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DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2008 – 072 

Number 072 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Friday 14-03-2008 

News reports received from readers and Internet News articles taken from various news sites. 

SVITZER OCEAN TOWAGE 

Jupiterstraat 33 Telephone : + 31 2555 627 11 

2132 HC Hoofddorp Telefax : + 31 2355 718 96 

The Netherlands E-mail: oceantowage.sales@svitzer.com 

The ALBATROS seen in Sydney 

Photo : Gilbert Becks. Club Cruise NV. 

IF YOU HAVE PICTURES OR OTHER SHIPPING RELATED INFORMATION FOR THE NEWS 

CLIPPINGS ?? PLEASE SEND THIS TO : 

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Distribution : daily 3950+ copies worldwide Page 1 3/13/2008


EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS 

Prins opent “de Belgische Bus” het 

nieuwe kantoor Rotterdams 

loodswezen 

Prins Willem Alexander heeft woensdag het 

nieuwe kantoor van het Loodswezen in de 

regio Rotterdam-Rijnmond geopend. Het 

Loodswezen verkast van Hoek van Holland 

naar een nieuwe plek in de Europoort 

tegenover de havens van de Maasvlakte. Het terrein bevat naast een kantoor, een helikopterveld en een haven voor 

de loodsboten. 

Bij het nieuwe terrein liggen de boten 

waarmee de loodsen 24 uur per dag naar 

zeeschepen worden vervoerd om de schepen 

zo veilig en vlot mogelijk de Rotterdamse 

haven in te loodsen. In de Rotterdamse 

haven werken 220 loodsen. Jaarlijks loodsen 

zij 65.000 schepen door de haven. Eenmaal 

op het schip is de loods de adviseur van de kapitein. In Nederland werken in totaal 430 loodsen, die jaarlijks zorg 

dragen voor ongeveer 90.000 schepen. 

Foto’s : Piet Sinke & Jan Oosterboer © 


HIGH 

DEEP 

HEAVY 


EURO DEMOLITION BV 

Lijndenweg 5, NL 1948 ND BEVERWIJK 

www.eurodemolition.com 

Nigerian gunmen capture building 

material barge 

Gunmen in speedboats captured a a barge carrying building materials through the creeks of the Niger Delta in 

southern Nigeria, where piracy is one of several threats to the oil industry, security sources said on Wednesday. 

They said the barge and its tug, operated by Nigerian-German construction group Julius Berger, were on their way to 

the delta's main city of Port Harcourt when the attackers struck. 

It was not immediately clear if anyone was hurt. The Niger Delta, home to Africa's biggest oil industry which exports 

about 2.1 million barrels per day, is plagued by militancy and crime. Piracy, abductions for ransom, armed robberies 

and crude oil smuggling are all common problems. Attacks on oil industry vessels and other commercial ships have 

become increasingly frequent over the past two years, prompting seamen's unions to campaign for shipping firms to 

grant crew war-risk bonuses for operating in Nigerian waters. 

Julius Berger, an arm of German firm Bilfinger Berger AG, is the biggest construction group in Nigeria. It is upgrading 

the delta's main east-west road linking the oil industry hubs of Port Harcourt and Warri. A German man working for 

the firm was kidnapped for 12 hours on March 4 and released unharmed, in the first abduction of a foreigner in the 

delta for four months. Before the lull, more than 200 foreigners were kidnapped since early 2006. Thousands of 

expatriate workers and their relatives have been evacuated from the delta since the wave of violence began. Those 

who remain live under tight security, and ransom seekers have increasingly targeted affluent Nigerians. 

VLIERODAM WIRE ROPES Ltd. 

wire ropes, chains, hooks, shackles, webbing slings, 

lifting beams, crane blocks, turnbuckles etc. 

Nijverheidsweg 21 3161 GJ RHOON The Netherlands 

Telephone: (+31)105018000 

(+31) 105015440 (a.o.h.) 

Fax : (+31)105013843 

Internet & E-mail 

www.vlierodam.nl 

info@vlierodam.nl 



Vlottrekken Artemis weer mislukt 

In Frankrijk is opnieuw een poging mislukt om het Nederlandse vrachtschip Artemis vlot te trekken. Onder grote 

publieke belangstelling probeerde een sleepboot de Artemis vanavond de zee in te krijgen, maar de sleepkabel brak 

net als de vorige twee keren. 

Het schip ligt sinds maandag op het strand van Les Sables d'Olonne, toen het er in een zware storm niet in slaagde de 

haven te bereiken. De burgemeester heeft gedreigd dat hij het schip in stukken laat zagen als de poging van 

vanavond mocht mislukken. Hoe het nu verder gaat, is nog niet bekend. Een nieuwe sleepactie is in ieder geval nog 

niet gepland. ,,We gaan ons eerst beraden'', aldus een zegsman van de rederij. 

The tug WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE seen arriving at Cape Town towing the barge Al Baraka 1 

Photo’s : Glenn Kasner © 

'Luxury' cruise victims demand money back 

Passengers of a luxury cruise ship filed a NIS 2.7 million class action suit this week against Caspi Cruise Line in Tel Aviv 

District court, to recover ticket costs and receive damages for their unpleasant and aborted experience. Of nearly 

1,000 passengers who set sail on The Princess of the Caribbean last September in the Mediterranean, 368 claim 

the ship was anything but the luxury liner advertised by the company. They charge that some of the cabin toilets 

never worked, causing such a stench that passengers avoided staying in their cabins or even slept out on the deck. On 

the third day, passengers awoke to a loud explosion, only to discover when they went on deck that the ship was listing 

to the side. Passengers had to hold onto the railing to walk without falling on certain parts of the deck. 

According to the suit, they disembarked at Rhodes later that day, but when they returned a member of the 

entertainment crew informed them in the name of the captain, the technical problem would be fixed within hours, and 

that they would be compensated with a free additional cruise. Some time later they were informed the ship would not 



be sailing that day, and the company would put them up at a hotel. But they soon discovered they were being driven 

not to a hotel but to the airport, where they had to wait hours for their tickets and passports for the flight to Israel. 

The suit claims many passengers returned with stomach aches, diarrhea and headaches. 

"The company is a travel agent only, and as such is not and cannot be responsible for technical problems transpiring 

on the boat not under its control," said an attorney for Caspi. He countered that "in accordance with the contract, the 

passengers must file a suit against the owners and operators of the boat." Source : Haaretz.com 

OMER N ARRIVED AT THE BREAKERS 

The remains of the ill-fated coaster OMER N finally arrived at Grenaa at the breakers yard. The salvage operation has 

been ongoing since mid-November, but has been interrupted by bad weather. The accommodation house is the largest 

piece of the ship intact. The weather has broken up most of the rest of the vessel, which was built 24 years ago some 

150 metres from this computer in Ringkobing, Denmark. Delivered on February 9, 1984 as Lottelith for the 

Jespergaard-Family at Aerokobing. Eight of a crew of 13 lots their life when the ship capsized with a cargo of fertilizers 

in big-bags on a voyage from Gdansk to Nantes. 

Photo / Text : Bent Mikkelsen © 

Roemeens schip naar de werf gestuurd 



De Waterpolitie van het Korps landelijke politiediensten (KLPD) in Dordrecht maakte maandag 10 maart proces-verbaal 

op tegen de eigenaar van een Roemeens schip in verband met de slechte staat van het schip. Door de Inspectie 

Verkeer en Waterstaat (IVW) is het certificaat van onderzoek ingenomen. Het schip moet ter reparatie naar een werf. 

Omstreeks 14.30 uur kreeg de Waterpolitie de melding dat een Roemeens binnenvaartschip op de Oude Maas door 

problemen met de keerkoppeling in lager wal geraakt was. Een binnenvaarttanker trok het schip los nam het daarna 

langszij mee naar Dordrecht. Nadat het schip was afgemeerd aan de Buiten Kalkhaven ging de Waterpolitie ter 

controle aan boord. 

Het schip was met een rivierloods aan boord onder weg van Nijmegen naar de Maasvlakte om erts te laden. Het was 

ooit gebouwd in Duitsland en via België naar Roemenië verkocht. De agenten constateerden dat de boegschroef die 

volgens het certificaat aanwezig dient te zijn niet gebruikt kan worden omdat de motor verwijderd was. Op het 

voorschip was in het dek een gat van twee bij één meter gemaakt waardoor de boegschroefmotor naar buiten was 

getakeld. Op het gat lag een plaat maar de zaak was niet waterdicht. Dit was ook bij de voorroef het geval. Bij de deur 

en de ramen was de roef doorgerot. Op verschillende plaatsen waren gebreken in de roef met cement, tape en 

purschuim gecamoufleerd. Verder zaten aan beide zijden scheuren op de hoeken waar de denneboom in het 

gangboord overgaat. 

Omdat het schip in geladen toestand nog maar een minimaal vrijboord heeft zou het na vertrek van de Maasvlakte bij 

slechte weersomstandigheden al voor Dordrecht zijn gezonken. Op verzoek van de Waterpolitie kwam een inspecteur 

van IVW ter plaatse en die nam direct het certificaat van onderzoek in. Het schip mocht ook niet meer gaan laden. De 

gebreken moeten eerst op een werf worden verholpen en de schipper krijgt zijn certificaat weer terug na een nieuwe 

keuring door IVW. Bron : Weekblad Schuttevaer 

Canadian TSB issues final report on 

Queen of North Sinking 

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has released its final report into the sinking of the BC Ferries Queen 

of the North, which occurred on March 22, 2006 at Gil Island, Wright Sound, British Columbia. In addition to the 

final report itself, extensive information on the Queen of the North investigation is available here: 

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/media/Major_Investigation/Marine/M06W0052/MI-M06W0052.asp 

At 08:00 p.m. on March 21, 2006, the passenger and vehicle ferry Queen of the North departed Prince Rupert, 

British Columbia, for Port Hardy, British Columbia. On board were 59 passengers and 42 crew members. After entering 

Wright Sound from Grenville Channel, the vessel struck the northeast side of Gil Island at 12:21 a.m. on March 22. 

The vessel sustained extensive damage to its hull, lost its propulsion, and drifted for 1 hour and 17 minutes before it 

sank in 430 m of water. Passengers and crew abandoned the vessel before it sank. Two passengers were unaccounted 

for after the abandonment and have since been declared dead. 

"Essentially, the system failed that night. Sound watchkeeping practices were not followed and the bridge watch 

lacked a third certified person," said Wendy Tadros, Chair of the TSB. "The recommendations we are making today go 

beyond the cause of this sinking to ensure that Canadians will always reach port safely. Passengers are the focus of 

our first two recommendations. In an emergency, all passengers must be accounted for and evacuated to safety. Our 

third recommendation calls for voyage data recorders on all of Canada's large vessels," she added. 

Recommendation M08-01 

That the Department of Transport, in conjunction with the Canadian Ferry Operators Association and the Canadian 

Coast Guard, develop, through a risk-based approach, a framework that ferry operators can use to develop effective 

passenger accounting for each vessel and route. 




That the Department of Transport establish criteria, including the requirement for realistic exercises, against which 

operators of passenger vessels can evaluate the preparedness of their crews to effectively manage passengers during 

an emergency. 


That the Department of Transport extend the requirement for the carriage of voyage data recorders/simplified voyage 

data recorders to large passenger vessels over 500 gross tonnage and all other commercial vessels on an equivalent 

basis to those trading internationally. 

Did ex-lovers' talk help sink Canadian ferry? 

By Allan Dowd 

A conversation between two former lovers navigating a Canadian ferry may have contributed to the ship's fatal sinking, 

according to an investigation released on Wednesday. A distracted bridge crew failed to make a steering change and 

allowed the Queen of the North to sail on the wrong course for nearly 15 minutes until it slammed into an island off 

Canada's Pacific coast in 2006, according to the Transportation Safety Board. 

The board stressed it does not know why the crew failed to realize their mistake, but among the possible distractions 

was a "personal" conversation between the male bridge officer and a female crewmember at the helm. The two had 

ended a romantic relationship two weeks before the accident. The officer told investigators he was sure he ordered the 

course change but there is no evidence the ship made the needed turn, the board said. At the time of the crash there 

should have been a third person on the bridge, and alarms that should have alerted them to danger were turned off. 

When the crew suddenly saw the island looming ahead of the ferry, the less-experienced helmswoman did not know 

how to switch from autopilot to manual steering. 

"The system failed that night," said Pierre Murray, a senior marine investigator with the board. The ship, operated by 

government-owned BC Ferries, sank in the middle of the night of March 22, 2006, after hitting Gil Island near the 

village of Hartley Bay, on its scheduled route down the rugged British Columbia coast. Ninety-nine passengers and 

crew were able to scramble into lifeboats as the ship rapidly sank, but two passengers never made it off the vessel and 

their bodies are assumed to be trapped in the wreckage on the ocean floor. The site is about 145 km (90 miles) south 

of Prince Rupert, in British Columbia's Inside Passage, a route along the rugged coastal wilderness that is traveled by 

thousands of cruise ship tourists each summer. 

Rumors that a romantic relationship contributed to the accident have circulated for a long time, and the TSB refused to 

provide more details on the pair's conversation -- saying only that the bridge crew co-operated fully with the 

investigation. "There's rumors and speculation, and everybody would like to know this, that and the other... I 

understand that, but we're looking at this from a different lens, and from a safety perspective we learned what we 

needed to learn," said TSB Chairwoman Wendy Tadros, The board investigates transportation accidents and 

recommends safety improvements that governments should make. It does not assign blame in its investigations. 

The TSB said its investigation was hampered by the fact the ship did not have a voice-recorder on the bridge -- 

something it has recommended be required for all large passenger ferries in Canada. 

The ferry workers union said the bridge crew was being treated unfairly and they are shattered by what happened the 

night of the accident. "They are being dragged through the mud," union President Jackie Miller told a radio 

interviewer. The bridge officer apologized in a written statement to local media, saying he would gladly have 

exchanged his life for those who died in the crash. The TSB report did not satisfy lawyers representing passengers 

who survived and relatives of the two who died, saying there was radar and other equipment on board to warn them 

the island was ahead. "You tell me what a 14-minute personal conversation is that prevented all of that. It looks like 

they didn't even look out the windows," said Peter Ritchie, who is representing the daughters of a man killed in the 

wreck. BC Ferries said it was disappointed the report did not determine what happened in the ship's final 14 minutes, 

and it said it was already instituting several of the safety measures recommended by investigators. 

(Reported by Allan Dowd; edited by Rob Wilson) 



SKorea battles to contain oil leak after 

tanker accident 

South Korea's coast guard said Wednesday it was battling to contain an oil leak after a tanker collided with a small 

boat off the south coast. Some 200 tons of refined diesel fuel spilt after the accident off the port of Yeosu, some 450 

kilometres (280 miles) south of Seoul, late Tuesday, the Yeosu coast guard said. 

The oil leaked after one of the 4,050-ton oil tanker's diesel fuel containers was partly damaged in the collision with a 

90-ton fishing boat, it said. "No fish farms have been affected yet with the thin oil band moving southward away 

from the mainland in the wild," a coast guard spokesman told AFP. "The diesel fuel oil is expected to evaporate in 

days." He said dozens of patrol boats were spraying pressurised water to help disperse the oil in a bid to speed up its 

natural evaporation. 

South Korea suffered its worst oil spill in December when a barge carrying a construction crane snapped its cables to 

two tugs in rough seas and rammed an anchored 147,000-ton supertanker. The tanker was holed in three places and 

spilt 10,900 tons of crude. Scores of marine farms and kilometres (miles) of beaches, notably in Taean county about 

110 kilometres southwest of Seoul, were devastated. 

Warum Schiffe kentern 

Die Kräfte des Seegangs im Verhältnis zur Stabilität des Schiffes sind entscheidend für eine sichere Fahrt - ein 

Computermodell hilft weiter. Die versunkenen Fähren "Herald of Free Enterprise" und "Estonia" machten 1987 

und 1994 Schlagzeilen, hier waren Hunderte Tote zu beklagen. Andere Unglücke von Frachtern und Fähren stehen 

nicht im Rampenlicht. Für sie interessiert sich ein Konsortium von Schiffbauforschern aus der Technischen Universität 

Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH), der Hamburgischen Schiffbauversuchsanstalt (HSVA), der TU Berlin und Flensburger 

Schiffbau-Gesellschaft. Gemeinsam simulieren sie gefährliche Vorkommnisse durch Seegang, rekonstruieren 

Schiffsverluste und arbeiten daran, die Sicherheit auf den Meeren zu erhöhen. 

"Die Brisanz von seegangsbedingten Schäden ist in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten gestiegen. Die heute verwendeten 

Stabilitätskriterien für Seeschiffe stammen größtenteils noch aus den 30er-Jahren des vergangenen Jahrhunderts. Die 

heutigen Rumpfformen machen speziell Containerschiffe und RoRo-Fähren anfällig für seegangsbedingte Bewegungen, 

die im Extremfall zum Kentern führen können", sagt Prof. Stefan Krüger, Leiter des Instituts für Schiffssicherheit an 

der TU. Ein zweites Problem ist der Schwund von Containern. Krüger: "Jedes Jahr gehen nach Schätzungen 

mindestens zehn- bis fünfzehntausend Container bei schwerem Wetter verloren."Besonders gefährlich sei 

nachlaufender Seegang, also Wellen von achtern, so der Schiffbauingenieur: "Seitlicher Seegang kann einen intakten 

Frachter normalerweise nicht zum Kentern bringen. Schwere See von vorn kann zu Ladungsverlusten führen, aber bei 

ausreichender Stabilität nicht zum Kentern. Bei Wellen von hinten, die in Fahrtrichtung unter dem Schiff hindurch 

laufen, kann es dagegen dazu kommen, dass der Frachter mittschiffs von einer Welle so angehoben wird, dass sein 

Bug und Heck relativ lange aus dem Wasser ragen. Dies ist eine äußerst instabile Situation und kann zum Kentern 

führen." 

Zum Kentern muss das Schiff ins "Rollen" kommen. Das Rollen bezeichnet die seitliche Drehbewegung um die 

Längsachse des Schiffes im Seegang (das Auf und Ab in Längsrichtung heißt Stampfen). Doch wie genau kentern 

Schiffe bestimmter Bauart auf hoher See? Um dies zu erforschen, setzen Experten der HSVA Modellschiffe einem 

möglichst genau definierten Seegang aus. Die Harburger TU-Wissenschaftler gingen parallel dazu einen anderen Weg: 

Sie entwickelten das Simulationsprogramm "Rolls", das per Computer Seegang und Schiffsbewegungen möglichst 

genau nachbildet. 

Wie der Name schon sagt, ist "Rolls" auf das Rollen spezialisiert. In diesem Bereich sei das Programm heute weltweit 

führend, so Krüger, vor allem, weil es so schnell ist und daher eine Vielzahl von Simulationen in angemessener Zeit 

ermöglicht. Wenn die Harburger Simulationen ein Schiff virtuell gekentert haben, werden die Erkenntnisse 

anschließend in Barmbek, im Versuchsbecken der HSVA, am Modell überprüft. 



Die gebündelte Expertise in der Hansestadt führte dazu, dass die Hamburger Experten im Sommer 2006 von der 

schwedischen Regierung den Zuschlag bekommen haben, den Untergang des Fährschiffs "Estonia" zu simulieren - 

Krüger und der Projektleiter Dr. Petri Valanto von der HSVA wollen die Ergebnisse im Mai in Stockholm präsentieren. 

Die "Estonia" sei aber kein typischer Fall für "Rolls", so Krüger. Das Programm wurde Anfang der 80er-Jahre am 

damaligen Institut für Schiffbau der Universität Hamburg entwickelt, zunächst, um die letzten Minuten des Hamburger 

Containerfrachters "E.L.M.A. Tres" nachzuvollziehen. Er sank am 26. November 1981 in einem schweren Sturm vor den 

Bermuda-Inseln, riss 23 der 24 Besatzungsmitglieder mit in die Tiefe. "Mein Kollege und Lehrer Professor Heinrich 

Söding konnte mit dem Programm damals zeigen, dass das Schiff überladen war." 

Anschließend verschwand "Rolls" jahrelang in der Versenkung. Vor gut einem Jahrzehnt kam das Programm wieder ins 

Rollen. Nach dem "Estonia"-Unglück mit 852 Toten brandete eine öffentliche Diskussion um die Sicherheit von Fähren 

auf - weniger auf Werften, denn sie wussten im Prinzip, dass das estnische Fährschiff miserabel gewartet war. Aber 

auch dort gab es eine Sicherheitsdiskussion. Krüger arbeitete damals noch für eine Flensburger Werft: "Die Fähren 

wurden zum einen immer schneller. Zum anderen wurde uns immer bewusster, dass die Kräfte des Seegangs bei der 

Schiffsentwicklung zu wenig berücksichtigt werden." 

So wuchs der Bedarf, mit Hilfe eines Computerprogramms diesen Faktor zukünftig in die Entwicklung der Schiffe 

einzubeziehen. Einen zweiten Impuls setzte das Stockholmer Abkommen. Als Konsequenz der "Estonia"-Katastrophe 

verlangt es, bei den Sicherheitskalkulationen eingedrungenes Wasser an Bord zu betrachten - wieder fehlte zunächst 

entsprechende Software. 

"Rolls" lernte daher Mitte der 90er-Jahre, mit eingedrungenem Wasser zu rechnen. Heute vollziehen die Hamburger 

Experten alle Fälle von gekenterten Fähren und Frachtern nach, von denen sie ausreichendes Datenmaterial 

bekommen - und leisten so einen Beitrag dazu, dass in Zukunft Schiffsunglücke durch Kentern (noch) seltener 

auftreten. 

Werk ECT stil door storm 

De werkzaamheden bij de twee containerterminals van ECT in de Rotterdamse haven lagen woensdag vrijwel geheel 

stil door de storm. De wind stond vol op de terminals. ,,Dan houdt het gewoon op'', zei een woordvoerder. 

De krachten waren volgens hem enorm. Containers werden gewoon van elkaar af geblazen. Het werk is aan het einde 

van de middag, toen de storm voorbij was, weer opgepakt. ,, 

ECT en andere ondernemingen in de haven hebben de afgelopen tijd relatief veel hinder gehad van harde wind. Nog 

geen twee weken geleden werd er op de containerterminals twaalf uur lang niet gewerkt. ,,We hebben vooral last van 

de windstoten, die heviger zijn en langer duren'', zei onlangs de Rotterdamse havenmeester Jaap Lems. 

Het Havenbedrijf Rotterdam treft daarom nieuwe veiligheidsmaatregelen bij zware storm. 

Eight new training vessels for seagoing trade 

The Maritime Academie (lower, intermediate and higher vocational education), with locations in IJmuiden, Amsterdam, 

The Hague, Den Helder and Harlingen, starts a new education concept for its nautical studies in the Netherlands. At 

the initiative of shipping company Spliethoff Beheer B.V. in Amsterdam eight vessels, out of a newbuilding programme 

of 24 cargo vessels, will be equipped with educational facilities. Aim is to improve the output of training schemes and 

to create a closer link between training programmes and the students’ future profession. 

Each vessel will have an extra practice bridge on top of the functional bridge. Other extra facilities consist of, amongst 

other things, four cabins for eight cadets, a cabin for an instructor / training officer, a classroom, a recreation room, a 

sports room and ICT facilities. The instructor / training officer is exclusively on board to supervise the eight students. 

The concept also offers the possibility for training programmes for instructors and exchange programmes between 

seafarers and nautical education institutes. 



Developing and building these extra facilities on board costs € 9,000,000. The national trust for the advancement of 

Dutch shipping, Vaderlandsch Fonds ter Aanmoediging van ’s-Lands Zeedienst, will contribute a total of € 2.500,000 

towards the development and implementation of this new education concept. The platform vocational training Platform 

Beroepsonderwijs (HPBO) subsidizes the project with € 1,000,000 out of its innovative arrangement. The project will 

last 3-5 years. 

Photo : Joop Marechal © 

The Spliethoff Group is one of the largest shipping companies in the Netherlands and controls a fleet of more than 120 

modern seagoing vessels. The Group consists of the companies Spliethoff (world-wide transport of high-value cargo), 

BigLift (heavy cargo), Wijnne & Barends (short sea shipping), Transfennica (container roll-on roll-off transport) and 

Sevenstar (world-wide yacht transport). The Spliethoff Group has more than 2000 employees and most of them have a 

nautical-technical education. The training vessels are developed within the newbuilding programme of the Spliethoff 

Group. 

For more information: www.spliethoff.com 

Norwegian shipowners call for emission 

regulations 

Greenhouse gas emissions from shipping should be regulated globally, either through a cap-and-trade scheme or a 

cap-and-charge system, a top official in the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) said today. 

Norway’s Climate Change Minister Erik Solheim Friday invited business, green groups and academics to form ideas on 

how Norway can contribute to the global climate change policy debate. 

NSA Director Terje Gloersen told the audience his association would support market-based measures to address 

shipping emissions, as long as they are introduced globally. 

“We believe a cap-and-trade scheme is the most interesting option to address shipping emissions,” Gloersen said. 



He briefly outlined a scheme for ship owners world-wide with no free allocation of allowances, and with the possibility 

to purchase offset emissions for those companies that fail to comply with their caps. 

“The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is already looking into how to deal with emissions, and we are hopeful 

that an agreement can be made at the July 2009 meeting, in time for the UN conference in Copenhagen,” he said. 

The NSA would prefer the IMO to set up the scheme, and that it would be attached to the international regime agreed 

upon under the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change. 

The EU commission earlier this week said it would consider bringing shipping into the EU emissions trading scheme 

from 2013 unless the IMO soon came up with a plan to reduce the sector’s carbon dioxide emissions. 

In 2007, the shipping sector emitted 1.17 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), around 2 - 3 per cent of 

global greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto protocol covers only emissions from domestic shipping, not international 

shipping. For Norway, a country operating around 5 per cent of the global fleet, this means that some 3.9 million 

tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually is covered by the UN treaty. 

But Norwegian-owned ships operating internationally emit more than 50 million tonnes of CO2 per year, almost as 

much as the country’s domestic emissions. Gloersen said that globally, shipping’s energy efficiency rate improves by 

around 1 per cent annually, but at the same time shipping activity increases by some 4 per cent per year, causing 

absolute emissions to rise. 

The potential to reduce more is there, however, he argued. For example, if ships slowed their speed by 10 per cent, 

the average emission rate would drop 19 per cent. “Emission regulations can trigger some of the sector’s reduction 

potential,” Gloersen added. 

The NSA director stressed, however, that if international regulation of shipping emissions is to be meaningful, it has to 

cover ships from all the world’s countries. Only 15 per cent of the world fleet sail under flags of countries that are 

defined in Annex I of the UNFCCC, he said. If developing countries reject regulating shipping emissions, such action 

would only address a fraction of the sector’s emitters. “And many of those would probably register under different 

flags,” said Gloersen. 

A second option, he said, could be a so-called ‘cap-and-charge’ regime, under which all ship owners globally had to 

pay a same-level fuel tax to an international fund. 

“Revenue from this fund could be used for adaptation measures, buying offset credits, or investment in research and 

development,” he said. Minister Solheim said at the seminar that the EU is pushing many of the issues where Norway 

and the bloc agree. Instead of trying to influence the debate on all subjects, he had instead chosen to identify a few 

issues where Norway has a chance to play a significant role. 

Norway will aim to have a significant impact on the discussion concerning rainforest projects that reduce emission, 

shipping and carbon capture and storage, the minister said. Source : Marine Norway 

South Korea oil spill devastates marine 

life: official report 

South Korea's worst oil spill has devastated marine life, halving the number of sea plants and mollusks found off the 

western coast, a government report said Thursday. The oil leak also threatened the underwater food chain, 

endangering fish and sea birds, the Environment Ministry report said. Surveys following the spill last December 

showed mollusk populations had plunged to 56 creatures of five species per square metre from 133 creatures of 

eight species as mussels were found to have been considerably contaminated by remnants of crude oil. 



The density of seaweeds per square metre fell 43 percent from February 2007 and phyllospadix iwatensis, a seagrass, 

also declined 47 percent. "Because seagrasses and seaweeds make up the lowest part of the ocean food chain, there 

are risks of second-hand contamination of fish and birds that are at the top of the food pyramid," the report said. 

The surveys, the first since the oil spill, were carried out in order to set up plans to restore damaged beaches and sea 

farms. 

Hong Kong-registered supertanker Hebei Spirit spilled 10,900 tons of crude after it was rammed by a Samsung 

Heavy Industries barge in rough seas off Taean county on December 7. Scores of marine farms and kilometres 

(miles) of beaches were devastated and three people in Taean, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) southwest of Seoul, 

killed themselves in frustration over delays in compensation. Five people -- the skippers of the barge and of the two 

tugs, and the tanker's captain and chief officer -- are on trial on charges of negligence and violating anti-pollution 

laws. Samsung Heavy Industries and Hebei Shipping, a Hong Kong corporation which owns the tanker, have also 

been charged with violating anti-pollution laws. 

P&O liner damaged in bad storms 

A P&O cruise liner on its way from Southampton to the Caribbean has been forced into port for repairs after being 

damaged in stormy weather. Artemis, which is carrying 1,188 passengers, made an unscheduled call at Falmouth, 

Cornwall, to undergo work. 

A P&O spokeswoman said the damage to the anchor stowage area would not affect safety but repairs were needed 

before the ship headed to the Atlantic. Parts of the UK have been battered by storms since early on Monday. 

The spokeswoman said the damage was towards the front of the bow and could not be seen externally. A small boat 

would sail out to Artemis to carry out the repairs, she added. The vessel, the smallest of the P&O Cruises fleet, left 

Southampton 12 hours behind schedule at 2145 GMT on Tuesday, due to the recent bad weather. 

"Due to minor damage to her anchor stowage area sustained during the inclement weather on the passage from 

Southampton, Artemis will make a short unscheduled call into Falmouth to undergo repair," the spokeswoman 

continued. "The damage does not affect the safety of the ship in any way." She said it was hoped Artemis would be 

ready to leave by Wednesday evening. 

On Sunday, P&O Ferries cancelled its sailing from Portsmouth to Bilbao, Spain, and the return journey on Tuesday, 

due to the storms. Latest forecasts show strong winds have begun to ease as the worst of the storms gradually move 

away. Source : BBC News 

Neah Bay Tug Funded 

A tugboat could be back in Neah Bay by July 1 to protect the coast against shipwrecks, thanks to funding approved 

Wednesday by the Washington Legislature. 

The state budget includes $3.7 million to pay for a year of tug operations in the northwest corner of the state — a 

hazardous region where ships enter and leave the Strait of Juan de Fuca from the open ocean. 

Funding for the seasonal tug ran out this year on March 7, which is about a month earlier than normal. During the 

winter, the tug was called to assist six vessels in distress. Since the tug station was established in 1999, it has been 

called out 40 times in winter months, according to records kept by the Department of Ecology. 

Curt Hart of Ecology recently examined what could be called "close calls" during periods when the tug was not on 

station. "We found at least 18 incidents that occurred offseason," he said. "It was not a completely thorough check, 

and we don't have the Coast Guard records, which could be more complete." 

The incidents include large drifting freighters that had lost their power and/or steering for one reason or another. 



"That's the scary thing," Hart said. "If you have a drifting vessel in a very busy turning radius, the risks are very real." 

None of the incidents involved oil tankers, he said, but all the vessels carried come kind of fuel. In one case, a fishing 

boat went aground in a fragile coastal ecosystem. Hart said the next step is to determine if Crowley Maritime, the 

contractor that operated the tug this year, will extend its contract beginning in July. If not, the tug operation will be 

advertised for competitive bidding. 

Crowley was paid $8,500 a day plus fuel since last fall. The new budget provides $10,000 a day to pay for operations 

and fuel, since fuel costs continue to go up. Kathy Fletcher, executive director for People for Puget Sound, an 

environmental group, said she was pleased with the funding, though she remains concerned about the next 3½ 

months, when no tug will be available. 

"The rescue tug has repeatedly saved our marine environment from oil spills," she said. "We have a few nervous 

months ahead, but starting in July we'll be good for a whole year." State Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, 

said there appears to be widespread support for the tug in the Legislature, though state officials continue to hope that 

Congress will provide a major part of the funding. 

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell has been pushing for federal funding. By the time the state money runs out in June 2009, a 

new federal administration will be in office, Rockefeller noted. We can hope with a change in administration that this 

request would be taken more seriously," he said. 

Added Hart, "We would love to have a stable funding source for the response tug. Even this new funding for a full year 

does not give us that stable funding source." Source : Kitsap Sun 

CASUALTY REPORTING 

NECTON AAN LAGER WAL 

Woensdag avond is het binnenvaartschip NECTON door de harde wind aan lager wal geraakt en kwam daardoor ook 

heel even vast te zitten achter de remming van de middensluis te Terneuzen. De sleper HEMIKSEM was snel ter 

plaatse maar hoefde niet in actie te komen, de NECTON kwam na veel wringen op eigen kracht weer vlot. 

Photo / info : TUGSPOTTERS | Alain Dooms © 

23 saved as ship sinks off Zhejiang 

A passing fishing boat rescued 23 Chinese crew members of a cargo ship that sank early Thursday in waters off east 

China, state press said. The fishing boat rescued the crew of the Hong Kong-owned "New Hangzhou" after finding 

the sailors in a life raft off the coast of China's Zhejiang province, Xinhua news agency said. 



The boat, registered in Sierra Leone, sank early Thursday morning while carrying 9,000 tonnes of cargo from China's 

northern port of Tianjin to Vietnam, the report said. Xinhua earlier reported that the ship was owned by a Chinese 

shipping company and registered to Panama. Crew members aboard the ship had first reported via mobile phone that 

the vessel was sinking, the report said. China's eastern coastline has been the scene of several mishaps this year, 

with up to 20 fishermen reported missing after their boats sank during the last week of February alone. 

COLISSION IN MALTA 

The 1984 built Turkish owned & flag general cargo ship AKIN of which the vessel collided with the berthed ship 

AGGELIKI at Fuel Wharf inside Valletta while AKIN was manoeuvring to berth at Laboratory South 2 but with NW 

Force 6 wind gusting on the vessel, it forced her to touch the above mentioned berthed vessel. Local tugs WENZINA 

& LIENI were dispatched from their berth @ Timber Wharf to assist AKIN. Damage not known yet & both ships are 

presented by TROY SHIPPING as their handling agent in Malta. Photo : Lawrence Dalli - Malta Ship Photos © 

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Greek passenger ship runs aground, no 

injuries 

A Greek ship carrying 280 passengers, mainly tourists, ran aground north of the Saronic Gulf island of Poros near 

Athens on Thursday, a Greek official said. 



"The ship ran aground on an islet north of Poros but all passengers are safe and four coastguard vessels, a helicopter 

and other nearby ships are on their way there," a merchant marine ministry official told Reuters. She said it was not 

yet known what had caused the accident, which she said happened in very good weather. The ship was on a daily 

excursion from the port of Piraeus to several Saronic Gulf islands, she said. 

NAVY NEWS 

FRENCH TRAINING SQUADRON FOR NAVAL 

OFFICERS DOCKED IN CAPE TOWN 

The Embassy of France invited 

members of the press to board 

the 182 mtr long Helicopter carrier 

Jeanne d’Arc, a part of the 

French training squadron for 

French naval officers Wednesday, 

12 March on board the Jeanne 

d’Arc at the V&A Waterfront, in 

Cape Town. 

Left : The JEANNE D’ARC seen 

arriving in Cape Town 

Photo : Ian Shiffman© 

Helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc is 

accompanied by the F 70 type anti-submarine warfare destroyer Georges Leygues. The South African stopover is the 

sixth during its 6-month long 

Atlantic and Indian Ocean 

voyage. The main mission of 

the Jeanne d’Arc is to provide 

practical experience to cadets 

during their officer training 

course of four years. 

The GEORGE LEYGUES seen 

in Cape Town 

Photo : Bob Johnston © 

The Jeanne d’Arc is 

commanded by Captain (N) 

Hervé Bléjean, and the 

Georges Leygues by 

Commander Guillaume Chové. 

The French Training Squadron 

for Naval Officers (Groupe 

École d’Application des Officiers 

de Marine, G.E.A.O.M.), took to 

the sea again on 15 December 

2007 for its 43rd 6-month 

mission. There are 124 cadets 

on board, amongst them 12 

women, representing 16 nationalities including one South African. 



Todd Shipyards gets $3.1M ship 

overhaul contract 

Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. has received a $3.1 million contract to overhaul the USNS Guadalupe, a oiler naval vessel 

that provides fuel for Navy ships at sea. 

According to Todd, a subsidiary of Seattle-based Todd Shipyards Corp., the contract work includes: "tank cleaning and 

inspection, galley equipment replacement, habitability space repairs, main engine overhaul work, replacement of the 

low pressure air compressor, and various other machinery, electrical, ventilation, and piping items." 

The Guadalupe is expected to arrive at Todd's Seattle shipyard on April 22 for its 30-day overhaul. Source : Puget 

Sound Business Journal 

www.tos.nl TOS Rotterdam (+31)10 – 436 62 93 E-Mail info@tos.nl 

SHIPYARD NEWS 

The VOS TRAPPER seen during yard trials 

Photo : Frans Lingbeek © 

Coastal Contracts to boost order book 

Coastal Contracts Bhd is edging its order book closer to the RM1bil mark, having secured sales of two offshore support 

vessels (OSV) worth about RM51mil. 

Its vessel order book now stands at about RM931mil, with deliveries stretching into 2010. Executive chairman Ng Chin 

Heng said in a statement the sale marked a remarkable milestone considering the group had an outstanding order 

book of only RM450mil a year ago. 



“We are positive that more orders for OSV will flow in this year due to abundant demand from the oil and gas (O&G) 

sector. 

“Capital expenditure by O&G and infrastructure companies for exploration, development and production activities is 

anticipated to remain intensive supported by growing global fuel consumption and high crude oil prices,” he said. 

Source : The Star 

Jurong Shipyard to deliver second 

jackup to PetroJack 

Jurong Shipyard is on track to deliver the jackup PetroJack II to PetroJack ASA, a subsidiary of Norwegian energy 

group Larsen Oil & Gas, following the rig's naming ceremony on March 8, 2008. 

Scheduled for delivery in 1Q 2008, PetroJack II is the second unit of four deep-drilling offshore jackup rigs originally 

contracted to Jurong Shipyard by PetroJack, which subsequently sold the first and the third unit to an international 

Danish drilling contractor. The fourth unit, to be named PetroJack IV, is scheduled for completion in 4Q 2008. 

PetroJack II is built based on the group's proprietary Baker Marine Pacific Class 375 (BMC Pacific 375) design. The 

jackup rig will be capable of drilling high pressure and high temperature wells to 30,000 ft (9,144 m) while operating in 

375 ft (114 m) of water. Designed with accommodation for 120 men, the rig has the capacity for large variable loads, 

a large liquid mud and bulk mud capacity, extensive deck space, and a large jacking capacity for preload jacking. 

PetroJack II has secured a four-year charter with an international contractor for drilling operations in the Middle 

East. 

In addition to the two BMC Pacific 375 jackup units, Larsen Oil & Gas, also ordered one harsh environment CJ70 

design deep drilling jackup unit as well as three units of sixth generation ultra deepwater dynamic positioning 

semisubmersible drilling units through subsidiaries PetroProd Ltd. and PetroMena ASA, respectively. Source : 

Offshore 

Mitsubishi Heavy aims to double 

shipbuilding profit 

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, Japan's third-largest shipyard, aims to more than double earnings from its shipbuilding 

operations next fiscal year, helped by demand for vessels to carry goods to and from China. 

Operating profit at the Tokyo-based company's shipbuilding and marine business will climb to about 10 billion yen 

(S$135.3 million) in the financial year starting April 1, from an estimated 4 billion yen this year, Shiro Iijima, managing 

executive officer in charge of shipbuilding, said yesterday. 

Mitsubishi Heavy, which builds ships ranging from liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers to container vessels, is seeking 

to tap demand from shipping lines to carry Chinese imports of raw materials and exports of finished goods to the rest 

of the world. The company, which gets 9 per cent of sales from the business, will invest 50 billion yen in the unit by 

2010, Mr Iijima said. 

Mr Iijima was speaking to reporters yesterday at the Nagasaki shipyard, located in Japan's southern island of Kyushu. 

Mitsubishi Heavy expects its operating profit margin to widen to 5 per cent to 6 per cent in the year ending March 

2012, from this year's 1.4 per cent estimate, he said. South Korea ended Japan's 44-year reign as the world's largest 



shipbuilder in 2000. China overtook Japan as the second-largest shipbuilding nation by new orders in 2006 and 

extended its lead last year, threatening to also surpass Japan by construction. 

Shares of Mitsubishi Heavy gained 1.9 per cent to close at 436 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange today. 

The Nagasaki shipyard installed the nation's largest crane that's able to hoist parts weighing as much as 1,200 tons at 

the 1-kilometre dock, Mitsubishi Heavy said recently. The addition of the crane enables the shipyard to build the 

equivalent of seven liquefied natural gas carriers a year, up from five now. 

Mitsubishi Heavy's shipbuilding division will have an operating profit of 4 billion yen for the year ending March 31, as it 

delivers vessels from contracts won at higher rates in 2004 and 2005, according to a Feb 6 estimate from Mitsubishi 

Heavy. 

The division incurred losses in the previous four years as prices were not sufficient enough to absorb increased steel 

costs. Steelmakers, including Posco and Nippon Steel Corp, plan to charge more for steel plates used in ships to 

counter higher raw material costs. 

Nippon Steel seeks to increase domestic contract prices by 20,000 yen a metric ton for plates for the year starting April 

1, company officials, who asked not to be identified, said last month. Prices this year ranged between about 70,000 

yen and 80,000 yen. 

The Shipbuilders' Association of Japan, which represents 20 Japanese builders of vessels, will seek to establish a 

pricing system that enables shipbuilders to charge raised costs onto buyers, a similar price structure adopted for 

commercial planes, chairman Masamoto Tazaki said recently. 

Ship prices are typically set when shipyards receive orders and builders are not able to charge more to customers even 

when additional costs are incurred. Ships are typically delivered three to four years after contracts are made. 

Source : Shippingtimes 

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www.redwise.com 

Maersk fixes two 'F' class PSVs in Denmark 

Braemar Seascope Offshore reports that the large PSV Maersk Frontier (UT745) has been re-chartered for 2-4 years 

from June and another Maersk ’F’ class PSV will take over the remainder of Frontier’s contract, which now runs until 

June 2009 approximately, from around the same time. 



As a consequence Edda Frende, which is currently being circulated for sale, will be released in June on completion of 

a multi-year charter. 

Maersk Oil & Gas have two further PSVs on long term charter in the Danish sector - namely North Vanguard (UT705) 

and the smaller Havila Princess (VS470 MkII). 

Looking further ahead, Maersk have chartered two large newbuilding PSVs (Havyard 832CD/circa 800m2 clear deck) 

for 5-8 years from August/October 2009, when the vessels are scheduled for delivery from the Solstrand and 

Fjellstrand shipyards in Norway. Source : Offshore Shipping Online 

ABS, PRS IN CO-OP DEAL 

US-based classification society ABS and Polish Register of Shipping have signed a wide-ranging co-operative 

agreement that will see them offering dual class services and exploring other areas of mutual interest. 

A statement says: “It is an agreement reached between the two societies that ushers in a new era of cooperation 

between ABS, one of the largest class societies and a prominent member of the International Association of 

Classification Societies (IACS), and the EU-recognized Polish society.” 

The warm words about co-operation are in sharp contrast to the recriminations when PRS was expelled from IACS for 

alleged shortcomings. 

ABS president and CEO Christopher Wiernicki said: "The Polish Register has been carrying out an intense research and 

development programme into safety criteria for bulk carriers and for smaller vessels over the last few years. Their 

work has helped to advance the industry's understanding in these areas." Coupled with the society's recognition by the 

EU in 2006, following a rigorous auditing process, and its contribution to discussions at the IMO through its national 

delegation, Wiernicki noted that "these efforts have sent a clear signal to industry of the commitment of Dr. Jankowski 

and the staff of PRS to the development and provision of classification services that enhance maritime safety. ABS is 

very pleased to begin working with them, both on new construction projects and future research efforts, to our mutual 

benefit." 

Jan Jankowski, president of PRS's board,welcomed the new agreement with ABS. "The combination of breakthroughs 

in the approach to developing safety regulations and information technology development pose significant challenges 

for classification societies,” he said. “This cooperation agreement with ABS is a clear expression of our desire to make 

a meaningful contribution to maritime safety. The dual class agreement between our two societies for two 38,000 dwt 

double hull bulk carriers that have been ordered from Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding in China by the Polish Steamship 

Company (Polsteam) is a good start." 

The two societies are currently exploring avenues to develop the new relationship including sharing software and joint 

research and development projects. "ABS has had a long standing presence in Poland," said Dr Wiernicki. "We are 

currently expanding that presence with the opening of an engineering office and we foresee many opportunities for 

working more closely with Polish Register in Poland and in the major shipbuilding centres." Source : Maritime 

Global Net 

Multi-million grain export 

The most expensive shipment to be exported through Timaru's port has raised hopes of a profitable new trade. Jeff 

Tollan reports. 

An $8.8 million grain shipment leaving the Port of Timaru this week has local farmers and the port company hoping it 

is the start of a lucrative new trade. The cargo of 22,000 tons of seed barley aboard the Ikan Serong is the most 

expensive shipment to be exported through the port and is the first grain export in almost a decade. 



It is bound for Saudi Arabia, the world's largest importer of grain, for use as stock and poultry feed. About 20 different 

trucking companies are bringing the seed from around the central South Island grain growing area, from the south of 

Christchurch into North Otago. 

The ship will see about 400 trucks bringing 10,000 tons of grain, with a further 12,000 tons coming from the port's 

silos, before it leaves. Barley crops are currently earning about $400 a ton. 

PrimePort general manager marketing Bruce McDougall said the ship berthed at 3am yesterday and loading began 

about 4am. He said the ship is being loaded at Timaru because it has the facilities to cope with the load. 

"Timaru has the only dedicated grain handling facilities in New Zealand and this is about the first export shipment for 

about seven years." About 7am yesterday about 40 truck and trailer units could be seen at the port, with the last unit 

parked in Fraser Street, about three blocks away from the grain silos. Mr McDougall said loading will continue day and 

night as long as there is enough grain. 

The Panamanian flagged bulk carrier IKAN SERONG (Pacific Carriers Ltd. - Singapore ) seen loading grain at the Port 

of Timaru - New Zealand for export to Damman, Saudi Arabia. 

Photo : Simon Brown © 

"We will be (loading 24 hours a day) as long as trucks can keep up with our load rate. Loading on to the ship runs 

faster than we can unload the trucks." Each truck carries about 25 tons of barley. However, only two trucks can unload 

their cargo at the same time. While at times there was a wait for trucks to unload the grain, Mr McDougall said it was 

more economic to make them wait rather than the ship. 

"We make the trucks wait instead of the ship because a ship costs a lot more money to run." About 10 trucks could be 

unloaded in an hour, with about 250 tons of grain per hour being loaded into the vessel, he said. 

Mr McDougall said the favourable price of grain had made it economic for Saudi Arabia to import the product from 

New Zealand. Grain merchants AAB Grain Ltd is organising the export and said a number of factors had resulted in 

Saudi Arabia sourcing the grain from here. 



Marketing manager New Zealand for ABB Grain Ltd Michael Reeves, said about five million tonnes of barley from the 

Europe, the Black Sea and Australia is normally imported into Saudi Arabia. 

"Last year we had a small barley crop out of Europe and the Black Sea and then Australia had a drought. The barley 

market just exploded." That means New Zealand is a viable source for the crop, at least for this trip. 

While a continued trade with Saudi Arabia would be pleasing, Mr Reeves said this export of 22,000 tons of grain may 

just be a one-off, adding the overseas price for grain may not be high enough to warrant exporting it. 

However, Mr McDougall said he hopes this will not be the last Timaru sees of grain exports. "We're hopeful that it may 

turn into future business and the important thing is it opens up another avenue for the arable farmers of South 

Canterbury." 

South Canterbury Federated Farmers grain and seed chair Jeremy Talbot said he was also pleased with the volume of 

barley being exported. "It's a good thing. It's reinforcing that as far as the port's concerned the infrastructure will be 

kept there." 

The Ikan Serong leaves Timaru tomorrow, bound for Gove in Australia where it will be loaded to capacity. It will then 

carry on to Damman, Saudi Arabia. Source : The Timaru Herald 

Cruise ship industry spends $765 

million in B.C. last year 

The cruise ship industry generated $765 million in direct spending in B.C. last year - a 21-per-cent increase over 2003 

spending, the North West Cruiseship Association (NWCA) reported Wednesday. 

The B.C. total represents the lion's share of all Canadian cruise spending, which reached $1.1 billion last year - up 16 

per cent from 2003. "The numbers tell us the state of the industry remains very strong in Canada," NWCA president 

John Hansen said in an interview from Miami, where he's attending the annual Seatrade cruise industry conference. 

"When you look at all the investments being made [at Canadian ports], they obviously have a lot of confidence the 

industry will continue to grow." 

An economic impact report, prepared by Business Research & Economic Advisors, said B.C. ports handled 73 per cent 

of the two million cruise passengers that called on Canadian ports in 2007. Vancouver handled nearly half the 

Canadian total (960,500 passengers) while other B.C. cruise ports included Victoria (324,000), Prince Rupert (98,300), 

Nanaimo (30,400) and Campbell River (2,300). 

Vancouver is primarily a home port for the Alaska cruise market while other B.C. ports are mainly ports of call for 

Alaska cruises originating at U.S. ports or Vancouver. Atlantic Canadian ports, led by Halifax, handled 410,000 cruise 

passengers last year - 21 per cent of the Canadian total. 

Of the $765 million spent by the cruise industry in B.C. last year, $381 million was spent by cruise lines while 

passengers spent $362 million and crew members spent $22 million. The report said direct cruise industry spending in 

B.C. supports more than 6,900 jobs and $233 million in wages and salaries. 

It said cruises that originate or terminate in Vancouver generate $237 per passenger in spending and $55 per crew 

member in spending for each port call. About three quarters of Alaska cruise passengers are U.S. residents and 

Hansen said the industry is clearly concerned about the U.S. economic slowdown. 

"But there's still a lot of confidence the cruise sector will do well this year, even with a bit of an economic downturn," 

he said. "That's mostly because cruise lines continue to offer great value for cruise vacations and if there's a recession, 

they would probably become a little more flexible [on pricing]." 



Cruise industry officials at the Seatrade conference in Miami this week told delegates they will survive the challenges of 

rising fuel prices, a falling U.S. dollar and a negative economic outlook. 

Celebrity Cruises chief executive officer Daniel Hanrahan said the industry is not recession proof but it is "recession 

resistant." He noted a recent survey of travel agents showed 86 per cent expect their cruise sales this year will be as 

good or better than last year. 

Cruise Lines International Association expects global cruise lines will carry 12.8 million passengers this year - up from 

12.6 million in 2007 and 12 million in 2006. Cruise industry executives said cruises are significantly less expensive than 

land-based vacations so the value message remains one of the industry's most powerful assets. Source : The 

Vancouver Sun 

Large AHTS market in North Sea 'volatile' 

Broker Braemar Seascope Offshore says the volatility of the large AHTS sector in the North Sea was clearly illustrated 

during February, making it almost impossible to budget for the cost of rig moves with any degree of certainty. 

"At one point during the month, high specification units were being routinely chartered at less than £20,000 but in 

response to a number of short term factors (weather/high coincidence of rig moves) these same vessels were able to 

achieve highs of £140,000 a week or so later," said the broker in its most recent report on the market. 

"This extreme volatility is likely to be a feature of the large AHTS sector through 2008 given that the pool of units is 

relatively small," said Braemar Seascope. 

By comparison the PSV market has been more predictable with rate levels for modern medium/large PSVs generally 

being in the £10,000-15,000 range with older/smaller vessels being routinely fixed significantly below these levels. 

"However," said the report, "the weaker market conditions on the PSV spot market are not generally being reflected in 

the rate levels that vessel owners are proposing for medium term work, presumably because the perception is that the 

market will strengthen over the coming months." 

A significant improvement is difficult to forecast, however, as more speculative PSV newbuildings enter the fleet 

coupled with a reduced rig fleet in the medium term. 

"If the PSV spot market remains at its current level over the next few months it will be interesting to note if some 

owners soften their rate expectations for medium term work and pursue these requirements more aggressively," said 

the broker. 

BOURBON : Sharp Increase in 2007 Results 

"Financial performance in 2007 was very satisfactory," declares Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman and Chief 

Executive Officer of BOURBON. "2007 was a pivotal year for the group - and the success of the 2003-2007 plan 

confirms the value of our strategy and our capacity to achieve the ambitious targets we have set ourselves. It also saw 

the launch of the Horizon 2012 plan that we are embarking on with confidence thanks to the investments already 

made and the faith shown in us by our clients." 

For BOURBON the year 2007 was characterized by the company's good performance in both its Divisions and by 

substantial capital gains on disposals. The year marked the end of the 2003-2007 plan, whose initial objectives have 

been exceeded. 

Revenues were up by 26.5% at 769.7 million euros. Gross operating income (EBITDA) came to 309.7 million euros, up 

26.4%, and included capital gains of 47.6 million euros on vessels sold compared with 19.7 million in 2006. The 

revenue margin was 40.2%. Operating income (EBIT) of 214.2 million euros was 34.8% higher. 



Net income group share for the year amounted to 390.8 million euros and included capital gains on disposals of 229 

million euros. The year also saw a large investment program, with 668 million euros invested in 2007, following on 

from the 438.1 million euros invested in 2006. 

- OFFSHORE DIVISION 

Revenues of the Offshore Division for 2007 totaled 484.5 million euros, up 21.9% compared with 2006. 

The very satisfactory increase in revenues is due in particular to a rise in the number of vessels in operation (13 supply 

vessels and 24 crewboats in 2007). Revenues from vessels chartered to meet the needs of clients totaled 41 million 

euros in 2007 versus 21 million euros in 2006. 

On the other hand, the rise was limited by the cessation of the Bourbon Dolphin and Athena activity and the sale of 

older vessels. 

Gross operating income (EBITDA) totaled 214.9 million euros (24.7 million euros of which were from capital gains) 

versus 195.8 million euros in 2006 (19 million euros of which were from capital gains). 

The margin remained very high at 44.4% but was slightly down on 2006 due to: 

- changes in the euro-dollar parity (1.26 in 2006 versus 1.37 in 2007) 

- the impact of an increase in low-margin external charters 

- the increase in costs for staff and maintenance, and expenditure incurred as of now to ensure future growth. 

Operating income rose to 133.2 million euros, posting growth of 11.6%. This represents 27.5% of revenues. 

- BULK DIVISION 

Revenues of the Bulk Division for 2007 totaled 244.8 million euros, up +44.7% compared with 2006, driven by a 

buoyant market and very high BSI freight rates (+109% compared to the average rate for 2006). 

Gross operating income (EBITDA) reached a record 89.3 million euros, after 22.9 million euros in capital gains on the 

disposal of Nantor at the end of the year. Increase in revenues from wholly-owned vessels and vessels on long-term 

lease largely explains the performance. 

BOURBON maintained its policy of long-term relationships with clients and therefore benefited rather less from 

variations in market rates. 

Operating income came to 79.6 million euros in 2007 compared to 35.0 million euros in 2006, a gain of 127.3% 

(operating margin on revenues of 32.5%). 

- OUTLOOK 

2008 sees the inauguration of the Horizon 2012 plan which sets BOURBON's average growth in revenues at 17% per 

annum based on a substantial investment program already largely underway. 

The market prospects are favorable for both the Offshore and Bulk Divisions, due to investments announced by oil and 

gas companies and high levels of freight forecast. 

The long-term contract policy with clients, on both markets, provides a strong foundation for the generation of 

BOURBON's gross operating income (EBITDA). 

However, BOURBON's results will continue to be influenced by changes in the euro-dollar parity. 



With 4300 professionals and a fleet of 236 owned vessels, BOURBON is currently present in more than 25 countries. 

BOURBON offers a broad range of offshore oil and gas marine services. Under the Horizon 2012 plan and with the 

launch of its "Subsea Services", BOURBON intends to become the leader in modern offshore oil and gas marine 

services by offering the most demanding clients worldwide, a full line of innovative, high performance and newgeneration 

vessels and an expanded offer of subsea services. 

BOURBON also specializes in bulk transport and protects the French coastline for the Merchant Marine. 

Classifed by NYSE Euronext in the "Oil Services" sector, BOURBON is listed for trading on Euronext Paris, Compartment 

A, and is included in the Deferred Settlement Service SRD and in the SBF 120 and Dow Jones Stoxx 600 indices. 

Source: BOURBON 

“K” LINE BOOST ASIA-S AMERICA SERVICES 

JAPANESE carriers Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha and Mitsui OSK Lines are launching a second loop to their jointly-operated 

Asia-Mexico/West Coast South America Service (New Andes) which is jointly operated with Mitsui OSK Lines. 

The twice weekly service, it is claimed, will offer faster transit times between Asia and West Coast South America ports 

and provide high quality service to accommodate rapid growth of the trade volume. 

The current Loop 1 covers Mexico and Chile market while the Loop 2 covers Mexico, Colombia and Peru. Loop 2 will 

also offer a direct call at Ningbo, China, to meet active seaborne trade from that area. Source : Maritime Global 

Net 

Van Oord wins contract in Cuba 

Van Oord has been awarded a contract for maintenance dredging of the access channel and basin in the harbour at 

Moa, Cuba. The contract is valued at some Euros 2 million, and the client is Moa Nicel SA. 

The project was due to start in mid-March and is scheduled for completion in April 2008. Van Oord will deploy the 

trailing suction hopper dredger HAM 309. Source : Dredging News Online 

Namport unveils masterplan 

The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) has unveiled major development projects that are destined to change the face 

of the Port of Walvis Bay, most notably the deepening of the harbour. 



According to a report in AllAfrica.com, the addition of a bulk and break handling facilities, a floating dock, syncrolift 

ship and rig and extension of container terminals are among projects envisaged for the Port of Walvis Bay. 

The initiatives are part of the ports authority's master plan that spans from 2008 to 2012. The proposed projects come 

about because of the heavy demand placed on the Namibian port, as it gradually becomes a trade partner with African 

countries that rely on it for the import and export of goods. 

The projects will kick off with the expansion of the harbour and the development of a new container terminal, which 

will include new ship-to-shore cranes capable of unloading containers from large container vessels. 

Completion of the proposed projects is expected by 2012. Construction commences in August this year. Namport's 

Managing Director, Sebby Kankodi, confirmed that tenders for the projects would be put out in June. 

Source : Dredging News Online 

Small Cruise Ship Sold Into Oilfield Service 

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington is pleased to announce that the small Danish flag passenger 

cruise ship "Sikker Havn" (ex-Flornes) has been sold by Stevns Shipping AS of Denmark to private buyers. 

The vessel was originally built in 1967 by Felszegi Shipyard in Trieste, Italy as the Norwegian flagged general cargo 

pallet carrier "Trillingen". She was lengthened and converted to a passenger cruise ship in 2004. With dimensions of 

50m x 9.5m x 3.5m depth and an operating draft of 3.3m, she can accommodate 85 day or 38 overnight passengers in 

fully air conditioned accommodations. 

"Sikker Havn" is propelled by a single MAK 6MU451AK diesel producing 787 BHP, allowing a cruising speed of 10 

knots and maximum speed of 12 knots. Maneuverability is enhanced by a 270HP bow thruster. The vessel is classed 

Bureau Veritas Hull, Mach, AUT-UMS, Passenger Ship, Unrestricted Navigation, Ice II and complies with SOLAS. 

"Sikker Havn" will be repositioned from Denmark to the Middle-East where she will work as an accommodation vessel 

in the oilfield following retrofitting by new owner. Marcon acted as the sole broker in this transaction. 

Marcon International, Inc. Celebrating 27 years as brokers from 1981 - 2008. 

TBS International Limited Takes Delivery of 

Tweendecker, M.V. Caribe Maiden 

TBS International Limited announced that it has taken delivery of the M.V. Caribe Maiden, formerly known as the 

M.V. Frijsenborg, an acquisition it had announced in December 2007. The M.V. Caribe Maiden is a 1987 built, 22,800 

dwt tweendecker that the Company agreed to acquire, along with its sister vessel, the M.V. Ottawa Princess, en bloc 

for $46 million charter free. 

With this delivery, TBS' current fleet consists of 41 multipurpose tweendecker, handymax and handysize vessels. TBS 

expects to take delivery of an additional multipurpose tweendecker (the M.V. Ottawa Princess) by the end of the 

first quarter of 2008, and one handymax bulk carrier (M.V. Canarsie Princess) by the end of the second quarter of 

2008. Once these deliveries are concluded, TBS' fleet will be comprised of 43 vessels with an aggregate of 1,268,402 

dwt, consisting of 23 tweendeckers and 20 handymax / handysize bulk carriers. Source : Yahoo Finance 



The Viking XPRS left from Helsinki for her first seatrials 

Photo : Miran Hamidulla © 

More subsidies for Estonian ferry 

company, this time from Latvia 

The Port of Ventspils has approved SSC Ferries, a subsidiary of Saaremaa Laevakompanii, owned by Vjacheslav Leedo, 

as the company that will operate the Ventspils-Montu shipping line. SSC Ferries will receive LVL 175,000 (EUR 

11,200) from Ventspils Port this season in return for operating the route, which will be launched on 3 May and last 

until the end of August. The Scania boat that plies the route will initially cruise to Latvia four times a week, then from 

the end of June five times a week. 

China Shipping en CMA CGM staken 

Noord-Amerika-dienst 

China Shipping en CMA CGM stoppen binnenkort met hun gezamenlijke dienst tussen Europa en Noord-Amerika. Een 

woordvoerder van China Shipping in Nederland bevestigt, dat na een laatste Rotterdamse aanloop van het schip CMA 

CGM Sapphire begin april de stekker uit de dienst wordt getrokken. 'Waarom weten we nog niet precies, we hebben 

het net vanuit Shanghai te horen gekregen'. 

Een ingewijde in het containervervoer op de Atlantische route kan zich wel voorstellen waarom China Shipping en CMA 

CGM de dienst uit de vaart nemen en spreekt van een algehele 'malaise' op het vaargebied. Een te grote concurrentie 

zou zwaar drukken op de tarieven die de rederijen aan hun klanten kunnen berekenen. 

De dienst van China Shipping en CMA CGM verbond Noord-Europese havens zoals Rotterdam en Antwerpen met 

Noord-Amerikaanse havens als New York en Norfolk. Bron : Nieuwsblad Transport 



Harwich International Port Celebrates 

Launch of 2008 Tourist Season 

Harwich International Port is celebrated the launch of the 2008 tourist season, at a reception to be held in the ferry 

terminal Departure Lounge Thursday 6th March 2008. Nicholas Crane of the BBC's 'Coast' series will be speaking at 

the event, and Lord Iveagh, a Board Director of the East of England Development Agency, was officially opening the 

Port's new £2-million passenger walkway. Bill Gibbons, Director of the Passenger Shipping Association, was speaking at 

the launch. 

The new high-level passenger walkway is capable of taking passengers directly from the Departure Lounge to Deck 7 

of Stena Line's newly-extended vessels, Stena Britannica and Stena Hollandica, which are the world's largest 

RoPax vessels. The new walkway has been manufactured by TEAM in Barcelona, Spain, and has been completed in 

readiness for the busy summer period. 

Other guests at the launch event will include members of County, District and Town Councils, Senior Executives from 

Stena Line, and representatives from the region's tourist organisations. 

The reception will celebrate what is expected to be one of the busiest tourist seasons ever at the Essex port. The longestablished 

DFDS Seaways service to Esbjerg saw passenger volumes increase steadily in 2007, and some 90,000 

passengers are expected to travel on the route in 2008. 

A record 70 cruise calls are expected this year, with approximately 135,000 passengers set to call. The Port is also 

welcoming a record six transit calls that are booked for the season, which will enable visitors to see the tourist 

attractions of Harwich and nearby 'Constable Country', as well as further afield in Cambridge and London. 

Chris Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, which owns Harwich International Port, 

commented: 

"Harwich International Port is one of the UK's major gateways for cruise and ferry tourism, and we are optimistic that 

the 2008 season will be amongst our best ever. The cruise market continues to grow at an astonishing pace and 

Harwich is perfectly placed to offer homeport facilities for Baltic and Norwegian Fjord-bound cruises." 

The Stena Hollandica and Stena Britannica returned to the Harwich - Hoek of Holland route in Spring last year, having 

undergone a record-breaking £70-million lengthening programme. The Stena Hollandica received a new mid-body 

section of 52 metres, whilst the Stena Britannica was lengthened by 28 metres. 

In order to accommodate Stena's new fleet of extended ships, Harwich International Port has modified and extended 

an existing berth at the Port. 



MOVEMENTS 

Above seen the SEDCO 702 under tow of the FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION enroute from Singapore to Offshore 

Nigeria, After a pitch stop in Cape Town for crew change and fuel March 3 rd the transport continued their trip for the 

last leg, with an average speed of 6 to 6,5 knots 

Photo : Capt Jan Weerman - Master FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION © 

…. PHOTO OF THE DAY ….. 



The GAVEA LIFTER seen loading the OCEAN CLIPPER in Rio de Janeiro 

Photo : via Marcel van de Weerd 

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