BUSINESS
United Nations committee recommends new hazardous transport guidelines
A United Nations committee has formed new guidelines for transporting hazardous cargo. The recommended regulations include standardizing packing, labeling, testing and transport. The committee could not agree on how often hazardous shipping laws should be reviewed. Canada, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Hazardous Materials Advisory Council, the International Air Transport Association and the International Civil Aviation Organization called for reviews every two years. Argentina, Brazil, Germany, the European Chemical Industry Council, the International Maritime Organization and the International Road Transport Union called for four years. Due to the dispute, no recommendation on reviews was made. The committee consisted of about 30 countries in addition to international organizations.
GN Comtext buying BIMCOM Services?
GN Comtext Ltd. is reportedly buying BIMCOM Services from Cable & Wireless P.L.C. GN Comtext would then dominate shipbroking communications.
Chinese distress network in operation
China has announced that an offshore communications system for vessels to send distress signals is operational. The system has a range of 93 kilometers/58 miles, with stations in Fujian, Hebei and Liaoning provinces as well as Shanghai and Tianjin.
I.M.O. group approves extending two Asian separation zones, ship reporting
The International Maritime Organization's subcommittee on navigation has approved a plan to extend the Traffic Separation Scheme for the Straits of Malacca and the Straits of Singapore and require a Ship Mandatory Reporting system, in which vessels sailing through the area would report to authorities in Malaysia and Singapore, respectively. The subcommittee acted in mid-July on a request from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore made two years ago. The traffic separation would extend from the One Fathom Bank near Port Klang, Malaysia, to Teluk Ramunia, Malaysia. The scheme would then cover 468 kilometers/290 miles instead of the present 184 kilometers/114 miles. Following action by the I.M.O. in May, the changes may take effect in November 1998.
Three European ferry lines discussing merger
Deutsche Fahrgeschellschaft Ostsee mbH (DFO), DSB Rederi A/S and Scandlines are discussing a merger. The single company would have 35 vessels.
United States, Venezuela sign boarding agreement
The United States and Venezuela have signed an agreement that will permit law enforcement personnel of one country to board vessels registered in the other when they are in international waters. The measure is specifically aimed at ships suspected of smuggling drugs.
Bid for Western Bulk Shipping falls short
Paal Caspersen and Kvaerner have more than 50 percent of the shares of Western Bulk Shipping, it was announced this week. This comes after Belships Co. Ltd. Skibs A/S offered 38 Norwegian kroner/U.S.$4.90 for outstanding shares of the firm. The offer ended 8 Aug.
Strike at Caledonian MacBrayne's resolved
The labor union RMT and Caledonian MacBrayne's Ltd. have resolved a dispute over wages and working conditions that led to a strike against the Clyde River, United Kingdom, ferry operator. Personnel returned to work 5 Aug.
Maersk Data, Cable & Wireless to cooperate in venture
Maersk Data and Cable & Wireless P.L.C. have formed Cable & Wireless Nautec to market computer systems and data processing systems for ship and shore locations. There are 200 employees.
I.B.U. and cruise firm agree to representation
The Inland Boatman's Union and Fisherman's Wharf Bay Cruise Corp. have signed a letter of agreement under which the I.B.U. will represent masters, deckhands and ticket agents of Red & White Fleet.
Treasure hunters fined U.S.$590,000 for destroying seas grass
A U.S. federal district court in Miami has fined Salvors Inc., the treasure hunting business of Mel Fisher and his son Kane, U.S.$590,000 for violating regulations of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in the United States. They also have been ordered to turn over several artifacts. This is the first violation of sanctuary regulations to go to trial. The sanctuary was formed in 1990. On 30 July, the court found Salvors responsible for destroying more than 0.4 hectares/one acre of protected sea grass in 1992 while searching for treasure from galleons that sank during a hurricane in 1733. Mel Fisher, 74, was dismissed as a defendant in May due to health problems related to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, Judge Edward B. Davis ruled that Salvors and Kane Fisher must pay U.S.$589,331 to restore the sea grass and turn over objects salvaged from the galleons, including an iron anchor, cannonballs, silver coins, silver forks and plates and bronze medallions. Salvors estimates the ruling will cost it U.S.$1.8 million after the fine, legal fees and the treasure's value is accounted for. The sea grass was destroyed during the use of "mailboxes," bent metal tubes that direct wash from a vessel's propellers downward, blowing away debris to uncover buried objects. The court found that the use of the devices created hundreds of holes, from 6.1 meters/20 feet to 9.1 meters/30 feet in diameter and 0.9 meters/three feet to 1.5 meters/five feet in depth. Salvors argued that the damage was not permanent, despite evidence from the sanctuary that the grass had not substantially recovered, and also said that other treasure hunters were searching the area at the time as well.
Spain finds no problems with Transmediterranea
The Spanish government, after an investigation, has rejected claims that Transmediterranea is mismanaged, lacks certain representation on the board of directors and misallocates funding. The charges were made by minority shareholders in June.
Leif Hoegh shareholders to get extraordinary dividend
Shareholders of Leif Hoegh will get an extraordinary dividend shortly in the form of 200 million Norwegian kroner/U.S.$27 million in Bona Shipholding Ltd. shares. The 2.5 million shares will be distributed with one Bona Shipholding share for 12 of Leif Hoegh. Cash will be given to shareholders with less than 12 shares or those who do not receive Bona Shipholding shares if they run out. Leif Hoegh's stake in Bona Shipholding will decrease from 42.3 percent to 33.5 percent.
Aim Carribean Express moves in Jacksonville
Aim Carribean Express, a non-vessel operating common carrier, has relocated its office in Jacksonville, Fla., to 2780 Lloyd Rd. The new facilities are double the size of the old.
Maritime law firm merger complete
The merger of Haight, Gardner, Poor & Havens with Holland & Kinght to create the 12th largest law firm in the United States was completed 31 July. There are some 600 attorneys, working on the Holland & Knight name. However, attorneys from the other firm will for now be known as Haight Gardner, Holland & Knight.
ROUTES AND SERVICES
APL starting service from Houston to Latin America
The Wall Street Journal reported 5 Aug. that APL Ltd. will soon start a container service between the Port of Houston, two Mexican ports, Venezuela, Panama and Colombia. The service, to start next month, will involve space-sharing with a line already established on the route.
Maersk Line, Sea-Land Service to cooperate on service
Maersk Line and Sea-Land Service Inc. will cooperate on container service between the eastern coast of South America, North America and Europe. Fixed-day weekly calls will be made in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. The service currently operated by Sea-Land Service and Transroll Navegacao S.A., but the latter is leaving the service shortly. Maersk Line will take its place on or after 30 Aug.
AEI expands to two more countries
AEI Corp. has added Germany and the United States to its Logis-Ocean real-time electronic container tracking service. AEI already has Logis-Ocean in operation in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Christensen Canadian African Lines sailing from Montreal to South Africa
Christensen Canadian African Lines will operate three ships every 21 days from Montreal to the Ports of Cape Town and Durban in South Africa. The Thorl (ro/ro), the Thorscape (Singaporean-registry 20,321-dwt ro/ro built in 1977, operated by Jaya Shipmanagement Pte. Ltd.) and the Thorsriver (ro/ro) will work on the service.
DSR-Senator Lines beginning shift to Hamburg
DSR-Senator Lines is beginning its service transfer from Bremerhaven, Germany, to Hamburg, Germany. The Pusan Senator (52,000-dwt, 4,500-TEU capacity containership built in 1997, operated by DSR-Senator Lines), on charter from Norrdeutsche Vermoegensanlage GmbH & Co., made its first call at the Eurokai Terminal in Hamburg on 7 Aug. The Pudong Senator has already called the port.
B.G. Freight Line, Coastal Container Line offering new services
Coastal Container Line has begun a new service, three times a week, between Waterford, Ireland, and Cardiff, Wales. Also, B.G. Freight Line began a weekly container service from Waterford to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on 8 Aug. The Jan Becker (German-registry 3,400-dwt, 260-TEU capacity containership built in 1987, operated by Stuwe & Co. Schiffahrts GmbH) left Rotterdam that date for the Belview Terminal in Waterford.
Azov-Carribean Line to call Howland Hook
Azov-Carribean Line will begin calling Howland Hook in New York this month. Calls will be made every two weeks as part of its service to the Dominican Republic.
New ferry service in Germany
Speedways Fast Ferries, a new ferry operator, has begun a service in Germany between Helgoland Island, Cuxhaven and Hamburg. The Vargoy (Norwegian-registry 50-dwt ferry built in 1994) has been chartered. The voyage lasts two hours.
Canada Maritime deploys containership
Canada Maritime Services Ltd. has placed the Canmar Valour (1,000-TEU capacity containership) in service on Route B of its container service from North America to the Mediterranean, which it operates with Orient Overseas Container Line. Canada Maritime Services bought the ship from O.O.C.L. to replace the Canmar Spirit (Hong Kong-registry 16,963-dwt containership built in 1971, operated by Canada Maritime Services) and the Canmar Venture (Hong Kong-registry 16,963-dwt containership built in 1971, operated by Canada Maritime Services). The ships had sailed Route 3 of Canada Maritime's northern service, which includes the St. Lawrence Seaway. In October, the Canmar Valour will be drydocked for a new radar installation, a new electronic chart system and a new fuel treatment plant.
Isle of Man Steam Packet replacing the Peverilo
Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. is replacing its Peverilo with the Belard (3,595-dwt ro/ro built in 1979 in Fredrikshavn, Denmark) on the Heysham, England, to Douglas, Isle of Man, route. Recently refitted, the Belard has two internal decks with a fixed ramp.
Rhapsody of the Seas to be out of service briefly
The Rhapsody of the Seas (Norwegian-registry 6,300-dwt passenger ship built in 1997, owned and operated by Royal Carribean International) will be out of service from 13 Sept. to 5 Oct. The ship will be drydocked for replacement of its starboard propulsion motor. As a result, two cruises to Hawaii, on starting 13 Sept. and 24 Sept., have been canceled. The ship will resume service with a voyage through the Panama Canal. Passengers with reservations for the canceled cruises will get a full refund and a U.S.$500 per cabin credit on a cruise taken by 31 Dec., 1998. For information, telephone 800-762-1392 or 305-539-4895. Royal Carribean International expects a loss of U.S.$0.05 per share in the third quarter.
OT Africa Line's agents in Singapore, Malaysia
Harpers Shipping (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. has been named OT Africa Line Ltd.'s agent in Singapore, while subsidiary Harper Wira Sdn. Bhd. will act as the line's agent in Malaysia.
CANALS, PORTS AND STRUCTURES
Stena Line Ports sells Harwich
Stena Line Ports Ltd. sold the Port of Harwich, England, on 5 Aug. for 72 million British pounds/U.S.$120 million, to a new firm as part of an institutional buy-out. Stena Line, which owns Stena Line Ports, will receive a capital gain of 150 million Swedish kroner/U.S.$11 million, and its cash reserves will be strengthened by 575 million kroner/U.S.$71.6 million. Some 220 people are employed at the port, which Stena Line acquired through its purchase of Sealink British Ferries in 1990.
New Japanese port planned for 21st century
Japan has announced its intent to build the Port of Hibikinada at Kitakyushu, Japan, by 2020. The port, on 2,000 hectares/4,940 acres of reclaimed land, will have 12 berths, six of which will be 15 meters/50 feet deep. It will handle 1.5 million TEUs annually.
New Malaysian port operating group
A new association of Malaysian port operators has been formed. It is open to all businesses at Malaysian ports. Among the charter members are Kelang Container Terminal Sdn. Bhd., Klang Multi-Terminal Sdn. Bhd., Klang Port Management Sdn. Bhd., Johore Port Sdn. Bhd., Lumut Maritime Terminal Sdn. Bhd., Patulu Port Sdn. Bhd. and Penang Port Sdn. Bhd.
Stolthaven Terminals, SOL Petroleo to develop new Argentine tank terminal
Stolthaven Terminals and SOL Petroleo have signed a letter of intent to form a joint venture to develop a public tank storage terminal at Campana, Argentina. Stolthaven Campana will use the existing facilities of Carboclor Industrias Quimicas and will also build new facilities. The storage terminal will be marketed as a Stolthaven terminal.
British terminal destroyed in fire
The Sheerness Produce Terminal in the United Kingdom was destroyed by fire the night of 4 Aug. It was operated by Medway Ports, a subsidiary of Mersey Docks and Harbour Co.
New York and New Jersey approve money for dredging, fruit terminal
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has approved U.S.$16.9 million for dredging and planning. U.S.$1.2 million will be spent on a study for long-term options for the ports, U.S.$12.7 million will be spent on dredging and U.S.$3 million is part of a U.S.$18 million study on deepening 13 channels in the area. The authority also has announced U.S.$4.5 million will be spent to build a fruit terminal at Howland Hook.
New port investments in Brazil
Samarco is planning to build dock facilities at Ubu in the Espirito Santo facility in Brazil. Another company, CST, is planning to spend 163 million Brazilian reals/U.S.$150 million at the Port of Praia Mole, Brazil, for expansion and Barra do Riacho will spend 130 million reals/U.S.$120 million.
Long Beach sets U.S. TEU handling record
The Port of Long Beach, Calif., handled 309,627 TEUs in June, becoming the first U.S. port to handle more than 300,000 TEUs in one month. The figure includes 165,763 loaded inbound TEUs and 100,262 loaded outbound containers.
Singapore announces planned rate changes
The Port of Singapore Authority has announced several changes to port charges that will be put in place once the authority is corporatized later this year. Billings for rebtes given to lines for fast connections will be consolidated from four to one. The overstay dockage grace period for vessels will be extended from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. For changes in container status after 168 hours, the cost for TEUs will be Singaporean$50/U.S.$34 and for longer containers, S$75/U.S.$51. A flat rate of S$80/U.S.$54 will be charged for pre-trip container inspections. Ships exempted from pioltage, but that still request a pilot, will pay the normal rate, instead of the present practice of charging double. Local dock fees will not be collected from the first carrier of containers which lose their transshipment status. Finally, there will be no charge on inter-gateway removal of containers between terminals and Pasir Panjang.
Maintenance/clerical personnel at Oakland ratify contract
About 300 maintenance and clerical staff at the Port of Oakland, Calif., have ratified a five-year contract. The members of the Service Employees International Union will be protected from outsourcing of jobs at current facilities, and the port must now notify the union 60 days before outsourcing occurs at new port facilities. In addition, the 300 will get an 11 percent wage increase over the first three years, with cost-of-living adjustments the last two years.
Russian firm begins new port on Gulf of Finland
Surgutneftegaz has started a U.S.$500 million petroleum port on the Gulf of Finland, 60 kilometers/37 miles southwest of St. Petersburg, Russia. At Batareinaya Bay, it will be completed in 2001. It is the first port to be built in Russia by a private Russian business. The port will handle seven million tons of petroleum annually, though it is to be built to handle twice that amount. As part of the project, U.S.$100 million is being spent to build a pipeline to the port from the Kirishinefteorgsitez refinery.
Three Delaware River ports agree to master contract
Southern New Jersey, Phildelphia and Wilmington, Del., have agreed to adopt a master labor contract. Included in the provisions is the abolishment of craft definitions for personnel during the last hour of an eight-hour shift, meaning that workers can now be shifted to different jobs when, for example, there is too much work for one specialty to handle. During the day, there will be 14 to 19 start times and inclement work.
Maritrend moving headquarters
Maritrend Inc., a U.S. stevedoring company, is moving its headquarters from Houston to New Orleans.
Dockworker injured at Ohio port
Arthur Woodward was severely injured on 3 Aug. when a bundle of aluminum fell as he was working in the cargo hold of a ship at the Toledo World Terminal in Toledo, Ohio. He was taken by helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Toledo where one leg was amputated.
Galveston container terminal fees
The Port of Houston has set its fees for the container terminal it will operate at the Port of Galveston, Texas. They are similar to Houston's Barbours Cut rates. As of 1 Sept., charges will be U.S.$62.50 for loaded containers and U.S.$22.25 for empties, with transshipment U.S.$35 and storage accruing after a vessel's third visit. Demurrage will be U.S.$5 per day. Dockage and wharfage fees are similar to other Houston operations.
Details of Manila port rate changes
Foreign-registry vessels calling at the Port of Manila, the Philippines, will be charged 15 percent more for cargo handling and docking as of 15 Sept. The changes affect Manila International Container Terminal, operated by International Container Terminal Services Inc., and South Harbor, operated by Asian Terminal Services Inc. In March, rates will increase another 10 percent. For cargo handling, rates are currently 772 Philippine pesos/U.S.$27.09 per TEU at M.I.C.T. and 782 pesos/U.S.$27.45 at South Harbor. Rates will increase to 901 pesos/U.S.$31.71 and 914 pesos/U.S.$32.12, respectively. As of March, rates will be 992 pesos/U.S.$34.88 and 1,005 pesos/U.S.$35.33, respectively. Docking charges are now 1,188 pesos/U.S.$41.70 per imported TEU and 970 pesos/U.S.$34.05 per exported TEU. This will increase to 1,387 pesos/U.S.$48.78 at M.I.C.T. and 1,133 pesos/U.S.$39.84 at South Harbor, and later, to 1,526 pesos/U.S.$53.66 and 1,247 pesos/U.S.$43.82, respectively.
Caillard to install new equipment at Richards Bay
Under contract to Portnet, Caillard will install new coal handling equipment at Richards Bay, South Africa. Caillard will install a 1,500-ton per hour unloader and a 2,500-ton per hour conveyor system.
Typhoon Victor hits China and Macau
Typhoon Victor, which was rated a Category 9 storm (Category 10 is the highest) affected China and Macau on 2 Aug. One person was killed and 33 injured in Hong Kong. Local ferry services were canceled and many vessels docked at typhoon shelters.
Singapore port limits
Updating information previously reported, the Port of Singapore has extended its port limits five kilometers/three miles southwest from the eastern and southeastern area of the port to the Traffic Separation Scheme with Indonesia, and 1.6 kilometers/one mile south of the southwestern area of the port. The changes occurred 11 July and were announced 25 July.
Sepetiba Coal Terminal transferred
Brazil's Rio De Janeiro Port Authority formally transferred the Sepetiba Coal Terminal to Companhia Siderurgica Nacional on 1 Aug. The company will pay 40 million Brazilian reals/U.S.$37 million to lease it for 25 years after winning a concession. Some 16 million reals/U.S.$15 million will be spent on improvements. The terminal will employ about 75 people and the current rate for cargo is 6.29 reals/U.S.$5.80 per metric ton.
SHIPYARDS AND EQUIPMENT
Bethlehem Steel to close BethShip
Bethlehem Steel Corp. said 1 Aug. it will close BethShip Inc., its shipyard in Sparrows Point, Md., and sell its assets. For several months, Bethlehem Steel held talks with Baltimore Shipbuilding and Drydock L.L.C., a group of investors led by Peter Angelos, owner of the Batlimore Orioles professional baseball team, on selling the yard. The two sides failed to reach an agreement. Baltimore Shipbuilding and Drydock had already negotiated a labor contract wit the International Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers. Bethlehem Steel had also held talks with WHX Corp. There are about 100 people currently employed at BethShip, which until March employed 900. The shipyard can trace its history to the 1920s.
Sembawang bids for Jurong Shipyard
Sembawang Corp. has made a conditional offer for outstanding shares of Jurong Shipyard Ltd. It already owns 23 percent of the shares. Sembawang is offering Singaporean$6.50/U.S.$4.65 per share for a total of S$393 million/U.S.$267 million.
French shipyard sold to Aponte Group
Compagnie Marseillaise de Reparations has been bought by Aponte Group. Its Marinvest holding firm paid 20 million French francs/U.S.$3.2 million. About 110 of its 350 employees will be kept by the new owners. Among Aponte Group's holdings is Mediterranean Shipping Co. and Mediterranean Shipping Cruises, so it is likely that vessels of these firms will be repaired at Compagnie Marseillaise de Reparations.
Aarhus Flydedok buying Svendborg Vaerft
Aarhus Flydedok has announced it will buy Svendborg Vaerft A/S, the Fyn Island, Denmark, shipyard. Aarhus Flydedok will pay 40 million Danish kroner/U.S.$5.5 million and operate it has a subsidiary doing repairs and conversions to vessels. Svendborg Vaerft has four floating dry docks, the largest of which is 160 meters/525 feet long and 30 meters/100 feet wide.
Astilleros Espanoles buys Spanish yard for 1 peseta
The Spanish government has sold Hijos de J. Tomas Alonso Barreras S.A. to Astilleros Espanoles S.A. for 1 Spanish peseta/U.S.$0.006. The yard is in Vigo, Spain.
Schichau Seebeckwerft remaining open briefly?
Schichau Seebeckwerft AG in Bremerhaven, Germany, will build mid-ship sections for two cruise ships, it was announced this week. The shipyard, formerly part of Bremer Vulkan Verbund AG, had announced it would close after being in bankruptcy for 14 months. Lay-offs still seem likely and its future remains clouded. The yard said it will employ 650 of its 930 personnel from MyPegasus, a holding firm created to handle remaining Bremer Vulkan Verbund assets. The rest will apparently be laid-off by the end of next month.
Astilleros Espanoles deal approved
The Spanish cabinet has approved a deal in which Astilleros Espanoles S.A. will spin-off four shipyards as independent subidiaries that will be responsible for their own survival. The yards are Cadiz, Puerto Real, Sestao and Seville. Other yards of Astilleros Espanoles operate on the same terms, and the change for the remaining four came in an attempt to secure aid from the European Commission.
Ingalls Shipbuilding to lengthen dry dock, add production bay
Litton Industries Inc. announced 5 Aug. it will spend U.S.$25 million on two projects at its Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc. in Pascagoula, Miss. The firm's floating dry dock will be expanded and an additional production bay will be built for construction of offshore structures. The dry dock expansion will involve adding a detachable section 48.8 meters/160 feet long. The section will be built at the yard starting in October and will bring the dock to a length of 244 meters/800 feet. Work on the new production bay will start in mid-1998.
Socrates Computer Systems to supply Newport News Shipbuidling
MVSI Inc.'s Socrates Computer Systems Inc. will open a facility at Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. to serve the shipyard's computer requirements. The NNS/Socrates Service Center will maintain an inventory of computer equipment and software, and employees will go to the facility for immediate service.
NSCSA orders three containerships from Samsung Heavy Industries
National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia has ordered three 4,400-TEU capacity containerships from Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., it was announced 4 Aug. The ships cost U.S.$127 million and will be delivered in 1999 for joint service with Compagnie Maritime d'Affretement between northern Europe, the Middle East, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Far East. Chase Manhattan led the financing of the ships.
Amfels to build rig for Chiles Offshore
Amfels Inc. has received a U.S.$60 million contract to build a jack-up drilling rig for Chiles Offshore Corp. The Le Torneau Super 116-class rig will be built under license by Le Torneau Inc. for delivery in the second half of 1999. It will be classed by the American Bureau of Shipping.
CACI Inc.-Federal gets U.S.M.S.C. contract
The U.S. Military Sealift Command has signed a one-year contract with CACI Inc.-Federal which, with possible extensions, will be worth U.S.$34.9 million. The firm will provide logistics management services to M.S.C. ships.
Winship project continuing
The second phase of the Windship project has been approved. Led by Denmark, Windship is researching the use of sails to power or assist bulk carriers.
First D-class containership delivered to Evergreen Marine
The Ever Dainty, the first of Evergreen Marine Corp.'s ten D-class containerships, was delivered by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. on 25 July. Built at Kobe, Japan, the ship has a capacity of 4,173 TEUs. It began loading containers at the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on 28 July. The next vessel, Ever Decent, was launched 26 July for delivery 30 Oct. At 25 knots, the D-class are the fastest ships of Evergreen Marine, and will be used in around-the-world service. With the D-class entering service, the 4,229-TEU capacity, 23-knot R-class has been shifted from westbound to eastbound service.
Lambelu leaves Meyer Werft
The recently built Lambelu (14,800-gt, 2,000-passenger capacity ferry) left Meyer Werft in Germany on 4 Aug. for Jakarta, Indonesia. The vessel was ordered by the Indonesian government's Directorate-General of Sea Communication. -- 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
From: sschultz@execpc.com To: "About transportation" <Cargo-l@distart.ing.unibo.it> Subject: World Maritime News - 8 Aug., 1997 (2/2) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 1997 21:36:42 -0500 (CDT) Errors-to: <damco@pointest.com> Reply-to: Cargo-l@distart.ing.unibo.it Sender: Maiser@distart.ing.unibo.it X-listname: <Cargo-l@distart.ing.unibo.it> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Mercury MTS (Bindery) v1.31
EVENTS, INCIDENTS AND OPERATIONS
Master of Russian-registry ship murdered off South Korea
The master of the Sibirskiy-2117 (Russian-registry 3,505-dwt bulk carrier built in 1981, owned and operated by Lena River Shipping Co.) was killed in his cabin 11 July while the ship was docked at the Port of Masan, South Korea. On 5 Aug., the ship arrived at the Port of Nakhodka, Russia, where the local transport prosecutor announced the incident on 7 Aug. Following interrogations of the crew, the prosecutor said the whole crew had been drinking heavily from the time it left Nakhodka to when it was moored at Masan. Following the strangulation of the master, an attempt was made to set the cabin on fire. South Korean authorities have conducted an investigation which is being reviewed by the Nakhodka prosecutor.
U.S. Coast Guard evacuates two after helicopter crash at sea
On 30 July, a helicopter from the Azteca II (Mexican-registry 68.3-meter/224-foot fishing vessel) crashed 1,360 kilometers/850 miles west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The three aboard were rescued by the Azteca II, but two suffered serious injuries. The U.S. Coast Guard's Hamilton-class High-Endurance Cutter U.S.C.G.C. Midgett (WHEC 726) transferred a corpsman to assess the two. On 2 Aug., the cutter's HH-65A Dolphin helicopter transported them to Cabo San Lucas for treatment.
Oder River shipping stopped
Shipping in the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland on the Oder River has been suspended due to heavy flooding. At least 40 German-registry inland vessels are idle.
Israel blockades Palestinian fishing vessels
Contending that the Palestinian Authority has not done enough to restrict armed organizations, Israel on 1 Aug. announced several measures meant to pressure the authority's leadership. Included among the measures is a blockade of Palestinian fishing vessels by the Israeli Navy, primarily along the Gaza Strip. The actions come after two suicide bombings at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem on 30 July that killed 13 persons and injured more than 150.
Dredger finds grenades off Finnish port
A Dutch-registry dredging vessel recently found tens of hand-grenades off the Port of Kokkola, Finland. Explosives and ordnance were dumped in the area starting in 1945, and in 1961, dumping shifted further out to sea until operations ended in 1974.
Bahamas, U.S. Coast Guard find large amount of cocaine hidden on vessel
From 25 July to 27 July, the Bahamian government and the U.S. Coast Guard jointly boarded the Anne (Panamanian-registry, 54.9 meters/180 feet long) at Freeport, the Bahamas. During the boarding, what appeared to be cocaine was found packed into the bulkheads and under the deck in the master's cabin. The substance, weighing 1,360 kilograms/2,992 pounds, tested positive for cocaine. The vessel and crew, along with the cocaine, were taken into custody by the Bahamas.
U.S. aircraft carrier spills diesel at Yokosuka...
The U.S. Navy's Forrestal-class Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Independence (CV 62) spilled 35,960 liters/9,350 gallons of diesel late 1 Aug. while moored at Yokosuka, Japan. The spill was quickly contained in the harbor, including 379 liters/98.5 gallons that passed a primary containment boom and was contained by a secondary boom. Thirty-one boats from Japan and the U.S. Navy cleaned the spill, partly by speeding its evaporation. The spill occurred when the ship attempted to adjust its position by releasing water in a ballast tank, but instead released diesel.
...Fuel spill at Le Havre
The Katja (Bahamian-registry 97,220-dwt tanker built in 1995, operated by Lundqvist-Rederierna) spilled fuel at the Port of Le Havre, France, on 7 Aug. The spill was large enough to require a concerted clean-up effort.
U.S. Coast Guard stops fishing vessel in closed area
The catch of the Edgartown (U.S.-registry 26-meter/85-foot fishing vessel, homeported at New Bedford, Mass.) was seized the morning of 6 Aug. by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Edgartown was found inside the southern boundary of Closed Area II, 331 kilometers/207 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Mass. The vessel was spotted just after 2300 5 Aug. by the Coast Guard's Reliance-class Medium-Endurance Cutter U.S.C.G.C. Vigorous (WMEC 627). During a boarding, lobster, monktails, scallops and yellowtail flounder worth U.S.$39,500 was found. The cutter is escorting the Edgartown to New Bedford.
Belizian-registry fishing vessel being sought
On 31 July, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130H Hercules aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, videotaped the South Star (Belizian-registry fishing vessel) with longline fishing gear, 40 kilometers/25 miles inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. After sighting the aircraft, the South Star abandoned the gear and left the area. The United States has requested that Belize order the South Star to Honolulu, the nearest U.S. port, for prosecution.
Ship breaks Sierra Leone blockade
A vessel carrying 7,000 metric tons of rice ran the naval blockade of Sierra Leone on 31 July and docked at the Queen Elizabeth Quay in Freetown.
Prince Rupert fishing vessels thank public with salmon
Illegally, 50 fishing vessels in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, fished for thousands of coho and steelhead salmon in the Skeena River on 4 Aug. The salmon that was caught was then served to the public at what was called B.C. Day, to thank Prince Rupert for supporting them during the on-going confrontation with the United States over fishing quotas. The rest was given away to the public.
U.S. Coast Guard scuttles fishing vessel in test
The U.S. Coast Guard scuttled the Scottish Pride (14-meter/45-foot steel gillnet fishing vessel) at 1300 7 Aug., near the five-kilometer/three-mile territorial line south of Port Clyde, Maine. A retired vessel, the Scottish Pride was sunk to collect information on the dynamics of a sinking ship, which will add to efforts underway to prevent maritime casualties. All the fishing vessel's equipment was removed and video cameras were installed to record the sinking.
VESSEL TRANSFERS
Global Ocean Carriers buys four ships
Global Ocean Carriers Ltd. said 5 Aug. it has taken delivery of four vessels on 25 July: two Panamax bulk carriers and two containerships. The four cost U.S.$55.4 million and were funded using proceeds from the firm's issue of U.S.$126 million worth of 10-year unsecured notes. Global Ocean Carriers also said it has prepaid all of its U.S.$61.5 million in secured debt. It has no secured debt outstanding on its fleet.
Rickmers Line adds three T.M.M. vessels
Rickmers Line has bought three ships from Transportacion Maritima Mexicana S.A. de C.V. Operated by Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd., they are the Bibi (22,378-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1979), the Leon (22,267-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1979) and the Merida (22,229-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1979). The multipurpose vessels have an 800-TEU capacity, tandem rotating cranes, heavy-lift derricks and five double-hatch cargo holds.
FRONAPE transfers registry of fleet
Frota Nacional de Petroleiros (FRONAPE) has transferred the registry of its fleet from the Brazilian register to the new second register, the Brazilian Special Register.
Reprieve for the Brittania?
Slated for decommissioning later this year, the British Royal Navy's royal yacht Brittania may sail another 20 years. Devonport Management Ltd. has offered to buy the vessel and invest 50 million British pounds/U.S.$79 million for a refit. Under a timeshare agreement, the yacht would then be leased back to the British government when needed.
Shreyas Shipping buys largest Indian feeder ship
Shreyas Shipping Ltd. has bought the Orient Patriot (20,144-dwt, 1,074-TEU capacity containership built in 1983 in Poland), the largest Indian containership used in feeder service. It cost 257 million Indian rupees/U.S.$7.2 million and will likely sail between Kandla, India, and the Persian Gulf.
Actinor Shipping buying refrigerated ship
Actinor Shipping A/S has paid U.S.$20.5 million for the Chaiten (Liberian-registry 12,838-dwt, 20,200-cubic-meter/674,000-cubic-foot refrigerated ship built in 1988).
Denholm Ship Management gets three Benor tankers
Denholm Ship Management will operate three tankers owned by Benor Tankers.
Alaskan cooperative buys pollution response barge
Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response Inc. has spent U.S.$840,000 for an oil spill response barge.
Bibby Line transferring accomodations
Bibby Line Ltd. will relocate a floating accomodations vessel from northern Europe to east of the Suez Canal.
U.S.S. Leyte Gulf arrives at Norfolk
The U.S. Navy's Ticonderoga-class Guided-Missile Cruiser U.S.S. Leyte Gulf (CG 55) arrived at its new homeport of U.S. Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on 30 July.
VESSEL CASUALTIES
Tug sinking in Singapore kills one, four missing
One person was killed and four are missing after a Singaporean-registry tug operated by Universal Dockyard Ltd. capsized and sank off Pulau Retan Laut near the Pasir Panjang Container Terminal in Singapore at 0820 7 Aug. The crew included five Indonesian citizens and one Philippine citizen. One of the crew survived and is hospitalized. The tug was towing a Belizian-registry barge loaded with rocks for use as a foundation for caissons. The barge also capsized but remained afloat.
Bulk carrier sinks off Mumbai, crew rescued
The Sea Empress (St. Vincent and the Grenadines-registry 3,011-gt, 4,410-dwt bulk carrier built in 1970, operated by Glim Pex and owned by Bayat International Group of Cos.; homeported at Kingstown) sank 2 Aug. after losing power and flooding the day before while anchored off Mumbai, India, in bad weather. The ship was carrying 4,200 tons of sulphur from Bahrain to Mumbai. All 19 crewmembers were rescued by Indian Navy helicopters. The master and chief engineer are Pakistani citizens with the rest of the crew Indian citizens. Flooding initially began in the engine room, later spreading to the cargo holds.
Crew rescued after ship runs aground of Kaohsiung
The 17 crewmembers of the Golden Tiger (Taiwanese-registry 7,800-gt, 13,323-dwt bulk carrier built in 1982, owned and operated by Fuh Feng Lines Co. Ltd.) were rescued by helicopters 3 Aug. after the ship ran aground 2 Aug. in heavy seas near Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Three crewmembers were injured. The crew included 11 Taiwanese citizens and six citizens of Myanmar.
Ming Mercy damaged by fire
The Ming Mercy (Taiwanese-registry 36,303-gt, 66,799-dwt motor bulk carrier built in 1984, owned and operated by Yangming Marine Transport Corp.) had a 12-hour fire 7 Aug. while the ship was anchored off Port Kembla, New South Wales, Australia. It reportedly began in crew quarter's two decks above the waterline and quickly spread, affecting at least three decks in the accomodations area. The fire has been extinguished but damage is extensive. There were four aboard the ship at the time, and one crewmember suffered minor burns and an ankle injury. The ship was waiting to load coal at Woolongong.
Tug towing general cargo ship suffers fire in eastern Meidterranean
The Macedon (Greek-registry 495,gt, 530-dwt motor tug built in 1972, operated by Gigilinis Co.) was engulfed in a fire on 4 Aug. while towing the Rothnie (Bahamian-registry 10,320-gt, 17,474-dwt general cargo ship built in 1978, operated by Sandford Ship Management Ltd.) in the eastern Mediterranean. The Macedon cast off the Rothnie and the tug's eight crew boarded the drifting ship, 160 kilometers/100 miles off Egypt. Both vessels were later taken in tow by the Everlast (Panamanian-registry 336-dwt motor tug built in 1977, operated by Portolos Hellenic Tugboats S.A.) and taken to Syros, Greece.
Spanish-registry fishing vessel catches fire
The San Eduardo (Spanish-registry 249-gt side trawler) caught fire 2 Aug. in the Atlantic Ocean, at 49 degrees 30 minutes north, 09 degrees 49 minutes west. After the crew was rescued, the fire was extinguished and the San Eduardo was towed to Spain.
Bulk carrier suffers fire off Djibouti
The Leon (Panamanian-registry 19,317-gt bulk carrier) had an engine room fire 5 Aug., 380 kilometers/240 miles off Djibouti. The SB-408 (910-dwt tug built in 1984, operated by Tsavliris) has taken the ship in tow towards the Suez Canal.
Fishing vessel blazes in the Falkand/Malvinas Islands
The El Greco (Falkland Islands-registry 2,169-dwt stern trawler) caught fire 4 Aug. at 46 degrees 30 minutes south, 60 degrees 23 minutes west, in the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. The crew abandoned the vessel but later reboarded. The El Greco was then taken under tow by the trawler Cotobad for Montevideo, Uruguay.
Tug sinks at Soo Locks...again
The Venture (U.S.-registry 67-gt, 9-nt, 20-meter/65-foot tug built in 1922 with 500 horsepower, owned and operated by Ryba Marine Construction Co.) sank at the compensating gates in the St. Mary's River on 5 Aug. The vessel lost power and was pinned to the gate by the current. The three crew were able to get off the tug, but the master reportedly suffered an injury to his jaw. Two cranes were working to refloat the tug. On 19 May, the same tug, towing a barge, sank at the Soo Locks on the Canadian/U.S. Great Lakes under similar circumstances. It was salvaged 24 May.
One injured as riverboat casino breaks moorings
The riverboat casino Lady Luck broke its moorings on the Mississippi River in Bettendorf, Iowa, on late 3 Aug. during a storm. One person was injured when he was hit by flying glass. The casino's engines were started and the vessel was brought under control, while a towboat assisted it back to its mooring.
Koningin Beatrix slightly damaged
The Koningin Beatrix (Dutch-registry 22,289-gt, 3,060-dwt passenger ferry built in 1986, operated by Stena Line B.V.) was slightly damaged on 3 Aug. docking at Rosslare, Ireland. It docked the next day in Dublin, Ireland. There were 1,300 passengers aboard. It returned to service the morning of 8 Aug. after sailing to Cammell Laird Group P.L.C. for inspection.
The Goodwill may be salvaged
On 31 July, the Goodwill (Panamanian-registry 75,277-gt, 149,401-dwt bulk carrier built in 1992, operated by Keoyang Shipping Co. Ltd.) ran aground on a reef near the Muirfield Seamount, 110 kilometers/69 miles southwest of Australia's Cocos Islands. Loaded with 145,000 tons of iron ore, 1,130 tons of heavy fuel and 107 tons of diesel fuel, it was reportedly sailing from Dampier, Australia, to Dunkirk, France. After the ship began flooding, the 21 crewmembers (11 Indonesian citizens and 10 South Korean citizens) abandoned it and were rescued early the next day by a British-registry vessel, which sailed to Perth, Australia. The same day, the Goodwill began drifting and was boarded by a salvage team from Singapore, which thinks it may be able to save the ship. The Goodwill was last reported drifting north-northwest at about 1.25 knots, 120 kilometers/75 miles west of the Cocos Islands.
Update on collision between the Apollo Oshima and the Maersk Tacoma
At 0600 26 July, the Apollo Oshima (Panamanian-registry 258,068-dwt tanker built in 1993, owned and operated by Idemitsu Tanker Co. Ltd.) and the Maersk Tacoma (Panamanian-registry 37,238-gt, 44,182-dwt, 3,169-TEU capacity containership built in 1982, operated by Univan Ship Management Ltd.) collided outside Singapore. The Maersk Tacoma was leaving Singapore for Kaohsiung, Taiwan, while the Apollo Oshima was sailing in a westbound lane. There were no injuries. The Maersk Tacoma sustained serious damage on its port side between bays 18 and 22 and lesser damage to its superstructure. It has been drydocked at a Sembawang shipyard in Singapore, reportedly for at least two weeks. The Apollo Oshima was reportedly slightly damaged.
Barges hit rail bridge in Virginia
A tug pushing two barges allided with the fendering system on the CSX Transportation rail bridge over the Appomattox River near Hopewell, Va., on 25 July. The tug's operating company contracted for repairs to the bridge.
Ferry, U.S. Coast Guard tender damaged in fireworks explosion
A fireworks explosion on the city pier in Charlevoix, Mich., on 26 July killed one person and injured 17 others, with shrapnel spread within a 300-meter/1,000-foot radius of the explosion. A local ferry was holed above the waterline and half its windows were destroyed. The U.S. Coast Guard's Balsam-class Seagoing Buoy Tender U.S.C.G.C. Acacia (WLB 406), homeported at the pier, suffered minor scrapes and dents to its hull and flying bridge.
U.S. Coast Guard cutter assists one fishing vessel, boards another
The Cheryl K (U.S.-registry 15-meter/50-foot longliner, homeported in Portland, Maine) was disabled 3 Aug., 240 kilometers/150 miles southeast of Portland. The U.S. Coast Guard's Bear-class Medium-Endurance Cutter U.S.C.G.C. Seneca (WMEC 906) received a distress call from the fishing vessel at 2200 3 Aug. The Cheryl K reported that it had lost power with five aboard and was drifing in heavy fog near very active shipping lanes. After arriving at 2330 3 Aug., the cutter determined that repairs were not possible at sea and the fishing vessel was towed to the Portland sea buoy. It was then taken into port by the Coast Guard's "Island"-class Patrol Boat U.S.C.G.C. Wrangell (WPB 1332). The day before, the U.S.C.G.C. Seneca located the fishing vessel Jillian (U.S.-registry) 1,300 meters/4,500 feet inside Closed Area II near Georges Bank. U.S.$7,650 in monkfish, scallops and winter flounder was found. The vessel was seized and escorted to New Bedford, Mass.
Fortuna Reefer refloated
The Fortuna Reefer (Panamanian-registry 3,971-dwt, 93.3-meter/306-foot refrigerated ship built in 1980, operated by Alphamax Corp.) ran aground 24 July on coral and sand in a nature reserve near Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The ship had about 357,000 liters/94,000 gallons of fuel aboard, and 47,500 liters/12,500 gallons or 70,000 tons was removed. The rest was shifted to other tanks in the double-bottom vessel. On 30 July, the ship was refloated and a light sheen was seen near the port side. Two Crowley Marine Services Inc. tugs escorted the ship to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The Fortuna Reefer had unloaded tuna at Mayaguez and was sailing to the Panama Canal. Five tugs, a chartered supply vessel and a response barge were involved in the salvage.
Tug Malta receives its largest salvage award yet
Tug Malta Ltd. has received its largest salvage award so far, after two of its tugs were involved in a salvage operation two years ago. On 4 Feb., 1995, the Chesapeake Bay (German-registry 45,170-dwt containership built in 1995, operated by Claus-Peter Offen) ran aground approaching Marsaxlokk Freeport. Smit Tak B.V. was hired to salvage the ship, and it in turned contracted three tugs: the Matsas Star (Greek-registry 1,226-dwt tug built in 1977) from Matsas Salvage and Towage and the Lieni (Maltese-registry) and the Vitorin from Tug Malta. The Chesapeake Bay was refloated three days later. On 9 May, 1996, the salvage award was published but the three firms involved appealed for an increase of 25 percent. On 6 Jan. the final salvage award was agreed on and it has now been divided between Matsas Salvage & Towage, Smit Tak and Tug Malta.
U.S. Navy's NR-1 searching for Israeli submarine missing almost 30 years
The U.S. Navy's nuclear research submarine NR-1 has spent the last three weeks searching for an Israeli Navy attack submarine that sank off Egypt in January 1968. The search is reportedly outside Egyptian territorial waters, but with the cooperation of the Egyptian government. The NR-1 has been searching for the I.N.S. Dakar, originally the British Royal Navy's H.M.S. Totem, built in 1944. Israel bought two submarines, including the H.M.S. Totem, in June 1965. On 9 Jan., 1968, the I.N.S. Dakar sailed from Portsmouth, England, for Haifa, Israel, with 69 crewmembers. On 24 Jan., south of Crete, Greece, the I.N.S. Dakar radioed the Israeli Navy headquarters, seeking permission to dock early. The request was denied and it never arrived. On 4 Feb., the I.N.S. Dakar was declared sunk and its crew missing. On 9 Feb., 1969, the submarine's emergency buoy was found by a fisherman off Khan Yunis in Gaza. The NR-1 is operating from the Carolyn Chouest (U.S.-registry 2,110-dwt offshore supply vessel built in 1994), chartered from Edison Chouest Offshore Inc. This is the second major search for the I.N.S. Dakar since it was listed as missing. In 1986, Israel and the United States sought the submarine during Operation Challenge Express.
(AT) LAST...BUT NOT LEAST...
New species of worm found in Gulf of Mexico
Dr. Charles Fisher, an associate professor of biology at Pennsylvania State University, has discovered a new species of worm that lives off methane ice on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico. The centipede-like iceworm is the first animal to be found in methane ice. The flat, pink-colored worms were found during a 10-day expedition sponsored by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Undersea Research Center. Fisher believes the worms may affect the formation of natural gas deposits on the ocean floor.
