Eletson Corporation enters gas market with the delivery of its first LPG carrier

The Eletson Corporation, Greece, has entered a new market sector with the delivery of its first LPG carrier.

The Piraeus-based owner and operator operates a fleet of 26 medium and long range product tankers, but has now ventured into the LPG market with ‘Anafi’, which was built at Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD). The 22,010DWT ‘Anafi’, constructed to Lloyd’s Register class, is the first of a series of four LPG ships being built for Eletson by HMD. Nikos Makris, Eletson’s Chief Operating Officer said that Eletson has built a reputation based on the transportation of oil products for the past four decades but wa expanding into a new energy transportation sector. He said that the company was heavily investing in modern and technologically advanced tonnage. “As with all our vessels, the ‘Anafi’ is named after a Greek island and will fly the Greek flag,” Mr Makris explained. The ‘Anafi’ has a length of 165 metres, a breadth of 28 metres and a moulded depth of 17.8 metres, with engine power of 9,480 kW.

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Grand Alliance joins with ZIM on Pacific North West trade

Tokyo: Grand Alliance members Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) have announced that they will cooperate with ZIM in two strings in the trans-Pacific trade, with immediate effect.

The scope includes North China and Japan, South China, South East Asia to Canada and US North West Coast (NWX and PNX services). Grand Alliance member MISC Berhad does not operate on this trade and therefore has not participated in this particular agreement. The services will operate on a weekly basis with a round voyage time of 42 days (PNX) and 35 days (NWX) respectively. ZIM will provide 3 x 8,000 TEU vessels and the Grand Alliance will provide 8 x 8,000 TEU vessels. With this cooperation, the Grand Alliance and ZIM are committed to improving services for our customers by offering enhanced efficiency, increased economy of scale and improving capacity and utilization of equipment. The agreement is subject to Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) approval.

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India: 'Shipping sector needs protection from multinationals'

The domestic shipping industry needs to be protected from the growing threat of multinationals through a measure similar to that of anti-dumping duty for products.

“India has a vibrant local market and a number of multinational shipping companies are tapping the domestic market. Local companies need to be protected,” said Mr S. Hajara, Chairman and Managing Director, Shipping Corporation India. Speaking at the inaugural session of India Maritime Summit 2009, ‘Challenges and changing global economic landscape,’ organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Mr Hazara said while infrastructure status was given to ship building and ports, shipping was not covered. The old theory is that anything movable cannot be given infrastructure status. On the shores, there are provisions such as duty exemptions and anti-dumping duty to protect local industries. The argument is that anti-dumping duty was not applicable for services sector, and hence, shipping will not be covered under that. “But, we are now facing huge competition from multinationals, which are tapping the local market. Protectionalism has been strongly practiced in other countries, and Indian shipping should also be protected,” Mr Hazara said.

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Maersk LNG activities transfer to Maersk FPSOs

On 1 April 2009 the responsibility for the LNG activities within the AP Moller - Maersk Group will be transferred from Maersk Tankers to Maersk FPSOs.

LNG will then come under the responsibility of Paul Carsten Pedersen, CEO of Maersk FPSOs. LNG activities within the AP Moller – Maersk Group include a fleet of five LNG carriers with a newbuilding programme of three more vessels for delivery in 2009. According to a statement issued by Maersk, the reason for incorporating the LNG business under Maersk FPSOs is that the business model applied in the LNG industry is based on long-term contracts, which is in line with Maersk FPSOs. The consolidation combines relevant technical resources and supports the growth strategy for both business areas. The transfer will, over time, encompass both commercial and technical management, and all employees involved in LNG will move to Maersk FPSOs’ office premises in Lyngby, North of Copenhagen.

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SNAME, INA of India Sign Agreement

At a meeting during the World Maritime Technology Conference in Mumbai, India, a delegation of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers members met with members of the Institute of Naval Architects of India to negotiate and sign a cooperative agreement between the two societies.

The group agreed on four areas of cooperation: membership, Web-based interaction, technical publications and technical and research activities. The collaboration between INAI and SNAME will bring greater value and the sharing of technical information between the two groups. To encourage membership in SNAME, a tiered system was instituted on January 1, 2006. The annual cost of membership in SNAME, which is $150 worldwide, will remain at that level in North America and other nations categorized as high-income by the World Bank, but will be reduced by half, to $75, in those nations classified as upper-middle income economies, and by 75%, to $37.50, in all other nations, including India. This tiered dues structure will facilitate those in the maritime industry in the important maritime country of India to take advantage of the many benefits of SNAME.

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