DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2012 – 255 Number 255 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Tuesday 11-09-2012 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites. The SMIT EBRO operating in Rotterdam-Europoort Photo : Mark de Bruin © Distribution : daily to 23100+ active addresses 11-09-2012 Page 1 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2012 – 255 Your feedback is important to me so please drop me an email if you have any photos or articles that may be of interest to the maritime interested people at sea and ashore PLEASE SEND ALL PHOTOS / ARTICLES TO : [email protected] If you don't like to receive this bulletin anymore : To unsubscribe click here (English version) or visit the subscription page on our website. http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/uitschrijven.aspx?lan=en-US EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS S.Leone removes nine Iranian vessels from shipping register Move comes after some Western powers urge countries to deny flags to Iranian ships as part of economic sanctions Sierra Leone has removed nine vessels from its shipping register after an investigation found they belonged to IRISL, Iran's embattled shipping line, the head of the West African state's maritime authority said on Saturday. The IRISL’s RAMONA under the flag of Sierra Leone (Freetown) in Singapore yesterday – Photo : Piet Sinke © The move comes as Western powers seek to ground Iran's global oil carrier fleet by urging countries to deny their flags to Iranian ships, part of a broader push to curb Tehran's nuclear program with economic sanctions. "The vessels were deleted as a result of the fact that the companies that registered the said vessels were actually subsidiaries Distribution : daily to 23100+ active addresses 11-09-2012 Page 2 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2012 – 255 owned and controlled by IRISL," Acting Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration Wurroh Jalloh told Reuters in an email. He said four vessels - Alva, Amin, Tour and Benita - were removed from the register late last week and that five others had been deleted since the end of August. He did not give further details. Iran has been trying to reflag its ships in an attempt to avoid Western sanctions aimed at choking off its oil exports, prompting the United States to pressure countries around the world to refuse any such requests. In mid-August, Tanzania announced it was de-registering 36 Iranian vessels and dropping the Dubai-based shipping agent it said had flagged them without the east African government's knowledge. Reflagging ships masks their ownership, which could make it easier for Iran to obtain insurance and financing for cargoes and to find buyers for shipments without attracting the attention of the United States and the European Union. The United States has a longstanding ban on imports of Iranian oil and has imposed new economic sanctions that have curbed Iranian oil imports by most other major nations. The EU banned Iranian oil imports on 1 July and barred EU firms from transporting Iranian crude or insuring such shipments. Source : ahramonline Efthimios E Mitropoulos graces AMET’s Convocation and delivers lecture. AMET University, Chennai held its 2nd convocation on September 5th for the class of 2012. This day is celebrated as “Teachers’ Day” all over India. Gracing the occasion was Admiral Efthimios E Mitropoulos, the immediate past Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization and now the Chancellor of AMET University, who conferred the degrees and delivered the Convocation Address. He commended the performance of AMET University and said, “The fact that, during that time, the University has functioned smoothly, successfully delivering on its mandate and responding to the expectations of all concerned, is testimony to the dedication, hard work, commitment and devotion to duty of all in the management team, from the Chairman and senior staff (both academic and administrative) to the most junior faculty members.” Mr.Lars Modin, Managing Director of International Tanker Management Holding Ltd, Dubai, was the Guest of Honour who distributed the gold medals and rank certificates to the toppers of different courses. The convocation ceremony began with the convocation procession led by the Registrar, Controller of Examination, Heads of Distribution : daily to 23100+ active addresses 11-09-2012 Page 3 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2012 – 255 Departments and Deans, Members of the Board of Management, Vice-Chancellor, Chairman, Guest of honour and the Chancellor. Capt. Bhardwaj, the Vice-Chancellor of the University sincerely welcomed the distinguished invitees, successful grandaunts and their parents and delivered the Annual report that left the audience exalted. Dr.J.Ramachandran, the Chairman of the University congratulated the graduating batch and their parents for successfully completing their courses. He affirmed “I perceive this as an occasion to bring awareness on the importance of knowledge and education as the groundwork for the development of any society.” He also took pride in the cadets who have become the most sought after Captains, Chief Engineers and Professionals giving good leadership to the industry who are capable of working under high pressure and uncertainty with a strong appetite for taking risks. Amidst much happiness and enthusiasm, the Institute conferred degrees in Shipping Management, Nautical Science, Marine Engineering, Marine Technology, Naval Architecture, Petroleum Engineering, Harbor Engineering, Marine EEE, and Marine Biotechnology for approximately 700 students and also awarded 6 Ph.D. Degrees to Research Scholars from various departments. Fully clad in their graduation attire the graduating students seemed enthusiastic to commemorate their achievement and their ingress into the vibrant marine world. During the Convocation Ceremony several awards were given out to deserving students as an appreciation of the hard work they contributed in achieving their goal. The University also handed out 12 Gold Medals and 12 Rank Certificates to the Toppers of different courses. The marine industry looks for competitive, erudite and pioneering people. AMET University addresses this need through a contemporary program of study highlighting on both knowledge and practice, and also imbibes a sense of responsibility and self-motivation. In an environment where competition creates a demand for effectual headship, AMET prepares citizens who are competent to merge industrial experience and self learning. The convocation was declared closed after the National Anthem was sung. On the following day 6th September, AMET University hosted the Indian Maritime industry to its Annual “Janakiraman Memorial Lecture” in the fond memory of the late father of the Founder Chairman of the University. This is a major event in the Institution’s calendar, which aims to present important and topical maritime themes and issues by leading individuals in their sector of the Maritime Industry. The event was hosted at the Sheraton Park Hotel and Towers, Chennai, that drew audiences from as far as Singapore, Kochi, Delhi, and Mumbai besides Chennai. Prominent among those who participated were Inspector General Coast Guard(Region East), President of Nautical Institute London Capt Krishnamurthi, Vice President of Institute of Marine Engineers of India, Deputy Master of the Company of Master Mariners of India, besides representatives of major companies like Maersk, NYK, Ofer, Mitsui OSK, Massa Association, Anglo Eastern, Univan, V-Ships, and others. Mr.Efthimios.E.Mitropoulos, the Chancellor of AMET University, and the Immediate Past Secretary General of International Maritime Organisation delivered this year’s lecture titled ‘Reminiscences of my days at IMO.’ “We are winning the war against piracy. 8 years ago when I took up as the Secretary of IMO, 43 ships were hijacked and 750 seafarers were taken hostage and now the number has come down to 7 ships and 100 seafarers which is however a concern as well. The Somalia’s failure as a state is the reason for piracy. Political solution need to be found immediately. Also we have to put in effort to bring down global warming as we need to be prepared for challenges and changes that technology will bring about.” said Mr.Eftimios.E.Mitropoulus. He lauded the contributions of his mentor Dr. C. P. Srivastava the former Secretary General of IMO who single handedly persuaded 100 countries to become members of IMO the total of which is 179. Besides, he reminded of the contributions of Capt. Mukundan of IMB on dealing with piracy. Mr.Lars Modin, the Managing Director of International Tanker Management Holding Ltd, Dubai in his special address on ‘Course of Shipping in this Decade’ regaled the audience with his experiences of shipping in the decade. The Chairman Dr.J.Ramachandran, in his welcome address gave a call to the industry to be a part of social change. “I have seen many socially backward families come to the fore being strengthened by the economic empowerment after choosing a career with maritime industry. If this is what the industry can do, what else can one ask for? A purposeful Distribution : daily to 23100+ active addresses 11-09-2012 Page 4 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2012 – 255 education strengthens academics which strengthens economics, and that strengthens the society, which in turn promotes peace and harmony in the world.” Capt. S. Bhardwaj, the Vice-Chancellor of the University,