New owners for Oyster

Top UK yacht builder Oyster Marine has been sold to UK based private equity fund Balmoral Capital for an undisclosed sum.

Current Chairman Richard Matthews founded the company in 1973. Oyster yachts have a worldwide reputation for quality and performance and are recognized throughout the sailing world for their distinctive Deck Saloon configuration. Oyster has twice been awarded the Queen's Award for Industry. Their current yacht range starts at 14 metres and includes twelve modern designs including two new super-yacht models, the 'Oyster 100' and '125', which will be launched in 2010 and 2011. There are almost 1,200 Oyster yachts in commission and the company has a strong forward order book and annual sales in excess of £50 million (US$97 million). Although Oyster are primarily known for their comfortable live aboard cruising yachts, many of which have completed circumnavigations, in 2007 Oyster yachts were class winners in both the Fastnet and Sydney Hobart races.

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19 rescued from fire-struck Kinmen-Xiamen ferry

All 19 crewmembers aboard a passenger ferry that caught fire at a port in the outlying Kinmen county were rescued after being trapped by the blaze, which was finally extinguished.

Only one crewmember was suffering from minor smoke inhalation. The fire occurred on the Xiamen-registered 'Tong An' vessel with a seating capacity of 380 and 1,000 tonnage after it had arrived at Shuitou Wharf in Taiwan-controlled Kinmen from Xiamen on China's southeastern coast, and all its 37 passengers had disembarked. Immediately after learning of the fire news, the fire department under the Kinmen County Government dispatched 15 fire engines and ambulances, as well as over 70 fire fighters to the Shuitou Wharf. In addition, the coast patrol squad of Kinmen also sent two patrol vessels to join the rescue, while Kinmen county magistrate Lee Chu-feng also arrived at the site to show his concern over the incident. As the fire occurred on the sea, the fire fighters could hardly do anything to put out the fire. On another front, Xiamen harbor authorities also sent four ships to rescue those crewmembers trapped by the fire. It was the first time a passenger ship sailing the Mini Three Links route between China and Kinmen had caught fire since the links were opened in 2001.
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Greenpeace fuels New Flame row

Greenpeace activists today breached maritime security in Gibraltar by boarding the almost sunken bulk carrier New Flame, lying in British waters off the Rock.

Several activists were able to reach the vessel and place a yellow banner reading “Vertido Diplomatico” (Diplomatic Spill) on its bridge. Greenpeace is attacking Spanish and Gibraltarian authorities for failing to reduce oil spills in the Bay of Gibraltar, lambasting both administrations over their alleged inefficient management of shipping in the area. Its move comes as Spain, preparing for a general election on 9 March, is embroiled in a diplomatic row with the UK over the New Flame wreck. An industry observer comments that the Gibraltar government is the victim of dithering in Whitehall. The issue revolves around one recommendation from the Donaldson Report, commissioned after the Sea Empress oil spill in Milford Haven in 1996 that remains equivocal. Under the UK Merchant Shipping Act, if a shipwreck causes pollution in a port, port authorities must make all possible efforts to remove the wreck and make the area safe. But if more pollution is caused in the removal operation, the port authority could be prosecuted under environmental legislation.
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The 'Queen Victoria' arrives at the Port Melbourne

Cunard's luxury cruise ship 'Queen Victoria' has arrived in Melbourne, the first Australian port of call on her maiden around-the-world voyage.

She docked on schedule at 7:00 a.m. at Melbourne's Station Pier. The ship was formally greeted on her arrival at 7:00 a.m. by a water cannon display and a traditional Aboriginal welcome. After leaving Southampton on January 6, Queen Victoria made her inaugural visit to the US West Coast city of Los Angeles before proceeding to Australia. Most of the 2,000 passengers, including more than 360 Australians, have disembarked and are being bussed into central Melbourne, and are expected to generate $1 million for the Victorian economy during their stopover. The 16-deck luxury liner, the second largest in the Cunard stable, offers 13 bars and clubs, seven restaurants including the two-storey Art Deco-style Britannia Restaurant, a cigar lounge, a casino, three pools, a 6,000-book library, including two librarians, and a $2.3 million art collection. Queen Victoria's famous older sister, the 'QE2', will make her 14th and final visit to Melbourne on February 29 during her final world voyage.

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New Towboat from McGinnis, the 'JA Ward'

McGinnis of South Point, Ohio at Mile 318 on the Ohio River delivered a new towboat to sister company Excel Marine of Cincinnati Ohio with a christening ceremony at Ashland Kentucky on January 26 2008.

The 23 by 8-metre boat is the first new build for McGinnis in over 20 years. The new vessel was named in honor of James Allen Ward III who has worked for McGinnis since 1978 and 'oversaw the construction of the $3.5 million vessel.' Main engines on the vessel are a pair of 12-cylinder Cummins KTA 38 M1 engines each with a continuous duty rating of 1050 HP at 1800 RPM and turning 72 by 58-inch props through Twin Disc MG532 gears with 5.96:1 ratios. Cummins 6BT engines power the twin 80kW generators sets. The area distributor Cummins Bridgeway through McGinnis who are a part of the Cummins dealer and service network supplied all engines. McGinnis has 35 boats in their fleet.
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Strong quake kills three, damages buildings in Indonesia

A powerful earthquake struck western Indonesia, killing three people and injuring 25 others.

A tsunami warning was briefly triggered, but no waves were detected. The US Geological Survey said the quake on Wednesday had a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 and struck under the island of Simeulue off the western coast of Sumatra, the region worst hit in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The undersea quake struck at 3:08 pm (1338 IST) some 312 kilometres west-southwest of the North Sumatra capital Medan, at a depth of 34 kilometres. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert saying coastlines close to the epicenter were at risk of a possible tsunami. It cancelled the warning two hours later after no large waves were generated. The quake was felt across much of western and northern Sumatra, where many people led swaying homes and buildings. In coastal areas, residents ran to high ground in fear of a tsunami. There is no possibility of a tsunami hitting any Indian region following the massive undersea earthquake off Sumarta. There have been no changes in the water level in the sea, said the official at INCOIS, which houses the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System.

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Stranded ship strayed too close

The Zhen Hua 10, which stranded at Rotterdam-Maasvlakte, was too close to shore as it waited for get permission to enter the port.

According a survey report of the Dutch Inspectorate of Transport, insufficient engine power (main engine 12,357 kW) and heavy winds – 7 to 8 Beaufort – may have combined to cause the grounding. However, experts point out that the ship – a converted oil/products tanker – had adequate power for a ship of its size operating under normal conditions, and might even have been over-powered for its present use. The Inspectorate suggests further investigation into whether the ships’ master was right to have the vessel with five high cranes onboard wait so close to the coast in such weather conditions. The captain’s counter argument is that he wanted to avoid a collision with neighboring vessels. The findings have been presented to the Dutch disciplinary court of shipping, the Chinese authorities and the Chinese shipping line. It recommends that master’s sail further off the coast or have tug escorts in weather conditions.

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