DP World launches 'Promis'

DP World-UAE Region has officially launched the first phase of its new port management operation system 'Promis,' which will gradually replace the existing systems applied in all departments and sections of the company.

The new system has been fully put into application in the Marine Operations Department at Jebel Ali Port, where it proved its efficiency in connecting the various departments through an integrated control and co-ordination centre. This enables the efficient management of all operations to cope up with the needs of the rapidly growing marine industry sectors in the country, including shipping, export and import, most of which are carried out through Jebel Ali Port. Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director of DP World- UAE Region, said: "The implementation of 'Promis' is part of our constant efforts to make use of the most modern technology at DP World. Following the success of 'Promis' in the Marine Operations Department, we will seek in its second phase to connect all DP World departments at Jebel Ali Port to one central network in order to achieve total and efficient co-ordination of operations. This is the first step in making the implementation of this highly efficient technology possible at all DP World terminals around the world." DP World- UAE Region's goal is to build the first fully-automated port control system in the world because our operations require very high level of accuracy and speed.
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Sarawak Slipways delivers 'OMS Terra Nova'

Sarawak Slipways of Miri, Sarawak East Malaysia, has delivered the 1179GT FPSO support vessel ‘OMS Terra Nova'.

A pair of Niigata mains engines each generating 1,838kW at 750rpm power the Niigata Z-Drives on the ABS-classed dynamic positioning vessel. A 520kW Cummins KTA19-M4 engine powers a retractable HRP azimuthing bow thruster as an essential component of the vessel's dynamic positioning system. For electrical requirements, the 50 by 13.8-metre vessel has a pair of Cummins QSM11-powered 250 kW Stamford generator sets. Aft of the main house, a double drum MacGregor Plimsoll double drum anchor handling winch is completely enclosed. A closed circuit television system allows the wheelhouse to monitor action around the winch. The boat has a designed bollard pull of 55 tonnes forward and 42 tonnes aft with the mains at 100 per cent MCR. The ‘OMS Terra Nova', registered in Port Klang, Malaysia, is the first of two being built at he Sarawak Slipways.
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FRO - Acquisition of vessels and time charter contracts

Ships Inc. at a purchase price of $240 million at Hamilton, Bermuda.

The vessels are built in the period 1992 to1996, and will be delivered in the period June 2008 to August 2008. Frontline also announced the agreement to take five double hull Suezmax tankers on time charter from Eigir Shipping for the balance period of existing charters, all with delivery June/August 2008 and redelivery November 2009/April 2010. The vessels are built in the period 1999 to 2006. The acquisitions and chartering-in of the vessels will contribute to further consolidation in the Suezmax market. This also confirms Frontline's regained position as the world's largest operator and owner of double hull Suezmax tonnage in addition to its position as the world's largest independent operator and owner of double hull VLCC tonnage.Frontline's commitment to acquire the five double hull Suezmax tankers and to charter-in further five, confirms the Board's firm belief in the future prospects in the tanker market.

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First Q-Flex ship reaches US

Qatar has sent its first shipment of LNG to be carried on giant new tankers to the United States, Qatargas.

The new tankers have capacity of around 216,000 cubic metres for the gas chilled to its liquid form, about 60 percent larger than Qatargas' current fleet of vessels with capacity of around 135,000 cubic metres. The Qatargas vessel Q-Flex Al Gharrafa is on charter to RasGas carrying a cargo for Cheniere Energy and will discharge at the newly commissioned Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Louisiana. The vessel is owned by a joint venture between Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) and Overseas Ship Holding Group (OSG) and is on long-term charter to Qatargas 2. Equipped with an on-board re-liquefaction system to handle the boil-off gas, Q-Flex vessels are able to deliver almost 100 percent of the cargo to customers. The cargo is the second to arrive at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. The terminal is owned by Cheniere Energy and received its first cargo in April. The terminal cost around $1.5 billion to build and will be capable of reheating and pumping around 2.6 billion cubic feet of gas per day into the US gas system.
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Vinashin exit from steel jv another blow to POSCO's international ambitions

The decision by state-run shipbuilder Vinashin to cancel its $1bn stake in a $5bn steel joint venture with South Korea's POSCO, has not gone down well with shareholders in Hanoi.

The decision is part of an effort by the Vietnamese government effort to cut spending spurred by a 25% inflation rate, and is also expected to impact 40 other projects with a total investment of 6.5trillion dong ($395m). Vinashin has stated that it intends to refocus on the group's core shipbuilding businesses. The move comes as an additional blow to POSCO, which has seen a $12bn plan to build steel mill in India delayed by frequent protests. A POSCO spokesman told that the company would proceed with the steel mill plan on its own. In January, Vietnam approved POSCO's proposal to build the steel mill in Van Phong Bay, near the south-central resort town of Nha Trang, raising environmental concerns in one of Vietnam's most beautiful bays. The steel maker said earlier this year that it aimed to start construction of the plant, which will have annual output of 4m tonnes, next April. POSCO has already started building a separate $1.13bn facility in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau that will produce 1.2m tonnes of hot-rolled steel products annually from next year. However, the group has seen its overseas expansion drive hitting a snag on weakening global economic growth and local protests.

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Sri Lanka national carrier in joint venture with Vardinoyannis shipping dynasty

Ceylon Shipping Corporation, Sri Lanka's national shipping line, has struck a deal with a member of a famous Hellenic shipping dynasty for a joint venture project to transport petroleum products and supply ship fuel.

"We have signed an MoU to see if we can form a joint venture company to go for oil transportation, particularly for CPC (Ceylon Petroleum Corporation) and also to do bunkering in Colombo," a senior company official said. The MoU was signed with Pyrros Vardinoyannis, scion of one of Hellas’ well-known shipping families with interests in shipping as well as petroleum. The joint venture has tentatively been named CSC Kandia. "We have signed a kind of pre-incorporation agreement outlining the objectives of the joint venture," the CSC official said. "The Hellenic party will provide a vessel, either their own or chartered, and invest along with the CSC. We're looking to see whether a joint venture company of both parties can be formed to go into business." The official said the joint venture is aiming to bid for a tender from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the state oil refiner, for a long-term transport contract to ship petroleum products. The CPC is calling tenders for freight. The CPC wants to go for long-term freight contracts to reduce costs and be able to ship bigger parcels, officials said. The CSC official said the joint venture is also eyeing opportunities to do bunkering in Colombo, south Asia's transhipment hub. Bunker prices in Colombo are among the highest in the region and there is scope for more competition, officials said. The Vardinoyannis family network includes shipping and petroleum refining as well as sports. It is one of Greece's close-knit shipping clans that are connected to each other and have considerable influence in the maritime world.
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Navy Christens New Hampshire

The Navy christened its newest Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine "New Hampshire" on June 21, at General Dynamics Electric Boat at Groton, Conn.

This christening marks the fourth time the U.S. Navy named a ship after the Granite State. The service awarded the name to the submarine after third-graders from Garrison Elementary School in Dover, N.H., wrote letters to Congress members, the governor and the Secretary of the Navy. Adm. Kirkland Donald, Naval Nuclear Propulsion director, gave the principal remarks and spoke about the New Hampshire's way ahead. "There still is a lot of hard work to be done," said Donald. "New Hampshire is entering the fleet during a time of conflict. The missions of this new submarine are vital to victory in this war on terrorism." McGuinness added after the ceremony that the New Hampshire symbolizes a new journey of protecting freedom. New Hampshire is scheduled to be commissioned in October at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. As the Navy's next-generation attack submarine, the Virginia class will provide the U.S. Navy with the capabilities it requires to maintain the nation's undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. New Hampshire will have improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and Special Warfare enhancements that will enable it to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements.
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