Marine BizTV

Monday, July 6, 2009

A new vessel from Sealink’s Miri Yard

The Sealink Slipways, located at Miri in the Sarawak Province of East Malaysia, has recently delivered a 53.8 by 13.8-metre offshore and service vessel to Rederij Groen of the Netherlands.

Built to the same Conan Wu & Associates design as the 2008 ‘Venture G’, ‘Maria G’s’ key distinction lies in its switch to Cummins for main propulsion. A pair of Cummins KTA50-M2 mains, each generating 1,193kW at 1,800 rpm also power the vessel, and the main’s turn two-metre diameter propellers in nozzles on 19.5cm diameter shafts through Twin Disc MG5506 gears with 6:1 reduction. A total of three Cummins QSM11DM-powered 245 kW generators meet the vessel’s electrical requirements, and the deck contains a hydraulic crane (TTS GP 320-10-15,0). The ‘Maria G’ is also fitted with a Schottel STT 330 LK FPP tunnel type five tonne bow thruster.

IMO Council makes 2010 the 'Year of the seafarer'

The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), meeting for its 102nd session in London (29 June to 3 July 2009), agreed that next year’s theme for World Maritime Day will be “2010: Year of the Seafarer”, endorsing a proposal from IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos.

The theme - to be celebrated throughout the year and also at a World Maritime Day parallel event in Argentina - was selected to give IMO and the international maritime community the opportunity to pay tribute to the world’s seafarers for their unique contribution to society and in recognition of the risks they shoulder in the execution of their duties in an often hostile environment. In proposing it, SecretaryGeneral Mitropoulos said that “the unique hazards confronting the 1.5 million seafarers of the world - including pirate attacks, unwarranted detention and abandonment - coupled with the predicted looming shortage of ships’ officers, make it ever more incumbent to take immediate and effective action to forestall a situation from developing in which ships are not manned with sufficient skilled personnel”. The theme complements IMO’s ongoing “Go to Sea!” campaign to attract new entrants to the shipping industry, which was launched in November 2008 in association with the International Labour Organization, the “Round Table” of shipping industry organizations and the International Transport Workers’ Federation. It is also in line with the comprehensive review, initiated in 2006, of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978 and its associated Code, updated texts of which are due to be considered by a Diplomatic Conference scheduled to be held in Manila, Philippines, in mid-2010.

BLRT rebuilds bunker vessels

The Estonian yard group BLRT Grupp has found a niche market – converting single-hull bunker vessels into double-hull vessels in accordance with MARPOL regulations.

The group’s yard, Tallinn Shipyard, recently rebuilt three Estonian bunker vessels, which now have double hulls. The vessels’ cargo capacity was reduced by some 18–20 per cent. BLRT is negotiating with Murmansk Shipping Company to rebuild the bunker vessel Kotlas and the waste disposal barge Randal.

BPA to buy three berths from PNC

Seoul: South Korea's Busan Port Authority (BPA) has confirmed a deal to acquire three berths at Pusan New Port Co (PNC) at an estimated price of 490 billion won ($387 million), writes Portworld.

The berths, with a total capacity of 1.5m teu, were owned by financially troubled PNC, which started the sale negotiations with BPA in April this year. A BPA spokeswoman said operation of the berths would now be put out to tender with a final bidding date on July 8, it was reported. The prime bidder will be announced on July 10 and BPA hopes the three berths will start operations in October.The spokeswoman said some interested parties include PSA International and an association of domestic near-sea operators whose members include KMTC, Heung-A and Nam Saung Shipping. PNC was originally scheduled to commence operations of the three berths in May, but BPA stepped in because of questions over PNC's ability to take on the additional berths, given its shaky financial position.

PetroVietnam to Set Up Oil JV for Devt Offshore Venezuela

State-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, or PetroVietnam, said Friday it will set up an oil joint venture with Venezuelan Petroleum Corp. in the second half of this year.

The joint venture, PetroMacareo, will produce oil in the Junin-2 offshore block in Venezuela's Orinoco belt, PetroVietnam said in a statement. State media said in May that Venezuelan Petroleum Corp., a subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil firm PdVSA, will hold a 60% stake in the joint venture, while PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corp., a leading production unit of PetroVietnam, will hold the remaining 40%. PetroMacareo will be able to produce a combined 200,000 barrels a day of heavy and extra heavy oil from the Junin-2 block, which will then be processed into light crude oil to supply to an oil refinery in Vietnam, said Voice of Vietnam radio.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Pipavav Shipyard to launch IPO

India: Pipavav Shipyard is planning to launch an initial public offering by the end of September but must receive approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

A representative from the shipyard said the company hoped to bring forward the date of the IPO.The shipyard plans to raise some US$104 million through the IPO. The company will use the money to build several VLCCs and LNG tankers. In 2008, Pipavav received approval for the issue and sold over 868 million shares.

Safmarine launches 'Safari 3'

Safmarine has enhanced its existing Safari (Southern Africa–Far East) service with the introduction of a new string dedicated to the Indian Ocean Islands and Mozambique.

According to Safmarine’s SA Trades Executive, Alex de Bruyn: ”Our new Safari 3 string will complement Safmarine's existing service offering and market coverage of Southern Africa. Not only will it improve our direct coverage of the niche ports of Toamasina and Maputo to and from Asia, but it will also strengthen Safmarine's service into South Africa by taking the Indian Ocean Islands out of the westbound rotation of the main Safari string where our customers require fast transit times. “The new string - which launches on Thursday, July 2, 2009 - will also deliver market leading transit times to and from Mozambique and Madagascar; it will be particularly attractive to shippers wanting a faster and more reliable service between Maputo and the Indian Ocean Islands. For example, the westbound transit time between Madagascar and Maputo is only four days.” Safari 3 is a weekly service linking Asia to Mozambique and the Indian Ocean Islands with direct calls to Tanjung Pelepas, Port Louis, Toamasina and Maputo.

Transocean Shelf Explorer Starts Drilling on Veninsky Block

On June 30, the Transocean Shelf Explorer jackup started drilling on the Veninsky Block at the Sakhalin-3 project, in which a 74.9% stake belongs to Rosneft and the remaining 25.1% are held by Sinopec.

The drilling was ordered by the Project operator, Veninneft LLC, which had scheduled the drilling of two exploration wells during the 2009 field season.The first Veninsky Block well will be drilled at a distance of roughly 10 kilometers from the shore, with the actual drilling site lying 25 meters beneath the sea. The second well will be located on the North-Veninsky structure, almost 9 kilometers offshore and 21 meters deep. The drilling operations will last till the middle of October.

Eestinova took delivery of Emi Leader

Onega Shipbuilding Yard in Petrozavodsk has delivered Emi Leader to the Estonian shipping company Eestinova OÜ in St. Petersburg.

Its the second vessel in a series of four units. These multipurpose dry-cargo carriers have been designed by Marine Engineering Bureau in Odessa for transportation between European ports. The Malta-flagged Emi Leader, 4,500 DWT, is 89.99 metres long and 14 metres wide. She has a cruising speed of 11.5 knots. The vessel can load 140 TEUs and has ice class 1B. Orimi Ship in St. Petersburg has ordered the other two vessels in the series.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

'Fairplay VIII' donated to Hamburg museum

Germany: Foundation Hamburg Maritim took delivery of a 47-year-old Hamburg harbour tug yesterday (July 2) from Fairplay Towage.

The 447kW ‘Fairplay VIII’ was moored at its new berth at Sandtorhafen, Hamburg’s new museum-port.Joerg Mainzer, Managing Director of Fairplay-Towage, handed one of the original brass-keys of the tug’s wheelhouse as well as the ship’s papers to Reinhard Wolf, Chairman of the board of the foundation. The tug, built in 1962 at the Theodor-Buschmann Yard, which has belonged to the Fairplay-Group since 1957, will forthwith be moored at Sandtorhafen and will be open to visitors.

Unifeeder to Gayle

Danish Unifeeder will commence service to Gävle Container Terminal, GCT, in August. Unifeeder transports other shipping companies containers to European ports as Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Antwerp.

“This is very positive and an obvious indication of the status of GCT. Today we are the largest East Coast container port in Sweden, and by the awaited connection to Rotterdam our operation conditions will be further improved”, says GCT Marketing Manager Håkan Bergström in a comment. Unifeeder will service Gävle by weekly calls.

Analysis: Focus on India - South Asia Rig Count Heats Up

Exploration in India has grown dramatically in the last decade through the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) program.

With its first formal open exploration round in 1997, India is currently conducting its eighth bidding round for exploration and development opportunities on- and offshore the South Asian country. Prior to the open bidding process, only 11% of the country's sedimentary basins were under exploration, and after the first seven rounds of bidding, approximately 50% of India's sedimentary basins are under exploration.

Evergreen and Coscon merge southern services

Taiwan: Asian container lines Evergreen and Coscon are to merge their two jointly-operated services between the Far East-South America and Far East-South Africa into a single route, reports news site MGN.

The move was, the companies said, a bid to cope with soaring bunker prices and the poor state of the box market. The new ESA service will operate with a total of eleven 3,500 teu vessels of which Evergreen will deploy seven with four coming from Coscon.

China Iron Ore Demand to Boost Shipping, Morgan Stanley Says

Chinese iron ore usage will boost demand for shipping as imports of the steelmaking raw material will remain cheaper than domestic output Morgan Stanley said. “We believe Chinese iron ore demand will put incremental pressure on the seaborne market, as domestic mines are uneconomical,” Morgan Stanley said in a note to clients today.

The bank raised price estimates for the steelmaking ingredient by 42 percent for Australia and 27 percent for Brazil. Steelmakers in China, the world’s biggest producer of the alloy, may trim the price cut they’re seeking for iron ore and aim to agree to annual supply contracts by the end of this month, Tian Zhiping, vice president of Hebei Iron & Steel Group, said by phone today. China’s demand for iron ore has boosted the Baltic Dry Index, a measure of dry-bulk shipping costs, as much as fivefold this year and led to record queues of ships waiting to discharge consignments of the raw material.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Pilot project in the Baltic Sea

In 2009, the EU Commission plans to establish a project with a value of EUR 2 million with the intention to “Cut sulphur emissions and nitrogen oxides in the Baltic Sea by launching a pilot emission trading scheme between stakeholders which are willing to participate on a voluntary basis”.

Until August 7, member states and the industry can hand over proposals for the design of the emissions trading scheme.The EU Commission also wants to “include shipping in research and preparatory work of the Commission to complement its ongoing work in order to identify and define the conditions for a possible trading system for both SO2 and NOx in future legislation.” In 2008, the European Commission initiated two studies focusing on a trading scheme. Through the first study the EU Commission has started to investigate the legal and technical feasibility of establishing an open system of emissions trading between ships and land-based emission sources in the EU for emissions of SO2 and NOx. In the second study the EU-commission investigates the feasibility of using remote sensing to identify ships emitting substantially more air pollutants than the required legal limits in areas such as the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel.

BP hires Subsea 7 for Valhall work

STAVANGER, NORWAY: Subsea 7 Inc. (OSE: SUB) has been awarded a contract from BP Norway for engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning (EPIC) of the Valhall flank gas lift pipelines and wellhead platform riser caisson project in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

The contract has an approximate value of US$40 million.The scope of work involves engineering, procurement and fabrication of subsea and platform components, installation of two eight-inch diameter pipelines, one 3.7 miles (6 km) long and the other 4.3 miles (7 km) long, and one new caisson on the wellhead platform and subsea tie-in spools at the Valhall Flank South and Valhall Flank North platform locations.The project management and engineering will be performed at Subsea 7's offices in Stavanger, Norway. The offshore operations are due to take place in two campaigns commencing in the summer of 2010.

Nor-Shipping 2009 Defies Economic Downturn

Nor-Shipping 2009 was the largest in the event’s history, dating back to 1967. 1105 exhibitors from 52 countries participated.

By comparison, Nor-Shipping 2007, which took place in the midst of a market boom, had 830 exhibitors from 42 countries.The Leading Voices conference that opened Nor-Shipping 2009 on Tuesday, June 9 got the show off to a favorable start. Attended by Norway’s King Harald V, the conference featured leaders of global stature, including IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos, and Richard Fain and Wilh. Wilhelmsen of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ASA CEO Ingar Skaug discussed shipping’s role in the fight against climate change. CNN’s Todd Benjamin led round-table discussions about the industry’s and regulators’ efforts to contain greenhouse gas emissions.

STX claims its Dalian yard is largest in the world

Dalian: A shipyard that has laid claim to be the largest in the world in terms of physical size held a launching ceremony Wednesday at Changxing Island in Dalian.

STX (Dalian) Shipbuilding Co Ltd, a subsidiary of the STX Group from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the investor of the project, said the yard was now the largest in the world in terms of physical area. The firm did not reveal the cost of the yard.Used for final assembly of big ships, the drydock is 460 m long, with a width of 135 m and a height of 14.5 m. It is able to accommodate two ships each with a dead weight tonnage of 320,000 tons to be built simultaneously, said the company.The former largest shipyard in the world in terms of physical size was built by ROK-based Hanjin Heavy Industries in the Philippines. The Dalian dock is 1 m longer and 1 m wider than its Filipino counterpart, the STX (Dalian) Shipbuilding said while its physical area dwarfs the Hanjin yard. Changxing Island is filling up fast with new yards and port projects. It is situated about two hours drive from downtown Dalian. Dalian is already home to China's largest shipbuilding yard, DSIC, which recently scooped the shipbuilding trophy at the annual Seatrade Asia Awards.

Moore Stephens: Shipping confidence up

Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry have shown a slight improvement over the past three months, according to the latest shipping confidence survey from international accountant and shipping consultant Moore Stephens.

But there are high levels of concern about the harmful effects of the glut of newbuildings that will continue coming onto the market over the next year.The average confidence level expressed by respondents, on a scale of 1 to 10, was 5.5, compared to 5.4 in the previous survey in February 2009. Owners, managers and charterers all exhibited a small increase in confidence in connection with the shipping markets in which they operate. Confidence among brokers, meanwhile, was marginally down, and the lowest among all categories of respondent. Geographically, the highest confidence level was recorded by respondents in Asia.Comments generally reflected the downturn in economic markets worldwide. One respondent noted: “The volume of work is the same, but the payments are late, and that is what is killing us”. But there was also some optimism, with another respondent commenting: “The shipping market will be stable until September, and then should slowly improve”.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Zamil launches ‘Algosaibi 51’

Zamil Offshore Services has inaugurated the diving support vessel ‘Algosaibi 51’, built especially for Khalifa Abdulrahman Al Gosaibi Diving Company.

The vessel is 49 metres in length and twelve metres at the beam. It is powered by twin engines each delivering 1,200kW. The vessel will be equipped with advanced navigation and control systems. ‘Algosaibi 51’ is expected to be delivered two months prior to the contract deadline after the completion of its outfitting.

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