DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 358

Number 358 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Wednesday 23-12-2015 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

Van Laar’s newbuilding TESS riding high off Dover. Photo : Flying Focus Aerial Photography www.flyingfocus.nl ©

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The HANOI BRIDGE passing Kusu Island navigating Westbound in the Singapore Straits Photo : Krispen Atkinson (c) Hawk collects rig and heads out The oil and gas drilling rig that towered over the low lying foreshore of Phillip Island before appearing to hover for days in the early morning mists of Port Phillip is finally on its way back home to Singapore. With its drilling duties for Origin and Hibiscus Oil in Bass Strait completed, the rig was last week taken on board by the heavy lift vessel HAWK before heading out of Port Phillip on Tuesday. Equipment was taken from the rig before it was welded to the HAWK’s deck for transport.The 223 metre, 44, 700 tonne HAWK sails at about 12 knots compared with the three knots that would be achieved if the rig was towed by tugs to Singapore. The rig is owned by Seadrill Ltd and is scheduled to be back at its Singapore base in early January. The HAWK is owned by OHT (offshore heavy transport). Source: Western Port News Photo : OHT Loadmaster Ken Bekkevold

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The COSFLYING LAKE seen westbound in the Singapore Straits Photo : Krispen Atkinson (c) Gladding-Hearn Delivers Pilot Boat to Delaware Pilots Posted by Michelle Howard The Delaware pilots association has taken delivery of its third pilot boat of the popular Chesapeake Class from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. The delivery marks the fifteenth pilot boat of this class built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard, since its introduction in 2002. CLICK at the photo! Designed by C. Raymond Hunt & Associates, the all-aluminum pilot boat measures 52.6 feet overall. It has a 17-foot beam and 4.8-foot draft, and a top speed of 25 knots. The new launch is powered by twin Volvo Penta D16 diesel engines, each delivering 651 Bhp at 1800 rpm, with ZF 500-1-A gear boxes. Each engine has a two-circuit Fernstrum keel-cooling system recessed into extra heavy bottom plating for operation in ice. The engines turn 5-blade NiBrAl propellers. Volvo Penta’s EVC system is mounted at the control stations in the wheelhouse and at the transom. The vessel is fitted with a Humphree Interceptor automatic trim optimization system. The wheelhouse is outfitted with five Stidd seats and a three-zone, diesel-fired Espar Hydronic 35 heater for the cabin, main deck, and handrails. The forward wheelhouse windows feature ¾-inch electrically-heated laminated glass for de- icing. Interior sound levels are approximately 78 dba.At the transom is a winch-operated rotating davit over a recessed platform for pilot rescue operation. The Delaware pilots chose an unpainted launch to reduce maintenance costs. Source: MarineLink

The SKANDI ADMIRAL seen moored in Willemstad (Curacao) for bunkers and stores before the start the tow of the the CASTORO 7 out from Caracas Bay - Photo : Kees Bustraan (c)

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LEERZAME OEFENING IN HOEK VAN HOLLAND

Zaterdagmiddag heeft de bemanning van de Hoekse reddingboot JEANINE PARQUI een leerzame oefening gedaan met de NHV SAR Helikopter van de basis Maasvlakte. Bij deze oefening werd gebruikt gemaakt van een 6 persoons reddingvlot, welke veel op jachten aanwezig is. Er zijn weer vele hoisten de revue gepasseerd, we kijken weer uit naar de volgende oefening met de NHV. CLICK HIER voor de VIDEO SBM Offshore statement endorses integrity of two officials named by Brazilian prosecutors Dutch platform-leasing giant SBM Offshore on Sunday came out strongly in defence of two of its top officials named by Brazilian prosecutors in relation to a Petrobras bribery case. The CLARKSONS PLATOU teams are proud to continue their tradition to support Charities meaningfully, rather than sending Christmas cards or gifts at this time of year. CLICK at the card ! However you spend this holiday season, we wish you and your family a healthy and prosperous 2016. Thank you for your support throughout 2015. Amsterdam-based SBM issued a forthright statement in which it endorsed the company’s CEO Bruno Chabas and a commissioner of its supervisory board Sietze Hepkema, saying that it has no qualms about allowing the two to continue in their positions “We have no doubts Distribution : daily to 33.350+ active addresses 23-12-2015 Page 4 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 358

regarding the integrity of both Bruno Chabas and Sietze Hepkema, who continue to have our full support,” said Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Frans Cremers in the statement, released in good time for Monday’s opening of trading. Chabas’ and Hepkema’s names were on a list revealed on Friday. The list, from the Brazilian Public Prosecutors Office features people associated with Petrobras and SBM Offshore who may be charged in the corruption and embezzlement case.The case is separate from the much bigger Petrobras bribes-for-inflated-contracts scandal – subject of the “Operation Car Wash” probe – which cost the state oil company billions and threatens to undermine the national government.In November 2014 SBM paid a $240m fine to Dutch authorities to settle allegations that it bribed government officials in Angola and Equatorial Guinea as well as Brazil. In September this year SBM’s main subsidiary in Brazil was invited by Petrobras to join in tenders for FPSO leasing in the Libra and Sepia oil fields. That was seen as a sign that SBM had paid its dues for any transgressions in the “Operation Car Wash” investigation. Source: Splash 24/7 76 People Still Missing at Sea Following Indonesian Ferry Disaster Indonesian relatives check the passengers board of a capsized ferry at a crisis center in Siwa, Wajo district in Indonesia's South Sulawesi province, on Dec. 20, 2015 Rough seas have hampered search-and-rescue effortsClose to 80 people remain missing following the disappearance of a ferry of the coast of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Saturday, with officials saying more than 24 hours into a search-and-rescue operation that there was a possibility the vessel had capsized.The country’s Transport Ministry confirmed on Sunday that 39 people were rescued, leaving 76 of the ferry’s 118 passengers still unaccounted for, Agence France-Presse reported.Three people, two of them children, were found dead, the ministry said.The effort to find the ill-fated ship, named the Marina Baru, has been hampered by the same choppy seas that likely prompted it to send out a distress signal before going missing off Sulawesi island on Saturday afternoon. Rescue patrols from the police and navy have encountered waves around 16 ft. high.Frans Barung, a spokesman for the police, told AFP that the vessel’s fiberglass body makes it difficult to sink. “The boat has not been found because the weather has not been good,” he said.However, hopes have begun to dwindle as the hunt for survivors enters its second day“We are worried that more than 24 hours have passed,” Alamsyah, head of a local Disaster Mitigation Agency, told Reuters. “We are waiting for miracles, God’s miracles.” Source : Reuters

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Thrustmaster of Texas Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc.. designs and manufactures advanced marine propulsion equipment for vessels of all types. The company was founded in 1984 as a privately owned

corporation. Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. manufactures heavy-duty commercial marine propulsion and thrusters including waterjets, propulsion out drive units for barges, thru-hull azimuthing propulsion in the form of Z and L drives, retractable thrusters, transverse tunnel thrusters, and the patented Portable Dynamic Positioning System. The factory is based in Houston, Texas with sales offices in Rotterdam, Singapore, China, Dubai, and Brazil. The company also has a service office in Houma, Louisiana to respond to the off-shore clients working out of that region During our visit to the factory at the Thrustmaster Drive in Houston we did see that

Thrustmaster is fabricating thrusters in the very impressive range between 300 kW and 8000 kW for bottom, top or underwater installation are available.

Thrustmaster’s robust Azimuthing Thrusters are used for propulsion and station keeping in many demanding applications. Thrustmaster’s Bow Thrusters span a range from 50 to 8000 kW. Tunnel thrusters powered by direct diesel engine, hydraulic or electric drives are available. Retractable azimuthing thrusters can be hydraulic or electric drive. These thrusters are routinely used for dynamic positioning or as a slow speed secondary propulsion system. Thrustmaster’s

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Propulsion Units for Brown Water are tough, self-contained diesel-hydraulic thruster packages. Provided with Thrustmaster’s patented hydraulic podded drives, these units survive grounding and fouling, making them ideal for river ferries, construction and maintenance barges, bow boats, military landing craft and causeways. Thrustmaster’s 200,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and maintenance plant in Houston is the largest thruster

factory in the world. It is completely air-conditioned and outfitted with the latest in automatic welding equipment, CNC machinetools, and precision

computerized measuring. A highly motivated workforce builds equipment of excellent quality under tightly controlled production procedures per ISO- 9001:2008 all photo’s : Piet Sinke (c) Click on the photo’s and hyperlinks in the text!

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The TRADEWIND ADVENTURE arriving in Willemstad – Curacao Photo : Kees Bustraan (c) Environment Minister Greg Hunt approves dredging at Abbot Point for Galilee Basin mines By : Lisa Cox Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has approved the dredging and dumping of spoil on land to make way for the expansion of the Abbot Point coal terminal in north Queensland and the shipment of coal from Queensland's vast Galilee Basin.The expansion, which has been furiously opposed by environment groups concerned about the port's proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, would make Abbot Point one of the world's largest coal terminals.Indian mining company Adani will use the expanded terminal for shipments from its proposed Carmichael coal mine, if that project proceeds. The Capt & Crew of the ALP CENTRE wish you Merry Christmas & Safe Sailings in 2016 CLICK at the card !

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the application for dredging and dumping on Tuesday with a list of 29 conditions Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the application for dredging and dumping on Tuesday with a list of 29 conditions. Queensland's Labor government submitted an application to dump dredge spoil on land after the federal government banned the dumping of spoil at sea following a campaign by environmentalists and concerns from UNESCO's World Heritage Committee about the health of the Great Barrier Reef. Mr Hunt approved the application for dredging and dumping on Tuesday with a list of 29 conditions."This project was

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proposed and developed by the Queensland government. Further approvals are required from the Queensland government," a spokeswoman for Mr Hunt said."The approved dredging has been reduced by 97 per cent from the original dredging proposal."All dredge material will be placed onshore on existing industrial land. No dredge material will be placed in the World Heritage area or the Caley Valley Wetlands."Mr Hunt's spokeswoman said the port area was located 20 kilometres from any coral reef and no coral reef would be affected.Under the proposal approved by Mr Hunt, up to 1.1 million cubic metres of sea bed can be dredged and dumped on land.Mr Hunt's list of conditions include requirements for dredging to be done with equipment that has the lowest possible impact on the surrounding environment, measures to protect against extreme weather events, and water quality monitoring.The application is the third proposal for dredging and dumping at Abbot Point after earlier proposals to dump dredge spoil at sea and then later on land that would include the nearby Caley Valley wetlands were abandoned.Environment groups and the Greens reacted angrily to the decision on Tuesday, accusing Mr Hunt of trying to sneak through the approval while Australians were busy preparing for their Christmas holidays."The damage ticked off on today includes dredging 1.1 million cubic metres of the Reef floor which will mobilise about 10,000 tonnes of fine sediment, smothering seagrass habitat for dugongs and turtles," deputy Greens leader Larissa Waters said."What's worse is that this destruction on behalf of big mining companies like Adani will be paid for by the state Labor government at the expense of Queensland taxpayers. Merry Christmas and a happy new year from the crew onboard the SMIT “pit bull ANGOLA Click at the card "Climate activists said approving the project was inconsistent with the agreement reached at the Paris climate conference, where countries promised to limit global warming to 2 degrees and aim for less than 1.5 degrees."The Turnbull government can't seriously sign on to deals which limit climate damage to 2 degrees and then give a green light to massive coal export projects which guarantee that the 2 degree target can never be met," 350.org campaigner Moira Williams said on Tuesday.Approval for the dredging clears another hurdle for Adani, which needs a number of regulatory approvals for its mine to proceed.The mining giant has promoted its project as a jobs boom for communities such as Bowen, which are in the midst of an economic downturn and want a large project to revive their employment opportunities. The company has described opposition to its development as "politically motivated" and last month asked Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to introduce special laws that ban green groups from challenging large projects after they receive approval.Adani had a win last week when Queensland's Land Court agreed the Queensland government could grant mining and environment leases for the project after community group Coast and Country tried to have the development stopped. But the court found Adani had overstated the economic benefits of the mine, including the number of jobs and royalties it would generate.Adani has also had to battle challenges to its project in the Federal Court and faces another challenge from the Australian Conservation Foundation to Mr Hunt's environmental approval for the mine itself."While additional activist-led challenges to detailed, thorough, independent and science-based approvals loom, this approval, coupled with last week's Land Court decision, is overwhelmingly a positive for Adani, and a step in the right direction for jobs in Queensland and exports from our state," Adani's spokesman said of the decision on Tuesday. Source : Sydney Morning Herald

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Due to our holiday the newsclippings may reach you irregularly Vostochny Port JSC expands its port fleet with new tugboat On December 19, new tugboat URAL joined the port fleet of Vostochny Port JSC, the Company’s press center says The tugboat was built under the Company’s modernization programme initiated by Managing Port Company LLC and launched in 2010, says Vadim Baibak, chief dispatcher of Vostochny Port JSC.The keel of the new ship was laid in November,2014 at Damen’s shipyard in China and launched in autumn, 2015. On December 14, upon completion of all necessary trials, the boat left port Shanghai for port Vladivostok, her homeport. The URAL Will be the most powerful tugboat of the Company’s oprt fleet (almost 5.400 h.p., ice class Arc4).Experts say the URAL will let accelerate mooring operations at the port – two more operations per day. Vostochny Port JSC is the largest coal stevedore in Russia. Managing Port Company LLC is the sole executive body of Vostochny Port JSC. The fleet of Vostochny Port numbers three ship-towing tug, an azimuth tug and an estuary launch. Source : Portnews

ALSO INTERESTED IN THIS FREE MARITIME NEWSCLIPPINGS ? CLICK HERE AND REGISTER FOR FREE ! CMA CGM builds stake in NOL at discount to takeover offer price By Marcus Hand from Singapore

CMA CGM is slowly building a stake in Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) for less than the price pre share it has offered in a planned takeover deal.Since announcing a takeover offer of SGD1.30 per share for NOL two weeks ago, pending regulatory approval CMA CGM has been making open market purchases of NOL shares in the SGD1.22 – 1.24 per share range. The French line now has a 0.77% stake in NOL according to Singapore Exchange disclosures.NOL’s main shareholder Temasek Holdings has agreed to sell its 66.84% stake at SGD1.30 per share, which assuming regulatory approvals are granted, will trigger a mandatory takeover offer at the same price for all remaining shares in the company.However, the required regulatory approvals are not expected till mid-2016, with a general offer then taking a further 28 days after that. CMA CGM has said it will de-list NOL if it gains more than 90% shareholder approval.Given the length of time until an offer is made NOL has been trading at a discount to the offer price. Source: seatrade- maritime. UK P&I Club Advises On Cargo Wetting Damage And Due Diligence An important element of a vessel’s seaworthiness is its ability to resist the ingress of sea water into internal spaces. Yet operators are continuing to experience high value cargo damage claims relating to the ingress of water in cargo holds. UK P&I Club risk assessor David Nichol examines the problem and advises on loss prevention measures.Over the years, improvements in equipment design, vessel maintenance programmes and raised commercial expectations have

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had the effect of significantly reducing the frequency of cargo wetting problems. However, the continuing occurrence of expensive cargo wetting damage claims shows that there is no room for complacency in ensuring that that the required work and resources are put into proper maintenance and checking of cargo related fittings and equipment. The crew of the OLEG STRASHNOV wishes you a merry Christmas and a happy new year CLICK at the card ! UK P&I Club provides advice on particular points that should be paid attention to:

•All steel work structures and fittings should be kept corrosion free and well coated. •Panel seals should be complete, pliable and without excessive deformation or grooving. Where a section of rubber is found to be deficient, the whole panel strip should preferably be replaced. •The sealing rubber which manufactures recommend should be fitted, including shaped sections for corner pieces. The use of cheaper, inferior products which are widely available on the market have been known to result in claims. •If hatch cover panels are not properly aligned with each other and/or the hatch coamings, the sealing arrangement will be compromised. •Panel hinge and pivot bearings must be periodically checked for excessive wear and pins/bushes replaced as required. •Bearing pads on both coamings and corresponding panels are designed to bear the weight of the hatch covers (and any cargo which may be loaded on top) and to provide the correct spacing between panels and coamings. It is therefore important that these fittings are kept clean, corrosion free and periodically checked to ensure that the designed dimensions of the pads are maintained. •Hatch coaming face plates, compression bars and drainage channels should be clean and free of physical damage and corrosion •Hatch cover panel securing arrangements come in a very wide range of designs. However, whether automated or manually operated, they must be complete, properly adjusted and lubricated. Excessive over tightening of manual cleats should not be done in the misguided belief that this will improve the tightness of the seal. Source: The UK P&I Club

The "SMIT EBRO" (Boskalis) providing unmooring assistance to the ferry "PRIDE OF ROTTERDAM " (P&O Ferries) in a windy Europoort on Monday night. Photo : Pieter van Hekken (c)

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New CMA CGM reefer service to make a weekly call in Zeebrugge As from January 2016, a Caribbean CMA CGM service will make a weekly call in Zeebrugge. The North Europe French West Indies (NEFWI) service mainly imports fruit from the Caribbean. Reefer vessel CMA CGM FORT SAINT LOUIS will make the first call on January 19th 2016. In total, four CMA CGM vessels with a capacity of 2.260 TEU will be deployed, all equipped with 550 reefer plugs. The port of Zeebrugge will be the last European port call in the service. For the reefer cargo with destination Antwerp, a PortConnect nv barge service will provide the connection between APMT Zeebrugge and Belgian New Fruit Wharf in Antwerp. Export cargo for Central America (to Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Suriname, Windwards, Leewards) will also be handled in the port of Zeebrugge. CMA CGM also announces that the FAL1 and FAL8 will be consolidated at the APMT Zeebrugge terminal. Lines loading and discharging there are CMA CGM, China Shipping, UASC, COSCO, EVERGREEN and HYUNDAI. Logistic calls with deep sea vessels (FEMEX) and feeders are made on a regular basis A short-sea service to Spain (Mac Andrews) is presently in the planning and might start at the end of the first quarter of 2016, CMA CGM declares.source : PortNews

Local trade box vessels handling boxes in the port of Puerto Princesa City at the Philippine Island Palawan as seen last Monday from the plane prior touching down Photo : Piet Sinke (c)

West Coast not ready for mega-ships, Drewry warns By: Greg Knowler, Senior Asia Editor The U.S. West Coast is not yet ready to handle regular calls from 18,000 twenty-foot-equivalent unit capacity vessels despite CMA CGM’s deployment of mega-ship Benjamin Franklin on the trade, according to Drewry. Ports on the West Coast have much work to do in terms of improving productivity if they are to see the large vessels call on anything other than an ad-hoc basis, the analyst wrote in its Container Insight Weekly.“Introducing too many ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs) to the West Coast ports before they are fully ready would most likely worsen productivity, rather than improve matters, and could add days to the load and discharge time for boxes at terminals, thus Distribution : daily to 33.350+ active addresses 23-12-2015 Page 12 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 358

undermining the USWC’s competitiveness versus the USEC,” Drewry noted The 18,000 TEU CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN will become the largest containership to call at any U.S. port when it arrives at the Port of Los Angeles on Dec. 26. The new ship was delivered to France carrier CMA CGM at the start of the month and will join the Asia-U.S. West Coast Pearl River Express service, part of the Ocean Three Alliance that normally operates with seven ships of around 11,400 TEUs.However, Drewry said the story was largely a public relations exercise. “CMA CGM will soon become the largest player in the trans-Pacific market after the takeover of APL and for the port of Los Angeles it provides more welcome headlines than those generated earlier in the year when labour dispute and port congestion dominated,” the analyst said.“But it is significant because these ULCVs have until now only been viable in the Asia- Europe route so having an additional deployment option would give carriers much more operational flexibility. In truth, the arrival of one 18,000-TEU ship, which may not even be full, won’t meaningfully test the West Coast terminals’ ability to deal with such ships, but at the very least it raises the question of what the USWC ports need to do to get there.”Drewry pointed out that bigger ships demanded faster container handling speed and operational productivity. However, while overall berth productivity did increase with ship size, it did not increase directly in line. The analyst said this was because the length of ULCVs has not increased in proportion with their TEU intake — they have got wider, deeper and stacked higher instead — meaning the number of gantry cranes deployed per vessel cannot be increased in direct proportion to ship sizes.“Also, as the average size of ships grows and more cargo is squeezed onto fewer weekly services terminals have to prepare for much greater peaks in container activity. This problem is exacerbated on the USWC as ships often only call at a couple of ports, unlike in Europe, meaning those U.S. ports have to handle a higher ratio of boxes per ship call.”Drewry said the size of container ships deployed on the Asia-USWC route has been steadily increasing with the average size rising by around 14 percent in two years to reach 7,600 TEUs. There are now over 50 ships of 10,000 TEUs or above deployed on the route whereas at the start of 2014 there were only 14.The analyst said West Coast ports have shown they can accommodate a growing number of ships in the 8,000-14,000 TEU range, but there remained a lot of unanswered questions as to when the USWC ports will be in a position to step up to the next level and handle mega-ships such as the CMA CGM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. On the quayside, the ports would have to gear up in terms of water depth, quay length, and cranes, but Drewry said there was also a need to improve the efficiency of how cargo was brought to and from the port complex via truckers, who were in short supply, and intermodal rail. “Terminal automation would certainly help to improve productivity, as would longer working hours to turn ports into 24/7 operations, but this would require more flexibility from the unionised dockers, something that seems a long way off,” Drewry said. Source : Journal of Commerce Global maintenance contract awarded to Alphatron Marine Alphatron Marine is pleased to announce the signing of a 3-year global maintenance agreement with Van Oord. The contract will be to exclusively maintain and proactively support allnavigation and communication equipment on their entire fleet of more than 80 vessels. Van Oord, a world leadingcompany specializing in dredging, offshore oil & gas and offshore wind operates internationally and requires that each and every vessel could be put to work effectively at any time. Jeroen Kortsmit, Global Business Development Manager, Alphatron Marine says, “With this agreement we will be able to schedule periodic maintenance well in advance and ultimately minimize the risk of downtime.” Kortsmit continues, “During the 3-year contract Alphatron Marine will play an active role in recommending full life cycle support of the bridge equipment, aiming for the best possible efficiency for Van Oord.” Jaap de Jong, Director Ship Management Van Oord: With this strategic partnership in place we optimize our supply chain which will give way to operational improvement and cost reductions in our fleet management.Additionally,Alphatron Marine will offer more innovative ways to improve the support and maintenance level with for example,the recently introduced AlphaEye. This deviceis a completely new service communication tool thatoffers the extra capability of real-time audio visual support directly with a support specialist standing by on shore. Both companies share a philosophy of continuous innovation within their respective markets and have dedicated people driven by a common passion. Another unintentional, but powerful benefit is that the head offices of Alphatron Marine and Van Oord are literally situated next to each other in Rotterdam, alongside the river Nieuwe Maas which guarantees short and efficient communication. Alphatron Marine is a world renowned supplier of integrated bridge solutions and manufacturer of unique complementary products to the JRC portfolio. Together with JRC and support of the Centers of Excellence in Tokyo, Rotterdam, Singapore and Houston, the combined synergies bring quality and innovation to owners, operators and shipyards.

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SEEK and NGA Principal Marine Surveyor – Port State Control Ship Safety $143,076 + superannuation (15.4%)

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is a government statutory authority. AMSA plays a custodial role in keeping Australia’s seas safe and clean, and providing search and rescue services on a 24/7 basis. AMSA takes a lead in maritime safety regulation and in responding to maritime environmental emergencies. We are currently an organisation in a state of transition to support a substantial expansion of our regulatory influence to include all domestic commercial vessels.

We are a national organisation with offices around Australia. Our people enjoy:

• a safe and friendly environment with flexible working options; • a culture enhanced by a strong sense of community; • a progressive outlook and energetic contribution to the maritime industry.

Working in Ship Inspections, the Principal Marine Surveyor – Port State Control is responsible for overseeing and managing AMSA’s Port State inspection programs. This role requires someone with extensive knowledge of international conventions and laws relating to maritime transport, as well as a Certificate of Competency as a Master Class 1, Engineer Class 1, a degree in Naval architecture or equivalent qualifications and experience.The Principal Marine Surveyor will provide technical advice on ship safety policies and procedures, focusing on Port State Control, carriage of livestock, cargo gear and dangerous goods. This position requires extensive knowledge to provide technical advice towards development of ship safety policies, Marine Orders and procedures.To obtain the position description and further information on how to apply for this role go to www.amsa.gov.au/jobs

Closing date: 24 January 2016

For more information contact: Bruce Whitby, Head of Section – Inspections, 02 6279 5957

Port of Rotterdam: Union Votes a "Massive Yes" to Strike Action Dockworkers' unions in Rotterdam are threatening January 1 strike action if their members reject the port authority and employers' current offe rDockworkers' union FNV Havens (FHV) Sunday said its members in the container sector had voted "massively yes" to take strike action in the New Year at the Port of Rotterdam.The union said its members "almost unanimously" rejected a final offer from employers.As Ship & Bunker previously reported, the workers are said to be hoping that the strike action will help achieve their demand for a guarantee of job security over the next nine years in the face of two new highly automated container terminals.FNV director Niek Stam says they have presented an ultimatum to employers which expires January 6.Stam had earlier been quoted as saying that, "Those who decided to increase capacity and to build automated terminals should cover the social costs of their choices.""For many years

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we have warned about the dangers of expansion and automation plans but the port authority always refused to engage in a meaningful dialogue."FNV says it expects that up to 800 people will lose their job through automation."This is not fair, nor sustainable and workers are not ready to pay the price for inadequate business choices," said Stam.This is not the first time that the maritime industry has entered the Christmas period facing the potential of a major strike.Three years ago Ship & Bunker reported that U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports were facing major disruption from strike action source: Ship & Bunker News Team Russia beefs up Syrian supply line with bargain basement rust-buckets RUSSIA has discreetly accumulated a fleet of rusty cargo ships in the last few months, purchased by offshore buyers then re-flagged Russia, and then made Russian auxiliary navy ships and manned with armed naval personnel, Reuters reports.As many as a dozen refurbished general cargo rust-buckets, going for a low as $300,000 piece and in the 6,000 - 8,000 dwt range, now shuttle war materiel between the Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk and Tartous, Moscow's Syrian Mediterranean naval base.According to shipping industry sources, publicly available data and photos collected by bloggers, Moscow has acquired at least four nearly obsolete cargo vessels from Turkish firms since late September when it began air strikes in Syria.It has become part of what is known as the Syria Express," one shipping source said. These types of vessels are supplying Russian troops with food, fuel, ammunition and small arms and other logistics." A second shipping source, from Turkey, said: ¡§Russian companies approached the market in September and bought six to seven ships in total."In addition to the Kazan-60, the newly acquired Russian ships include at least three previously operated by Turkish companies, now sporting new Russian names painted onto their hulls: the Dvinitsa-50, the Kyzyl-60 and the Vologda-50. Previous owners reached by Reuters said they had no idea the ships would end up as part of Russia's war effort. One of the vulnerabilities of Moscow buying Turkish ships is that Turkey strongly opposes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But Moscow acquired the Turkish ships before its relations with Ankara deteriorated in November when Turkey shot down a Russian jet.The need for the extra cargo ships arose because Russia's warships did not have the cargo capacity to supply the mission, said Vasily Kashin, senior research fellow at the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.An icebreaker called the YAUZA was also sent to the Mediterranean from the Arctic to beef up Moscow's logistics. According to publicly available shipping data, it made two trips to Syria in October and November.Buying old cargo ships gives Moscow more control than contracting out its transport to commercial carriers, said Gerry Northwood, chief operations officer with British maritime security firm MAST.By expanding their merchant fleet, the Russians are possibly seeking to bring the heavy lift of armaments and other equipment destined for Syria under direct government control," he said Not being military will allow the vessels greater freedom of movement. It will not always be necessary for them to seek diplomatic clearance for them to enter foreign ports," Mr Northwood said. Source: Schednet Ezra wins subsea contracts worth $70m Singapore’s Ezra Holdings has announced that its subsea service division, EMAS AMC, has won subsea contracts worth about $70m in the Middle East and AsiaThe contract in the Middle East is for a national oil company, and includes the lift of nearly 3,000 metric tonnes of offshore structures such as topsides, a jacket, flare and structure, and a helideck. In addition, pipelay and construction vessel Lewek Constellation will be involved in the removal of existing spools, installation of new ones and connecting 16 inch flowlines to a new platform in the region. The project will be managed out of EMAS AMC’s regional headquarters in Oslo, with work scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2016. In Asia, EMAS AMC will transport and install nearly 10km of pipelines for another national oil company. The project will also begin in the second quarter of 2016.“We have a new client to do subsea construction work for in the Middle East, and it demonstrates the demand for Lewek Constellation globally. The experience will also be invaluable as we continue to build our track record in the region,” said Lionel Lee, ceo and managing director of Ezra group. Source: offshore news Poor Connectivity and Shore Leave Key Issues among Seafarers Connectivity and shore leave emerged as key issues among seafarers in the results of the third Crewtoo Seafarers Happiness Index report. Designed to monitor and benchmark seafarer satisfaction levels via 10 key questions, this edition of Crewtoo’s report shows that a number of respondents feel that insufficient investment is being made in ensuring ongoing, high-speed, and quality connections, and that those without Internet access liken conditions to

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being in the “stone age.”The latest Crewtoo Seafarers Happiness Index also reveals a three-tiered system in shore leave: There are some seafarers who get good shore leave access and opportunities; those who can occasionally get ashore – but not without difficulty; and those who are denied even the most basic of shore leave. Responses highlighted that the greatest proportion of seafarers face the double jeopardy of poor quality, expensive, or non- existent connectivity, and difficult, expensive, or non-existent shore leave. Poor Connectivity and Shore Leave Key Issues among Seafarers The third quarterly report also shows a seafarer satisfaction level of 6.37 on a scale of 1 to 10, which is virtually unchanged from the 6.44 overall level reported in August. Other areas that showed a downward trend include general happiness, contact with home,training, interaction and workload. “Perhaps the most surprising results from this quarter were the rapid effect of falling oil prices on offshore sector wages, but more puzzlingly the Happiness Index went up even though we received far more vocal responses raising concerns on wage issues. With large-scale job losses and wage cuts or freezes, one theory is that those who are still earning and receiving their salaries are even more relieved and happy versus their less-fortunate fellow seafarers,” the report finds.Specific responses mirrored the fact that charter rates and utilisation of the global offshore supply vessel (OSV) fleet have fallen about 20 percent this year, leaving ship owners, especially those that borrowed heavily to fuel fleet expansion, short of cash and with potentially uncertain prospects.Respondents claimed that they had wage cuts of upwards of USD 10,000 per annum, owing to the situation in the oil and gas industry. Some spoke of 15% pay cuts, a range of freezes, while agency staff spoke of their day rates being significantly lowered and many were left with little or no financial security.This was especially prevalent from those working in the North Sea, who feared for their livelihoods during the upcoming winter periods when the offshore fleet was set to be down manned due to poor weather conditions, the report shows.In its report Crewtoo, an online social network for seafarers and a part of KVH Industries, Inc., asks ten questions including areas about the human angle, connectivity, getting ashore, talking cash, meals, exercising, teamwork and relationships on board, workload and overall welfare. Source: Crewtoo

ISS wins offshore agency contract with CGG in Brazil by Martyn Wingrove

OCEANIC VEGA will shoot a 3D seismic survey offshore northern Brazil Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) has won a contract with seismic survey vessel operator CGG to provide offshore agency support services in Brazil. It will support CGG’s operations in a new oil and gas exploration project in the Barreirinhas Basin in the equatorial margin of northern Brazil. The vessel owner is conducting a multi-client seismic project as the first regional broadband survey of the Barreirinhas basin. ISS will provide a range of services including port agency, crew transfer, visa assistance and cargo services.CGG is deploying its specialised seismic vessel, OCEANIC VEGA, to acquire the 14,500km² 3D seismic survey. The data will then be processed and analysed at CGG’s subsurface imaging centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Kochi Set to Reaffirm its Place on Cruise Tourism Map Kochi’s prospects in cruise tourism is set to scale new height with the city being considered by the Central Government to be include in the coastal tourism circuit, along with Mumbai and Goa.Kochi has been retaining its supremacy as the most sought-after port ithe country for international cruise lines.The Ministry of Tourism is learnt to have held discussions with major cruising companies with regard to the Central scheme. Since 2002, therhas been a steady

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growth in the number of cruise vessels visiting Kochi.The Cochin Port set a new record in cruise ship handling by playing host to 43 vessels between April 2007 and March 2008, pushing Mumbai and Goa far behind. In fiscal 2002-03, the Cochin Port played host to 11 cruise shipsfollowed by 18 in 2003-04. The number of cruise ships was 19 in 2004- 05and 22 in 2005-06. In 2006-07, 38 cruise ships arrived at the Port. In 2009-10, as many as 39 vessels called at Kochi, and their number rose t 40 in 2010-11.However, there was a slight decline in the number of cruise ship visiting the Port in 2013-14, for which the reason cited by experts is the recession in Europe.The Cochin Port Trust in an effort to promote cruise tourism offers ahost of amenities such as walk-in-berthing, sufficient draft, bunkering and freshwater services. The Port Trust has also constructed a cruise passenger felicitation terminal - Samudrika - near the Mattancherrywharf to facilitate statutory procedures such as Customs and Immigrationclearance for passengers. Proximity to heritage sites and the State’s major tourist destinations is also an advantage for Kochi. Besides, the city has shopping malls ofinternational standards, facilitating shopping of handicrafts, oriental clothing, spices and antiques. It is quite natural if the common man wonders how he would benefit from luxury ships halting in the city during oceanic voyages. Each cruisevessel that arrives at the Port will give a boost to the tourism sector.They bring thousands of ‘high-spending’ passengers to Kochi, who will spend on various goods and services - from autorickshaws to shopping malls.The arrival of tourists is likely to benefit the Kudumbashree membersalso, who performs traditional art forms of Kerala and prepare ethnic food for the tourists.Passengers of cruise ships who disembark from the luxury vessels usually prefer to experience rural life and ethnic food and culture. The majority of the passengers who embark on months-long trips on luxurycruise vessels are retired multi-millionaire senior citizens. The number of passengers celebrating honeymoon and enjoying family trip is usually very low. Usually, cruise ships do not stay in a particular port for more than oneday. Passengers disembarking in Kochi are taken for day tours in small groups in and around the city - sometimes to Alappuzha for houseboat cruise. Some visit villages in and around Kumbalangi to enjoy village life while some visit the heritage zones. Autorikshaw is the most favoured mode of transport by tourists. Source: The New Indian Express Shell Trading Rotterdam signs 15 LNG-barge deal Shell Trading Rotterdam has signed a time-charter agreement with Plouvier Transport and Intertrans Tankschiffahrt for 15 inland dual-fuel barges that will run mostly on LNG. Dutch shipyard Veka Shipbuilding will build the barges to support Shell’s growing business trading and transporting mineral oil products in the Antwerp- Rotterdam-Amsterdam and Rhinetrack regions of Germany and Switzerland.Shell’s barges will source fuel from the Port of Rotterdam’s new LNG breakbulk operation at Gate Terminal and ply their trade along new inland and coastal trades in northwestern Europe. Each barge is 110m long and will be fitted with a Wärtsilä engine that uses diesel only for ignition. All 15 will be delivered from late in 2016 to mid-2018.In a statement, Shell Shipping & Maritime vice- president Grahaeme Henderson said: “These innovative new vessels will enable a step change in the safety and environmental performance of our barge fleet. Chartering these cutting-edge vessels from owners who share our vision helps to drive innovation in the barge sector and we are proud to be leading in the development of LNG as a cleaner fuel for shipping.”Shell Shipping & Maritime is one of the largest operators of LNG carriers, with a fleet of more than 40 vessels. Source: Marinepropulsion Tanker market in 2015: A dream come true, but as New Year arrives, a swelling orderbook could prove to be a challenge 2015 has easily been defined as one of the best years for the tanker market, as a number of factors came into play, to boost freight rates and increase profitability, with returns reaching multi-year highs. For instance, oil prices kept on retreating, leading bunker prices to a dramatic fall, further boosting earnings. At the same time, as the weekly report from shipbroker Gibson pointed out, “low oil prices have stimulated world oil consumption, which according to the lEA increased by 1.8 million bid in 2015. Overall, this year has been especially favourable for VLCC owners as returns gradually increased over the course of the year, except a seasonal downturn in August. VLCC eamings exceeded the $100,000/day milestone in the beginning of October, the first time since 2008 and all the srnaller sized crude tanker have also enjoyed healthy returns”, said the London-based shipbroker.It went on to note that “the ongoing anticipation of contango play on the back of the global oversupply of crude has remained a waiting game, but this has failed to materialise so far, with the contango structure never getting sufficiently steep to justify the associated higher

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freight costs. Tonne miles have continued to grow as higher crude production and increased flows from the Atlantic Basin to the East underpinned demand growth. At the same time Middle East producers have aggressively defended market share, pushing oil both East and West. The financial headlines after the summer were dominated by economic volatility in the Chinese markets Yet, despite lower economic growth, China has continued to fill its strategic petroleum reserves Additionally, the authorities have increased crude import quotas for the small “teapot” refineries, supporting higher crude imports at the expense of the fuel oil. Again, these factors offered further support to the VLCC market”, Gibson noted.According to the shipbroker, “this year, it has been agreed that the economic sanctions against Iran should be lifted and the nation will endeavour to regain its pre-sanction market share once the embargo is fully removed. Iran could immediately release millions of barrels of crude and condensate, currently being stored on tankers off Iran. Several OPEC members continue to be vocal over the impact of lower oil prices on their national revenues despite this, the alliance effectively removed its output ceiling at their recent December meeting”.Meanwhile, “increasing long-haul product exports out of new Middle East refineries have resulted in a notable increase in spot fixtures for larger produc t tankers trading East of Suez. In the West, the success of the US refining sector, despite the recent turmoil in the shale oil industry, has supported products trade out of the US Gulf. Exports of clean petroleum products from Russia have also continued to grow. In addition, the volatility in oil prices has fuelled arbitrage driven products trade, particularly in the first half of the year. However, with rising products inventories worldwide, the clean tanker market has experienced greater downwards pressure in the latter stages of the year”, Gibson noted. At the same time, “the industry has benefited from limited fleet growth across most segments over the past twelve months Nevertheless the size of the current orderbook is beginning to cause concerns Orders placed so far in 2015 (346) have reached levels not seen since 2007. Interestingly, financing instruments have changed dramatically over the past few years with much greater involvement from Private Equity and Hedge funds, as traditional shipping banks were forced to reduce their exposure to higher risk investments”, said the shipbroker.However, as Gibson pointed out, “with many sharing the view that the tanker market has reached its peak, it perhaps unsurprising to see many major investors cashing in on their investment. Owners have experienced uplift in second-hand asset values as a result of firm markets. In contrast, tanker newbuilding prices have eased due to poor performance in other shipping sectors. What’s more, the malaise in the dry cargo market has prompted several owners to convert dry orders to tankers, swelling the tanker orderbook further. The weight of the new tanker supply will begin to take effect in the latter stages of next year. Therefore, more than ever what lies ahead is a highly interesting question, with 2016 full both of opportunities and threats”, the shipbroker concluded. Source : Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

NAVY NEWS America's Newest Warship, the USS Ralph Johnson, Sets Sail By Jake Swearingen So while just one Zumwalt sails the ocean America's naval fleet—unlike the Russian one—continues to grow. The above timelapse shows the latest warship to join the fleet, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer the USS RALPH

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JOHNSON The video shows final three days of work before the ship was set into the water—the JOHNSON won't officially be christened until 2016.The USS RALPH JOHNSON (named after a Vietnam-era Marine who saved two comrades by jumping on top of a grenade) is the 30th active-duty Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer to built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, by far the largest manufacturer of U.S. Naval vessels. Since the commission of the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (named, appropriate, the USS ARLEIGH BURKE ) in 1991, there have been 61 of the destroyers built.The Arleigh Burke program was on the way out, as the Navy prepared to transition to using the stealthy and futuristic Zumwalt-class destroyer. Budget cuts and internecine bureaucratic infighting radically reduced the size of Zumwalt program, and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer has stepped in to take over. So while just one Zumwalt sails the ocean, there are 62 (soon to be 63) Arleigh Burke-class destroyers out there. Port Visits Resume for Nuclear-Armed Navy Subs Nuclear-armed U.S. submarines that went more than a decade without calling on foreign ports in part because of post- Sept. 11 security concerns are once again visiting other countries, a shift intended to underscore their global presence and lift sailor morale. A stop in September by USS WYOMING in the United Kingdom was the first of what are expected to be occasional visits to foreign ports. Michael Connor, a retired Navy vice admiral who served until September as commander of the American submarine force, said in an interview with The Associated Press that the change reflects a desire to emphasize that the submarines are all over the world and also to give the crews an experience that is open to sailors on virtually all other Navy ships."The fact that a port visit is a possibility, even if it can't be delivered on every patrol, that is a big deal to the sailors. I know it was a big deal to me," Connor said. Port visits such as the recent stop in Faslane, Scotland, also promote professional development by reinforcing a crew's ability to navigate and resupply a sub anywhere in times of crisis, he saidThe Navy has 14 submarines with nuclear warheads that roam the oceans as part of the U.S. strategy to deter an enemy strike.The crews that operate the Ohio- class ballistic-missile submarines, also known as "boomers," typically deploy for 70 to 80 days at sea with limited opportunities to surface for training. The smaller attack submarines, in contrast, deploy for roughly six months with about four port visits, some for maintenance and others for "liberty" or crew morale.Connor said retention rates for sailors on ballistic-missile subs are among the highest for Navy organizations, but lengthy internal Navy deliberations concluded the port visits are an important incentive."It's a huge motivator," he said. "It's a reason people want to be in the Navy. It's a reason people want to be up to date on their qualifications so they're allowed to go ashore and take this time."While port visits took place occasionally in the 1990s, several factors led to them coming to a halt after 2003. Connor said the thinking after the Sept. 11 attacks was that the subs were too special to assume any risk at all. In addition to security concerns, a spokesman for the submarine force, Navy Cmdr. Tommy Crosby, said there has been limited flexibility in scheduling as the number of ballistic-missile subs is down from the 18 the Navy had in the 1990s.The primary reason for the Scotland visit, Crosby said, was "to strengthen cooperation and interoperability between the U.S. and the U.K. and to demonstrate our capability, flexibility and continued commitment to our allies."A retired Navy officer who served on many submarines, James Patton of North Stonington, Connecticut, said port visits can make a difference especially for sailors on the ballistic-missile subs, known as SSBNs. He remembers attack submarines as far more fun with their multiple missions, while the larger, nuclear-armed subs focused largely on avoiding being detected by others."The SSBNs got a little boring," he said. Source: ABC news Coast is clear: Navy’s ops force Gulf of Aden pirates to shift base Over the past three decades, the INS GODAVARI class warship has been successfully deployed in numerous international operations since it was inducted into the fleet. After its decommissioning, the Indian Navy will decide on the three aspects of the future of the warship.A Navy source said: "At present, the Navy has not decided on its fate. However the three aspects after it is decommissioned will be that it will either be preserved and stored as a museum because it is the first indigenous warship built at Mumbai's Mazgaon Dock, or a tender can be issued for scrapping it, and it can used for target practice for other Indian frigate warships as it will help in knowing whether armament loaded in the current fleet of vessels has the capacity to aim properly and create a hole in the ship's steel." INS GODAVARI has successfully been deployed in numerous operations inclu ding `Operation Jupiter' - 1988 (Sri Lanka), `Operation Shield' and `Operation Bolster' - 1994 (de-induction of Indian Army from Somalia) and `Patrol of Gulf of Aden' - 2009, 2011 (anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden).In 1988, in an operation called `Operation Cactus', India successfully thwarted a coup d'etat against Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Godavari and Betwa

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intercepted and arrested the mercenaries, who tri ed to flee Male onboard the merchant vessel Progress Light. On the day Godavari was scheduled to depart from Male, after handing over the mercenaries and their hostages, President Gayoom made an impromptu visit to the ship. In an address to the ship's company , he paid rich tributes to the Indian Armed Forces and expressed his nation's gratitude for their timely assistance. The Western Naval Command (WNC), which controls anti-piracy operations from the city , says it has achieved a major success in combating the menace.The Navy announced that intensive patrolling in Gulf of Aden and off the Somalia coast has led to pirates shifting bases.The two locations are important sea lanes for trade. Currently , INS TRISHUL extensively patrols the seas at these locations and is the pivot of the anti-piracy missions.On December 3, aircraft carrier INS VIKRAMADTIYA along with several other wars hips took part in patrolling Gulf of Aden and the Somalia coast. Last year, there were four attacks by pirates in Gulf of Aden and three off Somalia coast. The Navy has so far escorted 3,000 merchant vessels to safety and foiled piracy attacks on 46 ships at other locations. A report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) showed a decrease in piracy cases reported across the world.While 245 cases took place last year, the figure for 2015 is 223. The IMB, which is based in the United Kingdom, said a crackdown by the Navy has reduced serious attacks in southeast Asia. However, IMB urges vessels to maintain vigilance while travelling in Somalia waters as the threat has not been eliminated completely . A day prior to the Navy Day celebrations, the WNC Vice Admiral SPS Cheema said the economy is directly linked to the growth in commerce and most of India's voluminous trade is carried out using the sea route for import and export. "The Middle East remains a key source of the country's crude oil imports. The Navy ensures that the trade via the sea is safe at all times thereby guaranteeing unhindered growth of our economy . Our efforts have resulted in zero piracy this year in Gulf of Aden and Somalia," said Cheema. He said good coordination with all agencies and stakeholders-- Coast Guard, Marine Police, Customs, the fishing boats--is encouraged to prevent threats emanating from the sea.The pirates have been kept on their toes since 2011 when the Navy and the Coast Guard officials caught 120 of them from Somalia in three different attacks. Given India's location, the Navy is required to continuously monitor eight major shipping lanes, with a large number of foreign warships being present round the clock. More than one lakh ships pass through the waters along India's coast annually ."If this trade were to be disrupted, then it would not only be India's but the world economy's loss," said Cheema. Source: indiatimes SHIPYARD NEWS

CIMC Raffles pins hopes on offshore With the global shipbuilding industry adrift in choppy waters amid waning demand, Yantai-based CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd is looking to not only stay afloat but maintain robust growth by exporting more offshore oil rigs and engineering vesselsCIMC Raffles is an equipment manufacturing subsidiary of China International Marine Containers (Group) Ltd, the country’s transportation equipment producerEarlier this month, it completed development of a $550 million deepwater semi-submersible drilling rig named North Dragon at its Yantai production base in East China’s Shandong province.The rig was built for North Sea Rigs Holding AS of Norway, one of the largest offshore oil producers in Europe. It is the first China-made semi-submersible drilling rig capable of operating in the Arctic area with temperatures of minus 20 degrees Centigrade and withstanding storms in the North Sea and Barents Sea.The platform will be able to operate in seawater depths of up to 1,200 meters and drill to a depth of 8,000 meters.According to a survey by the United States Geological Survey, the North Sea has 13 percent of undeveloped petroleum and 30 percent of undeveloped natural gas.

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Yu Ya, president of CIMC Raffles, said many Chinese shipyards’ earning capability is being squeezed by low technical content, appreciation of renminbi and blind expansion. So, developing maritime engineering vessels and equipment will be key to Chinese shipyards’ turnaround. Competition with South Korean and Japanese shipbuilders could also help. In the first half of this year, Chinese shipyards received orders for new vessels with a collective capacity of 11.19 million deadweight tons, accounting for 27.6 percent of the global market share, while South Korea’s shipbuilding industry, a powerful rival of China’s, secured 44.6 percent of the world’s market share, data from the Beijing-based China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry show. Offshore engineering products are essentially functional vessels and oil drilling platforms that can float in deep water. Offshore gas and oil companies use these vessels to process the natural gas and crude pumped up from the ocean floor. In some cases, they are also used in the extraction process.Since 2009, CIMC Raffles has delivered 10 semi-submersible drilling rigs and another five are under construction, two of which will be able to work in the North Sea in 2016 and 2017.The company’s sales of offshore engineering products totaled $1.8 billion across global markets in 2014. Energy companies from Brazil, Norway, Mexico, Malaysia, Russia and Italy are its main clients.“Even though offshore engineering products and vessels are more costly and complex to build, the burgeoning global demand for energy resources is expected to keep orders flowing. While the global shipping industry is unlikely to see a notable upturn anytime soon, demand for offshore energy vessels has steadily increased in recent years,” said Yu.Supported by more than 13,000 employees, including 800 engineers and researchers, CIMC Raffles already has the technology to make products that have a longer life cycle, perform better under extreme weather conditions and the methods to use more advanced materials in building oil rigs or vessels.Eager to enhance the company’s export abilities, its parent CIMC acquired Bassoe Technology AB, the well-known Swedish provider of design services and equipment for offshore drilling rigs in 2013.With a comprehensive concept and creative design capabilities of Bassoe Technology, CIMC Raffles has initiated a China- European researching methodology. “This acquisition gives us an opportunity to build new offshore engineering equipment and related ships with more complex technical edges,” said He Changhai, director of CIMC Raffles’ research and development center.He said the main reasons why the company is betting big on offshore engineering products are high international energy demand and the insatiable global appetite for natural resources.Established in 1977 as a shipyard to build bulk carriers, the company now operates three offshore engineering product manufacturing bases in Yantai, Haiyang and Longkou. Eager to diversify its business categories, its research and development center also focuses on wind power systems, high-end shipbuilding, seawater desalination, rotating machinery, condition assessment and equipment life extension programs.“If you look at the global market for ships, you can see signs of decline everywhere,” He said.“We want to shift our core business to more high-end offshore engineering as apart from higher profits, there is less competition as not too many shipyards are capable of making either offshore engineering equipment or vessels.”Guo Dacheng, president of the CANSI, said offshore engineering is unlikely to see a slowdown in the near future. Deepwater fields are expected to be the main sources of conventional energy yet to be discovered and developed. Source: China Daily ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

Final Bids Placed for Piraeus Port Stake Prospective buyers recently placed their final bids for a majority stake in Greece’s Piraeus Port Authority but will not be announced publicly until early January, 2015, according to gCaptain. Monday December 21, 2015 was the deadline for final bids.The country’s privatisation agency HRADF said: “The procedure for the submission of binding offers for

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Piraeus Port Authority was completed today.”A senior HRADF official said: “We will delay the opening because of the (Christmas) holidays, which means it will be around January 10, 2015.”Among those interested in the majority stake are APM Terminals and China’s Cosco group.It was previously reported that Cosco was in advanced talks to purchase a stake in the port authority after Greece had offered a concession to its international lenders.An estimated US$200 million is anticipated to be received for the 51% stake in the port.Greece has witnessed a tough 2015 after agreeing a bailout package with the European Union, Piraeus Port was one key asset for the Greek economy, yet the sale of the port is a source of income for the beleaguered country. Source : porttechnology

The team of ULSTEIN DESIGN & SOLUTIONS B.V. wishes you a happy and prosperous 2016 and we do look forward to (continue) working together in 2016. Click at the card ! CHEVRON COVERS 80% OF AUSTRALIAN LNG OUTPUT WITH SALE TO CHINA HUADIAN US major Chevron will have firm sales contracts for more than 80% of the LNG it will produce at its Gorgon and Wheatstone projects in Western Australia once it converts its latest heads of agreement to sell gas to China Huadian Green Energy, a company spokesman said Tuesday.Chevron has signed a nonbinding HOA to supply the Chinese company with up to 1 million mt/year of LNG over 10 years starting in 2020. China Huadian Green Energy is a subsidiary of China Huadian Group, a leading state-owned power generation company."Upon converting this HOA to a firm agreement for the full volume, the aggregate Gorgon and Wheatstone committed volume for the term of this agreement will be over 80%," a company spokesman said. "Chevron is well-positioned to become a major LNG supplier by 2020." Chevron already has 85% of its Wheatstone LNG committed in long-term sales and purchase agreements. Prior to the deal with China Huadian and following an agreement in January for the supply of 4.15 million mt/year to SK LNG Trading, Chevron had indicated that more than 75% of its equity gas from Gorgon would be committed to customers in Asia for the five years from 2017.Chevron is locking in sales against a backdrop of short- to medium-term surplus in world LNG markets, as around 90 million mt/year of new capacity comes on stream. Analysts at Bernstein Research have forecast that oversupply of 20 million-30 million mt/year, or 10% of demand, is likely to put downward pressure on spot prices over the next two to three years, before markets rebalance and tighten again in 2018.Chevron is currently commissioning its Gorgon LNG project on Barrow Island off Western Australia, which will have a capacity of 15.6 million mt/year at three production trains. Chevron holds a 47.3% operating stake in the project, alongside partners ExxonMobil and Shell with 25% each, and Japanese customers Osaka Gas (1.25%), Tokyo Gas (1%) and Chubu Electric Power (0.417%).Gorgon is expected to ship its first LNG cargo in early 2016, with the first production train expected to take around eight months to reach full capacity. The second and third trains are forecast to start up at intervals of about six months after the first.Gorgon was approved in 2009 and was originally expected to start producing in 2014. At the time of the final investment decision the project was forecast to cost $37 billion, but it has suffered blowouts and is now expected to come in at $54 billion.

Chevron is aiming for first LNG from the $29 billion Wheatstone project near Onslow before the end of 2016. Wheatstone comprises two LNG production trains with a combined capacity of 8.9 million mt/year, plus a domestic gas plant.Chevron owns 64.14% of Wheatstone, alongside partners Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co. (13.4%), Woodside Petroleum (13%), Kyushu Electric Power Co. (1.46%) and PE Wheatstone, which is part-owned by Japan's Tepco (8%).The deal with Huadian "is an important step in the commercialization of Chevron's natural gas holdings in Australia and the establishment of our global LNG portfolio," said Pierre Breber, executive vice president, Chevron Gas and Midstream. "As Chevron continues to grow into one of the world's largest LNG suppliers, this agreement

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represents further progress and diversification of our sales portfolio."The company has recorded a string of more than 25 exploration successes at its gas acreage off Western Australia since 2009, providing it with options for future supply to its LNG operations in the region.source : platts

Mandatory audits and other amendments enter into force on 1 January 2016 Mandatory audits and other treaty amendments enter into force on 1 January 2016. The updated International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) also enters into force.A number of important amendments to IMO treaties enter into force on 1 January 2016, including new requirements for verification of compliance, making audits mandatory under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme. Other amendments entering into force include SOLAS amendments to require inert gas systems on board new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt and above; the latest amendment to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code; requirements for stability instruments on tankers and new testing requirements for life-jackets.

Audits under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme become mandatory Amendments to a number of treaties covering safety, training, prevention of pollution, load lines, tonnage measurement and collision prevention make the audits under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme mandatory for all IMO Member States from 1 January 2016.Up to 25 Member State audits per year are expected under the audit scheme, which aims to provide a mechanism by which Member States can be assessed, in order to determine to what extent they are implementing and enforcing the applicable IMO instruments by identifying areas in need of improvement, as well as areas of good practices. The idea behind the scheme is to support the enhanced implementation of IMO instruments, as the scheme will provide Member States with an overview of how well they are carrying out their duties as flag, coastal and port States, under the relevant IMO treaties. The process will also feed into IMO’s extensive technical cooperation programme, to provide targeted assistance and capacity-building to States, as well as to the Organization’s regulatory process. The treaties amended are: - SOLAS 1974; - STCW 1978 and STCW Code; - MARPOL annexes I through to VI; - Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (LL PROT 1988); - International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (LL 1966); - International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 (TONNAGE 1969); - Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREG 1972).

Other SOLAS amendments Other SOLAS amendments entering into force on 1 January 2016 include:

- amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/1, II-2/3, II-2/4, II-2/9.7 and II-2/16.3.3, to introduce mandatory requirements for inert gas systems on board new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt and above, and for ventilation systems on board new ships; plus related amendments to chapter 15 of the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) on inert gas systems. - amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/29 on steering gear, to update the requirements relating to sea trials. - amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/10, concerning fire protection requirements for new ships designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck. - amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/13.4, mandating additional means of escape from machinery spaces. - new SOLAS regulation II-2/20-1, which provides additional safety measures for vehicle carriers with vehicle and ro-ro spaces intended for carriage of motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or compressed natural gas in their tanks for their own propulsion as cargo.

Amendment 37-14 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code The amendments to the IMDG Code become mandatory from 1 January 2016. They include updates to the provisions for radioactive material, reflecting the latest (2012) provisions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), new marking requirements for “overpack” and “salvage” and updates to various individual packing requirements.

Carriage of stability instruments mandatory for tankers Mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument for oil tankers and chemical tankers enter into force on 1 January 2016, under amendments to MARPOL Annex I, the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying. Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code), the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of

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Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).

LSA Code lifejacket testing The amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code relate to the testing of lifejackets. The requirements for testing adult lifejackets are updated and new paragraphs are added relating to the testing of infant lifejackets, including the possibility to substitute manikins for human test subjects.

Revised IGC Code The completely revised and updated International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) will enter into force on 1 January 2016, with an implementation/application date of 1 July 2016. The amendments were developed following a comprehensive five-year review and are intended to take into account the latest advances in science and technology.

IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. Web site: www.imo.org

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McDermott Secures Offshore Contract as Oil Hits 11-Year Low On Monday, the Brent crude benchmark hit an eleven-year low of about $36 per barrel, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate only slightly lower at $34. Analysts at Goldman Sachs and CLSA have reiterated their prediction that the market will not bottom out before $20 per barrel, the breakeven point for U.S. shale oil producers. Goldman suggests that OPEC will not reach agreement on production controls in the near future and there is little to stop the price slide as storage capacity fills. This adds to continued gloom in the offshore industry, which has experienced plummeting utilization, ever-increasing counts of cold-stacked rigs and OSVs, asset sales and liquidations. The privately held Fredriksen Group recently announced plans to invest in distressed offshore assets, primarily in newbuild rigs whose owners do not want to take delivery – a sure sign of overcapacity.But the pall over offshore is not universal, as Monday's announcement by veteran subsea construction company McDermott shows. McDermott has won a contract for engineering and installation at the Indian offshore fields Vashishta and S1. It will join the Indian arm of Larsen & Toubro, L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering, in providing services to Indian oil firm ONGC at the two finds.The two firms will install pipelines, manifolds and umbilicals for the developments, including over 60 miles of 14-inch pipeline from shore

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out to 2,300 feet of water depth.McDermott owns 12 vessels and barges for pipelay, heavy lift, construction, dive support and floatover functions, with a wide range of capabilities. Executives say that the company's DERRICK BARGE 30 and deepwater North Ocean 105 will be deployed for the project. The news follows another recent win for McDermott, a lump sup, long-term agreement secured with Saudi Aramco for integrated offshore services (engineering, procurement, construction and installation) at multiple fields. The contract will run through 2018. Source : MAREX BISSO MARINE acquires new derrick/pipelay barge BISSO MARINE is very pleased to announce its acquisition of the offshore pipelay industry's stalwart derrick/pipelay barge GLOBAL IROQUOIS. The 400 foot x 100 foot x 30 foot laybarge has performed pipelay operations worldwide and will be renamed BISSO IROQUOIS. The central part of the barge’s substantial station keeping system are the ten single drum winches with 320 kips of pulling force and 744 kip holding force each. Each single drum winch holds 5,300 feet of 2.5 inch wire rope. The barge’s main tub mounted dynamic revolving crane has a 250 ton capacity and the deck crane is a Manitowoc 4100W Series 2. The pipe handing system is designed to handle for 40 foot pipe joints but can accommodate 60 foot joints with some modifications. The pipe handling system can handle pipe joints weighing up to 38 tons each. Through a series of conveyors, pipe is fed into a fully enclosed ready rack, line up station and firing line. The firing line features eight work stations, four of which are dedicated to welding. The barge is configured with two 220 kip SAS tension machines with a total capacity of 440 kips of tension. The tensioners can pass an 84 inch maximum diameter. To accompany the two SAS tensioners, is a 440 kip capacity (on a full drum) SAS abandonment and recovery (A&R) winch capable of holding 5,000 feet of 3.5 inch wire rope. The barge is also outfitted with six 75 ton davits.The primary stinger system is a two section 180 foot gantry supported rigid truss. An alternative floating "Alpha" pontoon stinger system is also available. The 300 foot Alpha stinger is composed of five 60 foot sections.The BISSO IROQUOIS can accommodate 256 persons and features a large galley and dining area, a large theater, several conference rooms, ample client office space, a gym and a three bed hospital. The below deck machinery space houses all ten mooring winches, three main generators providing 7,875 kW of electrical power, 1,200 gallons per hour water making, substantial capacity for fuel, warehousing and dry stores. The barge is boasts significant on-board machining and milling capabilities.During the last decade, the barge has been reconfigured and received significant capacity, technology and efficiency upgrades to enable it to perform internationally in very harsh environments for long durations.The barge was most recently working in offshore Brazil laying numerous pipelines up to 34 inch diameter with heavy concrete coatings in water depths ranging from 20 feet to 300 feet. Most notably the barge has an impressive track record of laying very large and heavy concrete coated pipe up to 55.5 inches in total diameter as well as laying 30 inch concrete coated pipe in approximately 800 feet of water. The President and CEO of BISSO MARINE, Beau Bisso, stated, “This is a significant move for BISSO MARINE, as we have been searching for some time now for the perfect asset to substantially upgrade our current pipelay capabilities. The guys that designed and built this barge were clearly in the business of laying very big pipe, and it comes as no surprise to me to see why the barge has such a great reputation. We are very happy to have it in our fleet.”For more information on the DLB BISSO IROQUOIS or any of the other assets in the BISSO MARINE fleet or the company’s diverse services, please visit www.bissomarine.com Sailors to enjoy better working rights China’s ratification of the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention will improve conditions in the world’s third-largest merchant fleet and attract more people into the industry.n 2001, when Zhao Changyou became a merchant sailor at Distribution : daily to 33.350+ active addresses 23-12-2015 Page 25 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 358

age 25, the first job he was given was scrubbing the greasy floor of a cargo ship’s engine room.The noise was deafening, and the temperature was usually higher than 40 C. Away from his job, there was no bathroom in the cabin he shared with another sailor. Working conditions have improved greatly in the past 15 years, according to Zhao, who is now chief engineer on an oceangoing freighter. “At least every member of the crew has their own cabin,” he said.Despite recent improvements, the working environment is still tough.Having recently returned after a two-month voyage in the Pacific, Zhao said his family, in East China’s Anhui province, complained that he spoke too loudly, as if he was shouting at them, but without noticing“I am used to shouting when working in the noisy engine room, and the noise may have caused some hearing loss, even though I wear earplugs,” he said. “Mariners’ living and working conditions still need to be improved, or people will leave an industry that is very important to the national economy.” Seafarers’ Bill of RightsLast month, China formally completed its ratification of the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention, also known as the Seafarers’ Bill of Rights, designed to promote greater adherence to employment law in the shipping industry. Established by the International Labour Organization, the convention sets minimum requirements for almost every aspect of working conditions at sea, including terms of employment, hours of work and rest, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare provision and social security protection.When the convention comes into force in China on Nov 12, 2016, sailors serving on merchant ships flying the Chinese flag will be guaranteed standard working conditions.“Welfare standards for seafarers must be safeguarded by legislation,” said Yu Hongjiang, consultative director at the Maritime Safety Administration. “Many Chinese seafarers sign up for temporary contracts with few benefits,” he said, adding that few mariners have health insurance.Furthermore, wage arrears are commonplace, and it’s not unusual for companies to hold salaries back for three to four months. In some cases Yu has studied, the sailors were forced to wait more than two years to receive wages they were owed, despite repeated protests to the shipowners and maritime officials. According to Yu, when a mariner signs a five-month contract, the employer will usually pay a percentage of his wage at the start, usually 50 or 30 percent, but when the contract ends, it’s highly likely that the employee will not receive the remainder of his payment.The situation gets worse if an occupational injury occurs. “The risk of injury or even death is high when working on the open ocean. Employers definitely don’t want to pay for cover, and if the sailors don’t have insurance, they have to pay all the costs themselves,” he said. “Of course they can sue, but it takes years, and even more money, to get a result.”The decline of the shipping industry since the 2008 global economic crisis has placed shipowners under even more pressure, he said“Let’s say hiring a sailor costs 10,000 yuan ($1,500) a month. If the sailor asks for benefits and insurance, it pushes the cost up to 40,000 or 50,000 yuan a month, so the shipowners will try anything to avoid paying for insurance,” he said.The convention will ensure decent working and living conditions for sailors, and will also protect shipowners who provide decent working conditions for their employees from unfair competition from substandard operators, he said. China is one of the most important maritime nations in the world, with the third- largest merchant fleet and the biggest number of seafarers－620,000, one-third of the global total.“The ratification of the convention is not only a prerequisite for the Chinese shipping industry, it’s also critical for the industry worldwide, and even more important for the global economy,” Yu said.Since 2010, China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co, the country’s largest global shipping business, has made efforts to keep in step with international labor standards.After launching a pilot project on one of its cargo ships in 2010, COSCO imposed the convention’s standards on all its vessels in 2013.Inspections are much more detailed for uncertified ships, and a “no more favorable treatment” clause in the convention is designed to ensure that the ship has complied with the convention’s provisions.In that way, the convention also applies indirectly to ships of non-member countries if they plan to call at ports owned by a member state, according to Jia Guangchao, a human resources manager at COSCO.“We were determined to meet the standard anyway. So, since the very beginning, COSCO has invested a lot to implement the convention,” he said.COSCO believes that experienced, motivated sailors are among the most important resources for shipping companies, so they deserve decent working conditions and welfare provision.“We give a dozen seafarers a ship and cargo worth a combined $1 bill-ion and let them take it out on the ocean. We have to trust them. We have to build a strong connection with them by providing good jobs and careers they can be proud of,” he said, adding that fewer people are willing to work as sailors now.In 1993, when Jia made his first voyage, as a young officer on a cargo ship, he earned more than 2,000 yuan a month, an enviable sum at a time when the average monthly income in Beijing was no more than 1,000 yuan.Now, though, the monthly salary of an ordinary mariner ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, little higher than white collar workers in big cities, he said.“When I was studying navigation in Dalian (Liaoning province), I had classmates from big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, but now few people from those cities join the shipping industry,” he said. “Even among students who study related majors, 10 percent abandon maritime work after their first voyage.” Liu Yue, a 39-year-old freighter captain, said that when he joined the industry 18 years ago, his friends in his hometown in Jiangsu province all envied him because his salary was five times higher than theirs, and he was able to travel overseas, which was still a luxury for most Chinese.“Now, many young sailors on my ship are thinking about quitting. I’m disappointed, but I understand. Working on the ocean is tough and now the income has fallen, they have

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more choices on land,” he said.“I hope the convention will improve working and living conditions and make being a mariner a respectable profession.”Source: China Daily

…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..

The Pontoons CC ATLANTIQUE and H 122 moored at Dutch Harbour ’s Gravendeel loaded with parts for the modification of Heerema Marine Contractors BALDER early 2016 Photo : Hans van der Linden...... www.facebook.com/AerolinPhoto. ©

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