Type 45 destroyer- Diamond to cut the waves

The Royal Navy's newest and most powerful Type 45 destroyer – Diamond, was
launched from BAE's shipyard at Govan, on the Clyde.

Several thousand members of the public attended the launch, including over three thousand local schoolchildren. The Type 45 destroyers are the larger and more powerful replacement for the existing Type 42s. The destroyer will carry the world-leading PAAMS system (Principal Anti-Air Missile System) which is capable of defending a Type 45 and ships in its company from multiple attacks by the most sophisticated anti-ship missiles.
Read More

India on maritime body’s high table

India has been elected to the executive council or governing body of the International Maritime Organization for the term 2008 – 2009.

This signals a change in international perception of India as an emerging maritime trade power. India polled 127 votes, more than the traditional European colonial maritime powers like France, the Netherlands and Germany. This time an election was held for the ten seats on the IMO's high table. Belgium, a new entrant and one of the 11 contenders for the 10 seats, forced the elections, challenging the monopoly of more recognized maritime trading nations. At a time when 98 per cent of global trade is conducted by sea, this victory will ensure India pays closer interest to commercial shipping and the navy.
Read More

CNOOC’s first offshore wind project

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has put into operation its first offshore wind power station, built to supply electricity to the Suizhong 36-1 oilfield in Bohai Bay.

The wind power station was built; with an investment of 40 million yuan ($5.4 million).The station kicked off trial operations on 8 November and had generated 200,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity by 26 November. The generating unit was fixed to a jacket structure of CNOOC's Suizhong 36-1 oilfield, 70 kilometers offshore in northeast China's Bohai Bay. A five-meter-long submarine cable links the unit with the central platform of the oil filed for power supply. "This is the first wind power station in the world designed for power supply of offshore oil and gas fields," said Zhou Shouwei, CNOOC's deputy general manager. The Chinese government has been promoting the use of renewable energy, including wind power and solar power, amid efforts to shift from heavy reliance on coal consumption.
Read More

Japan stands by its renewed 'scientific' whale slaughter

Luis Pastene's name is virtually unknown in the anti-whaling countries of the Western world.

It is his work that drives Japan's 'scientific whaling' program, which in turn provoked international outrage. Japan's giant 8030-tonne factory ship, the Nisshin Maru, and three smaller whaling boats, left for the Antarctic Ocean on the biggest scientific whale hunt in history. The fleet is intent on slaughtering as many as 935 minke whales, 50 fin whales, and, crucially, 50 of the vulnerable humpback whales protected by an international moratorium since 1966. Back at the laboratories of the institute, not far from the world's biggest fish and seafood market at Tsukiji, Dr. Pastene and his colleagues will scrutinize thousands of samples taken from blubber, livers, earplugs, ovaries and testes, bones, lungs and even the skin of foetuses borne by cows at the time of their death. The institute is the centre of Japan's scientific whaling program. Critics say its research is a sham designed to allow the country to continue commercial whaling.

Read More

Cruise ship 'Queen Victoria' launched

Fincantieri's Venice-Marghera shipyard held a ceremony to launch the cruise ship 'Queen Victoria', ordered by Carnival Group for its British brand, Cunard Line.

The ship will be delivered at the end of 2007. 295 metres long and with a gross tonnage of around 90,000, the 'Queen Victoria' is one of the largest panamax ships ever built. With 1,007 cabins - including a high proportion of luxury suites and mini suites, of which 864 with a sea view, and the majority with an external balcony, the ship is the natural evolution of the concept of the ocean liner following Cunard's long-standing tradition. Godmother to the 'Queen Victoria' was Maureen Ryan, who has worked for Cunard since 1963. Carol Marlow, President and Managing Director of Cunard Line, and, representing Fincantieri, the Chairman Corrado Antonini, the General Manager of the Merchant Ship Business Unit, Enrico Buschi, and the director of Marghera shipyard, Paolo Capobianco were present at the ceremony.
Read More

Tui sets new production records

Production from the Tui Area Oil Project off New Zealand’s Taranaki coast has set new records, with output last week totaling 345,117 barrels or an average of 49,302 barrels per day.

This is the highest weekly production total to date, joint venture partner New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) said. Since the start of production on 30 July, the Tui project has produced about 4.7 million barrels of oil, with 4.5 million barrels having been shipped, mainly to Australian refiners. These exports have contributed to record New Zealand trade figures for August, September and October. Economists have predicted that Tui production will add 0.3% to New Zealand’s GDP in the September quarter. Australian Worldwide Exploration (AWE) operates the Tui oil field with a 42.5% interest. Partners in the project are Mitsui (35%), NZOG (12.5%) and Pan Pacific Petroleum (10%).

Read More

Launch and naming YN-712 'Toisa Pegasus'

IHC Merwede is proud to announce the launch of a new Diving Support/Offshore Construction vessel for Bermuda based Toisa.

The Launch will take place on Saturday November 24, 2007 at Merwede Shipyard and will be performed by Mrs Lorena Vázquez de Hernández, spouse of Mr José Hernández Cantarell, President CICSA. In March 2006 Merwede Shipyard was granted this order because of its ability to design and offer a fixed price for the vessel including the integration of the complete owner furnished dive spread and cranes within the required short delivery time. The vessel has been built under yard No 712. Merwede Shipyard has developed the ship in close co-operation with Toisa (Owners) and Sealion Shipping (Managers). It will be a fully Dynamically Positioned Construction Class Diving Support Vessel, suitable for worldwide operation. As an enhanced sister vessel to the Toisa 'Proteus', 'Polaris' and 'Perseus', with a fully in-built Saturation Diving System, the vessel can, and will, support a wide variety of subsea operations worldwide.
Read More