MARINE ASSETS CORPORATIONrealoffshore.com.au/news/012-12-01-2012.pdf2012/01/12 · Independent...

DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2012 – 012

Distribution : daily to 20175+ active addresses 12-01-2012

Number 012 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Thursday 12-01-2012

News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

MARINE ASSETS CORPORATION

One Raffles Quay – 35-01 North Tower – Singapore - www.macoffshore.net - [email protected]

The SEVEN BOREALIS left the giant dock at the Sembawang Shipyard after de naming

ceremony and was moored at Berth 19 Photo : Robin van Singerwood ©

http://www.macoffshore.net/�

http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/�

http://www.lekko.org/�



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

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

E-mail : [email protected] Internet : www.marint.co.uk

The outbound BOW SEA is passing the inbound BOW SUMMER off Maassluis - Photo : Ria Maat ©

Port of Gladstone dredging halted due to turbidity

The Glastone Observer newspaper reports that the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has directed contractors dredging on behalf of Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) to immediately cease operation of the cutter suction dredge in Gladstone Harbour. DERM Director-General Jim Reeves said that an Environmental Protection Order was issued yesterday following evidence of high levels of turbidity at a monitoring site for more than 48 hours. It is a breach of their Development Approval if high turbidity levels persist at any of the key monitoring sites

mailto:[email protected]�

http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/uitschrijven.aspx?lan=en-US�



http://www.marint.co.uk/�



for more than 48 hours. The suspension applies immediately and remains in place until turbidity reduces to acceptable levels. Source : Dredging News Online

POSH SALVISCOUNT moored at CSE (Chiwan Sembawang Engineering) shipyard in Shenzhen, China.

Photo : Frans Slob ©

Tanker markets strengthen in final sprint of the year, but rates expected to fall again With the dreadful third quarter of the year still haunting tanker owners, it could be said that the final quarter of 2011, in general, took the market to higher grounds with a few exceptions. But, as London-based shipbroker Gibson puts it, "taking into account the persistent abundance of available tonnage, yet more tankers to enter the fleet and uncertainty about near term oil demand growth, it is difficult to imagine that freight rates will show sustainable improvements anytime soon" said Gibson. It went on to mention that "the supply/demand fundamentals are fairly dire across most crude tanker segments, although to a varying degree. For Aframaxes, apart from ongoing growth in fleet size, the major concern is, restricted demand growth prospects due to declining crude production in the North Sea, Asia Pacific and Mexico, stable output from Russia and only limited growth from other areas. Despite such gloomy conditions, there is always short-term hope for owners, with the possibility of disruptions due to weather related delays, heavy ice conditions, political developments, changes to legal framework, strikes or port congestion. Perhaps, the most notable example of an “events driven” market is in the Black Sea/Mediterranean and North West Europe, where bad weather, Bosporus Strait delays and heavy ice conditions in the Baltic often lead to sharp spikes in freight rates. The latest hike was witnessed in December, with Aframax rates in the North Sea/Baltic spiking on the back of stormy weather, with tce returns rising to $40,000/day on a round voyage basis at design speed around mid-month, up from just $4,000/day a few weeks earlier. In the Mediterranean, the market surged even higher on the back of Bosporus delays, with tce earnings for 80,000 tonne crude cargoes for Black Sea - Mediterranean jumping to over $60,000/day in late December, compared to just $5,000/day in November" said the shipbroker. It concluded its analysis by saying that "although such spikes are typically brief, with the Mediterranean Aframax market already in decline, in the past these “events” frequently provided a temporary boost to owners’ earnings, pushing average annual returns higher. So, perhaps, once again owners (and not only in the Aframax market) should expect and hope for “the unexpected”?" concluded Gibson. In terms of market performance during the past week, the shipbroker said that "it it was a steady period for VLCCs in the Middle East Gulf, despite the holiday disruptions, and although there was some improvement, it has been marginal in Worldscale terms, and minimal once higher bunker prices are taken into account. Currently rates stand at WS 62.5 to the East and around WS 40 West (still on the 2011 Worldscale for now). Things could get a little busier as next week progresses, and some upside looks on the cards. Suezmaxes benefitted from tighter, early, availability, and upon those positions Owners managed to force rates to 130,000 by WS 100 to the East, but did take discounts to WS 85 where competition was stronger. Aframaxes had enough attention to maintain an 80,000 by WS 120 level to



Singapore, but did see more action from the Red Sea where rates gained to WS 135, and should hold over the near term" mentioned Gibson. Furthermore, it stated that "in West Africa, suezmax Charterers provided enough 'entertainment' over the festive season to allow Owners to obtain the 130,000 by WS 100 mark transatlantic for a short while, before taking their foot off the gas, allowing some deflation to WS 80 upon the new, 2012, Worldscale. Some further discounting may be seen in the short term. VLCCs became very rare beasts in the Atlantic as a whole as strong demand to the East allowed Owners to drive rates to 260,000 by WS 70 (11) for that direction, with around WS 67.5 (11) payable to US Gulf by those that could arrange for co-loadings. Aframaxes in the Mediterranean saw their bubble well and truly burst with rates presently operating at around half their pre-Christmas Worldscale level. Currently 80,000 moves at around WS 115 (12) cross-Mediterranean, but does, at least, look to be now stabilising. Suezmaxes kept pretty solid through most of the period - aided by the continuing delays through the Bosphoros - but once Charterers slowed the pace, even those weren’t sufficient to prevent the market softening to 135,000 by WS 100 (12) - ish from the Black Sea to European options, and there may be further slippage until volumes pick up once again. VLCCs in the Caribbean had a busy time of it with strong interest from the East, but Owners failed to break through the previous USD 4.5 m ceiling for Singapore discharge, though with availability now super-tight, an improvement should be anticipated. Aframaxes couldn’t get any grip on an easy tonnage list, and modest demand. Rates converted onto the new Worldscale in short order, and move sideways at 70,000 by WS 100 upcoast" concluded Gibson. Source : Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

The newbuilding jack up NEPTUNE departed from Rotterdam for trials – Photo : Frits Janse ©

http://www.propulsionservice.com/�



Half of wrecked cargo ship sinking in New Zealand

One half of a cargo ship that ran aground on a New Zealand reef three months ago began sinking into the ocean on Tuesday. Maritime New Zealand spokesman James Sygrove said that the stern section of the vessel Rena began slipping from its previous position on the Astrolabe reef at about 9 am New Zealand time and three hours later was about three-quarters submerged.

Photo : Marc Biemans ©

"The front 30 meters (100 feet) is still above the waterline, but the back section and the bridge are all under the water," he said. Sygrove said the bow section of the boat remained firmly wedged on the reef. He said there is plenty of wood, plastic and other debris floating around the sinking stern section. "It's quite a fluid situation," he said, adding that authorities remain unsure of what will happen next.

The maritime agency issued an update early Tuesday afternoon saying that the mostly submerged stern section remained perched on the edge of the reef and that a small amount of oil and some containers had fallen overboard along with the debris. The 774-foot (236-meter) vessel split in two over the weekend amid heavy seas. It has been battered on the reef near the North Island port of Tauranga since it ran aground October 05.

About 150 cargo containers have spilled into the sea since the weekend, with more than 800 still aboard. Many more containers are expected to fall off as the stern sinks. In the days after it ran aground, the Rena spilled about 400 tons of fuel oil, fouling pristine beaches and killing thousands of seabirds in what has been labeled New Zealand's worst maritime environmental disaster. Maritime New Zealand estimates that less than 100 tons of oil remains on the ship after salvage crews managed to remove much of the remaining oil and nearly 400 containers. However, it was a slow process removing containers and hundreds were still aboard when it split apart.

New Zealand police closed access to one beach on Monday after some people were seen scavenging bags of powdered milk that had washed ashore. Authorities warned that the milk may be unsafe. More than 30 containers from the ship and plenty of loose debris has washed up at local beaches since the Rena split apart, and authorities have been working to tow other containers out to sea to prevent more from coming ashore. Salvage crews have attached beacons and buoys to some containers so they can be more easily recovered later. Source : Zeenews India



The TAI AN KOU loaded 3 river passenger liners in Rotterdam-Europoort with destination Fos-sur-Mer (France)

Photo’s : Frits Janse ©

Citro 72 maal voor hulp ingeroepen in 2011 Citro, de vrijwilligers zeereddingsorganisatie, is vorig jaar 72 maal opgeroepen waarbij ze ruim 50 keer is uitgevaren voor acties op zee. “Dat betrof zoekacties, binnenslepen of leegpompen van boten, assistentie bij drenkelingen en begeleiding van activiteiten op zee. CitroMedico heeft weer zijn gebruikelijke medische adviezen gegeven, meestal via de radio”, aldus Citro-voorzitter Frans Versteeg in zijn nieuwjaarstoespraak. Opdat Citro zich op deze wijze kan blijven

http://www.nedmarine.com/�



inzetten stelt Versteeg dat er daarvoor op zee, op bestuurlijk niveau, gecalculeerde risico’s genomen moeten worden. “Daar komen we dan samen, met hulp van u sterker uit. Mijn roep om hulp bij de laatste ‘Fruits de Mer’ – de jaarlijkse

fondswervingsactiviteit – heeft direct resultaat gehad. Meerdere nieuwe vrijwilligers hebben hun hulp op dit gebied toegezegd en zijn al aan de slag gegaan. Ook hebben we nu van bijna iedere donateur het e-mailadres. De band met deze belangrijke groep kan nu veel efficiënter versterkt worden”, aldus Versteeg in zijn terugblik op het afgelopen jaar. Hij gaf in zijn toespraak tevens aan dat de Citro als organisatie het ‘ingrijpende verlies van Dick Braakman en Robert Willems’ goed heeft weten te verwerken.

Photo : Kees Bustraan – http://community.webshots.com/user/cornelis224 (c)

“De organisatie is groter geworden en daarmee ook de vraag om structuur. Op het symposium hebben we daar intern bij stilgestaan. De administratief organisatorische ondersteuning van het echte reddingswerk moest verstevigd worden. In april zijn de vrijwilligers gedurende twee weken getraind door een KNRM-instructeur met theorie en veel praktijk. Samen met onze partners hebben we in september een table-top oefening georganiseerd met als onderwerp een vliegtuigditch. Het resultaat hiervan werd tijdens het Citro-symposium in oktober gepresenteerd. De presentaties door de partners bieden een goed perspectief om de samenwerking verder uit te bouwen. De organisaties zullen elkaar beter informeren”, aldus Versteeg. Hij licht toe dat de Fruits de Mer het afgelopen jaar wederom succesvol was door een aantal grote donaties naast de vele kleinere. “We staan er nu financieel goed voor, maar met de vloot is het wat minder. De ‘Antje’ is gesloopt waarna de ‘Aurora’ het gat voorlopig heeft opgevuld. Er is wel een nieuw vlootplan opgesteld waar we nu financiering voor gaan zoeken”, Aldus Versteeg. De Citro heeft in 2011 van vier bestuurders afscheid genomen. Jaime Saleh als lid van de Raad van Advies, Rubert Breusers en Lesley Laplace, beiden jaren bestuurslid met een actieve inzet, en Adriaan van der Hoeven. De laatste is als voorzitter afgetreden maar blijft nog Citro 72 maal voor hulp ingeroepen in 2011 actief binnen het bestuur. “Het verbaast me steeds weer hoeveel mensen van buiten een positieve respons geven op de inzet van de Citro. Het geeft een goed gevoel van zo’n organisatie de voorzitter te mogen zijn”, aldus Versteeg. De zeereddingsorganisatie kreeg namens koningin Beatrix, van de gouverneur, voor 28 Citro-medewerkers tevens de vrijwilligersmedaille uitgereikt. Source : Amigoe

http://www.vlierodam.nl/�



The Peters Shipyard (Kampen) built and VOF K.van Donderen, Delfzijl owned DIAMANT commenced yard trails

Photo : Sake van der Sluis ©

DONJON SALVAGES SUNKEN BARGE UNDER NEWPORT PELL BRIDGE

Donjon Marine, Co., Inc., a provider of multi-faceted marine services including marine salvage, heavy lift, dredging and related emergency response services, was contracted in early November 2011 to raise a 300-ton barge used as a platform for painting supplies and disposal equipment that sank in 100 feet of water after a violent Nor’Easter storm

near Newport Pell Bridge in Newport, Rhode Island. The barge also contained oil in three tanks with a reported 2,400 gallons of fuel at the time of the sinking.

Working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the barge owners, underwriters, and environmental groups, Donjon’s salvage crews and divers devised a salvage plan, worked to clear the barge of hazardous materials and oil, and with its 1,000-ton floating crane Chesapeake 1,000, lifted the barge with a number of slings. The job

was successfully completed in 33 days.

“This project required experience in professional heavy lift salvage, deep water diving, and environmental remediation, to name just a few,” said John A. Witte, Jr., Executive Vice President of Donjon. “Donjon Marine brings all of these capabilities and over 40 years of cost-effective service in response to the needs of the marine community to each job it completes,” he continued. Donjon’s work is well-known in the New England area, performing several jobs over the last 30 years including salvaging the tug Scandia and barge North Cape.



Unusual sight at West Thurrock with two sisterships and fleetmates alongside the VOPAK Terminal, just below the

Dartford crossing. Marida Mistletoe and Marida Maple. Photo : Krispen Atkinson ©

ICS publishes new Flag State table The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its latest annual Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table The Table collates various data available in the public domain. Under the supervision of ICS's member national shipowners' associations, the presentation of the Table for 2011 has been modified slightly in order to address feedback from governments. However the purpose is the same: to encourage shipowners to examine whether a flag state has substance before using it and to encourage them to pressure their flag administration to effect any improvement that might be necessary.

ICS believes that a balance has to be struck between the commercial advantages of shipowners selecting a particular flag and the need to discourage the use any flag that does not meet its international obligations. While it is shipping companies that have primary responsibility for the safe operation of their ships it is the flag state that must enforce the rules. ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe explained: "ICS makes no apology for continuing to subject flag states to scrutiny, in the same way that ships and company procedures are rightly subjected to inspection by governments. Our overriding interest in promoting high performing flags is that they are less likely to tolerate sub-standard operators who would otherwise enjoy an unfair commercial advantage over the vast majority of fully compliant shipping companies". see www.ics-shipping.org/flag-performance.htm Source: The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)

http://www.ics-shipping.org/flag-performance.htm�

http://www.thbverhoef.com/�



Alphaliner Says Shipping Overcapacity to Accelerate Ocean carriers face a growing capacity glut in 2012, especially on the key Asia-Europe trade lane, as ship deliveries accelerate from last year while cargo demand weakens over the coming 12 months, Alphaliner forecast. The global container ship fleet is set to grow 8.3 percent, or 1.28 million 20-foot equivalent units, this year. The growth will outpace the 7.9 percent expansion in 2011, when shipyards delivered 127 vessels of 1.23 million TEUs, the container market analyst said.

Left : The ESTELLE MAERSK leaving Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Mark de Bruin (c)

The growth in demand, by contrast, is forecast to slow to 6.5 percent in 2012 from an estimated 7.7 percent in 2011. Some 253 container ships of 1.47 million TEUs are due for delivery in 2012, but this likely will drop to around 228 vessels of 1.39 million TEUs after allowing for delivery slippage. A further 120,000 TEUs of capacity is

expected to be scrapped, according to Alphaliner. Almost half of the ships slated for delivery in 2012 are above 10,000 TEUs, most of which are earmarked for deployment on Asia-Europe routes. “The order book bias toward large ships will exacerbate the oversupply afflicting the main East-West trades,” Alphaliner said. All of the top 20 ocean carriers, with the exception of Chile’s CSAV and Zim of Israel, are expected to take delivery of new container vessels in 2012. CCAV has chartered three ships due for delivery this year to Maersk. Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping will be the fastest growing carrier in 2012, with 21 ships of nearly 250,000 TEUs of capacity total set to join its fleet, followed by Maersk, which is also taking delivery of 21 ships of 133,000 total TEUs capacity. Maersk expanded its capacity at twice the pace of the overall container shipping industry in 2011. Despite the looming overcapacity, carriers ordered 239 ships of 1.77 million TEUs worth $19.5 billion total in 2011, according to Alphaliner. The order book reached 620 ships of 4.3 million TEUs at the end of 2011, representing 28 percent of the current fleet of 15.4 million TEUs. Source: Journal of Commerce

The LION passing Maassluis enroute Rotterdam – Photo : Ria Maat ©



NAVY NEWS

Tearful farewell as HMS Ledbury is first navy ship to leave in 2012

WITH tears in their eyes, family and friends waved goodbye to HMS Ledbury’s sailors as the ship passed the Round Tower yesterday. The minehunter became the first Royal Navy warship to leave Portsmouth in 2012 when she slipped her moorings for a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean. Samantha Connell, 31, of Gosport cradled her new-born baby Gracie as she waved farewell to her husband Lee just 11 weeks after giving birth to their fourth child.

She said: ‘It’s horrible saying goodbye. It’s really not nice. I’m not looking forward to the next six months. It’s going to be quite sad. He’s going to miss out on so much with her.’ Lee, who has been in the navy for 12 years, was away last year off the coast of Libya with Ledbury’s sister ship HMS Brocklesby. Samantha said: ‘It was nice to have him home for Christmas but I can’t believe he’s going away again so soon. He only joined Ledbury just before Christmas.’ One week ago, the family of navy diver Tom Hilder had no idea the 23-year-old would be going to sea. ‘He only got six days’ notice to go,’ said his father Dave, 53, who explained: ‘He’s based at Horsea Island and he came back after Christmas break and was told he was going to replace someone who is injured.’

Tom’s mum Karen said: ‘I’m really excited for him. It’s his first time away and it’s what he wants to do. It’s what he signed up for.’ But Tom’s childhood sweetheart Laura Knight, 22, who he met at school eight years ago, isn’t so pleased. She said: ‘It was a bit of a shock. It was very short notice. I’m a bit apprehensive and I’ll miss him lots.’ The family of weapons technician Geraint Timmis, 22, drove three hours from Wales to see him leave. Nan Patricia, 72, of Crewe, said: ‘It’s amazing, I’m so excited and also sad to see him go. He’s my only grandson and I’m so proud of him.’

http://www.multraship.com/�



The family of Able Seaman Fraser Malek, 18, frantically waved Union Jacks from the Round Tower. Mum Michelle said: ‘It’s the first time he’s gone away properly. I’m nervous but excited for him.’ Ledbury will maintain a permanent presence in the Mediterranean on a mission which will see her locate and destroy sea mines still left over from the Second World War. Her six-month schedule also includes port visits to Italy, Spain, Greece and Morocco. Source : Portsmouth.co.uk

The Russian Navy Northern Fleet (NF) Boris Chilikhin Class Oiler RSF SERGEI OSIPOV entering Grand Harbour,

Malta on Monday 9th January, 2012 for the second time since her deployment with the Admiral Kuznetsov Carrier Group. Photo : Cpt. Lawrence Dalli - www.maltashipphotos.com (c)

Sub repairs will cost more than 1 billion rubles The fire aboard the nuclear submarine ”Yekaterinburg” destroyed the submarine’s hydroacoustic system and the cost of repairs exceeds €24.5 million. The Delta IV-class nuclear submarine caught fire on December 29 while it was in a floating dock at the naval yard Roslyakovo north of Murmansk on Russia's Kola Peninsula for repairs. The fire led to serious damage of the submarine’s outer hull and it will have to be sent to Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk for repairs.

The costs are estimated to more than one billion rubles or over 24.5 million Euros. “Yekaterinburg” can only be transported to Severodvinsk as early as May-June, when the White Sea is free of ice. Until then, the sub will remain in one of the Northern Fleet’s bases outside Severomorsk, a naval source says to ITAR-TASS.

Seven crewmembers and to rescue workers were injured as they battled the fire, which was put out only after 20 hours. A military investigation committee has concluded that the fire started because of “crude violations of safety requirements during hot works aboard the submarine”. According to the investigation the fire developed between the outer and the inner hull, in the area where the submarine’s hydroacoustic antenna is located.

The investigators have opened a criminal case under the statute “destruction or damage of military property due to negligence.”

According to the first official reports after the fire, the rubber on the outer hull in the front nose of the submarine was set on fire, likely caused by welding. Pictures and videos published on Russian blogs show massive flames coming out of a large hole cut in the sub’s outer hull, suggesting that more than only the rubber coating was on fire.

Right after the incident President Medvedev ordered that all measures should be taken to restore the submarine. According to the first assessments Russian naval experts made after the fire, repairs will take at least one year, depending on whether the submarine’s hydro acoustic system needed to be replaced or not. It will probably be late 2013 before “Yekaterinburg” is out on water again. Source : BarentsObserver

ALSO INTERESTED IN THIS FREE MARITIME NEWSCLIPPINGS ? PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE :

WWW.MAASMONDMARITIME.COM AND REGISTER FOR FREE !

http://www.maltashipphotos.com/�

http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/�



SHIPYARD NEWS

The ABB Azipods of the Celebrity Solstice whilst in dry dock 2 in Freeport at the Grand Bahama Ship Yard last week

Photo : George G Franssen ©

Price talks between South Korean mills and shipyards still deadlocked

It is reported that South Korean steel mills and local shipyards have still failed to reach agreement in current negotiations on shipbuilding plate prices. As per report, the South Korean shipbuilding companies have asked domestic steel mills to decrease their shipbuilding plate prices by KRW 100,000 per tonne due to lower prices for ships and oversupply of plate. However, the steel mills maintain that they can only reduce prices slightly or else they will start to incur losses. The shipyards insist that prices should be reduced in line with the supply situation, while observing that ex China steel plate prices have declined to USD 700 per tonne FOB. Some South Korean shipyards have reduced their purchase volumes in order to place pressure on the domestic plate producers. Source: Steel Orbis

Meyer Werft floats out Disney Fantasy Meyer Werft has undocked the latest addition to the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The 128,000 grt, 1,115 ft x 125 ft Disney Fantasy was slowly floated out of the shipyard's covered building dock on Sunday, January 8. The second of



two post-Panamax cruise liners ordered by Disney from the German shipbuilder, the Disney Fantasy is the fourth cruise liner in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. With 14 decks, she has 1,250 staterooms and can accommodate 4,000 passengers—along with the over 1,450 cast and crew members.

See also : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVFE64IWows&feature=player_embedded

While the ship is berthed alongside the shipyard's pier, remaining work to be carried out includes installation of the mast. The ship is scheduled to be conveyed to the North Sea via the river Ems in two weeks and delivery to the owner is planned to take place in Bremerhaven on February 9. Source : MarineLog

Wagenborg’s DWT 9,085 General Cargo “KASTEELBORG” docked at Cernaval Shipyard (Algeciras Port).

Photo : Enrique Pérez ©

Keppel AmFELS to Construct and Upgrade Deepwater Semisubmersible for Diamond

Offshore for US$150 million Keppel AmFELS LLC, a US wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), has secured a contract from Diamond Offshore to construct and upgrade a moored semisubmersible rig with delivery scheduled for 3Q 2013. The estimated shipyard contract price is approximately US$150 million. The rig, to be named Ocean Onyx, will be constructed from an existing hull from a Diamond Offshore cold stacked unit, which previously operated as the Ocean Voyager. Keppel AmFELS' scope of work on the Ocean Onyx includes the reconstruction of the rig, installation of advanced equipment such as a modern drilling package, and installation of sponsons to the pontoons to enhance the stability of the rig in deepwater. The rig will be designed to operate in water depths of up to 6,000 feet and will have a variable deck load of 5,000 long tonnes, a five-ram blowout preventer, and quarters capacity for 140 personnel. Mr Larry Dickerson, President and CEO of Diamond Offshore, said, "We have worked with Keppel for more than a decade, and our rigs have consistently been delivered on time and within budget, whether in the US or Singapore. With Keppel's track record as a leading offshore yard, we are confident that this project will also be a success." Keppel O&M has previously built four similar semisubmersible rigs for Diamond Offshore: the Ocean Baroness, Ocean Rover, Ocean Endeavour and Ocean Monarch. Mr Tan Geok Seng, President of Keppel AmFELS, said, "We are pleased to be able to embark on another major rig project for Diamond Offshore, who has worked with Keppel on more than 20 projects

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVFE64IWows&feature=player_embedded�



since 1996. Diamond's rigs are sent regularly to our yards around the world for maintenance, repair and upgrade, and Keppel AmFELS has proven to be their choice yard in the US Gulf of Mexico. Having built a long-term partnership with Diamond, we understand the company's needs and are confident of delivering another high quality rig to their satisfaction." The above contract is not expected to have a material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of Keppel Corporation Limited for the current financial year. Source: Keppel AmFELS

CSL launches two new SCI vessels Cochin Shipyard Ltd has launched two new platform supply vessels ordered by Shipping Corporation of India. SCI General Manager B Chakravarty launched ship BY-85-SCI Nalanda and CSL Executive Director Cherian George launched vessel BY-86-SCI Yamuna in the presence of CSL Chairman and Managing Director Cmde K Subramaniam here yesterday. Both vessels are UT 755 CD-type platform supply vessels, designed by Rolls-Royce Marine AS, Norway, and are dual-classed under the rules and regulations of Det Norske Veritas and the Indian Register of Shipping, a shipyard press release said. Both ships are of 78.70x16.00x7.00 metres dimension and have high-end diesel electric PSVs with four 910 KW diesel generator sets and two 1470-KW input power azimuth thrusters. The vessels have been assigned ''Clean'' design notation by DNV/IRS, signifying the highest levels of environmental compliance, and can accommodate 26 persons each. Source: PTI

The SMIT ELBE in drydock at PADMOS Shipyard in Stellendam

Photo : Walter van Harberden ©

South Korea Overtakes China As World's Top Shipbuilder In 2011

South Korea regained its status as the world's leading shipbuilding nation in 2011 by beating its archrival China and securing deals for large, value-added vessels, data showed Tuesday. According to London-based market researcher Clarkson Research Services, South Korean shipbuilders won a combined 13.55 million compensated gross tonnes (CGTs) in new orders last year, while Chinese shipbuilders clinched a total of 9.2 million CTGs, Yonhap News Agency reported. Last year, South Korea accounted for 48.2 percent of a total of 28.11 million CGTs worth of deals globally placed, compared with a 31.2 percent share a year earlier, according to the data. In terms of order value, South Korean shipbuilders outpaced their Chinese rivals as well. South Korean shipbuilders won deals valued at a combined US$48.16 billion last year, higher than the comparable figure of US$19.2 billion for Chinese shipyards, the research



institute said. Last year, South Korean shipbuilders focused on high-priced vessels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and offshore facilities. But South Korean shipyards' order backlogs were smaller than those of Chinese rivals. South Korean shipbuilders' order backlogs came to 37.66 million CGTs, far lower than 44.99 million CGTs for Chinese shipbuilders, according to Clarkson. In 2003, South Korea became the world's top shipbuilding nation by outstripping Japan in three key categories -- shipbuilding volume, order backlogs and new orders. Chinese rivals outpaced South Korean shipyards in the number of new orders received and order backlogs in 2009 and 2010 as Chinese shipbuilders gobbled up new orders at cheap prices, while their South Korean counterparts have continued to focus on high-priced vessels and offshore facilities. Source: Bernama

The Singapore flag MAERSK NECTAR in drydock at the Daeyang shipyard at Dalian China.

Photo : Cees de Vries ©

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

Brookes Bell draws on inner strength Brookes Bell Group - the marine, scientific and technical consultants and surveyors – has laid out a new strategy that will enhance its existing wide-ranging expertise with recent acquisitions and ventures that have significantly broadened its capabilities. Within the last 12 months, the UK-based group has formed an important alliance with AMS Shanghai Ltd. establishing Brookes Bell Shanghai, set up Brookes Bell Hong Kong, acquired Bunker Claims International and merged with Naval Architecture specialists, Safety at Sea Ltd., based in Glasgow. This will see turnover almost double as the

http://www.redwise.com/�



Group continues to expand and diversify both in the UK and in the Far East. Speaking to customers at a launch of the enlarged group in Central London in late November 2011, Brookes Bell Managing Partner, Colin Kershaw, described 2011 as a “major year” for a group whose heritage in marine consultancy stretches back to its foundations in Liverpool in 1903. “For a company already deeply involved in all aspects of marine and scientific consultancy, these new initiatives will feed back into the capabilities we already have. They will enhance the expertise we offer customers across the board and we can offer services involving the entire lifecycle of a ship, from research and development, through design, construction, all operational aspects (incorporating nautical issues, naval architecture, marine engineering, metallurgy and the science behind cargo behaviour) to casualty investigation, salvage, pollution claims and wreck removal. They will also support the group’s increasing involvement in offshore.” Giving a specific example of the way cross-fertilisation would work, Brookes Bell Senior Partner, Ray Luukas, said that the merger with Safety at Sea offered the opportunity to combine established expertise in collision incidents that often saw Brookes Bell called to supply expert witness services with the “advanced tools developed by Safety at Sea to provide increased forensic analysis in accident investigation.” In turn, Safety at Sea Managing Director and now Brookes Bell Partner, Kieran Dodworth, said: “In joining Brookes Bell, we have gained operational experience, marine science and metallurgy that will supplement our expertise in the examination of the finite element method and computational fluid dynamics work that helped us to build, and now increase, our reputation in Naval Architecture.” Brookes Bell Consultant and former Bunker Claims International owner, Chris Fisher, said that the deteriorating quality of heavy fuel oil in combination with environmental pressures and the ever finer tuning of ships’ engines had brought new complexities to damage claims. The “mixed discipline” approach yielded by working directly with scientists and engineers at Brookes Bell had proved the ideal solution for both parties. Summing up, Mr Kershaw said: “Combined, Brookes Bell can now undertake projects that its individual parts could never have contemplated.” Source: Brookes Bell

2 NEW PASSENGER SHIPS FOR KARACHI PORT TRUST The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) received two passenger ships for its operational use from Bangladeshi Shipyard Western Marine costing Bangladeshi Taka 200 million during a simple ceremony held at Western Marine Shipyard, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

A KPT official said on Monday that these 30 meters long and 6.18 meters wide ships have a carrying capacity for 215 passengers each and 10 crews.

He said that the ceremony was attended by chief guest

Bangladeshi Minister for Industries Dilip Barua, Pakistani High Commissioner Afrasiab Mehedi Hasmi, Chairman Western Marine Shipyard Saiful Islam, Managing Director Western Marine Shipyard Sakhawat Hossain and General Manager Operations KPT, Rear Admiral Azhar Hayat, who received the ships, local dignitaries and heads of government bodies. The Western Marine Shipyard won this contract through an international bidding in which ship builders from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and others participated.

Haven van Gent overschrijdt de kaap van 50 miljoen ton in nieuw recordjaar

De Gentse haven kende voor het tweede opeenvolgende jaar een nieuw record. Meteen werd voor het eerst in de geschiedenis van de haven de grens van 50 miljoen ton goederenoverslag overschreden. Met 2 miljoen ton meer overslag boekte Gent een groei van 4,4%. Gent herbevestigt haar positie als groeiende exporthaven. Bovendien blijkt



ook nu weer eens dat de diversiteit van de Gentse haven een grote troef is om meer overslag te boeken. Zeevaart en binnenvaartHet totale goederenverkeer steeg in 2011 met 4,4% tot 50 miljoen ton, 2 miljoen ton meer dan in het vorige recordjaar 2010. De goederenoverslag via zeevaart klokte af op 27,2 miljoen ton en bleef hiermee op het niveau van het vorige recordjaar 2010. De overslag via binnenvaart kende een groei van 10,6%: van 20,7 miljoen ton naar 22,8 miljoen ton oftewel 2,1 miljoen ton meer. De eerste 9 maanden van 2011 behaalde de haven nog 5,5 % meer overslag dan in 2010. In de laatste 3 maanden nam de groei af. Grotere zeesluisDe wereldwijde evolutie van de inzet van steeds grotere zeeschepen is ook in Gent vast te stellen. Met 3.351 zeeschepen in 2011 telt de haven er 85 minder dan in 2010 voor zowat hetzelfde volume aan goederen. Gent blijft dus inzake goederenoverslag via zeevaart op het niveau van het vorige recordjaar omdat een aantal van de grootste zeeschepen niet langer in Gent aanmeren – het aandeel van de trans-Atlantische overslag (de deepsea) daalt immers met 3,3%. Daarnaast stijgt het aandeel van short sea shipping met 3,2 %. Deze zeevaart langs de Europese kusten en op de Middellandse Zee maakt gebruik van kleinere zeeschepen. In de binnenvaart steeg het aantal schepen bovendien tot 16.236. Dit zijn er 1.381 meer dan het jaar voordien en goed voor de 2 miljoen extra goederenoverslag. Dit verklaart meteen waarom de 4,4% groei van de totale goederenoverslag via binnenvaart wordt geboekt. Wil de haven van Gent kunnen inspelen op de tendens van grotere zeeschepen én voorkomen dat de goederenoverslag via zeevaart stagneert dan dient de nieuwe grote zeesluis in Terneuzen zo snel mogelijk te worden gebouwd. Enkel hierdoor kan Gent zich als haven verder (trans-Atlantisch) ontwikkelen en de huidige tewerkstelling (toch goed voor 70.000 jobs) vrijwaren. ExporthavenOok in 2011 bevestigt de haven zich als exporthaven. Het aandeel van de export via zeevaart steeg van 27,2% in 2010 tot 28,1% in 2011. Met een stijging van bijna 1% wordt deze evolutie voortgezet. De laatste vijf jaar kon er al een toename met 8% worden genoteerd. Zweden, Rusland en Verenigde StatenIn 2011 was Zweden de belangrijkste handelspartner voor de Gentse haven dankzij het ro/ro-verkeer. Het jaar voordien was dit land nog de nummer drie. Rusland blijft met voornamelijk de overslag van producten van de metaalindustrie op de tweede plaats gevolgd door de Verenigde staten (steenkool en petroleumcokes). Op de vierde plaats staat de voormalige nummer één Brazilië. Dit is te verklaren door de daling van de invoer van ertsen die bovendien de laatste jaren ook vanuit onder meer Canada (op zes), Venezuela (op 7) en Noorwegen (opvallende nieuwkomer op acht) komen. Turkije is de negende belangrijkste handelspartner (vooral via de export van schroot) en Frankrijk sluit de top-tien af. Soorten goederenIn 2011 zag Gent vooral een toename van de overslag via zeevaart van landbouwproducten, petroleum en petroleumproducten en zout. IJzererts en steenkool vormen de dalers. Voor de overslag via zeevaart blijft het aandeel van vaste bulk (63%) en vloeibare bulk (16%) op het niveau van de voorgaande jaren. Wel wordt het aandeel van de vloeibare bulk almaar belangrijker dan dat van de vaste bulk. De komst van nieuwe bedrijven aan het Kluizendok die actief zijn in deze sector zal deze evolutie nog doen toenemen. Ook conventioneel stukgoed (zoals hout en papier; 13%), ro/ro (6%) en containers (2%) blijven op hetzelfde niveau. Bron : Haven van Gent

Ore-Ship Rents to Fall Further as Delays Ease, Macquarie Says

Rents for capesize ships that carry dry-bulk commodities will extend this year’s 44 percent drop and may return to levels reached in 2011 that were the lowest in almost a decade, said Macquarie Capital (Europe) Ltd. More of the vessels will be seeking cargoes as unloading delays ease at ports in China at the same time that iron-ore shipments from Australia and Brazil experience a seasonal weather-related drop, Macquarie said in a report e-mailed Jan. 6. China, the world’s largest steelmaker, imported about two- thirds of the 1 billion metric tons of iron ore carried at sea in 2011. The average rate to charter a capesize fell to $15,477 on Jan. 6, according to the London-based Baltic Exchange, which assesses freight costs for seaborne bulk commodities on more than 50 international routes. That compares with $27,512 on Dec. 23. A capesize can haul about 160,000 tons of cargo. “This drop in the physical market is only set to get worse,” Macquarie said. “As such, freight rates could well be headed back toward first-half 2011 levels.” Daily capesize rates (BCAVRT) averaged $8,546 in the first six months of 2011, data from the exchange show, while first- and second-quarter rents were the lowest since the final three months of 2001. Capesizes need to earn about $18,000 a day to break even, Oslo-based Pareto Securities AS said in a report published last month. The capesize fleet of 1,355 ships accounts for about 40 percent of total dry-bulk capacity, according to data from Clarkson Research Services Ltd., a unit of the world’s largest shipbroker. Australia and Brazil are the two biggest global exporters of iron ore, a raw material for producing steel. Source: Bloomberg



The ZHEN HUA 20 arrived in Le Havre - Photo : Fabien Montreuil ©

Port is 'creating a monster' - striking workers Safety and a secure family life are top concerns for the workers on strike outside Ports of Auckland's container terminal. Around 50 people, including Maritime Union workers and their families, held up signs along Tamaki Drive earlier today, drawing a steady stream of honks from passing cars.

"We've been getting good support from the public," says National Vice President Carl Findlay. "I think they all understand there's got to be a balance in this life." The workers are fighting to protect health and safety standards and steady working hours, which they said are under threat from the changes proposed by port boss Tony Gibson.

"We all work in eight and a half hour shifts. That's what the port's trying to remove. They're trying to get us onto variable hours, where you could be working anywhere from five to twelve hours. "It'll give you no life, because you'd just be living by the telephone. How can you plan your life around variable hours? You just can't."

One dock worker named Tamati, who did not want his full name released, has been working at the port for nearly seven years. He said the stress of variable hours would tear families apart. "It already happens now because that's the life of a shift worker - everybody understands that. And they're just making it worse. They're creating a monster and they've got no way of fixing it. I don't think they even care about that." The changes Ports of Auckland want to enact are too radical for the workers, who are "not greedy at all". "We do our job and we do it really well. It takes a lot of patience and control to discharge and load a ship with all that stuff. We really care about it because it's crucial to everybody in New Zealand." An older worker named Stewart, with the company for 35 years, said driving a heavy-duty fork lift truck for a twelve-hour shift is too dangerous: "You get people falling asleep at the wheel." "I went to [occupational health and safety] years ago and complained about these long extended driving hours," he said. "They said they can't do anything until a fatality happens. You mean to tell me somebody's got to die before OSH can do anything about this?"

The port company is being greedy and very unfair to workers who have "bent over backwards" for them, he said. "[The workers] have livelihoods, they have mortgages, they have bills, they have young kids. It's disgusting - the company is disgusting, doing what they're doing." Mr Findlay said Mayor Len Brown's call for greater flexibility from the workers to increase productivity is unwarranted. "We are productive. In the last eight months I've had productivity



bonuses, even in the month of December when we went on strike for seven or eight days and got locked out. "We've never said that can't improve. Everything can improve. We've actually offered in our talks to sit down and go into committees... and go through all those issues with the port company. But that wasn't enough for them." Source : NZHerald

The NOBLE GLOBETROTTER moored in Rotterdam-Caland canal

Photo : FLYING FOCUS luchtfotografie - www.flyingfocus.nl (c)

Tallink plans redundancies in Finland Tallink will launch talks with Finnish trade unions to make over 50 people from ground services redundant, "The cause for more effective activities is increase of use of electronic sales channels which will most likely continue in the future," said Tallink Silja Finland deputy director Pasi Näkki.He said that the share of personal sale has constantly decreased and the aim of the redundancies is to bring the activities of the company in line with the situation. Source: baltic-course

http://www.flyingfocus.nl/�




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, please do not write this in the guestbook because I am not checking this guest book daily.

Acquisition expands GAC's European operations

The GAC Group has further expanded its Nordic ship agency, liner agency and project logistics network with the acquisition of all the shipping subsidiaries of the Lehmann Nordic Group (LN), one of the region's oldest transportation groups. The move brings to the GAC team more than 45 staff at 5 offices in Denmark (two in Copenhagen and one in Aarhus), Sweden (Gothenburg) and Norway (Oslo). Since its establishment in Copenhagen in 1900, LN has grown from a local customs clearance and freight forwarding company into a leading global ship and liner agent operating a robust Scandinavian network with worldwide connections. Under the agreement signed by GAC Group President Lars Säfverström and LN Group Chairman Søren Halsted, GAC now has full ownership of LN's three shipping subsidiaries - Lehmann Shipping A/S (consisting of: Lehmann Junior A/S, Joship AB, Transweco Projects & Chartering AB, Transweco AB, Transweco Agency AB and Scanweco AS), Christian Jensen Shipping A/S and Lehmann Shipping Center A/S - with effect from 3 January 2012.

Ivo Verheyen, GAC Group Vice President - Europe, says LN's standing in the regional market and strong client-base of major international and domestic ship owners, managers and operators will strengthen GAC's overall coverage of the Nordic region and neighbouring countries. "Until now, GAC has been working in the region through partners and agents. The time is right for us to finally establish our own presence here to ensure stricter control and consistency of standards," he adds. "LN has a long-standing track record in ship agency, liner agency and project logistics, all areas in which GAC is strong, both globally and regionally. By integrating LN's business into the GAC global network, we will be able to combine our resources, experience and expertise to better serve these sectors." Halsted says that both clients and employees will benefit from this strategic move which puts one of the world's most far-reaching ship agency networks at their disposal, offering a wider range of value-added and innovative services. Following the disposal of its shipping subsidiaries, LN is left with its interests in terminal- and logistics activities in the Port of Aarhus. Säfverström says the two companies have much in common: "GAC and LN are highly compatible in terms of service offerings, business philosophy, ethics, entrepreneurial ambitions and corporate values. The qualities we share will help facilitate a smooth integration." The latest acquisition puts GAC in an ideal position to strengthen its existing operations in Norway and forge new territories in Denmark and Sweden. It is the latest in a series of successful European acquisitions by GAC in recent years, including John Nurminen Navis Oy in Finland (2010), OBC in UK and Rotterdam (2008), Ole R Olsen in Norway (2007), and Benair in UK (2005). Source: GAC

Pacific Bulk Shipping pays $5.7m to end charter

Hong Kong-based Pacific Bulk Shipping has agreed to pay Greece-based Star Bulk Carriers $5.734m in cash for returning a chartered bulk carrier about two years ahead of time. The vessel Star Sigma was on time charter to Pacific Bulk Shipping until October 2013 at a gross daily rate of $38,000. “The company received a cash instalment of $3.5m on 5 January 2012 and the remaining balance of $2.234m is scheduled to be paid by Pacific Bulk on/or about 20 January 2012,” said Star Bulk Carriers in a statement. “In addition to the lump sum payment, Pacific Bulk supplied Star Sigma with 1,027 metric tonnes of fuel, valued approximately $0.7m,” it said. Star Bulk Carriers has redeployed Star Sigma in the spot market under a voyage charter at a gross daily time charter equivalent rate of approximately $29,400, and is expected to complete its voyage in early April. Source: Seatrade-Asia

OLDIE – FROM THE SHOEBOX




October 1994, the tug Golden Eye with Hong Kong Island in the background.

Photo : Iain Forsyth © The compiler of the news clippings disclaim all liability for any loss, damage or expense however caused, arising from the sending, receipt, or use of this e-mail communication and on any reliance placed upon the information provided

through this free service and does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information

UNSUBSCRIBE / UITSCHRIJF PROCEDURE To unsubscribe click here (English version) or visit the subscription page on our website.

http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/uitschrijven.aspx?lan=en-US

Om uit te schrijven klik hier (Nederlands) of bezoek de inschrijvingspagina op onze website. http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/uitschrijven.aspx?lan=nl-NL

…. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..



http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/uitschrijven.aspx?lan=nl-NL�

http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/uitschrijven.aspx?lan=nl-NL�



Heerema’s “DCV AEGIR” seen at DSME shipyard just after installation of the bulbous bow. The vessel will be

equipped with a 4000mT Huisman crane and R/J- lay tower with lowering capacity up to 3500m water depth. She has 7 thrusters, powered by six 8MW diesel generators and accommodation for 305 people. After delivery at DSME the

Aegir will depart for the Netherlands for installation and completion of the mission equipment. Photo : Bram van Koert ©

MARINE ASSETS CORPORATIONrealoffshore.com.au/news/012-12-01-2012.pdf2012/01/12 · Independent...

Documents

Transcript of MARINE ASSETS CORPORATIONrealoffshore.com.au/news/012-12-01-2012.pdf2012/01/12 · Independent...