WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

Reederei

Hans Peterson & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG

WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

Introduction

Dear seafarers and readers, As clear indication that half of the year 2012

is already gone, you are receiving the

September edition of our WesterShip News,

which is no. 43.

Same as most of the popular shipping

magazines, we are struggling a bit to find a

new wording for the still ongoing situation

of very poor shipping markets. Despite

strong efforts, we can unfortunately not

report any major improvement and were not

able to bring all vessels back into regular

service. Although everybody in the industry

is expecting a market recovery sooner or

later nobody can exactly predict when this is

going to happen.

In general, we are staying positive for our

market segment and hope to reach a better

balance between demand and supply of

tonnage, in particular, because only a few

newbuildings are joining the worldwide fleet

in this segment and an increasing number of

container vessels are sold for demolition.

Thanks to everybody involved that we again

have no critical issue to report from the fleet

operation.

In the office we successfully passed our

annual ISM and ISO 14001 audits, where we

received quite positive comments regarding

our various improvement initiatives, in

particular our new Safety & Environmental

booklet was positively recognized.

Keeping the focus on safety, environmental

protection and effective operational

performance is the best way to maintain our

market position and success. Thanks for

your support.

Best regards

from Rendsburg

WesterShip News is published four times a year for employees and friends of Reederei Hans Peterson & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG.

Please address your correspondence to: Reederei Hans Peterson & Söhne PO Box 950 24758 Rendsburg / Germany E-mail: info@westerships.com www.westerships.com

Front pictures copyright and taken by JMF www.jensmatthiessen-fotografie.de

WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

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A new riddle In WSN 42 we were asking what this is:

This is a horseshoe crab (Pfeilschanzkrebs – for German speakers) Congratulations to Mr. Rother who knew the answer! Also congratulations to Captain Laranang – the crab is known in the Philippines also as “coracha” and can be found on the east coast to Zamboanga. Horseshoe crabs are among the world's oldest and most fascinating creatures. They are estimated to be at least 300 million years old.

Still, they have survived because of their hard, curved shells, which have made it difficult for predators to overturn them and expose their soft, vulnerable underbellies. The horseshoe crab has also survived because it can go a year without eating and endure extreme temperatures and salinity.

The Delaware Bay region is home to the largest population of the American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), which is found along the western shores of the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to the Yucatan. Another three species live in the coastal waters from Japan to Indonesia.

Once called "Horsefoot Crabs" because of the resemblance of its shell to a horse hoof, the Horseshoe Crab isn't really a crab. Related to scorpions, ticks and land spiders, horseshoe crabs have their own classification.

For more information, please visit: www.ceoe.udel.edu/horseshoecrab

Here’s a new riddle for you: Who knows what this is and what it is used for?

If you know the answer, kindly revert to Mrs. Böckmann.

CONGRATULATIONS

TEN YEARS SEA SERVICE

Captain Vladimir Garbuziuk completed 10 years of sea service with the company. Vladimir Garbuziuk joined the company in May 2002 as Chief Mate on board of Westerburg. Since December 2006 he was the permanent Master of MV Charlotta ex. Westermühlen. Electrician Michail Ciuodv completed 10 years of sea service with the company. Mr. Ciudov joined the company in August 2002 as Electrician of MV Westerburg.

WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

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Share of good practice: Getting rid of “Schmuddelecken” -filthy, grubby corners...

Another remarkable example of our new column "Share of good practice" was found on MV WESTEREMS.

Just according to the slogan "How to avoid "Schmuddelecken" or dirty and untidy spaces", C/E Strohschein had the idea to clear up, to clean and to paint these void spaces and to install an illumination in there.

After that, wire mash was installed in order to close these areas and prevent storing anything inside again. By doing so, it leads the crew to return for example cleaning and painting equipment to their original storage places. Due to the wire mash it is still possible to have a look inside for checking the condition of such spaces.

We are sure that also on board of your good vessel there are many plenty examples of good practice and you are very welcome to share these with the other vessels of our fleet.

Funny tale

Beauty and the Beast

Bob, a 70-year-old, extremely wealthy widower, shows up at the Country Club with a breathtakingly beautiful and very sexy 25-year-old blonde who knocks everyone's socks off. She hangs on Bob's arm and listens intently to his every word.

Bob's buddies at the club are all agog. They finally corner him alone and ask, "Bob, how'd you get the trophy girlfriend?"

"What do you mean, girlfriend?" Bob replies. "She's my wife!"

They're knocked over, and press on.

"How in the world did you persuade her to marry you?" they ask.

"Well," he admits, "I lied about my age."

"You cad!" one says, breaking the shocked silence.

"What, did you tell her you were only 50 or something?" asked another.

"No," Bob smiles. "I told her I was 90."

WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

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30th anniversary of co-operation between

HANSEATIC SHIPPING Phils. Inc. / Manila

and

Hans Peterson & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG

In the beginning of May, 21012, the annual visit of the HANSEATIC management team to the German principals took place. With some tradition, the visit of Mrs. Rosalinda P. Baumann, Mrs. Erika P. Baumann and Mr. Ioannis Tzanos to Germany started in Rendsburg with a nice welcome dinner together with Mr. Klaus-Dieter Peterson, Mrs. Martina Peterson, Mr. Thorsten Manthe and Mr. Dirk Jebsen. During the following meetings, the current activities and issues were reviewed and the common approach to future developments discussed.

As it is meanwhile 30 years ago, since the first crew members from HANSEATIC SHIPPING Phils. Inc. joined the Peterson fleet, we took the opportunity to review the long lasting partnership of our two companies.

In April and June 1982, AB Jose Tabo on board of MV ZIM ELIAT as well as the oilers William Chan and Candelario Condera on board of MV WESTERLAND were the first Filipino crew on a Peterson vessel. Some of you may still remember these seafarers.

Good experience, trust and confidence as well as continuous development in the co-operation right from the beginning laid the foundation for the success in the partnership.

Today, more than 250 highly motivated and skilled crew members and thereof more than 60 captains, officers and engineers are part of the Hanseatic / Peterson team on the “Westerships”. Most of the officers and

engineers started their career and have been promoted to higher ranks within the Peterson fleet. The retention rate of crew re-joining one of our vessels lies above 85%.

Another milestone of the co-operation was the installation of the bridge and engine room simulators in the HANSATIC TRAINING INSTITUITE (HTI) in 2007 together with the other German principals. This modern and high quality training facility fulfilling all relevant requirements has already proven to be a key factor for the future co-operation.

During our office meeting, Mr. Peterson held a little speech with a review of the long term partnership and handed over a special plaque as a token of appreciation, celebrating 30 years of partnership of HANSEATIC and HPS. The handover ceremony raised quite a few memories and emotions.

We are very grateful for the strong support and engagement of the HANSEATIC office team as well as of all HANSEATIC crew members on board of our vessels. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership in future, remaining to be one of the “rocks in the surf” of the ups and downs in the global shipping markets.

WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

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Terminal jackets in use „Model Manthe“ presents the new terminal jackets:

Safety on board is important. The employer is responsible for requiring the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment in all operations where there is an exposure to hazardous conditions or where this part indicates the need for using such equipment to reduce the hazards to the employees. Also in ports it should not be neglected. There are a lot of rules and regulations to follow during port visits. Many terminals put already proper safety wear for visitors on demand, so we decided to equip our office staff with these new outfits. Here our DPA, Mr. Thorsten Manthe sets an example.

PEOPLE

Some people are like wheels – they don’t work

unless they’re pushed. Some people are like trailers –

they have to be pulled.

Some people are like kites – always up in the air and if you don’t keep a

string on them, they fly away.

Some people are like canoes – they have to be paddled.

Some people are like footballs –

you never know which way they are going to bounce next.

Some people are like balloons –

always puffed up, and you never know when they are going to blow up.

Some people are like flat tires –

they have to be jacked up. Some people are like good watches –

pure gold, open-faced, always on time, dependable, quietly busy

and just full of good works.

WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

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Bugs and creepy creatures…

Sometimes they are really beautiful to look at – just insects? Not always. Some are called “alien invasive species”. They are organisms that are not native to a specific area, which were introduced intentionally or accidentally into an ecosystem outside their own and managed to thrive.

They can tip the balance of an ecosystem and cause a great economic and environmental harm to the new area.

Most alien insect invaders make their way to foreign regions by stowing away in imported goods or other transported items.

/pictures taken by Mrs. Kunst

WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

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Sydney Harbour Bridge

The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially inaugurated on March 19th, 1932 and is the main connection between the North and South Coastline of Sydney across Port Jackson, often named by locals as “coat hanger”. The wing-span of the Sydney Harbour bridge measures 503 metres. With its width of 50 metres it is the widest bride of the world with a long wing-span (Guinness-book of records 2004). The arch crown rises up to 134 metres above sea level, but can raise about 18 cm due to the expansion of the steel on hot days. 39,000 tons of steel were used to construct the arch. Alltogether, 52,800 tons of steel were used to construct the bridge, which makes it one of the heaviest and wides arch bridges of the world. The bridge consists of eight lanes in total, one for busses, two traintracks, one for bikes and one for pedestrians. The two granite cladded pylons on each side are just decoration and are now housing the museum. They raise 89 metres above water surface.

The arch bridge is in effect carried by huge foundation blocks. For each half of the arch, 128 steel ropes consisting out of 217 unique wires were fixed – each measuring 365 metres with an aperture of 7 cm and a weight of 8,6 tons. The coating of the bridge is a neverending story. It takes 10 years whilst using up abt. 30,000 litres of paint. Once the painting is completed, thes start right from the beginning. Since October 1998, it is even possible to visit the arch oft he bridge. One is equipped with a bridge suit, a supporting equipment, a safety rope and a radio set with head set, so that all instructions from the guide can be communicated. Moreover a breath test is required. On October 25th, 2009, the first “Crave Sydney” took place – an event of the Sydne International Food Festival, which is a big picknick held on the lanes of the Sydney harbor bridge covered with turf. 6,000 people, drawn by lot have breakfast together followed by a “7 bridges walk” – a 25 km walk over seven bridges and through several parts of the city.

/A contribution idea fromshareholder Mr. Weber

Funny tale

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray "Take only one. God is watching." Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, " Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

WesterShip News No. 43, September 2012

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WHAT’S MORE… People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered……………………………..…

Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of having a hidden agenda…………………….

Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies…………….……...

Succeed anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable…………………………………

Be honest and frank anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow…………………………………

Do good anyway. The biggest people with the smallest minds can shoot down the smallest people with the biggest ideas……….………………….……

Think big anyway. People favor underdogs but only follow top dogs………………………………………..

Fight for the underdogs anyway. You spend years building what may be destroyed overnight………………………...

Build anyway.

/Distributed by Captain Laranang

Funny tale How do sailors get their clothes clean? They throw them overboard and then they are washed ashore!

Did you know … People who take the subway and collect subway tokens are known as vecturists. People are called vexillologists if they collect banners or flags.