Mitsui-MAN B&W Diesel Engine Achieves World Record

This world record is established when MES completes the construction of Mitsui-MAN B&W 6S50MC-C Mark 7 at its Tamano Works for Sanoyasu Hishino Meisho Corporation (with president Mr. Shinich Kimura), who will install such engine to a chip carrier of 4.35 million cubic feet to her owner, Mitsui OSK Lines.

In the wake of growing demand for new shipbuilding boosted by active ocean cargo transport, the production of diesel engine by MES is significantly increasing recently. Only after two years and five months since MES achieved 50-million horsepower production in October 2005, it establishes accumulated 60 million-horse power record since it produced the first engine in 1928. The annual production in fiscal year 2006 was 4.01 million horsepower and will be 4.63 million, the record high annual production, in fiscal year 2007. Since the technical agreement with B&W, Denmark (presently MAN B&W) in 1926 on the production of diesel engine, MES has been producing engines with excellent records as a leading engine manufacturer of the world. MES is also strengthening the after-service sector of the engine business including the newly developed Marine Diesel Engine Performance/Life Expectancy Diagnosis System (product names “e-GICS” and "e-GICSW”) to which the communications satellite and internet are fully utilized and is committed to ensure the high quality customer service.

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China Shipping to spend $3.3 bln buying vessels

China Shipping Development plans to spend 23 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) to buy 59 vessels over the next five years, more than doubling its capacity to ride an anticipated upswell in global trade.

The oil and coal carrier, which is building up a fleet of more than 180 ships to meet the heavy resource needs of China's fast-growing economy, the world's fourth-largest, currently maintains a total capacity of 7.82 million deadweight tonnes (dwt), Chairman Li Shaode told. The 59 vessels, to be delivered in the years until 2012, come with a collective capacity of 8.69 million dwt and will more than double the firm's shipping capability, he said. The amount to be spent exceeded previous expectations. Li told early this month that his firm, which began shipping iron ore for steel making last year, intended to spend about $2.8 billion over five years to double its capacity.

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China Shipping to spend $3.3 bln buying vessels

China Shipping Development plans to spend 23 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) to buy 59 vessels over the next five years, more than doubling its capacity to ride an anticipated upswell in global trade.

The oil and coal carrier, which is building up a fleet of more than 180 ships to meet the heavy resource needs of China's fast-growing economy, the world's fourth-largest, currently maintains a total capacity of 7.82 million deadweight tonnes (dwt), Chairman Li Shaode told. The 59 vessels, to be delivered in the years until 2012, come with a collective capacity of 8.69 million dwt and will more than double the firm's shipping capability, he said. The amount to be spent exceeded previous expectations. Li told early this month that his firm, which began shipping iron ore for steel making last year, intended to spend about $2.8 billion over five years to double its capacity.

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Ports' distillate fuel plan is official

The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach officially adopted an incentive scheme for ships to use distillate fuel in the port area.

"This joint effort demonstrates once again that these two ports are world leaders in aggressively and dramatically advancing environmental protection," said Los Angeles Harbor Commission President S. David Freeman. Under the scheme, the two port authorities will subsidize shipowners to use distillate fuel instead of fuel oil bunkers in the main engines of their ships. Sulphur oxides (SOx) will be cut by as much as 11% and particulate matter (PM) by 9%, according to their figures. "Ships are the No. 1 pollution source here at the ports and we don't want to keep waiting for state regulations to kick in,"said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Mario Cordero. Next year, regulations making distillate fuel mandatory are expected to be in place, introduced by the California Air Resources Board (ARB). The incentive program is expected to cost the two ports around $18.5 million and will be a one-year program starting July 1 and expiring June 30, 2009 - unless extended by the two commissions. "This program will incentivize our customers to start the process of switching over to low-sulphur fuel well ahead of future state emissions rules," said Los Angeles port Executive Director Dr. Geraldine Knatz. To qualify for the incentive scheme, the ships must also participate in the ports' voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Program, limiting speeds to 12 knots.

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Tianjin 300,000-tonnage crude oil dock to start operation

The 300,000-tonnage crude oil dock in the northern Chinese municipality of Tianjin is expected to start trial operation in September 2008.

Having built the body of the hydraulic works, the company is looking to complete the whole project in August. By far, RMB740 million (US$102.2 million) has been invested in the project, compared with the plan of RMB1.379 billion (US$190.5 million) total investment. After achieving completion, the wharf apron of the port can berth 100,000 to 300,000-tonne very large crude carriers (VLCC) and have an annual handling capacity of 20 million tonnes. Port of Tianjin's area is to be expanded to 100 square kilometres from the current 30 square kilometres by 2010. The port is building several new terminals, which includes 22 berths of more than 10,000 tonnes with an aggregate capacity of 138 million tonnes. After these projects are finished, the port's capacity will be raised to 290 million tonnes.
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Fatal crane crash halts work at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding

Three people were killed and two were injured when two 600-tonne gantry cranes owned by CSSC subsidiary Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co collapsed at a work site in the Pudong New Area shortly after midnight.

Three workers in the cranes' cabs, which were more than 10 meters above the ground, are said to have been killed at the scene, while two security guards on the ground were injured. Both guardshave been sent to Shanghai East Hospital and one is said to be in a critical condition. Although the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation, an initial investigation is said to have shown that one leg of the cranes suddenly broke when the vehicle was lifting goods, leading to the collapse. The work at the yard is at a standstill pending the outcome of the investigation and that Hudong-Zhonghua may remain closed for up to six months.

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Posidonia reaches historic heights

The global maritime community is converging to Athens en masse next week as the world’s most international shipping exhibition is gearing up for its 21st edition.

With over 1,700 confirmed participants from 80 countries, 21 national pavilions and an exhibition floor spanning a one-level area of 28,100 square metres at the Hellenikon Exhibition Centre (HEC), Posidonia 2008 is opening its gates on June 2nd for what the Greek Minister of Mercantile Marine, the Aegean and Island Polic described as the most extraordinary shipping industry gathering in history. Leading international companies representing the full spectrum of shipping and vertical sectors including shipbuilding and repairyards, shipbrokers, insurance, P&I Clubs, banks, port authorities, classification societies, shipping surveyors, vessel registration, suppliers, high-tech equipment and technical support will exhibit at the four-day event. Speaking on behalf of the event’s organisers, Themistocles Vokos, Chairman, Posidonia Exhibitions said that this year’s show has exceeded all expectations and broken any previous record. “Posidonia is now officially the most prestigious and sought after shipping industry forum. By connecting the international maritime community, showcasing the latest technological innovations, debating environmental initiatives and highlighting future trends, Posidonia is the catalyst of developments taking shape in the global economy’s most influential growth drivers.”

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