DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 219

Number 219 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Thursday 06-08-2015 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

The MSC ARBATAX passing Rilland whilst navigating the Westerschelde enroute Antwerp Photo : Stan Muller (c)

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EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

The MAREN MAERSK outbound from Rotterdam – Photo : Krijn Hamelink (c)

Finnlines' Efficiency Measures Help Secure Solid First Half of 2015 Finnlines says that it is strengthening its long-term strategic position through the acquisition of three vessels and investment in environmental technology. Finnlines Oy (Finnlines) has announced that the first half of 2015 showed a "continuing strong countercyclical performance" for the company, crediting ship efficiency measures as one reason for the company's first six month result of €16.4 million ($17.93 million).The company posted a first quarter result of €15.8 million ($17.27 million), compared to €14.7 million ($16.07 million) during the same period in 2014, saying that the figures are a strong indication that Finnlines has proactively taken the "right measures" to consolidate their market position. Finnlines says that it is focusing on strengthening its long-term strategic position through the acquisition of three vessels, as well as further investment in environmental technology. "We expect our profitability to improve over the previous year due to successful implementation of our Investment Programme which enables us to use cheaper

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IFO fuel compared to more expensive MGO and due to successful implementation of our Turnaround Programme which improves our operational efficiency," said Emanuele Grimaldi, CEO and President of Finnlines. "We will complete our €100 million Environmental Technology Investment Programme by installing scrubbers to remaining vessels and also by investing to re-blade and silicon-paint hulls of several of our vessels for better fuel economy."

The FINNWAVE navigating the Westerschelde Photo : Willem Kruit (c) Commenting on the scrubber installation, Finnlines said "the new system has substantially improved the vessels' relative propulsion efficiency and, as a result, reduced their fuel consumption."Overall for the first six months of 2015, Finnlines reported a 6.7 percent decrease in revenue, with €252 million ($275.51 million), compared to €270.1 million ($295.3 million) during the same period in 2014.Grimaldi, commenting on the decrease, said "regardless of 6.7 percent turnover decrease - due to macroeconomic conjuncture, bunker surcharge reduction, vessel maintenance, retrofits and tonnage adjustment - we have been able to adjust our operations to be more cost efficient and therefore more competitive in current recessionary business environment prevailing in Finland." "Finnlines was one of the strongest companies in 2014 among the listed companies in the shipping sector when measured by total return to shareholders and by financial performance and we are striving to improve our operational and financial performance," added Grimaldi.On Wednesday, it was reported that Finnlines was one of five ferry operators to win part of €48 million in EU grants for scrubber projects. Ship & Bunker News Team Class 1 CoC (unlimited) and Master Mariners able to gain Chartered Status The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) is supporting the professional development of seafarers by mapping Class One Certificates of Competency (unlimited) and Master Mariner Certificates to a Chartered Status qualification.For individuals holding IMO white-listed certificates of competency, those with an unlimited Class 1 ticket and appropriate experience will be able to apply for Chartered Marine Engineer (CMarEng) registration and Master Mariners with suitable experience can obtain Chartered Marine Technologist (CMarTech) status.David Henderson, Professional Development Manager & Registrar for the IMarEST commented: “The IMarEST has been eager to recognise the professional experience, through life training and continuous professional development of seafarers and to allow for both seagoing engineering and deck officers to gain a level of professional recognition appropriate for their responsibilities and technical knowledge.”The IMarEST, as a licenced body of the Engineering Council, is allowed to issue Engineering Registers, but also has its own Royal Charter allowing it to recognise and award Technology Registers to those who do not have an engineering background.Source: INSTITUTE OF MARINE ENGINEERING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (IMarEST)

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The URAG ELBE inbound for Rotterdam towing the AMT COMMANDER Photo : Willem Holtkamp - http://fotomaker.jalbum.net/FOTOMAKER/ ©

HVAC Fan Room Solution In the offshore industry time is always of the essence. Vessel owners make it a priority to keep the necessary yard visits as short as possible. To contribute to this short time priority Heinen & Hopman has developed a containerized fan room that can be completely pre-fabricated and tested before delivery to the vessel. Due to this design, installation time onboard can be shortened tremendously. A modified cargo or offshore certified container is used as the base for this fan room. The size of this container may vary from 10ft up to 40ft in high cube execution. The choice highly depends on the needed space to fit all required equipment and is influenced by the available space onboard. For the engineering and design of the containerized fan room, a specialized team of HVAC engineers with lots of experience in the oil & gas industry is deployed. In close cooperation with the customer a 100% customized design is being created to suit all necessary requirements. This design process also includes the possibility for the engineers to visit the vessel for a board survey. Goal is to reach a design that is completely plug & play. After installation onboard, the fan room only needs to be hooked up to the duct systems and electrical power system. The containerized fan room design includes air handling units with conditioned airflows up to 40000m3/hr. Cooling capacities are available up to 800kW and are available in chilled water or direct expansion execution. Heating is normally executed with electrical heaters. Energy saving applications such as heat pump and heat recovery wheels can easily be integrated in the design. The firs t pre-fabricated 40ft high cube fan room has already been delivered to Paragon Offshore and was installed on the B391 jack-up drilling rig. This containerized fan room was placed on top of the accommodation and replaced the old fan rooms inside and was executed with two air handling units, two air-cooled chiller units and one dual pump skid. All ducting, chilled water piping, cables & control for a complete working system integrated in the container. Some of the integrated features are heat recovery wheels, 100% redundant cooling capacity and dual supply fans. The container itself was customized to fit some onboard restrictions and was executed with a weather tight door and service access hatch in the side of the container. Distribution : daily to 33.000+ active addresses 06-08-2015 Page 4 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 219

Redwise delivers!

Redwise is well known for the delivery voyages under own power of a multitude of crafts. Lesser known is that Redwise in its’s scope the delivery of tugs and tow combinations as well, on Lumpsum basis. Previously this year a total of 4 tugs and 6 barges, with two double tows, were delivered from Asia around Cape of Good Hope to destinations in West Africa, Mexico and the United States.

Currently the company is engaged by Oldendorff Carriers to tow their mobile transfer station “Pride of Marampa ” from Tenerife to New Amsterdam, quite fitting for the Dutch company. The barge, here seen on departure Tenerife, was safely redelivered at New Amsterdam on the 4th of July following a 19 days voyage. The tug “Christopher” recently purchased by Oldendorff Carriers, will subsequently tow the crane barge “Volga” to her next port of employment with the Redwise crew on a fixed Lumpsum

contract. The tug is here seen arriving at New Amsterdam with her tow. Next to them you will spot the barges used to bring the ore from up river. Incidentally these barges were delivered by Redwise using Oldendorff’s Damen build Stantug 2208’s with two barges in tow per voyage, from Curacao to the current location in 2006. Redwise used 4 complete crews to shuttle the barges, following delivery of a full load to Curacao from China by Dockwise heavy

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lift vessel. Warranty surveyors involved with both tows are Messrs. Vogtschmidt of The Netherlands. Redwise crews and support staff take pride in doing their jobs professionally to support their clients around the world with daily some 130-150 seafarers at sea delivering either vessels, filling in for Owners crew are (part) crewing vessels from 3rd parties. Redwise Dutch Master E. Wiechmann will be engaged by Oldendorff Carriers following redelivery of the next tow to assist with the training of Owners crew while operating with the new offshore loading stations. Source : Redwise Maritime Services

The MEIN SHIFF 4 seen manoeuvring in Haugesund – Photo : Capt Hans R. Bosch (c) DW: China Slows as OPEC Grows China’s stock markets have been suffering considerable volatility, sending the central government scrambling in an attempt to pick up the pieces to support the crashing market. Although Chinese economic growth slowed during the past year and local companies’ profits proved unsubstantial, investment in Chinese stocks remained high, creating a bubble which popped on June 12 with the Shanghai index losing a third of its value. Additional signs of market weakness have spread throughout the Chinese manufacturing industry as sector jobs are cut at a rate unobserved since February 2009. Likewise, the effects of slower than anticipated Chinese growth are already being felt by the energy industry, as China remains the world’s largest energy consumer. China’s weakening economic prospects and stock market plunge have led crude oil futures to fall to uncommonly low levels in early July as evidence of weakening Chinese energy demand growth mounts. Despite significant reductions in Capex, many US producers are still reporting high crude output levels as operators develop and produce formerly drilled wells, although recent EIA data show declining output collectively in the seven major unconventional basins.Supply growth is now focused on OPEC where crude production this past month increased to 31.7mbbl/d according to the IEA. Led by growth in output from Iraq, UAE and Saudi Arabia, OPEC is now producing an additional 1.6mbbl/d compared with January levels, approximately 85% of the current supply overhang. Iraq’s crude exports reached uncommonly high levels in July while a record outpour of UAE crude hit the market. Moreover, Saudi Arabia suggested further increasing production levels to retain market share.As oversupply in the crude market continues, a sudden reduction in Chinese energy consumption growth may continue to apply downward pressure to crude prices. OPEC, however, seem more bullish, announcing last week that “signs of a more balanced market in 2016 may provide much desired stability to the oil market in the longer-term, a prerequisite for the continuity of timely and adequate investments.” Source: Katherine Dunn, Douglas- Westwood Houston

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The outbound PHOENIX ADMIRAL navigating the Rotterdam-Caland canal with onboard pilot Marijn van Hoorn as seen by Pilot Hilbert van Omme onboard the inbound NEW VANGUARD Photo top : Hilbert van Omme (c) – Photo below : Marijn van Hoorn (c)

North Sea oil production rises despite price fall Tuesday

Oil and gas production from the North Sea is expected to increase for the first time in 15 years despite a global slump in the price of crude and hundreds of job losses in the industry.Offshore watchdog Oil and Gas UK has said that output from the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) over the first six months of this year could be 2.5pc higher than the same period last year.

Left : The ALP ACE seen moving the jack-up rig PARAGON C 461 to her new drilling location Photo : Flying Focus Aerial Photography www.flyingfocus.nl ©

On these estimates, the body believes that the North Sea could increase production this year for the first time since 2000. While production has climbed, oil and gas operators in the North Sea and Aberdeen have slashed jobs and cut costs aggressively since last November, when the

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Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries triggered a collapse in the price of oil. Brent crude - a global benchmark for oil - is now trading at just over 50pc down on 2014 at $50 per barrel. “Clearly the oil price – which has more than halved since this time last year – continues to really challenge the industry. However, [the production increase] can indeed be attributed to the effort and investment industry has put into improving the integrity and performance of UKCS assets," said Deirdre Michie, chief executive, Oil & Gas UK, in a statement.The longevity of oil supplies in the North Sea was a key battleground of the Scottish independence referendum last year, with former Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond claiming that the region could produce enough crude to sustain an independent Scotland. In March, the Chancellor George Osborne offered some relief to oil and gas operators in the North Sea by cutting taxes on the region. Tax rates on production from older oil and gas fields were cut from 80pc to 75pc, falling to 67.5pc from next year. For newer fields, effective rates were trimmed from 60pc to 50pc.Combined with other incentives, the Treasury claimed that these measures would lead to more than £4bn of new investment and the production of a further 120 million barrels of oil over the next five years.However, despite these incentives, the high cost of operating offshore - estimated to be in the region of $80 per barrel in some older fields - means that the North Sea remains vulnerable to price volatility.BP's chief executive Bob Dudley has warned repeatedly that the region will have to adjust to the new economics of lower prices.There has also been a worrying drop off in exploration activity for new resources in the North Sea. Around16 billion barrels of recoverable oil is still thought to exist offshore of Aberdeen and west of the Shetland Islands. But exploratory drilling in the region fell to just 12 wells last year, down from 44 in 2008. Source: The Telegraph

Independent Consultants and Brokers in the International Tug and Supply Vessel market (offices in London and Singapore)

Telephone : +44 (0) 20 8398 9833 Facsimile : + 44 (0) 20 8398 1618 E-mail : [email protected] Internet : www.marint.co.uk

Three semi-submersible and six jack-up rigs stacked off the Johor river mouth, opposite Singapore Pulau Tekong island. Photo : Kuet (c) Dry bulker prices start to firm up as market sentiment improves

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Market pessimism in the dry bulk industry, a trend which had established itself over the course of the year, has started to fade away over the past couple of weeks. According to a recent report from shipbroker Allied Shipbroking, “in part, this has been due to things seemingly looking calmer on the geopolitical stage then they did several weeks back, yet this has played a relatively small and unimportant part in the grand scheme of the global dry bulk trade. Over the course of the last couple of weeks we have seen the freight market slowly finding its foothold, and gaining ground well above the lackluster levels it was receiving several weeks back”.According to Mr. George Lazaridis, Head of Market Research & Asset Valuations with Allied, “this is not to say that there has been a complete reversal and that we are now finding ourselves in the midst of a bull market, yet it has been enough to inspire optimism amongst many in the market”. Mr Lazaridis noted that “during the first half of the year the intense rebalancing act of the fleet which has served as a purpose in keeping its growth rate in check and in line with the new “status quo” of global economic development has started to “bear fruit”. With the number of vessels available and trading in the market being held at a stead number, seasonal spikes in demand have emerged right in time to give a strong boost to freight rates that had been lingering for too long around or even below OPEX levels”.Of course, “one might say that seasonality will fade and you will once again be left with a fleet which is much larger than required, yet in reality this seasonality has helped us buy some time as the growth in trade slowly creeps at its slower pace increasing demand to the extent that it be- comes in balance and at some point might even surpass tonnage supply once again (this all depending on if we can keep the fleet growth at a lower rate than growth in trade)”, Lazaridis noted.He added that “all this having been mentioned before, what strikes of interest now is the way the sale and purchase market in the dry bulk segment has started to react to all of this. For over a month now we have seen prices hold at a level which they were unable to break below, partially due to the fact that there was also strong resistance in the newbuilding market and strong resistance from sellers themselves. With a significant amount of the downward pressure having been alleviate (as earnings are now at much healthier levels and many in the market are starting to hold the belief that we have passed the worst of the storm) the amount of buyer looking to buy at bargain levels has not only risen but has also started to get itchy fingers and become a bit more “trigger-happy” (as if they are in some sort of wild west movie)”.

The OCEAN LIFE in Rio Grande – Photo : Marcelo Vieira (c)

According to Allied’s analysis, “this has started to become more so the case for some of the modern units especially in the Kamsarmax and Ultramax sectors, both of which are expected to feed of much better over the coming years from the increasing trade from India. In terms of reported transactions, we have yet to see this “eagerness” reflected in pricing. There has been however a stronger demand then what had been seen over previous months and buyers are now looking to be considerably more eager to compete for units that they inspect. This in turn, if supported by the market, should start to emerge in transactions that we will be seeing come to light towards the end of August to early September, however as is always the case and nevertheless if it hap-pens now or further down the line, buyers seeing the emergence of this trend will feel that they might have “missed the market” and depending on the number of buyers that feel the same, we would likely see another round of price hikes self-fed by new rounds of buying interest and over eagerness to compete. Let’s hope this time around some will a higher degree of self-refrain before prices have overshot once again”, Lazaridis concluded. Source : Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Due to travelling in Asia the newsclippings may reach you irregularly

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The STENA DON enroute from Rotterdam-Maasvlakte to the Keppel Verolme shipyard meets the outbound SAFMARINE HIGHVELD, piloted by Rotterdam Maritime Pilot Erik Jan Veenemans. Photo : Marijn van Hoorn (c) Floating power stations can tide SA over during electricity crisis By : Dewald Van Rensburg and Yolandi Groenewald Johannesburg - Despite a serious push from powership and barge operators to use floating power stations as a stopgap for South Africa’s power crisis, operators have been told to get in line with a host of companies offering to help South Africa overcome its energy crisis.Eskom confirmed this week that it had been approached by a number of potential emergency power suppliers, including those with powerships and barges. But it said it did not have the authority to procure power from any independent power producer.Earlier this year, a leaked letter from ousted Eskom chair Zola Tsotsi to the Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson, sung the praises of powerships as a quick solution to the country’s short-term power shortfall. But Tsotsi’s fall from grace has not done the powership companies any favours. The management crisis at Eskom has shifted the decision making to the department of energy, which has not made any move to pursue a deal with the companies.In April, the department’s deputy director-general for policy,

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planning and clean energy, Ompi Aphane, said the department had work streams looking at options such as power barges and powerships, but that no decision had been made. Neither Eskom nor the department wanted to reveal who else they were talking to.An Eskom spokesperson said: “As the right with regard to the procurement of power vests with the department of energy, they have all been referred to the department’s anticipated gas-fired power procurement programme.” The family-owned Turkish conglomerate Karadeniz is one of the operators pushing for an agreement with South Africa. A deal to provide the country with power would be the most lucrative piece of business for its emerging powership subsidiary Karpowership.Karpowership made presentations to Eskom and the energy department earlier this year. It said its powerships could replace the current expensive diesel-powered turbines generation and save Eskom R6.3bn annually.

Photo: Bernt A. Vogtschmidt (c) BUREAU VOGTSCHMIDT b.v. Diesel costs are the key to the pitch. Instead of the turbines generally used by diesel generators, the ships are carrying reciprocating engines. They resemble giant car engines with pistons and burn heavy fuel oil (HFO), an unloved refining by-product traditionally used to fuel ships.This allows it to generate power at tariffs below what it costs Eskom to run its expensive diesel-powered open-cycle gas turbines. Karpowership’s sales director Patrick O’Driscoll said the ships should be able to slot easily into Eskom’s existing independent power producer programmes, docking outside Saldanha, Coega, Cape Town, Richards Bay or Port Elizabeth.But the cost-saving comes at an environmental price due to the dirty fuels used.Karpowership said the HFO was only a “bridging” fuel until a reliable supply of cleaner fuels becomes available. “In the case of HFO operations, we comply all local and international environmental standards,” it said.Proponents of powerships say it is an ideal short- term replacement for Eskom turbines. Eskom intends to convert the turbines using natural gas, but have put the plans on hold because they need turbines to run constantly in the wake of South Africa’s electricity crisis.According to Karadeniz, the ships can provide power at R1.70 per kilowatt-hour or less. This estimate is based on the use of HFO, but the ships could also run on more expensive, cleaner fuels.The diesel turbines cost R2.30 while Eskom’s average generation cost is 74c per kwh. Power from the country’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which Eskom is obliged to buy, costs on average R1.40 per kwh, but that is falling.Karpowership recently signed an agreement with Ghana and also supplies 25% of Lebanon’s energy and about 16% of Iraq’s electricity.It started as a small, land-based power contract with occupied Iraq after the US invasion in 2003, but it has not been smooth sailing for the powership business. Its second contract, a $560m (R7bn) five-year- deal with Pakistan, exploded after a few months.It started with the powerships allegedly failing to deliver the power contracted for, which Karadeniz blamed on the low quality of provided fuel and payment problems.Pakistan claimed nonperformance penalties from the company, which it refused to pay, leading to a seizure of four powerships. After international arbitration, one of the ships was released, but Pakistan is still holding the others.Karadeniz said it was still engaged in arbitration with Pakistan as a result of Pakistan’s contract breaches.“We are claiming damages from Pakistan for its unlawful arrest of our powerships, among others,” it said. Source : CityPress Future cruise ship to ferry record-breaking 6,600 passengers The newest ocean liner from Costa Cruises will be able to host the population of a small town and, when complete, will nab the title oflargest guest capacity ship, capable of ferrying 6,600 passengers.To be delivered in 2019 and 2020, the two “next-generation” ships are being built in a shipyard in Finland. In addition to boasting the record for largest guest capacity, the ships also become the first in the cruise industry to be powered by what’s being billed as the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Dual-powered hybrid engines will be used to power the ship in-port and out on the open sea.Overall, the specs are impressive: 180,000 gross tonnage, with more than 2,600 passenger cabins.Currently, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas is touted as the world’s largest cruise ship with a mass of 227,000 tonnes and a lengththat spans 50 more meters than the height of the Eiffel Tower (362 meters or

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1,187 feet).That ship is is currently under construction and is expected to make its maiden voyage in May, next year. It will have a capacity of 6,360 passengers. Source : japantimes.

The 1929-built luxury yacht DONA AMELIA, laid up in Carrick Roads, Falmouth is for sale at €23,000,000, since its refit at Pendennis Shipyard. Photo : Graeme Ewens (c)

The German managed bulkcarrier "BLUMENAU" makes its way up on river Elbe in the early morning. The vessel is destined for Hamburg to load agricultural products for Port Said. Photo : Max Müller (c)

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Container shipper CMA CGM to resume service to Iran

The CMA CGM GEORGE FORSTER moored in Hamburg Photo : Jan Ove Mühlpforte (c) The world's third-largest container shipping group, France's CMA CGM, said on Monday it would resume operations to Iran following the deal between Tehran and world powers over the Middle Eastern country's nuclear programme."Following the recent positive developments involving Iran and the P5+1 Group - comprising the U.S., China, France, the UK, Germany and Russia - and with the conclusion of the joint comprehensive plan of action, CMA CGM Group has decided to resume service to Iran starting (at the) beginning August 2015," it said in an email. Source : Reuters (Reporting by Gus Trompiz and Jonathan Saul; Editing by Pravin Char)

The FURE FERDER outbound from the locks in IJmuiden bound for Norway Photo: Patrick Deenik (c) Tender documents issued for west coast ferry contracts CalMac and Serco are competing for west coast ferry rightsCalMac and Serco are competing for west coast ferry rights The two companies vying to run ferry services on the west coast have been invited to start preparing their final bids. Current operator CalMac are going head to head with Serco for the contract to operate the Clyde and Hebrides ferry routes from October next year. The new contract will run for the following eight years and will be worth up to £1billion.The process has already prompted a clash between trade unions, CalMac and the Scottish Government over conditions for the contract. The Rail and Maritime Transport (RMT) union staged three days of industrial action earlier in the summer, while two further strikes were called off following talks. The unions received assurances that there will be a requirement for the future operator to continue the current CalMac pension scheme. Both bidders were provided with a copy of the initial invitation to tender (ITT) late last week, and in a highly unusual move, the document was made public. Both prospective operators will submit a final tender in December 2015, with the contract due to be awarded in May next year.Scottish Government minister for transport and islands Derek Mackay said that the document was a first stage in a “fair, open and transparent” procurement process. Concern had been raised by the RMT about the potential “privatisation” of the services if Serco is awarded the contract, which has been refuted by Mr

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Mackay.He said: “It is also important to reiterate that no matter the outcome of the procurement process, Scottish Ministers will retain control of all of important issues, such as fares and timetables, through the public service contract. “Vessels and port infrastructure will also remain publicly owned as they are now.He added: “As minister for transport and islands, I’m well aware of the vital role these ferry services play in enabling continued and sustainable economic growth for the islands. “We are focused on ensuring a fair and open competition that leads to getting the very best deal for all of the communities of the Clyde and Hebrides.”The contract more than 20 routes stretching from the Western Isles to Kintyre which are currently served by CalMac.Serco was awarded the contract to operate the Northlink routes to Shetland and Orkney in 2012, which had previously been run by CalMac’s parent company. Source : Aberdeen Press and Journal

Barkmeijer Shipyards YN321 and YN 322, named MARIETJE DEBORAH and MARIETJE NORA. Prachtplaat via FB van DanservanGent !

NAO in remains the red in Q2 By Charlie Bartlett from London Nordic American Offshore (NAO) remained in the red in the second quarter of 2015 with a $400,000 loss.The second quarter loss compared to a $4.1m profit in the same quarter in 2014. However, it did represent an improvement over NAO's $2.9m loss in Q1 2015.The gradual improvement was attributed to a “modest” increase in North Sea spot rates towards the summer, partially mitigating Q1’s weak winter spot market described by NAO as “normal at this time of year”.However, poor offshore market in the wake of the falling oil prices continues to drive down the company’s bottom line, from $4.1m profits in Q2 2014. Operating cash flow, meanwhile, fell to $3.4m in Q2 2015, from $7.7m in 2014.Despite NAO reports that geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West are also impacting Northern/Arctic operations, the company has hinted it will seek work in the 60 new Norwegian drilling blocks in the High North, with several of its vessels capable of Arctic operation.As of the end of Q2, NAO has $3.6m net debt

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for its eight vessel fleet, totalling $28.8m. The company has drawn $37m of its $150m credit facility, available until early 2020.“We concentrate on keeping our vessel operating costs low, while always maintaining our strong commitment to safe operations,” NAO said. “As we expand our fleet, we do not anticipate that our administrative costs will rise correspondingly.“As a matter of policy, the company will always focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet with low net debt.” Source: Seatrade Maritime

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CASUALTY REPORTING

China Shipping tanker catches fire off Shanghai, one dead Oil tanker Ye Chi (45,740dwt, built 2009), operated by China Shipping Group’s oil shipping arm China Shipping Tanker, caught fire yesterday afternoon off Dayangshan Island, Shanghai. Five crew members were injured and one died after been sent to hospital, while the remaining 20 crew were rescued unharmed. The tanker was carrying diesel from Shanghai to Singapore. The fire occurred in the accommodation area of the ship. Shanghai Maritime Rescue Center sent four ships and one helicopter in the rescue operations with the fire put out late last evening.Currently authorities are investigating the incident. The accident was the second involving a China Shipping tanker in the past two weeks. Another tanker operated by the company, Bai Chi, was involved in a collision at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port on July 24th. Source : Splash 24/7 NAVY NEWS Australia announces $89.1 billion package to build new naval fleet locally Australia on Tuesday announced a A$89 billion (S$89.1 billion) shipbuilding package to construct new frigates and patrol boats locally, with a decision on an international supplier for replacement submarines made "in coming months".The "continuous shipbuilding" proposal, which involves the replacement of frigates, patrol boats and submarines over two decades, is expected by the government to keep up to 2,500 jobs in the sector in what Prime Minister Tony Abbott said was "a very historic announcement". "Previous Australian governments have announced that individual ships or classes of ships will be built here in Australia," Mr Abbott said at a press conference. "What we are announcing today is basically a fleet build here in Australia, centred on (South Australia)." Mr Abbott would not give new details about the ongoing search for an international supplier to design and build the nation's next generation of submarines to replace its ageing diesel and electric-powered Collins Class fleet, which are set to be retired from about 2026 onwards.France, Germany and Japan are in the running for the contract, which has been touted as Australia's

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biggest-ever defence procurement programme with cost estimates of A$50 billion.But the bidding process has been a source of contention in Australia amid concerns the domestic shipbuilding industry could be fatally hurt if Canberra chooses to buy off-the-shelf submarines internationally."What we have asked the various potential partners to give us is a price for a domestic build, a hybrid build and offshore build," Mr Abbott said."Based on what comes back to us in the coming months, we'll make a decision." The shipbuilding package will bring forward the "Future Frigate" programme to replace the current ANZAC class frigates to 2020. The construction of offshore patrol vessels to replace the Armidale class has also been moved forward to 2018.The total cost was expected to reach about A$40 billion, Mr Abbott said.Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said the establishment of a "continuous shipbuild" domestically reflected the view that Australia's future naval capability "is at the centrepiece of our strategic concerns and will be at the centrepiece of the forthcoming White Paper on Defence" The frigates would be the navy's workhorses over the next few decades, the navy's Vice-Admiral Tim Barrett added at the same press conference. The shipbuilding announcement has been seen as an effort to assuage voters in South Australia, which has the highest unemployment rate among Australia's states at 8.2 per cent and is home to most of the country's major shipbuilding infrastructure. Source : Straitstimes

Singapore Navy 191 Squadron Family day was held onboard RSS ENDEAVOUR (LST- Landing Ship Tank) on 1 Aug. Fast Craft Utility (FCU) was used to ferry between the LST and Marina South Pier. Photo : Kuet © Philippines to build strategic sea vessels On a buying binge for big-ticket items to modernize the military, the Department of National Defense (DND) struck a deal for the transfer of technology fitted on two brand-new Strategic Sealift Vessels (SSVs) it has purchased from Indonesia. Defense Assistant Secretary for personnel Efren Fernandez said the technology transfer by Indonesia’s PT PAL (Persero) Surabaya is highly significant, as this would allow a local shipbuilder based in Cebu to manufacture the same type of vessel.Fernandez, former head of the Bids and Awards Committee of the defense department, recently visited PT PAL Surabaya shipyard in Indonesia, bringing along with him the shipbuilder from Cebu as an observer. “During our inspection of the PT PAL Surabaya shipyard, the Indonesian shipbuilder agreed for technology transfer and hopefully we can locally build our own Navy ships in the near future,” Fernandez said. Persero has bagged the contract for the delivery of two brand-new SSVs worth more than P3 billion for the Philippine Navy under the Armed Forces modernization program.The Indonesian firm has cut the steel for the second SSV at its plant in Surabaya, thus formally setting off the assembly of the ship, which the contractor has until May next year to deliver to the Philippine Navy. The first SSV, which is expected to be delivered either late this year or early next year, is 80 percent complete following the steel cutting in January this year. The Philippines, despite being the fourth biggest shipbuilder around the globe – next only to China, South Korea and Japan – was only able to locally build the BRP Tagbanua, a Navy cargo ship. This was

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because of the lack of military technology in building modern warships. Other than the two SSVs, the Philippine Navy is also getting two Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) that the Australian government has decommissioned and donated to the Philippines.The newly commissioned ships are on their way from Cairns, Australia and are expected to arrive in the country next week to join the Navy’s five utility ships. Source : Philstar

New US Coast Guard cutter JAMES (WMSL 754) pulled into Boston , where she'll be commissioned this Saturday Photo : Chris Cavas – via Twitter Navy Crew Moves Aboard Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) reached a major milestone on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) today as the ship’s crew moved aboard and ate its first meal prepared in the galley. The first-in-class carrier is in the final stages of construction and testing at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. “This is a rewarding time for the shipbuilders who have worked for the past six years to complete the systems and compartments needed to support the crew as they move aboard,” said Rolf Bartschi, Newport News’ vice president, CVN 78 carrier construction. “The ship we are building will be their home and will serve the Navy and the nation’s need in defense of our country for the next 50 years.” Ship’s Sponsor Susan Ford Bales helped serve a meal of prime rib, crab legs, shrimp, salmon and a 7-foot- long cake made to look like an aircraft carrier. The galley and associated messing areas were redesigned for Gerald R. Ford and future Ford-class carriers, offering a new layout that provides more space and greater efficiency for sailors as they prepare for meals. The serving lines and messing areas are arranged to offer significant quality-of-life improvements compared to Nimitz-class carriers. “This is the tipping point for Ford,” said Capt. John F. Meier, CVN 78’s commanding officer. “Currently pierside in Newport News, we have water under our hull, and 1,600-plus sailors are eating, sleeping and working aboard. Our crew is fully aligned with Newport News Shipbuilding in executing the test program to deliver Gerald R. Ford next spring.”Ford is designed to house a crew of up to 4,660 sailors who will benefit from quality-of-life improvements in the ship’s design. Compared to Nimitz-class carriers with berthing units that sleep up to 200 sailors, Ford will have quieter berthing areas sleeping no more than 86 people. Each berthing features an adjoining washroom. Sailors will also have access to separate recreation areas, multiple gymnasiums and more air conditioning. Source : newsroom.huntingtoningalls A US navy ship catches fire while undergoing overhaul at Croatian shipyard

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On Friday, July 31, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) caught fire while the ship was docked at Rijeka, Croatia based Viktor Lenac Shipyard, the U.S. Navy reported. No injuries among the personnel were reported. The fire was extinguished within 45 minutes by ship's force and shipyard fire brigade personnel.The cause of incident is being investigated. Mount Whitney has been in Viktor Lenac Shipyard since January 2015 undergoing a scheduled maintenance overhaul designed to extend the service life of the ship to 2039. Source : Portnews Kremlin's New Naval Doctrine Misses the Boat The symbolic coincidences of life never cease to amaze me. Take, for example, Russia's recent Navy Day. The country paraded its maritime forces with great fanfare and firing of heavy guns in an attempt to convince the world that Russia's naval forces are making a rapid comeback. But during celebrations in Sevastopol, a ship-mounted missile exploded at launch and another in Baltiisk failed to leave its launch tube — with President Vladimir Putin himself looking on. That was a first.Of course, 10 years ago, Putin stood looking out in vain over the ocean expanse as an intercontinental ballistic missile that moments before had been launched from a nearby submarine never broke the surface — but back then Russia had not declared that its navy would oppose insidious U.S. and NATO naval forces on the high seas. Ironically, Putin chose the recent Navy Day with its botched maneuvers to announce that he had approved a new and very ambitious naval doctrine for the country. At the same time, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin gave two reasons for the need to amend the document — first and foremost, what Moscow considers an unfavorable change in the international situation. The revised doctrine bluntly states: "The determining factor in relations with NATO remains plans — which Russia finds unacceptable — to advance the Alliance's military infrastructure to Russia's border and the attempt to give it a global function." In response to that challenge, the doctrine calls for "developing the Baltic Fleet forces and systems for deploying them." It also calls for "the rapid rebuilding and comprehensive strengthening of Russia's strategic position" in the Black and Azov seas. That is a clear reference to building up Russia's presence in Crimea. The document also mentions a desire to provide for a permanent presence in the Mediterranean Sea. The new naval doctrine also promises to beef up the naval presence in the Arctic for the sake of Russia's natural resources in the region.Whether or not such goals are even worthwhile, it is obvious that Russia can only achieve them by building up its navy — a task that Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin claims the country' defense industry is fully capable of accomplishing.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MOVIE OF THE LAUNCH OF THE MISSILE IN SEVASTOPOL After all, the second factor prompting changes in the naval doctrine is what Rogozin referred to as the need to "strengthen our country as a sea power." This, he said, results in part from the fact that "in terms of naval shipbuilding, Russia is doing work on a scale comparable to what was happening during the Soviet period."If the new naval doctrine is premised on the same idea, it might never come to fruition. After all, even in 1990 when the Soviet economy was "running on fumes," the navy managed to launch seven new nuclear-powered and four diesel electric submarines, a destroyer, patrol boat, large landing ship and even the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. The Russian navy had planned to launch 12 warships this year — one new and 11 modernized. Source : The moscowtimes However, even today's shipbuilding goals — far more modest than Soviet-era plans — are running aground. Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov complained to representatives of the country's defense industry that, year after year, shipbuilders are failing to make good on their contracts."Shipbuilding representatives make assurances that they are fulfilling everything but information from military representatives in the field indicates just the opposite: We are still at risk," Borisov said.According to him, the situation does not change even though the military brass has implemented every possible management measure to improve it: tight work schedules, the assignment of personal responsibility and constant monitoring of the situation.He added that "Projects affecting navy interests have experienced regular breakdowns." Borisov also made no effort to hide the truth when reporting to Putin. He mentioned that the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, among others, had violated defense contracts by missing deadlines for delivery of the Admiral Grigorovich patrol ship.According to Borisov, "There is a concern that the second ship in the series, the Admiral Essen, will launch only by December 2015. In addition, the company carries more than 6 billion rubles ($97 million) of debt." He added that the Northern shipyard has not managed to fulfill its task of testing the lead frigate Admiral Gorshkov and that the Amur shipbuilding plant is running behind schedule on construction of the Sovershenny (Perfect) corvette. Recall that the directors of that plant were earlier exposed for extending interest-free personal loans to themselves

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from the money allocated for shipbuilding.Of course, the shipbuilding industry suffers from the same ills as other branches of Russia's military-industrial complex: corruption, the inability to create a cooperative manufacturing chain under market conditions as well as an aging equipment stock and workforce. However, those same ills are more pronounced in shipbuilding because it takes so many years to fulfill each contract. The entire shipbuilding industry stands in need of fundamental reform — much more than the swaggering and unrealistic naval doctrine. Source : The moscowtimes SHIPYARD NEWS

Heerema’s HERMOD moored at the Keppel Verolme shipyard in Rotterdam-Botlek Photo: Hans van der Linden www.aerolin.nl @AerolinPhoto Shipyard De Hoop launches second, assembles fifth in a series of ten PSVs for Esnaad Shipyard De Hoop has launched in Foxhol the second in a series of ten Platform Supply Vessels, ordered by Esnaad, the operating company of the ADNOC group, the shipbuilder said in a press release. Shipyard De Hoop was awareded with the ten PSVs order in 2013. The contract is being executed by two shipbuilding facilities of De Hoop, in

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Lobith and Foxhol. the delivery is spread over almost two years, with the last PSV to be handed over in 2017. On July 15, Esnaad took delivery of the series lead ship (YN 470) named Esnaad 221. The steel hull of the fourth PSV is currently being assembled on their slipway.The hull of the third serial PSV is ready to be launched at the Lobith facilities, whereas the block sections of hull number five are being assembled on their second slipway. Photo : Kor Heidinga- www.scheepvaart.macalro.nl © Furthermore, the steel cutting and construction of the first block sections for the sixth vessel is at an advanced stage. Shipyard De Hoop was founded in 1889 and has developed into one of the most established yards of the Dutch shipbuilding industry. CEO Patrick Janssens, now the (sole) owner of the shipyard, also plays a key role in the day-to-day management as part of a board of three directors. Shipyard De Hoop has two shipbuilding facilities, one in the Dutch province of Gelderland (De Hoop Lobith) and the other in the province of Groningen (De Hoop Foxhol). Source :Portnews ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

New Panama Canal Expansion locks names!

Pacific side will be named COCOLI and Atlantic, AGUA CLARA . Will Maersk Maintain Market Lead? Maersk Line is unlikely to top the most recent quarter’s results due to the low freight rates that are currently plaguing the container shipping market, Shipping Watch reports several analysts as saying. Maersk’s profits boomed in Q1, 2015, when the market leader saw a US$1.6 billion result, which was given a sharp push by the sale of its shares in Dansk Bank for more than $230 million. Frans Høyer of Jyske Bank, said: "We should not expect the improvements Distribution : daily to 33.000+ active addresses 06-08-2015 Page 20 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 219

we saw in the first quarter. We are more likely to see them adjust their full-year forecast for Maersk Line.“The group has said in the past that it would deliver improvements, and when they make a comment like that they are referring to significant improvements. Now I think Maersk will point to a result more in line with that of last year.” Shipping Consultants Drewry previously said that freight rates had reached a volatility of 40%, with overall shipping confidence dropping to 5.3 on a scale of 1 to 10 – the lowest point in seven years.Despite issues relating to volatile freight rates, Maersk has been gaining ground in other areas such as its shipping portfolio and could have as many as seventeen 14,000 TEU ships by 2017.It has a total fleet capacity that exceeds three million TEU and is set to maintain its position as the largest container line in the world. Source: porttechnology

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Suez Canal extension like ‘turning a B-road into a motorway’ The new Suez canal expansion, which officially opens on Thursday, will be a gamechanger for the future of global trade, the UK Chamber of Shipping has said. The extension to the canal has seen 72 kilometres of new canal created, parallel to the current channel. The projected included 35 kilometres of dry digging and 37 kilometres of deepening, As a result, the number of daily transits will rise from 49 to at least 85 over the next ten years. With 90% of the world’s trade moving by sea, and the UK being heavily reliant on trade with the Far East, restrictions on transits through the existing canal can unnecessarily extend the journey of imports and exports.At present the canal is too narrow for two way traffic. Container ships need to wait for an allocated time slot before they can begin to transit in convoy with other ships. The new capacity will mean ships can move through the canal when they need to without delay – making trade more efficient and allowing for further economic growth. UK Chamber CEO Guy Platten said: “The existing canal has done wonders for world trade. But this extension is akin to turning a B-road into a fully-fledged motorway. More ships transiting through the canal will provide a significant boost to the UK’s trade with the Far East. Mr Platten also said the extension will ‘futureproof’ world trade: ‘The volume of trade moved by sea will double in the next twenty years, and dramatically increasing the number of ships being able to move through the canal will facilitate new growth. Source : ukchamberofshipping

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The TESO newbuilding TEXELSTROOM was launched 30th of July at 16.40, at shipyard LaNaval ,Sestao,Spain. Photo : Bert de Jonge ©

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