DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2009 – 277 · 2009. 8. 10. · DAILY COLLECTION OF...

DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2009 – 277

Distribution : daily 10350+ copies worldwide 08-10-2009

Number 277 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Thursday 08-10-2009 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

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The SMIT CHEETAH (sister of the Smit Panther) seen on the Western Jurong Anchorage in Singapore

Photo : Capt. Neil Johnston – Master Salvanguard (c)



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EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

The HSS DISCOVERY seen departing for the last time from Belfast - Photo : Alan Gedes

Somali pirates release Turkish ship for ransom—lawyer

Somali pirates on Monday released a Turkish cargo ship and its 23-men crew which had been held for nearly three months after receiving a ransom payment, a lawyer for the ship's owner said. "The ship is now being accompanied by a frigate... to a secure zone. Afterwards it will travel to the Jordanian port of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which was its original destination," said Nilgun Yamaner on NTV television. "From there we will repatriate the crew by plane to Turkey," she said. The lawyer refused to say how much ransom was paid to free the ship. In early September the pirates demanded a ransom of $20 million (€14 million). The Horizon-1, owned by the Istanbul-based Horizon Maritime and Trade, was sailing from Saudi Arabia to Jordan with a cargo of 33,000 cubic meters of sulphide when it was seized by pirates on July 8. Pirates directed the ship to the port of Eyl in northern Somalia's breakaway Puntland region, where it was anchored. The world's naval powers have deployed dozens of warships to the lawless waters off Somalia over the past year to curb attacks by pirates threatening one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes. More than 130 merchant ships were attacked last year, a rise of more than 200 percent on 2007, according to the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre. Source : Inquirer

Due to travelling abroad this week the newsclippings may reach you irregularly



Malaysian maritime agency arrests suspected pirates

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has arrested a gang of pirates in an early-morning operation in southern Malaysia, local newspaper The Star reported on Monday. The agency intercepted a suspicious fishing boat about seven nautical miles from Tanjung Tohor, a port in southern Malaysia's Johor State, at 4 a.m. on Sunday, and detained six fishermen aboard, according to the report. The fishermen, aged from 39 to 51, carried with suspicious resident identities, Che Hassan Jusoh, a senior official of the agency, was quoted by the report as saying. Local law enforcement officers also found two air rifles on the boat which were believed to have been used in sea robberies, he said. He said the fishermen would probably be given a jail term of seven years or a 10,000-ringgit (some 2,857 U.S. dollars) fine or both, upon conviction under the country's Firearms Act. Besides, they could also face accusation of contravening the conditions of their license for fishing outside their authorized zone, he added.

The CSCL VANCOUVER seen passing the Miraflores Locks in the Panama Canal - Photo : Steve Leonard (c)

EU NAVFOR Arrests Pirate Attackers of Fishing Vessel

Late in the evening of 3 October, two of the suspected pirates who gained control of the Spanish tuna fishing vessel Alakrana the day before, were arrested by the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship Canarias.

The suspected pirates had left the Alakrana with a small boat that was detected and stopped by the EU NAVFOR warship. During the arrest, one of the pirates was lightly injured, but he was given immediate medical treatment by the doctor onboard EU NAVFOR Canarias and his condition is stable. Both suspected pirates are now on board Canarias. The hijacked Spanish fishing vessel Alakrana has anchored of the coast of Somalia. Source : MarineLink



Maersk Exec Says 'Transformation' Needed

Large losses leave big gap in funds needed for shipping investment Container shipping needs “transformation” that goes beyond the changes carriers are undertaking to survive and likely will include consolidation, a Maersk executive told The Journal of Commerce’s East Coast Maritime conference. “I deliberately used the word transformation as opposed to just change,” said Morten Nicolaisen, chief financial officer of A.P. Moller’s U.S. liner subsidiary, “Change can be sometimes be a tweak or a small thing that you’re changing. Transformation is much more fundamental.” Citing estimates that container ship lines will lose $20 billion this year, Nicolaisen said ship lines need to earn $10 billion to $20 billion in profit to sustain needed investments. That means the true gap between profitability and investment need is $30 billion to $40 billion, he said. Nicolaisen questioned whether all carriers should have global ambitions. “Does it really make sense,” he said, “for everybody trying to become a global player with a small presence in all trade lanes with a very small market share?” Ocean carriers, he said, must focus on their core operations. He said most inland container movements are “probably best left to domestic providers who can mix and match different modes of transportation and know their own markets.”

The CAP MONDEGO seen in Rio Grande – Photo : Marcelo Vieira (c)

Two years ago, Maersk drastically revised its inland network by consolidating delivery points. In August the carrier introduced a chassis pool that that leases chassis for unrestricted use by truckers. Paul Bingham, managing director of global trade and transportation at IHS Global Insight, told the ECM conference the global economy appears to be in a slow, uneven recovery, but that trade volumes won’t quickly recover to the levels of the boom years of the last decade. Bingham said even state-controlled carriers may eventually find that their governments will eventually tire of bankrolling heavy losses. “It’s hard to imagine the industry getting out of this without some financial failures,” he said. “There are too many ships and probably also too many companies that are too small.” Not every carrier can or should have global ambitions, he said. Source: The Journal of Commerce



Arctic Sea fate unclear The fate of the Arctic Sea is still unclear as the cargo ship whose alleged pirate hijacking sparked an international mystery is being withheld from its owner, head of Solchart Management said Monday. "The situation is more than strange and complicated. The cargo ship is sitting for days now 60 miles east of Gibraltar, between Spain and Marocco," Viktor Matveyev, director of the company which owns the ship, was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency. Russia was still willing to hand over the ship, but "we do not understand who we should negotiate with on handing over the ship, who bears responsibility for what is happening with it, I do not know," Matveyev complained. The ship was due to be handed over to Solchart Management on September 17 in the port of Las Palmas in Spain's Canary Islands, but the Russian navy, which has control of it, withdrew it from the area. Speculation has raged that the ship, which was allegedly seized by pirates in one of Europe's busiest shipping lanes in July and then recaptured by the Russian navy in August, might have carried a secret cargo. Officially the Arctic Sea was carrying a cargo of timber from Finland to Algeria, and Russian investigators have said they found nothing suspicious aboard the ship. Eight suspects -- including Russians, Estonians and Latvians -- have been accused of hijacking the ship and are now awaiting trial in Moscow on charges of piracy and kidnapping. They have maintained their innocence.

Debt crisis looming for CMA CGM CMA CGM may soon need to pay a heavy price for the aggressive expansion program it has undertaken as it seeks to reduce its estimated $5.6Bn debt burden. The French company announced last week that it has been forced to establish a committee comprising its main lending banks that will address the carrier’s immediate funding needs. The move comes as the carrier faces an unprecedented cash haemorrhage, spending more than $1.2Bn in the first half of 2009 alone to cover operating losses as well as to pay for new ship purchases. The dramatic growth of CMA CGM since 2000, when it operated only 123,000 teu of slot capacity to its current 1.02 Mteu, has transformed it from a niche carrier to become the third largest liner operator globally. Over the same period, CMA CGM has seen its market share grow from 2.4% in 2000 to its current 7.6%. The carrier has also grown its owned fleet by 850% during the last ten years, from 36,500 teu in 2000 to 345,500 teu as at October 2009. The owned ship capacity is due to double over the next few years, as a further 40 owned ships (total 369,500 teu) are in the carrier’s orderbook with delivery originally scheduled for 2009-2011. Part of the $5.1Bn orderbook, comprising the 40 owned ships, will now be delayed and a few of them may be cancelled. The company confirmed that it was in negotiation with shipyards but did not provide further details on its



plans. All of CMA CGM’s ships currently committed have been ordered from Korean shipbuilders Hanjin, Hyundai, Samsung and Daewoo.

The CMA CGM HUGO seen in the port of Los Angeles – Photo : Bob Duckson (c)

Apart from the owned ships, CMA CGM also has 14 post-Panamax ships committed on long term charter arrangements due over the next few years. CMA CGM did not indicate whether it was seeking to renegotiate the charter rates like some of the major carriers have already done. The creditor banks’ committee has six weeks, until mid-November, to come up with proposals for a restructuring of CMA CGM’s debt. Apart from a moratorium on debt repayment, some of the company’s debts may be converted into equity. The carrier was also reported to be seeking fresh capital injections, including from the French FSI sovereign wealth fund. The carrier is expected to post significant losses this year, with limited prospects of a recovery in 2010. Its debt had stood at $5.2Bn as at December 2008 and has increased since then as CMA CGM sought to fund its massive newbuilding program. In addition, the company also has significant commitments to new port projects and is due to complete the construction of its 33-floor Marseille office building in the next few months. Source : The Motorship

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Russian warships to escort Abkhazia-bound freight vessels

Russian coastguard patrol boats and Black Sea Fleet warships will escort freight vessels carrying supplies to Abkhazia, a source in Russia's security services said on Monday. "Border patrol boats, as well as Black Sea warships, will be able to ensure the security of navigation in and around Abkhazia," he said. He added that the necessary infrastructure was being built at the Abkhazian port of Ochamchira. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday Russia could monitor and escort ships in neutral waters heading to Abkhazia to protect them from possible Georgian provocations. Tbilisi considers Abkhazia and its waters part of Georgian territory, and has declared any unauthorized maritime shipments of goods to be illegal. Georgia has seized a number of cargo vessels heading to Abkhazia. Under mutual assistance treaties signed last November following Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, Moscow pledged to help both republics protect their borders, and the signatories granted each other the right to set up military bases in their respective territories. Russia recognized the republics shortly after a five-day war with Georgia in August 2008 that began when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to bring it back under central control. Abkhazia vowed in early September to use force to prevent Georgian "acts of piracy," and Russia started the deployment of its patrol boats off the Abkhaz coast. The first coast guard ship, the Novorossiisk patrol boat arrived in Abkhazia on September 20. It is part of a Russian coast guard contingent that will be based at Ochamchira. The division is expected to have up to 10 Sobol [Sable] class and Mangust [Mongoose] class patrol boats. A senior Russian coast guard official has said Russia will detain any vessel that violates Abkhazia's maritime border. Georgia has pledged to use political, diplomatic and other means to resist any such attempts. Source: en.rian.ru

Japan's anti-piracy mission protected 150 ships

Japanese naval vessels escorted a total of 150 commercial ships in the waters of the Gulf of Aden off Somalia between July 28 and September 30 to protect them against pirate attacks under a law that took effect in late July, the Japanese government said. Only one of the ships is Japanese-registered; 57 are operated by Japanese shipping firms, four by U.S. firms and two by Canadian firms, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Japanese Self-Defense Forces escorted 79 oil tankers, 44 general cargo ships, 11 specific cargo vessels, six automobile carriers, six container ships, three liquefied petroleum gas carriers and one liquefied natural gas carrier. The Anti-Piracy Law, which was enacted in Japan's parliament in June and took effect on July 24, allows the SDF to escort foreign commercial ships and fire at pirate boats if they ignore warning signals and approach merchant ships. The SDF had previously been allowed to escort only Japan-related ships, such as Japanese-registered and Japanese-operated vessels, and its use of weapons had been limited to legitimate self-defense. Source: joc.com



The KNRM Hoek van Holland lifeboat JEANINE PARQUI seen operating off Hoek van Holland Photo : Patrick Borger ©

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Cowes RNLI Lifeboat responds to alert from training yacht

Cowes RNLI Lifeboat went to the aid of a large sail training boat after it radioed the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that it had gone aground in the Solent. The gaff rigged Tectona, which grounded off Cowes. The 75 foot gaff rigged Tectona had grounded off Egypt Point, Cowes on the morning of Saturday, 3 October. It was understood there were 15 people on board, of whom 11 were youngsters. Before the lifeboat arrived on the scene, however, the Tectona managed to float free by

itself. The lifeboat, an Atlantic 85 RIB helmed by Simon Hawkins, escorted the boat into the River Medina, Cowes. It was the second time this year that the RNLI had gone to the aid of the Plymouth-based Tectona. At the end of July it gratefully received a tow to safety from the RNLI Mumbles Lifeboat after encountering engine problems in deteriorating weather off The Mumbles, Swansea. Source : Cowes Online

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NAVY NEWS

The Belgian MCM M 917 CROCUS seen outward bound at the River Tyne Photo : Kevin Blair (c)

Waesche Completes Acceptance Trials The U.S. Coast Guard’s second National Security Cutter (NSC), Waesche, recently completed four days of rigorous tests called Acceptance Trials to ensure the cutter meets all of its contractual requirements and is ready for delivery. Waesche’s Acceptance Trials were conducted in Pascagoula, Miss., from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, 2009, by the Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). INSURV inspected Waesche to identify any major deficiencies needing correction prior to delivery. Acceptance Trials are viewed as a “final exam” before the government takes ownership of the new cutter. Coast Guard Director of Acquisition Programs and Program Executive Officer, Rear Admiral John Korn said, “Waesche performed with flying colors and is well on the way to acceptance and being placed In Commission Special in early November. It was particularly gratifying to actually ride aboard our newest cutter and see the tangible results of all the hard work, and applied learning invested in Waesche.”

More than 80 representatives of INSURV tested Waesche’s shipboard equipment, examined the quality of her construction, and evaluated the cutter’s compliance with the contractual specifications established by the Coast Guard. INSURV uses trial cards to record individual discrepancies or deficiencies requiring corrective action. Although the final INSURV report has not been released, preliminary indications are excellent and Waesche proudly flew two brooms from the yard arm on its way back to Pascagoula. Over the next several weeks, the Coast Guard will work with industry to correct any discrepancies and develop plans to resolve any outstanding issues. Conditional acceptance and delivery of Waesche is expected in early November. INSURV’s independent review is one of many elements of oversight the NSC project has in place to ensure new cutters meet the most stringent government standards. Prior to acceptance, a NSC must pass more than 400 tests, including over 60 conducted during sea trials. Waesche had 1,466 open trial cards heading into Acceptance Trials, which is approximately half the number of trial cards open on Bertholf prior to Acceptance Trials. The Coast Guard has learned important lessons from its experience acquiring the Bertholf. Consequently, Waesche’s design, construction, fitting-out, and testing processes are ahead of the schedule established for Bertholf, with lower overall risk.



Waesche, like her sister ships in the 418-ft Legend-class, represents a great leap forward in capability for the Coast Guard’s surface forces. She has state-of-the-market hull, mechanical and electrical systems and an advanced suite of command, control, communication, and computer electronics to ensure the Coast Guard’s fleet is ready to meet 21st century mission needs. The Coast Guard plans to build eight NSCs, which will replace the 40-plus year old 378-ft High Endurance Cutter fleet.

HMS M 109 Bangor leaving her affiliated town of Bangor, N. Ireland. Photo : Capt. Brian Harvey (c)

SHIPYARD NEWS

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Privatisation of Cochin Shipyard opposed

More than 1,000 people participated in a convention here on Monday against the Union government move to divest its holdings in Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). Drawn from various trade unions, speakers at the convention opposed the move and said that CSL was a strategic institution in which the government should not dilute its holdings. C.M. Dinesh Mani, MLA, who inaugurated the convention, said that the shipyard was established here after a long struggle by the people. The shipyard had grown into an institution of great importance to the country, he said. The government must revoke its decision to sell its shares in the company.



A veteran of the trade union movement and CITU leader M.M. Lawrence, who presided over the inauguration of the convention, said that if India came to be known as an industrial powerhouse it was because of the public sector units that bolstered its economic base substantially. Mr. Lawrence said that when India gained Independence six decades ago, there were no foreign investments forthcoming to build the country’s industrial base. It was then a conscious decision that if India had to retain its identity and independence, the country had to invest in productive industries. The public sector undertakings had fulfilled this role and they should be protected, he said. Former MP, K. Chandran Pillai, was among those who addressed the convention. P.S. Mohanan, district secretary of the CITU, welcomed the gathering and explained the background of the convention. A statement issued prior to the convention said that the Cochin Shipyard was a profit-making unit, now preparing to enter the list of Navaratnas in the country. It had great significance in India’s defence strategy and that the promise by the Union Minister of Defence A. K. Antony that the shipyard would not be privatised should not be broken. Source : The Hindu

Vessels Built in Private Mexican Yard After more than 20 years without a ship built in private Mexican shipyards, Blue Marine introduced two quick intervention provider ships which have been fully constructed in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, with the latest technology. Blue Marine, with an investment exceeding $160m, became the only Mexican shipping company that builds offshore boats in México. This deep Mexican root is also transmitted in the boats names, Aramara and Lluavi, two Huichol words in Spanish translates as “place of where our ancestors sail” and “blue.” In addition, both ships will have the Mexican flag. The Aramara and Lluavi are part of the plan for renovation and modernization of the fleet of Pemex Exploration and Production,

these vessels may provide support for platforms in the most remote from the base ports: “The trust that PEMEX has placed in us has been crucial for boosting the country's shipping industry, especially in a crisis like the one we are living” said Juan Reynoso, CEO of Blue Marine, he believes that building boats in Mexico will have great benefits for all Mexicans, “We will have more efficient, safe and friendly environment boats, facilitating greater efficiency in operations, significantly reduce risks and generate maritime industry and jobs, in the two vessels have worked for more than one year 160 people” he explained. Aramara and Lluavi have aluminum hulls, which provide greater security to the integrity of the platforms during the approach maneuvers. Both ships will be 170.6 ft in length, unlike the 98.4 ft average in such craft, and more capacity to carry up to 200 t, 80 more than most. Additionally, as this newly built vessels, comply with the latest regulations on Safety and Environmental Protection. Source : MarineLink



Naming and launch ceremony of state-of-the-art cutter suction dredger AL SAKAB

The naming and launch ceremony of the 16,500 kW stationary cutter suction dredger AL SAKAB took place at the IHC Merwede yard in Sliedrecht, The Netherlands on Monday 5 October 2009. The ship is being built for HUTA Marine Works Ltd, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ceremony was conducted by Britta and Sylvia Wuebbens, the daughters of Mr M. Wuebbens, Managing Director of HUTA Marine

Works Ltd. According to the islam, rose water instead of champagne was used for the naming ceremony. The ship is named after the first horse Prophet Mohammad ever purchased. It means “smooth, swift like the flow of running water”. (photo’s top & right : Edwin Vet ©)

IHC Merwede and HUTA Marine Works signed the contract in early 2007 for the design, construction and delivery of the AL SAKAB. The keel of the AL SAKAB was laid on 19 December 2008. The AL SAKAB is the first ever to be custom-built for HUTA Marine Works Ltd. It will be commissioned and added to the fleet in Jeddah early in 2010. The AL SAKAB is a single-pontoon cutter suction dredger with a cutter ladder for a maximum dredging depth of 25m. The cutter special dredge pumps installed in the ladder and on board guarantee fast dredging cycles. The rock/soil are discharged to shore through a floating line at the aft of the vessel line or through the barge loading system on the sides of the vessel. The dredger is held in position during dredging by a spud, about which it swings using anchors positioned on either side forward of the dredger. Forward motion is achieved with a hydraulically powered spud carriage situated at the aft end of

the pontoon. The complete dredging cycle can be performed in automatic mode for ease of operation. A travelling crane has been installed on deck for access to all major parts on board. The AL SAKAB was built to Bureau Veritas rules and regulations. Source : IHC-Merwede



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The NOORDHOEK PATHFINDER seen under construction at the De Hoop – Foxhol shipyard Photo : De Hoop – Foxhol ©

Rowan resumes construction of jack-up Rowan Companies, Inc. is to resume construction of its fourth EXL class jack-up offshore rig at the Keppel AmFELS, Inc. shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, with delivery expected in the first quarter of 2012. "In early 2009, we suspended construction of this rig due to liquidity concerns and a weakening jack-up drilling market, pending a decision in the third quarter about whether to complete or cancel this rig," said Rowan's President and CEO Matt Ralls. "We have now decided to resume construction based on substantial positive changes in our liquidly outlook through 2010 and our expectation of generating an attractive return on the $120 million of net capital remaining to complete construction on this rig." "We are confident that there will be an increase in demand for very capable, high-specification jack-ups for deep, difficult wells going forward. Further, we believe the recovery outlook in global oil demand and a potential re-tightening of rig markets will have gained momentum by the time this rig is delivered in 2012," concluded Ralls. In late 2007, Rowan signed construction contracts with Keppel AMFELS for four EXL (enhanced LeTourneau Super 116E) class jack-up rigs. The EXL will employ the latest technology to drill high-pressure/high-temperature and



extended-reach wells in jack-up markets throughout the world, and will be equipped with a hook-load capacity of 2 million pounds, 70 feet of cantilever reach, 477 feet of leg length, and the mud pumping horsepower to drill up to 35,000 feet. Rowan's first three EXL rigs remain on schedule and on budget, with deliveries scheduled for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2010, respectively. Rowan says it estimates that the capital remaining to complete construction of the fourth EXL rig is $120 million, net of approximately $30 million of penalties and excess inventory that would have been incurred if the project had been canceled. Source : MarineLog

Drydocks World - Graha delivers Jack-Up Drilling Rig Hull

L202 or PERRO NEGRO 6

Jack-Up Drilling Rig Hull L202 or PERRO NEGRO 6 which was built at Drydocks World - Graha was successfully delivered to Saipem (Portugal) Comercio Maritimo Sociedade Unipessoal LDA on 2 October 2009. Drydocks World - Graha is one of the 3 yards located on Batam Island, Indonesia, and is a part of Drydocks World - Southeast Asia Pte. Limited ("DDW-SEA"), the Southeast Asian subsidiary of Drydocks World. Mr Mark Biggs, Managing Director of DDW-SEA, said, "Today marks a celebration for the hard work, perseverance and dedication of our entire team at Drydocks World - Graha and the client's site team as well as our vendors and partners. The delivery of this sophisticated vessel demonstrates our continuous commitment to quality. Moreover, we are pleased with the fact that the delivery was completed with zero lost time injury, proving our emphasis on high safety standards here in Drydocks World - Graha as well as within all our yards. "

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ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES Master Marine secures further operations

Master Marine has finalized the refinancing of the company. Nordic Capital has committed to contribute EUR 270 million in equity and loans. The agreement secures the completion of Master Marine’s two innovative Jack Up Construction vessels, currently under construction in Indonesia. Master Marine will have a new majority shareholder with industrial experience and financial strength, which the company will benefit from going forward, says Per Johansson, CEO of Master Marine ASA. Future operation and completion of the projects is now secured through the agreement with Nordic Ocean Limited, a subsidiary of Nordic Capital Fund VII. The recapitalization consists of EUR 130 million of new equity and EUR 140 million of senior secured loans. Nordic Ocean Limited will also acquire the outstanding High Yield Bond at an aggregate price of EUR 30 million which can be converted into equity at a later stage. The outstanding Convertible Bond will also be converted into new shares. After completion of the transactions and full conversion of the High Yield Bond, Nordic Capital Fund VII will have an 89 percent ownership of Master Marine through Nordic Ocean Limited. Master Marine will next year deliver a state of the art, safe jack-up accommodation unit to ConocoPhillips on Ekofisk. The accommodation unit is constructed to withstand a 10.000 year wave and will be the first jack-up accommodation unit to be a “safe haven” for offshore employees. It will be the largest jack-up accommodation unit in the North Sea with 447 single cabins. Master Marine is currently also building a jack-up vessel for installation of offshore platforms and wind turbines. Its first project will be the installation of 88 turbines on English sector in the North Sea for StatoilHydro / Statkraft. These projects are so far running as planned with minimal cost overrun. -Master Marine is now set to continue its operations and ensures by this that more than 600 industrial jobs in Norway are secured, says Johansson. Our organization remains intact and we are looking forward to further developing the Company.

Dover ferry operator Norfokline beats the recession.. & the competiton

Leading English Channel ferry operator, Norfolkline, is riding high despite the recession, stealing market share from its rivals for the fifth consecutive year as the company continues to implement an impressive growth strategy on the English Channel. The figures, compiled by IRN Research (based on official carryings), show Norfolkline steaming ahead. The increase in bookings represents growth in the Dover car ferry market from 4% in 2004 to 28% year to date in 2009 and puts Norfolkline in a strong position for the last quarter of the year. Last year, Norfolkline carried in excess of 600,000 cars between Dover and Dunkirk and this figure is set to be nearer 800,000 cars for 2009 with two and a half million passengers carried. Chris Newey, General Manager Passenger Services, English Channel, comments: "The latest figures not only reflect the strength and success of Norfolkline's business model but also the fact that the company has effectively bucked the economic trend by continuing to grow and out-perform the competition. We put Norfolkline's success down to three things: our brand new ships which offer passengers a consistent high quality experience unlike the mixture of old and new offered by the competition; dedicated decks for freight and tourist passengers ensuring that there is no need for lorry and car drivers to mix; and Dunkerque being a less congested terminal than Calais, allowing customers to board and disembark quickly and easily. Many people become enthusiastic advocates of Norfolkline once they have experienced the service."



"We would like to thank all of our passengers for choosing to travel with Norfolkline. We are committed to offering an unrivalled cross-Channel ferry service, with great deals and completely dedicated areas for tourist passengers and freight traffic.." Source : breakingtravelnews

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The MAIB report on the STENA VOYAGER cargo shift incident

was published last week - synopsis below and links to the full report

http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/investigation_reports/2009/stena_voyager.cfm

Summary: Report on the investigation of the shift of an articulated road tanker on board the roll-on roll-off high-speed sea service cargo ferry, Stena Voyager, in Loch Ryan on 28 January 2009. Report No 21/2009. On 28 January 2009, an articulated road tanker crashed through a stern door of the High Speed Service vessel Stena Voyager shortly after the ferry had commenced a scheduled crossing from Stranraer, Scotland, to Belfast, Northern Ireland. The vehicle's semi-trailer came to rest on the vessel's port water jet units; its tractor unit remained on the vehicle deck. The ferry was quickly stopped and her crew were able to make the vehicle secure. Stena Voyager then returned to Stranraer but her passengers had to remain on board overnight because the position of the road vehicle prevented her berthing stern to the linkspan. The passengers were disembarked by the fire service the following day using a telescopic rescue platform. The semi-trailer was removed by crane later the same evening. There were no injuries but the ferry's stern door was lost overboard. The driver of the road tanker had not applied the vehicle's parking brakes and had left it out of gear. Although the vehicle had been lashed to the deck and its rear wheels chocked, the securing arrangements were not in accordance with the vessel's securing manual, and they failed to stop the vehicle from rolling backwards when Stena Voyager became trimmed by her stern as she accelerated. Neither the ferry's deck securing points nor the vehicle's ferry securing points, to which the lashings were attached, accorded with the applicable international and national codes of practice. The lashing straps were also of insufficient strength, and tests have shown that the chocks could not have been correctly positioned. A recommendation has been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), intended to ensure that road hauliers are made aware of the need to make their vehicles safe to transport by sea. Further recommendations have been made to the MCA aimed at ensuring that the securing arrangements and practices on board all high speed craft carrying freight vehicles comply with their cargo securing manuals and the applicable codes of practice, and confirming that procedures include robust measures to ensure that



the parking brakes of all vehicles have been applied. Recommendations have also been made to Stena Line and Turner (Soham) Ltd to improve the ability of these companies to meet the guidelines of the codes of practice relating to the secure stowage of freight vehicles at sea.

Drillship completes upgrade Neptune Marine Oil & Gas has announced that it has completed a US$340 million upgrade of its deepwater drillship Neptune Explorer.

Photo : Neptune Marine (c)

The Pelican class drillship NEPTUNE EXPLORER, acquired in April 2005, has undergone major upgrading and reactivation works at the Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore. Ulstein Sea of Solutions which was also responsible, after the upgrade of another Pelican class drillship named the ABAN ABRAHAM, for the upgrade of the NEPTUNE EXPLORER, After almost 36 months of upgrade and conversion, Neptune Explorer is now a dynamically positioned deepwater drilling rig with a variable deckload of 7,220 tonnes. It is equipped to work in water depths of up to 5,000ft. The overhaul of the drillship included the installation of a new fifth-generation drilling package. Source : Offshore News Online

Cruise lines sue to uphold Galveston "one pilot" deal

Cruise lines sailing from Galveston have filed suit in Galveston Country District Court to uphold an agreement allowing them to pay for only one pilot on sailings in and out of the harbor. The Galveston County Daily news reports that Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises, along with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, filed the lawsuit last week against the Board of Pilot Commissioners. The newspaper says the lawsuit is the latest move in an "ongoing and increasingly bitter dispute about pilot pay."



The pilots in August dropped a request for a controversial rate increase after threats of a legal challenge by the West Gulf Maritime Association. When the pilots dropped the -- they have since filed for new increases -- they also rescinded the agreement to use one pilot on large cruise ships. Source : MarineLog

“A MARITIME SPECTACULAR FOR A MARITIME CITY”

The traditions of Newcastle’s sea life are revived every year when the annual National Maritime Festival celebrates Newcastle’s rich maritime history on Newcastle’s glorious harbour and foreshore. The Maritime Festival is one of Australia’s leading maritime events and has been attracting large crowds since the early 1980’s – 2008 saw in excess of 50,000 flock to the

foreshore for a spectacular day. Festival 09 is an opportunity to view a colourful and dynamic art-scape that can be enjoyed from many strategic locations along the glorious harbour foreshore. Festival 2009 has a program of events and activities; on water, on land and in the air. People can expect an event of international standard to celebrate the Newcastle Maritime Centre’s 1st Birthday! AND our Port Corporation celebrates 210 years of commercial operations in Newcastle!

SeaMetric cancels heavy lift vessels Norway's SeaMetric has cancelled the orders for two heavy transport vessels in China because construction of the vessels has suffered significant delays. SeaMetric has been building the two vessels at the China Petroleum Liaohe Equipment Company (CPLEC) shipyard since September 2007. The shipyard's ultimate owner is the state-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC). SeaMetric says it has made total claims of $288.4m, covering refunds and compensation, from the main contractor ESSCA and the CPLEC shipyard. "The delays affect negatively both SeaMetric's business development efforts and the possibilities for attracting further financing for the project," it said. The contractual delivery date for the vessels was originally 31 August 2009 and SeaMetric has unsuccessfully tried to find an agreed arrangement with the ESSCA and the CPLEC shipyard to get the project back on track. "It can be established beyond reasonable doubt that delivery will be delayed by more than 180 days, which entitles SeaMetric to cancel the contracts," it said. SeaMetric said it will now undertake a bid process for fresh construction work from "experienced and competent yards" in China. It said a major Chinese bank has expressed willingness to assist SeaMetric in solving its financing requirements for such a construction program and that a number of different combinations of yards and financing structures are "currently being investigated". SeaMetric's Twin Marine Lifter (TML) system is intended for the installation and removal of platform topsides and jackets weighing over 20,000t. Source : The Motorship

Deep-sea port to be completed by 2016 The first-phase construction works for deep-sea port at Sonadia offshore island of the Bay would be completed by 2016, accelerating shipping operations.



Responding to a stared question from M Tajul Islam (Comilla-9), Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan further said that on completion of construction of the deep-sea port, vessels of 14-meter draft would be able to berth at the new seaport. In the first phase, it would be possible to handle 23.84 lakh tons of cargoes and 17.80 lakh-TEUS containers per year. “From this deep-sea port Tk 1580 crore will be earned annually,” the minister told the lawmakers. The deep-sea port was planned, as big ships couldn’t reach the country’s existing seaports in Chittagong and Mongla. Source: The Daily Star

The FAIRPLAY 30 with in the back ground seen the SUBHIKSA off Cape Town’ Photo : Aad Noorland (c)

MSC hikes rates from India Mediterranean Shipping Company will increase freight rates for cargo moving on its services from India to Europe and Africa, effective October 12. From India to North Europe, the United Kingdom, East/West Mediterranean and Black Sea ports, rates will increase $150 per 20-foot equivalent unit. The proposed increase for the trade from India to East Africa, Mozambique, South Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands will be $200 per 20-foot equivalent unit. The Geneva-based company said the rate restoration is necessary to offer “efficient and reliable services to customers.” The move comes just as the state-owned Shipping Corporation of India, which operates the weekly Indian-Subcontinent-Europe Service (ISES) in conjunction with MSC, announced plans to seek a similar rate increase, effective Oct. 10. Source: joc.com

Boskalis-dochter Lamnalco tekent 10-jarig contract voor oliesector-

ondersteunende diensten Koninklijke Boskalis Westminster N.V. maakt bekend dat haar dochteronderneming Lamnalco een langetermijncontract heeft verkregen van het Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) voor het verlenen van ondersteunende diensten aan de oliesector. Het aandeel van Boskalis in het contract vertegenwoordigt een



geïndexeerde waarde van naar schatting EUR 85 miljoen. Het 10-jarige contract zal naar verwachting medio 2010 ingaan. CPC beheert de pijpleiding en de daarmee samenhangende infrastructuur die de olievelden in het westen van Kazachstan verbindt met de maritieme terminal aan de Russische kust van de Zwarte Zee in de buurt van Novorossiysk. De export van ruwe olie vindt plaats via twee Single Buoy Moorings (SBMs) die voor de kust liggen. Lamnalco zal een kant-en-klaar pakket leveren voor alle terminaldiensten. Daarenboven zal een duikteam permanent ter plaatse aanwezig zijn om onderhoud aan de SBMs te verrichten en zijn uitgebreide olieruimingsdiensten inbegrepen. Hierbij worden 15 moderne vaartuigen ingezet, alsmede circa 170 grotendeels voltijds medewerkers aan wal en op de schepen die voor het grootste deel lokaal worden geworven. De strategie van Boskalis is erop gericht om te profiteren van de belangrijkste macro-economische factoren die de wereldwijde vraag opdrijven in onze markten: de groei van de wereldhandel, stijgende energieconsumptie, druk als gevolg van de groeiende wereldbevolking en de uitdagingen die gepaard gaan met klimaatverandering. Boskalis faciliteert het mondiale transport van olie en gas met de maritieme en terminaldiensten van Lamnalco. Koninklijke Boskalis Westminster N.V. is een toonaangevende internationale dienstverlener op het gebied van baggeren, maritieme infrastructuur en maritieme diensten. Wij leveren wereldwijd creatieve en innovatieve totaaloplossingen voor infrastructurele uitdagingen in maritieme gebieden, kuststreken en rivierdelta's met ondermeer de aanleg en onderhoud van havens en vaarwegen, creatie van land in water en bescherming van kusten en oevers. Met belangrijke thuismarktposities in Europa en daarbuiten richt de onderneming zich op alle in de bagger en maritieme infrastructuur sector voorkomende diensten. Daarnaast heeft Boskalis posities in strategische partnerships in het Midden-Oosten (Archirodon) en in offshore dienstverlening (Lamnalco). Boskalis heeft de beschikking over een veelzijdige vloot van meer dan 300 units en is actief in circa 50 landen, verspreid over vijf continenten. Boskalis heeft (inclusief zijn aandeel in partnerships) circa 10.000 medewerkers in dienst. Bron : Euronext

STENA LINE EXPANDS FREIGHT CAPACITY ON BELFAST - STRANRAER ROUTE

LEADING ferry company Stena Line has announced details of a new addition to its Northern Corridor fleet. From early November the company will introduce a third ship, the Stena Navigator, on its Stranraer-Belfast route. The vessel will cater for both freight and passenger traffic with a capacity of up to 1,500 passengers and up to 50 lorries or 280 cars. The addition of the vessel and an onboard upgrade programme that's currently under way in Belfast Port represents a total investment in the route of over £6m.

Stena Navigator will be substantially upgraded and creates an opportunity to introduce a new cruiseferry concept. With dedicated facilities for freight drivers including a truckers restaurant and separate truckers lounge, substantial passenger areas, expanded free wifi accessible 24 hours and free movies, the ship will offer a new

travelling experience for customers. Above seen the STENA NAVIGATOR - Photo : Gary Andrews (c)



The introduction of the Stena Navigator will expand Stena Line's current fleet of the HSS Stena Voyager and Stena Caledonia and provides the company with an opportunity to make a number of changes to its existing timetable which better reflects the needs of its freight customer base. It means Stena Line can offer up to 14 crossings on the route each day, two more crossings than the present timetable allows. Frank Nieuwenhuys, freight commercial manager for the UK and Republic of Ireland, said: "The introduction of the Stena Navigator will give us the opportunity to provide our customers with an increased number of timetable options specifically appealing for our important freight business." The additional capacity on the route will also enable Stena Line to offer additional space at peak times and to meet the expected upturn in freight volumes in the next two years. "While trading conditions remain challenging, Stena Line is confident about the future and is putting the necessary investment in place to ensure that it can better service its customers as the improvement in economic circumstances develops", he said. "We will announce details of our revised timetable over the coming days." Over the last 10 years Stena Line has invested over £100m in its Northern Corridor route including the opening of a new £37m terminal at Belfast Port last June. At present a planning application to the Scottish Government to establish a similar facility to the north of Cairnryan is under consideration.

The STENA BRITANICA seen arriving in Hoek van Holland assisteb by the tugs FAIRPLAY I and FAIRPLAY XII Photo : Frits Janse (c)

Laurin Maritime Adopts AMOS for Newbuild SpecTec AB (Sweden) has signed a contract with long term customer Laurin Maritime as agents for Anglo-Atlantic Steamship Co. Ltd. for the first new build vessel (Cavatina) which is the first in a series of five, built at Trogir shipyard in Croatia. The vessels are IMIO II Tankers for chemicals and oil products and will each have a deadweight of about 46,200 tons. They will have 20 coated cargo tanks, each with a capacity of below 3,000 m3. The cargo tanks are fully strengthened to carry high density cargos such as Caustic Soda 50% Solution. The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered in December 2009 and will join Laurin Maritime´s fleet of tankers for oil and chemicals. The last vessel in the series is scheduled for delivery in 2011. Source : MarineLink



www.mammoetsalvage.com

Port of Hamburg will present its exhibition stand at the China (Shenzhen) International

Logistics and Transportation Fair 2009 Under the common banner of 'The Port of Hamburg', Hamburg port companies will be represented with an exhibition stand at the China (Shenzhen) International Logistics and Transportation Fair 2009, to be held in Shenzhen, China, from 9 to 11 December 2009. The stand will be organised by Port of Hamburg Marketing, and will be used during the trade fair by the companies Brunsbuettel Ports GmbH, Buss, EUROGATE GmbH & Co. KGaA KG, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), TCI International Logistics GmbH and TCO Transcargo GmbH. This time Port of Hamburg Marketing is already involved for the third time. Actually with a considerably larger (more than 50 percent) stand and as much again companies are taking part in comparison to the previous year. For the three-day duration of the trade fair representatives of the Hamburg companies, together with Port of Hamburg Marketing representatives Claudia Roller and Mathias Schulz and representatives of the Port's Hong Kong branch office, will be fostering contacts with partners and customers in the import and export, port and transport industries. At the same time they will advertise the efficiency and flexibility of their own companies and of the Port of Hamburg itself. The Port of Hamburg is the most important seaport in Europe for Chinese foreign trade. This year Port of Hamburg Marketing is expecting around 2.4 million containers (TEUs) to be handled at the port as import or export consignments to and from China.

…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..



The RAMON CASAS seen anchored off Barcelona Photo : Andrew Mc Gregor – Chart Shipping S.L. ©

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DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2009 – 277 · 2009. 8. 10. · DAILY COLLECTION OF...

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