Estonia is first to sign Wreck Removal Convention

The Republic of Estonia has become the first country to sign, subject to ratification, the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007.

The Ambassador of Estonia to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Dr Margus Laidre, signed the Convention on behalf of Estonia at IMO Headquarters in London on Friday, 28 March. The Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention was adopted in May 2007 and will provide the legal basis for States to remove, or have removed, shipwrecks that may have the potential to affect adversely the safety of lives, goods and property at sea, as well as the marine environment. The Convention is open for signature until 18 November 2008 and, thereafter, will be open for ratification, accession or acceptance. It will enter into force twelve months following the date on which ten States have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary General of IMO, Efthimios E. Mitropoulos. Mr. Mitropoulos welcomed the signature by Estonia and urged other States to follow suit, at the earliest opportunity, so that, “as intended, the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, once in force, can fill a gap in the existing international legal framework by providing the first set of uniform international rules aimed at ensuring the prompt and effective removal of wrecks beyond the territorial sea, thereby also contributing to the IMO goals of safe navigation and marine environmental protection.”

Read More

South Boats launch 5th wind farm service vessel

South Boats Special Projects announce the commissioning of another Offshore Wind Farm Service Vessel for Offshore Wind Power Marine Services of Conwy, North Wales for a long-term contract with Dong Energy on Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm.

'Offshore Progress' is a first of class South Catamaran 47/15-metre Alloy Wind Farm Service Vessel and measures 15.7-metre length overall, 6.3-metre beam overall, has a draft of 0.9 metres and has a lightship displacement (including fluids) of 23.5 tonnes. This new design follows on from the success of previous 14-metre vessels currently in service on Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms in the UK and Q7 Offshore Wind Farm off the Dutch coast. Offshore Wind Power Marine Services are a specialist supplier of Wind Farm Service Vessels and 'Offshore Progress' joins existing vessels 'Offshore Provider' and 'Fastcat' in the OWPMS fleet. OWPMS also have two further vessels on order with South Boats for 2009 delivery. The company has extensive experience operating their vessels at North Hoyle, Burbo Bank, Barrow and Q7 Offshore Wind Farms and already has several long-term contracts in place for their existing and ordered vessels. Ben Colman of South Boats Special Projects said 'We are delighted with the performance of 'Offshore Progress', she clearly demonstrates the growing demand for faster, more fuel efficient and highly specified offshore wind farm service vessels.

Read More

Singapore, Indian navies conduct missile exercise

India and Singapore’s navies conducted a 14-day exercise using combined surface-to-air missile live firing for the first time, Singapore’s defense ministry said.

Held in the Bay of Bengal from March 17 to March 29, the event has been held annually since 1994 and started with anti-submarine warfare exercises. The Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) ‘has grown in scope and complexity, evolving to advanced naval water exercises covering the air, surface and sub-surface dimensions,’ a statement said. The Singapore navy sent a frigate, two missile corvettes and a landing ship tank. The Indian navy deployed a destroyer, a frigate, two corvettes, two missile boats, two fast-attack craft and one offshore patrol vessel, together with a submarine. Both navies also deployed maritime patrol aircraft. In addition to SIMBEX, the statement said both navies have regular interactions including exchange programs and courses.
Read More

Port of Hamburg plans new building of a double-armed balance bridge

The Hamburg Port Authority announced the beginning of construction works for a new bridge over the Rethe canal.

The new bridge will be built in 2009 only few metres west of the old one. It is designed as a double-armed balance bridge with separate lanes for road and rail. The advantage of this design is that hydraulic balance bridges can be operated very economically. They are reliable in operation and generate lower maintenance costs. In addition, a balance bridge has unlimited passage height, which is in view of the increasing number of ever larger ships is a further advantage against a lift-bridge. During the planning process, which did an architect, particular importance has been attached to the bridge fitting the typical structure of the port environment, support. The new building will replace the 1934 lift-bridge. A reconstruction is not economically viable; the planned new building will take in account the nautical requirements and increasing traffic in the port. The neighboring port terminals, mainly handling all kind of bulk cargo, are very open-minded to the plans and will profit from the increased efficiency, which can be expected for this port area. Since the old lift-bridge will remain in service until the opening of the balance bridge, traffic will not be affected. After completion, the new bridge will have a span of 100 metres, which makes it one of the world's largest mobile bridges. Construction costs are estimated at EUR72 million (US$113.6 million).

Read More

Oil Fuel Tank Protection: Germanischer Lloyd presents New Service to support Environmental Standards

Environmental protection, prevention of marine pollution and enhanced ship safety is put into practice in the field of fuel oil tank protection.

The shipowners’ commitment to comply with an exceeding range of international standards can now be applied with Germanischer Lloyd’s new service for fuel oil tank protection: Apart from drawing pre-checks, the classification society offers design optimization helping to meet the new MARPOL requirements on fuel oil tanks and therefore improve the environmental safety of the ship. Additionally, the experts pay special attention to technical solutions, which reduce the economical impact on the design. The revision of MARPOL Annex I Regulation 12A specifies the design requirements for fuel oil tanks in ship newbuildings. It sets the requirements concerning the location and size of the fuel tanks in all ships with an aggregate oil fuel capacity of 600 m³ and above. The application of the regulation includes ships whose building contract was signed on or after 1 August 2007 or delivery is scheduled on or after 1 August 2010. In absence of a building contract, the regulation is applicable to keels, which are laid on or after 1 February 2008. To minimize the economic impact on ship owners, the regulation defines two alternative design approaches: a rather pragmatic set of descriptive rules, and a more sophisticated probabilistic approach. Both methods provide equivalent degrees of protection.

Read More

Deal set to boost cruise visits

More cruise ships from Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida could dock in the South West in the future.

Representatives from the cruise industry in the region have been to the US trying to drum up business. The organization Destination South West was set up to promote Cornwall, Devon and Dorset ports to cruise companies around the world. Delegates have signed an agreement with a port in Miami-Dade, often described as the world's cruise capital. It means the organization can access the major US cruise lines to push Cornwall and Devon as destinations for the future and also access information on which ships call at Miami. The American cruise industry is the biggest market for the UK with more than 100 ships booked into South West ports this year, but officials say there is scope for many more. Bob Harrison, director of cruise operations for Destination South West, said the visit - which was part-funded by UK Trade & Investment - was "very successful". "We were able to meet all the cruise lines based in Miami and Fort Lauderdale and show them what the South West has to offer as a cruise trip destination and it was very well received."
Read More

Dongjiang Bonded Port offers of 10 container services

The first phase of Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Port Area counted 10 container services in foreign trade as regular callers at the end of February.

The 10-square kilometre Dongjiang Bonded Port Area provides international transit and export processing. The first phase of Dongjiang covers an area of four square kilometres and its logistics area is open for users. Tianjin Port has been in talks with more than 300 storage and logistics companies, two of which have settled in the logistics area of Dongjiang first phase. Logistics giants including YCH Logistics and Kline Zhenhua Logistics are seeking a place in Dongjiang Bonded Port Area and 12 firms have signed letters of intent with Tianjin Port, including Mattel and Pufeng Logistics.
Read More