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| March 1st, 2011 Vol. 9, No. 17 |
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 Shipping chiefs call on ‘people power’ to pressure governments to crack down on Somali pirates now throttling vital trade routes
Ship owners and seafarers are calling on ‘people power’ to push their governments to act now and show the political will to resolve the growing Somali piracy crisis before it strangles world trade and before more innocent seafarers are tortured and murdered.
The SOS Save Our Seafarers campaign, launched today by BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Shipping Federation (ISF), Intercargo, INTERTANKO and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), is aimed at encouraging millions of people around the world to heap pressure on their national Governments ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  On Thursday, a Danish pleasure craft yacht with 7 on board, including 3 children, was hijacked by pirates while travelling through the Indian Ocean and is now reportedly being towed in Somalia's direction.
The Danish Marine Command is searching for the couple, their 3 children, and yacht staff of 2. It is unclear what action Denmark will take, as they have in the past leaned toward negotiations as opposed to aggression when it comes to piracy issues. But the climate has shifted since the Somali murder of American pleasure crafters last week. The pirates seem to be changing their usual agenda of nonviolent, ransom-seeking practices towards large vessels with the latest hijacks ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  At approximately 0600Z on 28 February, the Bulk Cargo Carrier MV DOVER was pirated approximately 260 nautical miles North East of Salalah in the North Arabian Sea.
The Panamanian flagged, Greek owned vessel was on its way to Saleef (Yemen) from Port Quasim (Pakistan) when it was attacked. Details of the attack are not known at this time. The MV DOVER has a crew of 23 (3 Romanian, 1 Russian and 19 Filipinos). There is presently no communication with the vessel and no information regarding the condition of the crew.
The MV DOVER was registered with MSC(HOA), and was reporting to UKMTO. EUNAVFOR are continuing to monitor the situation. ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  In addition to the recent drug busts on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, 2 crewmembers were arrested at the end of last week with over 73 pounds of cocaine totaling $1.1 million while docked in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas had been sailing a 7-night journey from Colon, Panama and had just arrived to Jamaica from a call in Cartagena, Colombia. Jamaican authorities had boarded and detained a crewmember when they found him in possession of 40 pounds of the drug. Reportedly, the ship was boarded once more by authorities the where 33 more pounds were obtained in a different crewmember’s cabin. Some of the cocaine was strapped ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  Independent oil producers, Helix Energy Solutions Group, urges that their Fast Response System with Helix Producer 1 and Q4000 are ready to deploy and answer the call if spill disaster strikes.
Helix has vehemently expressed that although they were late to the game for the Gulf spill, the system intact is improved and able to carry out cleanup for disasters of similar magnitudes. Drilling in the Gulf has been at a standstill since the Deepwater Horizon incident, and Tony Owen, manager of the Helix Producer 1 claims that they learned an amazing amount of information from that tragedy, and with the capabilities to properly handle and exterminate a mishap, that drilling ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  South Korean prosecutors have charged 5 alleged Somali pirates on 6 counts including attempted murder, maritime robbery and hostage taking in relation to the hijacking of the chemical carrier, the Samho Jewelry.
The court case is in response to a raid by the South Korean naval commando in late January on the Samh0 Jewelry. The entire 21 person Jewelry crew is safe, with only 1 serious injury to the ship’s Captain Seok, who remains hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the stomach. While there were a total of 13 pirates in suspect, 8 of these individuals were killed during rescue. The remaining Somali suspects are currently under custody of the South ... Read More>>>Back to Top | Exhibition Unveils an Astonishing Cargo from Tang Dynasty China
One of the oldest and most important marine archaeological finds of the late 20th century was unveiled to the public February 19, 2011, when the much-anticipated Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds exhibition opens in Singapore, at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands.
The exhibition is jointly organized by the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Smithsonian), the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore; the National Heritage Board (NHB), Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
Shipwrecked relates the story of an astonishing cargo of some 60,000 objects carried from China by a ninth-century Arab dhow, presenting a dynamic tale ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  Dr. Jim Giermanski explains why he thinks the Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations (COAC) needs changes in order to effectively secure U.S. ports and borders.
Many have questioned more than once the value of COAC, especially about its memberships self-interests. But now there is serious question about its role in the security of this nation's borders and ports. COAC's obvious weaknesses are two: first, its latest charter; and second, the self interest of COAC's non-government membership that places protecting and promoting company and industry values over the greater security of U.S. trade infrastructure essential to our nation's economic base. It has value to the Department of Homeland Security that needs ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  The United Arabs Emirates Shipping Association, a representative body for UAE-based commercial shipping, is taking a lead position regionally and globally regarding the maritime industry’s response to climate change by supporting the efforts of the UN; IMO; and UAE Ministry of Environment and Water and DMCA in advocating for a global and open verifiable emissions trading program.
One of the challenges that face the marine industry is reconciling their global reach with local expectations. As of the last IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting there is no globally accepted or approved method or protocol to assign and include shipping in national or transnational carbon emissions reduction process.
Read More>>>Back to Top |  CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping Group, offers a one-of-a-kind experience to journey across oceans, seas and continents on a “Cargo cruise”.
With this original means of transport, passengers can immerse themselves in life on board and discover the world of merchant shipping. In 2010, 690 people chose to “experience cruising another way” by traveling on a containership.
CMA CGM Group is now offering genuine cruises aboard the biggest vessels in its fleet, the new 13,800-TEU* containerships. These giants of the seas (365 m in length, equivalent to 3.5 soccer fields), are among the largest vessels of their kind in the world.
The company ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  Jim Eckler, former CEO of SCI Group, has joined the global supply chain and business strategy firm Tompkins Associates as an Executive Associate.
“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Eckler to assist our growing supply chain consulting and execution engagements,” says Jim Tompkins, President and CEO. “His leadership experience in serving global companies as a logistics services provider (LSP) and former consultant creates a strategic advantage for Tompkins Associates’ clients.”
At Tompkins, Eckler will help companies improve their supply chain and outsourcing services to gain superior results from their LSP relationships. He will focus on key LSP services with clients and partners, including outsourcing design, strategic planning, governance, ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  Political unrest in Libya has spurred the Chinese government’s largest push ever to bring home nationals, as they have already recovered nearly 29,000 citizens by air, and sea.
Last week, China commissioned a navy missile frigate to Libya not only to protect their sea craft, but to rescue their people and transport them to safe zones. Around 10,000 have been brought to Crete and 11,000 more to Tunisian Islands. Others have been dispersed among other locations including Sudan, Dubai, and United Arab Emirates. The Chinese evacuees are awaiting to board flights back home to China, which the government is chartering. The foreign ministry has said that 2,500 of these expatriates have ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  Maritime Lecture Series
April 1, 2011
“The Use and Misuse of
Nautical Paper and Electronic Charts
& the New STCW95 ECDIS Standards”
By
Captain Robert Ward
Director, International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
Captain Robert Ward, Director of the IHO, will speak to the “Use and Misuse of Electronic Charts.” He will also provide insight into fundamental issues affecting the proper use of ECDIS and the upcoming STCW95 electronic chart training standards. The event will be held at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) on Friday, April 1, 2011, at 1000. Captain Ward will be available after the morning lecture to take questions from ...Read More>>>Back to Top |  Set for April 2, 2011
Event will Benefit Seafarers' House at Port Everglades
Seafarers' House is pleased to announce that the Seafarers' House Port Everglades 5K Run/Walk will take place at 5:30 pm April 2, 2011 at Port Everglades.
This will be the first time such an event has taken place inside of the Port. Port Everglades will be sponsoring this event with in-kind support and all proceeds will go to Seafarers' House, a charitable organization with a mission to offer 'refuge, resources, renewal and respect to the maritime community through multi-faith service.'
Seafarers' House Board Member and 5K Committee Co-Chair, Mr. Mike ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  Marks Completion of 94 Percent of the Value Of All Contract Awards for the Hub Project
The Port Authority Board of Commissioners today approved a major construction contract to fabricate and erect the steel for the signature Santiago Calatrava-designed Oculus, which will serve 250,000 people daily as the gateway to the World Trade Center Transportation Hub and its various interconnected transit systems and world-class green office and retail space. The award marks the last major contract for the WTC Transportation Hub with 94 percent of the contracts now awarded. To view video and photos of the most recent construction progress on the WTC Transportation Hub, visit www.wtcprogress.com.
The Oculus ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  Military Sealift Command accepted delivery of its newest dry cargo/ammunition ship, USNS Washington Chambers, during a short ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO Ship Yard San Diego today.
The ship, which was christened and launched Sept. 11, 2010, in San Diego, honors Navy Capt. Washington Irving Chambers, a pioneer in Navy aviation who arranged the world's first airplane flight from a warship Nov. 14, 1910. The flight confirmed the potential for carrier-based naval aviation. Since its launch, the ship has been undergoing a series of tests and trials in preparation for its delivery to MSC.
"I'm always proud to be a part of ceremonies like this one," said Navy ... Read More>>>Back to Top | _newsletter.png) Uruguay state-run oil company ANCAP signed a contract with the international company Fugro for the provision of geophysical services covering a complete aero-magnetic survey of Pelotas, Punta del Este and Oriental del Plata offshore basins. It is expected that after signed the contract with Fugro, the acquisition and processing of the aero magnetic data will last around six months.
The contract is a multiclient type one. Under such contract the costs and the risks generated by the survey will be covered by Fugro that then will have exclusive rights for licensing the data to the oil companies interested in the Uruguay Round II bid for the offshore E&P on early 2012.
Read More>>>Back to Top |  The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today signalled its revulsion at the increasingly widespread and brutal piracy epidemic and said it is moving closer to having to advise seafarers to consider avoiding working in all the affected areas – including the Indian Ocean.
The global union federation, which numbers 201 maritime trade unions representing 720,000 seafarers worldwide, took the step after a week-long consultation sparked by the increasing number and range of Somali pirate attacks, and by their now routine use of extreme violence and death threats against the 800 mariners they are currently holding hostage.
The ITF also endorsed the need to neutralise the threat of the captured, ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  Computer-based training specialist Seagull AS is launching an online version of APRO, the psychometric ability test tool aimed specifically at seafarers, that the company says will address what could be the shipping industry’s ‘Achilles heel’ where safe practices are concerned.
The past decade has seen significant progress in developing shipping’s safety culture, with the introduction of more sophisticated technology and improved procedures designed to prevent accidents at sea. However, Seagull believes that too little emphasis has been placed on the ability of people onboard to handle these new safety systems and procedures.
Seagull training content director, Captain Bjarke Jakobsen, says, “It is fine to develop technical solutions and procedures, ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  The Greeks aren't wasting any time in evacuating their citizens from Libya. The Greek government chartered the Amver participating tanker Minerva Antonia to evacuate its citizens from the port Ras Lanuf Tradewinds reported Wednesday. The Minerva Antonia is managed by Minerva Marine and enrolled in the Amver system on December 1, 2008. Greece isn't alone in using ships to evacuate citizens. The United States and Turkey are using ferries to evacuate citizens as well.
Using vessels as a means of evacuating personnel from danger zones isn't new. We've discussed the topic before after reading Chris Albon's post on the Naval Institute blog.
____
Source: Amver
Read More>>>Back to Top |  Cardiff Marine Inc, a Liberian-registered shipping company, was sentenced today in federal court in Baltimore after pleading guilty to a felony violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. The company admitted falsifying records of illegal discharges of oily waste from the M/V Capitola , making false statements to the Coast Guard and other acts of concealment. U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis sentenced Cardiff to pay a $2.4 million fine and serve three years probation, subject to an environmental compliance plan that includes audits by an independent third party auditor.
The guilty plea and sentencing were announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Ignacia S. ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  The Maritime Executive Linkedin Group is the largest, most active social media group focused on the commercial marine industry, with more than 10,000 members, and more than a dozen active discussions happening all the time.
Here are some of the discussions happening now:
Shipowner: 'Shoot the Pirates'
A 79-year-old veteran of Norway's shipping industry thinks the international community and his own country are being much too kind in their dealings with today's sea pirates off Somalia. He wants to shoot them on the spot. - posted by Alexandre G., Licensed Maritime Pilot
Share your thoughts
Wind Energy Support Vessels
I am collecting ... Read More>>>Back to Top |  The Incident Command System (ICS), developed in the 1970s, is a systematic tool used for the command, control, and coordination of emergency response.
An ICS is based upon a flexible, scalable response organization providing a common framework within which people can work together effectively.
These people may be drawn from multiple agencies that do not routinely work together, and ICS is designed to give standard response and operation procedures to reduce the problems and potential for miscommunication on such incidents.
LLOYD’S REGISTER NORTH AMERICA SEMINAR SERIES (HOUSTON, TX)
PRESENTS:
THE MACONDO MC252 GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
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