DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 125
Number 125 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Monday 04-05-2015
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EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS
Directeurswissel bij KNRM
De Raad van Toezicht van de KNRM is verheugd te kunnen
berichten dat per 1 juni 2015 de heer Jos Stierhout (left) in
dienst zal treden als nieuwe directeur van de KNRM. Hij treedt
daarmee in de voetsporen van Roemer Boogaard, die op
diezelfde dag algemeen directeur van Royal Huisman in
Vollenhove wordt. Jos Stierhout nam 30 april afscheid van
de Veiligheidsregio Noord-Holland-Noord, waar hij elf jaar
directeur was. In die periode vonden grote veranderingen
plaats in de organisatie van de hulpverleningsketen. Hij was
onder meer projectleider van Waterrand, waarmee
incidentbestrijding op het water in Nederland verbeterd werd.
In die rol leerde hij de KNRM kennen als één van de
toonaangevende organisaties binnen waterhulpverlening. Zijn
passie voor watersport en een verleden bij de Koninklijke
Marine maken dat hij veel maritieme affiniteit heeft.
De Raad van Toezicht heeft de procedure voor de aanstelling van een nieuwe directeur met grote zorgvuldigheid
gedaan en is bijzonder verheugd uit de vele kandidaten Jos Stierhout te hebben kunnen aantrekken. In de komende
maanden zal Jos Stierhout kennis maken met de mensen in de organisatie, die hij inmiddels al vele jaren van buiten
kent. Hij heeft laten weten trots te zijn voor zo’n mooie organisatie als de KNRM te mogen werken en zal enthousiast
aan de slag gaan. Scheidend directeur Roemer Boogaard was 18 jaar werkzaam bij de KNRM. Per 1 juni volgt hij
mevrouw Alice Huisman op als algemeen directeur van Royal Huisman Shipyard BV in Vollenhove, dat al meer
dan 100 jaar exclusieve jachten ontwerpt en bouwt. Roemer Boogaard begon als hoofd interne dienst bij de KNRM
en werd in 2007 benoemd tot directeur. Hij gaf acht jaar leiding aan de reddingmaatschappij, die uit 1.300 vrijwilligers
en 54 ondersteunende beroepskrachten bestaat. Hij heeft de KNRM in de afgelopen jaren helpen groeien tot een
onmisbare schakel in de hulpverlening op en langs het water. De KNRM is Roemer Boogaard zeer dankbaar voor
alles wat hij de afgelopen 18 jaar voor de KNRM heeft gedaan. Hij heeft enorm veel voor de organisatie betekend.
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HAL’s RYNDAM visited Brest – Photo : Jacques Carney (c)
Safeway promises safety, cost efficiency
and workability improvements
Van Aalst Group introduces new generation of motion compensated gangway systems
Van Aalst Group introduces a new motion compensated
gangway system under the brand name Safeway. Thanks to
several remarkable innovations, the Safeway gangway bridge
makes it possible for vessels to land at a broad range of
offshore constructions, varying from small unmanned
installations in the Southern North Sea to large offshore
production units in the Northern North Sea. Safeway claims
workability in up to 3.5 metre wave heights. The new gangway
unit is developed and built in the Netherlands.
Workability
The first Safeway unit is currently under construction under
Bureau Veritas class. The workability of gangway systems has
been gradually developing over the past decades. Van Aalst’s
planned introduction adds roll compensation, vertical height
adjustment and a weight balanced boom construction to the
gangway types now dominating the market. These innovations
are likely to increase the uptime of staff and equipment on any
offshore installation. The added ‘fourth motion actuator’
compensates for ‘rolling’, the vessel’s main motion. Tests and
calculations show that Safeway should offer workability with
offshore support vessels working at wave heights of up to 3,5
meters.
Safety
The enhanced performance of the new gangway system will improve
the safety level for offshore workers dramatically. Van Aalst
announces real redundancy by doubling all hydraulic cylinders. The
possibility of a 10-meter vertical height adjustment enables the
access arm to maintain a nearly horizontal position under most
circumstances. This rules out unsafe uphill or downhill walking,
further enhancing safety.
Handling
The new Safeway system is designed for easy handling and
operating, reducing operational costs. The counterweight balanced
boom construction has been an important feature in creating the
desired simplicity. Safeway offers training facilities for the vessel’s
crew on board or at Van Aalst office.
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End of 2015
“With Safeway we are aiming to revolutionize the walk-to-work market, introducing a product which surpasses
competition and will be very attractive for projects in both renewable and oil and gas markets.” says Wijnand van
Aalst, CEO of the Van Aalst Group. The first Safeway unit is expected to be available for the rental market by the
end of 2015.
Safeway BV is a company within the Van Aalst Group of Companies, developing and supplying cargo handling
systems for more than 850 vessels worldwide. Safeway adds a best-in-class personnel transfer solution to the
versatile portfolio of the Van Aalst Group. Safeway gangway systems will be presented at the OTC exhibition in
Houston at the booth of Van Aalst Group (Dutch pavilion nr.2427).
The bulker ORATORIO inbound for Rotterdam – Photo : Cees van der Kooij (c)
T&T Salvage Successfully Completes OPA
90 Response in the Great Lakes
redelivered to owners the same afternoon and, once
cleared by class surveyors, the cargo was reloaded,
and the vessel proceeded on her voyage. T&T
Salvage, a member of the Teichman Group, is
committed to serving the emergency response needs
of the shipping and energy industries under the
highest standards of safety and quality. T&T Salvage
operates one of the most extensive emergency
response networks in the world, including the Great
Lakes Response Center that is classified as an Oil
Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) and recognized
as a Salvage and Marine Firefighting service provider
by the U.S. Coast Guard.
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T&T Salvage was activated under their Salvage and Marine
Firefighting Agreement to respond to a 600 foot laker that
went aground on the St Mary’s River near DeTour Village, MI.
“The vessel was hard aground but stable,” said Jim Elliott,
T&T’s Vice President, “We immediately dispatched a team from
our Great Lakes Response Center and mobilized prepositioned
response equipment in the region.” T&T Salvage’s naval
architects and salvage master then developed a
comprehensive salvage and lightering plan to ensure the
safety of the ship, crew and responders, while protecting the
environment. Once the salvage plan was approved by the
Coast Guard and with T&T salvage personnel overseeing
operations onboard the ship, cargo lightering commenced
using the ship’s self-unloading conveyor and a subcontracted
Inland Lakes receiving vessel.
Successfully refloating as
planned without pulling force from tugs, the ship was
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Indonesia Pledges Support for Ferry Safety
The Indonesian Minister for Transportation Ignasius Jonan, visited the International Maritime Organization (IMO) April
28, confirming his country’s support for the IMO’s initiative to establish global safety standards for domestic ferries.
This follows the adoption in Manila, Philippines, last week of guidelines to address the topic. The minister also told IMO
Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu of his country’s plans to expand and modernize its maritime sector, prioritizing
maritime education and training, and promised continued support for IMO’s Sweden-based World Maritime University.
Source : MarineLink
Iskes tug GINGER alongside Van Oord’s CSD HECTOR at TGE Tuzla Istanbul
Photo : Cees de Vries (c)
ExxonMobil starts Kizomba Phase 2
Phase 2 of Kizomba is a subsea infrastructure development of the Kakocha, Bavuca and Mondo South fields, located in
Block 15 about 150km off the coast of Angola, at 1350m water depth According to co-venture partner BP, the project
scope includes subsea wells, floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) topside modifications and
installation of flowlines and subsea equipment.
Peak production at the project is expected to reach 190 MMbbl or approximately 70,000 b/d of oil. ExxonMobil
subsidiary and operator of Block 15, Esso Exploration Angola, expects total production of Block 15 to increase to reach
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350,000 b/d. Esso Angola first began production at Mondo South and will begin production at the other two satellite
fields in the coming months.
According to ExxonMobil, the project optimizes the capabilities of existing Block 15 facilities to increase current
production levels without requiring additional FPSOs. The Mondo South field is being developed with tiebacks to the
Mondo FPSO, while the Kakocha and Bavuca fields are being developed with tiebacks to the Kizomba B FPSO.
ExxonMobil was awarded Block 15 in 1994. Since then, a total of approximately 5 billion boe has been discovered. Oil
production from Block 15 to date has exceeded 1.8 billion bbl. Kizomba Satellites Phase 1 consisting of an 18-well
undertaking expected to produce 100,000 b/d at peak, started production in July 2012.
ExxonMobil has invested a total of nearly US$740 million in Angola for the project including contracts for fabrication,
logistics support and training and development of Angolan personnel. ExxonMobil subsidiary Esso Angola is the
operator of Block 15 with 40% interest. Partners include BP Exploration Angola (26.67%), Eni Exploration Angola BV
(20%), and Statoil Angola Block 15 AS (13.33%). Sonangol is the concessionaire. BP said it expects to follow up
Kizomba with the Greater Plutonio phase 3 project in the neighboring Block 18, operated by BP, later this year.
Source : oedigital
The ISLAND SKY leaving the cruise port of Kusadasi. Photo: Cees Kloppenburg (c)
Container shipping industry buoyed by
rising Asia-Europe transport fees
The OOCL BRUSSELS inbound for Rotterdam- Photo : Kor Heidinga www.scheepvaart.macalro.nl ©
May 1 marked a grand day for the container shipping industry, as the transportation prices for each 20-foot equivalent
unit will go up from US$700 to US$1,300 in the Asia-Europe shipping line, according to reports yesterday. Evergreen
Marine Corp. and YangMing Marine Transport are the major benefactors in this wave of price increases. The
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Asia-Europe shipping route prices slid in March, and once the industry realized it was not performing well, companies
cut down their shipping schedules and increased the cargo capacity of each transport.
YM VANCOUVER arriving to P 2000 in Le Havre with Tug VB GASCOGNE
Photo : Emmanuel Godillon http://larmes-de-rouille.piwigo.com ©
The industry saw the beginnings of a positive shift for two weeks in April. The next recent two weeks will bring a
continuous 10 percent growth with Europe implementing quantitative easing and a recent rise in consumer spending.
along with a positive performance from the U.S and near-sea shipping line. On the other hand, even though oil prices
are rising, it is still only at US$314 per ton, a 25 percent slide from the previous quarter, which benefits both
Evergreen Marine and YangMing as long as the prices do not rise past US$80. Source: The China Post
P-MAX rate rises warm Concordia
Concordia Maritime reported first quarter 2015 and full year 2014 income of SEK178.4 mill and SEK 531.2 mill,
respectively. EBITDA for 1Q15 was $9.9 mill, compared with $8 mill for 1Q14, while EBITDA for 2014 was $29.3 mill.
EBIT was SEK39 mill for 1Q15 and SEK56.4 mill for 2014. The result after tax was SEK28.1 mill and SEK8.7 mill,
respectively.Available liquid funds, including undrawn credit facilities, was SEK307.4 mill at the end of 1Q15. During
1Q15, eight of the P-MAX types were employed in the spot market through agreements with Stena Bulk, Stena Weco
and ExxonMobil. ‘STENA PARIS’ operated for Total from Southeast Asia to Polynesia, where her extremely shallow
draft was claimed to be of particular benefit. The Total contract expired in mid-February, 2015 after a short extension.
‘STENA PERROS’ and ‘STENA PRESIDENT’ were employed on timecharters with Stena Bulk during the quarter.
These contracts run until the end of December, this year. Average income for the entire P-MAX fleet, spot and
timecharter, in 1Q15 was $19,000 per day, which was 17% higher than in the same quarter in 2014. For vessels
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employed on the spot market, average income was $19,600 (light products) and $20,500 (heavy products).Concordia’s
Suezmax ‘STENA SUPREME’ is employed on the spot market through Stena Sonangol Suezmax Pool, controlled by
Stena Bulk and the Angolan state oil company Sonangol. The Suezmax market remained strong during the first quarter
of this year with the vessel’s average income being $44,200 per day during the period. In addition to ‘Stena Supreme’,
Concordia Maritime also has a position in Stena Bulk’s Suezmax fleet corresponding to a 50% charter of one tanker.
This contract runs until December, 2015. Just after the end of 1Q15, the company took delivery of the first of two
50,000 dwt MRs ‘STENA IMAGE’. She is now employed through the partnership with Stena Weco. The second vessel,
‘STENA IMPORTANT’, is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2015. The orders, which were placed during
a low and favourable price situation, are the first step in Concordia Maritime’s new investment in the future and an
important part of the long-term process of expanding the fleet, the company said. In July, 2013, Concordia Maritime
received an application for arbitration for the damage the customer believed the company caused in connection with
‘STENA PRIMORSK’s grounding in the Hudson River in December, 2012 and the company’s subsequent decision to
stop operating the vessel in this area. Concordia strongly rejected the claim of around $21 mill and is preparing for
arbitration. The case is currently in a discovery phase, which means that both parties' standpoints and demands are
being examined carefully. The company’s fees for legal and similar assistance regarding this matter are charged to the
company’s earnings as incurred. At this week’s AGM, Carl-Johan Hagman was re-elected as Chairman of the Board and
Stefan Brocker was re- elected as vice chairman. Dan Sten Olsson, Mats Jansson, Michael G:son Löw, Morten Chr Mo
and Helena Levander were re-elected as board members in accordance with the proposal presented by the nomination
committee. Source : Tankeroperator
The ARCTIC visited Gibraltar for bunkers – Photo : Francis Ferro (c)
DFDS ferry arsonist Boden Hughes fails in
bid to cut 11 year jail term
A ferry passenger who sparked a major fire on a North Sea ferry while “so
drunk he could barely stand” has failed in a bid to have his jail term cut.Boden
George Hughes, 27, caused £800,000 damage aboard the “KING OF
SEAWAYS ferry from North Shields to Amsterdam after starting a fire in his
cabin in December 2013.On Friday, Hughes, of Fulwell Road, Sunderland,
failed in his bid to have his 11 year jail term cut at the Court of Appeal, in
London.Disaster struck after he dropped his cigarette lighter on a pile of
clothes while smoking cannabis as the vessel sailed to Amsterdam. The court
heard Hughes and his friends had drunk a bottle of vodka before the ship
sailed and topped this up with visits to the bar.When crew members came to
investigate he was truculent and “aggressive”, Mr Justice Coulson told
London’s Appeal Court. He was finally dumped in the ship’s cell, said the judge,
but “not before he got into a fight with one of his own friends”. Damage
caused by fire started on DFDS ferry by Boden Hughes Damage caused by fire
started on DFDS ferry by Boden Hughes Traumatised passengers, including
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weeping children, had to gather on the upper deck in readiness to abandon ship and six of those on board - including
a pregnant woman - had to be evacuated by helicopter. In all, 27 passengers needed treatment for smoke inhalation,
the judge added.Mr Justice Coulson, sitting with Lady Justice Macur and Judge Peter Collier, said Hughes and his pals
had drunk a bottle of vodka and other booze before the ship sailed.“He was described by all and sundry as being so
drunk her could barely stand”, his barrister, Chris Morrison, told the court. Hughes was handed a total 11-year jail
term in June last year after admitting reckless arson and affray. That sentence also took account of an offence of
conspiracy to steal relating to the theft of copper cable. Hughes’ case reached the Appeal Court today as Mr Morrison
argued his overall sentence was far too harsh. But Mr Justice Coulson noted the panic caused by the blaze and
rejected the appeal.“Setting fire to a crowded passenger ship is an especially grave form of arson - with potentially
disastrous consequences”, he said. “A severe sentence was amply justified - there was nothing wrong with the
sentence imposed here.” Source : chroniclelive
Goldenport Holdings declares worst dry bulk
market in 30 years, disposes of older fleet to
weather the crisis
Goldenport Holdings Inc. the international shipping company that owns and operates a fleet of dry bulk and
container vessels, announced the results for the year ended 31 December 2014.
Financial Highlights (amounts in US$ ‘000 except per share data):
§ Revenue of U.S.$ 46,572, -22.1% decrease (2013 restated: U.S.$ 59,790)
§ EBITDA of U.S.$ 11,685, -42.7% decrease (2013 restated: U.S.$ 20,391)
§ Impairment Loss of U.S.$ 5,577 (2013 restated: nil)
§ Total non recurring loss from JV of U.S.$ 13,412 (2013 restated: nil)
§ Net Loss of U.S.$ 27,114 (2013 restated: Net Loss of U.S.$ 12,177)
§ Loss per Share of U.S.$ 2.90 (2013 restated: Loss per share U.S.$ 1.31)
§ Total cash at 31 December 2014 of U.S.$ 25,940 (31 December 2013 restated: U.S.$ 16,859)
§ Net debt to book capitalisation as of 31 December 2014, 44% (31 December 2013: 47%)
§ In compliance with debt covenants
CEO Statement:
For the year ended 31 December 2014, the Company reported a 22.1% decline in revenues, reflecting a decrease in
the average number of vessels from 17 to 14, and a 7.4% reduction in the time charter equivalent rate for the fleet
that was partly offset in dollar terms by a reduction in average daily operating expenses. The Company reported a
42.7% drop in EBITDA to U.S.$11,685 and a net loss of U.S.$27,114 or U.S.$2.90 per share. The large net loss is
primarily as a result of the decision reached with our joint venture partners to wind up Sentinel Holdings Inc, in which
we hold a 50% interest, through the sale of its two vessels. To prepare for this provisions and charges of U.S.$13,412
have been taken. The adjusted net loss excluding these and other provisions and charges and was U.S.$7,933 or
U.S.$0.85. The long-awaited recovery in the dry bulk sector is unlikely to materialize in the near term as the
newbuilding orderbook continues to cast a shadow over demand. The early signs of recovery in the second half of
2013 and the beginning of 2014 and increased demand for “eco” fuel efficient new designs triggered a wave of
newbuilding ordering which are due to be delivered between now and the end of 2016. The positive news is there
have been few newbuilding orders over the last 12 months and historically low charter rates have fostered increased
scrapping of older tonnage and the conversion, postponement or cancellation of several newbuilding orders.
Market expectations for China to meaningfully reduce domestic iron ore production in favor of imports proved to be
overly optimistic, coal imports to China have continued to be affected by adverse policies and the Indonesian nickel
export ban remains in place. In this environment, Supramax rates were once again more resilient than Capesize and
Panamax rates, reflecting their versatility and reduced earnings volatility. On the whole, we remain cautiously
optimistic about the dry bulk sector, but expect that 2015 will be more challenging than 2014, as demand lags net
fleet growth. This is supported by the Supramax FFA (Forward Freight Agreement) for the remainder of 2015 which is
currently trading at U.S.$6,810 per day compared to an average BSI TC rate of U.S.$9,820 for 2014. In the
containership sector, we have experienced a steady increase in time charter rates and vessel values for Panamax and
Sub-Panamax vessels since the beginning of 2015, which is consistent with our expectation that these vessel
categories that specialize in North-South routes will benefit from the overall growth in containerized shipping. Having
said that, the outlook for the sector hinges on geopolitical uncertainties receding and global economic growth picking
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up, but at the same time, tonnage providers are being squeezed by liner companies that have formed themselves into
alliances focused on increasing profitability and efficiency.
During 2014, we took advantage of high scrap prices to continue our strategy of fleet renewal by disposing of M/V
MSC SOCOTRA and we also sold the M/V MSC THASOS for further trading. We recorded a U.S.$5,250 gain from the
disposal of these vessels and utilized part of the cash proceeds to further reduce our debt. We have also continued to
proactively manage our indebtedness and proceeded with the refinancing of one of our bank facilities that was due to
mature in November 2015, extending its term until November 2017 and lowering the interest rate margin by 50bps.
Last but not least, we have agreed a relaxation of the minimum asset cover ratios and financial covenants with our
lenders, reflecting the adverse market conditions. We are navigating through what is arguably the worst dry bulk
market of the last 30 years, but we believe that we are well equipped to weather the storm, having proceeded with
the sale of several older and less efficient vessels, restructured our bank facilities to reflect the current trading
environment and de-levered our balance sheet, while maintaining a competitive operating cost base. We are confident
that we have taken all appropriate steps to ensure that the Company will be well positioned to take advantage of the
eventual dry cargo market recovery.
Fleet Developments (amounts in US$ ‘000):
Vessels disposals
On 28 March 2014, the Company agreed the disposal of vessel m/v MSC SOCOTRA to an unaffiliated third party. The
sale was concluded at a net cash consideration of U.S.$ 11,150 and the vessel was delivered to the new owners on 30
April 2014. As of delivery date, m/v MSC SOCOTRA had a net carrying value of U.S.$ 8,073. The gain resulting from
the sale of the vessel was U.S.$ 3,077 and is included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
On 10 November 2014, the Company agreed the disposal of vessel m/v MSC THASOS to an unaffiliated third party.
The sale was concluded at a net cash consideration of U.S.$ 7,554 and the vessel was delivered to the new owners on
1 December 2014. As of delivery date, m/v MSC THASOS had a net carrying value of U.S.$ 5,381. The gain resulting
from the sale of the vessel was U.S.$ 2,173 and is included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Full Report Source: Goldenport Holdings Inc.
2014 Maritime Innovation Award for
Subsea Industries
The 2014 Maritime Innovation Award, given jointly by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and QinetiQ, has
been presented to Subsea Industries for the product Ecolock. The Maritime Innovation Award is presented to an
individual or organisation in recognition of outstanding scientific or technological research in hydrodynamics,
propulsion, structures and material which offers the potential to make significant improvements in the design,
construction and operation of marine vessels and
structures. Increasingly, offshore vessels such as
FPSOs, FSOs, FLRSUs and others used for offshore
oil and gas exploration, drilling, storage and
transport need to stay out of drydock for 15, 25
even 40 years. The challenge has been to protect
the underwater hull from corrosion and to provide
a cleanable surface so that the biofouling that
accumulates can be removed successfully and
safely without the need for docking.
The LOKE VIKING approaching the SEAFOX 1
for Rig Move anchor handling.
Photo : Tjibbe Jan Bruinsma (c)
In the early 2000s after more than 10 years of
research, Subsea Industries developed glassflake
reinforced coating. The solution combines a hard
coating with routine in-water cleaning. Ecolock, which is a continuation of that research and development, is also a
glassflake reinforced coating, but one intended specifically to meet the challenging hull protection requirements of
offshore vessels. Ecolock can be cleaned underwater as often as needed to meet the requirements of FPSOs, drill
ships and other offshore vessels. Ecolock provides a hard, impermeable coating which even the toughest barnacle will
not penetrate. Barnacles, coral and other fouling organisms can be removed completely by divers, leaving no trace and
restoring the coating to its original condition. And because it is non-toxic, it is sensitive to the environment. Ecolock is
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the result of continuous R&D on offshore hull coatings since the 1990s. RINA Chief Executive Trevor Blakeley says:
“The maritime industry today is facing many challenges as it responds to the increasing demands of operators,
regulators and society for greater efficiency, safety and the protection of the environment. Meeting these challenges
will require innovative thinking in all sectors of the industry. However, in an industry which is highly dependent on
technology, it is in technological and scientific research and development that innovation will have perhaps the
greatest impact, in providing ships and marine structures which cost less to design, build and operate, are safer, and
are more sensitive to the environment.”Trevor Blakeley adds: “Ecolock is a fine example of the ongoing technological
innovation needed to address industry’s challenges of today, and one worthy of the Maritime Innovation Award.” The
Award was presented to Manuel Hof, Subsea Industries’ Production Executive, by Sarah Kennedy, Managing Director
of QinetiQ Maritime, at the Institution’s 2015 Annual Dinner on 30 April 2015.
Seatrade’s MESSINA STRAIT outbound from Antwerp passing Terneuzen
Photo : P., M. & Ph. van Luik www.shipsoffterneuzen.nl ©
The COSCO BELGIUM inbound for Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Kor Heidinga www.scheepvaart.macalro.nl
Hong Kong: Merchant shipping amendment
ordinance commencement notice gazetted
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The Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners Liability) (Amendment) Ordinance 2005 (the Amendment Ordinance)
(Commencement) Notice was gazetted April 30. A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said the Secretary
for Transport and Housing has appointed May 3, 2015 as the day on which sections 2(b), 11, 12, 14(a) and (b)(i) and
20 of the Amendment Ordinance (the provisions) come into operation. The commencement of the provisions, which
seek to give effect to the increased liability limits for shipowners adopted by the International Maritime Organization, is
consistent with our policy objective to maintain Hong Kong’s status as an international maritime centre, the spokesman
added. The commencement notice will be tabled to the Legislative Council on May 6, 2015. Source: HKSAR
Government
HAL’s EURODAM made a scheduled stop in Gibraltar – Photo : Francis Ferro ©
DNV GL issues industry led guidance
document for W2Work approach
Offshore facility operators can now consider an alternative and cost efficient means to transfer personnel to and from
their facilities, which is safe, efficient and regulatory compliant, the society said in a press release. An industry
guideline, which is issued today, is the culmination of a joint industry project (JIP), led by DNV GL to facilitate in
helping those involved in developing Walk to Work (W2W) solutions and understand the important aspects required
during its selection and implementation. W2W manning of offshore facilities is an alternative to the traditional means
of transfer such as by helicopter, basket transfer or boat landing. W2W can take many forms ranging from a simple
and relatively small crew ferry between land and an offshore facility, to a large, multi-role vessel or moored semisubmersible accommodation facility. The W2W JIP has spanned over eight months and involved fifteen companies
including operators of offshore oil and gas and wind facilities, gangway system developers, vessel operators and
turnkey service providers. It has also had input from offshore facility and maritime regulators. The coalition captured,
collated and developed existing experience and material from the participating companies and other sources. The
output was a guidance document on all aspects of W2W, which will become a non-prescriptive reference source that
supports decision making for delivery of safe, efficient and cost-effective W2W manning solutions. To successfully
select and implement a W2W solution may need considerable time and effort to work through the wide range of
aspects. During operation, it requires effective alignment, integration and collaboration between the offshore facility
operator, a vessel operator and a gangway provider, on a 24-hour basis in a dynamic environment heavily influenced
by operational needs, sea and weather conditions. Most importantly, it also requires buy-in from the workforce who
will be required to use the W2W solution as well as from industry regulators. To date, there has been a mixed
response from both the workforce and regulators to some aspects of W2W. By providing clarity around known issues,
the JIP guidance will minimise challenges during implementation. Hamish Holt, Senior Principal Consultant with DNV
GL who project managed the JIP says “W2W has the potential to offer significant opportunities and benefits for
operators of new or existing offshore facilities but, in order to maximize these, there are many aspects that need to be
understood and considered. The comprehensive and detailed industry guidance takes a lifecycle approach to W2W
implementation from initial business need definition, through concept development, into operation. It identifies and
details the key aspects to help ensure that appropriate decisions are taken along the process.” Source : Portnews
MSC Cruises names Riccardo Casalino as
new CMO
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MSC Cruises S.A., the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line, and market leader in the Mediterranean appointed
Riccardo Casalino as the new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) who will join the Company’s executive leadership at its
global headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland, the Company said in a press release. Mr Casalino, 46, has lived and
worked internationally for 20 years, leading various international marketing teams for Procter & Gamble Co., eBay
(Europe) and, most recently, eDreams ODIGEO. He will report to Chief Executive Officer, Gianni Onorato.CEO Gianni
Onorato said: “MSC Cruises is an ambitious young company that grew 800% in its first 10 years, quickly becoming the
fourth biggest cruise line in the industry. We’re now on course for further exponential growth through a €5 billion plan
to double our current fleet capacity by 2022, including through the introduction of seven ultra-modern ships in two
state-of-the-art prototypes.
“Riccardo’s broad international experience spanning travel, e-commerce and consumer goods will be pivotal as we
continue to build the MSC Cruises brand in step with the company’s rapid and aggressive expansion programme. We
need a world-class management team to ensure that we continue to provide distinct, best-in-class cruises experiences,
even as we evolve and grow. ”Having served most recently as Group CMO for leading online travel company eDreams
ODIGEO, in Barcelona, Mr Casalino managed a team of 120 people. Prior to that, he was Senior Marketing Director for
e-commerce pioneer eBay (Europe), based in Zurich, where he repositioned the eBay brand and drove growth well
above the European e-commerce average. But his marketing career began at consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble,
where he spent 16 years rising through the ranks, living and working in several countries across Europe.Mr Casalino,
who took up his post on 23 April, is the third addition to the MSC Cruises C-suite this year, following the arrival of a
new Chief Communications Officer, in March, and Chief Information Officer, earlier this month.In other news, MSC
Cruises announced this month that the first of its new Vista generation ships will be named MSC MERAVIGLIA
during the steel-cutting ceremony, at STX France’s Saint-Nazaire shipyard. Complementing that, the Company revealed
that its new ultramodern “Seaside” class ship will sail year-round from Miami to the Caribbean. Source : PortNews
The SFL KENT during her maidencall to Dunedin – Photo : Ross Walker (c)
US Weekly Oil Rig Count Decline Slows
The fall in the U.S. oil rig count slowed this week, data showed on Friday, suggesting the collapse in drilling may be
coming to an end as prices recover after falling 60 percent from June to March. The oil rig count fell by 24 this week to
679 active rigs, the smallest drop since early April, after the loss of 31 and 26 rigs in the prior two weeks, oil services
firm Baker Hughes Inc said in its closely-watched report.With the oil rig decline this week, the number of active rigs
has fallen for a record 21 weeks in a row to the fewest since September 2010, according to Baker Hughes data going
back to 1987.Since the number of oil rigs peaked at 1,609 in October, producers have cut spending, eliminated jobs
and idled more than half of the country's rigs. The U.S. oil rig count, however, is nearing a pivotal level that experts
say is bolstering prices and trimming production, and will eventually coax oil companies back to the well pad in coming
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months.U.S. crude futures this week climbed to near $60 a barrel, the highest level this year, helped by a weaker
dollar and bets that the supply glut would ease as the falling rig count starts to reduce oil output.That was a 43
percent price rebound from the near $42 six-year low set in March on oversupply concerns and lackluster
demand.After rising mostly steadily since 2009, U.S. oil production has stalled near 9.4 million barrels a day since early
March, the highest level since the early 1970s, according to government data.The Permian in West Texas and eastern
New Mexico and the Eagle Ford in South Texas both lost seven oil rigs, leaving the number of active rigs in both basins
at the lowest since at least 2011, according to data going back to 2011. The Williston basin in North Dakota,
meanwhile, gained one rig, its first increase since early Januar Texas was again the state with the biggest decline in
rigs, down 13 to 379, the least since 2009. In Canada, drillers added one oil rig, bringing the total up to 17, just above
its lowest levels since 2009, set last week. U.S. natural gas rigs, meanwhile, fell by three to 222, the least since mid
April. Source: (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Alan Crosb
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YOUR HELP IS REQUIRED 
John Bateson found the above photo of m.v. "SKELDERGATE" on a web site. John cannot read the name, but it is
are not the Turnbull Scott funnel markings. Can any of the readers help? John is recording Turnbull Scott's history so
your attention would be most appreciated ! if you know more about this above vessel please contact John via :
M3JVB@aol.com many thanks 
Deirdre Michie takes the helm at Oil & Gas
UK
Friday 1 May 2015 Deirdre Michie took up the position of chief executive at Oil & Gas UK, replacing Malcolm Webb
who, following a brief handover period, formally retires on 31 May 2015. Appointed by the Board of Oil & Gas UK in
February this year, Deirdre will be based in Aberdeen with an office in London.
Deirdre Michie commented:
“I am really pleased to be taking on the role of Oil & Gas UK CEO. Our industry has a tough journey ahead, but I hope
by working together, this sector will become stronger, safer and have a brighter future with a thriving supply chain, for
decades to come.“I am very impressed by the team here at Oil & Gas UK. I now look forward to meeting our many
members across the operator community, the oil and gas supply chain, and throughout the country, to ensure that as
the leading representative body, we focus and align on the key challenges and opportunities facing us.“This is a
difficult time for the offshore oil and gas sector. We need to ensure a step up in its performance to deliver a positive
and sustainable future. I look forward to working with industry, Unions, Governments and the regulators in moving
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this industry forward. “Malcolm Webb’s contribution to this sector has been immense, and I will work closely with him
over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.”
Malcolm Webb added:
“I am very confident that Deirdre Michie, as chief executive, along with the rest of the excellent team at Oil & Gas UK,
will support this truly impressive sector and its world-class supply chain to great success.“The North Sea has led the
world before, and I believe that under Deirdre’s leadership, and through the guidance of our accomplished Board, it
can be there again.”Deirdre will be meeting with the press in the coming weeks, to outline her strategy for Oil & Gas
UK, and its ongoing role supporting the offshore oil and gas industry. For more information, please visit :
http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk
see also : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R4Hb0S7Ikc#t=101
Interislander ferry lost a passenger
Interisland ferry KAITAKI was carrying Graham Hutcheon to Picton, but he was found dead in Wellington Harbour.
The case of a missing ferry passenger has prompted a call for the Interislander to beef up security on its ships.
Maritime New Zealand has disclosed that, in June last year, 69 people boarded Cook Strait ferry KAITAKI in
Wellington one Sunday night, but only 68 got off in Picton. Yet no questions appear to have been asked as to why. It
was only when a Wellington tug spotted a body in the water the next morning that it was realised the sailing had lost a
passenger into Wellington Harbour.
The body was that of Graham Hutcheon, 57, of Upper Hutt, who was found dead in the water near Pencarrow.
Documents disclosed under the Official Information Act show police investigated the case and provided assistance to
the coroner, who was looking into the cause of death. Maritime NZ did not formally investigate .Now Hutcheon's
widow, Lise, with whom he had two children, is calling on Interislander to beef up security to prevent further similar
cases.She understood ferry crew believed he had left Picton in a car, and were not concerned about a missing
passenger.Had it not been for good weather at the time, the dots might never have been joined, she said. "We were
lucky that it was calm and Graham's body was found."She believed Interislander should have a more robust way of
counting the numbers getting on and off ferries. There should also be CCTV cameras installed outside on decks, she
said. "There are CCTV cameras everywhere, so it seems logical to me that they should also be in the common areas
outside on ships. This would also help the police should there ever be investigations about anything happening on the
ships." An Interislander spokeswoman said the incident was tragic but, with the case before police and the coroner,
she could not comment further. "The welfare of our passengers is our highest priority and our masters and crew take
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all practical steps to ensure they are safe when on-board our ships and at our terminals."Maritime New Zealand was
asked for information about deaths or serious injury on New Zealand passenger ships in 2014. Its response included
the case of Auckland man Bruce Porter, 56, who was on charter boat Pacific Hideaway in Northland. He hit his head
on a propeller as he surfaced and died. A sailor on Interislander's STENA ALEGRA got fingers trapped while guiding
wires onto a wheel on a pulley block. Interislander made modifications after the incident to prevent repeat
occurrences. The crew member suffered no longterm injuries.On another ship, MANA II, a crew member got fingers
trapped between a rope and bollard and lost the finger ends. A passenger on Pride of Milford slipped and struck their
head coming down stairs when the ship rolled. The Maritime NZ information also reveals two Interislander ferries are
flagged in the United Kingdom. Its other ferriers , and all of Bluebridge's , were flagged in New Zealand, Maritime NZ
advisor Andrew de Montalk said.Foreign-flagged ships would not normally be covered by New Zealand's Health and
Safety in Employment Act, but the two ferries were covered by special circumstances because they were carrying New
Zealand passengers and cargo, and operating in New Zealand waters.Maritime law expert John Knight, of Chapman
Tripp, said there was nothing untoward in the ships being flagged in the UK. Source: Dominion Post
The CMA CGM LAPEROUSE outbound from Rotterdam-Europoort – Photo : Erwin Willemse (c)
Chinese Oil Trader Breaks Own Record
With Mideast Cargo Haul
The trading unit of China’s biggest energy company amassed a record volume of Middle East oil in October amid the
collapse in prices. As crude now caps its best month since 2009, it’s on another spree.
China National United Oil Co. bought 55 crude cargoes, or 27.5 million barrels, this month for June loading on a
Singapore trading platform, according to a Bloomberg News survey of traders. That surpasses the previous high
reached in October when Chinaoil, as the company is known, bought 47 cargoes in the so-called window by Platts, a
unit of McGraw Hill Financial Inc.The company’s April purchases on the system, where trades, bids and offers
determine benchmark commodity prices used in deals around the world, are twice the amount that China’s refineries
use in a day. The nation’s crude processing rose to a record pace last month, and it’s expected to make available more
capacity to store emergency stockpiles later this year.
“Refinery runs in China are expected to remain high at more than 10 million barrels a day moving forward,” Tushar
Tarun Bansal, senior oil consultant at FGE in Singapore, said by phone. “These barrels can be easily absorbed by
refineries on such high runs.” Qu Guangxue, a Beijing-based spokesman for China National Petroleum Corp., the
parent company, didn’t respond to two calls to his office seeking comment.
Crude Refining
In the Platts platform, so-called partial cargo deals must be combined into one 500,000-barrel shipment when the
same buyer and seller trade 20 of the 25,000-barrel lots in a single month. The seller can choose to supply Dubai,
Upper Zakum or Oman crude to the buyer. Chinaoil will load at least six Upper Zakum shipments and 49 Oman cargoes
in June, survey data compiled by Bloomberg show.“June-loading cargoes will arrive in July, in time for refining in JulyAugust,” Bansal said. “Refinery margins are currently high and expected to remain that way in the short term.”Prices
of benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude have jumped about 24 percent in April on signs a shale boom that’s
contributed to a record U.S. supply glut is ending. They slumped almost 50 percent last year and reached the lowest
level in six years last month as Saudi Arabia led the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to refrain from
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cutting output even as the U.S. pumped supplies at the fastest pace in more than three decades. WTI futures were
trading up 24 cents at $58.82 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 6:12 p.m. Singapore time.
Emergency Stockpiles
As oil dropped, speculation increased that China is taking advantage of lower prices to accelerate purchases for filling
its strategic reserves. Chinaoil’s buying spree in October was probably aimed at boosting the nation’s stockpiles,
consultants including IHS Inc. said at the time.“Talk of Chinese strategic reserves being filled are hard to ascertain and
highly speculative, though part of the purchases could be going there,” FGE’s Bansal said.On the Platts window,
traders report bids, offers and deals through e-mails, instant messages and phone conversations in a defined period,
which are then used to create end-of-day price assessments for various commodities.Bloomberg LP, the parent of
Bloomberg News, competes with Platts and other companies in providing energy-market news and information.
Source: Bloomberg
01-04-2015 : The CELEBRITY SOLSTICE outbound in Vancouver harbour bound for Alaska
Photo : Robert Etchell (c)
ABS hosts its 152nd meeting in NYC
ABS, the leading provider of maritime and offshore classification services, hosted its Annual Meeting in New York on 28
April 2015. In 2014, ABS delivered stellar growth highlighted by innovation and milestone technical achievements,
taking on industry challenges, investing in research and development and laying the groundwork for defining the
future of class, the society said in its press release. ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki said,
"2014 was a year of firsts and excellence in performance for ABS. We achieved the goals we set for ourselves and
secured the largest orderbook share in gross tons by focusing on quality, operational excellence in service delivery and
targeted investment."In 2014, the ABS-classed fleet grew by more than 7 percent year-on-year to 221 million gross
tons (gt). ABS captured more than 31 percent of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier orderbook and 23 percent of
the very large LPG carriers on order.
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Crude tankers continued to represent the largest amount of tonnage within the ABS-classed fleet. In 2014, the total
increased by nearly 4 million gt to over 77 million gt, which equates to over 1,300 vessels. Total tonnage in bulk
carriers increased to 46 million gt, with 351 bulk carriers representing over 20 million gt on order to ABS class.
In the offshore market, ABS was active in both the global shallow-water and deepwater market sectors building on its
strong relationships with shipyards, suppliers, operators and drilling contractors.
The organization maintained its leading class share for mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) and floating production
installations and once again classed the majority of the world’s jackups for the calendar year. ABS held a 56 percent
share in both the drillship and semisubmersible sectors at year-end and closed out 2014 with 45 percent of the
offshore production units in operation.
In the area of Port State Control, the ABS-classed fleet maintained its strong performance track record, consistently in
the top tier of the major port State regimes on a global composite basis.The ABS technology portfolio continued to
drive innovation in areas such as icephobic nanostructured coatings and surfaces to support Arctic operations and
computational fluid dynamics to help shipyards and designers improve efficiency and environmental performance.
Offshore research efforts were directed to improving jackup safety, working with operators on dual-gradient and
managed pressure drilling technologies and assisting innovative designers that are developing innovative solutions to
offshore exploration and production challenges.As we are helping owners and operators navigate the changes of
today, we are laying the foundation for our vision for Class of the Future. Wiernicki noted, "ABS is proactively defining
this new reality by evolving service delivery and the survey experience. Our vision for "FutureClass" will be
characterized as more condition-based, continuous and risk driven." We know advancing predictive, data-driven
analytics is essential to accompanying the industry into the future.
Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property
and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and
operational maintenance of marine-related facilities. Source : PortNews
CASUALTY REPORTING
Fire on a Hanjin vessel in Suez canal
Fire erupted on board of mega-bosxhip Hanjin Green Earth on May 1 at around 0230 LT while vessel was transiting
Suez Canal in northern direction. Fire was contained with Suez Canal emergency service assistance, vessel completed
passage and is now (1500 UTC May 1) drifting off Port Said anchorage area, with two tugs nearby, probably still
fighting fire. Vessel is en route to Europe from Far East, last port of call before Suez transit was Jeddah. Reportedly
deck containers caught fire. CLICK HERE to see the local news broadcasting
vessel stalls off Mombasa Port
Divers and marine engineers from South Africa and The Netherlands are assisting in the re-floating of a Singaporean
flagged ship that ran aground of the Mombasa coast. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said the low tides were hampering
efforts to re-float and tow the coal laden MV JS DANUBE. KPA officials were, however, optimistic that the ship might
be re-floated Friday when high tides are expected at the site where the vessel carrying 46 metric tonnes of coal is
stranded. KPA General Operations Manager Twalib Khamis said the front side of the ship was damaged when it hit the
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coral reef. No oil was spilt or parts of the vessel lost at sea. Capt Khamis said the low water tides hampered the
suffesul re-foating of the huge vessel, which ran aground as it glided to Mombasa Port on Tuesday. "For two
consecutive days, there has been very low water tide. At the time the vessel went aground, the tide stood at 2.3
metres. He added that at the time of the accident, the ship suffered minimal damage on its forward side, and
confirmed that the engines of the ship were intact. The ship has 24 Ukranian sailors aboard. Reports show that the
ship sailed from Egypt through Namibia's Walvis Bay Port ferrying coal imported by a Mombasa-based cement factory.
Source: standardmedia
NAVY NEWS
United States Naval Ship To Provide
Medical Services
UNITED STATES Naval
Ship (USNS) COMFORT, a
Mercy-class hospital ship,
is to provide medical
services during its visit to
Jamaica next month. While
berthed in Kingston, the
COMFORT's crew will
provide medical services,
conduct
professional
medical exchanges with
their
Jamaican
counterparts, and engage in community outreach projects at schools islandwide."I welcome this visit by the USNS
COMFORT, which is another demonstration of the strong partnership between the United States and Jamaica," said
Dr Fenton Ferguson, minister of health. US Ambassador to Jamaica Luis G. Moreno said the US Embassy will continue
to enable health prosperity for Jamaicans."The COMFORT's mission - providing free, world-class medicine to our
neighbours - underscores the enduring friendship between our two countries and the generosity of the American
people. The US Embassy will continue to work to enable Jamaican health and prosperity," said Moreno.
The USNS COMFORT's visit to Jamaica is part of 'Continuing Promise', a nearly six-month humanitarian mission
across the Caribbean region. While in Jamaica, the ship's medical team expects to see several hundred per day
between the two medical outreach sites at the National Arena Complex and the Maxfield Park Health Centre. The
public is welcome to stop by either site from May 6-13, starting at 8:30 a.m. each day (including weekends) to take
advantage of the services offered by the crew of USNS COMFORT. These include optometry, dentistry, general
medical, women's health and paediatrics.The Ministry of Health will be screening candidates for surgery which will be
conducted aboard the ship. This screening will take place at the Kingston Public Hospital and the Bustamante Hospital
for Children for patients previously selected for surgery who meet the screening criteria. Screening will begin on May
5. In addition to providing medical services, the ship's crew will assist with school renovations and other community
outreach throughout Kingston & St Andrew.Several charities and non-profit organisations are partnering with the US
and the Ministry of Health to make this mission a success. They include the Rotary Club of Kingston, Mustard Seed
Communities, Help Age International Jamaica, the Lions Club of Mona and Food For The Poor. The USNS COMFORT
last visited Jamaica during Operation Continuing Promise 2011. In addition to Jamaica, the ship will visit countries
throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America, including Belize, Colombia, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. Source: jamaica-gleaner
US Ships Arrive in Busan to Strengthen
Partnerships and Experience Korean Culture
Sailors from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS PREBLE (DDG 88) and USS FITZGERALD (DDG
62) along with the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS PASASEDENA (SSN 752) arrived in Busan, South
Korea, May 1, to strengthen partnerships with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy."We welcome the visit of these U.S.
Navy ships to the city of Busan," said Cmdr. Lee, Jong-Sik, of the Republic of Korea Fleet Headquarters. "We hope our
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visiting U.S. Sailors will have the opportunity to experience Korean culture and we look forward to strengthening the
alliance and conducting training with our U.S. Navy partners."While in Busan, Sailors from all three vessels will have
the opportunity to conduct community relations engagements in the local Korean community. Fostering enduring
relationships through community relations with local citizens, theater security cooperation engagements with the ROK
Navy, and regular bilateral training is part of the U.S. Navy's contribution to sustaining a strong alliance between the
U.S. and the ROK.
PREBLE, FITZGERALD, and PASADENA are currently conducting routine patrols throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific
region as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet. As multi-mission platforms, these vessels can carry out independent operations or
operate in conjunction with other Navy ships to conduct maritime security operations that promote stability and peace,
and develop key partnerships with allies across the region. Source : Noodles
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SHIPYARD NEWS
Core activities at Eerland Shiprepair are mainly:
- Restoration activities, employing our self propelled craneship
Marine Service 1, lifting 35 metric tons up to a reach of 45 m.
- Ship repair; domestic and abroad.
- Under water activities, employing our mobile docks.
- Qualified welding jobs for steel, aluminium, stainless steel
and duplex.
- Overhauling of winches of all brands;
- Repair of gangways, quays, pontoons, etc.
- You can find more about our projects at our website.
IJzerwerkerkade 41, 3077 MC Rotterdam, Harbour no. 1095
Tel. +31 (0) 10-483 48 88; Fax +31 (0) 10-482 23 25
info@eerlandshiprepair.nl
www.eerlandshiprepair.nl
Full house at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam
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Scores of jobs to go at South Tyneside
shipyard
FIFTY-eight jobs are to be axed at a South Tyneside shipyard, the Gazette can reveal today.
The workers are set to go at A&P Tyne, on the Wagonway Road Industrial Estate, Hebburn, as the company says it is
trying to “respond to peaks and troughs in demand”. A company spokesman said consultation over the job losses had
now been launched with trade union representatives.
The news comes just months after the business, which specialises in the design, fabrication, installation and
commissioning of seabed-to-surface projects, successfully completed part of a £60m aircraft carrier contract for the
Ministry of Defence. It is believed that among the workers earmarked to go are fitters, joiners and machine shop
employees.Management, office and supervisor levels have also been advised their jobs are at risk, according to a
source, although the jobs of welders and platers are said to be safe.
A spokesman for the company said: “A&P Tyne has entered into a period of consultation during which it will review the
number of people employed at its site in Hebburn.“The reduction in workforce is part of a restructure at A&P Tyne that
will enable the business to remain competitive in a challenging, global marketplace.“A&P Tyne needs to respond to
peaks and troughs in demand.”
It added: “Ship repair work is subject to fluctuation and the restructuring will ensure that staffing costs adjust to tally
with fluctuating ship repair income, to secure the future viability of the yard. Consultations are being undertaken with
trade union and elected employee representatives.“Fifty-eight roles have been put forward for redundancy, but final
numbers will not be reached until the end of the 30-ay consultation period.”Less than a fortnight ago, Jarrow’s Labour
Parliamentary candidate Stephen Hepburn, alongside Vernon Coaker, his party’s shadow defence secretary, visited
A&P to see at first hand the work being carried out there.
At the time, Andy Shaw, A&P’s group managing director, said was able to highlight to his guests his company’s success
in rapidly turning around contracts.He told the Gazette: “The future of the defence sector is hugely important to A&P
Group, given that we continue to deliver multi-million pound contracts for the Ministry of Defence and see this as a
growth area across the group going forward.“We are contracted across a broad range of defence projects including the
MoD Aircraft Carrier build programme, the Astute Class Nuclear Submarine programme and through-life support of the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary.”It is believed all the workers to be made redundant will be off-site by the beginning of June.The
other candidates in Jarrow Parliamentary election are: Stan Collins (Lib Dem), Norman Hall (TUSC), Nick Mason
(Conservative), Steve Harrison (UKIP), David Herbert (Green).source: shieldsgazette
ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES
New Port Terminal in Costa Rica to Open
the Caribbean Coast
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In March 2011, APM Terminals was awarded a 33-year concession for the development and management of the new
Moin Container Terminal at Puerto Limón, Costa Rica. The $1 billion container terminal is slated for completion in
2016.APM Terminals is a private industry container terminal builder and port management organization. Founded in
2001 the company is presently in 58 countries with 167 ports and with offices worldwide and annual revenue US$4.45
billion (2014).As a major component of Costa Rica’s continued growth in international commerce, the new Moin
Container Terminal will also play a critical role for the entire Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Since the projects inception
the region has seen a significant increase in investment from foreign investors for support services development such
as local transportation, and distribution operations and warehousing which will have a real impact on the region’s
growth. Investor confidence is also being reflected in the real estate developers industry, the tourism industry, Free
Trade Zone investors as well as the manufacturing sector. The current port facilities at Limon have a reduced capacity
for large vessels with the time needed for each ship to be attended (load, unload process) to being approximately 24
hours, sometimes more. The new facilities will see a direct investment of US$ 992.2 million, and will significantly
reduces ship turn-around time. This turn-around, access and capacity will benefit from the Panama Canal expansion,
having been designed to serve the larger post-panamax ships.
The construction phase of the project requires approximately 700 workers for the first 3 years of construction, then
another 600 people to operate the terminal initially, and eventually that number will rise to about 1000 workers. How
many indirect jobs could be created through this project and the supporting developments is hard to say, however the
administration has indicated it could be in range of 10,000 jobs that will be created in Limon region.This new facility
and the supporting infrastructures have the region abuzz with investors, business people and residents. Infrastructure
has always been precursor to growth and this is a mega development in a small region, leading many to think that the
next Central American boom will be Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Source: The Costa Rica News
The MOL PRESENCE outbound from Algeciras – Photo : Francis Ferro ©
Peel Ports launches CARGO200 Initiative
The UK’s second largest ports operator, Peel Ports, has Wednesday, 29 April launched a major carbon emission
initiative, Cargo200, and is calling on the UK freight and logistics industry to rethink supply chain and services routes in
order to reduce freight mileage by 200 million miles over the next five years, the Company said in a press release.
Announcing plans at Multimodal 2015 in Birmingham, the company outlined opportunities for cargo owners, importers
and exporters to cut the cost of inland transportation by switching current delivery of ocean freight from south-east
ports to the centrally located Port of Liverpool, if their goods start or end their journey in the north of the UK.
According to Peel Ports’ calculations, cargo owners can save up to £400 per container by altering supply chain routes.
The company aims to recruit up to 200 cargo owners, importers and exporters to support the campaign. Peel Ports’
Group Commercial Director, Patrick Walters said: “This initiative is about efficiency and sustainability. We have looked
at the geographical demand for goods in the UK, comparing the point of entry of those goods into the country with the
end destination and calculating the carbon emissions and potential savings.“The reality is that 50% of demand for all
UK cargo comes from the northern half of the UK, including Scotland and Ireland - not really surprising as 35 million
people, including many in Ireland, live within 240km (150 miles) of Liverpool.“The Port of Liverpool is strategically
important as the most centrally located port in the UK. Yet only 8% of goods arrive in the UK through this route. That
means the majority of cargo destined for the north currently has to be transported via road or rail, incurring hundreds
of additional miles, burning fuel, creating road congestion and adding to carbon emissions and costs.“With the opening
of Liverpool2 planned for December, there is a viable and cost effective alternative which we are urging cargo owners
and logistics operators to consider. “Investments in transport infrastructure, road, rail and canals are already
supporting the accelerated growth of businesses in the north, but taking advantage of these opportunities means
making a conscious shift in today’s supply chains and services. That shift is primarily to bring cargo closer to markets,
thereby cutting the costs, carbon emissions and congestion resulting from inland transportation. “From our modelling,
based on the journeys currently undertaken by these cargoes, it has been possible to project that at least 200 million
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road miles could be saved over the next five years. We are calling on cargo owners and operators to ‘act green’ and
support this very important initiative.”Peel Ports already has garnered initial support from a number of householdname brands, including Typhoo and B&M. The company will work with these and other Cargo200 partners to share
data and carry out further modelling to support the development of the initiative.Peel Ports Group is the largest port
operator, a leading infrastructure, transport and real estate company in the UK. Source : PortNews
New automated Rotterdam container
terminal shows how far US lags
APM Terminals in Rotterdam officially opened the container terminal of the future on April 24 with the aggressive
prediction that Maasvlakte II will improve vessel productivity by 40 percent. However, the value-add of the 212-acre,
totally-automated operation is that worker safety and the environment will also be beneficiaries.“Speed, safety and the
environment are the main factors,” Henk De Groot, APM’s chief operating officer, told JOC.com Friday in an
interview.
There is no doubt that big ships are driving the need for automation at container terminals in major gateway ports
such as Rotterdam, New York-New Jersey and Los Angeles-Long Beach. Terminals that handle 1 million 20-foot
container units, or more, per year must provide consistent, reliable and uninterrupted performance, and only machines
can meet those qualifications. De Groot used as an example Maasvlakte II’s automated ship-to-shore (quay) crane
operations. A skilled longshoreman at a gateway port can produce 30 container moves per hour at his or her “best
time of the day,” he said. However, as the day wears on, productivity can erode somewhat due to fatigue or other
factors. An automated crane may likewise do 30 moves per hour, but will perform at that level throughout the day.
APM’s goal for its cranes is to beat the manually-operated cranes’ average performance by 50 percent, De Groot said.
Unlike traditional quay cranes, in which the operator bends over and looks down at the containers as they are lifted off
and on the vessel, the automated crane is operated remotely from the tower. The operator oversees the operation in
front of a computer, and vision is not distorted by wind, rain or fog. Maasvlakte II’s automated quay cranes have two
hoists. The main hoist, which works over the vessel, is computer-controlled. The computer lowers the spreader to
within a safe distance of the container. The operator then lowers the spreader the final few feet to the container. The
container is then lifted from the vessel and moved a short distance to an elevated platform on the landside of the
crane. The main hoist is then immediately free to return to the vessel. A second hoist moves the container from the
platform down to an automated guided vehicle on the ground. Since the AGV is driverless, with no human in the
vehicle to be hurt, the landside hoist can be fully automated. This two-stage operation allows each hoist to move more
quickly without having to wait for the other. Also, the marriage of the second hoist from the platform on the landside
of the crane to the AGV allows that move to be coordinated without interfering with the rhythm of the first hoist.
Saving seconds of operating time on each portion of the move, and repeating the moves thousands of times a day,
produces huge improvements in productivity.Maasvlakte II’s AGVs are cutting edge. Each AGV has a lift capacity that
allows it to place the container into a support structure at the front of the appropriate container stack in the yard.
Therefore, the AGV does not have to wait for the automated stacking crane to retrieve the container. Rather, the AGV
discharges its container and scurries back to quay crane for another container.
Since it is impossible to have all of the machines in an automated operation completely coordinated as containers are
moved from one location to the next, valuable seconds are saved in each move because the machines are decoupled
from each other.Also, the container stacks are segregated as to mode of inland transportation. Maasvlakte II is served
by three modes of inland transportation -- truck, intermodal rail and barge. Stacking the containers according to mode,
which is managed by the computerized terminal operating system, allows for a more efficient container move from the
stack to the inland transportation vehicle, also saving valuable time.
AGVs at Maasvlakte are electric and run on batteries. Time is also saved in exchanging the batteries. When the battery
runs low, the AGV goes to the maintenance shed where a fully-charged battery is waiting. Replacing the battery takes
six minutes, De Groot said.Possibly the most impressive benefit of the automated terminal is the improvement it brings
to the gate operations. The container stacks are positioned perpendicular to the vessel and gate, so the trucker need
drive only a short distance from the in-gate to the stack. The automated stacking crane lifts the requested container
from the stack on to the truck chassis. Numerous moves during the testing phase that has been underway since
December have recorded an average gate-in to gate-out time of less than 30 minutes for a single transaction, De
Groot said. At many U.S. ports, in-terminal times of 45 minutes to an hour are common.In order to make the terminalto-truck interchange as efficient as possible, APM enforces two requirements upon truckers. Motor carriers must file
their documentation through a single electronic portal, and all truckers must make an appointment. If the trucker
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DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 125
misses the two-hour window in the appointment, the driver must proceed to a holding area and make a new
appointment.Harbor truckers in the U.S. have a variety of opinions about appointment systems, and most of those
opinions are negative because of the difficulties incurred in keeping to the windows due to terminal congestion,
weather or roadway traffic. De Groot said APM has succeeded in maintaining almost 100 percent compliance among
truckers, and they are rewarded with rapid turn times. Safety is the key feature of an automated terminal. People are
not hurt because people are not allowed in the cargo-handling section of the terminal. “It separates the man from the
machine,” De Groot said. Cargo-handling that requires human involvement is handled remotely from the
tower.Maasvlakte II is also intended to be the greenest container terminal in the world. The quay and yard cranes are
electric, which means zero emissions and no noise. The electricity is generated locally by wind. The cranes also
generate power on the downward cycle of the crane movement. Forklifts are electric, and employees move to and
from the terminal in electric vans. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have similar goals for their terminals as
they strive for a zero or at least near-zero operation. Automation is dreadfully expensive. APM said Maasvlakte II costs
$535 million. In order to justify such an investment, container throughput is key. De Groot said it is difficult to estimate
how much volume is needed to achieve an adequate return on investment for automated terminals around the world
because operating conditions and labor costs vary, but in countries with higher labor costs such as in Europe and the
U.S., at least 1 million TEUs a year throughput is probably needed. Furthermore, automation can be introduced in
phases, and terminals can choose light, moderate or complete automation depending upon their needs and
throughput. Labor savings can not be denied as a number of longshore jobs are eliminated due to automation. The
Port of Los Angeles last year released a study that said automation at the TraPac terminal will eventually reduce jobs
by 40 to 50 percent. Terminals that invest in automation will experience a significant increase in capacity. TraPac at
full build-out will have an annual throughput capacity of more than 2 million TEUs. The Middle Harbor terminal in Long
Beach is being automated, and at full build-out will have an annual capacity of more than 3 million TEUs. The 13
terminals in the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex last year handled about 15 million TEUs. In order to generate
volume, the automated terminals will use their lower operating costs to attract business from other terminals, forcing
them to either lower their operating costs through automation, or to sell out to terminal operators with deeper pockets
that are able to make the costly up-front investment in automation.The industry move to automate is being driven
primarily, though, by the need to efficiently handle big ships. “This requires a step up in innovation,” De Groot said. By
the end of each day, the automated terminal will prove its worth by providing a stable product, with consistent,
reliable performance throughout the entire day, he said. Source: Journal of Commerce
The MSC MADRID moored in Hamburg – Photo : Jan Ove Mühlpforte ©
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DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2015 – 125
Funding shortfall sees Hoylake Lifeboat
Museum close its doors
HOYLAKE Lifeboat Museum has closed its doors after funding problems left it unable to meet outgoings.
The museum - which opened in March 2011 - hosted visits from schools and groups from far and wide. But difficulties
in securing funding has left the Trustees in an impossible situation.A post on the museum's Facebook page said: "We
regret that we are having to write to you to inform you of the immediate closure of Hoylake Lifeboat Museum.
"Unfortunately, due to continued problems in securing promised funding to develop part of the museum as a cafe, and
thus generate a viable income stream to meet our outgoings, the museum is no longer able to continue to operate and
meet those outgoing commitments."We would like to thank you for all your support and interest over the past years
and assure you that the decision has neither been taken lightly, nor without a great deal of emotion on the part of the
Trustees and Committee." The lifeboat museum has a troubled history.
It became surplus to requirements when a new state-of-the-art station near the Hoyle Road end of the promenade
became operational.From the word go, the trustees hoped the museum would be "mainly financially self-supported"
although they noted at the time that "other costs" were expected to be around £400,000. The museum opened its
doors to visitors in 2011, but financial difficulties and wrangling over its lease became evident. A closure crisis was
triggered in 2012 when the company which owns the building informed the museum's charity trust it must vacate the
premises.
But a last-minute agreement was reached "subject to a few loose ends being tied up" and the crisis was averted.The
trustees were put under pressure again earlier this year when an online "steering group" announced it was attempting
to take over the site and turn it into a 120-seat independent cinema and bistro.The proposal raised eyebrows in the
town, not least because the trustees knew nothing about it until they read of it on the internet. However, it faded as
quickly as it had appeared.Prompted by inquiries from the Globe, Wirral Council revealed the existence of covenant
which restricts the use of the land.A town hall spokesman said: “Wirral Council owns the land, albeit with a covenant
held by Peel Holdings, so a release from this would be required from Peel. For these reasons, we are unable to release
the land.” What the future holds for Hoylake's historic lifeboat station is now entirely unclear. Source: wirralglobe
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