NL MARITIME NEWS

NL MARITIME NEWS

A NewsLink service for Dole Colombia International maritime news for seafarers

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Headland SatNews

NATIONAL

Dry-bulk rates likely to drop; Capesize returns plunge

A slowdown in fleet growth, coupled with demand advances on Asian exports and the US economy, will likely prompt dry-bulk shipping rates to start going down after reaching unsustainable levels over the past months. Michael Lewis, chief of Deutsche Bank AG's commodities research, said the cost of transporting drybulk commodities is expected to recover this year on the back of a massive slowdown in fleet growth, adding that Asia's expanding exports with assistance from the US economy will also help in the process. Lewis also said that China, whose economic slowdown is partially blamed to slumping freight rates last year, will likely "stage an export driven economy." On his outlook for commodities, Lewis predicted that the sector is heading for a slump due to falling thermal-coal and iron-ore prices amid increasing supply and slowing consumption. Data from Clarkson Plc, the biggest shipbroker in the world, showed that global fleet for dry-bulk vessels will go up by 7.4% this year and 4.1% in 2014. Meanwhile, earnings from Capesize ships took a dip at the end of last week due to speculated slowdown in Chinese demand to charter vessels for iron ore. Returns for Capesize vessels likewise fell because surplus capacity absorbed Australian shipments of iron ore, which is used in making steel. This resulted in the Baltic Dry Index to close at 884, posting a 0.7% gain for the week as experts expect more decline. Lower Capesize rates reduce Capesize gains for this month to 24% following a nine-session positive streak. It was the biggest dive in Capesize returns since April 23.

ECSA, ETF launch project to map European seafaring careers

The European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) have rolled out a new project aimed at analysing the career paths of seafarers. The scheme, called Career Mapping Update Project, was first conducted in 2004 by the ECSA and the ETF. To be headed by David Dearsly of DM Consulting, the project seeks to lure more European youths to apply for a career at sea and ensure that once seafarers come ashore, they can be more easily attracted to work within the maritime cluster in posts wherein they are highly qualified.

SAFETY Service equipment

Service equipment such as valves, fittings, safety devices and gauging devices should be so arranged as to be protected against the risk of being wrenched off or damaged during transport and handling. If connection between the frame and the shell allows relative movement as between the sub-assemblies, the equipment should be so fastened as to permit such movement without risk of damage to working parts. Equipment protection should offer a degree of safety comparable to that of the shell. For offshore tankcontainers, wherepositioning of service equipment and

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China's maritime industry to continue to grow

A new government report, made public on Monday, has predicted that China's maritime industry will see relatively fast growth in the next 17 years, Xinhua reported. The country's maritime industry is expanding fast and will reach a stable stage in 2030, said the report issued by the China Institute for Marine Affairs, attached to the State Oceanic Administration. In 2012, the maritime industry reported a total production value of CNY5 trillion (USD802.57 billion), up 7.9% year on year, and contributed 9.6% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). The industry's total production is expected to reach CNY20 trillion in 2030 and account for 15% of GDP, judging from its current development and its potential, the report said. The industry is still underdeveloped and its growth is "extensive" rather than "intensive," according to the report. It said that in the next one or two decades, growth will be rooted in new technologies and more efficient methods to tap maritime resources.

the design and strength of protection for such equipment is concerned, the increased danger of impact damage when handling such tanks in open seas should be taken into account. All shell openings other than openings for pressure relief devices and inspection openings should be provided with manually operated stop valves situated as near to the shell as is practicable. Moreover, a tank or each of its compartments should be provided with an opening large enough to enable the tank or compartment to be inspected. Whenever possible, external fittings should be grouped together, while all tank connections should be clearly marked to indicate the function of each. Stop valves with screwed spindles should close by clockwise rotation. Each valve should be designed and constructed for a rated pressure not less than the maximum allowable working pressure of the tank at the temperatures expected to be encountered. Source: MCA

However, the authors warned that the country will have to achieve a balance between the exploitation of resources and protection of the oceanic environment.

AMSA issues guidelines to protect Ningaloo Reef

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) on Tuesday announced the establishment of a recommended area for ships to help protect the world heritage- listed Ningaloo Reef from June 1, 2013. The Marine Notice will advise ships to keep at least two nautical miles from the edge of Ningaloo Reef at its narrowest part, and 8-12 nautical miles along the remainder of the Ningaloo Coast, to reduce the risk of shipping accidents and ship-sourced pollution, PNA reported. AMSA Chief Executive Officer Graham Peachey said the new area to be avoided was approved in late 2012 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized United Nations agency responsible for safe shipping. "The Ningaloo Coast lies along a major coastal shipping route and it is frequented by ships servicing Australia's North West Shelf oil and gas industry,"said Peachey. He added that "the coastline's length and remoteness pose challenges to any incident response, so it is important we do what we can to protect the reef."

INCIDENTS Study shows most shipwrecks a minor US pollution threat

Shipwrecks lying deep off America's coasts are more often historical artefacts than present-day threats from leaking old oil tanks, a new federal report says. While 87 of the ships - most sunk during World War II by German submarines - have the potential to leak tens of millions of gallons of oil, the report issued Monday concludes that "the scope of the problem is much more manageable than initially feared," The Associated Press reported.

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"Our coastlines are not littered with 'ticking time bombs,'" government scientists wrote. They note that only six of the 87 are likely to be serious enough to be disasters to local economies and coastlines, the report said. Still the wrecks are hulking reminders of lost lives in war and the environmental mess of oil, especially to Frank Terry, who experienced them firsthand. The first of two German torpedoes hit the oil tanker ship W.D. Anderson as it steamed along the Florida coast one late February night in 1942. Terry ran to the side, hurled himself over the railing and into the water. His boat was in flames and the 23-year-old was swimming for his life.

Chinese fishing boat, crew released by North Korea

A Chinese boat and 16 fishermen seized for ransom by armed North Koreans more than two weeks ago were released Tuesday, easing the latest irritant in relations between the neighbouring allies., The Associated Press reported. Owner Yu Xuejun, who wasn't aboard the boat when it was seized May 5, wrote on his verified microblog that his captain called him at 3:50am to say the crew and boat were set free. Yu told the state-run Global Times newspaper all of the crewmembers were OK, and other state media reports said the men would resume fishing for a couple of weeks before returning home. After word of the boat's capture became public over the weekend, China demanded that North Korea release the men, though Chinese officials have not said whether they believe the armed captors were operating on their own or under North Korean government authority. One of China's North Korea watchers said border guards were the likely culprits. No ransom was paid as was demanded by the North Koreans, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Taiwan releases satellite record, rejecting Manila's claim

Taiwan on Tuesday released a satellite record of the route of a fishing boat fired on by Philippine coastguards, flatly rejecting Manila's allegations that the boat intruded into Philippine waters, AFP reported. The killing of crew member Hung Shih-cheng, 65, sparked outrage in Taiwan, which has announced a series of economic sanctions against the Philippines. Taiwan's Fisheries Agency said the voyage data recorder from the fishing boat showed it was not in Philippine waters when it came under fire on May 9. "The satellite records indicated that the Guang Ta Hsin 28 had been fishing within Taiwan's exclusive economic zone throughout," the agency's deputy chief Tsay Tzu-yaw told AFP. The satellite record showed that the ship was positioned at 122 degrees and 55 minutes east and 19 degrees and 59 minutes north when it was attacked at 10:12 am. The economic zones claimed by each country overlap. "Since the Philippine authorities repeatedly alleged that the fishing boat had intruded into their waters, then why not make public the video records they claim they have taken from the coastguard boat?" Tsay said.

EDUCATION TESDA seeks to ensure employment of graduates

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Tacloban, Philippines, is mulling a partnership with a shipyard company to ensure employment of their graduates, PNA reported. This was disclosed by TESDA Director Cleta Omega as a result of her short talk with a top official of

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Keppel Philippines Marine Incorporated. "We are looking at partnering with them so that our graduates will be provided with training with them for the competencies that they need until such time that they will hire the graduates," said Omega. "But there is a specific competencies that we need to meet; very specific for their company which they are willing to help us to attain, including training our trainers."

MARITIME INSTITUTIONS German Federal Coast Guard

The German Federal Coast Guard (Kustenwache des Bundes) is a civilian law enforcement organisation of Germany whose primary missions are border protection, maritime environmental protection, shipping safety, fishery protection and customs enforcement. Known by its short name of Kustenwache, it is an amalgalm of several federal agencies and not a single entity such as the United States Coast Guard and other countries. The agencies that make up the federal coast guard have a common plan of action and direct their operations from two Coast Guard Centres for the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Units and personnel from these federal agencies make up the Coast Guard: Ministry of the Interior (Bundespolizei) Ministry of Transport Federal Customs Administration Federal Agency for Agriculture and Nutrition Coast Guard The personnel serving with the Kustenwache include both police officers (in the case of the Bundespolizei and Wasserzoll) and civilians from the Waterways and Shipping Office and other agencies. Coast Guard personnel do not have combat roles as it is not a military unit as other foreign coast guards are. However, police officers serving with the Kustenwache retain their usual police powers relevant to the maritime nature of their job. As of 2012, a total of 27 ships and boats from different federal agencies combine to form the coast guard fleet. These are all marked as "Kustenwache" as well as a black-red-gold signet on the hull and the coast guard's coatof-arms. However, the hull colour differs from agency to agency: blue for the Bundespolizei, green for the Wasserzoll and black for the WSV and BLE. A number of helicopters and planes are in use as well.

SHIPPING DATA
BALTIC EXCHANGE
Market snapshot: 12:35 GMT .

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Dry Capesize Panamax Supramax

Index Index Index Index

BDI BCI BPI BSI

836 1317 917 852

-5 -9 -13 +1 +2

Handysize Index

BHSI 555

EXCHANGE RATES
New York (Mon Cls) Fgn Currency in USD Britain (Pound) Canada (Dollar) China (Yuan) Euro India (Rupee) 1.5269 0.9776 0.1628 1.2897 0.0182 USD in Fgn Currency 0.6549 1.0229 6.1414 0.7754 55.0400 9760.00 102.2900 5.8273 41.2200 3.2400 31.2351 1.2540

Indonesia (Rupiah) 0.000102 Japan (Yen) Norway (Krone) Philippines (Peso) Poland (Zloty) Russia (Ruble) Singapore (Dollar) 0.009776 0.1716 0.0243 0.3082 0.0320 0.7974

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