Panama gears up for Panama Maritime IX exhibition

The maritime community is gearing up for the bi-annual Panama Maritime IX World Conference & Exhibition, which will take place in Panama February 9-11, 2009 and will be inaugurated by Panama’s President Martin Torrijos with the participation of IMO Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos.

Panama Maritime IX World Conference & Exhibition is jointly organized by Panama Maritime Law Association (PMLA) in association with Panama’s Chamber of Shipping and with the undivided support from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP). The conference is reputed for its ability to draw the key international players and provide a platform for discussion of important matters related to the maritime industry, both from a Latin American view point and from that of the industry as a whole. This year the conference-exhibition will focus on the main concerns of the maritime industry in the region and worldwide and will include: Port industry in Latin America; Green Shipping with its implications for the maritime industry; maritime insurance in the Latin American market; trends of international trade; Panama’s new legislation for the sector and the seafarers’ realities of today.

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Reflex Marine Launches Toro Transfer Device

Reflex Marine launched its revolutionary Toro personnel transfer capsule on Jan. 21 in Aberdeen, Scotland at the same time announcing the unit’s first sales.

The launch celebration at the Maritime Museum, followed a demonstration at Woollard & Henry, Aberdeen. Following purchases by Chevron and BG Group, the crew transfer device will soon be operating in the North Sea and North Africa. Enquiries have also been received from operators in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and USA. The Aberdeen launch and demonstration was the first leg of a world tour which will see similar events taking place in key growth areas such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi and Houston. Following close consultation within the industry, the company set out to develop a low cost transfer device, which maintains high levels of passenger protection and operational performance, established with earlier designs.

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New generation RAmparts 3200B design from Robert Allan

In 2007 Norwegian vessel owners, Østensjø Rederi approached Turkish shipyard Sanmar Denizcilik Makin eve Ticaret, of Istanbul, to build a tug similar to the standard 32-metre RAmparts 3200 class tug, designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan.

This requirement led to a close collaboration between owner, builder and designer to develop a revised, beamier design. The result is a new generation of ASD tug, known as the RAmparts 3200B Class. This is built under the “Escort 80” series name at Sanmar. The vessel is suitable for a wide range of duties including harbour towage and ship-handling, coastal towing, and escort operations. It is also equipped for firefighting and oil spill response duties. The hull form reflects the now very well-proven double chine form with a sweeping "chined" stern. A large escort skeg is fitted forward to enhance the indirect towing capability and to provide enhanced roll stability. Particulars of the first of the 4,800kW Vivax class tugs are: an overall length of 32 metres, a moulded beam of twelve metres, moulded depth of 5.36 metres and maximum overall draught of 6.11 metres. The vessel is classed by ABS under Towage Service, Escort Vessel, ABCU, Fi-Fi 1, Oil Recovery Class 1, Unrestricted Service.

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