Tokyo: Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Japan’s largest shipping line by sales, cut its fleet expansion plan by up to 60 ships as slowing growth decreases demand for shipping.
Nippon Yusen will boost its fleet to 940 vessels at the end of March 2011, compared with earlier plans to increase it to 1,000 ships, spokesman Atsuto Kato told Bloomberg in a phone interview today in Tokyo. The shipping line had 776 vessels at the end of March. Nippon Yusen will revise its medium-term profit forecasts next year, Kato said. “The global recession is hurting demand,” Kato said. “We will announce a revision in our forecasts next year.” The shipping line predicts net income of 140 billion yen ($1.51 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, and 145 billion yen for the next two fiscal years. Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reported the company’s revised expansion plan earlier today. Nippon Yusen shares rose as much as 5.1 percent to 492 yen in Tokyo and traded at 491 yen as of 9:29 a.m. They have fallen 44 percent this year. itsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Japan’s most profitable shipping line, said earlier this month it may lower its earnings forecast this fiscal year as daily charter rates for its largest coal and iron-ore vessels have tumbled 98 percent to a record low. Mitsui O.S.K. may not meet its targets, Kenichi Yonetani, a managing executive officer at the company said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Dec. 3. The world’s largest merchant fleet operator may mothball vessels because of the drop in daily charter rates. Demand for commodity transport has slid as China, the world’s biggest user of iron ore, has slashed steel production and economic growth in the U.S., Europe and Japan is forecast to shrink next year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008
'Baltic Queen' launched and christened
The christening and launching ceremony of a big cruise ferry ordered by Tallink took place at STX Europe's shipyard in Rauma last Friday (December 5).
The contract worth US$233.35 million was signed in April 2007. The vessel will start cruises next spring from Tallinn to Stockholm via Mariehamn. The vessel was christened the ‘Baltic Queen’ by Mea Mehtonen, the four-year-old daughter of Marketing Manager of Tallink, Henry Mehtonen. According to plans, the vessel will start operating on the Tallinn (Estonia) - Stockholm (Sweden) via Mariehamn (Aland) route in spring 2009. This vessel is the fifth sophisticated cruise ferry STX Europe is building for Tallink. In addition, a fast ferry called ‘Star’ was delivered to Talllink last spring from the Helsinki yard. At 212 metres long and 29 metres wide, ‘Baltic Queen’ will be one of the biggest cruise ferries in the Baltic Sea, having capacity for 2,800 passengers.
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The contract worth US$233.35 million was signed in April 2007. The vessel will start cruises next spring from Tallinn to Stockholm via Mariehamn. The vessel was christened the ‘Baltic Queen’ by Mea Mehtonen, the four-year-old daughter of Marketing Manager of Tallink, Henry Mehtonen. According to plans, the vessel will start operating on the Tallinn (Estonia) - Stockholm (Sweden) via Mariehamn (Aland) route in spring 2009. This vessel is the fifth sophisticated cruise ferry STX Europe is building for Tallink. In addition, a fast ferry called ‘Star’ was delivered to Talllink last spring from the Helsinki yard. At 212 metres long and 29 metres wide, ‘Baltic Queen’ will be one of the biggest cruise ferries in the Baltic Sea, having capacity for 2,800 passengers.
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Panama Canal to award contract for third dry excavation for Expansion Program
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has received six bids for the third of four dry excavation contracts under its Canal Expansion Program.
The submissions will be thoroughly reviewed and a winner will be determined later this month for this next phase of the project. The scope of work included in the contract encompasses the excavation, removal and disposal of eight million cubic meters of material. It also calls for the construction of approximately 2.5 kilometres of access and the clearing of 190 hectares of land bearing munitions and explosives of consideration (MEC), remnants from former US military training in Panama. Ultimately, when this and the fourth contract are completed, a critical access channel linking the new Pacific locks with the Canal’s existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal) will have been created. Similar to the first and second dry excavation projects, this contract will be awarded to the firm with the lowest-priced bid that meets all of the requirements stated in the request for proposals. “With the prices offered today by the bidders for this contract, the Canal’s Expansion program remains on-track and on-budget,” said Executive Vice President of Engineering and Program Management Jorge L Quijano.
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The submissions will be thoroughly reviewed and a winner will be determined later this month for this next phase of the project. The scope of work included in the contract encompasses the excavation, removal and disposal of eight million cubic meters of material. It also calls for the construction of approximately 2.5 kilometres of access and the clearing of 190 hectares of land bearing munitions and explosives of consideration (MEC), remnants from former US military training in Panama. Ultimately, when this and the fourth contract are completed, a critical access channel linking the new Pacific locks with the Canal’s existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal) will have been created. Similar to the first and second dry excavation projects, this contract will be awarded to the firm with the lowest-priced bid that meets all of the requirements stated in the request for proposals. “With the prices offered today by the bidders for this contract, the Canal’s Expansion program remains on-track and on-budget,” said Executive Vice President of Engineering and Program Management Jorge L Quijano.
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Monday, December 8, 2008
Strategic Marine delivers base for world-class dry dock
Western Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine has delivered the base pontoon of the world’s most technologically advanced floating dry dock to the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson, south of Perth.
The dock’s 4,400-tonne steel base was delivered after Strategic Marine’s Vietnamese facility at Dong Xuyen Industrial Zone completed construction of the 99 metre long and 53 metre wide steel structure, launching it on November 18. The dock base was then lifted aboard the Dockwise submersible vessel ‘Teal’ for its 16-day journey to the AMC’s Common User (CUP) facility at Henderson, with the Teal submerging to float off the structure before it was towed into the facility by three tugs. Once the US$40.8 milloin dock is handed over to the AMC next July, it will achieve a global “first” with a newly developed digital memory to give it a fully automated capability. Developed by Californian company IDAC West, this smart technology will allow the AMC to bid for a range of major construction and repair projects across the marine, defence and resources sectors, which is expected to inject billions of dollars into the WA economy over the next 25 years.
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The dock’s 4,400-tonne steel base was delivered after Strategic Marine’s Vietnamese facility at Dong Xuyen Industrial Zone completed construction of the 99 metre long and 53 metre wide steel structure, launching it on November 18. The dock base was then lifted aboard the Dockwise submersible vessel ‘Teal’ for its 16-day journey to the AMC’s Common User (CUP) facility at Henderson, with the Teal submerging to float off the structure before it was towed into the facility by three tugs. Once the US$40.8 milloin dock is handed over to the AMC next July, it will achieve a global “first” with a newly developed digital memory to give it a fully automated capability. Developed by Californian company IDAC West, this smart technology will allow the AMC to bid for a range of major construction and repair projects across the marine, defence and resources sectors, which is expected to inject billions of dollars into the WA economy over the next 25 years.
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New container terminal project at Yantian Port
Shenzhen Yantian Port Group and Hutchison Port Holdings have signed a Heads of Agreement for the joint construction and development of the Shenzhen Yantian East Port Phase I Container Terminal Project (East Port Phase I) at Yantian Port.
The East Port Phase I Project will cover a total area of 138.56 hectares. It will also have a total quay length of 1,442 metres split between four deepwater berths: two 6,600TEU berths and two 9,500TEU berths. A joint team will soon be assembled to carry out preparation work for the construction of this phase. In order to optimize the use of resources and lower operational costs, Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT) will manage East Port Phase I along with existing facilities at West Port, Phases I, II, and III, and the Expansion Project of Yantian Port. The signing of the HoA was celebrated at a ceremony attended by Guests of Honour Xu Zongheng, Mayor of Shenzhen, and Vice-Mayor Zhang Siping. Representatives from YPG and HPH also attended.
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The East Port Phase I Project will cover a total area of 138.56 hectares. It will also have a total quay length of 1,442 metres split between four deepwater berths: two 6,600TEU berths and two 9,500TEU berths. A joint team will soon be assembled to carry out preparation work for the construction of this phase. In order to optimize the use of resources and lower operational costs, Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT) will manage East Port Phase I along with existing facilities at West Port, Phases I, II, and III, and the Expansion Project of Yantian Port. The signing of the HoA was celebrated at a ceremony attended by Guests of Honour Xu Zongheng, Mayor of Shenzhen, and Vice-Mayor Zhang Siping. Representatives from YPG and HPH also attended.
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Rivergate Finishes Work on MY Steve Irwin
Rivergate Marina and Shipyard has completed the new helipad onboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s flagship, the MY Steve Irwin.
Rivergate’s bid to fit the new helipad was accepted due to a design to move the helipad from the hangar to the fore deck. “Some of greatest ideas come from utilizing tried and tested technology in a new and different way,” said Mr Steve Fisher, General Manager of Rivergate. “The engineers, Marine Engineering Consultants, devised a system of a retractable the landing pad from the hangar out to the aft deck using a system of genoa tracks commonly used on sailing vessels. This system dramatically reduced the cost and ultimately, won us the bid.” After three months of construction, the M.Y. Steve Irwin now has a purpose-built landing pad and hangar on its stern for their next campaign. Used to defend whales against illegal whaling operations in the Southern Ocean, the M.Y. Steve Irwin completed the construction over the last three months, close to the home of its name sake, the late Wildlife Warrior, Steve Irwin.
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Rivergate’s bid to fit the new helipad was accepted due to a design to move the helipad from the hangar to the fore deck. “Some of greatest ideas come from utilizing tried and tested technology in a new and different way,” said Mr Steve Fisher, General Manager of Rivergate. “The engineers, Marine Engineering Consultants, devised a system of a retractable the landing pad from the hangar out to the aft deck using a system of genoa tracks commonly used on sailing vessels. This system dramatically reduced the cost and ultimately, won us the bid.” After three months of construction, the M.Y. Steve Irwin now has a purpose-built landing pad and hangar on its stern for their next campaign. Used to defend whales against illegal whaling operations in the Southern Ocean, the M.Y. Steve Irwin completed the construction over the last three months, close to the home of its name sake, the late Wildlife Warrior, Steve Irwin.
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China demands advance manifests
Effective from January 1, China’s Customs agency will demand ships to report advance manifest data for shipments of cargo on vessels that load at foreign ports and are destined for or to be transshipped in ports in China.
For box ships, the information is to be submitted 24 hours before loading at a foreign port; for non-container vessels, the requirement is 24 hours before arrival at the first port within China’s customs territory. Likewise, advance manifest data must be submitted for cargo loading out of ports in China. For container vessels, the deadline is 24 hours before loading. For non-container vessels, the requirement is two hours before loading.
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For box ships, the information is to be submitted 24 hours before loading at a foreign port; for non-container vessels, the requirement is 24 hours before arrival at the first port within China’s customs territory. Likewise, advance manifest data must be submitted for cargo loading out of ports in China. For container vessels, the deadline is 24 hours before loading. For non-container vessels, the requirement is two hours before loading.
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