Dalian Shipbuilding stands at fourth position

Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corp Ltd., China's biggest shipyard, upped its rank to number four in the world in terms of orders at hand.

The company points to a combination of technical innovation and an expanded product range. Strong domestic and overseas demand was a source for the ship plant's new orders, 70 percent of which come from outside the country. Current order volumes mean Dalian Shipbuilding will work non-stop without taking any new orders until 2011.

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Astilleros to build two Voith tractors tugs for DPA

Astilleros Zamakona Pasaia has won the contract to build two Voith tractor tugs for the Dublin Port Authority (Ireland).

The tugs are fitted with a Fi Fi system and are configured to ensure they are environmentally friendly. The tugs will therefore have a low gas emission system, ecological paint, waste and sanitary systems, with special treatment when unloading, and their cutting edge engines include low consumption systems for conventional fuel and Biodiesel. These two new tugs will be operating in the Port of Dublin. Immersed in a restructuring process involving large investments, the shipyard is currently building eight tugs of various types, and has refitted out vessels such as the ‘Elai Alai' tuna fishing boat, and carried out the maintenance of other vessels as important as the ‘Juan De La Cosa' hospital ship.

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Mercator bets big on dredging

Marking its entry into the booming dredging sector, Mercator Lines (MLL), the second largest private shipping firm in India, has bought two dredgers and is in the process of acquiring four more in the current fiscal for a total investment of $300 million.

According to MLL sources, the acquisition of first two one-year-old trailer suction dredgers will be completed by October-end. These dredgers will be registered in India and will fly the national flag. The Mumbai-based shipping company has joined the increasing band of new players in the sector, including Essar group, Adani group and a consortium led by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).

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Whitesea Shipping & Supply to build AHTS vessels

Whitesea Shipping & Supply (WSS) signed for the building of 3+3, 100 Bollard Pull Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessels with Astillero Rio Santiago of Buenos Aires.

The vessels will be built with the highest specifications possible enabling them to deliver a BP of over 100 tons, will have a large carrying capacity for fuel, drill and fresh water, bulk and mud. It will also have a capacity for carrying 40 people and a large deck of 600 M2 for carrying about 2,000 tons of cargo. In addition, the vessel will have FIFI 1 capability and will be highly maneuverable due to their Dynamic Positioning (DP 2) capability. Based in Sharjah since 1981 WSS has a fleet of 30 vessels, which is one of largest independently, owned fleets of offshore vessels in the Gulf region. The above agreement follows an earlier order placed last year by WSS for another 5, 70 BP, AHTS vessels with Keppel Singmarine.

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China Shipping Development to buy four ships

China Shipping Development Co. said it would buy four very large ore carriers (VLOCs) from Chinese shipbuilders for $400m to develop its ore import business.

Each ship will have capacity of 230,000 deadweight tonnes, said the company. The purchase would be funded from the company's own resources or through bank loans, informed company sources. Last month, China Shipping Development said that in another deal, it would buy four large iron ore carriers for $460m.

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Rivals meet for new round of talks

China and Japan have launched their 10th round of talks on the joint development of gas and oil resources in the disputed area of the East China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told media that China would continue to push forward with consultation with a pragmatic attitude so as to reach a joint development plan acceptable to both countries. China’s stance was in accordance with the agreement reached by the two nations' leaders in April, Liu said. Director of the foreign ministry's department of Asian affairs and Head of the Japanese foreign ministry's Asian and Oceania affairs bureau are co-chairing the talks.

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Ships asked to avoid whale route

The endangered right whale is to get extra protection after a safe haven from shipping was set aside off Nova Scotia in Canada.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) ratified a Canadian proposal to designate the 1,800-sq-km zone an "Area to Be Avoided" at a meeting in Denmark. The voluntary restriction asks ship captains to steer around the area. Collisions with container ships are seen as a key threat to right whales, thought to number just 400. The new zone is in the Roseway Basin, south of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is close to a major shipping route between North America and Europe, and scientists say the slow-moving mammals have been killed in collisions with huge cargo vessels. The restrictions will apply between 1 June and 31 December, when whales are known to congregate in the area. Despite being protected since 1937 the right whale is close to extinction, with scientists estimating a global population of only 400.

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