“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.”
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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