COS Weekly News - 11 December 2009
Friday, 11 December 2009 16:24
COS News – Week ending 11 December 2009
Issue No. 85
MARINE NAVIGATION SERVICE FEES
As previously advised, COS was not successful in being awarded the contract to collect Marine Navigation Service Fees on behalf of the west coast marine industry out of an RFP issued by the Canadian Coastguard in July 2009. COS met with the parties in
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The Vancouver Board of Trade will be closed for the holidays from December 24 to January 4, 2010. However, please note that the VBT has confirmed that a staff member will be available on December 31 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm to process any Certificates of Origin required within this period.
On November 27th shipbuilders located on the West Coast of Canada formed an unprecedented alliance to provide a unified voice to all levels of government in an effort to promote BC’s shipbuilding industry. The new entity named the Pacific Coast Shipbuilders Association (PCSA) is chaired by John Shaw and the members will be working together to deliver programs to meet the needs of the Federal fleet renewal.
PORT METRO
Effective December 15, 2009, Port Metro Vancouver’s New Westminister office will be closed. All employees at the location will be transferred to the downtown
The direct phone number and email address of our port employees remain unchanged and the main telephone number is 604-665-9000.
NAIKUN OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PROJECT APPROVED
NaiKun Wind Development Inc. (the proponent) has received an environmental assessment (EA) certificate for its proposed offshore wind energy project (project). The Council of the Haida Nation has a limited partnership agreement with the proponent to operate and maintain the project after construction.
Government News
BC AND
Premier Gordon Campbell and Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia Pacific Gateway today announced $25 million in joint federal/provincial funding to improve ferry access to Klemtu through the construction of a new ferry terminal.
CBSA AUDITS EMANIFEST DEVELOPMENT IN PROGRESS
The objective of the audit was to provide assurance that the project management framework and data management practices for the eManifest Project are adequate and effective. The findings recommend streamlining the governance structure for the eManifest team and improvements to project planning and management.
Other News
GREEK BULK CARRIER “ARIANA”
Referring to an item we made covered a couple of weeks ago whereby a 12 year Ukranian girl is reported to be amongst those held by Somali pirates on the bulk carrier Ariana, it was reported that after seven months of detention, a ransom for release of the vessel was finally paid yesterday. Subject to having adequate bunkers, the vessel is expected to depart Somali waters for
MAERSK IN BOLD SCOTTISH PUBLIC RELATIONS MOVE
Maersk recently found itself at the wrong end of public opinion when six container ships were laid up in Loch Striven,
Maersk Sealand ships laid up in
The 4,200 teu Maersk Brooklyn, plus Maersk Boston, Maersk Beaumont, Maersk Bentonville, Maersk Baltimore, and the slightly smaller Sealand Performance, arrived for lay up last July. After conducting an acoustic survey, Maersk decided that noise levels could be reduced, but company went one further recently by inviting the locals onto the Maersk Beaumont for a tour and reception hosted by captain and crew. The ice was broken and 30 vociferous locals accepted the invitation since when relations have been much improved. It is unknown whether any of the locals required assistance to leave the vessel.
Loch Striven is a sea loch which lies west of the Firth of Clyde, north of the Isle of Bute. The loch has good sea access and has long been used as a sheltered anchorage where vessels can safely layup. The loch has also been used for military training and testing. During World War II, it was used for training of midget submarine crews due to geographic similarity with the Norwegian fjord in which the German battleship Tirpitz was moored.
WORLD SHIPPING COUNCIL TO STEP UP INDUSTRY ADVOCACY
On behalf of all the world’s leading liner operators, the World Shipping Council (WSC) based in Washington DC has decided to ramp up their public awareness campaign. The campaign will aim to provide the public with a comprehensive explanation of the industry, its contribution to global economic health, and the status of current policy issues. In preparation for the launch of a new website, WSC has commissioned an independent assessment of the economic contribution of the liner shipping industry which when taking 2007 as a base year the contribution of the liner shipping industry in terms of GDP was $183.3bn and 4.2m jobs.
The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) was dragged down by the Capesize market and closed in
Index 5387 3795 2432
Last week 6640 3830 2368
Spot time charter $55,600/day $30,500/day $25,400/day
Last week $70,700/day $30,800/day $24,800/day
Despite the softer week for Capesizes, this has been a decent week for Panamaxes in the Pacific on account of a flood of coal fixtures to
TANKERS: It is becoming increasingly apparent that a number of VLCCs on order Asian yards will not be delivered to their original owners. Ships due for delivery in the next couple of years were ordered at the top of the price cycle hence many owners can and will save money by simply walking away from deposits. Of the 184 VLCCs on order, more than half were at prices above $130m compared to around $95m today. In the markets this week, VLCC owners have been turning the screw on charterers to achieve improved rates in all directions. Arabian Gulf to
CONTAINERS: A new level of container ship layups was announced this week. The idle fleet is now estimated at 11.7% comprising 572 containerships with a capacity of 1.5m TEU. On a more positive note, rates in the trend setting Asia-Europe trades are starting to stabilise. Rate increases achieved over the past few months are sticking thanks to the decision of most lines to implement disciplined capacity constraints
Upcoming Events
Dec 14 BC Marine Vessel Air Quality Working Group Meeting @ 13:30
Dec 15 COS Ship & Port Operations Committee Meeting @ 12:00
Dec 16 COS Liner Committee Meeting @ 10:00
Dec 16 COS Customs Working Group Meeting @ 12:00
Dec 17 COS Navigation Services Committee Meeting @ 10:30
Dec 17 COS Owners Committee Meeting @ 12:00
Dec 24 Christmas Eve – COS Offices Close @ 12:00
Dec 25 Statutory Holiday – Christmas Day – COS Office Closed
Dec 28 Boxing Day Holiday – COS Office Closed
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve – COS Offices Close @ 12:00
Jan 1 New Year’s Day – COS Offices Closed
Ship of the Week
OSV VIKING LADY
The major world theme this week being the COP (Conference of the Parties) 15 meeting in the Danish Capital of Copenhagen, we felt it may be appropriate to feature an interesting vessel which is part of the so called “Fellowship Project”.
The Offshore Service Vessel (OSV) Viking Lady is a ship comprised of a number of fuel cell packs intended to provide auxiliary power. As part of the Fellowship (Fuel Cells for Low Emissions Ships) project, this experimental vessel was first launched in 2003 and now is close to commercialization. This is a cross industry project managed by Det DNV Offshore, which includes the vessel’s owners Eidsvik, Wärtsilä Ship Power, MTU Onsite Energy and Wärtsilä Ship Design. The project is also supported by the Norwegian Research Council and the German Federal Ministry of Economics & Technology.
The progress of the project to date appears to demonstrate that fuel cell technology is close to a commercial application and is intended to address the future demands on our industry to reduce emissions. Fuel cell technology of this capacity has never before been installed in merchant vessels and the highly innovative project is unique on a world scale. Engine Manufactuers Wärtsilä has been involved in fuel cell technology since the mid-1990s and specializes in systems integration.
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