres and more than 114 metres. Karoon said the base of the lowermost interval had yet to be penetrated as of early this morning, adding that the shows would be evaluated further by analysis of all data on completion of drilling and wireline logging. Poseidon-1, which is being drilled by the Sedco-703 semi-submersible rig, is the first well of a six-well drilling program being carried out by the joint venture in WA-314-P, WA-315-P and WA-398-P.
Read More
Upgrading NCS Installations
A total of 21 production shutdowns are planned by StatoilHydro on the Norwegian continental shelf during 2009.
This extensive work program aims to achieve safer and more efficient facilities. In addition to required maintenance and inspection, many installations will be upgraded to expand capacity, implement technical improvements and extend their economic life. All this will be accomplished during the planned shutdowns, which are known in oil jargon as turnarounds. Compared with 2008, when 26 shutdowns involved 270,000 work-hours in all, this year’s program involves fewer but larger operations. Some 313,000 hours are due to be worked. Involving the group’s own personnel as well as contractor employees along the whole coast, the turnarounds will be completed by 1 October because of gas delivery commitments and weather.
Read More
Clarkson: “recession in the mind, not its pocketbook”
London: Shipping today, although supposedly in deep crisis, is in reality still wallowing in cash after one of the best years in its history.
This is the conclusion of Martin Stopford, Clarkson’s research boss, writing in the firm’s latest weekly report. Although the Clarksea index hit a new all-time low of $7,500 a few days ago, the last 12 months is still one of the most profitable on record. Since its peak - $50,381 a day last May, the index has lost about $1,000 each week. However, the 12-month rolling average of the index, which covers the tanker, bulk carrier, gas and containership sectors and is therefore a good reflection of the industry generally, is still at $26,000 a day, admittedly down from its 2008 peak of $38,950, but still not far below the previous all-time peak of $30,000 in May 2005. “From a financial point of view, these numbers tell us that recession is in the industry’s mind, not its pocketbook,” Stopford says.
Read More
This is the conclusion of Martin Stopford, Clarkson’s research boss, writing in the firm’s latest weekly report. Although the Clarksea index hit a new all-time low of $7,500 a few days ago, the last 12 months is still one of the most profitable on record. Since its peak - $50,381 a day last May, the index has lost about $1,000 each week. However, the 12-month rolling average of the index, which covers the tanker, bulk carrier, gas and containership sectors and is therefore a good reflection of the industry generally, is still at $26,000 a day, admittedly down from its 2008 peak of $38,950, but still not far below the previous all-time peak of $30,000 in May 2005. “From a financial point of view, these numbers tell us that recession is in the industry’s mind, not its pocketbook,” Stopford says.
Read More
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Northrop Grumman Delivers USS Makin Island
Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Shipbuilding sector delivered to the U.S. Navy on April 16, one of the nation's newest and most advanced ships, the amphibious-assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) during a short ceremony held on the vessel's flight deck.
Makin Island (LHD 8) was delivered to the U.S. Navy after successfully completing acceptance sea trials. Acceptance trials are conducted to allow representatives of the U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey to witness and evaluate operation of ship systems and ship performance. Makin Island is the eighth USS Wasp (LHD 1)-class amphibious assault ship built by the company's shipbuilders in Pascagoula, Miss. It is 844 ft long, 106 ft wide and weighs 42,800 tons. Its 70,000 horsepower hybrid propulsion system will drive it to speeds in excess of 20 knots. Makin Island contains the first gas turbine/electric-powered propulsion system ever used on large deck amphibious assault ships. The gas turbine engines and electric drive, a change from previous steam-powered amphibious-assault ships, will provide significant life-cycle savings in manpower and maintenance costs over the previous ships.
Read More
No news may be good news for UK shipping
The 2009 UK Budget did not include any measures, which significantly affected the shipping sector.
This could be regarded as good news for the industry, accountant Moore Stephens said. Although the government had been asked to make changes to UK tonnage tax, the 2009 Budget made no mention of it. Moore Stephens tax partner Sue Bill said; “Possible changes to the tonnage tax regime could have included an amendment to the EU flagging rules excluding ships timechartered into the fleet, and clarification of the position with regard to the changes proposed in January 2008 which were later withdrawn. But these are complex issues to resolve as they depend on agreement with the European Commission. “In the current economic climate, it is not surprising that the relatively minor change to the tonnage tax regime which has been requested has not been made, and that the UK government’s position has not been clarified. Companies in the shipping sector may in any case have more pressing financial concerns at the moment. And, overall, the fact that there is not a great deal of specific interest for the shipping sector might be regarded as good news, because the taxation regime at least continues to be reasonably stable,“ she concluded.
Read More
Talisman pursues Cuu Long Basin field development project
HANOI: A state-run Vietnamese newspaper reports that Calgary-based Talisman Energy Inc. (NYSE: TLM) will spend about US$1.1 billion to develop the Hai Su Trang and Hai Su Den offshore oil fields.
The fields in offshore block 15-2/01 in the Cuu Long Basin will go into production in the third quarter of 2011, according to joint venture partner Petrovietnam. Talisman holds a 60 percent interest in Block 15-2/01 and in the Thang Long joint operating company which operates the block.In 2008, the Vietnamese government approved reserves assessments for the Hai Su Trang and Hai Su Den fields. The joint operating company drilled two successful and one unsuccessful exploration wells in the block. A declaration of commerciality occurred early in 2009. A development plan is expected to be sanctioned this year.Earlier this year, Talisman revealed plans to spend approximately US$189 million in Vietnam in 2009, with US$99 million directed to development spending. Talisman plans to drill an appraisal/development well in the basement structure of Block 15-2/01 and two exploration wells to test additional prospects in the block. The company will also participate in three development wells.
Read More
Beibu Gulf Port unites three Gulf of Tonkin ports
The Guangxi Autonomous Region, located in southwestern China, has unified three sea ports, Fangcheng, Qinzhou and Beihai into one port under a single name.
The three are located along the Beibu Gulf, also known as the Gulf of Tonkin, and will now operate under the name Beibu Gulf Port. Ye Shixiang, Director of the Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group, said unifying the ports would enhance competitiveness and strengthen their ability to reduce market risk.
Read More
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Jeppesen Marine Introduces New Enhancements for Vessel and Voyage Optimization Solution
Latest VVOS Release Offers Seamless Integration with Jeppesen Marine C-Map Worldwide Cartography for Improved Navigation Safety
ENGLEWOOD, COLO., April 23, 2009 – The latest version of Jeppesen Marine Vessel and Voyage Optimization Solution (VVOS), released this month, offers seamless integration with its worldwide C-Map electronic chart database. The C-Map cartography integration enables a user to perform a quick visual safe navigation check of VVOS route alternatives to ensure the recommended route is safe and does not encounter any hazards to navigation. Once the safety check is completed and the VVOS operational route selected, a user can export the passage plan to an ECDIS or INS for execution.
Read More
Shipyards deliver rigs Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1, PetroRig I
ULSAN, SOUTH KOREA: Transocean drillship Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 was delivered on April 22 from Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard.
The rig is undergoing acceptance testing in South Korea before going to work for Reliance Industries offshore India.Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 will be equipped to work in water depths of up to 12,000 feet (3,657 m), and will outfitted to construct wells up to 35,000 feet (10,688 m) deep. The rig is Transocean's first ultra-deepwater drillship owned by its joint venture with Pacific Drilling. Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 was formerly Deepwater Pacific 1. In October 2007, Transocean announced that a subsidiary exercised its option to purchase a 50 percent interest in a joint venture company with Pacific Drilling, which owns the drillship.Meanwhile, newbuild semisubmersible PetroRig I, which was delivered April 14 from Jurong Shipyard in Singapore, is in port completing remaining punchlist items. The rig will then head to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for Petrobras for a five-year contract with an option to extend for another five years. The contract begins this July.Read More
The rig is undergoing acceptance testing in South Korea before going to work for Reliance Industries offshore India.Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 will be equipped to work in water depths of up to 12,000 feet (3,657 m), and will outfitted to construct wells up to 35,000 feet (10,688 m) deep. The rig is Transocean's first ultra-deepwater drillship owned by its joint venture with Pacific Drilling. Dhirubhai Deepwater KG1 was formerly Deepwater Pacific 1. In October 2007, Transocean announced that a subsidiary exercised its option to purchase a 50 percent interest in a joint venture company with Pacific Drilling, which owns the drillship.Meanwhile, newbuild semisubmersible PetroRig I, which was delivered April 14 from Jurong Shipyard in Singapore, is in port completing remaining punchlist items. The rig will then head to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for Petrobras for a five-year contract with an option to extend for another five years. The contract begins this July.
Government document intimates focus on five big Korean yards
Seoul: The internal document, which reported that the South Korean government has determined that the optimum number of shipyards in the country is "five major builders," has been made public. causing quite a stir, the Kaiji Press reports.
There are currently seven companies in South Korea that are considered to be large-scale shipyards, so the speculation has grown that the government is drawing the blueprint for the withdrawal of two yards from the market.
Read More
There are currently seven companies in South Korea that are considered to be large-scale shipyards, so the speculation has grown that the government is drawing the blueprint for the withdrawal of two yards from the market.
Read More
Titan Salvage Caps Busy First Quarter
With the arrival of calmer springtime weather, Titan Salvage has resumed wreck removal operations in Gibraltar on the New Flame following a busy first quarter in which the company responded to eight salvage opportunities.
Among them were the re-floating of the bulk carrier Fedra's forward section in Gibraltar, the re-floating of a general cargo vessel grounded on environmentally-sensitive coral reefs of southern Belize; and the safe delivery of a tank ship involved in a collision and fire off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The work performed during the first three months of 2009 was illustrative of Titan’s diverse technical expertise and worldwide service capabilities, said Dan Schwall, Titan’s managing director. As Titan personnel were preparing to suspend operations for the winter on the New Flame wreck removal in Gibraltar in late 2008, they were called upon to assist in the cliff-top rescue of crewmembers from the bulk carrier Fedra, which had run aground during an unprecedented storm and was pinned to the base of a cliff just below the Europa Point lighthouse. All crewmembers were saved and Titan was later contracted to remove the forward section of the wreck and accommodation unit.
Read More
Among them were the re-floating of the bulk carrier Fedra's forward section in Gibraltar, the re-floating of a general cargo vessel grounded on environmentally-sensitive coral reefs of southern Belize; and the safe delivery of a tank ship involved in a collision and fire off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The work performed during the first three months of 2009 was illustrative of Titan’s diverse technical expertise and worldwide service capabilities, said Dan Schwall, Titan’s managing director. As Titan personnel were preparing to suspend operations for the winter on the New Flame wreck removal in Gibraltar in late 2008, they were called upon to assist in the cliff-top rescue of crewmembers from the bulk carrier Fedra, which had run aground during an unprecedented storm and was pinned to the base of a cliff just below the Europa Point lighthouse. All crewmembers were saved and Titan was later contracted to remove the forward section of the wreck and accommodation unit.
Read More
Chinese company wins Brazilian port dredging contract
China’s Shanghai Dredging Company (SDC) has become the leading shareholder in a consortium that won a US$90.25 million contract to dredge the Port of Santos in Brazil from 13 metres down to 15 metres.
The contract stipulates that some 13.62 million cubic metres of sediment will need to be removed from the Santos channel to get the new depth down to 15 metres, so as to allow next-generation vessels to arrive. When this project is completed, the maximum size of a containership that will be able to berth will be 9,000TEU, against the current 5,000TEU. The Port of Santos said that this would be a tremendous boost to carriers such as NYK, K Line, MOL, and Evergreen, all of which have a strong presence in international trade in Brazil.
Read More
Friday, April 24, 2009
DNV calls for improved safety performance in shipping
The global economic crisis is affecting shipping safety performance warns DNV director Bjorn Tore Markussen in Singapore. “More needs to be done on safety training to combat this trend.
"Speaking at the Singapore Maritime Week event, Mr Markussen, who heads DNV Maritime Solutions in Singapore, told the conference audience that over the past six years there has been an increasing incidence of serious navigational accidents in several shipping segments. With more lines switching to “cost-cutting culture,” Mr Markussen is worried about the global economic crisis and the impact it will have on safety performance. “Our research shows that losses from navigational accidents are continuing to increase in frequency and costs, a trend that is also confirmed by the insurance industry which describes 2008 as a ‘black year,’ says Mr Markussen.
Read More
"Speaking at the Singapore Maritime Week event, Mr Markussen, who heads DNV Maritime Solutions in Singapore, told the conference audience that over the past six years there has been an increasing incidence of serious navigational accidents in several shipping segments. With more lines switching to “cost-cutting culture,” Mr Markussen is worried about the global economic crisis and the impact it will have on safety performance. “Our research shows that losses from navigational accidents are continuing to increase in frequency and costs, a trend that is also confirmed by the insurance industry which describes 2008 as a ‘black year,’ says Mr Markussen.
Read More
Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Research and IHS Global Insight to host global market trend webinar
Lloyd’s Register - Fairplay Research and IHS Global Insight will host a free Webinar to address how the current economic climate is impacting the shipping industry.
The Webinar will be held on Monday, April 28, 2009 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT (16:00-17:00 GMT).Experts from Lloyd’s Register - Fairplay Research and IHS Global Insight will discuss possible scenarios that could alleviate or prolong current market conditions, present the latest global and regional trade demand outlook, as well as current and expected supply-side conditions.
Read More
T&T Bisso refloats inland barge
NEW ORLEANS: T&T Bisso has salvaged a 2,000-ton inland barge rig capsized by Hurricane Gustav in southern Louisiana last year.
T&T Bisso's salvage engineers designed a method to right and refloat the inland barge using four derrick barges and a pull barge. T&T Bisso President and CEO W.A. Bisso IV said the rig sustained minimal damage from the hurricane, meaning the company needed to take extreme care in salvaging the barge to mitigate any further damage.The four derrick barges, the 700-ton D/B Cappy Bisso, 600-ton D/B Lili Bisso, 550-ton D/B Big T and the 260-ton D/B Ajax, were positioned around the inland barge to each apply around 250 tons of force.To support the derrick barges, the crane barge Bayou Chief was outfitted with two 600-ton pulling block sets. Crews connected the pulling blocks to the dry side of the rig and, in concert with the lifting derrick barges, righted the rig from the capsized position. The derrick barges then were reconfigured to help in the pumping process to lift the deck of the drill rig above the water. The rig was refloated at the site and safely towed to its owner's base.
Read More
T&T Bisso's salvage engineers designed a method to right and refloat the inland barge using four derrick barges and a pull barge. T&T Bisso President and CEO W.A. Bisso IV said the rig sustained minimal damage from the hurricane, meaning the company needed to take extreme care in salvaging the barge to mitigate any further damage.The four derrick barges, the 700-ton D/B Cappy Bisso, 600-ton D/B Lili Bisso, 550-ton D/B Big T and the 260-ton D/B Ajax, were positioned around the inland barge to each apply around 250 tons of force.To support the derrick barges, the crane barge Bayou Chief was outfitted with two 600-ton pulling block sets. Crews connected the pulling blocks to the dry side of the rig and, in concert with the lifting derrick barges, righted the rig from the capsized position. The derrick barges then were reconfigured to help in the pumping process to lift the deck of the drill rig above the water. The rig was refloated at the site and safely towed to its owner's base.
Read More
Drydocks World Delivers Multi-purpose OCV
Drydocks World, the global maritime arm of Dubai World, announced the delivery of OSA Goliath, one of the world’s largest multi-purpose OCVs at its Drydocks World – Pertama yard on April 23.
OSA Goliath is built for Coastline Maritime, a prominent Singapore-based group with a 30-year history of vessel ownership design, construction and operation. The vessel dimensions are 590.5 ft by 105 ft by 39.5 ft and 22,000 dwt. It is equipped with DP-3 and a 2,000-tonne crane to install offshore platforms and pipelines in deep waters. In addition to OSA Goliath, Coastline has a similar vessel, Samson, currently under construction at the same shipyard, scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2010.Terry Highlands, CEO of Coastline Maritime said, “Our ships, constructed at Drydocks World – Pertama yard, are the world’s largest multi-purpose offshore construction vessels. The projects could not have been realized without the focus on high safety standards, technical expertise and teamwork evident at the yard.”
Read More
Remontowa delivers new LNG/LPG carrier
Poland: Gdansk Shiprepair Yard (Remontowa) has recently delivered a 117.8-metre LNG/LEG/LPG carrier.
The 7,500-cubic metre 'Coral Methane' was designed as a two-grade cargo vessel for the simultaneous transportation of two cargoes, one cooled and one uncooled. It is intended for the transportation of liquefied gases with a maximum cargo density of 0.65 tonnes per cubic metre in two independent cylindrical type-C tanks, located in separate compartments. The vessel is suitable to carry methane (LNG), ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, butylene and butene.Read More
The 7,500-cubic metre 'Coral Methane' was designed as a two-grade cargo vessel for the simultaneous transportation of two cargoes, one cooled and one uncooled. It is intended for the transportation of liquefied gases with a maximum cargo density of 0.65 tonnes per cubic metre in two independent cylindrical type-C tanks, located in separate compartments. The vessel is suitable to carry methane (LNG), ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, butylene and butene.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Aker Philadelphia launches 7th product tanker
USA: Aker Philadelphia Shipyard launched the seventh in a series of twelve product tankers to be completed by 2011 yesterday (April 21).
When completed, the 182.8-metre-long vessel will be sold to American Shipping Company and bareboat chartered to OSG America for use transporting petroleum products.The 46,000DWT vessel was floated off of its blocks late in the morning on Friday (April 17), and was transferred by tug from the building dock to the outfitting dock on Saturday (April 18), where it will remain for the next few weeks as it undergoes testing and commissioning in preparation for sea trials next month.
Read More
Sunreef Hull Completed
Most of the aluminium hull construction of one of the largest luxury catamarans in the world, the Sunreef 114, has been completed at Sunreef Yachts of Poland.
This 31 ton, 114 ft lopng hull was turned and repositioned inside the shed so that the hull structure can be straightened and the next phase of the building process can be started. At present, a number of construction tasks are being performed simultaneously: the fly-bridge is being built and will be shortly assembled with the hulls, the construction of interior furniture has now started and all final aluminium fitting-out is being done. Once the fly-bridge is fixed on the hulls the insulation of the accommodation area in both hulls will start. Floor support construction and the first electrical systems will follow next. After that, all furniture will be installed and general finishing work will be completed. Sunreef 114 is scheduled to be launched in winter 2009.
Read More
Grandweld delivers new 41-metre crewboat
Dubai-based shipbuilding, ship repair and conversion company, Grandweld, has recently delivered the sixth 41-metre crew boat to offshore oil and gas industry fleet operator, Stanford Marine.
“These vessels have the speed, cargo capacity and endurance that make them desirable for charter by our clients,” said Stanford Marine General Manager Sumit Gupta.“With the expansion of offshore oil and gas facilities in recent years, these new vessels are key to meeting our business requirements.” The vessel carries 45 tonnes of deck cargo and has a maximum speed of 24 knots. The design was carried out by the Grandweld Engineering Department using Autoship and ShipConstructor software to ensure optimal performance. This involved a complete 3D computer model being made for hull, structural and machinery systems.
Read More
NYK Ship management enhances seafarer competence
Singapore: NYK Ship management is to implement a crew appraisal and training system developed together with DNV.
Under the agreement, DNV will verify and certify NYK Shipmanagement’s competence management system based on a set of Officer Competence Standards developed by the two companies, and in compliance with specifications from the Society of International Gas Tankers (SIGTTO) and Terminal Operators and the Tanker Officer Training Standards (TOTS) from Intertanko. “The initial contract is for verification and certification of the competence management system for operation of our tankers managed by NYK Shipmanagement Singapore,” says Hemant Pathania, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of NYK Shipmanagement, Singapore. “It is expected that this will lead to verification and certification of other vessels managed by NYK Shipmanagement.”NYK Shipmanagement aims to deploy the system on all of its 24 tankers by September this year and then move on to its entire managed fleet of 104 ships.The competence management system, facilitated by DNV SeaSkill, will enable NYK Shipmanagement to systematically examine crew tasks, work tools, operating environment, officer’s mental well being, training and experience and communication across different vessel types.
Read More
Market for new floating production systems 'frozen'
WASHINGTON: The market for new floating production systems has frozen as a result of the abrupt downturn in the global economy, according to a new study by Washington-based International Maritime Associates (IMA).
Over the past quarter, no orders have been placed for floating production units, marking the first time this has occurred since 1996 when IMA began tracking the floating production sector.As a result, order backlog for production floaters has dropped 30 percent from the same time last year, according to IMA's analysis. However, IMA concludes the downturn appears temporary and the long term outlook for the production floater sector remains very strong. Long term fundamentals have not changed and energy demand is expected to continue to grow over the next several decades.In addition, IMA's researchers believe the futures market is indicating that oil will return to a US$70 per barrel level within three years and US$80 per barrel within eight years. While the immediate price of oil impacts cash available for investment, the expected price provides the basis for measuring project merit.
Read More
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Pirates release ship for 'ransom'
Somali pirates have released a Togo-flagged cargo ship seized last week, reportedly after a $100,000 (£68,000) ransom was paid.
The 5,000-tonne Lebanese-owned MV Sea Horse was taken by gunmen in several skiffs on 14 April east of Mogadishu. The ship had been heading to Mumbai, India, to pick up food aid for Somalia. Nineteen foreign vessels and more than 300 sailors remain in the hands of Somali pirates, who have stepped up attacks on shipping in recent weeks. About three million people - half the Somali population - need assistance, donors say. "Somali traders were involved in the release of this ship. They mediated and paid some money. I think it was not more than $100,000," a source told Reuters news agency by telephone.
Read More
StatoilHydro to use Island Constructor to install pipe
OSLO: StatoilHydro has received consent from Norway's Petroleum Safety Authority to install conductor pipes with Island Offshore construction vessel Island Constructor at well 35/2-2 on production licenses 318 and 269, which is being drilled by semi submersible Transocean Winner.
For the pipe installation, StatoilHydro has been granted an exemption from the requirement that mobile facilities conducting petroleum activities on the Norwegian Shelf must have an acknowledgement of compliance. The exemption is valid from April 10 to 31 May 31, 2009.From a risk-based approach, the Petroleum Safety Authority accepted a simplified solution from StatoilHydro for the limited activity at the well. The agency assumed that the restrictions and compensating measures described in the information received from StatoilHydro are complied with or implemented.
Forthcoming BIMCO president not in favour of arming crews against pirates
Singapore: The president designate of ship owner body BIMCO has voiced his opposition to growing calls to arm crews in the escalating fight against pirates.
Robert Lorenz-Meyer, speaking at a press conference after the opening session of the Sea Asia Conference at Suntec City in Singapore was firmly of the opinion that arming crews merely serves to increase the potential for violence.
Read More
Robert Lorenz-Meyer, speaking at a press conference after the opening session of the Sea Asia Conference at Suntec City in Singapore was firmly of the opinion that arming crews merely serves to increase the potential for violence.
Read More
Short-Sea Shipping on European Waterways
While there is much talk of short-sea shipping in North America, many would say that trucks still receive much more infrastructure support.
However in Europe there is a greater acceptance and encouragement to use the inland waterways to move, not only bulk cargos, but shipping containers as well. Recently the de Roeck family took delivery of a 443 ft by 46.5 ft container vessel. With a depth of 13 ft and a telescoping wheel house the MS Isabelle is capable of handling five layers of containers. For visibility over the containers, the wheelhouse can extend to nine meters when the vessel is fully loaded. Home ported in Brecht the hull of the Belgium-flagged vessel was built in the Russian Astrachan Plant and finished at the Veka Shipbuilding BV at Werkendam the Netherlands. Propulsion power is provided by a pair of EU Stage IIIa and EPA Tier 2 compliant Cummins QSK50-M engines each delivering 1600 hp at 1800 RPM. The vessel also has dual Cummins-powered 560 hp bow thrusters and a Cummins 4BT3.9-G4 powered genset.
Read More
First vessel under the Danish flag
Nordic Tankers new LR1 product tanker Nordic Anne becomes the company's first vessel to sail under the Danish flag.
The tanker was delivered from the Chinese shipyard New Times Shipbuilding on Tuesday.Nordic Anne was ordered in 2006, is a 73,500 dwt tanker with 12 cargo tanks of about 83,000 cubic metres for refined oil products. The vessel will be included in TORM's LR1 pool. "The fact that Nordic Anne is going to sail under the Danish flag reflects our appreciation of the great effort made by the Danish authorities for the shipping industry in Denmark. We expect that other Nordic Tankers vessels are going to operate under the Danish flag in the years to come", says Chairman Klaus Kjærulff. Two more vessels are scheduled for delivery in the coming months: The handy-size vessels Nordic Agnetha and Amy, which Nordic Tankers co-owns with its business partner Zacchello Group, Italy. These two vessels will be included in Maersk Tankers' Handytankers pool.
The tanker was delivered from the Chinese shipyard New Times Shipbuilding on Tuesday.Nordic Anne was ordered in 2006, is a 73,500 dwt tanker with 12 cargo tanks of about 83,000 cubic metres for refined oil products. The vessel will be included in TORM's LR1 pool. "The fact that Nordic Anne is going to sail under the Danish flag reflects our appreciation of the great effort made by the Danish authorities for the shipping industry in Denmark. We expect that other Nordic Tankers vessels are going to operate under the Danish flag in the years to come", says Chairman Klaus Kjærulff. Two more vessels are scheduled for delivery in the coming months: The handy-size vessels Nordic Agnetha and Amy, which Nordic Tankers co-owns with its business partner Zacchello Group, Italy. These two vessels will be included in Maersk Tankers' Handytankers pool.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
“Asian customer” signs up for PNG gas
Sydney: The Exxon Mobil-led PNG LNG liquefied natural gas joint venture in Papua New Guinea has reached agreement on the key terms of an agreement with an unnamed Asian customer, project participant Oil Search told Dow Jones Tuesday.
Oil Search, which also reported an expected fall in first quarter production and revenue on a lower oil price, said the "major Asian customer" has agreed to buy two million tons of LNG each year from the project.The agreement is awaiting government regulatory approval, Oil Search said.Significant progress has been made with other customers and it's expected that additional heads of agreement will be signed "in the near term", Oil Search said in a statement.Oil Search produced 1.9 barrels of oil equivalent in the three months to March 31, down from 2.2 million on-year. It stuck to its annual guidance of producing 8.0-8.3 million BOE in 2009.
Read More
Oil Search, which also reported an expected fall in first quarter production and revenue on a lower oil price, said the "major Asian customer" has agreed to buy two million tons of LNG each year from the project.The agreement is awaiting government regulatory approval, Oil Search said.Significant progress has been made with other customers and it's expected that additional heads of agreement will be signed "in the near term", Oil Search said in a statement.Oil Search produced 1.9 barrels of oil equivalent in the three months to March 31, down from 2.2 million on-year. It stuck to its annual guidance of producing 8.0-8.3 million BOE in 2009.
Read More
Deep Sea Supply takes delivery of Sea Eagle 1
SINGAPORE: Offshore supply company Deep Sea Supply has taken delivery of Sea Eagle 1, a 12,000 BHP anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel from Jaya Shipbuilding & Engineering in Singapore.
Deep Sea Supply has a 15-month firm bareboat charter agreement with vessel owners Java Marine Lines and has secured a purchase option at the end of the 15-month charter.Sea Eagle 1 and AHTS Sea Ocelot, also built by Jaya Shipbuilding, will begin a six to eight month contract on May 8 with Gazflot for operations off.
Read More
Bluestone bags Indonesian gig with Total
Singapore-based Bluestone Offshore is primed to start a geotechnical investigation contract.
Singapore-based Bluestone Offshore is primed to start a geotechnical investigation contract off Indonesia for French giant Total with its vessel Bluestone Topaz. The deal entails soil profile analysis at intended jack-up sites for the Kahaman field off Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Read More
Multraship and Mammoet, Croatian Clean Up
Netherlands-based salvage specialists Multraship Salvage and Mammoet Salvage have successfully completed the removal of the wreck of a floating dock which sank in June 2007 at the Viktor Lenac shipyard, Rijeka, Croatia.
The 541 ft Floating Dry Dock No. 7 weighed 7,000 tonnes and sank in 72 ft of water after an electrical power supply failure. Two previous refloating attempts had failed and after a thorough survey and testing of tanks it was decided that refloating of the dock was not feasible. As the sunken dock was impeding access to the yard's other dock, the yard placed a wreck removal contract with Multraship and Mammoet. They worked together to cut the wreck into twenty-four main pieces, each weighing up to 440 tonnes. Multraship's floating sheerlegs Cormorant was used to lift the sections out. In all divers performed over five km of underwater cutting.
Read More
Shanghai starts building international shipping service centre
Construction has begun on the 550,000-square metre Shanghai International Shipping Service Centre, located on the north bank of the Huangpu River, China.
The centre will link international passenger facilities soon to be completed at the port of Shanghai, and then connect the north bank service area, which also calls for the construction of a two million-square meter upscale office complex.The centre is a joint investment between the Shanghai International Port Group and the Sinochem Corporation. Each holds a 50 percent stake.Read More
The centre will link international passenger facilities soon to be completed at the port of Shanghai, and then connect the north bank service area, which also calls for the construction of a two million-square meter upscale office complex.The centre is a joint investment between the Shanghai International Port Group and the Sinochem Corporation. Each holds a 50 percent stake.
Monday, April 20, 2009
‘Unistar 24278’ completes yard trials
China’s Guangzhou Panyu Lingshan Shipyard completed yard trials of the newbuild, ‘Unistar 24278’, on April 14.
This vessel is the second of four 40-metre vessels being built. The keel-laying for Hull Number LS167 was held on July 1, 2008. Following this, the vessel was launched earlier this year on January 10. Yard trails were completed on April 14, ahead of sea trials, which begin on April 20. The vessel will be delivered to her new owner by the end of this month.
Read More
Korean Register opens Mumbai branch
Mumbai: The Korean Register of Shipping (KR), a classification society and IACS member, announced the opening of its first branch in India at a glittering function in Mumbai on Thursday, April 16, 2009.
Addressing a gathering from the Indian maritime community Mr Oh Kong-gyun, Chairman and CEO of KR pointed out that in the twelve years since KR has been a member of IACS, the society had advanced to possess technological competence shoulder to shoulder with other IACS members. Working closely in Korea with shipbuilders, KR had acquired Technical and Surveying skills and looked forward to sharing these experiences with Indian shipping and shipbuilding industry Referring to the current global recession, Mr Oh said that on the back of strong domestic demand, industry and infrastructure development India would be one of the first to emerge and KR hoped to be a part of this exciting market. Mr Oh acknowledged the support from Indian maritime community and would be happy to offer assistance to promote safety on the seas and environment protection.
Read More
Addressing a gathering from the Indian maritime community Mr Oh Kong-gyun, Chairman and CEO of KR pointed out that in the twelve years since KR has been a member of IACS, the society had advanced to possess technological competence shoulder to shoulder with other IACS members. Working closely in Korea with shipbuilders, KR had acquired Technical and Surveying skills and looked forward to sharing these experiences with Indian shipping and shipbuilding industry Referring to the current global recession, Mr Oh said that on the back of strong domestic demand, industry and infrastructure development India would be one of the first to emerge and KR hoped to be a part of this exciting market. Mr Oh acknowledged the support from Indian maritime community and would be happy to offer assistance to promote safety on the seas and environment protection.
Read More
Another Feeder Service from Hamburg
A new regular feeder service of the Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) shipping company now links Hamburg with St. Petersburg.
Every 14 days the feeder ship Robert puts in at the container terminals of the Port of Hamburg as required. The service is offered by HHM in partnership with Team Lines, a subsidiary of the Belgian shipping company Delphis.The first departure of the Robert from Hamburg has already taken place, on 25 March 2009. Built at the Sietas dockyard in Neuenfelde, the ship is 441 ft long and 74 ft wide, and has a container slot capacity of 868 TEUs, as well as 234 connections for refrigerated containers (reefers). With a load capacity of 11,260 tons, the ship has a maximum draught of 28.5 ft and a service speed of 18 knots.
Read More
French Navy orders third projection and command vessel
As part of the French Government’s recovery plan for the global economic crisis, STX France and DCNS have been awarded a contract to build a third projection and command vessel (BPC) for the French Navy.
Work on the third BPC was launched last week on April 16 in Saint-Nazaire by Hervé Morin, the Defence Minister, and Patrick Devedjian, the minister in charge of implementing the recovery plan.Due to the tight economic constraints, the ship will be built solely at the STX Europe Saint-Nazaire site, as the sharing of the construction of the platform between two production sites would have generated additional costs, making it impossible to meet the government’s budget.STX France, in charge of the overall coordination of the project for the industrial part, will build the whole of the propelled platform, including fitting out the equipment onboard. Once trials are completed, BPC 3 will move to Toulon. DCNS will manufacture and integrate the combat system, which includes communications, navigation and combat management systems.
Read More
Marathon completes sale of Irish assets to Petronas
HOUSTON: Marathon Oil Corp. (NYSE: MRO) completed the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Marathon Oil Ireland Ltd.
(MOIL) to PSE Ireland Ltd., a subsidiary of Petronas. The transaction has a total value of US$180 million with an effective date of Dec. 31, 2007. This sale does not include Marathon's 18.5 percent interest in the Corrib natural gas development.Under the terms of the sale, PSE Ireland acquired Marathon's 100 percent operated interest in the Kinsale Head Area comprising Kinsale Head, South West Kinsale and the Ballycotton gas fields, as well as an 86.5 percent interest in the gas producing Seven Heads field, which is tied back to Kinsale, and a 100 percent interest in the company's gas storage business with current capacity of 7 Bcf. As part of the transaction PSE Ireland retains the 61 MOIL employees in Ireland.Net production from these operations averaged approximately 30 MMcf/d of natural gas for the first quarter of 2009. Marathon's total net risked resource associated with these assets as of the end of 2007 was 62 Bcf, of which 46.2 Bcf, or 7.7 million BOE, were net proved reserves.
Read More
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Oil industry profits expected lowest in years
The nation's biggest oil companies certainly won't need a bailout from the federal government, but they won't have to defend staggering profits anytime soon either.
When oil producers, service companies and other oil-sector outfits begin reporting first-quarter earnings next week, the results are expected to be the lowest in several years, a decade perhaps.A year ago, crude prices were in the triple digits on their way to a peak near $150 a barrel in July. They spent the latter part of 2008 tumbling and today hover around $50 a barrel. Natural gas prices have fallen sharply too as the world grapples with a severe recession that's crushed energy consumption.A benefit for consumers has been lower gasoline and other fuel bills. On average, pump prices are roughly 40 percent lower than they were a year ago, when gasoline topped $4 a gallon.More than once last year, executives from Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp. and the other oil majors were pressed by members of Congress to explain soaring fuel prices amid huge profits. Don't expect similar hearings in 2009.
Read More
Lufeng field to shut down by year-end
STAVANGER, NORWAY: StatoilHydro and Chinese National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) have reached a mutual agreement through which CNOOC will accept full responsibility for the abandonment of the Lufeng field in the South China Sea.
The field has been in production since 1997, and was originally scheduled for shutdown in 2004. Located offshore China, the field had produced more than 42 million barrels by year-end 2008, far more than the 25 million barrels of oil originally projected.Lufeng 22-1 lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) southeast of Hong Kong. Lufeng 22-1 was first discovered in 1983 by Occidental. Ampolex took over in 1991 and sold its interests to StatoilHydro in 1996. Under the mutual agreement, StatoilHydro will hand over its 75 percent interest in Lufeng 22-1 to CNOOC. The transfer will take effect after the production shutdown later this year.Read More
The field has been in production since 1997, and was originally scheduled for shutdown in 2004. Located offshore China, the field had produced more than 42 million barrels by year-end 2008, far more than the 25 million barrels of oil originally projected.Lufeng 22-1 lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) southeast of Hong Kong. Lufeng 22-1 was first discovered in 1983 by Occidental. Ampolex took over in 1991 and sold its interests to StatoilHydro in 1996. Under the mutual agreement, StatoilHydro will hand over its 75 percent interest in Lufeng 22-1 to CNOOC. The transfer will take effect after the production shutdown later this year.
Bayou Bend sells U.S. assets to Dynamic Offshore Resources
HOUSTON: Bayou Bend Petroleum Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: BBP) has signed a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its U.S. oil and gas properties to Houston-based Dynamic Offshore Resources.
The purchase price for the transaction is US $12.5 million, payable in cash upon closing of the transaction.In addition, a deferred payment of up to US$8 million may be made on April 1, 2011, based upon the increase in proved oil and gas reserves attributable to the purchased interests as at Dec. 31, 2010 above a specified threshold, at a rate of US$0.20 per Mcfe.The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval. Canaccord Adams served as financial advisor to Bayou Bend in the evaluation of strategic alternatives.Read More
The purchase price for the transaction is US $12.5 million, payable in cash upon closing of the transaction.In addition, a deferred payment of up to US$8 million may be made on April 1, 2011, based upon the increase in proved oil and gas reserves attributable to the purchased interests as at Dec. 31, 2010 above a specified threshold, at a rate of US$0.20 per Mcfe.The transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval. Canaccord Adams served as financial advisor to Bayou Bend in the evaluation of strategic alternatives.
Shell calls upon EMGS for Senegal survey
TRONDHEIM, NORWAY: Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) has been awarded a contract worth about US$4 million by Shell Exploration and Production B.V. to conduct a 3-D electromagnetic (EM) survey off the coast of Senegal.
The survey will be carried out using the new, purpose-built EM vessel Boa Thalassa and will start immediately after surveys in the Norwegian Sea have been completed.The 3-D EM survey covers parts of a license area where a number of hydrocarbon drilling prospects have been identified by the operator, First Australian Resources. The objective of the EM exploration program is to enable Shell to determine whether to acquire a 70 percent interest in the license and subsequently enter into a well commitment.This is the first EM exploration program to be performed under the global frame agreement that was recently signed between EMGS and Shell.Read More
The survey will be carried out using the new, purpose-built EM vessel Boa Thalassa and will start immediately after surveys in the Norwegian Sea have been completed.The 3-D EM survey covers parts of a license area where a number of hydrocarbon drilling prospects have been identified by the operator, First Australian Resources. The objective of the EM exploration program is to enable Shell to determine whether to acquire a 70 percent interest in the license and subsequently enter into a well commitment.This is the first EM exploration program to be performed under the global frame agreement that was recently signed between EMGS and Shell.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
US ports receive government grants
With US President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 now on a roll, American ports can apply for funds totalling US$787.
So far, the Port of Tacoma has been allocated US$15.4 million while the Port of Portland will receive US$16.13 million for projects including a US$8.9 million crane modernisation project. The Port of Corpus Christi has been granted US$8.5 million for surrounding road improvements and the Port of Oakland will receive US$32 million, most of which will be allocated towards its harbour deepening project.
Read More
Indian Navy launches first of four naval offshore patrol vessels
The Indian Navy has recently launched the first of four new 105-metre naval offshore patrol vessels (NOPV).
The first vessel, ‘INS Saryu’ was launched on March 30 at the port town of Vasco. Attending the launching ceremony was Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta. Built by Goa Shipyards, ‘INS Saryu’ measures 105 metres in length, 12.9 metres at the beam, and has a displacement of 2,215 tonnes and a maximum speed of 25 knots. The vessel is capable of both coastal and offshore patrolling, and can even be used for ocean surveillance. The vessel can also perform fleet support operations or escort duties. Indian Navy officials said that the vessel would be primarily used for surface ware fare operations to prevent infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty.Read More
The first vessel, ‘INS Saryu’ was launched on March 30 at the port town of Vasco. Attending the launching ceremony was Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta. Built by Goa Shipyards, ‘INS Saryu’ measures 105 metres in length, 12.9 metres at the beam, and has a displacement of 2,215 tonnes and a maximum speed of 25 knots. The vessel is capable of both coastal and offshore patrolling, and can even be used for ocean surveillance. The vessel can also perform fleet support operations or escort duties. Indian Navy officials said that the vessel would be primarily used for surface ware fare operations to prevent infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty.
€2.8bn port planned for Iraq
Baghdad: Transport Minister Amer Abduljabbar Ismail said on Thursday that Iraq has signed an agreement with an Italian consortium to construct a 2.8-billion-euro port on the Gulf.
"The Iraqi cabinet has approved an Italian study to establish the Great Faw Port" near the southern city of Basra, Ismail told reporters in Baghdad."The proposed project, which will cost 2.8 billion euros, has been awarded to Italian companies which will implement it with the participation of our ministry's projects department."The site of the project is a small harbour currently being used by fishing boats. Ismail said the project would take three years to complete and that work would begin soon, without setting a precise date.Iraq has four ports, the largest being Umm Qasr.Iraqi security forces launched a major operation in Basra in the spring of 2008 to drive out Shiite militias who had overrun the port in the years following the 2003 US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.The news follows on from statements made by Greek shipowner Restis earlier this month that it would form a jv shipping line to funnel cargoes to Iraq.
Read More
Ningbo-Zhoushan Port got approval for development plan
Ningbo: Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has just obtained regulatory approval for its overall development plan.
By 2010, its cargo throughput is predicted to reach 610 million tons, including containers of 14.5 million TEUs, coal of 80 million tons, iron ore of 150 million tons, petroleum and petroleum products of 133 million tons. The throughput is estimated to rise to 890 million tons by 2020, with containers of 30 million TEUs included.Notably, the Port of Shanghai, nearby to the north, dealt with 610 million tons of cargos in 2008, including containers of 28 million TEUs.The new port will be composed of 11 port areas, including Yongjiang, Zhenhai, Beilun, Chuanshan, and Daxie port areas, and each of them will have specific functions.
Read More
Friday, April 17, 2009
Mullen Promises Review of Antipiracy Ops
The U.S. military has initiated a review to look "broadly and widely and deeply" at the overall strategy on piracy off the coast of Somalia, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said April 14. Navy Adm.
Mike Mullen, speaking on ABC's "Good Morning America," complimented those who carried out the mission that freed Merchant Marine Capt. Kevin Phillips. Somali pirates had held Phillips hostage since his ship, the Maersk-Alabama, was attacked April 8. The Maersk-Alabama's crew managed to regain control of the cargo vessel, but pirates took Phillips hostage and sought shelter in an 18-foot lifeboat. Navy SEAL snipers aboard the USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) killed three of the pirates aboard the lifeboat when it appeared that Phillips' life was in imminent danger. Piracy has been a problem for America since the founding of the republic, Mullen said.
Read More
Norden increase its announced expectations
SHIPPING: Norden has agreed to sell 2 Handymax bulkcarriers with a total profit of 13 million dollar.
The vessels of approximately 52,400 DWT were built in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Both vessels are expected to be delivered to the new owners during the second quarter of 2009.Hereafter Norden expects total profits from the sale of vessels in 2009 of approximately 40 million dollar. Taking into account the continued great uncertainty in relation to Norden's markets and contractual counterparties, the Company finds it most prudent to increase only the lower part of the previously announced expectations.
Read More
The vessels of approximately 52,400 DWT were built in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Both vessels are expected to be delivered to the new owners during the second quarter of 2009.Hereafter Norden expects total profits from the sale of vessels in 2009 of approximately 40 million dollar. Taking into account the continued great uncertainty in relation to Norden's markets and contractual counterparties, the Company finds it most prudent to increase only the lower part of the previously announced expectations.
Read More
East Aframaxes get active as fuel oil, crude cargoes enter market
The East of Suez Aframax market, which has seen scant activity for a prolonged period, got busier Thursday with the sudden influx of fuel oil and crude cargoes out of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia, shipping sources said.
"Suddenly a lot of cargoes have been rushing in [from the] Indonesia area this week," a charterer with a Far Eastern refiner said.The charterer said Aframax owners were currently looking at a freight rate of 60 Worldscale points for the Indonesia-Japan, South Korea voyages. "The owners' ideas are very high.Currently, the sentiment is bullish among owners," the charterer said.The key Indonesia-Japan, South Korea voyage was assessed by Platts at w57 on Wednesday.An Aframax owner said that market was getting active partly because of the availability of fuel oil cargoes."We saw Shell fixing to South China. There are inquiries from Chinese charterers, too, for moving fuel oil cargoes," another owner said, adding that Mercuria and Petrobras were looking for Aframax boats to move their fuel oil cargoes to China.Read More
"Suddenly a lot of cargoes have been rushing in [from the] Indonesia area this week," a charterer with a Far Eastern refiner said.The charterer said Aframax owners were currently looking at a freight rate of 60 Worldscale points for the Indonesia-Japan, South Korea voyages. "The owners' ideas are very high.Currently, the sentiment is bullish among owners," the charterer said.The key Indonesia-Japan, South Korea voyage was assessed by Platts at w57 on Wednesday.An Aframax owner said that market was getting active partly because of the availability of fuel oil cargoes."We saw Shell fixing to South China. There are inquiries from Chinese charterers, too, for moving fuel oil cargoes," another owner said, adding that Mercuria and Petrobras were looking for Aframax boats to move their fuel oil cargoes to China.
Panama Canal’s track and turntable system updated
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has updated its track and turntable system located in the Canal’s Gatun Locks.
The system continuously transports locomotives through the locks to assist transiting vessels. Previously, vessels stopped midway through the locks to exchange locomotives, increasing the average time taken for a vessel to navigate the canal. The new system enables two additional Panamax vessels to transit the waterway everyday.
Read More
The system continuously transports locomotives through the locks to assist transiting vessels. Previously, vessels stopped midway through the locks to exchange locomotives, increasing the average time taken for a vessel to navigate the canal. The new system enables two additional Panamax vessels to transit the waterway everyday.
Read More
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Cashman, Caspian Sea Accommodations
Cashman Equipment Corporation was awarded a three year contract by AGIP KCO, ERSAI and SAIPEM.
Cashman Equipment Corporation was awarded a three year contract by AGIP KCO, ERSAI and SAIPEM to provide living accommodations for 580 personnel in the Caspian Sea in the Kashagan field. Cashman Equipment constructed 108 buildings in its yard in Amelia, converted two ex Navy Barges at Conrad in Amelia & Morgan City, and built two new ABS barges at Conrad in Orange, Texas and Amelia, all within a six month period.
Read More
Cashman Equipment Corporation was awarded a three year contract by AGIP KCO, ERSAI and SAIPEM to provide living accommodations for 580 personnel in the Caspian Sea in the Kashagan field. Cashman Equipment constructed 108 buildings in its yard in Amelia, converted two ex Navy Barges at Conrad in Amelia & Morgan City, and built two new ABS barges at Conrad in Orange, Texas and Amelia, all within a six month period.
Read More
Petrobras and partners make deepwater discovery on BM-S-9
RIO DE JANEIRO: Petrobras and a consortium of partners have discovered light oil in the pre-salt reservoirs of Block BM-S-9, a block in the ultra-deep waters of the Santos Basin offshore Brazil.
The BM-S-9 is composed of two evaluation areas: the area of well 1-BRSA-491-SPS (1-SPS-50), known as Carioca, and the area of well 1-BRSA-594-SPS (1-SPS-55), called Guará. The new well, 4-BRSA-709 (4-SPS-60), called Iguaçu, is located in the evaluation area of Carioca some 340 kilometers (211 miles) off the coast of the State of São Paulo in 2,140 meters (7,020 ft) of water. The well was drilled by Diamond Offshore drillship Ocean Clipper. The discovery was proved by means of an oil sampling made via a cable test in reservoirs located at a depth of 4,900 meters (16,076 ft).Brazilian regulatory agency ANP has been informed of the discovery. The consortium will give continuity to the activities and investments that are required to evaluate the fields discovered in this area pursuant to an evaluation plan approved by the ANP. A new well is expected to start being drilled in the area within the next few days.Read More
The BM-S-9 is composed of two evaluation areas: the area of well 1-BRSA-491-SPS (1-SPS-50), known as Carioca, and the area of well 1-BRSA-594-SPS (1-SPS-55), called Guará. The new well, 4-BRSA-709 (4-SPS-60), called Iguaçu, is located in the evaluation area of Carioca some 340 kilometers (211 miles) off the coast of the State of São Paulo in 2,140 meters (7,020 ft) of water. The well was drilled by Diamond Offshore drillship Ocean Clipper. The discovery was proved by means of an oil sampling made via a cable test in reservoirs located at a depth of 4,900 meters (16,076 ft).Brazilian regulatory agency ANP has been informed of the discovery. The consortium will give continuity to the activities and investments that are required to evaluate the fields discovered in this area pursuant to an evaluation plan approved by the ANP. A new well is expected to start being drilled in the area within the next few days.
Cochin Shipyard eyes Kerala repair complex
Mumbai: Cochin Shipyard Ltd has expressed its interest in setting up a ship repair complex/shipyard near the proposed international transhipment port at Vizhinjam.
The EoI has been submitted by the company to the Kerala Government for ajoint venture. Cochin Shipyard has projected a requirement of 150-200 acres of land with a waterfront length of 1.5 km to 2 km, which will have connectivity to the shipping channel. Initial investment, excluding the land cost, is expected to be around Rs 1,000 crore.
Read More
‘Royal Star’: New era, same reliability
USA: The reliable Cummins six-cyliner in-line marine diesel is among the most popular engine on commercial fishing boats from Seattle’s classic long line halibut schooners to Gulf of Mexico Shrimpers.
In southern California the 26-metre by 7.3-metre ‘Royal Star’, a sport fishing boat out of San Diego, has run up a lot of hours on a pair of these legendary engines. Extended fishing trips with an enthusiastic group of recreational fishermen have routinely taken the ‘Royal Star’ well into Mexican waters and, on occasion further south in Central America.The boat was built by Ted Dunn on a Poole hull into which he incorporated many of his design concepts. These included, in addition to the original Cummins engines, integral, structural and mechanical features in a manner that separates the ‘Royal Star’ from several similar vessels operating in southern California.
Read More
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Dry bulk market shows signs of life
After 22 straight falling sessions for dry bulk freight rates, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) finally headed back up, during the last couple of days.
The BDI rose a further 14 points yesterday at 1,492, coupled with another 15 point gain of 1% last Thursday, the last day of trading before the Catholic Easter Holidays. Thus, the longest slide of the Index since the previous November ended. Of course, the market sentiment remains bleak, as proved by the retreat of the smaller handysize vessels’ index (BHI) at 628 points (down by 7), even at yesterday’s rising session. The lead of the increase was mostly noted at the panamax sector which suffered during March. The relative index (BPI) recovered at 1,185 points, up by 41 from last week. Capesizes, the gauge's biggest vessels, climbed to US$18,035 up by $49 from the previous session, while panamaxes daily spot average rates gained $327 on a day-to-day basis, reaching $9,494. Capesize forward freight agreements for the third quarter, used to bet on future shipping rates, closed at US$19,375 last Wednesday, a 7.8 per cent gain this month. Panamax FFAs for the same period were at US$11,750, a 4.3 per cent advance for this month. The data are from broker Imarex NOS ASA.
Read More
Fuzhou Port targets 1.3 million TEU throughput
The southeastern Chinese port of Fuzhou plans to strive for a container throughput of 1.3 million TEU and a cargo tonnage of 75 million tonnes by the end of this year.
According to Xinhua, the port will start five new projects this year, including a 150,000-berth in Luoyuanwan port area; berths number 1 and 3 at the Kemen port area; berths number 0 and at the Songxia port area, berths number 6 and 7 at the Jiangyin port area and the tenth liquid chemical terminal.
Read More
According to Xinhua, the port will start five new projects this year, including a 150,000-berth in Luoyuanwan port area; berths number 1 and 3 at the Kemen port area; berths number 0 and at the Songxia port area, berths number 6 and 7 at the Jiangyin port area and the tenth liquid chemical terminal.
Read More
New Marine Service Vessel from Alnmaritec
Alnmaritec, specialist aluminium boat builder based in Northumberland, UK, recently announced the launch of a new offshore marine service vessel for operation in and around the busy port of Gibraltar.
The MHB Swordfish has been built for the Gibraltar based company MH Bland and is a customised version of the popular Wave Provider class of vessels from Alnmaritec. She is the fourth vessel Alnmaritec has built over recent years for marine servicing work in Gibraltar.MHB Swordfish is an aluminium asymmetric catamaran 49 ft long and 16.5 ft wide with a displacement of around 17 tonnes. She is fitted with twin 425bhp Volvo Penta D9 MH diesel engines driving through conventional ZF gearboxes to a pair of Hamilton 322 waterjets.
Read More
Karaikal port opens
Chennai: The privately built Karaikal port will receive its first vessel on Wednesday when M.V.Beluga Fan Fare, a project cargo specialist vessel, docks at the newly built berth in the morning.
The deep sea, all-weather port is being built by Karaikal Port Private Limited (KPPL), at Vanjore near Karaikal, on a Build-Own-Transfer (BOT) basis. Of the nine berths planned to be built on 600 acres leased from the Puducherry government, two were ready, company officials said.
Read More
New catamaran among world's ten largest
SHIPPING: Bornholmstrafikken's new catamaran ferry will be 50 per cent larger than the existing catamaran Villum Clausen, and with its 113 meter it will be one of the world's longest high-speed ferries.
61 million - that is how much Nordic Ferry Service had to pay the Australian shipyard Austral for building the new high-speed ferry. According to Bent Hansen, technical manager of Bornholmstrafikken, the new ferry will have better manoeuvre abilities than the current high-speed ferry Villum Clausen, and will also be more comfortable to onboard in heavy weather. "The tunnel height is much higher than that of Villum Clausen. This means that it can force waves one meter higher and that it does not drop into sea troughs as easily, as did Villum Clausen. And it was not always comfortable to sail with in heavy weather", says bent Hansen to the professional paper Ingenioren.The new catamaran is driven by four diesel engines, whereas Villum Clausen sails with two gas turbines. This will give fuel savings of 20 per cent with the same march speed, 40 knots, but also imply more maintenance.
Read More
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Air pollution from shipping expensive
SHIPPING: The international maritime traffic discharges amounts of sulphurous gasses and particles so high that it costs DKK 6.1 billion in health expenses for the Danish every year.
This states a new report.While discharges of air pollution from all of Denmark causes expenses of DKK 3.9 billion annually, the international maritime traffic from the Baltic, the North Sea and interior Danish waters causes so many diseases and deaths that the annual bill mounts up to DKK 6.1 billion.This shows new calculations from the government research centre of energy, environment and health CEEH, informs senior researcher Jorgen Brandt from Danish Environment Investigations of University of Aarhus to the daily Jyllands-Posten."It is a vast expense caused by discharges from the maritime traffic. The ships emit lots of sulphurous gasses and particles, which inflict a number of diseases causing shorter life-span on the Danish", says director of CEEH professor Eigil Kaas fom University of Copenhagen to the newspaper.On a European scale the maritime traffic causes health expenses of DKK 182 billion annually of which 6.1 billion are in Denmark.Read More
This states a new report.While discharges of air pollution from all of Denmark causes expenses of DKK 3.9 billion annually, the international maritime traffic from the Baltic, the North Sea and interior Danish waters causes so many diseases and deaths that the annual bill mounts up to DKK 6.1 billion.This shows new calculations from the government research centre of energy, environment and health CEEH, informs senior researcher Jorgen Brandt from Danish Environment Investigations of University of Aarhus to the daily Jyllands-Posten."It is a vast expense caused by discharges from the maritime traffic. The ships emit lots of sulphurous gasses and particles, which inflict a number of diseases causing shorter life-span on the Danish", says director of CEEH professor Eigil Kaas fom University of Copenhagen to the newspaper.On a European scale the maritime traffic causes health expenses of DKK 182 billion annually of which 6.1 billion are in Denmark.
Evergreen Upgrades FPS Service
Evergreen Line will adjust its weekly transit times on its Far East - Panama service (FPS), to improve the service it offers to its customers in Central America, the Caribbean and the West Coast of South America.
The company has reduced the transit time from its Taiwanese hub, Kaohsiung to the Mexican port of Lazaro Cardenas from 23 to 16 days. The transit time from Shanghai to the Caribbean hub, Colon Container Terminal, is now 25 days. The FPS service port rotation is now: Ningbao – Shanghai – Yangtian – Kaohsiung – Lazaro Cardenas – Colon Container Terminal – Ningbao.
Read More
StatoilHydro Canada Discovery
Hydrocarbons were encountered while drilling the deepwater Mizzen prospect (EL 1049), located approximately 500 kilometres east-northeast of St John’s, Newfoundland.
Further analysis of the well results will be undertaken to determine the potential, and an application for a Significant Discovery License (SDL) will be filed over the coming months. “The drilling operation conducted at a water depth of 1,100 metres and during the heart of the North Atlantic winter storm season, was very challenging,” said Erik Abrahamsen, StatoilHydro Canada’s vice president of East Coast Operations. “We are very pleased with the way that the rig, its crew and the local supply community successfully met the challenges.”
Read More
Further analysis of the well results will be undertaken to determine the potential, and an application for a Significant Discovery License (SDL) will be filed over the coming months. “The drilling operation conducted at a water depth of 1,100 metres and during the heart of the North Atlantic winter storm season, was very challenging,” said Erik Abrahamsen, StatoilHydro Canada’s vice president of East Coast Operations. “We are very pleased with the way that the rig, its crew and the local supply community successfully met the challenges.”
Read More
How 5 days of drama on the high seas unfolded
MOMBASA - The lifeboat containing the tied-up hostage captain of the Maersk Alabama had been bobbing in the water for five days, stalked by a small flotilla of American warships.
There was no end in sight to the standoff between a small band of pirates and the U.S. Navy.Talks between the two sides to negotiate the hostage’s release were getting nowhere.Quietly, the White House had laid down rules of engagement for officers on the destroyer USS Bainbridge: If the captain’s life is in imminent danger, attack.At the end of the fifth day, the waters in the Gulf of Aden dark and choppy, the Americans on the Bainbridge peered at the lifeboat and saw something new happening. One of the pirates had an AK-47 aimed at the captain’s back.Navy snipers on the destroyer’s fantail took aim at the pirates’ heads and shoulders. The commander gave the split-second order: Fire. All three pirates were picked off. The captain was safe.It was the culmination of five days of international tension and gamesmanship on the high seas. At stake was the life of a 53-year-old, no-nonsense sea captain from Vermont who volunteered himself as a hostage to save his crew.Richard Phillips said goodbye to his wife, Andrea, left their home in the small Vermont town of Underhill at the end of March and made his way halfway around the world to join the ship.His task was to pilot the Alabama, which at 500 feet (152 meters) long is relatively small for a container ship, on its trip from Oman and Djibouti to Mombasa, Kenya, to deliver 401 containers of food as aid.
Read More
Monday, April 13, 2009
IMO inaugurates search and rescue sub-centres in Africa
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has opened two new search and rescue sub-centres in Africa to provide emergency coverage off the African coast.
“There is no doubt that, despite the continual advances made in ship technology and in the development of the human element at sea, seafaring remains a challenging and sometimes dangerous occupation,” said Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary General of the IMO. “Accidents can, and do, occasionally happen; and when they do, the sea can suddenly become a very lonely, isolated, and at times, dangerous workplace.”Read More
“There is no doubt that, despite the continual advances made in ship technology and in the development of the human element at sea, seafaring remains a challenging and sometimes dangerous occupation,” said Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary General of the IMO. “Accidents can, and do, occasionally happen; and when they do, the sea can suddenly become a very lonely, isolated, and at times, dangerous workplace.”
Maersk Line saves fortune on low speed
Maersk Line has been both saving money and sparing the environment from a great deal of CO2 discharges by decreasing the speed.
The shipping company has since 2007 been carrying through an experiment where 110 of the company's ships have been sailing at a lower speed than that recommended by the engine manufacturers. "Slow navigation means that we will achieve full flexibility so the ship can, at any given time, sail at the optimum speed. By doing so, the ships will arrive precisely as scheduled. If they arrive too early they have been using too much fuel and travelling at high speed is expensive", says Ole Graa Jakobsen, senior general manager of technological services at A. P. Moller-Maersk, to RB-Borsen.Approximately one million dollars a year pr. ship and a ten percent lower emission of CO2 is what has so far come out of the experiment. On top of the environmental and financial benefits of travelling at lower speed, this also helps reduce the supply of container capacity in a time with falling rates.
Read More
The shipping company has since 2007 been carrying through an experiment where 110 of the company's ships have been sailing at a lower speed than that recommended by the engine manufacturers. "Slow navigation means that we will achieve full flexibility so the ship can, at any given time, sail at the optimum speed. By doing so, the ships will arrive precisely as scheduled. If they arrive too early they have been using too much fuel and travelling at high speed is expensive", says Ole Graa Jakobsen, senior general manager of technological services at A. P. Moller-Maersk, to RB-Borsen.Approximately one million dollars a year pr. ship and a ten percent lower emission of CO2 is what has so far come out of the experiment. On top of the environmental and financial benefits of travelling at lower speed, this also helps reduce the supply of container capacity in a time with falling rates.
Read More
World trade fall hits Hong Kong shipping
Ships travel to and from the manufacturing and trading hubs of southern China through the Lamma channel, and it is still busy.
But the ships once sitting heavily in the water, loftily loaded with containers, are now visibly higher in the water. There is less cargo moving around the world, so less need for ships. Hence, dramatically lower rates for hiring large ships, and so a growing crisis in world shipping. As the China boom deflates, demand for steel, iron ore and other bulk items from around the world diminishes, leaving bulk carrying ships all dressed up with nowhere to go. "If you sit in one of the glamorous bars on the south side of Hong Kong, especially in the evening, you will see the lights of lots of ships," says Tim Huxley, chief executive of Wah Kwong Shipping, one of Hong Kong's largest ship-owners.
Read More
But the ships once sitting heavily in the water, loftily loaded with containers, are now visibly higher in the water. There is less cargo moving around the world, so less need for ships. Hence, dramatically lower rates for hiring large ships, and so a growing crisis in world shipping. As the China boom deflates, demand for steel, iron ore and other bulk items from around the world diminishes, leaving bulk carrying ships all dressed up with nowhere to go. "If you sit in one of the glamorous bars on the south side of Hong Kong, especially in the evening, you will see the lights of lots of ships," says Tim Huxley, chief executive of Wah Kwong Shipping, one of Hong Kong's largest ship-owners.
Read More
Combined Maritime Forces Alert to Mariners
Following a series of attacks off the eastern coast of Somalia, Combined Maritime Forces issued an updated special maritime advisory message.
The message highlights several recent attacks that occurred hundreds of miles off the Somali coast and states that merchant mariners should be increasingly vigilant when operating in those waters. "We continue to highlight the importance of preparation by the merchant mariners and the maritime industry in this message," said Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, Combined Maritime Forces. "We synchronize the efforts of the naval forces deployed to the region. However as we have often stated, international naval forces alone will not be able to solve the problem of piracy at sea. "Piracy is a problem that starts ashore. “While the majority of attacks during 2008 and early 2009 took place in the Gulf of Aden, these recent attacks off the eastern coast of Somalia are not unprecedented. An attack on the large crude tanker Sirius Star in November 2008 occurred more than 450 nautical miles off the southeast coast of Somalia.
Read More
US special forces free Maersk Alabama captain
Mogadishu: US Navy special forces freed a Maersk ship's captain by killing three Somali pirates who held him hostage in a lifeboat, ending a five-day standoff but risking more violent confrontations off the waters of east Africa, Reuters reported this morning.
The life of cargo ship captain Richard Phillips was in danger when Navy snipers aboard a US destroyer shot his Somali captors on Sunday, freeing him unharmed and killing three of four pirates who had held him after trying to seize his vessel, the Navy said. The fourth pirate was in custody. A Navy commander made a split-second decision to fire on the pirates because he believed that Phillips, who tried to escape on Friday, faced imminent danger amid tense hostage talks with his captors and deteriorating sea conditions.Experts had expected a quick end to the standoff, but the pirates held out for both a ransom and safe passage home. Friends told Reuters the gang wanted $2 million. Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers Assistance Program, said the rescue would change the stakes in future pirate attacks. "This is a big wake-up to the pirates. It raises the stakes. Now they may be more violent, like the pirates of old," he said.
Read More
Sunday, April 12, 2009
New Crewboat from Horizon Shipbuilding
The Nigerian firm Fymak Marine & Oil Services has recently taken delivery of a new crewboat designed and built by Horizon Shipbuilding of Bayou LaBatre, Alabama.
The M/V Chinyelugo is 170 ft long with a 31 ft beam and 13.5 ft molded depth.Propulsion on the aluminum vessel is provided by four Cummins KTA-50 M2 engines each delivering 1800 HP at 1800 RPM through Twin Disc MGX 6848 gears with 2.58:1 ratios to Hamilton HM811 water jets. The crewboat has a design speed of 30 knots. The vessel is fitted with a 230 HP Thrustmaster of Texas bow thruster. Cummins Mid-South LLC also provided 110 kW auxiliary engines.The boat will work with a crew of eight and is capable of carrying 60 passengers and 225 tons of deck cargo. Tankage includes 121,214 liters of fuel, 138,207 liters of water and 1304-liters of lube oil. A five-ton knuckle-boom crane from Morgan Crane is mounted forward on the main deck. Coastal Machinery supplied the anchor winch.Read More
The M/V Chinyelugo is 170 ft long with a 31 ft beam and 13.5 ft molded depth.Propulsion on the aluminum vessel is provided by four Cummins KTA-50 M2 engines each delivering 1800 HP at 1800 RPM through Twin Disc MGX 6848 gears with 2.58:1 ratios to Hamilton HM811 water jets. The crewboat has a design speed of 30 knots. The vessel is fitted with a 230 HP Thrustmaster of Texas bow thruster. Cummins Mid-South LLC also provided 110 kW auxiliary engines.The boat will work with a crew of eight and is capable of carrying 60 passengers and 225 tons of deck cargo. Tankage includes 121,214 liters of fuel, 138,207 liters of water and 1304-liters of lube oil. A five-ton knuckle-boom crane from Morgan Crane is mounted forward on the main deck. Coastal Machinery supplied the anchor winch.
Royal Australian Navy to strengthen submarine workforce
Australia: The Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane AM CSM, of the Royal Australian Navy has released a plan to improve Australia’s submarine workforce, after concerns a lack of numbers is placing a strain on personnel.
The Submarine Workforce Sustainability Program will follow a five-phase strategy designed to stabilise, recover and grow the submarine workforce over the next five years. The program focuses on getting more qualified submariners to sea and on improving support for them once deployed. The strain on seagoing submariners will be eased by increasing crew sizes from 46 to 58 people. A fourth submarine crew will be operating by the end of 2011.“By improving [submariners’] working conditions we will ensure our submarine force remains sustainable now and into the future,” Vice Admiral Crane said.Read More
The Submarine Workforce Sustainability Program will follow a five-phase strategy designed to stabilise, recover and grow the submarine workforce over the next five years. The program focuses on getting more qualified submariners to sea and on improving support for them once deployed. The strain on seagoing submariners will be eased by increasing crew sizes from 46 to 58 people. A fourth submarine crew will be operating by the end of 2011.“By improving [submariners’] working conditions we will ensure our submarine force remains sustainable now and into the future,” Vice Admiral Crane said.
Shipping rates could be fragile 'for years'
A slowdown in global trade growth combined with anticipated expansion of the available shipping fleet could mean the downturn in the shipping markets could last beyond 2025, according to a consultant.
The tanker segment is likely to recover sooner, but bulkers and container liners could suffer from overcapacity for many years to come, according to Robin Meech, managing director of Marine & Energy Consulting.His predictions follow analysis of the anticipated increase of available tonnage in the world fleet up to 2025 versus possible growth in trade ranging from 3-5% per year.Meech analysed an index based on available shipping tonnage for all tankers, bulkers and liners as of 1/1/2008. He made a baseline for each segment to demonstrate the expected growth in the fleets based on newbuild orders, taking recent significant increases in cancellations, delays and scrapping into account.He then plotted the capacity increase for each segment against simple possible growth in trade from the start of 2008 at 3%, 4%, 5% per annum. The analysis assumed that there was approximate supply/demand balance for the three types of vessel at the beginning of 2008.
Read More
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
