US ports receive government grants

With US President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 now on a roll, American ports can apply for funds totalling US$787.

So far, the Port of Tacoma has been allocated US$15.4 million while the Port of Portland will receive US$16.13 million for projects including a US$8.9 million crane modernisation project. The Port of Corpus Christi has been granted US$8.5 million for surrounding road improvements and the Port of Oakland will receive US$32 million, most of which will be allocated towards its harbour deepening project.

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Indian Navy launches first of four naval offshore patrol vessels

The Indian Navy has recently launched the first of four new 105-metre naval offshore patrol vessels (NOPV).

The first vessel, ‘INS Saryu’ was launched on March 30 at the port town of Vasco. Attending the launching ceremony was Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta. Built by Goa Shipyards, ‘INS Saryu’ measures 105 metres in length, 12.9 metres at the beam, and has a displacement of 2,215 tonnes and a maximum speed of 25 knots. The vessel is capable of both coastal and offshore patrolling, and can even be used for ocean surveillance. The vessel can also perform fleet support operations or escort duties. Indian Navy officials said that the vessel would be primarily used for surface ware fare operations to prevent infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty.

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€2.8bn port planned for Iraq

Baghdad: Transport Minister Amer Abduljabbar Ismail said on Thursday that Iraq has signed an agreement with an Italian consortium to construct a 2.8-billion-euro port on the Gulf.

"The Iraqi cabinet has approved an Italian study to establish the Great Faw Port" near the southern city of Basra, Ismail told reporters in Baghdad."The proposed project, which will cost 2.8 billion euros, has been awarded to Italian companies which will implement it with the participation of our ministry's projects department."The site of the project is a small harbour currently being used by fishing boats. Ismail said the project would take three years to complete and that work would begin soon, without setting a precise date.Iraq has four ports, the largest being Umm Qasr.Iraqi security forces launched a major operation in Basra in the spring of 2008 to drive out Shiite militias who had overrun the port in the years following the 2003 US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.The news follows on from statements made by Greek shipowner Restis earlier this month that it would form a jv shipping line to funnel cargoes to Iraq.

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Ningbo-Zhoushan Port got approval for development plan

Ningbo: Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has just obtained regulatory approval for its overall development plan.

By 2010, its cargo throughput is predicted to reach 610 million tons, including containers of 14.5 million TEUs, coal of 80 million tons, iron ore of 150 million tons, petroleum and petroleum products of 133 million tons. The throughput is estimated to rise to 890 million tons by 2020, with containers of 30 million TEUs included.Notably, the Port of Shanghai, nearby to the north, dealt with 610 million tons of cargos in 2008, including containers of 28 million TEUs.The new port will be composed of 11 port areas, including Yongjiang, Zhenhai, Beilun, Chuanshan, and Daxie port areas, and each of them will have specific functions.

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