Transas Wins Thailand Simulator Contract

Transas has been awarded a contract for the design, supply, commissioning and training of a full Mission Ship Handling Simulator from Precious Shipping Public Company Limited, Thailand.

PSL is a pure dry cargo ship-owner operating in the small handy size sector of the Tramp freight market. It is one of the largest companies in the world operating in this segment. Transas Marine Pacific (the sales and service arm of Transas in the Asia Pacific Region) completed the commissioning, operator and instructor training on Feb 29th 2008. The Simulator is a 270 degree Full Mission Ship Handling Simulator housed in Transas Consoles and is integrated with a GMDSS simulator. The system makes use of Transas Evaluation & Assessment Systems coupled with Transas audio and video loggers to successfully refer to removing the possibility of human operational error. PSL commented that the company rules and regulations follow the highest safety standards in operating ships, with a view to eliminating or at least minimizing human injury, loss of life and environmental damage. PSL has procured the simulator to train seafaring personnel at Management, Operational and Support levels through in-house courses conducted by the PSL Training Centre. In doing so, the company will continue to provide a stimulating and rewarding working environment with opportunities for self-development and growth for all its employees.

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Chowgule Ports & Infrastructure to develop minor port

Chowgule Ports & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (CPIPL) has signed an agreement with Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) to develop a minor port at Jaigad in the Ratnagiri district.

The company, which is co-promoted by Chowgule Steamships, is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) floated to undertake the port infrastructure development and ship repair projects at Jaigad, writes the Business Standard. The port development projects would be undertaken under BOOST basis, the company informed the BSE.

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Maritime conference looks at macro issues

Macro factors were high on the agenda at the Asia Pacific Maritime 2008 Conference.

Supply and demand in shipping and the ways in which goods are moved around were among the pressing issues discussed on the opening day yesterday. Maersk South-east Asia chief executive Jesper Praestengaard opened the discussion by saying that 2008 will be 'an interesting year for the maritime sector'. He highlighted three factors that will affect container shipping in particular. They are constantly rising oil prices; increasing environmental concerns; and the demise of the liner conferences. First, an average 60 per cent or so increase in fuel rates from US$300 to US$490 per tonne of bunker over the past year is a critical issue that needs to be addressed, he said. Liners need a fair and transparent way to adjust rates according to such rapidly changing circumstances. Another issue that needs to be looked at urgently is what will happen to the long-established tradition of liner conferences after October, when new regulations will oblige their dissolution, Mr Praestengaard said. A major issue brought up during conference sessions yesterday was how to get sufficient crew to keep up with rapidly growing fleets. A debate ensued on how to attract people to seafaring, amid growing prosperity in nations that have traditionally provided crews, while making sure that the rapid promotion of current manpower is commensurate with skill levels. A discussion on intermodal transport solutions revealed potential problems but also many projects that countries throughout the region are putting in place to cater to future demand.

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Rolls-Royce bags Petrobras order

Rolls-Royce is to build four additional gas turbine power generation packages valued at $73 million for use on Petrobras' P-56 semi-sub.

This brings the number of Rolls-Royce gas turnbine generator sets for Petrobras offshore projects to 27 since 2001, with a total value of more than $300 million. The new order is for RB211-powered generating set packages for the $1.2 billion P-56 semi-submersible platform, which is part of the development of the Marlim Sul field, located off Rio de Janeiro in the Campos basin. Four RB211 dual-fuel generating sets will be installed in two modules and will provide complete electrical power for the P-56 platform. The platform will be located 124 kilometers off the coast and will eventually be connected to 22 wellheads at a depth of 1700 metres. Eleven of the wellheads will be oil and gas producers, with the remaining 11 used to inject water to increase production flow. The 46,500-ton platform is designed to operate for 25 years and will be capable for processing and treating 170,000 barrels of liquids and producing 100,000 barrels of oil, 6 million cubic metres of natural gas, and injecting 45,000 cubic metres per day of water into the reservoir. Rolls-Royce will package the gas turbine generating sets at its plant in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The RB211 gas turbine engines will be manufactured at the Rolls-Royce facility in Montreal, Canada.

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'Condor Vitesse' holed

Fast ferry services have been thrown into disarray because of strong winds and damage caused to 'Condor Vitesse'.

The Condor Vitesse hit the wall shortly after leaving the harbour. After circling St Malo for about two hours, the ferry returned to the harbour. The boat was punctured above the water level, so no water came in. She has sustained some hull damage, and has been withdrawn from service for repair. Condor is making alternative arrangements for stranded passengers. 'Commodore Clipper', 'Condor Express' and 'Condor 10' are being routed to St Malo. Condor has apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers and say they are doing all they can to ensure that services are maintained and disruption is kept to a minimum. Meanwhile all HD Ferries sailings have been cancelled.

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Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM revamps China-US west coast services

Maersk Line, together with MSC and CMA CGM, are in the process of reorganizing their respective services between China and the US west coast, to launch three separate joint services in April.

The first service, which MSC has named the 'Eagle Express', will cover Central and Southern China, and will call at Hong Kong, Yantian, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Qingdao and Los Angeles. The second service, the 'New Orient Express', will cover Central and Northern China, making port of calls at Dalian, Tianjin Xingang, Shanghai, Ningbo, Long Beach and Oakland. Each of these two new services will deploy five 8,000TEU ships, with four operated by Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company and two vessels operated by CMA CGM.

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Filipino focus for latest IMEC training initiative

The International Maritime Employers’ Committee has launched a series of initiatives aimed at raising both the volume and quality of maritime education in Asia.

London-based IMEC, whose 128 members operate some 7,200 ships and employ more than 185,000 seafarers, is focusing initially on the Philippines which provides 35% of its member companies’ seamen and about 20% of officers. Explaining the background, IMEC Chairman Ian Sherwood of Delta Marine said his members were no longer happy to see Filipino cadets trained to work merely as junior officers, but wanted to prepare them for future employment in senior officer positions. Similarly, IMEC wants to ease the path for seafarers who wish to study for officer positions. IMEC’s Cadet Training Enhancement Program, launched a few weeks ago and boosted by the appointment of training consultant Captain Cedric D’Souza, will see the sponsorship of 50 specially selected Filipino cadets enlisted on IMEC training courses at the University of Cebu. A further 200 students will be taken on next year. A group of 14 maritime lecturers from various Filipino colleges has just completed a module of the IMEC-sponsored course at the Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton. The group is now receiving further training in the Philippines and will complete studies in September. IMEC delegations are also to visit both Manila and Vietnam in June to assess the feasibility of developing further maritime training resources.

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