At Amels in Vlissingen the yacht AMELS 466 was driven bij Mammoet onboard a pontoon for transportation to
Scheldepoort where the yacht was launched - Photo : Wim Kosten – www.maritimephoto.com (c)
Cruise Lines Canceling Stops in Crimea and Ukraine
After holding off for several weeks to see how events developed in the Crimea peninsula between Russia and Ukraine, several cruise lines have changed their Black Sea itineraries to avoid the ports of Odessa, Sevastopol and Yalta.
Azamara, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar and MSC have all substituted ports in other countries, including Turkey, Romania, Georgia and Bulgaria. Some sailings will also spend more time in Greece. For its June 12 sailing, Azamara Quest has replaced the three cities with Bartin in Turkey, and Volos and Nafplion in Greece, as well as
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adding an extra day in Istanbul. MSC Cruises has also added Volos – site of the Meteora monastaries, perched on rocks - and Varna, a seaside resort in Bulgaria to the April and May sailings of MSC Sinfonia.
Regent Seven Seas and Oceania have substituted Batumi in Georgia, and Trabzon in Turkey, while adding an overnight in Constanta, Romania. The latter line has kept two scheduled Black Sea cruises on Riviera intact, however. “For the many guests interested in traveling to destinations visited on our original Black Sea itinerary, we have a sailing in May and September to accommodate those guests,” Oceania said in a statement.
Windstar has decided that Star Pride will not call on Yalta or Sevastopol, substituting Amasra and Samsun in Turkey instead. The line will still call on Odessa, as the city is not located in Crimea. Other lines are still in wait-and-see mode. Silversea has made no changes to Silver Wind's sailing to the region, slated for late April. Holland America is waiting, although its ship, Prinsendam, isn't sailing to Crimea until October. Cunard, Costa and Viking, which has river cruises scheduled for the Dnieper River in Ukraine, have not changed itineraries either. Cruise Critic has yet to hear from a few lines with scheduled Crimea stops, including Seabourn and Princess. As Cruise Critic reported earlier in the month, cruisers with planned trips to the Black Sea during the spring and summer were debating whether to follow through with final payment. Others who were still going worried about whether they now needed a Russian visa to take private tours in Sevastopol and Yalta. Source : cruisecritic.com
SOHAR Port and Freezone announces new contract with Belgian company
Muscat: A new contract between Phaeros Group and SOHAR Port and Freezone was signed by Andre Toet, SOHAR CEO, and Stan De Smet, Phaeros Group General Manager.
Phaeros Group will supply an advanced Port Management System that will allow SOHAR to gather information on vessels planning to call at the Port, track vessel movements, and even generate invoices for the services provided. Ships will be able to request Port services online, while suppliers in the Port community will be able to access the system directly to better plan their own resources. The Phaeros designed applications, "Harbour View Plus" and "BillSys" will further enhance SOHAR Port and Freezone's credentials, enabling the Gulf's new gateway to streamline additional vessel calls and operations in a safe and efficient manner. Ahead of the relocation of all commercial traffic from Muscat to SOHAR, the improvements are a timely addition to what is already one of the world's most modern ports. The signing came as part of a Belgian Economic Mission that saw a delegation, including Her Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium visit Saudi Arabia and Oman in a bid to foster closer commercial ties. Phaeros' General Manager Stan
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De Smet said: "We are extremely pleased that SOHAR has selected Phaeros as the outcome of a competitive bidding process; we will ensure the project is a success that benefits not only SOHAR Port, but also members of the Port community and the country of Oman as a whole."
This latest announcement comes on the back of an unparalleled period of growth for SOHAR Port and Freezone. SOHAR now ranks as one of the world's largest port and free zone developments with investments totalling over $15 Billion. SOHAR Port and Freezone Chief Executives Andre Toet and Jamal Aziz were both in agreement last night. Andre Toet said: "Investment and growth go hand in hand at SOHAR Port and Freezone. We're delighted to be working with Phaeros Group as this will allow SOHAR to offer vessels calling at the Port the latest advancements in technology." Jamal Aziz continued: "We're now ready for anything as we move to the next phase of development and long term double digit growth.' Source : Times of Oman
the 1977 built drillship PETROSAUDI DISCOVERER assisted by local tugs LIENI, SEA SALVOR and WENZINA offloading from the semi-submersible vessel FALCON off Mellieha, Malta on Sunday 23rd March, 2014.
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Morning Glory docks at Tripoli The controversial Morning Glory tanker that was seized and returned by US forces after it loaded crude at a Libya port held by anti-government rebels, has docked back in the capital Tripoli, according to Reuters. The Morning Glory tanker will now head to Zawiya port, where its cargo of crude is to be fed to the Zawiya refinery. Source : GulfshipNews
Reports began emerging on Thursday that the Seaman Guard Ohio seafarers have been granted bail and will be released on bail next week. Earlier in the week, the 6 British families of the crew of the detained anti-piracy support vessel, the MV Seaman Guard Ohio, in India called on the Prime Minister David Cameron and the government to do more to help them. The men, all ex-soldiers, have been held for over 5 months awaiting trial in Chennai. A total of 35
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seafarers have been arrested and detained on charges, including firearms offences and illegally entering Indian territorial waters.
This is the first time that the families in the UK have broken their silence and have come together to appeal for more help and call for all parties to speed up the process. Also during this visit, the families of the crewmen announced that the British lawyers representing the men were dismissed on Monday night ahead of the bail hearing. The Mission to Seafarers, global maritime charity, which is supporting the seafarers, is now in touch with the Indian legal team and are trying to get clarity around what this might mean for the men.
Yvonne MacHugh, partner of Billy Irving said: “The families are devastated that we have lost the advice of Ince Law, one of the most prestigious marine law companies in the world, to help us. We are trying to find out what has happened today. The bail hearing is set for Thursday or Friday this week, and we are hoping that the men will still be freed, but we are now very aware that the legal team is much reduced. There are still lawyers working in India on the case, so we just have to hope that this will not affect the outcome this week.” The Mission to Seafarers has been providing prison-visiting services on the ground to Puzhal Central Prison, Chennai where the men are being held and working to support families in the UK. Carol Anne Edmonds, mother of Ray Tindall, said: “It’s about time something is done, I just want my son home, we’ve had promises from MPs and now we need to see action. I want more than anything, for the British government to support us and get the men out of prison.” Don Towers, father of Paul Towers, said: “What would you do if it was your son? I will do everything I can to get him out.”
Yvonne MacHugh, partner of Billy Irving, said: “Enough is enough. We will be in London on Tuesday to hand our petition for more to done for the boys to David Cameron. My local MP, Alan Reid, has shown great support and he will be attending. Lisa Dunn, sister of Nick Dunn, said: “My brother has been in prison all this time. I went to India to see him a few weeks ago and the situation is just terrible. We are desperate to hear what is going to be done, and now that we have collected over 143,000 signatures in the UK we will be seeking to appeal to the government to debate this in the House urgently.” Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, the Revd Andrew Wright, said: “This has been a deeply traumatic experience for everyone involved here at home and in India. There have been conflicting stories about what has happened all the way along, but we do know that the ship and crew had just come off duty protecting merchant shipping in the Gulf. The dangers of modern day piracy are very real, and more and more shipping companies are recruiting their own security vessels to protect them. We call again upon the Indian government to act swiftly in this matter, and for the government here to take notice of the petition that shows clearly that the British people want them to do more.” Source : MAREX
DNV GL opens new Vietnam office to support growth plans
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DNV GL, the world’s leading ship classification society and one of the world’s leading risk and sustainability service providers, has moved into a new office that was officially opened by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Henrik O. Madsen, Group President & CEO, DNV GL.
The official ceremony was part of the program of the Norwegian trade delegation visiting Vietnam this week. Besides the Crown Prince, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Fisheries, Ms. Monica Mæland also attended the inauguration ceremony. DNV GL has had presence in Vietnam since 1995. Starting out as a Representative Office, the new office which is located in the heart of the business district in HCMC will consolidate the operations of its three business areas - Maritime, Oil & Gas and Business Assurance – under one roof. The open concept office will foster closer collaboration and working efficiencies between the employees of both DNV and GL which merged in September last year. Vietnam is a strong emerging market for DNV GL’s services in the maritime and oil & gas industries. In the shipbuilding industry, DNV GL is already represented at major shipyards from the north to south of Vietnam and we firmly believe that the oil & gas industry will develop further in the years to come. “The growth of Vietnam’s oil & gas industry over recent years has been astonishing. We believe this growth will continue and will drive the need for more local expertise and knowledge. We currently have 60 employees in Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh who are mostly Vietnamese nationals, and we plan to employ and develop more local expertise in Vietnam,” said Dr Madsen.
Rising demand for energy has prompted Vietnam to focus on exploration in deeper water reserves that requires high level of technologies. The country also needs large amounts of gas to cover future energy demands. Parts of this gas can be extracted from the Vietnamese continental shelf. “With more than 40 years of experience in offshore and deepwater technology, DNV GL is ready to support Vietnam’s offshore field developments in applying technological innovations and practices. Furthermore, we launched the Deepwater Technology Centre, a competence centre in Singapore in 2012 to support the oil & gas industry in the region,” added Dr Madsen With a strong base in maritime and oil & gas business, DNV GL is also looking into venturing into new and exciting areas such as electricity and gas power with the authorities and industrial players in Vietnam. Source: DNV GL
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The FURUNO NavSkills network of training centers has been expanded
In the UAE, it is FURUNO’s long-term exclusive distributor IMTECH MARINE/Radio Holland Middle East, who has set up a training facility in the building where they have their principal operation, in the emirate of Sharjah. IMTECH/RHME is currently the only NavSkills center in the Middle East. The vision of IMTECH/RHME in the field of training is to offer its customers a full package solution, covering equipment sales, installation, service and operator training. The location is in one of the primary hubs of the tanker industry and it is foreseen that the possibility of offering training in connection with crew changes can be a great benefit to the tanker industry. The fact that other shipping segments are growing in the area will only support the efforts and provide further opportunities.
Starting its operation in October 2013, IMTECH/RHME training center is able to provide training on both the FEA-2X07 and FMD-3200/3300 ECDIS models, with a capacity of 4 simultaneous FEA-trainees and 2 FMD-trainees.
In Italy, FURUNO is happy to have the training center THESI CONSULTING becoming a part of the NavSkills network.
Located in the city of Mola di Bari on the Adriatic coast THESI is a family operated training center that has come to establish itself as one of the prime training facilities in Italy, building on many years of seagoing experience by its founder and owner. THESI has offered a wide range of accredited maritime courses for many years, a list that is now augmented by the accreditation from FURUNO, becoming a part of the NavSkills network of training centers. THESI has set up a FURUNO ECDIS training solution with 4 FEA-2X07 and 2 FMD-3200/3300 trainee workstations, identical to the one in the UAE.
The NavSkills network is founded on the principle that the ship operator, in order to obtain the most benefit from having its navigators trained, can find a training center that offers type specific training on a FURUNO ECDIS, identically delivered worldwide both in contents and instructions, close to where the navigators are sourced from. This will most likely bridge any possible language barriers and provide for a knowledge level of the bridge team.
All the training material is in English, while the benefit of having a trained instructor speaking your native language will allow for question and answers to be conducted in native language. This fact will most likely elevate the individual navigator’s competence to a completely new level, making him more capable of performing his duties. With FURUNO’ own two INS Training Centers and the 10 NavSkills network training centers, FURUNO type specific ECDIS training can now be found in locations almost all around the world: Copenhagen, Singapore, Hamburg, Athens, Istanbul, Manila, Mumbai, Shanghai, Odessa, Shajah and Mola di Bari. FURUNO is committed to continue the quest of further expansion of the network with new centers in new locations. Within a very short time frame, the NavSkills training center network can welcome PIVOT Maritime, Australia, into the “family”. Source: Furuno
Billionaire Ross Says Shipping Demand to Catch Supply Next Year
Expanding trade will catch up with the glut of merchant vessels in the first half of next year as accelerating growth in developing economies makes up for China’s slowdown, billionaire investor Wilbur Ross said. Analysts are overstating the “problems” in China’s economy and their potential impact on shipping demand, the founder of WL Ross & Co. said at a Capital Link Inc. conference in New York today. Private-equity firms investing in shipping won’t overbuild the fleet because they mostly refinance existing vessels and orders, he said. Ross, known for turning around struggling industries from steel to textiles, first invested in shipping in 2011. Now, it’s the single most time-consuming part of his business, he said, with investments spanning vessels hauling frozen gas, refined fuels, chemicals, coal and grains.
“We first invested in shipping about two years ago knowing it was a volatile industry, but it has proven to be even more volatile than we had anticipated,” Ross said. “In most segments, demand continues to grow and is gradually catching up with the supply of newbuilds. We expect this to continue throughout ’14 and 2015 and to be generally in balance by the first half of 2015.” The shipping industry is recovering from the worst glut in decades after owners ordered too many ships before the 2008 global recession. Rates will increase as rising U.S. energy output from shale drilling adds cargoes from liquefied petroleum gases to refined oil products and chemicals, he said.
Ross’s company has a 42 percent stake in Navigator Holdings (NVGS) Ltd., the largest owner of small LPG carriers that had an initial public offering in November. Through separate ventures, he has also bought 12 Ultramax dry-bulk carriers with options for eight more, eight stainless-steel chemical tankers that can hold 30 different cargoes, two
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Newcastlemax coal carriers, and 13 other chemical and crude-oil tankers, he said. Ross withdrew an initial public offering last week for Diamond S Shipping Group Inc., the product tanker company in which his firm is the largest shareholder, because he said the suggested price was too low. The shipping industry will consolidate as rates recover, helped by private equity, Ross said. “We’ve seen it happen in lots of other industries for the benefit of the industry’s structure,” he said. “Boom and bust is great for novels, but it’s a little wearing on the human body.” Source: Bloomberg
Canadian ice-class ferry given lasting Ecospeed protection
The Lomer-Gouin is an 88-meter, 4,233 tonne ice-class passenger ferry owned by the Société des Traversiers du Québec (STQ). The ferry’s hull was coated with Ecospeed on the Isle-aux-Coudres in Québec, Canada, to give it full, long-lasting protection against damage from impact with ice while safely transporting passengers between the Canadian cities of Lévis and Québec. MV Lomer-Gouin was named for Québec's 13th premier, who later became lieutenant governor of the province. The vessel was built in the inaugural year of STQ and like all other ships owned by the company undergoes a meticulous maintenance program. Regular and rigorous inspections give information to mechanics about the necessary tune-ups or repairs. Each ship also has systems designed to protect the environment, more specifically to treat liquid waste and oil.
While cutting across the St. Lawrence river, STQ ships hold out against the winds, the strength of the currents and the difficult ice conditions. They adapt themselves to the tides. This allows the transport of thousands of passengers and vehicles and the distribution of tons of goods from one shore to the other, even in harsh winter conditions.
Advantages of Ecospeed for ferries Under normal operation, ferries have to drydock once a year to comply with classification regulations. During the busy tourist season these ferries need to be sailing to make money so the best time for drydocking is the off season when there are fewer passengers. For this reason the majority of these ferries come into drydock for a short time during the winter months. This short drydocking times give ferry operators little opportunity to take all the hull maintenance steps needed to reduce fuel consumption.
The use of Ecospeed on the underwater hulls opens the door to really optimizing fuel efficiency in between dockings. Ferries sail on a fixed route, so the ports they visit and the turnaround time is known in advance. Knowing the exact schedule makes it possible to implement a stricter underwater maintenance program. Ecospeed’s performance-enhancing benefits enable ferry operators to optimize the hulls and thus the fuel efficiency of their vessels. The
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smoothness attained by the coating provides best hydrodynamic conditions for the vessel to operate at maximum efficiency. In the case of ice-going ferries, Ecospeed has been shown to be the lowest friction ice class coating available. Ecospeed will therefore protect these vessels without the need for a full repainting during future drydockings. This is another very important benefit for ferry owners. Ecospeed allows them to keep the yearly drydock visit as short as possible, without having to take the coating into consideration.
Summary Due to its unique composition, when it comes to icebreakers and ice-going vessels Ecospeed is the best protection available for underwater hulls. The coating can keep the underwater part of any vessel safe for the entire length of its sailing life. Just recently the application of the Ecospeed hull protection and performance technology on another ferry has been announced. M/V Hebrides is a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry and sails in the Northern part of Scotland from Uig to Tarbert and Lochmaddy. Ecospeed has been chosen to replace the existing hull coating and will be applied in drydock in the very near future.
ELBE ON SEATRIALS
The Historical tug ELBE left her homeport Maassluis to conduct trials, the tug returned to Maassluis later in the afternoon Photo’s : Cees Kloppenburg (c)
See also the movie at : http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=97ylbEEycVs
Valero’s new tankers to ferry western crude upriver to Lévis
Two European-built oil tankers could soon be carrying light Alberta crude oil from Valero Energy Inc.’s big Montreal East storage terminal to its 265,000-barrels-a-day refinery at Lévis, across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City.
Valero Canada, known as Ultramar at the retail level, and Quebec City’s Groupe Desgagnés have bought two 75,000-tonne tankers from Neste Oil and Concordia Maritime through their new Transport Maritime Saint-Laurent Inc. joint venture. The price of the Panamax-class tankers (Ice Class 1A) was not disclosed.
Ross Bayus, president of Valero’s Canadian operations, said that once Enbridge Inc. “completes its Line 9B pipeline flow reversal project to Montreal, we will be able to supply 100 per cent high-quality North American light crude to the Lévis refinery instead of bringing in crude from overseas.”
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The company will then take full advantage of its Montreal East terminal, the largest in Canada. Bayus said investments of $180 million are already underway to adapt the oil handling and storage facilities as well as the Lévis refinery’s infrastructure. This project will create 200 construction jobs, the company said.
The Line 9B reversal has already won qualified National Energy Board approval. For many months, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Dakota crudes have commanded much lower prices than the benchmark North Sea light oil.
The seven-year-old vessels, Stena Poseidon and Pavla, will be operated by Desgagnés after they have been adapted for maximum manoeuvrability and safe docking. Each can carry 500,000 barrels of oil, though volume moving between Montreal and Lévis will be limited to 350,000 barrels, depending on St. Lawrence water levels. The sister ships will be delivered in April or May. Louis-Marie Beaulieu, Desgagnés’s CEO, said the project’s maritime operation alone will create 100 permanent jobs, excluding rising demand for piloting, tugging and other services. Desgagnés specializes in marine transportation of liquid bulk, general cargo, dry bulk and passengers. Its fleet of 18 vessels navigate the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, the Eastern Canadian Arctic and the East Coast of North America. It has annual business volume of about $230 million. Neste said it ended the ship and crew management contracts covering both vessels last year. It is getting out of shipping to focus on its core refining and marketing businesses. Source: The Montreal Gazette
Smit Nostalgia
As yesterday was announced the departure of Smit Polen from Rotterdam , above seen three 'country' named tugs back in the day when they all pulled together the SMIT IERLAND, SMIT ZWEDEN and SMIT RUSLAND Shot in
Shipping company Mercator Ltd has entered the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transportation market by acquiring a so-called very large gas carrier from financially stressed Varun Shipping Co. Ltd. The India-registered ship is named the Maharshi Vishwamitra.
Atul Agarwal, managing director of Mercator, said his company has purchased the ship from Varun Shipping, but did not disclose the price at which it was bought. A shipping industry executive, requesting anonymity, said that Varun Shipping is planning to exit the very-large gas carrier segment. Varun Shipping owns another such ship, the Maharshi Bhardwaj. Agarwal would not confirm whether Mercator is buying the second ship, too. Yudhishthir Khatau, chairman
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and managing director of Varun Shipping, did not respond to calls made to his mobile phone seeking comment. Earlier this month, India’s maritime regulator, the Directorate General of Shipping, annulled a so-called document of compliance (DoC)—a licence to operate ships—of Varun Shipping after the firm that runs one of the world’s largest fleets of LPG carriers failed to carry out mandatory dry-docking of ships for safety surveys and pay wage arrears to its crew. Statutory surveys and certifications on six of Varun’s eight Indian ships were overdue for several months, rendering them unsafe and unseaworthy, the regulator said in a notice. The ship purchased by Mercator does not figure in that list.
Statutory safety surveys, particularly expensive dry-dock repairs, have to be conducted twice every five years on a ship, with intervals between them not exceeding 36 months, according to the rules. The crew of Varun ships has not been paid wages for about four months, according to the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), which has a membership of some 70,000 ratings (general purpose staff working on board Indian ships). Khatau, however, claims that the Directorate General of Shipping has not withdrawn Varun’s licence to operate ships. “We have voluntarily surrendered the DoC to the Directorate General of Shipping as we have applied for a fresh DoC in the name of Varun Global Pvt. Ltd following a business reorganization,” Khatau told Mint on 13 March. On 20 February, Mint reported that two shipping firms—Mercator and Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd—are evaluating the proposal put forth by Varun Shipping, citing two unnamed persons. A surge in bad loans in the Rs.82 trillion banking system has pushed banks to take an aggressive stance in recovering dues from borrowers through asset sales. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stressed the need for banks to take prompt action for loan recovery amid concerns over the rising pile of stressed assets. Gross non-performing assets at 40 listed banks in the December quarter rose 35.8% to Rs.2.43 trillion from Rs.1.79 trillion a year earlier. About Rs.4 trillion of bank loans are being restructured, both through RBI’s so-called corporate debt restructuring mechanism and on a bilateral basis. Mumbai-based Varun Shipping had restructured nearly Rs.2,000 crore of debt in 2012 by transferring some of its ships to overseas subsidiaries. The overseas arms, in turn, used the ships as collateral to raise inexpensive dollar loans to help repay costlier Indian debt. According to Mint research, the consolidated debt of Varun Shipping stood at Rs.1,083.34 crore as of 30 September. Source: Livemint
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The financing of the state programmes involving Rosmorrechflot activities aimed at the development of marine and river transport under the federal special-purpose programme Development of Russia’s Transport System (2010-20) will be reduced by RUB 30 bln, IAA PortNews journalist quotes Deputy Transport Minister of Russia Victor Olersky. According to him, the reduction will not touch the largest port projects like Taman, Murmansk transportation hub or Vostochny-Nakhodka hub. Source : PortNews
Shipping Slowdowns Continue The Canadian Shipowners Association is raising the red flag over ice build up on the great lakes.
President Robert Lewis-Manning says the lakes are 95% covered and in windblown spots the ice can be as deep as 10 ft. The Canadian Coast Guard’s ice-breaking capabilities are being stretched to the limit. Lewis-Manning says in turn that will limit the passage of key cargo shipments by companies that depend on seaway transport. Thick ice has delayed the opening of the St Lawrence Seaway, impacting the shipping of grain, iron ore, construction materials, salt and petroleum products. The Welland Canal is scheduled to open March 28. Source: Blackburn News
McDermott, Petrobras Sign Subsea Deal Offshore oil and gas-focused engineering and construction firm, McDermott International Inc. ( MDR ) signed a deal to supply its subsea Lay Vessel North Ocean 105 to the Brazilian state-run energy giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA or Petrobras ( PBR ). McDermott also mentioned that this contract would be part of its first quarter backlog.
The vessel, expected to start work during the third quarter, will be responsible for the installation of deepwater umbilical and flexible pipelines in the pre-salt area and the Campos Basin, off the coast of Brazil. The agreement is initially for about 200 days but includes the option of an extension. McDermott stated that this contact is in sync with its vessel utilization target of three deepwater vessels on contract with Petrobras during the second quarter of the year. Houston, Texas-based McDermott is an engineering and construction company, solely focused on the offshore oil and gas business. McDermott primarily serves the worldwide offshore oil and gas field developments, including front-end design and detailed engineering, fabrication and installation of offshore drilling and production facilities, as well as installation of marine pipelines and subsea production systems. Additionally, the company provides project management and procurement services. The company reported poor bottom line all through 2013, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all the four quarters. For the most recently reported quarter, McDermott reported a loss of 80 cents against the Zacks Consensus Estimate of earnings of 16 cents. Things do not look too good for the company in the near term as well. Thus, McDermott currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), implying that it is expected to underperform the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months. Meanwhile, one can consider better-ranked players in the energy sector like Range Resources Corp. ( RRC ) and Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. ( PTEN ). Both these stocks currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Source : nasdaq
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China COSCO Holdings Company Limited to acquire eight dry bulk carriers for a total of US$312 million The Board is pleased to announce that it entered into the Shipbuilding Agreements with CSOC and XGSIC as sellers for the construction of four 40,000 DWT Vessels at an aggregate consideration of US$99,200,000 and four 180,000 DWT Vessels at an aggregate consideration of US$212,800,000, respectively. The aggregate consideration for the construction of the Vessels is US$312,000,000. As one or more of the applicable percentage ratios in respect of the Shipbuilding Agreements, on an aggregated basis, exceed 5% but are below 25%, the entering into of the Shipbuilding Agreements constitute a discloseable transaction for the Company subject to the announcement requirement under the Listing Rules.
40,000 DWT SHIPBUILDING AGREEMENTS
Pursuant to the 40,000 DWT Shipbuilding Agreements, the Sellers have agreed to build, launch, equip and complete at the shipyard of XGSIC and to sell and deliver to Prosperity Investment four 40,000 DWT Vessels at an aggregate consideration of US$99,200,000. The consideration for each 40,000 DWT Vessel under the relevant 40,000 DWT Shipbuilding Agreements is US$24,800,000 and the aggregate consideration for the purchase of four 40,000 DWT Vessels is US$99,200,000. The consideration is subject to adjustment in the event of (i) delay in delivery of any 40,000 DWT Vessel; (ii) deficiency in the actual speed of any 40,000 DWT Vessel; (iii) excessive fuel consumption; or (iv) deficiency in the actual deadweight of any 40,000 DWT Vessel. Under each of the 40,000 DWT Shipbuilding Agreements, Prosperity Investment shall pay the consideration of US$24,800,000 in installments in accordance with the construction process of the relevant 40,000 DWT Vessel. Delivery
Delivery of the 40,000 DWT Vessels is expected to be made from 2015 to 2016, subject to the advancement and delay of time for delivery clause in each of the 40,000 DWT Shipbuilding Agreements. Pursuant to the 180,000 DWT Shipbuilding Agreements, the Sellers have agreed to build, launch, equip and complete at the shipyard of XGSIC and to sell and deliver to Prosperity Investment four 180,000 DWT Vessels at an aggregate consideration of US$212,800,000. The consideration for each 180,000 DWT Vessel under the relevant 180,000 DWT Shipbuilding Agreement is US$53,200,000. Save for the subject matter and consideration, other major terms of the 180,000 DWT Shipbuilding Agreements are substantially the same as those of the 40,000 DWT Shipbuilding Agreements set out above. The aggregate consideration for the construction of the Vessels is US$312,000,000. Source: China COSCO Holdings Company Limited
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Enthusiasm for the product carrier market is starting to be tempered by the growing orderbook in the sector.
Broker Banchero Costa concludes in its latest report that “the attention the sector is attracting is now getting out of hand, with a real risk of undermining medium-term prospects." Market fundamentals have been improving and this is slowly being reflected in charter rates and ship values the Italian broker says. However, the wave of product carrier newbuildings that this situation has attracted, threatens to derail the positive products story. Global trade in clean and dirty products has grown by an average of 5% a year over the last ten years according to BP figures going from 490m tonnes in 2003 to 801m tonnes in 2012. This despite a significant slowdown from the traditionally biggest importer of products, the US, which became a net products exporter in 2011 on the back of the shale revolution, and weaker demand in Europe. However, surging demand in Asian markets has more than made up for that.
Naturally that growth story has not gone unnoticed by the world's tanker owners. Last year, says Banchero Costa, more than 19m dwt of product carriers have been ordered - more than three times the 5.9m dwt ordered in 2012. Furthermore, 12.8m dwt were MRs. In the first two months of this year at least 24 more MRs were added to the orderbook. The picture still remains positive thinks the broker because deliveries this year and next are still nowhere near the levels seen 2007-2010, but at the current ordering rate “we might well soon get there”. A fleet expansion for MRs is expected to be 9% in 2015. “Therefore more restraint would be strongly advisable, so as not to kill the recovery when it's only just starting,” concludes Banchero Costa. Source: Seatrade Global
CSA against P3 Network Reports from South Korea suggest that the Korea Shipowners’ Association is teaming up with the China Shipowners’ Association (CSA) to protest the creation of the new mega container alliance, the P3 Network, comprised of Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM. The two shipowning bodies claim that P3 will accout for 50% of the Asia-Europe tradelane, which violates various fair trade acts. The CSA has said that the network could have a negative impact on the international shipping market. P3 is looking to launch as early as next month once regulatory reviews of the network have taken place across the world. CSA’s negative stance to the P3 Network could be a serious challenge to the new network, its previous campaigns against rival shipping organisations has held sway with Beijing, such as the ongoing ban of giant bulkers owned by Brazilian miner, Vale, calling at Chinese ports. Source : SinoShipNews
Queensland Resources Council attacks reef campaigners
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The Courier Mail newspaper says the mining industry in Australia has launched "a stinging attack" on conservationists, saying their campaign that ports, dredging and shipping posed a threat to the Great Barrier Reef was untrue.
Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said land management practices were the major source of nutrient and sediment to the reef and claims about mining impacts were tied up with a broader plan to shut down export coal and gas industries.
Mr Roche said although reef campaign groups like WWF and the Australian Marine Conservation Society were not overtly parties to an anti-coal movement plan prepared by activists two years ago, they appeared to play both sides.
"On key environmental issues such as Great Barrier Reef water quality, WWF had played a constructive role in promoting the importance of land management practices to reduce nutrient and sediment loads ...,’’ he said. But WWF and AMCS had since become involved in the Fight for the Reef campaign "whose website was littered with untruths."
WWF spokesman Richard Leck said University of Queensland scientists Hugh Possingham and Selina Ward had led 390 scientists who signed letters, warning of pressures from port expansion, development, shipping, dredging and dredge spoil disposal.
"Other industries that work in or alongside reef’s waters are transforming the way they do business and making their industries more environmentally sustainable,’’ Mr Leck said. "It is time the resources sector embarked on a similar transformation and phased out old, outdated practices like dumping millions of cubic metres of dredge spoil in the ... World Heritage Area.” Mr Roche said it was sad to see WWF spouting slogans about non-existent threats. "There is no science to back up these slogans and WWF knows that to be the case,’’ he said. "It is disappointing to see WWF in particular becoming more Greenpeace-like by the day.’’ Source : Dredging News Online
NAVY NEWS
Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran's daughter christens Navy ship in Mobile
With one mighty motion, Katherine Holmes Cochran, the daughter of Mississippi's U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, christened the 419-foot Jackson (LCS 6) at Austal USA's Mobile shipyard.
"For the captain, officers and crew, I wish success on their journeys but always, always safe passage home," said Cochran, who is a University of Southern Mississippi professor. Jackson is named for the capital city of Mississippi, which is also where Cochran was born. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said Saturday that of all the "cool things" he gets to do, naming ships and choosing sponsors is one of his favorites. "It may not be a coincidence that this ship is named Jackson or that the sponsor is named Cochran," said Mabus, also a Mississippi native. Mabus called Cochran a "daughter of the south" and her long-serving father "friend of the Navy."
Cochran said she is looking forward to a lasting relationship with the ship and its officers and
crew, the official commissioning event after the ship is complete and gifting the vessel some books by Mississippi-born authors and others to get its library off to a good start. Cochran teaches southern literature at USM and works with the South Mississippi Writing Project, among other roles. Thad Cochran said he and his family were "flattered, pleased and honored" to be a part of the ceremony and noted he was "very proud" of his daughter for her sponsorship. "Shipbuilding is a proud tradition in our state," he said. "We enjoy working closely with our neighbors, too."
Jackson, Miss., was chosen as the state's capital city in 1821 because it "had all the right qualities to become that city on a hill," he said. "Similarly, I believe the USS Jackson has what it takes to become the pride of her class."
LCS 6 is the first of 10 littoral combat ships that Austal will build as the prime contractor for the U.S. Navy. These ships, meant to replace the military's aging frigates, perform missions such as mine sweeping and anti-submarine
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warfare. The newly christened ship represents "a monumental leap forward in the strength, capability and flexibility of the Navy's surface fleet," said Rear Adm. Brian Antonio, program executive officer for littoral combat ships.
Jackson is the third ship of its kind that Austal has built, and four others -- LCS 10, 12, 14 and 16 -- are currently under construction. A $684 million contract for two others, LCS 18 and 20, was awarded earlier this month.
"This is undeniably a national success story," Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle said of the ship program.
"The Navy thought outside the box, creating a program that's brought innovation to the forefront to develop highly-capable, cost-effective ships to meet their needs, resulting in significant strengthening of industry ... and significant job growth," he said. The future of the program is unknown at this time.
Last month, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel asked for a review of the program before any more contracts are negotiated. Hagel asked the Navy to consider production of a completely new design, keep the existing ship design or make a modified LCS. Mabus said today that request was "not unusual," and he referenced the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers -- built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula -- as a program that is now on its fourth version of the ship. "This is not anything out of the ordinary," he said. Source : GulfLive
Griffith: Rowley mistaken on OPV price Trinidad’s National Security Minister Gary Griffith sought to correct what he called “gross misconception” by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley regarding statements Rowley made about the scrapped Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). Griffith said a recent political meeting, Rowley said the Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) that were to be acquired by the previous PNM government from BAE Systems were at a cost of $150 million each (approximately US$23 million), when in fact the actual cost of one was US$75 million. He took issue with the Rowley’s claim that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was now saying that the current government’s acquisition of one Long Range Vessel (LRV) would cost in the sum of $300 million (US$50 million). Griffith said in a statement he would like to “correct this gross misconception professed by Dr Rowley” and stated the actual cost of one of the BAE OPVs was in fact US$75 million. “This, including the additional expenditure as agreed to in the contract between the then Government of Trinidad and Tobago and BAE Systems, put the overall cost per vessel at TT$747 million (US$ 116 million), an amount approximately TT$425 million (US$66 million) more than the cost of the Long Range Vessel offered by the Government of The People’s Republic of China,” Griffith said. Source : Trinidad Express Newspaper
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Britain's super-sub: Navy unveils James Bond-style mini submarine carried on board HMS Astute which can launch from
under water
The Royal Navy's newest submarine - a miniature sub which can launch underwater that James Bond would be proud of, has been spotted moored off of Gibraltar. The submarine is intended to launch underwater in order to carry commandos to their destinations covertly so they can perform attacks or infiltration near the water. Attached to a large nuclear sub, the mini pod can carry up to around eight elite commandos in heavy assault gear and is designed to be as stealthy as possible. The pod can be seen attached to the topside of the nuclear submarine, the HMS Astute, currently off the coast of Gibraltar. In a covert attack, the secret submarine pod will detach from the HMS Astute and head to its destination, absorbing sonar on the way to evade detection.
The pod will be in use by Special Boat Service commandos in their covert operations, and the miniature submarine will likely make their activities hard to predict or anticipate. Before it was mounted to the top of the HMS Astute, the miniature submarine had to be airlifted by helicopter to seas near its destination, before being picked up later.
Photo’s : Francis Ferro (c) Now the submarine will move closer to the destination, and plans for deployment and support for the commandos will be more readily available. The miniature submarine, codenamed 'Project Chalfont', has been tested since it was installed in 2012, but this is the first time it will reach active service. The HMS Astute is the largest attack submarine the Royal Navy has at its disposal, and is the lead ship of its class. Thanks to air recycling it could theoretically circumnavigate the
planet without having to resurface, and its nuclear power system means it will never have to refuel again during its 25-year-service. However, its limit is that it is only able to carry three months worth of food for the 98 crew needed to man it. The miniature submarine's main duties are for counter intelligence, as it allows for incredibly covert ops from discreet locations, and will now be able to deploy while hidden underwater, rather than having to travel by helicopter, which runs the risk of revealing its position. Source : dailymail.co.uk
Blue Ridge Strengthens Ties During Visit to Manila
U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) departed Manila after a four-day port visit, March 22.
During the visit, crew members, Sailors from embarked 7th Fleet, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12, and Marines from Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Pacific participated in several military-to-military exchanges with Republic of Philippines Navy (RPN), which included guided ship tours, a friendly sports competition, and a reception hosted by RPN. "The reception was a great opportunity to reinforce our partnership with the Philippine navy," said Senior Chief Electronics Technician Darin Vazquez. "These engagements are important for our respective militaries, because we're partners with the same interests in this part of the world." Sailors from Blue Ridge and RPN competed in friendly basketball and soccer games. Blue Ridge has a longstanding tradition of engaging in sporting events with host-nation military members. "Our soccer match with the Philippine navy was the highlight of this port visit for me," said
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Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Christopher Dugas. "Both of our navies are very passionate about sports, and the sportsmanship and camaraderie we shared with the Philippine players made for a very enjoyable game."
Many Sailors, who were born and raised in the Philippines, had the opportunity to take leave and see family and relatives in the area. "I took leave to go visit my aunt, uncle and cousins, whom I hadn't seen in eight years," said Machinist's Mate 1st Class (SW) Michael Balitaan. "Needless to say, they were thrilled to see me, having been away from them for so long." Blue Ridge port visits presents opportunities to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, and demonstrate commitments to regional partners. Blue Ridge has been forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan for 34 years. As the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas, Blue Ridge is vital in maintaining partnerships in the 7th Fleet area of operations. Source : US Navy
Indonesian Naval Ship “Kri Frans Kaisiepo” arrives at the Port of Colombo
on a Goodwill Visit The Indonesian naval ship, ‘Kri Frans Kaisiepo’ arrived at the port of Colombo on 23rd March 2014 on a goodwill visit. It was ceremonially welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on arrival.
Kri Frans Kaisiepo is a corvette belonging to the Indonesian Navy. It is 90 meters in length and has a displacement of 1,444 tons. The ship is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (Navy) Ade Nanno Suwardi and carries a complement of 100 naval personnel including 09 officers and 91 sailors. The visiting ship will stay in Sri Lanka until 25th March 2014 and the crew
is scheduled to participate in a series of programs organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance the friendly relations between the two Navies during their stay in Sri Lanka. Source : Sri Lanka Navy
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$2.5-billion Rajapur Shipyards to go on stream in two years
Australia-based diversified business group Vivus Global will set up a $2.5-billion (about Rs 15,000 crore) shipyard facility at Rajapur in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. The facility, Rajapur Shipyards Private Limited, being built by the group's infrastructure arm, is expected to start its operations in the next 24-28 months. It has already got orders worth $1.24 billion from its parent company.
George Abraham, managing director, Vivus Global Australia Private Limited, said the facility would be the single largest foreign direct investment (FDI) project in the sector and all necessary approvals from the government have been taken. The company announced signing of eight agreements worth Rs 2,000 crore to undertake various works at the project site.
The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Monitoring Agency gave its nod in January 2009. Later, the Expert Appraisal Committee for Infrastructure Development, and the Coastal Regulation Zone and Miscellaneous Projects had given clearance for construction in April, 2009. The shipyard will have two yards and can build very large bulk cargo carriers (VLBCCs), very large crude carriers (VLCCs), very large gas carriers (VLGCs): Oil rigs and offshore drilling rigs of capacity up to 500,000 Deadweight tonnage (DWT) can be built and repaired on land, making the launch facility independent of the production through puts, said CMDE Balasubramaniam, managing director, Rajapur Shipyards. He said the project would come up on 1,200 acres, of which 860 acres had already been acquired.
According to Balasubramaniam, currently large ships are built mainly in Korea by Hyundai, Samsung and Daewoo. In the shipbuilding industry, this was the only segment (large carriers) that did not report de-growth, he said. Hyundai supplies around 90 vessels every year.
Rajapur Shipyards has to supply 16 VLCCs with a DWT of 316,000 each. The delivery of the first batch of ships has to be made by 2016. The company said the interiors of ships will be done by Godrej, while electrical works, including supply of transformers and switchboards will be made by General Electric, Banglaore. Pipearts will undertake plumbing works. The company, which is setting up a captive port inside Rajapur to import materials for the construction of the plant, said it was also open to offer the port facility to others. Source : Business Standard
ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES
Gulf Navigation hit with legal costs Financially-troubled Gulf Navigation said it may have to take Dh229m provisions from a case involving Chinese firms for building two VLCCs after arbitrators awarded a decision against the UAE firm. In a statement to the Dubai Financial Market, the company said it may have to take $29.1m provisions that it has paid as advance to the Chinese firms plus the legal costs totalling Dh111.5m in the first part. For the second part, it may have to take another $29.1m provisions plus the interest rate amounting to Dh117.67m in total, adding that PricewaterhouseCoopers is studying the numbers and the firm is waiting to receive the auditor's final recommendation. “We received initial analysis from our lawyers, which does indicate appeal would be possible. Once we receive final recommendation from lawyers and select lawyers who will represent us for appeal, we will submit application for appeal within permitted 28 days, i.e. before 10th April, 2014,” said Dr Sandeep Kadwe, managing director of Gulf Navigation. Source : GulfShip News
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ASIA PACIFIC MARITIME 2014 CONCLUDED
Last week in Singapore the Asia Pacific Maritime 2014 was held in the Marina Bay Expo centre , herewith a small photo overview made during the event, left seen at the Dutch Pavilion the booth of Oliveira and right seen Bern Olthoff of the Meteogroup with Richard de Jong ( Fairstar / Dockwise) enjoying themselves.
Left seen Jan Koper, Gerard Hulsbosch and Ad van der Linden of Lam Heng Marine Hydraulic & Engineering at the
Damen Shiprepair booth
Below left seen Richard de Jongh of Damen
Shiprepair concentrated at the Alewijnse Booth whilst playing the electronic version of the famous “old Dutch” game SJOELEN during which game, myself, the editor
(photo top) of this newsclippings lost from Richard above seen Wilco of Huisman with Chiel van Daelen (Trustlub) and Han van der Deen of IMT Far East Pte. Ltd.
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TheBostroms 36 yr old ship TYRUSLAND currently being used for transshipment between Malta and Libya.
Photo : Malta Maritime Pilots, www.maritimepilots.com.mt , www.mmrtc.com.mt (c)
Maersk Line's chief executive Soren Skou voted chairman of Box Club
MAERSK Line chief executive Soren Skou is elected seventh Box Club chairman to succeed Hapag-Lloyd's Ulrich Kranich before his retirement in June. The election of the chairman for the exclusive association that limits its membership to top executives of containership operators took place in Dubai, and was hosted by United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) chief executive Jorn Hinge. It is the third Maersk Line chief executive to be elected by the international association, known as the International Council of Containership Operators since its founding in the 1970s, from Eivind Kolding between 2009 and 2011 and Ib Kruse from 2001 to 2003. Other chairmen include those from Hapag-Lloyd, P&ONedlloyd and CP Ships.
Mr Kruse, founder of the Box Club and now deceased, believed that the forum is vital for discussing issues mutually relevant to containership operators such as regulation, safety or infrastructure issues. Competition matters remain off the agenda.
The association will delegate certain matters to the Washington, US-based World Shipping Council, the body it set up in 2000. Following the European Commission's ban of the liner system in 2008, the Box Club set up the now disbanded European Liner Affairs Association to allow views to be heard during the change to competition law. Source : Asian Shipper
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NileDutch upgrades capacity on Asia-West Africa trade
ROTTERDAM-headquartered shipping firm NileDutch is to increase vessel size by chartering its largest-ever vessels in the 4,380-TEU Stadt Marburg and 4,252-TEU Osaka Tower on its East Asia-South Africa-Angola service.
The chartered vessels of Stadt Marburg, controlled by Thien & Heyenga, and Osaka Tower, controlled by EP Shipping, have start dates of late March and early April respectively. Each are chartered at below average cost of US$7,000 from $9,500 for 3,000 to 3,500-TEU geared vessels. It aims to increase vessel size on further services on Asia-West Africa trade following a trend of other carriers, created by cascading of larger vessels on Asia-Europe trades. NileDutch, now formally Sud Maritime, already has delivery of four 3,500-TEU vessels from Shanghai Shipyard to replace chartered coverage on this same service, cited a report from Vancouver's Ship & Bunker. Source :Asian Shipper
The SHRIKE in Rio Grande – Photo : Marcelo Vieira (c)
Environmentalists take government to court over Barrier Reef plans
Environmentalists will launch court action against the Abbott government and its decision to allow dredging and spoil dumping in Great Barrier Reef waters for the expansion of coal export terminals. The Mackay Conservation Group, backed by $150,000 raised by activist group GetUp!, will file documents in the Federal Court on Monday challenging the decision on the grounds the government failed its legal obligations to protect a world heritage site by approving the project. It is the second legal challenge to the proposed Abbot Point development. Last month the North Queensland Conservation Group launched an appeal against a separate decision to allow the dumping of dredge spoil in reef waters by the authority which oversees the marine park protecting the site. Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the Abbot Point project in December under strict conditions, including the dredging and dumping of three million tonnes of sludge in the reef's waters to expand coal export terminals. Advertisement The Abbot Point development is one of many resource projects proposed for the coast along the Great Barrier Reef. Industrial development and other threats have raised the concern of the World Heritage Committee, which has asked the Australian and Queensland governments to install several measure to better protect the reef or else risk it being considered world heritage ''in danger''. The Mackay Conservation Group is challenging the Abbot Point decision through a provision in the national environment laws that allow for a judicial review by the Federal Court of any decision. Group campaigner Ellen Roberts said the review would be the first test of national environment laws protecting world heritage sites. "If we are successful then potentially the decision could have implications for other world heritage areas as well,'' Ms Roberts said. Brad Fish, chief executive of the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, said the focus on dredging had taken the debate about the reef's future away from the real issues threatening its survival.
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He pointed to an article by University of Central Queensland coral ecologist Alison Jones and marine scientist and consultant Brett Kettle posted on The Conversation that said green groups had wrongly argued dredging and dumping were major threats to the reef. Source : smh
CSAV Tie-up With Hapag-Lloyd Approved by Shareholders
Cia. Sud Americana de Vapores SA shareholders approved a proposed combination of its container shipping operations with Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd AG to create the fourth-largest container line in the world.
Shareholders that own 84.5 percent of the company’s stock voted in favor of the deal, by which CSAV will exchange all of its container shipping assets for a 30 percent stake in the Hamburg-based company. That percentage may increase to 34 percent via a $500 million capital increase in which CSAV has pledged $350 million, Chief Executive Officer Oscar Hasbun told shareholders at the meeting today in Valparaiso, Chile.
Chile’s billionaire Luksic family bet on a recovery in the global shipping industry in 2011 when it began building a stake in CSAV. Luksic now owns 37 percent. The company is seeking the combination to counter a prolonged slump in the container shipping market and compete with larger rival A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S.
“Maersk is one of the few container shipping companies in the world that has profit and it does that by economies of scale,” Hasbun said today. “We want to reach Maersk’s level of profitability and efficiency.” The combined company will reap annual savings of about $300 million, expand its customer base and reach more trade routes, Hasbun said. CSAV expects to sign a binding agreement in the next 30 to 40 days and close the deal by the end of 2014.
Hapag-Lloyd will undertake an initial public offering of shares to raise $500 million between 12 and 18 months after the transaction is completed, Hasbun said.
Holders that voted against the tie-up or didn’t attend the vote will have until April 20 to say if they want to be bought out of the company. If more than 5 percent of shareholders ask to be bought out, CSAV may call off the deal, Hasbun said. Shareholders also approved today a $200 million capital increase to pay for seven new vessels being built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd. Source: Bloomberg
B O E K B E S P R E K I N G Door : Frank NEYTS
“Koopman in kennis” Bij Walburg Pers verscheen onlangs ‘Koopman in kennis. De uitgever Willem Jansz Blaeu in de geleerde wereld (1571-1638)’. Djoeke van Netten tekende als auteur. Er is geen drukker in Nederland zo bekend als Willem Jansz Blaeu (1571-1638). De atlas van Blaeu geldt wereldwijd als het hoogtepunt van historische cartografie. Maar de Amsterdamse drukker was in zijn eigen tijd ook tot ver buiten de landsgrenzenberoemd als astronoom, wiskundige en uitgever van wetenschappelijke werken. Deze ten onrechte onderbelichte kant van Blaeu staat centraal in ‘Koopman in kennis’. Historica Djoeke van Netten laat zien hoe de Amsterdammer zich bewoog in een internationaal netwerk van geleerden. Blaeu handelde in kennis. In een tijd waarin auteursrechten en intellectueel eigendom nagenoeg onbekend waren, had hij veel invloed op de presentatie en verspreiding van kennis. Voor Blaeu waren boeken koopwaar. Hij was een koopman die zijn leven lang bouwde aan een wetenschappelijk en commercieel netwerk, als onderdeel van zijn verkoopstrategie. Zijn fonds bestaat voornamelijk uit kwaliteitsdrukwerk. Ook daarin toont hij zijn wereldklasse. ‘Koopman in kennis’ toont het culturele en intellectuele leven in de Republiek in de vroege Gouden Eeuw. Uitgevers speelden daarin een belangrijke rol. Dit boek is de handelseditie van het proefschrift dat Djoeke van Netten in 2012 aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen verdedigde.
“Koopman in kennis” (ISBN 978-90-5730-879-6) telt 320 pagina’s en werd als softback uitgegeven, en kost 29.50 euro. Aankopen kan via de boekhandel of rechtstreeks bij Uitgeversmaatschappij Walburg Pers, Postbus 4159, 7200BD Zutphen. Tel. +32(0)575.510522, Fax +31(0)575.542289. . In België wordt het boek verdeeld door Agora Uitgeverscentrum, Aalst/Erembodegem. Tel. 053/76.72.26, Fax 053/78.26.91, E-mail: [email protected]
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
through this free service and does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information
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