'Condor Vitesse' holed

Fast ferry services have been thrown into disarray because of strong winds and damage caused to 'Condor Vitesse'.

The Condor Vitesse hit the wall shortly after leaving the harbour. After circling St Malo for about two hours, the ferry returned to the harbour. The boat was punctured above the water level, so no water came in. She has sustained some hull damage, and has been withdrawn from service for repair. Condor is making alternative arrangements for stranded passengers. 'Commodore Clipper', 'Condor Express' and 'Condor 10' are being routed to St Malo. Condor has apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers and say they are doing all they can to ensure that services are maintained and disruption is kept to a minimum. Meanwhile all HD Ferries sailings have been cancelled.

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Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM revamps China-US west coast services

Maersk Line, together with MSC and CMA CGM, are in the process of reorganizing their respective services between China and the US west coast, to launch three separate joint services in April.

The first service, which MSC has named the 'Eagle Express', will cover Central and Southern China, and will call at Hong Kong, Yantian, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Qingdao and Los Angeles. The second service, the 'New Orient Express', will cover Central and Northern China, making port of calls at Dalian, Tianjin Xingang, Shanghai, Ningbo, Long Beach and Oakland. Each of these two new services will deploy five 8,000TEU ships, with four operated by Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company and two vessels operated by CMA CGM.

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Filipino focus for latest IMEC training initiative

The International Maritime Employers’ Committee has launched a series of initiatives aimed at raising both the volume and quality of maritime education in Asia.

London-based IMEC, whose 128 members operate some 7,200 ships and employ more than 185,000 seafarers, is focusing initially on the Philippines which provides 35% of its member companies’ seamen and about 20% of officers. Explaining the background, IMEC Chairman Ian Sherwood of Delta Marine said his members were no longer happy to see Filipino cadets trained to work merely as junior officers, but wanted to prepare them for future employment in senior officer positions. Similarly, IMEC wants to ease the path for seafarers who wish to study for officer positions. IMEC’s Cadet Training Enhancement Program, launched a few weeks ago and boosted by the appointment of training consultant Captain Cedric D’Souza, will see the sponsorship of 50 specially selected Filipino cadets enlisted on IMEC training courses at the University of Cebu. A further 200 students will be taken on next year. A group of 14 maritime lecturers from various Filipino colleges has just completed a module of the IMEC-sponsored course at the Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton. The group is now receiving further training in the Philippines and will complete studies in September. IMEC delegations are also to visit both Manila and Vietnam in June to assess the feasibility of developing further maritime training resources.

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Filipino focus for latest IMEC training initiative

The International Maritime Employers’ Committee has launched a series of initiatives aimed at raising both the volume and quality of maritime education in Asia.

London-based IMEC, whose 128 members operate some 7,200 ships and employ more than 185,000 seafarers, is focusing initially on the Philippines which provides 35% of its member companies’ seamen and about 20% of officers. Explaining the background, IMEC Chairman Ian Sherwood of Delta Marine said his members were no longer happy to see Filipino cadets trained to work merely as junior officers, but wanted to prepare them for future employment in senior officer positions. Similarly, IMEC wants to ease the path for seafarers who wish to study for officer positions. IMEC’s Cadet Training Enhancement Program, launched a few weeks ago and boosted by the appointment of training consultant Captain Cedric D’Souza, will see the sponsorship of 50 specially selected Filipino cadets enlisted on IMEC training courses at the University of Cebu. A further 200 students will be taken on next year. A group of 14 maritime lecturers from various Filipino colleges has just completed a module of the IMEC-sponsored course at the Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton. The group is now receiving further training in the Philippines and will complete studies in September. IMEC delegations are also to visit both Manila and Vietnam in June to assess the feasibility of developing further maritime training resources.

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Estonia is first to sign Wreck Removal Convention

The Republic of Estonia has become the first country to sign, subject to ratification, the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007.

The Ambassador of Estonia to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Dr Margus Laidre, signed the Convention on behalf of Estonia at IMO Headquarters in London on Friday, 28 March. The Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention was adopted in May 2007 and will provide the legal basis for States to remove, or have removed, shipwrecks that may have the potential to affect adversely the safety of lives, goods and property at sea, as well as the marine environment. The Convention is open for signature until 18 November 2008 and, thereafter, will be open for ratification, accession or acceptance. It will enter into force twelve months following the date on which ten States have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary General of IMO, Efthimios E. Mitropoulos. Mr. Mitropoulos welcomed the signature by Estonia and urged other States to follow suit, at the earliest opportunity, so that, “as intended, the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, once in force, can fill a gap in the existing international legal framework by providing the first set of uniform international rules aimed at ensuring the prompt and effective removal of wrecks beyond the territorial sea, thereby also contributing to the IMO goals of safe navigation and marine environmental protection.”

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South Boats launch 5th wind farm service vessel

South Boats Special Projects announce the commissioning of another Offshore Wind Farm Service Vessel for Offshore Wind Power Marine Services of Conwy, North Wales for a long-term contract with Dong Energy on Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm.

'Offshore Progress' is a first of class South Catamaran 47/15-metre Alloy Wind Farm Service Vessel and measures 15.7-metre length overall, 6.3-metre beam overall, has a draft of 0.9 metres and has a lightship displacement (including fluids) of 23.5 tonnes. This new design follows on from the success of previous 14-metre vessels currently in service on Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms in the UK and Q7 Offshore Wind Farm off the Dutch coast. Offshore Wind Power Marine Services are a specialist supplier of Wind Farm Service Vessels and 'Offshore Progress' joins existing vessels 'Offshore Provider' and 'Fastcat' in the OWPMS fleet. OWPMS also have two further vessels on order with South Boats for 2009 delivery. The company has extensive experience operating their vessels at North Hoyle, Burbo Bank, Barrow and Q7 Offshore Wind Farms and already has several long-term contracts in place for their existing and ordered vessels. Ben Colman of South Boats Special Projects said 'We are delighted with the performance of 'Offshore Progress', she clearly demonstrates the growing demand for faster, more fuel efficient and highly specified offshore wind farm service vessels.

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Singapore, Indian navies conduct missile exercise

India and Singapore’s navies conducted a 14-day exercise using combined surface-to-air missile live firing for the first time, Singapore’s defense ministry said.

Held in the Bay of Bengal from March 17 to March 29, the event has been held annually since 1994 and started with anti-submarine warfare exercises. The Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) ‘has grown in scope and complexity, evolving to advanced naval water exercises covering the air, surface and sub-surface dimensions,’ a statement said. The Singapore navy sent a frigate, two missile corvettes and a landing ship tank. The Indian navy deployed a destroyer, a frigate, two corvettes, two missile boats, two fast-attack craft and one offshore patrol vessel, together with a submarine. Both navies also deployed maritime patrol aircraft. In addition to SIMBEX, the statement said both navies have regular interactions including exchange programs and courses.
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