Fire-stricken APL Vancouver cleared, heads to Singapore

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February 14, 2019

The fire-stricken container ship 'APL Vancouver' is now en route to Singapore. The vessel was cleared for departure on February 12th following inspections by the Salvage team and Class surveyor.

Additional safety measures have been provided for its voyage to Singapore, including an escort tug.

"The incident onboard the vessel has been brought to an end with swift emergency response by its crew and immediate salvage operations that were activated. All crew onboard has remained safe and no pollution has resulted from the situation,"…the vessel's operators said.

A fire broke out on the container vessel APL Vancouver, in one of its cargo holds, on January 31, while the vessel was on passage from Shekou to Singapore. A fire broke out on the container vessel APL Vancouver, in one of its cargo holds, on January 31. At that time, the vessel was on passage from Shekou to Singapore.

The fire started in one of the ship's cargo bays, with video from the scene showing the fire located on a container stack just forward of the accommodations block.

A full investigation will be undertaken to determine the cause of the incident.

APL would like to express its gratitude to the Vietnamese authorities for their very efficient and effective professional assistance.

Source:safety4sea

GT USA Wilmington Launches New Infrastructure Investments

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February 14, 2019

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GT USA Wilmington is on track with its first improvements at the Port of Wilmington after its first quarter managing the facility, according to its new CEO, Eric Casey.

“GT USA Wilmington is immensely proud to have received a 50-year concession to operate the port and to provide $600 million to upgrade and expand the terminal,” Casey said.

Improvement and extension of the dock and crane rail are under way, and these projects should be completed by this summer at a cost of $17 million. GT USA is also enhancing warehouse storage by increasing racking for palletized cargo.

According to Casey, the port will soon begin work on upgrading cargo throughput capacity from 350,000 TEUs to 600,00 TEUs, along with new capacity for roll-on/roll-off cargo.

Casey was appointed CEO of GT USA Wilmington LLC in October. He was previously vice president of Virginia International Terminals and an executive at Maersk Line. Casey spent 26 years with the U.S. Marine Corps, including roles in Special Operations, a National-Level Special Mission Unit and tours in Force Reconnaissance.

GT USA Wilmington, a subsidiary of UAE-based Gulftainer, signed a 50-year concession agreement last September to operate and expand the Port of Wilmington, Delaware, which has served shipping lines since 1923.

As part of the concession agreement, Gulftainer will invest significantly in the port by building a new container facility at DuPont’s former Edgemoor site. GT USA Wilmington also will establish a training facility for the ports and logistics industries, which is expected to train up to 1,000 people a year.

Source:maritime-executive

MOL Chemical Tankers and Den Hartogh Logistics form strategic alliance

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February 13, 2019

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MOL Chemical Tankers Pte. Ltd. in Singapore (MOLCT) and Den Hartogh Logistics in the Netherlands announce a strategic alliance to jointly develop and streamline liquid chemical logistics services utilizing tank containers, parcel chemical tankers and a tank terminal, the company said in its release.

Den Hartogh Logistics is a leading global logistics company, operating over 19,000 tank containers transporting liquid chemicals and gasses, intercontinental, intraregional and domestic while also handling 7.000 box containers for the polymer and food industry. MOL Chemical Tankers operates with a global fleet size of more than 80 parcel chemical tankers, including those operated by the newly acquired MOL Nordic Tankers A/S.

While leading marine transportation of liquid chemicals, vegetable oils and animal fats, MOLCT has formed a joint venture company aiming to construct and operate a chemical tank terminal in Antwerp, Belgium at the hub of the world’sbiggest chemical cluster, and steadily developing towards a chemical multi-modal logistics service company. As strategic partners MOLCT and Den Hartogh Logistics offer their customers in the petrochemical industry truly global supply chain solutions, which combine the tanker fleet of MOLCT with the tank container fleet of Den Hartogh Logistics.

These end-to-end supply chain solutions offer our customers the best of both worlds, with the highest level of safety and cost effectiveness on a global scale. Existing services of tank containers by Den Hartogh Logistics and parcel tankers by MOLCT will continue. The strategic alliance is ratified by MOL Chemical Tankers acquiring 20% of the issued shares of Den Hartogh Logistics’ holding company from the current sole shareholder Den Hartogh Beheer B.V.As capital and business partners Den Hartogh Logistics and MOLCT will further develop a mutual global customer network and strengthenits competitiveness as service providers of global liquid chemical logistics.

CMA CGM launches public tender offer on CEVA

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February 13, 2019

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French container ship company CMA CGM announced a public tender offer for all publicly held registered shares of Swiss freight company CEVA Logistics, with an offer price of CHF 30 per share.

CMA CGM’s public tender will offer other shareholders 30 Swiss francs ($29.75) per share, valuing CEVA at 1.67 billion francs, a price agreed after Ceva rejected a takeover bid in October from Danish freight firm DSV.

Post settlement of the offer, CEVA expects to acquire CMA CGM Logistics from CMA CGM. It is CEVA's and CMA CGM's objective to maintain the CEVA share listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange with a significant free float, with governance principles in line with best practices for Swiss listed companies. The entire Public Tender Offer process is expected to close in Mid -April 2019.

The key financial highlights of the business plan are the ones disclosed in the announcement of the Public Tender Offer on 26 November 2018:

CEVA's 2021 revenue target above US$9bn, reflecting a 5% average annual organic growth as well as including the contribution of CMA CGM Logistics of US$630 million
Stronger footprint in Ocean Freight Management
Expectations on Adjusted EBITDA raised from US$380 million in 2017 to US$470-490 million in 2021
Intensified business relationship with CMA CGM while keeping an arm's length relationship.

The strategic partnership between CMA CGM and CEVA is aimed to pioneer the development of integrated logistics solutions, while retaining an arm's length business relationship between the partners, the company noted. CMA CGM plans to keep CEVA as an independently listed company with a significant free float on SIX Swiss Exchange.

If CMA CGM holds more than 50% of the voting rights or issued share capital of CEVA, this triggers a "change of control" under the agreements governing a significant portion of CEVA's debt. As a consequence, CEVA is actively working on new financing solutions, most of which are well advanced.

CEVA agreed on 31 December 2018, subject to the settlement of the Offer and receipt of necessary regulatory approvals sought in connection with the Offer, to acquire CMA CGM's freight management activities for a total consideration (cash free/debt free) of US$105 million, with 100% of the consideration being paid in cash in February 2020. Closing of the CMA CGM Logistics transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2019.

Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM, has made logistics a major focus of his development strategy, since he took the helm of the group in 2017.

Boskalis sells SAAM Towage stake for $201m

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February 13, 2019

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Royal Boskalis Westminster (Boskalis) has signed an agreement with the Chilean logistic company SAAM S to sell its equity stake in SAAM SMIT Towage. Under the terms of the agreement, the total (100%) enterprise value of SAAM SMIT Towage is valued at $560m.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019 and the transaction is valued at $201m.

The towage joint venture between Boskalis and SAAM was formed in 2014 which at the time covered the respective towage activities in Brazil, Panama, Mexico and Canada. Since then, the joint venture has successfully expanded its presence and realised efficiency savings and commercial synergies.

As a result of the deal, SAAM will acquire 49% of the business in Mexico, Panama and Canada and 50% in Brazil. In aggregate, these operations reported revenue of $205m in 2018.

“The partnership with Boskalis has been very productive: In just over four years, we have grown the business in Canada and improved our position in Brazil. Today we want to take another step forward. Since the towage area is at the core of our business, SAAM can play an important role in consolidating and growing this industry,” said SAAM’s ceo, Macario Valdés.

He added, “We perform over 100,000 towage maneuvers each year in the 60 plus ports where we operate. Every five minutes we begin a new maneuver somewhere in the Americas. This is a business we want to strengthen and develop for the future,” he commented.

The joint operations boast a total fleet of 106 tugs operating in 30 ports in four countries, including three of the five most important terminals in the Americas: Santos (Brazil) and Colón and Balboa (Panama).

Chile-based SAAM provides international trade services through three business divisions: Port Terminals, Towage and Logistics. With 57 years in business, SAAM has operations in 12 countries in North, Central and South America.

Source:seatrade-maritime

Tianjin Lingang port to build 12 new berths

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February 13, 2019

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Tianjin Lingang Port Group plans to expand its port facilities this year at its Dagukou port with 12 new general cargo handling berths.

Lingang is to build twelve 100,000 tonne-class and 150,000 tonne-class multi-purpose berths and an 11 sq km bonded area. When the whole port project is completed, its handling capacity will exceed 100m tons. It will also open night navigation in the port area of Dagukou this year to improve its service quality.

Currently, Dagukou port focuses on the transportation of bulk cargo, grain, oil and liquid chemical products.

In 2018 Tianjin Lingang Port Group reported 17m tons in cargo throughput with its self-operated breakbulk berths handling 10m tons for the first time.

Source:seatrade-maritime

RIMS BV receives certifications to use drones for enclosed spaces surveys

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February 13, 2019

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RIMS BV have received two certifications from DNV GL and the Indian Class Register, to use Remote Inspection Techniques (drones) during surveys of enclosed spaces. New regulations that IACS issued, want to ensure a certain quality standard to service suppliers who want to use drone technology during close surveys.

With certification from nine Classification Societies, RIMS can showcase that drone technology with skilled pilots, is able to reduce the safety risks and offer a cost-efficient solution for inspections of assets.

Nevertheless, drone inspections can be complex. Local permits to fly drones can vary from country to country, with restrictions on outdoor flights in some areas.

Currently, ship owners, managers and operators decide how a surveyor gains access to the areas. The options for access will depend on the type of survey, as in some instances thickness measurements are needed.

Right now, surveyors are working in unsafe conditions to conduct procedures, David Knukkel, CEO of RIMS BV, believes. He added that this situation is not sustainable, and eventually the Regulators will make the market to use the latest technology to ensure safe working practices.

RIMS BV is also investigating how it can set standards towards inspection quality in the oil and gas industry,in order to adopt the use of drones for inspection purposes.

Clear regulations have been defined towards the quality of inspections. It acknowledges the scenario of many hobby pilots applying for certification, who may have failed, due to lack of knowledge of the assets and experience to reach the required output. This diluted the market for professionals and did not install much confidence with end-users and Classification Societies to adopt the technology on a more widespread scale.

Source:safety4sea

Watch: Cruise ship crashes at pier of San Juan

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February 13, 2019

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The Norwegian Epic cruise vessel sustained power loss during its current cruise to the Caribbean on February 12, requiring the NCL cruise ship to divert to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The cruise vessel was planned to voyage to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and later on sail to St Thomas, US Virgin Islands and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas on February 15th before returning to Port Canaveral on February 16th.

According to passengers the cruise ship suffered power loss to one of its engines on. That's when the crew decided to divert the voyage and head to Puerto Rico at reduced speed.

On its arrival to San Juan, the Norwegian Epic cruise vessel crashed on a couple of sections on the pier, mostly because of the manoeuvres that occurred due to engine issues.

In addition, sources stated that the cruise vessel didn't suffer any serious damages, except of scratches and dents. However, the pier sections were destroyed.

SMC, Total in New Framework Deal

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February 13, 2019

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UK-based provider of consultancy, health & safety advisory, workforce solutions and software services Specialist Marine Consultants (SMC) has won a framework agreement from Total to provide geophysical acquisition supervision.

SMC said that the framework contract award from the French oil company would see it support a number of seismic supervision services throughout the three-year contract.

“SMC is very pleased to have been awarded a framework agreement which will see it support a number of seismic supervision services throughout the three year contract,” SMC said.

This contract award represents yet another significant milestone in the continued growth of SMC and its diversification of services delivered to the seismic exploration sector and the wider energy industry in general, it said.

Following a successful 2018, which culminated in SMC receiving the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the company anticipate further growth throughout 2019 and beyond, with a strong pipeline of work already confirmed for the coming years.

Source:marinelink

Eneco and Vattenfall open Slufterdam 2.0 wind farm with twice as much power

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February 13, 2019

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Eneco and Vattenfall will put a new, improved version of the Slufterdam wind farm into service today. The 17 existing wind turbines in the farm, which has been supplying renewable energy since 2002, have been replaced by 14 wind turbines that are much more efficient. As a result, the power has nearly doubled from 25.5 MW to 50.4 MW. The 14 wind turbines generate 180 GWh of electricity every year, enough to cover the annual consumption of around 60,000 households.

The energy companies started preparations to replace the wind turbines in mid-2017. In a period of roughly 18 months, the old wind turbines were dismantled, the infrastructure for the new wind farm was built, and the new wind turbines were installed.

Constructive cooperation between the various parties in this region was a significant factor in ensuring this project was completed successfully.

Diverse social and economic interests intersect due to the unique location of the wind farm, including nature conservation organisations (South-Holland Landscape Foundation and Nature Reserves Holland Landscape), the Port of Rotterdam Authority, municipalities (Westvoorne and Rotterdam), and two competing energy companies (Eneco and Vattenfall). They all worked together to achieve the ultimate objective: to generate more renewable energy that also contributes to the restoration of the natural environment.

Slufterdam wind farm facts and figures
14 Vestas VII2 wind turbines: 8 belonging to Vattenfall and 6 belonging to Eneco
3.6 MW per wind turbine for a total of 50.4 MW installed capacity
GVB will purchase electricity from the Vattenfall wind turbines
Royal Schiphol Group n.v. will purchase electricity from part of the Eneco turbines. Eneco is in dialogue with local parties for power from the rest of their turbines.

Source:portnews