.: 3-Apr-2019 :.
Maritime SAR Organisations urged to Celebrate Successful Rescue Ops
"Every day all around the world, maritime search and rescue (SAR) volunteers and professionals do everything they can to help those in distress at sea. It's a tradition as old as anyone can remember and enshrined in international and maritime law - but we shouldn't take it for granted" says Theresa Crossley, CEO International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF).
She goes onto explain that: "The IMRF has 113 member organisations in 52 countries around the world and every day their teams are saving lives at sea. It's their passion, it's what they do, and it's become normal. But if any of us takes a step back, we can quickly see how exceptional these people are and how incredible their actions as individuals, as teams or thanks to new technology and innovative practices, really are.
"Because this is their 'every day', we forget how awe-inspiring their commitment, skill and bravery really is. Which is why we are calling on everyone involved in maritime SAR to 'take a step back' and to celebrate the dedication of their colleagues or recognise the equipment that today makes possible SAR operations that would have been unthinkable even a few short years ago.
"It is time to say thank you and well done!"
The highly regarded IMRF Awards are in their fourth year. They attract nominations from around the world, covering everything from those involved in the establishment of a national maritime emergency service, to local heroes who have dedicated their entire lives to establishing or improving services to save lives at sea in their region.
They recognise volunteers and professional SAR personnel alike, as well as those behind the scenes of a rescue, who ensure that effective rescue plans are in place, provide training, or develop equipment, all of which helps to save more lives.
The IMRF Awards 2019 offer four categories for nominations:
• Individual: For Outstanding Individual Contribution to a Maritime SAR Operation
• Team: For Outstanding Team Contribution to a Maritime SAR Operation
• Innovation & Technology: For Innovation and Technology in the field of Maritime SAR
• Lifetime Achievement: The Vladimir Maksimov Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Maritime SAR Sector
The 2019 IMRF Awards lunch will take place on board HQS Wellington, an historic vessel moored on the River Thames in London, on 10 September. This prestigious event will be part of London International Shipping Week (9 - 13 September 2019), a week which attracts high-level government representatives and shipping industry leaders from around the world.
Nominations can be submitted online, or by post. Visit www.international-maritime-rescue.org for more details and to submit a nomination.
Posted On:3-Apr-2019
Crew killed by lashing rope, NZ
A man, understood crew member, died after being hit by loose wire rope while lashing deck cargo of timber on board of bulk carrier CORESKY OL, docked at Gisborne, Northern Island NZ, on Apr 2 or in the morning Apr 3. After fatal hit, he was still alive and taken to hospital, where he passed away. CORESKY OL though ready to set sail, detained for investigation. Bulk carrier is bound for Korea.
Fishermen from Maharashtra attack Gujarat sailors in sea
Once again Gujarat fisherman were attacked by a group of fisherman from Maharashtra mid sea about 35 nautical miles from Nava Bandar coast in Porbandar, At least three sailors of the total nine on board the fishing trawler Meghdoot Prasad were injured in the attack that took place in the intervening night of March 23 and 24 March.
The incident came to light when the sailors returned to porbandar shore on Monday evening.
According to boat owner Somwar Majithiya who is also the sarpanch of Nava Bandar the local fisherman were attacked when they were fishing mid sea. About 20-22 fishing boats belongimg to Maharashtra fishermen surrounded the Gujarat fishermen and pelted stones at them injuring at least three.
The Maharashtra fishermen also ransacked our boat and damaged its outer body. The damage could be to the tune of Rs,2 Lakh or more. They have also destroyed our fishing nets, " Majithiya told TOI.
The boat owner has lodged a complaint with the Porbandar Marine police and further investigation in the matter was underway.
This is not the first time that the Gujarat fishermen were attacked mid sea by their Maharashtra counterparts.
TOP Ships Secures Time Charter with Shell
Athens-based tanker owner and operator TOP Ships has reached a time charter agreement with Shell Tankers Singapore Private Limited for one of its product/chemical tankers.
Under the deal, the company s 50,000 dwt M/T Eco Palm Desert would be hired until September 2020.
The time charter with Shell consists of a fixed amount per day plus a 50% profit share for earned rates over the fixed amount and replaces a pre-existing charter, TOP Ships explained.
"As of today, we have two vessels that offer exposure in the spot market during a period when the prevailing sentiment is bullish. If the positive market expectations materialize, our results will benefit as a result of this profit sharing arrangement," Evangelos Pistiolis, President and CEO of TOP Ships, said.
Star Bulk, ER Capital Waive Four Vessel Options
Greek shipping firm Star Bulk Carriers has reached an agreement with Germany's E.R. Capital Holding to abandon options related to the acquisition of four Capesize dry bulk vessels.
Pursuant to the development, the company has zero remaining equity capital expenditure due either for vessel acquisitions or for its scrubber program.
The four units were a part of a deal agreed between the parties in late August 2018, under which Star Bulk Carriers was to acquire three firm operating dry bulk vessels within 2018, and four optional operating dry bulk vessels in 2019 from E.R. Capital Holding.
The bulkers in question were ER Bourgogne, ER Brandenburg, ER Brighton, ER America, ER Bayonne, ER Borneo and ER Buenos Aires, all of them constructed in 2010.
The first three units, which were handed over to their new owner in the fourth quarter of 2018, were acquired for an aggregate of around 1.34 million common shares of Star Bulk and USD 41.7 million in cash. The optional ships were expected to join the company s fleet between early April and mid-July 2019.
Star Bulk Carriers was to pay a price of USD 105.39 million, or USD 26.35 million per vessel, for the options.
Fincantieri Starts Lengthening Windstar Cruises Ships
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has held a steel cutting ceremony marking the start of Seattle-based Windstar Cruises vessel upgrade program.
The ceremony, held at Arsenale Triestino San Marco shipyard in Trieste, saw the first cut in the new steel that will become the first of three new ships sections as part of Windstar s USD 250 million Star Plus initiative.
Under the initiative, dubbed as the most complex and comprehensive small ship lengthening, engine replacement, and renovation project undertaken in cruising, Windstar will renovate half of its entire fleet, namely Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride.
The project is scheduled to begin with work on Star Breeze in October 2019 and end with the departure of the Star Pride from the yard in November 2020.
The units ships would be cut in half to allow the installation of a new stepped mid-body section that will lengthen each vessel by approximately 25 meters to 160 meters. The total capacity of the "new" expanded ships will be 312 guests. The sections will be built in Trieste and then transported by barge to the Fincantieri yard in Palermo Sicily to be inserted into the Windstar ships along with the new engines.
The timeline requires the new sections to be fabricated from April through September, shipped in October, and then inserted into Star Breeze so that it can be completed in time for its arrival for re-inaugural activities at the port of Miami on March 19, 2020.
"This is not about just cutting a ship in half and making it bigger. We are replacing the engines and back of house too, so that these ships deliver on their promise of visiting smaller ports and special waterways of the world with a softer environmental footprint for generations to come," John Gunner, Vice President of Expansion Projects for Windstar Cruises, said.
Qatar to Release LNG Carrier Shipyard Tender in a Few Weeks
Qatar would soon release its tender for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, according to Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the country s energy minister and the CEO of Qatar Petroleum.
"In a few weeks, qualified shipyards will be invited to participate in a tender for the provision of LNG ship construction slots for the LNG shipping fleet required for the LNG expansion project," he said.
The upcoming tender was revealed at the sidelines of the 19th International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas in Shanghai (LNG2019), during which Qatar Petroleum unveiled a number of major contracts for Qatar's LNG expansion project, designed to increase LNG production capacity from 77 to 110 million tons per year by 2024.
Some of the contracts include awarding the fabrication and installation of the offshore jackets to McDermott, as well as the deal for early site works required to prepare the site of the four new 8 mtpa LNG mega-trains in Ras Laffan Industrial City.
Additionally, Al-Kaabi confirmed that Qatar Petroleum is in the tendering phase for 8 rigs for the development drilling. The onshore facilities FEED will be completed in the next few days, while the main invitations to tenders for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of the facilities would be issued before the end of this month.
In mid-February, 2019, Al-Kaabi confirmed the speculations that the Middle Eastern nation would order up to 60 new LNG carriers at a press conference held on the sidelines of the launch of TAWTEEN programme, according to The Peninsula.
At the time, he explained that Qatar was in advanced negotiations to order between 50 and 60 gas carriers to transport the additional volume of nearly 50 million tonnes of LNG, including the LNG output volume abroad.
CTM s Supramax RSA Welcomes d Amico
d Amico Dry Cargo, part of the Italian d Amico Group, has become the latest member to join C Transport Maritime s (CTM) Supramax Revenue Sharing Agreement (RSA).
As informed, the first of d'Amico s Supramax bulkers to join the RSA fleet will be M/V Medi Bangkok and M/V Medi Paestum.
The 68,927 cbm Medi Bangkok and the 70,700 cbm Medi Paestum were built in Japan in 2006 and 2009, respectively. The vessel pair is part of d Amico Group s fleet which comprises around 120 vessels.
According to CTM, the Supramax RSA is currently the largest Supramax pool on the market. In the RSA, all of the vessels are run together and the incomes generated are distributed to the members according to the revenue earning capabilities of their vessels within the agreement.
Operations of the pool commenced in 2013, with five members and thirteen vessels increasing to over 60 ships today. The average age of the ships in the fleet is four years, with sizes of vessels ranging from 45,000 to 64,000 dwt.
In 2018, tonnage carried by vessels in the RSA fleet amounted to a total of 21.961,031 tons.
Maran Gas Pens LNG Carrier Charter Deal with Japanese JERA
Greece-based shipping company Maran Gas Maritime, a subsidiary of the Angelicoussis Group, has concluded a time charter contract with Japan s JERA for one LNG carrier newbuild.
Maran Gas signed the agreement with LNG Marine Transport Limited (LMT), a unit of JERA, in late March 2019.
Russia s Novatek Enters Arctic LNG 2 Supply Deals
Russian gas producer Novatek has entered into two Heads of Agreement (HoA) for the sale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Arctic LNG 2 project.
The HoAs were signed with UK-based energy and commodity trading company Vitol and Spain s energy company Repsol.
Meet the Future of the Industry at Navingo Career Event
Everyone who is interested or curious about a career in the maritime, offshore and energy sector can register for free to visit the Navingo Career Event on 23 May 2019 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. At the Navingo Career Event career and development in this innovative sector come together. Visitors meet leading employers, participate in case studies, discuss the latest developments in the sector, receive career advice and partake in several experiences.
Crane Hits Oasis of the Seas in Dry Dock
A large crane collapsed onto Royal Caribbean s cruise ship Oasis of the Seas in a floating dry dock at the Grand Bahama Shipyard on April 1.
Eight construction personnel suffered minor injuries in the incident, which also resulted in some damage aboard one of the world s largest cruise vessels, according to local media reports.
Belships Grows Fleet with Supramax Bulker
Norway-based bulk ship operator Belships has signed an agreement to acquire a 58,700 dwt bulk carrier from Wenaas Shipping AS.
The Supramax bulker was built at Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu) in the Philippines in 2008.
As informed, the agreed purchase price is USD 13 million, of which half will be paid in cash.
As NSC Moves against Illegal Surcharges by Shipping Lines
The challenges facing Nigerian shippers are too many and from different directions. Apart from the issues of infrastructure in Nigerian ports environment that have impacted negatively on trade facilitation locally, importers have had to contend with the surcharges imposed on them by shipping agents who are acting on the dictations of multinational shipping lines under different conferences involved in movement of goods from one continent to another.
Subic container port installs more stackers to boost capacity
The Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), operator of the Subic Container Terminals 1 and 2, has acquired four additional reach stackers to ensure efficient port operations and optimize container yard space here.
The installation of reach stackers is part of the terminal operator s initiative to further enhance its capacity in handling unladen containers from the surge of imports, after being assigned as evacuation center for empty containers last year, the SBITC said in a statement.
Port of Rotterdam Authority starts partnership with North Brabant region for more inland shipping freight transport
The Port of Rotterdam Authority, Multimodal Coordination Foundation and Brabant Advice Centre (MCA Brabant) signed a partnership agreement. The objective of the partnership is to realise increased container transport via inland shipping between Rotterdam and North Brabant.
Fujitsu and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Determine Effectiveness of AI Ship Collision Risk Prediction Technology
Fujitsu Limited has announced the results of a field trial conducted with the assistance of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in analyzing marine traffic risks in the Singapore Strait. Fujitsu has demonstrated the usefulness of a novel ship collision risk prediction technology that leverages the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in predicting near misses between vessels.