Minoan Mulls Ordering Two High Speed Vessels Crete’s largest shipping company Minoan Lines is considering ordering two additional high speed vessels. As it took delivery of its second high-speed ferry, the $96-million Ikarus, the company said that it intended to pursue a strategy of upgrading its fleet with new high-speed vessels. Minoan Lines, which plans to list on the Athens stock exchange early next year, said it was considering ordering two high-speed ferries to replace aging vessels on its Piraeus-Irakleon (Crete) service. It hoped the orders could be placed with Greek shipyards in order to help relieve unemployment in the sector. The Ikarus, which can carry 1,500 passengers and 1,000 cars or 150 lorries, has attained 30 knots in sea tests. It will go into service between the Italian port of Ancona and the Greek ports of Patras and Igoumenitsa effective December 21.Minoan Lines has invested or plans to invest a total of $482 million in new and modernized vessels, it said.
Jinhui Units To Buy Dry-Bulk Carriers Jinhui Holdings Co. Ltd. said two of its indirect subsidiaries would buy two Panamax size vessels from an independent third party for about $49.6 million. The 50.9 percent owned subsidiaries - Jinli Marine Inc. and Jinfeng Marine Inc. - would buy two dry-bulk carriers of deadweight tonnage 73,300 metric tons each. "The directors of the company see that it may be an opportune moment to further expand its fleet at the trough of the dry bulk cycle and believe that the acquisition is a step in pursuing its strategic move to further shift the Jinhui Shipping Group’s fleet from handysizes to Panamaxes and growing synergy between its shipping and coke business," Jinhui said.
Global Industries Units Gets Offshore Contract Global Industries Ltd. said that one of its subsidiaries was awarded three offshore contracts valued at about $160 million. The subsidiary, CCC Fabricaciones Y Construcciones SA de CV, is jointly owned by Global Industries and Grupo Consorcio de Fabricaciones Y Construcciones SA de CV. Under the terms of the contracts, CCC is to perform a range of offshore construction and support activities for Pemex Exploracion y Produccion in the Bay of Campeche. The first of the contracts is scheduled to begin before the end of the year. Under the terms of the first two contracts, which are expected to take about 12 months to complete, CCC will support the development of Pemex’s Cantarell Field. Under the third contract, CCC is to design, procure, lay, bury and test 30 kilometers of 36-inch diameter pipeline linking the Akal J Complex to Pemex’s floating storage offloading unit FSO-1.
Chilean Shipwner Selects MMS Software Marine Management Systems, a global marine software provider, announced that Southern Shipmanagement Ltd. (SSM) of Valparaiso, Chile has purchased MMS Fleet Manager Enterprise for Windows systems for their fleet of 17 vessels, plus 20 MMS FleetLINK communications systems for their parent company CSAV. The value of the initial contract, which includes software, hardware, and services, is approximately $300,000.
Chilean Navy Approves Submarines Purchase Chile’s navy has approved the purchase of two 1,600-ton "Scorpene" submarines from a Spanish-French consortium. The navy’s admiralty have approved plans to purchase the submarines from the French DCN and the Spanish Bazan shipbuilders, who had beat bids submitted by competitors from Britain, Germany and Sweden. A navy spokesman in Valparaiso Chile currently owns two German U-209 submarines from the 1980s and two British Oberon submarines from the 1970s. The Chilean navy’s new commander in chief, Adm. Jorge Arancibia, said last month that the new submarines would cost around $200 million each and would be delivered early next decade.
Salvors push for new pay form SALVORS are pushing for the right to drop convention rules on payment for pollution clean up work, in favour of new terms which they consider fairer.
NCL begins $1bn expansion with Lloyd Werft contract NORWEGIAN Cruise Line yesterday triggered the first phase of a $1bn expansion plan aimed at increasing its cruiseship fleet from 10 to 15 vessels.
Court holds up award of Subic Bay contract SUBIC Bay Metropolitan Authority has called off declaring the winner of the second tender for the Subic Bay International Container Terminal project following the issue of a temporary restraining order by the Philippine Supreme Court.
Malayan Towage plans box service MALAYAN Towage and Salvage Corporation, the Philippines' largest tugboat and salvaging operator, is venturing into domestic container barge operations, Alec Almazan reports from Manila.
Hyundai plans new engine HYUNDAI Heavy Industries, the world's most prolific manufacturer of large diesel engines, is to raise its stakes in the medium-speed market by developing an entirely new design of engine in conjunction with Norway's Ulstein group.
Romania LPG venture ROMANIAN petroleum, gas and electricity authorities are expected this week to sign contracts with three US energy firms for construction and operation of a $180m Black Sea LPG terminal near the Port of Constanta.
December boost for European yards STENA LINE'S winter drydocking programme has provided a pre-Christmas boost for some of Europe's repair yards.
Innovative TBT extraction system from northeast UK partnership PATENTS are pending on an innovative tributlytin (TBT) extraction system developed in a partnership between the University of Sunderland and Wear Dockyard.
Finnish pilots threaten January strike PILOTS in Finland have issued a strike warning in a dispute, mainly over pay.
Analysts go cool on Kv'rner shares TURMOIL in Asian financial markets has forced Kv'rner to give up its place as the most recommended stock.
NatWest named as Lloyd Werft investor NATWEST Bank has been named as the potential investor intending to take a 70 per cent stake in Bremerhaven-based repair company Lloyd Werft.
Dutch survey firm calls for salvor co-operation A SURVEYOR with Rotterdam-based survey and consulting group Touw Holding has called for a more open and co-operative approach by salvors to maritime casualties.
Chennai Port Trust rejects XCL tender CHENNAI Port Trust has decided to reject the tender submitted by X-Press Container Line for reservation of two berths.
Color Line sets up new freight organisation COLOR Line, the Oslo-based cruise ferry group, is in the process of setting up a new freight organisation.
Dutch organisations to join forces DUTCH maritime organisations are joining forces to promote the Netherlands as a country with a high level of expertise in maritime matters.
Celtic Warrior enquiry opens A COURT of enquiry is opening in Athens today to investigate the cause of the accident between a German cargo ship and the UK-owned multi-purpose vessel Celtic Warrior.
Panama to assess $10bn expansion plans AMBITIOUS plans to expand the Panama Canal at a cost of up to $10bn and 12 years of work should be decided by 2000, according to a senior canal official.
Damaged crane sent back to Japan A POST-panamax container crane, heavily damaged during ocean transit from Japan to Puget Sound, has been sent back to Japan for repairs.
Hvide buys Care group fleet HVIDE Marine has signed an agreement to acquire the 36-vessel offshore energy support fleet of Channel Island-based Care Group.
Patrick warned on Melbourne roster system AUSTRALIA'S principal stevedoring company has been warned of legal action by the MUA if it adopts a new roster system at the port of Melbourne.
McCoy to retire from Clarkson's HUGH McCoy, chairman of H Clarkson & Co and md of Horace Clarkson, is to retire earlier than planned.
MUA raises pressure on flying squad workers AUSTRALIA'S maritime union boss is heading to London to put pressure on his government to act against a new flying squad of military-trained stevedores.
L'UE en quête d'une meilleure accessibilité du marché chinois et indien Il ne faut pas attendre monts et merveilles de la réunion des ministres européens du Transport qui se tiendra aujourd'hui et demain à Bruxelles sous la présidence luxembourgeoise. En ce qui concerne le transport maritime, la Commission européenne demandra au conseil des ministres de lui confier un mandat en vue de négocier avec la Chine et l'Inde. Il semble que cette demande devrait obtenir une majorité comfortable.
Dunkerque: Ferry-Boats exploitera les terminaux ro/ro et containers du port ouest C'est finalement à la filiale de la SNCB, Ferry-Boats, qu'est revenu le contrat d'exploitation des terminaux rouliers et à containers du port ouest à Dunkerque. Les autres candidats étaient CMP du Havre et Mersey Docks and Harbours. Un GIE (Groupement d'intérêt économique) à 50/50 sera donc créé entre l'opérateur belge et le port autonome, qui reprendra dès le 1er février prochain la concesion actuellement détenue par le groupe NFT (Nord-France Terminal) composé par les armements CGM et Delmas.
Deuxième accès ferroviaire au port d'Anvers: la SNCB doit justifier le rejet du tracé Herentals-Aerschot... Il aura suffi d'une heure de discussion chez le ministre-président de la Région flamande Luc Van den Brande pour à nouveau retarder la décision, attendue pour cette année encore, sur le tracé du deuxième accès ferroviaire au port d'Anvers. Voilà que la SNCB doit remettre son ouvrage sur le métier et démontrer, chiffres à l'appui, pourquoi un des itinéraires étudiés, celui en direction d'Herentals et d'Aerschot, n'a pas été retenu. Et voilà le manège remis en route, un tour gratuit...
L'intolérable bouchon du canal Albert Depuis la récente mise en service du viaduc passant au-dessus du goulet de liaison entre la darse América et le bassin de Strasbourg, au port d'Anvers, la liberté dominicale de naviguer pour les bâtiments fluviaux s'étend à présent jusqu'à... l'écluse de Wijnegem, sur le canal Albert.
MiB program boosts logistics, air freight The so-called Manufacture-in-Bond scheme, announced as part of the federal Government’s Investment for Growth industry plan, is likely to provide a major boost for Austalia’s logistics and air freight sectors.
No giant conspiracy, Court told There was no ‘giant conspiracy’ to circumvent the expressions of interest process for Melbourne’s Appleton Dock, the Supreme Court heard yesterday. Counsel for the Melbourne Port Corporation was defending against action brought by P&O Ports over plans to introduce a third international container terminal.
MUA’s 'lawful' response to Patrick push The Maritime Union of Australia is expected to react shortly to Patrick’s move to unilaterally alter working conditions at its Melbourne facilities from next Monday. The stevedore’s industrial relations director, Bill Clayton, told DCN yesterday he hoped that the union will react "lawfully." It is understood that the union is, in fact, contemplating just that with an injunction application at a level above that of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, probably in the Federal Court.
AMOU sets up stevedoring group A Stevedoring Management Group is to set up by the Australian Maritime Officers Union. According to the president of the AMOU, Kevin Fleming, the group will be set up in accordance with the union’s policy of developing a new management structure so that it can best respond to the needs of members in the stevedoring industry.
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