Syngenta is one of the leading company in the agrochemical industry which is constantly trying to optimise its supply chains so as to fulfill its aim of efficient and responsible production of food and thereby, raise the productivity.
The cooperation with the leading container logistics, Maersk, will allow both the companies to develop solutions that will help in meeting the present as well as the future logistics needs.
A contract was signed by Syngenta and Maersk on the 27th of November for fourth-party logistics (4PL) concept.
Third party logistics are taken at another level by a 4PL provider by managing resources, technology, infrastructure with other logistics providers helping the customers to design, build and provide customised supply chain solutions. This is included in the product offering of Maersk’s Logistics & Services and is one of the major elements of it’s strategy to rise higher in supply chain management solutions.
Marion Matthewman, Global Head of Logistics at Syngenta said: “Syngenta is happy to announce the extension of our partnership with Maersk to provide best in class 4PL. The partnership will support Syngenta’s recent commitment to reduce Carbon emissions from our supply chain by 50% by 2030 and help optimize supply operations guaranteeing the best delivery service to Syngenta’s Customers and Growers around the world.”
“The journey we are on together with Syngenta underpins the strategic transformation of Maersk into a true integrated container logistics provider. Our success in this depends on the success of our customers, to which we can contribute by developing solutions that optimise and simplify their supply chains. We are therefore on a continuous journey of looking for improvements in the supply chain”, says Klaus Rud Sejling, Global Head of Logistics & Services at Maersk.
The joint forces of Syngenta and Maersk is constantly aiming for sustainable logistics along with their goal to reduce the emission of CO2 in the entire supply chain. In order to remove fossil fuel in container shipping and supply chains, Maersk aims to achieve its goal of reaching zero emissions of carbon during its operations by 2050. This goal is in line with the aim of Syngenta to feed people without harming the planet.
DP World’s Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem rang the market-opening bell at Nasdaq Dubai for celebrating the listing of two Sukuk and two conventional bonds which has a total value of 2.3 billion US dollars.
The capital raised will be used by DP World for refinancing debt and to fund opportunities to grow.
The 2019 listing includes two one billion US dollars of Sukuk and 500 million US dollars and two 500 million and 300 US dollars conventional bonds.
Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “Our debt issuances this year were well received in the market by a wide variety of investors in the region and around the world, driven by attractive pricing, enabling us to achieve competitive pricing structures as we continue to execute our strategy to become a logistics solutions provider to end-cargo owners. Once again Nasdaq Dubai has provided valuable support for our issuances through its high global profile and close links to international and regional investors.”
By value on the international exchange of the region, DP World is the largest debt issuer in UAE with its Sukuk and conventional bonds listings adding up to more than 9billion US dollars.
His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Secretary General of Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) and Chairman of Dubai Financial Market (DFM), said: “The issuance and listing of these Islamic and conventional instruments in Dubai reflect the high level of expertise in the UAE across all aspects of the debt markets. The Sukuk instruments emphasise the continued expansion of the Islamic capital markets in Dubai, in line with the growth of the Emirate as the global Capital of Islamic economy under the initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minster and Ruler of Dubai.”
Sukuk of DP World makes Dubai one of the largest centres for Sukuk listings in the world by face value, presently adding up to 64.3 billion US dollars.
Abdul Wahed Al Fahim, Chairman of Nasdaq Dubai, said: “Our exchange infrastructure is designed to provide DP World and other substantial global companies with a streamlined process ahead of listing that meets their fast-moving commercial needs. We also provide comprehensive post-listing services that support their ongoing relationships with their international and regional investors.”
Hamed Ali, Chief Executive of Nasdaq Dubai, said: “The multiple listings during 2019 by one of Dubai’s most prominent international enterprises underline the Emirate’s expansion as a capital markets hub that attracts investors from around the world. We are preparing for a significant increase in debt listing activity in 2020 from regional and international private and public sector issuers that seek the responsive listing framework and global visibility that we provide.”
The listing of one billion US dollar Sukuk and 300 million US dollar conventional bond of DP World that were listed in July were followed by the listing of 500 million US dollar Sukuk and 500 million US dollar conventional bond in September.
MSC Sara Elena, the largest container ship with a length of 300m and a capacity of 8,000 TEUs to be berthed in Costa Rica, was welcomed by APM Terminals Moín this month and made history.
Sara Elena which was to travel to Rotterdam was loaded with major Costa Rican exports like pineapples and bananas in 337 lifts. Combining the necessary first call celebrations, the ship was in the port for less than nine hours.
APM Terminals Moin is breaking its own gross moves per hour (GMPH) record. In the first half year of operation, it has reached 28 GMPH.
In the first phase, featured with six Super-Post Panamax cranes and two berths with 14.5m draft, the terminal can handle 8,500 TEUs container ships for 24×7.
After the final phase of the projects is complete the facility will cover double the present area of 40 hectares, with 5 berths and will be able to handle vessels of about 13,000 TEU which is the largest vessel size that can pass via Panama Canal locks.
Fincantieri has joined the largest business sustainability initiative of the world, United Nations Global Compact, to strengthen it’s corporate responsibility.
After the proposal of the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 1999, this Global Compact came into existence. About 10,000 companies from more than 160 countries have joined this Compact till now, thereby making a new global cooperation organisation.
The members can voluntarily be a part of the ten universal principles related to human rights, labor, environment and fight against corruption to promote sustainability in the long-run by political actions, business practices, social and civil behavior.
The CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, stated: “With this important step Fincantieri becomes the largest shipbuilder, and the first in the cruise sector, to adopt the Global Compact principles in its strategy. The most complex challenge that a large company like us can face is modeling its own culture, that is the vision with which we face the daily commitments on several fronts. We strongly believe that corporate sustainability is an essential instrument to create long-term value, especially from a multi-stakeholder point of view, such as the one that will prevail in the near future”.
The key commitments have already been fulfilled by Fincantieri for sustainability and to meet the Sustainable Development Goals mentioned in the 2030 UN Agenda related to promoting sustainability, a proper supply chain, employee involvement, enhancing health and safety at work constantly, support of technological innovation, satisfying customers, constant communication and support of local communities, decrease in the impacts on environment and making contributions to fight climate change.
ClassNK has decided on a joint research agreement for the development of advance condition based maintenance (CBM) which a new process of maintenance and management for engine machinery plants and builds a new CBM based classification survey scheme.
The condition of engine will be monitored constantly and the real time detailed data that will acquired from sources like SIMS2 and the new sensors of large main engines will be shared in the joint research project.
The expertise of the engine manufacturers will be used to work on making failure predictions and the engine’s remaining useful life (RUL) predictions by taking advantage of the experience of the manufacturer to make proper CBM guidelines and then test them on real ships. The results of the joint research might be used by ClassNK to make a new CBM based classification survey scheme.
Research content Partners
Joint research for realizing CBM for main diesel engines: Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), MTI Co. Ltd., Japan Engine Corporation, ClassNK
Joint research for realizing CBM for main steam turbines: Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), MTI Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Equipment Co. Ltd., ClassNK
ClassNK will support the top notch initiatives of the industry and develop a more specified survey scheme by using digital technology.
An information paper Collision Prevention At Ports & Terminals has been introduced by three of industry’s leading cargo handling bodies in order to reduce risk and for better port safety.
Experts from TT Club which an international freight transport insurer along with ICHCA and PEMA who are experts in handling cargo share the new technology to find out and thus, prevent collisions for safety.
PEMA, TT Club and ICHCA International have come together and put in resources to make information for the promotion of collision prevention available and thus, make the safety better, bring down injuries and loss of life, equipment damage and reduce expensive business disruption at ports and terminals all round the world.
There is an increase in the number of non contact, state-of-the-art technologies for the curtailment of collision which can improve the safety of equipment and decrease the risk involved with the handling of container in a large scale. However, many of these are presently not a part of the national and international standards. According to the paper, technologies like these are to installed in all the new and current equipment and includes key features and types of non contact technologies for the prevention of collision at ports and terminals.
Collision Prevention At Ports & Terminals is now available free from the websites of TT Club, PEMA and ICHCA.
The information papers are not binding to any obligations and is independent of the various regulations in local, national and international regimes relating to the safe design, manufacture, specification and operation of the different types of equipment that must be fulfilled. The primary focus of the document that is the adaptation of equipment technology to reduce the risk more and safety will have to go along with the development of operational safety processes.
Container terminals are related to probable safety risk with operating vehicles and heavy equipment inherently associated with potential safety risk. However, as the terminal plant is widely similar and generally performs similar tasks, it is possible to show different varieties of collision and put them in a matrix. To know what might happen in every part of a terminal, the paper mentions the most probable equipment and personnel that could in a part of in each area; and the document also analyses all the probable types of collision for every combination of machinery and personnel and then shares the newest technologies for the prevention of collisions.
The heaviest ever cylinder has been supplied by Bosch Rexroth to enable the smooth operation of a 130 meters tall derrick. Bosch Rexroth is known for its expertise in engineering in the world and the was called by the Government of China to provide with an innovative cylinder solution for a new piling barge.
The cylinder will not only provide stability but also help with the derrick’s smooth mobility and will be able to reach places of the seabed which has not been explored yet.
China is looking forward to develop more of offshore wind farms thereby increasing the available amount of green energy and also build bridges and harbor walls for protection and to connect.
Finding an area at sea that will suit the construction was difficult. To make this possible, the Government of China decided on the biggest piling barge of the world.
The barge is featured with a derrick that is 130 meter tall that can help reach the housing for concrete pillars into areas of the seabed that remains unexplored yet. This will enable the government to make more investment in offshore wind farms and green energy solutions and they will also be able to make more bridges so as to get along with the increasing population moving. It is important for the derrick to be stable in challenging conditions and be slowly moved with no sudden changes in speed. This will be possible with the cylinder and thus, Bosch Rexroth has been selected by the Chinese Government for it.
“They chose us because of our experience, and our trusted name,” says Rob Drabbe, Sales Manager for Large Cylinders at Bosch Rexroth. “We build cylinders like this all the time, so they knew they could rely on us to produce the equipment according to their specifications. Even though it’s going to help control such a large derrick, it’s not the biggest cylinder we’ve ever made. It is, however, the heaviest, at 146 tons.”
Consultation was also given by Bosch Rexroth at the procurement process relating to the initial plans for the cylinder’s construction.
“They had suggestions for coatings, seals and bearings,” adds Rob, “but we were able to show them that although the individual suggestions themselves were good, they didn’t work as well when combined in a single system. We were also able to show them our research and development facility, where they could talk to our engineers, which gave them even more confidence in Bosch Rexroth.”
The cylinder is so designed that it can withstand any condition and thus, operate smoothly and reliably. All the aspects from smoothness, corrosion protection, security factors to tribology has been taken care of in its construction. It is a robust and innovative cylinder which is coated with Enduroq to make it even more durable.
“The cylinder will be exposed for long periods,” concludes Rob, “so the construction had to have excellent corrosion resistance. We used our Enduroq laser welded stainless steel coating, as this is proven to be highly durable while offering the required smoothness. We’re looking forward to seeing how our cylinder can contribute to the success of this groundbreaking piling barge.”
In order to make navigation safer by enforcing strict alcohol management on board, alcohol detectors that are linked to a smartphone are being installed in vessels that are managed by “K” Line. It is developed by Pai-R Co.Ltd.
Alcohol detector is connected to the smartphone to launch the respective application and then one can blow into the detector. The face photo of the subject that is being tested is taken automatically and is then sent to the onshore cloud through satellite communication along with the result of the test.
The shore server saves and manages this detection data and the vessel management and the shore office can then analyse and confirm. If alcohol is detected then an alert will be sent to the registered email address which will start the monitoring of the alcohol test on the vessel in that actual time.
With this system it is expected that there will be an improvement in the management of alcohol and thus, a decrease in the workload that will have it’s contribution to Work Style Reform on the vessels in comparison to the old methods of alcohol testing like the use of simple alcohol detectors and the management of the record of test results by crew.
The aim is to continue the installation from November 2019 and have it installed in all the “K” Line managed vessels by the first half of 2020.
A ship management agreement has been signed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (“K” LINE) and FueLNG Pte Ltd. (FueLNG) for the 7,500CBM LNG-Bunkering Vessel (LBV) that will be owned, operated and all commercial operations will be carried out by FueLNG.
This partnership will bring together the ship management and LNG transportation experience of “K” LINE with the expertise of FueLNG in LNG bunkering that comprises over 160 truck-to-ship LNG bunkering operations that have been conducted till now.
This will also facilitate the customers of FuelLNG with a reliable, expedient and seamless bunkering process.
The LBV might start LNG bunkering service in Singapore which will one of the largest bunkering ports in the world in 2020 following the delivery from shipyard of Keppel Offshore & Marine where it is being made. This will be the first ever LNG Bunker Vessel in Singapore that will provide ship-to-ship bunkering.
LNG is best available alternative to the traditional fuel oil that will help the shipping industry to meet the GHG emission regulations from ship.
A study by the Yale University which was commissioned by the ITF Seafarers Trust shows that great level of mental stress is found among seafarers. The study also suggested ways to bring it down.
In the study, 1,572 seafarers were interviewed who are serving as seafarers on a range of ranks, vessels with different flags all round the world. It was discovered that two weeks before the survey was conducted:
20 percent had contemplated suicide or self-harm
25 percent had suffered depression
17 percent had experienced anxiety
A link between bad mental health and more chances of injury and illness on board was found in the study. The causes for this include lack of proper training, exposure to violence or threats of violence and low job satisfaction along with some other factors.
In order to take care of the mental health problem at sea, the study recommended the following:
Improved support for cadets, with better training and an improved complaints procedures
Efforts to de-stigmatise mental health in company culture
Work to recognise and intervene to address workplace violence
Dave Heindel, chair of the Seafarers’ Trust and the ITF seafarers’ section, commented: “The more we talk about mental health, the more we reduce the stigma associated with it. This report really helps us to understand the contributing factors and provides a basis for demanding some fundamental changes in the way the shipping industry operates.
“This should be taken as a call to action by everyone in the shipping industry. For our part, the ITF and its affiliates will share these findings as widely as possible to draw attention to this hidden problem – as well as to use them to lobby the industry for system changes to the working environment onboard ships.”
Gasum, a Nordic energy company, conducted its first ever ship-to-ship bunkering at the Meyer Turku shipyard in November 2019. The LNG bunker vessel of Gasum, Coralius was involved in the ship-to-ship bunkering to cruise ship Costa Smeralda of Carnival Corporation. The emission of GHG can be reduced by about 20% by the use of LNG in maritime transport.
Another major achievement of LNG vessel Coralius was conducting Gasum’s first ever ship-to-ship bunkering to a cruise ship.
During the bunkering operation, the newly built Costa Smeralda was supplied with LNG at the Meyer Turku shipyard. Costa Smeralda is the first new built cruise ship at Meyer Turku which will have LNG propulsion.
So far, LNG is the cleanest marine fuel that is available and thus, the most preferred option to replace the traditional fuels. There is a significant improvement in the local air quality because of the use of LNG. Not only this, but is also reduces the emission of GHG by about 20% thereby, meeting the present and the regulations to come in the future by the IMO and the EU.
Bunker vessel Coralius of Gasum started it operations in 2017 and celebrated its 100th bunkering at the beginning of 2019. The North and the Skagerrak are the common areas for her operations. It allows secure supply to the top runners in LNG propulsion, thus, making Gasum more flexible and responsive in the maritime market.
“Coralius allows us to perform ship-to-ship bunkering to different types of vessels. We are happy that this now includes a cruise ship. It is always a proud moment when we can deliver our product and make maritime transportation cleaner,” adds Jacob Granqvist, Sales Director, LNG Marine, Gasum.
India has acceded to the IMO Hong Kong Convention. India is one of the five most important ship recycling countries in the world. The treaty will set standards to insure secure and eco friendly ship recycling.
The accession of India has brought the treaty closer to its enforcement with 15 member States as per the requirements and with the volume of ship recycling by India, the needed recycling capacity also is almost met.
The Hong Kong Convention includes the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships to make sure that they are recycled following secure and eco friendly means.
It also includes how the ships are to be prepared for their last journey to a recycling facility by taking no chances with the safety and efficiency in operation.
According to the Hong Kong Convention, the ships that are sent for recycling must take along an inventory of harmful materials on board. A ‘Ship Recycling Plan’ is to be given by the recycling facility, mentioning how every ship will be recycled on the basis of their specific features and inventory of harmful materials.
The equipments of accession to the treaty were deposited by Mr. Gopal Krishna, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Shipping and Mr. Amitabh Kumar, India’s Director General of Shipping with IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim on 28th of November at the thirty-first session of the IMO Assembly.
The Secretary General of IMO, Mr. Lim, urged other States, especially those which have a huge recycling volume to join the treaty soon.
“What happens to ships at the end of their lifetime is an important global issue with major consequences for safety and the environment,” Mr. Lim said. “I urge all countries yet to do so to ratify this important convention so it can enter into force and provide a consistent, global regulatory regime for this vital industry.”
The treaty will be enforced after 24 months of the fulfillment of three different criteria. Ratification by 15 Nations however, these countries should represent 40% of merchant shipping of the world by gross tonnage and a joined maximum annual volume of ship recycling by not less than 3% to their gross tonnage taken together.
The required number of States has been fulfilled with the accession of India, however, the required tonnage and volume of recycling are yet to be met before the enforcement.
Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan and Turkey come under the top five ship recycling Nations in the world that account for over 98% of ship recycling all round the world by gross tonnage.
Nb. 438 was launched on the 22nd of November at the Ferus Smit yard in Westerbroek.
M. V. Arklow Accord is the 2nd vessel in the range of 6 which is to be delivered to the clients from Arklow, Ireland.
The vessel is designed as a bulk general cargo ship which will be majorly used for the shipping of wheat, corn and other such bulk commodities in European waters.
The design of this vessel is a slightly changed version of the Ferus Smit built first series of 8600 dwt bulkers which were under the name of Arklow B- range. The new design is developed for ice class 1A. It has a changed bow form and propulsion with added propeller nozzle. For improved fuel efficiency, the main engine output has also been reduced to 2000kW.
This features of the first ship are as follows:
Loa = 119.495 mtr
Lpp = 116.895 mtr
B = 14.99 mtr
D = 9.70 mtr
T max = 7.160 mtr
Hold volume = 350.000 cft
Arklow Accord is scheduled to be delivered in January 2020.
After the first ever propeller shaft arrangement that is lubricated by water for two 5000 unit pure cart/truck carriers being specified by China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) in 2007, a lot of ship owners and shipbuilders in China are leaving behind the usage of propeller shafts that are lubricated by oil and greased rudder bearing systems in order to support the commitment of their country to be sustainable environmentally.
Thordon Bearings’ COMPAC seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing systems have been installed by COSCO on approximately 70 vessels which comprise heavy lift ships, bulk carriers, semi-submersibles and RoPax ferries along with other shipowners taking the example of COSCO.
Water lubricated shaft line design is also being supported by China Oilfield Services (COSL) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
“The ‘greening of the maritime silk road’, which forms part of China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative to clean up its infrastructure with tighter regulations and controls, is resulting in more of the country’s owners and builders going green to remain competitive,” said Alex Li, Managing Director, CY Engineering, a technical services company and Thordon’s authorised distributor in China.
“Thordon’s COMPAC system is one of a number of environmentally sustainable solutions they are adopting to meet President Xi’s objective of a zero-emission China-flagged fleet becoming a reality by 2030.”
According to Li, some 40 shipyards now have “excellent experience” with COMPAC water lubricated bearings, including the Hudong Shipyard, Jiangnan Shipyard, Shanghai Waigaogiao Shipbuilding, COSCO Dalian Shipyard, Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard, Guangzhou Shipyard International, Huangpu Shipyard, and YJZ Shipyard.
“Following the engineering and technical services we have provided over the course of the past ten years, Chinese shipyards are now well ahead of the curve compared to other shipbuilders in the region,” said Li.
“The experience they have in installing and commissioning Thordon’s COMPAC and SXL bearings provides a competitive and technical advantage that will no doubt be enhanced as more shipowners follow the clean shipping route.”
Presently, CY Engineering is working with the YZJ Shipyard for the installation of a COMPAC seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing system to a 31,200dwt bulk carrier operated Great Lakes.
Sam Williams, Thordon’s Regional Manager for Asia, said: “China’s capacity to build competitively priced tonnage has ensured it has remained the world’s leading shipbuilding nation even in periods of recession. This new commitment to delivering ships with environmentally-sustainable technologies means it will continue to do so.
“Despite annually delivering more than 30% of the world’s newbuilds, the role Chinese shipyards will have in ‘greening’ global trade is undervalued. Certainly, they know if they are unable to keep pace with international demands for more environmentally efficient tonnage, then they risk losing the top spot.”
Williams then mentioned that the rising specifications by China for quality products that are manufactured by European and North American Original Equipment Manufacturers shows the development in shipbuilding of China.
“We have seen a hike in orders from Chinese yards across our product range. There is definitely an emergent preference for quality, sustainable systems produced outside of China.”
Till now, COMPAC and SXL water lubricated propeller shaft bearings have been installed on more than 130 Chinese-newbuild vessels, 85 of them are for domestic owners. SLX rudder bearings have been installed on over 1000 vessels that have been built in China and about one quarter of these approximately one quarter of those installations have been ships operated by Chinese owners.
A variety of eco friendly safe seal and bearing technologies will be presented by Thordon Bearings and CY Engineering at Booth N2E7A at Marintec 2019 which will take place in Shanghai, China, between 3rd and 6th of December.
Automayed Condition Adjusted Valued (CAV) has been launched by VesselsValue in collaboration with Idwal Marine.
The actual condition of the vessel is combined with the market value that is derived algorithmically by CAV to know about the physical value of the vessel.
Tom Evans, Director of VesselsValue explains that “CAV will assist stakeholders to get value for the additional time, effort and expense of maintaining quality fleets; an effort that we see rewarded in transactions but not in valuations currently.”
The unique vessel grading information from Idwal is fed into the algorithms of VesselsValue to get daily automated Condition Adjusted Values.
Using the VV platform, the old inspection reports can also be directly requested. In case, the owner does not grant permission or recent inspection reports are not available, the users can get new inspection report through the platform.
Assumptions are needed in every asset valuation method. Generally, desktop valuations assume that a vessel is in a fair state with all proper Class, Flag and certificate needs in place. The new value helps users to get better granularity and does not assume that all vessels are in a fair condition.
Idwal Managing Director Nick Owens said “We’re thrilled to enter a partnership with VesselsValue to bring Condition Adjusted Values to the industry. Through the combination of Idwal’s latest grading data, users now have greater visibility into a ship’s true value. This is just one of the ways Idwal is bringing inspection data back to the industry to help it make smarter decisions.”
Mr. Joseph J. Angelo was awarded with the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2018. He is a former United States Coast Guard and International Association of Independent Tankers Owners senior executive whose participation was seen in various meetings of International Maritime Organization (IMO) for many years, offering leadership on several major regulatory developments.
The prize was presented by the Secretary-General of IMO, Kitack Lim at the annual IMO Awards ceremony that was held on 25 November. Mr. Lim talked about the work and commitment of Mr. Angelo for IMO as a technical expert, diplomat and problem solver and also got the nickname of ‘IMO-Joe’.
It was decided by the IMO Council that the Prize will be given to Mr. Angelo in July to honour his contribution to IMO’s work and objectives and to the entire maritime industry.
Mr. Angelo thanked the US and INTERTANKO for the nomination and the Council of IMO for choosing him.
“It has been my distinct privilege to work side-by-side with many exceptional delegates from around the world over the past 39 years – all coming together to create solutions which have resulted in crucial improvements to maritime safety, security and protection of the marine environment. I am proud to have been a part of the progress we made together,” he said.
The Government of US and INTERTANKO nominated Mr. Angelo and mentioned about his constructive and collaborative work with his stakeholders so as to achieve the required results. Mr. Angelo was also an active member of various IMO bodies, especially the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). The 13th session of MEPC that held in 1980 was the first one that he attended. After that he has attended all the meetings till MEPC 73 in 2018.
The US Government also mentioned that Mr. Angelo was called ‘IMO Joe’ because of his knowledge, skill and cooperation that he held. He had great respect for the Organization and believed in its missions. He believed that the success of IMO depends not on the accomplishments of some but on everyone’s achievements.
The activity is an important part of the commitment of Standard Club for the safety and wellbeing of the seafarers. The main points are:
A poster campaign that includes a new on board poster that is launched every month on four subjects, namely, healthy eating, fitness, mental well-being and socialisation. Every poster will have a QR code that will link to the online articles which will have more information for the crew.
In order to support the poster campaign, an online and social media communications which will comprise tips and well-being statistics so as to help drive the messages about keeping seafarers safe at sea, home.
A website that is more simple and will thereby, allow the members access to the club’s extensive Loss Protection resources in a more easy way and quicker.
An improved Pre Employment Medical Examination Scheme (PEME) that is designed to make the maritime working environment more efficient and safe by bringing down the risk of personnel claims on board regarding the chronic long term and illness that can be detected.
Captain Yves Vandenborn, Director of Loss Prevention at the Standard Club, said: “Shipping is a high-risk business. We believe that we can only make seafaring safer by putting people at the heart of everything we do. Seafarer wellbeing is a holistic concept combining physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Today, there is a greater understanding of wellbeing and the need to support the whole person and not just the physical body. Social wellbeing and mental health are key to overall seafarer wellbeing and yet the nature of shipping is not always conducive to this. Seafarers are at risk of a number of health problems which can jeopardise their safety and that of the ship. By educating and supporting crew to look after their wellbeing, we can help reduce illness and accidents at sea.”
A number of initiatives have been introduced in the last 12 months. The seafarers well-being program is one of the. This shows the belief of the club that is people are the heart of whatever it does. The new tagline ‘By Your Side’ that has been added to the logo of club shows the belief of the club. It also shows the support, flexibility and commitment that is offered by the club to help members understand and manage the risk, suggesting on prevention of loss and guidance on safety and giving quick and effective response at the time of a claim.
Jeremy Grose, Chief Executive, said: “We aspire to be the most member-orientated club, and members stay with us because of the exceptional level of support our people give them. In putting people first, both those in our own offices, members’ offices and on members’ ships, we believe we emphasise what really matters in the shipping business and support a focus on safety for all.”
‘Our Oceans: Our Future’ is an industry film that has been co produced by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and ITN Productions Industry News. It shows the challenges at the oceans and shows the stories of science, innovation and sustainability that are changing the marine sector.
The recent developments in sustainable marine science in the world was investigated in the one hour news and current affairs style program. ‘Our Oceans: Our Future which was presented by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, OBE explains how the oceans are being protected by scientists, how more efficient ships are being engineered by the industry, the new technology shaping the future of shipping and renewable energy, how our knowledge on the oceans is broadening by oceanographic data and how the next generation of marine professionals are being educated by the world class maritime education.
David Loosely, Chief Executive, IMarEST, said: “We really wanted to show the world some of the emerging technologies, engineering solutions and ground-breaking scientific research being undertaken by leading professionals which make the marine sector such an exciting, dynamic and rewarding place to work.”
The IMarEST hopes that new initiatives and partnerships between the leaders of ocean will be created by the film. It also aims to inspire the new marine professionals who will be responsible for solving the problems that will come up in the world.
The premier of the programme was at the Royal Institution, London on the 20th of November 2019. It was attended by different participants like the International Maritime Organization, the UK Commonwealth, World Wide Fund for Nature and Zoological Society of London. It explained the hardwork that is done by marine professionals from all round the world in order to find out new ways for the management of ocean resources sustainably.
Vicki Clubley, Head of Industry News, ITN Productions, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with the IMarEST to create a programme which we hope will be a comprehensive tool to deepen understanding, encourage cooperation and will bring influencers together to reach solutions that lead the way in protecting our oceans for future generations.”
Important industry interviews, reports and partner sponsored editorial profiles are brought together in the program and thus, become a part of the extensive communications campaign that features IMarEST members, industry partners, government partners, as well as journalists and writers:
Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS)
City of Glasgow College
Lloyd’s Register
Maritime New Zealand
Norwegian University of Science & Technology
Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute
Ocean Networks Canada
Tidetech
University of Michigan
V.Group
The feature-length film is available to view in its entirety on the IMarEST website.
MSC won the title of the ‘Shipping Line of the Year 2019’ at the Transport & Logistics Middle East (TLME) Excellence Awards which was held mid-November in Dubai, UAE.
On that night, 36 companies were rewarded divided in 4 areas:
Special Recognition Awards
Technology Awards
Air & Shipping Awards
Logistics Awards
The Transport & Logistics Middle East (TLME) Excellence Awards was held for the second time. It aims to bring together the major regional and global companies in the supply chain from sectors like the transport technologies, maritime, air and logistics.
MSC thanked all the clients and partners and all those who voted for MSC.
It may come as a surprise to many people that India has a rich history of shipbuilding and Indians were quite accomplished seafarers. This obviously means that India also had many seaports in the past.
Here is the list of ancient seaports of India. All of these ports were a hub of trade and commerce and in their time one of the busiest in the world.
Here is the list of ancient seaports of India
1) Lothal, Gujarat
Lothal is situated in the Bahl region of modern Gujarat and was one of the most prominent cities of the Indus Valley civilization. It is situated near the village of Saragwala in the Ahmedabad district of Gujarat. It was discovered in 1954 and is said to date back to 2400 BCE. Lothal’s dock is the oldest known dock not only in India but also in the world. The port connected the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati river between Harappan cities in Sindh and the peninsula of Saurashtra at a time when the surrounding Kutch desert was a part of the Arabian Sea.
Modern oceanographers have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of knowledge that the Harappans possessed regarding tides. Their expertise in hydrography and maritime engineering is clearly evident in their constructions. They observed the tidal movements and their effect on brick-built structures as the wall is made of kiln-burnt-bricks. The location chosen was also very strategical since the vessels would be able to use the highest tidal amplitude of the Gulf of Khambat for free movement through the flow tides in the river estuary.
The port facilitated the trade of gems, jewelry, spices, textiles, and mineral ores. Ships from West Asia, Africa came to these ports as suggested by historical documents.
2) Muziris Port, Kerala
This ancient rich, glamorous port city was one of the liveliest commercial areas in 3000 BC. Ships carrying spices, gems, silk, ivory, pottery, etc. frequented this place. The place is presently known as Kodungallur and is around an hour’s drive away from Kochi in central Kerala. The port connected the region with the Persians, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Roman Empire. Over 30 countries contributed to the trade of this region. We find descriptions of Roman ships dropping anchor in this place in Sangam literature.
The Spice Route was a very valuable trade route, so much so that the Arabs kept it a secret till a Greek mariner Hippalus stumbled upon it initiating a major gold rush. However, this golden period saw a tragic demise as the Periyar river basic got devastated by tsunami waves. The grandeur of Muziris port got washed out of existence and all the cumulative attempts by historians and archaeologists to locate it have gone in vain.
Finally, in 2006-2007 the Kerela Council for Historical Research conducted a series of excavations in Pattanam in North Paravur. The conclusion of the extensive digging that was carried out was that the lost port of Muziris has been ‘found’. Chera coins, pottery, functional objects made of stones, copper and iron have been found in this place. The artifacts point to the signs of inhabitation by the people of the iron age and the Romans.
3) Arikamedu Port
Arikamedu is situated in present-day Puducherry, a union territory of India. It was the only port via which the Tamilians traded with the Romans and the French. The port facilitated the trade of myriad items with special focus on the export of textile, semiprecious gems, beads, glass and shell bangles. One of the most imported items of trade was wine. Terra Sigillata (fine red Roman clay pots) was another popular imported item for the Tamilians.
Apart from these, East Asian glazed ceramics, Chinese Celadon pottery, Chola coins, etc. have been found in this region. Chinese artifacts belonging to the Song-Yuvan dynasty have also been discovered in this place.
For quite a long period this trading port seemed to have been forgotten. It was centuries later that the French East India Company reported having come across an ancient site in 1734. During the 1765 excavation, some brick structures were found. The first major work by ASI on this site was undertaken in 1945 by Sir Mortimer Wheeler who was the Director-General of ASI. Recently between 1989 and 1992 further excavations were carried out.
4) Baruch Port
A large and prosperous port by the name of Bharuch was founded around 2000 years ago in the same place as modern Gujarat. The port was also known as Barukaccha by the Greeks and as Barygaza by the Romans. It is staggering to realize how scarce the amount of data available on it. There is hardly any mention of this in historical documents. Only after the intervention of the Sakas during the last centuries did it flourish as an important point in the Indo-Roman trade network. Baruch ranks in one of the top export locations in terms of silk and spices that were well sought by the rich Roman citizens.
The Baruch port had trade with Ujjain and Mathura, of which the latter happens to have a primary stage in the control of the Ganges trade and that of the coastal areas of Sopara and Kaliyana. It also had connections to the trade centers of central Asia, leading to Bactria and slowly worked its chain up to the Roman Mediterranean, developing maritime links with Persia in the process.
One of the most important texts to mention the Baruch port is the previously mentioned Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The author though the unknown is thought to be a Greek seafaring merchant who listed all the marts of the time. The items that the Roman merchants departed with include long pepper, ivory, cloth, indigo, onyx stones, etc.
5) Poompuhar Port
Poompuhar, also called Puhar is believed to be the Port town of the Chozha Empire. Currently, it is located in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. In Silappadikaram, one of the five great Tamil epics, the author Ilango Adigal describes Poompuhar as a bustling port where horses, pepper, gems, gold, pearl, and wheat were traded in great quantities. Other literary works mentioning the Poompuhar port includes other Tamil epics like Manimekhalai and Prakrit texts like Milindpanha, the Jataka Tales, Ptolemy’s Geographia and the historic document Periplus of Erythrean Sea.
The last-mentioned work was composed during the 1st century CE and touches on the Chola kingdom, towns, ports, and trade centers. Ptolemy praises the ingenuity of the city planners. However, the mentions disappear all of a sudden and so does the city of Poompuhar. The city’s remains were nowhere to be found leading to the doubt of the city’s existence. Excavations carried out in the region have indicated that a tsunami had wiped out the port.
The same thing had been mentioned in Siilappadikadam but obviously in a more cryptic or poetic way. The epic mentions it getting swallowed up by the sea’. A team of archaeologists found the remains of a wharf in the 1910s. Several other brick structures have been nearby subsequently confirming the existence of Poompuhar.
6) Calicut Port
One of the busiest ports in the extreme southern region of the continent is the Calicut port. It is located on the Arabian Sea and is also called Kozhikode. In around 1100 AD it flourished under the Chera regime becoming a chief trading port for spices like pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. Here textiles and spices were exported and imported Chinese ceramics and European pots.
In the year 1498, with the visiting of Vasco da Gama, the port gained its relevance as one of the most important seaports of India. An extended trade relationship was established between the east and the west with this historic visit. However, it soon lost its importance under the colonial rules. The only things that are left behind are the remains of a sea bridge, storage yards and goods handling cranes.
7) Tuticorin Port
Tuticorin (also known as Thoothukudi) port was established during the 6th century 550 Km southwest to today’s Chennai. It is one of the oldest seaports in India. The Pandyas, the Cholas and several other dynasties have ruled this place and made it one of their prime seaports. Fishery and pearl were one of the most important items of trade in this port. The Periplus book has mentions of this port too.
Under the rule of the Dutch and the English, it gained more prominence. Under this regime, the port’s main export was palmyra fibers, senna leaves, salt, dry fish, etc. Cotton, pulses, grains, and coal were the main items that were imported. It still remains in the list of the top twelve most important ports in India.
8) Mormugao Port
Mormugao Port is a port situated in the state of Goa, on the western coast of India. Opened in 1885, it is one of the oldest seaports of India. It was collectively established by the British and Portuguese. It is operated by the Mormugao Port Trust and employs more than 2,600 people. It is the leading iron ore exporting port in the country. In fact, it accounts for about 32% or the total iron ore trade of India. This port increased the maritime trade in India greatly.
It was featured in the 1980 war film “The Sea Wolves”.
9) Chennai Port
Madras Port or Chennai Port is the third-largest container seaport in India. It was established in 1881 and it is the third oldest of the major seaports in India. However, trade in this region started way back in 1639. At the time, it was also an important military and administrative base. Some reports suggest that this has been used as a strategic location for business since the 1st century. The port employs more than 8,000 ports.
The port is mainly concerned with the import and export of automobiles, motorcycles and general material and cargo like iron ore coal, fertilizers, granite, petroleum products for industrial purposes and containers.
The trade-in this port has grown rapidly since the year 2000.
A lifejacket range has been introduced by Survitec. It has a minimum of 150 Newton buoyancy. The safety and performance it provides is way more than the regulatory requirements.
Due the rising trend to raise the capacity of lifejacket onboard in the cruise shipping sector, the existing Premier lifejacket range has been re-engineered to increase buoyancy and comfort.
Mark Lutman, Survitec’s Global Technical Sales Manager, LSA, said: “Cruise ships typically carry substantially more lifejackets onboard than the mandatory requirement, with lifejackets and lockers now located in all cabins, public areas, staterooms, assembly areas, and embarkation points.
While this additional capacity can take up more space, operators have been looking at ways of improving safety without detriment to lifejacket performance. Based on feedback from leading operators we have been able to increase buoyancy to a minimum 150 Newton without increasing the overall size of the lifejacket.”
Nigel Parkes, Design Manager, Survitec, said: “There are international standards (ISO 12402-3) that sets 150 Newton as the minimum buoyancy level for an adult lifejacket, which we believe is the minimum buoyancy for a lifejacket to be used offshore.
“Research indicates that the level of buoyancy has a direct correlation with a lifejacket’s self-righting capability. The amount and position of that buoyancy will also determine a correct floating position in water; for example, low buoyancy products may cause bobbing up and down in a vertical position taking the airways closer to the water surface. Lifejackets with 150 Newton buoyancy help ensure the wearer floats in a safer position high above the waves, improving the chances of survival and increasing visibility.”
These improvements were made to the Premier Contact lifejacket by raising the buoyancy at the top of the lifejacket and giving a shape to the foam around the buckle. This helps in easier, more compact stacking and stowing.
In comparison to the ten original, 2010 designed Premier jackets which take 0.300m3, ten stowed adult jackets take up 0.182m3 of space. Due to this space saving, an order of 19,865 Premier Compact lifejackets could be shipped in 7 container vessels instead of nine. The packed dimensions of the adult version of the jacket is 440mm x 280mm x 146mm and is put into a chest girth of 1750mm. Crew and child versions are also available.
“We are seeing a shift in lifejacket safety as part of the new era of large cruise ships. In the past operators have tended to conform to the mandatory requirement but the sheer scale of the modern cruise ships means that it takes time to move from one place to another resulting in operators ordering in excess of 15,000 lifejackets to enable lifejackets to be strategically placed around the ship,” said Lutman.
On the 23rd of October, the first solar concentrator farm in the European process industry was inaugurated in Port of Antwerp. The solar reflectors has been installed by Azteq that is a Genk-based energy company for the logistics company Adpo.
The installation is a part of a trial project with the support of the Flemish government.
First concentrated solar thermal plant in Europe
1100 m² of parabolic reflectors have been installed by Azteq in the last few months at the Adpo operated site in Beveren.
The heat from the reflectors will be used by Adpo for the generation of steam that will be used to clean and heat containers and tanks. It is estimated that this installation will replace the consumption of gas by about 500MWh per year.
Revolutionary technology
In Europe, this installation is the first industrial project for Concentrated Solar Thermal Energy (CST). In CST, the sunlight is collected by parabolic reflectors and then converted into heat.
The movement of the sun is tracked by the reflectors in order to concentrate the incident sunlight on collector tubes that can generate temperatures of about 400°C. Insulated storage tanks have been installed by Azteq so that the heat can also be used at night.
In comparison to a photovoltaic system, CST generates three times more energy per installed square metre. This technology is a great eco friendly option for all heating requirements of the industry and thus, can make an important contribution in bringing down the emission of CO2 in the ports.
The reduction of emission of CO2 in Belgium by 80% by 2050 in comparison to the levels of 2005 is a big challenge. Hydrogen is one of the key elements in the solutions that will help achieve the target. Deme, Engie, Exmar, Fluxys, Port of Antwerp, Port of Zeebrugge and WaterstofNet have come together. A joint study and effort by them will help in coordinating the delivery of concrete projects which shape the production, transport and storage of hydrogen.
Bringing expertise together
In a hydrogen economy, hydrogen plays an important role as a carrier of renewable energy that is to be used for the production of electricity and heat, for mobility, for fuel production and as a raw material for industrial production.
There is an insufficient availability of wind and solar energy in Belgium that is why, part of the required renewable energy needs to be imported. However, specific expertise is needed for the efficient and economic solutions for the import, transport and storage of hydrogen.
Thus, seven important industrial players and public stakeholders namely, Deme, Engie, Exmar, Fluxys, Port of Antwerp, Port of Zeebrugge and WaterstofNet have joined hands and signed a cooperation agreement to bring together their expertise in a proper way and take actions for a Belgian hydrogen economy.
Roadmap for hydrogen as an energy carrier
In the first step, a joint study of the complete hydrogen import and transportation chain will be done by the partners. The goal is to find out the financial, technical and regulatory aspects of the different components in the logistics chain: production, loading and unloading and transport by sea and via pipelines.
The study aims to get a roadmap which will show the best way to transport hydrogen for the usage in energy and chemical industry. It is expected that the results of the analysis will be ready in about one year and will then help in making a strong project.
Pascal De Buck, CEO Fluxys: “As a gas infrastructure company, transporting and storing gas is the core of our business. Today this is natural gas but in time this will increasingly be replaced by other gases such as hydrogen and biomethane. By maximally reusing our infrastructure for carbon-neutral energy carriers, we are shaping the energy system of the future.”
Luc Vandenbulcke, CEO Deme: “We strongly believe that hydrogen can play a crucial role in the CO2-free energy transition. As a pioneer in the development, construction and financing of offshore wind farms, we want to make full use of our expertise for the production, transport and storage of green hydrogen from renewable energy sources. Thanks to this unique partnership of ports and industry, Belgium can play a leading role in the green hydrogen economy and further reduce CO2 emissions.”
Philippe Van Troeye, CEO Engie Benelux: “Hydrogen is an essential link in a low-carbon ecosystem. Our participation in this project and our desire to share our expertise in renewable energy and hydrogen fits perfectly with ENGIE’s ambition to be the leader of the carbon-free transition by developing integrated and customized solutions for our customers.”
Nicolas Saverys, CEO Exmar: “As an international transporter of natural gas, LPG, ammonia and other petrochemical gases, Exmar is also focusing on the future. We want to help investigate how the hydrogen gas transport chain can be developed in the most efficient and economic way. This way, our long-standing expertise in the transport and transformation of gas in the safest way can support all initiatives for the large-scale use of hydrogen gas.”
Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp: “We want to give every chance to hydrogen as an energy carrier, as basic element for chemistry and as a fuel, and therefore commit ourselves as an active pioneer of the hydrogen economy. As Europe’s largest integrated chemical cluster, we are an important link in this. We also look at collaboration with spearhead clusters and knowledge institutions and want to learn from this hydrogen coalition for our international ambitions.”
Joachim Coens, managing director Port of Zeebrugge: “Today, Zeebrugge is already an important landing point for the wind energy that is extracted in the Belgian North Sea. In the coming years we will have a build-up of a huge amount of variable renewable energy, from wind, sun and tides. The challenge is to transport and store these large quantities of green energy. The port of Zeebrugge has a role to play here, as a multifunctional energy hub. If hydrogen can be the solution for energy transport and storage, then this can perfectly take place in Zeebrugge, where state-of-the-art LNG infrastructure, i.e. storage capacity and pipelines, and years of know-how are available.”
Adwin Martens, Director of WaterstofNet: “As a pioneer in hydrogen development in Flanders and coordinator of the IBN Power-to-Gas, we are particularly pleased that a number of strong parties will bring their expertise together on the theme of large-scale import, transport and storage of hydrogen. This collaboration offers important perspectives for a further large-scale rollout of hydrogen applications.”
The new 5G wireless technology was revealed by APM Terminals at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona this week. This will help in the usage of V2X communication in which the information is moved between vehicles and other entities that can have an impact on it.
During his presentation, named, “5G in a container terminal: V2X applied to Cranes. Improving safety in a dangerous Environment”, Sergi Domínguez Tomas, Head of IT at APM Terminals Barcelona, said that the 5G technology provides with a chance for the development of new solutions for the optimization of safety in the terminal.
“Wireless communications have always been difficult to manage in container terminals, but we are convinced that 5G technology will allow us to use V2X systems in our terminal, to optimise safety in our processes,” he said.
Vehicle-to-Everything Communication Systems (V2X)
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication means the passing of data from a vehicle to some entity that can have an impact on it and vice versa. Such a system is being studied by car manufacturers for some time now, for the betterment of safety at road and for improved management of traffic flow.
The improvements in wireless communication are making it possible for the cars to communicate with one another and the communication with roadside units.
These V2X wireless communication systems that are based on car are also known as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
“By using V2X solutions in our cranes we offer our drivers extra support to maintain their safety, while also allowing the mapping of terminals, people and possible dangerous obstacles,” concluded Sergi Domínguez. “We are creating a fully controlled environment”.
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has been awarded the Approval In Principle (AIP) by ABS for the X-Reli LNG Boil Off Gas Expander which is the part of the Expansion Re-Liquefaction System of SHI.
SHI says that the X-Reli System is made for the application of low and medium pressure. According to SHI, this will provide improved efficiency and reliability in comparison to the present high pressure re-liquefaction systems.
“Re-liquefaction is a useful capability for owners and operators, offering increased flexibility and the potential to maximize cargo delivery.
The ability to operate this at low or medium pressure reduces barriers to adoption of the technology and ABS is proud to be able to facilitate this,” said Eric Kleess, ABS Senior Vice President, Eastern Hemisphere Operations.
The system uses expansion technology which raises the re-liquefaction capacity. This will help the generated boil off gas from the cargo tank except the fuel gas that is for generator engines to be liquefied. X-Reli by SHI will fulfill the requirement of the industry for energy efficiency and better environmental performance.
“By gaining the ABS AIP Certificate for the X-Reli System, SHI has secured approval of its competitive re-liquefaction solution, which has been developed to meet the various needs of ship owners,” said SHI Ship & Offshore Research Institute Vice President, Dr. Yong Lae Shim. “The X-Reli system will be tightly integrated with SHI’s smart ship solution SVESSEL® – SVESSEL Onboard and SVESSEL Onshore – to assure quality and performance. It will become one of SHI’s core technologies for LNG carriers, alongside its LNG cargo tank technology.”
ABS has also checked if the design of the re-liquefaction system is suitable and feasible so as to confirm that the system is in compliance with the present Rules of ABS.
Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (SHI) has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the settlement of investigation relating to the payment of commission. This was regarding the 2007 contract of the company in order to build a drill ship for a subsidiary of Pride International Inc. (Pride).
The contract was about Pride (now part of Valaris plc) getting a contract to charter the drillship to a subsidiary of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A (Petrobras).
According to the findings of the investigation, the payment of a part of the commission was made to the officials of Petrobras in an improper way.
Taking into account the cooperation and a better compliance program of SHI, the DOJ has agreed to a three-year Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with SHI. After this term comes to an end, the deferred charge related to a drill ship called DS-5 will be dismissed by the DOJ.
According to the DPA, SHI does not need to have a compliance monitor. However, it has to give the annual compliance program reports to the DOJ. A fine of $75, 481,600 will have to be paid by SHI. Half of this amount is to be paid to the US Government within 10 days. The other half has to be paid within the coming 12 months either to the Brazilian Government in case a separate resolution is reached with the Brazilian authorities or to the US Government if such a payment is not made to Brazil in the time period of 12 months.
“We deeply regret the company’s involvement in these events, which is contrary to our values and ethical standards,” CEO Joon Ou Nam said. “Many of the events described in our agreement happened more than a decade ago, and the individuals involved are no longer with the company. Over the past years, we have taken extensive steps, at our own initiative, to strengthen our anti-corruption compliance program to meet the highest standards of compliance and ethics.”
For the digitalization of operations of the fleet, Anglo-Eastern has joined hands Wärtsilä. The technology solution that will be given to the global fleet of the Hong Kong-based ship manager that consists of over 600 vessels will help in the planning and execution of full voyage and will also keep a check on the performance of the engine and it’s fuel efficiency.
The Wärtsilä Fleet Operations Solution (FOS) brings together the processes for the optimization of planning, weather routing, fuel consumption, and speed of a vessel.
It also helps in ship to shore reporting and helps in managing the performance of the fleet to bring down the consumption of fuel, taking into account charter party compliance, speed management, the hull, propeller and engine condition.
The main benefits of using the Wärtsilä FOS comprise a unique platform that brings together the planning station and electronic chart display and information system of the ship (ECDIS), immense cloud computing power, machine learning, data analytics, and onboard/onshore mobile applications.
“We are keen to leverage the advantages of the latest digital solutions to maximise the efficiency of our voyages and the performance of our fleet. Realising the opportunities made possible by the Wärtsilä Fleet Operations Solution, we look forward to contributing to the further development of the solution as an early adopter,” said Capt. Bjorn Hojgaard, Chief Executive Officer of Anglo-Eastern.
Anglo-Eastern’s Capt. Pradeep Chawla, Managing Director of QHSE and Training added: “We believe that the Wärtsilä Fleet Operations Solution will further increase ship navigational safety, reduce crew workload, and improve fuel efficiency.”
“Our Fleet Operations Solution is exactly what we mean when we at Wärtsilä talk about utilising a Smart Marine approach to raise efficiencies, improve safety, and reduce the carbon footprint of shipping. We are excited to be bringing these benefits to the 600 vessel Anglo-Eastern fleet over the coming 12 months,” said Dr Torsten Bûssow, Managing Director of Wärtsilä Voyage Solutions/Transas.
It has been confirmed by Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) that the Pacific Warden which is an Anchor Handling Tug Suppy Vessel (AHTS) had been attacked on the 20th of November 2019 offshore Equatorial Guinea at about 05:00 local time. The offshore field operations in Equatorial Guinea was being helped for by the vessel.
15 crew members were present on board. Out of these, eight are ashore safely and unharmed. The attackers have taken seven crew members and are missing. The response by the local authorities and the Navy of Equatorial Guinea was quick.
SPO said that the safety of the members on board is their basic priority. They are ready to do everything that they can for the secure and fast return of the missing crew members while coordinating with their family and authorities.
SPO also said that they had no other details currently and also urged the media to respect the privacy of the families of the missing crew members.
Seabourn which is one of the finest ultra luxury cruise line of the world has crossed yet another milestone by completing the ice model test for the PC-6 rated hull of its new ship, Seabourn Venture.
The test was done at a large indoor testing basin Aker Arctic, Finland. The test gives proven and proper ways making sure that the hull design of Seabourn Venture will perform according to the requirements in the ice conditions it may come across. A ship that is rated to PC-6 Polar Class standards has the capability to operate in summer & autumn in ice conditions in Antarctica, the Arctic, and other exotic destinations around the world.
“We know that Seabourn Venture will deliver on the expedition experiences we’re creating after seeing this series of tests completed,” said Robin West, vice president of Expedition Operations for Seabourn. “Our team is fully committed to taking luxury expedition travelers to some of the world’s most sought after locations and Seabourn Venture is certainly going to be up to the task with its purpose-built design.”
The critical part in designing and building a process for the ships which will operate in regions where ice is common is foreseeing the way ice might behave according to the hull. At the time of ice testing series, a large model mock up of the hull of the ship is connected to a carriage in which maneuver and operational tests can be conducted. During this time the team members of Seabourn and Carnival Corporation team watch through a series of viewing windows.
Seabourn Venture’s keel laying will be done in December. The ship is expected to be launched in June, 2021. The ships are being designed to make it the ultimate blend of ultra luxury and customized services by the top travel experts and professionals who have great experience in expedition, hospitality, and ultra-luxury cruising.
The ships will so designed and built that it will be able suit extreme and different environments and will comprise a variety of modern hardware and technology which will expand the deployment and capabilities of the ship in the world.
The ships will be featured with two customised submarines that will be carried on board which will provide the guests with underwater views on optional excursions. The ship will also have 24 Zodiacs onboard which will make it flexible enough to take all the guests on a Zodiac tour at once. The ship will also have 132 luxurious oceanfront veranda suites.
Adam D. Tihany has made the designs for all the public and luxurious guest suites areas.
The vessels will also have an onboard crew which will include experienced wilderness experts, scientists, historians and naturalists. The members of the team will interact with the guests and provide detailed information during each voyage.
The other details, full color rendering and the interior spaces of the ship will be released in the months to come.
The NYK Group has agreed to a joint research agreement relating to the development of advanced contidion bases maintenance (CBM). This is a new maintenance and management method for autonomous ships and it has also started verifying while the ship operation is actually going on.
The machinery plant data that comes from various sensors will be shared and analysed with the classification society and manufacturers of engine in real time, thereby making the management of maintenance more advance. The NYK Group plans to use this data in the future for the development of CBM for manned autonomous vessels.
Outline of Joint Research
Along with SIMS2, new sensor and equipments have also been fit in to the two types of main engine and main stream turbine. Descriptive operational data like vibration and temperatures can also be collected. The engine’s state can be shared and monitored by the classification society and engine manufacturers in real time.
The project will also work in order to make the engine’s wrong predictions and remaining useful life by taking advantage of the expertise of manufacturer so to make optimal CBM guidelines and then verify them on real ships.
The results will be shared so as to develop a new classification survey scheme on the basis of CBM.
According to the medium term management plan of NYK Group, ‘Staying Ahead 2022 with Digitalization and Green’, digitalization initiatives are being promoted by the group. They are also trying to make better innovation in the shipping industry with several partners using operational big data.
A white paper has been published by ABPmer and the British Ports Association which shows how master planning can help in the growth of coastal regions and help ports communicate their plans and visions to stakeholders. Addressing the importance of port industry as an economic driver, the paper aims to help local, regional and national planners to be aware of the potential of masterplans.
The paper is a part of a Port Futures programme which is led by the industry trade body, the British Ports Association (BPA) and leading marine consultancy, ABPmer.
Both consider masterplans and their development process as a very useful way by which ports can shape and communicate their plans by joining in with regional planners.
Tony Brooks, Masterplanning lead at ABPmer said, “A masterplan outlines how a port intends to respond to change. It begins with what is happening at the port now, and why. It then explains what needs to happen in future. By going through the masterplanning process, ports can describe how they can facilitate development and investment whilst building in stakeholder interests. The process can be an invaluable way to transmit what developments and initiatives a port wants to drive forward.”
The BPA urged the central, regional and local policy makers to note of the masterplans of ports so that the abilities of the ports can be comprised in the broader strategies.
The BPA’s Chief Executive, Richard Ballantyne said, “At a time when sub national and regional bodies are exploring initiatives to drive growth and investment, this report highlights the potential and process through which ports can transmit their aims and aspirations to policy makers. We are also keen that the UK Government updates its Port Masterplanning Guidance for English ports which hasn’t been refreshed for over a decade. This needs reviving and we’d like to encourage some discussion with the devolved administrations as to how masterplanning might be recognised in other parts of the UK.”
The BPA has collaborated with ABPmer that had also supported parent company Associated British Ports on several port masterplans around the UK and also has a great experience in the development and strategy of ports.
The papers mentions the two challenges, that the industry is facing and port master planning has to tackle. The first one being, understanding the nature of the fast changes in commercial, environmental, technical and social spheres which are expected to have an impact on the economy in the years to come. The second one is the response to these changes. These challenges come up as exciting opportunities.
The ports handle about 95% of the trade of UK and gives employment to more than 115,000 people. These ports are not only important for the economy of UK but also very important to the local communities.
The work that the ports are doing in order to connect and benefit the local communities can be communicated with the help of master planning proccesses. The BPA has put together some examples of the initiatives by the community and stakeholders across UK ports. BPA wants to show that the ports not only act as national hubs and helps in regional growth but also work to give back and help their local communities.
A new report “LPG Bunkering – Guide for LPG Marine Fuel Supply” has been issued by the WLPGA. This report is about the usage of LPG in the maritime industry, especially in bunkering.
The shipping companies are moving to different fuel alternatives and solutions because of the effect that traditional fuels like HFO, have on the environment.
The search for alternatives that are sustainable to replace the traditional fuels has gone up in the past few years because of IMO 2020 and IMO’s plan to bring down the emission of carbon from the shipping industry by 50% by 2020.
LPG is a major element for IMO 2050. It will also address the sulphur regulation of IMO. The goal of the new report that was released during the World LPG Forum in Amsterdam in September 2019 was to improve understanding about the issues related to bunkering ships with LNG in the maritime sector.
The reports shows that LPG carriers are preferring LPG as the fueling solution. The other important things that have been talked about are design issues, presen contemplation on probable solutions to regulations requirements, safeguards and safe practices, as well as important areas of operational processes and training.
LPG can make an important place in the marine fuel market because of the pressure that the marine industry is presently in for the reduction of emission so to comply with IMO 2020. LPG propulsion, beginning with the LPG carrier sector, has to move ahead from being just a niche fuel option in order to be accepted in the wider shipping sector.
In order to fulfull the probable demands of the marine market, the infrastructure for the distribution and bunkering is largely available. For a broad variety of power outputs that need lower capex in comparison to other options, the engine technology has also been developed.
Though, LPG is new as a marine propulsion fuel, it has been known well by the industry because of over 50 years of storage, transportation and handling of LNG.
Very soon, ship owners and operators will be attracted to invest in LPG fueled fleet because of the economic incentives. After the enforcement of IMO 2020 sulphur cap, the prices of compliant fuels and availability of HFO for ships that have scrubbers will not be certain. Today, LPG engine technology is available easily and making use of dual fuel engines enables the operators to decide about which fuel they want to use according to the price. The report also highlights that infrastructure of LPG bunkering is already available with LPG being available everywhere in the world. The supply is also abundant mainly because of the increase in production from the US.
LPG bunkering can happen in different ways from terminals, refineries, on-shore trucks, smaller LPG carriers or barges. There are over 1,000 LPG storage facilities around the world which can be used for LPG bunkering and over 700 small size LPG carriers that can be used for ship-to-ship bunkering.
A picture of the merchant fleet of the world in 2018 has been presented in this report which has been derived from the data that is available in the database of Equasis. The structure, features and the performance of the fleet has been examined in the study.
The statistics have been divided into themes that can benefit the industry and regulators.
The themes are as follows:
The Merchant Fleet Population
Classification Societies
P&I
Port State Control
Vetting Programs and Trade Associations.
OVERVIEW Equasis has data from almost all the merchant ships of the world. The basic ship details are derived from IHS Markit Maritime & Trade’s commercial database.
When seen from a commercial and regulatory viewpoint, the size and type of the ship are the two major criteria and thus, the statistical analysis of the entire report is based on these two elements. For the “Port State Control” theme the division of the ships will be done based on ship type categories derived from PSC databases. The document for the first time also includes information about the fishing vessels that are operates internally and are over 100GT with an IMO number. Thus, the figures from the previous year must be used cautiously when comparing because this report has added more than 25,000 ships to Equasis. 21% of the ships that are in the database are showed by these vessels. About one fifth of these vessels are more than 500GT and are thus included, where appropriate, in the statistics following Section 1.
A christening ceremony was hosted by Norwegian Cruise Line in Miami for it’s new ship, Norwegian Encore.
More than 3,500 guests which includes travel partners, investors, government officials, media and family and friends of Norwegian Cruise Line were invited to the pier side ceremony and celebration that took place at Port Miami.
The ceremony was interactive and showcased the entertaining, innovative and meaningful experience that is offered by the company which encouraged the guests to have a good time. The on board entertainment show was also presented by the Company which was thoroughly enjoyed by the guests. This included “Choir of Man” and the Tony Award®-winning “Kinky Boots.” The guests were welcomed by Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line and Harry Sommer, incoming president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line and they also spoke about the history of the Company and it’s commitment to Miami, the beauty of the new ship, her industry-leading amenities, and their gratitude for all those who ensure a memorable guest experience aboard Norwegian Encore.
“Norwegian Cruise Line has been sailing from Miami for over 50 years,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “We were the first to offer weekly cruises to the Caribbean from Miami, which shaped the city’s reputation as the ‘Cruise Capital of the World.’ Five years ago, we launched our history-making Breakaway Plus class and today, we are proud to christen Norwegian Encore, the final ship of this class and a true representation of the evolution of the brand, right here in our hometown of Miami.”
The traditional blessings was followed by the official christening of the Norwegian Encore with the champagne bottle break across the hull of ship by the honorary godmother and GRAMMY Award-winning artist, Kelly Clarkson. Clarkson then gave a live performance on “Miss Independent,” “Stronger,” “Since U Been Gone,” and other chart-topping hits.
This addition marks the closing of the Breakaway Pluss class which is the most successful class of ships of the Company which was introduced in Miami after the launch of Norwegian Escape in 2015. Norwegian Escape, Joy, Bliss and now Encore, have brought in revolution in the cruise industry and also raised the level of experience by including the only racetracks and open-air laser tag arenas in the world, the most sophisticated gaming and virtual reality complexes, world-class entertainment that rivals anything on land and new, creative culinary offerings.
From the 24th of November this year, Norwegian Encore will start offering seven day voyages to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami; Bermuda, Canada and New England itineraries from New York City beginning Apr. 22, 2020; and voyages to the Western Caribbean from Miami will start from Dec. 12, 2020. The vessel will make it’s West Coast debut in the spring of 2021 and will sail to Alaska from Seattle.
An integrated FPSO tow and mooring installation project has been given to Maersk Supply Service for operating in the North Sea.
The work to be done will comprise management, engineering and offshore execution of the project which is related to six anchor handling tug supply and subsea support vessels.
Maersk Supply Service will be responsible for providing the complete work from the preparation of site, installation of pile anchors, tow of the FPSO to the final hook up operations.
This will be the fourth large moorings project that will be delivered by Maersk Supply Service after it made an announcement to expand and provide integrated solutions in November 2016. Management and engineering of projects will add up to its fleet of over 40 vessels and the great amount of experience it has as a marine service provider.
“Last year we successfully carried out the tow and installation of the Ailsa FSO for the Culzean field. This was an important opportunity for us to showcase our capabilities in providing turnkey solutions to the market. The synergies gained from combining the role of vessel owner with project contractor to deliver our solution from one unified team exceeded our expectations and enabled us to meet demanding targets on scheduling, cost, and of course safety. We look forward to continuing to build on this track record within the UK sector,” says Head of Integrated Solutions, Olivier Trouvé.
Proman Stena Bulk Ltd has signed an agreement with Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China for two state of the art IMOIIMeMAX methanol-ready 49,900 DWT vessels. The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered at the beginning of 2022. This is the first deal that has been signed by the newly-made joint venture between Swedish Stena Bulk and the Swiss-based Proman Shipping.
After the major development and towing tank tests by GSI and Stena Bulk for their 2015 – 2018 series, the IMOIIMeMAX line of vessels are one the most energy-efficient mid-range tankers that exist.
To support the commitment of Proman Shipping to contribute in making the a sustainable shipping industry, the latest generation of dyal fuel engines will be used in both the vessel and the vessela will also be run on methanol that is coming up rapidly as the most viable, low emission and cost effective marine fuel.
Methonal is available at more than 100 ports in the globe and boasts CAPEX cost majorly and safety advantages when compared to fuels like LNG. Methanol will also help in meeting the commitment of IMO to reduce the emission of carbon by 40% by 2030 and reduce GHG emission by 50% by 2050. Methanol also reduces sulphur oxide and particulate matter by over 95% and reduces nitrogen oxide by 60%.
David Cassidy, Chief Executive of Proman, said:
“GSI have a proven track record with their 13 previous IMOIIMAX vessels for Stena Bulk, and we are very pleased to have reached this agreement with them to build our pioneering new methanol tankers. Methanol is a readily available liquid fuel that meets the strictest emissions criteria, and it has huge global potential as a proven substitute for conventional bunker fuels, as well as more widely for power generation and as a high-octane addition to the gasoline fuel pool.”
Erik Hånell, President and CEO of Stena Bulk said, “We from Stena Bulk are looking forward to being back in a well known shipyard to us, where we know that they will deliver what is expected: a high level of experience including care, innovation and performance. We are really looking forward to doing this with Proman, as a new high-caliber partner with similar values that we know will develop both ship design and some exciting new features in driving improved performance of the ships.”
Anita Gajadhar, MD of Proman Shipping, said:
“The proven energy-efficient credentials of the IMOIIMeMAX vessels, combined with the clean-burning and biodegradable qualities of methanol as a marine fuel, mean that these new Proman Stena Bulk vessels will be truly future-ready.”
The ownership of the two ships will be 50/50. After delivery, it will owned by Proman Shipping on long term charter. About 12,500 mt/year of methanol will be used by each vessel.
