Jurong/Mac Laren shipyards announce Brazilian yard agreement

Jurong Shipyard, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Sembcorp Marine, signed a Strategic Alliance Agreement with Rio de Janeiro-based Mac Laren Shipyard to operate a shipyard in Brazil.

Under the five-year Alliance Agreement, Jurong Shipyard will collaborate with Mac Laren for all future offshore oil and gas-related projects to be undertaken in Brazil. Jurong Shipyard will have management lead for all the projects. In return, Mac Laren shall provide Jurong Shipyard the exclusive use of its existing shipyard facilities located in Rio de Janeiro. Located in Niteroi in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Mac Laren is a mid-sized shipyard with a total land area of 408,000m², comprising 128,000m² of waterfront land and 280,000m² of construction yard. The Mac Laren Shipyard is currently expanding its shipyard facilities with the construction of a new 150 x 130 x 13-metre drydock. Scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2009, the new drydock will be one of two purpose-built drydocks in Brazil capable of drydocking semi-submersible rigs, including the largest production rigs. Besides the drydock, the shipyard is also expanding its structural and piping workshop to 11,860m² and increasing its quayside length to 240 metres to accommodate the berthing of VLCC-sized FPSOs.
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Ports of Auckland gains in service shake-up

New Zealand's Ports of Auckland will benefit from the latest round of port rotation rationalization by overseas shipping lines.

The NZX/NZS consortium of shipping lines has designated Auckland Port as the key New Zealand import port call after its recent review of its two-loop South East Asia service. The new NZX/NZS rotation, starting in June, will see five vessels operating a weekly service utilized by PIL (Pacific International Lines), OOCL (Orient Overseas Container Lines), MOL (Mistui OSK Lines), NYK (NYK Line) and MISC (Malaysian International Shipping Corporation).
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Safmarine appoints Jonathan Horn regional executive

SAFMARINE has appointed Jonathan Horn as the new Africa region executive, effective May 1.

Mr Horn takes over from Alan Jones, who soon becomes senior key account executive for Safmarine, until his retirement in October 2009 after 33 years with the multi-trade shipping line.

South Africa-born Mr Jones said: "Phasing out my involvement in Africa to focus on South Africa will not only allow me to work closely with Jonathan, providing the necessary mentoring and development for a period of 18 months, but we believe the handover period is also in the best interests of Safmarine's customers."

Mr Horn joined Safmarine in 2004 as a regional executive for Kwazulu Natal, then moving to Cape Town in 2005 when he joined the personnel department before moving into customer service.

Prior to his appointment at Safmarine he served as vice president in Energy, Utilities & Chemicals Sector at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Singapore.

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World's biggest container maker expects demand to fall this year

CHINA International Marine Containers (CIMC), the world's largest container maker, forecasts that the global demand will remain flat or decline in 2008.

The overproduction of containers in 2007 is another reason for the company to make provisions for 2008, in light of fewer purchases and more competition, a company statement said.

But company says trade in standard dry cargo containers and reefer boxes trade will not suffer much because it expects improvement in the domestic market for road operations, energy and chemicals equipment sales as well as airport facility activity to buoy business during global slowdown.

CIMC will spend CNY5.7 billion (US$814 million) this year, CNY1.33 billion of which for vehicle manufacturing, CNY650 million for energy and chemicals equipment manufacturing.

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Cosco establishes joint venture with Indonesian firm for coal transportation

Sea transport operator China Ocean Shipping Company is making efforts to win coal shipment contract from Indonesia by establishing joint venture with a local firm.

Cosco has teamed up with Indonesia's PT Global Putra International (GPI) and the joint venture will buy up to 10 coal ships with the capacity of between 50,000 tons and 100,000 tons. "Each ship has a price tag of 50 million to 100 million U.S. dollars," GPI president Sumadi Kusuma was quoted as saying. "We established the joint venture to answer demands for coal shipment from Indonesia to foreign countries, particularly China," he said. He and Cosco CEO Wei Jiatu have met with Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal to report the joint venture establishment. "We have handed over all documents to the government, who has the final say. We are confident the joint venture will become operational this year," said Sumadi. The ministry has projected the need of 390 ships to meet the growing coal shipment, as the country's coal export is expected to hit 100 million tons by 2010.

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Dismantlers tackle stricken ferry

The sister ship of the stranded Riverdance ferry is being inspected by workers to help formulate plans to dismantle the beached vessel.

The firm tasked with dismantling the ferry, which is grounded on a Blackpool beach, took over the site on Monday. The 2,600 tonne Riverdance is due to be stripped down before being cut into pieces and transported for recycling in an operation expected to take 14 weeks. Experts boarded sister ship the Moondance in Heysham on Monday. The Riverdance ran aground off the Lancashire coast in January after being hit by a freak wave as it sailed from Northern Ireland to Heysham. Hancock's Contractors in Heysham, Lancashire, has been awarded the contract to dismantle the Riverdance, which has now sunk about 4m (4.4yd) into the sand.

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Ezra takes delivery of Lewek Trogon

Ezra Holdings has taken delivery of an 18,000 bhp anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel, Lewek Trogon from Drydocks World Singapore.

The newbuild AHTS is equipped with Rolls Royce engines and dynamic positioning capabilities. Construction on the vessel took place at the previous Pan-United shipyard, which was acquired by Drydocks last year. Lewek Trogon will be officially named at a ceremony held at the Singapore shipyard today. The vessel will be loaded with supplies and fuel before departing Singapore in about two weeks time to begin a first assignment in Southeast Asia.

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