DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 001 Number 001 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Thursday 01-01-2015 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites. Beautiful shot of the only seagoing tug registered in my home town, 'Wijk Bij Duurstede' It is MT ISA, IMO 9394028, owned by captain Jan-Willem Mastenbroek. Home for Christmas in a winterly Netherlands. Picture was taken, using a drone by an unknown photographer photo received via Ruud Muis Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 01-01-2015 Page 1 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 001 IN MEMORIAM mij bereikte het trieste bericht dat is overleden HENK MOERMAN Henk was werkzaam in het verleden bij de Koninklijke Marine waar hij de bijnaam had “Wammes” Henk was kwartiermeester aan boord van duikondersteuningsvaartuig "Hr. Ms. Leersum". en naderhand bootsman. Henk kwam na zijn pensioenering bij de Marine terecht bij SMIT TAK alwaar hij samen met Jaap v.d. Meer de duikopleiding runde, hard maar fair en waar uitstekende duikers uit voortkwamen. Morgen, vrijdag 2 januari om 11:30 uur word met woorden en muziek afscheid genomen van Henk in de aula van het crematorium, Westelijk Oude Havendijk 3 te Middelburg Na afloop is er gelegenheid to samenzijn in de koffiekamer van het crematorium. ***** HENK, RUST ZACHT ***** Correspondentie adres : Poortugaalstraat 49 4388 AW OOST SOUBURG Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 01-01-2015 Page 2 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 001 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 The 2008 built 183 mtr long 50.070 DWT LICHTENSTEIN arriving at Dunedin, upon completion of cargo handling the tanker departed from Dunedin bound for Yoso (South Korea) Photo : Ross Walker (c) South China Sea: Vietnam Files Stance at the Tribunal Tensions over the South China Sea were reignited after Vietnam said it had submitted its stance on the dispute to the international arbitration tribunal reviewing the Philippines’ challenge against China’s claims.Vietnam has asked the arbitration court to take into account its legal rights and interests in the disputed sea region, spokesman Le Hai Binh, said in a foreign ministry statement posted on its website Thursday. The country also refuted China’s claims to the Paracel and Spratly islands in the statement, which provoked a Chinese response Thursday that its neighbor’s claims were unlawful. The renewed tensions are being sparked as the United Nations tribunal in the Hague considers Philippine’s challenge to China’s claim to much of the South China Sea as the island nation seeks to check Beijing’s bid for control of waters rich in oil, gas and fish. Vietnamese and Philippine leaders say they are determined to oppose China’s move to control the sea region after China placed an oil rig, HYSY-981, in May off Vietnam’s coast. Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 01-01-2015 Page 3 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 001 “Beijing will be irritated that Vietnam has submitted its views to the Arbitral Tribunal, which in China’s view has no jurisdiction over this issue,” said Ian Storey, senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “Despite efforts by both sides to repair the damage caused by HYSY-981, it demonstrates yet again that the South China Sea dispute continues to bedevil bilateral relations.” China said it rejects international arbitration of the territorial dispute and will not join in the proceedings, according to a position paper released December 7. China has “indisputable” sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, according to a foreign ministry statement. Vietnam reiterates it has “sufficient historical evidence and legal ground to affirm its sovereignty” over the Paracel and Spratly islands, according to the statement. The foreign ministry didn’t say when the submission to the arbitration court was made. The South China Morning Post reported it was submitted Dec. 5. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said in May the country has prepared evidence for a legal suit challenging China’s claims to the waters and is considering the best time to file it. Vietnam’s submission “raises the stature of the case in the eyes of the arbitrational tribunal,” Carlyle Thayer, an emeritus professor at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra, said by phone. “It pushes management of the dispute slightly down the legal path. Vietnam may have concluded that if it does not look out for its own interests, it will be left behind.”For now, Vietnam is most likely content to let the Philippines bear the brunt of China’s anger for taking the case to the tribunal, Storey said. China claims much of the island chains and waters in the South China Sea that extends hundreds of miles south from Hainan Island outlined in its nine-dash line map, first published in 1940s Source : themaritimehub More Heavy Lifting Ahead - Outlook 2015 By Justin Archard Managing Director, Asia Pacific & Oceania at SAL Heavy Lift Singapore Pte Ltd SAL’s TRINA enroute Antwerp – Photo : Walter de Groot (c) Owners are due a break – but I don’t think it will come in 2015. Cargo volume increases seen in 2014 are seen by most owners as the start of trend growth and 2015 for some time has pointed to better utilisation factors across MPV/Project carrier fleets. That said, it is hard to say whether or not the oil price shock will have a sting in its tail. The oil and gas industry is laying off people across the board – staff and contractors alike. Project deferments have started. Downgrading of global growth by the various financial agencies of the world has in most of 2014 been a regular feature of their commentary. Today they are saying that the oil price correction may be the fillip that has been needed to ignite growth. Whatever the truth, uncertainty remains as the only constant and will in my view continue to dampen investment in capital projects and ships in the MPV/Project carrier segment. Oversupply has been a considerable factor in this segment for some time. Year 2015 with its uncertainties is unlikely to be a catalyst year for significant newbuild orders which is a good thing. A further difficulty that shipowners face will be in freight rates. As cargo volumes have trended upwards, the fall in the oil price has meant lower bunker costs for owners. This has brought a welcome margin against current market freight rates. However, unwelcome is the pressure to return this to charterers in the form of lower freight rates and those in the chase for volume are ready to negotiate with it. So it is entirely possible that if the bunker rates stay in Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 01-01-2015 Page 4 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 001 the same general area for a sustained period, freight rates will certainly flat-line, possibly even fall even as cargo volumes increase. Year 2015 will as well I think see further M+A activity, particularly with owners who are generally trampers in nature and with smaller fleets. Recent years have seen a marked increase in fleet size among the project carriers. When price and position are the key attributes to working spot markets, smaller fleets are particularly disadvantaged. Continuing low freight rates will eventually persuade some – either of their own volition or coerced by the banks - to find pooling partners to maximise the potential of their vessels. At the very top end of heavy lift, three new ships will be present in the market. Even as few in numbers as this presents a measureable shift in the supply and demand principal. Few pure play heavy lifts are forecast for 2015 and owners will find themselves having to take work for these vessels that they were not necessarily designed for. This said it isn’t all bad news. Sentiment is lifting and this forms a driver in its own right. Technical project work will continue as pure play heavy lift vessels extend their range of abilities utilising their capacities and operating structures onshore to develop techniques in diversified markets. I think in 2015, the fleets that remain focused on their core business, manage costs yet remain flexible will ride out what I believe will be the last of the difficult years. SUPERSTAR AQUARIUS VISITS PUERTO PRINCESA CITY Compiled by : Piet Sinke Monday afternoon did see the arrival of the SUPERSTAR AQUARIUS in the port of Puerto Princesa City at the Philippine Island Palawan. Known as the city in a forest, Puerto Princesa City lives up to its reputation as one of the most environmentally-conscious cities in the Philippines. Located at the mid-section of the long strip of the Palawan Island province, Puerto Princesa City is a top tourist destination, known mostly to locals and well-travelled foreigners. Distribution : daily to 31800+ active addresses 01-01-2015 Page 5 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 001 It is home to many beautiful sights and natural wonders – pristine beaches, coral reefs and lush greeneries that are unique to the place. The climate-friendly city offers some of Philippines’ best kept heritage, culture and natural attractions. Among some of the must-see places include the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature.