DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 319 Distribution : daily to 31500+ active addresses 15-11-2014 Page 1 Number 319 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Saturday 15-11-2014 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites. Dockwise SUPER SERVANT 3 anchored off Singapore yesterday loaded with a module for the Wheatstone project in Australia Photo : Piet Sinke – CLICK at the photo or hyperlink in the text to view the high resolution photo(s) !
Transcript
DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 319
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Number 319 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Saturday 15-11-2014
News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.
Dockwise SUPER SERVANT 3 anchored off Singapore yesterday loaded with a module
for the Wheatstone project in Australia Photo : Piet Sinke – CLICK at the photo or hyperlink in the text to view the high resolution photo(s) !
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Your feedback is important to me so please drop me an email if you have any photos or articles that may be of interest to the maritime interested people at sea and ashore
OW Bunker collapse to shake up world's largest ship fuel market Singapore
By Jane Xie and Florence Tan
The collapse of OW Bunker in the wake of an alleged fraud at its Singapore trading unit will shake up the city state's more than $25 billion marine fuel market, the world's largest, as major companies expand and small ones shrink amid a credit squeeze. OW Bunker, a leading supplier of marine fuel oil known as "bunker", filed for bankruptcy in Denmark a week ago after it revealed losses of at least $125 million at Dynamic Oil Trading, prompting banks to refuse to provide new credit lines. In a market that relies heavily on open credit, traders fear the incident could create a domino effect, pulling more companies down with it. "Credit is so tight, only the big boys will survive," said independent
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energy consultant Ong Eng Tong. A slew of creditors have launched legal actions in Singapore to reclaim debts, while fears of counterparty exposure have pushed up credit costs and driven bunker fuel premiums to hit more than 2-year highs. Fuel oil sellers are demanding payment guarantees for oil sold to bunker companies, while the cost to insure such deals is also set to climb as claims relating to OW Bunker roll in. Shipowners are also heading to other ports in Asia, with Hong Kong sellers getting up to 20 percent more inquiries from shipowners following OW's collapse.
The NORD PYXIS seen loading bunkers at the Singapore Eastern working anchorage yesterday
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Shipping Association have said there was no disruption to bunker supply in the city state.Backed by strong credit lines and balance sheets, major oil companies BP, Royal Dutch Shell and independents Glencore, Vitol and Hin Leong could expand their market share, but small companies in the supply chain are vulnerable, traders said."Small traders, who used to rely on open credit or sleeving are the ones suffering the most," a bunker fuel trader in Singapore said Because of the sheer size of Singapore's bunker fuel market, with close to 43 million tonnes of oil sold last year, there are more companies supplying ship fuel than the 63 bunker fuel companies licensed by MPA, traders said. Smaller players act as retailers, borrowing credit lines and bunker delivery notes from big companies that act as middlemen for a fee, and using the credit buy fuel oil for delivery to shipowners. The process is known in the industry as sleeving. "It's not always a case of poor credit, more a case of risk and bringing something to the table for a counterparty," a second bunker fuel trader said. "This is a very competitive market and things like this can make a difference in getting the support from a supplier."There are no official figures on how many such firms there are in Singapore, but a trader's estimate put it at 30 to 40. A fuel oil trader said a shake-up in the messy industry was long due, but others expect the business model to continue once the incident blows over."The underlying model makes money...it's still very much a relationship business," a second fuel oil trader said. "It all will have an impact but the question is about duration. Maybe we will see the likes of Shell increase delivered business." Rising costs has also tweaked a peculiarity in the Singapore market, where oil delivered to ships is cheaper than fuel oil sold from tanks. Delivered bunker prices are now about $8 per tonne higher than ex-wharf fuel oil, traders said. Source : Reuters (Additional reporting by Rachel Armstrong; Editing by Alex Richardson)
VBMS has successfully completed a remote platform tie-back project - platform L8-P4 to L6-B - for Wintershall Noordzee B.V. The scope of work for VBMS consisted of the engineering, installation and burial of a 19.5 kilometre
umbilical, at a water depth of 29 meters. The J-tube pull-ins were performed directly from the cable-laying vessel Ndurance via its quadrant system without any interruption or temporary lay-down of the umbilical. VBMS deployed a specialised burial vessel for the post-installation jet trenching. A follow-up as-laid survey of the umbilical route verified that the burial exceeded the requirements in order to ensure optimal protection of the umbilical. The L6-B platform is a remote tie-back to L8-P4 in the L blocks in the Dutch sector of the North Sea, located approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Den Helder. The
platform is the newest addition to the Wintershall offshore assets in this sector.VBMS CEO Arno van Poppel: “As VBMS, we expanded our services with Oil & Gas SURF to allow more comprehensive and cost-effective solutions for our clients. Through thorough engineering and efficient offshore operations we enabled Wintershall to facilitate the safe and efficient installation of the control umbilical in a timely manner.”
Cutterdredge E Stroud and Tug Miss Carolyn seen at Destin Harbor, FL
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Seaspan Corporation (SSW) announced that it accepted delivery of a 10000 TEU containership, the MOL Breeze. The new containership, which was constructed at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., is Seaspan’s sixth 10000 TEU SAVER design containership delivered in 2014. This is the ninth 10000 TEU vessel using Seaspan’s fuel-efficient SAVER design constructed at Yangzijiang The MOL Breeze will commence an eight-year, fixed-rate time charter with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (“MOL”). The ship is the third of a total of five 10000 TEU SAVER design vessels, and the ninth of a total of eleven vessels, to be chartered by Seaspan to MOL. The delivery of the MOL Breeze expands the Company’s operating fleet to 77 vessels. Seaspan provides many of the world’s major shipping lines with creative outsourcing alternatives to vessel ownership by offering long-term leases on large, modern containerships combined with industry leading ship management services. Seaspan’s managed fleet consists of 109 containerships representing a total capacity of over 840,000 TEU, including 27 newbuilding containerships on order scheduled for delivery to Seaspan and third parties by the end of 2016. Seaspan’s current operating fleet of 77 vessels has an average age of approximately seven years and an average remaining lease period of approximately five years. Source: Seaspan Corporation
ReCAAP piracy incidents report in October 2014
The number of piracy incidents stands at 11 for 2014, so far.
The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) reported two cases of siphoning of ship fuel/oil in October 2014, bringing the total number of such incidents to 11 so far this year.ReCAAP's Information Sharing Centre said that it is concerned and will continue to work closely with the littoral states in monitoring the situation, and will encourage increased surveillance and enforcement.
It reported a total of 18 incidents in October 2014, the bulk of which were petty thefts (60%). This was two incidents less than the 20 reported in October 2013, following a decline in the number of incidents during July, August, and September 2014.The number of Category 2 (moderately significant) incidents reported in October 2014 was the lowest among the five-years reporting period, while the number of Category 3 (less significant) incidents and petty thefts reported in October 2014 were fairly consistent with the same period in 2013, the Asia's piracy and thefts monitoring centre said.
Of the 18 incidents reported in October 2014, seven occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), three in Indonesia, three in the South China Sea (SCS), three in Vietnam, one in Bangladesh, and one in India.The siphoning incidents involved a Vietnam-registered product tanker, Sunrise 689 on 9 October 2014 and Thai-registered tanker, Suratchanya on 15 October 2014. Both occurred in the South China Sea and involved the pirates siphoning off gas oil/gasoline from the tankers, damaging their communications equipment on board, and the stealing of the crew's personal belongings and cash. In the Sunrise 689 incident, a crew member was slightly injured. Source : ihsmaritime360
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SAN CLEMENTE NAMED IN SINGAPORE
Last Thursday the brandnew Hamburg-Sud 332 mtr long 10.500 TEU container vessel SAN CLEMENTE arrived at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore to be christened / named , direct after the ceremony the 119.000 GRT / 123.130 DWT vessel departed form the terminal to continue her service , the German flagged vessel is powered by an B&W 7S90ME-C9 engine with an output of 40.670 kW for a maximum speed of 21 knots.
One of Leg 2 key questions is answered – the seven teams will sail all the way from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi.The event’s security experts gave the all-clear this week following a big decrease in piracy. In the 2011-12 edition, the boats were shipped from the Maldives to Sharjah during the same stage because of the threat of attack from pirates in
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the Indian Ocean. They were also transported over the same stretch by the ship for Leg 3.Since then the problem
of piracy in the Indian Ocean has decreased dramatically following pan-national intervention and the only activity that has been recorded recently has been in the
far west, well outside the route of the Volvo fleet. Race CEO Knut Frostad emphasised that he and Race Director Jack Lloyd would continue to work with the event’s maritime security experts, monitoring the situation on a daily basis.“If anything changes regarding the risks on this leg – and the next – then we can change the plans at any time. The safety of the sailors is, of course, paramount.”
89 Crowley Vessels Honored with Environmental Awards in Recognition of 968 Combined Years of Safe Operations
Eighty-nine Crowley Maritime Corp.-owned and operated vessels were honored with Certificates of Environmental Achievement for years of safe operations during the eleventh-annual Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) awards ceremony today. Crowley received an award for each vessel that worked at least two consecutive years without an environmental incident. The 89 vessels have logged a combined 968 years of service without incident, a true testament to Crowley’s commitment to keeping harbors and oceans clean.
Each year, CSA invites all owners and operators of vessels that work on oceans or inland waterways to nominate their vessels for Environmental Achievement awards. Approximately 1,386 vessels from 58 companies, including Crowley, were recognized this year at the ceremony held in Washington, D.C. The honored vessels accumulated a total of 10,749 years of safe operations. Forty-seven of Crowley’s vessels have gone without incident for 10 or more consecutive years, including the following: Saturn, 45 years; Kuparuk River and Kavik River, each with 44 years; and Sag River, 39 years. Crowley has been honored with Environmental Achievement Awards each year since at least
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2005.“Safety is the No. 1 core value at Crowley. This includes the safety of our people and those around them as well as the environment,” said Mike Golonka, vice president, ship management. "These awards recognize the rigorous work of our crews, who ensure that our vessels operate safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.” Accepting the awards on behalf of Crowley were Andy Legge, manager, operations integrity; Steve Sears, captain; Mike Lamb, captain, Pelican State; Mark Richards, port engineer, Cape T’s; Tim Weber, chief engineer, Cape Decision; Tara Weber, engineer, Cape Edmont; and Kevin Cameron, port captain.
Crowley published a Safety in Towing Handbook two decades before the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, evidence of the company’s long history of environmental protection. This commitment has developed into a strong company culture of environmental stewardship, in which the company focuses on greener technology, more environmentally friendly operations and partnerships that help build a greener planet.
Crowley’s EcoStewardship initiatives have led to special recognition over the years from several government organizations including the U.S. Coast Guard's William Benkert Award for Environmental Excellence, Washington Department of Ecology Exceptional Compliance Program, Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force Legacy Award and the United States Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Award Designation, among others.Jacksonville-based Crowley Holdings Inc., a holding company of the 122-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, is a privately held family and employee-owned company. The company provides project solutions, energy and logistics services in domestic and international markets by means of six operating lines of business: Puerto Rico Liner Services, Caribbean and Latin America Liner Services, Logistics Services, Petroleum Services, Marine Services and Technical Services. Offered within these operating lines of business are: liner container shipping, logistics, contract towing and transportation; ship assist and escort; energy support; salvage and emergency response through its TITAN Salvage subsidiary; vessel management; vessel construction and naval architecture through its Jensen Maritime subsidiary; government services, and petroleum and chemical transportation, distribution and sales. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found on the Internet at www.crowley.com.
This week the diving support vessel SEVEN ATLANTIC has made a portcall in the seaport of Den Helder for a
London P&I Club advises closer focus on masters’ night orders
The London P&I Club says its ship inspection department has recently observed a number of negative findings in connection with masters’ night order books. In the latest issue of its StopLoss Bulletin, the club notes, “The value of masters’ night orders should not be under-estimated in the quest for the efficient and safe performance of a ship, particularly during port calls. Invariably, deep-sea masters function as ‘day-workers’ and, with an early morning ETA at the pilot station, there is a great deal for ships’ officers and
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crew to prepare after a long voyage. Efficient planning in advance can help an operation to be carried out in a controlled and safe manner with the minimum of stress for all parties.The master’s night orders are traditionally a set of bespoke instructions for overnight bridge officers to digest and act upon to ensure that, by the time a ship reaches the pilot station, all required crew are at their stations and all physical preparations are made, and the ship is in all respects ready to enter port. The club says, “When writing night orders, there are a number of points which could be included in the instructions to be considered by the master. These include calling the master with sufficient time available to appraise the full navigational situation and to develop proper night vision before reaching the pilot station or taking the con, and calling the pilot station to confirm ETA and berthing prospects. Masters’ night orders should also seek to ensure that day crew are called at a reasonable time so that items such as anchors are cleared, pilot boarding arrangements are safely in place, and flags/call signs are ready to be run up.“Consideration should also be given to calling the duty engineer to ensure that engines are on standby suitably in advance of being required for manoeuvring. It is also important to endeavour to ensure that bridge manning is increased as required, that mooring ropes are prepared, and that bridge arrival checklists are completed, and required systems checked.
Independent Consultants and Brokers in the International Tug and Supply Vessel market (offices in London and Singapore)
INTERTANKO elects Nikolas Tsakos as its new Chairman
INTERTANKO’s Council of Members met this week in Dubai and elected Nikolas Tsakos as Chairman of the Association. Tsakos has been a member of Council since 2002 and Vice Chairman since 2012. He succeeds Graham Westgarth who stepped down after five years in post. “The last five years of leading the independent tanker owners have been both rewarding and challenging,” said Westgarth. “The industry has been through one of the worst recessions in recent history, while at the same time we have had to deal with the scourge of piracy and a plethora of new legislation. This meant that INTERTANKO had to remain focused on our mission of providing support to our members, being a respected voice in the legislative environment and raising awareness of the importance of shipping to the global economy, while at the same time increasing our emphasis on the commercial
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sustainability of the industry.” “I believe that INTERTANKO has continued to exhibit real leadership in all these areas and is well-placed to deal with the challenges of the future,” continued Westgarth. “The selection by Council of Nikolas Tsakos as the next Chairman is an inspired one and I am certain he will continue to lead the organisation for the benefit of INTERTANKO Members and of the tanker industry.” Nikolas Tsakos, President and Chief Executive of Tsakos Energy Navigation, is ready and willing to continue the work started by Westgarth in shifting the focus of INTERTANKO more towards commercial sustainability while retaining its emphasis on technical and operational issues. “Graham has been a charismatic leader during the tanker industry’s unprecedented downturn,” said Tsakos. “I am honoured to take over from him at a time when INTERTANKO’s role in today’s challenging environment is more prominent than ever. Operational excellence and environmental protection together with commercial sustainability will continue to be the Association’s main goals.”“I look forward to leading INTERTANKO as it continues to advance the interests of the independent tanker owners. We can make a difference in the technical, operational, regulatory and commercial arenas in which we work;we can make a day-to-day difference for our Members; and we can make a difference for our industry.”
The ANDAMAN SEA anchored off Singapore yesterday, the 115.567 DWT tanker is built as the 243 mtr long FORWARD FORTUNE at the Sasebo Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. - Sasebo Yard under hull No.: 731 during September 2013 the tanker was renamed ANDAMAN SEA the tanker is powered by an Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding C Ltd – Japan built B&W 6S60MC-C engine of 15,907 hp at 95 rpm for a service speed of 15 knots
FLEXLIFE SEE GLOBAL DEMAND GROW FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL SIX MONTHS
Flexlife, specialist provider of flexible pipe integrity and engineering services for the oil and gas industry, has generated more than £4million in new orders over the first six months of this financial year.The company, which launched seven years ago, is widely recognised throughout the industry for its expertise and excellence in the integrity and engineering of flexible risers and flowlines.
Expanding its global reach beyond the UKCS and West Africa where demand continues, Flexlife has also generated new business in the US, with approximately half of all new orders coming from its Houston base, which opened in 2012. The company has already won £2million in contracts so far in the US this year, with further deals in progress.
Flexlife CEO, Ciaran O’Donnell, said: “The Houston market has improved our exposure to customers with existing flexible riser systems inventory and capital projects globally. It’s amazing how much interest we have generated in the States, and in such a short period of time. We have no doubt the office and this market and region, will continue to grow in its capabilities and contract wins.Flexible riser systems have now been deployed worldwide for 30 years, and historically have proven extremely reliable. However like all long service products, they can suffer integrity problems over time. A lack of inspection or maintenance can be one of the biggest issues affecting performance.
As a safety critical item, flexible flowlines need to be fit for purpose and have a sufficient operational life so they can continue to be utilised in a safe manner. Flexlife works together with clients to ensure the integrity of their subsea flexible assets.“The value we bring through our unique knowledge of flexible riser systems throughout their entire life cycle is really the key to our growth. We employ high caliber professionals with both academic and practical
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backgrounds who are complimented by a specialist expertise in subsea flexible product design, manufacture, installation and operation,” said O’Donnell.
Flexlife has accrued an enviable breadth of subsea expertise through its work with operating companies across the industry. With engineering staff between its HQ in Aberdeen and its Newcastle and Houston offering, the company is continuing to add new services to operators, building on their heritage in technology and service development around flexibles.
The CURACAO TRADER (ex Clipper Kitty -2014) in Rio Grande – Photo : Marcelo Vieira (c)
Opening nieuwe Havencoördinatiecentrum Op vrijdag 21 november opent burgemeester Aboutaleb om 10.00 uur het nieuwe Havencoördinatiecentrum (HCC) van het Havenbedrijf Rotterdam in het World Port Center, Wilhelminakade 909 (havennummer 1252).
Het is de werkplek van de coördinatoren van verkeer en inspectie in de hele Rotterdamse haven. Ze voeren namens de havenmeester het toelatingsbeleid uit. De havenmeester is verantwoordelijk voor de veiligheid en orde op het water. Op het HCC houden de medewerkers zich bezig met planning, meldingen van scheepswerkzaamheden, toelating en crisisbeheersing. Ook de loodsdienstleiding werkt vanuit het HCC.
Tugs face pirate danger at sea They're used to rough seas, but not to the sort of dangers that lie ahead of them.
CentrePort's long-serving little red tugboats, Toia and Ngahue, will each have three armed guards on board, on duty round the clock, as they make their way to their new home in Dubai, after they were sold to Delta Offshore
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International for an undisclosed sum.They are expected to sail out of Wellington Harbour this weekend on their 8 1/2-week voyage.Dutchman Nanne van Cranenburgh, who will skipper one of the tugs, said the armed guards would join the five crew on each tug as they crossed the pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean between Singapore and Dubai A particular problem for crews of low-sided boats such as tugs was that they were easy targets for pirates intent on kidnapping crew members, van Cranenburgh said.Because of this, kidnapping and ransom insurance policies had been paid to protect the lives of the five crew members on each tug. Meanwhile, Toia has been renamed Delta 200, and Ngahue as Delta 300.
Toia first sailed into Wellington Harbour on February 22, 1972, after its delivery voyage from Whangarei. Ngahue was launched in Whangarei on October 15, 1977. It arrived in Wellington on December 3, 1977, and was commissioned in January 1978. The tugs are now registered in Kingstown.In recent years, CentrePort had bought the Asian-built tugs Tapuhi (2012) and Tiaki (2007), which each have bollard pulls of 68 tonnes - more than twice the 28-tonne pulls of Toia and Ngahue. The new tugs are more than capable of handling the many cruise liners of more than 300 metres long that call into Wellington Harbour. Source : The Dominion Post
In an innovative twist in Asia today, three separate companies have joined together to release a brand new concept which offers new levels of transparency to Exploration & Production service providers. Together, the three companies
create a powerful combination of specialists in; electrical system integration Alewijnse, quayside repairs & jacking systems OEM ESI Willtech group and lubrication & condition based maintenance Oliveira Hydro, Marine & Shipping. The result is TOTAL DOCK Fleet Support Services - a new entity that undertakes to deliver a complete service solution from refit, repairs, servicing and maintenance to life-time extensions to a dynamic offshore industry. This unique strategy was designed
by Mark Paasman, Business Development Manager of Alewijnse Marine Rotterdam B.V. "I’m privileged and proud to be working with these partners. Keeping the offer simple and sticking to what our companies do best is exactly the reason why this concept is working. The current offshore market demands total dock services and by presenting it in such a unique way we are relieving the clients of hours and even days spent chasing their
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subcontractors." TOTAL DOCK Fleet Support Services provides the client with a single point of contact that reaches out to all the “Dockers” to generate three separate quotes. The client is then at liberty to choose either, all or whichever supports their project best. The question remains, how to access this TOTAL DOCK service? There is a high probability that you have already met one or more of the steering team leaders. William Lau, Managing Director of ESI Willtech group and long term partner of Alewijnse, Harry Strikwerda, Managing Director of Oliveira Hydro, Marine & Shipping and of course Mark Paasman of Alewijnse. All three together with their specialist teams will be present at OSEA this year.Meet the team behind this unique concept at OSEA 2014 from the 2nd to the 5th of December at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore! The TOTAL DOCK booth will be located at 1D5-06, Ground floor.
The MERWEBORG moored at Shipsservice Olthof www.olthof.eu in Capelle aan den Ijssel (The Netherlands)
Norwegian tankers-to-terminals business Odfjell has reported further losses but is constantly optimistic about the future.The Bergen-based listed chemical and gas carrier plus tank terminals group noted challenging trading conditions, when reportedly a net loss of $9M in 3Q14. This was smaller than the $26M loss in the previous three months, but is set against a profit of $9M in 3Q13. Revenues in 3Q14 rose to $267M from $259M in the same period last year.In the first nine months of the year, the company's net loss deepened to $57M from $6M a year earlier, although revenues increased to $807M from $771M.
In its core chemical carrier business, markets in third quarter were quite similar to those of the previous period. "Reduced spot trading to Asia from Europe and the US caused downward pressure on freight rates as fewer cargoes were available, the company said in a statement.Towards the end of the quarter the chemical production process (CPP) market improved, which the company expects will positively affect also the chemical tanker sector. "Lower oil prices have started to reduce our bunker costs, but the downward trend in prices for oil products also seems to hamper trade and the activity in general," Odfjell said."Delays in port continue to rise, leaving even more ships competing for the already limited berth/dock availability at the key petrochemical hubs. This creates scheduling challenges for both customers and suppliers," the company added. EBIT in the sector that employs some 90 ships decreased to $3M in 3Q14 from $7M in the same period last year.
In gas trades, weak market conditions in Asia hurt the business. "Positive contribution however came from our vessel operating in the Western Hemisphere where utilisation was satisfactory. We expect the trading conditions to recover somewhat in fourth quarter improving our overall result," Odfjell said. EBIT reached $7M in 3Q14, an increase from $2M year-on.
"With the exception of the tank terminals in Rotterdam and Charleston, the terminal results were positive and in line with previous quarter. The tank terminal group, excluding our terminal in Rotterdam, had a gross occupancy of 92% as by end of September,"Odfjell said. EBIT from the business that the company has developed as a less cyclical unit to compensate for volatility in shipping markets plunged negative by $5M in 3Q14 from a positive figure of $17M a year earlier.Looking ahead, Odfjell said its 4Q14 performance would improve on the previous quarter for chemical tankers on a slightly stronger market, contract renewals, lower bunker costs and a reduced cost base. "With regard to
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terminals, we expect improved results at Odfjell Terminals (Rotterdam) due to increased utilisation and a lower cost base. For the remainder of the terminals we expect a slight increase in earnings due to increase capacity," Odfjell said. Source : ihsmaritime360
Cairo: Recent data issued by the UK’s Drewry Maritime Research shows that for the first time in history a majority of containerlines are using the Suez over the Panama Canal to reach US East Coast ports from Asia. Drewry stated that 52% of all ship calls from Asia to the US East Coast transited the Suez Canal, symptomatic of the fact that the Egyptian waterway can handle larger ships, as well as the longer route tends to soak up more capacity helping push up freight rates.The Panama Canal’s expansion plans are expected to be completed in 2016, while authorities in Egypt are building an additional channel along the existing canal. Source : Gulfshipnews
Mubadala Petroleum starts production at Thai offshore oil field
UAE-headquartered Mubadala Petroleum has begun production at its Manora oil field, offshore Thailand, which is expected to reach a peak rate of approximately 15,000 bpd as production wells are completed. Mubadala says it has plans for up to 10 production wells and five injection wells in the main reservoir sequence.The field is located in the northern Gulf of Thailand within the G1/48 concession, approximately 80 km offshore.First oil from Manora follows the hook-up and commissioning phase and parallel operations drilling of the first four of up to 10 production wells. All
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platform facilities have been constructed in Thai fabrication yards.Facilities include a wellhead processing platform, with water injection facilities to maximize oil recovery, connected via subsea pipelines to a Floating Storage and Offloading(FSO) vessel. The commercial life of the field is projected to exceed 10 years.Mubadala has invested around US$300m in the Manora development, together with its partners Tap Energy (Thailand) and Northern Gulf Petroleum. Source : Gulf Ship News
Aage Hempel Group signs contract with Radio Zeeland DMP for service &
distribution of RZ products. Aage Hempel, leader in worldwide merchant marine electronic service and focused on 24/7 maritime sales & service,
signs agreement for service & distribution of RZ products for the Mega Yachting in Spain. Radio Zeeland DMP When founded in 1970, Radio Zeeland DMP started as a repair center for navigation and communication products. Later on, we noted the need for high quality products for commercial shipping. We focused on the production of our own navigation equipment, like an autopilot, a rate of turn indicator and a depth sounder. We started to produce our own lines from
beginning to the end and extended them with more and more products. All which are required for the safe navigation of your ship, keeping our focus on design, quality and a user friendly operation After 20 years of full dedication to the commercial shipping industry, we have taken the steps into the yachting market. With new ideas and techniques we have introduced a complete new perception of an integrated bridge. Over the years we have installed our system on some of the world’s most prestigious yachts and worked closely together with the most respected shipyards. High Quality and matching aesthetics are the key for all of our panels and systems. Radio Zeeland DMP is also known for its capabilities as an OEM manufacturer. Producing all kinds of equipment used in the maritime industry.For decades, Radio Zeeland DMP has proven its value on challenging projects. As the perfect project partner we are able to assist you in developing and engineering the right concept for the best solution, optimally tailored to the desires and wishes of the customer. We can deliver products from a simple control panel to a completely pre-fabricated bridge console with all data acquisition elements and remote control stations, from a 20 meter pleasure craft to a 141 meter hyper yacht; we offer the solutions for which the standard equipment manufacturers will have to pass. The design is in close
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corporation with the owner, taking into consideration the specific wishes and demands, but also the overall design language of the ship. The result is a matching solution that enhances the experience onboard.
Asia Tankers-VLCC rates could trend down as charterers focus on December
By Keith Wallis Rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) on key Asian routes could drift lower next week as charterers limit fixture activity to cap freight rates, brokers said. "The market is moving sideways. Charterers are definitely shaving a point or two off rates," said a Singapore-based VLCC broker on Friday.Brokers had anticipated 130-135 VLCC fixtures for loading in the Middle East in November, but there have only been around 120 so far, the broker said. "With those 10-15 fixtures the market would have definitely been better with rates up to W60," the broker said. This would be the equivalent of average earnings of about $50,000 a day. "Charterers have been reining in their open-market fixtures," the broker said."There are no November fixtures now; the market is focused on the December programme." Fewer fixtures have led to a buildup of available with keen competition for charters. Formosa Plastics Tanker Corporation chartered the 319,063-dwt (deadweight tonne) ATHENIAN FREEDOM at 52 on the Worldscale measure on Thursday,
according to Reuters chartering data. The ship was built last year and Formosa Plastics received 10 offers for the fixture, said the broker who has knowledge of the charter. Charterers slowly drip-fed their fixture requirements for the last 10 days of November much to owners' frustration, Norwegian ship broker Fearnley said in a weekly research note on Wednesday.That was possibly done to stop owners resisting charterers' attempts to push the market lower, Fearnley said. Rates fell as a result. VLCC rates for the benchmark route from the Middle East to Japan fell to just under W53 on Thursday, compared with W56 a week earlier which were the highest since February. Rates for West Africa to China were close to W55 on Thursday, down from almost W59 last week which were the highest since Feb.
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20. In other trades, rates for 80,000-tonne Aframax tankers from Southeast Asia to East Coast Australia remained virtually unchanged at about W101 on Thursday, against W101.50 a week earlier.Clean tanker rates from Singapore to Japan climbed to W119.75 on Thursday compared with W117.25 last week amid buoyant chartering activity and tighter vessel supply, a clean tanker broker said. Source : Reuters (Reporting By Keith Wallis; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Cuba expecting more than 200 cruise ships between now and April 2015
Cuba is expecting the arrival of more than 200 cruise ships at various ports on the island during the winter season, which will kick off this month and last until April 2015, tourist sector authorities said Thursday.The season will officially begin on Nov. 21 with the arrival in the port of Havana of about 2,000 cruise ship passengers, most of them fromEurope, according to data provided by the Cubatur travel agency and reported on Cuban television.
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The state-run agency, which will book more than 75 percent of the cruise ships that arrive during the season, added that among the ports with themost passenger entries are Havana, Cienfuegos in the central part of the island and Santiago de Cuba in the east.Cruise ship tourism is one of the main areas in which Cuba is trying to diversify its tourist offerings, along with cultural, nature, health, coastal and golf tours. Cruise ship arrivals to the island plummeted by 89 percent starting in 2006, the year in which Spanish firm Pullmantur shut down its operationsin Cuba after being acquired by Royal Caribbean Cruises, a U.S. company.The sector remained virtually comatose over the next few years but in2009 it began to perk up and in 2010 it experienced a new surge inactivity with the arrival of some 10,000 cruise passengers.In recent years, the Cuban government has established stable operationswith international companies to rejuvenate the sector.Tourism is the second-biggest economic activity in Cuba, after the export of technical and professional services.In 2013, the island welcomed about 2.85 million foreign tourists, withCanada being the main sending nation, followed by the United Kingdom an Germany. Source : latino.foxnews
Nova Star heading south for winter Florida's sunshine will lower operating costs while Nova Star Cruises executives try to finalize an offseason route.
BY TOM BELL STAFF WRITER The Nova Star, which finished a disappointing inaugural season ferrying passengers between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, will leave the Canadian port on Saturday and sail to Fort Pierce, Florida. It’s unclear what the ferry will do when it arrives in Florida. Nova Star Cruises Ltd., which operates the ferry service, is still in negotiations to find a winter route for the ferry, according to company spokesman Dennis Bailey. The Nova Star had a disappointing first season, carrying just 59,000 passengers between Maine and Nova Scotia, but a winter route out of Florida could keep the operation afloat.The Nova Star had a disappointing first season, carrying just 59,000 passengers between Maine and Nova Scotia, but a winter route out of Florida could keep the operation afloat. 2014 The $165 million vessel is departing Yarmouth because the boat’s heating system must be maintained to protect the ship’s operating systems, and that cost will become too expensive when the cold weather arrives, Bailey said.
Moving the vessel to Florida will lower operating costs in the offseason and assure the ferry will be ready if a winter route is secured, he said.Bailey said the company is now in “advanced negotiations” with another company for a winter route. Information about that route will be announced when a deal is finalized, he said.Fort Pierce, located on Florida’s East Coast about two hours outside of Orlando, has several private facilities that serve cargo vessels that travel to the Bahamian and Caribbean islands.
According to MarineTraffic.com, which uses vessel geographic information system data to track ship positions, the Nova Star is scheduled to arrive in Fort Pierce on Wednesday. A winter route would provide Nova Star Cruises with much-needed revenue and save the company the cost of winter storage. The ferry carried 59,000 passengers in its inaugural season, well short of the company’s goal of 100,000 passengers.The Nova Scotia government had planned to advance the company $21 million (Canadian) in forgivable loans over seven years. But the ferry operator spent all that money in the first season. The provincial government allocated another $5 million so the company could pay its bills. The company has sought help from Gov. Paul LePage in getting a loan from a commercial bank in Maine.The
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vessel has been berthed in Yarmouth Harbor since its season ended Oct. 13, three weeks ahead of its scheduled conclusion.In September, the company’s CEO and president, Mark Amundsen, at a public event in Portland, said the company had found a winter route, which would be announced in a week. But no announcement has been made to date. Source : PressHerald
Dry bulk market cooling back down, is on “correction” mode say shipbrokers
The dry bulk market has been on correction mode over the past few days, with the Brazil/China route been more heavily impacted, mainly as a result of persistently slow Brazilian exports of iron ore, something expected to change soon. Yesterday, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) was down by 63 points, with the Capesize segment losing a lot, as the Baltic Capesize Index lost 257 points to end at 2,972.Commenting on the Capesize market over the past week, shipbroker Fearnleys said in its latest report that “since last week the Capesize market began to lose its strength and the market is presently correcting, despite quite heavy trading volumes in both basins. As the Brazil/China market has come down from a high of usd 25.00 ´s to todays usd 22.00 level the Pacific correction has been less severe. There the West Australia market has returned to a usd 9.00 level, after never seriously threatening the usd 10.00 marker. The forward paper has been wobbly at best and seems to lack any confidence, with the curve dropping sharply once we get into January 2015. The question going forward is if the transatlantic market can sustain another drive before the end of the year. There have been a number of vessels which have fixed out to the east thus reducing the available tonnage to perform transatlantic cargos, and this can put pressure on the rates. Period has been quiet and closely following the paper curve but with few owners willing to fix at those levels. Last one fixed was at the end of last week”. In the Panamax market, the shipbroker noted that “slower and lower has been the trend in both hemispheres since end of last week. The sliding tendency is perhaps more obvious within the Atlantic where activity is low and the list of tonnage is growing. Typical T/A rounds falling from around 9.000. Fronthaul is about 15 + 500 bss APS USG or just above 43 pmt to China. North Atlantic fronthaul giving Owners a nice premium. In the Far East Nopac rounds pay about 11.000-12.000 for good units, Aussie or Indo rounds a bit less. Trips to India paying a premium although with the same falling tendency both for levels and for activity. Owners have secured short period in the 10.000 to 11.000 range for efficient spec´s in good positions. Otherwise sentiment is a bit softer from the weakening forward curve”. Finally, in the Handy segments of the market, Fearnleys noted that “we are experiencing an oversupply of tonnage in the Atlantic which is outnumbering the amount of cargoes. TA´s are down almos Usd 500 w-o-w and the slow down in USG cargoes is not helping the average Atlantic rates. A transatlantic round is now being fixed in region of Usd 8,700 while the USG Fhauls are seeing ard Usd 16k. The Feast market seems to have bottomed out for now. SE Asia rounds paying around 7,500 8K. NOPAC, vessel open N.China can get arnd 9K + 300BB. For trips back to Spore /Japan rge. Supras open Singapore got fixed at arnd mid 10K fro trips via Indo To India. For Philippine Nickel Ore rounds to China vessels got fixed at arnd 6K. The period market is slow, but Ultras can achieve around mid 11K for short period where smaller units fixing at arnd 10K”.Meanwhile, in the newbuilding market this past week, shipbroker Intermodal noted a stalemate of deals. According to the shipbroker’s report, “nothing seems to be moving on the newbuilding front, except maybe from prices which appear to be inching down once again, even in segments like the one of Suezmaxes, where despite the fact that the performance of freight rates has been far from disappointing during the past months, it has nonetheless evidently failed to ignite ordering interest. The volume of orders has at the same time taken a significant hit for yet another week as far as the more conventional sectors are concerned, and it looks like it will remain fairly thin until the end of the year especially in the case of dry bulkers, where mixed sentiment is still washing
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over the market. At the same time, gas orders appear to be partly filling the gap created by the absence of dry bulker and tanker orders, as despite any ups and downs rates for gas carriers have had throughout the year, prospects are still solid in the eyes of investors, especially when it comes to orders placed on the back of specific projects. In terms of recently reported deals, Norwegian owner, Awilco, has placed an order for three firm VLCC (320,000dwt) at DSME, in S. Korea, for a price of USD 57.0m each and delivery set in 2016″, it noted.Finally, “the demolition market was still under pressure last week, while sentiment has also been softening as prices have been on a downward slope for the past three weeks. Cheap Chinese scrap steel remains the main hurdle that needs to be tackled in order for the market to take a breather and while discussions of placing import taxes have been intensifying across the Indian sub-Continent market, nothing has yet finalized and it will probably take some time before it does. Most deals involving dry bulkers are now being negotiated around mid $400/ldt levels, while there are talks of certain recent deals failing to conclude at the levels originally agreed. On the positive side, the Indian Rupee strengthened further against its USD counterpart yesterday, while everyone’s eyes are on the Reserve Bank of India, as talks of an earlier than expected cut in interest rates have been firing up again. Average prices this week for wet tonnage were at around 300-480$/ldt and dry units received about 280-460$/ldt”, Intermodal concluded. Source : Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide
Insurers call for re-writing of General Average Rule in cases of time-chartered
ship mishaps Evidence has emerged of sentiment in the marine insurance market that one of the long-established rules of practice governing General Average should be re-written. An informal show-of-hands vote among underwriters and adjusters attending a London debate favoured clarification of how expenses should be shared after ships in ballast that are on time-charter become casualties. This would mean revision of Rule of Practice B26 (which dates back to 1896), part of a code of strongly-recommended guidelines used by members of the Association of Average Adjusters. Differences of view that were aired at the meeting, hosted in the City by the International Underwriting Association for the Association of Average Adjusters, indicated that revision will be no easy task.General Average is a hallowed system under which highly qualified average adjusters apportion casualty expenses – broadly speaking the costs of proceeding with the voyage and getting the cargo to destination – between the relevant parties. At its centre is the common safety and preservation of property (ship and cargo) involved in what is known as the “common maritime adventure.” General Average is incorporated into contracts of carriage often through the York-Antwerp Rules 1994, but recent experience has highlighted the dilemma that the Rules do not specifically deal with vessels in ballast. During the IUA/AAA meeting, the audience took a majority view in another show-of-hands vote that the shipowner’s General Average allowances should not be limited when charterers change a voyage because of the disruption and need for repairs. Referring to sharply divergent opinions among adjusters, Keith Sturges, a director with the London and Piraeus offices of adjusting firm Richards Hogg Lindley, said: “It is not at all satisfactory that three or four very different General Average adjustments could emerge, when the circumstances are the same in each case, other than the date on which the charterers chose to communicate their change of intentions to the shipowner. What is important is that we should all reach a consensus.”Championing a liberal interpretation of the coverage of expenses in such cases, Mr Sturges asked: “Why should the owner’s entitlement to claim on his hull policy be totally at the mercy of the
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whim of the charterers when the owner himself has rightly and properly fulfilled his obligation of repairing his ship, preserving the property on board and returning the vessel to service with the charterers?”He declared that if a ship is repaired at a port of refuge and the time charterer decides to go to a different loading port from that first intended, “the charterer’s change of intentions does not amount to a destruction of the common adventure.”Despite the fact that many General Average cases involve ships on time charter, “there is not a single reference to charters anywhere in the [York-Antwerp] Rules, nor any apparent recognition in the rules that charters even exist. I don’t expect this to change in the new 2016 Rules,” he said, referring to possible revisions that are still under discussion. Mr Sturges said: “If we can seek any guidance from the York-Antwerp Rules, they are actually telling us that the General Average is not prematurely terminated provided a [with emphasis on the word ‘a’] voyage continues from the port of refuge with property still on board. Time charterers’ bunkers are property.”His personal view was that allowances should continue through to the ship regaining position, and that should be so in all cases where the vessel is returned to time charterers’ disposal after repairs at the port of refuge.Tristan Miller, of the adjusters Harvey Ashby, argued for a stricter approach – Rule of Practice B26 only applies to British policies of insurance; policies not subject to British law and practice will have only the York-Antwerp Rules to guide them, and it was clear that the allowances will end on the termination of the original voyage under the York Antwerp Rules. “It makes sense for British policies to have the same interpretation, rather than widening coverage unnecessarily,” he added. Mr Miller viewed Rule B26 as providing a consistent basis on which to establish allowances, clarifying what the contributing interests are in each case, and where the ‘adventure’ is considered to end, unless through circumstance the ‘adventure’ has been ended short of final destination. In all other circumstances, general allowances are only incurred whilst the vessel is on her original voyage and it seems appropriate the adventure should be limited to the original voyage for vessels proceeding in ballast under time charter as well.He said that when the Association’s advisory panel considered the question in 2013, the panel decided that the ‘adventure’ should be the original intended voyage and the majority of the panel concluded that General Average allowances should cease on the date of the change or cancellation of the intended voyage, even if the vessel subsequently proceeded to the same port. But the panel was unanimous that if the charterparty itself is cancelled, the adventure terminates on that date. The panel was concerned though that, as Mr Miller put it, “it is perhaps unfair and somewhat artificial that a shipowner’s claim in General Average hinges on what the charterer may do for his own commercial reasons.”Paul Silver, a director of Richards Hogg Lindley, who chaired the meeting, said that considerable sums of money could be at stake in the type of cases discussed involving time-chartered ships in ballast: expenses could add up to $300,000 or more. Mr Silver stressed that the Association’s rules of practice were designed to promote uniformity in settling marine insurance claims.The Association’s Rule of Practice B26 in respect of ballast voyages under time charter in General Average states: “When a vessel is proceeding in ballast under a time charter alone or a time charter and a voyage charter entered into by the time charterer, the General Average shall attach to the vessel and such items of stores and equipment” [usually time charterer’s bunkers] “as are indicated above. Failing a prior termination of the adventure, the adventure shall be deemed to end and the values for contribution to General Average calculated at the first loading port upon the commencement of loading cargo.”The Rules of Practice are non-binding, but if an average adjuster draws up a statement which is at variance with a Rule, he or she must place a note in their adjustment explaining why they differ from it. Source: The Association of Average Adjusters
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Boskalis raises 2014 net profit outlook to EUR 450 million
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has concluded a good third quarter, the company said in its press release. Revenue and earnings, adjusted to reflect the deconsolidation of SAAM SMIT Towage, are in line with the first two quarters of 2014. At Dredging the possible settlement of a number of old projects mentioned during the presentation of the half-year numbers has taken place. This contributed substantially to third quarter earnings. Overall market conditions remain challenging. Despite this the order book has risen slightly, compared to the mid-2014 level, to EUR 3.3 billion, which is on par with the level at the start of the year. Based on current insights the second half of the year is expected to be good.Alongside the expected contribution from current projects, the realized close-out result on a number of old dredging projects is a substantial contributor. In view of these developments Boskalis is raising its full-year net profit outlook to EUR 450 million. This does not include a possible impact related to the value of the recently acquired stake in Fugro. Source : PortNews
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CASUALTY REPORTING Chinese sand carrier sinks after colliding
with German boxship off Xiamen SIX crewmen of a sinking Chinese bulk carrier with a cargo of sand, were rescued after a collision with a German-owned Liberian-flagged containership off Xiamen, reports Denver-based IHS Maritime 360.Five men were rescued by a passing vessel, with the one other pulled from water by the rescuers of Donghai Rescue Bureau.
The Chinese cargo ship Hai Run 607 with six crew aboard collided with 1,740-TEU Hansa Siegburg southeast of Qingyu Island off Xiamen, said China's Donghai Rescue Bureau. The Donghai bureau dispatched the rescue ship Donghaijiu 116 to the site of the accident.One of the crewmen was taken to the hospital for emergency treatment, but the rest are not in danger. Source : Asian Shipper
NAVY NEWS Connie's lonely trip to salvage yard
The carrier CONSTELLATION, which spent most of its 41 years of service operating out of San Diego, was photographed on Nov. 5th off Punta Arenas, Chile. The 1,088-foot ship is being towed from Bremerton, Washington to Brownsville, Texas, where the Constellation will be dismantled by salvage crews. This photo was taken from a NASA DC-8 aircraft. A tugboat, located off the stern, helped keep the carrier in place while a main tugboat went into port for fuel.The DC-8 continued on to western Antarctica, where NASA says the crew "snapped a few shots of a calving front of the Antarctic ice sheet. This particular flight plan was
designed to collect data on changes in ice elevation along the coast near the Ferrigno and Alison ice streams, on the Abbot Ice Shelf, and grounded ice along the Eights Coast." Source : utsandiego
Ceremony sends frigate USS Ingraham off to retirement
With a bright sun overhead and cold air blowing off Puget Sound, the USS Ingraham, a guided missile frigate recently returned from a seven-month deployment, was formally decommissioned Wednesday at Naval Station Everett. It was a moment that was bittersweet for some, including Cmdr. Daniel Straub, the ship's commanding officer for the past year and a half “She was my very first command,” said Straub, who has served in the Navy for 31 years, working his way up through the enlisted ranks. When under sail, the Ingraham (FFG-61) had a full compliment of 200 sailors and 30 officers, including two SH-60B Seahawk helicopters. On Wednesday just a few dozen sailors stood at attention on deck while the decommissioning ceremony took place on the pier
below. When the Ingraham was commissioned in 1989, it was during the Cold War buildup of the military.“These
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frigates may be small, but they are able to take a hit and keep on going,” said former Defense Secretary Robert Gates during the ceremony. “They are not being replaced due to extraordinary shortsightedness in Washington over defense budgets.”It was that budget cutting that led to the Ingraham being decommissioned five years ahead of schedule, Straub said. There were rumors of decommissioning in the spring, but the official word didn't come down until August that its current deployment would be its last.In the ceremony, Straub commended the professionalism of his crew and also listed some of the Ingraham's accomplishments, including, on its first deployment in 1991, rescuing 400 Philippine refugees from the eruption of Mount Pinatubo while en route to the Persian Gulf, and in 1999 rescuing a downed airman from the territorial waters of an unfriendly nation in the Gulf. The Ingraham's most recent deployment was in support of Operation Martillo, a multinational operation to combat drug trafficking in Central and South America.The operation resulted in the capture of nine smuggling ships and the apprehension of 29 suspected smugglers, plus the seizure or disruption of 11,937 kilograms of cocaine.The Ingraham also helped capture a submersible craft with 2,400 kilograms of cocaine on board.“We caught it with the smugglers, with the cocaine, fully loaded and before they could scuttle it,” Straub said.The decommissioning ceremony concluded with the officers reporting that the ship was secured, the captain ordering the crew to disembark, and the flags lowered from the mast while a band played “Taps.”The final step was the hauling down of the commissioning pennant that flies from the mast of every warship in the Navy. The pennant was presented to Straub by Command Master Chief Dewey Torres, the highest ranking enlisted sailor on the ship.The Ingraham was the last of 51 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates that were built, and was given the motto “The Last and the Finest.”The ship will now be physically decommissioned, which involves stripping it of useful materials and technology, after which it will be towed to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton and dismantled for scrap.Straub is headed to San Diego next, where he will assume command of the littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), which is currently under construction and scheduled to be commissioned in January 2016. The crew of the Ingraham will be reassigned to other ships stationed in Everett or San Diego.“That's what makes me sad,” Straub said. “I've seen these sailors work together over seven and a half months of deployment.”“They forged a lot of bonds together that you won't find on larger vessels,” he added. Source : heraldnet
Egyptian Patrol Craft Attacked by Ships with Possible Ties to Terrorist Arms Trade
Eight Egyptian sailors are missing after a Wednesday clash with four vessels that could have been supplying arms to Islamist terror groups in the Sinai Peninsula.The unusual maritime clash occurred in the Mediterranean Sea 40 miles off the coast of the Egyptian city of Damietta — which is about 40 miles West of Port Said and the entrance to the Suez Canal on Wednesday, according to a translation of a Thursday statement on the Facebook of Egyptian military spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammed Samir.
The unidentified Egyptian patrol craft came into contact with the four vessels and was fired upon by the quartet injuring five sailors in addition to the loss of the eight other sailors.A report from the Los Angeles Times said the patrol craft was, “set ablaze.” Following the initial attack, authorities said additional Egyptian air and naval forces came to the aid of the patrol craft, destroyed the four vessels and captured 32 suspected terrorists.The search for the eight missing at sea is ongoing, according to Egyptian authorities.There are few details on the ships that assaulted the patrol craft.
“State-owned Ahram newspaper reported that a naval patrol approached three boats which aroused suspicion and it came under fire, citing an anonymous source saying they were most likely smugglers,” according to a late Thursday story from Agence France-Presse. “[The report] added that a protest later erupted in a Damietta village after reports that the military arrested fishermen at sea following the exchange of fire.”At least one maritime expert suspects the ships were part of the ongoing arms trade that has been smuggling weapons to terrorist groups like the anti-Israel group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis and Hamas in the contested Gaza Strip in Israel.“It’s highly unlikely this was a planned ambush,” Michael Frodl, head of U.S. consultancy C-Level Maritime Risks told USNI News on Thursday “This looks more like fishing boats delivering weapons to Sinai terrorist groups.”Israel and Egypt have been active in blocking arms shipments through tunnels from the Sinai into the contested Gaza strip, pushing more and more arms shipments to the sea for material for Hamas rockets based in Gaza, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF).“We continue to see attempts to smuggle weapons or material to build them. The sea is a very convenient platform for smuggling,” IDF Cmdr. Eli Soholitski told The Jerusalem Post in October.“The terrorists still have one big smuggling tunnel and it’s called the Mediterranean.” Source : usni
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SHIPYARD NEWS
The MARCO POLO seen in drydock at Damen Shiprepair in Vlissingen
Vallianz Will Improve Indonesian Shipyard Business – Investor Daily
Singaporean shipyard company, Vallianz Holding Limited, announced the plan to buy 49% of Indonesian shipyard company PT Swiber Berjaya (PTSB)’s shares for USD 17.5 million. It is conducted to expand Vallianz’s shipyard business in Indonesia. Referring to Vallianz press conference, the firm buys 49% of PTSB’s shares. PTSB is the subsidiary of Swiber Holding Limited, a shipyard company whose base is also in Singapore. It owns 49% of PTSB’s shares which is then acquired by Vallianz. The other PTSB’s 51% shares is owned by an Indonesian shareholder. Unfortunately, there is information over the holder of PTSB’s 51% shares. The unique part is that Swiber Holding is noted as the owner of 23.36% Vallianz Holding’s shares. Therefore, Swiber Holding indirectly enjoys the acquisition of its subsidiary. Vallianz said PTSB share purchasing is conducted to add its vessel number. The company wants to add the number of vessel despite of cabotage law in Indonesia. Cabotage law is the regulation boosting the operation of vessel in Indonesia using Indonesian flag.PTSB has scrutinized oil and gas exploration vessel business in Indonesia since 1996. This firm provides the vessel types of anchor handling tug (AHT), anchor handling tug supply (AHTS), flat top barges (FT Barges) and accommodation work barges (AWB).“PTSB has good track record in Indonesia. This acquisition opens an access for Vallianz’s vessels in Indonesia having cabotage law,” Darren said during the firm’s press conference on Sunday (11/10). Darren said due to geographic factors, oil and gas vessel business is widely opened in Indonesia. Francis Wong, Swiber Holding Chief Executive Officer and President, added this business transaction will benefit stakeholders. “This is good for our firm’s business in the future,” Francis said.Eddy Kurniawan Logam, Indonesia Shipbuilding and Offshore Association (Iperindo) Chairman, said the acquisition is conducted as foreign company’s investment. “I hope the transaction runs based on the regulations,” Eddy said.Similar opinion was also delivered by Panggah Susanto, Industry Ministry’s High Technology Industry Director General, stating the transaction will boost logistic activities in Indonesia. Source : Investor Daily / cabotage law logistic Maritime share vessel
Exeter shipyard delivers ferry to Malta Exeter Maritime Services, based at Gabriel’s Wharf, won a £1.2million contract to supply two 19metre aluminium catamaran ferries for Marsamxetto Steamferry Services.The first, Topcat One, has been inaugurated by Malta’s Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and is now in service in Marsamxett Harbour. Topcat Two is due for delivery next month. Brian Pogson, Managing Director of Exeter Maritime Services, said: “We are very pleased with the reception Topcat One has received in Malta and proud to be contributing to a new sustainable transport strategy in Malta. We are now working hard to complete Topcat Two.” The ferries will provide commuter and tourist links to Valletta across the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour.At the inauguration of
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Topcat One last month, Minister Mizzi, accompanied by Transport Malta chairman James Piscopo and other high officials from the transport authority, said that the ferries will provide a fast, efficient and cheap option to beat the ever increasing traffic congestion and parking problems.
The vessels were designed by Australian naval architect Adam Schwetz, who undertook the commission from the UK shipyard and worked in close cooperation with Marsamxetto Steamferry Services. Topcat One can cross the harbour in around five minutes and have a capacity for 160 with 100 seats in the main passenger lounge and 60 seats on the upper deck.Newton Abbot firm Teignbridge Propellers supplied the fixed pitch propellers and the shafting, sterngear and rudders.Exeter Maritime is also working on the repair and recommission of a damaged 72ft Challenge Business steel yacht, formerly of the Chay Blythe round the world fleet. Source : westernmorningnews
Vard Swings into Loss VARD-Reports-Weaker-Performance-in-Third-Quarter
Shipbuilder and designer of offshore and specialised vessels, Vard Holdings, has seen its profit slip into the red, mainly due to operational expenses.Vard reported a net loss of 37 million Norwegian kroner (NOK) for its third quarter ended 30 September this year compared to a net
profit of 76 million kroner for the same period in 2013.Additionally, EBITDA dropped at NOK 51 million as of 30 September 2014 from positive NOK 103 million as of 30 September 2013, while operating profit was negative at NOK 108 million in 3Q14 from positive NOK 72 million in 3Q13. However, the company generated NOK 2.8 billion in revenues, an 18.5 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2013. Revenue for the nine months 2014 climbed 4.5 percent, from the same period last year, to NOK 8.4 billion.The company stated that it expects to see a return to positive EBITDA margins in the fourth quarter 2014, and further improvements in 2015.
Despite a softer industry outlook on the back of a reduced oil price and a more cautious investment climate, VARD sees continued demand for certain vessel types, in particular in the subsea support and construction vessel market.
Roy Reite, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of VARD, commented: “As the industry steers towards a more cautious investment climate and softer outlook, there continues to be demand for certain vessel types, in particular within the subsea support and construction vessel market, where VARD has core competencies and demonstrated a solid track record. We will continue strengthening our service offerings to new and existing clients, and are working towards further expanding and diversifying our customer base internationally. While we expect below average new order intake in the near to medium term, negotiations on several contracts are ongoing, and VARD remains well positioned. Our focus now is on efficiency and the changes required to meet the demands of a challenging market.” Source : Subsea World News Staff
HANJIN Heavy Industries & Construction’s Yeongdo Shipyard
continues to win bids HHIC’s Yeongdo Shipyard has continued to win bids in the second half of the year. On November 4, the shipbuilder announced that it signed a nearly US 200 million dollar contract to build two 180,000 DWT bulk carriers and one PKX-B with a European shipping company, HHIC said in its press release. The 180,000 DWT bulk carrier is the state-of-the-art vehicle (292 m in length, 45 m in width) with a service speed of 15 knots.This high-efficiency vessel which has improved fuel efficiency by more than 20% through eco-design and installation of the energy-saving system will be built in HHIC’s Yeongdo Shipyard and handed over at the end of 2016. An official from the HHIC said, “The shipping company which signed this contract once had business with us before. They satisfied with our vessel so that they wanted to place an additional order”. He added, “We expect increase in
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revenue from the consecutive construction of a vessel of the same model”.HHIC also unveiled that it was named ‘the builder of the NO. 1 patrol vessel’ in the PKX-B Batch-I aimed to replace the ROK Navy’s old PKM. Meanwhile, the first shipbuilder in Korea built the Yunyeongha-class patrol boat under the PKX-A project and handed it over the ROK Navy in 2005. Since then, it has built a total of 8 patrol killer guide missiles.The next-generation PKM (PKX-B) to be constructed by the HHIC is as large as 300 tons. With a 76 mm gun and even guided rock, it features a ground support system as well as naval gunfire. When it is armed, Korea will be able to immediately respond to any North Korean patrol boat crossing the Northern Limit Line (NLL).HHIC’s Yeongdo Shipyard won the bids to built 15 vessels in total including special ships last year. This year, it has signed contracts to build two 180,000 DWT bulk carriers and world’s first LNB bunkering vessel. With the addition of three vessels, the company has booked enough advance orders for two years of production (until late 2016).An official from the HHIC said, “The winning of the bids to build the common merchant vessels and special boat (No. 1 patrol boat in the next-generation PKM project) has proven the excellence of Yeongdo Shipyard”. He added, “We expect that this success would further increase orders and significantly improve our global reputation”. Source : PortNews
NY-Area Seafarers to Join MM&P New York Harbor Tug Boat Captains and Crews, Staten Island Ferry Workers, Circle Line and Other Tourist Boat Crews Vote to Join New Union. New York-area watermen who operate tugboats, dredges, tourist boats and ferries, members of Staten Island-based Local 333, have voted by an overwhelming margin to support a merger between Local 333 and the Maryland-based International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots. By a more than 2 to 1 margin, 1,300 New York and New Jersey mariners voted to affiliate with the larger national union of deck officers who serve on ocean-going ships, and which also represents captains and crews on inland waterways beyond New York Harbor. The election was conducted by mail ballot. Voting concluded yesterday. The final tally was 423 “yes” votes for affiliation, 182 “no” votes and 6 votes were judged invalid.
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Don Marcus, President of the Masters, Mates & Pilots said, “This is a great day for the Masters, Mates & Pilots. We are grateful for the confidence that the membership of Local 333 has placed in our union. Now that the ballots have been cast, we can join forces to build better working conditions for mariners in New York Harbor and all along the Atlantic Seaboard.”
The International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots represents deck officers who serve on U.S.-flagged ships that sail across the globe delivering goods, including military cargo and American food aid. The union also represents workers at ferry services similar to the Staten Island Ferry in Washington State and Alaska as well as on boats involved in the tourist trade, tugboats, dredges and other vessels that work in inland waters. Harbor pilots in ports across the nation, including those who guide large ships through New York Harbor, are also members of the national union.
“While we represent many ship’s officers and harbor pilots who live in the greater metropolitan New York area and who navigate large commercial vessels in and out of the Port of New York and New Jersey every day, we haven’t had much of a presence aboard smaller vessels working the harbor and the coastal waters of the Northeast for many years,” said Marcus. Pilots and sea captains outraged over the treatment of Captain Charles P. Smith founded the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, one of the country’s oldest unions, in New York in 1887. The captain, who heroically saved his passengers and crew after a boiler exploded on his paddle-wheel steamer, the Seawanhaka, in the New York’s East River, was made a scapegoat by local politicians. Smith eventually was cleared of any wrongdoing and today, 127 years later, the Masters, Mates & Pilots represents 4,600 captains, deck officers, pilots and other maritime professionals who serve on U.S.-flagged vessels.
Local 333 was founded in 1935 to represent maritime workers in the New York area and elsewhere in the Northeast. Affiliation with the Masters, Mates & Pilots will give New York and New Jersey mariners access to the union’s resources, including its credit union, legal services, lobbying support and state-of-the-art training facility in Linthicum, Maryland. They also will be eligible for job openings on inland waters in other regions of the country. Source : MarineLink
RCL back in black, posts US$1.8 million profit despite 8pc revenue decline
THAILAND's Regional Container Lines (RCL) has posted a third quarter profit of THB60 million (US$1.83 million), erasing a year-on-year loss of THB222 million, despite an eight per cent decline in quarterly revenue to THB3.2 billion.
Profits were attributed to stringent cost control, realignment of services and fleet deployment, as well as selective product led to operating gains of THB50M in the third quarter this year.The cost of freight and operations in the quarter decreased by 16 per cent year on year to THB2.8 billion "mainly due to the decline in fixed cost, bunker cost and the lifting," RCL said in the statement. The final figure was enhanced by a gain on sales of fixed assets, but offset by mild exchange losses of THB32M. This is despite a nine per cent decrease in liftings to 474, 594 TEU. Source : Asian Shipper
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Island Offshore takes delivery of M/V Island Condor
Island Offshore took delivery of its 10th vessel of Rolls-Royce UT 776 CD design, built at Vard Brevik, the company said in its press release. M/V Island Condor is a flexible offshore support vessel with good sea-keeping capabilities, excellent station keeping performance and low fuel consumption. It has a length of 97 metres, a breadth of 20 metres and it has accommodation for 50 persons. M/V Island Condor is prepared for future instalment of a gangway
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system in order to take on walk-to-work duties within the wind farm industry as well as rig maintenance. It is also constructed with a mezzanine deck for future ROV installation as well as special product tanks. Source : PortNews
The growing strength of the "orange fleet" in the Port of Gdansk
The sound of fog-horns that went off in the Port of Gdansk on November 6th, 2014 at 0850 CET heralded the good news. That was the way for the vessels of WUZ Port and Maritime Services Ltd to welcome their new "sister". A new tag boat "VEGA" was moored at the Ziolkowskiego Quay, and upon completion of the formalities she will soon start her service in the port water regions of Gdansk.
As was the case with the purchase by WUZ Port and Maritime Services of the tug boat "AKUL"- the "VEGA" has now returned home. She was built in 2006 by the Marine Projects Ltd in Gdansk to the order placed by the Estonian-Latvian company PKL Flote AS having its registered office in Riga. After several years in service in the port of Tallinn, "VEGA" together with the operator's other property was taken over by a company comprised in the Finnish group Alfons Hakans Oy AB from Turku. Now she is about to change her colours again, and the "orange fleet" will expand its capacity with the acquisition of another robust operating vessel.
"VEGA" is designed to operate in the harsh conditions of the Northern Baltic Sea. Its modern hull is equipped with two main Aquamaster US 205 thrusters with a total capacity exceeding 2800 horse power. This provides this stocky-shaped tug boat (19 metres in length and 9 metres beam) with an excellent seaworthiness even in ice-bound waters.In addition to its many technical advantages, "VEGA" ensures yet another operational strength - the fact that she was built by a Polish shipyard and equipped by companies having their branches in Poland provide the Gdansk-based operator with a guarantee of a cost-efficient operation and low-cost
repairs. - This acquisition - said Romuald Daszuta, CEO of WUZ Port and Maritime Services in w Gdansk - is part of the company's strategy aiming to find solutions to ensure reliability and high quality of towing services provided in the Port of Gdansk.On November 15th, 2013, the Polish flag was ceremonially hoisted on "AKUL" (with a bollard pull of 70 tonnes) - the largest and strongest tug boat owned by WUZ Gdansk. "VEGA" (with a bollard pull of 35 tonnes) will replace the old, well-worn tug boats "ATLAS II" and "HERKULES II". As part of the current modernisation work, WUZ Port and Maritime Services Ltd - established in 1991 upon the privatisation of the Commercial Seaport in Gdansk - will have the fleet of thirteen tug boats at its disposal. The vessels will provide towing services to more than 3,200 carriers including world's largest container ships - calling annually at the Port of Gdansk – Source : Port of Gdansk
Maersk Line Considers Buying More Triple-E Megaships
Denmark’s Maersk Line, the world’s biggest container-shipping company by capacity, will likely include vast Triple-E vessels among its planned multimillion-dollar ship orders over the next six months, the company’s chief executive said. “Over the next three years, the bulk of the capacity we will be buying is going to be big ships that may include Triple-E size,” Soren Skou told The Wall Street Journal in an interview. The company, which on Tuesday reported a 23.5% year-over-year increase in its third-quarter net profit to $685 million, said earlier it would place its first orders within the next six months. The orders would be its first for newly built ships since 2011. Container shipping, which carries about 95% of the world’s manufactured goods, has suffered for the past decade from overcapacity that has led to falling freight rates, which major operators have described as unsustainable. A plethora of smaller shipping companies regularly undercut freight rates from Asia to Europe and across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, hoping to stay in business until the industry recovers.Despite the extra tonnage in the water, Mr. Skou said demand for shipping will
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grow 4% to 5% over the next few years. He said ships like the Triple-E—the world’s largest and most efficient vessels, which can carry in excess of 18,000 containers—save the company around 25% of the cost of moving a container from Asia to Europe compared with smaller vessels in Maersk’s fleet, provided the ships sail fully loaded. Maersk Line, a unit of conglomerate A.P. Møller-Mærsk A/S, ordered 20 such ships in 2011 at a cost of around $185 million per vessel. At the time, competitors doubted whether Maersk Line would be able to fill such behemoths, but they now are rushing to place their own Triple-E orders to compete with the industry’s big players.“With 4% growth in demand for global shipping, we need 108,000 containers in new capacity a year to stay competitive,” Mr. Skou said.Mr. Skou said the Triple-Es fit well in the alliance that Maersk Line announced in July with Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Co., the world’s second-biggest container operator. The so-called 2M partnership recently received the go-ahead from global regulators. The partners will control a 35% market share in the Asia-Europe trade loop, the world’s busiest, and 15% and 37% of the cargo moved across the trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic routes, respectively.People familiar with the matter said MSC would also likely charter five Triple-E’s on long-term leases from Scorpio Group, based in New York and Monaco, and China’s Bank of Communications Co. In September, French shipping giant CMA CGM SA formed its own alliance with China Shipping Container Lines Co. and Middle East shipping major United Arab Shipping Co. called Ocean Three, whose fleet will include 11 Triple-Es and control a 20% slice of all cargo between Asia and Europe and 13% and 7% across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, respectively.Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd. and Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine Corp. Ltd . earlier said they are also considering buying the giant vessels to keep up with their bigger European peers as part of their own alliances.By sharing big ships and ports, the alliances are expected to gradually push smaller competitors out of the benchmark Asia-to-Europe route because their smaller and less fuel-efficient vessels won’t be able to compete. This is expected to bring some stability in freight rates as supply, which is currently 15% above demand, will be more tightly regulated.“Five years from now, it won’t be possible to be competitive with a 9,000-, 10,000-container ship in the Asia-Europe trade loop,” Mr. Skou said. Source: Wall Street Journal The compiler of the news clippings disclaim all liability for any loss, damage or expense however caused, arising from the sending, receipt, or use of this e-mail communication and on any reliance placed upon the information provided
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…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..
HAL’s PRINSENDAM visited Lisbon once again last Sunday 9 November, on her positioning cruise from Civitavecchia
