- Transport on Line - hiltunen.htm
BUSINESS
I.M.O. approves new air pollution rules for ships
The International Maritime Organization adopted new regulations to reduce
air pollution by ships on 25 Sept. The new rules set limits on nitrogen
oxide and sulphur dioxide from vessel exhausts and prohibit deliberate
release of substances that deplete ozone. The regulations, which have been
worked on for six years, will become Annex VI of the International Convention
for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973 as amended in 1978.
ICB Shipping to buy Astro Tankers
ICB Shipping A.B. will pay the Angelicoussis family U.S.$309 million
for Astro Tankers. The action is seen, in part, as an attempt by ICB Shipping
to bolster itself against a hostile takeover launched by Frontline Ltd.
ICB Shipping will issue 11.85 million new shares of stock and transfer
them to the Angelicoussis family. The stake amounts to 29.6 percent of
voting stock in ICB Shipping. Astro Tankers includes 10 ships, three on
order and an in-house management business. Shareholders with 50 percent
of ICB Shipping's voting stock have approved the deal, and another 42 percent
have positions of irrevocable support.
Frontline and London & Overseas Freighters to merge
Frontline Ltd. and London & Overseas Freighters Ltd. will merge
in a U.S.$117.3 million deal announced 22 Sept. Frontline will begin a
cash offer for at least 50.1 percent and as much as 90 percent of London
& Overseas Freighters outstanding ordinary shares around 29 Sept. The
tender price will be U.S.$1.591 net to the seller in cash. Pending successful
completion of the tender, Frontline will then take a majority of the board
of directors. Shareholders of each firm will then vote on a merger in which
London & Overseas Freighters will be the surviving business, with listings
in the United Kingdom and the United States. Frontline shareholders will
get shares of London & Overseas Freighters and 26 million warrants
in aggregate for Frontline shares. Pending approval from the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission and other agencies and financial transactions,
the deal will be completed later this year. Frontline operates 24 ships
including nine combination vessels, five very large crude carriers, five
Suezmax tankers, three woodchip carriers and two bulk carriers. It is also
buying another Suezmax tanker and has three on order along with four very
large crude carriers. The existing fleet is about four million deadweight
tons. London & Overseas Freighters operates three Suezmax and three
Panamax tankers of 600,000 deadweight tons, although as part of the deal,
has announced it will sell three tankers. Lazard Freres & Co. L.L.C.
is acting as financial advisor to Frontline with Gleacher NatWest Inc.
and NatWest Securities Ltd. serving as advisers to London & Overseas
Freighters.
Artemis makes hostile bid for Worms & Cie.
Artemis S.A. made a hostile takeover offer for Worms & Cie. of U.S.$4.8
billion on 19 Sept. On 24 Sept., the board of Worms & Cie. urged shareholders
to reject the offer. The company is 22.1 percent owned by the Worms family
with the Agnelli family controlling 20 percent. Artemis is the family holding
business of Francois Pinault, a French citizen who controls Pinault-Printemps-Redoute
S.A. and its luxury department stores, an African trading firm and an electrical
equipment distributor. Worms & Cie. is a financial holding company
whose interests include the largest French tanker operator. Shares of Worms
& Cie. have been suspended since the bid.
Genstar Conatiner and Sea Containers will jointly operate container
fleets
Sea Containers Ltd. and GE Capital Services have signed a memorandum
of understanding to create GE SeaCo Ltd., a venture that will operate the
two companies' marine container fleets of a combined 1.2 million TEUs.
GE Capital Services' fleet is currently operated by Genstar Container Corp.
GE SeaCo will acquire Sea Containers' container depots and give preferred
status to its container manufacturing facilities. It will also form GE
SeaCo Services Ltd., a British service company, to provide management services.
The new venture will have a board of eight directors with four from each
company. GE SeaCo and GE SeaCo Services will receive personnel from Genstar
Container and Sea Containers. Combined revenue last year was U.S.$590 million
and the original cost of the containers was U.S.$3.5 billion. Future profits
will be distributed with 70 percent to GE Capital Services and 30 percent
to Sea Containers. Any profits from future additions to the venture will
be split evenly. GE SeaCo expects to purchase about U.S.$200 million of
containers next year. A 15-year revolving credit, jointly guaranteed, will
fund the acquisitions. GE Capital Services will also invest U.S.$10 million
in Sea Containers' Class A common shares and U.S.$15 million in 7.25 percent
Preferred Shares convertible into Class B common shares. Both are new issues.
Algoma Central to buy half of ULS Marbulk
Algoma Central Corp. said 25 Sept. it has agreed in principle to buy
half of ULS Marbulk Inc. from Upper Lakes Group Inc. The deal involves
Canadian$33 million/U.S.$24 million in treasury shares and may close by
31 Oct. ULS Marbulk and its subsidiaries operate four ships with another
building.
Tribunal denies request to place C.M.A. in receivership
The Marseilles Tribunal of Commerce in France has denied a request by
Societe Mistral to place Compagnie Maritime d'Affretement in receivership.
Societe Mistral is operated by Johnny Saade, and the tribunal said that
he was abusing his minority position in requesting the action. Further,
the tribunal validated a capital increase in C.M.A. of 80 million French
francs/U.S.$13 million, which had been advocated by Merit France, another
large C.M.A. shareholder operated by Johnny's brother, Jacques. Merit France
will guarantee the increase through funding derived from the transfer of
Compagnie Generale Maritime to the C.G.M.-C.M.A. holding firm.
Fred Olsen settlement reached
Fred and Petter Olsen have reached an out-of-court settlement in their
dispute over control of Fred Olsen. Petter Olsen and his Petter Olsen Trading
sued Fred Olsen and Fred Olsen Trading. Fred Olsen Trading and Petter Olsen
Trading each own 49.99 percent of the Fred Olsen business through Quatro
A/S and Cinco A/S, with Fred Olsen Trading owning the rest. Petter Olsen
contended that Fred Olsen had too much control in decisions and has requested
that the businesses be wound up. Apparently, under the settlement, Quatro
and Cinco will each have 50 percent ownership of Fred Olsen and they will
be divided between the two brothers.
New containership operator for Yangtze River formed
China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co. and China Yangtze River Navigation
Group formed a containership operator for the Yangtze River on 19 Sept.
Shanghai Yuanjiang Container Shipping Co. Ltd. will spend 30 million Chinese
yuan/U.S.$3.6 million to start building three new ships, with another three
to enter service by early next year.
Van Ommeren forms gas division to serve Asia
Van Ommeren has formed a new shipping line to carry liquified petroleum
gas and other gases in Asia. Van Ommeren Gas Shipping will begin operations
next month with two new semi-pressurized liquified petroleum gas carriers
built in Japan for U.S.$12 million each. The first ship will be delivered
in mid-October. Each will have a capacity of 3,300 cubic meters/4,300 cubic
yards and with 1,800 tons, will have drafts of not more than 4.25 meters/13.9
feet. The line will concentrate on China.
Singapore signs oil pollution protocol
Sinagpore signed the 1992 protocol to the International Convention on
Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969 on 18 Sept. It will take
affect exactly one year from signing. The protocol changes the pollution
liability limit from U.S.$28 million to U.S.$118 million. It came into
affect in May 1996.
Brazil to ease requirements to set-up shipping companies
The Brazilian government has approved legislation that will make it
easier for firms to form a shipping company registered in Brazil. Among
other provisions, the minimum capital requirement will be dropped. However,
the ability to register ships as Brazilian will only be granted to those
companies ordering vessels from Brazilian shipbuilders.
MARINA refuses to lift cabotage laws
The Philippine Marine Industry Authority has rejected calls to change
the country's cabotage laws. The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry
had requested the laws be lifted on behalf of the Philippine Export Development
Council and the Philippine Exporters Foundation. MARINA had been asked
to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Bureau of Customs
to reclassify exports and imports as transshipment cargo rather than domestic
cargo, allowing foreign-registry vessels in the cabotage trade.
Court: Lawsuits in Alabama train derailment must be under maritime law
The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th District has ruled that
lawsuits relating to a train derailment must be handled under federal maritime
law. On 22 Sept., 1993, the tug Mauvilla, operated by Warrior & Gulf
Navigation Co., entered Bayou Canot on the Mobile River in Alabama. It
had a tow and was sailing in heavy fog. The tow allided with a CSX Transportation
rail bridge and knocked it out of alignment. Minutes later, Amtrak's Sunset
Limited crossed the bridge and derailed. Of the 192 passengers and 19 crew,
42 passengers and five crewmembers were killed. U.S. District Judge Richard
W. Vullmer Jr. consolidated remaining lawsuits against Amtrak, CSX Transportation
and Warrior & Gulf Navigation under Alabama's wrongful death law. In
a ruling 11 Sept., however, the circuit court of appeals ruled that federal
maritime law overrides the state law. While Alabama law only calls for
proving simple negligence, federal maritime law mandates proof that the
defendants had willful and wanton misconduct.
DSR Senator Lines workers protest Rostock closure
About 60 employees in the Rostock, Germany, office of DSR Senator Lines
protested at the business' office in Bremen, Germany, on 23 Sept. Under
a plan announced earlier, DSR Senator Lines will consolidate its operations
at the Bremen office and transfer 40 of 240 employees in Rostock to Bremen.
The rest would apparently be laid-off.
More on COSCO restructuring
China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co. will restructure its four primary businesses
by consolidating the office of each at one location. China Container Co.
will merge with COSCO Shanghai. The business will operate 152 containerships
of 237,500-TEU capacity from Shanghai, China. Bulk carriers will be managed
from Tianjin, China, with general cargo ships in Guangzhou, China. Tanker
management will be by COSCO Dalian Ocean Shipping Co. in Dalian, China.
Rotterdam entities form fund to aid stranded crews
The Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the city's social services department,
the Dutch Ministry of Transport and several stevedores have formed a fund
to aid crewmembers stranded aboard ships arrested at the port. The fund
currently has 150,000 Dutch guilders/U.S.$75,000. At present, the social
services department provides advances to the crews and is repaid when the
ship is sold. The new fund will be used to provide health care to the crews
and the ability to return home, as well as provide some maintenance funds.
Investigation of Canadian Pacific's deal with Cast suspended
The Canadian Competition Bureau has suspended its investigation into
Canadian Pacific Ltd.'s purchase of Cast in 1995. The Canadian Competition
Tribunal has implemented a stay in proceedings until 31 March. If the bureau
has not successfully applied to the tribunal to lift the stay before then,
the investigation will be permanently ended. In December, the bureau challenged
the acquisition on the grounds that competition shipping containers between
Montreal and northern Europe would be decreased. However, the bureau requested
the stay after Maersk Line, P&O Nedlloyd Container Line Ltd. and Sea-Land
Service Inc. announced a new container service calling at Montreal.
APL and Neptune Orient Lines file for review
APL Ltd. and Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. filed a voluntary notice for
review of their merger by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United
States on 22 Sept. The review is necessary under the Exon-Florio laws,
which relate to foreign investments with an impact on U.S. security. The
committee has 30 days from the date of filing to decide whether an investigation
is warranted.
Iver Ships renamed
Iver Ships A/S became Van Ommeren Iver Ships Ltd. on 22 Sept. The operator
of 23 vessels made the change to better reflect its status with Van Ommeren.
On 1 Jan., Van Ommeren Iver Ships will open an office within Van Ommeren
Tank Terminals in Singapore.
World Shipping named Midwest agent for Global Container Lines
Shiptrade Inc., the general agent for Global Container Lines Ltd., has
named World Shipping Inc. as the line's agent for the Midwest of the United
States.
Canada Maritime Services to form Antwerp agency
Canada Maritime Services Ltd. will form an agency in Antwerp, Belgium.
Canada Maritime Agencies N.V. will begin operating 1 Nov., replacing Aseco
B.V.
BIMCO opens Singapore office
The Baltic and International Maritime Council's new Singapore office
is at 10 Cullyer Quay #07-05A Ocean Building, Singapore, 049315. The telephone
is 536-1936 and facsimile is 536-0164.
Crest opens in Oslo
Crest, a ship agency software firm, has opened an office in Oslo, Norway.
Seascope buys Dataworks system
The London broker Seascope has purchased a 46-user communications system,
with personal computers and shipbroking and messaging software, from Dataworks.
Dart Maritime provides Farrell Lines with automated tariff system
Dart Maritime has announced that Farrell Lines Inc. has licensed its
Apex personal computer-based automated tariff system. It wil be used at
some of Farrell Lines' U.S. offices. Dart Maritime is providing weekly
updates on tariffs as filed with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission's
system.
ROUTES AND SERVICES
APL, with Crowley American Transport, starts route to Argentina, Brazil
APL Ltd. has begun container service between Argentina, Brazil, Mexico
and the United States. Southbound service began 23 Sept. and northbound
will start 17 Oct. The service is being operated as part of a vessel sharing
agreement with Crowley American Transport and includes the East Coast-Americas
route and the Gulf Express. The former, with seven ships, will call weekly
at Philadelphia; Baltimore; Norfolk, Va.; Jacksonville and Port Everglades,
Fla.; Puerto Cabello, Venezuela; Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Imbituba, Rio
Grande and Suape, Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Gulf Express
Service uses three ships with calls at Houston; Tampico and Veracruz in
Mexico; Puerto Cabello; Cartagena, Colombia; and Colon, Panama. APL is
also offering a route every two weeks between Manaus, Brazil, and the U.S.
east and Gulf coasts. Containers from Los Angeles to Santos, Brazil, will
take 24 days via Houston. Shipment from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Chicago,
by Philadelphia, will take 18 days. Rio de Janeiro to Los Angeles takes
20 days. APL's Argentina agent is Agencia Maritima Internacional S.A. while
Agencia Maritima Dickinson S.A. provides agency services in Brazil.
Navieras and Transroll Navegacao announce new joint service
Navieras Inc. and Transroll Navegacao S.A. will start a new joint service
next month named TNX (Transroll Navieras Express). Six 1,200-TEU capacity
ships, with three operated by each firm, will call 11 ports on a fixed-day
schedule. Calls will include Philadelphia; Norfolk, Va.; Jacksonville,
Fla.; Miami; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Rio Grande,
Sao Francisco do Sul and Fortaleza in Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
COSCO to drop Le Havre, Xingang as direct calls
China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co. will cease direct calls at Le Havre,
France, and Xingang, China. COSCO will then change the number of 3,600-TEU
ships on its route between Asia and Europe from nine to eight. Calls will
include: Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Hamburg, Germany; Felixstowe, England;
Antwerp, Belgium; Singapore; Hong Kong; and Shanghai and Qingdao in China.
Le Havre and Xingang will be served through slot sharing agreements with
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. and Yangming Marine Transport Corp.
EATA to be formally abolished
The Europe-Asian Trades Agreement, formed in 1992, will be formally
abolished shortly. A capacity management agreement, EATA members placed
a cap on container capacity for about a year. The European Commission took
issue with the system in late 1992 and formally objected in 1994. Although
a formal investigation has not yet been made, the EATA has been dormant
since 1993, although each quarter, it has announced that members will refrain
from a capacity cap. In light of current business conditions, the EATA
will be abolished.
APL to starting calling Haldia again?
APL Ltd. will reportedly resume calls to Haldia in Calcutta, India,
in November. APL stopped service in July citing low productivity levels.
In addition, the only gantry crane collapsed in high winds in April. Container
Corp. of India will reportedly place its own equipment on the dock along
with APL equipment.
More on "K" Line's route to western Australia
As previously announced, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. will begin a route
between Japan, Southeast Asia and western Australia on 8 Oct. "K"
Line is taking over the route of the West Australian Consortium after three
other lines (Australian National Line, Knutsen OAS Shipping A/S and Nippon
Yusen Kaisha or NYK Line) withdrew from joint operations. Five 1,000-TEU
capacity containerships will operate on a weekly frequency calling in Japan,
Singapore and ports around the Strait of Malacca and Fremantle, Western
Australia. The first ship to start the service will be the Hansa Coral
(13,342-dwt containership built in 1986, operated by Leonhardt & Blumberg),
departing Osaka, Japan, on 8 Oct.
CANALS, PORTS AND STRUCTURES
Evergreen Marine signs agreement with Gioia Tauro
Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd. will shift its Mediterranean hub
from Cyprus to the Medcenter Container Terminal at Gioia Tauro, Italy.
The contract will last until at least 2002. Evergreen Marine has reportedly
requested that it be allowed to handle its own containers at the port,
giving a figure of 400,000 TEUs annually in a 130 billion Italian lira/U.S.$75
million project.
New German port to open 1 Oct.
A new port will open at Cuxhaven, Germany, on 1 Oct. Europkai was built
on land owned until recently by the government of Hamburg, Germany, which
retained it to stop further industrial development. As part of the sale
agreement, Europkai will initially refrain from large scale container traffic.
More on Santos container terminal concession
Multiterminais has announced it will invest 130 million Brazilian reals/U.S.$119
million in the Tecon-1 container terminal at Santos, Brazil. Last week,
Multiterminais, with Opportunity Leste's Previs and Sistel pension funds
and 525 Participacoes, won 25-year concession to operate the terminal.
The consortium paid 274.48 million reals/U.S.$250.66 million. The new operators
plan to cut the costs of moving a container from the current 500 reals/U.S.$502
to 150 reals/U.S.$137 within two years.
Maersk Line, Modern Terminals to develop Qingdao terminal
Maersk Line and Modern Terminals Ltd. have signed a letter of intent
to develop a container terminal with China's Qingdao Port Authority. The
authority will own 51 percent of the venture. The three-berth facility,
with a one million TEU capacity, will start operating in early 1998. It
will be Modern Terminals' first Chinese joint venture outside Hong Kong.
Manila container terminals increase rates
Foreign-registry ships calling at the two container terminals at the
Port of Manila, the Philippines, have paid increased rates since 15 Sept.
A 15 percent increase went into affect that date with another 10 percent
increase coming in March. Rates for ships calling at the North Harbor,
operated by Manila International Container Terminal Inc., costs 1,059 Philippine
pesos/U.S.$31.71 per TEU and will increase to 1,165 pesos/U.S.$34.88 per
TEU. At Asian Terminals Inc.'s South Harbor, the rate is 1,073 pesos/U.S.$32.12
per TEU now and will increase to 1,180 pesos/U.S.$35.33 per TEU in March.
Arrastre rates, work that includes such things as line handling, is now
at 1,629 pesos/U.S.$48.78 per import TEU and 1,331 pesos/U.S.$39.84 per
export TEU at both terminals. In March, it will be 1,792 pesos/U.S.$53.66
per import TEU and 1,464 pesos/U.S.$43.82 per export TEU. The last rate
changes at the terminals was in March 1995.
E.C.T., P.S.A. join to exchange terminal knowledge
Europe Combined Terminals and the Port of Singapore Authority have entered
into an agreement to exchange commercial and technical knowledge about
container terminals. They will focus on development of automated transshipment
systems and will work to set-up ventures in marketing research with a long-term
aspect. Both will work in the European area, particularly in southern Europe
and the Baltic, with P.S.A. taking the lead in Southeast Asia.
Kaohsiung to corporatize
Taiwan's Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau will be corporatized by December 1998.
Currently under a provincial government, the bureau will come under the
authority of the Taiwanese Ministry of Transportation and Communications,
which will lead its corporatization. About 900 of 2,400 employees will
be retained in the restructuring.
Harwich Haven Authority approves dredging
England's Harwich Haven Authority has approved a plan to dredge its
approach channel to allow nearby Felixstowe to accomodate the largest containerships
and compete with northwest Europe.
California bunker to remain exempt from sales tax
Certain bunker fuel sold in California will remain exempt from an 8.25
percent sales tax until at least 2003. On 13 Sept., the California Assembly
approved a bill that will extend the current exemption, which expires 1
Jan., for another five years. The exemption applies to bunker fuel sold
in California for use outside the state. In July 1991, the sales tax was
put in place but has been inactive since 1 Jan., 1993. The bill has been
passed by the California Senate and requires the governor's approval.
Alabama State Docks refinances debt
Alabama State Docks refinanced its debt on 5 Sept. The action involved
two series of revenue bonds totaling U.S.$136.26 million. The refinancing
included debt from 1988 with the remaining U.S.$34.67 million new debt.
The new debt has a true interest of 5.563 percent while the older debt
has 5.668 percent. The refinancing will save U.S.$7.4 million or 7.70 percent
and will not go over the present annual debt service of U.S.$15.1 million
from 1999 to 2022. Next year, however, it will be U.S.$1.8 million over.
Construction of two berths at Tianjin begins
Construction of coke and non-ferrous ore berths at the Nanjiang area
of the Port of Tianjin, China, has begun. The two berths will handle vessels
up to 100,000-dwt and 35,000-dwt respectively, with a total annual handling
capacity of 10 million tons.
Two sulphur exporters sign deals with Vancouver
Procor Sulphur Services and Sultran Ltd. have signed five-year deals
to export 1.5 million tons of sulphur through the Port of Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada. As a result, Vancouver Wharves will spend Canadian$7
million/U.S.$5 million to upgrade its bulk terminal.
Van Ommeren completes Singapore expansion
Van Ommeren on 22 Sept. opened its U.S.$60 million tank and jetty expansion
at its petroleum terminal at Pulau Sebarok, Singapore.
TransAmerican Refining completes purchase of docks, storage tanks
TransAmerican Refining Corp. has completed the purchase of certain assets
in Norco, La., from GATX Terminals Corp. for U.S.$40 million. The assets
include a petroleum storage tanks with a capacity of 5.5 million barrels,
docks on the Mississippi River and support facilities. TransAmerican Refining
now owns four tanker docks and 9.8 million barrels of storage capacity.
The docks will serve a refinery being built in Norco that will begin operating
next year.
Chennai, Zeebrugge become "sister ports"
A memorandum of understanding was signed 24 Sept. in Zeebrugge, Belgium,
between the Port of Zeebrugge and the Port of Chennai, India. The two will
become "sister ports."
Montevideo concession narrows to three
The Port of Montevideo, Uruguay, has disqualified two bidders for the
30-year concession to operate its container terminal. With Exolgan and
Maritima Valencina S.A. with Tecomar S.A. eliminated, the three left bidding
are Christophersen with Maersk Line, Cargas y Servicios with Hessenatie
N.V. and Katoen Natie with Zona Franca Montevideo. Each bid plans for 590
million Uruguayan new pesos/U.S.$60 million to 1.3 billion new pesos/U.S.$130
million in improvements.
Mexican ports affected by Hurricane Nora
The Mexican port of Mazatlan closed 22 Sept. due to weather conditions
caused by Hurricane Nora. The ports of Altata, Cabo San Lucas, Lazaro Cardenas,
Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta and Topolobampo have closed at various times
to small or all vessels. Also, at least one passenger ship sailing to Mexico
cut short its cruise and returned to port.
Russian port opens to all ships
The Port of Gelendzhik, Russia, has opened to foreign-registry vessels.
SHIPYARDS AND EQUIPMENT
MacDermott sells Unifab International
MacDermott Inc. has sold its stake in Unifab International Inc. for
U.S.$35.7 million. Unifab International, based in New Iberia, La., manufactures
decks for offshore drilling rigs. MacDermott received U.S.$28.7 million
from selling its 1.7 million common shares and U.S.$7 million from the
sale of contractual rights and real estate to Unifab International. MacDermott's
second quarter earnings will increase about U.S.$32 million.
Newport News Shipbuilding to repurchase some stock
Newport News Shipbuilding said 25 Sept. that it will fund part of its
employee compensation plan with up to U.S.$10 million of its common stock.
The stock will be purchased through open market and private transactions.
At least 2,000 former Bremer Vulkan Verbund workers unemployed
Mypegasus, the organization set-up to assist former employees of Bremer
Vulkan Verbund AG, said this week that 1,700 or the 4,300 former employees
have found employment or taken their pensions since the shipbuilder filed
for bankruptcy 18 months ago. These include 500 people hired by Lloyd Werft
Bremerhaven GmbH. About 2,000 will therefore register as unemployed on
1 Oct. with the remaining 600 to follow.
Baltimore Marine Industries to open
Baltimore Marine Industries will open 1 Oct. at Sparrows Point, Md.
Employees have signed six-year contracts.
Quincy shipyard may become foreign trade zone
The Massachusetts Port Authority has requested that Massachusetts Heavy
Industries at Quincy, Mass., be allowed to become a foreign trade zone.
The shipyard would then be exempt from customs duties on foreign items
used in export activity except steel products.
Greece to promote Perama shipyards
Greece has formed a bureau to promote shipbuilding and repair at Perama.
It has 280 million Greek drachmas/U.S.$1 million and will also act as an
adviser and coordinator for shipping interests in the area. Money has also
been allocated to retrain Perama workers to adapt to more modern shipbuilding
techniques.
Halla Engineering & Heavy Industries to build tankers for Singapore
firm
Tai Chong Cheang Steamship has ordered two double-bottom 105,000-dwt
tankers from Halla Engineering & Heavy Industries Ltd. for U.S.$82
million. Each will be 244 meters/801 feet long, have a beam of 42 meters/138
feet and a draft of 21 meters/69 feet. The ships will be capable of 14.5
knots with a 16,600-horsepower engine. They will be built at the Samho
shipyard in South Cholla Province, South Korea, for delivery in mid-1999.
A.P. Moller expands A.H.T.S. order
A.P. Moller has exercised an option for two anchor handling tugs/supply
vessels to be built by Keppel Singmarine Dockyard in Singapore for U.S.$100
million. They will be delivered in the second half of 1998 as the later
half of four on order. They will have medium-speed diesels for 18,000 brake
horsepower and 15 knots.
More on Fednav International's bulk carrier order
Fednav International Ltd. signed a contract with Sumitomo Corp. in Tokyo
on 18 Sept. for four 34,000-dwt bulk carriers at a cost of 12 billion Japanese
yen/U.S.$98 million. They will be built by Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.
at Nagasaki, Japan, for delivery in the latter half of 1999 and the first
half of 2000. In addition to acting as Fednav International's contractor,
Sumitomo will be a partner with Fednav International in owning the vessels.
Each ship will have six cargo holds and three 30-ton cranes. The bulk carriers
will be built for navigating the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Sea Launch Commander christened at Kvaerner Govan
The Sea Launch Commander was christened at 1100 22 Sept. at Kvaerner
Govan Ltd. in Glasgow, Scotland, by Bobbie Cromer, wife of Don Cromer,
chairman of Hughes Space & Communications International Inc. The Sea
Launch Commander is the assembly and command ship for Sea Launch, a sea-based
commercial satellite launching venture. The rockets themselves will be
launched from a launch platform being fitted out by Kvaerner Vyborg Shipyard
J.S.C. in Russia. It was built at Kvaerner Rosenberg A/S at Stavanger,
Norway. The launch platform is a converted North Sea semi-submersible drilling
rig with a displacement of 46,000 tons submerged. At least 20 people will
be employed for each launch, based aboard the 34,000-ton Sea Launch Commander.
The vessels will be homeported at Long Beach, Calif., while the launches
will be along the equator near Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean. Sea
Launch involves Boeing Commercial Space Co., KB-Yuzhnoye/PO-Yuzhmash, Kvaerner
A.S.A. and RSC-Energia. Hughes Space & Communications International
has contracted with Sea Launch for 13 launches. The first will be in fall
1998 of an HS 702 communications satellite for PanAmSat.
Uniglory Marine to get two more containerships
Uniglory Marine Corp. will receive two 1,164-TEU containerships next
month from China Shipbuilding Corp. and Evergreen Heavy Industries. Uniglory
Marine will then have eight such ships with four built at each shipyard.
Evergreen Heavy Industries will build six more for delivery in 1998 and
1999. The current eight will operate between the Middle East and Persian
Gulf and Asia. Three are being operated by Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan)
Ltd.
Guangzhou Shipyard International delivers its largest ship
The Hugo Oldendorff (Panamanian-registry 44,000-dwt, 199-meter bulk
carrier) was launched last week by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co.
Ltd. The first of two ships, it will be delivered next month to Egon Oldendorff
and its the largest ship built by the yard. It will be capable of 14.4
knots. The second will be delivered in March.
Stocznia Szczecinska delivers containership
Stocznia Szczecinska S.A. delivered the Altona Wehr (22,900-dwt, 1,726-TEU
capacity containership) to its German owners on 19 Sept. The keel was laid
12 June and the ship was launched 19 July. It has been chartered to Chilean
interests and renamed the Rio de la Plata.
Hoegh Morus delivered by Japanese shipbuilder
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. has delivered the Hoegh
Morus (56,816-dwt double-hull bulk carrier) to Leif Hoegh & Co. A.S.A.
The open-hatch vessel is 190 meters/623 feet long, has a beam of 32.2 meters/106
feet and a draft of 19.5 meters/64.0 feet.
Last 500-TEU newbuilding delivered by German shipyard
Elbewerft Boizenburg GmbH has delivered its last 500-TEU containership
building. The 5,600-dwt Gracechurch Meteor was launched at Elbewerft Boizenburg
for K.W.T. Worden as the Merino and fitted out by Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven
GmbH. Delivery was delayed three weeks because of a strike at Elbewerft
Boizenburg.
Alaskan ferry christened in Alabama
The Kennicott, a 1,695-dwt passenger ferry that will be operated by
the state of Alaska, was christened 12 Sept. in Mobile, Ala. It was built
at Halter Marine Group Inc.'s facility in Gulfport, Miss. Capable of 19
knots, the vessel can carry 748 passengers and 120 vehicles. The Kennicott
will sail in southwestern Alaska and also call at Bellingham, Wash.
Stavanger, Norway. The launch platform is a converted North Sea semi-submersible
drilling rig with a displacement of 46,000 tons submerged. At least 20
people will be employed for each launch, based aboard the 34,000-ton Sea
Launch Commander. The vessels will be homeported at Long Beach, Calif.,
while the launches will be along the equator near Christmas Island in the
Pacific Ocean. Sea Launch involves Boeing Commercial Space Co., KB-Yuzhnoye/PO-Yuzhmash,
Kvaerner A.S.A. and RSC-Energia. Hughes Space & Communications International
has contracted with Sea Launch for 13 launches. The first will be in fall
1998 of an HS 702 communications satellite for PanAmSat.
Uniglory Marine to get two more containerships
Uniglory Marine Corp. will receive two 1,164-TEU containerships next
month from China Shipbuilding Corp. and Evergreen Heavy Industries. Uniglory
Marine will then have eight such ships with four built at each shipyard.
Evergreen Heavy Industries will build six more for delivery in 1998 and
1999. The current eight will operate between the Middle East and Persian
Gulf and Asia. Three are being operated by Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan)
Ltd.
Guangzhou Shipyard International delivers its largest ship
The Hugo Oldendorff (Panamanian-registry 44,000-dwt, 199-meter bulk
carrier) was launched last week by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co.
Ltd. The first of two ships, it will be delivered next month to Egon Oldendorff
and its the largest ship built by the yard. It will be capable of 14.4
knots. The second will be delivered in March.
Stocznia Szczecinska delivers containership
Stocznia Szczecinska S.A. delivered the Altona Wehr (22,900-dwt, 1,726-TEU
capacity containership) to its German owners on 19 Sept. The keel was laid
12 June and the ship was launched 19 July. It has been chartered to Chilean
interests and renamed the Rio de la Plata.
Hoegh Morus delivered by Japanese shipbuilder
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. has delivered the Hoegh
Morus (56,816-dwt double-hull bulk carrier) to Leif Hoegh & Co. A.S.A.
The open-hatch vessel is 190 meters/623 feet long, has a beam of 32.2 meters/106
feet and a draft of 19.5 meters/64.0 feet.
Last 500-TEU newbuilding delivered by German shipyard
Elbewerft Boizenburg GmbH has delivered its last 500-TEU containership
building. The 5,600-dwt Gracechurch Meteor was launched at Elbewerft Boizenburg
for K.W.T. Worden as the Merino and fitted out by Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven
GmbH. Delivery was delayed three weeks because of a strike at Elbewerft
Boizenburg.
Alaskan ferry christened in Alabama
The Kennicott, a 1,695-dwt passenger ferry that will be operated by
the state of Alaska, was christened 12 Sept. in Mobile, Ala. It was built
at Halter Marine Group Inc.'s facility in Gulfport, Miss. Capable of 19
knots, the vessel can carry 748 passengers and 120 vehicles. The Kennicott
will sail in southwestern Alaska and also call at Bellingham, Wash. --
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
From: sschultz@execpc.com To: "About transportation" <Cargo-l@distart.ing.unibo.it>
Subject: World Maritime News - 26 Sept., 1997 (2/2) Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997
20:38:40 -0500 (CDT) Errors-to: <damco@pointest.com> Reply-to: Cargo-l@distart.ing.unibo.it
Sender: Maiser@distart.ing.unibo.it X-listname: <Cargo-l@distart.ing.unibo.it>
MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer:
Mercury MTS (Bindery) v1.31
EVENTS, INCIDENTS AND OPERATIONS
Iran seizes two Smit International vessels, 33 held
Iran said 21 Sept. that it seized two vessels affiliated with Smit International
N.V. at Bandar Imam Khomeini last week because they violated international
regulations. According to Iran, Smit International was hired to salvage
a Croatian-registry vessel that sank in Iranian territorial waters. On
19 Aug., Iran says the Banckert (382-gt vessel built in 1972, operated
by Van Den Akker B.V.) and the Smit Cyclone (3,743-dwt vessel built in
1969, operated by Smit International Singapore Pte. Ltd.) abandoned the
salvage and sailed elsewhere in Iranian waters to salvage a U.S. helicopter.
Iran, however, said it had not given authorization for the movement. A
complaint was then filed with an Iranian court and an order was issued
for the two vessels to be seized. On 16 Sept., Smit International reported
that the two vessels had been held at Bandar Imam Khomeini since 8 Sept.,
along with a third vessel not accounted for by Iran on 21 Sept. There are
33 people aboard the vessels, including 15 Dutch citizens. The Dutch government
is working with Iran and Smit International to resolve the situation.
Spanish fisherman injured off Canada
A 25-year-old Spanish fisherman was seriously injured 23 Sept. when
he was crushed between equipment and cables aboard the Xinco, a 54-meter/177-foot
trawler. The vessel was about 480 kilometers/298 miles southeast of St.
John's, Newfoundland, Canada, and was sailing towards St. John's. At last
report, a Canadian Air Command CH-113A Labrador helicopter from 103 Rescue
Unit at Canadian Forces Base Gander, Newfoundland, and an Air Command CC-130E
Hercules were to evacuate the man.
Tanker lightering cargo spills oil into Delaware Bay
While unloading a third of its cargo of one million barrels of crude
oil on 18 Sept., the Mystras (Liberian-registry 138,930-dwt tanker built
in 1976, operated by National Shipping & Trading Corp.) spilled an
undetermined amount of oil. The ship was lightering the North Sea oil to
a tank barge at the Bigstone Anchorage near Cape May, N.J. The spill created
a slick 13 kilometers/eight miles long and 18 meters/60 feet wide.
Mine found off North Carolina
The fishing vessel Sailfish reported the afternoon of 13 Sept. that
it had found a mine 45 kilometers/28 miles southeast of Cape Lookout, N.C.
A one-nautical-mile safety zone was set up around the area and enforced
by the U.S. Coast Guard. At last report, a U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance
Disposal unit from Charleston, S.C., was aboard the Coast Guard's "Island"-class
Patrol Boat U.S.C.G.C. Block Island (WPB 1344) to dispose of the mine.
Almost 100 affected by flu outbreak aboard passenger ship
The Westerdam (Dutch-registry 5,340-dwt passenger ship built in 1986,
operated by Holland America Line Westours Inc.) was sanitized at a dock
in New York on 20 Sept. after a flu outbreak during a cruise from Montreal.
At least 96 passengers and crew had symptoms of Influenza A during the
voyage, which began 11 Sept. after an 18-hour delay. Epidemiologists from
Health Canada and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention boarded
the vessel in Nova Scotia, Canada, in an attempt to treat the disease.
All 2,100 people aboard (roughly 1,400 passengers and 600 crew) were given
vaccinations and Romantadine, meant to keep the virus from spreading. However,
53 passengers and 43 crewmembers reported aches, pains, fevers and coughs.
Influenza A is spread by personal contact, so new passengers do not face
an undue risk. It is believed the virus was brought aboard by a group of
Australian citizens on the ship's previous voyage from New York to Montreal.
On that cruise, some 40 passengers and 40 crewmembers reported flu symptoms
and six were hospitalized in Montreal. Passengers on the cruise to New
York have been offered a refund.
New York ferry service delayed after car driven into bay
A woman drove off the Staten Island ferry in New York on 19 Sept. before
it reached the dock, knocking an off-duty deckhand overboard as the car
sank in Upper New York Bay. Camille Bayer, a secretary at the ferry terminal
where the 82-meter/270-foot John F. Kennedy was docking, was rescued by
another deckhand from the water while the first, Antonio Piazzaro, 51,
climbed a rope ladder and reboarded. Bayer, 48, of Astoria, Queens, was
admitted to Bayley-Seton Hospital on Staten Island with cuts and bruises.
Piazzaro was treated and released. Ferry service was affected for several
hours and no vessels arrived or departed the terminal for 90 minutes. The
gray 1992 Hyundai hatchback was recovered. According to crewmembers of
the ferry, Bayer apparently fell asleep after the ferry left lower Manhattan
and 15 meters/50 feet from the dock, as the ramp was lowered, she suddenly
jolted awake and began driving off the ramp, reaching 64 kilometers per
hour/40 miles per hour. Piazzaro was thrown overboard as the car crashed
through a metal gate and sank in 6.1 meters/20 feet of water.
Another right whale found trapped in fishing gear
Members of the New England Aquarium found a right whale entangled in
fishing gear on 19 Sept. in Canada's Bay of Fundy. Lines encircled the
whale's fins and flippers and radio transmitter was attached to track the
whale as attempts were made to cut the gear loose. A week before, another
right whale was found caught in fishing gear in the same area. There are
less than 300 right whales.
Hong Kong seizes three containers with hazardous waste
The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department took control of three containers
aboard the Zim Sydney (German-registry 35,966-dwt containership built in
1996, operated by Friedrich A. Detjen (Deutschland) GmbH), which arrived
from Australia, on 22 Sept. Members of Greenpeace occupied the vessel,
saying that the containers were loaded with hazardous waste for southern
China. Nine Greenpeace members sailed into the Kwai Chung Container Terminal
aboard a sampan before dawn and boarded the vessel wearing bright orange
clothing. The hoisted banners reading "Stop Toxic Trade" and
"Hong Kong - First Asylum Port for Foreign Garbage." The nine
disembarked after the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department said
it would inspect the containers. Greenpeace said the three containers carried
computer waste contaminated with barium, cadmium, lead, mercury and polychlorinated
biphenyls. A manifest listed mixed metal scrap. On 23 Sept., Hong Kong
said that it would return the containers to their country of origin after
finding potentially hazardous material. An inspection found mainframe computer
printed circuit boards, hard discs and monitors for disposal along with
unspecified hazardous waste. An import permit for the hazardous cargo was
not requested and Hong Kong said it would persue legal action if necessary.
Illegally importing hazardous waste has a fine of up to Hong Kong$200,000/U.S.$26,000
and six months imprisonment for a first offense, with H.K.$500,000/U.S.$65,000
and two years imprisonment for each offense thereafter. The agent for the
cargo was a unit of Jardine Matheson & Co. Ltd.
Third mate of Croatian-registry ship arrested in St. Lawrence Seaway
A Croatian-registry vessel was forced to anchor in the area of Wilson
Hill, N.Y., on 17 Sept. by the U.S. Coast Guard. During a ballast water
test at the Snell Lock of the St. Lawrence Seaway, Coast Guard personnel
determined the bridge crew was under the influence of alcohol. New York
State Police conducted sobriety tests and the third mate was found to be
intoxicated. The Croatian citizen was taken to the jail in Malone, N.Y.,
and arraigned before a U.S. magistrate. The ship was sailing from Venezuela
to Toledo, Ohio, to load soybeans.
U.S. Coast Guard seizes catch off Massachusetts
The U.S. Coast Guard seized the catch of the Odyssey (U.S.-registry
27-meter/90-foot fishing vessel, homeported at Boston) at 1830 24 Sept.,
203 kilometers/127 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Mass. The vessel was found
fishing inside Closed Area II by the Coast Guard's Bear-class Medium-Endurance
Cutter U.S.C.G.C. Tahoma (WMEC 908). A boarding found about U.S.$11,500
worth of monkfish and scallops. The Odyssey is being escorted to New Bedford,
Mass.
Chesapeake Bay governors meet to discuss spread of microbe
The governors of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia met
in Annapolis, Md., on 19 Sept. to discuss the spread of Pfiesteria piscicida
in the Chesapeake Bay. The toxic microbe has been preliminiarily linked
to fish kills and human illnesses in the area. Along with representatives
of North Carolina, Pennsylvania and the federal government, the governors
agreed to conduct joint research, share information and examine methods
of controling runoff that may contain nutrients that encourage the microbe.
On 18 Sept., Maryland released a preliminary report on medical and psychological
examinations of people who reported memory loss, rashes and flu-like symptoms.
The report identified a distinct clinical syndrome among those examined
and called a link to the microbe reasonable.
Trinity Bay open to mollusk harvesting again
Most of Trinity Bay in Newfoundland, Canada, has reopened to harvesting
of bi-valve mollusks such as clams and mussels. A ban was put in place
6 Aug. after mollusks near Long Cove were found to have paralytic poisoning.
One area remains closed.
VESSEL TRANSFERS
John Fredriksen buys six U.L.C.C.s from Latsis
John Fredriksen has bought six ultra large crude carriers from Latsis
for U.S.$130 million. Rather than place them with his Frontline Ltd., the
six will be taken over by Hemen Holding Ltd., Frontline's largest shareholder.
All six have been idle since 1995. They include the Fellowship (264,108-dwt
tanker built in 1974), the Friendship (267,590-dwt tanker built in 1976),
the King Alexander (491,120-dwt tanker built in 1978), the Olympian Spirit
(357,100-dwt tanker built in 1976), the Paris (362,118-dwt tanker built
in 1975) and either the Acropolis (402,934-dwt tanker built in 1978) or
the Partheon (409,400-dwt tanker built in 1979).
Germany to sell submarines to Indonesia
Germany has signed a memorandum of understanding to sell five U-13-class
(Klasse 206) attack submarines to Indonesia. The first will be delivered
in November and December.
Sale of Royal Majesty complete
Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. said 23 Sept. that it has completed the purchase
of the Royal Majesty (Panamanian-registry 32,400-gt, 2,700-dwt, 1,056-passenger
ship built in 1992) from Kvaerner A.S.A. Norwegian Cruise Line paid U.S.$110
million and a minority interest in NCL Cruises Ltd. The deal included a
permit from Bermuda allowing the ship to call there. Following a two-week
drydocking, the ship will enter service 10 Nov. as the Norwegian Majesty.
China to auction the Western Ruby
The Qingdao maritime court in China has approved the auction of the
Western Ruby (Honduran-registry) on 29 Oct. The Yantai Rescue and Salvage
Bureau sought the auction as part of a payment dispute with the ship's
owners, Keep Honor International Ltd. and South Western Enterprises.
City of Midland 41 to be converted to barge
The City of Midland 41 (U.S.-registry 3,968-gt, 833-nt, 124-meter/406-foot,
steam ferry built in 1941 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Corp. at Manitowoc,
Wis., with 6,000-horsepower; owned and operated by Lake Michigan Carferry
Service Inc.) will be converted to a barge for a new tow business, P.M.
Shipping Inc. Operations will begin on the Canadian and U.S. Great Lakes
next year. The vessel has been laid-up in Ludington, Mich., and last operated
18 Nov., 1988. It was built for Pere Marquette Railway and can carry 180
vehicles, 23 railcars and 609 passengers.
Dame Blanche sold by Canada
The Dame Blanche, a 19-meter/62-foot ketch built in Belgium in 1992,
has been sold by the Canadian government for Canadian$127,000/U.S.$92,000.
The yacht was boarded off Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, Canada in October and
10 tons of hashish were found. The crew was arrested and the vessel seized.
VESSEL CASUALTIES
At least 20 dead after capsizing in India
A ferry capsized 21 Sept. on the Ganges River near Patna, India, killing
at least 20 people. There were at least 50 aboard.
Master of Alaskan crab boat killed after vessel sinks
An Alaskan fisherman was killed 22 Sept. after the Troika (18-meter/58-foot
fishing vessel) sank near Saint Paul Island, Alaska. Carl Koso, 35, of
King Cove, Alaska, was killed while Arthur Ganacics, 28, of Seattle, and
Nick Kenezuroff Jr., 28, and Radion Kuzakin, 20, of King Cove were rescued
by a nearby fishing vessel, the Gala Maureen. The three swam 15 meters/50
feet after putting on survival suits. Koso was not wearing a survival suit
and after being pulled from the Bering Sea, was pronounced dead just after
1200 after more than two and a half hours of efforts to revive him. The
Troika was part of a king crab fishery, along with about 40 other vessels,
13 kilometers/eight miles southeast of Saint Paul Island. The vessel began
flooding just before 0900 in seas up to 1.8 meters/six feet and winds of
48 kilometers per hour/30 miles per hour.
Crew abandons Promex Bayu in South China Sea
The 19 crewmembers of the Promex Bayu (Belize-registry 4,685-gt, 7,848-dwt
motor bulk carrier built in 1977, operated by Yayasan Sabah Shipping) abandoned
the ship 22 Sept. at 17 degrees 47.5 minutes north, 118 degrees 51.5 minutes
east. The ship's No. 1 cargo hold began flooding and the vessel took a
20-degree port list. The crew was rescued by the Eastern Oasis (Panamanian-registry
16,500-dwt containership built in 1996, operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines).
Fourteen rescued as ship with cement, rice sinks at Colombo
The Astoria (St. Vincent and the Grenadines-registry 1,140-gt motor
vessel built in 1956, owned by Astoria Shipping Co.) sank in rough seas
25 Sept. off Colombo, Sri Lanka, at 06 degrees 56.20 minutes north, 79
degrees 49.00 minutes east. The ship was carrying 900 tons of bagged cement
and rice and was waiting for clearance before sailing to Sri Lanka's Jaffna
Peninsula. The crew of 12 Sri Lankan citizens and two Philippine citizens
were rescued. The Goodwill (Pvt.) Ltd., the Astoria's local agents, reported
that the ship was anchored in the outer harbor and sank after its cargo
hold flooded.
Lira sinks off Gallipoli
The Lira (Belize-registry 361-gt motor vessel built in 1965) sank 500
meters/1,600 feet off Gallipoli, Turkey, recently. It is in 15 meters/49
feet of water.
Bow of dry cargo ship torn off in collision
The Sunwind (St. Vincent and the Grenadines-registry 9,767-gt, 15,855-dwt
motor dry cargo ship built in 1979) and the Kamogawa (10,829-gt, 17,712-dwt
motor tanker built in 1993, operated by Miwa Kaiun Co. Ltd.) collided 19
Sept. in the Strait of Malacca, 32 kilometers/20 miles from Port Kelang,
Malaysia. The bow of the Sunwind was reportedly torn off and its forward-most
cargo hold began flooding. It was taken in tow by a tug to Singapore.
Tow collides with bulk carrier in Welland canal
At 0515 20 Sept., the Anglian Lady (Canadian-registry 398-gt, 69-nt,
41.61-meter/136.5-foot tug with 3,500 horsepower built in 1953, operated
by J.W. Purvis Marine Ltd.), towing a barge, collided with the Nanticoke
(Canadian-registry 22,706-gt, 35,686-dwt, 15,531-nt, 222.50-meter/730.00-foot
motor bulk carrier built in 1980 by Collingwood Shipyards Ltd. at Collingwood,
Ontario, Canada; operated by Canada Steamship Lines Inc.) below Lock 1
of the Welland Canal between Ontario and New York. The tug then hit the
canal walls twice. The tow was sailing from Hamilton, Ontario, to Sarnia,
Ontario. The tug master was later arrested by police in Niagara, Ontario,
for operating the vessel while intoxicated.
Corriente floods after grounding
The Corriente (Hong Kong-registry 79,822-gt, 158,185-dwt motor bulk
carrier built in 1989, operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines) ran aground 23
Sept. at Okinotorishima, Japan. The ship is carrying 140,079 tons of coal.
The grounding caused flooding in the forepeak tank, the No. 1 port and
starboard ballast tanks and the No. 1 cargo hold.
Fishing vessel flooding off Virginia
The 27-meter/87-foot fishing vessel Christophers Pride reported it was
taking on water at 1317 24 Sept., 13 kilometers/eight miles northeast of
Cape Henry, Va. A U.S. Coast Guard 12-meter/41-foot utility boat from Coast
Guard Station Cape Charles, Va., was en route to assist. The Christophers
Pride was last reported to be sailing towards Newport News, Va.
Ship undamaged following grounding in Florida
On 13 Sept., the Nikolaos G (Maltese-registry 11,096-dwt dry cargo ship
built in 1980, operated by Trustcarrier S.A.) ran aground in the Egmont
Channel near St. Petersburg, Fla. The ship was refloated at 1019 14 Sept.
at high tide and escorted to an anchorage where an underwater survey found
no damage. The ship then sailed for Mexico.
Russian-registry bulk carrier grounds in Morocco
The Sergey Lemeshev (Russian-registry 16,502-gt, 24,105-dwt bulk carrier
built in 1983, operated by Novorossiysk Shipping Co.) ran aground in Tangier,
Morocco, on 16 Sept. The ship, carrying wheat, has been refloated by tugs.
Lebanese-registry bulk carrier loses power in St. Lawrence Seaway
The Seba M (Lebanese-registry 7,244-gt, 11,680-dwt, 129-meter/424-foot
motor bulk carrier built in 1976 in Japan) lost power 19 Sept. after slowing
to change pilots and anchored at Cape Vincent, N.Y. The ship was sailing
to Chicago with 10,000 metric tons of steel and 22 crewmembers. Parts necessary
for repairs are being sent from Montreal.
Member of Estonia commission resigns
Bengt Schager, a Swedish psychologist, has resigned from a three-country
commission invesigating the Estonia, a ferry that sank off Finland on 28
Sept., 1994, killing as many as 1,000 people. Schager said he could not
trust the commission because it had protected the crew of the vessel and
interpreted facts in their favor to avoid tension between commission members.
He also said that it was apparent safety regulations were not observed
on the Estonia. Last year, the commission's chairman, an Estonian citizen,
resigned, saying that Swedish officials had withheld evidence. Six months
later, the head of the Swedish delegation resigned after he admitted lying
to a journalist about a letter related to the investigation.
(AT) LAST...BUT NOT LEAST...
Marco Polo beaten to China by Italian sailor?
In November, Little, Brown & Co. will publish an English translation
of a manuscript said to have been written by an Italian Jewish sailor,
Jacob, who wrote that he reached Zaitun, China, by water in August 1271.
If true, the arrival of the four-masted ship would place Jacob in China
four years before Marco Polo arrived by land. According to the manuscript,
Jacob spent six months in Zaitun and evenutually fled after becoming involved
in local politcs. If authenticated, the writing may provide new information
on Asia and Chinese society in particular. Jacob, who identified himself
as the son of Salomone of Ancona, is said to have sailed from that Italian
city to the eastern Mediterranean, crossed overland to the Persian Gulf,
and sailed out the gulf and along India and Sri Lanka, across the Indian
Ocean and eventually up to China. On the return route, the voyage reportedly
was through the Red Sea and overland through Egypt. The translator of the
manuscript, David Selbourne, a 60-year-old British citizen who taught political
philosophy at the University of Oxford, has not made the original text
available to anyone else. Selbourne said he was allowed to examine and
translate the work on the condition that its current owner and location
not be revealed. Jacob reported that Zaitun had many Africans and Europeans
living in the city including Jews and Muslims. A free port, Zaitun is thought
to have been located at what is now Quanzhou and had more than 200,000
residents. He writes of Zaitun as "the city of light," the name
chosen for the forthcoming book. However, he also was critical of the actions
and morals of the people with the word Zaitun the basis for the English
word "satan." Jacob became involved in debates as to whether
the city should organize to fight Mongols, who at that time were invading
from the north. During a debate, Jacob's patron was stabbed and according
to the manuscript, he fled the city 24 Feb., 1272.
Presidential yacht found off Virginia
Ben Benson, searching for sunken Spanish treasure ships, located the
Despatch on 9 Sept. in shallow water off Assateague Island, Va., using
a magnetometer. The yacht, built in 1873, was used by U.S. Presidents Rutherford
B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland and Benjamin
Harrison. It ran aground and sank in a storm off the island in 1891, but
its precise location was unknown. The crew was rescued. Benson, president
and owner of Sea Hunt Inc., will attempt to salvage artifacts from the
yacht.
Whitbread race begins
The Whitbread Round the World race, involving about 120 people aboard
10 yachts, began at 1400 21 Sept. in Southampton, England. All the vessels,
each about 20-meters/64-feet long with up to 12 aboard, are making their
first Whitbread appearance. The race includes eight stops and will cover
58,184 kilometers/36,365 miles over eight months. The first stage is from
Southampton to Cape Town, South Africa, some 30 days and 13,525 kilometers/8,452
miles away. The last Whitbread started in 1993.
New unofficial record for longest distance ridden on a personal watercraft
Kevin Hollander unofficially set a new world record on 19 Sept. for
the longest distance ridden on a personal watercraft when he arrived in
Miami. Over three months, Hollander, 41, rode 10,400 kilometers/6,500 miles,
compared to the previous record of 8,060 kilometers/5,040 miles. A watercraft
technician, Hollander and two others began he "Wave Venture of the
Americas" on 9 June in New York aboard three custom Yamaha WaveRunners.
The goal was to ride 16,000 kilometers/10,000 to Los Angeles, but the other
two abandoned the attempt after 4,800 kilometers/3,000 miles when rough
seas caused delays. Off Mexico, Hollander was robbed by pirates and chased
by a boat that fired at him. Originally, he was to transit the Panama Canal,
but instead decided to finish in Miami. Having logged 250 hours aboard
the WaveRunner, the Guinness Book of Records will now examine the voyage
to determine if it is a new record.
U.S.S. Phoenix inactivated
The U.S. Navy's Los Angeles-class Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine U.S.S.
Phoenix (SSN 702) was inactivated 18 Sept. in Norfolk, Va. On 22 Sept.,
the submarine sailed for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire
for completion of the decommissioning process. The U.S.S. Phoenix was authorized
fiscal year 1973, laid down 30 July, 1977, and launched at General Dynamics
Corp.'s Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, Conn., on 18 Dec., 1979. SSN 702
was commissioned 19 Dec., 1981.
