Vietnam's Vinalines to build seaports, berths nationwide

Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) plans to build a range of major seaport developments nationwide with some of the projects involving foreign direct investment, reports Vietnam Economic Times.

First will be the construction of the Van Phong international transit seaport in the central province of Khanh Hoa, which will have an annual cargo handling capacity of 300 million tonnes and cater to ships weighing up to 400,000 tonnes, said the report. Construction of the Lach Huyen deepwater port in the northern city of Hai Phong is also scheduled to begin during the first three months of the year, along with the building of five new berths for ships of up to 20,000 tons at Hai Phong's Dinh Vu port.
A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of berths 2, 3 and 4 at Cai Lan port in northern Quang Ninh province is also slated to be held this quarter. Berths 2, 3, and 4 will be designed to receive 40,000-ton ships, the report said. Vinalines also intends to cooperate with US and Danish firms to build two container berths at Cai Mep-Thi Vai port in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and one container port in Ben Dinh-Sao Mai. The report did not specify when construction on these two projects would begin. However, between this year and 2011, the cooperation with overseas investors is expected to be extended to cover the construction of a further two container berths in Ba Ngoi port on the Cam Ranh Gulf in central Khanh Hoa province, as well as a seaport in the Son Tra peninsula in central Da Nang province, said the Vietnam Economic Times.

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Titan Makes Headway on New Flame Salvage

Titan Salvage, Crowley Maritime Corporation's salvage and wreck removal company, reported that its salvage team on site in Gibraltar responding to the wreck of the bulk ship New Flame is preparing to begin cutting the stern section of the ship from the sunken bow so that the stern can be re-floated and towed away.

The New Flame, which sank following a collision while exiting the port of Gibraltar in August of last year, now lies in the open ocean off Gibraltar's Europa Point with the forward four cargo holds of the ship lying on the ocean bottom, and cargo hold No.5 and the engine room still floating while being maintained by TITAN's salvage pumps. The ship is loaded with over 42,000 tons of scrap metal, which was being transported from New York Harbor to Turkey for recycling.

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Luhrs Marine makes key appointments

Luhrs Marine Group, the USA-based boatbuilding organisation, has announced that the top sales and marketing positions at two of its subsidiaries have been filled by veteran executives of the group.

Mike Usina is now vice-president, sales and marketing duties for the Florida-based Luhrs Corporation, having left the same position at Silverton Marine Corporation to assume the role. Usina joined New Jersey-based Silverton Marine in 1995 and served as vice-president, sales and marketing there since 2002. He first entered the marine industry in 1981, serving in sales and marketing for Thunderbird Formula, Donzi Marine and Trojan Yachts before joining Silverton. The second appointment is that of Brett Marshall, Silverton Marine's national sales manager for the past five years, who has been promoted to director, sales and marketing. With over 20 years' experience in the marine industry, Marshall will head the manufacturer's domestic and international dealership organisation in addition to his marketing responsibilities.

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R Marine expands to Melbourne

Australian luxury boating dealership network R Marine has expanded to Melbourne, with an agreement between Australian boatbuilder Riviera and dealership Jacksons Marine, based in Sandringham.

Rebranded as R Marine Jacksons VIC, the dealership — which opened its doors in the 1950s — joins a network of 13 R Marine dealers that stretches from Auckland, New Zealand to Fremantle, Western Australia.

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Strategic Marines to open Mexican Yard

Strategic Marine reported that it will open its first shipyard in the Americas in early 2008 following a joint venture bid with Servicios Navales E Industriales S.A. DE C.V. (SENI) to build two 52m aluminum crew boats for Arrendadora Ocean Mexicana S.A. de CV (Blue Marine Offshore) in Mexico.

Strategic Marine already operates yards at its HendersonWestern Australia, Tuas in Singapore and Dong Xuyen Industrial Zone, Ba-Ria Vung Tau in southern Vietnam. The $11.9m contract will see the two vessels operated by Blue Marine Offshore for its Pemex contract in the Gulf of Mexico. Work on the contract is scheduled to commence this year, before which Strategic will work with SENI to upgrade its existing maintenance facility at Mazatlan on the Mexican west coast. Both vessels will be based on Strategic’s Deep V High Speed Planing Hull design and will be operated by a 10-man crew with a 60 passengers capacity in addition to 100 tonne of cargo at a cruising speed of 20knts. The company believes the contract win was heavily influenced by its powertrain decision which provided greater hull efficiency and hence reduced fuel consumption. Strategic Marine chairman, Mark Newbold, said the Mazatlan yard would provide Strategic Marine with the ability to target both the North and South American offshore and para-military markets. Design of the two vessels will be undertaken at the company’s Henderson facility.

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S. Korea Refiner Steps Up Single Hull Ban

South Korea's GS Caltex will reportedly ban crude shipments on single-hulled oil tankers from next year, according to a Reuters report, well ahead of international laws that timetable their phase out.

The move is significant in Asia, particularly if others follow suit.
Pending the actions of others, the move could have a ripple effect on the shipbuilding industry and the need for double hull tankers. The industry is currently in the midst of a record orderbook, with much shipbuilding capacity booked through 2011.

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Petro-Canada Reports O&G Discoveries

Petro-Canada is reporting oil and gas discoveries at two exploration wells: one in the U.K. sector of the North Sea and one in deep water off Trinidad and Tobago, according to a report on The Canadian Press.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the Cassra-1 well in deep-water Block 22 was completed as a significant natural gas discovery. Petro-Canada operates the well and holds a 90 per cent interest. The second discovery was in the British sector of the North Sea, with the successful completion of the 13/21b-7 well. The well encountered two oil columns that total nearly 80 metres when combined.

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