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DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2009 – 320

Distribution : daily 11100+ copies worldwide 20-11-2009 Page 1

Number 320 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Friday 20-11-2009 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

Above seen the P&O liner PACIFIC SUN (47,546 GRT) leaving the Cairncross Dry Dock in Brisbane 19 Nov 2009. It has just spent 9 days in the dock during which its markings

were changed. It is being assisted by the tugs HUNTER (L) and BOTANY (R). It resumes its South Pacific cruises on the 21 Nov.

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Dockwise SWAN seen with the SEAJACKS KRAKEN onboard in Flushing - Photo : Henk Nagelhout (c)

Dockwise secures USD 24 million in near-term contract awards

Dockwise Ltd. announced 8 new near-term contract wins awarded to its subsidiary, Dockwise Shipping, for the transportation of modules, vessels and jack up drilling rigs. Dockwise, together with industry partners, has received contract awards to transport various jack up drilling rigs to Sjarjah, Tianjin, West Africa, Sudan and Singapore and modules and a salvage vessel to Stavanger and Nigeria respectively. Most of the contract work will be carried out in



Q4 2009 with the remainder to be performed in Q1 2010. Total contract revenues for the Dockwise contracts are expected to be approximately USD 24 million. Source : Dockwise

Maersk Alabama shoots back Pirates this morning again attacked the MV Maersk Alabama. This time around. Maersk Alabama fired back. Here's the EU Navfor statement: On the early morning of 18 November 2009, 350 nautical miles east from the Somali coast, pirates attacked MV Maersk Alabama, a US flagged, Danish owned, 155 meter long, Container ship. Pirates fired automatic weapons on MV Maersk Alabama who responded with fire from an embarked Vessel Protection Detachment. The crew managed to repel the attack and no casualties were reported. The vessel was previously hijacked in April 2009. An EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft from Djibouti was tasked to investigate the situation and the closest EU NAVFOR naval vessel was tasked to search for the pirate attack group and neutralise the area. The Maritime Patrol Aircraft stationed in Djibouti takes part in the EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA. The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the “World Food Program” (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

The Yan Dang Hai seen transiting Georgia Strait, on route to Vancouver B.C. Nov. 18/09 – Photo : Barry Shannon (c)

Fuel tank overflow caused Dubai Star oil spill State investigators say the Dubai Star oil spill occurred when one of the ship's massive fuel tanks overfilled during an early morning refueling stop and crew members failed to notice until oil had already seeped into the bay. Officials initially suggested a faulty hose played a role in the Oct. 30 incident that allowed between 400 and 800 gallons of bunker oil to reach six miles of Alameda coastline, killing at least 37 birds. Steve Sawyer, assistant counsel for the California Office of Spill Prevention, the state agency conducting the state's investigation, said the focus is on what caused the tank to overfill during the 6:45 a.m. "bunkering" operation - when a barge filled with bunker oil saddled next to the Dubai Star to refuel it for its journey to Mexico. Sawyer said after the Dubai Star's port-side tank filled to capacity, workers turned a valve to begin filling the starboard tank. Unbeknown to workers on the refueling barge, operated by the Foss Maritime company, or crew members on the Dubai Star, the port-side tank continued to take on bunker oil. The overflow exceeded a containment tank on the Dubai Star before it began flowing into the bay, Sawyer said. The workers were stationed on the opposite side of the ship and did not immediately notice that anything had gone afoul. "By the time they saw it, it was too late," Sawyer said. "It leaked out one side, and everybody was on the other side."



Sawyer said investigators were inspecting the valve to learn if it contributed to the incident. He was unsure whether a monitoring system on the Dubai Star had failed to alert workers of the overfill. Shipping experts say it is not uncommon for vessels of that size to be equipped with such warning systems. State regulations require that refueling barges either pre-boom around the refueling area before the operation begins, or keep 600 feet of boom on deck that's capable of being deployed within 30 minutes. State officials said the vessel did not pre-boom but it did have the required materials aboard. However, by the time workers realized there was a leak, it was too late to contain by deploying the booms, said Sawyer. He added that the Foss Maritime vessel and its workers did not appear to be negligent in the transfer. Sam Sacco, a spokesman for Foss Maritime, which conducts about 20 bunkering operations in the bay each week, said his company had been told that it was cleared in the federal investigation by the Coast Guard investigators the day of spill. "The fueling operation did not play a part in the spill," Sacco said. Source : SFGate

The TAURUS and THORAX seen arriving in Flushing for shelter with the BARD I Photo Top : Richard Wisse (c) – Below : Wim Kosten (c)



Piracy - Netherlands to continue off Somalia The Dutch government says it has decided to prolong its participation in EU anti-piracy operation Atalanta off the coast of Somalia. In a statement the Dutch Foreign Ministry said anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden were starting to pay off. “While the number of incidents involving pirates has grown since the operation started in December 2008, the number of successful attacks has decreased. This is why the Netherlands will prolong its participation in Operation Atalanta,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen. “There is an undiminished need to provide maritime protection to convoys carrying humanitarian aid for Somalia, aid on which millions of people depend. What’s more, safe, free shipping routes around the world are vitally important to the Netherlands for economic, strategic and security reasons.” From the middle of February 2010 to the end of June 2010, the Netherlands will deploy HNLMS Tromp, an air defence and command frigate, and the amphibious transport ship HNLMS Johan de Witt. The Netherlands has provided four frigates to the Operation since 2008, including HNLMS Evertsen which is currently in command of this first EU maritime operation, until December 2009. The ministry said that through its participation in Operation Atalanta, the Netherlands has responded to the UN Security Council’s call to the international community in 2008 (resolutions 1814, 1816 and 1846) to take coordinated action off the coast of Somalia to safeguard humanitarian aid and combat piracy. Meanwhile, the commander of the EU Naval Force, British Royal Navy Rear Admiral Peter Hudson has also defended the EU’s record of anti-piracy action. He told members of the European Parliament (MEPs) that the EU's anti-piracy escorts off Somalia have sunk ships, destroyed weapons, intercepted vessels and thwarted direct attacks. Admiral Hudson said that no escorted ship has been successfully attacked by pirates, but warned that vessels should register before crossing the Gulf of Aden. In response to calls for more effective protection for European fishing vessels active in the region, the admiral said the pirates were resourceful and they were not always easy to distinguish from ordinary Somali fishermen. He advised that with existing resources NAVFOR Atalanta “couldn't provide individual coverage without compromising elsewhere.” Nevertheless, Atalanta had good links with European fishermen and provided as much coverage for them as it could. Admira Hudson reminded MEPS that the EU forces were not alone in trying to combat piracy off Somalia but had the support of naval forces from China, Russia and India. Their presence was essential, he said, saying that co-ordination had improved, especially with the Chinese. NATO remained a key player in the region as well, he added. Source : ports.co.za

Pirates are becoming better Pirates operating in waters off Somalia are becoming increasingly "crafty", the commander of the EU's naval mission there warns. He has also urged merchant vessels to co-operate more closely with a multinational flotilla operating in the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters. "The pirates are getting crafty, they are extending their horizon," Rear Admiral Peter Hudson who heads the EU's Operation Atalanta told members of the European parliament in Brussels. They are showing "a level of sophistication that we have not seen. We have to respond to that."



"These are reckless individuals, they are not afraid of spending days and days at sea in an open skiff," he said, noting that 10 ships and 244 people were currently in the hands of pirates. "It is vital that the merchant community listen to our warnings and don't attempt to cut corners," he added according to a report by French news service AFP. His warning comes a week after pirates launched two of their longest-range attacks yet, fully 1000 nautical miles (close to 2000km) from the Somali coast. Lamenting what he qualified as "the tyranny of distance", Hudson said it sometimes took up to two days for his vessels to reach the site of any attack in one of the world's busiest shipping areas."Very few ships that have heeded our advice fully have been seized by pirates," he said. We "need ships to register with us. We still have a big group that choose not to work with us, and we're trying to address that. "EU nations must highlight the nature of this register," he added. The world's naval powers last year deployed warships in the Gulf of Aden in an attempt to curb attacks by ransom-hunting pirates that were seen as a threat to one of the globe's most crucial maritime trade routes. Pirates have since shifted their focus to the wider Indian Ocean, a huge area much more difficult to patrol, and have ventured as far as the Seychelles and beyond. Meanwhile, Jane's reports a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under the operational control of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) late last month flew its first sortie from the Seychelles.The flight forms part of Operation 'Ocean Look', which provides support to US piracy deterrence efforts off the coast of Somalia. 'Ocean Look' has temporarily located the UAVs on the Seychelles since early October under a joint government agreement. Source : www.defenceweb.co.za

Above seen the SMIT Antigua (first vessel) and the Edimir (2nd vessel also chartered by Smit ). The picture is taken from the Dumar, through the aft towing failead. The vessel is also in charter by SMIT in the Port of Bahia Blanca,

Argentina. Photo : Cor Fontaine (c)



Shot tanker captain dies The captain of a Virgin Islands-owned chemical tanker hijacked this week has died from gunshot wounds suffered when the ship was attacked, a Somali pirate said. The news came as a container ship hijacked earlier this year came under attack for a second time. Somali sea gangs have stepped up attacks in the past two months, especially off the Seychelles, as pirates extend their range to evade navies patrolling off the Horn of Africa. The pirate spokesman said: "The captain of the chemical tanker died from gunshot wounds he got during the hijack. The ship is headed for Haradheere with the dead captain." The European Union naval force operating in the area said pirates had seized the 22,294 deadweight tonne tanker MV Theresa VIII northwest of the Seychelles with 28 North Korean crew on board. The ship, which is operated from Singapore, was sailing to the Kenyan port of Mombasa. The European force said that pirates also attacked the US ship Maersk Alabama, which was hijacked in April. Gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons but a security detachment aboard the huge container ship responded and the vessel managed to escape with no casualties reported. In April, the captain of the Maersk Alabama volunteered to board a lifeboat with pirates in return for the safety of his 19 crew members. He was held for several days aboard the lifeboat. US Navy snipers killed three pirates. Source : HK Standard

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SA needs 300 ships in merchant navy South Africa needs to have 300 ships registered to secure supply of goods and build skills capacity for the maritime sector, according to the the SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa). Samsa said yesterday it wanted to attract close to 20 percent of this number by the end of the 2010/11 financial year through legislative changes that were already under way. The changes, which include the introduction of tonnage tax, revision of the maritime transport policy and the SA Ship Registration Act, are expected to be ratified and implemented next year. Samsa said a merchant navy of 300 vessels would create 30 000 jobs at sea. At present, only one ship is registered in South Africa and it will be decommissioned by the end of next year. Samsa chief executive Tsietsi Mokhele said it was risky for a country that relied heavily on trade not to own ships.



"The first problem is security of supply because 98 percent of imports and exports are transported by sea," said Mokhele. "We are a freight-dependent economy as 50 percent of gross domestic product is trade and if there was to be a disruption to connecting us to the rest of the world the economy would grind to a halt. "If you don't own vessels, you cannot grow the industry itself because one vessel creates about eight to 10 jobs on the land and you cannot increase the number of seafarers because graduates must do training on a ship before they qualify."

The SAFMARINE ASIA seen approaching Cape Town - Photo : Glenn Kasner ©

Tonnage tax would mean that shipping companies would be taxed at a fixed rate according to the size of their ships and not according to income, making South Africa's tax environment more competitive. Treasury spokeswoman Thoraya Pandy said the Treasury had asked for more comment from the industry, which must be submitted by the end of February. It was too early to determine if tonnage tax would attract shipping lines to register vessels because tax was one of many considerations for potential investors, Pandy said. Safmarine has indicated that it would consider registering more ships in the country if there was a tonnage tax. Of the company's 20 vessels, one is registered in South Africa, four in Belgium and 15 in the UK. "Tonnage tax in our view would create a more globally competitive tax environment, which in turn would act as a catalyst for foreign investments in the maritime industry," said Fred Jacobs, the corporate affairs executive at Safmarine. "Business decisions would also be based on sound commercial rationale rather than just on tax considerations." The key amendment in the act relates to the mortgage claim ranking, which determines the order in which creditors are paid if a customer goes insolvent before paying its debts. It has been proposed that shipping companies should be ranked at between six and seven, which is in line with international standards, as opposed to the current 13 in the claim ranking. The better mortgage claim ranking means that if a shipping line is owed money by a firm that goes under, it would be more likely to recover the debt. Source : Business Report



Maersk Says Container Volumes, Prices to Gain in 2010

A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S, the owner of the world’s largest container shipping line, said the market will return to growth next year and that freight rates may rise as carriers curb capacity increases. Container volumes are likely to grow by 3 percent to 8 percent in 2010 as the market emerges from the first year of contraction since containerization went global in the 1970s, Eivind Kolding, chief executive officer of the company’s Maersk Line container unit, said yesterday in an interview.

The ZP CHANDON seen assisting the EVELYN MAERSK in Rotterdam-Europoort Photo : Jacco van Nieuwenhuyzen (c)

“The trends are pointing the right way,” said Kolding, who spoke in Vaerloese, northwest of Maersk’s base in Copenhagen. “Volumes are a little bit better than expected and rates are also going up. We still have some way to go, and we also have to get costs down some more.” Container numbers are headed for a 10 percent drop this year, Kolding said, prompting shipping companies to postpone orders for new vessels, idle existing ones and sail at slower speeds to rein in capacity. The measures mean that average freight prices that fell 30 percent in the first nine months may next year be level or slightly up from 2009, he said. A.P. Moeller-Maersk rose as much as 1.9 percent to 37,300 kroner and was trading up 1.1 percent as of 2:17 p.m. in Copenhagen. The shares have gained 32 percent this year, valuing the company at 159 billion kroner ($32 billion). “There have been quite a few signs that the container market is seeing some recovery and Maersk Line will be helped by better rates and lower unit costs,” said Peter Rothausen, an analyst at Danske Bank A/S in Copenhagen with a “hold” rating on the stock. The euro-area economy emerged from its worst recession since World War II in the third



quarter, helped by higher exports, the European Union’s statistics office said Nov. 13. The container market will reach a “healthy” balance between supply and demand -- equal to conditions before the financial crisis -- by 2013, Kolding said. That’s two years earlier than he had estimated in June. Container shippers with a lower cost base will be profitable before 2013, though none of the world’s 25 largest carriers will make money this year, the CEO said. Danske Bank’s Rothausen said he expects Maersk Line to be profitable in 2011. “The key element is to have a good cost structure,” Kolding said. “We hope we’re a leader on that front and therefore will be one of the market participants that first cross the important line of becoming profitable again.” Maersk Line, which operates almost 500 vessels, this month ended a five-year absence from the Trans-Pacific Stabilization Agreement, a partnership that includes 14 of the company’s largest rivals, saying it’s necessary to work with competitors to restore profitability to the industry. “Our market share is not large enough for us to go out on our own and lift rates,” Kolding said. “We need the other market players to do it with us.” Maersk Line holds 15.2 percent of the global container market, while closely held Mediterranean Shipping Co., its biggest competitor, has 11 percent and CMA CGM SA controls 7.5 percent, according to AXS Alphaliner. Kolding said Maersk will aim to keep its market share at the same level next year. CMA CGM’s routes between Asia and Europe should be profitable this quarter, Nicolas Sartini, head of the unit that provides the service, said today in an interview in Paris. Maersk Line, whose parent is Denmark’s largest company, will have cut 6,500 jobs from its 25,000-strong workforce by the end of this year, Kolding said, with more posts to go in 2010. Source: Bloomberg

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Six DPRK sailors missing after ship sinks off China coast

Chinese maritime authorities launched a search for six seamen from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Wednesday who are missing after their cargo ship sank off China's coast. Altogether 20 DPRK crew members were aboard the vessel when it sank in strong winds about 90 nautical miles southeast of Dalian, in northeast China, at noon on Tuesday, said Zheng Jian, of the Ministry of Transport's Rescue and Salvage Bureau. The ministry's Beihai



Rescue Bureau immediately dispatched a helicopter to the area after receiving an SOS signal from the ship, and rescuers picked up one survivor two hours later, Zheng said. The rescued seaman said 14 colleagues on two life rafts had been swept away by waves. The Beihai Rescue Bureau also sent two rescue vessels to the area, and rescuers saved another 13 sailors from a raft late Tuesday afternoon, Zheng said. "We are still searching for another raft and the other six crew members," he said. The cargo ship was en route from the DPRK port city of Nampo to Dalian when it sank, he said. Source : Xinhua

The Kugelbake, seen loading oill related plant in Burntisland Wet Dock - Photo : Iain Forsyth (c)

Ice breaker Cruise ship breaks Antarctic ice, nears open water

Russian news reports say a cruise ship carrying over 100 tourists and scientists to see emperor penguins in Antarctica has begun moving through packed sea ice and will soon reach clear water. The Captain Khlebnikov icebreaker has struggled to free itself from sea ice near Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea. Officials say the people onboard aren't in any danger but the ship was supposed to reach Argentina two days ago. ITAR-Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies quoted the Fareastern Shipping Company as saying Wednesday that the ship has crunched through three nautical miles (5.5 kilometers) of ice and is just a half-mile (under 1 kilometer) from clear water. Snow Hill Island lies off the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula. Source : google.com

Did Netanyahu risk his life for a photo op? At first, the prime minister boarded Navy gunship Eilat, where he spoke with the crew. He was then to meet with a naval commando unit. To do so, he used a ladder to go from the gunship to a rubber boat. He was joined by the IDF chief of staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, and the head of the Israel Navy, Eli Marom.



While climbing down the ladder, Netanyahu, who was wearing heavy body armor, almost lost his balance. A naval commando standing next to him caught him and held onto him so he did not fall into the water. Navy sources said Tuesday that at no time was Netanyahu in any danger; the sea was calm and the move from the gunship to the rubber boat was a simple one. After the incident began to make headlines, Netanyahu's office quickly contacted the media to say the prime minister had "merely stumbled" and that he was in good health. His spokespeople denied that he was suffering from

seasickness. The IDF Spokesman's Office declined to comment on the matter. Tuesday's incident recalls one 40 years ago, when Netanyahu was a member of the IDF's elite Sayeret Matkal reconnaissance unit, which had gone on an intelligence mission in Egypt. The unit was taken through the Suez Canal by naval commandos. The Egyptians opened fire, and Netanyahu fell into the water while trying to dodge the bullets. He was wearing gear that weighed several dozen kilograms, from which he failed to extricate himself. Another soldier on the team, Amatzia Ben-Haim of Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, came to the rescue, pulling Netanyahu back into the boat.

Netanyahu never forgot the favor and mentioned the incident to Ben-Haim several times over the years. Ben-Haim was stabbed to death by a Palestinian terrorist in the 1990s while repairing a glitch in a Yad Mordechai computer in a greenhouse in Moshav Ganei Tal in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu, by then Likud's leader, delivered the eulogy. Source : haaretz

NAVY NEWS Russian frigates for India by Nov. 27

November A Russian shipyard will float out the first of three frigates for the Indian Navy on November 27, a company spokesman said. The Yantar shipyard in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad is building three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy under a $1.6 billion contract signed in July 2006. "The frigate is due to be floated out Nov 27," Sergei Mikhailov said Tuesday. He said sea trials would not start right away because "post-construction work" was still to be carried out. The trials should start in 2010, he added. The shipyard is to deliver the last warship to India in 2011-2012. He did not indicate exactly when the first frigate would be complete and handed over to India. In an interview with RIA Novosti, Yantar's director Igor Orlov said the shipyard was currently in talks with Russia's Vnesheconombank on "a $60 million loan to complete the construction of the three frigates for the Indian Navy". The Talwar-class frigate has deadweight capacity of 4,000 metric tonnes and a speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of naval missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines.



Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India - the INS Talwar, the INS Trishul, and the INS Tabar. Indian President Pratibha Patil has named the new ships the Teg, the Tarkash, and the Trikand.

All the new frigates will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles rather than 3M-54E Klub-N anti-ship missiles that were installed on previous frigates. They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-to-air missile system, two Kashtan air-defence gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter Source : Deccan

Malaysia's second Scorpene commissioned in Spain

The second of the Royal Malaysian Navy's two Scorpene submarines was commissioned in Cartagena, Spain, on 5 November. KD Tun Razak was handed over to the navy's senior officer, Admiral Abdul Aziz Haji Jaafar, and will remain in Cartagena until January 2010 when it will head to France for crew training and work-up activities. The boat will depart in April and is scheduled to arrive in Malaysia the following month. Lead ship KD Tunku Abdul Rahman was commissioned in January 2009 in Toulon, France, and arrived in Malaysia in September. Built by France's DCNS (bow modules) and Spain's Navantia (aft sections), the 1,758-ton (dived displacement) submarines are the first to enter Malaysian service. They will be homeported at a purpose-built base at Teluk Sappanggar on the island of Borneo. DCNS and Navantia have also built two Scorpene submarines for Chile and signed a licence deal with India to allow the construction of six more by Mazagon Dock Ltd in Mumbai. France has also signed a separate deal to build four similar submarines for Brazil. Source : Janes

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LB 32 LAUNCHED AT KIM HENG IN SINGAPORE



Above seen the launching of Mc Dermott pipelay vessel LB 32 , at the Kim Heng Marine & Shipbuilding , Penjuru in Singapore , the lay/work barge will go to work in Saudi Arabia for Aramco.

Photo : Patrick Vermeer ©

Trinidad and Tobago OPVs sail ahead Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) being built by the UK shipbuilder BAE Systems for the government of Trinidad and Tobago will this week take a step closer to completion. Employees at the Portsmouth Naval base will join in the celebrations today when the first vessel is formally named 'Port of Spain', while the second ship is set to launch and be named 'Scarborough', on the Clyde tomorrow. The two 90m OPVs for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard are part of a £150 million contract to build, integrate, test and commission (up to sea trials) three ships for the government. Under the programme BAE will also provide training and a five year in-service support package, while the UK Ministry of Defence is providing advice to the government of Trinidad and Tobago and operational sea training to the coast guard crews. Lord Davies, Government Minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business, said: "I am delighted that the UK is able to provide Trinidad and Tobago with these highly capable ships. The UK Government will work with BAE Systems and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard to make sure the crews get the most out of their new vessels." The three OPVs for Trinidad and Tobago will perform a range of Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) management, special operations and maritime law enforcement tasks. The first of the ships is being constructed at BAE Systems’ Portsmouth facility, while the second and third vessels are being built at its yard at Scotstoun on the Clyde. Source : The Motorship

NASSCO Lays Keel of Fifth Product Carrier General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Dynamics , laid the keel of the fifth ship of its State-class product carriers. The ship will be named Evergreen State, the state nickname of Washington. NASSCO began constructing the future Evergreen State last May. The ship will be double-hulled and have a cargo capacity of approximately 331,000 barrels. It will be used in Jones Act service, carrying petroleum and chemical



products between U.S. ports. The shipyard anticipates delivering the vessel to American Petroleum Tankers, LLC, in the fourth quarter of 2010. Source : nassco

Long-term shipbuilding contracts signed - Primorie

A ceremony of construction commencement of a new shipyard of gas-carriers building on the basis of Far East Shipyard Zvezda OJSC took place in Primorie. In the course of the ceremony shipbuilding contracts and agreements were signed, stated administration of Primoorskiy kray. ‘The future shipyard already has a number of Customers among which such large companies as Rosneft OJSC, Transneft OJSC, Gasprom OJSC, Sovcomflot OJSC etc. The contracts are long-term ones’. It is necessary to remind, on October 14 an agreement on construction of super-shipyard in Primorie was signed between the united shipbuilding corporation and Chinese-Singapore concern. In addition to the aforementioned, in October a decision on one more shipyard construction on the basis of Zvezda was taken. An agreement on the matter was signed between far-east subholding OSK and Korean Corporation Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). Construction of both shipyards in Primorie will commence first half of 2010. Source : PortNews

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Sovcomflot OJSC to build two tankers for TNK-BP petroleum products shipping

Sovcomflot OJSC plans to order two suezmax-type tankers at United Shipbuilding Corporation OJSC for TNK-BP petroleum products shipping, stated Russian Oil with reference to TNK-PB representative. As per him, it is planned to build marine and river vessels for an integrated transportation system of Saratov oil refinery petroleum products shipping with their transhipment and storage in the ports of the Black Sea. TNK-BP founded in 2003 is one of the world’s ten largest private oil companies. Oil extraction deposits f the company are located in West and East Siberia as well as in Volga-Urals region. TNK-BP owns five oil refineries in Russia and the Ukraine and a net of 1400 gas stations operating under BP and ТNК brands. 50% of TNK-ВР shares is owned by British BP, another 50% - owned by Russian shareholders (25% - Alfa-Group, 12.5% each - Renove and Access Industries). Source : PortNews



Singapore’s ASL Builds Big and Complex By : Alain Haig-Brown

The application of diesel electric technology gives a remarkable flexibility to vessels in the larger offshore market. In November Singapore’s ASL Shipyard completed work on the 90 by 22-meter diving support vessel Mermaid Asiana. Destined for service in Mermaid’s extensive Thai fleet, the DP2 classed vessel has redundancies well beyond the basics. The MERMAID ASIANA Photo : ASL (c) With three Kawasaki bow thrusters the vessel could maintain DP2 status even if one thruster was down. This is but one example of the

importance placed on maintaining position, as the ship’s primary function is to support and maintain the safety of divers working at maximum depth. Divers for situation diving descend up to 300 meters in a 6.3-cubic meter diving bell that is lowered through a mid-ship moon pool. After working a shift at depth they are brought up in the pressurized bell that is then attached via an air lock to one of two large accommodation pressure chambers. The chambers are equipped with bunks and other amenities to support up to 12 divers at pressure between dives. A third small decompression chamber is provided for bringing divers back to surface pressures when the job is completed.

Photo : Alain Haig-Brown (c) With three bow thrusters, two Niigata azimuthing propulsion drives and massive electrical requirements for everything from cranes to accommodation, the need for flexibility and redundancy in the power supply is important. To meet these requirements, the vessel has six 1900 kW Cummins QSK60-DM powered generators each capable of delivering 1600 kW into the main buss. In reality all electrical requirements can be met with only five generators so that one is always on standby. An additional Cummins KTA38-DM powered emergency genset is installed on a higher deck level. In addition to the diving capabilities, the vessel is also fitted out and equipped for ROV support. On the after deck there is a 100-ton knuckle boom crane as well as a ten-ton auxiliary and a two-ton stores crane. Accommodation for up to 100 workers and crew is provided in a range of one, two and four-berth cabins. A helipad is mounted forward rated for a Sikorsky S-61 N, Super Puma.



ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

The ELEKTRON II seen at the River Tyne out bound from OTP, Walker 16.11.09. Photo : Kevin Blair (c)

Ship-to-ship oil transfers off Suffolk set to be banned

Ship-to-ship oil transfers off the north Suffolk coast, which have raised fears of pollution, could be banned before Christmas. Suffolk Coastal MP John Gummer, who has championed a local campaign to stop the practice, said he had received a personal commitment from secretary of state for transport Lord Adonis that the government would move fast to use its powers to stop transfers in UK waters.The sea between Lowestoft and Southwold has become a favoured place for small tankers bringing oil from Russia to transfer their cargo to larger vessels unable to negotiate the Baltic Sea. In recent months, more than 30 tankers at a time have been anchored off the Suffolk coast. While local businesses such as hotels, bed and breakfasts, shops and taxis have welcomed the increase in trade from crew members coming ashore, an environmental lobby spearheaded by Mr Gummer and Waveney MP Bob Blizzard has highlighted the potential risks. Mr Gummer said: "If you want to unload oil in a port, you have to observe proper



environmental practices, and yet out to sea, where it is potentially much rougher and a far less safe environment, there are not the same rules. "There is a real possibility of pollution along a stretch of coast, which includes Southwold and Aldeburgh, where a lot of people make their living from tourism." He acknowledged the boost to the local economy but said that would be the case if they came into port to transfer oil in a regulated way. Mr Gummer said he hoped the ban in oil transfers would also help to reduce the number of ships using the area as a parking place as even cleaning out tanks and cleaning decks posed a risk of pollution. A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "Ship-to-ship transfer operations have been common in UK waters for many years, with an excellent safety record both in terms of potential accidents and the impact on the environment. "But, we have long said we are keen to ensure such operations are man-aged appropriately, which is why the Maritime and Coastguard Agency consulted on proposals last summer to regulate this practice. These proposals are under consideration." Source: EDP24

TEN Announces Delivery to New Owners of 2002-Built Pentathlon and Sale of 2002-

Built Suezmax Tanker Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. announced the delivery of the Pentathlon to its new owners and the sale of the 2002-built 164,274 dwt suezmax tanker Decathlon to the same independent third party. The Decathlon will be delivered to its buyers in February, 2010.The capital gains resulting from the sale of the vessels will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010. All proceeds from both sales will be free cash available for reinvestment. "In view of our long stated policy to actively participate in the sale and purchase market in order to always maintain a young fleet profile, the sales of the Pentathlon and the Decathlon should be viewed in context of our recent two-suezmax newbuilding order in South Korea," stated Mr. Nikolas P. Tsakos, President & Chief Executive Officer of TEN. "Through these sales, TEN will further increase its cash position and aim to utilize this strength to explore growth opportunities that might appear from the current challenging market environment. The Decathlon, as well as the Pentathlon, served TEN well over the years and we wish her new owners equally good fortune in the future," Mr. Tsakos concluded. TEN's pro forma fleet consists of 51 double-hull vessels of 5.5 million dwt and includes two DNA-aframax crude carriers and two suezmax tankers currently under construction totalling 526,000 dwt. TEN's balanced fleet profile is reflected in 26 crude tankers ranging from VLCCs to aframaxes and 24 product carriers ranging from aframaxes to handysize and one LNG. Source: Tsakos Energy Navigation

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BISSO MARINE ANNOUNCES POSIK PROMOTION



BISSO MARINE, a premier provider of energy and maritime support services, is pleased to announce the promotion of Glenn Posik to general manager of Diving and Subsea Services. In his new position, Posik manages all aspects of diving safety and diving operations. “Glenn comes from a diving background and has a keen knowledge of the issues that impact diver safety,” said President and Chief Executive Officer W.A. “Beau” Bisso IV. “He also has been a very capable and conscientious project manager. This promotion is a great advancement for both Glenn and BISSO MARINE.” Before his promotion, Posik served as project manager for the BISSO MARINE Pipeline Department. Prior to joining the company, he was project manager for Superior Diving Company Inc. and construction superintendent for Torch Offshore, Inc. Since 1890, BISSO MARINE has provided quality services to the marine and energy industries, offering marine construction, pipe laying, salvage, heavy lift and diving services. With offices and strategic alliances located across the Gulf Coast, South America, Europe and Asia, the BISSO MARINE fleet is uniquely positioned to provide a full range of maritime services and emergency response across the globe. For more information, please visit www.bissomarine.com.

The EENDRACHT seen arriving in Willemstad (Curacao) Photo : Kees Bustraan - www.community.webshots.com/user/cornelis224 (c)

Polar stalwart SA Agulhas retiring AFTER 31 years of service as SA’s polar research vessel, the SA Agulhas is due for retirement by 2012, it was announced in Cape Town, the announcement was made at the V&A Waterfront when the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism signed a deal with Finnish shipbuilder STX Europe to build a à 116,25m (R1,3bn) replacement. The department’s chief director of research for Antarctica and islands, Dr Johan Augustyn, said the new vessel was crucial for SA to maintain its strategic presence in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. It could also provide income for the country later. “We are looking at our future role in researching climate change in the Southern and Indian oceans. We wanted a ship with more laboratories that can accommodate other branches of science. We are hoping, for example, to do marine biology research and coring work with the new vessel,” he said. The new vessel will be “one of a kind” designed to carry cargo, passengers, helicopters and fuel, while serving as a research platform for the three



South African National Antarctic Programme stations in Marion Island, Gough Island and Antarctica. The vessel’s 800m² laboratories in extent, are expected to attract foreign scientists and help rebuild SA’s deep sea oceanography capacity. “It will be able to break through thicker ice at higher speeds (than the Agulhas), which will extend our Antarctic season by about a month. It will be a more effective tool and not cost much more to maintain than the Agulhas as it has three times as much power while being more fuel-efficient,” Augustyn said. Marine and Coastal Management project manager Alan Robertson said the next step in the vessel’s construction was its detailed engineering before the first steel would be cut in September next year. The Agulhas is an ice-strengthened research vessel built by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1977 and has spent most of her time serving SA’s research bases in the Antarctic. The department’s Henry Valentine said the Agulhas was put through a rigorous test of her seafaring condition last year and “passed with flying colours”. “We have great confidence that the ship will be able to operate well beyond the new vessel’s delivery date,” he said. After the department takes delivery of the new vessel in April 2012, the Agulhas will be sold. STX’s shipyard director, Timo Suistio, said it was the Finnish company’s first shipbuilding project for a South African client and part of its long-term strategy to break into the African market. “Our will is to make this vessel into a postcard of our ability and use it as a reference for future jobs,” he said. At a price of more than R1bn, the ship will smooth the trade imbalance between SA and Finland which now stands at 5:1 in Finland’s favour. Marine and Coastal Management deputy director-general Dr Monde Mayekiso said the vessel had not yet been given a name. Source : businessday.co.za

Hamburg remains profitable despite dwindling container volumes

HAMBURG stevedores and terminal operators have weathered the fall in throughput, with stevedores such as Germany's Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) continuing to operate in the black. In its third quarter earnings report, HHLA forecasted a 30 per cent drop in the number of containers handled for the year. But HHLA chairman Klaus-Dieter Peters predicted a modest upswing over the next few months, in what is being viewed as a positive sign for Germany's battered manufacturing sector. Photo : Piet Sinke (c) Despite the rosy outlook, Hamburg continues to face stiff competition on Baltic trade routes from Dutch and Belgian ports, which offer lower short-sea rates,

the UK's Transport Intelligence reported. Base revenue for the quarter came in at EUR746 million (US$1.1 billion) - down by 26 per cent year on year. Earnings before interest and tax meanwhile fell to EUR130 million. Source : Schednet



Iceport inferno delays vessel calls in Brazil Asian liner operators have been hit by delays after a fire broke out and completely devastated the Iceport reefer warehouse, part of the Portonave container terminal, in the south of Brazil. The owners of the controversial Portonave container facility in Navegantes are currently assessing the cost of a fire, which has almost completely destroyed the Reais50M (USD$29.17M) Iceport facility. A line manager for NYK Line based in Sao Paulo told SAO: “Our vessel, the Iwato, on the Brazil to US (AMS) service, could not enter the terminal because of the fire and we had to wait until the next day to berth. Everything is back to normal regarding Portonave but I don’t know how long it will before Iceport is restored.” The Panamanian flagged Iwato has capacity for 1611teu. Asian chicken importers have also been hurt as some 14,000 tons of chicken, worth up to USD$30M had been stored in Iceport, and most of that has also been destroyed by the conflagration. NYK Line also calls Portoanve with its NHX East Coast of South America to Asia service, along with Asian partners Hyundai and K Line. Other Asian carriers who use the Itajai Port Complex, include Evergreen and MOL Lines. Iceport was only opened in March of this year and it was the key to Portonave over-coming the claim that it was breaking Brazilian port law for not having sufficient volumes of its own cargo. By stuffing and packing the reefer cargo (mostly chicken and pork) at Iceport it can claim it as its own cargo. One reliable source close to Portonave said yesterday that the fire took several hours to put out and all port operations were halted for one day. However, no one was hurt in the fire and port operations were back to normal by the weekend. The source told Seatrade Asia Online, “The most important thing is that no-one was hurt. Investigators will be at the site till the end of the week trying to find out what triggered the fire and what the final damage will be. From what I can see the main structure looks intact so hopefully they wont haveto build again from zero.” Portonave is owned by Triunfo Participacoes e Investimentos (a Brazilian investment group with construction interests) and Backmoon Investments Inc, which is understood to have links to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), who handled 51,000teu in October as the result of calls from several deep-sea and coastal services. Brazil’s newest box terminals has been picking up business in recent months now that the channel to the Itajai Port Complex has been restored to the draught (10.5 metres) it had before the catastrophic floods of November, 2008. Source : Seatrade Asia

The MOOREA seen in the port of Harlingen Photo : Jan van de Witte (c)



OLDIE – FROM THE SHOEBOX

The WAASLAND seen assisting the MEARSK COMMANDER at the DOW Chemical plant in Terneuzen Photo : Henk de Winde (c)

…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..

The Dragamex TSHD Puerto Mexico (part of Boskalis International) seen passing the PANAMA CANAL from the Atlantic to the Pacific side last weekend enroute to Guaymas, Mexico, for new dredge project.

Photo : Crew Puerto Mexico. ©



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Documents

DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS …newsletter.maasmondmaritime.com › PDF › 2009 › 320-20-11-2009.pdf2009/11/20 · the Netherlands for economic, strategic and security reasons.”