BUSINESS
Canadian Pacific buying Lykes Lines services
Canadian Pacific Ltd. announced 30 Dec. it will buy the services of Lykes Lines, a unit of Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., by early in the second quarter for U.S.$30 million. U.S.-registry ships will remain under U.S.-registry and control. The service will offered via offices in Tampa, Fla., and will operate as a self-sustaining unit of C.P. Ships. Canadian Pacific will acquire four owned and seven chartered ships in the deal as well as containers. The agreement is part of the Lykes Bros. Steamship bankruptcy reorganization, as a result of which the deal will need to be approved by the bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for 8 Jan. While U.S.$30 million is slightly more than the money owed by Lykes Bros. Steamship to secured creditors, another U.S.$150 million is owed to unsecured creditors.
United Arab Shipping joins TRICON
United Arab Shipping Co. formally announced 30 Dec. it has joined the TRICON group, which includes Cho Yang Shipping Co. Ltd. and DSR-Senator Lines G.m.b.H. United Arab Shipping expects to contribute 80 containerships with a combined capacity of almost 250,000 TEUs. Initially, United Arab Shipping services with TRICON will involve the Americas-Mediterranean-Asia service, the Asia-Middle East-Europe service and the India-Pakistan Express service. United Arab Shipping will be able to offer a direct weekly service between Asia, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, the Indian subcontinent and the U.S. east and west coasts. United Arab Shipping also be able to offer service to China via Shanghai. The "new" TRICON will start service this month.
Safmarine, CMBT Lines form alliance with D.A.L.
Safmarine and CMBT Lines and Deutsche Afrika-Linien have formed a long-term alliance to represent their interests in the Southern Africa Europe Container Service. Safmarine and CMBT will own two-thirds and D.A.L. the rest. Saflink and Zimbabwe Shipping Services will represent the alliance in southern Africa, ASECO in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and D.A.L. Schiffahrts-Agentur in Germany. The head office of the alliance will be in Cape Town, South Africa, with an office in Hamburg, Germany, as well.
Bischoff in partnership with Sovfracht
Bruno Bischoff Reederei G.m.b.H. and Co. will form a service partnership with Sovfracht and the end of the month. Utilizaing the Bolt Mediterranean Line and Bruno Levant Line, two 538-TEU containerships call every two weeks at Heraklion, Izmir and Mersin, Turkey; Piraeus, Greece; one call in Italy; Thamesport, England; Bremerhaven, Germany; and Antwerp, Belgium. While schedules will be joint, operations will remain independent.
P. & O. sells Australian towing operations
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. announced 2 Jan. it has sold its Australian towing operations to Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd. and Howard Smith Industries Pty. The deal includes four tugboats (two at Geraldton and two Kwinana) and three lineboats at Fremantle. Adelaide Steamship and Howard Smith already have a stake in the tugs at Kwinana through Medina Maritime Services, a joint venture with P. & O. Adelaide Steamship and Howard Smith will buy P. & O.'s stake.
PSC Industries to take 75 percent of Danyard
PSC Industries Bhd. announced 31 Dec. it will acquire 75 percent of Danyard A/S for U.S.$99.2 million. PSC Industries bought a 48 percent stake in the shipyard last month for U.S.$100 million from J. Lauritzen Holding A/S. The deal included an option to increase the stake to 75 percent and will be finalized by 1 April. Included in the acquisition is a 62.5 percent stake in the Aalborg yard and 31.25 percent of the voting rights.
Mulhan takes 51 percent of Italian shiprepair venture
Mulhan and Co. International has bought 51 percent of a joint venture with Bacini Napoletani. Mulhan Italia will operate a shiprepair yard at Salerno, Italy.
Hessenatie takes 50 percent of Sea-Ro
Hessenatie has announced it has increased its stake in Sea-Ro to 50 percent.
Gdynia Shipyard to sell 39.9 percent stake
Gdynia Shipyard, Poland, announced 2 Jan. that a 39.9 percent stake will be sold to a "strategic investor" this year. The state-owned yard plans to offer 10 million preferred shares at a minimum of 20 Polish zlotys. The investor would then have 51.5 pecent of the voting rights. Employees will own 18 percent, Pomorski Bank Kredytowy S.A. will have 12.3 percent, Bank Handlowy will have an 11.2-percent stake and the shipyard's management will own five percent with the state treasury holding the rest.
Sale of Catalina Cruises underway
It was announced 2 Jan. that final plans for the purchase of Catalina Cruises Inc., owned by Crowley Marine Services, by Catalina Clipper Inc. have begun. A letter of intent has been submitted and a purchase agreement is being finalized. The deal is expected to be completed by 1 April. The Catalina Cruises name will be retained, as will the facilities at Avalon, Calif., and Catalina Landing in Long Beach. Administrative personnel and Inland Boatmen's Union crews will continue to operate three 700-passenger vessels and one 140-passenger vessel.
COSCO announces property development plan
China Ocean Shipping Co. will spend U.S.$850 million over the next five years developing property in China. The money will be spent on areas in Beijing, the Changjian River basin, Shanghai and areas around the Bohai Gulf.
Greece proposes increasing fines for dumping at sea
The Greek Merchant Marine Ministry has submitted a draft presidential decree to the Greek Council of State which would raise fines for ships dumping waste at sea. The decree would double some fines and raise others up to 10 times those at present. The largest fine would be 250 million Greek drachmas, up from 150 million drachmas.
A.B.S. postpones auditing fee
The American Bureau of Shipping has postponed a planned auditing fee until 1 July to encourage firms to begin the I.S.M. Code certification process. There will be a minimum increase of 10 percent on 1 July, with a significant increase on 1 Jan., 1998. I.S.M. Code compliance is required by 1 July, 1998.
International Paint in alliance with Appledore International
International Paint Co. S.A. Ltd. has announced that it has entered into a technical alliance with Appledore International Ltd.
P. & O. Nedlloyd Container Line changes
With the start-up of P. & O. Nedlloyd Container Line Ltd. on 1 Jan., it was announced that management of what was P. & O. Container Ltd.'s Australia-Southeast Asia service will move from Singapore to Sydney, Australia. Also, management of what was Royal Nedlloyd N.V.'s Australia-Southeast Asia and New Zealand-Southeast Asia services is moving to Sydney from Hong Kong.
SERVICES
Evergreen starting service between Australia and Singapore
Evergreen Marine Corp. will join the Australia-Singapore-Australia weekly service as of 24 Jan., it was announced 30 Dec. Calls will be at Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney, with calls at Brisbane every two weeks. Evergreen Marine will charter slots on ships of Lloyd Triestino di Navigazione S.p.A. The service also includes Hanjin Shipping Co. and Regional Container Line Co. Ltd., and uses four 1,000-TEU containerships. Each of the three lines provides one ship and a fourth is chartered. The service has a 28-day schedule.
C.C.N.I. and "K" Line restructure joint service
Compania Chilena de Navigacion Interoceanica S.A. and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha have announced changes tho their west coast of South America to Europe service. It will now carry breakbulk cargo as well as containers. Five 1,000-TEU combination ships of 25,500-dwt will replace four 22,000-dwt containerships that have a 1,300-TEU capacity. C.C.N.I. will provide three ships, "K" Line one and the fifth will be jointly chartered. The newly restructured service, which operates bi-monthly, will start by the end of March.
Pandoro to start Fleetwood to Dublin service
As of 1 Jan., Pandoro Ltd. will introduce a new service from Fleetwood, England, to Dublin, Ireland. The M/V Leopard will be able to carry 95 trailers and 45 drivers on the eight-hour voyage. The vessel will leave Fleetwood at 0500 and Dublin at 1700.
Brunei to Philippines service proposed
Brunei has proposed the first direct shipping service between Brunei and the Philippines. Perkapalan Dai Zhun would operate ships between Muara, Brunei, and Manila's South Harbor in the Philippines twice a week. Perkapalan Dai Zhun would be the Brunei representative, and Archipelago Development Corp. Sdn. Bhd. would represent the service in the Philippines. If approved, service could begin in the first half of the year.
PORTS AND TERMINALS
Israeli strike hits ports
Workers at Israeli ports walked off the job 29 Dec. during a countrywide general strike. The action was in response to a call from Amir Peretz, chairman of the labor union federation Histadrut. Peretz called for the strike when Histadrut's trade union section chief, Shlomo Shani, was arrested the morning of 29 Dec. for failing to appear in a labor court in connection with strikes the week before. The strikes have been staged in response to a government budget proposal for next year that calls for U.S.$2.15 billion in spending cuts, new taxes and other measures. While ports remained closed on 30 Dec., the general strike was canceled 31 Dec. so that the government could reconsider the budget proposal.
Proposal announced to develop Galle
A group of British and Chinese firms, led by Mott Macdonald, has proposed a plan to develop Galle, Sri Lanka, into a transshipment facility. The U.S.$350 million port would have five berths and could handle one million TEUs annually. The development group includes three Chinese firms: Harbor Construction and Design, Harbor Engineering Investigation Corp. and Wuhun China International. The three are being coordinated by China-Lanka International, and the port project is being promoted by Construction and Personnel Services. Galle was Sri Lanka's main port until the late 19th century, when British firms built the harbor at Colombo.
Rebidding to be held for Subic Bay container terminal operation
Philippine President Fidel Ramos has ordered that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority hold rebidding for a container terminal concession at Subic Bay Freeport, the Philippines. Hutchison Ports Philippines Ltd. had won the 25-year management and operation contract with a bid of U.S.$20.50 per TEU. But International Container Terminal Services Inc., which bid U.S.$57.80 per TEU, protested. S.B.M.A. said that Hutchison Ports Philippines offered a detailed plan in which it would construct more wharves by the fourth year of the contract. I.C.T.S. offered to build wharves by the ninth year. Further, S.B.M.A. said that giving I.C.T.S. the contract would create a monopoly on container terminal operations in the Philippines, as I.C.T.S. already operates the Manila International Container Terminal.
Fire at Jawaharlal Nehru damages conveyor system
Operations at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai, India, were disrupted after an 11-hour fire began late 29 Dec. It was contained the morning of 30 Dec. The fire began as sulphur was being unloaded from a ship and about 3,500 tons of sulphur stored in a shed were destroyed. The fire spread to the system's power and control systems and other parts were severed to prevent the fire from spreading. It is estimated that the bulk conveyor system will be out of operation for six months. Only liquid cargoes will be moved. J.N.P.T. is the only completed mechanized bulk handling port in India.
Azores hit by storms, port closed
Portugal on 27 Dec. declared, in effect, a state of emergency in the Azores Islands. Some U.S.$13 million of emergency aid was approved for the islands, hit by storms last week. The Port of Ponta Delgada was closed, with debris including sunken containers in the harbor. A quay was seriously damaged by vessels that broke their moorings. Storms over the last month have caused an estimated U.S.$66 million in damage.
Work on Port of Dafeng begins
Construction has begun on the Port of Dafeng, Jiangsu Province, China. By 2020, the port will handle 29 million tons of cargo annually, with 16 berths ranging from 5,000-dwt to 50,000-dwt. Construction of two 5,000-dwt berths began this month and will be operating by 1999.
Konsortium Perkaplan to invest M$272 million in distribution facilities
Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd. has announced it will spend Malaysian$272 million to develop distribution facilities at the West Port terminal in Port Klang, Malaysia, and 12 other sites in western Malaysia. The West Port site will be on 12.5 hectares/30.9 acres and include four warehouses, computers and cargo handling equipment, at a cost of M$148 million. Of the M$272 million, M$241 will come from private share placement and the rest internally and from borrowing.
Hessenatie in control of Zeebrugge terminal
Hessenatie has taken control of the Ocean Container terminal at Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Eight Japanese ports to start 12-hour berth charges
The Japanese ports of Kawasaki, Kitakyushu, Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka, Shimonoseki, Tokyo and Yokohama have agreed to adopt the 12-hour berth charge system in May after requests by the Japanese Shipowners' Association. Under the plan, ships would be charged 10.05 Japanese yen per gross ton for the first 12 hours a ship is docked, and 6.70 yen per gross ton every 12 hours after. This replaces the current fee of 13.40 yen per gross ton for every 24 hours.
H.I.T., Yangming to operate five wharves in Taichung
H.I.T. and Yangming Marine Transport Corp. reportedly will spend U.S.$90.9 million to lease and operate five wharves at the Port of Taichung, Taiwan.
FastConnect II starts at Singapore
The Port of Singapore Authority started its enhanced transshipment system, FastConnect II, on 17 Dec. The time-gap for approvable connections has been reduced, and automatic permission is granted for intra-terminal movements. There is a minimum time period of two hours between the time the first ship leaves and the second arrives.
Contract to design berth expansion at Aqaba awarded
Jordan has awarded a U.S.$460,000 design contract to two firms: Consolidated Consultants, Amman, Jordan, and Rendal Palmer and Tritton, United Kingdom. They will work on a design to expand an industrial berth at Aqaba which will handle increased fertilizer exports by 2000. The contract includes tender documents for construction of the berth.
More piers at Sheikh Zayed
The Abu Dhabi Ports Authority has opened five new piers at Sheikh Zayed, United Arab Emirates.
SHIPYARDS
South Korean strike update
Workers at South Korean shipyards, along with employees throughout the country, suspended their strikes on 30 Dec. for the new year. The strikes began 26 Dec. and unions have threatened to resume the general strike if the government does not alter or retract the controversial labor bill that sparked the strikes.
Hindustan Shipyard capital restructuring approved
The Indian government has approved a capital restructuring plan for Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., and as a result, a joint venture with Kvaerner A/S will likely go forward. Accumulated interest on a government loan will be waived and another loan will be converted to equity. Under the venture, Kvaerner would increase a 40 percent stake in the yard to 60 percent after two years. Kvaerner will also undertake a technology transfer and order procurement scheme totaling U.S.$300 million.
Guangzhou to build two timber carriers
Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd. has received a contract to build two 27,000-dwt timber carriers for a Chinese firm, it was announced 27 Dec.
Sembawang orders six harbor tugs
Sembawang Maritime has ordered six harbor tugs for U.S.$24 million. Two are being built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. and two are building at Matsuura Tekko Zosen, with one to be delivered in June. An order for two 3,600 brake horsepower tugs will be placed in the first quarter.
Allseas and Sembawang in dispute
Sembawang Corp. is seeking U.S.$165 million from Allseas S.A. for wrongfully terminating a conversion contract. Allseas, meanwhile, is seeking U.S.$465 million in damages in the dispute. In 1993, Allseas contracted with Sembawang to convert the the M/V Solitaire (127,435-dwt bulk carrier built in 1972) to the largest pipe-laying ship in the world. After several design changes, the contract was canceled by Allseas in October 1995.
Gdynia Shipyard delivers 10th ship
Gdynia Shipyard delivered its 10th ship of 1996 on 24 Dec. The M/V CMB Encounter, a 1,100-TEU capacity containership, is for Alpha Ship G.m.b.H. and will be registered in Germany. The vessel was at the outfitting quay only 30 days.
Third of four L.N.G. carriers delivered to Abu Dhabi National Oil
Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc.'s New Turku Shipyard delivered the M/V Al Hamra, the third of four L.N.G. carriers for Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.'s National Gas Shipping Ltd., on 2 Jan. The 135,000 cubic meter/175,500 cubic yard ship will carry L.N.G. from Abu Dhabi Gas Liquification Co.'s Das Island facility to Tokyo Electric Power Co., Japan. The M/V Mubaraz (72,950-dwt) was delivered in January 1996 and the M/V Mraweh (68,500-dwt) was delivered in June. The final ship will be delivered in May.
OPERATIONS
German rivers effected by winter weather, Main-Danube section closed
More than 200 kilometers/124 miles of the Elbe River were closed at midnight 29 Dec., from the Saale River to Doemitz, Germany, due to worsening winter weather conditions. Sections of the Danube and Main rivers in Bavaria were frozen over in sections, with the Danube-Main canal frozen solid. The Elbe-Havel canal in northern Germany was closed 28 Dec. and the Mittellandkanal was closed 29 Dec. Shipping on the Elbe River declined last week to about 10 percent of normal volume as the ice began to build. On 2 Jan., canals in eastern France were also closed due to the freezing conditions.
Houston Ship Channel closed
The Houston Ship Channel closed due to fog at 0700 1 Jan. It remained closed 2 Jan. Twenty-three inbound and 10 outbound ships have been delayed.
China will not allow Taiwanese flags on ships in Hong Kong
China announced on 27 Dec. that Taiwanese-registry vessels that call at Hong Kong after the British colony is turned over to China on 1 July will not be allowed to fly the Taiwanese flag. Flying the Republic of China flag is banned in China. It was also asked that Hong Kong-registry vessels that call at Taiwan receive "reciprocal treatment."
Taiwan refuses to let ship call for emergency repairs over flag dispute
The M/V Da Long (Chinese-registry 4,462-gt, 7,067-dwt bulk carrier built in 1981, operated by Shekou Shipping and Transportation Co. Ltd.) has been barred from calling at Keelung, Taiwan, for emergency repairs. The ship refused to fly the Taiwanese flag. The M/V Da Long began taking on water in a cargo hold on 20 Dec. off Taiwan while sailing from Malaysia to Japan. Following international practice, the ship flew a Taiwanese flag and took down its Chinese flag when it called at Suao, Taiwan. After repairs, the ship again began taking on water and last week requested to call at Keelung. But the M/V Da Long insisted that it would not fully display the Taiwanese flag, and would instead keep it folded after raising it. As the ship is not in danger of sinking, entry has been refused.
U.K. to operate prison ships
The United Kingdom will reportedly reintroduce prison ships next month to relieve prison overcrowding. The Resolution, a six-deck vessel docked on the Hudson River in New York, will reportedly be moored off Portland, England. The vessel can accomodate 500 inmates.
Final Iranian attack submarine arrives at Port Said
The last of three Taregh-class Attack Submarines for the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy arrived at Port Said, Egypt, on 31 Dec., accompanied by another vessel. The submarine, a Warshavyanka-class or Project 977EKM (N.A.T.O.: Kilo-class), built by United Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg, Russia, was to enter the Suez Canal on 2 Jan. or 3 Jan.
SHIP TRANSFERS
M/V Southern Cross sold
Festival Cruises has bought the M/V Southern Cross (17,270-gt, 2,352-dwt passenger ship built in 1972) for U.S.$34 million, a price that also includes a refit before delivery in the fall. The 980-berth ship was formerly the M/V Starship Majestic and operated for CTC Cruise Lines. The ship will sail from Italy.
Stena in lease-back for the M/V Stena Jutlandica
Stena Line A.B. has sold the M/V Stena Jutlandica (2,950-dwt ro/ro and passenger ferry built in 1983) to Stena Rederi for U.S$100 million. Stena Line will lease the 1,500-passenger vessel back for operations.
CASUALTIES
Seventeen killed and three missing in capsizing in Greece
The M/V Dystos (Greek-registry 6,197-dwt bulk carrier built in 1972, converted to a cement carrier in 1985, classed with Lloyd's Register, owned and operated by Heracles Shipping Co.) capsized 28 Dec. off Kimi, Evia Island, Greece, in bad weather. The vessel sank 30 Dec. Seventeen people were killed and three are missing. Christos Anagnostou, 22, was the only survivor. A member of a maritime training academy, he said a large wave struck the ship causing it to list 45 degrees. Before the ship had recovered, a second large wave struck and the ship capsized, probably after the cargo shifted. Anagnostou jumped overboard and fired flares. The M/V Dystos was carrying 5,300 tons of cement from Volos to Piraeus. In addition to the crew, one crewmember was travelling with his wife while another crewmember's wife and 12-year-old daughter were also aboard. Six divers entered the ship 29 Dec. while vessels and aircraft continued searching the area. Five Greek Coast Guard personnel have been suspended pending an inquiry into allegations of delays in responding to the capsizing. They are accused of delaying informing senior Greek Merchant Marine Ministry officials. The first Greek Coast Guard personnel arrived at the M/V Dystos 10 hours after the capsizing. A Greek court on 30 Dec. ordered an invesigation into the allegations by Deputy Prosecutor Nikos Makris.
Nine killed, several missing in barge explosion
At least nine people were killed and several are missing in an explosion on a wooden barge carrying 60 metric tons of gasoline in Guangdong Province, China. The barge exploded and caught fire early 29 Dec. while moored at Leizhou. The gasoline was reportedly being carried without permission.
Containership collides with trawler in New Zealand, five killed
The M/V Sydney Express (7,000-dwt, 592-TEU capacity containership built in Germany in 1996, owned and operated by Tasman Express Line Ltd.) collided with the F/V Maria Luisa (17-meter/56-foot trawler) at the entrance to the Port of Wellington, New Zealand, the night of 29 Dec. Five people aboard the trawler, all of the same family, were killed. One crewmember survived. Weather conditions at the time were said to be clear and calm. The master of the M/V Sydney Express has been exempted from pilot requirements since 1985.
Two dead and three missing after grounding off South Korea
The M/V Jutha Jessica (Thai-registry 6,677-gt, 13,579-dwt general cargo vessel built in 1972 by Nakskov Skibs Entrepriser A/S, operated by Jutha Maritime Co.) ran aground on a rock outcropping in high winds at 1340 1 Jan. as it entered the Port of Pusan, South Korea, to avoid a storm. Twenty-four crewmembers, including the master, were rescued. Some suffered minor injuries. Three crewmembers are missing and two were killed. The crew consisted of Thai citizens, and South Korean personnel rescued the survivors from ropes draped over the hull. A helicopter also rescued several crewmembers from the stern. The ship has reportedly broken in half and is partially submerged. The M/V Jutha Jessica left Nagoya, Japan, with steel pipes on 28 Dec. It anchored off Pusan 30 Dec. The ship previously carried the names M/V Charlottenborg, M/V Afrika and M/V Unisierra. Perhaps amazingly, a ship of the same name operated by the same firm sank under similar circumstances in 1991. That M/V Jutha Jessica was raised from a Japanese anchorage, repaired and sold to Chinese interests.
Master missing after vessel sinks off Bangladesh
A small Bangladeshi-registry vessel sank after colliding with another vessel near Chittagong, Bangladesh, late 31 Dec. The vessel was carrying 1,200 tons of fertilizer to Chittagong, which had been unloaded from a bulk carrier in the Bay of Bengal. Fifteen crewmembers were rescued but the master is missing.
Tanker loaded with oil abandoned in Sea of Japan, one missing
The crew of the M/V Nakhodka (Russian-registry 13,157-gt, 20,471-dwt tanker built in 1970, operated by Primorsk Shipping Co.) abandoned ship at 0250 2 Jan. in the Sea of Japan, about 106 kilometers/65.7 miles northeast of the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Thirty-one of the 32 crew were rescued after they boarded lifeboats and were spotted by two Japanese Maritime Safety Agency aircraft about 0935. The 31 were aboard three lifeboats, while two others had capsized. Six vessels and aircraft are continuing to search for the missing crewmember, master Valery Melnikov. The ship developed a 20 degree port list and an oil slick 1.8 kilometers/1.1 miles by 300 meters/1,000 feet is leaking from the forward area of the ship. It is estimated that two-thirds of the 19,000 tons of C oil has spilled. The M/V Nakhodka was sailing from China to Russia. Conditions in the area included six-meter/20-foot seas and fog.
Tanker runs aground off New York
The M/V Reliable II, a small gasoline tanker owned by Eklof Marine, ran aground off New York the night of 25 Dec. The ship, carrying 1,500 barrels of gasoline, ran aground on sand off East Rockaway Inlet. The M/V Great Gull, another Eklof Marine tanker, lightered the M/V Reliable II. By dawn 26 Dec., the two had sailed to the RAD Oil Co. terminal at Oceanside.
U.S. Navy assists fishing vessel in the Carribean
The U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class Guided-Missile Cruiser U.S.S. Chancellorsville (CG 62) rescued the crew of the F/V Socrates (Ecuadorian-registry) in the southern Caribbean Sea early Dec 18. The vessel had been adrift for 10 days when a crewmeber on the naval vessel saw an F/V Socrates crewmember waving a burning flag above his head. A small boat was sent to the fishing vessel, which found to have damaged reduction gear. After providing food and water, the vessel was taken in tow to Colombia. During the tow, a seam in the forward bilge of the F/V Socrates split and a shaft seal began leaking. A P-250 pump was set-up, which removed the water while the vessel's own pump was repaired.
Questions arise relating to the sinking of the M/V Jahan
New information has become available about the sinking of the M/V Jahan (Belize-registry 8,757-gt, 15,022-dwt SD14-type general cargo ship built in 1972, classed by Hellenic Register, owned and operated by Seatime Shipping Pte. Ltd.) at 0445 27 Dec., reportedly at 32 degrees south, 0 degrees 45 minutes east (about 1,090 kilometers/680 miles west of Cape Town, South Africa). All 28 crewmembers are missing. The ship left Santos, Brazil, on 25 Nov. for repairs outside the port limits. The repairs were completed 9 Dec., and the ship, on charter to Glencore, London, sailed from Santos for Iraq with 14,000 tons of sugar. The ship then apparently took 17 days to sail about 4,800 kilometers/3,000 miles. The M/V Jahan sent a distress call at 2345 26 Dec. in what were said to be fair weather conditions. The Ghanian master reported that the ship was experiencing uncontrollable flooding and the crew, mostly Bangladeshi citizens, would be forced to abandon ship. The distress call was not a general call, however, but was sent via normal telex to Seatime Shipping in Singapore. Seatime Shipping then passed the information to the Australian Marine Rescue Coordination Center, and then to the South African M.R.C.C. The ship had an Inmarsat C system, but it was not used. South African Air Force C-130B Hercules aircraft from the No. 28 Squadron at Waterkloof Air Base, Pretoria, headed to the area, with three ships - the M/V Cape Falcon (161,475-dwt bulk carrier built in 1993, operated by Soc. Anon. Monegasque), the M/V Captain Panagiotis and the M/V Southgate (25,417-dwt bulk carrier built in 1982, operated by Soc. Anon. Monegasque) - arriving 28 Dec. The search was abandoned 29 Dec. after a 7,800-square kilometer/3,000-square mile area was covered. Nothing was found.
M/V Herceg Novi removed at Singapore
The wreck of the M/V Herceg Novi (Maltese-registry 14,714-dwt bulk carrier built in 1981, operated by Milena Ship Management Co. Ltd.) has been removed by Smit International Singapore Pte. Ltd. and Semco Salvage and Marine Pte. Ltd. The ship collided with the M/V Ming Galaxy (Taiwanese-registry 31,264-dwt containership built in 1980, owned and operated by Yangming Marine Transport Corp.) on 18 Aug. about five kilometers/three miles east of the Raffles Lighthouse, Singapore. Despite precautions, the wreck was hit on 19 Aug. by the M/T Andaman Sea (Panamanian-registry 89,039-dwt crude oil tanker built in 1980, owned and operated by Tanker Pacific Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.) and on 26 Aug. by the M/V Stefanos (Greek-registry 15,767 bulk carrier built in 1978).
(AT) LAST...BUT NOT LEAST...
British Columbia seiner donated to museum
The British Columbia salmon seiner pictured on the reverse of the old Canadian $5 bill has been donated to the Vancouver Maritime Museum..
