MARITIME NEWS

Monday, March 31, 2014 International maritime news for seafarers

Confidence level in shipping industry hits six-year high

Improving freight rates, coupled with rising private equity funding, have prompted confidence levels in the shipping industry to reach a new high since 2008 In the three!month period to "e#ruary this year, the level of trust for the industry pea$ed at % & on a scale of 1 to 10, according to Moore 'tephen(s latest 'hipping )onfidence 'urvey *he figure was higher than the % 1 recorded in the previous opinion poll conducted #y the glo#al consulting firm in +ovem#er 2013 'hipowners( confidence level on the industry went up from % 2 in +ovem#er last year to % %, managers ,% 1 to % 4- and #ro$ers ,& % to % 4- *he rating for charterers, meanwhile, posted the highest surge, from & . to % & Most of the respondents who too$ part in the survey #elieves that freight rates are now starting to sta#ilise following years of slump while others say improving glo#al supply and demand will li$ely #enefit the industry over the coming months /*here are signs that we have passed the deepest point of the recession *he only question now is how long it will ta$e for the mar$ets to improve to the point where we have sustaina#le rates again It may #e that some shipowners will still not ma$e it #ecause time ! or cash and the patience of the #an$s ! will run out,/ one of the respondents said Many also said that the shipping industry will also #enefit from the scrapping of more /dirty and inefficient/ vessels this year 0owever, there were some who #elieve that the shipping industry will continue to #ecome a /marginal #usiness/ due to overcapacity, as well as other factors such as political uncertainties world!wide

SAFETY STUDY LAST ACT OF DEFIA CE

1 decommissioned vessel that was #eached at a river port #ro$e free of her moorings and too$ a final unplanned ! and unmanned ! voyage toward a near#y oil terminal

FACTS
1 decommissioned and unmanned coaster had 2ust #een #eached and secured with the vessel(s mooring ropes #y shore wor$ers on a slipway in an estuarial port *wo hours later, on a falling tide, the vessel(s stern, which pro2ected into the river and had remained afloat, lowered, causing the vessel to trim aft 1s weight came on the aft spring line, it surged and slipped off the mooring #itts on #oard *his resulted in the other two mooring lines progressively parting and the vessel sliding astern and entering the main channel in dense fog *he vessel(s radar echo was acquired and trac$ed #y the 3*' station, which made several attempts to communicate with the un$nown contact as it headed downstream 1 pilot launch was tas$ed to identify it, and when it struc$ a #uoy and came within 2 &nm of an oil terminal, two tugs were dispatched *he oil terminal was informed of the possi#le threat and cargo operations were stopped In the dense fog, one of the tugs identified the vessel and transferred a crew mem#er across a#oard her 1lthough one tug was a#le to ma$e fast a tow line to the vessel(s stern, the strong tide and restricted visi#ility hindered the efforts of the tugs *he wayward vessel made contact with the oil terminal structure, causing damage to the support structure of the oil pipelines

FI DI !S
*he mooring ropes used to tie up the vessel were in good condition, #ut the vessel had not #een secured effectively *he aft spring line slipped as weight came on it #ecause the rope had not #een secured correctly 'ynthetic fi#re ropes should #e made fast using two round turns around the leading post of the #itts #efore finishing it off with at least three (figure of eight( turns )areful thought should #e given to the lead of the lines so as to avoid creating sharp angles In this case, a sharp edge on the fairlead effectively cut through the rope as the vessel oscillated alongside #efore #rea$ing free 'ource4 56 M1I7

Clean-up ops under"ay for Texas oil spill

8fforts are underway to control an oil spill that occurred off *e9as )ity(s coast last wee$ +ew sightings of oil slic$s and tar#alls have #een reported near +orth :adre Island and Mustang Island in )orpus )hristi #ut the 5' )oast ;uard said that clean!up and response squads had #een sent to the affected areas

<ocal maritime authorities have yet to determine whether the tar#alls stemmed from the March 22 oil pill in *e9as #ut 2ust the same, clean!up operations are now #eing implemented *ar#alls reaching a si=e of si9 inches have #een seen in patches of seaweed along >: <u#y 7each, reports said ?fficials also disclosed that no wildlife had #een affected #y the oil spill *hey advised residents who have $nowledge or o#served any wildlife that had #een affected #y the oil spill to immediately alert the authorities and refrain from carrying out clean!up operations on their own *he local authorities did not impose any danger =ones and other restrictions #ut residents, tourists and mariners have #een urged to co!ordinate with them in addressing the pro#lem

#hilippines$ %A&I A updates security provisions

In line with the :hilippines( efforts to comply with salient provisions of the 2010 Manila 1mendments, the Maritime Industry 1uthority ,M1@I+1- announced that it is adopting new security provisions 'uch provisions include the adoption of the new competencies and $nowledge, understanding and proficiency ,65:- for ship security security officers as required #y the 2010 Manila 1mendments, :+1 reported M1@I+1 announced the adoption of the course for ship security awareness with designated security duties as required #y the 2010 'tandards on *raining, )ertification and Aatch$eeping ,'*)A- Manila 1mendmentsB and the adoption of refresher and updating of 7asic 'afety under the 2010 Manila 1mendments 1s such, all seafarers, shipowners, manning agencies, maritime education and training institutions, assessment centres are advised to comply with these new regulations Its o#2ective is to implement new competencies, 65:s, ship security!related courses, and refresher and updating for 7asic 'afety in compliance with the requirements of the 2010 '*)A Manila 1mendments *he )ircular covers the following courses4 @evised 'hip 'ecurity ?fficer )ourse ,@egulation 3IC&, '*)A )onvention-B 'ecurity 1wareness *raining ,'ection 1!3IC% 4, '*)A )ode- and 'eafarers with Designated 'ecurity Duties ,'ection 1!3IC% %, '*)A )ode-

!un'en on speed(oat fire at 'erchant vessel

*he +orth 1tlantic *reaty ?rganisation ,+1*?- 'hipping )entre ,+')- has reported a shooting incident at the 'trait of 0ormu= where a merchant vessel was attac$ed #y gunners on a speed#oat *he merchant ship was shot twice on 'unday, with the un$nown assailants using machine guns /*wo green coloured s$iffs with three!four persons on #oard in military clothing and armed with gun machines got to 1&0 meters of a merchant vessel,/ +1*?(s merchant shipping alert service said +1*? added that the attac$ happened at the ;ulf of ?man side of the 'trait of 0ormu= *he authorities are still investigating the incident

INCIDENTS Search for fishing vessel in distress in Antarctica

*here were grave concerns Monday for a fishing vessel that issued a distress signal from an area near 1ntarctica where de#ris has #een sighted *he 1ustralian Maritime 'afety 1uthority ,1M'1- said it had detected an emergency distress #eacon signal early 'unday a#out %48 $ilometres north of the 1ntarctic mainland 1 civilian 2et and an @11" :3 ?rion tas$ed with finding the vessel, thought to #e a .&!metre ,2&0! feet- *an=anian!flagged fishing support ship, failed to do so in flyovers of the remote southern Indian ?cean area /*he vessel was not located #ut de#ris was seen in the location of the #eacon signal,/ 1M'1 said in a statement /;rave concerns are held for the crew / It was not $nown how many people were on #oard 1M'1 has so far #een una#le to contact the #oat that issued the emergency distress signal and a #roadcast has #een issued to all shipping in the area to assist, 1": reported

Tropical fish attac) &ussian traveller$s ro"(oat

*ropical filefish attac$ed row#oat *urgoya$ of @ussian traveller "yodor 6onyu$hov who is crossing solo the :acific from 'outh 1merica to 1ustralia "ilefish are $noc$ing on the row#oat #y their /#ea$s/ and, in the words of "yodor, he /is quite grateful/ to filefish for this "ilefish eat shells on the underwater part of the row#oat 1t a communications session with the @ussian capital of Moscow late 'aturday evening, the oceanic pilgrim said it was quite difficult for him to pass the islands in the central part of the :acific, :+1 reported /I have left the sea area of "rench :olynesia 2ust recently and reached the )oo$ Islands,/ the traveller complained to the e9pedition headquarters *urgoya$ is passing atoll 1utita$i in the )oo$ Islands at a distance of 2ust 31 miles ,around 4E 8 $ilometres- from it 1round 2,000 people live on the atoll, #ut they will hardly notice 6onyu$hov(s nine!metre!long tiny /ship/ amid oceanic waves "rom the start on Decem#er 22, 2013, according to "yodor(s estimates, *urgoya$ had rowed &,&00 nautical miles or more than 10,000 $ilometres

CO-ORDINATION e" centre set up as Chinese ships reach search area

1 total of seven )hinese ships convened 'unday in waters west of 1ustralia(s :erth to coordinate their search for missing Malaysia 1irlines "light M03.0, :+1 and Finhua reported ?ther ships gathered include transport doc$ 6unlunshan, supply ship Giandaohu, missile destroyer 0ai$ou, which will #e responsi#le for the search in the southern part of the newly!designated area, while 0ai9un 01, +anhai2iu 11& and Donghai2iu 101 will search in the northern patch, Finhua was told 8arlier in the day, 1ustralian :rime Minister *ony 1##ott announced former Defense "orce 1ir )hief Marshal 1ngus 0ouston will lead a new >oint 1gency )oordination )enter ,>1))- #ased in :erth 1##ott said 0ouston is /an individual of enormous e9perience and great s$ill who has already served his country with distinction / *he new >1)) will wor$ with $ey international sta$eholders including the families, friends and international media 1##ott said that the >1)) will ensure that the search is reinforced #y strong liaison with all the relevant sta$eholders

PORT OF THE WEEK #ort of *elsin)i

*he :ort of 0elsin$i is the main port of "inland It is is owned #y the city of 0elsin$i, specialised in unitised cargo services for "innish companies engaged in foreign trade *he comple9 is the #usiest passenger port in "inland, with diverse services to *allinn, 'toc$holm, *ravemHnde, @ostoc$, ;dynia and 't :eters#urg, @ussia *he :ort of 0elsin$i oversees three har#ours namely 3uosaari 0ar#our serves container and roro traffic 'outh 0ar#our and Aest 0ar#our serve roro traffic transported #y passenger ships *he liner traffic networ$ of the port of 0elsin$i is the most e9tensive and versatile in "inland *here are frequent, regularly scheduled connections from 0elsin$i to ports on the 7altic 'ea, the +orth 'ea and the 1tlantic In the summer time, international cruise ships ma$e almost 300 visits and #ring over 3%0 000 tourists to 0elsin$i *here can #e as many as 1. departures to *allinn daily *here are also daily connections to *ravemunde, 0am#urg, 7remerhaven and @otterdam *he num#er of passengers was .03,000 in "e#ruary and 1 3 million in >anuary!"e#ruary *he value of the cargo traffic at the :ort of 0elsin$i represents appro9imately one third of the value of the entire "innish foreign trade and two!fifths of the "innish foreign trade transported #y sea )argo arriving at the goods ports of 0elsin$i consists mainly of consumer dura#les and foodstuffs, as well as raw materials and semi!finished goods for the industry 89port goods comprise products of forestry and metal industry, as well as foodstuffs, te9tile products and glassware )argo traffic e9perienced a slight growth at the #eginning of the year *raffic in >anuary!"e#ruary was 1 & million tonnes, which was a one percent increase from the previous year

89ports, in particular, continued their positive development, with a growth rate of si9 in >anuary! "e#ruary 0owever, imports remained wea$ and decreased #y three compared to >anuary!"e#ruary the previous year, according to the :ort(s we# site

SHIPPING DATA
+ALTIC E,C*A !E
Market snapshot: (March 24) Dry Index BDI 1373 Capesi e Index BCI 2!!7 "ana#ax Index B"I 97$ &'pra#ax Index B&I 111! (andysi e Index B(&I )49 -39 -22 -4% -24 -1%

E,C*A !E &ATES
*e+ ,ork (-ri C.s) -/n C'rrency in 0&D Britain ("o'nd) 11))4! Canada (Do..ar) %19%4) China (,'an) %11)1% 2'ro 1137!1 India (3'pee) %1%1)7 Indonesia (3'piah) %1%%%%$$ 4apan (,en) %1%%9729 *or+ay (5rone) %11))4 "hi.ippines ("eso) %1%223 "o.and (6.oty) %13297 3'ssia (3'7.e) %1%2$% &in/apore (Do..ar) %1794! 0kraine ((ry8nia) %1%9%9 0&D in -/n C'rrency %1)%%$ 111%!! )12122 %17272 !91$9!% 113)%1%% 1%2179%% )1%%$) 441$%%% 31%3%% 3!17731 112!$7 111%%!%