PetroChina raises Nanpu potential

PetroChina has said that proven reserves at its Jidong Nanpu oilfield in north-east China’s Bohai Bay could eventually rise to 2 billion tonnes of oil equivalent.

Including reserves from onshore, the ultimate proven reserves of Nanpu oilfield are expected to hit around 2 billion tonnes. The Nanpu oilfield has combined proven, probable and possible reserves of 1.18 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, the Ministry of Land and Resources certified in August. The present proven reserves are certified at 445 million tonnes oil equivalent. It may take approximately five to six years to confirm the new reserves, and exploration efforts will be made simultaneously with extraction work on current proven reserves, stated officials of PetroChina to media.

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More than 100 Bangladesh fishermen missing

More than 100 Bangladeshi fishermen were missing after at least 15 fishing boats sank in a storm in the Bay of Bengal, witnesses and officials said on Sunday.

The Chittagong port authority issued an international maritime alert advising all ships and fishing boats to remain in shelters until further notice, said Syed Farhad Uddin, the secretary of Chittagong port. Bangladesh's meteorological department said in a special weather bulletin that the monsoonal deep depression, which hit the Bay of Bengal on Thursday night, was moving north-north-west and had reached India's eastern coastal state of Orissa. Flooding was reported in Orissa and the neighbouring state of West Bengal, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people living in low-lying areas, including in the city of Kolkata. Heavy seas were preventing rescue operations, but authorities said they would start a search as soon as the stormy weather subsided. Surviving fishermen said they saw several boats sink.

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Paragon takes delivery of ninth vessel

Paragon Shipping Inc. has taken delivery of the third of the three drybulk carriers that it had contracted to acquire.

The company took delivery on September 17, 2007 the Diamond Seas, a 74,274 dwt Panamax drybulk carrier built in 2001. The Diamond Seas has been chartered to Vespucci Marine C.V. pursuant to a time charter with a remaining period of approximately 32 to 34 months at the charterer's option, at an initial rate of $27,500 per day, gross of commissions. The charter commenced immediately upon the delivery of the vessel to the company. With the addition of this vessel, the company's fleet consists of five Panamax drybulk carriers, three Handymax drybulk carriers and one Supramax drybulk carrier, with an aggregate capacity of approximately 557,196 deadweight tons.

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Grounded container ship re-floated

An 872-ft. container ship that went aground on the Columbia River near St. Helens, Ore., was re-floated.

The Korean flagged container ship, Hanjin Beijing, became grounded a few miles downstream, near Columbia City and St. Helens. There were 15 crew members aboard. The 872-foot container ship was carrying a full load of cargo. Coast Guard Investigators, Marine Inspectors and four tugboats were responding to assess the vessels situation when the vessel re-floated due to changing river and tide conditions. Tugs will escort the vessel to Kalama, Wash., where it will undergo a damage survey prior to departing for Japan, its next port of call.

There is no sign of pollution and initial tank soundings and damage assessments have determined that the vessel is not taking on water. No injuries have been reported.

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APL to deliver LNG buoy system

APL (Advanced Production & Loading) Plc has entered into a contract for the design, engineering, and supply of an offshore liquefied natural gas buoy system for Neptune LNG LLC, a subsidiary of Suez.

The STL technology will be deployed for yet another offshore LNG receiving terminal. The value of the contract is approximately USD 60 million and represents APL’s third order for an offshore LNG buoy system in the U.S. Neptune LNG facility, which will be located approximately 10 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, will provide a substantial new supply of natural gas to New England. Final delivery of submerged turret loading (STL) buoy system is expected to take place in May 2009.

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Evergreen names tenth 7,000TEU S-series ship

Evergreen has named the last of ten 7,024-TEU S-series vessels built in Japan at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Kobe shipyard.

Due for delivery in January 2008, the newly named Ever Salute, is scheduled to join Evergreen Line's transpacific services. The first eight vessels in the series are now operating on the company's new China Europe Shuttle (CES) that links Asia and North Europe, while the ninth vessel, Ever Safety, is scheduled for delivery in October and will also enter the transpacific trade.
The S-series ships have won global recognition for their advanced design features, which minimise their impact on the environment. With many of the world's leading manufacturers and retailers now seeking to work in partnership with ocean carriers who are committed to environment-friendly policies, Evergreen Line says it has been inundated with enquiries for more information on its S-series initiative.

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DP World to build Rotterdam terminal

A consortium led by DP World signed a contract to develop and manage a new container terminal in Rotterdam that will increase the largest European port's current container handling capacity by 40 per cent.

DP World holds a 30 per cent stake in the 900-million euro Rotterdam World Gateway terminal, which is part of the large Maasvlakte-2 development unveiled by the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The Dubai firm's partners in the venture, announced earlier in July, are APL of Singapore, Mitsui OSK Lines of Japan, Hyundai Merchant Marine of South Korea and French shipping line CMA CGM. The agreement covers building the superstructure, equipping and operating the new terminal on the North Sea. The terminal will have a capacity of about four million TEUs per year. It will be phased into operation from 2013 onwards.

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