DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Number 357 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Tuesday 23-12-2014 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites. Seen in the Wilhelmina harbour in Schiedam, where Crowner Steel BV last Saturday at the ERS yard with Sky Access and Crowner's Services loaded project materials onboard of the ALINA with the Bonn-Mees sheerlegs MATADOR 2 Photo : Perry Goudswaard Crowner Steel BV © Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 1 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Your feedback is important to me so please drop me an email if you have any photos or articles that may be of interest to the maritime interested people at sea and ashore PLEASE SEND ALL PHOTOS / ARTICLES TO : [email protected] If you don't like to receive this bulletin anymore : To unsubscribe click here (English version) or visit the subscription page on our website. http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/uitschrijven.aspx?lan=en-US EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS The SEABOURN SOJOURN arriving in Cape Town – Photo : Ian Shiffman © ALSO INTERESTED IN THIS FREE MARITIME NEWSCLIPPINGS ? CLICK HERE AND REGISTER FOR FREE ! Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 2 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 InterManager President acknowledges key achievements and reaffirms commitment to be a strong voice for shipmanagement InterManager President Gerardo Borromeo (pictured) has reaffirmed that his association will continue to serve as the strong voice for the shipmanagement sector during 2015. In his New Year Message to InterManager members and the wider shipping industry, Mr Borromeo said: “In this age of international legislation and with the increasing requirements for monitoring and reporting within our industry, it is important to ensure that ship and crew managers have a voice on the world stage and I am determined that InterManager will continue to provide that loud voice.” Highlighting the association’s achievements over the past year, he said membership of InterManager, which represents third party and in-house ship managers, has grown by eight percent – continuing the trend of recent years. InterManager members now manage more than 5,250 vessels and over 250,000 crew members worldwide.Gerardo Borromeo - InterManager President InterManager members attended in force the association’s Annual General Meeting in Singapore in October which featured a new international conference – the International Shipowner and Shipmanagement Summit – which InterManager ran in conjunction with conference specialist Shipping Innovation. The 2015 AGM will be held in London in September, to coincide with the second London International Shipping Week. InterManager has been at the forefront of industry projects and is delighted to announce that the Shipping KPI project, which it pioneered before it became a standalone initiative, now has more than 3,577 ships providing information to its database and 415 companies participating. This represents a doubling on the previous year’s figures.Working with partner organisations and member companies, the association has been instrumental in progressing research on the Martha Project which addresses concerns seafarer fatigue. It has also embarked on a project which exams the role of psychometric testing aimed at better identifying core skills and excellence in seafarers.In terms of initiatives aimed at improving overall conditions at sea, InterManager has completed a wide-ranging Crew Communication Survey and helped produce a useful glossary of terms used in the satellite communications industry.Over the past year in its role as a permanent representative to the International Maritime Organisation, InterManager has submitted a Comment Paper on the PSC Guidelines under the Ballast Water Management Convention, commented on issues regarding Places of Refuge, submitted an Information Paper on Minimum Manning levels and contributed to a Comment Paper on the draft guidance on stripping operations using educators. 2015 will see the association continue to take an active role in international legislative matters on behalf of the ship management sector.Mr Borromeo, who is Chief Executive of Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc, said: “Crew are our industry’s greatest asset and one of a ship manager’s largest costs, so it is important that we actively support initiatives which endeavour to enhance their skills and competencies, driving for enhanced efficiency and productivity in output while working to improve working conditions on board. As managers it is ultimately our ability to continue to effectively adapt to an ever-changing seascape that will spell the difference in our future success. We serve an industry that is the backbone of global trade. Our responsibilities are, therefore, significant and not something we take lightly.” Source: InterManager Maritime artist FRANS ROMEIJNSEN www.galeriemarkant.nl wenst iedereen heel fijne Kerstdagen en een gelukkig 2015, and merry christmas and happy 2015 wishes from the crew of the FORTE and Merry christmas & happy new year from Jan de Nul’s CSD MARCO POLO CLICK on the cards above. Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 3 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Seatrade’s PACIFIC taking bunkers off Gibraltar – Photo : Francis Ferro © Medische evacuatie vanaf LPG tanker De reddingboot van Breskens heeft zaterdagochtend een zeeman met hartklachten geevacueerd vanaf een LPG tanker. De man is in de Sloehaven overgedragen aan de ambulance voor verdere behandeling en vervoer naar het ziekenhuis. Zaterdagochtend alarm voor de reddingbootbemanning van Breskens. Een zeeman aan boord van de Griekse LPG tanker SYMI heeft zware hartklachten en dient met spoed geëvacueerd te worden. Reddingboot ZEEMANSHOOP vaart snel uit en zet koers naar de ingang van de Vlissingse Sloehaven, waar de tanker ligt en bezig is te bunkeren. Eenmaal ter plaatse kunnen we vastmaken aan bunkerboot FINITOR en gaan twee opstappers aan boord van de tanker om polshoogte te nemen. Tevens vragen we aan de alarmcentrale om de ambulance richting de Vlissingse Bootliedenwacht (VLB) te sturen, omdat dit de dichtstbijzijnde aanlandingsplaats is. De zeeman klaagt over Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 4 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 hevige pijn op de borst en uitvalsverschijnselen in armen en benen. Besloten wordt om geen risico te nemen en hem met brancard te evacueren. Via de gangway van de tanker en het dek van bunkerboot FINITOR krijgen we de man veilig op het achterdek van de ZEEMANSHOOP. Als de brancard in het stuurhuis ligt, wordt er koers gezet richting de VLB. Eenmaal afgemeerd komt het ambulancepersoneel op de reddingboot om de man te controleren. Besloten wordt om hem met de KNRM brancard tot aan de ambulance te brengen en hem daar over te dragen. Even later ligt de zeeman veilig in de ambulance voor behandeling en vervoer richting het ziekenhuis. De reddingbootbemanning bedankt het personeel van de VLB en de FINITOR voor de assistentie en gaat retour naar Breskens. Bron : KNRM - Breskens The crew of Van Oord’s STORNES wish you Merry Christmas and a healthy and safe 2015 , The crew of the HAM 601 wish you Merry Christmas and happy New year, Peter, Anja, Tommie en Marieke Andriessen wensen U prettige kerstdagen en een gelukkig nieuwjaar The crew of Jan de Nul’s TSHD CARLES DARWIN wish you Merry Christmas and happy new year CLICK at the cards to enlarge the card ! Kotug’s RT EVOLUTION stand-by with the departing SAGA SAPPHIRE – Photo : photomaassluis © Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 5 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Indonesia urged not to open fire on ROC fishing boats Taiwan urged Indonesia to refrain from firing on fishing boats illegally operating in Indonesian waters following reports the Southeast Asian country's navy was hunting four Taiwanese vessels to enforce Jakarta's vow to take a hard line against poaching.Officials with Taiwan's Fisheries Agency asked that Jakarta observe international protocol that allows its authorities to seize poaching vessels and arrest their crews, but forbids them from opening firing. The call follows reports that four Taiwanese fishing boats were among 13 foreign vessels being hunted by Indonesia's navy and that the Southeast Asian county had recently blown up three Vietnamese vessels and seized 22 China-registered boats illegally operating in its territorial waters.The Indonesian navy identified the four Taiwanese fishing boats being pursued as the Goang Shing Lin No. 6, the Shin Jyi Chyuu No. 36, the Jin Yu Cheng, and the Yi Feng No. 682, according to CNA citing Indonesian media reports. The Taiwan fishery officials said earlier in the evening that they had yet to confirm the reports, but that their boat tracking system had been adjusted to increase the frequency of the reporting of Taiwanese fishing boats' locations to better monitor the situation. Taiwan said its fishermen had been warned of severe consequences of illegal fishing after Jakarta had spelled out a tougher line against poaching in its waters.“No specific countries are being targeted. Fishing vessels from any country will be severely punished if illegally fishing in Indonesia,” Chang Liang-jen, Taipei's representative in Jakarta, was cited by CNA as saying in response to questions about the situation of the four Taiwanese vessels.According to CNA, Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said her agency had reported the case to President Joko Widodo and asked the president to order the navy to hunt the ships down and seize them. She said she hoped that the Indonesian navy would locate the ships as soon as possible. She also asked Taiwan to warn its fishermen and to declare that it does not support illegal fishing.President Widodo was cited as saying that the recent sinking of the Vietnamese boats was the first warning against poaching, and he vowed that his government would take further action if the warning was not enough to stop foreign fishing boats.The New York Times has cited Indonesia as claiming that illegal foreign fishing operations rob the local industry of as much as US$25 billion a year in lost catches. Source : The China Post The PRIMAVERA IMO 9372860, 2008/36087gt in to Melbourne off Portsea in dull conditions Photo : Andrew Mackinnon – www.aquamanships.com © The OFFMAIN team wish you Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year, from Singapore the measurement worldwide group wish all readers Merry Christmas, and from KOTUG’s RT SPIRIT moored in Hamburg, awaiting suitable weather to tow the “BOAbarge 35” back to Rotterdam Cpt. M van Honk; C/E. H. Theissen; C/O. J. Bazuin; Eng. M. Vynnyk; A/B. N. Rog & A/B. p. de Winde wish all readers Merry Christmas & Happy New Year CLICK at the cards to enlarge the card ! Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 6 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 BIMCO: No Case to Increase Vessel Speeds Decreasing bunker costs from falling crude prices have been offset by overcapacity in the industry. Oil prices may still be continuing its downward slide, but the overcapacity glutting the shipping industry means that slow-steaming should continue, according to BIMCO. "When you consider the entire dry bulk fleet on a global scale, overcapacity remains substantial," said Peter Sand, chief shipping analyst at BIMCO, adding that there was no wider case to be made at the moment for speeding up ships. "BIMCO concurs with the estimates made by Drewry, which point to an operating surplus of some 25 percent in the market today." Lower ship speed has significantly assisted freight rates in staying higher than they would Peter Sand, Chief Shipping Analyst, BIMCO For that reason, Sand said that slow-steaming would remain a central strategy for shippers' profitability, and that the industry would have to see several years of high demand and low capacity growth in order to see a dent made in the overcapacity issue. "Lower ship speed has significantly assisted freight rates in staying higher than they would in the case of all ships steaming at full ahead," he said."Reversing this trend may also mean reversing the benefits obtained from slow steaming."Maersk Line Asia Pacific CEO Lars Mikael Jensen also chimed in, having commented earlier this month that bunker fuel prices would have to remain low for a consistent period of time before the company would entertain speeding up ships. Source : Ship & Bunker News Team The crew onboard the NORMAND PACIFIC wish all readers Merry Christmas, Maligayang Pasko & God Jul , the crew on board the Rockdumping vessel SSDV FRANS wish you Merry Christmas & prosperous 2015 ! , Capt Julian and the crew onboard the NORSTREAM wish all readers Merry Christmas, Good sailing in 2015 ! CLICK at the cards to enlarge the card ! Holiday exodus starts; 63,000 crowd ferry terminals The exodus of outbound passengers from Metro Manila has begun last Friday at the ferry terminals, with 63,429 passengers boarding sea vessels bound for various provinces nationwide. Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 7 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the exodus of outbound passengers reached its peak at 2 p.m. Saturday. As part of “Oplan Ligtas Biyahe,” PCG said in a report that most of the passengers departed from Central Visayas, 16,322; Western Visayas, 13,083; and Southern Tagalog with 8,768 outbound passengers. PCG monitored other outbound passengers in Metro Manila, Southwestern Mindanao, Palawan, Northwestern Luzon, Southeastern Mindanao, Bicol, Northern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas and Northeastern Luzon. The PCG has been on heightened alert since December 18 and it will last until January 6 as Filipinos rush to their home provinces to spend the holidays with their families.During the period, all the personnel of the Coast Guard operating units would be on duty.PCG commandant Vice Admiral Rodolfo Isorena reminded all operating units to “maintain a high state of readiness in major port terminals nationwide.”Several ships are subjected to tight inspection in the ports to ensure that the vessels are in good shape as well as safety and security measures are in place.The Coast Guard said it inspected “332 vessels and 1,031 motor boats” in different ports nationwide. Source : Manila Bulletin Spot rates dive while big ship delivery plans send ‘shivers’ through industry By Gavin van Marle Container shipping spot rates on the main east-west trades fell once again this week, reversing the increases made by carriers last week after a general rate increase was introduced on Monday. The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index‘s (SCFI) leg to North Europe fell by 9%, and was at $1,230 per teu this morning from $1,353 per teu last week, and represented an effective 19% decline from the gains made this time last week.In response, carriers have begun to announce a new round of general rate increases to come into effect early next year. OOCL yesterday revealed that it intends to hike rates by $850 per teu on 8 January, while its G6 alliance partner Hapag-Lloyd will increase rates by the same quantum, but on 19 January – indicating that the OOCL increase will have less chance of sticking. Earlier this week, China Shipping sent a customer advisory to UK importers that its rates are set to increase by $525 per teu on 1 January, and container derivatives broker FIS reported that CMA CGM is introducing a GRI of $500 per teu, and NYK by the rather peculiar $888 per teu – although eight is considered the luckiest number in China. The HYUNDAI SMART in Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Kees Torn (c) At the same time, the longer term increase of the global fleet capacity shows no signs of letting up, with Dutch container shipping consultancy Dynamar’s most recent report on the top 25 carriers calculating that there are some 30 vessels of 18,000teu or over that are still to be delivered up to 2017.“In addition to Maersk Line, just three carriers are responsible for this 18,000teu-plus deluge, in part supported by or maybe even induced by “new capital” – China Shipping (five units), MSC (18) and UASC (six).” However, it did add that the “effective nominal teu capacity of these giants has to be awaited – it can be more than 19,000, but also a little bit less than 18,000, much of it depending on the actual number of empty boxes to be accommodated”.For example, the recently delivered CSCL GLOBE has an actual capacity of 18,980teu rather than its declared 19,100teu capacity. “The same goes for three referred to as 18,000teu units of CMA CGM, which actually measure 17,860teu,” Dynamar said. Nonetheless, the analyst gave a bleak assessment of the next two years. “The almost excessive number of ULCVs planned for 2016 delivery is sending shivers through the industry – 65 having a capacity of nearly 1mteu. This is equal to a share of 5.4% of the existing container vessel fleet, of which 1.3% was in lay-up on 1 December. “Another one ULCS per week can be looked forward to in 2016 – 51 vessels with 700,000teu nominal capacity. A lot of economic recovery over the next two years will be required to digest them all.” Source : The Loadstar Not all plain sailing for the Interislander The Interislander ferry line likes to market its Cook Strait ships as a place "where the journey becomes a destination". Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 8 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Last week, as the 15-year-old Aratere was out of action yet again, wags on the waterfront were suggesting Interislander should also market the ship as an adventure tourism destination in its own right. It was Aratere's second, albeit minor, problem of the week, and followed a power failure on the 31-year-old Arahura last month. The three incidents amount to a further sign that all might not be well with Interislander's ageing rail ferries. Arahura, a veteran of more than 50,000 Cook Strait crossings, will be pensioned off next year and replaced by the Swedish-owned Stena Alegra, which had its own problems during a six-month charter with Interislander earlier this year.It was chartered as a replacement ship while the Aratere was in Singapore undergoing repairs after one of its propellers fell off in Cook Strait in November last year. Part of a propeller also dropped off the Stena Alegra, it incurred a gash in its side while berthing, and it also had a power failure in Wellington Harbour. Earlier this month Peter Reidy, chief executive of KiwiRail, which owns Interislander, conceded the company had a job on its hands to regain public confidence in the ferry operation. After this week's cancelled Aratere sailings, group general manager operations Iain Hill said yesterday that the negative publicity had not affected freight and passenger bookings. "We've got more passengers on the three ships for this holiday period than we have had for the past three years.v"It's been a similar case on the freight side. I think people are starting to see now what we are trying to do." He completely understood passenger and customer concerns over Wednesday's cancellation, especially given the time of year, but said safety had to be paramount."As always, the team worked quickly to identify and resolve the issue and minimise disruption to all customers. "In a 24/7 operation such as this, mechanical issues do occur from time to time and, in that respect, Interislander is no different from other transport operators. Our reliability levels are currently at 97.2 per cent for the fleet, with Aratere at 97.4 per cent." Positively Wellington Tourism chief executive David Perks says ferry cancellations have little impact on the tourism sector - but they have an effect on the ferries' reputation.There is nothing in the tourism numbers to suggest Interislander's troubles have had a noticeable impact. "The occasional cancellation of a ferry doesn't have any more effect than the occasional cancellation of a plane."Where it might be felt is on the reputation side of things. Even though the ferries are only cancelled on an occasional basis, there's a perception out there that it happens quite frequently." Perks says Wellington's tourism sector was more resilient to ferry breakdowns than Marlborough's because the capital has a more accessible airport. Also, at this time of year, most people wanting space on the ferries are generally those loading up their cars with camping gear because they are heading to the South Island."If you want to go camping, or spend your time lying on the beach in Nelson, then as long as you get there, that's the main thing."But while tourists in their cars will be a key part of the ferries' business over the next couple of months, for most of the year Interislander is a rail freight operation - and that's where some critics say it is going wrong.According to former Shipping Federation president Rod Grout, the five-year charter of Stena Alegra shows the board and management of KiwiRail have failed yet again to adopt modern and efficient freight shipping practices. Neither Stena Alegra nor Interislander's other ship, Kaitaki, are rail ferries, and Interislander has introduced a freight system called "road bridging" to allow rail freight to be carried on them."Despite KiwiRail claims to the contrary, road bridging is a highly inefficient and comparatively costly way for long-haul rail freight to be moved regularly between the main centres," Grout says."The domestic freight market has transformed since last century, with container ports and ships delivering significant cost and logistical advantages for freight operators and customers."Yet KiwiRail has consistently failed to capitalise on this by clinging to its obsolete main trunk railway mentality on Cook Strait, with predictably worsening results and shrinking volumes." He says the company should focus on the passenger, car and truck-trailer market as a proven income earner, and subcontract or slot-charter existing container ships for its interisland rail freight."By progressively moving to this practice, KiwiRail would not only save tens of millions of dollars a year on operating costs, but would achieve very similar delivery times for non-urgent cargo."The question is whether the state-owned entity is willing to consider such a sensible option and save taxpayers a great deal of money, or dig itself deeper and deeper into a financial hole."On top of exorbitant capital costs, including a wholesale upgrade to the Stena Alegra to make it fit for purpose, high operating costs for road bridging rail freight are a recipe for commercial failure."It effectively means that KiwiRail's interisland rail operations will remain unprofitable for many years to come, with no relief in sight for taxpayers having to keep the service afloat." Hill said the decision to charter the Stena Alegra had to be seen in conjunction with the group's new intermodal freight handling systems.Under the scheme, first introduced in 2011 when Aratere was in Singapore for its lengthening, rail freight is moved on to road trailers to travel across Cook Strait on the ferries and then moved back on to rail wagons at the other end. Hill said hundreds of new curtain-sided containers, which could be easily forklifted on and off trucks and rail wagons, were at the heart of the rail bridging system.Together with the extended Aratere, Interislander could Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 9 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 now offer additional capacity through an extra train service between Auckland and Christchurch during the most critical time slots. Road Transport Forum chief executive Ken Shirley says the trucking industry has been through an intense "almost crisis period" in terms of its relationship with Interislander in the wake of Aratere's propeller shaft failure last year. Up until Wednesday's missed Aratere sailings, he had been heartened by Interislander's performance over the past five months. Hill said the decision for Aratere not to sail on Wednesday afternoon was made by the skipper. "It was a safety issue. It was the master's call." There were protocols that had to be followed once any warning lights came on in the engine room.As Aratere approached its berth in Wellington on Wednesday, alarms were indicated on the control screen in the engine room, even though the ship was operating normally."As safety is paramount, the master made the call he was not prepared to sail until he understood the nature of the issue and her scheduled 2.45pm departure was cancelled to allow time to identify and repair the fault." The investigation revealed that vibration caused an instantaneous fault in the alarm system - a loose connection that possibly was at fault for only milliseconds.Testing was all that was required to verify all systems were working properly, he said.However, there were plans to reduce Aratere's sailing schedule next year, and to give it more regular rest days. Interislander's Cook Strait rival is saying little about its opponent's troubles, but is clearly not inconvenienced by them. Bluebridge was founded by Otorohanga Transport head Jim Barker in 1992. Its generally reliable Santa Regina and Straitsman ferries are almost fully booked over the next few weeks. ARATERE'S STORY December 1998: The $106 million Spanish-built ferry had so many problems after entering service in 1999 that the crew nicknamed it "El Lemon". Problems first arose on the delivery voyage from Spain in December 1998 when the vessel experienced several minor technical problems. February 1999: Power failure leaves the Aratere languishing in Wellington Harbour. May 1999: Electrical failure cuts power to engines and brings ship to a virtual standstill. September 1999: Smoke in engine room sends 250 passengers and 40 crew scurrying to emergency stations. June 2000: Liferaft falls from the Aratere while docked in Wellington. December 2000: Aratere blows an engine piston, causing delays for several weeks. July 2003: Aratere crashes in to a rail ramp while docking in Wellington. July 2004: Passengers on Aratere had a nightmare eight-hour journey from Picton to Wellington after the ship broke down in mountainous seas. April 2005: Aratere, on a late-night freight sailing, is involved in a near miss with chemical tanker Bow De Jin off Eastbourne in Wellington Harbour. July 2006: Aratere rams the trawler San Domenico in high winds while berthing in Wellington Harbour. February 2009: More than 100 passengers bumped off Aratere sailing after coupling holding a lifeboat fails. April 2011: Aratere sails for Singapore for major $54 million (approx) refurbishment. Returns behind schedule in September 2011 with Singapore rats on board. September 2011: MAF Biosecurity prevents Aratere from discharging possibly contaminated ballast water. MAF later relents and allows Interislander to dump the ballast in Cook Strait November 5, 2013: Aratere loses a propeller while on a routine sailing from Picton to Wellington in Cook Strait. November 17, 2014: Technical electronic alarm problems result in Aratere missing a return sailing of Cook Strait. Source : The Dominion Post Hapag-Lloyd’s NINGBO EXPRESS arriving in Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Paul Gerdes (c) Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 10 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Première bedrijfsfilm Koninklijke Dirkzwager Op 17 december beleefde onze nieuwe bedrijfsfilm haar première. Een enthousiast publiek van Dirkzwager medewerkers maakte kennis met 'Dirkzwager Taking the Lead'.Of het hier om Oscar materiaal gaat mag u zelf bepalen, maar we zijn in ieder geval erg trots op een dynamische weergave van het brede scala aan activiteiten dat ons team 24 uur per dag voor u, als klant, neerzet. Door HIER te klikken nemen we u mee in onze wereld. We vinden het leuk om via mail ook uw reacties te mogen horen: [email protected]. Wij wensen u veel kijkplezier! Royal Dirkzwager Govert van Wijnkade 50 - 3144 EG Maassluis - P.O. Box 14 - 3140 AA Maassluis - The Netherlands T +31 (0)10 593 16 00 - F +31 (0)10 592 57 67 - W www.dirkzwager.com - E [email protected] A unique set of 4 Damen tugboats, 3 of them of Herman Senior BV, passed Kiel westbound for Rotterdam on Dec 20th. Following a stormy transit across the Baltic Sea from Gdansk, BOMMEL (a Damen Shoalbuster 2509) towed a tandem of Polish-built Damen cascos to the Kiel Canal. The first casco SCHOALBUSTER YN 571709 (yes, spelled with a “c”!) is a Damen Shoalbuster 3013 design. She will be renamed BARNEY and is scheduled for delivery to Herman Senior BV in Dordrecht in April 2015. Directly on tow behind her was RT EMOTION, second of two new tugs of type ART80-32 for Elizabeth Ltd. For the canal transit, BALOE (a Damen Shoalbuster 2308) stabilized the tow on the stern completing the Damen quartet. Photo : Martin Lochte-Holtgreven (c) Town facing 'absolute disaster' if Stena Line quits Dun Laoghaire DUN Laoghaire businesses have said that the ending of Stena Line ferry services between the town and Hollyhead would be an "absolute disaster". There are growing fears that the ferry operator will pull out of the town after it cancelled some of its sailings to the south-Dublin port for the Christmas period citing "commercial and operational" reasons. A spokesperson from Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company said that discussions between the company and Stena Line over a revised service plan for next year "remain underway". Locals fear that Stena Line may pull out of the harbour altogether. Annette Doyle, who works in Lloyd's pharmacy, said that the cessation of Stena Line ferries would be "dreadful for all businesses in the area"."It would be dreadful, especially for a pharmacy like us, where people off the boats come in and get the essentials they need while away Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 11 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 from home. Around 70 shops have closed in the area over the last few years, and this would only make it worse," Ms Doyle said. Local pubs would also feel the effects on sporting occasions, such as the Six Nations campaign, as Catriona Keegan who works in Scott's Cafe Bar - explained. "We have a lot of regular customers but when the likes of the Six Nations is on, you really notice the difference "You have English, Scottish and Welsh travelling over and they might even stay for up to a week at times," she said. As well as the direct affect on industries, it would also have a severe knock-on effect for some shops.Anne Joyce, who works at Costello flowers in Dun Laoghaire, believes the drop in visitors from Stena Line services would affect local businesses, leaving less money in the area to spend.However, other businesses wouldn't feel the pinch too much if the UK Ferrier cancelled its service.General manager of Mao restaurant, Lenka Dorcakova, said that her business mainly depends on locals eating there."Most of our customers are local, so I don't think the restaurant would be too affected by it," she said.Dun Laoghaire Harbour has plans to expand its cruise ship service next year, hoping to bring more than 100,000 passengers to the Dublin east-coast town. Source : Irish Independent Season Greetings from Canada from ANYA & ALAN HAIG BROWN , from France all best wishes for Christmas and a Happy new year from JACQUES CARNEY. DIRK VAN UITERT Wishing all readers , their near and dear ones a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2015 but before that : MERRY CHRISTMAS EVEREBODY ! CLICK at the cards to enlarge the card ! The AUSTAL Built Hull 270 arrived in Malta – Photo : Michael Cassar (c) Bulker Chief Engineer Convicted of Environmental Crimes A chief engineer from the M/V TRIDENT NAVIGATOR was convicted by a federal jury in New Orleans after a weeklong trial, of knowingly falsifying the vessel’s oil record book in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), obstruction of justice and witness tampering, announced the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Matthaios Fafalios, 64, a resident of Greece, was convicted of knowingly falsifying the vessel’s oil record book, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering related to his service onboard the M/V TRIDENT NAVIGATOR and a subsequent U.S.Coast Guard boarding of the vessel in January 2014. In late December 2013, Fafalios ordered his engineering crew to Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 12 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 construct a hose known in the industry as a “magic hose” to discharge the oily waste water that was in the vessel’s bilge holding tank. Two crewmembers onboard the vessel reported this illegal discharge to the Coast Guard. When coast guard inspectors boarded the vessel, Fafalios attempted to hide critical documents from the inspectors that indicated the illegal discharge occurred. Additionally, Fafalios ordered engineers under his command to lie to the Coast Guard about the illegal oily waste water discharge. Consistent with requirements in the APPS regulations, a vessel like the M/V TRIDENT NAVIGATOR, must maintain a record known as an oil record book in which transfer and disposal of all oil-contaminated waste and the discharge overboard and disposal otherwise of such waste, must be fully and accurately recorded by the person in charge of the operations. Oil-contaminated bilge waste can be discharged overboard if it is processed through on-board pollution prevention equipment known as the oily water separator (OWS).The operator of the vessel, Marine Managers LTD., had previously pleaded guilty to knowingly falsifying the oil record book and obstruction of justice and paid a total criminal penalty of $900,000.00.cThe case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service. The case was prosecuted by Kenneth E. Nelson of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice and by Emily Greenfield of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Source : MarineLink The ADVENTURER of the SEAS passing the Strait of Gibraltar – Photo : Capt. Alex Castle © Crashed Richmond lifeboat hoisted to dry dock Full extent of damage becomes apparent after volunteer vessel smashed into wall on the Fraser River during windstorm “A few lessons have been learned.” John Horton, captain of the Steveston Lifeboat, was candid when explaining to the News why his vessel — with 14 passengers and crew on board — crashed straight into a seawall at the beginning of Thursday evening’s windstorm. Horton said moments before the collision on the south side of the south arm of the Fraser River around 7:30 p.m., he was showing “trainees” how to detune the radar when they hit the wall, which has been in place for decades and directs the flow of the river. Admitting it was an inopportune moment to reset the radar, Horton said, “mistakes will be made and we made one.”Within minutes, the vessel — which belongs to the charitable, B.C. based Canadian Lifeboat Association and is not part of official rescue details along with the Coastguard and RCMSAR — was taking in water through a gaping hole and was badly listing.bA mayday call was sent and the volunteer RCMSAR crew arrived to save nine of the passengers and crew still on board, despite the darkness, pounding rain, and 60 km/hr winds.Five other passengers and crew had already been evacuated into a dinghy and were recovered by the Coast Guard’s hovercraft, who had arrived minutes later. Everyone involved was taken safely back to shore with no serious injuries. The wall hit by the lifeboat — which is mainly used for ceremonial duties but does help tow broken down vessels to safety — is barely visible at high tide, but is known to everyone navigating the Fraser.Horton said a “very experienced” former tugboat skipper was at the helm at the time. “He’s been up and down this stretch of water for half his life,” Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 13 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 added Horton, talking to the News Friday morning while out at sea, surveying his stricken vessel, part of which was still above water. “We were just about to make a turn when we were swept towards the wall. There was a tremendous tide last night.” Horton claimed there was a wealth of experience on board with former merchant navy and regular navy seamen part of the crew. “Everyone was very professional after it happened. We know what we’re doing; but mistakes are sometimes made aren’t they?” he said. Horton defended the decision to head out on a training mission, despite a windstorm warning of winds up to 90-kilometres per hour.“The sea was at about one and a half feet and (winds) 25 to 30 knots when we headed out, the bad stuff wasn’t coming until later,” he claimed.“We sometimes have to train in bad weather.”Horton claimed the lifeboat took part in 31 “rescues” this year, despite not being part of the official rescue detail when someone at sea issues a distress call.He wouldn’t go into exactly what lessons have been learned from the incident. “I’m not prepared to say right now, it’s too early.” RCMSAR coxswain Kevin Robertson credited his crew for their “great response” and was thankful that no one was seriously injured. “Despite the difficult conditions, the extensive training of RCMSAR crews ensured a safe rescue for all involved,” said Robertson.The vessel was barged to a dry dock in News Westminster on the weekend, where the full extent of the damage will be investigated.Meanwhile, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has deployed an investigator to probe the incident. Source : Richmond News The SAGA SAPPHIRE after departing from Damen Shiprepair in Schiedam passing Maassluis bound for Dover Photo : Hans van Overbeek (c) Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 14 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Portishead lifeboat supporters thanked after raising staggering £;232,000 for new station SUPPORTERS of Portishead lifeboat have raised a staggering £232,000 in just 18 months towards the cost of a new station in the town. Fundraisers have been busy organising a plethora of events including curry lunches, concerts, Christmas markets, raffles and fetes as well as street collections to raise money towards the new £1.9 million station. Originally the RNLI set fundraisers a target of £180,000 towards the cost of the new station on the site of the former masonic lodge at Pier Road.This target was reached in June and was then upped by a further £52,000 to fund the volunteer crews' changing facilities. Organiser Jon Yabsley said: "The enthusiasm and generosity of the public has been overwhelming and on behalf of the RNLI and the volunteer lifeboat crew at Portishead I would like to say a huge thank you for the support, interest and commitment shown to this fantastic project."The news comes just weeks after it was revealed the project had received an anonymous donation of £500,000 towards the cost of the new lifeboat station. Work on the new lifeboat station started in March and is due to be completed in February.Volunteers will then commence their training at the new site and the service will move from its current headquarters at Sugar Loaf Bay. The new lifeboat station will be primarily for the storage and maintenance of the lifeboat, launching tractor and carriage and for the crew's personal protective equipment. Source : Bristolpost The 1998 built 258 mtr long 48.304 DWT MSC ITEA passing Terneuzen enroute from Felixstowe to Antwerp Photo : Richard Wisse – www.richard-photography.nl (c) SCFI: Failure of carrier GRIs extends to last rate hike of the year A look back at the year’s host of general rate increases levied by shipping lines on their customers reveals the ineffectiveness of the practice, with no GRI sticking for longer than two weeks or achieving the sought after price hike. This trend continued with the final GRIs of the year that were imposed on Asia-Europe and the trans-Pacific on Dec. 15. After briefly rising, the rates fell during the week as the market quickly rejected the carrier attempt to raise prices, according to the latest reading of the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI). Asia-Europe predictably delivered the worst showing this week with the spot rate slipping 9 percent to $1,230 per 20-foot container, a drop of $123. This was despite GRIs of up to $800 being levied last week. The rate is 19 percent worse than in the same week last year. The GRIs on Asia-Europe imposed this year have been unable to push up the spot rate for long. On Jan. 1, the spot rate was $1,765, but this week was more than $500 per TEU lighter. During the year, nine rate increases were levied on the market totalling around $5,800. Gains of just $2,874 were achieved, less than half of the GRIs. FIS Container Derivatives said in its weekly commentary that the SCFI spot rate this week had effectively negated 19 percent of the recent Asia-Europe GRI implementation.“In the meantime further GRIs have been announced for January in what is almost a monthly ritual, as carriers look to prevent or reverse the relentless weekly declines. The largest of those announced has come from NYK with a planned increase of $888 per TEU, which ironically also signifies an online Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 15 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 casino business, very apt for the industry as a whole,” FIS noted.The smallest of the GRIs announced was by CMA CGM, with the French line planning to increase rates by $500 per TEU from January 1.The Asia-Europe trade is home to the world’s largest vessels, and the surplus capacity is keeping downward pressure on rates. Alphaliner reported in its weekly newsletter that Asia-North Europe capacity will increase by 2 percent from mid-January, with the alphabet alliance of O3 carriers, CMA CGM, UASC and CSCL, adding 7 percent to their current capacity and the Maersk Line-MSC (2M) alliance marginally reducing their current slot supply. Asia-Mediterranean spot rates dropped with this week’s SCFI reading pegging them at $1,392, down 3.5 percent compared to last week. However, this trade is shaping up to be 2015’s rate-rejecting leader as the Asia-Mediterranean routes will see capacity increase by 19 percent with the start of the 2M and O3 next month. “This could set the stage for a fresh round of rate reductions on the trade as the carriers battle for new market share,” Alphaliner said in its weekly newsletter. On the trans-Pacific, where shippers were hit with a massive $1,000 GRI on Dec. 15, the carriers only achieved 43 percent of the increase that held for just one week before dropping $17 to $2,242 per 40-foot container. The spot rate was 23.5 percent down compared to week 51 last year.There have been 11 GRIs attempted by Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement carriers during the year, totalling $5,000. According to the SCFI reading, only $2,365 was achieved, or 47.3 percent. Despite the poor showing, spot rates on the trade are still $427 per FEU higher than they were on Jan. 1.FIS said a GRI of $600 per FEU, in addition to reinstating a $400 per FEU peak season surcharge ahead of the Chinese New Year, were attempts by the TSA to shore up rate levels as the industry heads into a new contracting season. Container Transport International partner Andy Lane said he did not believe the lines expected the GRIs to stick for long, as they did not reflect changes in circumstances, such as costs or supply-demand balances. “The revenue and yield managers in the lines are clearly setting minimum revenue thresholds somewhat below the announced GRIs, and likely adjusting these further downwards when the uptake is below the curve,” he said.On the trans-Pacific, Lane said there was a huge mismatch between sea and land capacity within the overall supply chain. The CMA CGM Alexander von Humboldt arriving in Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Michael Taal (c) “If this were better balanced — ie. reducing sea capacity — then GRIs in this trade might have better longevity. The congestion surcharges, which were proposed-retracted-proposed-retracted, did make a lot common sense, as the lines are suffering real and actual costs as a result of the inefficiency of the ports, truck shortages, etc., elements of the supply chain that they do not necessarily have 100 percent control over,” Lane said.The Asia-U.S. East Coast provided some much needed stability — to the all-water trade, at least — with the spot rate actually strengthening this week. At $4,575 per FEU, the rate is the highest since early September and the second highest rate of the year, gaining almost 5 percent on last week’s price, or $214. It is 46.7 percent higher than at the same time last year, the SCFI showed. No GRI this year has managed to hold even marginal gains for longer than two weeks. Even when the percentage rate hike achieved was high, two weeks on the rate was even lower than before the GRIs were imposed. Source : Journal of Commerce TAIWAN COMPLETES AN IMO-COMPLIANT VOLUNTARY AUDIT The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a major maritime economy with a significant global network. Taiwan ports move in excess of 200 million tonnes of cargo and 700,000 passengers annually and rank high internationally in terms of tonnage and container throughput The Taiwan maritime administration also recognises the importance of international convention compliance even though it lacks formal recognition by the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Taiwan, accordingly, prepared for an IMO-compliant voluntary audit of the Taiwan maritime administration to assess compliance with IMO safety, security and environmental conventions. This voluntary scheme was developed by the Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 16 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 IMO in response to criticism regarding a lack of international consistency in the implementation of maritime conventions. This audit regime applies to IMO member states willing to commit to a voluntary maritime administration audit. The IMO on request by the member state assembles a multi-national team to undertake the work. As of 2012 only 48 of the 170 member states completed the voluntary audit. In order to expand the audit program the IMO took the necessary steps to make the audit scheme mandatory effective as of 2016. In Taiwan, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on maritime training and technology executed between Canada and Taiwan is an important component of this IMO-compliant audit program. This MOU is administered by a Canadian company – COMART International Corporation (COMART) and uses Canadian maritime experts who work together with Taiwan colleagues to develop and deliver important maritime programming. These programs have included training and information on search and rescue, vessel traffic services, port state control, port navigational risk assessment, oil spill response, casualty investigations and other maritime topics. Taiwan commenced preparation for an IMO-compliant voluntary maritime audit with the assistance of COMART in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. An internationally qualified audit team then attended in Taiwan and completed the first stage of the audit between October 6th and 14th, 2014. To ensure the credibility of the audit three qualified auditors were engaged by COMART through the maritime risk and safety company Admaris GmbH of Hamburg, Germany. All auditors had extensive prior experience assisting maritime administrations in audit preparation and execution and had also completed IMO approved auditor training. The auditors followed all principles and practices of a fully compliant IMO audit and in recognition of the special status of Taiwan it was assumed that Taiwan was a signatory to all relevant conventions. As Taiwan cannot formally deposit reports with the IMO the auditors recommended that Taiwan pursue other methods to ensure distribution of relevant and important maritime information to the global maritime community Taiwan was under no obligation to undertake this audit process but did so to ensure high standards of compliance by the Taiwan maritime administration with all IMO conventions. This is important to Taiwan as a fully participating member of the global maritime community. CASUALTY REPORTING Cruiseship aground Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 17 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Reports out of the Philippines indicates that the 23,100-gt cruiseship OCEAN STAR PACIFIC (built 1971) ran aground near the port of General Santos last week. The ship was on a voyage from Mexico to a scrapyard in Alang when it made an attempt to call at the Filipino port to take on bunkers. It was sailing under the abbreviated name of PACIFIC.Sources at the Philippine Coast Guard say attempts are being made to refloat the ship although high waves are driving it closer to the shore. The ship had a crew of 20 Indian nationals on board at the time it ran aground. The OCEAN STAR PACIFIC better known as the NORDIC PRINCE of Royal Caribbean. It was last owned and operated by Mexico’s Coporacion de Cruceros who made a brief attempt to launch a Mexican cruise operation. The ship’s Mexican service was brief and the ship was in lay up for three years before being reactivated for its final voyage to India. Source tradewinds 7 crew members rescued from tug near Nagapattinam Seven crew members of a tug which caught fire and got flooded five nautical miles off Nagapattinam were rescued by the Coast Guard on Friday. The Chief Engineer of the tug, who jumped along with the crew, is missing. A search is on to trace him. The Coast Guard station at Karaikal received a distress call at 1.45 p.m. from the tug, AQUA MARINE, belonging to a Mumbai company. The message sought the Coast Guard’s help to save the crew. Coast Guard Station Commander Commandant Udhal Singh alerted a Coast Guard ship, Abheek, which was on patrol close to the International Maritime Boundary Line off Point Calimere. It reached the spot by 2.15 p.m., Commandant Udhal Singh told The Hindu on the phone.The ship rescued seven crew members who had jumped into the sea wearing life jackets.A search went on for over four hours to trace the Chief Engineer. However, he could not be traced till late in the evening. The search redumed on Saturday morning, the Coast Guard said. The rescued crew members were provided medical aid on the ship, which arrived at the Karaikal port at 6.30 p.m. The Coast Guard handed them over to the port authorities. Source : The Hindu Launch runs aground in Meghna with 1,500 on board In Bangladesh a launch (river craft) with 1,500 passengers on board ran aground due to blurred visibility caused by dense fog in Meghna River under Muladi Upazila in Barisal district on Friday. Sources at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)’s Barisal office said multipledecked launch ‘PARABAT-9’ with 1500 passengers on board got stuck in Meghna after hitting a hidden shoal (island under river water) at Miarchar early in the morning. A BIWTA official, quoting Md Selim, supervisor of ‘PARABAT9’ launch, said it hit an underwater shoal in mid river around 3:00am while heading towards Barisal from Dhaka. BIWTC officials at Chandpur Launch Ghat (terminal) and Barisal Central Launch Terminal said salvage vessels will be sent to the spot. The salvage vessels will try to remove the launch from the shoal and tow it to deep water during high tide in the afternoon, they added, according to private TV channels. Source : thefinancialexpress Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 18 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Indonesian palm oil tanker runs aground in Thailand An Indonesian tanker carrying 2.7 million gallons of palm oil ran aground off southern Thailand after being hijacked and then recaptured by authorities, officials said Friday, prompting fears of a leakage. The tanker had been hijacked by eight of its own crew who wanted to sell its cargo to locals in the region. The hijackers were apprehended by Thai authorities on November 27 and the vessel anchored 400 metres off the coast of Narathiwat, 700 kilometres south of Bangkok. On Friday, strong winds and heavy seas broke it free, causing it to run aground on a local beach, officials at Narathiwat’s central police station said. Source : nationmultimedia NAVY NEWS Brazil to acquire 15 conventional submarines and six nuclear subs, says navy commander Brazilian Navy commander Admiral Julio Soares de Moura Neto has reaffirmed the country’s long-term plans to boost Brazil’s naval power to eventually include 15 conventional and six nuclear-powered submarines, the defence publication Jane’s is reporting. Here is more from the Jane’s article: “Our aim is to propel Brazil forward into the 21st century with a more well-equipped navy supported by a stronger defence industry,” Adm de Moura Neto told IHS Jane’s at the recent inauguration ceremony of the main facility built for Brazil’s submarine development programme (Programa de Desenvolvimento de Submarinos, or PROSUB) at Itaguaí Shipyard, Rio de Janeiro.“PROSUB is the most ambitious contemporary development of the Brazilian Navy, representing a substantial investment in the country through technology transfer, professional training, and regional growth through the generation of income,” he said. The full article can be read here: http://www.janes.com/article/47060/brazil-plans-to-expand-submar Source : ottawacitizen The Dutch A 833 KAREL DOORMAN seen moored in Gibraltar loading more materials before heading for the Ebola hit countries in West Africa – Photo : Francis Ferro © Navy to take delivery of new stealth missile corvette next week The Taiwanees Navy is set to take delivery of its first locally designed stealth missile corvette from a Taiwanese shipbuilder during a ceremony slated for Dec. 23, the Ministry of National Defense said Friday. During the ceremony in a commercial harbor in Suao, the 500-ton corvette -- the Tuo Jiang ("Tuo River") -- will be officially transferred from Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. to the Navy. After receiving the corvette, the Navy will begin training personnel to familiarize them with the craft, and Navy officials did not think it would take long before the vessel is put into service. The corvette will be based in Suao, Yilan County, according to the Navy.Earlier this month, the Navy released a video showing sea trials of the Tuo Jiang and said the results of the tests were satisfactory. Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 19 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Naval officials praised the boat's high performance and high mobility, noting that the corvette reached a maximum speed of more than 38 knots during the recent sea trials.The twin-hull Hsun-hai class corvette will be equipped with several weapons, including the locally developed Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles, the Navy said. Commissioned by the Navy, Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. began construction of the Tuo Jiang in November 2012, and it was christened in March this year.It has a range of 2,000 nautical miles, measures 60.4 meters in length and 14 meters in width, and takes a crew of 41 people. The Navy plans to commission between eight and 12 of the corvettes if sufficient funds can be obtained in the future Source : Focus Taiwan Canada sending HMCS Fredericton to Mediterranean Sea over Ukraine crisis Canada is sending another one of its frigates to help a NATO maritime force aiming to provide reassurance to eastern European allies that are jittery over the crisis in Ukraine.The Defence Department says HMCS FREDERICTON will deploy in the coming weeks to replace HMCS TORONTO in the Mediterranean Sea. HMCS TORONTO has been in the area since August.The Defence Department says HMCS FREDERICTON will provide surveillance and monitoring. It has a crew of 250 personnel of all ranks and carries a CH-124 Sea King helicopter and air detachment Source : The Canadian Press Russian Mistral Ship Sailors to Leave France Before End of 2014 Some 400 Russian sailors stationed at Saint-Nazaire, France where they were training to man a French-built Mistralclass helicopter carrier will leave the port city before the end of 2014, French shipbuilding company DCNS told AFP Wednesday. "I can confirm that the Russian sailors will return (to Russia) before the end of year," a DCNS spokesperson said. The shipbuilder did not name a specific date for the Russian crew's departure neither did confirm whether the sailors would return to France for more training. However on Tuesday the French Ouest-France newspaper said that the sailors would leave France before December 25. On December 3, a high-ranking source in the Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport told RIA Novosti that the sailors would remain in Saint-Nazaire until the vessel was handed over to the Russian Navy. The Russian sailors have been undergoing training since June on the VLADIVOSTOK the first of two Mistral-class ships, which France has to deliver to Russia under a $1.6 billion deal signed in 2011. The handover of the VLADIVOSTOK was scheduled for November 14, but did not take place. On November 25, French President Francois Hollande postponed the delivery of the vessel to Russia, citing the situation in Ukraine as the reason for the decision. On December 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow expected the Mistral contract to be implemented. "However, if not, then we will have no major complaints, but of course we hope that the money that we paid under this contract will be returned to us," Putin said. Earlier on Wednesday, a high-ranking source told RIA Novosti that the construction of infrastructure for the Mistral-class vessels in the Russian Far East is still underway. Source : Sputniknews SHIPYARD NEWS Ulstein Verft’s largest vessel ready for big scale construction Ulstein Verft’s largest vessel so far is under full production these days. Sections for hull 302, an offshore construction vessel for Island Offshore/Edison Chouest Offshore, have arrived Ulsteinvik, and our shipbuilders get to practice big scale “Lego” construction in the dock hall, the company said in its press release The vessel has been redesigned in the engineering phase, and thus, the final vessel has increased both in length and beam. The vessel will be 159.8 metres long with a beam of 30 metres. The deadweight will be approximately 14 000 tonnes, resulting in increased deck area and tank capacity. “Ulstein Verft has a unique position by the in-house multidisciplinary know-how of ship designs and a large technical department. This give our customers added value in which it enables us to take on such major change orders,” says Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 20 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 project manager in Ulstein Verft, Per Svein Brekke. The total steel volume is about 8.800 tonnes, or approximately the same as five platform supply vessels. Of this volume, Ulstein Verft’s department in Vanylven will produce approx. 1,520 tonnes - the largest steel volume delivered to one project from this department. Most sections for the fore ship are now ready to be assembled and outfitted at Ulstein Verft. Due to the massive change order the delivery is now scheduled for Q4 2015. Source : PortNews Core activities at Eerland Shiprepair are mainly: - Restoration activities, employing our self propelled craneship Marine Service 1, lifting 35 metric tons up to a reach of 45 m. - Ship repair; domestic and abroad. - Under water activities, employing our mobile docks. - Qualified welding jobs for steel, aluminium, stainless steel and duplex. - Overhauling of winches of all brands; - Repair of gangways, quays, pontoons, etc. - You can find more about our projects at our website. IJzerwerkerkade 41, 3077 MC Rotterdam, Harbour no. 1095 Tel. +31 (0) 10-483 48 88; Fax +31 (0) 10-482 23 25 [email protected] www.eerlandshiprepair.nl Teekay Petrojarl contracts Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam for the ‘EPC Redeployment Upgrade’ of its FPSO Petrojarl I Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam (DSR), part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC), has been awarded an EPC contract by Petrojarl I LLC for the upgrade of its FPSO Petrojarl I. The Petrojarl I is aTeekayPetrojarl managed FPSO, built in 1986, which has been active in the North Sea. Its redeployment will be at the Atlanta field in Brazil. The Petrojarl I is contracted by QueirozGalvãoExploração e Produção (QGEP)for deployment at the Atlanta post-salt oil field in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil to produce heavy crude oil in a water depth of 1535m. For this deployment as an ‘early production system’, the FPSO will be upgraded at DSR.The works consist of basic engineering, detailed and construction design and engineering, workshop drawings, interface engineering, marine & process equipment procurement, fabrication, construction, corrosion protection/coating, transport and lifting operations, integration, mechanical completion, performance testing and commissioning activities, and includes upgrades and modifications related to: - Marine, Hull and Life Extension according to Class Conversion of the process systems (i.e. separation train and produced water topsides) and integration Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 21 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Brazilian Compliance Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam, responsible for the full upgrade of the FPSO, has formed partnerships with Frames and Nevesbu. Frames, with its headquarters in Alphen aan den Rijn (the Netherlands), will carry out the design and fabricationof the new ‘Topside Skids’. Nevesbu, with its head offices in Alblasserdam (the Netherlands), will carry out the Marine, and Topside Integration Engineering. The contract has been secured by and will be supervised by DSC’s ‘Offshore & Conversion’ task force team. Commercial ManagersRuud Haneveer and Bas Loohuis have worked together in creating this success: “This is again a unique project for Damen Shiprepair &Conversion. To our knowledge an EPC Redeployment Upgrade Contract has not been carried out in Europe before. We expect, by being responsible for the hull, the topside conversion and its integration, to offer Teekay a controlled situation with regards to safety, quality, budget and delivery time and herewith demonstrate to our future customers our EPC capabilities.” This project represents a major step in Damen Shiprepair &Conversion’s development to a full service conversion group. Leaving aside the unique partnerships with Frames and Nevesbu, the shipyard undertakes another step in its project management organisation. Thomas van Tol, the appointed Project Manager, had this to say: “The oil and gas industry is subject to extremely high HSEQ requirements. This requiresa professional project team. The experienceswith past Oil & Gas projects, such as the ‘Gryphon A’ FPSO, also carried out by DSR, has made us ready for this task. Comprehensive design and engineering management for this project, will serve as the foundation for future major offshore projects.” The Petrojarl I will be at the shipyard for approximately one year and will arrive early January 2015 at the yard. Damen Shipyards Group operates 40 ship- and repair yards, employing 8.000 people worldwide.Damen has delivered more than 5.000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers approx.180 vessels annually to customers worldwide.Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality. Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale value and reliable performance.Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology. Damen offers a wide range of products, including:tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and super yachts. For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of Services, such as maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how.To complete, Damen offers a variety of marine components, especially nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion offers a network of 15 repair & conversion yards worldwide, with dry docks ranging up to 420 x 80 metres.Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures.DS&C handles 1,500 repair and maintenance jobs annually. Singapore Shipyards Keep Busy in Second Half of Year Singapore's major yards managed to keep busy in the second half of 2014 after experiencing a slow first half in orders for rig & platform fabrication and vessel conversions. Singapore’s two major offshore players manage to keep themselves busy in the second half of this year after a fairly slow first half, with orders for newbuild rigs trickling towards the total received for 2013. While Singapore’s Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) – a unit of Keppel Corp. Ltd. – and Sembcorp Marine Ltd. have been dealing with stiff competition from Chinese yards for quite some time, established China’s shipyard Cosco Corp. is now feeling the strain posed by a more challenging business environment created by its domestic rivals. Both Singapore yards, Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) – a unit of Keppel Corp. Ltd. – and Sembcorp Marine Ltd., bagged 13 newbuild orders, consisting of 11 jackups and 2 drillships, by the end of November, according to Rigzone’s RigLogix database. Last year, these companies secured 17 newbuild orders, comprising 15 jackups, 1 semisubmersible and 1 drillship. Keppel O&M managed to match last year’s total of eight jackup orders, while Sembcorp Marine received only three jackup orders in the same period, four less than in 2013 although it bagged $1.08 billion orders for two drillships from a subsidiary of Transocean Ltd. earlier this year Source : Rigzone Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 22 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Vyborg Shipyard starts mooring trials of icebreaker Vladivostok On December 15, 2014, Vyborg Shipyard started mooring trials of the lead icebreaker VLADIVOSTOK of Project 21900 М, press center of the shipyard says.The mooring trials will we held at the outfitting quay of the shipyard till April 2015. Upon completion of the trials the vessel will undergo sea tests and ice trials before it will be delivered to the customer, FSUE Rosmorport.The icebreaker of Project 21900M is an evolution of Project 21900. The icebreaker is capable of ramming a path in the 1.5-m-thick ice. The multipurpose vessel is intended for escort of large-tonnage cargo ships, for towing, fire fighting on floating and other facilities, salvage of stricken ships and for cargo transportation.The lead icebreaker of the VLADIVOSTOK series was laid down on October 17, 2012.Vyborg Shipyard JSC is one of the largest shipbuilding companies of the North-Western Region of Russia with 65-years’ experience in shipbuilding. Since the Shipyard was founded (1948) there have been built more than 200 different. In 2012, Vyborg Shipyard joined the United Shipbuilding Corporation. Source : Portnews Portsmouth minister ‘confident’ shipbuilding is going to make a comeback MINISTER for Portsmouth Matt Hancock says he is ‘very confident’ shipbuilding will be brought back to the city. He confirmed a decision over the future use of Portsmouth’s shiphall will be revealed by the end of January – and said three companies are in the running to take it over.It comes after defence secretary Michael Fallon revealed to The News he would make an official announcement next month and a short list of only two was in place. Mr Hancock confirmed he is doing everything he can to deliver on the prime minister’s pledge that the firm which takes over will be in the business of building ships. David Cameron gave his commitment to The News he wants shipbuilding to come back after the decision was made by BAE Systems to move its shipbuilding duties to Scotland in November last year with the loss of 900 jobs. Speaking to The News during a visit to Portsmouth yesterday, Mr Hancock said: ‘I met Michael Fallon this week to discuss the procedures now we have a short list of three (for the shipyard).‘We are aiming for a decision by the end of January. ‘So we are in the final stages of making a decision and all three options have very interesting proposals. ‘I’m looking forward to working with Mr Fallon and other colleagues to come to a final decision.’He added: ‘We’re acutely aware of the prime minister’s commitment. When the prime minister makes a commitment like this, it benefits Portsmouth. ‘It’s my job to deliver this commitment, and that’s what I’m doing. I’m very confident we are going to deliver on that commitment he has given.’ When asked if there is any future in the city minister role once a decision is made over the yard, Mr Hancock said there was ‘much more to be done’. He said he is helping with proposals to create a university technical college in Portsmouth, and met council officials yesterday to discuss the bid. He is also helping the city to clinch more money in the next round of grants in the Growth Deal programme.‘The job as the minister for Portsmouth has grown a huge amount,’ Mr Hancock said. ‘I’m keen to work on the UTC proposals to make sure we get the right skills in the city.‘In the time since the BAE shiphall decision, unemployment has fallen in Portsmouth by 32 per cent.’Council gets backing in efforts to redevelop Northern QuarterPORTSMOUTH minister Matthew Hancock is putting pressure on the city council to ensure it works on alternative plans for the Northern Quarter.He says while it is the authority that should take the lead on the issue and not the government, he is supporting action being taken to ensure the site of the former Tricorn Centre is still developed. It comes after the council revealed developer Centros could not commit to building a £300m retail complex there due to financial reasons.‘I want to make sure people are pushing forward and if things need unblocking in government, then I am always willing to get out my Dynorod and unblock them,’ he said. ‘Having spoken to council leader Donna Jones, I know there are plans to take it forward.‘This is something where my job is more about ensuring momentum is kept going, because it is a city council responsibility.’ Source : Portsmouth News ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES Panama takes Ebola precautions Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 23 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) is using Pole Star’s PurpleTRAC sanctions compliance and risk management service – the first port state to do so – to protect against the outbreak of Ebola. As part of the PMA’s wider port risk management strategy, all vessels intending to enter a Panamanian port are required to post arrival date via their agent into the PMA’s system. PurpleTRAC will also be used to screen port arrivals and Panama Canal transits to ensure compliance against a range of economic sanctions and blacklisted ports. “We are delighted to work with the Panama Maritime Authority, the largest flag in the world, to deliver the tools they need to expand and strengthen their risk management strategy,” said Andrew Peters, chief executive officer, Pole Star. PurpleTRAC will also provide Ebola-risk warnings for any ships that have visited countries where the World Health Organisation (WHO) deems the outbreak of Ebola severe – currently West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.Where a vessel is found to have called at any of these countries within the last 90 days, an automatic system/operator alert will trigger an enhanced ship inspection by the PMA, the Panama Coast Guard and the Ministry of Health.“This highlights the flag’s willingness to adopt innovative solutions to create best management practice. It is also further validation of Pole Star’s market leading technology and product delivery capability bringing tangible benefits to the maritime industry,” Mr Peters added.Panama receives approximately 9,000 ship port calls per year. Source : portstrategy The RT LEADER moored in Muara port Brunei – Photo : Peter Schagen © Evergreen Makes Maiden Call at Salalah Evergreen Line was welcomed by the Port of Salalah for the first time on December 18, 2014. The 8,452 TEU M.V. Ever Lively achieved berth productivity in excess of 150 moves per hour in its 12-hour stay, that opens up a new chapter in liner/port collaboration. David Gledhill, CEO of the Port of Salalah, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Evergreen to the Port of Salalah for the first time and hope that this is the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship. “Evergreen is a well-respected and forward looking company and we look forward to being able to help them develop their service offering in this region. It is also pleasing to note that Salalah now has the fourth largest shipping lines in the world calling at our port.”Evergreen services range from East Asia to North America/Central America, East Asia to Northern Europe/Mediterranean, Europe to North America (transatlantic), East Asia to Southern Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 24 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 Hemisphere (intercontinental), and Intra-Asia, serving more than 350 ports around the globe. Evergreen is the fourth largest ocean carrier in the world, with more than 190 container vessels with a combined capacity of approximately 920,000 TEU. The Port of Salalah operates one of the biggest container terminals in the region and lines already offer weekly direct services to major destinations in Europe, Africa, North America and Asia. The Salalah free zone, which is adjacent to the port, has already attracted significant foreign direct investments and a number of new projects are expected to commence operation in 2015. Source : porttechnology Winter arrives in the North Sea Seabrokers says the notoriously difficult North Sea winter season has arrived "with a vengeance," with owners enduring tough times on the spot market in recent weeks. The broker said AHTS vessel rates actually held up quite well in the first half of November, resulting in average fixture levels being higher for the month than they were for the equivalent period in 2013. However, the second half of November and first half of December have proved to be extremely difficult for owners, as a host of AHTS vessels returned from seasonal contracts elsewhere at the same time as demand tends to dissipate for the winter."This has left more than 30 AHTS vessels prompt available for a prolonged period of time, with rates falling below the £10,000 level for some fixtures," Seabrokers said."The PSV market has been in similar shape, with 20 or more vessels frequentlavailable since the final week of November. There have been spells where availability has started to tighten, however this has been short-lived."It will take a more sustained period of tightness in the market if rates are to reach a more acceptable level for owners." Source : offshore shipping online Under What Circumstances Can Recipients Of Goods Be Liable For Freight Charges? A customer orders goods and the seller ships the goods but does not pay the carrier. Because that shipment was the obligation of the seller, it seems that the customer should not be liable for the seller’s failure to pay the carrier. However, section 13706 of the Interstate Commerce Act (the “ICA”) imposes strict liability upon recipients, or consignees, for goods delivered to them by a motor carrier unless they notify the carrier in writing, prior to delivery, that they are acting only as an agent without any beneficial title in the goods. Case law demonstrates that this liability arises as a consequence of an agreement, which can either be an express contract or an implied obligation inferred from the consignee’s conduct. An implied obligation to pay for freight charges commonly arises as a result of a consignee’s exercise of dominion and control over the goods. In Chicago & N.W. Transport Co. v. Krohn Cartage Co., Inc., 79 Wis. 2d 39, 255 N.W.2d 310 (1977), a railroad carrier brought an action against a consignee to recover freight charges for two furniture shipments sent from New Hampshire. A portion of the load was unloaded in Chicago, and the remainder was delivered to the defendant (“Krohn”) in Milwaukee. The railroad billed the shipper and the Chicago facility, but turned to Krohn for all the freight charges when they were unable to collect.Because the shipper is primarily liable to the carrier for damages, recipient liability under the ICA arises only as a consequence of either actually or constructively accepting delivery. In Krohn, the shipping documents did not impose liability expressly upon Krohn, and merely being named as a consignee of the shipment in the absence of express liability or conduct did not obligate the consignee to pay freight charges. Consequently, Krohn’s liability could only be implied through conduct. Since Krohn never exercised dominion and Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 25 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 control over the portion of the shipment that was delivered to Chicago, it was not liable for the shipping costs of those goods. However, it was liable for the shipping charges relating to the goods it had actually accepted in Milwaukee. A consignee’s liability for freight charges can also arise through documents or other evidence indicating that the consignee has a beneficial interest in the goods being shipped. In O’Boyle Tank Lines, Inc. v. Beckham, 616 F.2d 207 (5th Cir. 1980), Coffee Construction Company (“Coffee”) purchased asphalt from American Oil Company (“Amoco”) for another company, Milton Beckham Company (“Beckham”), with the understanding that the asphalt would be shipped directly from the refinery to Beckham’s construction site, and Coffee would bill Beckham separately for the shipment. The carrier transported asphalt to Beckham’s road construction site and when it was unable to collect freight charges from Amoco or Beckham, the carrier brought suit against Coffee. The district court granted Coffee’s motion for summary judgment on the ground that it had neither expressly nor impliedly contracted with the carrier to be liable for freight charges since it was not a party to the contract of carriage, had not authorized its name to appear as a consignee on the bills of lading, and never accepted any goods from the carrier. The Fifth Circuit reversed, and pointed to a short form bill of lading that showed Coffee to be the owner of the asphalt and shipping tickets which showed Coffee’s name in addition to Beckham’s as the consignees. The court stated that, though the shipper is ordinarily presumed to be primarily liable to the carrier for freight charges, this presumption can be rebutted by a bill of lading or other evidence indicating that another has a true beneficial interest in the goods being shipped. Further, liability of the consignee can arise from the consignee’s “ownership, presumptive ownership, acceptance of the goods, or receipt of the benefits conferred by the carrier.” The carrier argued that Coffee’s inclusion on the short form bill of lading and shipping tickets established that it participated in the shipping contract and assumed liability for the freight charges as an owner and consignee, despite never possessing the asphalt. Coffee argued that it had no beneficial interest in the asphalt, and therefore should not be liable. The court found that this factual issue precluded summary judgment.An important exception exists in situations when a consignee accepts a shipment of goods in reliance upon a bill of lading that indicates the freight charges have been prepaid. In C.F. Arrowhead Services, Inc. v. AMCEC Corp., 614 F. Supp. 1384 (N.D. Ill. 1985), the court found that a carrier was estopped from attempting to collect freight charges from a consignee when the consignee relied on a bill of lading which mistakenly stated that the charges had been prepaid. Without that representation, the consignee would not have accepted the goods. Therefore, the court determined that the consignee was not liable, and the carrier could recover only from the shipper. Section 13706 of the ICA imposes liability upon consignees where there is an express or implied contract; often, the conduct that leads to implied contractual responsibility is accepting the goods. To avoid liability under the statute, a consignee must notify the carrier in writing and prior to delivery that it is acting only as an agent. Companies that routinely receive shipments of goods through a trucking firm retained by a shipper should be aware of the potential liability if their shipper refuses to pay the carrier. Source: Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C OPA 90's Final Phase Out of Single Hull Tankers It has been a long road since the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) was first implemented and as of 1 January 2015 single hull tank vessels will be phased out for use in the USA.The Association has had reference to the Coast Guard Maritime Commons update of 5 December 2014 in preparation of this update. The development : As of 1 January 2015 the US will have phased out all single hull tank vessels and all single hull tank vessels with double sides or double bottoms which would operate by carrying oil in bulk in both US territorial waters was well as the exclusive economic zone of the United States. Republished here for member’s reference are: •46 USC 3703A – Specifying tank vessel constructions standards •33 CFR 157.10D – Double hulls on tank vessels design standards •NVIC 10-94 – US Coast Guard guidance Hot tip: It is important to note that vessels not constructed to the standards of 33 CFR 157.10D will be considered as single hull vessels. Loss prevention advice : Members trading to and from the US with tankers will no doubt already be familiar with these provisions, although it may be prudent to review the same in advance of 1 January 2015.In case an owner or charterer operates a vessel that is classified as “single hull”, which means that it is not in compliance with the standards set out in 33 CFR 157.10D, need to ensure that their vessels are not trading in US waters for the carriage of oil in bulk on or after 1 January 2015.This means it will be necessary to review existing charter arrangements with respect to trading liberties and to ensure future charters are not simply based on older pro forma terms which may no longer be suitable. Source: Skuld Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 26 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 OLDIE – FROM THE SHOEBOX 17-07-1983 : GENERAL VIII built 1965, outbound with 5 Gash Barges approaching Tower Bridge London. HMS BELFAST can be seen at her moorings in the background, Photo : Iain Forsyth © …. PHOTO OF THE DAY ….. Boskalis TSHD PRINS DE NEDERLANDEN ready for departure from the Wilton harbour in Schiedam Photo : Perry Goudswaard - Crowner Steel BV Oil & Gas Equipment © Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 27 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2014 – 357 PLEASE MAINTAIN YOUR MAILBOX, DUE TO NEW POLICY OF THE PROVIDER, YOUR ADDRESS WILL BE “DEACTIVATED” AUTOMATICALLY IF THE MAIL IS BOUNCED BACK TO OUR SERVER If this happens to you please send me a mail at [email protected] to reactivate your address again You can also read the latest newsletter daily online via the link : http://newsletter.maasmondmaritime.com/ShippingNewsPdf/magazine.pdf Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 23-12-2014 Page 28
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