- Transport on Line - hiltunen.htm

BUSINESS

Worldscale over 90 for first time

Cargo rates for crude oil moving from the Middle East and Persian Gulf
to Japan have passed the Worldscale 90 mark for the first time. ICB Shipping
A.B. announced a Worldscale 90.75 to carry 260,000 deadweight tons of oil
with loading to begin 13 Sept.

Germany to continue subsidies for now

Germany said this week it will continue direct subsidies to ships under
its registry until new tax reductions, based on ship sizes, are approved.

New Chinese shipping business formed from five companies

China has brought together five businesses to form a single shipping
firm, China Shipping Group, it was announced 18 Aug. Involved are China
Shipping International Marine Technology Service Ltd., Dalian Shipping
Co., Guangzhou Shipping & Enterprises Co. Ltd., Shanghai Shipping Co.
and Zhong Jiao Marine Industry. Based in Shanghai, China, the new company
has assets of 25 billion Chinese yuan/U.S.$300 million and 431 vessels
of 8.37 deadweight tons. In all, the five shipped 145 million tons of cargo
and transported seven million passengers last year, with sales of 6.4 billion
yuan/U.S.$770 million. Combined, the five transported 80 percent of the
coal and 90 percent of petroleum moving to coastal China. The company includes
businesses in agencies, bunkering, real estate, ship repair, telecommunications
and training.

Eighty percent of Mozambican state shipping line sold

Focos and Transportes Maritimos Insulares S.A. (Transinsular) have bought
80 percent of Navique E.E. Empresa Mozambicana de Navegacao, the Mozambique
state shipping line, for U.S.$4.3 million. Transinsular owns 49 percent
and Focos has 31 percent. The government has retained 20 percent.

Holt Cargo Systems buys Navieras

Holt Hauling and Warehouse Systems Inc., a unit of Holt Cargo Systems
Inc., recently bought all the stock of NPR Inc., parent of Navieras Inc.,
and then resold shares back to eight members of the line's management.
Holt Hauling and Warehouse Systems bought the shares from Berkshire Partners
Inc. and BT Capital Partners Inc. Navieras will take 120,000 to 140,000
TEUs from New York to Holt Cargo Systems' Packer Avenue Terminal in Philadelphia
as it shifts ports of call for its twice a week service to Puerto Rico.

Strike authorized at Young Brothers

By a vote of 96 to 0, dockworkers of Young Brothers Ltd. on Oahu Island,
Hawaii, have authorized a strike. Ballots from employees on other Hawaiian
islands have not been counted yet, but the vote on Oahu guarantees the
possibility of a strike. The members of the International Longshore and
Warehouse Union are in a dispute for benefits and wages. They have worked
without a contract since June 1996.

ICB Shipping moving to Singapore

ICB Shipping A.B. will leave Stockholm, Sweden, for Singapore. ICB Shipping
Ltd. has already been formed and shares will transfer from one company
to the other. More than 50 percent of those with voting rights have approved
the move.

British agencies to merge

As of 1 April, the British Coast Guard and the British Marine Safety
Agency will be combined into one entity with a single board and chief executive.
It will be based in Southampton, England.

Finaval, Premuda in deal to swap tankers

Finaval SpA and Premuda SpA have signed a deal in which 25 percent of
Premuda's stake in Petrotank Italia will be sold to Finaval. As part of
the deal, two tankers will be exchanged. Finaval will get the Four Rivers
(36,500-dwt double-hull product tanker built in 1994 by Fincantieri Cantieri
Navali Italiani SpA at Genoa, Italy) and Premuda will get the Isola Blu
(Italian-registry 87,682-dwt tanker built in 1992 by Fincantieri Cantieri
Navali Italiani at Ancona, Italy). The transaction will cost Premuda 12
billion Italian lire/U.S.$6.8 million.

Canadian fishing industry workers allowed to file lawsuit

Fishing industry workers won the right 15 Aug. to file a lawsuit against
the Canadian government. Justice David Orsborn of the Newfoundland Supreme
Court decided that 19,500 fishermen and plant personnel along the Atlantic
and in Quebec Province could file suit over plans to cut their final year
of the Atlantic Groundfish Strategy (TAGS). TAGS was formed in 1994 as
a Canadian$1.9 billion/U.S.$1.4 billion financial aid and retraining program
to help those in the fishing industry affected by a fishing moratorium.
Last summer, Canada announced TAGS would end in May 1998, a year early,
as the 40,000 eligible people had begun to deplete its resources. Fishery
workers claim that the letters they received from the government about
TAGS are a legal contract, and so they are entitled to the final C$200
million/U.S.$140 million in payments.

Investigation of Abdul Ismail ended

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said 15 Aug. it has ended
an insider trading investigation of Abdul Ismail, a London businessman,
in connection with trading APL Ltd. securities. The S.E.C. believed Ismail
bought U.S.$228,000 APL stock options on 11 April through an account at
the Zurich, Switzerland, branch of the Dresdner Bank. Two days later, it
was announced that Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. would buy APL. The securities
almost doubled in value. Ismail was questioned in New York under oath as
part of the investigation. The S.E.C. said there is insufficient evidence,
but reserves the right to re-file its claim if new evidence appears. The
claim was filed in federal court in New York on 15 April. A court-ordered
freeze on Ismail's trading profits has been lifted. Investigations are
still being conducted of two other people in relation to the merger: Ong
Congqin Bobby and Raymond Lum Kwan Sung, both of Singapore. Both have agreed
to extend freezes on their accounts through September.

Argonaut shifts tankers to new management

Argonaut A.B. has moved the management of one ultra large crude carrier
and six very large crude carriers from Interocean Ugland Management to
Barber Ship Management.

McKenna Trucking/Maersk dispute moving to federal court

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission is ending its role in the dispute
between McKenna Trucking Co. and Maersk Inc. It is now moving to a federal
district court in New Jersey. McKenna Trucking contends that Maersk is
trying to exclude it from hauling containers for Maersk beacuse Maersk
has an exclusive contract with Bridge Terminal Transport Inc. in which
it gives rebates. McKenna Trucking is seeking U.S.$785,000. In shifting
jurisdiction, the F.M.C. noted the dispute is better handled in a court
given the antitrust implications.

Holyman changes offer for Union Shipping Group

Holyman Ltd. has restructured its share offer, which is aimed at securing
Australian$49.1 million/U.S.$36.5 million of A$65.3 million/U.S.$48.8 million
needed to buy Union Shipping Group from Brierly Investments. The offer
ends 2 Sept.

Royal Carribean Cruises to offer stock

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said 20 Aug. it will offer eight million
shares of common stock shortly. Up to one million will be offered by the
selling shareholder with the rest sold by the company. A standard over-allotment
option will be granted to underwriters and proceeds, estimated at U.S.$280
million, will be used to retire debt. In the United States, underwriters
are Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Lazard Freres & Co. L.L.C.; Lehman Brothers
Inc.; and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. In Europe, they
are Goldman Sachs International, Lazard Capital Markets, Lehman Brothers,
Merrill Lynch International, Christiania Markets and Pareto Fonds A/S.

SS&Y opens office in Shanghai

Simpson Spencer & Young has opened a shipbroking office in Shanghai,
China, named SSY Asia Ltd.

More on DSR-Senator Lines

The planned restructuring of DSR-Senator Lines will save 80 million
German marks/U.S.$43 million annually. Its capital will be increased from
100 million marks/U.S.$54 million to 275 million marks/U.S.$150 million.
Offices in Rostock, Germany, will be closed and 146 people laid-off. Regional
offices will be in Bremen, Germany; Hong Kong; and New Jersey. Headquarters
will be in Bremen.

Concordia Maritime to continue operating fleet

Concordia Maritime A.B. has said it will continue to operate its tanker
fleet even as the ships turn 25-years-old. In part, Concordia Maritime
said it will accomplish this by using hydrostatic balance loading.

ROUTES AND SERVICES

Taiwan liberalizes cross-strait trade

The Taiwanese cabinet on 20 Aug. approved a plan to allow vessels to
sail direct routes across the Taiwan Strait between China and Taiwan. It
will reportedly be in place by late September. Currently, shipping between
China and Taiwan are limited to specific companies sailing between Fuzhou
and Xiamen and China and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The action on 20 Aug. will
open this further, essentially liberalizing the trade from Taiwan's side.

S.E.A.C. quickly collapses, new conference may be formed

The eight-member Southern Europe American Conference, the rate-setting
group for containers moving between southern Europe and the United States,
has collapsed. Italia di Navigazione SpA and Zim Israeli Navigation Co.
resigned first, followed by the six remaining lines by the weekend. A meeting
on 5 Sept. will likely end the conference officially. However, reports
suggest the conference may be brought back in some form with different
members. A key point would reportedly be the ability to operate in or out
of the conference at will.

Five lines to sail from Europe to eastern South America

Blue Star, Contship Containerlines Ltd., DSR-Senator Lines, Montemar
S.A. and P&O Nedlloyd Container Lines Ltd. are joining for a service
between Europe and eastern South America. It will be weekly, starting 1
Oct. Containerships of 2,400-TEU capacity will call at Rotterdam, the Netherlands;
a British port; a German port; Antwerp, Belgium; Le Havre, France; Bilbao,
Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Santos, Brazil; Buenos
Aires, Argentina; Montevideo, Uruguay; Itajai, Brazil; Rio Grande, Brazil;
and Paranagua, Brazil.

New service from San Diego to Vladivostok

Russian Pacific Line is beginning a refrigerated service from San Diego
to Vladivostok, Russia. Yokohama, Japan, will be called on inducement.

Crowley American Transport to call Chile

Crowley American Transport Inc. is expanding its services to include
calls in Chile. Three new containerships of 1,100-TEU capacity that can
sail at 18 knots have been added to the route calling western South America.

Ningbo to Japan container route

Container service from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, to Japan has
begun. Ningbo Ocean Shipping Corp. and Ningbo Group Corp. are the operators.

Seawheel and Vapores Suardiaz in new venture

Seawheel and Vapores Suardiaz S.A. announced 19 Aug. they have started
a new venture, Seawheel Vapores Suardiaz. Two 500-TEU capacity containerships
will be used. One will call at Bilbao, Spain; Bristol, England; Dublin,
Ireland; and Greenock, Scotland. The other will sail between Bilbao; Southampton,
England; Felixstowe, England; and Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Lykes Lines introducing new ships

Lykes Lines Ltd. will introduce new ships on its U.S. east coast to
Mediterranean service. Three chartered containerships of 1,400-TEU capacity,
each less than four years old, will start sailing 8 Sept. Calls will be
made every two weeks at New York; Norfolk, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; Valencia,
Spain; Livorno, Italy; Alexandria, Egypt; Haifa, Israel; Izmir, Turkey;
Naples, Italy; Livorno; Valencia; and New York. Capacity will be increased
12 percent.

Eidsiva to start new ferry service between Denmark and Germany

Eidsiva will introduce a ferry service within six months between Rodby,
Denmark, and Puttgarden, Germany. Two vessels will have a total of 16 departures
daily.

Another conference to impose surcharge on Chittagong containers

The Asia North American Eastbound Rate Agreement will start a surcharge
on containers moving to and from Chittagong, Bangladesh. The cost is U.S.$250
per TEU. The charge takes effect 25 Aug.

Econocaribe Consolidators to serve Brazilian port

Econocaribe Consolidators Inc., a non-vessel operating common carrier,
is beginning less-than-containerload service to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
The service is weekly and Plus Cargo is the local agent.

RivTow Marine to begin Vancouver ship assist work

RivTow Marine Ltd. has formed a new ship assist subsidiary, Tiger Tugz,
to operate in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The 16-meter/53-foot,
3,000-horsepower tractor tug RivTow Spirit is now the Tiger Spirit and
will be used in Vancouver. A second tug, the Tiger Pride, will arrive in
September.

First direct Brunei - Malaysia ferry service

The first direct ferry service between Kota Kinabalu and Labuan in Malaysia
and Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, has begun. Sanergy Marine Sdn. Bhd. is
operating the Sanergy Rafflesia, a 180-passenger high-speed catamaran ferry,
on the route. It leaves Kota Kinabalu at 0730 and returns at 1300.

More on Germany to Moscow route

Eurocargo Shipping Co. Ltd. is the operator a planned weekly container
service from Bremerhaven and Hamburg in Germany to Moscow. Four chartered
ships will be used.

Stena Discovery suffers problems during voyage

Electrical problems aboard the Stena Discovery (Dutch-registry 1,500-dwt
high-speed ferry built in 1997, operated by Stena Line A.B.) caused two
breakdowns this week as it was sailing in the North Sea. The U.S.$80 million
vessel was evenutally towed to Harwich, England, by tugs.

Royal Carribean International to open call center in Kansas

Royal Caribbean International announced 21 Aug. it will open an auxiliary
reservations center in Wichita, Kan., by the end of the year. The main
facility is in Miami. Some 150 people will handle 35 percent of the 6.5
million telephone calls received by the firm. A 2,100-square-meter/29,000-square-foot
building at 4729 S. Palisade was purchased last week from Kollsman Inc.

CANALS, PORTS AND TERMINALS

Seven dead, four in grain silo collapse

A 54,000-ton capacity grain silo exploded at the Port of Blaye, France,
on 20 Aug., burying 11 persons. Seven bodies have been found. The 40-meter/130-foot
tall silo fell on offices of a grain storage business, SEMABLA, trapping
nine secretaries, a truck driver and a crewmember of shrimp boat. Dust
and air ignited by static electricity is believed to have caused the explosion.
The silo was loaded with barley. At least one person suffered a broken
leg. The silo is two-thirds destroyed and two others nearby were badly
damaged.

Chilean ports close

Lirquen, Quinteros, Talcahuao, San Antonio and Valparaiso, the five
largest Chilean ports, closed 16 Aug. due to storms moving over the country.

Buenaventura blocked by striking drivers

More than 2,000 truck drivers in Colombia went on strike over the weekend
to protest high freight charges by middlemen and an 8 percent gasoline
price increase. The group blocked the entrance to the Port of Buenaventura
with more than 800 trucks, causing a loss of about 1.1 billion Colombian
pesos/U.S.$1 million so far. The port handles about half of the country's
coffee exports and Colombia is the second largest coffee exporter in the
world after Brazil. The strike is to last at least four days, according
to the Colombian Association of Teamsters.

India to focus on speeding cargo handling, major projects

The Indian government has announced a project to speed cargo handling
operations at the 11 major ports. The three month program begins 1 Sept.
and will focus on eliminating pre-berthing delays, with a goal of no ship
having to wait more than 24 hours. The ports have been authorized to replace
personnel that hinder the speeding of the work. Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry
of Surface Transport has proposed spending 79.45 billion Indian rupees/U.S.$2.23
billion to develop and expand the 11 ports as part of a five-year plan.
Also, India is attempting to speed work on 12 major projects at seven ports
costing 8 billion rupees/U.S.$220 million. Some 6 billion rupees/U.S.$170
million are for a port at Ennore with a coal terminal for completion in
1999; 241 million rupees/U.S.$6.70 million for a liquified petroleum gas
jetty and 377 million rupees/U.S.$10.5 million for a multipurpose berth
at the outer harbor of Visakhapatnam for completion in 1999; and 286.4
million rupees/U.S.$7.961 million for a multipurpose berth at Tuticorin.
Other work is on-going at Chennai, Kandla, Mumbai and New Mangalore.

China in test program for foreign firms

The Chinese Ministry of Communications has announced a pilot program
in which foreign businesses will be allowed to build berths, harbors and
wharves in China on their own or with Chinese companies.

Panama Canal at Condition 3

The Panama Canal went to Condition 3 at midnight 19 Aug. Increased fees
for transit reservations are in effect.

Lake Maracaibo draft restrictions changed again

The draft restriction in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, is now 11 meters/36
feet at high water. A major oil exporting area, this means a loss of 25,000
barrels per tanker. The area continues to cause problems for ships navigating
it (see Casualties).

Iran, Russia to build port

Successfully concluding recent talks, Iran and Russia have agreed to
jointly build a port on the Caspian Sea near Olya, Russia, for U.S.$1.5
billion. Russia will own 51 percent of the venture. Initial construction
began last year and a contract with Tide Water of Iran is expected to be
signed next month for further work.

South American river project criticized

An independent group has critcized a proposed river widening project
by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The group said government
studies minimized environmental consequences of the Hidrovia Paraguay-Parana
project, which involves dredging a deeper channel between Brazil and Uruguay.
The group was brought together by organizations in Brazil and the United
States.

New Argentine oil terminals planned

Terminales Maritimos Patagonicos will spend 60 million Argentine pesos/U.S.$60
million to form two crude oil terminals in Caleta Cordova at Chubut and
Caleta Olivia in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Tankers of up to 140,000-dwt will
be accomodated. Total will handle engineering and Siemens will supply land
infrastructure with Mitsubishi and Sade providing maritime infrastructure.
Funding will come from tariffs on oil companies operating in the San Jorge
Gulf.

More cruise terminals in Mexico

The Mexican government has announced that 22 million Mexican pesos/U.S.$2.8
million will be spent to build a cruise ship terminal in Cancun by 1998.
New docks are also planned for Mahahual on Cozumel Island and Playa del
Carmen.

GATX Terminals, OEA Servicios form bulk liquid venture

GATX Terminals Corp. and OEA Servicios S.A. have formed GATX Servicios
S.A., a new joint venture in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that will offer bulk
liquid distribution services in South America.

Altamira marks money for construction, investment

The Port of Altamira, Mexico, has marked 43 million Mexican pesos/U.S.$5.5
million for construction and maintenance to meet demand.

Puget Sound to get ITOS, tonnage tax to finance

The Marine Exchange of Puget Sound and the Chamber of Shipping of British
Columbia, Canada, have contracted with Meteor Communications Corp. to start
implementing an International Tug of Opportunity System for the sound.
Transponders will be put on tugs that broadcast the vessel's position to
a central location. From there, tugs nearest to ships in distress can be
alerted. A U.S.$100,000 loan from the Washington State Maritime Co-operative
has been secured to paid for the system. The loan will be repaid by a U.S.$50
charge on all ships of 300-gt or more entering the sound.

Port Manatee, Del Monte Fresh Produce agree to new deal

Port Manatee, Fla., and Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. have agreed
to a new five-year lease worth U.S.$5 million. The Manatee County Port
Authority unanimously approved the deal. Del Monte Fresh Produce leases
a 5,200-square-meter/58,000-square-foot building with a 1,400-square-meter/15,000-square-foot
cold storage warehouse being built for completion in November. The combined
lease will be U.S.$339,000 annually, and the new deal replaces one that
was to expire in 1999. Federal Marine Terminals Inc. is the stevedore.

Salinera de Yucatan opens third dock

Salinera de Yucatan in Mexico has opened a third dock that will enable
it to become the second largest salt producer in Latin America at 600,000
tons annually.

Cubatao to get new container handler

Columbia and Exolgan will begin handling containers at Cubatao at Sao
Paulo, Brazil, in September, under a three-year deal signed 13 Aug. with
COSIPA. Initally, some 6,000 containers will be handled monthly.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines forms logistics firm in Shanghai

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has established a logistics and warehousing company
in Shanghai, China, named Shanghai Longfei International Logistics.

Guayaquil bidding to restart

The Ecuadorean National Port Council has approved an amendment to a
ruling on the Ecuadorean Private Port Services which will allow bidding
for container storage and warehousing at Guayaquil, Ecuador, to restart.
Concessions will be granted for five years at most. Fifty-five companies
bid in June 1996 but CONAM, the Ecuadorean privatization agency, called
off the process 48 hours before a decision was to be made on the winners.

Johor reduces free storage service

The Johor Port Authority in Malaysia has reduced the the free storage
service at Pasir Gudang from seven days to five days starting in September.

New ferry terminal in New York

New York Waterway, the largest operator of ferry boats on the Hudson
River in New York, is planning to build a new U.S.$10 million terminal
at the foot of W. 39th St. The glass-enclosed structure would replace a
city-owned parking garage near the Lincoln Tunnel. The new facility would
have six slips and public walkways, seating and viewing areas.

More on St. Petersburg group

The new owner of the Port of St. Petersburg, Russia, is Obip, which
has 60 percent of the shares and 40 percent of the capital. It includes
Baltiskaya Finance Co., Nasdor Inc., Peter Information Co., Petrovsky Bank
and Sankt Petersburg Bank.

Deal to buy Churchill cleared

Hudson Bay Port Co. has received approval to buy the Port of Churchill,
Manitoba, Canada. The federal and provincial governments have agreed to
spend Canadian$50.05 million/U.S.$35.87 million. After Canadian National
Railway Co. sells the rail line to the port, Hudson Bay Port will spend
C$50 million/U.S.$36 million to upgrade the 1,400 kilometers/875 miles.
Manitoba will spend C$6 million/U.S.$4 million to dredge the port and the
federal government will spend C$34.05 million/U.S.$24.40 million to upgrade
port facilities and C$16/U.S.$11 million will be given to Canadian National
Railway.

Hutchison Port Philippines files lawsuit over Subic Bay terminal

Hutchison Port Philippines Ltd. filed a lawsuit 8 July at a court in
Olongapo, the Philippines, against the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority,
it was announced this week. The suit seeks to restore a contract by the
authority for Hutchison Port Philippines to develop and operate a 16,000-hectare/40,000-acre
container terminal at Subic Bay under a 25-year concession. It was declared
the winner twice but rebidding was ordered after International Container
Terminal Services Inc. said it had the highest bid but was disqualified,
since it also operates the Manila International Container Terminal and
so would control a large segment of Philippine container traffic. The new
bidding deadline is 8 Sept. On 21 Aug., a conference was held between the
two sides in the lawsuit and Judge Leopoldo Calderon gave them 10 days
to submit their statements and evidence.

Asian Terminals studying port in the Philippines

Asian Terminals Inc. has signed a deal with F. Jacinto to study the
possibility of building a port at the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis
Oriental Province, the Philippines. If a port was built, it would be a
joint venture of the two firms.

GATX, Tosco in talks for Los Angeles terminal?

GATX Corp. and Tosco Corp. reportedly may take a stake in a new oil
terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. Talks with the port are on-going.
The terminal would handle crude oil shipments directly from the Persian
Gulf, following dredging and the building of a petroleum terminal on landfill
at the port entrance. Very large crude carriers would dock at Pier 400.

SHIPYARDS AND EQUIPMENT

Protest at French shipyard closes Marseille

Employees of Compagnie Marseillaise de Reparations occupied the shipyard
at Marseille, France, on 20 Aug. as part of a continuing dispute. On 10
July, the Marseilles Tribunal of Commerce chose Aponte Group's Marinvest
holding firm to buy the yard for 20 million French francs/U.S.$3.2 million.
Some 110 of its 305 employees were to be kept and employment was to increase
to 200 in two years. The French government committed 32.15 million francs/U.S.$5.192
million to pay for social costs and Marinvest was to spend 21.6 million
francs/U.S.$3.49 million on upgrades to the yard. However, the French labor
union CGT rejected the plan. The French government has said that a court
order may be sought to liquidate the shipyard, unless the protest stops.
A deal in which some 200 employees would be kept and financial packages
given to the rest has been suggested. Marseille was effectively shut down
20 Aug. as protesters clashed with local police. Workers blocked the gates
and set them on fire late 19 Aug.

Aker Maritime buying control of Finnyards

Aker Maritime has signed a letter of intent to buy control of Finnyards
Ltd. Currently, 48 percent is held by UPM-Kymmemme with Optioimi having
39 percent and the Finnish goverment 13 percent. Now, Aker Maritime will
buy 60 percent of the holding company that owns the shipyard.

Partek buying 51 percent of Kalmar Industrier

Partek has announced it will purchase 51 percent of Kalmar Industrier,
the container handling equipment manufacturer, for 3.1 billion Finnish
marks/U.S.$560 million. Partek's Sisu Terminal Systems will be integrated
into Kalmar.

Halter Marine Group buys Three Rivers

Halter Marine Group Inc. is buying Three Rivers in Gulfport, Miss.,
from McDermott Shipbuilding Inc. It is now Halter Gulfport - Three Rivers.

Bollinger Shipyards and Halter Marine in venture for U.S. Coast Guard
ships

Bollinger Shipyards Inc. and Halter Marine Group Inc. have agreed in
principle to form a joint venture, Halter-Bollinger, to develop a proposal
for the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater Capability Replacement Project. The
Coast Guard program, being developed to replace or refit several vessels,
will last at least 15 years and cost U.S.$10 billion. The project will
award three contracts worth U.S.$5 million each over the next year. After
18 months, the Coast Guard will award one fixed-price contract to the best
of the three.

China State Shipbuilding to upgrade three yards

China State Shipbuilding Corp. has announced plans to upgrade shipyards
at Dalian, Guangzhou and Shanghai in China. They will then be able to build
ships of over 100,000-dwt. Finance and tax concessions are likely and the
deal involves restructuring Guangzhou Shipyard International Corp.

BethShip workers approved proposed contract

Employees of BethShip Inc. have approved a labor contract with Veritas
Capital Inc. by 230 to 62. Vertias Capital is in negotiations to buy the
shipyard from Bethlehem Steel Corp. The agreement includes a pay cut of
U.S.$0.75 per hour.

Van de Giessen-de Noord shipyard to be used again

The building hall of Van de Giessen-de Noord B.V. at Alblasserdam, the
Netherlands, will be used to build large pleasure craft and small passenger
vessels for Oceanco International. Yachts of 85 meters/279 feet and 95
meters/312 feet have been ordered.

John Fredriksen wins judgment against Trogir

A court in London has ruled for John Fredriksen in a dispute with Trogir.
An award of U.S.$21.6 million plus interest has been made. In 1992, the
Mosor Sailor, a 40,000-dwt product tanker, was ordered from Trogir. Due
to the situation in the former Yugoslavia, the ship was never built and
court proceedings began.

International Hovercraft to license designs

International Hovercraft Ltd., following its purchase of Hovermarine
International Ltd. last month, will license its designs.

New Argentine container handling equipment distributor

Autoelevadores Yale, in a deal with Sisu Terminal Systems, will distribute
container handling equipment in Argentina.

Disco opens at former Gdansk shipyard

A disco opened 15 Aug. at bankrupt Stocznia Gdansk S.A. in Gdansk, Poland.
A warehouse has been converted to a nightclub with a prison theme, with
iron bars around a dance floor.

Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines to get five newbuildings

People's Insurance (Property) Co. of China will provide U.S.$79 million
in export credit insurance for the building of five ships for Islamic Republic
of Iran Shipping Lines. The Iranian firm signed a U.S.$130 million deal
with China National Aero Technology Import Export Corp. for ships of 21,000-dwt
to 22,600-dwt to be built in Guangzhou, China, starting early next year.

Indonesian interest orders product tankers

On 8 Aug., a contract was signed in Shanghai, China, for the building
of two 17,500-dwt product tankers at U.S.$38 million. An Indonesian interest
made the deal with No. 708 Ship Designing Institute and the vessels will
be built by Jiangdu Shipyard. First Pacific Maritime Co. acted as an intermediary.

Tirrena di Navigazione doubles order

Tirrena di Navigazione SpA has increased the order it made 18 months
ago with Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani SpA for steel fast ferries
with aluminum alloy superstructures. They will carry 1,800 passengers and
400 vehicles. Propulsion will come from four diesels and two gas turbines
for 95,000 brake horsepower and 40 knots.

Petroleum Geo-Services orders another Ramform vessel

Petroleum Geo-Services A.S.A. has signed a contract with Langsten Slip
& Baabyggeri A/S for a new Ramform seismic survey vessel. The fifth
such vessel for Petroleum Geo-Services, it will be delivered in the first
quarter of 1999 for U.S.$85 million. There is an option for a sixth.

Vosper Thornycroft delivers first two vessels of class for Qatar

The Qatar Emiri Navy took delivery on 20 Aug. of two guided-missle patrol
combatants from Vosper Thornycroft Ltd. The Barzan (Q 04) and the Hawar
(Q 05) are the first two vessels of a four-ship class built at Portchester,
England. They are based on Vosper Thornycroft's Vita design. The Barzan
was laid down in 1993 and launched 1 April, 1995.

First of two bulk carriers for COSCO launched in China

The Tianfuhai (150,000-dwt bulk carrier) was launched at New Dalian
Shipyard in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, on 20 Aug. The first of two
ships, it was built for China Ocean Shipping Co.

Wenatchee launched for Washington State Ferries

The Wentachee (U.S.-registry 1,400-dwt, 2,500-passenger ferry) was launched
at 1930 21 Aug. at Todd Pacific Shipards Corp. in Seattle. It is the second
of three Jumbo Mark II-class vessels for Washington State Ferries and was
sponsored by Karen Schmidt, a Republican state legislator from Bainbridge,
Wash., who serves on the Legislative Transportation Committee. As Schmidt
was not able to attend, the actual christening was buy a member of the
Wenatchee Apple Blossom court, Princess Marie Magnotti. Wenatchee is the
"apple capital of the world." A sister vessel, the Tacoma, was
delivered 18 Aug. It will operate on a route from Seattle to Bainbridge.
The final ferry, the Puyallup, will be laid down next week for launching
next summer.

U.S. Coast Guard tender to be launched in Wisconsin

The U.S. Coast Guard's Ida Lewis-class Coastal Buoy Tender Marcus Hanna
(WLM 554) will be launched at 1100 23 Aug. at Marinette Marine Corp. in
Marinette, Wis. Kay Loy, wife of the Coast Guard's chief of staff, Vice
Adm. James M. Loy, is the sponsor. The tender will be homeported at South
Portland, Maine. It was laid down in September and will be delivered in
December. Marcus Hanna was the keeper of the Twin Lights at Cape Elizabeth,
Maine. While serving in the U.S. Army during the U.S. Civil War, he received
the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor and later the U.S. Gold Lifesaving
Medal. The latter was awarded after Hanna rescued crewmembers of a schooner
that ran aground in a storm. -- Steve Schultz - Whitefish Bay, Wis., U.S.A.
- sschultz@execpc.com

"When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean's
skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not
willingly remember, that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang"
- Herman Melville from "Moby-Dick; or, The White Whale," Chapter
114, Paragraph two

EVENTS, INCIDENTS AND OPERATIONS

Ukrainian crewmembers begin hunger strike in Trieste

Nine Ukrainian citizens who are crewmembers of the Captain Smirnov have
begun a hunger strike to secure back wages and the right to return home.
The ship has been under arrest at Trieste, Italy, for two years in connection
with debts of Black Sea Shipping Co.

LTTE to free the Morang Bong

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will release the Morang
Bong (North Korean-registry 3,000-gt general cargo ship), the International
Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent said 22 Aug. The LTTE hijacked the
ship 8 July and killed a crewmember after it failed to stop off Hvettilaikerni,
Sri Lanka. The ship was returning to Colombo, Sri Lanka, from the Jaffna
Peninsula with a crew of 38 North Korean citizens. Six crewmembers will
be taken to the ship by the LTTE this weekend to inspect it. The LTTE is
fighting for the creation of a Tamil state in what is now northern Sri
Lanka.

Right whale killed by shipping in Bay of Fundy

A right whale was found dead in the Bay of Fundy on 19 Aug. about 40
kilometers/25 miles offshore. An autopsy on 20 Aug. at Freeport, Nova Scotia,
Canada, revealed it had been hit by a ship twice. The right whale is one
of the rarest whales, with reportedly less than 300 left and about half
of those in the Bay of Fundy during the summer. The eight-year-old female
died of internal bleeding and was one of only about 55 breeding females.
Also found was a fractured right lower jaw and skull. A second blunt injury
suggested to pathologists that the whale was hit on the jaw, spun around,
and hit again.

British warship arrives in Montserrat to begin evacuation

A British Royal Navy vessel arrived in Montserrat on 18 Aug. to evacuate
residents from the island as the Soufriere Hills volcano continues to erupt.
Due to overcrowding in shelters, a voluntary evacuation of the island was
announced 16 Aug. About 4,000 to 5,000 people remain of Montserrat's population
of 11,000 when the volcano began erupting in July 1995. The first deaths
were reported 25 June, when 19 persons were killed as rock and ash hit
several villages. Most of the remaining people in Montserrat will go to
other Leeward Islands first, including Antigua. Many will leave by ferry,
with operations coordinated by the Sheffield-class Guided-Missile Destroyer
H.M.S. Liverpool (D 92) at Little Bay.

U.S. Coast Guard evacuates U.S. Navy crewmember

On 9 Aug., a U.S. Coast Guard HH-60J Jayhawk evacuated a crewmember
from the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class Guided-Missile Destroyer U.S.S.
Stout (DDG 55), 110 kilometers/69 miles southeast of Cape Lookout, N.C.
The crewmember had a severe laceration to his forearm. The helicopter flew
from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and took the man to
Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Va.

Greenpeace members block fishing vessels by dangling from bridge

Seven members of Greenpeace suspended themselves beneath the Aurora
Bridge over the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle on 16 Aug. to prevent
"factory" fishing vessels from leaving Lake Union. The group
then deployed a 120-meter/400-foot fishing net between them. The Elizabeth
Ann, a ship built in 1971 and operated by Royal Seafoods Inc., tried to
pass beneath the bridge at 0415 but returned to port. It was to sail to
the Bering Sea. The Katie Ann of American Seafoods Co. was also stopped
but a third vessel got through after local police intervened. One lane
on the east side of the bridge was closed and on 18 Aug., police arrested
the eight, five women and three men. Seven were beneath the bridge while
a man monitored the protest from below. They were charged with reckless
endangerment and could serve one and a half years in prison and pay a U.S.$5,000
fine. The U.S. Coast Guard was also expected to charge them with obstructing
a commercially navigable waterway, which is a federal offense. Two Greenpeace
members on the bridge were arrested at 2230 16 Aug. for aiding and abetting
reckless endangerment after refusing police orders to leave, but were later
released. Those arrested were: Holly Calender, 24, of Seattle; Joe Dibee,
29, of Seattle; Sean Gale, 27, of Seattle; Troy Jones, 36, of Russellville,
Ky.; Omi Hadwitz, 20, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Katie Flynn
Jambeck, 25, of Amherst, Mass.; Kelly Osborne, 29, of Flower Mount, Texas;
and Donna Parker, 34, of Missoula, Mont. They were taken to Harborview
Medical Center for examinations before going to the King County Jail.

British Petroleum files lawsuit stemming from Stena Dee occupation

British Petroleum has filed a 1.4 million British pound/U.S.$2.3 million
lawsuit against Greenpeace after four of its members occupied the Stena
Dee oil platform in the northern Atlantic Ocean. The suit was filed in
Scotland's Court of Session to seek damages for delays in towing the platform
from Sweden to the Foinaven Field west of the Shetland Islands in Scotland.
The protest ended 17 Aug. and the four were fined 200 pounds/U.S.$328 each
in a Scottish court on 18 Aug. British Petroleum offered on 19 Aug. to
withdraw a lawsuit if the group agrees to stop protesting the company's
oil exploration.

Protest in Alaska ended

A Greenpeace vessel left the Arctic Ocean on 21 Aug. after a week-long
protest against oil exploration activities of Atlantic Richfield Co. Three
days before, a federal judge in Anchorage, Alaska, ordered Greenpeace to
stay 460 meters/1,500 feet away from a floating oil rig being towed to
the Beaufort Sea off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The rig reached
the Warthog site late 18 Aug.

Oil slick affects Brazilian beaches

Oil from the Sao Miguel (Brazilian-registry tanker owned by Petroleo
Brasiliero S.A.) spilled early 16 Aug. and washed ashore in northern Rio
state. Oil came ashore at Freguesia, Mangueira and Pitangueia.

Maxus Widuri in dispute with Malaysia

Malaysia and Tanker Pacific Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., operator
of the Maxus Widuri (Cypriot-registry 338,000-dwt tanker built in 1977,
owned by Linosa Maritime Co. Ltd.), are in a dispute over possible desludging
off Malaysia. According to Malaysia, the ship illegally anchored off Tanjung
Piai, Pontian, Malaysia, on 11 Aug. An inspection by the Malaysian Department
of the Environment reportedly found several hundred tons of bagged sludge
aboard, which it suspected may have been for dumping overboard. Visits
were made to the ship on 12 Aug. and again on 15 Aug., at which time two
Malaysian officials said they were prevented from boarding the ship to
serve a detention order that called for Linosa Maritime to post a bond
of 13 million Malaysian ringgit/U.S.$4.7 million. According to Malaysia,
the Maxus Widuri fled the next day. Tanker Pacific Management said that
the sludge was collected after the ship left the Widuri Terminal in Indonesia
and was to be disposed of through a company in Shanghai, China. The ship
was to anchor in international waters outside Malaysia and Singapore where
tank gauging was to be done before it sailed to South Korea for drydocking.
According to Tanker Pacific Management, the ship veered off course one
kilometer/0.6 miles to avoid a drifting vessel and without realizing it
was in Malaysian waters, the ship anchored. When boarded by Malaysian officials
the same day, Tanker Pacific Management said the ship was immediately moved
eastward towards Singapore in international waters. Tanker Pacific Management
denies dumping any of the sludge and said that it did not prevent further
boardings, but instead told Malaysian officials that since the ship was
no longer in their waters, they did not have jurisdiction. Further investigations
into the conflicting reports are planned. The Maxus Widuri left the area
20 Aug. for China.

Oilfield closed after bomb is found

A North Sea oilfield has been closed for several days after a World
War II bomb was found near an underwater pipeline. Enterprise Oil said
the bomb was found 160 kilometers/100 miles off Aberdeen, Scotland, during
a survey.

Knutsen O.A.S. Shipping pleads guilty to dumping

Knutsen O.A.S. Shipping A/S has pleaded guilty to discharging 10 to
20 tons of Harding crude oil from its Tove Knutsen (Norwegian-registry
113,131-dwt tanker built in 1989) in the Humber River in England.

Russian-registry vessel being towed to Alaska for fisheries violation

On 15 Aug., an HH-65A Dolphin helicopter from the U.S. Coast Guard's
Hamilton-class High-Endurance Cutter U.S.C.G.C. Munro (WHEC 724) spotted
the Chernyayevo (Russian-registry fishing vessel) one kilometer/0.6 miles
inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the northern Bering Sea. The
fishing vessel's gear was improperly stowed. The U.S.C.G.C. Munro followed
the Chernyayevo six kilometers/four miles into the Russian Exclusive Economic
Zone where it was boarded. Salted cod, 50 to 300 small crabs, 225 kilograms/500
pounds of flatfish and 450 kilograms/1,000 pounds fo 675 kilograms/1,500
pounds of fresh pollock was found. The vessel and its catch was seized
and the U.S.C.G.C. Munro began towing the Chernyayevo to Alaska. The Coast
Guard's Balsam-class Seagoing Buoy Tender U.S.C.G.C. Ironwood (WLB 297)
was to take over 21 Aug.

VESSEL TRANSFERS

Offers made for the Brittania

Twenty-one offers have been made to buy the British Royal Navy's yacht
Brittania. Six have been shortlisted, with all calling for converting the
ship for passenger cruises or for use as a floating convention center.

Rotterdam to be sold

Cruise Holdings Ltd. will buy the Rotterdam (Dutch-registry 7,801-dwt
passenger ship built in 1959) from Carnival Corp.'s Holland America Line
Westours Inc. The deal may occur 1 Oct.

C.G.M. to keep last ro/ros

Compagnie Generale Maritime has announced it will keep its last ro/ros,
the CGM Racine (French-registry 28,092-dwt ro/ro built in 1978) and the
CGM Rimbaud (French-registry 28,178-dwt ro/ro built in 1979). The ships
were to have been sold but will now be retained on the around-the-world
service. Each can carry 1,500 TEUs and will be retained until replaced
by newbuildings.

Stena Continent to be sold

Concordia Maritime A.B. will sell the Stena Continent (Liberian-registry
273,187-dwt tanker built in 1975) in October for use offshore. It will
get a profit of 20 million Sedish kroner/U.S.$2.5 million.

French-registry refrigerated ship sold

Compagnie Bretonne de Cargos Frigorifques has sold its Ster Laer (French-registry
3,514-dwt, 5,600-cubic-meter/188,000-cubic-foot refrigerated ship built
in 1980) to Island Blyth. Two tuna vessels, the Brunec and the Dourveil,
have also been sold to Spanish interests.

Storli chartering three chemical tankers

Storli A.S.A. has recently chartered three chemical tankers. The Bow
Triton (Panamanian-registry, 40,000-dwt) was chartered last. The others
are the Aigran D (Panamanian-registry, 10,000-dwt, built in 1997) and the
Ilaria D (Italian-registry, 9,445-dwt, built in 1994).

Cal Dive International charters CSO Marianos

Cal Dive International Inc. has chartered the CSO Marianos (3,200-dwt
dynamically-positioned dive-support vessel built in 1987) from its owner
and operator, Coflexip Stena Offshore. The vessel will arrive in the Gulf
of Mexico in early October after addition of a moonpool and saturation
diving system to support 16 divers at three depth levels. A surface dive
system will also be added. The CSO Marianos is 90.5 meters/297 feet long
with a beam or 18 meter/59 feet and a deck capacity of 750 tons. There
are accomodations for 76 people and two cranes (one of which is 60-ton
capacity). It can operate at 12 knots. The CSO Marianos is now off eastern
Canada, where it will work until mid-September.

Rigel Shipping Canada to bring two ships from parent firm

Rigel Shipping Canada Inc. has announced it will bring two double-hulled
tankers of its parent company, Rigel Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG, to
Canada for use in the domestic trade. The Ledastern (10,511-dwt, 123-meter/405-foot
motor tanker built in 1993) and the Westerstern (17,000-dwt) will arrive
by December.

Ashland cancels lease of rig

Ashland Inc. has canceled the lease of a drilling rig from Santa Fe
International Corp. for use for a year off Nigeria at U.S.$69,500 daily.
Ashland is planning to end its Nigerian operations.

VESSEL CASUALTIES

Second quarter casualties: ships lost, deaths decrease, tonnage up

The Institute of London Underwriters announced the second quarter figures
for casualties of vessels 500-gt or more on 18 Aug. Fifteen ships were
lost and 48 have been lost in the first six months of the year, for a total
of 376,502 gross tons. For the first half of 1996, 53 ships of 309,273
gross tons were lost. During the first six months of this year, 142 persons
were killed in maritime casualties, compared to 1,061 in 1996. Thirty-six
of the 48 ships lost this year were over 20 years old.

Ship explosion in Egypt kills four, four missing

Four Philippine citizens were killed 21 Aug. in an explosion aboard
a Panamanian-registry vessel at Dikheila, Egypt. Four others were injured.
The ship was unloading coal.

Two dead, four missing after bulk carrier sinks in the East China Sea

The Anatoli I (Panamanian-registry 6,338-gt, 10,321-dwt general cargo
ship built in 1976, operated by Helvetia Shipping S.A.) sank at 1530 19
Aug. in the East China Sea, 460 kilometers/285 miles off Kagoshima, Japan.
Thirteen of the 19 crew were rescued and two were killed with four missing.
The crew includes citizens of Egypt, Lithuania, the Philippines, Russia,
Sri Lanka and Ukraine. The Anatoli I was sailing from Papua New Guinea
to Inchon, South Korea, with logs. The ship sank bow first, according to
the crew, after being battered by heavy seas at 29 degrees 12 minutes north,
126 degrees 25 minutes east.

Twenty-four abandon ship on fire off Hong Kong

Twenty-four crewmembers of the Goodeast (Panamanian-registry, 5,300-gt)
were rescued 17 Aug. after the ship caught fire about 80 kilometers/50
miles southwest of Hong Kong. It was sailing from Hong Kong to Vietnam.
Helicopters from Hong Kong took off 13 Myanmar citizens, while the rest
of the 11 were rescued (nine Myanmar citizens, one Hong Kong native and
one Indonesian citizen) by a Chinese-registry vessel sailing to Zhuhai,
China. The fire apparently began in the engine room and quickly spread.
No injuries were reported.

Two missing after fishing vessel sinks in Florida

On 9 Aug., cans with flares and wallets attached to lifejackets from
the fishing vessel Jireh were found 56 kilometers/35 miles west of Crystal
River, Fla. The Jireh had been reported as overdue. A U.S. Coast Guard
HH-60J Jayhawk from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., conducted
a search with local sheriff's divers. The submerged hull was found but
not the crewmembers.

U.S. Navy patrol boat rescues two from burning fishing vessel

The fishing vessel Katye Marie caught fire 13 Aug., 99 kilometers/62
miles east of Cape Henry, Va. The two crewmembers boarded a liferaft and
were rescued by the U.S. Navy's Cyclone-class Patrol Boat U.S.S. Shamal
(PC 13), which also extinguished the fire. The U.S. Coast Guard's "Point"-class
Patrol Boat U.S.C.G.C. Point Bonita (WPB 82347) later took the two aboard
and the Katye Marie in tow. However, the fishing vessel later sank, 32
kilometers/20 miles east of the entrance to Chesapeake Bay.

Chilean-trawler sinks in storm

The Carlos Darwin (Chilean-registry 208-gt trawler) sank in bad weather
at Valparaiso, Chile, on 17 Aug.

Tanker damaged by fire

The Beykim II (Turkish-registry 467-gt tanker), sailing to Yarimca,
had a fire 16 Aug. and is reportedly a total constructive loss.

Bulk carriers in collision off Suao

The Anangel Prosperity (Greek-registry 13,661-gt, 23,033-dwt, 164.3-meter/539.2-foot
motor bulk carrier built in 1976, operated by Anangel Shipping Enterprises
S.A.) and the Larkfield (Bahamian-registry 25,695-gt, 39,011-dwt bulk carrier
built in 1974, operated by Westfleet Management A/S) were in a collision
off Suao on 20 Aug. The Anangel Prosperity called at Suao for repairs.

Dutch-registry ship towed to port with engine damage

The Cemile (Dutch-registry 2,370-gt, 4,270-dwt general cargo ship built
in 1991, operated by Heinrich Hanno & Co. B.V.) had engine damage 16
Aug. at Buoy 18/19 in the Elbe River after leaving Hamburg, Germany. The
ship was towed the same day to Cuxhaven, Germany, by the tug Tow 3.

Dredger runs aground in Lake Maracaibo, tanker scrapes bottom

The Catatumbo (10,276-dwt dredging vessel built in 1979, operated by
Canalizaciones Instituto) ran aground in Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo at
2210 18 Aug., blocking the channel to oil tankers for 17 hours. The grounding
was at Buoys 24/26. It was also announced this week that the Nereo (Panamanian-registry
99,355-dwt tanker built in 1993, operated by PDV Marina S.A.) scraped bottom
in the channel on 8 Aug. while at a draft of 11.35 meters/37.25 feet near
Buoy 23. The ship slowed from eight to three knots and turned hard to port
to avoid grounding.

Kalibo Star sinking update

Thirteen persons are now confirmed dead and 15 are missing following
the capsizing and sinking of the Kalibo Star (485-gt ferry operated by
Kalibo Shipping Lines, owned by K&P Shipping Lines) in bad weather
north of Leyte Island, the Philippines, at 1500 15 Aug. Some 115 were rescued.
A preliminary inquiry by the Philippine government has blamed crew negligence
for the sinking. Surviving crewmembers said that two 46-centimeter/18-inch
portholes were left open during a storm. The portholes were located between
the upper cargo hold and the engine room.

King Rogers owner, crew arrested

Police in Manila, the Philippines, have arrested Rogelio Alenzuela,
the owner of the King Rogers (5.46-ton, 15.7-meter/51.5-foot long wooden
vessel), and two of its crew. Another two are being sought. Seven people
were killed when the King Rogers sank in Manila Bay late the afternoon
of 15 Aug., only 9.1 meters/30 feet from the pier. The 39 others aboard
were rescued. The five are charged with "reckless imprudence"
leading to multiple homicides.

Halsingland towed to port

The Halsingland (German-registry 3,845-gt, 4,334-dwt, 105-meter/344-foot
general cargo ship built in 1990, operated by Aros Shipping GmbH) was refloated
16 Aug. and towed by two Finnish-registry tugs to Rahja, Finland. The ship
ran aground off Kalajoki, Finland, early 14 Aug. in bad weather while sailing
to Rahja. It had 160 tons of heavy fuel and 30 tons of diesel aboard. Late
15 Aug., about 10 tons of oil washed ashore and more than 150 people worked
to clean the spill, filling 80 barrels. The Halsingland had 11 crewmembers
and a Finnish pilot aboard and eight were evacuated. Pilot error is suspected.

Charges against Silja Europa master dropped

Charges against the master of the Silja Europa (Finnish-registry 60,000-gt,
4,650-dwt ferry built in 1993, operated by Silja Line) have been withdrawn
after it was found that there are no established training requirements
for use of integrated navigation systems. The ferry ran aground off Stockholm,
Sweden, in January 1995 after the navigation system altered the blade elevation
of one of two controlable-pitch propellers.

Nissos Amorgos master temporarily released

The master of the Nissos Amorgos (Greek-registry 50,563-gt, 89,427-dwt
tanker built in 1988, owned by Glafki-Atenas and operated by Teekay Shipping
Ltd.) has been temporarily released. The ship ran aground late 28 Feb.
between buoys 20 and 22 in the channel of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, and
spilled at least 20,000 barrels of crude oil. It was carrying 474,000 barrels
or 64,573 tons from Puerto Miranda, Venezuela, to Port de Gella, Italy,
and was chartered by Maraven S.A. with oil for Agip Petroil SpA. Seventeen
kilometers/11 miles of land was affected. The ship was held until 21 July
along with its master, Konstantinos Spiropulos. Spiropulos has been released
for 30 days before his trial begins and he flew to Athens, Greece. Some
327 million Brazilian reals/U.S.$300 million in claims have been made.

Report on grounding of the Najaden

The officer on watch aboard the Najaden (Finnish-registry 4,402-dwt
containership built in 1989, owned and operated by Rederei Engship) fell
asleep on 12 July, according to a recent report. The ship then ran aground
off Naissaari Island, Estonia. A system that was supposed to wake the watch
officer had been turned off. The ship was sailing from Kotka, Finland,
to Hamburg, Germany.

British "spy ship" found

The wreck of a suspected British "spy ship" has been found,
almost 25 years after it disappeared. The fishing trawler Gaul, which had
a crew of 36, was found by a British-Norwegian television expedition about
110 kilometers/68 miles north of Hammerfest, Norway. The Gaul was found
a week ago in 270 meters/890 feet of water and identified by its name and
identification numbers. It has long been suspected that the Gaul was a
British government vessel that conducted espionage of the Soviet Union.

Sunken ship in Black Sea leaking fuel

The fuel tanks aboard the Admiral Nakhimov, which sank in the mid-1980s
in the Black Sea's Tsemesskaya Bay, are leaking, according to Valery Prokhorenko,
mayor of Novorossiysk, Russia. The ship has 300 metric tons of fuel aboard.
Who is responsible for potential clean-up is not clear, as Black Sea Shipping
Co. said it "presented" the ship to Novorossiysk Shipping Co.
in 1991 and is no longer responsible.

(AT) LAST...BUT NOT LEAST...

Jonkoping returns to Gavle...80 years later

The shipwreck of the Jonkoping (Swedish-registry 25-meter/82-foot ketch),
lying in 64 meters/210 feet deep about 46 kilometers/28 miles from Rauma,
Finland, was towed underwater to Gavle, Sweden, this week. There, it was
placed under a barge and a steel cage will be built around it for lifting.
C-Star, the consortium attempting salvage, expects to spend U.S.$187,000.
The Jonkoping was found in June and 500 of 5,000 bottles of champagne have
been salvaged. There are also 36,000 liters/9,400 gallons of cognac in
wooden barrels and 6,000 liters/1,500 gallons of red wine aboard. The cargo
may be worth 500 million Swedish kronor/U.S.$63 million. The Jonkoping
left Gavle on 28 Oct., 1916, for Rauma and Petrograd, Russia, with wine
for the central bank of Finland and champagne and cognac for the Russian
army. The wooden, two-masted ship was sunk by the U-22, a German Navy attack
submarine, shortly after.

Snorri ends voyage attempt

The Snorri, a 16-meter/52-foot replica of a Viking knarr attempting
to re-create the Leif Ericsson's voyage from Greenland to Canada, was taken
in tow 15 Aug. after rudder problems. The Canadian Coast Guard's lead ship
of the C.C.G.S. Pierre Radisson-class river icebreaker took the Snorri
in tow 330 kilometers/205 miles off Greenland. The Snorri was to be taken
to Nuuk, Greenland. An amateur radio operator in Ontario, Canada, had been
in contact with the ship and relayed the Snorri's request for assistance.
On 18 Aug., the Snorri ended its attempt to make the voyage. Repairs for
the rudder reportedly would have taken a week and with summer ending and
the threat of hurricanes increasing, the decision was made to end the voyage.

Information on Arctic Ocean from U.S. submarines to be made available

The U.S. Arctic Research Commission said 21 Aug. that climatic information
gathered by U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarines in the Arctic Ocean from
1957 to 1982 will be made available to the public. The information, previously
classified, will be made available in six months at the earliest. In addition
to aiding research on climate changes and pollution, the information will
shed light on the underwater terrain around the North Pole.