Flags of Convenience

Chariot: Russian-owned vessel back in Aegean

2012-02-02T12:09:00.001-05:00

After a dash for Russian waters, the vessel turned around and is past Izmir headed towards Turkey again. Chariot’s captain earlier confirmed the ship had arrived in Turkey from Tartus, Syria. Sources said last week in Cyprus at least 35 tons of munitions and explosive material were discovered and in Turkey that the vessel contained a cargo of bullets.Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said his country is not violating any international obligations by selling weapons to Damascus."As of today there are no restrictions on our delivery of weapons," he told journalists in Russia, according to the country's state news agencies. "We must fulfill our obligations and this is what we are doing.""I found him relaxed and sure. He is confident in the Russian position," Wahhab told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar in an interview with Assad in Damascus published February 2. back

Berge Everest: Vale China Chess Game

2012-02-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

China's ban on large ships is limited to Vale's giant iron ore vessels, shipping sources said on Thursday, clearing up confusion in the maritime community as to whether new government regulations could cover other smaller ships.

"Everyone knows that China can change its mind very fast. It's a game of chess between China and Vale," said Hans Navik here

Traders say they believe Beijing will gradually lift the ban on large vessels since it would allow Vale to deliver iron ore more cheaply and give Chinese steelmakers room to negotiate lower prices."If steel prices remain low this year, at the end of the day they have to look for cheap iron ore which Vale will be able to supply,"

In the eyes of many domestic industry players, the arrival and unloading of the Berge Everest signaled clear government support for Vale’s ambitious proposal to expand in China and rejection of the trade groups’ arguments. One source said they were right.
Vale apparently got around the bureaucracy in December by using the Berge Everest, a carrier owned by a Singapore company but leased to the Brazilian mining concern, to deliver ore.

Berge Bulk (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
9 Raffles Place
Republic Plaza #54-03
Singapore 048619

“After the successful berthing of the Berge Everest, it will be relatively easy for the Valemax fleet to berth here, too,” a longtime iron ore trader who works with Vale told Caixin. here
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Chariot: turns back out of Russian waters

2012-01-31T16:52:00.001-05:00

MOSCOW, January 31 (RIA Novosti)The Syrian Ambassador to Russia denied Western media reports that a Russian [SVG-flag] ship reportedly carrying weapons had docked in a Syrian port A ship suspected of carrying tons of munitions bound for Syria was freed to leave a port in Cyprus after changing its destination.The Cypriot Foreign Ministry confirms a Russian ship suspected of supplying arms to the Assad regime in Syria had been released from port, after a brief detention by authorities.

The ship was forced to dock for refueling Tuesday at Limassol in western Cyprus, following bad weather.Local media reported at least 35 tons of munitions and explosive material were onboard, with a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement confirming customs officials had discovered four containers and a generator in the hold.

The statement added that the ship, identified as the Saint Vincent-flagged MV Chariot, also contained “a dangerous cargo.” The ship, which left the Russian port of St. Petersburg on December 9, has been refueled and will set sail when the rough weather in the eastern Mediterranean calms.

According to the Foreign Ministry statement, it was agreed that the ship would sail to an alternative location and not Syria, but details of the new destination have not been disclosed. The government of Cyprus, which is an European Union member, insisted the ship had not breached the terms of the EU ban on sending arms to Syria.The statement also confirmed that port officials had not been able to check the entire cargo due to tight packing in the hold of the vessel. The Russian-owned ship that was briefly detained in Cyprus for carrying munitions to Syria a week ago, docked in the Turkish port of Alexandretta after first travelling to Syria, according to Turkish news reports. A TURKISH foreign ministry official stated that the Russian ship carrying arms to Syria anchored off Turkey’s port of Alexandretta on Saturday,

Turkish daily Today’s Zaman reported that Turkish officials said the Chariot, suspected of delivering munitions to Syria, had anchored off Turkey's coast,Selcuk Unal, the Turkish foreign ministry official, said Turkish coast guard and customs officials would board the Chariot before allowing it to dock at the port of Alexandretta (Iskenderun).

Unal said the ship left the Syrian port of Tartus early on Saturday and reached Turkey later in the day.He said the Chariot’s captain confirmed the ship had arrived from Syria. But it remained unclear what type of cargo, if any, the ship may have offloaded at Tartus.On January 13, the US said it had sought clarifications from both Russia and Cyprus over the ship, which sources said contained a cargo of bullets. here

8302882 CHARIOT OYID2 General Cargo Ship 922 1984Ex Names HistoryVessel's Name Flag Call Sign CHARIOT St Vincent Grenadines J8B4413 MALENE Denmark OYID2 2009-02-13 18:00MS MALENE Denmark OYID2 2009-01-30 05:38MARKLAND SAGA 1990-09-22 00:00

16-03-2011 General cargo Chariot was attacked by pirates in 12 018N 066 143E on Mar 5 2011 at around 1940 LT, pirates used new tactics – there was a decoy attack by a white skiff, departing from mother-ship and attracting attention of vessel under attack, while real attacking skiff with 6 pirates approached vessel from stern port side, skiff was camouflage-painted. There were 4 armed guards on board, Russian Spetsnaz vets, after gunfire exchange pirates ceased attack and returned to mother ship, not dhow but apparently one of the highjacked ocean-going freighters, of more than 100 meters length, with two cranes. Chariot IMO 8302882, dwt 1302, built 1984, flag S-Vincent, owner Westberg S-Petersburg, Russia.

What are nice Spetsnez vets doing on a boat like this?

Delta Mariner: takes out two sections of bridge

2012-01-28T07:21:00.000-05:00

The Delta Mariner was traveling on the Tennessee River on its typical route from Decatur, Ala., to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida when it was unable to pass under shorter spans of the bridge and collided with the structure. The 312-foot, 8,400-ton Delta Mariner hauls rocket parts for the Delta and Atlas systems to launch stations in Florida and California, according to a statement from United Launch Alliance, which builds the rocket parts in Alabama. The ship's typical route to Florida takes it along the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers, then onto the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico and on to Florida's east coast,

9198501 DELTA MARINER WCZ7837 Ro-Ro 3950 2000Vessel type: Ro-ro CargoGross tonnage: 8,679 tonsSummer DWT: 3,950 tonsLength: 95 mBeam: 17 mDraught: 4.3 mClass society: American Bureau Of ShippingBuild year: 2000Builder*: Vt Halter Marine Moss PointMoss Point Ms, U.s.a.Owner: Saltchuk ResourcesSeattle Wa, U.s.a.Manager: Foss MaritimeSeattle Wa, U.s.a.

USS Ponce, refurbished, a base for Seals?.

2012-01-27T23:10:00.000-05:00

Lt. Cmdr. Mike Kafka, a spokesman for the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command, declined to elaborate on the floating base’s purpose or to say where, exactly, it will be deployed in the Middle East. Other Navy officials acknowledged that they were moving with unusual haste to complete the conversion and send the mothership to the region by early summer.

HAI YANG SHI YOU 981 near Pearl River Mouth

2012-01-25T17:48:00.000-05:00

CNOOC Ltd, CNOOC's listed arm and the country's near monopoly offshore player, is preparing to drill its first-ever deepsea well in the northern part of the South China Sea around the beginning of 2012 -- some six months behind an earlier plan. CNOOC geologists said in September that they have identified several major oil and gas structures through advanced seismic surveys, largely in two basins -- Qiongdongnan and Pearl River Mouth, both in the northern parts of the South China Sea.The mouth of the Pearl River forms a large bay in the southeast of the delta, the Zhujiang Kou. This bay separates Macau and Zhuhai from Hong Kong and Shenzhen.CNOOC Ltd would be using "Offshore 981", China's first home-made semi-submersible deepsea rig that cost 6 billion yuan ($940 million) to build. back

Noma Kaiun K.K. bulker goes down in heavy seas

2012-01-23T15:10:00.001-05:00

Carrying 9,900.7 metric tons of iron one from Leyte bound for mainland China , it sent distress signals as it was listing due to rough seas in the Pacific Ocean. General cargo vessel Sun Spirits IMO 9416953, dwt 10903, built 2007, flag Panama, manager Noma Shipping Co., Japan. The ship sank on January 21, 2012 due to big waves and the entire crew of the vessel at 12:30 hours local time was rescued before the ship sankNoma Shipping Co.Ltd. Nomakaiun Bldg. 4f. Imabari, Ehime 794-0017 Japan. Noma Kaiun K.K.here

Sierra-Flag boxship in Bosphorus collision

2012-01-21T17:06:00.000-05:00

Sierra Leone has relaunched recently a user friendly flag for ship owners. Kayan I, a 5,644 deadweight tonne (dwt) Sierra Leone-flagged vessel, carrying empty containers collided with the M/V Adriablue cargo ship during strong winds in the southern part of the Bosphorus.The Adriablue sustained damage to its accommodation section.Tugboats towed Kayan I to a secure location off Zeytinburnu, in the Marmara Sea south of Istanbul, where with the aid of support vessels it was held afloat but was steadily sinking lower in the water, having been holed in the stern.In the midday Jan 20 Turkish rescuers evacuated the 13 crew of Kayan 1 and intentionally grounded the vessel to avoid sinkingYear Built: 1971Length x Breadth: 86 m X 15 mDeadWeight: 5644 tSpeed recorded (Max / Average): 7.4 / 6.4 knotsFlag: Sierra Leone [SL] Call Sign: 9LD2096IMO: 7106176, MMSI: 667317000

New Glory:Kavouka Bulker collides with ferry

2012-01-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

Athanasios Kavoukas, Mrs. Margarita Kavouka

Bulk carrier New Glory IMO 9244269, dwt 48193, built 2001, flag Marshall Islands, manager TRANSMAR SHIPPING CO. S.A., Greece. Speed car-passenger ferry catamaran Millenium 2 Acconia IMO 9237644, GRT 6554, built 2003, flag Spain.collided near Seuta, Spain, at 1950 LT Jan 13.Transmar is a long-established traditional shipping Company, founded by George A. Kavoukas in 1972. In 1988 Mrs. Margarita Kavouka took over the Company after the sudden death of her husband, and in the late 90s her two sons Athanasios and Nikolaos joined the Company.

Doola No. 3: oil being drained from exploded hull

2012-01-15T15:51:00.007-05:00

A crane ship is mobilized to transfer oil from the almost-submerged oil carrier Doola No. 3 in seas off Jaweol Island in Incheon on Jan. 16, 2012.
The product tanker exploded in waters off the port city of Incheon January 15, After departing from Incheon port, the ship headed toward Daesan port in South Chungcheong Province. Before the departure, the ship unloaded 6,500 tons of gasoline at Incheon.
The explosion of the 4191-ton vessel Doola No. 3 took place in waters three miles north of Jawol Island near Incheon around 8:05 a.m.,
The manager DOOLA SHIPPING CO LTD, Gang,Geon U/Gang,Ji Eon, CEO said that the explosion took place while gas was being drained from the oil tank. "The vessel usually transports diesel, but this time it carried gasoline. We are now examining whether it had any relation to the explosion,"
Before leaving port in Incheon, the ship had unloaded 6,500 tons of gasoline.

9262106 DOOLA NO. 3 DSQZ2 Chemical/Oil Tanker 6536 2002

manager DOOLA SHIPPING CO LTD.

ex Sunrise Peony

Fairchem Bogey: released after helo drops ransom

2012-01-13T08:55:00.004-05:00

FAIRCHEM BOGEY imo 9423750 V7UB6 dwt 25390 2010 chemical tanker carrying just a partial load of methanol, was released yesterday afternoon, for an estimated $8 million.. A helicopter was observed hovering over the vessel yesterday in anticipation of making the ransom drop
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USCG Healy icebreaks for Russian-flagged tanker

2012-01-09T19:22:00.004-05:00

The 420-foot Coast Guard Cutter Healy creates a return path in the Bering Sea ice to assist the Russian-flagged tanker Renda 165 miles south of Nome, Alaska, Jan. 8, 2012. The cutter Healy and tanker Renda have been making way to Nome through the Bering Sea ice for two days to deliver more than 1.3 million gallons of fuel Nome. The fuel could arrive in Nome sometime around Sunday, depending on the progress through the ice. Vitus Marine CEO Mark Smith says his team is putting their efforts towards the final delivery in Nome.
8129618 RENDA UFFA Tanker 4999 1984

Olib G: chemical tanker ransomed for $3 million

2012-01-09T09:21:00.003-05:00

The chemtanker OLIB G, Malta-flag, Frio Maritime S.A. Greece, , with a crew of 18 (15 Georgians and 3 Turks), was released after the $3 million ransom was dropped onto the ship

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Rena: Costamare boxship away off Astrolabe Reef

2012-01-08T10:39:00.004-05:00

An investigation into the grounding and breaking up of the Rena, a Liberian-flagged ship owned by the Greek shipping firm Costamare, is ongoing. The ship's captain and navigation officer, both Philippine nationals, will next month face criminal charges relating to operating a vessel in a dangerous manner and allowing the release of toxic materials.

Prosecuting the pirates of the Iranian-flagged ship,

2012-01-07T08:58:00.003-05:00

NCIS's Schminsky said the Iranian boat's captain thanked the U.S. for assistance. "He was afraid that without our help, they could have been there for months," the U.S. team gave the crew food, water and medical care, and on January 6 they moved the captured pirates to the Stennis. They will remain there while the U.S. considers options for prosecution and consults with other nations that have joined forces against piracy.

"Sadly, this is not a new thing," Nuland told reporters, citing more than 1,000 pirates picked up at sea who are under prosecution in some 20 countries. "So this is always a question of where to send them and who will do the prosecution."
previously

DDG 100 and NCIS rescue Iranians from pirates

2012-01-06T14:52:00.002-05:00

At approximately 12:30 p.m,January 5, an SH-60S Seahawk from the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) detected a suspected pirate skiff alongside the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow Al Molai. The Navy took custody of the pirates under Josh Schminky, a Navy Criminal Investigative Service agent aboard the Kidd. The next morning when they were transferred to the USS John C. Stennis where the matter will be reviewed for prosecution. The pirates currently remain on the Stennis. The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is conducting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations

Hijack freed outside Bosaso Port Somalia

2012-01-05T13:18:00.006-05:00

Prognostication

Somali pirates released the Indian-flagged Savina al-Salaam and its' 16 all-Indian crew without ransom on Thursday.

The pirates released the boat late on January 5 at 4:30pm. There was no ransom paid.

It's unclear why the pirates abandoned the boat, but it seems that they weren't expecting a ship carrying livestock. “The boat carried 3620 livestock, and it appears the pirates thought the boat was carrying only goods – so they thought to use it to mount attacks from – but they didn't want to deal with the livestock, the hijackers found the Savina too heavy to use as a mothership for launching attacks.

The Savina al-Salaam is now on course for Oman.

[earlier]Livestock carrier said to be named Savina Al-Salaam,and owned 'by India', has 16 crew. All are Indian. The boat also carried four Somali passengers, three women and one man, all have Oman visas, The cargo was 3620 animals, livestock loaded at Bosaso Port. The name of captain is Naaji Hussien. They hijacked while the boat was at sea and heading to Oman,"

9,206 grt; 12,113 dwt.
Built: 1975 by ENVC - Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo SA. Viana do Castelo, Portugal. Yard no 95.
Main engine: six-cylinder,two -stroke H Cegielski-Sulzer 6RND68 of 7,200 bhp at 157 rpm. Speed: 18 knots.
Built for Arya National Shipping Lines SA, Iran as ARYA ZAR; renamed in 1980.
2003-to breakers at Mumbai, India 28/6
Status: Dead Added: Dec 01, 2011

Name: Iran Salam
IMO: 7385162
Callsign: EPDZ
Last known flag: IRAN
Former name(s):
- Arya Zar (Until 1980 Jul 19)

previously

Berge Everest: Capesize Bulker arrives in Dalian

2012-01-04T11:45:00.001-05:00

BERGE EVEREST
388,133 DWT, Ore Carrier, Built 2011

Owners/Managers are Berge Bulk AS, Built at Bohai Shipbld., Panama Flagged, DNV Classed, Length Overall of 360.97 m., Length Between Perpendiculars of 345.34 m., Draught of 23.00 m., Beam of 65.00 m., Gross Tonnage of 195,199, Wartsila Engine, Speed of 14.80 kts.
Owner/Manager Details

Berge Bulk (Norway) AS
Specialised Details

Strengthened for Ore, Strengthened for Heavy Cargo.
IDENTIFICATION: Launch Name was Berge Everest. Capesize Bulker, Call Sign 3FIE3, IMO Number 9447536. DIMENSIONS/TONNAGES: Moulded Depth of 30.50 m., Tonnage of 66,019 International Net and 382,003 Dwt (long). ENGINE DETAILS: Engine Description 2 S.A. 7-cyl., Engine Model 7RT-flex84T-D.

The first of Vale's (VALE5.SA) giant dry bulk vessels to arrive in China has completed delivery of its iron ore cargo. Vale's ChinaMax from Dalian is heading back to Singapore - presumably for bunkers - then Brazil for the next cargo.

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Enrico Ievoli: Domenico Levoli's chemtanker pirates

2012-01-03T09:45:00.008-05:00

Police from Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland near Dhinooda seized 10 pirates bound for MT Enrico Ievoli [9188415 ENRICO IEVOLI ] of Domenico Levoli, chairman and owner of Marnavi.. The M/T Enrico Ievoli was hijacked off shore Oman coastline while it was heading toward the randevouz point with the chinese armed convoy..
A number of them are investors while others were staff. Once a captured vessel has been brought to anchor, is common for pirate hijackers to be joined by the gang's investors a vessel as well as a team of armed guards brought on board to guard the hostages. The MT Enrico Ievoli was hijacked on December 27, while transporting a cargo of caustic soda. She carries a crew of 18, including seven Indians, six Italians, and five Ukrainians. Puntland forces have detained and seized numerous pirates within recent months but have yet to bring them to trial.

Marnavi S.P.A, Napoli, Italy and Marnavi offshore SRL, Napoli, Italy, respectively enjoy an unblemished and outstanding reputation in the safe transport and carriage of liquid chemical and edible oils, and the renderment of offshore services respectively.

To-day they have a modern fleet of 35 vessels trading worldwide with a total capacity of 170000 DWT, These include 13 stainless steel tankers ranging from 26500 DWT.

Prem Divya: a tragedy say Cremers and Mittal

2012-01-01T08:35:00.003-05:00

The crude carrier was rocked by three blasts on Thursday that erupted at the aft of the ship, damaging its engine room, living quarters and bridge. The Mercator chairman, HK Mittal, and the Anglo-Eastern Group chief executive, Peter Cremers, issued a statement in which they promised an investigation to "prevent a repeat of such a tragedy".
[AESM seminar on complacency] Marcel Liedts, COO of the Anglo-Eastern group, who explained the relevance of the theme of the seminar and stressed on how the company must protect itself from the scourge of complacency among seafarers.
The process of an MBO ( Management Buy Out) in 1998 and a subsequent merger with an established UK ship manager, Denholm Ship Management in 2001 were the key factors in establishing the present AE Group as a truly independent global based ship manager
Mr. Mittal acquired Mercator Lines Ltd. in 1988 . His personal ventures include a Ship Building Yard in Mumbai suburbs, a Healthcare unit & a Sulphuric Acid production plant in north India.

IMO Number: 9138599
Flag: India
Builder:Country: People`s Republic of China
Company: Dalian NS
Year: 1998
Type: Oil or Oil Products Tanke
rSequence: MNSNMKFHull Form: HTonnage:Gross Tonnage: 57,950 tonsDeadweight: 109,227 tonnesDimensions: 244.47×42.03×15.52m (802.07×137.89×50.92ft)Speed: 15.3ktMachinery:Screw Type: Single ScrewEngine Type: Motor vesselCompany: SulzerEx Names: ex-SeaqueenNotes: Similar todocument.write('DONAX') [9215050]
Sister/Similar Ships: Sister: DL IRIS [9138604] (Ko) ex-SeastarProbably sister: SEAPRIDE I [9151838] (Ma)

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Prem Divya: unladen tanker explodes at Fujairah

2011-12-31T08:27:00.004-05:00

There were three blasts, December 29, - boom, boom, boom - so the people were in panic. The tanker PREM DIVYA IMO 9138599, had arrived in Fujairah on December 27 for 10 days of "operational care". Workers from local firms had come to check the pipes and do welding in the engine room and other repairs and maintenance.

Ships must receive gas-free approvals before commencing any "hot work", or activities that could start a fire, such as welding, Capt Morad said. "We already got that, so what went wrong, we don't know. Any tanker that has gas in it should be made free of gas before any welding or hot work takes place."

Soon after the explosion late on Thursday afternoon many of the men on board leapt into the water. Neighbouring ships and the coastguard arrived to help them to safety, and the port authorities sent a crew to put out the fire. Empty oil tankers are susceptible to having residual flammable gas on board - even more so than on full tankers, where the gas has less area in which to expand. read
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Enrico Levoli: hijacked, Savina Caylyn supersized

2011-12-29T19:56:00.003-05:00

The size of the ransom of the Italian aframax tanker Savina Caylyn induced the group's leaders to release all hostages including 17 indians

Enrico Ievoli

“MT Enrico Ievoli, sailing from Fujairah (the UAE) was carrying 15,750 tonnes of caustic soda from the United Arab Emirates to the Mediterranean, was captured approximately 215 nautical miles East by Northeast of Salalah at 0403UTC. With a crew of 18 comprising of six Italians, five Ukrainians and seven Indians, it is owned by Marnavi of Naples in Italy.
http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=53194&rand=

9188415 ENRICO IEVOLI I BKI Chemical/Oil Tanker 16631 2000
Ship Type: Tanker - Hazard B
Year Built: 1999
Length x Breadth: 138 m X 20 m
DeadWeight: 16631 t
Speed recorded (Max / Average): 17 / 15.7 knots
Flag: Italy [IT]
Call Sign: IBKI
IMO: 9188415, MMSI: 247597000

Yekaterinburg: rubber-coated outer hull flamed up

2011-12-29T13:32:00.006-05:00

The fire now put out. Wooden scaffolding around K-84 caught fire.The blaze soon spread to the submarine's rubber-coated outer hull. Firefighters were still working at the scene, pouring water over the outer hull as well as the space between it and the inner hull,

The blaze at the Roslyakovo dock, one of the main dockyards of Russia's northern fleet 1,500 km (900 miles) north of Moscow, is believed to have started when wooden scaffolding caught fire during repairs to the submarine Yekaterinburg, which some Russian news agencies said had been hoisted into a dry dock.

K-84 Delta class Ekaterinburg 17 February 1982 17 March 1985 30 December 1985 Northern Active, overhaul in 2002, overhaul complete, upgraded Sineva missiles [9]

Delta class submarines in fiction

In the novel Ice by James Follett a Delta II class submarine called the Podorny is dispatched to the South Atlantic to search for a missing British submarine.[20]
In the pilot movie for seaQuest DSV a heavily modified Delta IV was being operated by pirates, led by former seaQuest captain Marilyn Stark.
In the video game Crysis Warhead, the player character incorrectly identifies a cargo submarine as a Project 914 Delta IV class. The submarine in question has the missile bay removed and replaced with a large cargo bay.
In Terminator Salvation: Cold War, Dmitri Losenko commanded a Delta IV-class submarine called the Gorshkov. When the US launches an attack on Russia the Gorshkov launches an attack on Alaska.

Sparta and Araon: icebreaker helping pump out

2011-12-26T10:33:00.002-05:00

A South Korean polar research ship on December 26 reached Sparta, a leaking Russian fishing vessel that has been stuck in the frigid waters off Antarctica for the past 10 days. The crews are trying to pump fuel out of the damaged boat so that the leak may be welded shut.

Mercosur condemns Falkland Islands registry

2011-12-25T15:20:00.002-05:00

The Mercosur declaration, under which the bloc's four full members vowed "to adopt … all the measures it is possible to impose to impede the entry of boats flying the illegal flag of the Malvinas [Falkland] Islands."
The Falkland Islands has operated its own register since 1861.

On 15 September 2003, a four-part register arrangement similar to that operated in the United Kingdom was commenced when the Falkland Islands adopted Parts I and II of the UK Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (with modifications).

The Register is ordinarily restricted to merchant vessels not exceeding a gross tonnage of 150, fishing vessels and small ships whose owners or charterers have a connection with the Falkland Islands and except in the case of the latter, all applications to register require the approval of the Governor.
Argentina's increasingly vocal stance on the Falklands was partly a helpful sideshow from domestic political issues, including subsidy cuts and inflation.

"This issue has historically been used quite a bit by Argentinian presidents when they want to distract the public," said a Houston expert

Thor Liberty: loaded missiles at Papenburg

2011-12-25T12:48:00.004-05:00

The ship carrying missiles bound for South Korea that was detained in Finland over Christmas has run into more problems at the port of Kiel in Germany. The ship's crew is once again facing questions over secure storage of its cargo.
A representative of Kiel police told local media January 12 that they are inspecting the explosives in containers onboard. The same issue caused a lengthy inspection and re-loading operation at Kotka harbour.
[earlier]Reloading of explosives onboard the impounded Thor Liberty vessel in Kotka resumed on Sunday. Rescue officials say the operation could continue well into December 26. More of the poorly loaded explosives were confiscated on Sunday but work is proceeding without any major problems. So far some 250 kilos of explosives have been confiscated from the ship and will be destroyed later.

The “Thor Liberty,” belonging to a Danish company, flying a British Isle of Man flag, and manned by a Ukrainian crew, was stopped Wednesday during a routine check at the southern Finnish port of Kotka. German media reports say the missiles were marked as “fireworks.”

The high-tech weapons were reportedly loaded onto the ship at Papenburg, on the River Eems, 40km inland from the North Sea, not far from Vörden, once a a Nike Hercules AA missile site.. The export permission documents were registered at the customs office in Emden, in the state of Lower Saxony. back

Sedco 706: Transocean Ld. has Chevron indemnity

2011-12-24T15:55:00.002-05:00

Transocean's drilling services contract with Chevron for the SEDCO 706 requires Chevron, among other things, to indemnify Transocean for pollution or contamination based claims arising below the surface of the water. more

RV Araon: Korean icebreaker on rescue of Sparta

2011-12-23T16:00:00.004-05:00

A South Korean icebreaker berthed in New Zealand set sail last Saturday night and is due to reach the troubled Russian-flagged Sparta in Antarctic ice on Sunday afternoon,
The Sparta’s owners have chartered the RV Araon, a South Korean icebreaker, to aid the stricken ship
The RV Araon is a 6,950-ton icebreaker operated by the Government of South Korea, designed for operation in one-meter-thick-multiple-year ice condition (KR PL-10) with 3 knot speed per hour and will be equipped with twin Azimuth propulsion units driven by diesel-electric propulsion plant. She will accommodate up to 85 persons, including 25 crew members. The name is derived from Korean words “Ara” for Sea and “On” for All and represents a project to cruise around the world. She supplies the King Sejong Station and will supply a South Korea’s second planned antartcic research station. She underwent her sea trials in January 2010, in the Ross Sea.

Thor Liberty: 69 missiles to South Korea Okay

2011-12-21T21:56:00.005-05:00

The paperwork of the freight vessel Thor Liberty, which was found to have explosives and missiles on board when it docked at Kotka Harbour, is in order, said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
On Wednesday, Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen (Christ. Dem.) was still saying that the bill of lading claimed that the containers, which were loaded with Patriot ground-to-air missiles, had been labelled as fireworks.
However, it came out later that this was a linguistic misunderstanding involving the words “rocket” and “missile”.
“There was no attempt in the documents to mislead in any way”, says Detective Superintendent Timo Virtanen of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Seoul (AFP) Dec 20, 2006 As part of its independent system South Korea has announced plans to buy 48 second-hand Patriot missiles from Germany from 2008. It also wants ground control equipment for the Patriots from the US.

[December 22] A Isle of Man-flag cargo vessel detained at Kotka harbour has been found to be carrying a shipment of American-made Patriot missiles. According to information received by YLE, the missile shipment originated in Germany and is destined for South Korea. Onboard the ship are 69 of the missiles with their explosive warheads and propelling charges
sale of missiles to South Korea
SEOUL (AFP) Jul 13, 2005
A German defense chief met with South Korean officials here Wednesday for talks on the sale of second-hand Patriot missiles to Seoul, the defense ministry said.
Klaus Von Sperber, director of international armament affairs in Germany's defense ministry, visited Defense Miniser Yoon Kwang-Ung and other Korean military officials, Yoon's office said.

Sperber arrived here earlier Wednesday for a two-day trip.

"The German official is in Seoul for talks on the sale of Patriot missiles deployed in his country," a ministry official said.

South Korea last week revived a project to buy Patriot missiles, but a decision on whether to buy missiles directly from the United States or second-hand ones from other countries has yet to be taken.

From next year, South Korea hopes to replace its aging ground-to-air Nike missiles, introduced 40 years ago, with Patriot missiles.

The South Korean military had planned to buy 48 Patriot missiles from the United States in 2000, but the plan was scrapped because of a dispute over the cost. read
Name: Thor Liberty
IMO: 9065273
Flag: Isle Of Man (uk)
MMSI: 235218000
Callsign: ZNGT5
Former name(s):
- Cec Liberty (Until 2009 Oct 28)
- White Rhino (Until 2008 Nov 06)
- Cec Liberty (Until 2007 Dec 03)
- Cec Hope (Until 2002 Nov 28)
- Cic Hope (Until 2001 Nov 21)
- Arktis Hope (Until 2000 Jan 04)
Flag Isle of Man / Douglas. Built 1994 / Nordsoevaerfet Ringkobing (DK) Ex CEC Hope; CEC Liberty; White Rhino; Arktis Hope. GT 3810 tdw 5392 TEU 350 L 97,4 B 16,36 D 6,72 Propulsion 1 x MaK 9 M 453 C 2996 kw / 600 rpm; 2 x MTU S 60 344 kw / 1800 rpm; shaft generator 540 kw; CPP; speed 14 ktn. Gear 2 x 50 t.

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Savina Caylyn: D"Amato tanker ransom $11m

2011-12-21T13:00:00.004-05:00

The ransom was delivered December 21 in two trips by helo , 8.5 million and a second later in the day. The pirates did not release the vessel until all payment was made, The pirates' freed 17 Indian sailors after receiving an initial sum of $ 8.5 million, ". "It was a tactic of the owner to ensure that Indian nationals were freed." After receiving the money, "launched from a helicopter," the Indians were released on small boats. Then "another 3 million have been launched and we left the ship and released the five Italians,"
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Rena: NZ charges officers with perverting justice

2011-12-20T17:06:00.003-05:00

Both men, who have name suppression, appeared in Tauranga District Court today and faced a new charge alleging they altered the ship's documents after it crashed into the Astrolabe reef, attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The charges were laid under the Crimes Act and could see the men facing jail time.

Corrupting juries and witnesses
Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who—
(a) dissuades or attempts to dissuade a person, by threats, bribes, or other corrupt means, from giving evidence in any cause or matter (whether civil or criminal, and whether tried or to be tried in New Zealand or in an overseas jurisdiction); or
(b) influences or attempts to influence, by threats or bribes or other corrupt means, a member of a jury in his or her conduct as such (whether in a cause or matter tried or to be tried in New Zealand or in an overseas jurisdiction, and whether the member has been sworn as a member of a particular jury or not); or
(c) accepts any bribe or other corrupt consideration to abstain from giving evidence (whether in a cause or matter tried or to be tried in New Zealand or in an overseas jurisdiction); or
(d) accepts any bribe or other corrupt consideration on account of his or her conduct as a member of a jury (whether in a cause or matter tried or to be tried in New Zealand or in an overseas jurisdiction, and whether the member has been sworn as a member of a particular jury or not); or
(e) wilfully attempts in any other way to obstruct, prevent, pervert, or defeat the course of justice in New Zealand or the course of justice in an overseas jurisdiction.

Both were remanded at large to reappear in Tauranga District Court on February 29.

Liquid Velvet gets $8m Ransom Demand

2011-12-19T16:01:00.003-05:00

At first the chemtanker was held at Bargaal but has now been moved to Garacad
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Kolskaya: sinks in the Sea of Okhotsk

2011-12-18T08:37:00.009-05:00

Rescuers have recovered 14 survivors and located 16 bodies so far. 37 crew members still missing
[earlier] Three lifeboats the rescuers found soon after at the scene were empty. One lifeboat remained unaccounted for by search and rescue teams, who held hopes it could be found with survivors on board. It was located on Monday, but was also empty. Rescue workers have found a raft with up to 15 people aboard near an offshore Russian drilling rig that capsized in the Sea of Okhotsk - but it was unclear if they were alive, more

[earlier]"The Kolskaya keeled to its side ... and sank within 20 minutes. The depth of the water at the site is 1,042 metres (3,400 feet)," Russia's federal water transport agency said on its website.

Four of the survivors, suffering from hypothermia, were airlifted by helicopter to land and taken to hospital after the disaster struck at 12:45 p.m. (0145 GMT).
[earlier]The rescue operation is continuing despite night having fallen. The Emergencies Ministry says 14 people have been saved and four found dead. Rescuers had problems with lifting the dead bodies from the water and had to leave them floating in the sea until the storm, which sank the rig, calmed down a little,
The drilling rig belongs to the Arktikmorneftegazrazvedka exploration company, which carried out work under a contract with energy giant Gazprom.

The drilling rig, which can take up to 102 people on board, was built in 1985 in Finland. The rig started its operations in September to drill and test the Pervoocherednaya well on the West-Kamchatka licensed block of the Okhotsk Sea shelf.

The rig, which is 69 meters long and 80 meters wide, was intended to drill a well at a depth of 3,500 meters.

A Gazprom spokesman said that the rig had fulfilled its works for Gazprom by the time of the accident and was heading for its base.

Investigators have said they are considering the rig's tow in disregard of a severe storm as the most likely reason for the accident.

but in 1992 Emtunga installed the living quarter module.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:
The overall module dimensions 32.0 x 16.0 x 14.0 m, three levels. Total area 1550 m2.
Total weight 582 tonnes.

Rig Name: Kolskaya
Rig Manager: ArcticMorNefteGazRazvedka
Rig Owner: ArcticMorNefteGazRazvedka
Competitive Rig: Yes
Rig Type: Jackup
Jackup Type: Independent Leg Cantilever
Rig Design: Gusto Engineering BV Schiedam / Triangular
Rated Water Depth: 328 ft
Drilling Depth: 21,325 ft
Classification: DNV
Rig Design: Gusto Engineering BV Schiedam / Triangular
Built By: Rauma Repola Oy at the Rauma Repola Finland shipyard
Delivery Year: 1985
Flag: Russian Federation

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The 'Neftegaz-55' tugboat, also owned by AMNGR, had been towing the Kolskaya rig and took part in the search effort, but pulled out after suffering hull damage. The tug, carrying 11 crew rescued from the rig, was limping to port.

'Neftegaz-55 8418459 NEFTEGAZ-55 UHKK Tug 1397 1987

Sparta: supplies dropped, patched

2011-12-16T11:57:00.007-05:00

video
video
The 48-metre (157ft) long Sparta is licensed to catch toothfish in the Southern Ocean. Russian fishing vessel Sparta is seen listing in waters in the Ross Sea near Antarctica on Dec. 16, 2011. The fishing vessel with 32 crew members were taking on water near Antarctica on Friday. Heavy sea ice was hampering rescue efforts, and officials said it could be four or five days before anybody reaches the ship to try to rescue the crew. Dec.17

8809361 SPARTA UIBS Fishing Ship 371 1988

Sedco 706: Brazil sues Transocean for $10.6 billion

2011-12-16T08:32:00.006-05:00

Sedco 706

The suit, which includes Chevron, could jeopardize oil companies' plans to step up their presence in Brazil after the discovery of huge offshore reserves several kilometers (miles) beneath the ocean floor estimated at 50 billion barrels or more.

Reaching that oil will be technically challenging but Brazil expects it will push its crude output to 7 million barrels a day by 2020. That could see it challenge the United States for the rank of world No. 3 oil producer after Russia and Saudi Arabia.

It also risks alarming foreign oil companies eager to expand in one of the world's fastest-growing oil frontiers, where state-controlled oil company Petrobras accounts for more than 90 percent of the output, and government leaders are moving to assert even greater control of natural resources.

Arctic Sea: Shelley Express flies Panama flag

2011-12-11T14:03:00.006-05:00

Just in time for 2012, Panama flag for Shelley Express

Shelley Express (IMO Number: 8912792)
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HAI YANG SHI YOU 981, 船主 nears Okinawa

2011-12-09T13:35:00.004-05:00

Hong Kong-listed CNOOC and international partners including Canada's Husky Energy Inc [under Ka-Shing Li] and U.S. company Chevron Corp will step up exploration of the deepsea waters in the South China Sea in coming years, with the first major production from the Liwan gas project operated by Husky.

The companies would mostly drill in the northern part of the South China Sea, industry officials and analysts have said, staying away from politically sensitive waters to the south to avoid territorial rows with neighbors such as Vietnam and the Phillippines.

"981 will start drilling late this month or in January," said a company official, referring to the country's first and only homemade deepsea rig Offshore Oil 981, which is designed to operate at a water depth of 3,000 metres and to drill up to 10,000 metres.

It was reported that Li Ka Shing second son, Richard Li Tzar Kai was courting Emperor Entertainment Group female starlet, Isabelle Leung

Rena: 115 containers still on board

2011-12-07T09:12:00.004-05:00

The daily media conference for the Rena disaster finished Dec 1 and will become a weekly conference unless the situation changes. There are 1115 containers still on board
"We are now soliciting support from various sectors of the [Filipino] society, especially the maritime industry, to join us in lodging a nation-wide protest action to prevent Capt. Balomanga and his watch officer from being incarcerated. 12 months imprisonment should not be a penalty for a navigational error.' here

Low rates yield slow steaming

2011-12-07T08:32:00.004-05:00

Shipping companies are cooperating to ease overcapacity and revive rates. Vessels reduce their speeds, known in the industry as slow steaming, to better manage overcapacity within the global fleet of about 600 VLCCs, Sejling chief commercial officer at Maersk Tankers. said. Lower speeds increase the amount of time needed to complete a voyage, effectively curbing the supply of ships.

SLOW steaming very large crude carriers to an average speed of 12 knots could increase fleet utilisation as tonnage is absorbed on voyages of longer durations, A new time charter clause for slow and super slow steaming will be published shortly by BIMCO. The clause was adopted by the Documentary Committee subject to the drafting team conducting a pre-publication review of some of the key features of the clause. The team met in London on 30 November and made a number of improvements to the layout and structure of the clause. The clause will now be circulated to all Documentary Committee members before being published by Special Circular along with explanatory notes.

The Clause deals with a number of potentially difficult technical and legal issues as it is designed to cover all types of ships and trades from the container to the bulk sector. The technical aspects have been resolved and clarified with the assistance of engine designers Wartsila and MAN Diesel. Two types of slow steaming are contemplated by the Clause: Slow steaming down to a level which would not require the owners to make any modifications to the engine – basically the cut-out point for the engines auxiliary blowers; and, should the owners and charterers agree that the vessel can slow steam to a greater degree, then an additional optional provision is given to deal with “ultra” slow steaming – which will apply only in a few cases.

In all cases the master retains the right to refuse to slow steam as the right of the charterers to order slow steaming is subject to the obligations of the master in respect of the safety of the vessel, crew and cargoThe trend to run many ships at speeds of 16 knots or even less is stoking problems for main engines

All six members of the Bloomberg Tanker Index (TANKER) from Frontline to General Maritime Corp. will lose money this year as fleet capacity exceeds the number of cargoes, We’ve had the longest period of sustained upturn in the history of the tanker markets until 2008,” Serck-Hanssen said.
Frontline, also based in Hamilton, will report a net loss of $228.3 million for this year, compared with 2010 net income of $161.4 million, the mean of 20 estimates showed. The company said Nov. 22 it would pay no third-quarter dividend and may run out of cash in 2012. The shares slumped 83 percent in Oslo this year, valuing Frontline at 1.99 billion kroner ($345 million). General Maritime, the New York-based operator of 29 tankers, filed for bankruptcy protection on Nov. 17.

BIMCO is the largest of the international shipping associations representing ship-owners controlling around 65 percent of the world’s tonnage and with members in more than 120 countries drawn from a broad range of stakeholders having a vested interest in the shipping industry, including managers, brokers and agents. read

Deepwater Horizon: revving up for the trial

2011-12-06T10:14:00.003-05:00

Filings are starting before trial among BP and the contractors Halliburton and Transocean over blame in the Deepwater Horizon blast in April 2010, which killed 11 workers and led to 206m US gallons (780m litres) of crude oil escaping into the Gulf of Mexico. So far, BP, the majority owner of the Macondo well, has footed the bill for the emergency response and cleanup. Also involved are Anadarko Petroleum and Cameron International.
here

The first trial over the disaster is scheduled to start 27 February in New Orleans. It is expected to last three months and determine the liability of each company involved in drilling the Macondo well. There will be other phases over cleanup costs, punitive damages and other claims.

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Gemini:product: tanker pays 6 million ransom

2011-12-02T07:33:00.003-05:00

with 28,000 metric tonnes of crude palm oil,
The actual pirates, from the Sacad (Hawiye) clan claim to have received $4 million plus, others, including commander Mohamed Garfanje, presumably took the rest. The original demand was for $5 million. Four Korean crewmen are being held as hostages for pirates killed by South Korea in retaking the supertanker Samho Dream in April. $4.00 million is the demand.
Captain Pak Hyeon of the South Korean-managed, Singapore-flag hijacked Gemini IMO: 8412352 is among the Koreans being held.

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HAI YANG SHI YOU 981, 船主 drillship gone south

2011-12-01T10:16:00.004-05:00

CNOOC 981 is moving South at 4 knots from Shanghai, presumably on sea trials. In May,2011, CNOOC announced plans to deploy its first floating drilling platform to waters within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) claimed by the Philippines.
Marine Oil 981, HAI YANG SHI YOU 981, 船主 may be headed for Spratly Islands and a conflict with Vietnam.
2011-12-01 20:28 HAI YANG SHI YOU 981 29.21839 123.1751 3.7 181
2011-12-01 18:21 HAI YANG SHI YOU 981 29.34051 123.1904 3.4 183
2011-12-01 13:29 HAI YANG SHI YOU 981 29.6417 123.2491 4.1 187
2011-12-01 10:20 HAI YANG SHI YOU 981 29.86356 123.3032 4.2 186
2011-12-01 00:22 HAI YANG SHI YOU 981 30.42981 123.0966 4.5 168
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Swanland: Cook Island-registered bulker sinks

2011-11-27T21:27:00.004-05:00

In one of the largest joint rescues undertaken by Irish and British rescue agencies in the Irish Sea.Reports from the scene indicated that the ship's hull had begun to split causing an ingress of water . The ship put out a mayday call at 2 am when she got into difficulties in gale force winds around ten miles off the Lleyn peninsula, North Wales. Five Russian crew members are still missing after two others had been rescued from the life rafts to which they were clinging. The vessel is an 81 metre freighter which was believed to be carrying a cargo of up to 3,000 tonnes of limestone.
Name: Swanland
IMO: 7607431
Flag: Cook Islands
MMSI: 518333000
Callsign: E5U2283
Former name(s):
- Elsborg (Until 1996 Aug 12)
- Artemis (Until 1994 Dec 16)
- Elsborg (Until 1988 Nov 14)
- Carebeka Ix (Until 1983 Jan 14)
Vessel type: Cargo
Gross tonnage: 1,978 tons
Summer DWT: 3,137 tons
Length: 81 m
Beam: 14 m
Draught: 3.5 m
Build year: 1977
Builder*: Bijlsma Lemmer Scheepswerf
Lemmer, Netherlands
Owner: Torbulk - Grimsby, U.k.
Manager: Torbulk - Grimsby, U.k.

ROSALIA D` AMATO: 6 million Ransom

2011-11-26T23:00:00.004-05:00

Six million ransom was paid for the release of the vessel, down from 7 million USD demanded, both the negotiators and the owners wanted that secret

ROSALIA D` AMATO (IMO 9225201) owned by Perseveranza SpA , a Company owned by Giuseppe D'Amato. Giuseppe D'Amato is the leader of a family of Shipowners that since four generations is present in the world shipping community. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano hailed the release of the Rosalia D’Amato, along with its crew of six Italians and 15 Filipinos .
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Sedco 706: Chevron Frade field drilling suspended

2011-11-25T11:41:00.005-05:00

Chevron's drilling rights have been suspended by Brazil's National Petroleum Agency after on evidence that the company had been "negligent" in its study of data needed to drill and in contingency planning for abandoning the well in the event of accident.

The agency, known as ANP, rejected a request from Chevron made before the leak to drill wells in the deeper subsalt areas in the Frade field where the spill occurred. The field is located in the oil-rich Campos Basin and is the only block in Brazil where Chevron produces oil as the operator. The only rig working for Chevron off Brazil is Transocean Ltd's Sedco 706, which drilled the well that leaked.

The Campos Basin is currently the source of more than 80 percent of Brazil's oil output.

While Chevron said lon November 23 it had not received formal notice of the drilling halt, the company announced an indefinite voluntary suspension of all current and future drilling off Brazil, apart from plug and abandonment work.

"Chevron acknowledges, however, that ANP has posted a notice of suspension to its website," the company added. more back

Sedco 706: leak nothing to do with Transocean

2011-11-22T09:02:00.002-05:00

The leak, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state. was the result of an underestimate of pressure in the offshore oil reservoir that was the target of their drilling and an overestimate of the strength of undersea rock.

As a result, high pressure oil was able to leak into the well bore hole. While the well was immediately shut off, the pressure from the so-called "kick" caused the bore-hole wall to crack and oil to seep through crevices and porous rock to the seafloor and then up into the ocean.

Chevron owns 52 percent of Frade, which is producing about 79,000 barrels of oil and natural gas equivalent a day, and is the fields operator. Petrobras owns 30 percent and a Japanese Group known as Frade Japan owns 18 percent.

The well, which is being abandoned, was drilled by Transocean from their Sedco 706 rig. Buck said the problems at the well "had nothing to do with Transocean."

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Sedco 706: Transocean rig at Brazil leak site

2011-11-19T13:10:00.006-05:00

Chevron Corp. (CVX), the second-largest U.S. energy company, said it has halted an oil leak at the Frade project off the coast of Brazil after plugging a well.

“Fluid flow from the well appears to have ceased. The well probably contributed to the seeps that have been the source of an oil sheen that appeared on the surface of the ocean.

Chevron said yesterday that it planned to use cement and mud to seal a fissure in the sea floor that was the suspected source of the oil leak. As much as 882 barrels of crude had reached the surface, Brazil’s oil regulator, known as ANP, said yesterday, citing Chevron.

The company contracted Transocean’s Liberian-flag Sedco 706 rig to drill an appraisal well in the Frade field 230 miles (370 kilometers) northeast of Rio de Janeiro, The SEDCO 706 is a dynamically-positioned Sedco 700 design semi-submersible drilling unit capable of operating in moderate environments and water depths up to 2,000 m (6,562 ft)* using 18¾” 10,000 psi BOP and 21” OD marine drilling riser. here

Chevron, which has 51.74% interest, started production at Frade field in 2009. Partners in the field are Petroleo Brasileiro SA 30%, and Frade Japao Petroleo Ltda., a joint venture of Inpex Corp., Sojitz Corp., and Japan Oil, Gas & Metals Corp. 18.26%.

USS G.H.W.Bush: Saddam Hussein's revenge?

2011-11-16T21:18:00.003-05:00

An alleged plot by Iraqi intelligence to assassinate Bush's father, former president George H.W. Bush, during his triumphal visit to Kuwait in April, 1993, at the direction of Saddam Hussein might have induced G.W. Bush to get Hussein, and we did. Has Saddam struck back at CV-77, George H. W, Bush? There have been at least two times when all 423 commodes in the ship’s 130 heads went offline. The sailors blame the ship’s vacuum system. But the Navy is blaming sailors for flushing “inappropriate material” down the toilets. A new vacuum collection sewage system that utilizes fresh water instead of sea water for flushing. This creates fewer long term corrosion problems, and reduces the quantity of sewage from water closets and urinals by ratio of 10 to 1.

Rena: hang the captain

2011-11-14T10:04:00.001-05:00

The captain has been charged with being the master of a ship from which harmful substances and/or contaminants were discharged into a coastal marine area.

The second officer is charged with being responsible for the watch of a ship from which the same offence occurred.

The RMA charge carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a fine up to $300,000. If the offence continues, a fine of $10,000 for every day or part of the day the offending continues can be imposed. The Maritime Transport Act charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 months prison or maximum fine of $10,000 Judge Wolff, who further remanded the two defendants on bail until December 21, confirmed the suppression orders in place would continue until further notice. Mana Party leader Mr Harawira wants a strong punishment for the Rena's captain.

"Hanging the poor bugger might sound a bit harsh, but somebody should pay," he said.

Less wind, more pirates in Gulf of Aden

2011-11-13T16:57:00.000-05:00

decreased winds and seas will only worsen the problem in the short-term as the Monsoon season has ended.

Halifax: oil tanker released off Nigeria

2011-11-08T13:22:00.002-05:00

Part of the cargo was siphoned,
The Halifax is operated by the Greek-based Ancora Investment Trust Inc and is flagged out of Malta.
"Halifax was reportedly located this morning off Bonny Fairway buoy. The vessel is presently being escorted to Port Harcourt harbour by Nigerian Navy Patrol Team. Further details to follow," read an email message sent to Reuters by the Nigeria Maritime Administration

Arctic Sea: becomes Shelley Express

2011-11-04T15:59:00.004-04:00

The ghost vessel Arctic Sea is no more, its owner's website is down, and the company's Dutch owner is merged.
Vessel's Name Flag Call Sign Last Reported
ARCTIC SEA Barbados 8PWS 2011-11-03 15:26
BBCTIC SEA Barbados 8PWS 2011-09-17 21:04
ARCTIC SEA Malta 9HDN8 2010-05-12 08:55

www.glfl.ca/

Following two years of close cooperation initiated by Hans Laue, Gisholt Shipping, between Dutch Shipowners CFL (Canada Feeder Lines) and Scan-Trans, Scan-Trans now issues new shares that enables CFL to become a 20% shareholder in Scan-Trans Holding A/S.
Great Lakes Feeder Lines was successfully formed in continuation to its founders forming Canada Feeder Lines, a now Dutch based European shipping company with no further ties to Canada, Great Lakes Feeder Lines, its founders, or to trading vessels in Canada or the United States.

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Blida: with load of clinker finally ransomed, maybe

2011-11-04T09:18:00.005-04:00

MV Blida ransomed for USD 3.5 million. The pirates who hijacked Blida received only 2.6 million. Garaad, an investor took 600,000, and Loyaan, the negotiator and translator took 120,000, their normal percentages. Cash was dropped on November 2 and after counting it, the vessel released November 3 amid reports pirates attempted to hijack her again back

Halifax: tanker hijacked to steal oil, not ransom

2011-11-03T17:55:00.004-04:00

Pirates seized an oil tanker off the coast of Nigeria's southern delta, kidnapping the crew in a bid to steal ship's cargo in the latest hijacking targeting the region, private security officials said November 3
Gunmen boarded the MT Halifax as it sat in waters off the coast of Port Harcourt, the main city in the oil-rich Niger Delta, the officials said.

The pirates took over control of the ship and sailed off into the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, and are holding onto the crew as they offload the crude oil in the ship's hold, the officials said.

8810932 HALIFAX 9HMH5 Tanker 29753 1992

Vessel's name: Halifax Last updated: Aug 23, 2011
Ex-name(s): STARDUST / HAWK / MARITIME PRUDENCE
IMO number: 8810932
Flag: Malta Call sign: 9HMH5
Port of Registry: VALLETTA Summer DWT: 29752.95 MT
Type of vessel: Oil Tanker Built: Feb 26, 1992
Type of hull: Double Bottom Owner: TRUST A MARITIME LTD
Class Society: Lloyds Register Operator: ANCORA INVESTMENT TRUST INC.

Liquid Velvet: which tanker hijacked in Gulf of Aden

2011-11-01T10:57:00.005-04:00

Marshall Islands-flagged Liquid Velvet was seized on Monday in the Gulf of Aden
The 11,599 DWT vessel is owned by Greek firm Elmira Tankers,

9083940 LIQUID VELVET V7OM9 Tanker 11559 1994
Vessel's name: Liquid Velvet Last updated: Jul 14, 2011
Ex-name(s): Liquid Challenge / Shina IMO number: 9083940
Flag: Marshall Island Call sign: V7OM9
Port of Registry: Majuro Summer DWT: 11559 MT
Type of vessel: Chemical Built: Feb 10, 1994
Type of hull: Double Hull Owner: Minimal Enterprise Co.
Class Society: Nippon Kaiji Kyokai Operator: Elmira Tankers Management S.A.

Compare BEN
Built 2006 by Samho as Songa Diamond
Renamed: 2006 Brovig Bay, 2007 Liquid Velvet, 2007 Ben
At the terminal on the same day was 1994 built “Liquid Velvet”(9083940)
Owner: Open Waters Ben Pte Ltd
Manager: Columbia Shipmgmt Singapore
GRT 8450, DWT 12910
Length 127, beam 20 metre
Single screw diesel 13.5 kts
IMO Number: 9311646
Brovig Bay purchased by Elmira Shipping, and renamed Liquid Velvet.
Renamed: 2006 Brovig Bay, 2007 Liquid Velvet, 2007 Ben

Schelde Trader: Maersk boxship aground off NZ

2011-10-31T11:35:00.002-04:00

Schelde Trader, on charter to Maersk Line ran aground in the Bay of Plenty, just three weeks after the Rena hit the Astrolabe Reef, a second container ship. Preliminary assessments indicate that a mechanical failure caused the loss of power, which then resulted in a loss of steering. The container vessel was leaving the harbour after having come in to refuel on its way from Auckland to Noumea.
The harbour passage was not a difficult route to pilot. "I wouldn't have thought it was a difficult harbour to navigate. "

Schelde Trader Reider Shipping 9264752 SCHELDE TRADER PBKZ Container Ship 8015 2003

GROSS TONNAGE 6.704 tons
SUMMER DWT 8.015 tons
BUILD 2003
BUILDER COSCO ZHOUSHAN SHIPYARD ZHOUSHAN - CHINA
FLAG NETHERLANDS
CLASS SOCIETY GERMANISCHER LLOYD
MANAGER/OWNER REIDER SHIPPING WINSCHOTEN - NETHERLANDS

FORMER NAMES
until 2009 May 08 MEKONG CHAIYO
until 2005 Feb 27 SCHELDE TRADER

Iceberg 1: 100 miles north of Hobyo

2011-10-30T12:04:00.005-04:00

658 N 4921 E

[October 30]We are not close to releasing this vessel....until we get our demanded ransom: a spokesman, Aden said. Last known position 0700 north 04922 east, 100mi N Hobyo

Listed by ABS as still held by pirates November 2

Iceberg 1: released or not?

2011-10-27T09:55:00.003-04:00

Has Iceberg 1 been released? AP has retracted its notice
Iceberg I (12-2007)
IMO: 7429102
according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence is associated with Azal Shipping & Trading of Dubai.
Azal Contracting & Oil Services Corp. is a private firm with many activities specialized in different field of services and investment . AZAL utilizes both its assets and resources efficiently and takes full and early advantages of technical advances and markets needs. Our philosophy is based on blending individuals to form strategic partnerships with multinational corporations.. The ISO 9002 accreditation is a clear signal to our valued clients that Azal Blue Bell Shipping provides a consistently reliable quality services.

Rena: little blue penguins create a public issue

2011-10-26T22:16:00.003-04:00

While we all know that an oil spill is a bad thing, the sight of a Little Blue Penguin, covered in oil, brings the issue very much into the realms of the "here and now''.

Rena: clutch of blue penguins will not be reared

2011-10-25T08:46:00.003-04:00

164 tonnes of heavy fuel oil has been pumped from Rena on to the barge Awanuia.

This means 645 tonnes of the 1370 tonnes thought to be left on the ship has been pumped. . But for the little blue penguins of Mount Maunganui this is breeding season, and the timing of the Rena oil spill in the Bay of Plenty could not have been much worse.

Locals put the number of breeding pairs of little blues penguins in this area at around 200 to 300; and the population now has the full attention of a team from Maritime New Zealand's National Oiled Wildlife Recovery unit, monitoring their burrows daily to help the birds survive this environmental disaster.

Whilst these nocturnal penguins may not appreciate such close attention as they incubate their eggs, the monitoring is critical. The penguins come ashore during the evening to find their burrows, and many are becoming oiled crossing rocks covered in thick tar-like oil.

"If a penguin becomes oiled and tries to preen itself, it can swallow the oil and become very sick. If we find a bird that is heavily oiled, we collect it and take it back to the wildlife recovery centre to be cleaned and rehabilitated," explains WWF-New Zealand Marine Programme Manager Rebecca Bird, one of 140 field staff working as part of Maritime New Zealand's oiled wildlife recovery efforts.

Around 120 little blue penguins have been rescued from the mount so far, and their chances of survival are comparatively good - penguins are some of the most resilient birds in recovering from oil spills. But Rebecca and the team are facing a tough choice - removing an oiled bird will give it a chance of survival, but its clutch is unlikely to survive:

"We checked on the pair of little blue penguins in the 'window nest' a couple of nights ago, and the mate was oiled so we had to take him away to the recovery centre to be looked after. Then the next night we found the other penguin was oiled and had to take her away. We hope that the birds we recover will be rehabilitated successfully, but it's heartbreaking to know that saving them means their clutch won't be reared," . Builders are racing to finish aviaries for the long-term care of hundreds of little blue penguins rescued following the oil spill.
here

Rena: bow is broken and twisted from the impact

2011-10-22T09:12:00.002-04:00

Rena's bow is broken and twisted from the impact with the Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga.

animation

Rena: Captain, Navigation Officer further remanded

2011-10-21T09:11:00.002-04:00

The 44-year-old captain of the ship, Mauro Balomanga, and the 37-year-old officer in charge of navigational watch at the time of the grounding both defendants, yet to enter pleas, were further remanded on bail and are due back in court on November 2.

Rena: Filipino captain , navigation officer in Court

2011-10-20T07:44:00.003-04:00

Salvors are now back on board the vessel Rena carrying out general assessments of the ship's status. A team of three salvors re-boarded the ship this morning, however, swell and weather conditions have not been favourable for restarting pumping of from the ship. "The bow section of Rena is still sitting firmly on the reef, however, movement from the heavy swell and tide action overnight has moved the stern section slightly further to the left. "Booster pumps have now been installed on the vessel Rena and further pumps will also be added to speed up the rate of oil extraction. Salvors will recommence pumping when weather and swell conditions allow this to be done safely.
Mauro Balomanga captain and his navigational officer of the stricken ship responsible for the country's largest environmental maritime disaster will remain unshown in New Zealand who appeared before Judge Robert Wolff in Tauranga District Court October 19.

Rena: cracks connected underneath hull

2011-10-19T10:08:00.005-04:00

The two large cracks on either side of the ship are connected underneath the hull, but it is still held together through its internal structure. The bulbous section on the hull of the ship was also severely cracked and was being pushed upward as the ship's hull rested on the reef below. here note video

Rena: video oil, ship remains stable

2011-10-18T10:13:00.003-04:00

There are currently swells peaking at 4m around the vessel.

While pumping has been suspended, salvage experts are continuing with other work on board the vessel, such as cleaning out the engine room, getting more equipment on board and creating more work space. The ship is stable and remains in the same condition as it was yesterday - with cracks down each side but is still together in one piece.

Deepwater Horizon: Anadarko settles with BP

2011-10-17T12:55:00.003-04:00

BP has reached a $4bn (£2.5bn) settlement with a former partner in its Deepwater Horizon oil rig over claims related to last year's deadly explosion and oil spill at the offshore drilling platform.

Anadarko Petroleum's payment will form part of BP's $20bn compensation trust fund, set up to compensate victims and help pay for the clean-up after the fatal fire that killed 11 people and led to the largest oil spill in US history. Anadarko also agreed to drop its gross negligence claims against BP.

Texas-based Anadarko held a 25% stake in the Macondo well and has agreed to hand that to BP in return for a share of any funds BP recovers from third parties or insurance.

The settlement follows other agreements with Deepwater partners. In May, BP announced an agreement with MOEX Offshore 2007, a unit of Japan's Mitsui which owned 10% of the well. It agreed to pay BP $1bn. The following month Weatherford International, a Switzerland-based contractor that supplied parts to the rig, agreed to pay $75m to the trust fund to settle claims between itself and BP.
earlier

Rena: 20-minute window to change course

2011-10-17T09:29:00.003-04:00

The ship would have travelled in a straight line for up to 20 minutes before it struck the Astrolabe Reef off the Bay of Plenty coast at about 2.20am on 5 October. and it is a mystery why evasive action wasn't taken.
Decoded transmissions sent by the ship show the vessel took a managed, deliberate turn without on-board navigational charts having been checked. Rena's navigators only used radar recognition of land, and possibly the port entrance beacon to find their way.

Reports that the Rena is breaking up are incorrect. Salvage experts advise that while the Rena is cracked port and starboard, it remains together in one piece and is in the same position as it has been for the past week.

MNZ Salvage Unit Manager Andrew Berry (who today replaces Bruce Anderson as part of a shift rotation) says oil pumping operations are progressing. A booster pump is now in place, which is hoped to begin operation soon.

"All going well."
here
read

Rena: took a short cut to be on time

2011-10-15T09:04:00.005-04:00

There were claims today that the Rena hit the Astrolabe Reef because someone on board deliberately changed its course.

One expert 3 News spoke to said the ship used only one navigational aid - a beacon around 20 kilometres away, and never checked its own charts because if it had it would have been obvious it was on a collision course.

Marine accident specialist John Riding says the Rena is not there because of bad luck, but because of bad decision making.

Mr Riding believes a massive error in navigation means the course of the boat was deliberately changed long before it hit the Astrolabe.

He says about an hour from the port of Tauranga the Rena’s radar picked up a signal from the port's entry beacon.

It then changed course, slowly turning towards the beacon. The new route set a collision course with the reef.

“It appears to me that if he'd looked at the chart it would have been obvious what would happen,” says Mr Riding. “We are genuinely talking about the ‘ABCs’ of navigation, these are the basics that have gone wrong.”

All ships must eventually line up with the entry beacon where a pilot boards the ship to help guide it safely into the port.

3 news understands the Rena was meant to meet its pilot at 3.30am that morning. It hit the reef at 2.15, still on schedule to meet that deadline.

Port of Tauranga CEO Mark Carins says if ships miss their rendezvous time they simply do not come in to port.

“We won't risk the safety on that, so if they miss the window, they miss the window, and depending on the size of the ship they would have to wait for a few hours.”

But waiting at sea with a fully laden ship is expensive. Even the government is questioning whether the Rena was racing to get into Tauranga.

Environment Minister Nick Smith says it appears from the charts that they were in a rush to get to port.

“[They] went full bore, cut the corner and hit the reef and there's a proper inquiry that needs to take place to confirm that course of events.”

Mr Riding says every ship is under pressure to arrive on time, otherwise it costs money.

“The master's job is to make sure you do it safely. Every master has that on his shoulders.”
video

Rena: water not supporting bow, stern

2011-10-14T11:08:00.003-04:00

Liberian-flagged Rena has been stuck for nine days on a reef 14 miles off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, spilling about 300 tons of heavy toxic fuel and some of its hundreds of containers into the sea."What's holding the vessel together at the moment is the fact she's lying on the reef and some internal structures, companionways, ducting and the like inside the vessel," Maritime NZ spokesman "The ship is supported over part of its bottom and the water is not providing the usual support to the bow and stern so the static forces will be tending to bend the ship. In addition the waves will be causing changing forces that will tend to grow cracks,"
photoblog

Scarabeo 9: China-built oil rig coming to Cuba

2011-10-13T21:43:00.005-04:00

Repsol has accepted two partners in the venture.Norsk Hydro ASA, Oslo, and ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL), New Delhi, signed an association contract in Havana with Repsol and Cuba’s state company Cubapetroleo SA (Cupet) to explore the blocks. Repsol YPF, which will remain operator, is retaining a 40% stake, and Hydro and OVL each will hold 30%.The gateway for the United States to end or weaken the embargo may be the giant oil rig, the Scarabeo 9, which could be on its way to the Florida Straits from a shipyard in Singapore any day now. The Spanish oil company RepSol is the first of several foreign energy companies scheduled to explore for oil in deep water 50 miles from Key West.
A spokesman for Spanish oil company Repsol YPF says a Chinese-made rig is on schedule to arrive off Cuba and begin drilling before the end of the year.

Spokesman Kristian Rix would neither confirm nor deny recent reports of delays for the Scarabeo-9 rig.

He says the project's schedule has always been based on a window of time during which the rig was expected to arrive, and it's impossible to predict exact dates for such a complex undertaking.

Rix said Thursday that the Scarabeo-9 is still on track to arrive and begin operations within that window.
Following the acquisition of several engineering companies over the last years, most prominently of Snamprogetti, Bouygues Offshore and Sofresid, the new Business Unit Saipem Onshore has become one of the world’s largest engineering and construction companies, serving primarily the oil & gas, refining and petrochemical markets as well as a number of diversified industrial ones, such as environment, infrastructure, marine terminals, etc.
More than 30 House lawmakers are urging Spanish energy company Repsol YPF S.A. (REP.MC) to abandon its plan to drill for oil in Cuban waters, saying such a move will bolster the financial strength of the Castro regime and could expose Repsol to criminal and civil liabilities in U.S. courts.

In a letter sent to Repsol’s chairman this week, the lawmakers say they “urge Repsol to reassess the risks inherent in partnering with the Castro dictatorship, including the risk to its commercial interests with the United States.”

Repsol spokesman Kristian Rix said the company “is abiding by U.S. embargo legislation, and our drilling plans are in accordance with” safety standards put in place after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Opposition to Repsol’s drilling plans ramped up in recent weeks, as the Spanish company prepares to begin drilling off Cuba’s north coast by the end of the year. A Chinese-built drilling rig that Repsol will use for the project is currently en route from Singapore to Cuba.

9480423 SCARABEO 9 Drillship 23965 2011

Flag: Bahamas

Width: 73 m
Length: 109 m

Vessel type: Platform
Gross tonnage: 31,331 tons
Summer DWT: 23,965 tons
Build year: 2010
Builder*: Raffles Shipyard
Yantai, China

Saipem Onshore

Ultra deepwater 6th generation semi submersible drilling rig

Classification:
DNV +1A1

Design type:
Frigstad D90

Dimensions:
Length overall: 115.00 m
Breadth (common deck box): 80.00 m
Depth (keel to main deck): 35.40 m
Moonpool dimensions: 42 x 8 m
Displacement: 31,000 t

Design criteria:
Water depth: up to 12,000 ft
Drilling depth: up to 15,200 m
Variable deck load: 8,900 t

Cranes:
2 100 t Liebherr revolving deck cranes with 60 m boom

Drawworks:
Dual ram rig type

Mud pumps:
4 Aker Wirth triplex pumps, 2,200 HP each.

Rotary table:
2 Aker Wirth, max. opening 601/2”. Rated capacity: 1,000 t, driven by hydraulic motor.

Top drive:
2 Aker Maritime Hydraulics DDM 1000 HY RR, rated capacity: 1,000 t – 7,500 psi w.p., driven by Rexroth hydraulic motors.

Derrick:
Aker Maritime hydraulic dual ram rig, 118 ft high. Hook load capacity: 2 x 2,000 kips

BOP:
1 Shaffer spherical preventer 183/4” – 10,000 psi w.p.
1 Shaffer double ram preventer 183/4” – 15,000 psi w.p. with shear capacity
1 Shaffer triple ram preventer 183/4” – 15,000 psi w.p.

Power system generators:
8 Wartsila 12V32LNE 7,200 BHP coupled with Coverteam AC generators 5,400 kW each.

Thrusters:
8 Wartsila FS3500-571NU, driven by 4,300 kW electric motors

Risers:
21” O.D., 50 ft long

Crew facilities:
Air conditioned living quarters for 200 people

Helideck:
Suitable for MI8, S61 and EH101

Reno: Mauro Balomanga, Filipino Captain

2011-10-13T10:28:00.004-04:00

88 containers have been reported as fallen from the ship. Members of the public should not touch containers that reach the shore, or any of the goods that have come free from the containers. Officials had feared that a large crack in the ship’s hull indicated it was about to split in two but said at a news briefing on October 13 that a breakup was not considered imminent, although it remained a dangerous possibility. Mauro Balomanga, the ship’s captain, a 44-year-old Filipino man, was arrested October 12.

Rena:video crack, captain, 2d charged

2011-10-12T08:15:00.003-04:00

Rena's captain had been charged under section 65 of the Maritime Transport Act. He faces a fine of $7,800 (£5,000) or a maximum prison sentence of 12 months if convicted.

More charges were likely, MNZ said.

He appeared at a court in Tauranga on Wednesday morning and was granted bail for one week, when he is next due in court.

Judge Robert Wolff granted his lawyer's request that the captain's name be suppressed because people "might want to take matters into their own hands".

The captain's passport has been confiscated and he is to remain at a nominated address approved by the prosecutors and make daily reports to a local police station subject to the needs of the salvage operation.

It is not clear how the vessel ran aground on a well-marked reef in calm weather.

The second officer of the stricken ship Rena has been charged. The man, who was in charge of the navigational watch of the vessel, will face a charge of operating a vessel in a manner causing unnecessary danger or risk in Tauranga District Court October 13).

4.07pm: Prime Minister John Key has announced the stricken Rena cargo ship has "stress fractures" in its hull and may break up.

videos

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/massive-crack-rena-4460592/video?vid=4462136

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/5770592/Rena-disaster-Second-officer-charged-cracks-in-ship#share

Montecristo: Royal marines to the rescue

2011-10-11T17:01:00.003-04:00

They boarded the 56,000-ton bulk carrier Montecristo and disarmed the pirates without encountering any opposition. USS De Wert was the first NATO warship to reach MV Montecristo and assessed the situation while the NATO boarding team was getting ready to intervene. British Marines, armed with pistols and SA-80 automatic rifles and operating from a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, the RFA Fort Victoria, sped towards the hijacked ship in inflatable boats as a British helicopter buzzed overhead.

“It was a compliant boarding — the 11 pirates surrendered without firing a shot,” said a Ministry of Defence spokesman. “They were arrested and detained on board the ship.” The ship’s 23 crew – seven Italians, six Ukrainians and 10 Indians — were released unharmed.

Four of the Italians were privately-contracted security guards, but in line with international practise they were unarmed and had been powerless to fend off the pirates.

Montecristo:Japanese escort backed off

2011-10-11T08:54:00.002-04:00

D’Alesio officials explain that when the Montecristo came under attack, it was being escorted by a Japanese navy vessel. The pirates pounced when the Italian ship reached the Indian Ocean and the Japanese vessel moved off. The Montecristo had sailed from Liverpool and was taking a cargo of iron to Vietnam. The vessel’s captain is Venice-born Diego Scussat. Two of the other Italians on board are the deck officer, Stefano Mariotti, and officer cadet Luca Giglioli, the son of a D’Alesio Group employee.

Following the passage of Japan’s Law on Punishment and Measures against Acts of Piracy on July 24, 2009, its Self-Defense Force started vessel-escorting operations in the Gulf of Aden not only for Japanese vessels but also for all foreign vessels.”

“The legislation enables units of Japan’s Self-Defense Force (including P-3C patrol aircraft) to protect vessels from acts of piracy, complimenting other efforts made globally to ensure safe passage for ships off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden,”
Japanese MSDF anti-piracy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bjW_OyMZ5Q&feature=player_embedded
more

MONTECRISTO:Antonio D’Alesio bulker hijacked

2011-10-10T23:52:00.002-04:00

Somali pirates on Monday hijacked an Antonio D’Alesio bulker, who with his brother Nello has been at the helm of the D’Alesio Group for over forty years.
9325025 MONTECRISTO 9HA2348 Bulker 180263 2005
Bulk carrier with transom stern, strengthened double bottom. Five cargo holds. Five pairs of water ballast tanks.
Builder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd – South Corea
Delivery June 2011
Pirates hijacked the Italian-flagged Montecristo, some 620 nautical miles (1,148 kilometers) from the Somali coast.

. "The Vessel was hijacked on Oct. 10 in Gulf of Aden or further to the east at about 0700, no communications after that. Crew are 23, 7 Italians, 10 Ukrainians, 6 Indians," Dalmare said in a statement posted on the firm's website.

Montecristo was on heading to Vietnam which it came under attack approximately 450 nautical miles Northwest of Socotra, Yemen.

Rena: captain had been drinking?

2011-10-10T10:13:00.002-04:00

An investigation will consider whether the captain of a stricken cargo ship had been drinking when the vessel ran aground off Tauranga, Transport Minister Steven Joyce says.

The Liberian-flagged Rena was carrying about 1700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and about 70 tonnes of marine diesel when it struck the Astrolabe Reef at top speed on October 5.
The course the ship should be steering is about three miles to the north of astrolabe reef and there are no obstacles in the way.

He said he would have seen the two flashes of a lighthouse and two white flashes every so many seconds to indicate Mortiti Island.

One possible factor - the ship is believed to not have been equipped with an electronic course plotter, which would have alerted the crew if she strayed from her intended route.

"Our understanding is on the bridge they have radar and they got a GPS that gives them their position and traditional paper charts on the chart table [the equipment] has been enough since World War II and it's kept the port safe."

The ship is put on automatic pilot and a watch keeper monitors the position of the ship and maintains its planned trip.

"He's looking out for the radar. He's looking out through the windows to look for anything that would impede a safe passage."

Lees said an alarm would be sounded when the auto pilot could not keep on course anymore.

But, the reef would not show on the radar because it is too low and there would be no proximity alarms to indicate danger.

Rena: video boxship stranded on Reef off NZ

2011-10-09T09:09:00.005-04:00

Rene: Liberian-flag boxship stranded on Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga NZ. The MV Rena's owners, Greece-based Costamare Inc, said they were "working tirelessly" on the response. .People know about the reef, and for it to plough into it for no particular reason - at night, in calm waters - tells you something terrible has gone wrong Officials say. 20-30 tonnes of oil have spilled into the Bay of Plenty, one of the country's top tourist destinations, since the MV Rena ran aground on October 5.
8806802 RENA A8XJ7 Container Ship 47230 1990
Official electronic charts that are considered 'paper equivalent' . at 22 years old this ship may still have been using paper charts,

http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/news/oil-spill-tauranga-harbour-new-video/1129419/

Shaky Bottoms : market risks

2011-10-06T17:38:00.004-04:00

The market appears to continue to anticipate that at least some of these ocean carriers have a high probability of exiting the market. Several competitors within the sector are trading below book value, and also liquidated valuations, with fear of bankruptcy and/or selling off ships.
DryShips, Inc (DRYS)
Eagle Bulk Shipping, Inc. (EGLE)
Excel Maritime Carriers, Ltd. (EXM)
Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd. (GNK)
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. (NM)
Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. (OSG)
Paragon Shipping Inc. (PRGN)
more

The beta of an asset within a portfolio is

\beta_a = \frac {\mathrm{Cov}(r_a,r_p)}{\mathrm{Var}(r_p)},~

where ra measures the rate of return of the asset, rp measures the rate of return of the portfolio, and cov(ra,rp) is the covariance between the rates of return. The portfolio of interest in the CAPM formulation is the market portfolio that contains all risky assets, and so the rp terms in the formula are replaced by rm, the rate of return of the market.

Diver: ransomed, released

2011-10-01T22:19:00.002-04:00

Dover released bulker after payment of 3.8 million in ranson, by helicopter they say

earlier

Bataan ARG: awlaki - harriers and ospreys option

2011-10-01T08:55:00.004-04:00

Harrier jets flying from an amphibious carrier off the coast were ready to take a shot if the CIA drone missed. There was even an option for sending in Marine Ospreys with Special Operations Forces to collect any intelligence left after the strike,
earlier

USN BATARG: killing of Awlaki

2011-09-30T18:56:00.006-04:00

Anwar al-Awlaki, and a second American, Samir Khan, were killed by a joint CIA-U.S. military air strike on their convoy in Yemen early Friday, After three weeks of tracking the targets, U.S. armed drones and fighter jets shadowed al-Awlaki’s convoy early September 30, then drones launched their lethal strike. The strike killed four operatives in all, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters of intelligence. Navy Times
USS BATAAN, Gulf of Aden (NNS) -- Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) relieved Boxer ARG and 13th MEU in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Aug. 13. BATARG/22nd MEU team will pick right up where they left off - poised and ready." Bataan ARG ships include Norfolk-based Bataan and amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), and the dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), homeported at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story, Va.

The 22nd MEU is a Marine Air Ground Task Force comprised of the Command Element, Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22.

GULF OF ADEN-U.S. Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), run to their first event during damage control (DC) olympics aboard dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41). lsd 41

Fairchem Bogey: USD 10 million demand

2011-09-30T11:35:00.002-04:00

Said Candas, the pirate leader of the group holding the MT Fairchem Bogey, said they are demanding $10 million ransom for the vessel and crew.

The Marshall Islands flagged chemical oil product tanker, MT Fairchem Bogey, has safely anchored off Garacad in Somalia's Mudug region

Four Americans and one Briton who say they were trying to free a boat seized by pirates have briefly been detained in Mozambique on suspicion of possessing illegal weapons.

They were held at the airport in the city of Nampula on Friday, police said. The US embassy said the group had no connection to the US government.
Michael Ferguson, a 21-year veteran of the US Navy SEALS was arrested by Mozambique officials yesterday for illegal weapons possession while attempting to free a vessel which had been seized by pirates. Nampula provincial police spokesperson Inacio Dina said that the weapons include an Fabrique Nationale 5.5mm rifle, as well as ammunition and communications equipment.

Mr. Ferguson cv includes deployments with SEAL TEAM 1 and SEAL TEAM 8, before becoming a weapons and tactics instructor for the Coast Guard, and, just this month, an executive for the GreySide Group – a Herdon, Virginia based international risk management firm. The authorities "found no wrongdoing", the company later said.

IS Alvnd: Syria's isolation weakens Iran

2011-09-30T09:44:00.004-04:00

IS Alvand, DE 71, passed through the Suez canal at Ismailia, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb.22, 2011, together with IS Kharg, replenishment ship 431. here
Syria's isolation entails a weakening of the Iranian regime, and at a time when it is aiming to impose itself as a regional superpower. Despite the bullish rhetoric that Iranian leaders keep on dispensing, the Iranian regime is currently in trouble: without Assad, Iran will be isolated. more
Most of its oceangoing surface ships are more than 40 years old, and Tehran is struggling to keep them operational. Over the past few years the only major ships the government has managed to add are one home-built destroyer and three Russian-made submarines. read

Hoàng Sơn Sun: "complete horror"

2011-09-26T08:57:00.003-04:00

"We had to pay the pirates $2.6 million. The money was from our own company," said the shipping firm which has an office in the northern port city of Haiphong.
After a meeting with a British company which specializes in maritime hostage negotiation on 25.Jan.2011, Hoang Son, vice director of Hoàng Sơn Co Ltd had estimated the ransom would be $5 million

The Hoang Son Sun was carrying 21,000 tons of iron ore when it was attacked about 520 nautical miles South-East of Muscat, Oman on January 17.

May Hung Bui Thai since the days of detention.

After running some distance, the robbers asked the ship anchored about three nautical miles from shore, the crew then began calling the family company to report the incident and demanded ransom.Also from that day, his life is the day you complete horror. google

earlier

Pacific Express: aflame, rescued from pirates

2011-09-21T11:49:00.002-04:00

The Cypriot 1981-built merchant ship "Pacific Express", was allegedly target of a kidnapping effort by armed pirates.
This morning the destroyer "Andrea Doria", engaged in the Indian Ocean as part of NATO's anti-piracy operation called "Ocean Shield", has intervened to give support.
IMO: 8009454
Flag: Cyprus
MMSI: 212834000
Callsign: P3KX8
Former name(s):
- Delmas Charcot (Until 2001 Dec 22)
- Pacific Express (Until 2000 Dec 10)
- Pacific Wind (Until 1999 Jun 17)
- Pacific Maru (Until 1996 Jun 21)

Owner: Cyprus Maritime Co. Limited
Athens, Greece
Manager: Cyprus Maritime
Athens, Greece

The Cypriot merchant ship "Pacific Express", was target of a kidnapping effort by armed pirates.
This morning the destroyer "Andrea Doria", engaged in the Indian Ocean as part of NATO's anti-piracy operation called "Ocean Shield", has intervened to give support.
The attack, thwarted by the prompt reaction of the crew which closed itself in the citadel (the protected part of the superstructure), lasted almost all night and also caused a fire on board. Upon its arrival in the area, about 200 miles east of Mombasa, the ship "Doria" approached the merchant, verified the absence of pirates on board, allegedly fled with the view of the military unit, and sent a team of security to free the crew.

Afterwards the commander of the "Pacific Express", given the severity of the fire, said the ship is lost and asked for help to our unity. The destroyer "Andrea Doria" has shipped the entire crew of the merchant ship (Ukrainian commander and 25 Philippine sailors) and headed to Mombasa where they have requested to be landed.

The ship "Andrea Doria", the Control Ship of the NATO's mission Standing NATO Maritime Group 1's , under the command of rear admiral Gualtiero Mattesi, has been engaged since last June 14 in the Indian Ocean as part of NATO's "Ocean Shield" operation to counter piracy.

hoang son sun: pirates cut out investor bagmen

2011-09-18T11:32:00.003-04:00

The ship was released September 15 soon after her captors were paid USD 4.5 million in ransom. Investors in the piratical operation were shortchanged when the actual pirates left the vessel at 1900 hrs local without waiting for the bagmen for the backers.

USS Mitscher: heightened activity in Yemen

2011-09-17T08:43:00.003-04:00

Heightened U.S. air activity in Yemen — and those being conducted in nearby Somalia relate to a Somali insurgent group even conducting the occasional air strike, fired from a ship offshore, or dropped from a jet. Military and intelligence officials have long argued in favor of attacks against al-Shabab camps in Somalia, which have been under overhead surveillance for years. The United States determined this year that AQAP, as the Yemen-based group is known, poses a more significant threat to the United States than the core al-Qaeda group based in Pakistan. The administration has also concluded that AQAP [al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] has recruited at least a portion of the main insurgent group in Somalia, al-Shabab, to its anti-Western cause. Drone strikes and other air attacks against the al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen intended targets must be drawn from an approved list of key members of AQAP deemed by U.S. intelligence officials to be involved in planning attacks against the West.

Guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), communicates with a SA-330J Puma helicopter from the helicopter control tower. 110911-N-XQ375-391 GULF OF ADEN (Sept. 11, 2011)

Al Hani: Libyan frigate 212 in rebel hands

2011-09-06T11:27:00.002-04:00

Deepwater Horizon: more suits from Halliburton

2011-09-02T15:18:00.001-04:00

BP gave inaccurate information after the blowout as well in an effort to blame others for the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, Halliburton said
Houston – Sept. 2, 2011 – On September 1, 2011, Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) filed claims against BP in Texas state court for negligent misrepresentation, business disparagement and defamation related to the April 20, 2010, Macondo incident. Halliburton has also moved to amend its claims against BP in the multi-district litigation in New Orleans, Louisiana, to include fraud.

These allegations are based upon BP providing Halliburton with inaccurate information prior to performing cementing services on April 19, 2010, and BP’s use of and omission of that information in subsequent public statements, filings and governmental investigations.

Halliburton has learned that BP provided Halliburton inaccurate information about the actual location of hydrocarbon zones in the Macondo well. The actual location of the hydrocarbon zones is critical information required prior to performing cementing services and is necessary to achieve desired cement placement.

Halliburton remains confident that all the work it performed with respect to the Macondo well was completed in accordance with BP’s specifications for its well construction plan and instructions, and that Halliburton is fully indemnified under the contract.

The Macondo blowout and the explosion that followed killed 11 workers and set off the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. The accident and spill led to hundreds of lawsuits against London-based BP and its partners and contractors. The lawsuits over economic losses and personal injuries have been combined before U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans.

The lawsuits also name as defendants Transocean Ltd. (RIG), the Switzerland-based owner and operator of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that exploded; Houston-based Halliburton; and Cameron International Corp. (CAM), which provided blowout-prevention equipment. BP’s minority partners in the well, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) and Mitsui & Co.’s Moex Offshore LLC unit, were also sued.

Polar: 7.7 million USD ransom

2011-08-27T12:02:00.005-04:00

Constantinos Tsakiris may have paid a total of $7.7 million in ransom for release of oil products tanker “Polar” dwt 72,825 hijacked en route from St. Petersburg and Kronshtadt to Singapore with a cargo of fuel oil.
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Fairchem Bogey: hijacked from cattle carrier

2011-08-21T15:14:00.004-04:00

FAIRCHEM BOGEY imo 9423750 V7UB6 Chemical/Oil Tanker 25390 2010 chemical tanker sailing under Marshall Islands flag was in the designated anchorage area of Salalah port at Oman, awaiting berthing instructions when the hijackers managed to board the ship from a vessel that was ferrying cattle load.The ship prior to reaching Salalah had discharged cargo at Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia and from Oman port and was to proceed towards China. According to Anglo-Eastern Management officials, all crew members, “appear safe with no injuries.” Giving details about the hijacking, the shipping company officials disclosed that when Omani Coast Guard approached the vessel the pirates asked them to move away to avoid casualties to the crew.
Owner: Eurus Maritime SA
Manager: Anglo-Eastern Shipmanagement (Singapore) Pte Ltd
DocHolder: Anglo-Eastern Shipmanagement (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Query: why does a new chemtanker sail from Oman to China without a return load

Operation Mermaid: rebel tugs into Tripoli Harbor

2011-08-21T09:03:00.004-04:00

Col Fadlallah Haroun, a rebel military commander in the stronghold of Benghazi, said this marks the beginning of Operation Mermaid – a nickname for the capital city – an assault on Tripoli co-ordinated with Nato. Col Haroun said that weapons were assembled and sent by tugboats to Tripoli on August 19
This explains RAF striking in the harbor
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RAF destroys Libyan tug

2011-08-19T09:46:00.004-04:00

"Since it was clear these troops continued to pose a threat to the local population, the RAF patrol engaged the ship. A direct hit was scored." RAF pilots have obliterated a Libyan boat, containing dozens of Gaddafi troops, with a laser-guided bomb.

In March, an Italian tug was seized and released.
Asso 22
Augusta Offshore SrLowned by Naples-based shipping entrepreneur Mario Mattioli. The company’s tugs are working at the Mellitah oil rig, 120 kilometres from Tripoli and 30 from the Tunisian border.
Eni, Italy's oil and gas giant which has significant interests in Libya, had rented the tug for use at oil platforms off the coast.
La Cafiero Mattioli Finanziaria CA.FI.MA. S.A.p.A. è la società capogruppo,

Sinin: IRISL Bulker ransomed

2011-08-17T14:55:00.002-04:00

Ransomed after bargaining for 182 days, Maltese flagged. The ship is now on its way to a safe port.

2002:- The Shipping Corporation of India will continue to be a partner with the Iranian government in the Irano Hind Shipping Co after disinvestment.

According to senior officials, New Delhi has conveyed to Teheran that it stands committed to the joint venture even after its privatisation which is expected to take place by next month.

SCI has a 49 per cent equity holding in the joint venture company which has a majority holding by the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

Sources said the reassurance to the Iranian government has been informally conveyed since the joint venture was conceived as a government-to-government partnership way back in 1974.

The government has decided to offload 51 per cent equity in SCI in favour of a strategic partner while at the same time passing off 3.12 per cent shares to the employees. The government currently holds 80.12 per cent stake in the public sector shipping giant.
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EMS Wave,Tide-sisters to ransomed River

2011-08-16T08:18:00.004-04:00

Western Marine Shipyard Limited (WMSL) launched EMS WAVE & EMS TIDE - the third pair of vessels from a series of twelve ordered by German buyer - Grona Shipping GmbH, Grona Managing Director Ebbe Prins, Fleet Manager Lass Ralf and East Wind, Germany, Managing Director Lars Brenneke, also representative of WMSL in Europe, were present at the ceremony. The two ice-class oceangoing vessels made by local firm Western Marine Shipyard have been handed over to their German importer.
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Syrian Gunboats fire on Latakia

2011-08-14T07:45:00.004-04:00

One witness, speaking by phone to Reuters, said: 'I can see the silhouettes of two grey vessels.

'They are firing their guns and the impact is landing on al-Raml al-Filistini and al-Shaab neighbouhoods." President Assad is from Syria's minority Alawite sect, while Latakia is majority Sunni with a large Alawite population.

Demonstrations against the leader during the five-month uprising against his autocratic rule have been biggest in Sunni neighbourhoods. Sunnis, which are a majority in Syria, live in Latakia’s urban core, while Assad’s minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, populates villages on the city’s outskirts, along with small minorities of Christians, ethnic Turks and other groups.

Sonya class minesweeper: A wooden hulled coastal minehunter, built as a successor to the Vanya class with new sweeps and more effective sonar. 2 - 30mm guns (1x2)
2 x 25mm guns (1x2)
Yevgenya class minesweeper: These were small minehunters built for inshore work. The hulls were constructed of glass-reinforced plastic. 2–14.5 mm machine guns

Syrian forces were using medium-range weapons and machine guns in their attack on the neighborhoods, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria,

Shi Lang: China's carrier on sea trials

2011-08-10T13:53:00.003-04:00

China has the largest maritime landmass among all Asia-Pacific countries. Its mainland coastline is 18,000 km long, compared with Thailand's 3,219 km, India's 6,083 km and the United States' 19,924 km.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQAmRmS-9s&feature=player_embedded

Piracy stocks down too?

2011-08-09T10:14:00.003-04:00

Hire costs for very large crude carriers, each able to haul 2 million barrels of oil, are at the lowest level in 10 years. Oil-tanker stocks in New York fell as the threat of a second U.S. recession in three years increased the risk that energy imports into the world’s largest economy may fall. The stock market is discounting problems ahead,” Manager of the world’s biggest shipping hedge fund, “It will be very bad for tankers.”
Oil settled below technical support at both $82.87, its low from last week, and $83.85, the 61.8 percent retracement of the rally from the 2010 lows in a Fibonacci study. Breaching those levels would send crude to test $76.17, a price that corresponds with the 76.4 percent retracement level on the Fibonacci chart.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. maintained its 2012 forecast for Brent crude to average $130 a barrel and recommended investors hold a “long” trading position on December 2012 contracts.

Gotland Sophia: Gulf Guinea panic room saves

2011-08-09T00:00:00.003-04:00

Pirates attacked two Panamanian-flagged tankers off the coast of Benin on August 3.

At the time, the vessels were undergoing a ship-to-ship transfer. The vessels involved were the mother ship ‘Golden Sofia’ and the daughter vessel ‘Aidin’.

Wisby Ship Management’s ‘Gotland Sofia’ was boarded by about 10 pirates, while she was undergoing an STS about 70 km from the Benin capital Cotonou.

The crew, consisting of four Swedes, 18 Filipinos and a Ukrainian, locked themselves in. The pirates tried to gain access to the area in which the crew had blockaded themselves, but left having ransacked the Swedish vessel. the daughter vessel ‘Aidin’ was initially attacked.

‘Gotland Sofia’s’ crew barricaded themselves in the engine room for six hours, while the pirates ransacked the vessel, smashing bridge windows and security doors.

9328144 GOTLAND SOFIA OXSP2 Chemical/Oil Tanker 53187 2007
Owner Rederi AB Lickershamn
Manager Wisby Shipmanagement AB

Cartegena: "special forces/europe helped seize

2011-08-04T16:14:00.005-04:00

A Libyan tanker reported to have been seized by rebels is about to enter the opposition capital Benghazi, having been cleared by Nato ships enforcing an arms embargo on both sides, a Nato official told Reuters today.

Apparently rebels seized the Cartagena, which belongs to the Libyan government's shipping arm, off Malta on Tuesday night "with the help of special forces from a European state", according to the news agency. The ship is said to be carrying almost 40,000 tonnes of gasoline.