Barge Strikes Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in fog

A barge carrying tanks of heavy black oil struck the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.

The crash occurred, as he barge 'Cascade', was being guided by tugboats 'Delta Deanna' and 'Pacific Wolf' at the time, was headed outbound from Rodeo when it hit the east piling of the west span of the bridge whilst carrying 65,195 barrels of heavy black oil. After measuring the amount of oil on the barge after the incident, officials determined no oil spilled into the bay. An investigation into the incident was scheduled to begin at daybreak but weather caused a temporary setback. Alcohol tests were administered to the crewmembers and none had been drinking prior to the incident. Drug tests were also administered but the results are pending. There were no reports of any injuries occurring from the collision.
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CMA CGM invests in the port of Busan

CMA CGM has acquired a 12% stake in South Korea’s ‘Busan 2-3’ container terminal that is expected to become operational in 2011.

The terminal, which will feature a 2.7m teu annual capacity when completed, will be operated in partnership with Macquarie, Bouygues, Hyundai, KMTC, Busan Port Authority and local operators KUKJE and KCTC. Busan 2-3 is CMA CGM’s first port investment in South Korea, and the second one in Asia (a cooperation agreement was signed in Xiamen in November 2007). The project further strengthens the relations ship between CMA CGM and South Korea, where the group’s giant container vessels are currently being built.

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Grounded Vessel Re-floated, Shipping Channel Re-opened

The Savannah River was reopened with no restrictions after the Ever Radiant was safely re-floated and removed from the navigational channel.

The 965-foot container ship ran aground in the Bloody Point Range while departing the Port of Savannah. The vessel was safely re-floated and moved farther offshore to an anchorage area at approximately 1:15 p.m. Two towing vessels were used to free the Ever Radiant from its grounding. The vessel has been ordered to remain at anchor until the problem causing the incident is identified and repaired. The Coast Guard has received information indicating three deep draft vessels were delayed because of this incident. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the incident.

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Marine BizTV video awards for 2008 to be declared soon

Its time for another great award ceremony by Marine BizTV.

Mr. Sohan Roy, the CEO of Marine BizTV has announced the second Marine BizTV video awards for the year 2008 to be held on April 29 and 30, 2008 at Kochi, India. The nominees for various awards under various categories will be invited shortly. The award categories are best corporate video, best audio score, best narration, best camera, best directed video, best marine documentary, best graphics, best script, best maritime project, best editing and so on. Apart from this, two special jury awards and a lifetime achievement award for overall contribution will also be given away. The special jury awards were award for marine awareness for children, special award for maritime excellence and lifetime achievement award for maritime contribution. These were handed over for their uniqueness. The award ceremony held last year saw the largest ever convergence of all maritime communities from around the world. The awards are particularly designed to highlight and honor various marine corporate and the outstanding videos they have made.
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US Federal efforts needed to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks on energy commodity tankers

Tankers bring 55 percent of the nation's crude oil supply, as well as liquefied gases and refined products like jet fuel.

This supply chain is potentially vulnerable in many places here and abroad, as borne out by several successful overseas attacks on ships and facilities. The supply chain faces three main types of threats; suicide attacks such as explosive-laden boats, 'standoff' attacks with weapons launched from a distance, and armed assaults. Highly combustible commodities such as liquefied gases have the potential to catch fire or, in a more unlikely scenario, explode, posing a threat to public safety. Attacks could also have environmental consequences, and attacks that disrupt the supply chain could have a severe economic impact. Decisions about the need for more response capabilities are hindered, however, by a lack of performance measures tying resource needs to effectiveness in response.

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Carbon cap and trade ‘not enough’

Capping and trading carbon emissions will not be enough to fight output of the gases blamed for warming the planet, Ken Newcombe, managing director of Goldman Sachs' US carbon emissions desk said.

The cap and trade programmes have huge potential in the US, the world's largest energy consumer. However, the government research and development budgets should also be boosted to complement cap and trade's potential to spur innovations and investments in carbon-cutting techniques. Capturing carbon dioxide emissions at coal and natural gas-burning power plants for permanent burial underground is one unproven technology that is expensive, while other technologies, such as cutting vehicles emissions, may also need research funds. The US Congress is considering several bills that would aim to cut emissions by capping them and creating a market to trade credits representing them. So far, the centre of global climate trade has been based in Europe, which ratified the Kyoto Protocol and set up mandatory emissions trade. Billions of dollars worth of emissions credits have traded hands in Europe, but red tape has also delayed trade in carbon offsets, or investments in emissions reductions in developing countries.

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Container terminal set for expansion

The Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) will expand its 72-hectare container yard by 12.4 hectares to increase its storage capacity by 57 percent to 55,000 ton equivalent units.

The leading container terminal at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta will also procure some capacity handling equipment, build a road access to the unfinished Jakarta outer ring road and add its existing four entrance gates by 24 and its four exit gates by four with a total investment of US$150 million. JICT was targeting to handle a total of two million TEUs this year from 1.8 million TEUs handled last year. After the completion of the expansion, the company would be able to serve three million TEUs per year. This terminal is aimed to keep up with the growing demands in the future and to become a world-class container terminal. JICT is a joint venture company owned 51 percent by Hutchinson Port Holdings and 49 percent by state-owned company PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II and the maritime employees cooperative. Up to 60 percent of import-export, activities in the country are carried out through the Tanjung Priok port.
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