ICS: EC pools guide \"needs fine tuning”
THE International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says the European Commission’s draft Guidelines on the application of Article 81 EC to maritime transport services, as the they relate to shipping pools, need fine tuning. The ICS standpoint fully endorses the stance of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)
With regard to the section of the draft Guidelines that deal with liner shipping, ICS associates itself with the comments by the European Liner Affairs Association (ELAA) which want more clarity as to what will and will not be allowed once conferences are banned.
On the question of shipping pools ICS says that it is important to acknowledge that shipping pools do not constitute the vast majority of tramp shipping markets. ICS therefore suggests that this point should be specifically clarified in the final Guidelines for the sake of legal certainty amongst tramp operators not involved in shipping pools.
ICS notes that the draft Guidelines consider that shipping pools are per se not in conflict with EU competition rules, whilst acknowledging that individual pool agreements will require a case by case assessment to test their compliance. However, as ECSA explains in detail, the proposed criteria by which shipping companies may need to conduct self assessments of compliance might be further fine-tuned.
In particular, the final Guidelines should acknowledge that pools provide a jointly produced service that is the result of a significant degree of integration of the parties’ activities, and that pool agreements should be assessed on a par with other forms of joint production or specialisation agreements.
Shipping pools have long been subject to EU competition law, and ICS reiterates its claim that tramp owners are price takers and not price makers, as demonstrated by the absence – as far as it knows - of complaints being filed by customers.
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Golden Ocean sells six newbuilds
JOHN Fredriksen-controlled dry bulk shipping company Golden Ocean Group Limited it is selling the six panamax newbuildings contracted in March this year at Pipavav in India. In a statement that does not identify the buyer Golden Ocean says: “The vessels are sold for net sale proceeds of US$352.8m, and delivery to the buyers is expected to take place between March 2009 and July 2010”
Golden Ocean\'s CEO Herman Billung says: \"This transaction illustrates our Company\'s dynamic approach to the market. We are always looking for opportunities to increase values to our shareholders on short as well as long term basis.\" The comp[any statement adds: “Golden Ocean will initially receive $70.6 million of the purchase price. Golden Ocean will have the responsibility to finance the construction of the vessels with up to $174m before the remaining part of the sales proceeds of $282.2m will be paid at the delivery of the vessels. The transaction will give a positive result of approximately $127m, and this will be recorded at delivery of the vessels.”
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US mini cruise liner evacuated
A US-flag mini cruise ship, the 1,471 gt Spirit of Nantucket was deliberately beached after hitting an underwater obstruction while sailing through the Intercoastal Waterway near the Pungo region of Virginia Beach. According to reports sixty-six passengers and crew were taken ashore on by US Coast Guard vessels. No injuries have been reported an oily sheen has been noticed on the waterway..
A statement from the ship\'s owner, Cruise West, said that the ship \"eased onto a mud shoal at the shoreline\" about 25 miles south of the Elizabeth River near Norfolk, Virginia, while damage was assessed.
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New Orleans chases insurance cash
MORE than two years after the disastrous effects of Hurricane Katrina the Port of New Orleans says it is to sue an insurance company for more than US$100 in storm damage claims , according to an AP report.
The port alleges that Factory Mutual Insurance has only paid about US$18m but the port argues it is due up to US$145m under the terms of its cover. According to AP a lawyer for the port says the federal Emergency Management Agency will not make a final payment to the port until it has exhausted its insurance resources.
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Ship emissions “kill 60,000 a year”
A NEW study, published in the American Chemical Society\'s journal Environmental Science and Technology, has found that emissions from ships could be the cause of for more than 60,000 deaths globally a year. This appears to be on the basis of the proportion of emissions believed to be ship-sourced.
The study was carried out by by a team led by James Corbett of the University of Delaware and James Winebrake of the US Rochester Institute of Technology looks at premature mortality from exposure to particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulphate from ship emissions.
The results have been presented to the IMO panel of experts charged with assembling data and putting together recommendations on ship-source pollution and CO2 emissions who are meeting this week.
The ES&T research was partly sponsored by the environmental groups Clean Air Task Force and Friends of the Earth International which is taking part in the IMO discussions.
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Boxship hits SF bridge
THE 5,447 TEU containership Cosco Busan hit fenders protecting tone the towers supporting San Francisco\'s Bay Bridge yesterday morning. The 2001-built ship had a pilot on board at the time and was outward bound from Oakland in fog.
Reports speak of a 100 ft long gash in the ship\'s hull and, for a short while at least, of oil leaking into the Bay. The ship subsequently moved out of the channel and anchored. Despite its name the 2001-built ship prominently bears the Hanjin name on the hull, is described by the Equasis data base as flying the German flag though its classification society Germanischer Lloyd lists the ships as being Hong Kong-registered.
Equasis identifies the owner as NSB Niederelbe and the registered owner as Conti Cairo KG and the Swedish Club as liability insurer.
According to local press report the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) says the bridge itself has not been damaged but a massive steel fender system protecting it would have to be replaced.
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Siba Ships sets new livestock record
ITALIAN-based Siba Ships says it has set a new record for livestock shipment, moving 22,100 steers and heifers from Darwin, Australia to Jakarta and Panjang, Indonesia in one shipment aboard 50,947 gt, 1980-built and Panama-flag livestock carrier Deneb Prima. The previous global record was 20,900 cattle, on the same ship.
The cattle on board took 36 hours to load, weighed a total of 8,000 tonnes and consumed 200 tonnes of feed per day on their voyage.
Mauro Balzarini, chairman of Siba Ships, says the cattle trade to Indonesia is a vital export trade for Australia and provides a major protein source for South East Asia. \"Our modern ships carry the animals safely and kindly, with plenty of space, light, food, air and water, and they arrive at their destinations in great shape,\" says Balzarini.
Siba also began a new regular service this week by shipping one of the largest ever consignments of dairy cattle from Australian shores, from Portland, Victoria, to Mexico. The 9,461 Jersey and Friesian heifers were loaded aboard the 29,770 gt, 2002-built and Italian-flag Becrux last Sunday for a 14-day voyage to Mexico - marking the start of a regular series of shipments from Australia to Latin America.
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Bourbon\'s revenues up
FRENCH-based offshore support and dry bulk shipowner Bourbon says its Q3 revenues rose 35% over the same period in 2006 to total euros200.4m. The company says the growth was driven by higher revenues in all its divisions.
Similarity over the first 9 months of this year, revenues were up 31.5% at current exchange rates (but 40.2% at constant exchange rates).
Bourbon chairman and chief executive officer Jacques de Chateauvieux stated: \"This new increase in revenues in the third quarter reflects the excellent level of activity of our two Divisions in all our operating regions. Bourbon is benefiting both from the steady rate of new vessel deliveries and a favourable market context that should continue in the fourth quarter.\"
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Intertanko\'s “near real-time” terminal info
FROM yesterday Intertanko members have had access to near real-time information about the terminals their ships plan to visit, since the Association’s Terminal Vetting Database is now hosted on the Q88.com website.
Intertanko’s Terminal Vetting Database now works in a similar way to the SIRE and CDI systems. Any low scoring comments on a particular terminal will be forwarded by Intertanko to the terminal in question (withholding details of ship and owner) requesting comment from the terminal on root cause analysis and successful implementation of corrective actions and close out. The terminal’s comments these will be entered into the database alongside the original report; or if no comments are received by the terminal after 30 days, then that will also be recorded.
Reflecting numerous expressions of concern from members over reports that the water depth at some terminals is less than shown on the charts, the TVD includes new questions on the accuracy of water depth at the berth.
Intertanko marine director, Capt Howard Snaith, says, “We very much hope that such feedback will be received positively by terminals, will encourage continuous improvement and will enhance safety at terminals, which are the critical point in the ship/shore interface.”
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New bridge procedures guide
THE International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published a fully updated edition of the ICS Bridge Procedures Guide, which is intended to reflect best navigational practice on ships today, in all sectors and trades. The ICS says: “It is strongly recommended that a copy of the Guide is carried on board every ship.”
“The increasing use of sophisticated navigational aids brings its own risks,” said ICS marine adviser, John Murray who, with expert advice from ICS’s member national shipowners’ associations, has co-ordinated the revision of the ICS Bridge Procedures Guide. “The new ICS Guide therefore stresses the need for vigilance against undue reliance on new technology,” he said.
Mr Murray added: “Experience continues to demonstrate that properly formulated procedures and the development of bridge team work are critical to maintaining a safe navigational watch.”
The ICS Guide embraces the latest internationally agreed standards and recommendations adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It also includes helpful bridge and emergency checklists for use by ship’s masters and navigating officers.
The new edition takes account of the increased use of modern electronic charting systems, and the introduction of equipment such as Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). Guidance concerning pilotage has also been thoroughly updated, while advice about dynamic positioning has been included.
The 4th edition of the ICS Bridge Procedures Guide including an accompanying CD with “search function” version is being sold for UK £60. It is available from maritime booksellers or visit www.marisec.orgs/pubs
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Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards
THE 2007 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards were presented by United Seamen\'s Service (USS) to James Andras
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