DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2016 – 361

Number 361 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Monday 26-12-2016 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

The FLORETGRACHT arriving in Willemstad –Curacao Photo : Kees Bustraan (c)

Make Time For Safety. It Is Better To Be 5 Minutes Late In This Life Than 5 Minutes Early In The Next.

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EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS

CABLE INNOVATOR in her new home at Ogden Point, Victoria B.C. on a cold but clear Christmas Eve. Photo : Les Whitehead Cable Innovator Global Marine Systems Ltd (c)

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left: From the Malikai, offshore Sabah. Richard Qualm Wish you all a Merry Christmas

The Crew onboard the PARAGON MSS1 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a more prosperous 2017

Petrobras workers at Campos Basin started indefinite strike Petrobras workers at Campos Basin started indefinite strike, against the latest wage increase offer by the Brazilian oil firm. The company proposed wage increase of 6%, which is below the country’s inflation rate of 8.9%. According to the workers and trade union FUP, the company should propose increase at least covering the inflation to keep their standard of living. Moreover, the strikers are also unhappy with the plans of Petrobras to change the employees contracts, so the company could reduce the number of working hours for employees. According to Brazilian labor laws, workers have the right to renegotiate pay and benefits every year on specific dates. Workers usually try to convince companies to increase salaries to levels at least close to the inflation accumulated in the previous 12 months, to compensate for lost purchasing power. “The proposed contract revision that Petrobras presented to FUP and its unions is an affront to workers”, said the FUP coordinator, Jose Maria Rangel. “Nothing is going to guarantee our demands, the maintenance of our salaries except a fight. FUP and its unions will provide a tough response”, added the coordinator. However, Petrobras is implementing restructuring, assets sales and cost reduction in attempt to reduce the 125 billion USD debt, accumulated after the corruption scandal and drop in oil prices. Campos Basin is oil rich area, covering both onshore and offshore fields. It is the most productive region of oil production in the country, accounting for 60% of the Brazilian output. Source: Maritime Herald Fethard RNLI on course to purchase new lifeboat By David Looby Fethard RNLI are on target in their fundraising campaign to purchase a new lifeboat, as over €60,000 has been donated over the past ten months. Oonagh Hearne Messette, Chairperson of the Fethard RNLI Fundraising Team, said it is very humbling to have received such outstanding support of local businesses and communities Ms Hearne Messette said: 'Combine this with the vision, drive and dedication of the fundraising team and the support of the whole crew and we have had a whirlwind year. We are extraordinarily lucky that we can announce we are very close to reaching the goal that was set on February 20 for our new lifeboat. We have almost reached €60,000 of our €65,000 target.' She said two further events are planned for 2017 so far. 'Don't be a Fool', a peninsula wide table quiz, takes place on April 1, 2017, and the 'Mighty Grange Raft Race' will take place during the summer months - with dates yet to be decided. So far this year the volunteer crew of the lifeboat Tradewinds has assisted 11 leisure craft and one commercial vessel. There have been 20 callouts, assisting 22 people and one life was saved. Over the course of the year, the volunteer lifeboat crew undertook 78 training exercises taking up 235 hours. These training activities are essential to all crew members to familiarise and ingrain life-saving procedures and to gain an understanding of the power of the water and its capabilities. Following one callout last August, Tony Molloy, Fethard RNLI Deputy Launching Authority, said: 'Every minute counted this evening due to the period the casualty had spent in the water. The area is quite treacherous to manoeuver in during darkness, so the knowledge and skillset of the crew, who know the area and manoeuvrability of the D Class inshore lifeboat, was essential.' On this particular incident, the casualty care training of the crew was also employed. Hugh Burke, Fethard RNLI Deputy Launching Authority also commended vigilant members of the public this year for alerting the Coast Guard to a number of services which involved the Fethard lifeboat. Mr Burke said: 'We would always rather launch to a false alarm good intent and we count on the vigilance of the public.'Walter Foley Fethard RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager has encouraged all those that use the sea to wear lifejackets, watch for safety markers, bring some form of communication and stay calm if in difficulty. 'The weather, tides, currents and circumstances can all change in the blink of an eye. We will be ready and able to launch whenever and wherever we are needed but anything a person can do to stay safe if they get into difficulty and need help is vital,' Mr Foley said. For anyone interested in joining Fethard RNLI, please contact Hugh on 086 3346184 or Eoin on 086 7829977. John Hearne Fethard RNLI

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Station Chairperson added: 'The amount of time spent training by the volunteer lifeboat crew and the benefit this training has on our activities on the water is life-changing. An excellent example of this was the life saved at the Bar of Lough which was largely possible due to the training that the crew carry out all year round. The benefit of recent coastal familiarisation and casualty care training and exercise paid off and there's a family somewhere near Cullenstown that did not lose a loved one that day. That the best Christmas present you could give. It's the whole reason all this effort is put in by each and every member of Fethard RNLI to keep this whole enterprise going.' Source: Independent

Gerrit J. De Boer wenst alle lezers Prettige Kerstdagen en een voorspoedig 2017

Merry Christmas from the Engine department onboard the VOLENDAM

24-12-2016 tanker ELECTA outbound in Vancouver harbour asssited by the tug SST ORLEANS Photo : Robert Etchell (c) Combating China’s string of pearls By B Krishnamoorthy The fourth must-have factor suggested by consultants to make the Enayam Port a success is convincing a major shipping line to become an anchor liner investor and re-route its traffic. The top three liners by volume in the globe are MAERSK, MSC and CMA-

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CGM. Since MAERSK has a minority stake in the Colombo port, it can be safely ruled out. The other two can be explored as Enayam’s anchor client. To sweeten the deal, we could offer a long-term partnership involving berths dedicated to a specific alliance or carrier, or equity for volume structures in which a carrier’s stake in a terminal is tied. Let us look at some of the carrier- terminal ties: the COSCOCS has acquired 35 per cent stake in Hutchinson’s Euromax terminal at Rotterdam and created a joint venture with the PSA in Singapore for development of new berths; the CMA CGM has 30-year concession for container terminal in Kingston, Jamaica, and has formed a joint venture with the PSA for operation and use of four berths in Singapore; Evergreen owns Colon Container Terminal in Panama; and the MSC is reported to have equity or equity option in Freeport Container Port in the Bahamas. The last factor is to levy competitive port charges than Colombo on transshipment containers for at least five years to incentivise the container lines to shift operations and reconfigure the route. Rough estimates suggest that Enayam requires to offer at least 15 per cent lower cost than Colombo for the initial five years to attract and sustain cargo. This may be possible either with the financial support of the government towards basic infrastructure such as construction of breakwater and capital dredging or else as estimated by the consultants, a VGF of 20-30 per cent or equity support under the Sagarmala scheme to achieve the target equity IRR of 12 per cent. Strategically too, Enayam would be pivotal to the country’s ambitions vis-a-vis China. For, as much as 1.2 million TEUs of Indian containers are handled by the Colombo Port. The recently added Colombo International Container Terminal was built with the collaboration of China Merchant Holdings Company. Also, the Gwadar port in Pakistan, again developed by China, has the potential to become a full-fledged regional hub and a transshipment port in the future. Besides, China is building ports in Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Chittagong (Bangladesh), etc. as part of its string of pearls theory. In sum, the Indian Ocean is a nerve centre, as half of the world’s container traffic and one-third of its bulk cargo take that route. Further, 80 per cent of world’s sea- borne oil transit (over 1 lakh ships annually) takes place in the Indian Ocean with the Strait of Malacca in the East accounting for 40 per cent. So, there is strategic importance in controlling the sea lanes in the Indian Ocean. Maritime trade and security are perhaps among the major determinants that would allow a nation to establish its might. It’s a matter of record that throughout pax Britannica, the maritime centric strategy of the British Empire gave it unique capabilities and proved an invaluable instrument to British’s foreign policy. Coming back to Enayam, it can be developed as a strategic choke point like the Cape of Good Hope by virtue of its location in the critical trade route, especially when the lease treaty between the UK and the US in respect of Diego Garcia will expire in December 2016. Let us now shift our focus to the livelihood question of fishermen. Kanniyakumari district has a 71.5-km-long coastal line stretching to 11.5 km in the east and 60 km in the west. The district possesses 47 marine fishing villages with a total fishing population of about 1.57 lakh people and an average family size of about 3.89 persons (GoI, 2010). Of them, about 45,000 are actively involved in fishing. The district has about 935 catamarans, 86 vallams and 156 mechanised boats registered in the east coast and 5,462 catamarans, 2,509 vallams and 1,172 mechanised boats registered in the west coast. The marine fish production of the district stood at 52,378 tonnes for the year 2014-15 (Kanyakumari District Statistical Hand Book 2015). A majority of the catches are marketed locally and through merchants. People here venture out for fishing according to the variation in the fishing season. Different forms of fishing like finfish and shellfish fishing are done along this coast. For example, a group of fishermen undertakes skin diving for mussel fishing and lobster collection in the rocky coastal areas during October to April. Traditional catamarans, canoe and fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) boats are widely used for fishing. A numerically small segment of Kanniyakumari fishermen also seem to be migrants in nature. They have been known to fish in international territories and reach the nearest harbour in other states to sell their catch. In the process, they often face problems from local fishermen in those states. A majority of mechanised fishing boats here are navigated by untrained local fishermen, and the lack of skill to handle fish finding navigational and communication equipment often leads to work inefficiency. Besides, most fishing boats are still using established fishing techniques, like shore seining, trawling and gill netting. Only a limited number of vessels are operating purse seine and long line fishing gear. Advanced fishing operations like resource specific trawling, monofilament long lining and squid jigging needs to be popularised. One of the easy and sustainable approaches in handling the non-environment use of shore-seine, followed by many in the Enayam area, could be the deployment of artificial reefs, which can act as marine protected areas. In order to ensure efficiency of fishing operations and sustainable development of marine fishers resources as part of the Sagarmala programme, the Ministry of Shipping has tied up with the Ministry of Rural Development, National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training (NIFPHATT) and Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET) for coastal skill development projects of fishermen under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya-Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) for capacity building and skill upgrading in hygienic fish handling and high end products development. Further, the ministry along with the Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying & Fisheries (DADF) has undertaken the creation of several infrastructure facilities under the Blue Revolution Scheme announced in June 2016, with an annual assistance of up to `100 crore. This includes construction of a fishing harbour in Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district and expansion of existing facilities in Chinna-Muttam in Kanniyakumari. In addition, potential areas such as use of post-harvest technology, modern fish marketing yard etc. are also under consideration as part of the Sagarmala initiatives. The State government has put in place a number of schemes like compensation for restricted fishing and schemes for procurement of deep-sea tuna liners. Synergising the efforts of the Central sector scheme on Blue Revolution, the Neel Kranti Mission being implemented by the DADF and the State governments in this direction should ensure sustainable development. (The author is Director (Finance), Ministry of Shipping.Views expressed are personal) Source: newindianexpress

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British woman, 74, missing after 'falling overboard' during Caribbean cruise on Queen Mary 2 liner By Gareth Davies The search for a British woman thought to have fallen overboard during a cruise on the QUEEN MARY 2 ocean liner has been called off. The woman, understood to be 74, was on a tour of the Caribbean which left New York on Thursday. The cruise ship, the flagship ocean liner of the Cunard company, had turned back to help look for her. A spokeswoman for the company said: 'It is with sadness we can confirm that after a comprehensive search, working with all relevant authorities, Queen Mary 2 has halted the search for a missing guest, presumed overboard. 'The ship left New York, December 22, on a 12 night Caribbean itinerary. Cunard's Care team is offering every support to the family. 'The ship is now back on course to reach St Maarten today December 26 as schedule.' The 74-year-old went missing at 10pm, according to her fellow passengers. She is understood to be a frequent cruiser, and guests are being kept abreast of the situation by the captain. The US Coast Guard was involved in the search, having launched a C-130 fixed wing plane and an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to scour the sea Petty Officer David Micallef told the Press Association the 74-year-old was reported missing between 1am and 3am US time on Friday, (8pm to 10pm on Thursday, British time). Mr Micallef said the ship was around 100 nautical miles south east of Atlantic City in New Jersey when the alarm was raised, and that rescuers had been searching for her since first light. He said: 'The Coast Guard is actively searching for her and we're sending out the resources that we can to assist in the search.' The QUEEN MARY 2, based in the port of Southampton, was built in 2003 at a cost of ￡700 million and launched the following year.

The QUEEN MARY 2 leaving Hamburg after the refit – Photo : Isaac Barendregt (c) The luxury ship was renovated earlier this year and boasts suites, state rooms and the 'largest library at sea', with 8,000 books, according to the Cunard website. Source: Dailymail Turkey commissions first FSRU LNG unit Turkey commissioned Friday the country's first LNG floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at Aliaga, north of the port city of Izmir on the country's Aegean coast. The unit, developed by ETKI Liman Isletmeleri Dogalgaz Ithalat ve Ticaret A.S. or ETKI, a subsidiary of Turkey's Kolin Holding, has a tanker unloading capacity of 6,000 cu m/hour with a maximum annual regasification capacity of 5.01475 Bcm/year, or 13.74 million cu m/day and storage capacity of 142,862 cu m of LNG. Officials speaking at the opening ceremony did not say if it was already handling its first cargo, or when that might arrive. Distribution : daily to 36.000+ active addresses 26 -12-2016 Page 6 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2016 – 361

Turkish energy minister Berat Albayrak announced two months ago that the unit would open before the end of the year and also that Turkey's state gas importer and transmission operator Botas was developing its own FSRU. But he gave no details as to where it would be sited or when it was expected to be operational. Turkey's state news agency Anatolia last month reported officials from Turkey's state energy regulator as saying two private groups had applied to the EPDK for licenses to develop FSRU facilities in Turkey. Anatolia named the first of the two applicants as ADG Energy, a subsidiary of Turkey's Koc Holding which owns the country's sole oil refiner Tupras, and a major petroleum distribution chain Aygaz-Opet which has applied to develop an FSRU plant with an annual capacity of 5 Bcm/year capable of supplying 14 million cu m/day and with storage capacity of 170,000 cu m of LNG. The second applicant was named as Maks Proje Gelistirme AS, which has applied to develop a plant with the capacity to handle 6 Bcm/year capable of supplying 17 million cu m/day of gas and with storage capacity of 173,000 cu m of LNG. Turkey's interest in FSRUs follows several years of gas shortages during mid-winter peak demand periods in January and February when the input capacity of Botas' transmission grid is insufficient to meet demand, causing the state transmission operator to cut gas supplies to major CCGT plants. In the wake of unseasonably cold weather in north west Turkey, Botas last week ordered private CCGT plant operators to cut their gas burn by 50% and ordered state generation company EUAS to either close its CCGT plants or switch to alternative fuels in an effort to cut demand and prevent cuts to residential and commercial consumers. Source: Platts

The tug boat “SENTRY” leaving the port of Willemstad-Curacao towing the ro-ro barge “CARIBBEAN PRIDE” with destination San Juan - Puerto Rico. At her stern the tugboat “KTK BARAKUDA” gave her assistance till they disconnect when the towage was at sea. In the back the “CELEBRITY EQUINOX”. Photo: Aart van Essen (c) Oil bunkering, theft, piracy reduce in Niger Delta – Nigerian Navy The Nigerian Navy on Saturday said that crime had reduced in the maritime sector of the Niger Delta region due to the sustained efforts of its personnel in policing the maritime domain. James Oluwole, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command in Calabar, disclosed this during a chat with journalists in Calabar. “There has been drastic reduction in oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, sea piracy and other forms of illegalities along the water ways. “We have maintained a steady patrol at sea, with a view to securing the maritime domain from vandals. “I must specially thank Mr President, the legislature and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, for supporting the Navy to carry out its constitutional duties,” the rear admiral said. He said the command successfully held the 2016 Nigerian Navy Ceremonial Sunset and End of Year Ball for its serving and retired officers on December 23, 2016. According to him, the occasion is an opportunity for the Navy to recognize the efforts of its serving and retired personnel, as well as ensuring a safe and secure maritime environment. “Since the establishment of the Nigerian Navy in 1956, the story has been that of success, in spite of the numerous challenges and the evolving security environment. “The Nigerian Navy must improve on its fighting capability and operational effectiveness, the Navy recently took delivery of two offshore patrol vessels, NNS

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Centenary and NNS Unity, build in China “These vessels will enhance effective patrol of the maritime domain and will also help in securing the nation’s economic resources from vandals,” he added.He assured of the continuous training of naval personnel, saying that such efforts in capacity building, was needed to move the Navy forward. Source : Premium Times

The new style of RO-RO/Container Carrier that should help reduce Container losses overboard in the future. Good news for the Vendee Globe Ocean Racers The ATLANTIC SEA outbound from Halifax Photo by Rene Serrao, Portuguese Cove, NS (c) Hill Dickinson Secures Second Norovirus Class Action Victory International law firm Hill Dickinson has successfully defended its client, Bourne Leisure, in a 219-claimant class action involving a Norovirus outbreak which occurred at a Butlin’s site in 2011. Over 4,000 guests and an additional 1,200 team members were onsite at the time of the outbreak and around 400 people reported illness. The firm’s client denied liability throughout on the basis that its policies and procedures for dealing with a Norovirus outbreak were sufficiently robust and had been appropriately followed. The claimants’ solicitor issued court proceedings in 2014.Despite expert evidence, provided by a microbiologist, gastroenterologist and environmental health officer, which supported Bourne Leisure’s defence, the claimants’ solicitors continued on to trial and maintained that it would only settle for damages and costs, an offer which was refused by the client. A 15-day trial of the claim was set to commence on 28 November at London’s High Court before Mr Justice Lewis. However, the claimants’ case subsequently disintegrated upon receipt of a joint report from the parties’ microbiology experts, which agreed that it was improbable that the point source of the causative Norovirus outbreak was food prepared at Butlin’s. Hill Dickinson evidenced how its client had done nothing to either cause or exacerbate the outbreak and in addition, was able to rebut the claimant’s quality complaints with records retained at the resort. Hill Dickinson pressed for the claimants to discontinue, which they did just 10 days before trial, paying its client’s costs of £400,000. The claimants’ law firm had put forward an offer to settle for damages in the sum of £120,000.00 (approximately £500.00 per claimant). Their costs schedule, if they had been successful, inclusive of the 100% success fee uplift, would have been in the region of £6 million. Commenting on the case, Hill Dickinson partner, David Scott, said: “This is an excellent result for our client and demonstrates the advantages of maintaining a robust defence in circumstances where there can be shown to have been good policies and systems in place, appropriately implemented and evidenced by retained documentation.” David Waterfield, general counsel for Bourne Leisure, said: “The Hill Dickinson team provided us with fantastic support for the duration of this case. We were very grateful for their resilience, tenacity and above all, helpfulness throughout. We were delighted that we had them in our corner.” Dermot King, managing director of Butlin’s, added: “Butlin’s is an iconic and trusted British brand and such inaccurate and defamatory claims can be hugely damaging to our reputation as a business. “We have maintained this was a Norovirus outbreak since June 2011. There was not only an outbreak at Butlin’s during this time but also the surrounding area which affected hospitals and local schools. “The outbreak was extremely well controlled and the Distribution : daily to 36.000+ active addresses 26 -12-2016 Page 8 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2016 – 361

environmental health officer visiting the site during the outbreak was satisfied the policies and procedures were being implemented. “The Butlin’s Norovirus Policy has since been accredited by the Chartered Institution of Environmental Health and the Royal Society for Public Health.”This is the second victory of its kind for Hill Dickinson. In what is seen as a landmark judgment, it was the first law firm to have successfully defended the first UK class action involving Norovirus onboard a cruise liner in 2015. Source: Hill Dickinson

The VOLANTIS moored in Zeebrugge – Photo : Dirk Neyts (c) U.S. crude settles at 17-month high after small, pre- holiday gain U.S. oil prices closed at a 17-month high on Friday in quiet trade ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday week, even though the gain was small, as the market waits to see how OPEC manages its planned output cuts with Libya expecting to boost production. Despite the 17-month high in U.S. futures, prices were little changed on Friday in a market that closed early for the Christmas holiday. Brent LCOc1 futures gained 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, to settle at $55.16 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 gained seven cents, or 0.1 percent, to settle at $53.02, its highest close since July 2015. That topped the previous 17-month high close for WTI set last week by a nickel and was the front-month’s sixth daily gain in a row, its longest winning streak since August. It also put the WTI contract up for a fifth week in six, gaining about 22 percent since mid November, which traders said was mostly related to the OPEC production cut agreement. “Friday was a quiet, low volume day with little price movement,” said Phil Davis, managing partner of venture capital fund PSW Investments in Woodland Park, New Jersey, noting WTI gained just enough pennies to set a new 17-month high. “This is the time for maximum hype in oil. It’s all related to the OPEC deal to cut output,” Davis said, warning the high prices will not last if the market does not see the OPEC cuts over the longer term. Over the past few weeks, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC members agreed to lower output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) from Jan. 1. While major OPEC producers including Saudi Arabia and Iraq have told customers that supply will be cut in line with the OPEC deal, Libya and Nigeria are exempt because conflict has already curbed their output. Libya’s National Oil Corp hopes to add 270,000 bpd to national production over the next three months after announcing on Tuesday the reopening of pipelines leading from two major fields, Sharara and El Feel. Another factor that analysts said could soon weigh on the oil market was an announcement this week that Saudi Arabia would boost domestic fuel prices as the government reduces its subsidies.. That could reduce internal oil consumption and leave more Saudi barrels for the export market, Tim Evans, Citi Futures’ energy futures specialist, said in a report. Source: Reuters (By Scott DiSavino; Additional reporting by Alex Lawler in London and Keith Wallis in Singapore; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Chizu Nomiyama)

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MV YEOMAN BRIDGE in choppy English Channel Photo : Capt. Maarten C Spruit Master MV FJORD © The Fam Kiewiet wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Beautiful 2017.

Joop & Julie Kooijman from Curacao wish you all Merry Christmas and a happy new year Passenger rescued off cruise ship off Miami Beach North Carolina woman experiences medical condition By Julie Aleman A passenger was rescued from a cruise ship late Thursday night off the coast of Miami Beach. Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas cruise ship was about four miles off Miami Beach when the 55-year- old woman began experiencing a medical condition that required her immediate removal. Miami firefighters were called and rescued the woman. The North Carolina woman was taken to Bayside marina, where paramedics took her to a nearby hospital. "This is one boat ride I will never forget," she said. The woman took a picture with her rescuers before going to the hospital. Source : local10

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Viewpoint: Americas bunker fuel demand doldrums Shifts in supply availability and lessened overall bunker demand could limit the potential for an extended price rebound in the Americas in 2017. Following the bankruptcy of containership owner Hanjin Shipping in August, pressure on containership fleets to merge may intensify. The bigger consolidated containership lines would have more bunker price bargaining power, but the price pressure would not in turn drive up global bunker demand. US heavy bunker fuel prices continued to trace fuel oil cargo assessments closely in 2016 because heavy bunker fuel accounts for 80pc of US resid demand. The Houston high-sulphur 380cst (HS380) price as a percent of Brent began to rebound from 49-63pc during the first eight months of 2016 and reached 74pc in November because of lower Russian residual fuel oil exports and stronger Singapore demand. There is no resid refinery conversion capacity announced for 2017 in the US, which would reduce heavy bunker fuel production. Provided bunker consumption is steady, and Russian fuel oil output continues to decline, US Gulf HS380 fuel oil prices could linger in the high 70s as percentage of Brent. The International Maritime Organization in October voted to reduce marine fuel sulphur content in international waters from 3.5pc to 0.5pc starting on 1 January 2020. The regulation will not have an impact on bunker prices in 2017. But in 2020, demand for distillate fuel to blend into the bunker pool, could spike against the backdrop of sharp drop in resid demand. The HS380 fuel oil price as a percent of Brent could drop to 20-30pc by the second half of 2019. LNG for bunkering will continue to slowly penetrate the US bunker fuel market in 2017. The US Energy Information Administration projects US natural gas prices will gain by 31pc in 2017 from 2016 on the back of growing US domestic consumption and higher exports. But even with the projected price increase, LNG on a per-tonne equivalent basis would remain at least $100/t cheaper than MGO. Argentinian refinery YPF installed a coker at the 189,000 b/d La Plata refinery in September, and heavy bunker fuel production dropped. The effect of the lower fuel oil production has not roiled pricing in Argentina because demand for fuel oil for power generation has been weak, but the cruise ship season in the first quarter could drive up bunker fuel prices in Argentina.Mexican energy-sector reforms could theoretically open doors for additional bunkering companies to enter the local market. But a barrier to entry has been limited oil tanker storage availabilities in Mexico. Panama heavy bunker fuel oil sales, which were on the rise this year, could continue to grow as traffic through the expanded Canal ramps up. As of October the Canal was filling less than 60pc of the transit slots they had available for Neopanamax vessels. Panama has sufficient third-party oil storage capacity to handle increased bunker demand. source: Argus

The POLARCUS ALIMA made a bunkerstop in Willemstad-Curacao – Photo : Kees Bustraan (c)

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The DUTCH POWER moored in Oude Schild – Texel- The Netherlands – Photo : Jacob Kiewiet (c) All of us at Red Box Energy Services wish you a safe and successful New Year and very Happy Holidays!

363 meters length containership, MSC IVANA steaming toward the storm at Sinki Fairway. This fairway was part of the “Old and New Strait of Singapore” in 16th-17thcentury. Photo: Kuet © Barakah Offshore bags RM20mil provision contract Barakah Offshore Petroleum Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, PBJV Group Sdn Bhd, has bagged a provision contract from Murphy Sabah Oil Co Ltd and Murphy Sarawak Oil Co Ltd worth RM20mil. The two-year contract was for the provision of production riser tensioner overhaul, maintenance and upgrade for Murphy production operations. “The contract involves the Distribution : daily to 36.000+ active addresses 26 -12-2016 Page 12 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2016 – 361

overhaul of Kikeh dry tree unit and the modification and improvement of production riser tensioner to extend the service life,” the oilfield services provider said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Friday. Barakah Offshore said the project would commence this month and was expected to contribute positively towards its earnings and net assets per share. Source : Bernama Coast Guard rescues 79 after ferry runs aground in Negros THE Philippine Coast Guard reported that it successfully rescued 79 passengers, including an infant, from a ferry that ran aground off the port of Escalante, Negros Occidental last Saturday. The ferry LCT NAVISTAR, with 79 passengers and several vehicles on board, was just meters away from the dock waiting for berth space when it drifted and ran aground in a mud shallow, the PCG said in its incident report. According to the Coast Guard report, the crew was unable to free the vessel from the shallows, and reported the accident to local port authorities and the Coast Guard, which dispatched rescue boats to evacuate the passengers. No injuries were reported in the incident, and the Coast Guard said there was no leak of fuel or other harmful materials from the ship. “The personnel of Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Escalante immediately went to assist all passengers and transported them to port. They also advised the shipmaster to file for a marine protest and secure a Certificate of Seaworthiness from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) prior to resuming their normal operations,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. According to International Maritime Organization (IMO) catalog data, the LCT Navistar has a length of 50 meters and was built in 1996. It is operated by local ferry company Golden. Source : ManilaTimes

Still a windy English Channel – MV INDUSTRIAL MERCHANT Photo : Capt. Maarten C Spruit Master MV FJORD © Scotland aiming to capitalize on UK offshore decommissioning The Scottish government’s economic development agencies have unveiled a new decommissioning action plan, designed to help the industry in Scotland to take advantage of opportunities on the UK continental shelf (UKCS). Industry association Oil & Gas UK forecasts estimated spending on decommissioning in the sector of £17.6 billion ($21.54 billion) between now and 2025.

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Throughout the UKCS, 302 oil and gas installations, 373 subsea installations, 16,000 km (9,942 mi) of pipelines, and more than 5,000 wells will eventually need to be decommissioned. The value to Scotland could reach £11 billion ($13.46 billion) by 2025, supporting at peak around 23,000 jobs. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which developed the action plan, aim to establish the country as an international Centre of Excellence for decommissioning and to assist formulation and delivery of effective decommissioning solutions. There are six strategic objectives - information, supply chain, technology and innovation, infrastructure, skills and training, and international opportunities - to be delivered through: • Development of a Decommissioning Support Program providing expert advice to 50 companies • Engagement with 150 companies to raise awareness of and stimulate demand for innovation and R&D support for decommissioning • Engagement with ports and onshore yards to encourage future investment opportunities • Identification of overseas decommissioning opportunities and facilitating trade missions to/from Scotland to explore inward investment/partnership opportunities. Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise will lead the campaign, in collaboration with Skills Development Scotland, the Oil and Gas Authority, the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, and industry bodies such as Decom North Sea and Oil & Gas UK. Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse said: “This action plan clarifies the range of different activities involved in decommissioning programs, from high value offshore activity such as well plugging and abandonment, to the relatively lower value contracts for onshore disposal of topsides and substructures. “I am greatly encouraged by the fact that Scottish companies are already securing very significant value from a range of offshore decommissioning activities, with the majority of work being commissioned from UK contractors, and Scottish-based firms already securing the lion’s share of work secured from UK suppliers.” The action plan aims to identify the range of activities involved in decommissioning programmes and help Scottish companies address higher value activities such as well plugging and abandonment (P&A), estimated to represent 47% of total decommissioning activities on the UKCS. Gavin Mackay, head of oil and gas at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), said: “Maximizing economic recovery and further developing exciting prospects west of Shetland remain a priority for the industry and HIE’s support to the sector. “Some of the largest oil and gas structures in the North Sea were fabricated in the Highlands and Islands and in time, it would great to see them continue to return here to be safely and efficiently dismantled…” source: Offshore Mag

1.6 million mutual visits between Taiwan, Korea The Tourism Bureau said Saturday that Taiwan and South Korea could record 1.6 million mutual visits by the end of this year, a 60 percent increase from 2014, adding that the goal for both sides is to raise that number to 2 million next year. Bureau data showed that 784,819 visits were recorded from South Korea to Taiwan so far this year as of November, with 747,065 visits going the other way Under the current pace of development, Taiwan and South Korea, with the number of mutual visits breaking the 1- million mark in November 2014, are expected to see 1.6 million visits for 2016, and 2 million in 2017, tourism officials said. The growth in tourism exchanges this year could be a result of an aviation pact signed between Taiwan and South Korea in 2015, which increased the number of flights between the two sides by 43 percent in the first half of 2016, according to the bureau. The introduction of young South Korean actor Yeo Jin-goo to be the tourism ambassador for Taiwan has also proven to be a success, it said. To attract more South Korean tourists, the bureau said, it will emphasize sports tourism, promoting Taiwan as a destination for golfing, running and mountain climbing. The bureau said it will also tap into the cruise market to lure South Koreans in the

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country's southern region to visit Taiwan by ship, as well as launch packages to appeal to young independent travelers. Source: Chinapost

HAL’s MAASDAM departing Hobart, Tasmania, Australia on 22/12/16. With the Hobart Pilot boat PARINGA having a rough ride while waiting to retrieve the Pilot. Photo : Glenn Towler Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (c)

Happy Holidays and new year from Newsclippings contributor Michel Kodde Marine Goods & Diving Equipment Consultancy NAUTIEK VOF wish you a happy new year

Coastal Ferry Line from Rijeka to Dubrovnik Reinstated for 2017 By Daniela Rogulj, At the 13th session held on 22 December 2016, the government adopted a decision to reinstate the coastal ferry line from Rijeka to Dubrovnik. HRTurizam reports on 24 December 2016 that the adopted decision defines the state ferry, fast-ship and ship lines of particular public and economic interest of the Republic of Croatia. After a two-year break, to re-introduce the so-called “coastal ferry line” from Rijeka - Split - Stari Grad - Korcula - Sobra - Dubrovnik is great news for both tourists and citizens. The same decision is also being sought for the local ferry line from Split - Stari Grad which is planned to provide 21 return trips a week in the preseason, 35 return trips a week in the mid season, and 49 return trips a week in the high season. The new schedule will be announced at the website of the agency for maritime transport www.agencija-zolpp.hr. "Taking care of the needs of the island's population, as well as the adjustment of the line’s current situation, the new decision includes 53 maintained lines. The decision increases the capacity of the frequency of lines, provides better connections for the islands with the mainland, and helps the development of tourism and the development of the islands,” said Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Distribution : daily to 36.000+ active addresses 26 -12-2016 Page 15 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2016 – 361

Butković. In addition, the two lines that have so far only been a character of the season will now also become year-round - the coastal line from Rijeka - Dubrovnik and Pula - Zadar. In conclusion, the government points out that the revision of the state budget for 2016 increased budgetary funds intended to subsidize the line by 35 million kuna, and the budget for 2017, for the same purpose, provided 5 million kuna more than in 2016.

The TRITON SWAN inbound for Amsterdam –Photo : Marcel Coster(c)

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar van Willy & Frans Capt Peter Andriessen wish you a Happy new year Van Wilgenburgh

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Taiwan’s Formosa to skip Jan LPG spot purchase as cracking economics become unviable Taiwan’s Formosa Petrochemical is planning to skip spot purchase of LPG for January delivery as it has become economically unviable to use LPG for petrochemical production, a source close to the company said. “We are unlikely to buy [spot] LPG for January,” the source said, adding that it is not economical Naphtha is the mainstay petrochemical feedstock in Asia for steam crackers, but producers switch to LPG — which typically comprises propane and butane — as an alternative if its price is around 90% of naphtha, or when LPG is more than $50/mt cheaper than naphtha. While the price of physical CFR Japan propane was $53/mt below the price of CFR Japan naphtha at the Asian close Tuesday, which made LPG consumption for petrochemical production economical by normal standards, the prices of downstream products have tilted the balance in favor of naphtha.“Now butadiene and benzene prices [are] so high. Buying naphtha is more economical [as naphtha produces more butadiene],” said the source. Naphtha yields about 2% more butadiene compared to LPG, the source added. FOB Korea butadiene has surged by 32% in the past month to a 45-month high of $1,930/mt at the Asian close Tuesday, from $1,460/mt on November 21, data from S&P Global Platts showed. The product was last higher on March 7, 2013 at $2,030/mt. The narrowing spread between LPG and naphtha, in addition to high butadiene prices, has led Formosa to steadily lower LPG consumption at its naphtha-fed steam crackers from 15%-20% of total feedstock in October to 15% in November, and down to 10%-15% this month. The company plans to reduce it to 10% in January. “Economics keep changing. We were unable to buy enough spot LPG so there was not enough feedstock to crack,” the source said. Formosa has yet to decide whether it will skip LPG spot purchase in February, depending on economics. Its last spot purchase was for 23,000 mt of propane for December 21-31 delivery into Mailiao at a discount of $50- $55/mt to the Mean of Platts Japan naphtha assessment, DES basis. Formosa operates three steam crackers in Mailiao with a combined ethylene production capacity of 2.93 million mt/year, propylene capacity of 1.465 million mt/year and butadiene capacity of 451,000 mt/year. Source: Platts

The MURRAY STAR outbound from Amsterdam – Photo : Simon Wolf (c)

Left : Jaap van der Vlies Wish you and your family Merry Christmas and happy 2017 Leen van der Meijden & Sylvia Mirrer wensen alle lezers Fijne feestdagen en veel fotoplezier in 2017 Distribution : daily to 36.000+ active addresses 26 -12-2016 Page 17 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2016 – 361

Ontario maintains offshore ban Government says full impacts yet to be ‘fully understood' The Canadian province of Ontario is to continue with its moratorium on the development of offshore wind, which has been in place since 2011. In a statement, Ontario’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) said freshwater offshore wind is still in the “very early stage of development” and the moratorium will stay in place “until all the potential impacts are fully understood”. MOECC said that it has conducted extensive research into offshore wind, which is an “ongoing process”. It added that the 20.7MW Icebreaker freshwater project on Lake Erie “provides an excellent opportunity to better understand the impact of these developments on the Great Lakes”. Source: renews

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

Telephone : +44 (0) 20 8398 9833 Facsimile : + 44 (0) 20 8398 1618 Singapore : +65 62263084 [email protected] E-mail : [email protected] Internet : www.marint.co.uk 3 int'l companies to set up LNG terminals in Pakistan: Minister Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says no development is possible without resolving the energy problem. He was addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of new gas processing plant in Sanghar. The Gambat South Gas Processing Plant will provide fifty million cubic feet of gas per day and will be completed at the cost of seventeen billion rupees. The minister said that another gas processing plant would be completed within next year costing eight billion rupees. Abbasi said that he had directed the PPL managing director to give the locals employment on merit and the residents of areas be extended the gas facility. The minister further stated that LNG was being imported to fulfill the gas requirements and three prominent international gas companies were ready to set up LNG terminals in Pakistan. Later talking to media, he dispelled the impression that with CNG pumps owners, determining the price on their own would result in price hike. He said that it would result in competition and the benefit would go to the people. source: The Nation Oil bankruptcies decline as prices rise Posted by Collin Eaton The past two and a half years haven’t been kind to oil companies. But drillers and energy services firms have dramatically slowed the deluge of bankruptcies that tied up nearly $80 billion of debt in legal proceedings. So far, only two upstream companies in North America filed bankruptcy papers in December, the lowest monthly increase since the beginning of last year, a new report shows. It’s the latest sign climbing oil prices have eased the financial pressure on domestic drillers since OPEC announced plans to cut oil production in late November. More than 220 drillers and oil-equipment makers across North America have succumbed to the oil bust, with nearly two-thirds of those filing for bankruptcy in 2016, according to Dallas law firm Haynes & Boone. But only Stone Energy Corp., a Louisiana energy producer, and Advanced Solids Control, a Texas oil field service company, filed for bankruptcy protection this month, compared to 11 companies last December. Source: Fuelfix Perisai, Emas reach $43M settlement agreement Singapore’s Emas Offshore and Malaysia’s Perisai Petroleum Teknologi have reached a settlement agreement in a dispute over put options in their joint venture SJR Marine. Oilfield services provider Perisai holds 50% interest in SJR Marine with an option to sell the entire share to Emas, which already holds the remaining 49% interest. Since early October 2016, Emas and Perisai were in discussions and working towards resolving various issues, including in relation to the put option.

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In mid-October, Perisai declared itself insolvent after failing to pay its interest to noteholders. Perisai said it was operating under adverse financial conditions. On December 1, 2016, Emas announced that it had reached an interim agreement with Perisai to defer the exercise of the put option to after close of business on December 8, 2016. Despite efforts made by the parties, Emas and Perisaid had yet to fully resolve the various issues amongst themselves. On December 8 Emas terminated the put option. On the same date, Perisai issued a letter to Emas disputing the termination and further issued a put option notice to Emas seeking to exercise its put option rights, requiring Emas to acquire the put option shares. Emas in turn disputed Perisai’s exercise of its put option rights. Accordingly, the parties had actual and potential disputes, differences, claims and counterclaims against each other arising from or in connection with the SSA and/or the Put Option rights On Friday, December 23, 2016, Emas and Perisai entered into a settlement agreement to achieve a full and final settlement of their disputes. The main terms of the settlement agreement require from Perisai to sell and Emas to buy the put option shares and upon the delivery of shares Emas will pay part of the consideration amounting to $20 million to Perisai. Subject to completion, the total consideration for the put option shares amounts to $43 million. The completion date will be the next business day, or any other business day as the parties may agree, following fulfilment (or waiver) of the last condition precedent, which will be within a period of up to four months from the date of the settlement agreement. Further extension may be requested. The completion is subject to several conditions including Perisai’s obligation to provide Emas with evidence of the approval of its board of directors and shareholders for the sale of put option shares to Emas which will in turn provide evidence it has obtained a $20 million loan for the purpose of buying the put option shares and a loan of $1.5 million for the working capital. Emas noted that if completion does not occur by set completion date, the settlement agreement will be terminated in its entirety. Source: Offshore Energy Today Staff

NAVY NEWS SECNAV announces need for 355-ship Navy The Secretary of the US Navy announced the results of the 2016 Force Structure Assessment (FSA), a year-long effort which began in January that was conducted to evaluate long-term defense security requirements for future naval forces today at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The 2016 FSA recommends a 355-ship fleet including 12 carriers, 104 large surface combatants, 52 small surface combatants, 38 amphibious ships, and 66 submarines. The assessment will be one input to the Navy's FY-2018 30- year shipbuilding plan. The current proposed Navy budget is seen as a bridge to this larger Navy, with shipbuilding on an upward glide slope towards 308 ships. Navy leadership is confident that, if funded, this plan is executable, as each ship class called for in the FSA has an active shipbuilding line already up and running. "To continue to protect America and defend our strategic interests around the world, all while continuing the counter terrorism fight and appropriately competing with a growing China and resurgent Russia, our Navy must continue to grow," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. "All of the analysis done to date, inside and outside of the Navy, recognizes, as we have for nearly the last eight years, the need for a larger Fleet. That is why, working with Congress and our partners in industry, we have successfully reversed the decline in shipbuilding that occurred from 2001-2009, putting 86 ships under contract over the last seven years. Maintaining this momentum, and the cost-saving business practices we have established, will be critical to ensuring the Navy is able to achieve the FSA-recommended fleet size and is positioned to maintain the global presence the Navy and Marine Corps uniquely provide our nation." The update reflects changes in the strategic environment since the last update in 2014. Future updates will continue to take into account changes in the environment, defense guidance and technology.The 2016 FSA was not constrained by budget control act funding levels. Source: Hanford Sentinel

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Russia’s top navy brass hails 2016 shipbuilding program for making rapid strides In 2016 the Pacific Fleet received one more strategic heavy missiles underwater cruiser Vladimir Monomakh The Russian Navy’s 2016 shipbuilding program is being implemented successfully, Admiral Vladimir Korolyov said on Thursday. "On the whole, it should be said that the shipbuilding program has been implemented successfully this year," Korolyov said. He pointed out that in 2016 the Pacific Fleet had received one more strategic heavy missiles underwater cruiser Vladimir Monomakh, redeployed form the North Fleet. "This year, a plan to deliver six new project 636.3 submarines to the Black Sea Fleet has been fulfilled," Korolyov added. He also said that in 2016, another 885 Yasen project submarine (which was given the name of Perm) had been laid down while on December 23, one more strategic submarine Knyaz Pozharsky (project 955A Borei) would be laid down at the Sevmash yard in Severodvinsk. "If we speak of ships, then, without a doubt, the Admiral Grigorovich and the Admiral Essen frigates, the Zelyony Dol and the Serpukhov small-size missile ships being put into operation is this year’s main achievement," the admiral said. Source: TASS Singapore issues sixth call for Hong Kong to return nine military vehicles seized by customs ‘We await a full resolution of this matter,’ Lion City’s defence ministry says in latest statement On Friday night the Lion City’s Ministry of Defence issued its sixth statement on the issue, saying the country was still waiting for a full explanation about the impounding of the armoured troop carriers. “Over the past three weeks, the Singapore Government has communicated its formal position to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the detention of SAF Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles and associated equipment by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department,” the statement read. “We await a full resolution of this matter and return of our property by the Hong Kong SAR Government.” The vehicles, which are being kept at the customs cargo examination facility in Tuen Mun, were found by Hong Kong customs on November 23 in 12 containers en route to Singapore from the Taiwanese port of Kaohsiung without the appropriate permits The vehicles, which were not “specifically” declared in the cargo manifest, had been used in a military exercise on the island. It was Hong Kong’s biggest seizure of “strategic commodities” in two decades In response to the Post’s inquiries on when the vehicles would be released, the customs department remained tight-lipped“The case is under investigation and no further information is available,” a spokesman said. Singapore was rebuked by Beijing for maintaining military ties with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province. Does Hong Kong’s seizure of armoured vehicles give Beijing access to Singapore’s military secrets? The incident further strained ties between China and Singapore that had been tested in recent months, particularly over the disputed South China Sea. In response to the city state’s demand for an explanation, on December 7 Beijing reiterated its call for Singapore to respect the one-China policy and abide by Hong Kong law. The office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong revealed in a statement on December 16 that commissioner Song Zhe had met the new consul general of Singapore to Hong Kong, Foo Teow Lee, on December 5 and briefed her on Beijing’s policy towards Hong Kong and the current situation in the city. “The two sides exchanged views on China-Singapore relations and business cooperation and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Singapore,” the statement read. But it did not mention if the armoured vehicles were on the discussion table. Singapore armoured vehicles held in Hong Kong should be ‘melted down’, says Chinese state tabloid Importing unmanifested cargo is a violation of Hong Kong’s Import and Export Ordinance and carries a maximum penalty of a seven-year jail term and HK$2 million fine, according to a source with knowledge of the matter The source said the shipping company involved had a duty to declare the type of goods on board its vessel and that “the case will be handled in accordance with the laws”. It is understood that the shipping company hired by the Singaporean army, APL, had met custom officers at least three times since the seizure. Under the ordinance, a licence is required for the import, export, re-export or transshipment of strategic commodities. The maximum penalty for failing to obtain a licence is an unlimited fine and seven years’ imprisonment. Source: The South China Morning Post Russia to float out 2 nuclear submarines in 2017 The Project 955A nuclear submarine Prince Vladimir and the Project 885M Yasen-M nuclear-powered underwater cruiser Kazan will be floated out in 2017, Russian Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief Vice-Admiral Viktor Bursuk said on Friday. "In 2017, the first improved Project 955-A submarine and the Yasen-M will be floated out," he said. The Russian Navy expects to receive these submarines "within the time limits stipulated by the contract," the vice-admiral added. The PRINCE VLADIMIR was laid down in 2012 and will become the fourth submarine in the series of eight Borey-class underwater cruisers and the first submarine of the improved Borey-A Project. The Severodvinsk Shipyard in north Russia has laid down the eighth Borey-class submarine PRINCE POHARSKY on Friday. Three submarines of this class have already been delivered to the Navy. In 2014, two submarines, the

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PRINCE OLEG and the GENERALISSIMUS SUVOROV, were laid down. In 2015, the submarine EMPEROR ALEXANDER III was laid down. Each such submarine carries 16 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles. The KAZAN was laid down in 2009. It is being built under the improved Project 885-M Yasen-M. It will be the second representative of the Yasen project: the first submarine Severodvinsk was delivered to the Navy in 2014. Overall, seven submarines of this class are intended to be built. A source in the Russian defense sector told TASS earlier, that the PRINCE VLADIMIR and the Kazan would enter into service in 2018, a year later than it was planned. It was earlier expected that both submarines would be delivered to the Navy in 2017. The series of the Project 955A Borey-A nuclear submarines will be completed with the construction of the eighth submarine Prince Pozharsky, the vice-admiral said. The development of the fifth-generation nuclear-powered submarines is already underway in Russia, Head of the Rubin Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering Igor Vilnit said. The Rubin Design Bureau is the developer of Project 955 Borey-class submarines. As the head of the Rubin Design Bureau said, the fifth-generation submarines will differ from the fourth generation by their armaments. The Russian Navy currently operates three Borey-class submarines: the Yuri Dolgoruky is operational in the Northern Fleet while the VLADIMIR MONOMAKH and the ALEXANDER NEVSKY are part of the Pacific Fleet. Source : TASS SHIPYARD NEWS

General Dynamics Wins $146M US Navy Contract For Columbia-class Submarine Design Requirements General Dynamics has won US Navy contract worth $146 million to provide design support requirements for Columbia-class submarine, that is designed to replace the Trident missile-armed Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. “General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is being awarded a $146,725,510 modification to increase the design support requirements under a previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-2128) for Columbia-class submarine (formerly known as the Ohio Replacement),” the US Department of Defense announced Thursday. This contract includes design work for the Columbia-class submarine program; shipbuilder and vendor component and technology development; engineering integration; concept design studies; cost reduction initiatives using a design for affordability process; and full scale prototype manufacturing and assembly. Additionally, this contract provides for engineering analysis, should-cost evaluations, and technology development and integration efforts. Work is expected to be completed by September 2017.Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $37,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the fiscal year, the statement added. Source: defenseworld Korean ship builders to be in choppy waters until oil climbs back into $70 levels South Korea's big-four shipbuilders have a combined debt of S$2.77 billion (2.3 trillion won) that is due to be serviced in 2017, a prospect that has raised serious concerns about the industry's ability to survive the oil market downturn. According to analysts, the

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glut in shipping supply, which has hit the industry hard, will not disappear until oil prices climb back into the $70 range. As of now the debt pile with the big ship builders is the biggest in as many as 20 years and there are doubts if the ship builders -- Daewoo, Samsung Heavy, Hyundai Industries and Hanjin Shipping -- will be able to avoid default without the help of the government. With bond yields shooting up and a weakness in the commodity markets not showing signs of easing up, the Asian ship building hub is looking down the barrel. Complicating the situation further, rising competition from Chinese shipbuilders who offer cheaper alternatives is also hurting the Korean ship builders "Real worries about shipbuilders' debt will become more apparent next year as maturities approach ... Daewoo will need an additional lifeline from state banks, and companies like Samsung Heavy may need to get help from their group firms," Kim Jin-young, a credit analyst at HMC Investment in Seoul, told Bloomberg. With the bottom lines taking a hit and the credit prospects deteriorating at the major shipbuilders, the South Korean government said in November it would pump in $13.37 billion (11 trillion won) to steady the industry. The trade ministry said the government would order more than 250 vessels and offer about 6.5 trillion won in financing to support the shipbuilders who contributed almost 8 percent to the South Korea's exports and around 7 percent of the country's manufacturing jobs last year. The government said it would form a new company with a capital of 1 trillion won to buy 250 boats as well as coast-guard vessels and navy vessels. The measures were announced after the industry suffered heavy job cuts amid an 87 percent fall in orders in the first nine months of this year alone. With debt maturities approaching in 2017, the ship builders will face enormous challenges, analysts said, adding that this will make the government's role in steadying the shipbuilders more arduous. "Real worries about shipbuilders' debt will become more apparent next year as maturities approach ... Daewoo will need an additional lifeline from state banks, and companies like Samsung Heavy may need to get help from their group firms," Kim Jin-young, a credit analyst at HMC Investment in Seoul, said. Source: International Business Times ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

NIMASA shuts 3 port facilities over security THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, yesterday, shut three facilities for non-compliance with Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS, code. The facilities are Heyden Petroleum Jetty, Ijora; Waziri Jetty, Dockyard Road, Apapa, and Starz Marine Shipyard Limited, Onne, Rivers State. Reacting to closure of the facilities, Vice Chairman of the Ports Facility Security Officers, PFSO, forum, Dr. Zeb Ikokide, said that the agency should not have shut the facilities considering the volume of investment in them. He also said the forum can only advise members on how best to ensure compliance in their various facilities, adding that it was only the owners that can take the ultimate decision. He also faulted the high commendation the United States Coast Guard gave to NIMASA if some facilities can still be found to have fallen short of standards. Secretary of the Forum, Mr. Ignatius Uche commended NIMASA for the closure, saying “this is good for the industry and the Forum.” Uche also said that the closure should serve as an alert to other facilities that have refused to update their security measures. Head of Public Relations of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, confirmed the closures. Tumaka explained that the facilities have persistently failed to comply with the ISPS code, necessitating their closure. She said: “These closures are in exercise of the agency’s powers in line with provisions of Part VIII of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations 2014, under which the facilities were adjudged to be non-compliant. Source: Vanguard Pertamina to complete Cilacap oil refinery upgrade in 2021 – CEO

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Indonesian state energy firm Pertamina aims to finish upgrading an oil refinery in Central Java in 2021, one year earlier than its previous target, its chief executive said on Thursday. Pertamina has a joint venture with Saudi Aramco to upgrade the Cilacap oil refinery, on the south coast of Central Java, at a cost of around $5 billion. “Initially the target was to complete it in 2022. But based on our latest meeting, the Aramco CEO challenged our team to complete it in 2021,” Pertamina CEO Dwi Soetjipto told reporters. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Wilda Asmarini; Writing by Eveline Danubrata; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) Post-Soviet oil industries trying still to break free By : Robin Mills Twenty-five years ago today, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union voted itself out of existence. The fall of the USSR was triggered by an oil price crash; its dissolution opened up vast territories for international oil companies. The half-dead Soviet system could survive only as long as it bathed in the fresh blood of its petroleum revenue. Its giant energy industry, the fruit of a titanic effort in hostile climates, was grossly inefficient and environmentally negligent. As the former Russian prime minister Yegor Gaidar authoritatively described in his Collapse of an Empire, after the fall in oil prices in 1986 engineered by Saudi Arabia, Moscow could neither feed its people nor service its debts. After 1991, the former Soviet states followed their own paths in developing hydrocarbon resources. Catchphrases from history were resuscitated as oilmen descended on the "Wild East" of bandit capitalists, BP signed the "Contract of the Century" to bring oil from Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean and westerners, Chinese and Russians played out a "Great Game" in Central Asia to open a "New Silk Road" bringing not silk but gas. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan opened up early to international oil companies. With hydrocarbons the pillar of the economy, those countries have come in some ways to resemble their Arabian Gulf petro-counterparts. In Kazakhstan’s Caspian offshore, a star-studded international consortium in 2000 found one of the largest fields of the past 30 years. But Kashagan’s high-pressure oil laced with deadly hydrogen sulphide, deep under a layer of salt, only started production late this year after more than US$50 billion of expenditure. The post-Soviet market transition is not even near complete in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Though Dubai’s Dragon Oil has done well developing offshore oil, Turkmenistan’s huge gas resources, the world’s fourth-largest, are exported to China but mostly off-limits to international investment. And what of the biggest bear in the post-Soviet republics? Russian oil production collapsed during the 1990s but the concurrent economic freefall and the elimination of grossly wasteful Soviet industry meant that exports actually increased. Following the 1998 economic crisis and devaluation, the suddenly competitive oil sector grew strongly under the direction of oligarchs such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Roman Abramovich. Output increased by 40 per cent in just four years to 2003. This "West Siberian miracle" would anyway have petered out as it was based on the one-off application of modern methods to Soviet- era fields. The current president Vladimir Putin’s reassertion of central state power and taxation, and the swallowing of Mr Khodorkovsky’s Yukos company by Rosneft under Mr Putin’s right-hand man, Igor Sechin, brought this explosive growth to a sudden end. Under Rosneft and Gazprom, about three quarters of the petroleum industry is now back in state hands. Western oil companies were only bit players in this drama. BP struggled through tribulations but eventually profited substantially from its joint venture with TNK, later taken over in its entirety by Rosneft. Shell and ExxonMobil have had rocky though lucrative rides in the far eastern island of Sakhalin. Russia’s new frontiers include the offshore Arctic such as the Kara Sea and probably more promisingly the colossal Bazhenov Shale of West Siberia. Western sanctions that have blocked the technologies needed to develop shale and stymied ExxonMobil’s Kara Sea joint venture with Rosneft may crumble next year. The Russian oil industry is far more efficient, sophisticated and market-oriented than its Soviet counterpart. Output continues to inch up, defying all forecasts by international agencies and its earnings still underpin Putinism. Comparisons to the collapse described by Mr Gaidar are facile. Yet despite modernisation and market-oriented transformation, the former USSR’s oil and gas sectors still bear the heavy imprint of Soviet times. Dismantling Communism was the easy part; building diversified economies remains vital but elusive. Robin Mills is the chief executive of Qamar Energy and the author of The Myth of the Oil Crisis. Source : The National

ММК and ERG sign a strategic agreement for iron ore delivery OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a leading diversified natural resources producer, have signed a strategic agreement for the supply of iron ore. The agreement provides for the supply of more than 30 million tonnes of iron ore, including pellets and concentrate, from the Sokolovsko-Sarbayskaya mine (JSC SSGPO, part of ERG) to OJSC MMK through 2020. This is the largest agreement of its kind in the industry in recent years.This new contract provides OJSC

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MMK, a leader in the Russian metals industry, with the iron ore it will require for the next four years, while for SSGPO, a leading producer and exporter of iron ore in the Eurasian region, it secures guaranteed sales volumes. The new agreement, which continues the long-standing partnership between two companies, was signed by the CEO of OJSC MMK, Pavel Shilyaev, and the Sales and Executive Director of ERG Sales, Yuri Sentsov. The signing was attended by the Chairman of OJSC MMK, Viktor Rashnikov, and the Chairman of ERG, Alexander Mashkevich.Viktor Rashnikov said: “MMK continues to develop its partnership with ERG, which is one of the biggest suppliers of high quality iron ore. Our relationship is based on long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation. This long-term agreement with ERG is at core of our corporate development programme, which aims to secure OJSC MMK’s supply of raw materials.” Alexander Mashkevich said: “The long-term agreement with MMK reinforces our reputation as a reliable partner and a customer-oriented business. The contract is also key to securing the long-term sustainable growth of JSC SSGPO which is a major enterprise not only for the Kostanay Region but for Kazakhstan as a whole. We very much look forward to a successful partnership with MMK over the coming years.” Source: MMK PLEASE MAINTAIN YOUR MAILBOX, DUE TO NEW POLICY OF THE PROVIDER, YOUR ADDRESS WILL BE “DEACTIVATED” AUTOMATICALLY IF THE MAIL IS BOUNCED BACK TO OUR SERVER If this happens to you please send me a mail at [email protected] to reactivate your address again You can also read the latest newsletter daily online via the link : http://newsletter.maasmondmaritime.com/ShippingNewsPdf/magazine.pdf

Shanghai, Trinidad and Tobago to host maritime technology centres under IMO energy-efficiency project Under the Global MTTC Network (GMN) project, Shanghai Maritime University in China will host the MTCC for the Asia region (MTCC-Asia), while the University of Trinidad and Tobago will host MTCC-Caribbean. Three further MTCCs will be established in other target regions - Africa, Latin America and the Pacific – to form a global network. IMO has announced the first two institutes selected to host regional Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) under an ambitious project, funded by the EU and implemented by IMO, to help mitigate the harmful effects of climate change. Under the Global MTTC Network (GMN) project, Shanghai Maritime University in China will host the MTCC for the Asia region (MTCC-Asia), while the University of Trinidad and Tobago will host MTCC-Caribbean. Three further MTCCs will be established in other target regions - Africa, Latin America and the Pacific – to form a global network. The five regional MTCCs will deliver mutually-agreed project milestones over a three-year period, making a significant contribution to IMO’s continuing, widespread efforts to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the global energy-efficiency regulations for international shipping. The MTCCs will receive allocations from the €10 million European Union funding for the project. They will be established and resourced to become regional centres of excellence, providing leadership in promoting ship energy-efficiency technologies and operations, and the reduction of harmful emissions from ships. The selection of Shanghai Maritime University and the University of Trinidad and Tobago, both confirmed this week, followed a competitive tendering process.

Greenhouse gas emissions from shipping are expected to increase but developing countries, which play a significant role in international shipping, often lack the means to improve energy efficiency in their shipping sectors. This project, formally entitled “Capacity Building for Climate Change Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Industry” will enable developing countries, especially Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, in the target regions to effectively implement energy-efficiency measures through technical assistance, capacity building and promoting technical cooperation. The project will be implemented through the network of MTCCs which, once operational, will act as focal points for: • improving capability in the region - by working with maritime administrations, port authorities, other relevant government departments and related shipping stakeholders to facilitate compliance with international regulations on energy efficiency for ships • promoting the uptake of low-carbon technologies and operations in the maritime sector through pilot projects • raising awareness about policies, strategies and measures for the reduction of ghg and other emissions from the maritime transport sector • demonstrating a pilot-scale system for collecting data and reporting on ships’ fuel consumption to improve shipowners’ and maritime administrations’ understanding in this regard, and • developing and implementing strategies to sustain the impact of MTCC results and activities beyond the project time-line. Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) SMU is a multi-disciplinary, maritime-specific university that encompasses such areas as engineering, management, economics, law, arts and sciences. It has over 20,000 full time students.

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Since 2010, SMU has specialised in researching technology related to ships’ energy efficiency and controlling GHG emissions. In March 2012, its Integrated Engine Room Lab became operational and is now used for professional training and research. It is also used to measure fuel economy and test emissions from marine diesel engines, to assess potential options for saving energy and mitigating emissions. SMU’s existing capacity, combined with the project’s support through the creation of MTCC-Asia, will be used to assist developing countries in the region to enhance their capabilities to address GHG emissions from shipping. The Asian MTCC will have two offices in Shanghai, one on the campus and one located within 20 minutes of Waigaopiao Port, facilitating connection with other ports. The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) is a multi-campus facility that hosts specialized programmes dedicated to developmental disciplines including maritime capacity building, energy efficiency, environmental studies and marine research. MTCC-Caribbean will be situated within the Chaguaramas Campus which is in the North-Western Peninsula of Trinidad and Tobago. With maritime capacity building at the core of its operations, the University has historically emphasized the importance of sustainable development and efficient use of resources. The dedicated faculty is supported by maritime training facilities, workshops and laboratories. Source: Portnews Aker BP produces first oil from Ivar Aasen field Norwegian oil and gas player Aker BP on Saturday, December 24 produced first oil from the Ivar Aasen field in the North Sea, offshore Norway. Aker BP, the operator of the field, said on Saturday that the start-up was according to the plan and the development was completed within budget. First oil from the Ivar Aasen field comes four years after the Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) was submitted. The plan was to start up production in fourth quarter 2016. CEO of Aker BP, Karl Johnny Hersvik, said: “The start-up is a major milestone for Aker BP. As operator, we have completed the development in a challenging period for the industry. It is therefore satisfying that we have delivered within budget and on time. For me it is even more important that the project has been carried out without any serious incidents.” According to the company, the economic life of Ivar Aasen field may be 20 years, depending on oil prices and production development. Operations will be run from an operations center in Trondheim. Hersvik added: “There are still major challenges in our industry, and continuous improvement in the way we operate is essential. Aker BP is well positioned to meet these challenges in partnership with our suppliers.” The Ivar Aasen field is located in the northern part of the North Sea, about 175 km west of Karmøy, and contains around 186 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), excluding Hanz. The latter will be developed in phase two of Ivar Aasen development, and amounts to about 18 million barrels of oil equivalent. Net Aker BP, including Hanz, represents approximately 71 million boe. The development of the Ivar Aasen includes deposits for five licenses, 001B, PL028 B, PL242, PL338 and PL457. The unitization of the licenses covers deposits in Ivar Aasen and West Cable. Hanz deposit in license PL028 B is not covered by the unitization. This is a coordinated development with the neighboring field Edvard Grieg. Oil and gas from Ivar Aasen is processed and exported from the Grieg platform, which also supplies power to Ivar Aasen. This summer the topside of about 15,000 tons was lifted into place on the field. During the last six months, between 400 and 500 people have been working offshore to prepare for production start-up. A substantial proportion of the deliveries for the project came from Norway, and the main part of the platform deck was built in Singapore. The living quarters, which was lifted onto the deck, was built at Stord. The chassis, built in Sardinia, was installed in summer 2015. Altogether, over five thousand people worked on the construction of Ivar Aasen. The partners in the field are Aker BP with 34.7862% interest, Statoil with 41.4730%, Bayerngas Norway with 12.3173%, Wintershall Norway with 6.4651%, VNG Norway with 3.0230%, Lundin Norway with 1.3850%, and Okea with 0.5540% interest. Source : offshoreenergytoday

Tanker Shturman Albanov first receives a Polar Ship Certificate SHTURMAN ALBANOV, Sovcomflot’s unique Arctic shuttle tanker, was the first to receive a Polar Ship Certificate. This Certificate confirms the vessel's compliance with the requirements of the Polar Code, to take effect on January 1, 2017, and was issued by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) on December 22, 2016, Sovcomflot said in its press release. SHTURMAN ALBANOV is the lead ship in a series of Arctic shuttle tankers ordered by Sovcomflot Group under a long-term contract with Gazprom Neft. They are designed to carry crude oil from the Yamal Peninsula (YNAD) to the port of Murmansk all year-round. Each tanker has deadweight of approximately 42,000 tonnes (SHTURMAN ALBANOV: 41,454.5 tonnes). The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) assigned the vessels an ice class Arc7. SHTURMAN ALBANOV is registered under the Russian flag and has Saint Petersburg as her home port. Her technical characteristics are unique. The design of the new vessel takes into account the specific features of the waters in the Gulf of Ob, where some areas are relatively shallow – about 10 metres deep – and which is covered with ice from October to July. Shturman Albanov is capable of operating in the Arctic all year-round at temperatures down to –45°С. Her propulsion system consists of two Azipod thrusters with a total capacity of 22 MW, which provides a high ice-breaking capability and good manoeuvrability in sailing through ice drifts and heavy ice fields.

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PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) is one of the world's leading shipping companies, specialising in the transportation of crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied gas, as well as servicing offshore upstream oil and gas installations and equipment. The Group’s fleet comprises 145 vessels with a total deadweight of over 13 million tonnes. The company is registered in St. Petersburg with offices in Moscow, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Vladivostok, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, London, Limassol, and Dubai. The Polar Code (International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters) was developed and adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Code was developed based on an assessment of risks specific to polar waters and is designed to ensure safe operation of ships and protection of the polar environment. From 1 January 2017, the requirements of the Code regarding maritime safety will become mandatory for new ships built on or after that date. Ships built before that date are to be brought in line with the requirements of the Code no later than the date of the first renewal or intermediate survey after 1 January 2018. Source: portnews

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