Sungdong becomes latest yard to build VLCCs

Emerging South Korean yard Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering is moving into the VLCC sector.

According to local South Korean newspapers, Sungdong on March 28 concluded a contract with a European operator to build four 320,000-dwt VLCCs for delivery by 2011. The vessels were reportedly priced at $150 million apiece. With STX Shipbuilding also bagging its first VLCC order in March 2008, VLCC berths are swelling. Tanker prices are consistently rising at the moment. STX’s reported price for its debut VLCCs were $148.5m a piece. Sungdong, located in Tongyeong, has churned out 18 bulkers and product carriers since it upgraded from block factory to newbuilds in 2004.

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Cargo ship runs on wind power

SkySails' first cargo ship, with a huge computer-controlled kite, was recently flagged off by Eva Luise Koehler, wife of German President Horst Koehler.

The ship MV Beluga SkySails started its maiden voyage from the city of Bremerhaven, Germany to South & North America (and back) and the SkySails-System with its 1,722 square-foot towing kite has been put into operation successfully. This new technology can tow cargo vessels and superyachts, reducing fuel consumption by 10 to 35 per cent on annual average. SkySails used Maple symbolic mathematical software for engineers to develop its simulation devices. SkySails GmbH & Co. KG, based in Hamburg, Germany, develops, produces, and distributes towing kite wind propulsion systems for modern means of sea travel and transportation. These systems make the operation of ships more profitable, safe, environment friendly, and independent of scarce oil resources. The SkySails system consists of a large towing kite similar to a paraglider, which is navigated by a fully- automated control pod and is connected to the ship via a towing rope. The control pod performs similar tasks as a paraglider pilot - shortens or lengthens the control cords, thus changing the aerodynamic profile of the towing kite - and governs its flight path.

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Panama flag launches 24/7 service for users

The Panama Maritime Authority which oversees the world‚s largest Merchant Marine fleet is now offering access to the Bureau of Maritime Security on a continued basis, 24 hours a day seven days a week for the users of the Panama Registry.

SEGUMAR services and offices, previously located in New York, have been relocated in Panama, in the new headquarters of the Panama Maritime Authority. However, SEGUMAR New York will continue to attend technical inquiries from the customers area, act as liaison between the General Directorate of Merchant Marine and the customers of the geographical area, follow-up on PSC detentions and the liaison with PSC authorities of the geographical area, print and deliver the Technical Certificates issued and approved by the Segumar Panama Office and receive the payments by Recognized Organizations (ROs) related to the issuance of statutory certificates.
SEGUMAR Panama Office is composed by 19 technicians (available 24/7), all fully bilingual in English and Spanish who will receive all consultations about authorizations, issuances of certificates and will answer on the spot to the queries. They will process requests immediately.

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Petrobras and Mitsui eye biofuels goal

Brazil’s state-run giant Petrobras has formed a joint venture with Japan’s Mitsui Group in a bid to increase the business sustainability of its biofuels segment.

The venture, named Participacoes Nippo Brasileira em Complexos Bioenergeticos SA, aims to promote and sell Brazilian sugarcane ethanol in world markets with a focus on supplying ethanol to Japan. The demand for industrial ethanol in Japan is thought to reach 300 million litres per year. Mitsui and Petrobras also have another joint ethanol project in Brazil. The ethanol venture was signed in February to develop the conceptual design for a 1150 kilometre ethanol pipeline to be built between Senador Canedo municipality in Goias State and Paulinia in Brazil.

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The loss of the 'Bourbon Dolphin'

It is not possible to show that an individual error, whether technical or human, led to the loss of the anchor-handling vessel 'Bourbon Dolphin' on April 12, 2007.

This is the conclusion of the Commission of Inquiry, which submitted its report to Minister of Justice Knut Storberget. Eight individuals died in the accident, while seven survived. The special commission of enquiry chaired by appellate court judge Inger Lyng was appointed by the King-in-Council on 27 April 2007. It has held five open hearings and questioned 38 witnesses, including the survivors, officers from other vessels that participated in the operation, individuals from the owner company, the shipyard, the operator company Chevron, the drill rig 'Transocean Rather', the UK consultancy firm Trident, and The Norwegian Maritime Directorate and the classification society Det Norske Veritas. In addition the Commission has collected and reviewed a large quantity of documentation related to the vessel and the operation in which the 'Bourbon Dolphin' was involved when the accident happened. The Commission has also had access to underwater footage of the casualty taken straight after the capsize and of the wreck in December 2007. The Commission concludes that the proximate causes of the accident were the vessel's change of course to port (west) so as to get away from mooring line no. 3, at the same time as the inner starboard towing pin was depressed, causing the chain to rest against the outer port towing pin. This gave the chain an altered point and angle of attack on the vessel. A combination of weaknesses in the design of the vessel, and failures in the handling of safety systems by the company, by the operator and on the rig, are major contributory factors to the operation of April 12, 2007 coming out of control.

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Mercator Lines (Singapore) acquires first vessel

A subsidiary of India’s Mercator Lines Limited has signed an $65.5m agreement with Tanagra Shipping to purchase a 69,221dwt geared Panamax dry bulk carrier, “YK Titan”.

The vessel, currently hired on a time charter basis by Mercator Lines (Singapore) Limited (MLS), is the first vessel acquired by the company since its IPO listing in Singapore on December 14, 2007 and is scheduled for delivery around Jul/Aug’08.
“Our special selection of geared vessels provides us with a distinct versatility that enhances trading flexibility at the ports of the Indian Sub-Continent where port facilities remain underdeveloped,” says Shalabh Mittal, MLS md and ceo. “Mercator has the largest fleet of geared Panamaxes amongst the Indian-owned shipping companies, hence providing us with a strong competitive edge in the Indian markets.” The acquisition of YK Titan will expand MLS’ owned fleet to eight ships comprising four gearless Panamax and Kamsarmax ships and four geared Panamaxes. MLS has also recently agreed to charter out another 92,500dwt gearless Post-Panamax vessel to COSCO (H.K.) Shipping subsidiary, Refined Success Ltd. The Post-Panamax vessel will be chartered to RSL for a period of approximately 35 to 37 months, at a fixed daily rate of $39,500, beginning anytime between May 01 - September 30, 2009.

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Philippines to ban single hulled tankers from May

The Philippines is said to be poised to enforce a ban on single hulled tankers calling at its ports.

Beginning May 1, the country will join the likes of South Korea, which has set a 2010 deadline on single hulled vessels hoping to call at its ports. Additionally, it is rumored that China will also tighten port entry regulations on single hulled vessels in the next two years. The moves to restrict the use of such vessels in and around Asian ports is in line with International Maritime Organization's (IMO) ongoing rules to phase-out all single hull tankers by 2010 - although the vessels may be operated up to 2015 provided they meet a certain set of conditions. Although the US and European Union have earmarked 2010 for all vessels to comply with the double hull requirement, a number of major Asian maritime countries have allowed such ships to operate in their territorial waters until as far as 2015 - a key factor, as most single hull vessels are engaged in Asian trades. However, environmental concerns have been exacerbated by the recent oil spill involving an single hulled tanker off the coast of South Korea late in 2007, have led the South Korean government to insist on double hulled tankers for more than 55% of annual imports of crude oil in 2008, and more than 60% in 2009. It is likely that the government will enforce the 2010 to reject port entries by all non compliant vessels. The Philippine measure will be a step ahead of South Korea, banning port entry of every single hull tanker starting May.

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