World Maritime News - 3 Oct., 1997

BUSINESS

U.S. court rejects suit by three Japanese shipping lines

On 26 Sept., the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington rejected an injunction request by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. ("K" Line), Mitsui O.S.K Lines and Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line). The three sought action against sanctions that went into affect at 0001 4 Sept. after the United States said Japan had failed to eliminate restrictive port practices that hindered U.S. companies doing business in Japan. Under the sanctions, containerships operated by the three are charged U.S.$100,000 each time they call at a U.S. port. However, the charge is waived if a particular ship has been assessed the fee within the past seven days or if the ship is calling in Hawaii and had been assessed within the past 40 days. The court ruled that the lines had failed to show that the sanctions have done irreparable harm. The first payments for the sanctions are due 15 Oct. and already total over U.S.$3 million, according to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission.

ICB Shipping rejects latest Frontline offer

Frontline Ltd. on 1 Oct. revised its offer for "A" shares of ICB Shipping A.B., on the condition that ICB Shipping revoke its non-cash stock issue for Astro Tankers by 1700 3 Oct. Otherwise, all offers would be withdrawn. Frontline offered 150 Swedish kronor/U.S.$17.60 up from 115 kronor/U.S.$15.10. Frontline has 51.7 percent of ICB Shipping stock and 31.4 percent of its votes. ICB Shipping has rejected the revised offer and refused to end its offer for Astro Tankers. The deadline came and went without action by Frontline.

Temporary Philippine registration program extended 10 years

Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos has extended until 2009 a bareboat charter project. Originally, the program allowed foreign shipowners to register vessels in the Philippines. To handle increased cargo and a lack of vessels, the temporary provision was made and was to expire in 1999. Under Philippine Executive Order No. 438, Philippine Presidential Decree No. 760 has been changed to allow another 10 years under the program. Any ship chartered or leased by Philippine companies under the scheme will be included.

Indian committee rejects part of shipping plan

The Indian Empowered Committee of Secretaries has rejected a recommendation by the Indian National Shipping Policy Committee to restrict liquified natural gas and liquified petroleum gas shipments to Indian-registry ships. However, the Indian National Shipping Board approved the plan. The Indian cabinet will now decide.

China Steel Express, Yangming Marine Transport form line

China Steel Express Co. and Yangming Marine Transport Corp. have formed Transyang Shipping, a joint venture based in Singapore. The line will operate in the regional bulk trade. China Steel Express will have 70 percent of the firm with Yangming Marine Transport the rest.

Newcastle association sued by Tsavliris

Newcastle Protection and Indemnity Association has become the first P. & I. club to be sued by a salvor for not paying special compensation for pollution services.

Six Spanish businesses exploring cruise line formation

Six Spanish companies, including ferry operator Transmediterranea and shipbuilder Union Naval de Levante S.A., have joined to study the formation of a domestic cruise operator. The others are airline Air Europa, hotel operator Sol Melia and travel agencies Viajes Barcelo and Viajes Iberia. The study, Cruceros de Espana, will cost 21 million Spanish pesetas/U.S.$140,000 and take 12 to 18 months. The study is looking at ships that could carry up to 1,000 people.

Dutch pilots end protest

Dutch pilots on the western Schelde River ended their boycott of vessels sailing to and from Belgium on 1 Oct. The protest began when the pilots announced they were not willing to assist Belgian pilots without compensation, after Belgium was unable to fill a quarter of its pilot services. However, after unsafe conditions and delays, and with more pilots now being trained, the Dutch pilots ended the action.

Philippine Coast Guard to become civilian

The Philippine Coast Guard is being transferred from the Philippine Department of National Defense to the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications, it has been announced. As a result, the organization will become a civilian agency. In addition, the coast guard will retake control of vessel regulations enforcement from the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority.

More on I.M.O. air pollution regulations

The International Maritime Organization adopted new regulations to reduce air pollution by ships on 25 Sept. The new rules set limits on nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide from vessel exhausts and prohibit deliberate release of substances that deplete ozone. The sulphur content of bunker fuel will be reduced to 4.5 percent though the present average is 3 percent. In the Baltic Sea, the sulphur content must be no more than 1.5 percent. The fuel regulation will come into effect in 2003 if the new regulations are ratified by 15 countries. The 15 must have merchant fleets that account for more than 50 percent of the gross tonnage of world ships. Also, diesel engines of 130 kilowatts or more for ships built in 2000 and after will be affected by new restrictions on nitrogen oxides. Emissions will have to be no more than 0.34 ounces/9.8 grams per kilowatt for high-speed engines operating for more than an hour with revolutions per minute of 2,000 or more. There will be a compulsory review of the new regulations unless they take effect within five years. The regulations, which have been worked on for six years, will become Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973 as amended in 1978.

U.S. government investigation MIB Services

The Seamen's Justice Center has announced that the U.S. government is starting an investigation into MIB Services Inc. of the Marine Index Bureau. People with personal knowledge of incidents in which MIB Services worked with businesses to prevent people from working by releasing information without someone's knowledge are asked to contact Robert Swanson at 319-659-8507 or arrg@netins.net or Bob Johnson of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at 314-539-7910.

Stolt Comex Seaway in share issue

Stolt Comex Seaway has announced plans to offer up to U.S.$120 million in new shares.

Cie. Viking to join Paris Stock Exchange

Cie. Viking will enter the second market of the Paris Stock Exchange by the end of the year. It will raise 60 million French francs/U.S.$10 million.

Smedvig calls extraordinary general meeting

Smedvig A.S.A. has called an extraordinary general meeting for 4 Nov. at 1430 in Stavanger, Norway. The board of directors will request that shareholders authorize an increase of share capital relating to incentive programs for employees. The proposed increase of 900,000 Norwegian kroner/U.S.$130,000 would be through issue of 300,000 new "B" shares, valued at 3 kroner/U.S.$0.42 each. The authorization being sought is for five years. The incentive program would be available only in Norway at first. Also, the board is requesting that a provision be made in the company's Articles of Association so that only shareholders who have announced their attendance in advance have the right to participate in general meeting.

Samudera Shipping Line's I.P.O. oversubcribed

Samudera Shipping Line's initial public offering was oversubscribed 16.2 times. The Singaporean$48 million/U.S.$31 million raised will fund two new product tankers to be chartered by Pertamina. The tankers will cost S$18.25 million/U.S.$11.91 million.

Johannes Ostensjo wins towage contract

Johannes Ostensjo dy A/S has won a contract to supply towage services at Whitegate near Cork, Ireland. It will take over from Cory Towage Ltd.'s Irish Tugs Ltd. Johannes Ostensjo will use a tug with 50-ton bollard pull and 4,000 horsepower in conjunction with the local harbor tug.

U.S.F.M.C. receives fines from seven firms

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission recently fined seven firms for violations of the U.S. Shipping Act of 1984. They include U.S.$388,000 from Ocean World Lines and RF International and U.S.$350,000 from Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. ("K" Line). Others include Alexander Air Express, Frederic Henjes Jr., Honorwell Shipping, South Seas Steamship Co. and Three Hands Corp.

Tanker owner fined for desludging off Malaysia

A court in Malaysia on 2 Oct. fined the owners of a tanker about 82,700 Malaysian ringgit/U.S.$24,900 for discharging crude oil into the country's territorial waters. Hozan Shipping Pte. Ltd., the agent for the Fukushin Maru, pleaded guilty on behalf of the owners in the Sessions Court in Kuantan to two charges of desludging. The Royal Malaysian Air Force found the ship discharging crude off the state of Pahang on 6 April, 1996. An oil slick 19 kilometers/12 miles long and up to 50 meters/160 feet wide behind the vessel.

Inchcape Shipping Service likely to be fined for not declaring missiles

Inchcape Shipping Service will reportedly be fined for not notifying the U.S. Customs Service last month that 24 disarmed nuclear ballistic missiles were transported through Huntsville, Ala., to the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal. Forest Lines Inc. brought the Polaris A-3TK missiles from the United Kingdom, where they had their nuclear warheads removed after service with the British Royal Navy's Resolution-class ballistic-missile submarines, to Pascagoula, Miss., where Inchcape Services was the agent. The missiles will be used in anti-missile weapons testing.

Parise Sr. sentenced in Philadelphia

Louis Parise Sr., a former National Maritime Union official in the United States, has been sentenced to 56 months in prison for embezzling money from the union. Appearing in court before his sentencing, Parise said the U.S.$188,297 was spent on cookies for the union office. Prosecutors alledged in an 83-count indictment that Parise spent the money on clothes, limousines and nude dancers, among other items. He was found guilty 28 Jan. U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III in Philadelphia ordered Parise to repay the money to the union, but he has said it does not have the assets to do so. Prosecutors, however, say that Parise has spent U.S.$1 million on slot machines in the last two years. Parise plans to appeal and remains in custody.

Inchcape Shipping Service receives I.S.O. 9002

Last week, Inchcape Shipping Service received I.S.O. 9002 status from Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance. It is the first business in the ship agency sector to receive I.S.O. 9002 for its entire operation.

Trinity House gets I.S.O. 9001

Trinity House has become the first lighthouse authority to get I.S.O. 9001 for all its operations.

U-Freight America moves shipping activities

U-Freight America has transferred its shipping activities from New York to a new freight terminal in New Jersey. It is at 969 Newark Turnpike, Kearny, N.J., 07032. The telephone is 201-997-6699, while facsimile is 201-997-6665.

ROUTES AND SERVICES

Safmarine & CMBT Lines in slot-charter agreement with Maersk Line

Safmarine & CMBT Lines N.V. has signed a slot-charter agreement with Maersk Line on its weekly joint service with Sea-Land Service Inc. from northern Europe to eastern South America. The service will start in mid-October with ports including Antwerp, Belgium; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Le Havre, France; and Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

LIBRA, TNX in joint service

Linhas Brasileiras de Navegacao S.A.'s Nacional Line and Transroll Navieras Express will start a joint weekly vessel sharing agreement between the eastern coasts of North and South America and the Carribean. The service will start in November with six ships calling 11 ports.

Eurogulf Line, Norchart to start new breakbulk route

Eurogulf Line and Norchart B.V. will start a breakbulk service this month between Antwerp, Belgium; Bremen, Germany; Mexico; and the U.S. Gulf coast. The Arademik Glushko will begin the service will calls at Houston and New Orleans.

Knutsen O.A.S. Shipping to charter space on "K" Line route

Knutsen O.A.S. Shipping A/S will charter space on Kawasaki Kisen Kiasha Ltd.'s new twice a week service between Japan; Port Klang, Malaysia; and Jakarta, Indonesia.

Lauritzen Reefers, O.O.C.L. sign connecting carrier agreement

Lauritzen Reefers A/S has signed a trans-Pacific connecting carrier agreement with Orient Overseas Container Line. It will take affect at the end of the year. Lauritzen Reefers will offer its service between Chile, Ecuador, Peru and California. O.O.C.L. will offer further service to Asia and the Pacific from Los Angeles. Lauritizen Reefers will market the service in Chile, Japan and Long Beach, Calif., while O.O.C.L. will be responsible for Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.

T.W.R.A. rate changes

The Transpacific Westbound Rate Agreement has announced new rates for certain cargoes. As of 1 Nov., hay moving in FEUs to Japan will jump from U.S.$279 to U.S.$332, to U.S.$750 to U.S.$802. Asparagus for Asian destinations will be charged U.S.$0.05 more per carton as of 1 Jan. Rates will increase U.S.$100 for FEUs loaded with consumer appliances, industrial clay, oil drilling supplies and tires. Rates for FEUs with beer will increase U.S.$100 on 1 Feb. On 1 April, rates for FEUs carrying dried fruit, nuts, leguminous vegetables or soybeans will increase U.S.$60. Finally, U.S.$5 more will be charged per revenue ton for poultry starting 1 May.

Holyman Sally Ferries to drop route

Holyman Sally Ferries has announced its intent to end service between Ramsgate, England, and Dunkirk, France.

Atlanticargo to call Norfolk

Atlanticargo will add a call at Norfolk, Va., to its weekly service in November. It will be the last port called eastbound and the first west.

State of Alaska ferries will call at Prince Rupert again

The State of Alaska has announced that its ferries will resume calls at Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, in December. On 19 July, more than 200 Canadian-registry fishing vessels surrounded the Malaspina (U.S.-registry ferry built in 1963, operated by the State of Alaska, homeported at Juneau, Alaska) as it arrived at Prince Rupert. Passengers and vehicles disembarked, but just before 328 passengers boarded, the fishing vessels refused to move in protest of negotiations to renew the Pacific Salmon Treaty of 1985 by Canada and the United States. Some 90 passengers remained aboard with the rest going to hotels and some deciding not to make the voyage. On 20 July, a judge in Montreal ordered the fishing vessels to end the blockade and further calls at Prince Rupert by Alaskan ferries were indefinitely canceled. On 21 July, a local sheriff, with Royal Canadian Mounted Police escorts, served every vessel in the blockade with the judge's order. Those that did not leave right away later did so after several crews met with Canadian Fisheries Minister David Anderson. The Malaspina was then able to proceed to Ketchikan, Alaska, though reportedly with only 142 passengers and 88 vehicles. A Canadian court on 28 July granted a permanent injunction that bars blockades of Alaskan ferries by fishing vessels in British Columbia.

Melbourne Star back on old route

Blue Star Line Ltd. is bringing the Melbourne Star (Bahamian-registry 27,978-dwt, 1,308-TEU capacity containership built in 1971, operated by Blue Star Line) back to its East and Gulf Coast Container Service between Australia, New Zealand and North America. The ship can carry 680 refrigerated containers and has 5,040 cubic meters/168,000 cubic feet for breakbulk cargo. Currently operating along the western United States on a fixed-day rotation, the ship will begin loading cargo in Australia and New Zealand in November.

DFDS to add third ship to Baltic service

DFDS will introduce a third ro/ro to its service from Copenhagen and Fredericin in Denmark to Klaipeda, Lithuania. There will be three departures from Copenhagen and four from Fredericin. The vessel will increase capacity 40 percent.

SAL adds the Wilma

SAL GmbH & Co. added the Wilma on 19 Sept. The ship can lift 600 metric tons.

Carnival moves cruise ships to Tampa

Carnival Corp. will bring a Fantasy-class 2,600-passenger ship to Tampa, Fla., in December 1998 for seven-day cruises to the Carribean, Mexico and New Orleans. It will replace the Celebration (Liberian-registry 6,065-dwt passenger ship built in 1987). Also, the Tropicale (6,654-dwt, 1,100-passenger ship built in 1981) will shift from Alaska to Tampa in April.

CANALS, PORTS AND STRUCTURES

Second container terminal at Jeddah

Saudi Ports Authority is planning to build a second container terminal at Jeddah.

Asian Development Bank approves loans for several ports

The Asian Development Bank on 29 Sept. approved U.S.$113 million in loans and a technical assistance grant of U.S.$1.59 million for the Indian ports of Chennai and Mumbai. Some U.S.$97.8 million will be used to replace 40-year-old submerged oil pipelines and Mumbai that are leaking and upgrade three berths, while at Chennai, container and general cargo facilities will be expanded. Also, India has approved expanding a container terminal at Chennai at a cost of 527 million Indian rupees/U.S.$14.6 million. The next day, the bank approved a U.S.$100 million loan to improve and expand facilities at the Indonesian ports of Balikpapan, Banjarmasin and Belawan.

New contract for Algeciras dockworkers

The Port of Algeciras, Spain, has signed a new five-year contract with its dockworkers.

New Chinese regional port authority

China has formed a regional port authority based in Shanghai to direct container operations for Shanghai and the nearby provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The authority was modeled on the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

COSCO, P.S.A. to explore Chinese port development

China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co. and the Port of Singapore Authority have signed a letter of intent to explore cooperation at Taicang, China, it was announced 26 Sept. COSCO is planning to develop a city on 50 square kilometers/20 square miles with 9.7 kilometers/6.0 miles of waterfront area. About half the waterfront will be container berths, with the first 270-meter/890-foot multipurpose berth to begin construction next month. Three more will follow next year.

Internatonal Purveyors to use union dockworkers?

The Maritime Union of Australia has reported that International Purveyors will use Northern Shipping and Stevedoring Pty. Ltd. at the Port of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. International Purveyors had announced it would end its contract with the company, leaving seven full-time and 20 casual employees out of work, and instead use its own personnel. The union then began a series of protests against the decision. International Purveyors has not confirmed the union's announcement.

Argentine port to be upgraded

Ormas, Los Solares, Tecnefidias and Tevycom-Fapeco, the group that won a 25-year concession to operate the Port of Mendoza, Argentina, plan to invest 7 million Argentine pesos/U.S.$7 million in upgrades.

CODESP outlines spending plans

Companhia Docas de Sao Paulo (CODESP), the Brazilian port authority, has said it will use the 200 million Brazilian reals/U.S.$180 million received from the Santos Brasil consortium to pay off debts, buy-out personnel and develop port infrastructure. Santos Brasil will take over operation of the Port of Santos' Tecon 1 container terminal within 60 days after winning a concession to operate the facility. CODESP will spend 119.9 million reals/U.S.$109.4 million to retire debt and spend 44.3 million reals/U.S.$40.4 million on employee buyouts. Some 30.6 million reals/U.S.$27.9 million will be spent on port improvements with 5.3 million reals/U.S.$4.8 million used to pay income taxes.

Port Everglades expands property

Port Everglades, Fla., has received permission to buy 108 hectares/271 acres of land for U.S.$120 million. Under the deal, the seller will receive a 35-year lease to 39 hectares/97 acres, on which to build a warehouse and distribution center. The port will receive U.S.$45 million and 25 percent of net income after six years. The remaining land will be developed as a container yard and intermodal container transfer facility.

Request for funding to upgrade Pascagoula

The Jackson County Port Commission in Mississippi has requested that the county board issue U.S.$6.1 million in bonds for repairs and improvements to the Port of Pascagoula. Supervisors previously authorized U.S.$5.3 million in bonds in stages, on the condition that the port fund U.S.$3.96 million of its budget on its own. With the bonds, U.S.$4.7 million would be spent on repairs with U.S.$1.3 million on first year costs for a study regarding Bayou Casotte. U.S.$9.2 million would be marked for future use.

Vancouver Wharves approves expansion plans

Vancouver Wharves Ltd. will spend Canadian$51.2 million/U.S.$37.3 million to rebuild its sulphur handling facilities and install a loop track. It is also planning to spend C$48.9 million/U.S.$35.6 million for a new, dedicated facility for handling special agricultural products, which would be the only such terminal in western North America. Vancouver Wharves recently signed five-year contracts with Procor Sulphur Services Ltd. and Sultran Ltd. to handle 1.5 million tons of sulphur annually. The loop track will handle unit trains up to 104 cars, while the rebuilt facilities will have new conveyor belts and an upgraded reclamation system. Construction will employ up to 1,000 people with C$800,000/U.S.$600,000 spent this year, C$25 million/U.S.$18 million in 1998 and C$25.4 million/U.S.$18.5 million in 1999. The proposed agricultural structure would include a berth and equipment to load ships at a rate of 1,000 tons per hour. Vancouver Wharves has also formally approved a Canadian$7.9 million/U.S.$5.8 million project to build additional pulp storage structures and replace maintenance facilities. The expansion comes after Vancouver Wharves won a bid to handle 215,000 additional tons of pulp each year for Millar Western Pulp, starting in January. Millar Western Pulp has signed a five-year contract and it is expected that 245,000 tons will be handled annually within two years. The expansion includes an additional to the existing pulp shed and a 68-meter/220-foot extension to a covered loading area with three truck bays. Also, maintenance activites will be consolidated at one location.

Barley export facility canceled

Froedtert Malt Corp. has canceled plans for a U.S.$65 million barley malting and export facility at Portland, Ore.

Dafeng to get two new berths, construction starts at Binhai

The Port of Dafeng, Jiangsu, China, will spend 260 million Chinese yuan/U.S.$31.3 million to build two 5,000-ton berths. The Port of Binhai has started building a 10,000-ton bulk and sundry berth to handle 800,000 metric tons per year. It will cost 320 million yuan/U.S.$38.5 million.

New wharf opens in Yangon

A new 219-meter/720-foot wharf, capable of handling 100,000 metric tons annually, has opened in Yangon, Myanmar.

New warehouse to be built at the Port of Milwaukee

In his budget address on 26 Sept., Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist said that the city has budgeted U.S.$3 million to build a new warehouse at the Port of Milwaukee. It will be built on one the port's piers for use by Federal Marine Terminals Inc. Federal Marine Terminals recently closed a facility in Chicago and will use the Milwaukee location to handle metal cargoes for the domestic market. Increased revenues from Federal Marine Terminals and other businesses are expected to pay back all principal and interest for the project in about 13 years.

Howland Hook refrigerated facility under construction

A 5,980-square-meter/66,400-square-foot refrigerated freight facility is being built at Howland Hook in New York. Funding is coming from several public sources, including U.S.$2 million from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, U.S.$2 million from New York City Economic Development Corp. and U.S.$1 million from Staten island.

Terminal opens in Hull

A.B.P. has opened a covered steel terminal at Hull, England.

Le Havre to be export depot for Evian

Shed 120 of the Ocean Terminal at the Port of Le Havre, France, is now being operated by Sago Port Terminals. Evian bottled water will be received by train and loaded into containers for export to the Far East and the United States.

Tropical Storm Olaf closes Mexican ports

The Mexican ports of Dos Bocas, Pajaritos and Salina Cruz were closed 26 Sept. due to Tropical Storm Olaf. Puerto Madero was also closed. Dos Bocas and Pajaritos reopened 27 Sept. with Salina Cruz following 28 Sept. Acapulco, Huatulco, Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido closed to small vessels.

Weather closes Peruvian port

Bad weather closed Talara, Peru, on 28 Sept.

Ram-Powell Project starts operating

Amoco Corp., Exxon Corp. and Shell Oil Co. have begun natural gas production at their Ram-Powell Project in the Gulf of Mexico, it was announced 30 Sept. The production sets a new water-depth record for petroleum production platforms. Ram-Powell is in 979.6 meters/3,214 feet of water.

SHIPYARDS AND EQUIPMENT

France dropping quirats

France will drop its year-old quirats system, as the ship financing method is too expensive to operate compared to the impact on employment on French shipyards. The system helped fund 25 vessels through 2 billion French francs/U.S.$340 million. However, many were not built in France and only 350 jobs were created or retained as a result, at a cost of 5 million francs/U.S.$840,000 each.

Halter Marine Group buying three equipment manufacturers

Halter Marine Group Inc. said 2 Oct. that it will soon purchase three businesses to form a new Engineered Products Group. AmClyde Engineered Products Inc., Fritz Culver Inc. and Utility Steel Fabrication Inc. manufacture capstans, cranes, jacks, locking equipment, mooring systems, tuggers, winches, windlasses and other equipment. Pending definitive agreements and approval by the board of Halter Marine Group, the three will be bought for U.S.$55 million, with $28 million in cash and the rest stock. Production capacity of Fritz Culver and Utility Steel Fabrication will be increased through additional space and equipment. Combined, the three companies have annual revenue of U.S.$90 million.

Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani buys into Azipod firm

Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani SpA has bought 22.5 percent of a new firm set-up to manage the business of the Azipod propulsion system.

Finnyards sells electronics business

Finnyards Ltd. has sold its electronics business to Finavitec.

Goa Shipyard signs technology transfer agreements

Goa Shipyard Ltd. has signed technology transfer agreements and memorandums of understanding with several foreign shipbuilders, including yards in Portugal and the United Kingdom. Goa Shipyard will build hovercraft, catamarans, high-speed aluminum vessels and small naval vessels.

BethShip sale completed

On 2 Oct., Bethlehem Steel Corp. completed the sale of BethShip Inc. in Sparrows Point, Md., to Veritas Capital Inc. The shipyard will be known as Baltimore Marine Industries Inc.

Overseas Agency to represent Ukrainian yards in Greece

Overseas Agency Ltd. has signed an agreement with the Ukrainian government to represent all Ukrainian shipyards in Greece. In a deal that had technical assistance from Bureau Veritas, Overseas Agency agreed to arrange financing for contracts by Greek shipowners at the yards through its Overseas Finance.

East Isle Shipyard opens new facility

East Isle Shipyard Ltd. at Georgetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, has opened a new facility that will create 40 new jobs. The shipyard will then employ 150. The new Canadian$3.5 million/U.S.$2.5 million structure includes a 75-ton overhead crane. The federal and provincial governments funded C$1.4 million/U.S.$1.0 million of the expansion.

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries announces productivity increase

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. said recently that an investment of 600 million Japanese yen/U.S.$5 million has increased productivity at its facility in Kure, Japan, by 30 percent. The money was used to install mobile work platforms on rails. Outer hull sections can now be manufactured 20 percent faster. Coupled with a new block design, Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries said it can launch a 300,000-dwt very large crude carrier in 50 days.

Fairbanks Morse to power U.S. Navy's new dock landing ships

Coltec Industries' Fairbanks Morse Engine Division has received a contract worth more than U.S.$12 million for four Colt-Pielstick PC2.5 diesel engines. Each can generate up to 10,400 horsepower and will be used aboard the U.S. Navy's San Antonio (LPD 17), the first of a new class of dock landing ships. The engines will be delivered to Avondale Industries Inc. in 1999. The contract includes options for engines for 11 more ships through 2006 and two spares and is worth in excess of U.S.$138 million.

Operators jointly order V.L.C.C., option for another

Argonaut A.B., Nordstrom & Thulin A.B. and World-Wide Shipping Agency Ltd. have jointly ordered a 300,000-dwt very large crude carrier from Daewoo. It will be delivered in the first quarter of 2000 and will be managed by Argonaut. There is an option for another ship to be managed by World-Wide Shipping Agency. Combined, the ships will cost U.S.$157 million.

Golden Ocean orders tanker from Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Kawasaki Heavy Industries said 25 Sept. it has received an order for a 300,000-dwt tanker from Golden Ocean Ltd. The ship will be 330 meters/1,080 feet long, have a beam of 60 meters/200 feet and a draft of 29.3 meters/96.1 feet. The vessel will be capable of 15.6 knots. It will be delivered in 1999 or 2000.

V.L.C.C. to be built for Lykiardopulo

Lykiardopulo & Co. Ltd. has ordered a very large crude carrier from Daewoo at a cost of U.S.$85 million. It will be delivered in 1999. There is an option for another.

FSO ordered from Daewoo Heavy Industries for Russian project

A 158,000-dwt tanker has been ordered from Daewoo Heavy Industries Ltd. for use as a floating storage and offloading vessel off Sakhalin Island, Russia. Argonaut A.B., ICB Shipping A.B., IHC Caland, Sakhalinmorneftegas and Single Buoy Moorings are involved in the project. The ship will be delivered in summer 1999 for a 4.5-year charter.

Blohm + Voss Industrie to construct passenger ship for Royal Carribean

Blohm + Voss Industrie GmbH has received a U.S.$165 million order from Greek passenger ship operator Royal Carribean. The shipbuilder will deliver a 416-cabin passenger ship in 2000. It will be capable of 27 knots.

Bulk carrier to be delivered to Anangel-American Shipholdings in 1999

Anangel-American Shipholdings Ltd. has ordered a 172,500-dwt bulk carrier from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. for delivery in mid-1999.

Fednav International has two options

As part of its order for four 34,000-dwt geared bulk carriers from Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Fednav International Ltd. also has options for two more ships. It signed a contract with Sumitomo Corp. in Tokyo on 18 Sept. worth 12 billion Japanese yen/U.S.$98 million. The four will be built at Nagasaki, Japan, for delivery in the latter half of 1999 and the first half of 2000. In addition to acting as Fednav International's contractor, Sumitomo will be a partner with Fednav International in owning the vessels. Each ship will have six cargo holds and three 30-ton cranes. The bulk carriers will be built for navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway. -- 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 - 3 Oct., 1997 (2/2) Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 20:31:01 -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

As many as 500 missing off Bangladesh

Up to 500 people are missing off Bangladesh after a cyclone killed at least 51 people over the weekend and injured thousands. The fishermen may have taken refuge elsewhere. On 27 Sept., the cyclone killed at least 1,000 cattle and destroyed thousands of structures.

Fishing vessels missing off Mexico

Eight fishermen aboard two vessels are missing after Tropical Storm Olaf passed over Mexico this past weekend.

U.S.-registry tug missing

The Nestor (U.S.-registry 200-gt motor tug built in 1959) lost its radio and was last reported drifting at 21 degrees 39 minutes north, 70 degrees 26 minutes west. It was sailing from Rio Haina, Dominican Republic, to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A search by aircraft 28 Sept. found nothing.

More than 1,000 deported from Saudi Arabia arrive at Karachi aboard ferry

The Al Madina (Egyptian-registry ferry) docked 27 Sept. in Karachi, Pakistan, after a two-day wait. The vessel reportedly carried 1,098 Indian and 736 Pakistani citizens deported from Saudi Arabia. Two Pakistanis and an Indian passenger died during the voyage. The ship was at first denied permission to dock because it did not have an agent to represent it. The Pakistani citizens disembarked while the Indian citizens remained aboard for transport to Mumbai, India. In July, Saudi Arabia announced that about 100,000 aliens in the country would have until 16 Oct. to legalize their stay or leave the country. Many of those on the Al Madina had emergency passports.

Lobsterman severs arm after caught in winch

Doug Goodale, 33, of Wells, Maine, severed his right arm above the elbow on 30 Sept. after it was caught in a turnstile winch aboard his seven-meter/23-foot lobster boat. Shortly before dawn, the sleeve of his oilskin jacket was pulled into the winch when the rope began spooling out and he reached to shut off the motor. The winch threw Goodale overboard at which point he used a knife to sever the arm. Goodale was able to make port and his hospitalized.

Oil spill off California from ruptured pipeline

Up to 500 barrels (80,000 liters/21,000 gallons) of crude oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean 29 Sept. off California. Torch Operating Co. reported a slick between the Irene platform six kilometers/four miles off Point Arguello, Calif., and the Lompoc processing facility at Nipomo Mesa, Calif., after a 51-centimeter/20-inch pipeline ruptured. A flange between two pieces of pipe was found to be cracked. The facilities are owned by Nuevo Energy Co. and operated by Torch Operating. The slick, 2.4 kilometers/1.5 miles offshore, is estimated to be 21 square kilometers/eight square miles. Clean Coastal Waters, Clean Seas and Marine Spill Response Corp. have been hired to clean the slick. Three Clean Seas vessels, Marine Spill Response's California Responder (U.S.-registry 1,258-dwt vessel built in 1992) and 11 contract fishing vessels deployed 2,100 meters/7,000 feet of floating booms. Eight skimmers will be used to clean-up as much oil as possible. Fifty-three oil-coated birds (including cormorants, a grebe, gulls, a brown pelican, a least tern and a snowy plover) were found and a wildlife recovery vessel is nearby. Twenty-two birds have been killed as a result of the spill, including a murre, gulls and a least tern. Most of the others have been taken to the International Bird Research and Rescue Center in Berkeley, Calif. Clean-up of the spill will reportedly cost U.S.$1 million and about 32,000 liters/8,400 gallons of water and oil has been recovered.

Medical evacuations in the Pacific Ocean by Canada, the United States

On 19 Sept., a crewmember aboard the Hokuetsu Bright (Panamanian-registry 49,692-dwt motor bulk carrier built in 1996, operated by Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd.) was suffering from a twisted bowel, 1,280 kilometers/800 miles southwest of San Diego. An HC-130H Hercules from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, Calif., attempted to drop five U.S. Air Force personnel to the ship but the attempt was abandoned due to the weather conditions. The next day, an Air Force HH-60G Rescue Hawk helicopter brought paramedics to the ship and took the crewmember to Crissy Field in San Francisco. On 2 Oct., a Ukrainian citizen was airlifted from the Alantra (Liberian-registry bulk carrier) in the Pacific Ocean and taken to Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, Canada. The crewmember suffered chest injuries after falling when the ship was hit by heavy seas. The Alantra is sailing to a U.S. port to load cargo.

Three Smit International vessels, crews remain held by Iran

The Netherlands said 1 Oct. that efforts are continuing to secure the release of 42 people detained by Iran on 8 Sept. On 21 Sept., Iran announced that it seized two vessels affiliated with Smit International N.V. at Bandar Imam Khomeini because they violated international regulations. According to Iran, Smit International was hired to salvage a Croatian-registry vessel that sank in the Khur-Mussa Canal. On 19 Aug., Iran says the Banckert (382-gt vessel built in 1972, operated by Van Den Akker B.V.), the Smit Cyclone (3,743-dwt vessel built in 1969, operated by Smit International Singapore Pte. Ltd.) and another chartered vessel abandoned the salvage and sailed elsewhere to salvage a U.S. helicopter. Iran, however, said it had not given authorization for the movement. A complaint was then filed with an Iranian court and an order was issued for the two vessels to be seized. The 33 Smit International employees and nine contracted personnel include 15 Dutch and one British citizen. Others are Indian, Pakistani, Philippine, Tanzanian and Thai citizens.

Catch of Massachusetts fishing vessel seized

The catch of the Luzitano (U.S.-registry 26-meter/84-foot fishing vessel homeported at New Bedford, Mass.) was seized the morning of 28 Sept., 182 kilometers/114 miles east of Cape Cod, Mass. The vessel was found fishing 1.2 kilometers/0.75 miles inside Closed Area II. The U.S. Coast Guard's Bear-class Medium-Endurance Cutter U.S.C.G.C. Tahoma (WMEC 908) escorted the vessel to New Bedford. The catch included monkfish livers and tails and scallops worth U.S.$4,600.

Size of oil spill near Cape May verified

While unloading a third of its cargo of one million barrels of light crude oil on 18 Sept., the Mystras (Liberian-registry 138,930-dwt tanker built in 1976, operated by National Shipping & Trading Corp.) spilled about 38,000 liters/10,000 gallons. The ship was lightering the oil to a tank barge at the Bigstone Anchorage near Cape May, N.J. The spill created a slick 13 kilometers/eight miles long and 18 meters/60 feet wide. The next day, the ship proceeded up to the Delaware River to complete unloading.

Russia seizes five trucks of brandy, wine

Five trucks carrying brandy and wine from Georgia were detained at the Port of Novorossiysk, Russia, on 29 Sept. by personnel of the Caucasian Special Border District. The trucks were unloaded from the Preslav (Bulgarian-registry 6,400-dwt ro/ro built in 1970, operated by So Mejdunaroden Automobilen Transport). The drivers of the trucks did not have the necessary documents to bring brandy and wine into Russia.

More on arrest of third mate for operating vessel while intoxicated

Late 17 Sept., U.S. Coast Guard personnel boarded the Hercegovina (Croatian-registry 30,882-dwt, 197-meter/645-foot motor bulk carrier built in 1977, operated by Atlantska Plovidba dd Dubrovnik) at the Snell Lock of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Believing the bridge crew may have been intoxicated, New York State Police officers were summoned. Three licensed officers aboard were found to be intoxicated, but only the third mate, Duro Horvat, had a blood alcohol level above .04 percent. Horvat, who was operating the ship's throttles as it neared the lock, was arrested. The Croatian citizen was taken to the jail in Malone, N.Y., and arraigned before a U.S. magistrate. The ship then moved to the Wilson Hill Anchorage and was released on 19 Sept. It was sailing from Venezuela to Toledo, Ohio, to load soybeans. Horvat pleaded guilty in a federal court in Albany, N.Y., to operating a vessel while intoxicated. He was sentenced to 13 days in jail and fined U.S.$10,000. The blood alcohol level of master Vedrah Sandri, also a Croatian citizen, was near the limit and he was released after being assessed a civil penalty.

Arbitrator calls for end to picket of the Neptune Jade

An arbitrator has ordered dockworkers at the Port of Oakland, Calif., to work the Neptune Jade (Singaporean-registry 43,288-dwt, 2,966-TEU containership built in 1986, operated by Neptune Shipmanagement Service (Pte.) Ltd.) The ship arrived at Oakland the night of 28 Sept. but members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union refused to unload 160 containers because seven originated at Thamesport, England. After 32 hours, the ship left port but returned 30 Sept. and was again boycotted. The Pacific Maritime Association failed to get a restraining order but on 1 Oct., an arbitrator ruled the action was in violation of dockworkers' contracts. The I.L.W.U. has taken action to support fired dockworkers of Mersey Docks and Harbour Co. at Liverpool, England. Apparently, the I.L.W.U. took action against the Neptune Jade because it thought there was a direct connection between Liverpool and Thamesport through Mersey Docks and Harbour. Thamesport has sent out releases explaining that it has no relationship with the entities being picketed.

Eckero Rederi admits operating vessel with inner bow door open

Eckero Rederi Oy A.B. has announced that in early February, its Apollo (1,200-dwt, 1,200-passenger ro/ro ferry built in 1970) sailed from Tallinn, Estonia, to Helsinki, Finland, with its innermost bow door open due to the number of vehicles aboard. The safety violation was not reported in the ship's log.

VESSEL TRANSFERS

Cool Carriers to charter largest refrigerated vessels

Cool Carriers A.B. has won a contract of Noboa to be the company's sole exporter of bananas starting in January. Cool Carriers ships will take the bananas from Ecuador to the western United States and Japan. In order to accomodate the contract, Cool Carriers will charter the four largest refrigerated vessels in the world from Lauritzen Reefers A/S. Each is 22,900 cubic meters/762,000 cubic feet. In addition, another six will come from Safmarine & CMBT Lines N.V.

B+H Management in product tanker expansion

B+H Management Ltd. is buying seven product tankers of 30,000-dwt to 45,000-dwt for U.S.$90 million. Three have already been bought with one in service and two coming. Negotiations for the other four are on-going. The ships will be operated by B+H Equimar Singapore Pte. Ltd. in Asia.

Leif Hoegh confirms purchase of bulk carriers

Leif Hoegh & Co. A.S.A. has confirmed that two 210,600-dwt bulk carriers have been bought from Shougang Group for U.S.$100 million.

India Steamship to scrap two vessels

India Steamship Co. Ltd. will scrap two more ships this financial year. They are the Indian Prestige (Indian-registry 18,842-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1971) and the Indian Valour (Indian-registry 15,718-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1971). The Indian government must approve the demolitions as the ships were mortgaged with government loans several years ago. In addition, labor unions will need to approve the plan as the ship's crews will become surplus.

City of Midland 41 update

The City of Midland 41 (U.S.-registry 3,968-gt, 833-nt, 124-meter/406-foot, steam ferry built in 1941 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Corp. at Manitowoc, Wis., with 6,000-horsepower; owned and operated by Lake Michigan Carferry Service Inc.) has been towed to Muskegon, Mich., where West Michigan Dock & Market Corp. will remove the vessel's superstructure over the next three months. The City of Midland 41 will be converted to a barge for a new tow business, P.M. Shipping Inc. Renamed P.M. 41, it will be pushed by a 45.7-meter/150-foot former naval tug. Operations will begin on the Canadian and U.S. Great Lakes next year. The vessel has been laid-up in Ludington, Mich., and last operated 18 Nov., 1988. It was built for Pere Marquette Railway and can carry 180 vehicles, 23 railcars and 609 passengers.

VESSEL CASUALTIES

Strait of Malacca collision leaves 29 missing

The ICL Vikraman (Indian-registry 31,734-gt, 55,851-dwt bulk carrier built in 1979, homeported at Madras and operated by India Cements Ltd.) sank at 2300 26 Sept. in the Strait of Malacca near Tanjung Tuan, Malaysia, after colliding with the empty Mount 1 (85,963-gt, 161,805-dwt motor combination ship built in 1973) at 02 degrees 18.5 minutes north, 101 degrees 51 minutes east. Twenty-eight crewmembers of the ICL Vikraman and a 2-year-old boy are missing and five were rescued. The ICL Vikraman sank after breaking in half. The ship was hit on the starboard side amidships and top of its mast with a radar and antennas is visible above the water. The Mount 1 suffered a large hole near the watermark above the bulbous bow and anchored at Port Dickson, Malaysia. The five rescued from the ICL Vikraman include a cadet, Carthic Visakhapatnam, 21; the second engineer, Sanabala Kamaraju and his wife, S. Neezima; the electrician, S. Puroshomyaman; and another crewmember, V. Baharani. The missing 2-year-old boy is the son of Kamaraju and Neezima. The five were rescued by the Laemthong Glory (Thai-registry 15,069-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1976, operated by Neptune Orient Lines Ltd.) and the Royal Malaysian Navy's Kasturi-class Frigate K.D. Lekir (26). The ICL Vikraman was sailing from Antwerp, Belgium, to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with steel products while the Mount 1 was sailing in ballast from India to Singapore.

Seven dead, 17 missing after vessel capsizes off Spain

Seven people were killed and 17 are missing after a vessel sailing from Ceuta, Spain, capsized near Tarifa, Spain, early 16 Sept. Seven people were killed and 17 are missing. The group of about 30 people apparently included Moroccan citizens attempting to enter Spain and two Spanish citizens who arranged the transport. A French-registry yacht sailing from Gibraltar rescued five survivors while Spanish government personnel found one other person.

Four missing after vessels collide in Hong Kong

The Magway (Myanmar-registry 13,055-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1985, operated by Myanma Five Star Line) and a fishing vessel collided in the inbound lane of the Lanma Channel in Hong Kong the morning of 26 Sept. Four members of the fishing vessel's crew are missing. One person was rescued.

Crew rescued after Chinese patrol boat catches fire off Hong Kong

The crew of the Gong Bian (D 4406), a People's Liberation Army Navy patrol boat from the Shenzhen Border Defense unit, were rescued 25 Sept. after it caught fire off Sai Kung, Hong Kong.

Two stranded aboard fishing vessel in the Pacific

The Kaioni (U.S.-registry fishing vessel) ran aground on Beveridge Reef late 16 Sept., 221 kilometers/138 miles southeast of Niue. The two crewmembers (one British and one U.S. citizen) boarded a liferaft but it was holed and they reboarded the vessel. The Pacprincess (Liberian-registry 36,913-dwt bulk carrier built in 1986, operated by Lasco Shipping Co.) arrived in the area 17 Sept. but weather prevented a rescue. Two Royal New Zealand Navy ships, the frigate H.M.N.Z.S. Canterbury (F 421) and the replenishment ship H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour (A 11), were to arrive in the area shortly after.

Palm kernel oil spilled in English Channel collision

The Allegra (Liberian-registry 11,844-gt, 20,287-dwt, 163.5-meter/536.5-foot motor tanker built in 1986, operated by Seaarland Shipping Management GmbH) and the Ciboney (St. Vincent and the Grenadines-registry 1,933-gt, 2,980-dwt motor bulk carrier built in 1978, operated by Wind Shipping ApS) collided 1 Oct. at 49 degrees 48 minutes north, 03 degrees 18 minutes west, in the English Channel. The Allegra, carrying 20,000 tons of palm kernel oil, was sailing from Belawan, Indonesia, to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with 32 crew, while the Ciboney was sailing from Immingham, England, to Spain with grain. The No. 1 port cargo tank aboard the Allegra ruptured and at least 900 tons of palm kernel oil spilled. The Ciboney suffered damage to its forecastle and bow area. The ships were sailing in fog 46 kilometers/29 miles off Devon, England.

Fishing vessel damaged in collision with ro/ro off North Carolina

The Century Highway No. 1 (Panamanian-registry 15,237-dwt, 167-meter/549-foot ro/ro built in 1984, operated by Kobe Nippon Kisen Kaisha Ltd.) and the Strawberry (12-meter/40-foot fishing vessel) collided 27 Sept., 56 kilometers/35 miles southeast of Cape Lookout, N.C. The bow of the Strawberry was damaged and the vessel began to flood but the crew was able to seal the forward compartment. The Strawberry was to be escorted to Morehead City, N.C., by the U.S. Coast Guard's "Point"-class Patrol Boat U.S.C.G.C. Point Huron (WPB 82357). The Century Highway No. 1 resumed its voyage to Baltimore. A helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., evacuated one person from the Strawberry after a request by the master. However, there were no injuries on either vessel.

White Angel sinks near Quad Cities area

The White Angel sank in Dedermans Pond in the Quad Cities area of the Mississippi River on 22 Sept. The vessel is lying on its side in up to 4.6 meters/15 feet of water with 35,000 liters/9,300 gallons of fuel aboard. The three crew were rescued.

Tug sinks off Colombo

The tug Nigiri sank off Colombo, Sri Lanka, late 24 Sept. in a storm.

Moored barge damaged by tanker near Quebec

The Vekua (Maltese-registry 10,948-gt, 16,231-dwt, 151.31-meter/496.42-foot motor tanker built in 1987, operated by Anglo-Georgian Shipping Co. Ltd.) allided with the Elmglen (13,884-gt, 207-meter/678-foot barge built in 1952 by Port Weller Dry Docks Ltd. at St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; operated by Groupe Ocean Inc.) on 1 Oct. near Quebec at 46 degrees 49 minutes north, 71 degrees 12 minutes west. The Vekua sustained slight damage to its upper bow and has sailed for Tampa, Fla. The Elmglen, formerly a bulk carrier, suffered a 0.6-meter/two-foot gash about 6.1 meters/20 feet above the waterline and a 3.0-meter/10-foot dent.

Bulk carrier damages dock in Windsor

The Nea Doxa (Greek-registry 17,882-gt, 30,820-dwt, 188.14-meter/617.25-foot motor bulk carrier built in 1984, operated by Fafalios Shipping S.A.) allided with a dock at Morterm Ltd. in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on 1 Oct. The ship sustained a small dent to its starboard side but the dock has considerable damage.

Malaysian-registry tanker hits object in Strait of Malacca

The Rohas Ria (Malaysian-registry 6,000-gt, 7,276-gt tanker built in 1991, operated by Maritime Consortium Management Sdn. Bhd.) collided with an object in the Strait of Malacca at 0150 28 Sept. The ship lost a lifeboat in the collision and it reportedly sustained a dent to its starboard hull. The Rohas Ria was sailing from Penang, Malaysia, to Port Dickson, Malaysia, and was not carrying any cargo.

U.S. Coast Guard assists flooding fishing vessel

The Persuit (U.S.-registry 21-meter/70-foot fishing vessel homeported at Portland, Maine) began taking on water 29 Sept., 54 kilometers/34 miles northeast of Gloucester, Mass. A portable de-watering pump was lowered to the three crew by a U.S. Coast Guard HH-60J Jayhawk helicopter and the flooding was brought under control. The Coast Guard's "Island"-class Patrol Boat U.S.C.G.C. Adak (WPB 1333) then escorted the fishing vessel to Portland.

L.P.G. carrier grounds in Suez Canal

The Havprins (Norwegian-registry 33,535-gt, 40,605-dwt liquified petroleum gas carrier built in 1974, operated by Bergesen dy A/S) ran aground at Kilometer 125 of the Suez Canal on 30 Sept. while northbound.

Passenger vessels ground in Nile River

Two passenger vessels ran aground 30 Sept. in the Nile River in Egypt and four more stopped operating after water levels dropped. Water was later released from Lake Nasser through the Aswan High Dam, but it is not known if the vessels have been refloated. Hundreds of people were stranded aboard the ships.

Passenger ship with over 1,000 aboard loses power in Gulf of St. Lawrence

The Dreamward (Bahamian-registry 39,172-gt, 5,589-dwt, 190-meter/623-foot passenger ship built in 1992, owned operated by Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd.) docked in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, early 1 Oct. after drifting in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for more than 17 hours with 1,567 people aboard. An electrical problem disabled propulsion on 30 Sept. The Canadian Coast Guard's research vessel Hudson escorted the ship to Sydney. The Dreamward left Montreal on 27 Sept. with 1,053 passengers and 514 crew on a cruise chartered by a French firm. It then called at Quebec and was sailing to Sydney when it lost power. The cruise will end in New York, after a rotation that included New York; Boston; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Montreal; Quebec; Sydney; and New York.

Bulk carrier able to reach Oswego after propulsion failure

The Cuyahoga (Canadian-registry 8,796-gt, 16,104-dwt, 6,436-nt, 189-meter/620-foot steam bulk carrier built in 1943 by American Shipbuilding Co. at Lorain, Ohio; operated by Black Creek Shipping Co. Ltd.) had a propulsion failure at 1100 29 Sept. off Oswego, N.Y. The ship was able to reach port at 1600 for repairs.

JIT-Trans suing FG-Shipping

JIT-Trans is suing FG-Shipping Oy A.B. regarding the capsizing of a pusher barge in late December 1990. The vessel operated from Finland. JIT-Trans is claiming 28.9 million Finnish marks/U.S.$5.44 million involving interests and expenses. However, FG-Shipping says it was the manager while JIT-Trans was responsible for its operation, and so it is not responsible.