DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2017 – 114

Number 114 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Sunday 23-04-2017 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

Load out operation in Lumut-Malaysia Photo : Capt Jelle de Vries – Sunshine Offshore Services (c)

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The ARCADIA visited Valetta – Malta Photo : Michael Cassar © Yang Ming suspends share trading Yang Ming Line has been able to rely on state support so far through its current struggles. After its 2016 losses doubled to nearly $500 million, Yang Ming on Thursday suspended trading on the Taiwanese stock exchange until May 4 in an effort to reduce the carrier’s equity capital by more than 50 percent. Two weeks ago Yang Ming

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reassured customers in an advisory notice that it hadn’t needed to ask vendors to modify terminal terms, much less default on its obligations to vendors. In the April 3 notice, Yang Ming pointed to how its fourth quarter loss of $64 million was $89 million less than its third quarter loss, giving the carrier “a hopeful indicator of a reversal in the market.” “We are humbled by the continued and generous support of our customers and we ask you to join us to go forward in 2017,” the carrier said. “The delivery of your shipment is guaranteed.” Other carriers, including Maersk Line and Cosco, have reported strong pricing and volume in the fourth quarter, Despite this tailwind, Drewry expects the major carriers lost $3.5 billion in 2016, an improvement on the $5 billion in losses for the year the industry analyst had previously estimated. Shipper concerns over the financial viability of the carriers they use has heightened after Hanjn Shipping collapsed last year. In addition to looking at balance sheets, some shippers are monitoring whether their carriers are delaying payments to suppliers, such as operators and fuel provider, or paying more for the same services, both of which can foreshadow a carrier collapse. shares. Taiwan’s National Development Fund of the Taiwan is taking a 6.39 percent stake in Yang Ming, giving the Taiwanese government a 36.5 percent stake in the carrier once the first round of recapitalization is complete. Yang Ming said the deployment of additional with capacities of 14,000 teus will bring down slots costs and fuel savings. The carrier added that it’s membership in THE Alliance, involving NYK Line, MOL, “K” Line, and Hapag-Lloyd, provides customers with greater service. “With the implementation of our cost savings strategies and recapitalization plan, and with the support from our new investors, Yang Ming is well positioned in 2017 to best served our customers’ needs. Yang Ming firmly believes that our size, strategic plans, and alliance make up our competitive advantages,” the company said in the April 3 notice. Yang Ming was last profitable in 2013, when the carrier posted a profit of $92.2 million. As of last fall, the carrier had the most leveraged balance sheet of all the major carriers, with net gearing totaling 437 percent, according to Drewry Financial Research Services. That’s well above the industry average of 124 percent and nearly five times that of fellow Taiwanese carrier Evergreen Line. Lawmakers in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party have suggested to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications that Yang Ming should be merged with Taiwan International Ports Corp to streamline resources and lower costs. Yang Ming’s financial challenges have reinvigorated speculation it would merge with its compatriot Evergreen; however, Yang Ming Chairman Bronson Hsieh in early November rejected that idea, saying it has no plans to do so and its partial state ownership puts mergers off the table. Source: The Journal of Commerce Antwerp quarterly container volume up 0.7pc to 2.48 million TEU

Spliethoff Group’s MUNTGRACHT navigating the Westerschelde inbound for Antwerp , the vessel arrived from Willemstad- Curacao after Antwerp the next port of call will be Aarhus in Photo : P. , M. & Ph. van Luik www.shipsoffterneuzen.nl © ANTWERP's cargo throughput in the first quarter increased by 1.5 per cent year on year to 54.3 million tons, while container volume rose 0.7 per cent to 2.48 million TEU. CEO Jacques Vermeiren was quoted as saying in an American Shipper report: "Since the first half of last year experienced better performance than the second half, it is important to see the volumes continuing to steadily increase in the container segment. This positive trend confirms the demand for additional container capacity in the Antwerp port area." The roll-on/roll off sector experienced a 5.3 per cent year-on-year increase in the first quarter, finishing out at 1.2 million tons, with the number of cars handled up 2.8 per cent to 316,988 units.Breakbulk volumes for the quarter jumped 8.3 per cent thanks to the influx of steel, which in itself was up 14.7 per cent. Dry bulk grew by 6.7 per cent to 3.2 million tons on the back of higher imports of ore and coal. Source: Schednet

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Vietnam studies seaport water management in

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung had a working session with authorities from the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on April 19 to study the European country’s experience in planning, building and operating seaports. Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (C) studies sand engine, an experiment in the management of dynamic coastline in south Holland which is located below sea level He hoped the Netherlands will share its knowledge with Vietnam about seaport building and management and that Rotterdam will soon implement cooperative projects in Vietnam in seaport planning and logistics services and share experience in coastal protection While visiting the port, Deputy PM Dung met with leading Dutch businesses in navigation transport, logistics services, shipbuilding and seaports He mentioned Vietnam’s seaport development plan through 2020 and with a vision to 2030, saying this is an excellent opportunity for Dutch investors Earlier, the Deputy PM studied the sand engine, an experiment in the management of dynamic coastline in south Holland which is located below sea level. Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe, stretching over a distance of about 40 kilometres and consisting of five distinct port areas It is one of the main gateways for Vietnamese goods to enter Europe. More than 50 percent of Vietnamese goods exported to Europe enter via Rotterdam port On April 20, Deputy PM Dung visited the Deltares Research Institute – a leading science application institute in the Netherlands in geology, environment, and delta The guest heard about measures for water resources management and climate change adaptation conducted by Deltares scientists in Vietnam. He hailed the institute’s projects carried out in Vietnam, especially in the early warning of natural disasters, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion prevention. The same day, he visited the Netherlands Airport Consultants, an airport consultancy and engineering firm. He hoped the Vietnamese and Dutch aviation sector will expand collaboration. On April 21, the Deputy PM and his entourage wrapped up their working visit to the Netherlands from April 18-20 and began their trip to Ireland. Source: Vietnamnet bridge Cosco Shipping Specialised Carriers profit up 1,104pc to US$1.61 million 's Cosco Shipping Specialised Carriers posted a 1,104 per cent year-on-year first quarter net profit increase to CNY11.06 million (US$1.61 million), drawn on revenues of CNY1.6 billion, up 17.8 per cent. The Shanghai-listed company attributed the surge to strong returns from equity investments and an improved shipping operating environment, to the statement accompanying the results. Cosco Shipping Specialised Carriers, subsidiary of China Cosco Shipping Corporation Limited (Cosco Shipping), operates a fleet of more than 150 ships including heavy lifts, semi-submersibles, ro-ro and ice-class vessels. The company shipped 3.03 million tonnes of cargo in the first quarter, an increase of 6.1 per cent. Its multi-purpose vessels shipped 1.06 million tonnes, up 40.6 per cent year on year, with heavy lift vessels accounting for 610,000 tonnes, up 50.7 per cent and car carriers shipping 90,000 tonnes, up 87.5 per cent and semi-submersibles shipping 73,000 tonnes, up 116.8 per cent. The revenue of these four sectors contributed 82.6 per cent of 2016 annual revenue. Source: Schednet

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The outerharbour of Maassluis as seen by Rotterdam Pilot Marijn van Hoorn from the FPSO WESTERN ISLE enroute from the Caland Canal to Rotterdam Botlek photo : Marijn van Hoorn (c)

AIDAsol moored at the IJmuiden (NL) Felison Cruise Terminal. Mark the characteristic IJmuiden beach cabins in the foreground and the PRINCESS SEAWAYS the cruiseferry connecting Newcastle and IJmuiden in the background on the right side. Photo : Peter Herweijer – www.fotoserviceijmond.nl (c)

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Drewry: Asia-Europe rates down, but signs tell of USEC increase LONDON's Drewry Maritime Research reckons average Asia-Europe rate for container shipping is US$1,613 per FEU, $112 lower than the five-year average of $1,725, a seven per cent decline last week. Similarly, rates from Asia to the US west coast have decreased by $34 per FEU. But Drewry added: "We expect rates from Asia to the US east coast to increase [this week] on the back of the April 15 GRI [general rate increase] of $200/ 40ft."source: schednet Siem Offshore finds work for eight vessels Shipping company Siem Offshore has been awarded charter contracts for eight vessels for work across four continents. Namely, Siem said on Friday that it found work for four anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels, two platform suppliers (PSVs), and two offshore subsea construction vessels (OSCVs). The SIEM AQUAMARINE and SIEM TOPAZ AHTS vessels will support BHP Billiton with its upcoming drilling work west of . According to Siem, the firm period of the contract is 240 days. The second pair of AHTS vessels, the SIEM GARNET and SIEM SAPPHIRE, were chartered by Gazprom for operations on its Sakhalin project for a firm period of 440 days. Siem Louisa and Siem Sasha PSVs will begin a firm contract for 290 days at the end of April on the west coast of Africa for an unnamed client. The two OSCVs, the SIEM MARLIN and SIEM SPEARFISH, have already started their contracts. The SIEM MARLIN is on a 150 days charter in South America while the SIEM SPEARFISH is on a 100 days charter in the . Both are working for undisclosed clients.source : Offshore Energy Today

The Port Towage Amsterdam operated THETIS attending the arriving CLIO between the breakwaters of IJmuiden Photo : Simon Wolf (c) VLCCs Enjoy Active Week Despite Holidays, but Product Tankers Fare Worse According to the shipbroker, “thinning tonnage lists basically all over and steady supply both Wafr and Meg for East has created a sharply upward momentum on rates. Earnings closing on $30k/day, which far better than many had feared at this stage. Therefore optimism among owners for now and question remains how sustainable the present trend will be”. According to the shipbroker, “pre-Easter we saw a surge in Suezmax activity as charterers left it late to cover the 1st decade of May for Wafr in a condensed week. The owners sensed an opportunity and pressed for higher levels gaining some ground with Td20 briefly hitting the ws80 mark. The Bsea and Med followed suit and managed some moderate gains improving the sentiment going into the holidays. We have seen a more measured approach from the charterers this week with cargoes being shown in a orderly fashion and they have wrestled back some control steadying the rates. Current earnings could be described as reasonable but the forward paper curve suggests that there will be erosion in the coming weeks, in the short term the owners will be looking for any excuse to capitalize. Aframaxes in the NSea and Baltic have been pretty well balanced the last week. The ice season is coming to an end in strategic ports in the Baltic. However, we expect the market to hover around present levels in the week to come. The days leading up to Easter proved to be quite busy in the Med and Bsea. But a very long position list kept rates under downward pressure and as such rates moved down to ws100, despite this good activity. Now that a small clearance have taken place and Libya activity have blossomed, the market is slowly firming again”, said Fearnleys. Meanwhile, in the product

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market, things weren’t so rosy. According to Fearnley’s, in the East of Suez, “having a few days holiday does not seem to have had any positive effect on the market in the Middle East Gulf. The decline in rates for both LR1’s and LR2’s have continued and today rates obtained are around ws 85 for LR2’s and ws100 for the LR1’s and the sentiment is not actually very positive, on the other hand current levels are so low that there Is not much downside. Today daily earnings for a voyage to Japan is about USD 5.500 for both LR1 and LR2. Current rate for Continent discharge for LR2’s is around USD 1,3 mill and USD 1,1 mill down about USD 200.000 since last week. Mr’s fixing out of Sikka for Japan discharge is fixing around the ws125 mark, down ws10 points from last week. In the Far east both the Singapore to Japan mr voyage and the short haul voyage from south Korea to Japan has declined to ws 140 mark for the Singapore to Japan and lumpsum USD 225.000 for south Korea to Hong Kong” said the shipbroker.

The VLCC YUAN HUA HU in Rotterdam Europoort – Photo : Marijn van Hoorn ©

“In the western hemisphere rates are under continuous pressure form the charterers. The straight MR voyage from the Continent to the States have dropped from ws180 mark before Easter holiday’s to ws145 level today and the back haul voyage from the U.S. gulf have also dropped from ws140 to ws120 level today. This means that the daily earnings for a combination voyage has dropped from USD 19.000 to USD 14.000 today. LR1’s trading from Continent to west Africa have only lost ws10 points last week and is today fixing at ws 110 level. For the LR2’s the levels paid are still low and latest assessment from Mediterranean to the Far east is at USD 1,650 mill. The handy segment in the Mediterranean and on the Continent as again going in opposite direction of each other with rates in the Mediterranean once again shooting upwards from ws 165 to ws210 level today whilst at the Continent rates have dropped ws10 points to ws190” Fearnleys concluded. Source : Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Report: Kogas seeking June, July LNG cargo deliveries South Korea’s Kogas reportedly issued a tender looking to buy cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for delivery in June and July. Reuters reports sources as saying the company has not specified the number of cargoes it is looking to purchase.

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Suppliers have a limit on the number of cargoes they can offer, however, Kogas has not given a limit on the deliveries. Kogas, the world’s second-largest corporate LNG buyer, imports approximately 96 percent of Korea’s LNG demand via its four LNG terminals, namely Incheon, Pyeongtaek, Tongyeong, and Samcheok. Source: LNG World News Staff

Northern Offshore Services CARRIER inbound for Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam Photo : Marcel Coster (c) IMO urged to probe if not ban hull paints that castrate molluscs ACADEMICS and environmentalists are calling on the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to investigate, if not ban, the use of castrating organotin tributyltin used in silicone-based hull paints, reports New York's Marine Log. "Less than 1/1000th of the amount in coatings, organotins cause molluscs to change sex and/or become behaviourally castrated," warned Daniel Rittschof, a specialist in barnacles at North Carolina's Duke University. Prof Rittschof said this caused male to follow male pheromones and female to follow female pheromones. "Organotins at very low levels alter enzymes that process steroids, which is why molluscs change sex," he said. While use of the organotin tributyltin (TBT) was outlawed as an active biocide a decade ago, the IMO is claimed to "have left the door open" for tin as a catalyst. "I have seen for myself that something strange happened with the formulation of these foul release coatings," said Rik Bruer, managing director of Finsulate, a manufacturer of a non-toxic antifouling wrap. While shipowners may have thought the use of organotins in marine hull coatings was completely outlawed in 2008 with the ban on tributyltin (TBT), they can still be used as a catalyst if organotin content does not exceed the allowable limit of 250mg/1kg of paint, said the report. Dibutyltin and dioctyltin are the organotins under most scrutiny. "There are studies available in the public domain that should have already raised alarm bells," said Boud Van Rompay, chairman of Subsea Industries, the manufacturer of the Ecospeed hull coating system.source: Schednet Investigation to determine why Sewol sank to begin in May A probe to shed light on the exact cause of the tragic sinking of the SEWOL will begin late next month, a special fact- finding body said Thursday. The eight-member panel set up last month by special law aims to allow maritime experts and lawyers to determine why the 6,800 ton ship capsized in waters off the southwest coast in 2014. The sinking resulted in the deaths of 304 people, with the remains of nine still unaccounted for. "We expect that the investigation will start as early as late May," said Kim Chang-joon, the chairman of the board. "It takes time to allocate the budget and recruit officials." At the weekly meeting on Friday, he said the members will discuss ways to check and review all former documents and reports related to the accident. After the sinking, the prosecution, state auditor and other judiciary bodies carried out their own inspections into the cause of the sinking. "We now have the SEWOL on land. We will compare the existing records with the ship and verify them," said Kim. The wreck was raised from the bottom of the sea and put into dry dock at a local port in Mokpo, some 410 kilometers south of Seoul, last week. Search parties have been going into the wreck to look for remains. So far they have found two mobile phones and hundreds of personal belongings. At the same time, another search using divers is underway at the site of the sinking. Underwater fences were already set up to prevent any items that came from the ship from being carried away by currents. Source: Yonhap

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Platform B15 and LQ loaded out in Lumut

In a load out operation In Lumut – Malaysia the B 15 Platform, CPP (at the photo’s the unit with the crane) and LQ were loaded out the last two were loaded onboard the MARITIME COURAGE and the jacket was loaded onboard the barge M3301

Photo’s : Capt Jelle de Vries – Sunshine Offshore Services (c)

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Tugboat carrying over 300 lbs of oil sinks in Sitka By Emily Kwong, A tugboat with more than 300 gallons of oil aboard sank Thursday night in Sitka. The POWHATAN is owned by Samson Tug & Barge, sank near its dock in Starrigavan Bay. According to divers from Hanson Maritime Company, the tug POWHATAN had drifted offshore and was found about 10:15 p.m. The divers estimate the POWHATAN was 60 feet below its resting location. On board was 325 gallons of lube oil, 12 gallons of diesel, and possible sledge. It’s not known how much oil was spilled into the water. The U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska Department Environmental Conservation and the Southeast Petroleum Response Organization responded to the scene, surrounding the tug with booms to contain the oil. The response team is monitoring impacts to wildlife, but no incidents have been detected so far. According to the state’s situation report, an underwater camera may be used to confirm the tug’s location and monitor for fuel leakage. Source: KTOO

The GEO CASPIAN outbound from Amsterdam – Photo : Joop Marechal (c) Alphatron Marine presenteert zich wederom tijdens Maritime Industry De binnenvaart afdeling van Alphatron Marine is ook in 2017 weer present op haar bekende stek tijdens de Maritime Industry beurs (stand 487). Met een in het oog springende stand, zoals Alphatron Marine zich ook presenteert op andere (inter)nationale beurzen,tonen wij onze compleet vernieuwde console met een zo goed mogelijke afspiegeling van onze producten en integratie mogelijkheden. Dit jaar is het vernieuwde verkoopteam van de afdeling binnenvaart aanwezig. Naast Peter van Veen zal ook onze nieuwe sales engineer Mark de Pree u van advies en informatie voorzien. Alphatron Marine zal dit jaar onder andere weer

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de vernieuwde MF-line presenteren, deze MF-line wordt door veel klant als uiterst betrouwbaar en gebruiksvriendelijk ervaren. Deze nieuwe en volledige digitale instrumenten vormen een bijzonder harmonieus geheel in een compleet nieuwe lessenaar. Ook op bestaande schepen vinden deze instrumenten gretig aftrek. Met name de gecombineerde bocht- en roerstandaanwijzer in de grotere MFL uitvoering, maar ook in het bijzonder de MFS uitvoering in lessenaars waarbij slechts een geringe ruimte beschikbaar is.

De afgelopen tijd hebben wij gezamenlijk met onze dealers al heel wat schepen met deze producten uitgerust. Normaal gesproken gaat de introductie van een nieuwe lijn met de nodige kinderziektes gepaard. Doordat de ontwikkeling van deze producten echter op een dusdanig hoog niveau is uitgevoerd, zijn deze vrijwel uitgebleven en zijn de gebruikers bijzonder goed te spreken over de gehele serie instrumenten. De producten worden op de beurs in de twee bekende Alphatron Marine kleuren gedemonstreerd. Een ander product wat al een aantal jaren een bewezen goed product is en ook nu opnieuw getoond wordt is de JMA-610 radar. Deze radar brengt u bij slecht zicht veilig op uw bestemming. Met een breed scala aan verschillende mogelijkheden zoals, koersvoorspellingslijnen, AIS targets en de beeldopname functie blijft dit product een absolute topper. Laat u voorlichten op deze beurs over de vele mogelijkheden en beeldkwaliteit van dit top product. Een nieuw product is de radarnavigator. Dit product welke samen met Tresco Engineering is ontwikkelt vormt een nieuwe manier van navigeren die gepositioneerd mag worden tussen radar en elektronische kaart. Deze nieuwe toepassing zal de gebruiker helpen veilig te navigeren op de Europese binnenwateren. Door de nieuwste technieken in het koppelen van radar en kaart kunnen wij deze een stuk voordeliger aanbieden. Uiteraard worden ook de nodige cameraoplossingen getoond op deze beurs. Nieuw dit jaar zijn de High Definition camera’s met signaal over coax, dit is een compleet vernieuwde camera line waarbij het signaal digitaal over de coax wordt gestuurd waardoor storingen en ruis verleden tijd zijn. U zal zich verbazen over de beeldkwaliteit van deze camera’s. Ook bent u bij ons aan het juiste adres voor het opnemen van camerabeelden. Wij adviseren u graag over de diverse mogelijkheden. Het team van Alphatron Marine heet u van harte welkom op stand 487. World's top rig builder Keppel says no rescue in sight for offshore oil services Keppel Corp reports first year-on-year rise in quarterly profits since early 2015 Singapore's Keppel Corporation, the world's largest offshore rig builder, said it expects an extended slowdown in the offshore sector even though oil prices have recovered from their historically low levels a year ago."This is due to, among other factors, the oversupply of rigs and support vessels. It will take some time before the industry fully recovers," Loh Chin Hua, Keppel's chief executive, said during a Thursday evening webcast to announce the company's first quarter earnings. His remarks are a testament to challenges that the oil support services sector still faces. The recovery in oil prices have yet to translate into greater oil exploration and production activities, which will help to shore up demand for rigs and support vessels. The prolonged slowdown resulted in Keppel reducing its global workforce in its offshore and marine unit by close to 18,000, or about 49 percent, since the start of 2015, according to Loh. The company also stopped operations at two overseas yards and announced plans to close three in Singapore. While Keppel's offshore and marine unit has held up against an unfavorable environment, smaller players in the industry are not as lucky. Singapore-listed Swiber Holdings and Ezra Holdings made headlines after failing to repay their debt, leading to their bankers – which include the three largest lenders in Singapore – to put aside more money to cover for bad loans coming from the beleaguered sector. Analysts agreed that demand for the oil support services looks set to remain sluggish for now, but noted that outlook is slowing improving. "Expectations are low, and while there is unlikely to be nay demand for new-build rigs, there remains the possibility of production-related orders, as well as (floating liquefied natural gas) orders," said OCBC Investment Research analyst Low Pei Han in a note. Source : CNBC

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Headed for Denmark: Molslinjen's new cat leaves The 109 m high speed vehicle-passenger catamaran ferry Express 3 has departed Australian shipbuilder Incat Tasmania on her delivery voyage to Denmark via the Panama Canal. The entirely new generation EXPRESS 3 will become the fourth catamaran from Incat's Hobart, Tasmania, shipyard to join Danish operator Molslinjen's current fleet. The 109 m wave piercing catamaran has evolved from Incat's well proven 112 m catamaran range which first entered commercial service in mid-2007. "The design brief was simple," says Incat's Tim Burnell. "Ensure a consistent passenger experience and fleet commonality for Molslinjen, who already successfully operate two Incat 112 m catamarans, whilst delivering a minimum 10 percent fuel and emissions saving plus faster vehicle deck turnaround times." Building on extensive in-service experience with the Incat 112 m the concept was redesigned from the keel up by Incat's in-house naval architects, Revolution Design. The resulting 109 m design delivers a lightship weight saving of just over 100 tonnes. The design refinement has also produced a marked improvement to vessel trim. Fuel, domestic fresh water and sullage tanks have all been moved forward but, even more significantly, by repositioning the engine rooms six frames further forward, the vessel benefits from vastly improved speed and fuel consumption performance. Adding a skeg to the keel has enhanced directional stability. On sea trials, EXPRESS 3 achieved a speed of 43 knots with 600 tonnes deadweight on board, easily exceeding contractual speed and fuel consumption expectations. "Incat's suppliers played their part in the quest to redefine vessel design," says Mr. Burnell. "LifeRaft Systems Australia for example, designed and gained regulatory approval for longer Marine Evacuation Systems (MES). This allows the MES bays to be moved one deck up into the passenger space, rather than on the tween (upper car) deck on earlier vessels, resulting in a reduction in weight as well as more overall space on the tweendeck." Additionally, the vehicle deck layout has been enhanced with a new two pillar line arrangement, offering an overall gain of 600 mm width in workable vehicle deck space, greatly assisting loading and discharge which in turn has a positive effect on turnaround times in port; Vehicle deck capacity offers space for up to 411 cars, or up to 227 cars and 610 m of truck space. Aside from the many proactive design and operating measures to reduce SOx, CO2, NOx and particulate matter, another important consideration was to install charging stations for electric vehicles, allowing motorists to charge their electric car as they travel across the . Accommodation on board EXPRESS 3 is provided for 1,000 persons with varied seating configurations in the aft, midship and forward lounges. To service both tourist and business class sections close attention has been paid to the dining areas to cater for passengers on the busy fast routes between Odden, Arhus and Ebeltoft. In addition to a large free flow restaurant there is also an American style diner, a walk-through kiosk and an espresso coffee shop.Tim Burnell comments, "The 109 metre catamaran is Incat's response to increasing demand for quality newbuild high speed craft that will provide reliable year round service. We pioneered this mode of high speed transport in 1990 and our have since operated over 2.5 million hours in intensive commercial service. By deconstructing already successful designs and operator experience Incat has produced a fast ferry that truly is of a new generation." The new ferry will enter commercial service on 1st June, 2017. "Molslinjen offer up to 30 sailings per day and taking the ferry typically saves customers around 400km of driving while being faster and more relaxing," says Vice Chairman Søren Jespersen. "Designed and optimized for our use Express 3 offers a fantastic onboard service for our customers. With the arrival of this fantastic craft our business transformation continues, expanding our route capacity, facilitating opening up new services and ensuring continued profitability growth for our company." PARTICULARS:

Classification DnV +1A1 HSLC R1 Car Ferry "B" EO Gross Tonnage 10,842 Length 109.4 m Beam 30.5 m Draft 4.05 m Deadweight 1,000 tonnes Passengers 1,000 Cars 411 cars in car-only mode Engines 4 x MAN Diesel & Turbo 20V 28/33D Waterjets 4 x Wartsila Lips LJX 1500SR Gearboxes 4 x ZF NR2H 60000 Loaded Speed, SeaTrials 43 knots with in excess of 600 t deadweight Service Speed 40 knots Lightship Speed 47 knots Source: Marinelog Problems with tugs and infrastructure hobble new Panama Canal locks, says Masters, Mates & Pilots

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Only half of the projected number of ships per day are transiting through the new canal locks due to a lack of staff and infrastructure East Coast Ports Invested Billions of Dollars in Improvements to Accommodate Panamax Ships—Will the Panama Canal Authority Correct the Problem Before it Gets Worse? Larger ships, known as Neopanamax, were expected to visit ports on the Eastern Seaboard this year, bringing shipping containers from Asia through an expanded Panama Canal. But due to insufficient operational resources within the Panama Canal, far fewer ships than expected have made the passage. The $9.4 billion investment by the Panama Canal Authority in a third set of locks was supposed to double the tonnage capacity of the Canal. However, according to the Authority’s own transit records, the new locks are operating at about half their anticipated capacity. A shortage of tugs and trained crews has limited the Authority’s ability to efficiently move the mega-ships through the locks. Instead of the anticipated 12 vessel transits per day through the expanded canal, only a maximum of six are being completed. “This is like building a massive office tower without sufficient elevators to carry workers quickly to their offices,” said Captain Don Marcus, the President of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots. Marcus’ union represents sea captains and deck officers on U.S.-flagged vessels, as well as many of the captains and crews on in U.S. ports and Panama. The locks, designed in the early 1900s, and in continuous operation for more than a century, rely on locomotives moving on the side of the canal to tow vessels. Left : the CERRE CANUAGUA operating in the Panama Canal Photo : Herbert Westerwal Westcoasting (c)

In contrast, the new third set of locks serving mega-ships are moved by powerful tugboats in a very complicated and risky process that has been documented in a report by the insurance company Allianz It was estimated that the canal expansion would require 70 to 90 of these more powerful tugboats. In practice, however, only 33 of 46 tugboats owned by the Panama Canal Authority are operational – on a good day. Tug captains employed by the Authority report that many of the canal tugs are not suitable to handle large container ships. Eight tugs purchased from China are poor performers and not fully used, and at least 10 other tugs are not operational. The shortage of appropriate tugs is not entirely the Panama Canal Authority’s fault. Harbor pilots worldwide report that Neopanamax vessels have limitations on their ability to maneuver which, when combined with their increased size, makes them extremely difficult to control. These factors have required a greater number of the more powerful tugs than was initially expected. The safety and transit problems in the “Third set of Locks” were evident from the beginning. The New York Times documents this in a July 2016 story entitled “Fender Bender on the Water (The Expanded Panama Canal).” “You would think the Authority would address the problem and acquire more tugboats and train additional crews,” said Marcus. “They have a canal that’s working at half of its capacity and is not generating the projected revenues. As a stopgap, they have hired a Venezuelan company to provide additional tugboats.” The waters around the Panama Canal can be very tricky because of difficult currents and tight maneuvering into locks. The Neopanamax vessels and LNG carriers generally require at least two tugboats to move through the new locks. There isn’t much room for error. In February, the Associated Press documented that many vessels were scraping the walls of the locks and wearing out the newly constructed walls and doors. “The Authority is at a critical point,” said Marcus. “Everyone acknowledges that there is a shortage of tugs and trained tugboat captains. In order for the new locks to be a success, the Authority must complete its investment in infrastructure and personnel. Bringing in a Venezuelan company to provide tugs and crews who lack sufficient training and English language skills, unlike crews employed by the canal authority, is not a solution. It will create greater problems. The Venezuelan company´s employees do not go through the rigorous 2.5-year training and certification process that is required for captains employed by the canal authority. And, for the first time in the canal’s history you will have these sensitive operations conducted by an outside Venezuelan company rather than direct employees of the Panama Canal authority, thus creating safety and security questions.” Added Marcus, “Ports in the U.S. and as far away as the U.K. have made investments based on the canal expansion. The canal is of vital strategic importance and is critical to trade. The Panama Canal Authority must live up to its commitments, acquire additional tugs and train and hire Panamanian personnel to operate them.

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The Canal administration needs to take these actions now.” In the United States, ports on the Atlantic coast such as Savannah, Jacksonville and New York have spent billions of dollars harbors and raising bridges to accommodate the Neopanamax container ships. The Bayonne Bridge alone required an appropriation of $1.3 billion to raise that structure from 151 to 215 feet. “The Panama Canal Authority needs to finish the job,” said Marcus. “There will be no payoff for Panama nor for East Coast ports until the canal is running at full capacity. A promise was made 15 years ago. The Panamanian people and U.S. East Coast ports relied on that promise and spent billions of taxpayers’ dollars. A few more dollars must be invested in tugs and personnel by the Panama Canal authority. This will guarantee the desired return on investment and advance world trade. Failure to promptly address the problem will bring adverse economic consequences to the United States and Panama.” Source: American Journal of Transportation Abandoned ferry sinks in Algeciras

Photo : Martin van Leest - ROG, your partner for dockside and on-site services (c) A ferry abandoned in the port of Algeciras took on water in heavy winds and began sinking.No one was injured and emergency services in the Spanish city sealed the vessel off with a boom, insisting there was no risk of pollution. The vessel, PANAGIA PAROU , was abandoned several years ago and is docked in a small harbour basin deep inside the port Source : Gibraltar Chonicle Congestion at Shanghai fails to help spot rates out of Asia By Alexander Whiteman Capacity issues at European ports may have boosted spot rates for Europe-Asia sailings but reports of congestion in Shanghai have done little for Asia-Europe sailings. Shanghai-Rotterdam rates remained virtually flat this week – after a 7% slip last week – at $1,546 per 40ft, but Shanghai-Genoa saw a 3% dip to $1,462, according to Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) The decline was more marked on Freightos’ International Freight Index – which reports at the start of each week – citing China- Europe rates as low as $1,423 per 40ft. Responding to the lull, Ocean Alliance member OOCL announced the suspension of its East Mediterranean and Black Sea (EM1) service, westbound from Pusan on 7 May and eastbound departing Izmit on 9 June. While some carriers may lament the weakening performances, they’d be well advised to check the corresponding week last year, when rates were 225% lower, hitting a nadir of $271 per teu. Transpacific trades were little better last week. The WCI recorded a 4% drop on both Asia-US east coast ($2,367 per 40ft) and Asia-US west coast ($1,358) sailings. Again, Freightos results were a little more severe, with China-US sailings indicating a 6.6% decline week-on-week to around $1,365. However, the capacity crunch for European exporters continues to push up rates on Europe-Asia sailings – by 10% this week, according to WCI’s Rotterdam-Shanghai leg, to $1,723 per 40ft The surge has led Maersk Line to announce a FAK increase for reefer shipments. From 1 May, the carrier will increase reefer rates from Bremerhaven and Rotterdam to China and Japan’s main ports by 25%, with Bremerhaven to Japan rates quoted at $3,950 per 40ft.CMA CGM has also issued a slew of FAK increases, with rates for Asia-Europe sailings from 1 May of $2,000 and $2,050 for reefer containers. And from 17 May, the carrier will introduce a peak season surcharge of $200 Distribution : daily to 37.000+ active addresses 23-04-2017 Page 14 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2017 – 114

for standard and reefer container sailings from to the US west coast. Meanwhile, Yang Ming has expanded its service offering with a new Asia Australia Alliance Service, connecting South-east Asia with Australia. Commencing on Monday, the service will run: Laem Chabang-Singapore-Port Klang-Fremantle-Sydney-Melbourne-Adelaide-Fremantle-Singapore-Laem Chabang. Source: The loadstar

Philippines Sends Defense Chief to Disputed South China Sea Island The Philippines sent its top military officials on Friday to an island it occupies in the disputed South China Sea to reinforce the country’s claim. Even before the military C-130 transport aircraft reached Pag-asa Island, also known as Thitu, the Chinese challenged the flight at least four times on radio as it passed through the region. China claims the island, as do Vietnam and Taiwan. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who led the trip, sought to play down the challenge from the Chinese, saying it was their “protocol” to question aircraft flying over what they regarded as their airspace. “No untoward incident happened,” he added. Pag-asa is part of the Spratly Islands, an archipelago of about 14 islets and dozens of reefs and shoals. It is believed to lie atop vast reserves of natural deposits, and the varying claims are a point of conflict for the region. China claims the vast majority of the South China Sea, and it has been bolstering its presence there by expanding shoals into artificial islands and building military and other facilities. The Philippines has contested many of China’s claims, but President Rodrigo Duterte has taken a more conciliatory stance since taking office last year. This month, however, Mr. Duterte appeared to antagonize China by ordering the military to deploy to islands claimed by the Philippines. Mr. Lorenzana soon walked back those comments, however. Mr. Duterte also recently said he would go to Pag-asa on the Philippines’ independence day in June to plant the country’s flag, but he later said he would not do so. Mr. Lorenzana said on Friday that he went to Pag-asa to check the island’s facilities, saying that the runway needed repairs and that docks should be upgraded. He said a “beaching ramp” was to be built on the island before the typhoon season starts in July. Apart from fixing the runway, the government has also earmarked $32 million for a fishing port, a power and desalination plant, a radio station and an ice plant. A marine research sanctuary is also being planned, as the government hopes to turn the area into a tourist attraction, Mr. Lorenzana said. Mr. Lorenzana said he expected China to protest his trip and the development plans. “That protest is automatic. We both claim the region,” he said. “If they build in other areas in the region, we also protest.” Pag-asa is considered an island municipality, attached to the island province of Palawan. It is occupied by troops and governed by an elected official, who also joined Mr. Lorenzana’s trip. The trip coincided with a report that a group of Filipino fishermen had been fired on by the Chinese Coast Guard last month while sailing near the Union Banks atoll, also in the disputed region. The Philippine Coast Guard said fishermen had reported that a Chinese Coast Guard speedboat had fired at them seven times after it dropped anchor in the area on March 27. The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not respond to requests for comment about the report. Source: New York Times Water samples pending as spill from ferry in Kootenay Lake, B.C., cleaned up Results of water samples taken after an oil spill from a ferry in Kootenay Lake in southeastern B.C., should be available Friday. Distribution : daily to 37.000+ active addresses 23-04-2017 Page 15 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2017 – 114

The Regional District of Central Kootenay says water samples were taken on three separate days after gear oil spilled from the Kootenay Lake Ferry on April 15 near Balfour, northeast of Nelson. At the time, Interior Health said a 400 metre stretch of shoreline next to the Balfour ferry terminal should be avoided. A news release from the regional district says the spill has been contained and did not appear to have affected drinking water intakes in the area. A faulty piece of equipment was removed from the ferry Wednesday, along with a mixture of about 400 litres of oil and water. The regional district says any sheen still visible on the lake contains very low quantities of oil and experts have advised the sheen will dissipate or has already disappeared. Source : Canadian Press Global Opens New Office in Juneau, Alaska Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. is pleased to announce they have expanded their regional operations with the addition of a new office in Juneau, Alaska. The new Juneau office will support southeast Alaska through several of Global's primary service lines: marine construction, marine salvage and emergency response, diving operations and more. Global has been providing marine services in southeast Alaska for years through their Anchorage and Pacific Northwest offices; the new Juneau office is being established in response to client requests for a dedicated base, which will bolster the capacity of operations in that region.

EU calls for renewed efforts to battle resurgent piracy off Somali coast The resurgent piracy attacks off the vast Somali coastline is a result of the growing insecurity in the Horn of Africa region, which calls for renewed security partnership to defeat, a commander of an international naval task force against piracy told Xinhua. Commander Jacqui Sheriff, Spokesperson for the European Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) operating off the Somali coastline to deter piracy along the Indian Ocean coastline and in the Gulf of Aden, said pirates have felt the need to return to sea in the middle of heightened insecurity in recent months. “The EU NAVFOR warships and maritime patrol aircraft are continuing to work with maritime partners to deter armed pirate attacks,” Sherriff said in a recent interview. The EU NAVFOR and China’s PLA Navy have formed the bedrock of international naval collaboration to defeat rampant acts of piracy along the Indian Ocean coastline and the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese navy was instrumental in the rescue of an Indian vessel, Al Kausar, which was hijacked on April 3 as it headed to the Port of Bossasso This was the second such incident in weeks after several months of calm in a region where up to 237 attacks were reported during the peak piracy period in 2011 “Given the insecurity in the Horn of Africa region, pirates have perhaps felt that there could be opportunities at sea to attack and take ship for ransom,” Sherriff said An unknown number of pirates attacked the Indian freight vessel before it was rescued by a team of elite Chinese naval officers who also rescued the 19 crew members. Sherriff said the Chinese PLA Navy warships in the area have made a contribution to efforts to deter piracy in the Horn of Africa region for some time now. The EU NAVFOR warships in the region have been contributing to the efforts to stamp out piracy in the region. However, the area of operation is considered too vast to completely patrol, naval experts say. She said the EU NAVFOR continued to cooperate with partners to deter piracy in the region, which is critical to international trade. Beijing deployed its navy to join the international effort against piracy in 2008 after a series of piracy attacks, which included three Chinese vessels. The Chinese navy has been providing escort services to Chinese ship, escorts to relief and other humanitarian supplies including the World Food Program (WFP) consignments and ship owned by Chinese companies as they transit through the Gulf of Aden. The Chinese naval deployment to the region followed a

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UN Security Council approval. In 2016, the Chinese authorities confirmed the PLA dispatched 21 task groups, involving 62 ships and 42 helicopters to protect 6,056 vessels, including 8 vessels carrying WFP food shipments to the region, according to a PLA navy briefing paper. At least 1,500 Chinese ship transit through the Gulf of Aden. The EU naval force, whose mandate has been extended to 2018 by the EU last December, has vowed to continue working with its partners, including the PLA navy, to keep seafarers and vessels safe. Sherriff attributed the relative calm from piracy attacks in the last few months to the vigilance practiced by owners of shipping lines and the successes of the naval operation. Efforts to ensure a sustainable end to the piracy attacks have also been bolstered by the training of Somali coast guards. However, Sherriff said while the Somali forces were working to improve their maritime capabilities, there was need to further provide additional training and logistical support. “The Somali authorities appreciate the support given by the EU and other missions that operate in the region to provide maritime security and training to local forces,” she said. Source: Xinhua Philippines' Duterte tours Russian warship Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte toured a visiting Russian warship on Friday for the second time in barely four months as he highlighted his growing closeness to Moscow. "The Russians are with me, I shall not be afraid," Duterte was quoted as saying during a visit to the Russian guided missile cruiser 'VARYAG' which is on a port visit to Manila. Duterte toured the ship, posing for pictures with Russian sailors and in front of the vessel's huge missile-launchers, on what was the fourth ever port call by a Russian naval ship to the Philippines Since taking office in June, Duterte -- who describes himself as a socialist -- has been distancing himself from the Philippines' traditional ally, the United States and moving closer to its rivals, China and Russia. In an indication of these closer ties, two Russian ships led by the submarine-hunter Admiral Tributs, made a "goodwill visit" to Manila in January, when Duterte also toured the Russian vessel. Duterte has said he plans to purchase military equipment from Russia rather than the United States and is due to visit in May to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier, Philippine navy spokesman Captain Lued Lincuna said the visit of the Russians was "a manifestation of good relations with them, to enhance our maritime cooperation," he told reporter Captain Leo Miado, one of the Philippine naval officers overseeing the visit, said sailors from the two countries would engage in training, adding "we can view the advanced equipment of the Russian navy in line with our modernisation efforts." Source: AFP Uzmar delivers two tugs it started building on spec Turkey's Uzmar Workboat and Tug Factory has delivered two 25 m x 10 m tugboats to Caracas, Venezuela, headquartered IOED (International Offshore Engineering and Development Company). The shipbuilder started construction of the boats on a speculative basis, but after IOED showed interest in them they were sold to the company, which was an existing customer, and will now have a major role working in Venezuela's major oil ports. The shipyard's Deputy General Manager Mr. Mutlu Altug stated that "we are very happy to provide our seventh boat to IOED. As our friends have an Uzmar fleet over there we will not limit our relations to tugboat provider only; also we will be their strategic partner where they will have our lifetime support." The vessels' propulsion power is provided by Caterpillar 3512C engines rated at 1,765 bkW. coupled with Schottel fixed pitch propellers. Another, dedicated, diesel provides power for fire fighting operations independently of the main drives. The vessels have a combined anchor towing winch provided by Ibercisa and delivered a 60 ton bollard pull during sea trials source: Marinelog Piraeus Targets Cruise Sector Piraeus Port, Greece's largest, aims to increase its cruise traffic from 1 million passengers a year up to 1.5 million in the short- term and to 3 million long-term, its managing director, Fu Cheng Qiu, said on Friday. COSCO Shipping, which owns the world's fourth-largest container shipping fleet, bought 51 percent of the port's operating company last year, and plans significant investment to turn the port into a transhipment hub for rapidly growing trade between Asia and Eastern Europe. In a speech welcoming a first group of 250 Chinese cruise passengers in Piraeus, Fu, who took over last year, said COSCO also plans to upgrade cruise services to attract Chinese tourists and tap into the port's growth potential in the cruise industry in the . Fu said that COSCO has signed an agreement with China's third largest air carrier, China Eastern Airlines, to bring Chinese tourists to Greece on chartered flights. The Chinese will then embark on cruise trips in the Mediterranean Sea via Piraeus. Source : Reuters (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou)

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The NORWEGIAN GETAWAY moored in Cozumel Mexico. Photo : Jan Geleedst. © NAVY NEWS US Navy F-18 from carrier Carl Vinson crashes off the Philippines A fighter pilot was forced to eject during an attempted landing on the aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON in the Celebes Sea, south of the Philippines, the US Navy has said. The pilot was recovered safely. The F/A-18E fighter jet, which was part of Carrier Air Wing 2, was on final landing approach after conducting “routine flight operations,” US 7th Fleet Command said in a statement. The incident is under investigation “There are no apparent injuries at this time,” the Navy said, noting that the pilot has been evaluated by medical personnel aboard the CARL VINSON. The carrier is the flagship of a task force that was “steaming out toward the Sea of Japan” the White House said earlier this month. The Carl Vinson battlegroup was deployed in East Asia in January. According to the US Navy, the carrier is accompanied by the missile cruiser USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN, and destroyers USS WAYNE E MEYER and USS MICHAEL MURPHY. Developed by McDonnell-Douglas and manufactured

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by Boeing, the F/A-18E Super Hornet is a single-seat, twin-engine, multirole combat jet that has been in US Navy service since 1999. Its intended replacement, the F-35C, is behind schedule and over budget. Source : Russia Today

Russian Pacific Fleet's flagship "VARYAG" arrives in Manila for 4-day visit Russian submarine sub-ice navigation drills in the Arctic

Strategic missile submarine crews are practicing their sub-ice navigation skills in the Arctic, Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu said at the ministry's board meeting, RIA Novosti reports. "Strategic missile submarine crews are keeping their under-ice navigation skills current," Shoigu said. "Every year, Northern Fleet ships sail the waters of the Northern Sea Route." The minister also said tactical military training continued on Arctic archipelagos. "Arctic motor-rifle brigade personnel continue to train with new models of military hardware that are capable of enduring low temperatures," he said. A few years ago, Russia embarked on an aggressive campaign to explore its northern territories and develop the Northern Sea Route. A package of measures, including military objectives, has been drawn up to protect Russia's interests in the Arctic. Source: arctic Israeli Navy Backs Netanyahu's Submarine Deal The Israeli Navy has decided to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accelerated contract with a German defense firm for the construction of three more Dolphin-class submarines, asserting that it needs to fast-track the acquisition and take delivery as quickly as possible. The statement, provided to Defense News by a senior official, represents a full reversal of the service’s stance late last year, when officials said that they would prefer a standard multi-year bidding process. Netanyahu's office negotiated the submarine deal with ThyssenKrupp directly, without input from the Navy and despite the objections of then- defense minister Moshe Yaalon. The abruptness of the arrangement – and the involvement of Netanyahu's personal lawyer, who had ties to a firm advising ThyssenKrupp in Israel – has raised questions of conflicts of interest, and the deal is now the subject of a criminal investigation. At Germany's insistence, both sides have recently agreed to add a clause to the submarine contract that would cancel the deal if the Israeli investigation finds evidence of corruption. It is not the first time that ThyssenKrupp has found itself involved in a defense procurement scandal: it launched an internal investigation in 2015 when rumors emerged that subsidiary had bribed foreign government officials, and in 2016 German prosecutors searched its offices for evidence of suspected bribery at a joint venture, Atlas Elektronic. Neither is it the sole corruption investigation involving individuals close to Netanyahu. On Thursday, the prime minister's cousin gave testimony in an unrelated inquiry that seeks to determine whether Netanyahu accepted illegal gifts from businesses. Separately, prosecutors are reportedly nearing an

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indictment for Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, who may soon face charges of "fraudulent receiving" for allegedly using state funds to decorate and maintain the family's private home. Netanyahu and his family have firmly rejected any accusations of wrongdoing. Source : MAREX SHIPYARD NEWS

\ Work begins on new Royal Navy ship at Govan shipyard Work has officially begun on HMS SPEY at Govan shipyard on the Clyde. The offshore patrol vessel is the last of five being built in Glasgow for the Royal Navy. Like HMS FORTH, HMS MEDWAY, HMS TRENT and HMS TAMAR, it will be built at BAE System's Govan facility before being fitted out for operations at the Scotstoun yard. The first sheet of metal for the ship was cut in a ceremony at Govan on Friday. The work has filled a gap in the order books at the yards, where work on eight Type-26 frigates is due to begin this summer. It has sustained 800 jobs in the industry, according to the Ministry of Defence. Harriett Baldwin, minister for defence procurement, said: "The start of work on HMS SPEY, the fifth offshore patrol vessel, is another milestone in a significant programme of work which is sustaining hundreds of jobs in Scotland and the vital shipbuilding skills needed to build the Royal Navy's Type 26 frigates. "The on-going successful delivery of these ships is a key element of the government's 10 year, £178bn equipment plan to provide the UK's armed forces with the kit they deserve." Tony Douglas CEO of Defence Equipment and Support meeting BAE Systems apprentices - at today’s event.The Ministry of Defence said the 90m (295ft) long ship was expected to be able to carry a 30mm cannon and a flight deck capable of receiving a Merlin helicopter. It will be used to support counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling and maritime defence operations. The ship is due to be delivered to the Royal Navy in 2019 and enter service in 2021. Tony Douglas, the CEO of Defence Equipment and Support, the UK's defence procurement organisation, said it was "proud moment".source : BBC BAE Wins Contract to Build Sixth Astute-class Submarine BAE Systems has been awarded a $1.8 billion contract by the U.K. Ministry of Defence to deliver the next Astute-class submarine to the Royal Navy, the company announced April 20. AGAMEMNON will be the sixth of seven nuclear-powered attack submarines designed and manufactured at the company’s site at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Will Blamey, managing director of BAE Systems Submarines, said: “Securing the contract for the sixth Astute-class submarine is a significant milestone for BAE Systems and the result of many years of hard work by our highly skilled workforce “The Astute-class submarines are amongst the most highly capable and technologically advanced in the world and we’re immensely proud to build them for the Royal Navy.” Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: “This latest investment means we are well on our way to completing our fleet of Astute submarines. These are the most advanced submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy and are already providing unprecedented levels of stealth and attack capability across the world. “Backed by a rising defense budget and a £178 billion [$228 billion] equipment plan, Barrow will remain the hub of our submarine build programs providing high-skilled jobs for years to come.” The first three Astute-class submarines, HMS ASTUTE, HMS AMBUSH and HMS ARTFUL, are in service with the Royal Navy with a further four in various stages of construction at the Barrow site. source: Seapower

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ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

On a recent trip to the river Forth Jim Prentice came across the wee Danish dredger MERETE CHRIS. She was dredging beneath the new Forth road bridge, still under construction. In the above foto she is seen below the bridge, together with the current road bridge and the famous rail bridge. A tale of three bridges!! Photo : Jim Prentice (c) http://caledoniantransportphotos.blogspot.com http://caledoniantransportphotos-buses.blogspot.com http://caledoniantransportphotos-railways.blogspot.com http://caledonianmodelwarships.blogspot.com Captain Fu ensures plain sailing for Piraeus Port About 30 years ago, Fu Chengqiu was a veteran captain with Cosco, the Chinese shipping giant. Later, he was chosen to establish the multinational’s operations in Italy. Since 2010, Fu has managed two container terminals in Piraeus Port, Greece, where his company holds a 35-year management contract. Piraeus has been a huge success, and has shot up the rankings to become the world’s 38th-busiest container port, from 93rd in 2010. Moreover, it provides jobs for about 1,200 people at a time when many Greeks are struggling amid the nation’s debt crisis. The 60-something Fu has now taken the helm of the 35-square-kilometer Piraeus Port Authority, in which Cosco owns 51 percent of the lead project following a payment of 280.5 million euros ($298 million) in August. In five years, Cosco will own a 67 percent stake in the port authority, having made a total payment of 368.5 million euros. “The responsibility is obviously mountain-heavy,” Fu said. Sitting in the sofa area of his classroom-sized office within the cruise-ship-shaped PPA building overlooking the arrivals and departures of container ships and ferries, Fu said his team has spent about six months getting to

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know “every detail of its new family”, including finances, customers and staff. His headache now is how to improve efficiency at the “aging state-owned Greek enterprise”. The average age of the employees is about 52, and Fu believes the PPA only needs about 700 workers to maintain operations. That poses the problem of how to implement redundancy programs. “The bottom line is that we will not fire a single member of staff in the name of improved efficiency,” he said, recalling how China implemented the reform of State-owned enterprises in the 1980s and 90s. “China offered many opportunities for job seekers then, but the situation in Greece and Europe is different.” The average unemployment rate in many European countries is still in double digits, and one-in-two young Greeks is jobless.Fu said the PPA’s businesses used to include handling containers, cargo, cruise shipping, car terminals, ship repairs and the operation of the port’s economic zone. He is now trying to simplify the situation and has already reduced the number of branches to 23 from 94: “I finished the task weeks ago. We must improve management efficiency.” Initial figures have shown that Fu’s team is capable. A financial report said revenues amounted to 103.5 million euros last year, compared with 99.9 million in 2015. Meanwhile, pretax profit reached 11 million euros, a rise of 13 percent from 2015. In addition, staff costs fell by 2.2 million euros, or 4.3 percent, to 49.9 million euros, and administrative costs were reduced by 5.5 million euros, about 20 percent. “I am very happy to see our revenues are rising and costs are falling right now,” Fu said. Cosco is about to invest 190 million euros to expand the port’s business, with an additional 130 million euros coming from the European Union. The money will mainly be used to develop a deep-sea cruise terminal. Starting in August, the company will also expand investment and businesses involved in shipbuilding and repair, international cruise ships and car terminals. It will also improve the infrastructure of the Pier 1 container terminal “The projects will start in August,” Fu said He is confident that a closer economic relationship between China and Europe will ensure the port has a bright future. A study has shown that by 2025, Cosco’s investment in the port will account for 0.8 percent of Greek GDP and create 31,000 new jobs. Fu was reluctant to boast: “I don’t want to make such estimates. What I trust is taking action and letting the future speak for itself.” After being unloaded, the containers are transported by rail, road or smaller cargo ships to other parts of Europe. In addition to job opportunities provided by the port’s expansion, Fu has pledged that the container terminals will handle 5 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent container units) next year. “By then, we will be one of the world’s top 30 container ports,” he said. In the long run, the company hopes to boost its container-handling capacity to 10 million TEUs and create more jobs for local people. Source: China Daily …. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..

“Traffic jam” in Rotterdam-Botlek during the arrival of the WESTERN ISLE in the area Photo : Marijn van Hoorn (c)

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