- Transport on Line - hiltunen.htm

BUSINESS

Premier Cruise Lines bought

Cruise Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Seawind Cruise Line and
Dolphin Cruise Line, is buying Premier Cruise Lines, along with the vessel
Oceanic, from Viad Corp. Viad will then exit the cruise business.

Wheelock Marden and Co. dispute ends in Hong Kong

Wheelock Marden and Co. has been ordered to pay 189 million Danish kroner/U.S.$28.7
million to Dansk Skibs-Finansiering for not providing complete information
before seeking loans. The decision ends the longest civil lawsuit in Hong
Kong history. The six-month case was decided last week. In 1979, Wheelock
Maritime ordered seven ships from B&W in Copenhagen, Denmark. Three
years later, the firm could not cover its operational costs. Dansk Skibs-Finansiering,
which provided loans for the ships, said that Wheelock Marden knew when
it requested the loans that it was insolvent, which Wheelock Marden denied.
The court agreed that Wheelock Marden did not provide all pertinent information
to the finance firm.

Temporary rate increase on domestic cargo in the Philippines

The rate for certain cargoes moving in the Philippines has been temporarily
increased 13.14 percent. The Philippines Maritime Industry Authority agreed
to the increase so that operators could cover higher fuel and labor costs.
Operators are required to submit their 1996 financial statement to make
sure the lines applying did not exceed a 12 percent return on their investments.
Until around 13 April, the new rate will apply to Class C cargoes, or non-containerized
basic commodities.

Complaint brought against Princess Cruises for "port charges"

Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth filed a civil complaint 25
March against Princess Cruises Inc., alledging that the firm has violated
consumer protection laws. Butterworth has accused Princess Cruises of representing
port charges as fees, when the extra cost was another charge by Princess
Cruises itself. In a complaint with the Broward County Circuit Court, Butterworth
alledges that by covering actual fees and keeping the money for itself,
Princess Cruises was able to market cruises for a lower price than should
be possible. Florida is seeking U.S.$15,000 for each passenger over the
last for years for violation of its Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices
Act.

Lykes requests change in ownership

In a filing 14 March with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, Lykes
Bros. Steamship Co. has requested its ownership be transferred to creditor
Blue Water Associates L.P., a subsidiary of GATX Capital Corp. The latter
is part of GATX Corp. Under the proposal, after reorganization, Lykes would
become part of Blue Water Associates and would lease ships to Lykes Lines
Ltd. As planned, Lykes Lines would become part of C.P. Ships, the Canadian
Pacific Ltd. unit.

Sabroe Refrigeration buys ABB Stal Refrigeration

Sabroe Refrigeration A.S. has paid 600 million Danish kroner/U.S.$94
million for ABB Stal Refrigeration, part of ABB Group's ABB Asea Brown
Bovari Ltd. Sabroe Refrigeration's owners, J. Lauritzen Holding and Scandinavian
Equity Partners, will inject a third of the cost into Sabroe Refrigeration
to finance the purchase. The rest will be via loans.

Indonesia to exempt fishing vessels from taxes

In an attempt to encourage its fishing fleet, Indonesian President Suharto
has approved an Indonesian National Maritime Council proposal to exempt
fishing vessels from capital gains taxes when they are sold, if the money
is used to buy new fishing vessels built in Indonesia. In addition, crewmembers
would be exempt from income tax.

KNSM to dissappear

KNSM, Royal Netherlands Shipping Co., is disappearing. The line was
formed as a European short sea operator in 1856, and merged with Royal
Nedlloyd N.V. in 1980. Since then, it has existed as KNSM-Kroonburgh, part
of Royal Nedlloyd's short sea operations. Now, KNSM's last ship, the 900-TEU
capacity Castor, is being sold to Wagenborg Shipping N.V. for 20 million
German marks/U.S.$10.5 million. With the sale, KNSM will cease to exist.

Saudi prince buys five percent of NCL Holdings

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud of Saudi Arabia has bought
five percent of NCL Holding A.S.A. for U.S.$20 million. The firm is the
parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line. The 7.2 million shares cost 18.50
Norwegian kroner/U.S.$2.70 each.

Canadian engineers drop strike threat against three lines

A threatened strike by engineers of three Canadian lines has been called
off after a new contract was ratified. Some 250 members of the Canadian
Marine Officers Union, employed by Algoma Central Corp.'s Algoma Central
Marine, N.M. Paterson & Sons Ltd. and Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd.'s
P. & H. Shipping Division, planned to strike when the St. Lawrence
Seaway opened 2 April unless a new contract was reached. The new contract
is for five years.

Corsica Ferries to sue S.N.C.M.

Corsica Ferries has announced its intent to file a lawsuit against Societe
Nationale Maritime Corse Mediterranee for unfair competition between Corsica
and Italy. According to Corsica Ferries, S.N.C.M.'s Corsica Marittime is
"dumping" its service by charging tariffs 55 percent lower than
the market rate.

Thornycroft, Giles gets U.S.$2 million investment

TTS Technology Inc. has invested U.S.$2 million in Thornycroft, Giles
and Co. The latter owns patented technology that it is using in an attempt
to start a high-speed trans-Atlantic container service. It is hoped to
build containerships capable of 40 knots that will cross the Atlantic in
four days, with door-to-door service between the United States and Europe
in seven days.

Eight laid off at Ropner

Eight employees of Ropner Shipping Services Ltd. have been dismissed,
as Jacobs Holdings takes ownership. The eight were from the head office
in Darlington, England, since finance will be handled from London.

A.O. Primorsky in loan deals

A.O. Primorsky Sea Shipping has negotiated a U.S.$188.3 million loan
by Christiana Bank for new ships building in South Korea. In addition,
it has refinanced debt with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
which will save it U.S.$600,000 the first year.

More on new bulk carrier operator

More information has emerged on a new bulk carrier operator backed by
J.G. Goumas (Shipping). Fortuna Bulk Carriers will operate ships ranging
from 15,000-dwt to 30,000-dwt, which will be leased. The firm will not
own any ships. Two Danish shipbrokers, Lars Trygved and Morten Jacobsen,
have formed a new brokering group in Copenhagen, Nautica Chartering, for
Fortuna Bulk Carriers.

Sargeant Marine denied permission to use ship in coastal trade

Sargeant Marine Inc. will not be allowed to carry asphalt from Brownsville,
Texas, to New York aboard a ship built partly with U.S. government subsidies.
The firm requested a waiver, since subsidy ships are barred from the U.S.
coastal trade.

C.C.A.L. switching South African representation

Christensen Canadian African Lines is switching its South African agency
representation from P. & O. Nedlloyd Container Line to King and Sons
next month. Royal Nedlloyd had been the representative for some 50 years.

O.O.I.L. signs financial agreement for O.O.C.L. ships

Orient Overseas International Ltd. has signed an agreement to finance
several ships of Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. The 12-year, U.S.$610
million loan will cover six 5,000-TEU capacity containerships delivered
in the last two years.

N.Y.K. office in Chicago has new address

Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line (North America) Inc. relocated its Chicago
area office on 24 March. It is now at 377 E. Butterfield Rd., Fifth Floor,
Lombard, Ill., 60148. Telephone is 630-435-7800, facsimile is 630-435-3110
and customer service is 888-695-7447.

ROUTES AND SERVICES

Three Japanese lines announce rate increase on containers from Japan

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. and Nippon Yusen
Kaisha K.K. announced 24 March they are planning to increase rates for
containers moving from Japan to Europe and North America on 1 May. The
move comes after a rate increase by conferences on the routes. New rates
will be as much as 10 percent per FEU.

Eurosal, N.C.S. leaving Amsterdam

Eurosal and the New Caribbean Service will leave the Port of Amsterdam,
the Netherlands, on 1 April. The two consortia of seven shipping lines
will shift their calls to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Also affected is some cargo at Antwerp, Belgium.

Mitsui O.S.K. adding Americas calls to CX-1 service

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. is adding a direct service between Houston;
the Manzanillo International Terminal in Colon, Panama; Puerto Sucre, Venezuela;
and Manaus, Brazil, using the CX-1 service. Capacity will be increased
at the same time with 900-TEU capacity ships. Service from Houston will
begin with the sailing of the Sunshine La Plata (Panamanian-registry 23,853-dwt
dry cargo ship built in 1989, owned and operated by Mitsui O.S.K.) on 4
May (Voyage 003A/B). From Houston to Panama is four days, with Manaus in
15 days. It will operate every two weeks with arrivals in Houston every
other Saturday and departures every other Sunday. The CX-1 service sails
between Houston; Manzanillo; Rio Haina, Dominican Republic; La Guaira,
Venezuela; Puerto Sucre; Puerto Cabello, Venezuela; Manaus; and Belem,
Brazil.

Carina Overseas starting Shanghai to Japan container service

Carina Overseas will start a container service next month between Shanghai,
China, and Japan, with four sailings per week. Five 400-TEU to 500-TEU
capacity containerships will call at Kobe, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo and
Yokohama in a slot-exchange agreement with Shanghai-Changjiang Shipping
Corp. Carina Overseas will provide two ships and Shanghai-Changjiang Shipping
three. The service will begin 4 April with the departure of the Mild Victory
from Shanghai.

Maersk introducing east Africa to Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia service

Maersk Line is introducing a dedicated service between eastern Africa,
Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia. Two 600-TEU capacity ships will use a two-week
rotation to call at Dar-es-Salamm, Tanzania; Mombasa, Kenya; Colombo, Sri
Lanka; and Jebel Ali, Saudi Arabia. In addition, Maersk has reinstated
shipping cargo to and from Uganda.

Kien Hung Shipping quits route, Emden left without container service

Kien Hung Shipping is ending its container service from Emden, Germany,
to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, after its primary customer, Volkswagen
A.G., decided to use Mediterranean Shipping Co. Kien Hung Shipping had
a 600 TEU per week contract with the vehicle manufacturer. The move leaves
Emden without any scheduled container service, as M.S.C. operates from
Felixstowe, England.

Maersk, Sea-Land and M.S.C. to start Freeport transshipment

Maersk Line and Sea-Land Service Inc. will start calls at Freeport,
the Bahamas, starting 1 April. Transshipment at the port will link their
weekly Mediterranean to Gulf of Mexico service with their weekly U.S. east
coast to South American east coast service. In addition, Mediterranean
Shipping Co. plans to call Freeport instead of Miami on a weekly basis
on routes from the Americas.

New feeder by Internatio Muller

Internatio Muller will start a feeder service from Rotterdam, the Netherlands,
to Scandinavia next month. The pilot project will be operated six months.

Service between Riga and Stockholm restarts

After more than a year, a passenger service has restarted from Riga,
Latvia, to Stockholm, Sweden. The Russ (12,798-gt, 1,624-dwt passenger
ferry built in 1986, owned and operated by Far Eastern Shipping Co.) will
be operated by Latvia-Sweden Line. The vessel can carry 400 passengers.
Three departures a week will be offered from each capital.

Sea-Land increasing calls at Ukrainian port

Sea-Land Service Inc. is increasing the frequency of its calls at Illichvsk,
Ukraine, next month. Service will go from every two weeks to weekly utilizing
two 400-TEU capacity ships sailing from Gioia Tauro, Italy.

N.Y.K. adding Sendai

Nippon Yusen Kaisha Ltd. is adding a call at Sendai, Japan, to its Japan
to U.S. west coast service, the Japan-California Express. Starting in April,
five 2,600-TEU containerships will make a roundtrip of 35 days, calling
at Shanghai, China; the Japanese ports of Hakata, Kobe, Nagoya, Shimizu,
Tokyo and Sendai; Los Angeles and Oakland in California; Shimizu, Nagoya,
Kobe and Shanghai. The first to call Sendai will be the California Jupiter
(Liberian-registry 38,438-dwt, 2,555-TEU containership built in 1986, operated
by Shoei Kisen) on 7 April. The following vessel will not call and the
service will be changed to fixed-day to include Sendai on 21 April.

Horizon International Lines opens two new facilities

As part of the Horizon Caribe service, Horizon International Lines has
opened two new facilities. A Northeast consolidation terminal has opened
in South Kearny, N.J., and a Carribean sales office is operating at Conley,
Ga.

Andrew Weir decreasing transit time to Portugal

Andrew Weir Shipping Ltd. has reportedly upgraded its schedule to enable
faster transit times to Portugal.

Jacobs Holdings to add ro/ros for English Channel service

Jacobs Holdings has announced it will spend more than U.S.$140 million
on four large ro/ros, to be operated in the English Channel. To finance
the acquisitions, two Panamax vessels will be sold.

China reported ready to approve services between it and Taiwan

China has reportedly approved six Chinese and six Taiwanese firms to
operate services between China and Taiwan. They reportedly include China
Maritime Transport Corp., China Ocean Shipping Co., Kien Hung Shipping,
Nantai Line, Uniglory Marine Corp., Yangming Marine Transport Corp. and
Wan Hai Lines Ltd.

PORTS AND TERMINALS

Japanese dockworkers will not work at night

The Japan Conderdation of Port and Transport Workers Unions and the
National Council of Dockworkers' Unions of Japan have announced that member
dockworkers will not work between 1800 and 0800 daily at Japanese ports,
starting 31 March. The action is in protest of a recent U.S. Federal Maritime
Commission decision to impose charges on ships of three lines in an effort
to speed port reform in Japan. The protest will affect half of Japan's
ports, including Kawasaki, Kobe, Nagora, Osaka, Shimonoseki, Tokyo and
Yokohama, and involves 55,000 people.

India to have four more L.N.G. terminals by 2005

The Indian government has announced that by 2005, it is planned to have
liquified natural gas terminals operating at Kandla, Mumbai, Paradip, and
Visakhapatnam. Each would cost U.S.$1.1 billion and handle 2.5 million
tons annually.

Durban planning expansion

The Port of Durban, South Africa, is planning changes to its container
terminal that will allow handling of 1.1 million TEUs by 1999, up from
780,000 TEUs now. A stacking area, two post-Panamax gantry cranes and a
rail transfer crane will be added, other cranes will be upgraded and new
computer systems will be phased in.

COSCO Pacific marks U.S.$155 million for port expansion

China Ocean Shipping Co.'s COSCO Pacific is starting a project to raise
U.S.$155 million for port expansion in Asia. COSCO Pacific will use the
money to buy interests in four Chinese ports from COSCO Hong Kong for U.S.$58.7
million and upgrade their facilities, expand container manufacturing facilities
and buy other container terminals in Asia. The stakes include half of the
terminal at Qingdao, 51 percent of Zhanjiagang Terminal, 10 percent of
Shanghai Container Terminal and five percent of Yantian Terminal.

Cleveland authority buys C. & P. docks, to be operated by Oglebay
Norton

The Cleleland Cuyahoga County Port Authority bought the C. & P.
ore docks on 19 March from Conrail for U.S.$6.15 million. The facility
has been leased for 10 years to Oglebay Norton Co., which will operate
it as Cleveland Bulk Terminals. Ogelbay Norton has an option for another
10 years. The terminal is 571.5 meters/1,875 feet long and 163 meters/535
feet wide with a reach of 18 meters/60 feet and a berth depth of 8.2 meters/27
feet. There is storage fo one million tons.

Ecuadorean Line remains at New York and New Jersey with new warehouse

Ecuadorean Line has agreed to remain at the Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey, but a new refrigerated warehouse will be built for it at
the Howland Hook Container Terminal on Staten Island. The U.S.$5 million
temperature-controlled facility will be funded by New York City Economic
Development Corp., an outstanding lease obligation to the city and the
Staten Island Borough President's Office.

Florida authority seeking development proposals for Fort Pierce property

The St. Lucie County Port and Airport Authority of Florida is requesting
proposals for developing a 35-hectare/87-acre site at the Port of Fort
Pierce. It is near the U.S. Intracoastal Waterway and has direct access
to the turning basin. The authority has received a U.S.$7.9 million grant
from the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council,
which will pay for 27 hectares/67 acres with partial development. The grant
requires a 50 percent match from the authority, which is planned to come
from leasing the area. Twenty acres were bought in January, with the rest
owned by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and leased for
10 years to Marcona Ocean Industries Inc. There are three general-purpose
foreign trade zones nearby. The deadline for proposals is 1000 23 April,
with information available by writing to the authority at 2300 Virginia
Ave., Fort Pierce, Fla., 34982.

Conveyor at Paranagua destroyed, soybean prices affected

A short-circuit destroyed a conveyor system at the Port of Paranagua,
Brazil, on 25 March. About seven percent of soybeans transferred from silos
to ships in the Corridor section will be delayed from seven to 10 days.
An auxiliary system will handle some of the shipments. Fifty-eight percent
of Brazilian soybeans are exported through Paranagua, making the port the
largest soybean export facility in the world. Fears that ships could instead
call at the United States for soybeans caused prices on the Chicago Board
of Trade to rise 10.25 U.S. cents, to U.S.$8.42 per bushel for May delivery.

New bulk terminal open in Oregon

The Captain Aysuna (Panamanian-registry 26,914-dwt bulk carrier built
in 1981, owned by Hyundai Merchant Marine Corp. and operated by Soc. Anon.
Monegasque) began loading 18,500 tons of potash at the Port of Portland,
Ore., on 24 March. It was brought from Canada in three trains. The loading
marks the opening of Portland Bulk Terminals, a U.S.$50 million mineral
bulk facility on 26 hectares/65 acres at Terminal 5. The terminal is a
joint venture of Campotex Shipping Services Ltd. and Hall-Buck Marine Inc.
and will handle one to three million metric tons of potash per year, with
a 100,000 metric ton capacity. Eventually, the terminal will handle 10
million tons of potash annually. Trains of 100 cars bring the potash from
Saskatachewan, Canada. The facility has a travelling loader, a 275-meter/900-foot
concrete dock, two unit train loop tracks, a new 4,000 ton per hour triple
car dumper and pit, a conveyor system and transfer towers. The terminal
also has a four million bushel grain terminal operated by Columbia Grain
Co.

SHIPYARDS AND EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS

Three Singaporean shipyard workers killed

Three employees at Jurong Shipyard Ltd. in Singapore suffocated 24 March
inside a fuel tank of an oil rig. One of the three, Veerappan Balamurugan,
was attempting to pump sea water from the tank, and when the pump failed,
he went into it. Low oxygen levels caused him to collapse, and he and two
others attempting to bring him out were killed. Another worker at the yard
was injured by the low levels. According to the Singaporean Labor Ministry,
none of the workers had permission to enter the tank at the foot of a rig.

Samsung has design for an 8,770-TEU capacity ship

Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. has designed a containership with
a capacity of 8,770 TEUs. The design has six holds forward and two aft
separated by the superstructure. About 45 percent of the containers are
carried in the holds, with the rest on the weatherdeck in stacks up to
six tiers. It can carry 16 rows of containers in the holds, except at tanktop
level and the extreme forward areas, which can carry 10 containers. The
weatherdeck can carry 18 rows. With a 93,000 brake horsepower, two-stroke
engine, the ship is capable of 25 knots.

New duty on Indian-built ships

The recent Indian budget contains provisions for an eight percent excise
duty on vessels built at Indian shipyards.

South Australian Ships sold

Universal Shipping Industries has taken a majority stake in shipbuilder
South Australian Ships Pty. Ltd. A group of South Australian Ships creditors
accepted a deal in which Universal Shipping will get a 51 percent share
in return for a cash injection of U.S.$1 million. Some U.S.$700,000 will
go into a common fund, along with U.S.$300,000 from payment for a ferry.

New plan on Gdansk shipyard

A new plan has been presented for Stocznia Gdynia S.A. If no buyer is
found, the yard will build five ships for a new joint venture of Polish
Steamship Co., Pomorski Bank Kredytowy and Stocznia Szczecinska S.A., or
Polska Zegluga Morska. About 2,000 employees would be required. Each ship
would need government subsidies of U.S.$4 million. A decision will be made
by the end of April. Stocznia Szczecinska has already received government
approval to take control of the shipyard through a transfer of a 40 percent
stake from the Polish Finance Ministry. The rest is held by banks. It will
also take control of engine manufacturer Cegielski, through a 60 percent
stake.

Cammell Laird to add two drydocks

Cammell Laird Group P.L.C. has announced plans to bring two drydocks
back into service. With support from National Westminster Bank, Cammell
Laird will build and install new lock gates, new pumping equipment and
will clear drydock Nos. 6 and 7. With No. 5 already in service, the yard
will be able to handle ships up to 100,000-dwt. Bringing the dry docks
back into service will cost three million British pounds/U.S.$4.8 million.
Located in the northern area of the yard, they have been out of service
for 15 years. They are 15 meters/50 feet apart.

P. & O. ordering two new cruise ships

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. announced 25 March
it will order two new cruise ships. The first, to be named Ocean Princess,
will be built at Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A.'s Mofalcone
yard for delivery in 1999. A builder for the second was not announced but
it will be delivered in April 2000 and operate from Southampton, England.
The two will cost 200 million British pounds/U.S.$300 million each.

Iran orders five ships from Guangzhou Shipyard

Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd. has received an order from
the Iranian government shipping line for five 22,600-dwt ships.

Cronos leasing 12,000 containers

Cronos is leasing 12,000 containers to a major liner firm for U.S.$25
million. It is financed through a special purpose company backed by MeesPierson.
The deal is the largest since predecessor Leasing Partners International
formed in 1978. The 12,000 FEUs, FEU high cubes and TEUs are from 15 different
manufacturers, bought by a revolving credit facility. They were delivered
during the second half of last year to 17 ports.

World's most powerful diesel operating

The most powerful diesel engine in the world has been operated in Japan
for the first time. The 60,398 kW/82,170 brake horsepower engine was designed
by Sulzer Burckhart Engineering Works Ltd. for Nippon Yusen Kaisha Ltd.'s
new 5,750-TEU capacity containerships. The ships will operate at 24 knots.
The 11-cylinder RTA 96C two-stroke type was started on the testbed at Diesel
United Ltd.'s Aioi Works. The engine produces 5,490 kW/7,665 brake horsepower
per cylinder, with a bore of 960 millimeters/38.4 inches.

Argentine yard gets first export order

Astillero Rio Santiago will build a 27,000-dwt bulk carrier for Orient
Shipping Rotterdam. There is an option for another, with the first in March
1998 and the second three months later. Construction would be supervised
by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. and is a "copy" of a
series of ships built at Shimonoseki, Japan. The main engine and cranes
will be built in Japan. The ship was ordered through a Panamanian company,
so will be built to Panamanian regulations and be classed by NK. A letter
of intent has been signed with Hanseatic for technical management and crewing.

N.Y.K. orders two ships for forest products

Nippon Yusen Kaisha Ltd. has ordered two 31,000-dwt open-hatch, box-shaped
bulk carriers from Hakodate Dock Co. The first will be delivered in November
with the second in August 1998. With a draft of 9.5 meters/31 feet, they
will carry logs and other forest products in two holds.

Sembawang Wah Kwong orders fourth ship

Sembawang Wah Kwong Shipping has ordered a U.S.$23 million 11,500-dwt
chemical/product tanker from Fukuoka Shipbuilding Co. The ship, the line's
fourth, will be delivered in the first half of 1998.

Nordstrom and Thulin in deal with Kvaerner

Nordstrom and Thulin A.B. have taken options with Kvaerner to buy two
97,000-dwt tankers at U.S.$40 million each. The two ships, the Nord Jahre
Princess and the Nord Jahre Progress, were built in 1991. The options expire
in mid-January.

Italian tug order

Cantiere Navale Tommasi has won a 23 billion Italian lire order for
two Voith tractor tugs from Rimorchiatori Riuniti Panfido & Co. Srl.
They will have a bollard pull of 55 tons from a 5,200 brake horsepower
engine.

Two PETROBRAS tankers to be converted

The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard will convert two tankers to specialized
offshore shuttle tankers. Frota Nacional de Petroleiros will use the two
ships off Brazil. The Mafra (133,752-dwt combination ship built in 1980)
will take 37 days, while the Marau (133,752-dwt combination ship built
in 1981) will take 21 days. A bow loading system from Hitech Marine will
be fitted, with relocation of the mooring system, forward main deck structural
work, blasting and painting, installation of a watchman's cabin, air-cooler
comparment, piping on the forward main deck, hydraulic work and alteration
of the main switchboard.

Largest ship yet from German-Russian venture

Don Cassens Shipbuilders, a joint German-Russian venture, has built
its largest ship so far. The Aurico 1 (4,400-dwt) is for European rivers
and coastal trades. The ship is 100.7 meters/330.4 feet long, has a beam
of 16 meters/52 feet and a draft of 4.7 meters/15 feet. A single hold has
a volume of 7,000 cubic meters/9,100 cubic yards, with 150 TEUs stowed
below deck and 50 above.

Dalmoreprodukt's new refrigerated ships

Aarhus Flydedok has delivered tha Alexandra to Dalmoreprodukt. The 4,260-dwt
refrigerated vessel will operate off Russia's Pacific coast, and is the
first of seven such ships to be delivered by February. The 5,820-cubic
meter/194,000-cubic foot vessel is meant to transport seafood to eastern
Asia and the United States, but may also be used to carry fruit. There
are two cargo holds that are divided into three compartments. The first
hold is 45 percent of the volume and the second is 55 percent. Floor area
totals 2,350 square meters/2,820 square yards. There are two Norlift cranes
with an eight-ton capacity and a span of 3.4 meters/11 feet to 18 meters/59
feet. Separate air cooling allows for four temperature-controlled areas,
using a Sabroe plant for direct evaporation of R22 for temperatures as
low as -30 degrees C/-22 degrees F. The system uses three compressors,
two condensers and two seawater systems. Each of the six refrigerated compartments
has two air coolers. Cargo areas are accessed through MacGregor folding
hatch covers with external hydraulic equipment. The 6.5-meter/21-foot weatherdeck
openings have an insulated cover. Main deck hatchways are the same through
two tweendeck levels with 2+2 panel folding covers. The ships, classed
by Lloyd's Register, can carry 40 TEUs. They have a MaK M32 medium-speed
diesel of eight cylinders for 3,520 kW at 600 revolutions per minute, driving
a KaMeWa controllable-pitch propeller through Valmet reduction gearing
for 15 knots. The reduction gearing has a take-off for a Stamford shaft
generator of 600 kW at 1,500 revolutions per minute. Generators include
three 420 kW aggregates with 12-cylinder MTU 183 series engines. There
is also a Brunvoll bow thruster.

Final carrier christened for Abu Dhabi National Oil

The Umm Al Ashtan has been christened at Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc.'s
Turku New Shipyard for Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. The 68,500-dwt liquified
natural gas carrier will be operated by National Gas Shipping Ltd. It has
a capacity of 135,000 cubic meters/176,000 cubic yards and will be delivered
in May.

Third Qatar L.N.G. ship to be delivered

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. will take delivery of its third liquified
natural gas tanker for the Qatar L.N.G. project from the Sakaide, Japan,
yard of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. The Al Rayan, of 135,000 cubic
meters/176,000 cubic yards, will sail from Japan for Ras Laffan under charter
contracts with Qatar Liqufied Gas and Chubu Electric Power. The ship wll
then return to the Kawagoe facility near Tokyo at the beginning of May.

Scotline takes new ship

Scotline has taken delivery of the Scot Ranger (3,360-dwt dry cargo
ship), built by Yorkshire Dry Dock Co. Ltd. in Hull, England. The ship
will carry 4,200 cubic meters/5,500 cubic yards of timber at 12 knots.
--

EVENTS, INCIDENTS AND OPERATIONS

Ship with 12 aboard missing in the Mediterranean

The Samir (Cypriot or St. Vincent and the Grenadines-registry 3,059-dwt
general cargo vessel built in 1975, operated by SFB Commercial and Shipping
Co. Ltd.) is missing in the Mediterranean, sailing from Alexandria, Egypt,
to Trapani, Italy. The ship has not been heard from since 12 March. It
has a crew of 12 (believed to be Egyptian) and was carrying Egyptian salt,
having left Alexandria on 7 March. It was to arrive in Trapani on 11 March.
Egypt and Libya have launched searches, and naval vessels from Italy, Malta,
the Netherlands and the United States have also been asked to search. The
ship is classed with Lloyd's Register, and had a five-year special survey
in 1994.

Pirates steal typewriters, cash from ship off Rio de Janeiro

The Libra Buenos Aires (German-registry 20,140-dwt containership built
in 1995, owned and operated by Gebruder S. Winter) was boarded by pirates
at midnight 9 March off Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 10 armed pirates used
grappling hooks to board, then locked five crew in one room and the rest
in their cabins. The master was hit twice and forced to open the safe,
after which the group ransacked living areas and opened containers. Among
the items stolen were six pallets of Olivetti typewriters and other cargo
from six containers, U.S.$23,700 in cash and the crew's personal belongings.

Man aboard fishing vessel evacuated after injury

A U.S. Coast Guard HH-65A Dolphin hoisted a man from a fishing vessel
early 12 March after he received a facial injury from a fish hook, 186
kilometers/116 miles northeast of Cape May, N.J. Darren Prisco, 30, of
Long Island, N.Y., was aboard the Sea Capture (21-meter/70-foot long-liner)
when at 1130, a hook pierced his lip and nose. Coast Guard Air Station
Cape May, N.J., sent the helicopter, while an HC-130H Hercules from Air
Station Elizabeth City, N.C., diverted to assist. Prisco was taken to the
Atlantic City Trauma Center, N.J., where he was in stable condition.

Master suspended in Amsterdam for negligence

The master of a ro/ro has been suspended for two weeks by a commission
in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for negligence. The master, the commission
said, failed to return to port after a crewmember began vomiting blood
and did not successfully support a medical evacuation by helicopter. As
a result, it said, the man fell overboard during the operation and was
killed.

Labor stand-off closes Oakland outer harbor

According to a report, members of the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union
at Oscar Neimeth Towing Co. struck on 20 March in Oakland, Calif. The members
were protesting the loss of work for the firm, recent contract talks and
rumored problems between management and employees. Members of management
took over vessel operations, and when Oscar Neimeth Towing tugs were about
to aid in docking the California Saturn (Liberian-registry 39,579-dwt,
260-meter/850-foot containership built in 1987, operated by Univan Ship
Management Ltd.) in the outer harbor, the Sea Dive (15-meter/50-foot wooden
tug built in 1916) intervened. Sympathetic to the striking workers, the
master of the Sea Dive positioned it between the California Saturn and
a dock. As a result, the ship reported anchored in the outer harbor, closing
it to vessel traffic. After the U.S. Coast Guard removed the Sea Dive,
members of International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union Local
10 refused to work aboard the California Saturn. An agreement was reached
and the striking members at Oscar Neimeth Towing allowed the California
Saturn to dock.

Fishing vessel found in closed area off Massachusetts

The U.S. Coast Guard Balsam-class Seagoing Buoy Tender U.S.C.G.C. Bittersweet
(WLB 389) seized the catch of the Courageous (29-meter/94-foot fishing
vessel) the night of 22 March, 78 kilometers/49 miles east-southeast of
Nantucket, Mass. The Courageous was reportedly found 0.8 kilometers/0.5
miles inside the Nantucket Lightship closed area at 2130. Weather conditions
prevented a boarding at sea, so the fishing vessel was escorted to New
Bedford. The catch included 630 kilograms/1,400 pounds of scallops.

Albania update

In an effort to decrease the number of migrants arriving in Italy from
Albania, all "unauthorized" vessels found in Italian waters will
be returned to Albania. At least two trawlers were towed to Albanian territorial
waters by the Italian Coast Guard. During one of the tows on 24 March,
shots were fired at a coast guard vessel off Brindisi, Italy. No one was
injured and the vessel's master was arrested. More than 12,000 Albanians
have left their country for Italy since the internal situation became chaotic,
many of them arriving by sea. Early 25 March, some 500 people disembarked
from a ship at Brindisi.

Maersk Dubai officers granted bail in Taiwan

The six officers of the Maersk Dubai (Taiwanese-registry 29,872-gt,
31,160-dwt, 2,138-TEU containership built in 1983, owned and operated by
Yangming Marine Transport Corp.) were interrogated on 21 March by prosecutors
in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. After, Prosecutor Richard Su granted bail to Shiou
Cheng, the ship's former master, at Taiwanese$200,000/U.S.$7,000. The other
five were also granted bail, with Wang Ko-Lung, the ship's cook, receiving
the lowest at T$50,000/U.S.$2,000. On 6 March, Justice Michael MacDonald
in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada ruled that the six cannot be tried in Canada
or Romania for alledgedly killing three Romanian stowaways at sea. The
ship arrived in Halifax on 24 May. Eight Filipino crewmembers deserted,
alledging that the master and officers subdued a Romanian stowaway on deck
during the voyage. The crew said he was never seen again, inferring that
he was forced overboard. They also said that on 12 March, 1996, the crew
was forced to put two other Romanian stowaways on a raft made of oil drums
48 kilometers/30 miles off Spain. The crew said they had protected another
Romanian stowaway, and he was later brought ashore. After an assault on
the ship by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to take the crew into custody,
legal proceedings began to determine what country would try the master,
first mate, second mate, chief engineer, chief cook and radio officer.
MacDonald said there was enough evidence to charge the master and four
crew with second-degree homicide, and to charge the master and three officers
with two counts of manslaughter.

Court-martial proceeding against U.S. Coast Guard petty officer

Court-martial proceedings are underway against a male petty officer
assigned to the Balsam-class Seagoing Buoy Tender U.S.C.G.C. Sweetgum (WLB
309) in Mobile, Ala. Two female crewmembers of the ship reported to their
commanding officer on 21 Jan. they had been sexually assaulted by the petty
officer. He was confined on 26 Jan. and a pretrial investigation began
26 Feb.

VESSEL TRANSFERS

Two ABC Containerline ships sold

Two ships formerly owned by ABC Containerline N.V. have been sold to
Cypriot or Greek buyers for less than U.S.$10 million. They are the Ellen
Hudig (42,077-dwt, 1,100-TEU capacity containership/bulk carrier built
in 1983) and sistership Cornelius Verolme. The former has been under arrest
at Haifa, Israel, since late April while the latter was arrested at the
beginning of April at Auckland, New Zealand. ABC Containerline was declared
bankrupt in March 1996.

Socanav fleet update

Contrary to information reported 21 March, the remaining vessels of
bankrupt Socanav Inc. have not been sold, but are for sale. The W.M. Vacy
Ash (Panamanian-registry 8,697-dwt, 5,134-gt, 3,265-nt, 121.92-meter/400.00-foot
motor tanker built in 1969 by Marine Industries Ltd. at Sorel, Quebec,
Canada) is under arrest at the Port of Brest, France, and is being offered
for sale on private terms. The other three - the Le Chene No. 1 (Canadian-registry
7,800-dwt, 5,060-gt, 3,451-nt, 131.05-meter/429.95-foot motor tanker built
in 1961 by Marine Industries at Sorel and lengthened in 1979), the L'Orme
No. 1 (Canadian-registry 9,128-dwt, 5,391-gt, 3,221-nt, 122.13-meter/400.69-foot
motor tanker built in 1974 by Marine Industries at Sorel) and the Le Saule
No. 1 (Canadian-registry 7,175-dwt, 5,114-gt, 3,382-nt, 118.61-meter/389.14-foot
motor tanker built in 1970 by Marine Industries At Sorel) - are being offered
together or separately. All are for sale through Ocean Marine Charter Inc.
with Mari-Trans Consultants Ltd. on behalf of the Canadian Imperial Bank
of Commerce.

Containerships

The Appolo Peak (Panamanian-registry 13,600-gt, 20,094-dwt, 382-TEU
capacity geared motor containership built in 1976 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Co. Ltd. at Kobe, Japan), the Astra Peak (Liberian-registry 13,600-gt,
20,425-dwt, 382-TEU capacity geared motor containership built in 1976 by
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Kobe) and the Primera Peak (Panamanian-registry
13,600-gt 20,327-dwt, 382-dwt capacity geared motor containership built
in 1977 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Kobe) have been sold to Greek
interests for U.S.$8.1 million to U.S.$8.2 million. The Astra Peak and
the Primera Peak was operated by MO Ship Management Co. Ltd. All have two
22-ton cranes, two 16-ton cranes and two 10-ton cranes.

Tankers

The Amersham (38,890-gt, 81,248-dwt motor tanker built in 1981 by Sumitomo
Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. at Oppama, formerly the Grand Eagle), owned by
Teekay Shipping Ltd., has be sold to clients of Plaiedes for at least U.S.$11.4
million. It had been operated by Expedo Marine Management Ltd. The ship
has three cargo pumps for 7,487 tons per hour and a Pielstick engine. Sammy
Ofer has reportely bought the Jipro Star (Panamanian-registry 13,600-dwt
chemical tanker built in 1992) for U.S.$19.1 million. It was operated by
Tokai Shipping Co. The Glory Central (Panamanian-registry 53,724-gt, 84,999-dwt
part-coated and uncoiled motor tanker built in 1990 by Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries Co. Ltd. at Nagasaki, Japan) sold for U.S.$28.5 million to clients
of Thenamaris. It had been operated by Mitsubishi Corp. Tanker Pacific
Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. has reportedly bought the Arabian Wind
(8,197-gt, 15,037-dwt motor chemical/products tanker built in 1991 by Kurinoura
Dock at Yawatahama, Japan) for U.S.$19.5 million. The ship was operated
by East Gardens Maritime. Clients of Athenian Tankers have reportedly paid
U.S.$6.5 million for the Sentosa Pride (Singaporean-registry 115,818-gt,
236,767-dwt steam turbine tanker built in 1975 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Co. Ltd. at Nagasaki, Japan; formerly the Orion Trader and the Al Riyadh).
It has three cargo pumps for 13,500 tons per hour and was last operated
by International Energy Transport Co. Ltd. The Scarlet Star (Norwegian-registry
17,635-gt, 32,389-dwt motor products tanker built in 1978 by Oy Warsilla
at Turku, Finland; formerly the Pariata and the Messiniaki Akida) has been
sold for U.S.$7.8 million to clients of Nestun. It has eight cargo pumps
for 3,600 tons per hour. It was operated by Kjellman and Tenvig.

Bulk carriers

Louis Dreyfus has sold the Pierre LD (French-registry 91,642-gt, 165,239-dwt
double-bottom motor bulk carrier built in 1992 by Gdnyia Shipyard at Gdynia,
Poland; formerly the Tocumen and Pierre LD) to Bocimar N.V. for U.S.$27.6
million. The Robin Dove (45-000-dwt geared motor bulk carrier) has been
bought by World-Wide. It is to be delivered by Oshima Shipbuilding Co.
Ltd. this month for U.S.$22.5 million and has four 40-ton cranes. The Pytchley
(Hong Kong-registry 107,759-dwt bulk carrier built in 1980) has reportedly
been sold through Golden Union Shipping Co. S.A. for U.S.$7.9 million.
It was operated by P. & O. Bulk Shipping Ltd. The World Argonaut (Greek-registry
18,697-gt, 37,451-dwt motor bulk carrier strengthened for heavy cargo,
built in 1977 by Hellenic Shipyards Co. at Skaramanga, Greece) has been
sold for U.S.$3.4 million in Greece. It was operated by Niarchos Group.
There are six 16-ton cranes. Guanzhou Maritime has sold two ships for U.S.$14
million to clients of Pacific & Atlantic Corp. The Pu Tuo Ling (Chinese-registry
12,863-gt, 20,330-dwt motor bulk carrier built in 1985 by Jiangnan Shipyard
at Shanghai, China) and the Fei Ying Ling (Chinese-registry 12,863-gt,
20,330-dwt motor bulk carrier built in 1986 by Jiangnan Shipyard at Shanghai),
under the Chinese Classification Society, are both ice-class and have 10-ton
derricks and Sulzer engines. The Pu Tup Ling was operated by Guangzhou
Maritime Transport Corp. and the Fei Ying Ling by COSCO Guangzhou. The
Rubin Prosper (35,128-gt, 67,478-dwt strengthened motor bulk carrier built
in 1984 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. at Kobe, Japan; formerly
the Sea Holly and Aoba Maru) has been sold for U.S.$13.25 million. It was
operated by Rethymnis and Kolukundis Ltd. The Ken Sun (Liberian-registry
11,966-gt, 22,245-dwt motor bulk carrier built in 1980 by K.K. Uwajima
Zosensho at Uwajima, Japan; formerly the Lancelot Sun, Nobility C, Johanna
K, John L and Shinko Maru) has been sold for U.S.$3.75 million to Greek
interests while the Magic Confidence (Cypriot-registry 13,295-gt, 21,317-dwt
motor bulk carrier built in 1982 by Watanabe Zosen K.K. at Hakata, Japan;
formerly the Cereza and Vonita) went for U.S.$6.2 million to Taiwan. The
former was operated by Ikaros Shipping and the latter by Affair. The Grace
Island (Liberian-registry 25,413-dwt bulk carrier built in 1982) sold for
U.S.$6.8 million and the Marshallah (bulk carrier built in 1978) for U.S.$4.5
million at auction. The Grace Island was operated by Central Shipping.
The Dongnama Inchon (South Korean-registry 11,760-gt, 18,896-dwt motor
bulk carrier built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in 1979 at Ulsan,
South Korea; formerly the Hyundai No. 8 and the New Song Do) was sold to
South Korea for U.S.$3.3 million and the Mount Parnitha (33,186-gt, 54,158-dwt
ice-strengthened motor bulk carrier built in 1982 by Santierul Naval 2
Mai Mangalia at Mangalia, Romania; formerly the Bals) was sold to Greek
buyers for U.S.$2.1 million. The former was operated by Dongnama Shipping
Co. Ltd. and the latter by Kassos Maritime Enterprises Ltd. Ropner Shipping
Services has sold the Oakby (Bahamian-registry 35,603-gt, 64,197-dwt motor
bulk carrier built in 1983 by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. at Ulsan,
South Korea; formerly the Continental Reliance) for U.S.$12.45 million
to Tsakos Shipping and Trading Co. S.A. Precious Shipping Ltd. has bought
the Cynthia Hope (14,431-gt, 23,724-dwt geared motor bulk carrier built
in 1994 by Kanasashi Zosensho at Toyohashi, Japan) and the Cynthia Winner
(23,731-dwt geared motor bulk carrier built in 1995 by Shin Kurushima Dockyard
Co. Ltd. at Onishi, Japan) for U.S.$31 million. Each has four 25-ton cranes
and was operated by Dowa Line. Precious Shipping has also reportedly bought
the Port Star (Panamanian-registry 17,066-gt, 27,881-dwt geared motor bulk
carrier built in 1990 by Kanasashi at Toyohashi) for U.S.$11.8 million.
It has four 25-ton cranes and was operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.
Good Faith Shipping Co., through Frangos, has bought the Borzesti (39,633-gt,
64,854-dwt ice class motor bulk carrier built in 1982 by Intreprindere
Construction Navale Constantza in Romania) for U.S.$5.5 million. It was
operated by Torvald Klaveness & Co. A/S.

General cargo

The Saint Pierre (9,475-gt, 11,587-dwt, 454-TEU motor general cargo
tweendecker built in 1979 by Szczecin Shipyard; formerly the Antilles and
the Sapele) has been sold to Greek interests for U.S.$3.5 million. This
includes a two-year time-charter at U.S.$7,000 daily. The ship was operated
by Compagnie Maritime Marfret.

Ferries

The CGM Renoir (French-registry 22,138-dwt freight ro/ro ferry built
in 1979) and the CGM Ronsard (French-registry 28,170-dwt freight ro/ro
ferry built in 1980) have reportedly been sold to Israeli interests for
U.S.$12.5 million and U.S.$13 million, respectively. They were operated
by Compagnie Generale Maritime. Cenargo Ltd. has reportedly bought the
Esterel (2,300-dwt passenger ro/ro ferry built in 1981) for U.S.$30 million
from Compagnie General Maritime. It was operated by Societe Nationale Corse
Mediterranee.

Demolition

The Chestnut Hill (U.S.-registry 44,875-gt, 92,760-dwt steam turbine
tanker built in 1976 by National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. at San Diego)
has been sold for scrapping at U.S.$184 to U.S.$185 per light deadweight
ton. The ship, operated by Keystone Shipping Co., is 51,511-ldt and will
be scrapped in Bangladesh. The Nisi (Panamanian-registry 50,300-gt, 98,151-dwt
motor tanker built in 1968 by Eriksbergs M/V A.B. at Gothenburg, Sweden;
formerly the Aquila, Theonymphos, Wanostar, Foldstar, Wangstar and Artemis),
at 17,028-ldt, has been sold to Bangladeshi scrappers for U.S.$185 per
ldt. The ship was operated by Tsakos Shipping and Trading S.A. The Laodiki
II (16,756-gt, 26,454-dwt motor bulk carrier built in 1973 by Koyo Dockyard
Co. at Mihara, Japan; formerly the Bon Lick, Importer, Yong Chau and Pacific
Importer), of 7,336-ldt, was sold for U.S.$165 per ldt to the Indian subcontinent
and the Chopol (Polish-registry 8,383-gt, 11,700-dwt motor bulk carrier
built in 1969 by A/S Nakskov Skibsvaerft at Nakskov, Denmark; formerly
the Kopalnia Sosnica) sold for U.S.$163 per ldt. The Laodiki II was operated
by Orwell Shipping and the Chopol by Korean-Polish Shipping Co. Ltd. The
Petro Aberdeen (British-registry 58,394-gt, 111,052-dwt steam turbine tanker
built in 1967 by Kawasaki Dockyard Co. Ltd. at Kobe, Japan; formerly the
Esso Aberdeen and the Imperial Ottawa) has reportedly been marked for scrap
at U.S.$188 per light deadweight ton in India. It has three cargo pumps
for 7,477 tons per hour and was operated by Petroleum Shipping Ltd.

Het Loodswezen sells pilot boat

The Fomalhuat, a pilot vessel owned by Het Looswezen, recently left
the Hook of Holland, the Netherlands, for Southampton, England. It was
sold to Wendover and will be converted to a yacht, reportedly for an owner
in the Middle East.

Eastern Car Liner to operate Project Orient

Eastern Car Liner Co. will start operating Project Orient (Netherlands
Antilles-registry 10,434-dwt ro/ro built in 1981) under a contract with
Thai Maritime Navigation Co. The ship has two 250-ton cranes. It was operated
by Mammoet Shipping B.V.

CASUALTIES

Fire aboard ship carrying paper leaves one missing

A fire aboard the Gokalp-I (Turkish-registry 702-gt, 1,214-dwt general
cargo vessel built in 1974, operated by Vakif Deniz Finansal) has left
one crewmember missing. The fire aboard the ship, sailing from Derince
to Izmir, Turkey, with paper, began 22 March after the Gokalp-I sailed
through the Dardanelles Strait. Nine others aboard abandoned the ship and
were rescued. The Gokalp-I was taken in tow to the Karanlik Liman anchorage
off Istanbul.

Master killed in trawler collision

The master of the Exodus (Irish-registry trawler) was killed 9 March
after a collision with the Sea Horse (British-registry fishing vessel with
a Spanish crew) off southern Ireland. Two people were injured. The Sea
Horse is under arrest in Bantry.

Storm off Bangladesh leaves vessels missing, damaged

Several fishing vessels are missing in the Bay of Bengal and three ships
were damaged recently after a storm hit Chittagong, Bangladesh. The Kota
Berjaya (Singaporean-registry 18,283-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1978,
operated by Pacific International Lines Pte. Ltd.) broke her moorings and
hit the Banglar Kallol (Bangladeshi-registry 17,223-dwt bulk carrier built
in 1980, operated by Bangladesh Shipping Lines Ltd.) from astern.

North Korean-registry ship sinks off Japan

The Myo Hyang San (North Korean-registry 821-ton general cargo vessel)
sank early 25 March off Iki Island, Japan, after running aground. The 22
North Korean crewmembers, including master Kil Won-Woong, 54, boarded lifeboats
and were rescued by the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency. The ship was sailing
from Shimonoseki, Japan, to Sinuiju, North Korea, after having unloaded
clams.

Collision in Chesapeake Bay

The Saudi Makkah (Saudi Arabian-registry 22,639-dwt, 200-meter/657-foot
ro/ro owned and operated by National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia) collided
at 1715 12 March with the Turtle Queen (Panamanian-registry 146,019-dwt,
259-meter/800-foot bulk carrier built in 1987, owned by Caldonia Shipholding
and operated by Shinwa Marine Corp.), 1.6 kilometers/one mile east of the
Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The Saudi Makkah was inbound when it apparently
lost steering and hit the Turtle Queen. Both ships, which had pilots aboard,
went to the Lynnhaven anchorage. The Saudi Makkah was carry containers
to Baltimore and Turtle the Queen had coal for Africa. Both ships have
extensive damage above the waterline.

Tug sinks off Louisiana

The tug Sun Downer, with 11,000 liters/3,000 gallons of fuel, sank recently
off Venice, La.

Cita runs aground off the United Kingdom, 80 containers lost

The Cita (Antigua and Barbuda-registry 3,083-gt, 3,900-dwt dry cargo
vessel built in 1976, owned and operated by Reederei Gerd A. Gorke), sailing
from Southampton, England, to Belfast, Northern Ireland, with 200 containers,
ran aground early 26 March west of St. Mary's off Newfoundland Point in
the Isles of Scilly. The ship is at 49 degrees 54.79 minutes north, 06
degrees 16.79 west. The eight crewmembers, all Polish citizens, have abandoned
the ship. The Cita has a 60 degree starboard list with most of the hull
underwater and has lost 80 containers overboard. Smit Tak B.V. has been
hired to salvage the ship, with removal of 90 tons of fuel a priority.

Tanker loaded with oil runs aground in Alabama

The Faith IV (Singaporean-registry 63,765-dwt, 230-meter/750-foot tanker
built in 1987, operated by Transpetrol Services N.V.) ran aground 5 March
near Fort Morgan, Ala. A pilot of the Mobile Bar Pilots Association was
aboard, taking the ship into Mobile Bay. There was no damage to the ship,
carrying 240,000 barrels of crude oil, as it grounded in soft sand about
0.8 kilometers/0.5 miles east of the sunken Civil War vessel Tecumseh.

Barge hits bridge on Ohio River, sinks

A barge carrying coal sank the night of 13 March after alliding with
a bridge on the Ohio River near Old Shawneetown, Ill. The highway and the
river were closed for three and a half hours until the bridge was found
to have only minor damage. Fourteen other barges in the tow went adrift
but were secured without incident. The sunken barge is owned by Midland
Enterprises Inc.

Some 100 barges adrift in Louisiana

Early 20 March, about 100 barges on the Mississippi River broke loose
near Laplace, La. The river was closed between miles 120 and 132 while
the barges were brought back under control. One barge leaked a small amount
of ammonia.

Moa, with engine problems, runs aground in the Scheldt

The Moa (9,132-gt, 15,373-dwt dry cargo vessel built in 1979, operated
by Lovcen Overseas Shipping Ltd.) left Antwerp, Belgium, on 25 March for
Central America. After experiencing engine problems, the ship anchored
in the Scheldt River and made repairs. Sailing another hour, the ship anchored
again at Schaar Ouden Doel. On 26 March, the ship ran aground but was refloated
by four tugs and its returning to Antwerp.

Ship aground at mouth of the Mississippi

The Ariel ran aground 20 March in the Southwest Pass at the mouth of
the Mississippi River.

Kapetan Christos suffers engine trouble, taken in tow

The Kapetan Christos (Greek-registry 492-gt general cargo vessel) suffered
engine problems on 20 March in bad weather at 38 degrees 32 minutes north,
25 degrees 49 minutes east, in the Aegean Sea. The ship was taken in tow
by a fishing vessel to Chios, Greece.

Hester adrift in the English Channel

The Hester (Dutch-registry 639-gt, 965-dwt general cargo vessel built
in 1979, operated by Soetermeer Fekkes' Cargadoorskantoor B.V.), sailing
in ballast to Ymuiden, lost power 21 March and drifted off Beachy Head,
England. The ship was reported at 50 degrees 23 minutes north, 00 degrees
40 minutes east. It was planned to take the ship in tow to Rotterdam, the
Netherlands.

Frauke towed to Colombo with engine problems

The Frauke (Antigua and Barbuda-registry 5,782-gt, 7,750-dwt general
cargo vessel built in 1994, operated by KGP/H&K Heinrich G.m.b.H. &
Co.), sailing from Hamburg, Germany, to Jakarta, Indonesia, was towed into
Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 25 March with engine problems.

River traffic near Baton Rouge remains congested

Plans to unload benzene and gasoline from a capsized tank barge were
put in jeopardy on 22 March. The IB 960 was part of a tow of 25 barges
that allided with the U.S. 190 bridge at Port Allen, La., at 1700 17 March.
The tank barge, owned by Ingram Barge Co.. capsized and began leaking its
cargo of 1.5 million liters/400,000 gallons forcing the evacuation of 16
homes, Southern University, a jail at Port Allen and two riverboat casinos
including the Casino Rouge. The Atchafalaya Basin Levee District received
a temporary injunction in state court to prevent drilling holes in the
hull. They said that any risk of explosion could knock out a section of
the mainline levee protecting the west bank of river. An effort to use
submerged valves on the barge was delayed 23 March when some of the benzene
leaked from a valve being replaced. By daylight 24 March, 27 tows were
waiting to head downstream, as the area is restricted to one direction
of operation with one vessel or tow moving past the barge at a time. Traffic
heading downstream is limited to daylight. On 24 March, removal of the
barge's cargo began, but it is unclear how far the operation has progressed.
Benzene fumes were reported in downtown Baton Rouge for three days, and
on 27 March, at least one person became ill. Government offices closed
as a result of the fumes.

Canadian frigate damaged in October operation

While persuing a vessel smuggling drugs in October, the Canadian Maritime
Command Restigouche-class Frigate H.M.C.S. Terra Nova (DDE 259) allided
with a dock in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland, Canada. Gale force winds
drove the ship's stern into a jetty during refueling, damaging the hull
and deck plates. Repairs cost Canadian$100,000/U.S.$70,000. A board of
inquiry concluded in January that the crew was not at fault in the 9 Oct.
incident. The ship, part of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police operation,
was tracking the yacht Dame Blanche, which was boarded 11 Oct. Eight tons
of hashish were found and three men aboard from California were arrested.

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

First steer-by-voice ship

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. has developed a system that will
allow a ship to be steered by verbal commands. The first system will be
installed aboard a 749-gt liquified petroleum gas carrier owned by Kyowa
Sanggo Kaiun.