'Saga Odyssey' calls at Port of Vancouver on maiden voyage

The Port of Vancouver, USA, recently welcomed the ‘Saga Odyssey' on its maiden voyage to the port.

The vessel is commanded by Captain Timothy J. Smith of Yorkshire, England, who has been sailing for 30 years. The ‘Saga Odyssey' was built in Japan and delivered in May 2008. It is nearly 200 metres in length, has deadweight of 46,550 tonnes, has ten holds and hatches and two 42-tonne gantry cranes. The crew of 23 people for the vessel's first visit to the Port of Vancouver USA, was from England, Scotland and the Philippines. The vessel discharged approximately 9,500 metric tonnes of steel from the Far East and Asian ports at Port of Vancouver's Terminal 3, stevedored by Ports America. The ‘Saga Odyssey' is owned by Saga Shipholding, Norway and operated by Saga Forest Carriers.

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'Earthrace' thunders into Oman for penultimate port stop of world record attempt

‘Earthrace', the world's fastest eco-boat, arrived at Salalah Port, in the Sultanate of Oman, for the penultimate port stop of its world record attempt.

‘Earthrace' is a 24-metre tri-hull wavepiercer that runs on biofuel, and is attempting to break the world record for the fastest powerboat to circumnavigate the globe. The crew is hoping for a speedy refueling, before setting off up the Red Sea to Suez, the last port stop before returning to Spain. If all goes to plan, the crew hopes to storm into Valencia on June 27, smashing the record by 13 days. However, they will be battling against adverse weather conditions as they head up the Eastern coast of Africa and later in the Mediterranean. ‘Earthrace' has overcome many obstacles during its journey, the most challenging of which being the replacement of the boat's driveshaft and propeller after hitting sea debris in Palau. A rapid turnaround during the last port stop in India helped the crew claw back valuable time which was lost during these repair works. "We're so close to the end of the race that I can almost taste the world record," said Skipper Pete Bethune.
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Multraship takes delivery of new multipurpose tug

Dutch company Multraship has taken delivery of a new multi-purpose Azimuth Stern Drive tug, ‘Multratug 17', from the Vega Shipyard in Bandirma, Turkey.

The vessel is 35.7 metres in overall length, with a moulded beam of 11.50 metres, and has a multi-role capability for harbour, escort and sea towage, as well as full fire-fighting and salvage roles. It has FiFi 1 fire-fighting, salvage, escort towage and oil recovery notations, and is powered by two Caterpillar engines, delivering 70 tonnes bollard pull. The ‘Multratug 17' has a double drum winch aft and a single drum winch forward and a free running speed of 13.5 knots. It is classed by Bureau Veritas and is registered under the Netherlands flag. Multraship's new tug is to start work straight away, going on charter to Offshore Marine Contractors. Initially, it will be involved in rig moves in the North Sea, and next month is scheduled to tow a jack-up platform from Rotterdam to the Robin Rigg windmill park in the Irish Sea.

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Panama Canal, Port of New Orleans Sign Deal

The alliance between the Panama Canal Authority and the Port of New Orleans has been renewed.

It has recently adopted a 2020 growth Master Plan of $1.04 billion, partially driven by the Canal’s expansion, which will help spur investment, increase trade and promote the “All-Water-Route” (the route from Asia to the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts via the Panama Canal). During an official ceremony yesterday in Panama, ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta reaffirmed the ACP’s commitment to mutual growth and cooperation with Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange and members of the Port’s Board of Commissioners, by renewing a Memorandum of Understanding. Renewable on a three-year basis, the agreement further enforces the strategic alliance between the two entities, which was first initiated in 2003. “Today’s renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of New Orleans underscores our strong economic and commercial bonds. Our common vision informs our strategy and creates new value based on information sharing and collaboration. As we embark on the next phases of the Panama Canal expansion project, we remain committed to providing solutions to the long-term needs of the shipping and maritime community,” said Mr. Alemán Zubieta. The Port of New Orleans, the only deepwater port in the United States served by six “Class One” railroads (the largest category of freight railroads), has been steadily moving past the Katrina recovery stage and is now looking toward future growth opportunities. Both the ACP and the Port of New Orleans are dedicated to further increasing capacity and fostering growth.

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Total bags CNOOC gas deal

French oil and gas group Total has signed a deal to sell up to one million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year from 2010 to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

"Under the terms of this agreement, up to one million tonnes of LNG will be delivered annually to the Chinese oil group starting in 2010," Total said in a statement. "The gas will be sourced from Total's global LNG portfolio," it added. The deal is part of a wider MOU signed between the two companies to boost cooperation in upstream and downstream areas and new energies, Total said. CNOOC has a 45 percent stake in the Akpo oil project in Nigeria, operated by Total.

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Mitsubishi Heavy close to cruise return

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has announced it is in the hunt for large cruise ship orders, four years after it delivered its last cruise pair.

MHI told this week that it expects to snag a deal this year. It has opened negotiations with Carnival, though pricing remains an issue. Carnival is likely to order two more ships, as follow ons from the Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess that were delivered in 2004, late due to an enormous in dock fire. The new pair under discussion will be larger than the 116,000 grt pair delivered four years ago. The ships would be delivered in spring 2013 and early 2014. MHI met with Carnival in Tokyo in May, following stalled discussions last year. The Japanese yard's return to cruise shipbuilding comes as the Koreans eye the sector, which has been the last bastion of European yard dominance. Daewoo, Samsung and STX are all in discussions with cruise lines for deliveries from 2013 onwards.

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Mitsubishi Heavy close to cruise return

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has announced it is in the hunt for large cruise ship orders, four years after it delivered its last cruise pair.

MHI told this week that it expects to snag a deal this year. It has opened negotiations with Carnival, though pricing remains an issue. Carnival is likely to order two more ships, as follow ons from the Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess that were delivered in 2004, late due to an enormous in dock fire. The new pair under discussion will be larger than the 116,000 grt pair delivered four years ago. The ships would be delivered in spring 2013 and early 2014. MHI met with Carnival in Tokyo in May, following stalled discussions last year. The Japanese yard's return to cruise shipbuilding comes as the Koreans eye the sector, which has been the last bastion of European yard dominance. Daewoo, Samsung and STX are all in discussions with cruise lines for deliveries from 2013 onwards.

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