Jobships.com Candidates
Click here to		 Search Job   Candidate
Click here to		 login   Candidate
Click here to		 Register
Employers Click
header img03 header img 04
header img05
Email Id :
 
Password :
    Close
Forgot Password? New Member Register  
header img07
header img08 header img09 header img10
header img11 header img12
header img13
Job Search
Close
 
header img 14 header img 14 header img 15
.:Maritime News :.
April-2024
19-Apr-2024 [15]
12-Apr-2024 [14]
10-Apr-2024 [16]
8-Apr-2024 [8]
5-Apr-2024 [15]
4-Apr-2024 [14]
3-Apr-2024 [11]
2-Apr-2024 [14]
1-Apr-2024 [10]
March-2024
29-Mar-2024 [14]
28-Mar-2024 [19]
27-Mar-2024 [11]
26-Mar-2024 [17]
22-Mar-2024 [16]
21-Mar-2024 [17]
20-Mar-2024 [16]
19-Mar-2024 [16]
18-Mar-2024 [17]
15-Mar-2024 [12]
14-Mar-2024 [19]
13-Mar-2024 [15]
12-Mar-2024 [15]
11-Mar-2024 [10]
5-Mar-2024 [15]
4-Mar-2024 [14]
1-Mar-2024 [15]
February-2024
29-Feb-2024 [12]
28-Feb-2024 [17]
27-Feb-2024 [14]
26-Feb-2024 [16]
23-Feb-2024 [14]
22-Feb-2024 [17]
20-Feb-2024 [14]
19-Feb-2024 [17]
16-Feb-2024 [17]
15-Feb-2024 [17]
14-Feb-2024 [16]
13-Feb-2024 [17]
12-Feb-2024 [17]
9-Feb-2024 [20]
8-Feb-2024 [16]
7-Feb-2024 [19]
6-Feb-2024 [17]
5-Feb-2024 [12]
1-Feb-2024 [16]
January-2024
31-Jan-2024 [17]
30-Jan-2024 [12]
29-Jan-2024 [15]
25-Jan-2024 [12]
24-Jan-2024 [15]
23-Jan-2024 [10]
19-Jan-2024 [15]
18-Jan-2024 [15]
17-Jan-2024 [20]
16-Jan-2024 [14]
15-Jan-2024 [15]
12-Jan-2024 [11]
11-Jan-2024 [12]
10-Jan-2024 [17]
9-Jan-2024 [12]
8-Jan-2024 [11]
5-Jan-2024 [17]
4-Jan-2024 [17]
3-Jan-2024 [12]
2-Jan-2024 [17]
December-2023
29-Dec-2023 [12]
28-Dec-2023 [12]
27-Dec-2023 [14]
26-Dec-2023 [17]
22-Dec-2023 [15]
21-Dec-2023 [17]
20-Dec-2023 [14]
19-Dec-2023 [19]
18-Dec-2023 [22]
15-Dec-2023 [15]
14-Dec-2023 [15]
13-Dec-2023 [14]
12-Dec-2023 [19]
11-Dec-2023 [17]
8-Dec-2023 [16]
7-Dec-2023 [20]
6-Dec-2023 [15]
5-Dec-2023 [15]
4-Dec-2023 [19]
1-Dec-2023 [19]
November-2023
30-Nov-2023 [17]
29-Nov-2023 [17]
28-Nov-2023 [16]
27-Nov-2023 [12]
24-Nov-2023 [17]
23-Nov-2023 [17]
22-Nov-2023 [20]
21-Nov-2023 [14]
20-Nov-2023 [15]
17-Nov-2023 [16]
16-Nov-2023 [19]
13-Nov-2023 [17]
10-Nov-2023 [15]
9-Nov-2023 [17]
8-Nov-2023 [14]
7-Nov-2023 [16]
6-Nov-2023 [16]
3-Nov-2023 [17]
2-Nov-2023 [15]
1-Nov-2023 [16]
October-2023
31-Oct-2023 [16]
30-Oct-2023 [14]
27-Oct-2023 [12]
26-Oct-2023 [16]
25-Oct-2023 [15]
23-Oct-2023 [17]
20-Oct-2023 [15]
19-Oct-2023 [15]
18-Oct-2023 [16]
17-Oct-2023 [17]
16-Oct-2023 [16]
13-Oct-2023 [16]
12-Oct-2023 [14]
11-Oct-2023 [17]
10-Oct-2023 [15]
9-Oct-2023 [16]
6-Oct-2023 [15]
5-Oct-2023 [15]
4-Oct-2023 [16]
3-Oct-2023 [17]
September-2023
29-Sep-2023 [14]
28-Sep-2023 [12]
27-Sep-2023 [12]
26-Sep-2023 [12]
22-Sep-2023 [12]
21-Sep-2023 [12]
15-Sep-2023 [15]
14-Sep-2023 [15]
13-Sep-2023 [17]
12-Sep-2023 [15]
11-Sep-2023 [19]
8-Sep-2023 [15]
7-Sep-2023 [19]
6-Sep-2023 [19]
5-Sep-2023 [16]
4-Sep-2023 [20]
1-Sep-2023 [20]
August-2023
31-Aug-2023 [14]
30-Aug-2023 [19]
29-Aug-2023 [14]
28-Aug-2023 [22]
25-Aug-2023 [17]
24-Aug-2023 [19]
23-Aug-2023 [14]
22-Aug-2023 [14]
21-Aug-2023 [17]
18-Aug-2023 [19]
17-Aug-2023 [11]
16-Aug-2023 [21]
14-Aug-2023 [15]
11-Aug-2023 [21]
10-Aug-2023 [16]
9-Aug-2023 [21]
8-Aug-2023 [15]
7-Aug-2023 [15]
4-Aug-2023 [17]
3-Aug-2023 [16]
2-Aug-2023 [14]
1-Aug-2023 [17]
July-2023
31-Jul-2023 [14]
28-Jul-2023 [14]
27-Jul-2023 [14]
26-Jul-2023 [17]
25-Jul-2023 [14]
24-Jul-2023 [15]
21-Jul-2023 [20]
20-Jul-2023 [17]
19-Jul-2023 [14]
18-Jul-2023 [22]
17-Jul-2023 [17]
14-Jul-2023 [12]
13-Jul-2023 [17]
12-Jul-2023 [16]
11-Jul-2023 [16]
10-Jul-2023 [12]
7-Jul-2023 [17]
6-Jul-2023 [12]
5-Jul-2023 [14]
4-Jul-2023 [17]
3-Jul-2023 [12]
June-2023
30-Jun-2023 [17]
29-Jun-2023 [16]
28-Jun-2023 [19]
27-Jun-2023 [21]
26-Jun-2023 [19]
23-Jun-2023 [12]
22-Jun-2023 [15]
21-Jun-2023 [12]
20-Jun-2023 [16]
19-Jun-2023 [14]
16-Jun-2023 [19]
15-Jun-2023 [15]
14-Jun-2023 [17]
13-Jun-2023 [17]
12-Jun-2023 [12]
9-Jun-2023 [14]
8-Jun-2023 [14]
7-Jun-2023 [14]
6-Jun-2023 [14]
5-Jun-2023 [10]
2-Jun-2023 [15]
1-Jun-2023 [15]
May-2023
31-May-2023 [16]
30-May-2023 [16]
29-May-2023 [16]
26-May-2023 [12]
25-May-2023 [17]
24-May-2023 [16]
23-May-2023 [20]
22-May-2023 [10]
19-May-2023 [15]
18-May-2023 [14]
17-May-2023 [20]
16-May-2023 [17]
15-May-2023 [12]
12-May-2023 [15]
11-May-2023 [11]
10-May-2023 [14]
9-May-2023 [14]
8-May-2023 [15]
5-May-2023 [12]
4-May-2023 [14]
3-May-2023 [17]
2-May-2023 [15]
April-2023
28-Apr-2023 [17]
27-Apr-2023 [22]
26-Apr-2023 [21]
25-Apr-2023 [17]
24-Apr-2023 [12]
21-Apr-2023 [20]
20-Apr-2023 [20]
.: 31-Mar-2016 :. Search News
Displaying 1 to 3 of Records.
Page 1 of 1
 1  

Panama Canal Draft Restrictions Hamper Waterway's Big Ship Vision
By Gavin van Marle

(The Loadstar) - The continuing low levels of the waters of Gatun Lake in Panama could pose a long-term challenge for the country’s canal authority, as it prepares to unveil its expansion project and usher in a new era of big ships transiting the waterway.

Last week the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) made two important announcements - it set 26 June as the date when the country's president Juan Carlos Verela will officially open the new locks; but also said it will introduce a vessel draft restriction of 39ft (11.89 metres) on 18 April as a result of El Nino-related changes in weather patterns.

"These temporary and preventive measures will be taken due to an anticipated climatic variability event related to El Nino, a climate phenomenon resulting in periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean.

"When this occurs, El Nino changes the pattern of rainfall in many regions of the planet. In this case, it has triggered a drought in the Canal Watershed, causing the water levels of Gatun and Alhajuela Lakes to fall substantially below their average for this time of year," ACP explained in a statement.

However, one of the canal's largest users, specialised reefer vessel operator Seatrade, suggested recently that the problem could affect ship operators' faith in the waterway, especially given that its expansion project was predicated on attracting far larger vessels.

"One of the problems with Panama right now is that there are two metres [of water] less in its lakes, which is very serious, and if this continues because of El Nino or La Nina, or whatever it is, it might put the transits in danger in Panama," Seatrade chief executive Yntze Buitenwerf told delegates at a seminar organised on the sidelines of the recent Fruit Logistica show in Berlin.

The problem, of course, is that most container ships in the class rapidly becoming known as the New Panamax size, have a draft of around 15 metres, with the published draft of the new locks at 15.20 metres - significantly deeper than the new restrictions.

And even if the canal does see an increase in vessel sizes, once the El Nino phenomenon has passed on and the water levels resume, Mr Buitenwerf argued that smaller vessels such as those operated by Seatrade will remain operationally competitive.

"Small competes on the Panama Canal - the big ships go during day time and the small ships such as ours go in the nights," he said, explaining that Seatrade is currently the largest user of the canal in terms of number of transits, with 420-430 per year.

"For the smaller sub-Panamax ships it's good that they have expanded the canal because it means we will have less waiting time, and smaller vessels could also benefit because there will be less congestion through the old lock.

"But what if there is congestion in the new widened canal? Will lines have to cascade back smaller tonnage?" he added.

Additionally, there is only likely to be capacity for 15 larger vessels to transit the waterway per day, he said.

"There will be a maximum of 18 transits per day through the new locks for the big ships. Of these 18 transits, the Americans have just "confiscated" three transits per day to serve their exports of shale gas, and although that's officially not allowed, a special regime has been put in place.

"In the meantime the Panama Canal is going to see bigger ships, but it isn't going to result in faster transit times. That means there will be the development of large hubs. Where these hubs will be remains open to question. Will they be in the Caribbean or the West Coast of South America, or even North America? That doesn't seem clear to me."

However, Mr Buitenwerf did accept that larger ships will benefit from their economies of scale, despite his attempts to win transit fee concessions from the ACP.

"The authorities have promised me with their hand on their heart that they will not increase fees for the first two years. But that's all we get - charges are going up everywhere, in all the ports around the world and also at the Panama Canal.

"The dues are based on the number of containers that you carry. So if you use a bigger ship you pay more, but less per container. It's a very complex system, but if you put it in perspective I think we are paying more for our use of the canal and it is sad to see that if you are a very frequent user you don't get some kind of rebate.

"We have been fighting for that for a long time - we are there everyday with 1.4 ships - and we believe we should get some kind of rebate, but we haven't had much luck with that and the canal remains a very expensive business," he said, adding the largest ships to transit will pay $300,000-400,000 per transit, while Seatrade currently pays around $120,000 per transit.

The Loadstar is fast becoming known at the highest levels of logistics and supply chain management as one of the best sources of influential analysis and commentary.

Posted On:31-Mar-2016



Credits: gcaptain.com

Pirates Release Four Crew Kidnapped From Tanker Off Nigeria
Four crew members kidnapped from a chemical tanker earlier this month off the coast of Nigeria have been released in good health, the International Maritime Bureau and Hellenic Coast Guard have confirmed.

The unidentified tanker was attacked by a group of ten armed pirates while underway approximately 32 nautical miles southwest of Bonny Island, Nigeria on March 5, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre confirmed earlier this month.

During the attack, the pirates chased and fired upon the tanker, eventually boarding the vessel using a grappling hook and ladder. The alarm was raised and all non-essential crew members retreated to the ship's citadel. The pirates left the tanker after about an hour with the four kidnapped crew members, while the remaining crew sailed the tanker to a safe port, the IMB said.

The Hellenic Coast Guard reported Wednesday that the four hostages, three from Greece and one from the Philippines, were released in good health on March 28.

It is unclear if or how much of a ransom was paid for their release.

The tanker has only been described as Panamanian-flagged and with Greek interests.

Nigeria continues to be a hotspot for violent acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, where gangs of armed pirates board vessels with the intention of kidnapping crew for ransom or stealing fuel oil cargo. The International Maritime Bureau received reports of 14 piracy incidents with nine boardings in 2015, although the actual numbers are believed to be higher as many go unreported.

Posted On:31-Mar-2016



Credits: gcaptain.com

Offshore Services Provider Bourbon Diversifies Into Ethane Gas
French offshore services provider Bourbon Offshore has announced a major expansion into ethane gas transportation as the company weathers a "very difficult" market facing the offshore sector.

The expansion comes in the form the acquiring the ethane activities of JACCAR Holdings, a private equity firm and major shareholder of BOURBON, Greenship Gas, Greenship Bulk, Sinopacific Shipbuilding and Sapmer Holding.

Under the deal, Bourbon Offshore will acquire 100% of Greenship Gas, a Singaporean-owned "shipping trust" and global leader in ethane gas transportation with a market share greater than 50%. The acquisition also includes 100% of EVERGAS, operator and contractor of gas transportation services, Greenship Gas Manager Pte. Ltd, the manager of the Greenship Gas, and 80 % of JHW Engineering & Contracting limited, a company that designs and engineers vessels. All companies are majority owned by JACCAR Holdings.

Bourbon says the purchase price for the companies is US$320 million with a net debt as of December 31, 2015 of US$389 million.

The final completion of the acquisition, which was authorized by the Board of Directors on March 28, is subject to shareholder approval to be voted on on May 26, 2016.

"In the very difficult market facing the offshore services sector, Bourbon is particularly resilient due to its operational performance and cost control but also due to the end of its investment program which is enabling free cash flow generation," the company said in a statement announcing the expansion.

"However, the direction taken by its customers towards the energy transition that is underway is driving Bourbon to seek the diversification of its activities to support these new directions and open real growth prospects," the statement added.

Posted On:31-Mar-2016



Credits: gcaptain.com
Help
WhatsApp
Phone
Email