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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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