Bourbon Presents Horizon 2012 Plan

In February 2006, Bourbon announced the Horizon 2010 plan, a strategy based on an original vision of the market and substantial investments in a modern fleet.

In February 2008, Bourbon is announcing its Horizon 2012 strategic plan, which continues and prolongs its outlook.Ongoing analysis to anticipate changes and adapt The last Horizon 2010 strategic plan was developed at the end of 2005, in a context of strong demand from oil operators, who expressed their intention to make massive investments in offshore to extend their reserves and develop their production. BOURBON was then positioned in three marine sectors via the Offshore Division, the Towage and Salvage Division, and the Bulk Division. Two years later, two new factors, external and internal, have led Bourbon to update its strategic vision. In the offshore oil and gas market, Bourbon notes that oil and gas investments are expected to be higher than initial estimates and that growth has been slowed by bottlenecks at equipment suppliers. As a result, the investments made in oil fields are expected to be spread out over time and generate a positive extension of the production cycle.Within the group, the sale of the port towage business to the Spanish company Grupo Boluda Corporación Marítima, which was closed on December 21, 2007, gives BOURBON new maneuvering room in the two remaining Divisions: Offshore (which now includes the salvage business of Les Abeilles International), and Bulk transport. Facing these major changes, Bourbon has decided to update its strategic plan and enlarge it to 2012.

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MV Eagle Launched

36m Catamaran ferry cut 989 A4 The latest Incat Crowther vessel to be built by Richardson Devine Marine (RDM) has been successfully launched and trialed along Hobart’s Derwant River.

The MV Eagle, a 36m Catamaran Ferry, was built for World Heritage Cruises who operate scenic wilderness cruises from their base in Strahan, on Tasmania’s west coast. Eagle was designed to carry 222 passengers with a service speed of 28 knots fully loaded. The main cabin can seat 136 passengers with a mix of reclining seats, seats at tables and comfortable lounges.The vessel provides viewing positions on all decks, including the large enclosed foredeck. Powered by twin MTU 8V4000 M70’s each producing 1555 hp, the vessel reached a top speed of 33.6 knots during trials. The vessel also incorporates special low wash features developed by Incat Crowther, for low speed operation in the sensitive ecological regions of Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River. The vessel was built locally by Richardson Devine Marine and was the first vessel to be built in their brand new, purpose built shipyard. It was RDM’s 17th vessel with Incat Crowther over an eleven year period. In addition RDM have two other Incat Crowther vessels under construction.

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USS Benfold Receives First Install of Shipboard Protection System

Guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) maneuvers as she prepares to moor pierside Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Benfold returned from a deployment as part of Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group, which is currently conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in support of 5th Fleet.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl From USS Benfold Public Affairs SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Benfold (DDG 65) emerged from its 2008 Chief of Naval Operations selected repair availability Jan. 30, equipped with the new Shipboard Protection System (SPS). Benfold is the first ship to be outfitted with SPS Block 1 version, which uses integrated radar and twin cameras to identify and engage threats from high-speed seaborne craft. The system supplies the means to provide a blanket of protection from swifter and smaller scale attacks whether a ship is in port, at anchor or at sea.

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Megastar Shipping launches Singapore-to-Batam, Indonesia service

Megastar Shipping Pte Ltd has announced the addition of a new Batam-Singapore service to its liner trade, operated by two sets of tugs and barges between Singapore and Batam Port on the Riau Islands in Indonesia to provide a daily service Monday to Saturday.

The barges, Global 2 and Global 3, are fitted with cranes capable of lifting up to 30 tons of cargo, towed by tugs, Osco VII and Sumber XXV. The service caters to container cargo, break bulk, LCL and project cargoes.Furthermore, tugs and barges are made available every Saturday to carry project cargo weighing up to 1,500 tons.The service runs Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays with Global 2 departing from Batam at 0900 hrs for Singapore. On Thursdays and Fridays, the Global 3 departs from Batam and is scheduled to arrive in Singapore the next morning at 0630 hrs. On Saturdays, the Global 3 is scheduled to depart from Singapore at 1700 hrs from Jurong Port J3. The service receives cargo daily until 2200 hrs. At Batam, the service berths are at Batu Ampar.

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CMA CGM to develop, operate Maltese box terminal for 65 years

The Maltese government has extended the terminal concession for the world's third largest container shipping company, CMA CGM, to enable the French group's subsidiary to operate Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd in the Port of Marsaxlokk for a further 30 years.

CMA CGM was originally awarded a 30-year concession to operate and develop Malta Freeport Terminals in October 2004. The new terminal concession agreement paves the way for an ambitious expansion and modernisation programme of the port's infrastructure and equipment. These developments come in response to increasing international traffic and will facilitate the berthing of the world's largest vessels, those exceeding 13,000 TEU. The largest shipping operator in Malta with 14 weekly services, CMA CGM will continue to operate Malta Freeport as a common user facility and bolster its transhipment activities given that the port is strategically located at the crossroads of some of the globe's main shipping routes serving Asia, the Middle East, the Aegean, Adriatic and Black Seas along with Europe.

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Maersk to replace 200 Danes with cheaper international crew

Some200 Danish stewards and ratings will be replaced with foreign crew aboard Maersk containerships and tankers flying the flag of Denmark as a cost-cutting measure, AP Moller-Maersk has announced.Most layoffs will happen in six months for ratings while the stewards will be dismissed into 2009.

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China replaces US as Chile's biggest export destination

China replaced the United States as Chile's biggest export destination in 2007, citing statistics of Chile's customs authority.

Statistics show total export value of Chile rose 14.7 per cent to US$65.484 billion, and exports to China came to $10.172 billion, accounting for 15.5 per cent of the total, the report said. Meanwhile, China also surpassed Argentina and Brazil to become Chile's second biggest import source after the US.Entrepreneurs in Chile attribute the rapid growth of Chile-China trade to the bilateral free trade agreement which came into effect in 2006.Cristian Garcia Lorca, chairman of the Chile-China Trade Association, said there is still room for an increase despite the rapid growth, and that Chile should make collective efforts to diversify the country's exports to China.

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