DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 337

Number 337 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Friday 19-12-2008 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles taken from various news sites.

The luxury yacht DENIKI seen arriving in Willemstad (Curacao), the yacht from which the hull was built under number 451 at the Damen shipyard in Gdynia (Poland) and outfitted at the Amels shipyard in Flushing is having a length of 52 mtr and is registered at the Cayman Islands.

In the background the ADVENTURE of the SEAS can be seen moored at the Mega Pier

Photo : Kees Bustraan ©

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EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS HIGH

DEEP

HEAVY

EURO DEMOLITION BV Lijndenweg 5, NL 1948 ND BEVERWIJK www.eurodemolition.com MSC Daniela klaar voor maidentrip De 14.000 teu grote MSC Daniela heeft de eerste proefvaarten achter de rug en is klaar om volgende week op maidentrip te vertrekken in de Jade Service tussen het Verre Oosten en het Middellandse Zeegebied. Een luchtfotograaf maakte de eerste beelden van deze containerreus in actie. De Daniela is na de Emma Maersk en haar zussen nu het grootste containerschip ter wereld.

Het is het eerste exemplaar van een nieuwe generatie ultra large container ships (ulcs) waarbij de brug en de scheepsmotor gescheiden worden. Bron : Nieuwsblad Transport

Aad & Merleen Noorland from Cape Town wishes all readers Merry Christmas & a Prosperous 2009

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Australia intercepts boat of suspected refugees 's navy intercepted a boat carrying 37 suspected refugees off the country's north coast on Tuesday, the seventh boat to enter national waters in the last two months.

The vessel was intercepted about 110 nautical miles northeast of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said in a statement. The nationalities of the people were not yet known, Debus said. Most of the refugees who come to Australia by boat are from Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and often depart from Indonesia.

The recent surge in arrivals comes after the year-old Labor Party government relaxed tough laws against refugees in August, and has reignited a political debate about how Australia should deal with refugees.

The opposition Liberal Party claims that move has made Australia more attractive to people smugglers. The government says the newest arrivals are fleeing conflicts in their home countries rather than taking advantage of Australian policy changes.

The new regulations allow asylum seekers access to lawyers, limit the detention period to 12 months and give qualified refugees permanent visas instead of the three-year refugee visas under the previous government.

The 127 suspected asylum seekers who arrived in Australian waters over the last two months aboard six boats have been taken to an immigration detention camp on Christmas Island, a remote Australian territory in the Indian Ocean where their refugee applications will be decided.

The latest group was to be taken there as well, Debus said. Last year, 148 asylum seekers arrived aboard five boats. Source : iht.com

IF YOU HAVE PICTURES OR OTHER SHIPPING RELATED INFORMATION FOR THE NEWS CLIPPINGS ?? PLEASE SEND THIS TO : [email protected] No One Wants Captured Pirates On December 13th, the Indian warship, INS Mysore, interrupted a pirate attack on a merchant ship, tracked the speedboats back to their mother ship, and captured it and 23 pirates (12 Somalis and 11 Yemenis) along with weapons, communications and GPS gear. The incident occurred 250 kilometers east of the Yemeni port of Aden. The Mysore was 25 kilometers away from the merchant ship when they got the distress call. The Mysore promptly dispatched its helicopter, which chased the two pirate speed boats away and found the mother ship. The Mysore rushed to the scene, and sent commandos to capture the mother ship,

Since all this happened in international waters, there is a problem with finding a country that will accept, and prosecute, the pirates. The Indian Foreign Ministry is working on that, and may be doing so for a while. Since World War II, national and international laws for dealing with pirates (which used to mean trying and executing the pirates on the spot) have been discarded. But nothing took the place of those procedures, because it was believed that piracy was no longer a problem.

Some nations working the anti-piracy patrol, have signed deals with Kenya, which sends pirates captured off the Somali coast, to Kenyan courts for prosecution. These deals provide cash to help defer the costs of prosecution and incarceration, which would otherwise be a burden for a poor nation like Kenya. Source : strategypage Distribution : daily 5625+ copies worldwide Page 3 12/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 337

Pirates to release ship soon? SOMALI pirates who hijacked a Saudi oil super-tanker and demanded a US$25 million (S$36.9 million) ransom will release it within 72 hours, a Saudi newspaper reported on Tuesday. The daily Okaz newpspaper quoted Abu Bakr Dary, a source allegedly close to the pirates, as saying the tanker and its 25 crew members will be released in 72 hours, after the ship's owners agreed to pay the ransom.

Somali pirates captured the world's attention when they hijacked the Saudi-owned super-tanker Sirius Star, fully laden with two million barrels of crude last month. 'Negotiators on behalf of the owners of Sirius Star have agreed to pay the ransom,' said Mr Dary. Okaz said that Mr Dary had been involved in the negotiations between the owners of the tanker, Somali mediators and representatives of the pirates, who had been demanding US$25 million for its release. He did not specify the value of the ransom that was finally agreed on. Source : straitstimes

Pirates seize Indonesian boat off Yemen Pirates on Tuesday seized an Indonesian tug-boat off the coast of Yemen, a Kenyan maritime official said, adding that it was not clear if it was taken by Somali pirates. The boat, which is owned by French oil giant Total SA, had Indonesian crew members and others whose nationalities were still unknown, said Andrew Mwangura, who runs the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers Assistance Programme.

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"We still do not know how many crew members there were in total," Mwangura told AFP. He added that the boat was on its way to Malaysia when it was captured and that the identity of the pirates was not yet known. Last week, Somali pirates hijacked two Yemeni fishing vessels in the Gulf of Aden but seven fishermen managed to escape on a smaller boat. Pirates have ramped up attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean in recent months, defying foreign navies patrolling the dangerous waters. Somali pirates have enjoyed a bumper 2008, attacking more than 100 ships and raking in an estimated 120 million dollars (90 million euros) in ransom money.

They captured the world's attention when they hijacked a Ukrainian cargo ship carrying combat tanks in September and a Saudi-owned super-tanker fully laden with two million barrels of crude two months later Source : Antara Kranenprimeur voor PSA HNN in Antwerpen Het schip Zhen Hua 13 van de Chinese kranenbouwer ZPMC is in het Antwerpse Deurganckdok aangekomen met drie grote portaalkranen voor PSA HNN aan boord. De twee grootste kranen hebben een reikwijdte van 22 containers breed en zijn uitgerust met een dubbel hijsmechanisme. Volgens PSA HNN is dat laatste een primeur voor Europa.

The ZHEN HUA 13 seen enroute Antwerp with 3 new container cranes for PSA Hessen Noord Natie Photo : Sjaak Klaassen ©

Bij de nieuwe kranen is het mogelijk om twee spreaders aan elkaar te koppelen en dus twee 40' containers gelijktijdig te behandelen. Met deze techniek wil de containerbehandelaar inspelen op de toename van het aantal 40' containers. De lange giek van de nieuwe heftuigen laat PSA HNN toe om 's werelds grootste containerschepen te behandelen, zoals de Emma Maersk die 22 rijen containers in de breedte bovendeks vervoert.

De Zhen Hua 13 heeft ook nog een kleinere kraan (18 rijen containers) mee die volgende week op de Europaterminal gelost wordt. Met de installatie van die extra kraan wordt de vernieuwingsoperatie van deze containerkade voltooid. PSA HNN heeft op deze terminal nog heel wat capaciteit om nieuwe diensten aan te trekken dat twee grote klanten hun diensten onlangs hebben stopgezet. Het gaat om de China Europe Express (CEX) van APL en de Far East Service (FES) van het duo PIL/Wan Hai. De Europaterminal wordt nog gebruikt door ACL (dubbele aanloop), de NUE- pendulumdienst van Evergreen en de AEC2 loop van UASC. Bron : Nieuwsblad Transport Widows hit out at port's failure to act after tug tragedy

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WIDOWS of three men who died after a tug capsized in freezing fog accused port managers, a year on, of failing to improve safety. The Flying Phantom was towing the Red Jasmine, a 39,738-tonne bulk carrier, along the River Clyde when the accident happened on 19 December, 2007.

Stephen Humphreys, 33, the skipper of the tug, from Greenock, Robert Cameron, 65, from Houston, Renfrewshire, and Eric Blackley, 57, from Gourock, Inverclyde, all died. A fourth man, Brian Atchison, 37, from Coldingham, Berwickshire, was rescued. Yesterday, the widows, Linda Cameron, Helen Humphreys and Eileen Blackley, hit out at Clydeport, the port manager.

Mrs Cameron said: "I am angry that Clydeport have failed to implement two key safety recommendations: the siting of a fog-detection system on the Clyde and a lay-by where these huge tankers can wait if they are suddenly faced with fog or other dangerous conditions. If the fog-detection system had been put in place, Bob, Stephen and Eric might well have been alive today." The recommendations were made in a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which was released in September. The anniversary of the tragedy is tomorrow. The Flying Phantom was involved in an accident in thick fog on 28 December, 2000, when it hit an Egyptian cargo vessel.

Recommendations made included the implementation of a fog-sensor system. Yesterday, Mrs Cameron said the women were "angry and dismayed" and claimed the port operator still had not fitted such a system, or responded to other recommendations.

She added: "As we approach the anniversary of that devastating night, we are dismayed that Clydeport is still failing to safeguard the men still working on the river, which makes our loss all the harder to bear." Their lawyers, Frank Maguire of Thompsons Solicitors, said a demand was to be made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to force changes to be made.

These bodies would be urged to issue improvement and prohibition notices, which would force Clydeport to implement recommendations. If the families do not have success in getting changes through these notices, they will explore whether they can bring a civil action against Clydeport. The widows' solicitors also said prosecutors were considering whether criminal charges could be brought against those involved in the incident. The women have called for a public inquiry, but a decision is yet to be reached on this. The Flying Phantom was raised in a salvage operation in January. The MAIB report found that a towing winch did not release quickly enough on the night the boat sank. Clydeport declined to comment yesterday. Source : Scotsman

Chinese fought pirates with "bottles, water cannon" The crew of a Chinese ship rescued from Somali pirates told on Thursday how they used water cannon and bottles to try to fight off their attackers before their rescue. And a Chinese newspaper said China would send three ships to Somalia to Distribution : daily 5625+ copies worldwide Page 6 12/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 337

prevent further attacks, but the report could not be independently confirmed. A multilateral force rescued the Chinese ship, Zhen Hua 4, from Somali pirates on Wednesday in a sign foreign navies patrolling the shipping lane linking Europe to Asia are adopting tougher new tactics. The ship was one of four vessels seized by pirates on Tuesday, the same day the U.N. Security Council took a strong stand against the attacks and authorised countries to pursue the gunmen on land.

A Kenyan maritime group said the crew locked themselves in their cabins and radioed for help. A warship and two helicopters came and fired on the pirates, but did not kill them, it said. "Seven of the nine pirates landed on our ship, all with weapons," Peng Weiyuan, the captain of Zhen Hua 4, said in a telephone interview with China Central Television. "Our crew, who had been well trained and prepared, used water cannon, self-made incendiary bombs, beer bottles and anything else that could be used to battle with them. Thirty minutes later, the pirates gestured to us for a ceasefire. "Then the helicopter from the joint fleet came to help us." Rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia this year has earned gunmen millions of dollars in ransom, hiked shipping insurance costs and caused international alarm. The Global Times newspaper, a tabloid run by the Communist Party's People's Daily, said on Thursday two and a large- sized depot ship would set sail for the region after Christmas to defend Chinese shipping. The first tour of duty would be for three months, it said. According to Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance programme, there have been 124 incidents of piracy off Somali this year and some 60 successful hijacks. Nearly 400 people and 19 ships are being held along the coast, including a Saudi supertanker with 2 million barrels of oil and a Ukrainian cargo ship with 33 tanks.

Lesson Learned “don’t mess with China or, as per Chairman Mao Tse-Tung’s wise words: “ when it is raining - you get wet”. And good they had Hempel paint onboard as can be seen at the photo ! . China preparing to send navy to Somalia to fight piracy China is preparing to send warships to fight rampant piracy off the coast of Somalia, the government said Thursday, a day after one of its commercial vessels foiled an attack near the African state. "We are preparing and making arrangements to send naval ships to the Gulf of Aden to protect the sea lanes there," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told journalists. "We will make a formal announcement when the time comes."

Liu's comments come after the state-run Global Times newspaper, citing maritime officials, said China would send two destroyers and a supply ship to the Gulf of Aden to help the international crackdown on piracy there. The fleet will depart from China's south sea naval base on Hainan island after December 25 for a three-month tour of the Somali coast, the paper said. The developments come after the crew of a Chinese cargo ship fought off pirates in the Gulf of Aden Wednesday with the help of a coalition of forces organised by the International Maritime Bureau. Liu said that seven ships either owned by Chinese shipping companies, carrying Chinese crews or carrying cargo from China had been attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden during the first 11 months of the year. China's participation will be the first time in modern history that the nation's navy has carried out a mission outside Chinese waters, according to Shen Shishun, an expert with the Chinese Institute of International Studies, a government think tank.

China's participation comes after the UN Security Council, in a unanimous vote Tuesday, gave nations battling armed and increasingly audacious pirates in the Gulf of Aden a one-year mandate to act inside the lawless country. Distribution : daily 5625+ copies worldwide Page 7 12/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 337

"China welcomes the international cooperation on cracking down on Somalia pirates," Liu said Pirates have carried out more than 100 attacks in the key shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden, located between the south of Yemen and the north of Somalia, and the Indian Ocean east of Somalia since the start of this year. Last month, they captured the world's attention when they hijacked the Saudi-owned super-tanker Sirius Star, carrying two million barrels of crude oil, and demanded a 25-million-dollar ransom for the ship and its crew. It is one of about 17 ships, including a Chinese vessel, that have fallen into pirate hands. The , Belgium, France, Greece, Liberia and South Korea have all indicated a willingness to send or have already sent warships to the region. Such a mission from China's navy would come nearly 600 years after the "Treasure Ships" of Admiral Zheng He visited Africa during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when the Chinese navy ruled the known seas of the world, state press said.

British ship fined over fresh Algeciras spill The owners of the British-registered 'Ropax-1' have been fined €400,000 euros by the Spanish Development ministry for contaminating Algeciras Bay. The ship slipped its moorings in storms last Saturday evening and collided with a fuel distribution buoy pertaining to the Cepsa oil refinery anchored roughly two miles off shore.

After the collision, which occurred at 9.20pm, the ship was towed into Algeciras port, where a one-metre crack was detected in its hull, but which did not breach the fuel tanks, indicating that it is highly unlikely that it caused the spill.

For its part, a Cepsa representative has confirmed that the buoy also only suffered minor superficial damage and could not have been responsible for the large quantity of oil globules that began to wash up on beaches in Gibraltar and Cádiz the following morning.

The 'Ropax-1', which has a Rumanian captain and a crew of around twenty, had been immobilised in Algeciras Bay since November 25th following its detention by Málaga port authorities for anchoring, without authorisation, in Spanish waters off Estepona coast, and a subsequent inspection, which revealed "several breaches of international maritime safety regulations."

Richard Krabbendam seen demonstrating the Jumbo Heavy lift simulator in Rotterdam Photo : Piet Sinke ©

Doubts over mv DOULOS' future Compliance with regulations prove difficult for oldest passenger liner...

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She's the oldest ocean-going passenger ship in active service, built in he same year as the beginning of the Great War, she has visited over 00 countries and drawn admiration from almost 200 million visitors.

Just out of dry-dock in Singapore, she is resplendant in fresh paint and ready for another year's service around the globe. But it could number amongst her last.

Built in 1914, the mv DOULOS faces an uncertain future. New SOLAS regulations which come into force in 2010 have already signalled the death-knell for many elderly passenger ships and the DOULOS can be no exception.

The ship started life as a US freighter, the MEDINA, and was converted into a passenger vessel in 1949. Briefly employed as a pilgrim ship she went on to undertake cruises right up until 1977 when she was sold and the following year began the role she is now famous for, as a floating library.

Having many flammable materials in her fittings, especially wood panels and decks, she would need to undergo a 'prohibitive' refit to ensure she passed the new safety at sea regulations. Her current owners, the German charity Good Books for All, are desperate to either find funds to undertake the work necessary or find a buyer to save her the ignominy of going to the scrap yard.

If her owners cannot raise the cash, she will be decommissioned in 2010 and in all likelihood may find a home at some European port as a floating restaurant.

This would be a sad role for a ship that has travelled to many ports and is a living reminder of not one but many eras of shipping history. Having sailed through two world wars, the Great Depression, carried pilgrims, tourists, and been a luxury cruise ship, she is an embodiment of adaptation and survival.

Should she be taken off the world's seas, it is doubtful if the world will ever see a ship quite like her in active service again.

US EXTENDS AIS TO MORE SHIPS THE US Coast Guard is proposing to expand the applicability of notice of arrival and departure (NOAD) and automatic identification system (AIS) requirements to more commercial vessels. This proposed rule would expand the applicability of AIS requirements, beyond Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas, to all US navigable waters and require AIS carriage for additional commercial vessels. Among craft to be included are most domestic passenger vessels.

The proposed rule would also expand the applicability of notice of arrival (NOA) requirements to additional vessels, establish a separate requirement for certain vessels to submit notices of departure (NOD), set forth a mandatory method for electronic submission of NOA and NOD, and modify related reporting content, timeframes, and procedures.

The Coast Guard claims: “These proposed changes would improve navigation safety, enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to identify and track vessels, heighten our overall maritime domain awareness, and thus help us address threats to maritime transportation safety and security and mitigate the possible harm from such threats.” Source : Maritime Global Net

Somali pirates hijack ship; British guards escape Somali pirates hijacked a chemical tanker with dozens of Indian crew members today and a helicopter rescued three British security guards who had jumped into the sea, officials said.

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A warship on patrol nearby sent helicopters to intervene in the attack, but they arrived after pirates had taken control of the Liberian-flagged ship, according to Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center in Malaysia.

The ship master had sent a distress call to the piracy reporting center, which relayed the alert to international forces policing Somali waters, Choong said. No details about how the pirates attacked or the condition of the crew were available immediately.

Choong said the ship was being operated out of Singapore.

Shipowners call for blockade to fight piracy Still on board were 25 Indian and two Bangladeshi crew members, said diplomats who could not be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media. The British security guards escaped by jumping into the water, said a news release issued by their company, Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions.

The company said it was aware of the incident on the chemical tanker it identified as M/V BISCAGLIA.

"We have been informed by coalition military authorities that three of our unarmed security staff were rescued from the water by a coalition helicopter and are currently on board a coalition warship in the Gulf of Aden," the company statement said.

German Defense Ministry spokesman Thomas Raabe confirmed that a naval helicopter lifted three people out of the water in the Gulf of Aden at about 4 a.m. and deposited them on a French ship.

Germany and France have ships in the area as part of a NATO fleet which, along with warships from Denmark, India, Malaysia, Russia and the U.S., have started patrolling the vast maritime corridor. They escort some merchant ships and respond to distress calls.

The ship hijacked today was the 97th vessel to be attacked this year off Somalia, where an Islamic insurgency and lack of effective government have contributed to an increase in pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.

Ships "must continue to maintain a 24-hour vigil and radar watch so they can take early measures to escape pirates. Even though there are patrols, the warships cannot be everywhere at the same time," Choong said.

Pirates have become increasingly brazen in the Gulf, a major international shipping lane through which about 20 tankers sail daily. Forty ships have been hijacked this year, including a Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million worth of crude oil Nov. 15. Pirates demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms hold 15 ships and nearly 300 crew, Choong said. Somalia, an impoverished nation in the Horn of Africa, has not had a functioning government since 1991.

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Rotterdamse loodsen goedkoper, alle andere duurder De loodstarieven voor de Rotterdamse havens dalen volgend jaar met ruim zeven procent. In alle andere Nederlandse havens wordt het inhuren van loodsen juist duurder. Die verschillen ontstaan doordat er een eind komt aan de zogenoemde kruisfinanciering, een systeem waartegen Rotterdam jarenlang heeft geprotesteerd.

Links : Pilot 911 (Rik van Marle) in actie op een binnenkomer voor de EMO Bulk terminal in Rotterdam-Europoort Photo : Hans Hoffmann ©

De Nederlandse Mededingingsautoriteit (NMa) heeft de nieuwe loodsgeldtarieven voor 2009 officieel bekendgemaakt. De tarieven in Amsterdam en de Nederlandse Scheldehavens (Vlissingen, Terneuzen) stijgen tussen de 2 en 3 procent. De tarieven in de noordelijke havens (Delfzijl, Eemshaven, Harlingen), waar nu nog de laagste tarieven gelden, stijgen 6 tot 17 procent. De aanpassing van de tarieven varieert per haven. De aanpassing van de loodstarieven volgt op een advies van de Nationale Havenraad om de kruisfinanciering af te bouwen.

Het Loodswezen heeft in september, na consultatie van de sector, het tarievenvoorstel bij de NMa ingediend. Dat voorstel kwam neer op een overall verhoging van 2,44 procent voor alle havens. Het is de eerste keer dat de NMa de tarieven vaststelt sinds de inwerkingtreding van de Wet Markttoezicht registerloodsen. Voorheen werd dit door de minister van Verkeer en Waterstaat gedaan.

De loodsen zijn onder de algemene noemer van het Loodswezen georganiseerd in een beroepsorganisatie en een bedrijfsorganisatie en zijn werkzaam in vier regio's: Noord, Amsterdam-IJmond, Rotterdam-Rijnmond en Scheldemonden. Het Loodswezen telt 450 registerloodsen en 400 medewerkers ondersteunend personeel. Tezamen realiseren zij jaarlijks een omzet van circa 180 miljoen Euro.

Tot dit jaar gold het uitgangspunt dat beloodsing geen onderwerp van concurrentie tussen de havens mocht zijn. Om die reden werden er landelijk uniforme tarieven vastgesteld. Rotterdamse bedrijven hebben dat altijd als oneerlijk beschouwd: door de grote aantallen schepen en de gunstige nautische ligging zijn de kosten voor beloodsing aanmerkelijk lager dan in andere havens.

NAVY NEWS Redeployment of HMS Northumberland “no cause of alarm” The Commander British Forces South Atlantic, Air Commodore Gordon Moulds, was quick to respond to suggestions in the British press that the Falkland Islands would be left undefended by the decision to divert the frigate HMS Northumberland to a European Union counter- piracy mission off the coast of East Africa. “HMG is fully committed to the defence of the South Atlantic Overseas Territories, which include the Falkland Islands. The frigate is one constituent part of a comprehensive package of air, land and maritime assets that together maintain our deterrence posture on the Islands. Distribution : daily 5625+ copies worldwide Page 11 12/18/2008 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 337

“The deterrence force can also be reinforced quickly should the need arise. “As with any UK defence capability, HMG needs to ensure that the capacity exists to deal with any operational requirements that may arise. I am confident that the assigned force package is sufficient to meet the task.”

HMS Northumberland, which is armed with guided missiles, torpedoes and a Lynx helicopter, was due to begin patrolling duties in the South Atlantic this month. Its place has been taken by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Largs Bay.

HMS Northumberland is currently deployed as part of a new European Union task force which is escorting ships of the World Food Aid program into Somalia, as well as taking part in more anti-piracy operations.

Before joining the EU task force she was involved in a variety of missions in and around the Gulf of Aden before moving North through the entire length of the Red Sea to Eilat in Israel.

This was closely followed by an about turn and a journey all the way back down the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Aden, and down south, totaling approximately 3500 miles give or take a couple of hundred.

On the way HMS Northumberland conducted standard Maritime Security operations which revolve around monitoring and disrupting illegal activity (mostly smuggling goods or people the in Red Sea) and reporting on the ‘pattern of life’. Source : mercopress

Russia wants to lease 'Shchuka-B' class nuclear to India 08:30 GMT, December 17, 2008 Russia could lease 'several' 'Shchuka-B' class nuclear attack submarines to India in coming years though the delivery of the first of the two nuke subs reportedly contracted by India is far behind schedule.

The Russian offer comes as Indian Navy has formulated a 20 year plan to produce indigenously 24 conventional submarines.

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At the same time, the official had ruled out any plans by Moscow to strike similar deals with China. "Yes, there is a real possibility of leasing for ten years several of our nuclear powered multi-role submarines of Project 971 of 'Shchuka-B' class," the Director of Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) Mikhail Dmitriyev was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS. (Note: NATO designation is Akula class—Ed.)

The Russian offer comes as Indian Navy has formulated a 20 year plan to produce indigenously 24 conventional submarines. New Delhi had also contracted for two nuclear submarines from Moscow, but navy has projected that in the next 10 years India would need to acquire or build another 10-12 nuclear subs.

These nuclear submarines would be similar to the 'Nerpa' class, which was involved in an accident in November during final sea trials in Sea of Japan.

"This possibility can materialise in the coming years," he added. Dmitriyev also denied that Moscow was negotiating supply of nuclear submarines to China. "The question of supply of our multi role nuclear submarines to China does not exist, as unlike India, China never asked for them. That's why we never negotiated with China on their lease or sale," Dmitriyev said.

"This issue was also not raised at the Russian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission session on December 11 in Beijing," he said. The offer is only for leasing of the submarines to the Indian navy and not their sale to India, Dmitriyev specified.

According to earlier reports, under a deal as part of the larger Gorshkov aircraft carrier package, Russia was to lease two "Shchuka-B" (NATO codename -Akula-II) nuclear attack submarines to India.

Until the last-month's accident on board 'Nerpa' nuclear , when 21 crew and technical staff suffocated to death due to accidental release of toxic Freon gas used in fire-suppressing system, Moscow was silent on the deal.

Built on advances reportedly paid by the Indian government, the nuclear submarine is expected to join Indian Navy as 'INS Chakra' sometime next year, sources said. They claimed that India's advanced technology vessel (ATV) project to develop an indigenous nuclear submarine was based on the Russian 'Shchuka-B' design. Source : Defpro

www.tos.nl TOS Rotterdam (+31)10 – 436 62 93 E-Mail [email protected] French anti-piracy naval operation begins off Somali coast A French naval ship has begun escort duties in troubled Indian Ocean waters off the Somali coast that are prone to piracy attacks.

The UN Security Council has cleared the way for the European Union anti-piracy mission after it renewed its authorisation for use of military force against pirates of Somalia.

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The detachment of French navy escorted a ship carrying food aid to Somalia as part of an agreed European Union anti-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia. The MV Semlow is carrying food for the UN's World Food Programme to Somalia where fighting has uprooted some one million people and more than a third of the population need emergency aid.

A surge in piracy in one the busiest shipping lanes off Somalia has pushed up insurance costs, brought pirate gangs tens of millions of dollars in ransoms and prompted foreign navies to rush to the area to protect merchant shipping. The mission [of the] first such naval operation mounted by the 27-member EU will initially involve three warships from Greece, Britain and France.

There are already several international naval operations in the area including a NATO mission to counter piracy but they have done little to deter the pirates.

They have been around 95 pirate attacks in Somalia waters this year with some 40 ships taken, including a Saudi tank holding 100m dollars [worth] of oil. Source : mareeg

A Russian diesel/electric powered KILO Class submarine, seen entering the fairway to Saint Petersburg, passing Kronshtadt in a wintersetting. Photo : Jan Gossen Roos ©

Pentagon official: Navy to buy more combat ships The Navy is likely to buy more combat ships that can easily and swiftly maneuver in shallow waters as the threat of piracy and other dangers grow, according to the Pentagon's acquisition chief. The service currently plans to buy 55 of the so-called Littoral Combat Ship, a small surface vessel that can move close to shore, from either Lockheed Martin Corp. or General Dynamics Corp. But John Young, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, said Monday the Navy is likely to buy 64 or more of the vessels, which cost about $550 million each.

"If you had this ship today ... we would clearly be in the Horn of Africa dealing with the pirate situation," Young said aboard the last leg of the USS Freedom's maiden voyage from Milwaukee, Wis., to Norfolk, Va. "This vessel is just right. It has the speed and it gives you lots of tactical opportunities to deal with those boardings."

Pirates this year have attacked more than 90 vessels and seized about 40 that were carrying goods to luxury yachts off Somalia's 1,880-mile coastline. Pirates have raked in about $30 million in ransom from their high-profile seizures, including the Saudi supertanker carrying $100 million worth of crude oil that was hijacked last month.

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The bandits usually prey on massive, slow-moving ships, and are typically armed with automatic weapons, anti-tank rocket launchers and grenades. Their focus has been the Gulf of Aden, between Somalia and Yemen, where 20,000 merchant ships annually pass through the Suez Canal, the quickest route from Asia to Europe and the Americas.

The Littoral Combat Ship, which carries a crew of 40, is built to counter the threats of mines, submarines and fast surface craft in coastal waters. It can move at more than 40 knots, or 46 mph, and operate in waters less than 20 feet deep.

Lockheed's nearly 380-foot ship weighs close 3,000 tons and has performed high-speed maneuvers at a top speed of 47.2 knots, or 54 mph. The weapon systems aboard the ship include surface-to-air missiles, decoys and medium- caliber guns.

Both Lockheed and Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics are vying for the lion's share of the Navy's order. General Dynamics' ship is a bit larger in size and offers a greater advantage in being able to carry more aircraft, while Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed's ship is smaller and better suited to combating submarine and other threats in the water.

Part of the appeal of the speedy ship for the U.S. Navy, as well as foreign nations like Israel and Saudi Arabia, is that it can be reconfigured for several different kinds of missions, including detecting and combating mines.

The Navy has been trying to stabilize the Littoral Combat Ship program while maintaining affordable pricing through competition, after costs for each ship more than doubled from initial estimates of $220 million. Source : google

Six Nations Building New Carriers All of a sudden, six nations are building aircraft carriers (the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, India and China.) For over half a century, most of the carrier building took place in the United States. Russia built some, without much success, towards the end of the Cold War. Britain and France built a few, and several other nations (like India and Brazil), bought second had British carriers so they could maintain one or two in service.

But now six nations are planning or building new carriers, most of them a bit smaller (about 60,000 tons) than the larger U.S. ones (100,000 tons). Britain recently delayed construction, for a year or two, of its two new carriers, but is still determined to go ahead. France has a new one in the works, as does India. China has been cagey about its carrier plans, but all indications are that it is definitely headed that way. Russian admirals are speaking openly about building four or more additional carriers (Russia already has one of its last Cold War carriers refurbished and in service.) The current global economic recession is delaying, but not cancelling, some of these carrier building plans.

Why all this sudden interest in carriers? Partly it's because the United States has consistently demonstrated the usefulness of having a carrier that can quickly show up off a troublesome coast. Moreover, the 2001 operation in Afghanistan was a success partly because carriers were there, using smart bombs, to deliver a decisive amount of firepower. Thus demonstrating that, with the new, more precise weapons, one carrier can have a much more decisive impact than in the past. But partly it's because of the end of the Cold War, and a tremendous growth in world economies. Russia, China and India have larger GDPs, and defence budgets, than they have ever had. Gotta spend it on something, and carriers are a sign that you've joined the Big Boys Club. Source : strategypage Russian ships to put in at Lisbon The Russian submarine Admiral Levchenko and the sea tanker Sergei Osipov will make a port call at Portugal's Lisbon, aide to Russia's navy chief Igor Dygalo said today. As part of the visit, the Russian ships' commanders will meet with Portuguese naval leaders who are scheduled to visit the Admiral Levchenko together with Pavel Petrovksy, Russia's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Portugal. Residents of Lisbon will also get a chance to go aboard the Admiral Levchenko. The ships' visit is to last until December 22. Source : RBC News

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SHIPYARD NEWS

The SEALAND ILLINOIS left the drydock at Damen Shiprepair facilities in Schiedam Photo : Rik van Marle ©

Canada to provide C$380 million funding for Davie Yards Stockwell Day, Canada's Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today authorized Export Development Canada (EDC) to make available up to Canadian $380 million in financing and guarantees for Davie Yards Inc., which recently put its entire 1,100 person labor force on temporary layoff.

The EDC funding is being provided to help the company complete an order for five ships for two buyers. The support is conditional on agreement being reached on the terms and conditions between EDC and Davie Yards.

The Minister's office said the contracts will help maintain 1,100 direct jobs and could add 500 new jobs to the Quebec City region. "Shipbuilding is an important industry for Canada," said Minister Day. "It plays a vital role in building and maintaining the fleets that provide our maritime security. Our decision today is an extremely important development as we act to ensure that Davie Yards remains a fixture in Canadian shipbuilding and in the region."

"Our government is committed to procure, repair and refit vessels in Canada according to the government's Buy Canada policy," said the Honorable Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and regional minister for Quebec. "Today's announcement will help ensure that Davie remains a viable contributor to Canada's shipbuilding capacity."

Davie Yards CEO Steinar Kulen called the funding "the catalyst for us to complete our refinancing plan." "This is good news for our 1,100 employees, who we had to temporarily lay off this week, and for our clients who will get the refund guarantees requested by their banks," added Mr. Kulen.

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He said that Davie will start work immediately on the paperwork that needs to be prepared to be able to reopen the shipyard as soon as possible, which is subject to completion of all aspects of the refinancing plan.

"We are delighted with the Minister's recognition of the importance of the shipbuilding industry in Canada, where there is growing potential in offshore oil and gas, and where the Canadian government has specific arctic and defense maritime needs," noted Mr. Kulen. "With these guarantees, Canada is establishing a competitive financing scheme for the Canadian shipbuilding industry Source : Marine Log

Chinese yards hit hard by fall in bulker demand China's government-controlled China Daily says that Chinese shipbuilders have taken a bigger hit than their foreign competitors from the global economic downturn "and the outlook is even gloomier for the next two years."

China Daily quotes figures from Clarkson Research Services that show that in the first 11 months of 2008, Chinese yards reported a 44 percent drop in new orders, compared to a world average 37 percent decline, receiving newbuilding orders totaling 54.26 million dwt, compared to South Korea's 65.97 million (down 29 percent) and Japan's 17.92 million (down 18 percent).

China is being hit hard by a faster fall in demand for bulk carriers than for containerships and tankers.

China Daily says that while the IMF predicts that new shipbuilding orders in 2009 will fall to about 60 percent of this year's level. Bao Zhangjing, senior researcher from the China Shipping Industrial and Economic Research Center, is even more pessimistic, putting the number at only 40 percent.

Analysts said the downward trend will continue for the next two to three years. Nantong Rongsheng Heavy Industry Group Co Ltd, one of the top 10 shipbuilders in China, has reported that $1.6 billion in new shipbuilding orders booked earlier this year were cancelled, says China Daily. It quotes Singapore Pacific Carriers as saying that of about 382 shipbuilding orders canceled worldwide, 197 orders, totaling 19.66 million tons dwt, were with Chinese yards. Source : MarineLog Order for second NCL ship 'axed' UNION leaders at STX France have been told officially that NCL has cancelled its order for the second of two 150,000 gt, 2,100 cabin cruiseships it was having built at the company’s Saint Nazaire yard.

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The shipbuilder has signalled that it is to continue construction of the first of the two vessels, according to the unions, but without indicating whether or not it has settled its dispute with NCL over its cost.

Confirmation of the cancellation of one of the two NCL vessels has fanned union fears that massive job cuts could be on the way at STX Europe’s French subsidiary, which also learned recently that its principal customer, MSC Cruises, wants to renegotiate the price of its latest two orders.

The 1,275-cabin MSC Meraviglia and the MSC Favolosa were ordered in August at a price reported to be slightly over €800m ($1.2bn) and are scheduled for delivery in 2011 and 2012. Last week, however, MSC Cruises chief executive Pierfrancesco Vago, who was at STX’s Saint Nazaire yard to take delivery of the MSC Fantasia, let it be known that the cruise company would be looking for a lower price for the two vessels in the current economic context.

The shipyard’s problems over the €1.5bn two-ship NCL order were already known. They came to light in September when STX France admitted that it was in dispute with the cruiseship operator over the cost of construction of the first of the two vessels, then already 25% completed. At the time, it said that the dispute did not concern the second of the two vessels.

Two weeks later, however, in October, the builder ordered work to be stopped on the second vessel, indicating that it wanted to give itself maximum latitude to use work already carried out on the first vessel to fulfil the order for the second.

It added that this would also leave it the possibility of finding another operator for the second vessel, for which material and equipment had been ordered but on which construction work had not started. STX France declined to confirm today that the second NCL vessel had been cancelled, saying only that is was making no comment.

Neither would the company’s spokesman local reports that it was waiting for NCL to issue a statement before making any comment on its own account. The CGT union confederation said that the yard’s current position was “dramatic” for the employment prospects of STX France’s 2,660 employees and those of its many sub-contractors.

It called on the French government, which is in the process of taking a minority blocking interest in STX France, to impose a “progressive industrial and social policy” on the company. Source : LloydsList ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES Deep Sea Supply takes delivery of new build Deepsea is pleased to inform that Deep Sea Supply has taken delivery of "Sea Witch", a newbuilding PSV from Cochin Shipyard in India. The vessel is a UT 755L Platform Supply Vessel delivered ahead of schedule and on budget.

The vessel is the 8th and last delivery in a series of 8 newbuilding PSVs delivered to Deep Sea Supply from Cochin Shipyard.

The newbuilding program at Cochin Shipyard Ltd has been a success for both Deep Sea Supply and the yard. All vessels have been delivered with the highest quality, at the agreed price and on time. All PSVs owned by Deep Sea Supply are fixed on long term contracts, securing a stable cash flow to the company.

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The ZHEN HUA 20 seen arriving in Rio Grande (Brazil) Photo : Marcelo Vieira © Mega boxship opens historic China- Taiwan shipping routes Ceremonies held at Tianjin and Shanghai...

On 15th, December, a siren hail from M.V.COSCO OCEANIA and M.V. YUAN HE marked an historic stride for direct shipping between mainland China and Taiwan.

The inauguration ceremonies of cross straight direct shipping, part of the 'Three major direct services', were grandly held in Tianjin and Shanghai simultaneously.

Party Secretary of Tianjin government Zhang Gaoli, Vice-Chairman of CPPCC Zheng Wantong, Minister of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office Wang Yi, Minister of Transportation Li Shenglin, President of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Chen Yunlin, Mayor of Tianjin Huang Xingguo, Kuomintang (KMT) honorary chairman Lien Chan, President and CEO of COSCO Group Capt. Wei Jiafu, attended the ceremony in Tianjin while Mayor of Shanghai Han Zheng, Vice-Minister of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office Zheng Lizhong, Vice- Minister of Transport Weng Mengyong, Kuomingtang Vice-Chairman Jiang Xiaoyan, Vice-President of ARATS An Min, Executive VP of COSCO Group Zhang Fusheng witnessed the historic event in Shang Hai Yangshan Port.

COSCO OCEANIA, with a TEU capacity of 10,000, departed Tianjin on 15th and arrived at Kaohsiung on 17th, it is the largest container ship the port has ever received.

YUAN HE left Shanghai on 15th and the voyage to Kaohsiung was only one day.

When delivered on April 3rd this year, COSCO OCEANIA was the biggest container vessel built in China. She was constructed by Nantong COSCO KHI Shipyard (NACKS). Source : shippingtimes UK

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SMIT traint sleepbootbemanningen in eigen huis. Tug Master Programma zorgt wereldwijd voor standaard kwaliteit vlootpersoneel

SMIT, dat verspreid over de wereld actief is met grote en kleine sleepboten in havens en op het gebied van terminals, transport, hijswerk en bergingen, wil dat het sleepbootpersoneel wereldwijd over dezelfde hoge standaard kwaliteit beschikt. Om dat te bereiken is de SMIT ASD Tug Master Training & Opleiding, ofwel het Tug Master Programma (TMP) ontwikkeld. De pilot waarin een deel van dit programma is getest is inmiddels achter de rug. Nog voor de jaarwisseling wordt, naar verwachting, het programma afgerond en gecertificeerd door Det Norske Veritas (DET) . Daarmee wordt voldaan aan de eisen zoals de International Maritime Organisation (IMO) deze aan opleidingen stelt.

Etienne van Noordenne is Crewing Manager op de afdeling Human Resources/Crewing van SMIT. Hij praat enthousiast over de ontwikkelingen binnen de vloot en de ontwikkeling van het Tug Master Programma. "Door de sterke groei en ook vernieuwing van de SMIT vloot, is er een grotere behoefte aan goed opgeleide bemanning. Maar je bouwt sneller een nieuw schip dan dat je de bemanning daarvoor traint. Daarnaast willen we wereldwijd dezelfde standaard als het gaat om de kwaliteit van de bemanning". Dat voornemen bleek niet zo gemakkelijk te verwezenlijken want de beoogde wereldwijde brede standaardopleiding bestond nog niet. Van Noordenne:"We hebben als SMIT enkele jaren geleden besloten tot standaardisering van de slepers, waarbij gekozen is voor één type voortstuwingssysteem, namelijk Azymuth Stern Drive (ASD) We hebben momenteel zo’n 250 sleepboten waarvan een groot deel ASD-boten. Tussen nu en 2011 komen er nog zo’n 50 nieuwe boten van de werf. Standaardisatie biedt veel voordelen, in aanschaf, in onderhoud en in bediening. Maar dan moet je er ook voor zorgen dat de bemanning goed met dit scheepstype overweg kan".

Ulstein donates money to new professorship The Ulstein Group has decided to donate funds toward a new professorship at Ålesund University College. “We in the maritime cluster endeavour to be world leaders in demanding marine operations; a new professorship will help towards this end,” says Group CEO Gunvor Ulstein.

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“This is a quantum leap for us. It’s the first time business and industry has given such a gift. It will help boost maritime expertise and enhance the research environment in the region for the benefit of the whole maritime industry,” says a satisfied Ålesund University College rector Geirmund Oltedal, adding that this donation will be decisive toward the release of public research funds to the college.

In spite of the financial crisis and a tough market, the Ulstein Group has allocated funds towards a professorship. “A systematic and long-term strategic commitment to research and development is crucial for success. Knowledge is what we live by – now and in the future. Cluster studies conducted by Professor Arild Hervik underscore the importance of expertise and an infrastructure to support it,” says Ulstein Group Deputy CEO Tore Ulstein.

“Collaboration among players like Ålesund Kunnskapspark, the Norwegian Centre of Expertise – Maritime, Ålesund University College and maritime companies must be further developed if we are to succeed globally. We have extensive experience and expertise, which we must continue to build on systematically. We believe a professorship will bolster this effort significantly. Our goal is to boost our level of knowledge and expertise to form a basis for new maritime process, service and product innovations,” emphasises the Deputy CEO.

First for Ålesund University College The professorship funding from the Ulstein Group is the first such gift the college has received. Efforts are also underway to provide additional professorships – five in all – devoted to demanding marine operations.

“Having businesses support the good work being done at colleges is very important to us. The professorship is also important for establishing additional master’s degree studies at Ålesund University College. We currently offer a degree in product and system design, and now we would like to offer one in ship design,” says Professor Hans Petter Hildre.

Kon. Wilhelminahaven zz 22 3134 KG Vlaardingen (Port No 650) The Netherlands www.mariflex.net tel (24 hrs) : +31 (0) 10 434 44 45 [email protected] SUBSEA 7 ANNOUNCES AWARD OF SERVICES AGREEMENT BY TAQA BRATANI LIMITED Subsea 7 Inc, one of the world’s leading subsea engineering and construction companies, announced that it has been awarded a 1 year IRM (inspection, repair and maintenance) services agreement by TAQA Bratani Limited (part of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, PJSCPSJA) for the provision of project management, engineering, dive support and remote intervention services to assist with TAQA’s newly acquired Northern North Sea assets.

TAQA became operator of its newly acquired assets: Cormorant North, Cormorant South, Eider, Kestrel, Tern and Pelican on 1st December 2008.

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Robin Davies, Subsea 7’s North Sea Vice President commented on the award: “The award of another significant subsea services agreement with a leading oil and gas operator further consolidates Subsea 7’s position as the Subsea Partner of Choice. We look forward to building positive and rewarding relationships with TAQA, especially in what is an exciting time for them as they reach another important milestone on their journey in the North Sea oil and gas industry.”

A Subsea 7 project team, based in the company’s new Aberdeen office, will manage work scopes under the frame agreement, the first of which commenced last week.

Start boekingen overtochten Zeebrugge-Rosyth van Norfolkline De overtochten Zeebrugge-Rosyth, die starten op 18 mei 2009, kunnen nu al worden geboekt. Passagiers kunnen vanaf nu online boeken op www.norfolkline.com . Het schip zal vanuit Zeebrugge vertrekken op maandag, woensdag en vrijdag om 18.00 u (plaatselijke tijd) en vanuit Rosyth in Schotland elke dinsdag, donderdag en zaterdag om 17.00 u (plaatselijke tijd).

Kell Ropdrup, Managing Director van de Ferry Division: “De start van de internetboekingen vormt een belangrijke stap in onze plannen. We hebben de voorbije maanden veel enthousiaste reacties en waardevolle suggesties gekregen. We weten dat onze klanten reikhalzend uitkijken naar deze aankondiging. Norfolkline is een ferrymaatschappij met een missie. Die bestaat erin veilige, comfortabele en milieuvriendelijke overtochten aan te bieden.” Vlaams Minister- President Kris Peeters, ook bevoegd voor havens en toerisme reageert zeer tevreden: “Net voor de start van het zomerseizoen kunnen Schotse toeristen weer vlot naar Vlaanderen reizen. Toerisme Vlaanderen zal bovendien de vernieuwde ferrydienst en de bestemming samen met de ferrymaatschappij actief promoten op de Schotse markt”, zegt de minister. Hij voegt er nog aan toe “dat de verbinding een belangrijke troef voor de haven van Zeebrugge is. Shortsea Shipping is een transportmodus die aan belang wint”.

De bouw van ons nieuw schip vordert gestaag. De combinatie van geavanceerde techniek en een zuinige vaarsnelheid zal de overtochten comfortabel en milieuvriendelijker maken. De faciliteiten aan boord zijn onder meer 109 en-suite hutten, Unicorn Bar, Alba Restaurant, bioscoop, boetiek en speelruimte voor kinderen. De overtochten Zeebrugge-

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Rosyth van Norfolkline vormen de enige rechtstreekse verbinding tussen Schotland en het Europese vasteland. De ferryovertochten zijn ideaal voor gezinnen en reizigers die willen genieten van de vrijheid die een auto biedt. Onze goed gelegen terminals in Zeebrugge en Rosyth maken belangrijke toeristische bestemmingen in Schotland en het Europese vasteland vlot bereikbaar.

Inlichtingen over het vrachtvervoer zijn beschikbaar in januari 2009. Meer informatie vindt u op www.norfolkline.com of contacteer ons callcenter op 0044 208 127 8303.

RNLI lifeboats launched to two separate rescues within minutes TYNEMOUTH RNLI all weather was launched after the skipper of a trawler broadcast a mayday after his vessel started taking on water ten miles east of Newbiggin. Just eighteen minutes later Tynemouth RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched to assist police at a separate incident at South Shields. At 6am the skipper of the Amble-based vessel "Aquarius" broadcast a mayday message reporting that his vessel was taking on water and requesting immediate assistance. He ensured he and his two crew were wearing lifejackets and prepared a life raft.

Two other fishing boats, the "Nimrod" and "Green Pastures" responded to the mayday call and went to the aid of the stricken vessel as the RNLI Lifeboat steamed to her location. Also launched were Cullercoats RNLI lifeboat and an RAF Rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer.

The RAF Helicopter transferred a salvage pump and their winchman to the 13metre, 33 tonne "Aquarius" and began pumping water from her flooded engine room and stopped the leak, believed to be a faulty valve.

The two RNLI lifeboats with 10 volunteer crew maintained a watch over the vessel in case the situation worsened.

With the leak stopped and "Aquarius" no longer in danger of sinking, Cullercoats lifeboat and the RAF helicopter were stood down, and the vessel with her three crew were towed by Tynemouth RNLI all weather lifeboat to the nearest port of safety, at Blyth, without further incident.

In the second Incident, Tynemouth RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched at 6:23 after Police requested assistance after they had received reports of a person entering the water at Mill Dam, South Shields.

A pair of shoes were found by the waters edge and after a search a body was found by the three volunteer lifeboat crewmembers in the water nearby, trapped in beams, which they recovered from the river and handed over to waiting police.

Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI Lifeboat station said: "The rescue mission to assist the fishing vessel "Aquarius" was a textbook coordinated effort by the RNLI, Coastguard and RAF and thankfully no harm came to her crew. Thanks are also due to the fishing vessels "Nimrod" and particularly "Green Pastures" whose skipper relayed radio messages to and from the sinking vessel.

Sadly, in the second incident our crew were unable to bring about a successful conclusion but both incidents demonstrate the ability of our volunteers to use their first class training and respond quickly to any situation. Source : News Guardian

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MNO VERVAT ONDERHOUDT KOMENDE JAREN WEGENNET HAVENBEBRIJF Aannemingsbedrijf MNO Vervat onderhoudt de komende vijf jaar de weginfrastructuur en bijbehorende objecten van de Rotterdamse haven. Daartoe ondertekenden vandaag, donderdag 18 december, Thessa Menssen en André Toet namens het Havenbedrijf Rotterdam en Yvonne Korver namens MNO Vervat op de Nieuwe Maze een overeenkomst. Het contract is tot stand gekomen na een Europese aanbesteding.

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Het is de eerste keer dat het Havenbedrijf de onderhoudstaken op dit gebied in het geheel uitbesteed. Tot nu toe deed het dat steeds per project bij diverse aannemers. De overeenkomst heeft betrekking op het wegennet in de haven van circa 220 kilometer. MNO Vervat heeft zich namens het Havenbedrijf verbonden tot het onderhoud van de weginfrastructuur en bijbehorende objecten, zoals markering, borden, geleiderail en kolken. Daarnaast is het schoonhouden van deze objecten een onderdeel van het contract. MNO Vervat voert zowel klein als groot onderhoud uit om aan de prestatie-eisen te voldoen. Daarnaast zal het bedrijf deze onderhoudswerkzaamheden ook 'ontwerpen'.

MNO Vervat uit Nieuw-Vennep is actief op de markt van grote infrastructurele werken in onder meer Nederland, het Caribische gebied en Suriname. Het speerpunt van de bedrijfsfilosofie is het aanbieden van een totaalpakket: van spoorbouw tot wegenbouw en van tunnelbouw tot verkeersregeling.

MOVEMENTS

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

The 1996 built Indonesian flagged SURYAWATI, an double hull bulk carrier seen moored at the Tilbury Power Station 17.12.08. Built at the Koyodockyard in Mihara Japan, GRT 36,175, DWT 69,124, Length 224,00m, 32,20m, Former names : Globe Unity, Globe Brave, Photo : George Munnings ©

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…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..

The ZHEN HUA 14 seen departing from Rotterdam, after discharging new cranes at the new EUROMAX terminal in Rotterdam-Europoort, the vessel is now bound for Bremerhaven to discharge the last 2 cranes Photo : Rik van Marle © B O E K B E S P R E K I N G Door : Frank NEYTS

“Coasters of Cornwall”.

“Coasters of Cornwall” is de zesde uitgave in de populaire reeks ‘Coaster of ....’. Het betreft een uitgave door Coastal Shipping en is geschreven door Bernard McCall.

Het tachtig pagina’s tellende boekje brengt 89 prachtige kleurenfoto’s van schepen getrokken in havens doorheen Cornwall. Iedere foto wordt aangevuld met een gedetailleerd overzicht met informatie over het schip en de plaats waar de foto werd genomen. Zo komen in dit boekje de havens van Fowey, Par, Chalestown, Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Gweek, Porthoustock, Dean Quarry, Penzance, Newlyn, Hayle en Padstow aan bod. Niet alleen de schepen, maar dus ook de havenplaatsen van het prachtige Cornwall (en wie zal dat ontkennen) komen in beeld. Bernard McCall schreef in de voorbije twee decennia meer dan twintig maritieme boeken en startte in 1994 het succesvolle maritieme magazine ‘Coastal Shipping’.

“Coasters of Cornwall” (ISBN 978-1-902953-35-9) verscheen in juli 2008 als hardback. Het boekje kost £15.00. Bestellen kan via de boekhandel, of rechtstreeks bij de uitgeverij Coastal Shipping, 400 Nore Road, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8EZ, UK. Tel/Fax: +44(0)1275.846178, www.coastalshipping.co.uk

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