DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 048

Number 048 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Tuesday 19-02-2008 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles taken from various news sites.

The FLINTERMAAS seen enroute Rotterdam Photo : Fred Vloo ©

IF YOU HAVE PICTURES OR OTHER SHIPPING RELATED INFORMATION FOR THE NEWS CLIPPINGS ?? PLEASE SEND THIS TO : [email protected]

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EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

SVITZER OCEAN TOWAGE Jupiterstraat 33 Telephone : + 31 2555 627 11 2132 HC Hoofddorp Telefax : + 31 2355 718 96 The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected]

The ALCEDO seen enroute Rotterdam Photo : Lenie Kleingeld ©

Study rejects Port of Melbourne's claims of dredging benefits The economic benefit of deepening Port Phillip Bay's shipping channels is A$407 million less than the Port of Melbourne Corporation originally estimated, according to an analysis from one of its opponents.

A report in The Age newspaper said that, with the Queen of the Netherlands dredger already working on the bay, the study commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation "fires a fiscal shot across the bow of the contentious project."

The economic critique, by Melbourne-based firm Economists at Large, is based on the Port's first business case for dredging. It listed the cost of dredging at A$590 million, and found the net economic benefit of the project would be about A$1.3 billion.

But since that first business case was put forward, the cost of dredging has grown to A$969 million — thereby dropping the net benefit to A$967 million.

Economists at Large founder Francis Grey said an additional A$26 million spent on trial dredging, and A$1.75 million in delays to the project, had further diminished the economic case for dredging.

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"This is not a commercially viable project," Mr Grey told The Age. Source : Dredging News Online

REDWISE MARITME SERVICES B.V. Amersfoortseweg 12-E 3751 LK Bunschoten-Spakenburg The Netherlands Phone : +31 (0) 33 42 17 860 (24 hr) Fax : +31 (0) 33 42 17 879 - [email protected] www.redwise.com

The UNION CORAL seen assisting the EUGEN MAERSK in the port of Zeebrugge Photo : Tony Hylebos ©

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The CELESTINE RIVER has been seen at the anchorage off Sea Point Cape Town for the last couple of months. Photo : Aad Noorland ©

[email protected] www.nexumcm.nl Contact : Ad de Kock M: +31 .653.813178 K-Line opens Manila training centre Japanese ship operator K-Line has set up its own training centre in the Philippines as part of a reliance on Filipino seafarers for its expanding fleet. The $11M K-Line Maritime Academy (KLMA) in Pasay City, Metro Manila, can train 10,000 seafarers a year, which the company hopes will ease the shortage of ships' officers. The Manila facility is a major step toward the line's aim for a world-wide academy to continually train its seafarers, says Katsue Yoshida, K- Line senior executive officer. The Manila school can accommodate 110 trainees at a time, and the programme includes operational skills, understanding culture and 'mental training'. The 3,380m² facility has a full-mission simulator with six desktop-version 'bridges', engineroom simulator, GMDSS simulator, main engine manoeuvring control and ECDIS. It also uses real training equipment for subjects from AIS to LNG carrier cargo handling and from electric welding to cookery. Source : Lloyd's Register - Fairplay

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Unit 9 rescue to get new lifeboat Small group acquires almost-new vessel from United Kingdom

Ferries sailing on the Tsaw-wassen-Swartz Bay run occasionally, you know that the open waters between the Lower Mainland and the Gulf Islands are often dotted with boats and ships of all shapes and sizes.

Add to this eclectic fleet the strong ocean currents in Georgia Strait, an equally strong Fraser River outflow, powerful westerly winds, treacherous shoals and sandbars and you have the raison d'etre for the voluntary Roberts Bank Lifeboat Society.

Officially, the small group is known as Unit 9 -- Robert Banks -- of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (Pacific). Its primary purpose is to help all of us have a safer time on the water.

But Unit 9, whose lifeboat "station" is a construction trailer amid the massive container cranes, huge freighters, trucks and tugboats at Deltaport, is also unique.

Because its patrol area contains extremely high marine traffic and very nasty winds, Unit 9's rescue vessel is much larger than most on the coast, where it's also aligned with the Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria.

"Our location is really the nexus of a lot of marine activity, and that's why a few years ago it was recognized that we had to establish a full lifeboat station here," explains Robin Gardner, president of the Roberts Bank Lifeboat Society (www.robertsbanklifeboat.ca).

That's also why the Roberts Bank crew has been using a U.K.-designed-and-built all-weather, self-righting 131/2-metre lifeboat, the White Rose of Yorkshire, for the past nine years.

It's the kind of vessel made famous by the U.K.'s legendary Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the 184-year-old charity organization that operates hundreds of lifeboat stations responsible for saving many thousands of lives over the years in the U.K's turbulent seas.

The 34-year-old White Rose of Yorkshire was bought by the Roberts Bank Lifeboat Society in 1999 after 25 years' service in the U.K., where it was directly responsible for saving 60 lives.

"But she's getting old now and huffs and puffs at her top speed of 15 knots," Gardner adds.

Replacing the vessel, which has also participated in many local rescues, would have cost close to $1 million.

Then Unit 9 got lucky.

It found a near-new, 111/2-m all-weather, self-righting lifeboat in the U.K. It has recently been refurbished and was up for sale because its owner lost a contract to transport workers to and from oil rigs in the North Sea.

The vessel, aptly named Ready, is powered by twin 400-horsepower Cummins diesel engines and is propelled by jet drive to a top speed of 35 knots, which is more than twice as fast as the old boat. Distribution : daily 3800+ copies worldwide Page 5 2/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 048

It also draws just half a metre of water compared with 1.8 m for the White Rose, so the Ready will be much more effective working near shoals and sandbars.

The price? Just $200,000.

Now that U.K. sea trials by a Unit 9 member have been successfully completed and the boat has been bought, the society is looking for a shipping line to bring the Ready to its new home.

And once she's been modified to meet Canadian Coast Guard standards, the Ready will be ready for search-and-rescue duties in the spring. Source : The Province

The new lifeboat for the KNRM station Scheveningen seen under construction at the Aluboot Shipyard in Hindeloopen Photo : Jan van der Sar ©

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CASUALTY REPORTING

The Anglian Monarch seen towing the AEGEAN PRINCESS to Dunkirk after total machinery failure and towing on the anchor cable after recovering the anchor. Cable and anchor redelivered to vessel on arrival Dunkirk. Photo : Capt John Reynolds ©

26 Chinese rescued from sinking vessel Emergency crews have rescued 26 Chinese crew members whose boat began taking on water off the northern Philippines Sunday night, the state-run Chinese news agency reported. The crew members were rescued after their Panamanian-registered cargo ship started to sink, the Xinhua news agency reported Monday.

A passing Japanese vessel picked up the crew members, but the ship's captain and a technician remained aboard to try to rescue goods, the news agency said. Their fate is unknown, the news agency said. The Philippine Coast Guard told CNN that the boat sunk around 5 p.m. Sunday (0900 GMT).

It said Monday morning that it has dispatched a helicopter and at least one search-and-rescue vessel and that the operation was ongoing. Source : cnn.com

Russian Navy Ship in Distress Greek coastguard officials rushed to send rescue helicopters to assist a Russian navy ship after it was caught in strong winds and engine problems in the Aegean Sea.

According to news reports, the Russian navy ship with 88 crew was reported to have issued distress signals in international waters, approximately 15 nautical miles south of the island of Ikaria after it was caught in rough seas.

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Two super puma helicopters, a coast guard frigate and a C-130 rescue plane were on their way to the ship, reports EarthNews. Coastguard officials said the ship was an auxiliary vessel that was carrying fuel and was sailing out of control due to engine problems.

Heavy snowfall, gale force winds and freezing temperatures have hit Greece for the past two days, forcing ships to ports across the country, and paralyzing air and land transport. Source : SeaNews NAVY NEWS A Portsmouth shipbuilders has won a £17m contract to refit a Royal Navy warship. Fleet Support Limited (FSL) will undertake the work to refurbish the type 42 destroyer HMS York which will include major equipment upgrades, maintenance programmes and improvements to her accommodation.

The ship will go into dry dock in March for the work which will be carried out by a team of up to 100 FSL personnel.

FSL engineering and ship support director Mal Lewis said: "The comprehensive package of overhauls and upgrades will extend the life cycle of HMS York and will ensure that she remains fully capable of continuing to play a valuable front- line role in RN operations." Source : crawleyobserver S. Korean-U.K. Team to Bid for British Naval Tanker Program An Anglo-South Korean consortium led by BAE Systems has become the first team to declare its interest in building six tanker ships for the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) in the first phase of the Defence Ministry’s Maritime Afloat Reach and Sustainability program.

BAE, Britain’s biggest shipbuilder, announced a team involving BMT Defence Services and Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering on Feb. 15, the same day industry responses to a pre-qualifying questionnaire on the tankers had to be returned to the MoD.

The Surface Fleet Solutions business of BAE will act as lead contractor and program manager. BMT, the British company that designed the two 65,000-ton aircraft carriers planned for the Royal Navy, will provide the tanker design. Daewoo will build the ships in South Korea.

K.W. Cheong, director of special ship management at Daewoo, said, “This is an excellent opportunity for cooperation between our two countries; the U.K. being the home of naval shipbuilding and Korea as the hub of commercial shipbuilding. I think the combination of BAE Systems’ extensive naval domain knowledge with our own skills and resources will produce excellent results.” David Rainford, commercial director of BMT Defence Services, said, “As a relatively small, innovative organization, we are pleased with the smooth and positive fashion in which BAE Systems has welcomed us as their design partner. Through a commercial approach we will be able to provide a simple yet effective fleet tanker.”

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The British are pushing ahead with the program as current RFA single-hull tankers do not meet maritime safety standards. More than a dozen foreign and British companies are expected to respond to the prequalification questionnaire. Those numbers will be reduced to about six bidders and cut to a maximum of three later this year before the MoD selects a winner. The first ship is expected in service by 2012.

In an unusual move, the competition has been thrown open to foreign shipyards, a decision that could potentially cause controversy here. It’s hoped that big commercial yards like Daewoo will allow the cash-strapped MoD to acquire the tankers at a reduced price compared with building them at naval yards in Britain.

In addition, the tanker construction timetable clashes with Britain’s plan to build the two aircraft carriers. The warships, the biggest ever built here, will soak up for several years virtually all of the capacity in the few British shipyards still in operation. The carrier program is scheduled to get the go-ahead in the next few weeks. However, doubts remain over the exact timing of the construction. Currently, the plan is to have the first of the two warships in service during 2014.

But that timetable would leave no capacity here to build at least the first three tankers in local yards. Nevertheless, BAE has left the door open to have the tankers built in Britain if any slippage in the carrier program creates gaps in workload. Vic Emery, managing director of BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions, said, “While it is intended that all vessels will be constructed in Korea, a unique feature the consortium offers, in terms of flexibility, is the ability to provide a U.K. build option, should such an approach become necessary.”

The Maritime Afloat Reach and Sustainability program will become part of the workload of the proposed maritime joint venture between BAE Systems and VT Group, to be called BVT Surface Fleet upon its completion.

The tanker fleet is part of a 2 billion-pound ($3.9 billion) effort to upgrade RFA logistics capabilities. Further classes of ships eventually will be built, updating British capabilities for forward aviation support, delivery of bulk consumables other than oil, and providing sea-based logistics ships able to deliver ammunition, food and other supplies.

It’s not clear yet whether the British will allow these ships also to be built overseas. Source : defensenews

The Dutch frigate F 834 VAN GALEN seen departing from Willemstad (Curacao) Photo : George De Haas – Wartsila ©

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India to get Scorpene by 2012 The first of six Scorpene submarines, being manufactured by a French company at Mazagaon docks, will be delivered by 2012 and one thereafter every year for the next five years.

Scorpene submarines, to be fitted with BrahMos missiles, will be part of a mix of conventional and nuclear undersea firepower India proposes to acquire in the next decade. While the Indian Navy will acquire a nuclear submarine from Russia on lease next year, a global tender is shortly to be floated for its second line of submarines.

"If India wants, BrahMos cruise missiles can be fitted on the Scorpene," DCNS project director Xavier Marchal said at the ongoing Defence-Expo here. The French company announced that the first submarine was scheduled to be delivered by 2012 with the other five to follow at a rate of one per year.

The French company, which has opened an Indian subsidiary in Mumbai, said initial hiccups had been overcome in procedural sanctions and other related issues and now the company was looking for Indian joint venture partners to offer specialised services, design and maintenance contract in other defence projects.

The Indian subsidiary will acquire parts required for the ongoing projects in the country and thus reduce time taken for procedural issues.

Clearing doubts about the capability of Scorpene submarines and its superiority to Pakistan’s Agostas which is also being manufactured by the same company, DCNS project director said Scorpenes were better than Agostas in terms of performance.

DCNS executive vice-president and chief operating officer Bernard Planchais added that the French company would bid for Navy’s next batch of six submarines for which tenders are to be floated. In the ongoing project, the technology transfer issue had taken a little longer than expected and had actually delayed the project by one year. Source : timesofindia Germany May Allow Sale to Pakistan of `Silent' HDW-Made Subs Germany may approve the sale to Pakistan of three naval submarines made by ThyssenKrupp AG's HDW unit, ignoring the concerns of opposition lawmakers who claim the step might help stoke an arms race in the Indian Ocean.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's arms export council needs time to decide whether to go ahead with the sale, according to a government statement on the German parliament's Web site. The decision will take account of unrest in Pakistan as the country prepares for Feb. 18 elections, as well as potential human rights abuses and economic interests, the government said. Navy materiel ``generally cannot be misused for internal repression or human rights infringements and the regional conflict with India doesn't have a naval component,'' the government said. Though a decision on the sale is still pending, such a step would help secure jobs at Kiel-based HDW ``for several years,'' it said.

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The opposition Green Party fears that selling the U214 submarines will help push tension between India and Pakistan to the seas. Powered by silent fuel-cells, the deep-diving U214s are difficult to detect and their acquisition may spur a new arms race by forcing a potential foe to upgrade interception technology, the Greens say.

Merkel's government has indicated to Pakistan that it will approve the sale and will provide a Hermes export guarantee worth 1.3 billion euros ($1.9 billion) for HDW, the Greens said in a preamble to the government statement. Merkel's export council, comprising Cabinet ministers, convenes in secret.

The submarine exports would ``not comply with Germany's foreign and security policy interests'' and would infringe arms export rules, the lawmakers said. Pakistan's ``fragile, nuclear- armed regime is located at the center of a violent crisis-hub that stretches from Iran across Afghanistan to China and India.''

U214s sold by HDW to foreign governments are not equipped to fire missiles, the government said. The submarine has eight torpedo tubes and is technologically ``15 years'' ahead of the three French-made Agosta-class submarines operated by the Pakistani navy, said the Greens Party.

Germany ``fundamentally recognizes the right of other states to arm their forces with appropriate conventional means, exercising their right of self-defense,'' the statement said, adding that in Germany's view ``Pakistan's naval forces see modern submarines as a classic means to build their main deterrence against a blockade or an attack by a stronger opponent.'' Source : Bloomberg Canada - Refurbished British subs to be ready within 18 months At least 3 vessels will be in service, vice-admiral says

Almost 10 years after Canada bought four British submarines, a naval commander says at least three of them should be fully operational within the next 18 months.

Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson said yesterday he expects HMCS Victoria, HMCS Cornerbrook and HMCS Windsor to be in service "over the coming year, year and a half ... sailing simultaneously."

Submarines are considered fully operational when they have the capability to fire torpedoes underwater. The Canadian government bought four subs from Britain in 1998 for about $890-million.

There was a fire aboard HMCS Chicoutimi in October of 2004 off the northwestern coast of Ireland as the vessel sailed from Britain to Canada. Lieutenant Chris Saunders of Halifax died as a result of the blaze.

The official board of inquiry report into the incident found that no one was to blame for the catastrophic fire that also injured nine others. The submarine was sound, its extensive refit was properly completed, the Canadian crew was well trained, and Chicoutimi's captain, Commander Luc Pelletier, made a "reasonable and prudent" decision to leave both hatches open in heavy seas, the inquiry concluded.

"No one can be held personally responsible for the outcome: serious fires in the [commanding officer's] cabin and the electrical space, a fire in an oxygen generator, nine casualties, and the tragic death of Lt. Saunders," it said, after months of hearings. Yesterday, Adm. Robertson indicated the vessel still won't be repaired for another two years.

"Because of capacity issues, we are going to proceed with the repairs to Chicoutimi beginning in 2010, once the other three submarines are fully operational," he told reporters after a speech to the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations.

He added that HMCS Cornerbrook is currently being deployed off the east coast. "[It's] working with the naval task group and will then be proceeding with other activities in the next couple of months," he said. The other two subs, HMCS Victoria and HMCS Windsor, are undergoing maintenance. Distribution : daily 3800+ copies worldwide Page 11 2/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 048

Senior federal officials have in past looked into the possibility of buying new subs and scrapping the four British-built vessels. But Adm. Robertson said there are no plans to buy any new submarines. He said the government and Defence Minister Peter MacKay are "very supportive of moving the current subs to full operational capacity.

"These are very capable boats that show what a powerful combination you get out of stealth and skill in the hands of Canadian submariners." Source : theglobeandmail GERMAN NAVY IN SOUTH AFRICAN WATERS The following notice concerning the forthcoming naval exercises between the South African and German Navies has been released by the South African Navy:

The A 1411 BERLIN seen in False Bay – Photo : Alex van Heerden ©

From 18 February to 18 March the seas and skies surrounding Cape Town will be used to conduct military exercises between South Africa and Germany. This series of exercises will be called EXERCISE GOOD HOPE III.

This will be the third time that military exercises will be conducted in South African waters between the two countries, with the last exercise taking place two years ago. During this year’s exercise there will be more than 1,800 personnel, 15 ships and 16 aircraft from both countries taking part.

The “theatre of operations” will be around Cape Town and some exercises will be conducted at the Overberg Military Test Area near Bredasdorp and Arniston/Waenhuiskrans. Some of the types of exercises will include live missile and gun firings, anti-submarine warfare with mock torpedo attacks, anti-aircraft drills, fleetwork and manoeuvring and more.

The objectives that both countries want to achieve with these exercises are:

* To enhance and maintain the comprehensive defence capabilities of the two armed forces. * To develop a common understanding of military interoperability and foster mutual trust, respect and co-operation between the German Armed Forces and the SANDF. * To upgrade operational means and methods of multi-national conventional forces by employing different types of equipment whilst conducting and exercising according to a common set of guiding principles.

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The FGS HAMBURG seen in False Bay – Photo : Alex van Heerden ©

The German Defence Force will be represented by two Frigates (FGS HAMBURG and FGS KÖLN) and two Combat Support Vessels (FGS BERLIN and FGS WESTERWALD), six Tornado Fighter Aircraft and two Lynx Helicopters.

The SANDF will send three Frigates (SAS AMATOLA, SAS ISANDLWANA and SAS SPIOENKOP), one Submarine (SAS CHARLOTTE MAXEKE) two Strike Craft (SAS GALESHEWE and SAS ISAAC DYOBHA), two Minehunters (SAS UMZIMKULU and SAS UMKOMAAS), two Inshore Patrol Vessels (SAS TERN and SAS TOBIE) and the Combat Support Vessel SAS DRAKENSBERG. In addition to this there will also be six Cheetah Fighter Aircraft and two Oryx Helicopters (of the SAAF).

The public of Cape Town will be invited to view the German vessels at the V&A Waterfront on Saturday 1 March to Sunday 2 March 2008. Thereafter the public can view most of the SA Navy and German vessels during the annual Navy Festival from 14 -16 March 2008 in Simon’s Town. Source : ports.co.za

Footnote The navy has confirmed that the German ships will not be visiting any other South African ports during their visit. Nieuwe vliegtuigen voor de Kustwacht De Kustwacht voor de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba heeft op afgelopen vrijdag officieel twee Dash 8 MPA in gebruik genomen. De vliegtuigen zijn overgedragen door Brigadegeneraal Peter Dohmen van Defensie Materieel Organisatie (DMO) aan de Commandant Kustwacht, Commandeur Peter Lenselink. Minister President Emily de Jongh-el Hage was ook aanwezig bij de overdracht.

Afgelopen vrijdag is er een grote stap gemaakt met de twee Dash 8 patrouillevliegtuigen van de Kustwacht. Met de modernste technieken zal het vliegtuig aan de omgevingskennis een grote bijdrage leveren. Veel vliegtuigen hebben vanaf Hato hun diensten bewezen, maar de Dash 8 is het eerste vliegtuig dat is ontworpen op Distribution : daily 3800+ copies worldwide Page 13 2/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 048

basis van de eisen van de Kustwacht. De vliegtuigen zijn geleverd door het Canadese bedrijf Provincial Airlines. De multi-nationale, civiel en militaire bemanning van de Dash 8 bestaat uit Canadese piloten, een Tacco en Sensor- operator van de Koninklijke Marine en twee Observers van de Kustwacht afkomstig van de eilanden van de Nederlandse Antillen. Deze observers, lokale Kustwachters zijn de eerste luchtvarenden binnen de overheid van de Nederlandse Antillen. Hun taken aan boord zijn veelzijdig en zij zijn verantwoordelijk voor het afwerpen van vlotten, rookmarkeerders en driftboeien, maar ook voor fotografie en veiligheidstaken.

Commandeur Lenslink gaf aan in zijn toespraak dat de gehele bemanning een bijdrage zou moeten leveren aan de succesvolle introductie van dit vliegtuig en hij verwacht van iedereen optimale inzet om tot een aansprekend operationeel product te komen.

Spliethof’s EDAMGRACHT – Photo : Glenn Towler © SHIPYARD NEWS

The KINGDOM OF FIFE seen fitting out at the Damen Galati shipyard Photo : Hans van der Ster ©

Onega Shipyard Delivers Ship February 15 Onega Shipyard delivered a dry cargo ship designed by Odessa Maritime Bureau to Albros.

The m/v “Mekhanik Kovalenko” will make her first voyage from St. Petersburg to Hamburg with a cargo of metal chips. Source : SeaNews Distribution : daily 3800+ copies worldwide Page 14 2/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 048

Kherson Shipbuilding Plant Launches New Hull On 13 February 2008 Kherson shipbuilding plant launched the container carrier VISEU for shipbuilding plant 61 communards (Nikolayev), reports Ukrainian media with the reference to the head of marketing division of shipbuilding plant 61 communards Vadim Eroshkin.

VISEU - is the fifth hull from a series of vessels, which are being built by shipbuilding plant 61 communards by the order of the Spanish company Factoria Naval De Marin. The signing of acceptance documents is planned for February 21. Source : SeaNews

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES Chinese firm wins Saudi port deal Khaleej Times reports that China's Harbour Contracting and Engineering Company has won a SR2.2 billion contract to build port facilities at Saudi Arabia's Ras Al Zour.

Khaleej Times reported that China Harbour has partnered with the local Rafid Group on the project to form China Harbor Engineering Arabia Company. Company officials said recently that the facilities will be completed in 2010.

The Chinese group reportedly fought off competition from Belgium's Dredging International with the local Huta Group, and a joint venture of the Royal Boskalis Westminster with Geneva-registered Archirodon Construction (Overseas). Source : Dredging News Online

Pacific Basin orders ro-ros at Odense Dry bulk operator Pacific Basin is breaking into the ro-ro trades with the acquisition of four newbuilds to be built at AP Møller-Maersk's Odense shipyard for $375M en bloc. It has agreed to take over re-sale contracts for two newbuildings and has contracted a further two ships direct from the yard. Delivery of the four vessels is scheduled between 2009 and 2011. The resale agreement was concluded through purchase of the entire share capital of Prospect Number 62 from New Paragon Investments. Pacific Basin, which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is a prominent player in the Handysize bulker segment, though it has expanded into bigger ship types. Total newbuilding orders of bulk

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carriers number 15, which deputy CEO Klaus Nyborg described to Fairplay in a recent interview as the "largest newbuilding order programme ever in the history of Pacific Basin". Deliveries are slated from 2008 to 2011. Source : Lloyd's Register - Fairplay web links

New Ships for Vyborg Shipping Co The company has acquired two dry cargo ships. Vyborg Shipping Co incorporated in Oslo Marine Group has announced the acquisition of two dry cargo ships.

The new units to be named “OMG Kolpino” and ”OMG Tosno“ are to be deployed in the Baltic and also make calss to the ports of Great Britain, Spain and continental Europe. Earlier, Vyborg Shipping Co received m/v “OMG Gatchina”. Source : SeaNews

The STAD AMSTERDAM seen outward bound from Willemstad (Curacao) Photo : Kees Bustraan ©

Walvis Bay to expand bulk liquid facilities The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) plans to build a bulk fuel storage terminal (BFST) at Walvis Bay, reports the New Era newspaper. It says the terminal is in anticipation of increased imports as the country’s economy expands over the next 20 years and will carry a government mandate allowing it to import about half of all fuel products for Namibia.

Namcor has identified three sites around the port of Walvis Bay for the proposed terminal, which will store bulk shipments of petrol, diesel, paraffin and heavy fuel oil. The tank farm will be fed from the port via pipeline. The bulk fuel storage terminal is expected to be operational by mid-2010 but remains subject to a number of conditions, including completing the necessary environmental impact assessment process. Some community concerns including noise pollution and quality of air have already been expressed and will need to be addressed. Distribution : daily 3800+ copies worldwide Page 16 2/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 048

However the local community would be able to look forward to a number of socio-economic benefits arising from the development, including employment during the building phase and later permanent positions. Outside contractors for the building and engineering aspects and provision of road and rail facilities would also benefit. Namcor was established under Namibia’s Petroleum Act of 1991 and is tasked with creating an integrated oil company capable of competing on an equal basis with the global oil industry. Source : ports.co.za SMIT CANADA RENAMED WELLINGTON The ‘Canada’ built for Alexandra Towing Co. Ltd in 1980 by McTay Marine, Bromborough, has now changed name and is called ‘Wellington’.

She has been purchased by TP Towing of Gibraltar and will supplement their existing fleet, all of which are ex Alexandra Towing Company vessels. This operation began in March 1998 when they took over the operation in Gib from the Howard Smith Group.

‘Wellington’, ex ‘Canada’ is a twin Voith tug, powered by 2x diesel 6cyl Ruston type 6RKCM, producing 2640bhp, a speed of 12 Knts and a bollard pull of 27.5 Tonnes.

As the ‘Canada’ with Alexandra Towing she has had a diverse history having visited a number of ports around the UK. She was actively involved in the tow out of the ‘Sovereign Explorer’ that was built at Cammel Lairds and her subsequent salvage whilst in the port of Holyhead. She was also used in the positioning of the jackets for the Morecambe Bay gas field. May she continue to serve her new owners the same way she has served here on the Mersey. Photo : Phil Parker ©

The MOL WILL seen departing from Cape Town Photo : Ian Shiffman © Distribution : daily 3800+ copies worldwide Page 17 2/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 048

Indian seafarer anger over contracting out plans Seafarers’ unions in India are outraged over plans by the national shipping company to put some 30 vessels out to tender.

The unions - including the ITF-affiliated National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) and the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) - have outlined their opposition to proposals to contract out the vessels in a letter to Sabyasachi Hajara, Chairman and Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). It is understood that the manning and technical management of some 30 out of 80 vessels are to be put out to tender.

The unions are furious that the management of the state-run company failed to consult seafarers’ unions and unions representing shore-based workers on the plans and are demanding that Hajara enter into talks with them over the issue.

NUSI General Secretary Abdulgani Serang commented: “It seems to be a hush-hush exercise that can have far- reaching detrimental effects, not only on SCI as a company but also on thousands of existing seafarers and shore staff.”

“If the SCI management does not come to the table on this issue, it is in for a shock,” said FSUI General Secretary Sadhan Kanji Lal.

If progress is not made on the issue, the unions will be forced to resort to industrial action. Source : ShipTalk

Artist impression of the future EEMSHAVEN – GRONINGEN SEAPORTS in 2012

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Over 300 Tourists Arrive in Mombasa Three hundred and fifty five tourists arrived in Mombasa aboard a charter flight and a cruise ship. Those arriving by charter flight - 175 - flew aboard an African Safari Airways (ASA) Airbus that touched down at the Moi International Airport at 6.45am.

ASA Mombasa station manager, Mr Zahoor Kashmir, told The Sunday Standard that the tourists were from Vienna, Austria, and the UK. "ASA has brought down its weekly flight rotations into Mombasa from an original five to three owing to effects of post election skirmishes," he said.

Some of the over 170 tourists who arrived at the Moi International Airport, Mombasa, aboard the African Safari Club Airbus. Most of them are from Europe. Hundreds of others arrived in a cruise ship that docked at the Mombasa port. The ship is the second to dock at the port this year. Picture: Andrew Kilonzi

The tourists were driven to African Safari Club (ASC) hotels in Mombasa North Coast.

And at the port of Mombasa, 180 passengers disembarked from MS Royal Star, a cruise liner operated by Starline Cruises. MS Royal Star is the only cruise ship that has defied travel advisories imposed on Kenya. Prior to her arrival, the ship had brought 479 tourists into Mombasa.

Mr Niki Nikolaus, the vessel's cruise director, said at the port that the ship had arrived from South Africa where it had sailed through Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Morsel Bay and East London.

Mr Christian Mohremstrecher, a Swiss musician aboard the ship, said that he was happy to be in Kenya.

"We all know what has happened here and hope for a quick solution so that life in your beautiful country can return to normal," he said. MS Royal Star sets sail today for the Indian Ocean islands of Mayotte in the Comoros. Source : allafrica

The dredger JFJ de NUL seen loading the barges of 3700 m3 La Boudeuse and L Áigle, in the port to be in the future named Duqm Oman. Photo : Crew JFJ de Nul.(c)

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MOVEMENTS

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The EWL WEST INDIES seen enroute Rotterdam Photo : Martin Le Bruin ©

The GALATEA seen in the port of IJmuiden Photo : Joop Marechal ©

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MARINE WEATHER THIS SECTION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY :

Internet: www.spos.eu Tel : +31 317 399800 E-mail : [email protected]

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The SEA JACK departed under tow of the STEVNS ARCTIC from Ijmuiden Photo : Joop Marechal ©

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