Guangzhou, Ningbo join top ten club

Port of Guangzhou and Port of Ningbo edged in the world top ten container ports in terms of the throughput in 2008.

Guangzhou Port handled 11 million containers (TEU) last year, soaring 18.8% year on year and thus exceeding the Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Kaohsiung to ascend from 12th to 7th. Ningbo Port ascended from 11th to 8th with an annual throughput of 10.846m TEUs in 2008. Besides them, Port of Shanghai, Hong Kong, Port of Shenzhen, and Port of Qingdao are all on the list of the top ten. But the situation in 2009 is not bright. Guangzhou Port just handled 600,000 TEUs this January, plunging 34% year on year. Port of Hong Kong reported 1% growth in annual container throughput in 2008, the lowest since 2001.

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Swiftships to build 25 fast patrol craft for Egyptian Navy

Swiftships USA is to build 25 fast patrol craft for the Egyptian Navy.

The Swiftships model 25MPB0500 is a twin waterjet diesel powered patrol boat. The hull and superstructure are constructed of aluminium alloy, all welded, in accordance with approved codes. The hull consists of watertight bulkheads forming five watertight compartments. This class of fast patrol craft, called the Swift Protector serves a range of capabilities, supporting missions in controlling emergency situations in local zones; supporting navy and coast guard security operations; controlling sea-lanes; conducting coast guard, police and custom law enforcement for controlling economic zones; and search and rescue missions. Measuring 26 metres in length, the vessels have a beam of 6.1 metres and a maximum draught of 1.5 metres. The Swift Protector-class is driven by two Caterpillar 3512B engines.

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Liberty Class Vessels Delivered to China

By the beginning of 2009, more than half of the 22-vessel GPA 654M Liberty Class 100 PSV series and “Bourbon Liberty 201”, the first of the 54-vessel GPA 254L AHTS series, were delivered at Dayang Shipyard in China.

The vessels were designed by Naval Architectural and Marine Engineering Firm Guido Perla & Associates, Inc., headquartered in Seattle, WA. Bourbon currently has under construction and in operation more than 100 GPA designed vessels, including PSVs, AHTS vessels, IMR vessels, and ROV-capable vessels.

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Travel & Tourism Awards Sri Lanka, 2008

Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism industry, which is the 4th largest foreign exchange earner, presented awards for its exceptional contribution to socio-economic development of the country.

The objective of this prestigious awards ceremony is to recognize and reward excellence among industry stakeholders of past and present, to encourage and ensure an even greater contribution in the future, for the sustainable development of the tourism industry. Sri Lanka Tourism, the Ministry of Tourism together with Mr. Nalin Attygalle, CEO, Travel and Tourism Award Council organised the Awards for Travel and Tourism Excellence for the 2nd consecutive year in order to recognise and honour the registered companies and persons, for their contribution and excellence in the tourism industry. This unique occasion took place on the 26th of January 2009 at the BMICH, Colombo. The awards were presented to the winners by Hon. Prime Minister, Ratnasiri Wickramanayake.

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Survey vessels get busy off NZ

The summer season of marine seismic acqusition is in full swing in New Zealand with two vessels busy at work all around the country.

In total, the 2D seismic surveys equate to a combined 8000 line kilometres while a single 3D survey is 1145 square kilometres, said a Crown Minerals spokesman. The vessel Pacific Titan has already shot 2D surveys in the following blocks in the Taranaki basin - PEP38482, 38499, 38481 and 38524 for operator Australian Worldwide Exploration, PEP38775 for Greymouth Petroleum, and in PEP38451 for Global Resources. The vessel has also completed a 2D sweep in Block PEP38619 in the offshore Northland basin for Origin Energy. Surveys in progress in the offshore Canterbury basin by the same vessel are 2D sweeps in Blocks PEP38262, 38264 for Origin, and in PEP38259 for AWE. Work to complete for the Pacific Titan is in the Great South basin Block PEP50122 for Greymouth and in Taranaki basin permit PEP51311 for New Zealand Oil & Gas. The Pacific Titan will finish its season in New Zealand by shooting 1000 kilometres of 2D for Crown Minerals across the Reinga basin as it exits local waters. Meanwhile, the vessel Nordic Explorer is shooting a 3D survey for Origin in Block PEP38262. It is the first 3D to be ever shot in the Canterbury basin.

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