NL MARITIME NEWS

NL MARITIME NEWS

A NewsLink service for Dole Colombia International maritime news for seafarers

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Headland SatNews

NATIONAL

Singapore's intl maritime hub presence gaining ground

Singapore is moving closer to its bid to bolster its position as an international maritime hub, with many companies picking the city-state for their businesses. Faststream Singapore Managing Director Mark Robertshaw recently noted a 22% increase in business ventures in Singapore compared to last year. "It appears that an increasing number of offshore and shipping companies are restructuring their activities to have a more prominent presence in Singapore," he was quoted as saying in a press statement. "Singapore, with its geographic location, state of the art maritime infrastructure, and commercially attractive Maritime Incentives scheme seems to be attracting owners and contractors who are facing increased economic pressures in other parts of the world," he added. Despite the improving figures, many analysts in the industry are cautiously optimistic, especially since the state of the international economy still needs much improvement. Recent surveys by Faststream Singapore show that many companies in the maritime industry are looking to hire more this year, another positive sign for the city-state. "Offshore support and construction, and increasingly LNG are becoming prominent in the local market. These are high-value projects and companies need to attract the right people," Robertshaw said. "Whilst Singapore is an expensive place to live, it is important to put this into perspective in relation to company and regulatory costs in overseas economies which are considerably higher."

Philippines prepares for MS Columbus' arrival

MS Columbus is set to arrive in the Philippine island of Boracay on Sunday with around 600 foreign tourists and 300 crew on board. The MS Columbus is the second largest cruise ship to bring in tourists to the world famous island in Aklan after the visit of the MV Legend of the Seas last year with 1,500 passengers. Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores and Gov. Carlito Marquez together with the other local officials will welcome the visitors upon their arrival with the performance of the Ati-atihan tribe, which Aklan is known for, Philippine News Agency reported. The MS Columbus will arrive at Boracay island Sunday noon and

SAFETY Stow planners

Stow planners are frequently required to produce stow plans for chartered ships as well as their own ships, especially in the container line trade. Several incidents of poor or negligent stowage have come to light in the recent past where it became apparent that the stow planners lacked an understanding of their own responsibilities and those of the Master. Typical incidents include: stowage of heavy containers in upper tiers which resulted in the tier limits for the

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will be staying there for about eight to nine hours just enough to give the passengers ample time to dive on the white sand beach, do shopping and dining and other activities.

DfT report: UK ship officers down by 19%

There has been a significant decline in the number of officers in United Kingdom ships over the past six years, according to a new report from the Department for Transport (DfT). In its report, the DfT stated that the number of seafarers had plunged by 19% since 2006. The department also disclosed that the number of uncertificated officers slid by 27% in 2012. The DfT attributed the reduction most likely due to large companies' decision to relocate their operations out of the country. The report, however, noted a key rise in the number of officer cadets - whose number stood at 2,160 in 2012, marking a 19% increase from the previous year.

particular metacentric height (GM) of the ship being exceeded; stowage of heavy over light containers, and lack of understanding as to how the GM of a ship adversely affects the tier limits and alters the extent to which the standard lashing arrangements can be relied upon. Stow planners appeared to believe that, as it was the Master's responsibility to check and approve the stow plan, the responsibility for the consequences of any collapse of the stow would shift to the Master. This is incorrect. Under English law 'supervision' (as provided for in the charter) or actual approval of the stow plan by the Master does not transfer responsibility for stowage to him (i.e. the owner). Subject to charter party terms, as between owner and charterer there is no duty on the Master to intervene and correct a stow if the stow plan is improper, unless the stowage puts the ship itself at risk.

Source: Britannia P&I Meanwhile, Nautilus International, a global trades union which represents seafarers and allied workers in the country, said that the sharp drop in the number of officers in UK ships indicates the need for the government to realise strategic maritime policy proposals rolled out by country's shipping minister last year. It is also important that the government reassess the training package brought forward by unions and ship owners to avoid a shortage of seafarers in the future.

Seoul starts naval exercise

South Korea has a naval exercise involving US surveillance aircraft on Tuesday. Day one of a six-day drill in the East Sea (Sea of Japan) involved South Korean warships and submarines, as well as surveillance planes from the United States, the defence ministry in Seoul said. The exercises will practise operations to detect and track North Korean missiles and submarines, the ministry added. "The drill is aimed at testing our readiness against threats from the enemy," a spokesman told AFP. It is the latest in a series of military exercises, which have been staged alone by South Korea or jointly with the United States since the North launched a long-range rocket on December 12, AFP reported. Earlier this month Seoul and Washington conducted a joint naval exercise with a US nuclear submarine off South Korea's east coast, followed by a joint airforce drill. Pyongyang insists the December launch put a satellite into orbit for peaceful research, but critics said it amounted to a banned ballistic missile test that marked a major advance for the communist state's nuclear weapons programme. Following the North's nuclear test on February 12, the South vowed to accelerate the development of longerrange ballistic missiles and new cruise missiles capable of a precision strike on members of Pyongyang's high command. North Korea said the test -- widely condemned by the international community -- was a direct response to UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang after last year's rocket launch. Pyongyang is already under international sanctions for conducting two nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, which both came after long-range rocket launches.
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South Korea's outgoing President Lee Myung-Bak said Pyongyang was drawing closer to "a dead-end" by inviting isolation and sanctions from the international community.

SHIPPING Dockwise Vanguard loads largest offshore platform

Dockwise Vanguard has loaded the biggest semi-submersible offshore platform hull and departed from Geoje after it finished fastening, its mother company announced. According to vessel owner Dockwise Ltd, the ship, which carries the 56,000-metric ton Jack/St Malo platform hull in the voyage to Kiewit Yard in Ingleside, Texas, accomplished its initial float-on operation at the Silli-do deep hole near the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard. The Netherlands-based company said that the ship, which can carry a maximum load of as much as 110,000 tons, is expected to touch down in the United States by mid-April, ''Bloomberg'' reported. "Companies in the oil and gas industry can now specify much larger and heavier offshore structures, and these can be integrated at a single fabrication site," Dockwise said. "These mega-structures can then be transported on-board the vessel to remote offshore locations, even in harsh climates where no commissioning facilities are available," the company added.

INCIDENTS US Coast Guard: Fuel oil leak led to cruise ship fire
US Coast Guard official Cmdr Teresa Hatfield said that investigations show that a leak in a fuel oil return line caused the engine-room fire that disabled a cruise ship, leaving its passengers without power and a working toilet for five days, The Associated Press reported. Investigators are now looking more into the cause, the crew's response, and why the ship was disabled for so long. Hatfield said the Bahamas - where the ship is registered, or flagged - is leading the investigation, with the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board representing US interests in the probe. The vessel was in international waters at the time of the incident. She said investigators have been with the massive 14-story vessel since it arrived Thursday in Mobile, Ala. They have interviewed passengers and crew, and forensic analysis has been performed on the ship. She said the crew responded appropriately to the fire. "They did a very good job," she said. In an email after Monday's conference call, Coast Guard spokesman Carlos Diaz described the oil return line that leaked as stretching from the ship's No. 6 engine to the fuel tank.

Russia sends four more warships to Mediterranean

The Russian defence ministry announced that the country is sending four more warships to the Mediterranean Sea as the crisis in Syria worsens, AFP reported. The four landing ships will join an escort ship and smaller vessels that are already on duty in the region, the defence ministry said in a statement to Russian news agencies. A military source quoted by RIA Novosti said their main task could be taking part in a possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria. "Even though the tasks of the warships have not been announced, it can be assumed that given the development
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of the situation in the region their main job will be taking part in a possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria," said the source. The Russian emergencies ministry Ilyushin-62 and Ilyushin-76 planes were carrying over 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and would be ready to evacuate Russians from the country, a ministry statement said. The aid consists of electrical equipment, bedding, tents as well as foodstuffs like fish and milk conserves as well as sugar. "Citizens of Russia and the (ex-Soviet grouping) CIS wanting to leave can leave Syria on these planes," the ministry said, adding that the departure from Latakia back to Moscow was planned for later Tuesday. It said a hotline had been set up for Russians who were thinking of leaving Syria, with psychologists on hand to take the calls.

MARITIME INSTITUTIONS Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard is a Special Operating Agency of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The CCG helps the DFO perform its responsibility to ensure safe and accessible waterways for Canadians. It also plays a key role in ensuring the sustainable use and development of the country's ocean territories and waterways. The missions of the CCG are: to protect the marine environment, to support economic growth, to ensure public safety on the water, and to ensure Canada's sovereignty and security by establishing a strong federal presence in its waters. Its specific missions include providing aids to navigation, marine communications and traffic management services, icebreaking and ice-management services, channel maintenance, marine search and rescue, marine pollution response, and support of other government departments, boards and agencies by providing ships, aircraft and other services. The agency is undergoing a modernization and refleeting that began in the 1990s. It has already acquired more up to date equipment for its Search and Rescue fleet after the purchase of British Royal National Lifeboat Institution-designed Arun-class high-endurance lifeboat cutters for open coastal areas, and the USCG-designed 47-foot Cape class motor lifeboat as medium-endurance lifeboat cutters for the Great Lakes and more sheltered coastal areas. The CCG ordered five 47-foot (14.3 metre) motor lifeboats in September 2009, to add to the 31 existing boats. New vessels delivered to the CCG from 2009 onward includ the hovercraft CCGS Mamilossa and the nearshore fisheries research vessels CCGS Kelso and CCGS Viola M. Davidson. Several major vessels have undergone extensive refits in recent decades, most notably CCGS Louis S. StLaurent in place of the Polar 8 class of icebreakers. The coast guard has announced plans for the Mid Shore Patrol Vessel Project, comprising of nine vessels, as well as a "Polar" class icebreaker - since named CCGS John G. Diefenbaker - in addition to inshore and offshore fisheries science vessels and a new oceanographic research vessel. In 2012, the government announced a procurement of 24 helicopters to replace the current fleet.

SHIPPING DATA
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BALTIC EXCHANGE
Market snapshot: 12:30 GMT Dry Capesize Panamax Supramax Index Index Index Index BDI BCI BPI BSI 747 1408 845 679 -6 -26 +13 +7 -1 .

Handysize Index

BHSI 411

EXCHANGE RATES
New York (Mon Cls) Fgn Currency in USD Britain (Pound) Canada (Dollar) China (Yuan) Euro India (Rupee) 1.5461 0.9893 0.1601 1.3350 0.0184 USD in Fgn Currency 0.6468 1.0109 6.2475 0.7490 54.2660 9683.00 93.9800 5.5551 40.6500 3.1400 30.1276 1.2399

Indonesia (Rupiah) 0.000103 Japan (Yen) Norway (Krone) Philippines (Peso) Poland (Zloty) Russia (Ruble) Singapore (Dollar) 0.010640 0.1800 0.0246 0.3188 0.0332 0.8065

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