SMI Newsdesk Archives

The global financial crisis may have helped to keep seafarer wage increases in check but it has not, and will not, ease the manning shortage crisis that has blighted this industry for the past three to four years, a leading crew manager has claimed.

Addressing the CMA Shipping 2009 conference in Stamford Connecticut, Ole Stene, Aboitiz Jebsen Bulk Transport, said that unless the situation dramatically improves, “our ship … Read More…

V.Ships boss Roberto Giorgi has demanded a meeting with the head of the Korean Register over comments he made alleging that the Hebei Spirit Master and First Officer were imprisoned because they lied to investigators.

Kong-Gyun Oh, who is also Chairman of IACS, was quoted in Lloyd’s List as saying that the reason they were arrested was not because they created the situation “but the very fact … Read More…

With the vital Copenhagen international meeting on a successor to Kyoto only a matter of months away, the sabre rattling could soon be over and time to pin the colours to the respective masts.

And while the shipping industry is publicly acknowledging the importance of the meeting as far as IMO’s credibility is concerned, it appears that the world’s ship owners are happy for taxation only as long as it … Read More…

The trade association for the world’s oil majors has slammed today’s tanker officers as being nothing more than ship operators capable of taking a ship from A to B and claimed that many are not qualified as navigators or chief engineers.

In a further blast over the tanker owners’ bows, OCIMF also criticised STCW for doing done little to help the competence abnd experience of the world’s tanker … Read More…

The presence of naval forces in the Gulf of Aden is not enough to protect all shipping from the threat of piracy and it is up to international governments to assert international law at sea by firstly asserting a semblance of law within Somalia, according to Elijah Cummings, Chairman of the House Sub-Committee on Coastguard and Maritime Transportation.

Delivering the keynote address at this year’s CMA Shipping 2009 … Read More…

Five ships, from four NATO navies, transited the Suez Canal yesterday on their way to conduct counter piracy operations in the Gulf region.

Earlier this month, the North Atlantic Council (NAC) agreed that NATO will contribute to international community efforts to counter piracy off the Horn of Africa. OPERATION ALLIED PROTECTOR aims to enhance the safety of commercial maritime routes and international navigation in the area.

Standing NATO … Read More…

Leading towage and salvage provider SMIT has entered into an agreement to acquire all shares of Minette Bay Ship Docking in Prince Rupert, Canada for an undisclosed sum.

Minette Bay operates in the port of Prince Rupert with three ASD tugs and has carried out the ship docking services for Ridley Island Coal Terminal for the past 25 years.

This acquisition enhances SMIT Marine Canada’s current harbour towage operations on … Read More…

GAC Qatar has secured a place on the pistes for the 2010 Winter Olympics, with its sponsorship of Swedish snowboarder Daniel Biveson. The deal represents the Group’s debut in sponsoring winter sports.

Ranked among the world’s Top 10 snowboarders for eight consecutive years, Daniel has been the Swedish champion six times and Swiss champion once. His career achievements include winning the World Cup four times and twice finishing … Read More…

Global marine terminal operator DP World has officially taken control of operations at the Port of Algiers, now known as DP World Djazair. The addition of Algiers and shortly Djen Djen, Algeria, brings DP World’s global network to 49 terminals in 27 countries. The handover follows an official signing ceremony held in Algiers on November 10, 2008.

DP World’s 30-year concession is consistent with Algeria’s strategy to develop … Read More…

Wilhelmsen’s ship service arm has not allowed the current financial crisis to block future investment plans and has specifically identified new market opportunities in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China

In Brazil, Wilhelmsen Ships Service is focused on the minerals and offshore segments. To support this, an investment program has been initiated that includes expansion of fire system and refrigeration service capabilities, ships agency services and a … Read More…

The number of containerships currently on standby or lying idle at anchorages or ports around the world has reached a record 484 ships totalling 1.41 million teu in capacity, according to findings by the French maritime consultant AXS Alphaliner. The figure represents 11.3% of the world’s total boxship fleet, marking the highest number of such ships ever.

Of the 484 ships ‘on hold’, 243 were awaiting their next … Read More…

China’s LNG imports could reach as much as 60 million tons per annum by 2020 in light of the growing energy demand in the country. Now with its eye set on establishing a stable supply system of LNG on a long-term basis, China has been beefing up its relations with LNG-producing countries such as Qatar.

According to press reports, the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), is understood … Read More…