World Maritime News - 16 May., 1997

Protests against "flags of convienience"

The International Transport Workers' Federation protested "flags of convienence" from 12 May to 16 May in Europe using work actions against ships of 15 registries. Among the actions, the Blue L (Cypriot-registry 42,566-dwt bulk carrier built in 1978, operated by Leond Maritime Inc.) was boycotted in Norway. The Pacific Kuru (Cypriot-registry 10,792-dwt refrigerated ship built in 1975, operated by West Pacific Ship Management) was arrested at Sheerness, Scotland. Its 25 Polish crew have been owed U.S.$80,000 in back wages since February. In addition, 12 federation approved agreements have been signed. The German labor union OTU signed six under the German second register on 9 May and six more were signed 12 May. As of 13 May, the federation reported actions had been taken against 300 ships. As part of the protest, the federation has been publicizing crew conditions on several ships. For example, the 11 Russian and Ukrainian crew of the City of Athens (Panamanian-registry 2,068-gt, 3,060-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1983) refused to unload pipes at Choggin, Italy, this week, to protest the fact they are owed eight months of wages. After legal action was threatened the crew ended the protest, but refused a partial payment of U.S.$25,000 of the U.S.$74,000 they are owed.

Osprey Maritime buying Gotaas-Larsen Shipping

Osprey Maritime Ltd. has confirmed it will buy the entire equity interest of Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corp. for U.S.$750 million from GL Holdings Corp. This includes four liquified natural gas carriers and a 50 percent share in a fifth, four very large crude carriers and six subsidiaries in ship administration and management, crewing and captive insurance. Two V.L.C.C.s will be sold pending surveys. They are the Golar Glasgow (Liberian-registry 275,000-dwt tanker built in 1992 by Daewoo in South Korea) and the Golar Stirling (Liberian-registry 302,440-dwt tanker built in 1992 by Daewoo in South Korea). While the ships have a double skin, they have a single bottom. Osprey Martitime will also manage six third-party vessels. The new firm will be the fourth largest independent tanker firm in Asia, excluding Japan. It will have five percent of the world liquified natural gas shipping market, with 30 total vessels and U.S.$606 million in contracts. This is 11 percent of the liquified natural gas market. Gotaas-Larsen Shipping will remain a separate entity, but will have common administration and financial control with Osprey Maritime.

Hvide Marine buying fleet Gulf Marine and Maintenance Offshore Service

Hvide Marine Inc. will buy the 37-vessel fleet of Gulf Marine and Maintenance Offshore Service Co. for U.S.$61 million. Gulf Marine and Maintenance Offshore Service is the largest independent operator of petroleum industry service vessels in the Arabian Gulf, but also has operations around the Indian subcontinent and Brunei. The fleet will become part of Hvide Marine's Seabulk Offshore Ltd. division, and revenues generated by the ships over the next year are expected to total U.S.$30 million. Hvide Marine will pay U.S.$52 million in cash, a U.S.$6 million note and the rest in Class A common stock. The fleet includes 10 anchor-handling tug/supply vessels, nine anchor-handling tugs, seven crewboats, four offshore supply vessels, three large specialized construction and maintenance vessels, three utility vessels and one accommodation self-elevating ("jack-up") rig.

Japan abandons oil pollution treaties for new

On 9 May, Japan approved rejecting two international treaties on oil pollution damage and instead join a new treaty that provides larger comepensation. In place of treaties ratified in 1969 and 1971, the country ratified a new treaty in 1992. The changes take effect 15 May, 1998.

First P. & I. Club to start in Singapore

Standard P. & I. Club will soon set up the first protection and indemnity insurance club in Singapore. Standard (Asia) will be managed by Charles Tayler Mutual Management (Asia) Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of the Charles Tayler Group. Operations will begin the second half of the year.

Parker Drilling to buy Hercules Offshore and Hercules Rig

Parker Drilling Co. signed definitive agreements 9 May to buy Hercules Offshore Corp. and Hercules Rig Corp. from Trenergy Bhd. for U.S.$195 million. Hercules Offshore and Hercules Rig own seven self-elevating ("jack-up") offshore rigs and three platform rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Safmarine joining SmitWijs Towage

SmitWijs Towage C.V. has formed an alliance with Safmarine to merge their tug operations. Smit will contribute six tugs and Safmarine will add two.

Denholm Shipping Services buying Shaw Covell

Denholm Shipping Services Ltd. is buying the freight forwarder and ship agency Shaw Covell.

U.S. Justice Department clears sale

The acquisition of APL Ltd. by Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. has received anti-trust approval from the U.S. Justice Department.

Kvaerner sells 17 percent stake in Bergesen

Kvaerner said 12 May it has sold its 17 percent of Bergsesen dy A/S for 2.02 billion Norwegian kroner/U.S.$286.6 million. The nine million A shares and 3.8 million B shares have been sold to SBC Warburg based on their closing prices 9 May of 156.50 kroner/U.S.$22.32and 155.50 kroner/U.S.$22.17, respectively. Kvaerner and SBC Warburg signed a deal that allows the shares to be transferred between them for a certain period of time. Kvaerner will use the money to pay financing arrangements stemming from its purchase of Trafalgar House P.L.C.

Gokal fined, sentenced for fraud in the United Kingdom

Abhas Gokal was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 2.94 million British pounds/U.S.$4.76 million last week for actions relating to the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. His business, Gulf East, owned 15 ships when B.C.C.I. collapsed in 1991, and was found guilty of a U.S.$1.2 billion fraud.

Navieras de Puerto Rico lawsuit pending against Sea-Land Service

Navieras de Puerto Rico has filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., to stop Sea-Land Services Inc. from receiving certain shipping subsidies from the U.S. Maritime Administration. Under shipping regulations, such funding is not to be provided to firms in U.S. cabotage, including Puerto Rico. Navieras de Puerto Rico argues that Sea-Land Service, which operates services to Puerto Rico from the United States among many other routes, should be ineligable for the funding.

Frontline Shipping to move

The board of Frontline Shipping A.B. will propose that the company move from Stockholm, Sweden, to Bermuda and Oslo, Norway. The announcement will be made 13 June at the firm's general meeting. Vessel ownership would be in Bermuda, and ship management in Oslo. Among the considerations for the move is that John Fredriksen, based in Oslo, now owns two-thirds of Frontline Shipping stock, and Norway has revised its shipping policy with new tax benefits.

Strike possible against Wightlink

RMT, the British labor union, has called two separate strike votes against Wightlink Ltd., the ferry line sailing between Portsmouth, England, and the Isle of Wight.

Chu Kong Shipping Development in I.P.O.

Chu Kong Shipping Development Co. hopes to raise Hong Kong$200 million/U.S.$26 million later this month through an inital public offering of stock. Some 187.5 million in shares will be sold for H.K.$1.20/U.S.$0.16 each.

S.C.I. joins Lloyd's emergency service

The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. has placed 26 of its ships under Lloyd's Ship Emergency Response Services of Lloyd's Register of Shipping. S.C.I. is the first Indian shipowner to join the program, and the rest of its fleet will join within six months. Most of the first group are tankers and petroleum carriers. Under the program, owners provide Lloyd's with detailed information and diagrams of ships in its fleet. In a casualty situation, the ship would contact Lloyd's which, based on the situation as reported and the plans and specifications on file, will advise on how to respond to the casualty.

Restructuring of Panama Canal Commission approved

In a unanimous decision 12 May in Miami, the directors of the Panama Canal Commission approved a reorganization proposed by Administrator Alberto Aleman Zubieta.

Japanese master found guilty of dumping sharks off Canada

Mitsuo Ozaki was found guilty 13 May in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, of violating Canadian fishing laws. Canadian Judge R.E. Kimball found the Japanese master guilty after he admitted his crew cut off the sharks' fins and threw the carcasses overboard. Defence lawyer Will Moreira challenged the court to justify the licensing condition Ozaki allegedly breached. The Canadian Coastal Fisheries Protection Act that applies to Ozaki's licence stipulates blue sharks can only be fished if the entire carcass is used. But Moreira said the charge is not authorized by the regulations. Ozaki was charged in December after observer Chris Greene said he saw the crew of the Shoshin Maru 38 cutting off the fins of blue sharks and throwing the carcasses overboard. Greene counted 895 blue sharks brought aboard between 30 Nov. and 6 Dec. The Canadian Department of Fisheries sent Daniel Mallet and Andrew Walsh to investigate on 13 Dec. They counted 520 carcasses and 430 sets of fins aboard, believing the other 375 were disposed of. The master said Greene's numbers were "unthinkable" and mistaken. He said at least 90 carcasses washed overboard in a storm. Kimball said Greene's records were not accurate because they were not the originals, as he transferred the information from notes taken during the observation to notebooks at night. He also said there is too much of a discrepancy between numbers to figure out the truth. Ozaki was found guilty on his own admission of throwing 10 sharks overboard. It is the first case of its kind in Canada.

California temporarily bans abalone fishing

The California State Fish and Game Commission on 6 May imposed an emergency ban on abalone diving south of San Francisco. A state senator has proposed banning commercial abalone fishing. In 1957, 2.6 million kilograms/5.7 million pounds of abalone was collected, but in 1995, it amounted to 110,000 kilograms/244,000 pounds. A study is being conducted.

Hyundai Merchant Marine opens four Chinese offices

Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd. has opened four offices in China at Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai and Tianjin. Hyundai Merchant Marine will use them for 30 years.

New ship chartering list on the Internet

Dennis N. Aruta, founder the International Commerce List, has started a new Internet mailing list named ShipFix, dedicated to ship chartering. To learn more, contact him at denic@liii.com.

Several Global Alliance service changes

APL Ltd., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. and Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd., all members of the Global Alliance, announced several service changes 15 May. A new direct service will be begun from Nagoya, Japan, and transit time from Pusan, South Korea, and Los Angeles will be improved. Transit from Nagoya to Los Angeles will take nine days, with the route from Pusan to Los Angeles taking 12 days. The latter transit time is an improvement of one to two days. Another weekly sailing from Hong Kong to the U.S. west coast will be made and calls for certain services will be made at new terminals. Three routes - AMX, PS1 and PS4 - will now call at the Global Gateway South terminal at the Port of Los Angeles (see below for more on the terminal). AMX has six 3,000-TEU ships and calls at Los Angeles; Yokohama, Japan; Kobe, Japan; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Hong Kong; Kobe; Yokohama; and Los Angeles. PS1, using six 4,800-TEU capacity containerships, calls at Los Angeles; Seattle; Hong Kong; Yantian, China; Singapore; Port Kelang, Malaysia; Singapore; Yantian; Hong Kong and Los Angeles. PS4, with five 2,500-TEU capacity ships, calls at Pusan, Yokohama and Los Angeles. PN1 and PN2 will call at Deltaport at the Port of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. PN1 has five 4,300-TEU containerships and calls at Seattle; Vancouver; Dutch Harbor, Alaska; Yokohama; Kobe; Pusan; Kaohsiung; Hong Kong; Seattle; Nagoya, Japan; Tokyo; and Seattle. PN2 has six 2,800-TEU ships with stops at Seattle; Vancouver; Tokyo; Kobe; Kaohsiung; Laem Chabang, Thailand; Kaohsiung; Hakata, Japan; and Kobe. Calls at Deltaport will begin with the arrival of the President Truman (U.S.-registry 54,700-dwt, 4,340-TEU capacity containership built in 1988, owned and operated by APL) on 8 June, with the rest of the changes by late June.

British Columbia ferry service interrupted by walkout

Ferry service between Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, was suspended the afternoon of 13 May when employees struck to protest contracting out work to non-union workers. The action at the Tsawwassen Terminal cancelled the 1500 sailing of the Spirit of British Columbia (Canadian-registry 3,019-dwt passenger vessel built in 1993, operated by B.C. Ferries). B.C. Ferries sought an injunction from the Canadian Labor Relations Board and the action was expected to delay, but not suspend, service. The walkout reportedly involves a non-union employee working in the newsstand of the vessel.

Mediterranean Shipping to start new service

Mediterranean Shipping Co. will link its Europe/South Africa/Australia service and its Europe to Asia service by starting a service between Asia and Australia every two weeks. Calls will include China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Grimaldi Group discloses plans for new ships

Grimaldi Group will use three ro/ro vessels now being built by Fincantieri Cantieri Italiani Navali S.p.A.'s Castellammare di Stabia on a European service. After delivery next year, the ships will call in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Ireland. Frequency will be six to seven days.

Sea-Land Service reducing sailing time of New Jersey to Puerto Rico route

Starting 30 May, one of Sea-Land Service Inc.'s two weekly Elizabeth, N.J., to San Juan, Puerto Rico, routes will be one day less in sailing time. Cargoes will be available Tuesday mornings.

APL opens largest dedicated container facility in the United States

Global Gateway South, APL Ltd.'s new 93-hectare/232-acre terminal at the Port of Los Angeles' Terminal Island, was officially opened 12 May. The facility is the largest dedicated container terminal in the United States and cost U.S.$270 million. APL will lease it for 30 years. There are four berths with 12 gantry cranes, a gate complex with 10 entry and 10 exit lanes with automated procedures and an on-dock rail yard which can load and unload three double-stack trains simultaneously on eight tracks. Another three trains can be stored off the dock. The yard has 10 intermodal cranes, all of which are electric and which will save 1.14 million liters/300,000 gallons of fuel annually. Global Gateway South has a 5,000-square meter/55,000-square foot maintenance and repair area. The terminal also has a six hectare/15-acre nesting area for birds. In addition to APL, Global Gateway South will serve APL's shipping partners and third-party clients of APL's Eagle Marine Services Ltd. Global Gateway South is twice the size of APL's former terminal. The terminal is expected to handle one million TEUs next year and 1.44 million in 1999, and will pay a minimum of U.S.$21 million to U.S.$25 million annually to the Port of Los Angeles.

First major private terminal in Ho Chi Minh City breaks ground

A groundbreaking ceremony for the first major private container terminal in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was held 16 May. The first ship is expected in a year. Vietnam International Container Terminals is located in the Saigon River at Tan Thuan, and is owned by First Logistics Development Co. First Logistics Development is 63 percent owned by Mitorient, a venture of Mitsui & Co. Ltd. and Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. Neptune Orient Lines holds 75 percent of Mitorient. The rest of First Logistics Development is owned by Southern Waterborne Transport Corp. and Transport and Chartering Corp., which are affiliated with the Vietnamese Ministry of Transportation. The terminal received a license in 1994 and preparation work began in September 1996. By next year, berthing space of 305 meters/1,000 feet will be built with 12 hectares/30 acres of space for 1,323 TEUs. It will cost more than U.S.$50 million and will handle 150,000 to 200,000 TEUs per year. Another 410 meters/1,345 feet of berthings space is planned and eventually, there will be six quay cranes, 16 gantry cranes and storage for 3,318 TEUs with 144 refrigerated connections. The terminal will then handle 600,000 TEUs per year.

Rotterdam closed for final testing of barrier

The Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, was effectively closed from 10 May to 12 May for final testing of a new storm surge barrier near the Hook of Holland that cost 964 million Dutch guilders/U.S.$500 million. Final testing of the 210-meter/689-foot retaining walls began at 1500 11 May and ended at 1830 12 May.

La Guaira idled by general strike

The Port of La Guaira, Venezuela, reopened 15 May after an 18-hour general strike that was held in the region. The strike was called to force the Venezuelan government to reconsider new toll charges on a highway to Caracas.

Santos stopped by one-day strike

Dockworkers at the Port of Santos, Brazil, returned to work at 0700 9 May after a 24-hour strike. The dockworkers protested delays in April salary payments.

Inchon dockworkers refuse to load food aid for North Korea

A South Korean dockworkers union at Inchon voted unanimously 15 May to refuse to load any vessel with food aid for North Korea. Among the reasons cited by the 3,078 members was the lack of a national consensus on food aid for North Korea. Private relief organizations have used Inchon to ship aid north in the past.

Concession for Cabo San Lucas awarded

Baja Mantenimiento y Operaciones S.A. has won the 25-year concession to operate the Port of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Katoen Natie makes investment in Uruguay, first in Latin America

Katoen Natie has bought 25 percent of the Free Trade Zone at the Port of Montevideo, Uruguay, and 33 percent of Costa Oriental, which manages the area. It is the first time Katoen Natie has invested in Latin America, and it plans to establish offices in Argentina and Brazil for itself and port management and logistics subsidiaries.

Chile announces needed port investments

Empresa Portuaria de Chile plans to invest U.S.$19 million at Puerto Montt, Chile. The investments are planned in view of future private involvement in the country's state-owned ports. The investment includes U.S.$13 million for a new terminal. Empresa Portuaria de Chile also has announced that Antofagasta will need U.S.$105 million in improvements, Arica will need U.S.$182 million, Chacabuco U.S.$27 million, Coquimbo U.S.$428 million, Iquique U.S.$113 million, Punta Arenas U.S.$22 million, San Antonio U.S.$309 million, Talcahuano U.S.$168 million and Valparaiso U.S.$428 million. Port capacity will be increased from 28 million tons annually to 77 million tons by 2015. U.S.$1.4 billion will be needed, with 96 percent to come from private industry.

Singapore, Hyundai Merchant Marine in agreement

The Port of Singapore Authority and Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd. signed a long-term service agreement 13 May. The port will promise service, rebates and rates.

BMH Marine to build cement terminal at Jurong Port

BMH Marine and an affiliate will build a Singaporean$17 million/U.S.$11.8 million turnkey cement terminal for Sin Heang Chan (Singapore) at Jurong Port in Singapore. The first phase, which will enable docking and discharge from self-unloading vessels, will be completed by the end of the year. By May 1998, 21 silos and a flat storage area will be able to store 60,000 tons.

Tianjin discloses port expansion plans

The Port of Tianjin, China, has announced detals of a 4.7 billion Chinese yuan/U.S.$560 million expansion. Five multipurpose berths, five bulk carrier and specialized liquid chemical berths and two passenger berths will be built. The port will be dredged. The first phase will involve expanding three berths of a barge terminal and a salt terminal to handle 1.2 million tons annually.

Hong Kong to impose height restrictions around new airport

Hong Kong said 14 May it will ban vessels over a certain height from waters around bridges leading to the new airport, Chek Lap Kok. The Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Regulation of 1997 will ensure vessels do not obstruct the flight path or air navigation signals when the airport opens in April. In addition to approach areas, the bridges involved are Kap Shui Mun, Tsing Ma and Tung Chung. Waters around Kai Tak will then be opened to all vessels, since height restrictions currently exist there. No limits have been announced.

Three companies forming U.A.E. business

Ali Albwardy, CWT Distribution Ltd. and Sembawang Maritime Ltd. have announced a U.S.$3 million joint venture which will offer warehousing, distribution and freight forwarding in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. CWT Distribution will have 40 percent, with the others having 30 percent each. CWT-SML Logistics will have a 10,000-square meter/12,000-square yard facility in the Free Trade Zone of the Port of Jebel Ali. Operations will begin in the first half of 1998 with a racking system to store cargo 10 meters/33 feet high.

New inland terminal planned in Belgium

A new inland container terminal is being planned at Willebroek, Belgium. Container barges will use the new 250.25-meter/821.03-foot long Hingene lock on the Brussels/Western Scheldt Canal, which will open in September.

Dedicated passenger terminals to open in Northern Ireland, Salerno

A new, dedicated cruise ship facility for 1,500 to 2,000 passengers will open next year at Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The Port of Salerno, Italy, meanwhile, will build a cruise terminal with a 475-meter/1,560 quay by 1999. A new ferry facility will also be built nearby.

U.S. Coast Guard awards contract for housing at Michigan station

The first phase of a U.S.$10.8 million contract for construction of 60 family housing units at U.S. Coast Guard Station Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was awarded 14 May to Devere Construction Co. of Alpena, Mich. The initial award of U.S.$2.99 million requires Devere Construction to complete 11 units, with construction to begin this summer for completion in July 1998. Two more phases will follow. The contract will create about 100 new jobs, according to Devere Construction. The Coast Guard's Facilities Design and Construction Center in Norfolk, Va., will supervise site design and will manage the construction contract. About 140 Coast Guard personnel are based at Sault Ste. Marie. Families are currently living in privately owned residences, rental units in the area and Coast Guard leased housing up to 32 kilometers/20 miles away. There is no U.S. government-owned housing in Sault Ste. Marie.

Dover to expand

The Dover Harbour Board at the Port of Dover, England, has announced plans to expand the Easter Docks by July.

New Maas River lock building in the Netherlands

A new lock is being built on the Maas River at Lith, the Netherlands. The lock, measuring 200.18 meters/656.76 feet), will allow barges with unlimited height.

Sullom Voe blocked by fishing vessels

As part of a protest, Sullom Voe in Scotland's Shetland Islands was blockaded on 12 May by fishing vessels. The protest ended the next day, and was staged to demand compensation for an oil spill in the Shetland Islands when a tanker was lost in January 1993.

Two firms join to work on Pier 400 at Los Angeles

Pier 400 Contractors, a joint venture of Connolly Pacific and Great Lakes Dredge and Rock, has received a U.S.$147,685,450 contract for work at Pier 400 at the Port of Los Angeles. The work will include dredging 19 million cubic meters/25 cubic yards of spoils and 3.1 million metric tons of quarry run for dike revetment in California, including Long Beach, Los Angeles and San Pedro Bay. Work is expected to be completed by 12 Nov., 1999.

Four dead, 20 injured after explosion at Thai yard

Four men were killed and 20 were injured 11 May after an explosion aboard a barge at a dock at the Ital-Thai Marine shipyard in Muang, Thailand. Welding was being done aboard the 45-meter/148-foot barge when the explosion occurred, despite the fact the hull was full of gas and paint thinner after the barge was spray painted four days before. Signs warning of the danger were said to have been placed on the barge. The barge had been sealed after painting and not opened until the welding began. A ensuing fire took over 30 minutes to control.

Minimum export price set on Chinese containers

Due to an overcapacity of new containers in China and efforts to sell them cheaply, the Chinese government has imposed a minimum export price as of 1 May. A dry container reportedly now costs U.S.$2,000. There is some debate, however, as what constitutes a "new" container. China has 40 dry and seven refrigerated container manufacturers.

Austraila extending shipbuilding subsidies

Australia has decided to extend its five percent shipbuilding subsidy 18 months. It will now expire 30 June, 1999, but applies only to vessels at least 50 percent completed by that date. Payment for those ships meeting the requirement is on a pro rata basis. In addition, ships must be ordered or have finalized committments by 31 Dec. of this year.

Tentative contract for workers at BethShip successor reached

Tentative agreement has been reached for a new contract for 900 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local S-33 working at Baltimore Shipbuilding and Drydock L.L.C. The contract will be voted on 20 May. Baltimore Shipbuilding and Drydock, led by Peter Angelos, would take over BethShip Inc. from Bethlehem Steel Corp.

Leroux & Lotz Naval and BHP Engineering discussing joint Indian yard

Leroux & Lotz Naval is in talks with BHP Engineering to operate a shipyard at Dharmtar, India, to build geared vessels. A memorandum of understanding may have been signed, and the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board has been contacted. The Province of Maharashtra has already approved the yard, which would have an initial capitalization of 300 million Indian rupees/U.S.$8.4 million.

Swan Hunter to add jobs

Swan Hunter said 16 May it will create 150 apprenticeships at its facility.

MARAD providing Mississippi yard with loan guarantee

The U.S. Maritime Administration said 12 May it will provide a loan guarantee of U.S.$24.8 million to HAM Marine Inc. at Pascagoula, Miss., to modernize and expand its operations. HAM Marine will use the money to expand a 40-hectare/100-acre yard on Greenwood Island, which will be leased from Jackson County, Miss. The loan will aid in financing preparation of the site, construction of bulkhead and tie back systems and a launching/assembly area, utility work, structures and some equipment.

Famak and Tsuji join to build ship cranes

Famak Machinery and Equipment Factory and Tsuji Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. will build ship cranes in Europe. Famak, of Kluczbork, Poland, will use its jibs with swiveling posts from Tsuji, based in Sasebo, Japan. Cranes will be completed beginning in June.

Part of Gdask shipyard to become discotheque

It was announced 12 May that part of the bankrupt Stocznia Gdansk S.A. shipyard will be converted into a discotheque. One of six building halls has been rented to a firm that will use it for a nightclub. A development company has already begun lease payments for the 21,500-square foot hall.

Six found guilty in Bath Iron Works protest

A U.S. District Court found six people guilty 8 May of conspiracy and damaging government property in connection with a 12 Feb. protest at General Dynamics Corp.'s Marine Division/Bath Iron Works Corp. in Bath, Maine. A sentencing date has not been set by Judge Gene Carter. Convicted in Portland, Maine, were Steven J. Baggarly, 31, of Norfolk, Va.; Philip F. Berrigan, 73, of Baltimore; Mark Colville, 36, of New Haven, Conn.; Susan Crane, 53, of Ukiah, Calif.; Stephen M. Kelly, 48, of New York; and Thomas Lewis-Borbely, 56, of Worcester, Mass. Lewis-Borbely was released on bail and the rest detained. The judge in the case offered to release Berrigan from the Cumberland County Jail if he agreed to stay away from the shipyard, but he refused. Each of the six faces up to 15 years in prison and U.S.$500,000 in fines. Early Ash Wednesday, the six, calling themselves the Prince of Peace Plowshares, were arrested after boarding the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class Guided-Missile Destroyer U.S.S. The Sullivans (DDG 68), then building at the yard. The group used hammers to destroy navigational equipment and squirted their blood on the ship from plastic baby bottles. Damage was estimated at U.S.$80,000. In protest of what Berrigan called "death-dealing weapons," the action was taken to "hammer the instrument of death into a peaceful plowshare." During the two-day trial, 14 people were arrested, including 12 sympathizers who were arrested for trespassing after demonstrating near a site related to Bath Iron Works. People outside the courthouse prayed and drummed continuously. In 1991, Berrigan and several other protesters boarded the Navy's Ticonderoga-class Guided-Missile Cruiser U.S.S. Gettysburg (CG 64) at Bath Iron Works, where they sabotaged weapons and dumped their blood on the ship. The shipyard did not press charges and since the vessel had not been turned over to the Navy, was not a federal crime.

Daewoo and Kvaerner Rosenberg to built Statoil platform

Daewoo Heavy Industries Ltd. and Kvaerner Rosenberg A/S have been awarded a joint order for a semi-submersible floating production platform by Statoil. The U.S.$1 billion facility will be used for developing gas fields in the North Sea. Daewoo will build the substructure at a cost of U.S.$120 million for delivery in September 1999. The platform will be 96 meters/315 feet long and 115 meters/377 feet wide with a height of 163 meters/535 feet. The substructure will be 17,000 tons.

Meppel converting former European motor barges to container vessels

Meppel is converting former motor barges for European rivers to container barges. The new configuration allows TEUs to be loaded transversally in the cargo hold. It is planned to fit the barges with a container crane.

Gdansk shipyard to finally build vessels?

Stocznia Gdansk S.A. has reportedly signed an agreement to finally build three containerships for Scholler Holdings Ltd. at a cost of U.S.$27.9 million each.

S.C.I. orders product carrier from Hyundai

Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. has ordered a 29,999-dwt product carrier from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. It will be delivered in December 1998.

Leif Hoegh & Co. in order with Daewoo

Leif Hoegh & Co. has ordered a U.S.$59 million car carrier from Daewoo Heavy Industries Ltd. for delivery in January 1999. The 12-deck vessel will be built in South Korea with 54,000 square meters/65,000 square yards of cargo space. The ship will be 199.9 meters/655.8 feet long and will be capable of 20 knots. There is an option for two more ships.

WaveMaster International delivers ferries to SeaFlyte

In a ceremony 11 May, WaveMaster International Pty. Ltd. delivered the Jet Flyte I and the Jet Flyte II to SeaFlyte Ferry Services. The monohull high-speed vessels cost Australian$3.2 million/U.S.$2.5 million with diesel engines for 30 knots. They can carry 160 passengers.

Dieselmotorenwerk Vulkan gets P&O Nedlloyd Container Line order

Dieselmotorenwerk Vulkan has won an order for five engines for new ships building for P&O Nedlloyd Container Line Ltd. at Kvaerner Warnow-Werft GmbH.

Disney Magic launched

The Disney Magic (6,000-dwt passenger ship) was launched for Disney Cruise Line on 13 May at Fincantieri Italiani Navali S.p.A.'s Venezia Marghera at Venice, Italy. It will be completed by March 1998.

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven to lengthen the Windward

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven GmbH has received an order from Norwegian Cruise Line to lengthen and modernize the Windward (39,000-gt, 4,800-dwt passenger ship built in 1993). The 40-meter/130-foot addition will make the ship 230 meters/755 feet long and capable of carrying 1,700 passengers instead of 1,290. The work will cost 100 million German marks/U.S.$59.2 million and there is an option to lengthen a sister ship. The work will be done by spring 1998. -- Steve Schultz - Whitefish Bay, Wis., U.S.A. - sschultz@execpc.com

"When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang" - Herman Melville from "Moby-Dick; or, The White Whale," Chapter 114, Paragraph two

Five killed on Congo River ferry

An explosion aboard a ferry on the Congo River, sailing from Brazzaville, Congo, to Kinshasa, Zaire, killed five people the night of 13 May. A grenade is believed to have detonated accidentally.

Containership and U.S. aircraft carrier rescue two, one killed

At 0800 10 May, the sailboat Ankh activated its Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon off Cape Henry, Va. The master was injured, the engine had failed and two other people aboard were unable to sail the vessel. A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130H Hercules from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., flew to the Ankh, 720 kilometers/450 miles east of Cape Henry. Homeported in Rhode Island, the Ankh was sailing to Bermuda. Using the Automated Mutual Assitance Vessel Rescue Sustem (AMVER), the Coast Guard located the Able Forest (Panamanian-registry 126-meter/412-foot containership) and the Royal Majesty (Panamanian-registry 2,700-dwt passenger ship built in 1992, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line), which diverted to assist. The Royal Majesty, sailing to Boston at the end of a cruise, diverted four hours from its course but later continued to its destination. Also diverting to assist was the U.S. Navy's Nimitz-class Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Late 10 May, the Able Forest came alongside but the two vessels collided and the two uninjured people fell overboard. One was rescued from the water, along with the injured master aboard the Ankh. A helicopter from the U.S.S. John C. Stennis hoisted the two aboard at 0800 and took them to the ship for medical treatment. At 0730, a Hercules from Elizabeth City began a search for the third person, who was found at 0945, wearing a lifejacket. Another helicopter from the aircraft carrier, carrying the ship's senior medical officer, located the body of Richard Joseph Miller, of Saunderstown, R.I., on 11 May. The Able Forest continued to Nova Scotia, Canada. The master, Ronald House, of Newport, R.I., sustained rib fractures, while Raymond Corona, also of Newport, had multiple contusions. Both remained aboard the U.S.S. John C. Stennis, which sailed to Norfolk, Va.

Crewmember taken off tug in Lake Superior

A crewmember aboard the tug Atlantic Hickory, with the barge Sarah Spencer, was evacuated by the U.S. Coast Guard 14 May, 66 miles out in Lake Superior from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. A Coast Guard vessel took the crewmember to Silver Islet, where an ambulance was waiting.

In a first, North Korean citizens defect to South by sea

A 32-ton vessel carrying 14 North Korean citizens was found by the Republic of Korea Navy on 12 May. The vessel was found off Paekryong-do Island, South Korea, and was later abandoned on the island. A wooden vessel disguised as a Chinese-registry trawler, it hid amid fishing vessels until South Korean naval vessels arrived in the area. After the group made clear their intention to defect, the group was taken to Inchon, South Korea. All aboard are seeking asylum in one of the largest defections of North Korean citizens, and the first by sea. The five men, five women and four children had left Shinuiju, North Korea, three days before. It included two families, including Ahn Sun Kook, 48, his wife, mother, son and two daughters. The other family was led by the vessel's engineer and included his 2-year-old grandson. One person was identified as Suh Sung Sim.

Separatist group hijacks ferry, storms Venice bell tower

Eight armed men stormed the Campanile of St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, on 10 May, calling for a separate state for Venice and unfurling the Republic of Venice's flag from the tower. About midnight, the eight boarded a ferry with a camper/van and a farm tractor disguised as an armored vehicle using sheet metal. The master, Giovanni Girotto, assumed they were a group of military passengers. Brandishing a submachine gun, they hijacked the vessel and demanded to be taken to the square. Wearing ski masks, the group entered the Campanile and, from the balcony of the tower, unfurled a golden pennant with the lion of Saint Mark. Around sunrise, a local television broadcast was interrupted by the group, which announced "Attention: The Most Serene Venetian government has occupied the bell tower of St. Mark's." It was not until 0130 that police were alerted. Hundreds of police surrounded the square and began negotiations. At 0830, through the front door, a low window and scaffolding set up for repairs, heavily armed police entered the tower. In 10 minutes, six in the tower were overpowered and two in the vehicles surrendered. Among those arrested were Andrea Viviani, 26, from a town near Verona, Italy, and Fausto Faccia, 30, Cristian Contin, 23, and his uncle Flavio Contin, 55, all from towns near Padua, Italy. One reportedly is hospitalized and all were charged with hijacking, subversion and weapons possession. In addition to the vehicles, a submachine gun with two magazines and 70 cartridges and equipment to break into television transmissions, police seized food, water and kerosene that could support the eight for several days. Serrenissima Repubblica, or Most Serene Republic, was the historical name for Venice as an independent state. 12 May was the 200th anniversary of the fall of Venice to forces of Napoleon. Two other people were arrested in connection with the incident.

U.S. Coast Guard evacuates two people from Ryndam in the Pacific

On 8 May, an injured crewmember of a vessel 480 kilometers/300 miles south of San Diego was transferred to the Ryndam (Dutch-registry, 7,447-dwt passenger ship built in 1994, operated by Holland America Line Westours Inc.). A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter evacuated the crewmember as well as a passenger of the Ryndam from the ship's bow. The Ryndam was on a cruise at the time with 1,200 passengers.

Greece makes largest drug find ever at Piraeus

About four tons of marijuana was found in a container at the Port of Piraeus, Greece, late 9 May, packed in 286 cardboard boxes. It is the largest drug seizure in Greek history. The discovery was made after a tip that a large shipment of marijuana was due to arrive from Colombia. Documents reportedly stated the container was loaded with plates and flower vases, and was unloaded from the Mare on 19 March. It was sent by Delmex, based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to Alvita in Aspropyrgos, Greece, owned by Petros Christopoulou. Greece believes the shipment was organized by Eleftherios Pafitis, 40, a Cypriot citizen believed to be living permanently in Belgium. Christopoulou claims Pafitis used his packaging business but was unaware of the nature of the shipment.

Russian-registry "spy ship" uses laser against helicopter off Washington?

Allegations have been made that the Kapitan Man (Russian-registry 19,864-dwt ro/ro built in 1985, operated by Far Eastern Shipping Co.), operating in the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington, used a laser against a Canadian Air Command CH-124A Sea King on 4 April. The two aboard, a Canadian Air Command pilot and a U.S. Navy officer, reportedly suffered eye burns. The two were temporarily blinded at midday eight kilometers/five miles northwest of Port Angeles, Wash. The ship was searched at Tacoma, Wash., by the U.S. Coast Guard on 7 April, on its route between Tacoma, Los Angeles and Vladivostok, Russia. Nothing was found. Protests have been made with the Russian government. Allegations say that the ship was a "spy vessel," recording the transit of the U.S. Navy's lead vessel of the U.S.S. Ohio (SSBN 726)-class Nuclear-powered Ballistic Missile Submarine, based at Bangor, Wash. The Kapitan Man has an unusually large number of antennas aboard. The U.S. officer was identified as Lt. Jack Daly, a liaison with the Canadian Maritime Command's Pacific Command at Esquimalt, British Columbia. Four Canadians and Daly were aboard.

Fyffes shifts registries of three ships

Fyffes is transferring the registries of three vessels from Hong Kong to the Isle of Man. The Cottica (4,433-dwt refrigerated ship built in 1991, operated by Marine Management Services Ltd.), the Coppename (4,433-dwt refrigerated ship built in 1990, operated by Marine Management Services) and the Jarikaba (4,346-dwt refrigerated ship built in 1986) have been affiliated with Celtic Marine Services Ltd., based in the Isle of Man, since 1990. The ships sail between Portsmouth, England, and Guyana and Suriname.

U.S.M.S.C. time-chartering containership, to register in the United States

Ultra Maritime Inc. has been awarded U.S.$47,024,045 time-charter contract from the U.S. Military Sealift Command for the Sea Pride (41,151-dwt, 1,922-TEU capacity containership built in 1984) until April 2001. The ship will be used to preposition U.S. Air Force ammunition in the Mediterranean Sea, and will be registered in the United States.

Le Chene No. 1 renamed

The Le Chene No. 1 (Canadian-registry 7,800-dwt, 5,060-gt, 3,451-nt, 131.05-meter/429.95-foot motor tanker built in 1961 by Marine Industries Ltd. at Sorel, Canada, and lengthened in 1979; owned and operated by Enerchem Transport Inc.) has been renamed the Enerchem Trader.

Crewmember missing after U.S. passenger vessel sinks

The Tobias (U.S.-registry 32.0-meter/105-foot passenger vessel) capsized and sank 10 May, 180 meters/600 feet offshore near Morgan City, La., after hitting a Chevron Corp. satellite petroleum well that was not active. Two of the three crewmembers were rescued but the master was killed. About 1,400 gallons of diesel fuel spilled. The Tobias was salvaged and placed on a derrick barge for shipment to Golden Meadow, La.

Collision off South Korea sinks general cargo ship

The Jang Yung Lotus (South Korean-registry 1,921-gt general cargo ship owned by Jang Yung Line Ltd.), sailing from Pusan, South Korea, to Moji, Japan, with general cargo in containers, was in a collision early 14 May with the Lucky Star (South Korean-registry 2,854-gt, 3,181-dwt general cargo ship built in 1991, owned and operated by Nam Sung Shipping Co.). The bow of the Lucky Star hit the Jang Yung Lotus on the starboard side, puncturing the No. 2 cargo hold. Conditions in the area included dense fog. The Jang Yung Lotus sank soon after in 100 meters/330 feet of water, at 34 degrees 58 minutes north, 129 degrees 10 minutes east, near Pusan. The crew of 11 was rescued. A small fuel spill was reported and some of the Jang Yung Lotus' 45 containers were reported afloat.

Crew rescued as tanker sinks in South China Sea

The Ming Hui (Chinese-registry 434-gt tanker) and the Soon Li Fa (Panamanian-registry 3,499-dwt bulk carrier built in 1969, operated by Foo An Navigation) collided in the South China Sea on 7 May, 66 kilometers/41 miles southwest of Hong Kong. The crew of the Ming Hui was rescued after the vessel caught fire and sank the next day.

Fire destroys vessel on Lake Victoria

A vessel caught fire and exploded 10 May in Ugandan waters of Lake Victoria. About 120,000 liters/31,000 gallons of fuel and the vessel's cargo was lost. It caught fire after arriving at Nalugala, Uganda, from Kenya with two fuel trucks and 20 drums of fuel and cooking oil. Police said that the fire was likely caused by a generator used to siphon fuel from the drums into trucks at the dock.

City of Corfu gutted in Greece

The City of Corfu (Greek-registry 491-gt motor ferry) caught fire May 14 while moored at Mandouki, Corfu, Greece. The ship had been laid-up for some time, and before the fire was contained, the interior was gutted.

Finnish-registry ship runs aground off Sweden

The Sofia (Finnish-registry 3,826-gt, 4,402-dwt general cargo ship built in 1989, operated by Oy Langh Ship A.B.) ran aground off Helsingborg, Sweden, on 13 May, at 56 degrees 05.25 minutes north, 12 degrees 37.96 minutes east. The ship was sailing with containers from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Lightering operations have begun. A vessel of the Swedish Coast Guard is nearby.

Tug hits bridge in Lousiana

The tug Miss Mildred, pushing a crane barge, allided with the Wagner Bridge at mile 12 of the Intracoastal Waterway near Lafitte, La., recently. The waterway was closed between mile 11 and mile 13 and Louisiana State Police closed State Route 3130 over the bridge. Both waterway and roadway were later reopened.

Barge dewatered in Ohio

On 7 May, the fire department in Eastlake, Ohio, reported to the U.S. Coast Guard in Cleveland that a barge was sinking at the dock at the Chagrin River Lagoon Yacht Club in Eastlake. The Coast Guard sent personnel from Cleveland and Coast Guard Station Fairport Harbor, Ohio, and with the fire department and the vessel's owner, used six 10-centimeter/four-inch pumps to dewater the barge.

Nichian grounds off Japanese port

The Nichian (Japanese-registry 38,878-gt, 62,326-dwt tanker built in 1989, owned and operated by Nissho Shipping Co. Ltd.) ran aground 15 May off Akita, Japan. The ship has been refloated and escorted to Hiroshima, Japan.

Six crewmembers of the Vistafjord sent home

Six crewmembers of the Vistafjord (Bahamian-registry 24,492-gt, 5,600-dwt, 191-meter/627-foot passenger ship built in 1973, operated by Cunard Line Ltd.) have been sent home as an investigation continues into two recent fires aboard the ship. The vessel suffered a laundry fire late 5 May while docked in Valletta, Malta. Most of the damage was caused by water used to extinguish the fire. At 0140 6 April, about 32 kilometers/20 miles south of Freeport, the Bahamas, a short circuit in chemical dispensing equipment caused a fire aboard the ship. Stephen Moeller, a 26-year-old German waiter, was found unconscious in a cabin on the deck above the fire and died the morning of 6 April at a Freeport hospital. Another crewmember suffered a broken ankle and a passenger had a broken arm. Damage was limited to a linen locker on the third deck near the stern. The Vistafjord had a previously scheduled repair period at Malta Drydocks from 21 April to 4 May. A 12-night cruise in Greece was canceled, with passengers spending a night in a Valletta hotel before being reimbursed and flown home. The ship is on charter from 19 May.

Expedition to the Carl D. Bradley finds the ship broken in two

An expedition to the Carl D. Bradley (U.S.-registry 194-meter/638-foot bulk carrier built in 1927 by American Ship Building Co. at Lorain, Ohio; owned by the Michigan Limestone Division of United States Steel Corp.) has confirmed that the vessel broke in half. The ship sank in a storm 18 Nov., 1958, 19 kilometers/12 miles west-southwest of Gull Island, Mich., with only two of the 35 crew surviving. The ship had unloaded stone at Gary, Ind., and was sailing to Rogers City, Mich., its homeport, on the last trip of the season. According to reports, the master and first mate, Elmer Fleming, saw the midships sag after hearing two loud noises. Fleming was able to send a distress call before the power failed, and along with deckwatch Frank Mays, then 26, was rescued from a liferaft 14 and a half hours later by the U.S. Coast Guard Balsam-class Seagoing Buoy Tender U.S.C.G.C. Sundew (WLB 404). The two survivors said the ship broke in half, but the owner claimed it sank intact. A court ruled that the ship sank due to structural weaknesses relating to the riveted hull. On 8 May, an expedition to the wreck reported that the ship is broken in two at the bottom of a trench, varying between 97.5 meters/320 feet and 116 meters/380 feet. The two sections are upright, about 27 meters/90 feet apart and almost in line. The aft port corner of the forward section apparently was the first part of the vessel to hit the bottom. A stress crack was found on the port side, and the forward mast, main mast, radar and steering pole appear to have separated from the ship. All glass from the pilothouse is gone. The stern section is at a 40-degree angle with the stern of the ship off the bottom. A large number of hatch covers and rail stanchions are missing or damaged. Coal is visible around the wreck. Mays, the only survivor alive, accompanied a 20-person team led by Jim Clary and Fred Shannon, in exploring the site. The group used a remote-controlled vehicle equipped with cameras to record the site, over three sessions in a 24-hour period. The vehicle become trapped in wreckage several times, including once for four hours.

Replica of James Cook's Endeavour arrives in England

A replica of James Cook's Endeavour arrived in his homeport of Whitby, England, on 10 May. The ship was built in Australia. In 1768, Cook, a lieutenant in command of the original Endeavour of the British Royal Navy, began his first voyage to the South Pacific with a group of British astronomers, who observed Venus "crossing" the sun in June 1769 from the recently discovered island of Tahiti. After taking possession of parts of New Zealand and charting the coast, he discovered the eastern coast of Australia, which he claimed for Britain under the name New South Wales. Cook returned to England in 1771 and was promoted to commander.

U.S. Navy to christen Bonhomme Richard

The U.S. Navy's Wasp-class Helicopter/Dock Landing Ship U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) will be christened at 1100 17 May at Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc. and Pascagoula, Miss. Rep. John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania will be the ceremony's principal speaker and his wife, Joyce Bell Murtha, will be the ship's sponsor. Bonhomme Richard is named for two previous U.S. Navy ships. The first was a frigate built in France in 1765 for East India Co. for service between France and the Far East. The French government placed the ship at the disposal of John Paul Jones in February 1779, who renamed it Bonhomme Richard. During the 1779 battle in which the ship captured the British Royal Navy 44-gun frigate H.M.S. Serapis, Jones made the statement "I have not yet begun to fight." The second ship, the aircraft carrier CV-31 (1944 - 1971), served in World War II, Korea and Southeast Asia. The aircraft carrier earned one battle star for World War II service, five battle stars and a Navy Unit Commendation in Korea and three battle stars and a second Unit Commendation for service during the Southeast Asian conflict. LHD 6 was authorized in fiscal year 1993 and funded fiscal 1993 and 1994, ordered 11 Dec., 1992, and laid down 18 April, 1995. Capt. Douglas W. Keith, a native of Los Angeles, is the prospective commanding officer. Bonhomme Richard will join the U.S. Pacific Fleet and will be homeported in San Diego following commissioning in 1998.