Swanland: Cook Island-registered bulker sinks

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

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: leak nothing to do with Transocean

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

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%.

Rena: hang the captain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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