- Transport on Line - hiltunen.htm

BUSINESS

Workers demonstrate to support fired Liverpool dockworkers

As part of demonstrations worldwide in support of dockworkers in Liverpool,
England, U.S. west coast ports were closed from 0800 to 1700, with 8,500
dockworkers and 50 ships effected. Ports included by the International
Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union's action were: Long Beach, Calif.;
Los Angeles; Oakland, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; Seattle; and
Tacoma, Wash. While 20 Jan. was a holiday in observance of the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, it was considered a working holiday
for dockworkers. They are paid an overtime rate of more than U.S.$35 an
hour for working the holiday. In other actions, bout 125 unemployed transportation
workers marched to the British Embassy in Mexico City 20 Jan. The marchers
included members of Ruta 100, a Mexican transportation union, and the Independent
Proletarian Movement. In September 1995, dockworkers employed by a private
contractor in Liverpool were ordered to work overtime at a disputed rate.
They refused, went on strike, and were replaced. Shortly after, all 329
stevedores employed by Mersey Docks and Harbor Co. refused to cross the
picket line. They were fired and replaced.

China and Taiwan reach agreement on direct shipping

China and Taiwan, meeting in Hong Kong on 22 Jan., reached an agreement
to end the 48-year-old ban on direct shipping links between the two. Under
the agreement, Chinese and Taiwanese firms can apply to each government
for permission to sail ships between designated ports. For now, direct
shipping links are limited to Fuzhou and Xiamen in Fujian, Province, China,
and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Lloyd's Register admits liability under criminal prosecution

For the first time in the 237 years that Lloyd's Register has existed,
it has admitted liability under a criminal prosecution. It pleaded guilty
23 Jan. to failing to ensure the safety of the public under the British
Health and Safety Act. The plea came in a case stemming from the collapse
of a ferry walkway at Ramsgate, England, in September 1994. Six people
were killed.

F.M.G. and T.M.M. form new joint venture

Flota Mercante Grancolombiana S.A. and Transportacion Martima Mexicana
S.A. de C.V. announced a new joint shipping venture in Bogota, Colombia,
on 17 Jan. T.M.M. will pay U.S.$20 million for 60 percent of the venture,
Transportacion Maritima Grancolombiana, with F.M.G. holding the rest. T.M.M.
will pay U.S.$10 million in cash with the rest financed. The new firm will
work to consolidate and expand some F.M.G.'s routes with 170 personnel
and seven chartered vessels. However, should conditions warrant, the new
venture will have access to the fleets of F.M.G. and T.M.M. Specifically,
T.M.G. will work to develop Pacific coast routes between North and South
America and services to the Far East, northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
T.M.G. will be headquartered in Bogota with offices in Colombian ports;
New York; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and Tokyo.

Royal Nedlloyd to cut 250 jobs in merger with P. & O. Containers

Royal Nedlloyd N.V. announced 21 Jan. it has reached agreements, in
principle, with unions to cut about 250 jobs in the Netherlands after its
merger with P. & O. Containers Ltd. Employees will be offered open-ended
contracts with an outplacement agency at a guaranteed salary.

A.P.L. enrolls nine ships in U.S. program

American President Lines Ltd. on 21 Jan. signed an agreement with the
U.S. Maritime Administration to enroll nine containerships in the U.S.
Maritime Security Program. A.P.L. and MARAD resolved outstanding issues
on 17 Jan. Of the nine, four are C-11s and will be transferring registry
from the Marshall Islands to the United States. The others are C-10s.

Greek strike ends

A Greek court on 17 Jan. ruled the extension of a strike by Greek crewmembers
is "illegal and an abuse of their right to strike." Acting on
a lawsuit filed by shipowners, the court ruled that if the strike was not
called off 17 Jan., the top personnel of the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation
would be sentenced to two months imprisonment and a U.S.$410 fine for each
violation. Some 10,000 Greek crewmembers started the strike 13 Jan. and
extended it to 0600 23 Jan. in protest of the government's plan to cut
tax breaks and fringe benefits. The crewmembers also demanded action against
unemployment and a minimum pension of 80 percent of the present basic salary.
On 20 Jan., crewmembers staged a march and rally in Piraeus. On 23 Jan.,
the strike ended when the 14 unions of the federation agreed to accept
a negotiated offer from the government. In a 9 to 5 vote, retirement pensions
will be 58 percent of current salaries, changes to crew requirements in
the Greek register will not affect domestic ferries and officers will be
taxed eight percent this year and nine the next while other crewmembers
will be taxed four percent in 1997 and five in 1998.

India to allow more foreign investment in shipping

India is preparing to allow for more foreign investment in shipping
lines and ports. Under the plan, foreign businesses will be able to have
full ownership instead of a maximum of 51 percent. However, the foreign
firm will need an Indian partner, and where that is not possible, full
ownership will be granted on a temporary basis. Within three to five years,
the firm without an Indian partner must then sell 26 percent to an Indian
citizen, an Indian joint venture or the Indian public. More foreign investment
will be allowed in joint ventures where an Indian partner lacks resources
to expand and upgrade.

Halifax businesses to form employers' association

The Canadian Labor Relations Board has approved a plan by port businesses
in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to form the Halifax Employers' Association.
The association's first priority will be two negotiate contracts with 450
personnel of four local unions, who have been without contracts for a year.

Filipino court rules in crew dispute

A regional court in the Philippines has denied a request by Rizal International
Shipping Services to keep more than 300 Filipino personnel from working
for Louis Cruise Lines. The court in Makati ruled in a lawsuit brought
by Rizal International, their former employer, alleging breach of contract.
The personnel worked on five ships but Rizal International lost a crew
supply contract and the personnel were hired by Louis Cruise Lines.

More than one in five bunker deliveries less than order

The White List of the Independent Tanker Owners Association has reported
that more than one in five bunker deliveries last year was less than what
was ordered. These "grey margins" between the amount of bunkers
ordered and the amount actually delivered reportedly is worth U.S.$78 million,
or a loss of U.S.50 cents per ton.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers realigns districts

U.S. Secretary of the Army Togo D. West Jr. has approved a plan to restructure
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers divisions. There will be eight divisions,
with each having at least four subordinate units. The new Great Lakes and
Ohio River Division will consist of the North Central and Ohio River divisions,
located in Chicago and Cincinnati, Ohio. The new Northwestern Division
will consist of the staffs currently at the North Pacific and Missouri
River divisions in Portland, Ore. and Omaha, Neb. Division headquarters
will remain open at all four locations. The New England Division will be
converted to the New England District under the control of the North Atlantic
Division Commander in New York. The Rock Island and St. Paul Districts,
responsible for the upper Mississippi River Valley, will be realigned with
four districts in the lower Mississippi Valley to create the new Mississippi
Valley Division. The Alaska District will report to the Pacific Ocean Division,
based in Honolulu, and the Albuquerque District will be responsible to
the South Pacific Division in San Francisco. Alaska and Albuquerque currently
report to the North Pacific in Portland, Ore. and Southwestern divisions
in Dallas. The changes are in response to U.S. Public Law 104-206, the
Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1997, which mandates
reductions in the number of divisions. A provision in Public Law 104-303,
the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, prohibited the reassignment
of the St. Louis District from the operational control of the Lower Mississippi
Valley Division. The St. Louis District will continue to be under the control
of the Mississippi Valley Division.

Contship Containerlines opens two new offices

Contship Containerlines Inc. has opened new offices in Florida and Texas.
The former is at 7200 Corporate Center Dr., Suite 301, NW 19th St., Miami,
Fla., 33126. The Texas office is at 1225 N. Loop West, Suite 930, Houston,
Texas, 77008.

Troy Container Line relocates offices

Troy Container Line, a non-vessel operating common carrier, has relocated
its offices. They are now at 22 West St., Red Bank, N.J., 07701. The telephone
number is 800-331-0050.

SERVICES

Hyundai ending agreement with Mediterranean Shippping and Norasia

The Hyundai Merchant Marine partnership with Norasia Lines and Mediterranean
Shipping Co. will cease at the end of February due to financial considerations.
A limited number of calls by Hyundai ships was also cited. Norasia and
Mediterranean Shipping had slot-chartered space on Hyundai ships between
Europe and Asia.

C.M.A. to start container service between Mediterranean and U.S. east
coast

Compagnie Maritime d'Affretement, in a joint venture with Croatia Line,
will start a container service between the Mediterranean and the U.S. east
coast in early February. Six containerships of 1,400-TEU to 2,000-TEU capacity
will be used, three from C.M.A. Calls will be made at Damietta, Egypt;
Livorno, Italy; Genoa, Italy; Fos, France; Valencia, Spain; Naples, Italy,
or Lisbon, Portugal on alternating weeks; New York; Baltimore; Norfolk,
Va.; and Savannah, Ga.

A.P.L. starting new service to Indian ports

American President Lines Ltd. has announced a new fixed-day weekly container
service to Indian ports from Singapore. Three ships will call at Calcutta,
Chennai, Haldia and Visakhapatnam. Exclusive trains will carry containers
from Haldia to New Delhi. The Eagle Spirit (10,449-dwt containership built
in 1992, operated by Hange Dereederungs G.m.b.H.) will leave Calcutta on
28 Jan.

National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia chartering slots of C.M.A.

Next month, National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia will start offering
weekly container service in Europe and the Middle East using chartered
slots from Compagnie Maritime d'Affretement. N.S.C.S.A. will add its own
three ships to the service by 1999. Calls include London/Thamesport; Hamburg,
Germany; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Antwerp, Belgium; Le Havre, France;
and Middle Eastern ports including Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Hyundai to provide space on its ships for Neptune Orient

In a filing with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, Hyundai Merchant
Marine has announced it will provide space on its ships for Neptune Orient
Lines Ltd. Neptune Orient Lines will charter space on ships in services
to the Far East, Southeast Asia and the U.S. west coast including Alaska.

SAECS leaves Hamburg

The SAECS consortium, operating beteen southern Africa and Europe, has
left the Port of Hamburg, Germany. SAECS will now make its only German
call at Bremerhaven. Some 20,000 TEUs are affected.

Evergreen and Lloyd Triestino to call Gothenburg

Lloyd Triestino di Navigazione S.p.A. announced 16 Jan. it will call
Gothenburg, Sweden, on its Seaway Service in conjunction with Evergreen
Marine Corp. The service is between northern Europe and the Far East. The
first ship to call will be the Ever Loading (Panamanian-registry 28,849-dwt
containership built in 1983, owned and operated by Evergreen Marine) on
28 Jan. Ships of 1,900-TEU capacity are used and will call every two weeks,
but may be increased to a week. Gothenburg will be called on Wednesdays.
The service is in conjunction with Evergreen's northern Europe to Far East
service, which calls at Gothenburg; Antwerp, Belgium; Gioia Tauro, Italy;
Singapore; Hong Kong; Qingdao, China; Shanghai, China; Hong Kong; Singapore;
Colombo, Sri Lanka; Gioia Tauro; Felixstowe, England; Bremerhaven, Germany;
and Gothenburg.

BHP Transport adds Bell Bay

BHP Transport Ltd. has added a call at Bell Bay, Tasmania, Australia,
to its three-ship Australia-New Zealand service. The weekly call will carry
cargo normally sent to Melbourne for shipment.

Holyman Sally details Ramsgate to Ostend service

Holyman Sally Ferries has announced its plans for the Ramsgate, England,
to Ostend, Belgium, ferry service, which it takes over on 1 March. Four
freight ferries will be operated along with two catamarans. The Sally Sky
(Bahamian-registry 4,150-dwt ferry built in 1976) will be removed from
service on the route to Dunkirk, France, and will receive a refit. The
ferry will be renamed the Sally Eurotraveller. The Sally Euroway (Bahamian-registry
5,485-dwt ferry built in 1976), which can carry 90 drivers and 70 trailers,
will be converted to a double-deck vessel to speed loading and unloading.
The Purbeck (Bahamian-registry 2,087-dwt ferry built in 1978, operated
by Channel Islands Shipmanagement), which can carry 75 drivers, will not
enter service and will be replaced. The fourth vessel is the Sally Eurolink
(Bahamian-registry 3,734-dwt ferry built in 1985). The two catamarans will
be able to carry 180 vehicles and 700 passengers.

P. & O. Containers shifting transshipment from Rotterdam to Felixstowe

P. & O. Containers Ltd. will shift its transshipment of cargo on
its Commonwealth of Independent States to the United States route from
Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to Felixstowe, England, next month. This will
affect about 8,000 containers.

P. & O. adds second ferry

P. & O. Ferrymasters has added a second ferry to its Middlesbrough,
England, to Gothenburg, Sweden, route. The Tidero Star (Norwegian-registry
5,482-dwt ro/ro built in 1978, operated by Tidero A/S) will increase capacity
70 percent and will enable four rather than two calls each week.

PORTS AND TERMINALS

Nigeria announces port reforms

Nigeria on 20 Jan. announced port reforms, including a new decree on
offenses that occur at Nigerian ports. Magistrate courts have been set
up in all ports to try offenders. A task force has been formed "for
the clearance of undesirable elements at the ports" and all people
in Nigerian ports will be required to wear identification cards. Scanning
equipment has been purchased for identification and verification of imports
and service charges for containers and palettes imposed on importers have
been suspended.

Venture to build, operate terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru

A venture of Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd., P. & O. Australia Ltd.
and Trans Impex Ltd. has been awarded a concession to build and operate
a container terminal at Nhava Sheva/Jawaharlal Nehru, India. The U.S.$200
million terminal will be designed by Cullen Grummit and Roe, with development
management by P. & O. Australia's Bovis. The three will operate the
terminal for 30 years before transferring it to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
A new firm, DBC Port Management Pvt. Ltd., will be set formed to for the
project, with P. & O. having a 49 percent stake, Konsortium Perkapalan
having 46 percent and Trans Impex five percent. P. & O. Ports will
provide management services. The terminal will be operating by 2000 and
have an annually handling capacity of 320,000 TEUs.

New Greek port at Patras to be built

A contract for construction of a new port in Patras, Greece, was signed
18 Jan. by Port Fund President Yiannis Dimaras and the consortium of Bachy
Ltd., Christiani and Nielsen Ltd. and Teng S.A. Also signing were environment,
planning and public works ministry officials. The port is expected to cost
13 billion Greek drachmas.

PDVSA planning Venezuelan port, Guiria to become Free Trade Zone

PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil firm, has announced plans to invest
U.S.$400,000 to build a port in Monagas State. The port would be built
in conjunction with the state's government. Also in Venezuela, Guiria will
become a Free Trade Zone in 1998.

Bharat Shell to build two L.P.G. terminals in India

Bharat Shell Ltd., the Indian subsidiary of Royal Dutch/Shell Group
that is a joint venture with Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd., said on 20 Jan.
it will build two liquified petroleum gas import terminals for 1.2 billion
Indian rupees. The government of Andhra Pradesh has approved a plan to
build a marine platform and an import terminal at Kakinada. Another import
terminal is building at Pipavav in Gujarat for 480 million Indian rupees.

Xiamen to add more berths and wharves

Another 19 berths and three wharves will be added at The Port of Xiamen,
Fujian Province, China. They include 14 deepwater and five mid-sized berths
and a 3,000-ton has and oil wharf, a 35,000-ton power plant wharf and a
100,000-ton chemical and oil wharf. The new berths and wharves will cost
U.S.$554 million and will increase Xiamen's annually handling capacity
to 19 million tons.

Yangon adds two cranes

The Port of Yangon, Myanmar, has bought two 35-ton capacity cranes from
Japan to upgrade the port's container handling capacity.

Angry passengers storm Philippine ferry terminal

On the third day of a strike by shore and vessel personnel at a ferry
terminal in southern Luzon Island, the Philippines, angry passengers stormed
the facility. In the 18 Jan. action, the passengers then forced the striking
workers to restart ferry service. The strike began after the government
announced plans to sell two ferries of the Pan-Philippines Highway in the
Bicol region. The Maharkika 1 and Maharlika 2, 541-dwt ro/ros built in
1983, operate between Mataog and San Isidro amd Liluan and Lipata, respectively.
They are managed by St. Bernard Shipping Corp. and Psei transport Corp.,
which staged the strike.

Colombo briefly bans smaller ships

Last month, the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, banned Indian-registry vessels
below 3,000 tons from calling at the port. Sri Lanka feared that members
of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam would use smaller vessels sailing
from Tuticorin, India, to stage attacks on Colombo. The banned vessels
instead called at Galle, Sri Lanka. The ban was lifted 4 Jan., but Sri
Lanka is discouraging smaller vessels calling at Colombo.

Strike an Buenaventura continues

The strike by 3,000 workers at the Port of Buenaventura, Colombia, continues.
On 20 Jan., 17,000 tons of bulk sugar in containers and 10,000 tons in
200,000 50-kilogram/110-pound sacks were stranded at the port. Some 60,000
60-kilogram/130-pound bags of coffee were in warehouses and 100,000 more
bags were waiting in trucks. Also idled were 1,800 containers and at least
70,000 tons of cargo. Six ships are in the port and another six are anchored.
At least 12 vessels have been diverted to other Colombian ports or Guayaquil,
Ecuador. Buenaventura is losing U.S.$500,000 daily.

Towage concessions awarded at two Mexican ports

Sudamericana Agencia Aerea y Maritima S.A. has been given a towage concession
at Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, for U.S.$4.68 million. At Coatzacoalcos, Fondo
de Inversion de Veracruz won a concession for U.S.$4.4 million.

First foreign-registry ship at Taicang Port

A Panamanian-registry tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas arrived
at the petrochemical berth at Taicang Port, Jiangsu Province, China on
18 Jan. The ship is the first foreign-registry vessel to dock at Taicang
Port. The port can handle ships of 50,000-dwt.

Tugs, tour boats may shift moorings in Seattle

Commissioners of the Port of Seattle have given preliminary approval
to plan to moor tugs and charter boats at Fishermen's Terminal. The terminal,
dedicated to fishing vessels, is 29 percent vacant.

Jose Ignacio Lopez to consult for the Port of Bilbao

The Port of Bilbao, Spain, has hired a firm headed by Jose Ignacio Lopez
de Arriortua to act as a management consultant. Lopez has been involved
in on-going legal proceedings that allege he stole trade secrets when he
left General Motors Corp. to become an executive at Volkswagen A.G. Under
a settlement recently announced, Volkswagen will pay G.M. U.S.$100 million
and buy U.S.$1 billion in parts. Lopez is to go on trial in Germany in
March, by which time the contract with Bilbao will have ended. The firm
will provide information on improving administration and operations to
attract more business and serve customers better. Lopez served as Volkswagen's
chief of production and is credited with efficency improvements that bolstered
the company.

Port of Seattle Commission approves money for Harbor Island project

The Port of Seattle Commission recently approved U.S.$66.3 million to
fund a Harbor Island project that will expand Terminal 18 to 80 hectares/200
acres. U.S.$127.4 million of U.S.$300 has now been authorized for the three-year
project. The most recently authorized money will complete property acquisitions
and relocation, land improvements, dredging and initial work on converting
Berth 6 to a container berth.

Status of ports

The U.S. Coast Guard has reopened the channel to the Port of Sacramento,
Calif., and hence the port itself. It was closed 4 Jan. due to flooding.
Vessels can only use the channel within two hours before or after low tide
and only in daylight. The Port of Novorossiysk, Russia, closed at 2110
16 Jan. One tanker was waiting to load crude oil at a berth and another
was anchored. The port reopened and was closed at 2320 18 Jan., when two
tankers were at berths and two were waiting. The next day, one tanker was
in port and three were anchored. Novorossiysk reopened 21 Jan. On 17 Jan.,
the Mexican ports of Campeche, Ciudad del Carmen, Dos Bocas, Frontera,
Pajaritos and Progreso were closed. There were small vessel restrictions
at Alvarado, Cozumel, El Mezquital, La Pesca, Nautla, Puerto Penasco, Salina
Cruz, Tampico, Tuxpan and Veracruz. Pajaritos reopened late 17 Jan. and
Dos Bocas reopened at 0800 19 Jan. All Mexican ports were open 20 Jan.
except Sailna Cruz, which had small vessel restrictions, and Ciudad del
Carmen, which was briefly closed. All ports were open without restrictions
21 Jan. The Port of Odessa, Ukraine, closed 21 Jan. due to weather.

SHIPYARDS

World tanker and bulk report

At the end of 1996, there were 282 tankers of 22.53 million deadweight
tons on order worldwide, according to Simpson, Spence and Young's SSY Consultancy
and Research Ltd. At mid-year, there were 239 tankers of 18.74 million
deadweight tons on order. Of bulk ships, were were 812 of 53.72 million
deadweight tons worldwide at the end of the year, consisting of the tankers,
525 bulk carriers at 30.64 million deadweight tons and five combination
ships.

Gdynia Shipyard workers win wage increases

Workers at Gdynia Shipyard in Poland returned to work at midday 22 Jan.
after having gone on strike 13 Jan. In a settlement, they will receive
wage increases of 19.6 percent, to be gradually implemented by the end
of the year.

Canada changes tendering system for work on its ships

Canada has announced changes to the way it contracts for work on Canadian
government vessels. On the west coast, any British Columbia shipyard can
bid. In the former version, work was tendered based on where the ships
were based, dividing shipyards into the mainland and Vancouver Island groups.
In the east and Great Lakes, any shipyard can bid on work valued at more
than C$25,000. Formerly, ships based in a certain province could only be
worked on by shipyards in that province.

Fosen Mekaniska takes 50 percent stake in Bruces Verkstadds

Fosen Mekaniska Verksteder A/S has bought a 50 percent stake in Bruces
Verkstadds A.B. in Landskrona, Sweden. The other half is owned by Fartygsentre-Prenader.
Fosen Mekaniska is the shipyard's largest customer.

Indian Navy begins construction of aircraft carrier drydock

Recently, construction began on the Carrier Docks and Wharves Project
in Mumbai, India. As part of the project, a drydock capable of handing
aircraft carriers is being built. It is India's first carrier-capable drydock
and also the first drydock that is not a graving dock. The drydock will
be completed by October 1998.

St. John Shipbuilding and unions agree on new contracts

St. John Shipbuilding Ltd. in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, will
begin building the first of four containerships in two to three months.
The project is proceeding now that all five unions at the shipyard have
signed new contracts. The final union deal was reached 20 Jan.

Portnet to enforce safety regulations in contracts

In an effort to enforce safety regulations and protect against unqualified
firms, Portnet in Cape Town, South Africa, has introduced a new measure
in its contracts. Shiprepair businesses using Portnet facilities must now
agree to follow safety regulations.

Two tankers to be built in Japan for Malaysian Bulk Carriers

Malaysian Bulk Carriers Sdn. Bhd. announced 23 Jan. it has ordered two
46,500-dwt product tankers from Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd. and Sumitomo
Corp. They will be delivered in 1998.

Sinotrans orders two timber carriers

Sinotrans, the shipping firm of the Chinese Ministry of Economic Relations
and Foreign Trade, has ordered two 27,000-dwt timber carriers from Guangchuan
International in Guangzhou, China. It is the first time Sinotrans has ordered
vessels from a China State Shipbuilding Corp. yard.

Jurong to build 11,500-dwt tanker

Jurong Shipyard Ltd. has received an order for an 11,500-dwt chemical
and product tanker from Bengt Johnsson. It is estimated to cost U.S.$25
million to U.S.$30 million and is being designed by Pelmatic.

Medafret to order two bulk carriers

Medafret has received approval from France to order two 28,000-dwt geared
bulk carriers from Dalian Shipyard in China. They will be delivered in
1998. Under a tax free system in the Pons Law, all investments that contribute
to the development of French overseas territories are tax free. To take
advantage of this, the two ships will be registered in St. Pierre and Miquelon,
two French islands off Newfoundland, Canada.

German ferry to have mobile transverse bulkheads

A ferry currently being built at Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, Germany,
will have mobile transverse bulkheads on its main vehicle deck. The Ulyssee
of 17,000-gt is the first of two building for Compagnie Tunisiennede Navigation
S.A. The ferry, with 1,950 lane meters/6,400 lane feet will be launched
1 Feb. It is capable of 20 knots, has a stern ramp and will carry 100 passengers.
Delivery will be in July.

Cascade General to convert the Hughes Glomar Explorer

The Hughes Glomar Explorer, laid up for many years by the U.S. Maritime
Administration at Suisun Bay, Calif., will be converted to an oil drilling/exploration
vessel by Cascade General Inc. in Portland, Ore. The ship, which has somewhat
of a reputation for its mysterious work for the U.S. Navy, was taken out
of mothballs last year for Global Marine Drilling Co. Cascade General will
use 2.0 million kilograms/4.5 million pounds of steel in the conversion,
the largest such project ever in Portland. Some 200 people will be employed
six months and the cost is expected to be at least U.S.$10 million. The
ship should arrive in February.

Isle of Innismore repaired

The Isle of Innismore (6,750-dwt passenger ferry) has been repaired
by Wilton-Fijenoord B.V. in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and is now at Van
der Giessen - de Noord N.V., also in Rotterdam. On the morning of 29 Oct.,
the ferry, which had been launched two weeks before, broke her moorings
at the outfitting quay at Van der Giessen - de Noord and allided with two
barges and a small dam. The ferry will begin trials later this month and
will be delivered to Irish Continental Group P.L.C.'s Irish Ferries about
20 Feb. The Isle of Innismore was originally to have been delivered in
early February.

OPERATIONS

Two found dead in container in Antwerp

Police in Antwerp, Belgium, found two men starved to death in a container
aboard a Greek-registry ship on 18 Jan. The container had been loaded 24
Dec. at Mombasa, Kenya.

Eight stowaways turn violent aboard ship in Norway

Police handcuffed and restrained eight stowaways at Karmoey, Norway,
on 22 Jan. The Nordoen (Swedish-registry vessel owned by Bylock and Nordsjofrakt)
arrived at Haugesund from Nador, Morocco, with 6,000 tons of iron ore.
The eight stowaways requested asylum in Norway, stating they were from
Algeria. An investigation showed they were from Morocco and when told that
asylum was denied, some of the eight became violent. They are now in two
cabins aboard the Nordon under police guard. However, the master, Bengt
Skold, refused to sail with them aboard for fears they will again become
violent once at sea. As a result, Norway is providing five security personnel
for the ship's voyage to Gothenburg, Sweden. Some of the stowaways have
started a hunger strike.

U.S. river shipping hampered by ice

Heavy ice on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers has disrupted shipping.
On the Illinois River, tows are restricted to 32.0 meters/105 feet in width,
and downbound tows are restricted to two-barge lengths with ice couplings.
On the Mississippi River, locks and dams at Clarksville, Mo., and Batchtown,
Ill., are restricted.

Roufs broadcasts brief radio message

A Chilean government aircraft heard a brief radio message from Gerry
Roufs on 16 Jan on V.H.F. Channel 16. Roufs, 43, had not been heard from
since just after midnight 8 Jan. He is aboard the 18-meter/59-foot Groupe
LG2, a yacht competing in the Vendee Globe Challenge solo, around-the-world
race. Roufs, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is believed to be between Cape
Horn and the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. As a result, the on-going search
for Roufs has been transferred from Chile to Argentina.

U.S. Coast Guard recommends against oil tanker restrictions off California

The U.S. Coast Guard has recommended against restrictions that would
force oil tankers to sail at least 80 kilometers/50 miles off central California.
The recommendations come at the end of a four-year, Congressionally-mandated
study examining possible changes to shipping to protect the Monterey Bay
National Marine Sanctuary.

Cocaine found in container at Altamira

Mexican security personnel doing a routine check of cargo at the Port
of Altamira found 1,254 kilograms/2,759 pounds of mostly pure cocaine recently.
It may have come from Cartagena, Colombia. The cocaine, in 170 packets,
was in a container that had been unloaded from the Catarina (Brazilian-registry
vessel operated by Royal Nedlloyd N.V.) and was hidden among steel pipes
wrapped with wire and coated in a petroleum substance.

Royal Carribean Cruises pleads not guilty to oil dumping

Royal Caribbean Cruises pleaded not guilty 21 Jan. to 10 federal charges
that the company routinely dumped waste oil from some of its ships over
a four-year period and attempted to conceal the practice. Arrest warrants
have been issued for Svenn Rikard Roeymo and Henry Ericksen, a first engineer
and a chief engineer, for violating the U.S. Clean Water Act and attempting
to conceal violations from authorities. Indictments were handed down 19
Dec.

Canadian Steamship and Upper Lakes Shipping fined for pilot violations

The Laurentian Pilotage Authority has fined Canada Steamship Lines Inc.
and Upper Lakes Shipping Corp. $5,000 for each violation of a compulsory
pilotage zone in December. Three C.S.L. ships, the Nanticoke, the Jean
Parisien and the Tadoussac, and one U.L.S. vessel, the Canadian Enterprise,
violated St. Lawrence River pilotage regulations when they decided they
had waited long enough for pilots. On 1 Dec., the Nanticoke sailed from
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, and the Canadian Enterprise
sailed from Contrecoeur, Quebec, to Trois-Rivieres. On 2 Dec., the Jean
Parisien and the Tadoussac sailed from Trois-Rivieres to Montreal. None
of the vessels had the required pilots. As a result, C.S.L. will now have
to pay $15,000 and U.L.S. $5,000. The Laurentian Pilotage Authority also
reportedly wants to C.S.L. and U.L.S. to pay extra charges it says were
needed because vessels with pilots had to anchor while the ships without
pilots passed.

U.S.$28,000 fine imposed by Malaysia for oil spill

The master of the Astro Gamma (Greek-registry 268,310-dwt tanker built
in 1975, operated by Kristen Navigation Inc.) was fined U.S.$20,800 22
Jan. for spilling oil in Malaysian waters and failing to inform the country.
Georgantas Dimitros pleaded innocent 20 Nov. but changed his plea during
the trial. Judge Mohamed K. Abdul Rahman of the Malaysian Sessions Court
at Kuantan fined Dimitros U.S.$20,000 for the first charge and U.S.$8,000
for the second. At 0905 3 July, 1995, the ship spilled oil sludge that
formed a 20-kilometer/12-mile slick.

SHIP TRANSFERS

B.. & N. shifting ships to Scaldis

Bylock and Nordsjofrakt will switch six 18,162 cubic meter/605,400 cubic
foot refrigerated ships from Cool Carriers A.B. to Scaldis. The last ship
will transfer in May.

Naviera Pinillos sells four ships

Now that Naviera Pinillos has placed the Francoli (Spanish-registry
14,265-dwt, 1,033-TEU capacity containership built in 1984) in service
on is Bilbao, Spain, to the Canary Islands route, it has sold four ships
to Greek and Russian firms. The Ter (Spanish-registry 2,970-dwt, 144-TEU
capacity containership built in 1978) has beens sold to Barracuda Shipping
as the Sea Shell. The Turia (Spanish-registry 2,971-dwt, 144-TEU capacity
containership built in 1978) is now the River Shell, owned by Tuna Shipping.
The Darro (3,542-dwt, 150-TEU capacity refrigerated ship built in 1973)
has been sold to Tide Shipping Ltd. as its Christos I. Finally, Kanorin
Shipping has bought the Segre (Spanish-registry 3,542-dwt, 150-TEU capacity
refrigerated ship built in 1973) for use as the Christina II.

Starship Atlantic sold to Mediterranean Shipping Cruises

Mediterranean Shipping Cruises has bought the Starship Atlantic (Liberian-registry
35,143-gt, 4,955-dwt passenger ship built in 1982) from Premier Cruise
Lines Ltd. for U.S.$70 million. The ship, which can accomodate 1,550 passengers,
will be renamed the Melody and begin sailing from Genoa, Italy, 1 June.
The Starship Atlantic had an extensive refit in 1988 for Florida Nautica.
The sale is being handled by Jacq. Pierot Jr. & Sons Inc. of New York.

PETROBRAS sells, leases back the Jurua

Petroleo Brasiliero S.A. has sold the Jurua (Brazilian-registry 133,099-dwt
combination ship built in 1978, operated by Frota Nacional de Petroleos)
to Linhas Brasileiras de Navegacao S.A. It has been renamed the Libra Albacora
and will be leased back to PETROBRAS for U.S.$17,300 per day.

Cyprus takes three ships off its register

Cyprus has announced that three ships have been removed from its register
for being substandard. They are the Allakhareem, owned by Temple Marine
Co.; the Marina Grazia (1,265-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1965, operated
by Jupiter Shipping Services Ltd. and owned by Furgomer Maritime Co.);
and the Yassemin, owned by Biscay Navigation Co.

CASUALTIES

1,190 killed or missing in 1996

The Institute of London Underwriters has announced that 105 ships of
at least 500-gt were lost in 1996, accounting for 653,775-gt. In 1995,
95 ships of 693,433-gt were lost. Last year, 1,190 people were killed or
are missing at sea. In 1995, 316 people were killed or missing.

Collision on Yangtze kills two, 10 missing

On 10 Jan., the Ruyi No. 2 (5,015-tons) sank after colliding with the
Dongji (15,000-tons) on the Yangtze River near Yangzhong, Jiangsu Province,
China. Two people were killed, 10 are missing and nine were rescued.

Crewmember killed in tanker fire

A crewmember aboard the Saraband (Cypriot-registry 132,478-dwt tanker
built in 1977, operated by Vancouver Shipmanagement Ltd.) died in a fire
aboard the ship 21 Jan. at Chittagong, Bangladesh. Among the damage, a
generator of the auxiliary aft engine set was destroyed. Crude oil aboard
is being discharged and temporary repairs are being made.

Tankers collide off France, gasoline spilled

The Bona Fulmar (Bahamian-registry 45,773-gt, 78,585-dwt ore/bulk/oil
carrier built in 1983, owned and operated by Bona Shipping A/S) collided
18 Jan. with the Teoatl (Mexican-registry 21,706-dwt tanker built in 1987,
operated by Companhia Naviera Minera del Gulfo S.A.) at 51 degrees 23.8
minutes north, 02 degrees 06.6 minutes east. The location is in international
waters about 29 kilometers/18 miles northwest of Dunkirk, France. No one
was injured in the collision, in very dense fog with visibility of 300
meters/1,000 feet. The Bona Fulmar, with a crew of 26 and two passengers
aboard, was carrying 58,447 tons of unleaded gasoline and sustained a hole
3.0 meters/10 feet by 4.0 meters/13 feet in her No. 5 cargo tank. Some
of the hole was below the waterline. An estimated 9,500 cubic meters/12,400
cubic yards of gasoline or 7,000 tons spilled into the North Sea. The ship
shifted ballast, anchored nearby and transferred the remaining fuel in
the tank to another vessel. A temporary patch was installed over the hole
and the Bona Fulmar, under escort, sailed to Rotterdam, the Netherlands,
to unload her cargo. The Far Turbot (British-registry 2,015-dwt tug/supply
vessel built in 1980, operated by Howard Smith (U.K.) Ltd.) sailed to the
area when the collision occurred and remained on-scene. The Teoatl, which
was not damaged, also sailed to Rotterdam. Bona Fulmar was chartered to
George E. Warren and sailing from Belgian Petrofina S.A.'s refinery in
Antwerp, Belgium, to New York.

Gasoline spilled in Mississippi River after allision

As much as 95,000 liters/25,000 gallons of gasoline spilled from four
ruptured cargo tanks after a tank barge allided with a stone dike on the
Mississippi River at 0700 16 Jan. The allision occurred three kilometers/two
miles above the Mississippi-Tennessee state line, and about 27 kilometers/17
miles below Memphis, Tenn. The barge was being pushed upriver by the Shirley
K. Stapp, owned and operated by Stapp Towing Co. The barge was one of four
heading upriver from Lake Charles, La., to West Memphis, Ark. Loaded with
3.8 million liters/one million gallons of gasoline, it was refloated in
high winds and sailed to West Memphis. The river was closed above and below
the allision until the barge reached its destination.

Vessel with 912 aboard collides with bulk carrier off Bangladesh

The Mecca 1 (Panamanian-registry 1,118-dwt passenger vessel built in
1970, operated by El Salam Trading and Shipping Establishment) collided
with the Aditya Usha (Indian-registry 19,022-dwt bulk carrier built in
1981, operated by Century Shipping) near Chittagong, Bangladesh, late 22
Jan. The Mecca 1 was carrying 912 Bangladeshi workers deported from Saudi
Arabia for being in the country illegally or carrying forged documents.
No one was injured. The forecastle of the Aditya Usha was damaged and the
Mecca 1 was dented.

Christina suffers fire at Hansweert

The Christina (Dutch-registry 1,391-gt general cargo vessel owned by
Amasus Shipping B.V.) suffered a fire 21 Jan. at Hansweert. The ship arrived
20 Jan. from Hamina, Finland.

Mundial Car and Jane collide

The Mundial Car (Lebanese-registry 2,588-gt, 1,150-dwt ro/ro built in
1965, operated bt Aspen Shipping and Trading B.V.) collided with the Jane
(Antigua and Barbuda-registry 4,628-gt, 5,700-dwt containership built in
1995, operated by Draxl Schiffahrts G.m.b.H.) on 21 Jan. at 51 degrees
50.4 minutes north, 02 degrees 28.8 minutes east. The location is in the
North Sea. The Mundial car was sailing from Rotterdam, the Netherlands,
to Tripoli, Libya, and the Jane from Felixstowe, England, to Rotterdam.
The Mundial Car's starboard bow was holed and the ship sailed to Rotterdam.
The Jane was also holed and was leaking oil, with other vessels diverting
to assist.

Two ships in collision off Norway

The Utsira (Norwegian-registry 444-gt passenger and general cargo vessel)
collided "head-on" with the Dura Bulk (Danish-registry 2,950-gt,
3,007-dwt bulk carrier built in 1973, owned by Danish International and
operated by T Wang) on 22 Jan. south of Karmsundet, Norway. The Dura Bulk
ran aground and was later towed off while the Utsira continued its voyage.

Ro/Ro collides with barge in the Scheldt River

On 20 Jan., the Rijnha Ven (11,909-gt, 5,710-dwt ro/ro built in 1973,
operated by Dodekanissinki Anonimos Naftiliaki Eteria) collided with the
barge Daniella near Buoy 87 in the Scheldt River. The Rijnha Ven had arrived
in Antwerp, Belgium, on 18 Jan. from Hamina, Finland.

Paria damaged by unknown object

The Paria (Venezuelan-registry 55,999-dwt tanker built in 1982, owned
and operated by PDV Marina S.A.) was damaged earlier this month when it
struck an unknown submerged object. The ship sustained a punctured prow.
The Paria was in ballast sailing to the Caripito Terminal in eastern Venezuela
to load oil for Bonaire Island, Netherlands Antilles.

Oil spill at terminal near Singapore

The Pelita/Pertamina 1023 (18,065-dwt product tanker built in 1981,
operated by Pertamina) spilled oil a during operations at a terminal near
Singapore 22 Jan. Five patches some 20 meters/70 feet to 50 meters/160
feet formed off Pulau Busing Terminal. The source of the spill was contained
in an hour and clean-up operations contained the leaked oil.

Barge with heating oil adrift in Lake Erie

At 1200 23 Jan., a cable from the forward area of the Donald C. Hannah
(U.S.-registry 191-gt, 28-meter/91-foot tug built in 1962, owned and operated
by Hannah Marine Corp.) parted from the Hannah 3601 (U.S.-registry 35,360-barrel,
88.1-meter/290-foot tank barge built in 1972, owned and operated by Hannah
Marine) in western Lake Erie. The tug, with a crew of six, was trapped
in ice 20 centimeters/eight inches to 25 centimeters/10 inches thick. The
barge, with 5.225 million liters/1.375 million gallons of medium heating
oil, drifted and came within 730 meters/2,400 feet of Middle Sister Island.
The tow was sailing from Sun Oil in Cleveland to Toledo, Ohio, under escort
by the U.S. Coast Guard Katmai Bay-class Icebreaking Tug U.S.C.G.C. Neah
Bay (WTGB 105) when the tow parted. The cutter was able to secure the barge
and took it in tow. Either the Neah Bay or sister U.S.C.G.C Bristol Bay
(WTGB 102) will escort the tow to a port, either Toledo or Canada. The
Canadian Coast Guard Light Icebreaker/Navigational Aids Tender C.C.G.S.
Griffon and the Navigational Aids Tender C.C.G.S. Samuel Risley were sailing
or were already on-scene to assist. They have now left the area.

Konemu runs aground at Noumea

The Konemu (French-registry 755-gt tanker built in 1990) ran aground
24 Jan. on a reef off Porc Epic near Noumea, New Caledonia. The ship was
refloated with the aid of a tug and sailed to Noumea. The ship's hull was
holed in two areas and 200 tons of light fuel was spilled.

U.S. Coast Guard assists fishing vessel off the Bahamas

On 9 Jan., the U.S. Coast Guard lead ship of the U.S.C.G.C. Bear (WMEC
901)-class Medium-Endurance Cutter located the 21-meter/70-foot fishing
vessel Isla Morada (Dominican-registry) about 46 kilometers/29 miles south
of Great Inagua, the Bahamas. The vessel was taking on water, and after
a Coast Guard boarding party brought the flooding under control and made
temporary repairs, the fishing vessel was escorted to Port de Paix, Haiti.

Philomise Star disabled off the Bahamas

On 12 Jan., the U.S. Navy located the 23-meter/75-foot coastal freighter
Philomise Star disabled 22 kilometers/14 miles north of Rum Cay, the Bahamas.
The vessel had been adrift four days and was towed to Rum Cay.

Removal of oil from Nakhodka's bow begins, three die during clean-up

On 16 Jan., Maritime Disaster Prevention Center began pumping out the
cargo tanks in the bow section of the Nakhodka (Russian-registry 13,157-gt,
20,471-dwt tanker built in 1970, operated by Primorsk Shipping Co. and
owned by Prisco Traffic Ltd.). The ship broke in half at 0250 2 Jan. in
the Sea of Japan, 130 kilometers/81 miles northeast of the Oki Islands,
Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Thirty-one of the 32 crew were rescued and the
master is missing. The Nakhodka carried 19,000 tons of grade C heavy fuel,
or 19 million liters/five million gallons or 133,000 barrels. Some 5,000
tons of oil began coming ashore 7 Jan. along with the bow, which is aground
near Oshima Lighthouse at Mikuni, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The exact location
of the stern is not known. A total of 338,000 liters/87,900 gallons of
fuel was removed by ship from the bow before weather conditions worsened
and the operation was suspended. On 18 Jan., construction of a causeway
to the bow using rocks was begun. But on 22 Jan., 15 meters/50 feet of
road constructed so far was destroyed in rough weather. In all, it is thought
there is 2.8 million liters/730,000 gallons, or 2,500 tons, of fuel in
the bow. Some 283 tons have of oil has been collected from the spill along
eight prefectures spanning 900 kilometers/560 miles. They are Fukui, Hyogo,
Ishikawa, Kyoto, Niigata, Shimane, Tottori and Toyama. On 18 Jan., a 77-year-old
clean-up volunteer from Hyogo Prefecture died. On the morning of 21 Jan.,
Matsubara Shigeki, 53, had a heart attack while lifting a drum used to
scoop oil. He was among a group of high school teachers involved in cleaning
their local stretch of coastline in Ishikawa Prefecture. Finally, a 69-year-old
fisherman from Fukui Prefecture also died 21 Jan. from a heart attack.
Another 20 meters/65 feet of the road to the bow was destroyed 23 Jan.

Want more information on the Bright Field incident?

An extensive and thorough Internet webpage has been set-up on the incident
involing the Bright Field (Liberian-registry 36,120-gt, 68,200-dwt, 23,035-nt
bulk carrier built in 1988, operated by COSCO Hong Kong Shipping Co. Ltd.).
The ship allided with a New Orleans dock housing the Riverwalk mall and
hotel complex at 1430 14 Dec. The Riverwalk reopened 23 Jan. The webpage
is at: http://www.virtualpet.com/rbbi.

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

Britannia sails on last voyage, replacement announced

H.M.Y. Britannia sailed from Portsmouth, England, on its last voyage
20 Jan. For seven months, the ship will sail in the Mediterranean Sea,
the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean and eastern Asia. Among the calls will
be Hong Kong during its transfer to China, as well as Bahrain, Kuwait and
Qatar in late February, where the ship will be used by the Prince of Wales.
Other calls include Egypt, Greece, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea,
Thailand and Yemen. H.M.Y. Britannia will return to the United Kingdom
in August to transport the royal family to Balmoral, Scotland. H.M.Y. Britannia
has sailed more than a million nautical miles and called at 600 ports in
135 countries. What will happen to the ship is unknown. On 22 Jan., the
British government announced a replacement will be built. It will cost
about U.S.$99.42 million and will be paid for by the country. However,
Queen Elizabeth II will contribute towards furnishings. The operating costs
are planned to be half of H.M.Y. Britannia and the new yacht will enter
service by 2002. The new yacht will accent H.M.Y. Britannia's role of British
trade promotion overseas. The British government claims that, acting as
a venue for British businessmen to meet with businessmen in other countries,
the ship has brought the United Kingdom more than U.S.$3.35 billion in
trade. While several designs have been proposed, none have been agreed
on. Further, the replacement may not be built at all. If the Labor Party
wins parliamentary elections which must be held by May, it is not required
to build the yacht. Several Labor members have spoken out against it. On
the other hand, unions welcomed the decision, as it would aid British shipbuilding.
Unions have historically voted for Labor.