Archive for April, 2009
Marine Safety Investigation Report - Preliminary Loss of containers from Pacific Adventurer off Cape Moreton, Queensland, 11 March 2009
the Hong Kong registered container ship Pacific Adventurer lost 31 containers overboard in gale force weather conditions and large swells. The ship was about seven miles east of Cape Moreton, Queensland. All the containers, carrying ammonium nitrate prills, sank. However, two of the ships fuel oil bunker tanks were holed as the containers went overboard. [...]
Ships ‘Sitting Ducks’ for Attacks, With Few Options
Ships and their crews are attractive targets for pirates and vessel owners don’t have many options for lessening the chance of attacks, shipping experts said.
“There’s not an awful lot you can do with an oil tanker that can barely do 14 (16 miles per hour) or 15 knots, you’re a bit of a sitting duck,” [...]
IMO out to rope in more seafarers via campaign
THE International Maritime Organisation (IMO) intends to intensify efforts to rope in more recruits in the “Go to Sea!” campaign.
The campaign, which was launched in November, was also supported by independent international shipping association BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping and International Shipping Federation (ISF), International Association of Dry Cargo Ship-owners, the International Association of Independent [...]
Carriers Stick to Routes Despite Pirates
Two major container carriers said they are maintaining the routing of the big ships that ply the trade lane between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal during the recent spate of pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa, but they are increasing security measures.
Both Maersk Line and APL told The Journal of Commerce that [...]
Tebma Shipyards to go slow on capacity expansion
The Chennai-headquartered Tebma Shipyards Ltd is going slow on its capacity expansion programme though it is “not affected by economic slowdown”.
Mr P.K. Balan, Chairman, Tebma, told Business Line that the company had plans to set up two shipyards in eastern and western costs. Though offshore vessel building segment is not affected by the slowdown, availability [...]
MAERSK ALABAMA MASTER RESCUED
THE master of US-flag containership Maersk Alabama, Richard Phillips has been rescued by US forces. Unconfirmed reports say that three of the four pirates who had been holding him hostage in the ship’s lifeboat were killed during the operation to release Capt Phillips.
The ship’s owner has released the following statement: “Maersk Line, Limited was informed [...]
Shippers face higher insurance as pirates run amok
Shipping your oil across the Gulf of Aden? Don’t forget your piracy insurance.
As a ragtag group of gunmen faced off for days against the U.S. Navy near the coast of Somalia before a cargo ship captain was freed Sunday, industry-watchers say shipping companies already smarting from the global downturn are forced to pony up extra [...]
Pipavav crane uplifts productivity
Pipavav port
The maiden ME3 call by MV Nedlloyd Drake at Pipavav port was marked by operational excellence of the port, according to port sources. The gross crane productivity was recorded at 41.51 mph, the highest for the port, setting an operational benchmark.
Maersk Line’s ME3 service provides shippers in Gujarat and North West India with [...]
Grim news for tanker owners, single hull vessels look set to vanish from the market
tanker
In a weak freight market, like the one shaping up in the tanker sector during the first months of 2009, the “weak” seem set to be eliminated, as is the case for single hull tankers. According to the latest weekly report from Gibson, “we are very close to the end for the single hull tanker. [...]
American Club warns of Singapore collision dangers
The American P&I Club has alerted members of the collision dangers that laid-up ships can present to vessels sailing through, or anchoring in, the territorial waters of Singapore, including the eastern and western outer port limit (OPL) anchorages.
“Our very recent experience of certain, thankfully only small, collision claims, together with more general comments from other [...]
