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The AMET University, Chennai in support with National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi is organizing an International Seminar on “Opportunities for Maritime Research in Academia and Industries” on February 06, at Chennai. It is interesting to note that the seminar is being hosted to commemorate the 18th year of AMET’s establishment and the 3rd year of becoming the First University for Maritime Education in India.

Seminar to focus on:

• Emerging and challenging research issues in the maritime domain and marine disciplines in the Academia and the Industry.
• Research activities/culture among faculty members of maritime colleges and Institutes.
• Trends in academia-industry collaboration in research and provide the platform for Indian maritime industry to appreciate and initiate research work in collaboration with Academia.
• The formation of a “maritime research networking” for intra- and inter-disciplinary research groups across various institutes and industry bodies.

To be addressed by:

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Year End Review 2009 by the Ministry of Shipping, India issued as a press release is given below:

CRUISE SHIPPING POLICY, NEW INLAND WATERWAYS, NAVRATNA STATUS TO SCI HAPPENED TO BE HIGHLIGHTS OF SHIPPING SECTOR

MODEL CONCESSION AGREEMENT, UPFRONT TARIFF FOR PPP PROJECTS & BETTER RAIL ROAD CONNECTIVITY RECEIVED EMPHASIS IN PORT SECTOR

SHIPPING SECTOR

The approval of Cruise Shipping Policy, declaration of new Waterways, ‘Navratna’ status to the Shipping Corporation of India, acquisition of three new ships by SCI, setting up of four new lighthouses along with automation of 30 lighthouses, steps to protect seafarers, steps to set up National Maritime Complex and approval of the Parliament for setting up of Indian Maritime University in Chennai marked the main activities of the Shipping Sector.

Cruise Shipping Policy

During the year 2009, the Government approved Cruise Shipping Policy which is expected to carve a prominent space in world tourism and it would showcase India as a major source and destination of world tourism. The Cruise Shipping Policy was circulated to all the concerned Ministries, Stakeholders, Major Port Trusts and Maritime Boards in September this year for taking further necessary steps in implementing the policy.

Inland Water Transport

Two waterways have been declared as new National Waterways namely: (i) the Kakinada-Puducherry stretch of Canals and the Kaluvelly Tank, Bhadrachalam-Rajahmundry stretch of River Godavari and Wazirabad-Vijayawada stretch of River Krishna (1095 kms) and (ii) the Talcher-Dhamra stretch of river Brahmani, Geonkhali-Charbatia stretch of East Coast Canal, Charbatia-Dhamra stretch of Matai river and Mangalgudi-Paradip stretch of Mahanadi delta rivers (623 Kms). Apart from this, MoU was signed between Indian Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and NTPC for transportation of imported coal IWT mode from Haldia to Farakka/Kahalgaon/Barh through National Waterway. Construction of low level jetty of fixed terminal has been completed at Patna and Pandu (Guwahati). IWAI has ordered eight new dredgers.

Shipping Corporation of India

The Government conferred the much coveted “Navratna status” on the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI) making it the 17^th Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in the country to join the elite club of Navratna PSUs. Earlier the SCI was ‘Mini Ratna’ Category-I PSU with effect from 24/02/2000. The Company has an ambitious ship acquisition programme of ordering/ acquiring 62 new building ships during the 11^th Five Year Plan, which forms part of the National Maritime Development Programme. Presently the Company has total 29 ships on order at various reputed shipyards. During the year, the SCI has taken delivery of 3 new building ships which have been named as follows “SCI Chennai” SCI Mumbai” and M.T. Desh Viraat.

International Cooperation

In order to deepen and expend the cooperation between the two countries in the fields of ports and maritime transport and logistics, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in February this year with the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management of Netherland. Similarly, a trilateral Agreement among India, Brazil and South Africa signed in October this year envisaging a five year Action Plan on Maritime transport Project to further strengthen Maritime relation and consolidate them on the basis of quality and mutual benefit.

Aid to Navigation

Three New Lighthouses at Iskapalipallam (Andhra Pradesh), Satpati (Maharashtra) and Chidiya Tapu (A&N) have been established during the year 2009. Apart from this, automation of Mumbai Lighthouse Region (28 Lighthouses) with five Remote Control Stations have been made functional. Automation of Port Blair Lighthouses Region (30 Lighthouses) with three Remote Control Stations is underway. Bid process for establishment of National AIS Network and automation of Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Cochin are in progress. An amount of Rs.111 crore has been collected as Lighthouse (Revenue) till 30^th November, 2009.

Process on for two International Size Shipyards

National Maritime Development Programme has envisaged setting up of two international size shipyards. For this purpose Govt. has nominated Ennore Port Ltd. and Mumbai Port Trust as the nodal agencies for East-Coast and West Coast respectively who have been authorized to appoint consultants to identify three or four alternative sites each for setting up of shipyard on West Coast and East Coast of India and also suggest optimal location with detailed justification. The process for appointment of consultants has been initiated.

Shipbuilding Subsidy

Government has been operating a shipbuilding subsidy scheme for Central Public Sector Shipyards intermittently since 1971 with some gaps and modifications from time to time. The scheme was extended to all the Shipyards including private sector Shipyards, w.e.f. 25^th October, 2002. The previous shipbuilding subsidy scheme expired on 14.8.2007. Government of India decided in March, 2009 to liquidate the committed liabilities in respect of shipbuilding subsidy for shipbuilding contracts signed on or before 14.8.2007 for Central Public Sector Shipyards and for shipbuilding contracts signed on 25.10.2002 and before/upto 14.8.2007 i.e. the date of expiry of the previous shipbuilding subsidy scheme for non-central public sector shipyards and private sector shipyards. Revised guidelines dated 29^th September, 2009 have been issued by the Ministry.

Indian Maritime University

The Government has established Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai by an Act of Parliament in November, 2008 with campuses at Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. Formation of IMU will facilitate and promote maritime studies, research and extension work. As there are a sizeable number of private institutions imparting maritime education and training, the University will standardize the quality of such education and training through affiliation and academic supervision. The existing seven maritime training and research institutes (Government and Government aided) will be merged with IMU.

Protection of Seafarers

The causalities of Indian Seafarers have been a matter of great concern in the recent time. When casualty occurs, it is obligatory on flag state to carry out investigation under UNCLOS Article 94(7) into every marine casualty or incident of navigation on the high seas involving a ship flying its flag and causing loss of lives and serious injury to nationals of another state. While there may not be much of a problem with the responsible flag states, it becomes difficult with flags of convenience state. The Ministry of Shipping has taken various steps in this regard. The matter has been taken up with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for consolidation of the international conventions with regard to shipping casualty and making the law stringent to bring around the non-responsible flag state to carry out their responsibility. The Government has approved the establishment of Indian Maritime Casualty Emigration Cell in DG (Shipping).

National Maritime Complex

To showcase various facets of Indian Maritime Industry, it is proposed to have a National Maritime Complex at Chennai and a Society has been formed in November, 2008 to fulfill the requirements of maritime sector by providing maritime related and integrated services at a single location.

PORT SECTOR

Model Concession Agreement (MCA)

The Government has finalized a Model Concession Agreement (MCA) to ensure uniformity in the contractual agreements to be entered by the Major Ports with the selected bidders for the Build, Operate & Transfer (BOT) projects to be developed through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. It will also enable the prospective bidders to have prior knowledge of the contractual obligation of both parties and therefore, ensure transparency.

Upfront Tariff for PPP Projects

For fixing tariffs, the Ministry of Shipping has formulated new Tariff Guidelines. Tariff Authority of Major Ports (TAMP) an autonomous body under the Ministry of Shipping, follows a normative cost based approach for fixing tariffs PPP projects before the bids are finalized. During the year 2009 TAMP has fixed upfront tariff for a number of PPP projects at different Major Ports in the country.

7 PPP projects were awarded upto December, 2009 in various ports. This will inject FDI into the port sector and will result in creation of additional capacity in the ports.

Rail Road Connectivity of Major Ports

The Committee on Infrastructure (COI) headed by the Prime Minister set up a Committee of Secretaries (COS) under the Chairmanship of Member Secretary (Planning Commission) to review the rail road connectivity of Major Ports which recommended that each Major Port should preferably have minimum four lane road and double line rail connectivity and this should be established in fixed time frame.

COS recommended time completion of the eight ongoing rail connectivity projects (Haldia, Paradip-2 projects, NMPT, Kanda -2 projects, JNPT and Tuticorin) and ten ongoing road projects (Haldia, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Chennai-Ennore, Tuticorin, Cochin, NMPT, Mormugao, JNPT-2 Projects). COS also recommenced five rail connectivity (Kolkata, Mormugao, Haldia, Mumbai and Ennore) and four road connectivity projects ( Kolkata, Paradip, Tuticorin and Cochin). Railways have already completed projects for Rail connectivity to the Major Ports at Haldia, New Mangalore, Kandla and JNPT. The project for Road connectivity to VPT was also completed.

Ennore Port Ltd. (EPL)

The project of Development of Container Terminal at EPL with 1.5 million TEUs Capacity and costing for Rs.1407 crores, on BOT basis has been approved by CCEA. RFP has been issued.

Dredging Corporation of India Ltd. (DCI)

Dredging Corporation of India has a proposal for acquisition of 3 TSHDs at a cost of Rs.1570 crores. The proposal has been considered by PIB. Note for CCI is under consideration.

Developmental Activities to improve connectivity

18.3 Km four-lane Elevated Expressway from Chennai Port to Maduravoyal on National Highway 4 has been approved by the Government recently.

Chennai-Ennore Port Road Connectivity of 29.3 Kms length with an estimated project cost of Rs.309 crores is also underway. A progress of 9.7 per cent in case of Phase I has been completed.

4-laning of Tuticorin-Madurai Road (NH 45 B) with road length of 144 Kms at an estimated cost of Rs.629 crores has been sanctioned, work awarded and Financial Close achieved in January, 2007 and scheduled to be completed by 2010.

Doubling of Madurai-Dindigul Section of railway line connecting Tuticorin Port of 62.06 Kms. Length with estimated project cost of Rs.126 crores has been sanctioned and the work has been awarded. Ambaturai-Kodaikanal road doubling has been merged with his work.

Project Report for Puttur-Attipattu Chord Line connecting Ennore Port 144 Kms Length at an estimated cost of Rs.435 crores is under preparation. Project is sanctioned in Budget 2008-09 on SPV mode with 50 per cent cost sharing with Ennore Port.

Port Operation

Manning Scales were implemented in Major Ports of Paradip, Visakhapatnam, New Mangalore and Cochin. Remaining major ports are in the process of implementing the manning scales with local adjustments, wherever necessary.

Priority berthing was accorded to vessels carrying Sugar and fertilizers in keeping with the directions of Committees of Secretaries. In order to expedite the evacuation of Sugar & pulses from ports, rates of demurrage were hiked steeply. This had a salutary effect on the availability of essential commodities in the market.

The Pay Revision Committee (PRC) for Class I & II employees of Port and Dock Workers has finalized its report. This is shortly being submitted for approval.

Source: Press Information Bureau.

How unsafe is life for seafarers at sea ?

Here is the tragic story of the captain of MV Theresa VIII who lost his life.

• MV Theresa VIII, heading to Mombasa with a crew of 28 North Koreans was hijacked by Somali pirates on November 16 in the south Somali Basin, 180 nautical miles North West of the Seychelles.
• The vessel is a Chemical Tanker of Virgin Islands owned and operated from Singapore.
• It is now reported that the captain of the vessel has died due to wounds. It is not clear whether the captain was wounded during the hijack or after the vessel was hijacked.

It may be recalled that the Russian captain Vladimir Kolobkov of MV Faina, Ukrainian cargo ship died on September 28, 2009 due to hypertension in the hands of pirates. The vessel was hijacked on September 25, 2008 by Somali pirates and later released on receiving ransom payment.

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Suez Canal (in Arabic: Qanat as-Suways) links the Mediterranean Sea at Port Said to the Red Sea at Suez, via the branches of the River Nile. The Canal was opened for navigation on November 17, 1869 and now completes 140 years of navigation.

Egypt nationalized the canal on July 26, 1956, with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) as a public and an independent authority of a juristic personality to manage, operate, use, maintain and improve the Suez Canal. The Canal was closed five times in the past and is operational since June 5, 1975. Admiral Ahmed Ali Fadel is the present Chairmen of SCA since January 22, 1996.

Here are some more interesting facts on Suez canal:

• Egypt was the first country to dig a man-made canal.
• The first who dug it was Senausert III, Pharaoh of Egypt in 1874 B.C.
• This canal had different names in the past and was abandoned due to silt, then reopened several times as:
  • Canal of Sity I: 1310 B.C.
  • Canal of Nkhaw: 610 B.C.
  • Canal of Darius I: 510 B.C.
  • Canal of Ptolemy II: 285 B.C.
  • Canal of The Romans: 117 A.C.
  • Canal of Amir El-Moemeneen: 640 A.D.
• Distance saving via the Canal:
  • from Jeddah to Piraeus: 9887 NM (Nautical Miles)
  • from Tokyo to Rotterdam: 3315 NM
  • from Ras Tanura to Rotterdam: 4733 NM
  • from Colombo to New York: 5473 NM
  • from Singapore to New York: 2373 NM
• Vessels with draughts up to 62 feet can presently navigate through the Canal and up to 72 feet in future.
• Maritime Training and Simulation Center of SCA trains the pilots to navigate in the Canal.

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DV (Dead Vessel) Platinum II, Ocean Liner (IMO No 5160180) arrived Gujarat coast on October 08 for Anchoring, Beaching, Dismantling, Disposal and Recycling at Alang – Sosiya Ship Breaking yard, Gulf of Cambay near Bhavnagar.

Based on the complaints raised by Indian Platform on Ship Breaking and media reports regarding the vessel carrying toxic and radioactive material, a Central Technical Team constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government Of India (GOI) inspected the vessel at Bhavnagar Anchorage Point on October 20. The inspecting team comprised of Technical Officials from Ministry of Steel, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Atomic Energy & Regulatory Board (AERB) to assess the hazardous materials/wastes contained in the ship, including Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Asbestos and Radioactive substances. During inspection, the vessel position was 21°07′ 33” N, 72°10′ 34” E about 42 Nautical Mile (NM) from Ghogha Port, about 6 NM from Gopinath Temple and about 15 NM from Alang Ship Breaking Yard.

Now on November 09, MoEF of GOI has disallowed beaching and recycling of the ship at Alang for the following reasons:

• For violating US Toxics Substances Control Act as the ship owners Global Shipping LLC and its affiliated company Global Marketing Systems, Inc. were fined a total of  $518,500 to resolve Toxic Substances Control Act violations.
• There are allegations that the vessel reached India with fake documents on national registry and flag.

The Central Technical Team’s assessment of hazardous materials/waste

• Asbestos Containing Material (ACM)
  • As per documents (submitted along with Application) by M/s Futurenet Group, the quantity of ACM is 147.3 MT.
  • As per GPCB, the estimated quantity of ACM is more than 200 MT.
  • During the inspection, Central Team made an assessment of ACM as per which the quantity is approximately 238 MT.
• Poly Chlorinated Bi-phenyles (PCBs)
  • As per GPCB report, the quantity of PCB containing materials is 20 MT.
  • However, Central Team could not assess the quantity of PCB containing material, as no details of drawings are available with the ship to know the length and thickness of the cables etc. and having mostly concealed wiring.

The inspection team has further reported that

• None of the hazardous waste were found in the ship in loose form or as a cargo.
• As the structure/type & nature of ACM/PCBs in Platinum-II or for that matter in any other ship is a difficult task to exactly estimate the quantities of ACM, PCBs containing materials.
• ACM and material containing PCBs in Platinum II must be lesser in quantity compared to ‘Blue Lady’ and another passenger vessel that were recycled at Alang in the past.

Some interesting features of DV Platinum II are:

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Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship cruised below the Storebaelt bridge (Great Belt Bridge) of Denmark on November 01, 2009. The bridge is about 65 metres above sea level and Oasis of the Seas rises 72 metres above the sea level.

The limitation of this bridge was taken into consideration while designing the vessel and the vessel is having telescopic funnel. The vessel retracted her telescopic funnel and cruised below the Storebaelt bridge with a clearance of around 1 metre.

View in this video clip how the vessel cruised comfortably under the bridge: Clearing a Landmark: Lowering for Storebaelt Bridge

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Here is the view of the great escort of the Mighty Servant 1 in the Gulf of Aden, by Belgian frigate Louise-Marie (F 931) of European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) – Operation Atalanta on September 13 and 14 (this view was missed out by me in September).

Mighty Servant 1, a 29,000-ton semi-submersible heavy-lift ship was transiting from the Maldives to Norway with the hull of the North Sea Gjøa platform of Statoil ASA constructed by Samsung shipyard in South Korea. The escort initially provided by Louise-Marie was later completed by Swedish corvette Malmoe.

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The BBC Box that commenced global voyage in September 2008 completed the mission and returned to Southampton, UK from Thailand on October 22. The project was launched to give details of the global trade and economy through television, radio and online audiences as experienced by the BBC Box , 40 feet/Dry with code number – NYKU8210506. Interestingly, the BBC Box is also a witness to the global recession.

Click the map below provided by BBC News, to trace the global voyage of the BBC Box in detail.

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Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer Kurama (DDH 144) and South Korean container ship Carina Star collided on October 27. Kurama was on her way back to Sasebo Base, after attending the fleet review.

Information available from the Press Conference by the Defense Minister, Japan:

• Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) destroyer, 5,200-ton Kurama collided with South Korean cargo ship Carina Star which is about 7,400 tons.
• The accident occurred around 7:56 P.M. on October 27 in the Kanmon Strait, almost right below the Kanmon Bridge. As a result of collision, fire broke out in both ships.
• JMSDF destroyer Kurama
  • The crewmembers of the Kurama extinguished the fire that broke out in the bow.
  • Kurama came alongside a pier at Moji Port around 5:16 A.M. on October 28, and the fire was extinguished completely around 6:30 A.M.
  • Four crew members were treated in a hospital; one for a light injury and the other three for inhaling smoke.
  • Two more crew members who were involved in extinguishing the fire were treated for dehydration, but their conditions are very stable.
  • Investigation by Japan Coast Guard (JCG) is going on.
• South Korean container ship Carina Star
  • Fire in Carina Star was extinguished and no injury was reported.
  • The cargo ship is reported to have a hole in the area under the anchor.

Here is the photograph of destroyer Kurama (DDH 144) from JMSDF.

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STX Europe, Turku has delivered ‘Oasis of the Seas’ the most revolutionary cruise ship to Royal Caribbean International on October 28. Oasis of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world. Oasis of the Seas will be unveiled on ABC’s “Good Morning America” during a special live broadcast on November 20. It is worth noting that the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas projects have provided the shipyard and the maritime cluster with 12,000 man-years of labor.

Some interesting features of Oasis of the Seas and her joining the Royal Caribbean International are:

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Chudamani in Bhadrak district Orissa is going to be developed as a sea port by Aditya Birla Group. MOU was signed between Shri Muralidharan, COO, Aditya Birla Group and Shri P.K. Jena, Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, Transport & Commerce Deptt in presence of Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik and other Cabinet Ministers of Orissa on October 22.

Some interesting features of Chudamani Port Project are:

• To be developed on Build Own Operate (BOO) basis with an investment of INR 1,500 crore.
• To be operational in four years with a projected capacity of 3 million tons per annum (MTPA) in the first phase with a provision to be expanded to 10 MTPA.
• To be connected by a rail corridor from Markuna Station.
• To have two berths to handle bulk cargo such as cement, aluminium, iron ore, thermal coal, limestone, gypsum, clinker and copper.
• To provide directly or indirectly employment to about 5,000 people.
• The state government is expected to get revenue of about INR 20 crore per annum.

Here is the photograph of MOU being signed between the Government of Orissa and Aditya Birla Group.

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Marine Evacuation System (MES) is a lifesaving device to evacuate passengers through an inflatable slide or chute to board them safely into waiting life rafts. Zodiac SOLAS,  France has developed a new escape slide system Marine Evacuation System – Medium Inflatable Slide (MES MIS) for passenger vessels.

Some interesting features of MES MIS are:

• An advanced version of Marine Evacuation System – Small Inflatable Slide (MES SIS) that was previously available for freeboards up to 3.8 metres.
• Uses a double track slide to evacuate passengers faster.
• The evacuation system in different models are suitable for freeboard from 4.7 to 9.3 metres.
• Designed for deployment at an angle of 35 degrees to suit high speed crafts, small passenger vessels, military vessels and ro-ro ferries.
• The system has passed heavy weather sea trials in winds of Beaufort Force 6 to 7 and with wave heights from 4.5 to 5 metres.

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Here is ‘SeafarerHelp’ service from International Seafarers Assistance Network (ISAN), a network to assist seafarers. Presently SeafarerHelp is not in a position to assist seafarers with financial aid or sponsor seafarers to any courses.
Some interesting features of SeafarerHelp service are:

• Provides free, confidential, multilingual advice and support network to seafarers and their families.
• Aims to provide help to seafarers in issues like
  • Abandoned by their ship owners.
  • Welfare: including loneliness, cultural isolation, family issues, bullying at work, stress, inadequate supplies of food and water.
  • Health
  • Money
  • Contracts
• The SeafarerHelp telephone service from London is available 24×7.

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MV Solitaire of All Seas is the largest pipelay vessel in the world.

Some interesting features of MV Solitaire are:

• has a pipe carrying capacity of 22000 t.
• maneuvers with full dynamic positioning to work safely in congested areas.
• operational since 1998.
• has a lay speed of over 9 km a day with in-house Phoenix automatic welding system.
• has a deepwater pipelay record of 2775 m (9100’).
• after modifications in 2005, now with a holding force of 1050 t can lay the heaviest pipelines.

Here is a photograph of MV Solitaire, from All Seas.

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Somali Pirates have sophisticated weapons but have no night vision devices to identify ships at night. On October 07, Somali Pirates attacked French Navy’s fuel supply ship in darkness thinking the vessel as a merchant vessel. When the pirates realized that it was a mistaken identity, they immediately started fleeing.
Some interesting features of this mistaken identity are:

• BCR (Batiment de Commandement et de Ravitaillement) Somme (A 631) is the flagship commanding French military forces, supporting the EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta off Somalia.
• Somali pirates in two skiffs tried to storm the vessel by firing with Kalashnikovs and started fleeing when they realized it to be of mistaken identity.
• BCR Somme after an hour long chase, arrested five pirates without any injury and a skiff; by then the pirates had thrown their weapons overboard.
• The other skiff managed to escape.

Here is the photograph of BCR Somme (A 631) from Marine Nationale.

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