On February 11, 2011 International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadam was dedicated to the Nation by Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India at Cochin.

Some interesting features of International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadam are:

• Developed by Cochin Port Trust and M/s India Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd (IGT), a subsidiary of M/s Dubai Port World (DPW) through a Public Private Partnership on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
• The foundation stone for ICTT was laid in February 2005.
• To be operated as ‘DP World Cochin’
• Being built at a cost (including road, rail connectivity and other infrastructure facilities) of more than USD 600 million or around INR 3,000 crore.
• DP World Cochin is being developed in three phases.
  • First phase – completed with an investment of approximately Rs.1600 crores: with the 600-metre-long quay with a draught of around 14.5 metres to simultaneously berth several of the world’s largest container ships (with a nominal capacity of around 10,000 TEU – twenty foot equivalent container units) with the capacity to handle one million TEUs annually.
  • Second phase: to be expanded in line with market demand to handle around 1.5 million TEUs.
  • Third phase: to be completed with the capacity to handle around 4 million TEUs with quay length of 1800 metres.

DP World also operates terminals in Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Chennai and Vishakapatnam. A new terminal facility in West Bengal is also coming up.

Here is the inauguration photograph released by Press information Bureau (PIB).

The Union Minister for Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan addressing at the commissioning of International Container Trans-shipment Terminal, at Vallarpadam.

View also the Inauguration Video.

Know more about ICTT

• from India Gateway Terminal.
• from PIB press release.

On August 07, 2010  MSC Chitra (outgoing merchant vessel) from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), collided with MV Khalijia-III (incoming vessel to Mumbai Port Trust – MPT)  at about 0950 hours around five nautical miles from the shore, off Mumbai Port. Collision resulted in oil spill off Mumbai harbour and clean up operation was carried out by Indian Coast Guard. Also due to collision MSC Chitra listed dangerously and around 250 containers went overboard.

Again on January 30, 2011 a collision took place in day light between merchant vessel MV Nordlake and warship INS Vindhyagiri at Mumbai harbour.

Now to avoid such accidents in future, the Ministry of Shipping’s instructions (Press Information Bureau’s Press Release dated February 02, 2011) to Major Ports are given below:

Shipping Ministry issues Directions to Major Ports

In the aftermath of the collision of MSC Chitra and M.v. Khalijia3 on 7 August 2010 in the approach Channel of Mumbai Port, the Ministry of Shipping had constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of Capt. PVK Mohan, Chairman NSB to propose corrective measures policy initiatives to avoid such incidents and general instructions. The Committee submitted its report recently. Based on the recommendations of the committee, this Ministry has issued the following instructions to all Major Port Trusts for strict compliance:

a. A voluntary review of navigation safety in all ports should be undertaken by the Navigational Safety in Ports Committee(NSPC).

b. A review of contingency planning reflected in Crisis Management Plan of all ports should be undertaken in reference to lessons learnt in handling post collision issues.

c. All ports should install Tier 1 pollution control equipment immediately through their own resources or through cooperation with other agencies.

d. Port entry regulations must be tightened for all ships entering the ports with special reference to insurance related documents, safety parameters and seaworthiness.

Besides, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust(JNPT) and the Mumbai Port Trust(MbPT) have been issued the following additional instructions for strict compliance:

a. The on-going proposal of JNPT and MbPT for widening of Channel and Pilot boarding area is to be expedited.

b. Additional navigational aids such as Fairway buoy, transit lights, navigational buoys (with racons) at every turn of the channel should be installed.

c. Manning, training and qualification of operators and supervisors of VTS should be as per the international norms.

d. VTS equipment should be upgraded to better technology which has features such as ‘guard range’ etc. so that audible and visual alarms could alert the VTS operator for impending collision.

e. A VTS authority under the MbPT should be formed which will provide pilot service for the entire length of approach channel i.e the MbPT and also the JNPT stretch, to ensure the seamless flow of information under one authority. It is recommended that a common pool of Pilots be formed to undertake Pilotage of the entire stretch of Channel from the approaches to JNPT/ MbPT as required.

f. The MOU between JNPT and MbPT is years old and it needs to be updated at the earliest to bring out all the key issues of cooperation between the two ports.

View photos from NDTV: In Pics – How ships collided near Mumbai Harbour (MSC Chitra and M.V. Khalijia 3)

View some video clips from You Tube:

• Mumbai oil spill: Clean up to take 45 days (due to collision between MSC Chitra and M.V. Khalijia 3)
• Indian naval ship sinks after collision (INS Vindhyagiri)

In a joint operation (by Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard) on February 06, 2011, INS Tir and CGS Samar captured 28 Somali pirates from ‘Prantalay 11’, about 100 nautical miles off Kavaratti of Lakshadweep islands. The pirates and the skiff ‘Prantalay 11′ were brought to Mumbai by CGS Samar and handed over to Mumbai police (Yellow Gate Police Station, Port Zone, South Region) on February 10 for further legal action.

On February 11, the Somali pirates were produced in a local court in Mumbai. The legal proceedings are not going to be easy as the pirates do not understand English or any of the Indian languages.

India has now joined other countries like U.S, Russia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Malaysia, South Korea, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Yemen, Somalia, Spain to try pirates.

Most of the countries are not interested/finding it difficult to legally try captured pirates, for the following reasons:

• absence of clear international laws.
• wastage of time, money and other resources of the country.
• legal actions on pirates are not going to reduce or stop sea piracy.

Here is the interesting part of UNODC’s (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) new counter-piracy plan for Somalia (dated February 04, 2011).

The UNODC counter-piracy programme, established in 2009, has effectively supported efforts to detain and prosecute piracy suspects according to international legal standards and respect for human rights. The programme, funded largely by the European Union, focuses on three main objectives: fair and efficient trials and imprisonment in regional centres; humane and secure imprisonment in Somalia; and fair and efficient trials in Somalia.

UNODC is currently offering support to Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia and Tanzania. The Office manages the International Trust Fund of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, which supports prosecution-related initiatives.

Read more from Indian Navy (as pdf) and Daily News & Analysis.

View some video clips from You Tube:

• Somali Pirates Captured by India to Face Trial
• 28 Somali pirates arrested

On January 30, 2011 a collision took place in day light between merchant vessel MV Nordlake and warship INS Vindhyagiri at Mumbai harbour. Frigate INS Vindhyagiri was entering harbour after celebrating ‘a day at sea’ with families onboard. MV Nordlake fully laden with containers, left JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust) harbour in the afternoon. No oil spill or any casualty is reported. The container ship is held back for investigation.

Some disturbing features of this ship collision are:

• Collision took place around 1600 hours near the Sunkrock lighthouse within the pilotage area of the navigational channel.
• MV Nordlake (IMO Number – 9057173; Call Sign - P3YT5, Cyprus flag)
  • Owned by Reederei “NORD” Klaus E. Oldendorff, Cyprus company with 24 crew members on board.
  • Self sustained cellular container vessel – B 186 lengthened.
  • Length over All 179.23 metres/Beam 25.30 metres/Depth 13.50 metres/22,450 dwt on 9.90 m draft.
  • Built and delivered by Stocznia Szczecinska S.A., Szczecin/Poland on June 29, 1994.
  • Pilot was embarked onboard.
• INS Vindhyagiri (F 42), Leander Class Frigate:
  • Length over All 113.4 metres/Beam 13.1 metres.
  • Built by Mazagon Dock Ltd Mumbai and commissioned on July 8, 1981.
  • Has complement of 267 (17 officers).
  • It is also reported that fire broke out in INS Vindhyagiri’s engine room after the collision.
• The channel traffic was disrupted for more than an hour following the collision.

Here are some photographs.

Container vessel MV Nordlake

INS Vindhyagiri (F42).

Damage to INS Vindhyagiri is being assessed.

Read more from The Times of India.

Update: PM January 31, 2011.

It is reported that confusion in communication between MV Nordlake and another merchant vessel MV Sea Eagle (entering harbour) has caused collision by MV Nordlake on INS Vindhyagiri. INS Vindhyagiri has suffered extensive damage. Read more and also view a video clip that shows the collision as animation from NDTV: Navy warship INS Vindhyagiri tilts precariously, 300 tonnes of fuel on board.

Read more also the press release issued by MOD through Press Information Bureau: Collision between INS Vindhyagiri and MV Nordlake.

Continuous anti-piracy patrol by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, off Lakshadweep Islands has started yielding results. On January 28, 2011 a fishing vessel Prantalay 14 (hijacked with crew and used as mother ship for many months for piracy) was damaged and subsequently sank during joint anti-piracy operations by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. 20 fishermen kept as hostages were rescued from the mother ship and 15 pirates were also captured.

INS Cankarso, a Waterjet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) of the Indian Navy (commissioned on June 29, 2010) took part in the operations.

Some interesting features of the anti-piracy operation are:

• On the morning of January 28, 2011 a Coast Guard Dornier on routine patrol, spotted two white colour skiffs closer to a merchant vessel MV CMA CGM Berdi, a Bahamas flagged container carrier about 300 nautical miles west of Lakshadweep islands.
• The Dornier also spotted a mother ship Prantalay nearby. Thereafter, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard kept a continuous watch on the suspicious mother ship Prantalay.
• On sighting the Coast Guard aircraft, Prantalay started escaping from the area after taking back the two skiffs onboard. This prompted the Indian Navy to divert INS Cankarso already deployed in the area to investigate Prantalay.
• As Prantalay failed to respond to the communications made by INS Cankarso, the warship fired warning shots to stop the vessel. The vessel started firing back towards the warship. During the exchange of fire, the vessel was damaged (also caught fire due to fuel drums kept on upper deck) and started sinking. The crew from Prantalay jumped into sea to save themselves.
• INS Cankarso rescued 20 fishermen (of Thai and Myanmarese nationalities) and captured 15 pirates. Later INS Kalpeni and CGS Sankalp also joined the operation.

Here are some commissioning photographs of INS Cankarso, Waterjet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC).

View a video clip from The Times of India: Navy foils piracy attempt off Lakshadweep Islands

Read more from The Hindu.

It is well known that Somali Piracy revolves around the following activities:

• hiring of muscle power from unemployed youth of Somalia.
• hiring of poor fishermen of Somalia to provide boats and navigational skills.
• paying foreign businessmen to provide weapons, satellite phones, luxury vehicles to move on land.
• seizing of merchant vessels, looking after the hostages well and collect ransom money from ship owners.

During the United Nations Security Council’s 6473rd Meeting (AM) on January 25, 2011 Mr Jack Lang, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the legal issues has warned that “In Race between Pirates and International Community, Pirates Clearly Winning”.

During this same meeting, Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri, Permanent Representative at United Nations, has suggested the following five point program to stop Somali Piracy.

1. Reinforcing the tracking of ransom money around the world.
2. Prosecuting the beneficiaries of ransom money collected.
3. Considering the conduct of naval operations under the United Nations.
4. Sanitizing the Somali coastline through identified “buffer zones”.
5. Enacting national laws criminalizing piracy.

Read the full text from the Meetings Coverage & Press Releases issued by the United Nations titled: In Race between Pirates and International Community, Pirates Clearly Winning, Secretary-General’s Top Legal Adviser on Piracy Warns Security Council.

Republic of Korea Navy has freed MV Samho Jewelry from Somali pirates on January 21, by carrying out a  commando operation “Dawn at the Gulf of Aden” lasting for five hours. Interestingly this operation was carried out after consulting U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet present in Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea.

Some interesting features of this commando operation are:

• On January 15, MV Samho Jewelry with 21 crew (Myanmar -11, Korean –8, Indonesian -2) was pirated approximately 350 nautical miles South East of the port of Muscat, Oman.
• President Lee Myung-Bak of the Republic of Korea, authorized a commando operation as Korea does not tolerate attacks on any of its people.
• On January 21, South Korean Navy’s Sunshin-class destroyer Choi Young (DDH 981) with 300 special forces onboard, stormed the merchant vessel to free from Somali pirates about 1,300km (800 miles) off the coast of Somalia in the Arabian Sea.
• During this operation, eight Somali pirates were killed and five were captured.
• Unfortunately, Seok Hae-kyun (57) the Captain of the warship suffered injury due to firing from a pirate’s AK rifle. The Captain was evacuated by U.S. military helicopter to Salalah for treatment.

Here are some photographs.

Commando operation in MV Samho Jewelry (photo from MOD, Republic of Korea)

Photograph of Sunshin-class destroyer Choi Young (DDH 981) from U.S. Navy website.

View a video clip from You Tube: Video of rare raid on Somali pirates as commandos storm hijacked ship

Also view a video clip from CNN: South Korean Navy Battles Pirates

Read more from

• BBC News: South Korea rescues Samho Jewelry crew from pirates
• The Chosun Ilbo: Freed Korean Ship Headed for Oman

The Union Minister for Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan released the Maritime Agenda 2010-20, at New Delhi on January 13, 2011.

Here is the press release and photograph from Press Information Bureau:

Maritime Agenda 2010-2020 Launched
165000 Crore Rupees Investment Envisaged in Shipping Sector by 2020

The Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan today launched the Maritime Agenda 2010-2020, a perspective plan of the Shipping Ministry for the present decade. Launching the Maritime Agenda, the Minister talked about the goals set for the sector including:

· “To create a port capacity of around 3200 MT to handle the expected traffic of about 2500 MT by 2020.

· We want to bring our ports at par with the best international ports in terms of performance and capacity.

· We want to increase the tonnage under the Indian flag and Indian control and also the share of Indian ships in our EXIM trade.

· We want to promote coastal shipping as it will help in decongesting our roads and is environment friendly.

· We want to increase India’s share in global ship building to 5% from the present 1%.

· The share of Indian seafarers is between 6 to 7% in the global shipping industry. We want to increase it to atleast 9% by 2015.”

The Ministry envisages an estimated traffic of 2495 MMT in all ports including the non-metro ones. The total capacity of all these ports is expected to be 3280 MMT. The total proposed investments in major and non-major ports by 2020 is expected to be approximately 287000 crores and the total proposed investments in the shipping sector by 2020 – Rs. 165000 crores.

The Maritime Agenda projects a total traffic of 2494.95 million tonnes for all major and non-major ports taken together and a capacity of 3280.04 million tonnes. The proposed investments in ports by 2020 is expected to be 119449.41 crore and in non-major ports it is 167930.84 crore.

The agenda for the decade for the Ports are:

• Create Port capacity of 3200 M.T. for handling about 2500 M.T. of cargo

• Improve Port performance on par with the best in the world.

• Increase tonnage both under the Indian flag as well as Indian control.

• Increase Coastal Shipping and facilitate hassle-free multimodal transport

• Increase India’s share in global ship building to 5%.

• Promote use of the inland waterways for cargo movement

• Increase India’s share of seafarer to 9% of the global strength by 2015

• Implementation of the Port development projects

• Develop Two New Major Ports one each on east and west coasts.

• Full mechanisation of cargo handling and movement

• Major Ports to have draft of not less than 14 metres and hub ports 17 metres

• A new policy on dredging

• Identification and implementation of projects for rail, road and inland waterway connectivity to ports

• Development of two hub ports on each of the West and the East coasts – Mumbai (JNPT), Kochi, Chennai and Visakhapatnam

• Port Policy Measures

• Corporatisation of Major Ports

• New Land Policy for Major Ports

• New Policy on captive berths

• Establishing a Port Regulator for all ports for setting, monitoring and regulating service levels and technical & performance standards

• New Policy on dredging

• Shifting of transhipment of Indian containers from foreign ports to Indian ports

• Policy on co-operation and competition amongst Indian Ports

• Establishing ‘Indian Ports Global’ for overseas investments by Indian Ports

The agenda for the decade for Shipping are:

• Increase in Indian tonnage through necessary policy interventions

• Declaration of Coastal Shipping Policy

• Establishment of a ‘Freight Exchange’

• Creation of Ombudsman/ Tribunals for Shipping matters

• Formation of an independent Marine Casualty Investigation Cell

• Establishing a P & I Club in India

• SCI to have ambitious vessel acquisition plans to lead the growth in Indian tonnage

• Introduction of passenger ferry services between India and nearby countries

• Ro-Ro Ferry service in Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Cambay and other suitable places

• Strengthening of capacity for Port State Control and Flag State Inspections

• Promotion of multi-modal transport operations for door to door delivery

• Promotion of a Salvage Company in India, with Viability Gap Funding if required

• Introduction of new Shipbuilding Subsidy Scheme

• Grant of Infrastructure Status to shipbuilding industry

• Purchase preference for Indian shipyards in procurement of ships by Government through global tenders

• Expansion of Cochin Shipyard

For Inland Waterways the agenda envisages:

• Development of IWT infrastructure

• Declaration of River Barak as National Waterway no.6

• Development of National Waterways 4 & 5

• Extension of National Waterway No. 3 in Kerala

The agenda also envisages:

• Enactment of a new Indian Ports Act replacing Indian Ports Act 1908 and the Major Port Trusts Act 1963

• Enactment of Admiralty Act

• Enactment of Shipping Trade Practices Act

• Review of the law on the Multimodal Transportation of Goods

• Revision of the law on Lighthouses and Lightships

• Amendment of Merchant Shipping Act

• Control of piracy through concerted international action

• Bilateral maritime agreements with selected countries/regions for mutual benefit

• A framework for cooperation between Indian ports and those in other countries

• Collaboration of IMU with top global academic institutions in the maritime sector

• Renewal and strengthening of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transport

MC/DG/ls

(Release ID :69044)

Update:

Download and read 450 page ‘Maritime Agenda 2010-2020′ as pdf from Ministry of Shipping, Government of India.

Here is the year end review (for the year 2010) of the Indian Ports and Shipping by the Ministry of Shipping through Press Information Bureau.

Year End Review – 2010 – Ports and Shipping

Steps to protect seafarers, acquisition of three new ships by SCI, setting up of four new lighthouses along with automation of 30 lighthouses, steps to set up National Maritime Complex, approval of Cruise Shipping Policy and declaration of new Waterways market the main activities of the Shipping Sector. The main developments were:

• The capacity on major ports has increased from 574.77 million tonnes as on 31^st March, 2009 to 616.73 million tonnes as on 31^st March, 2010.
• The Kolkata Port Trust completed the R&D Project on’ Study of impact of Alluvial Meanders and Tributaries on Bhagirathi river’ costing Rs. 19.88 crores.
• In the port sector an agreement for development of Container Terminal at Ennore Port at a cost of Rs. 1407.00 crores was signed during June, 2010.
• An agreement for construction of deep draft from one berth from Paradip Port at a cost of Rs. 597.35 crores was signed.
• An agreement for construction of deep draft berth for handling coal on BOT basis at a cost of Rs. 479.01 crores at Paradip Port was signed.
• The project on development of Mega Container Terminal at Chennai port on PPP basis at a cost of Rs. 3686.00 crores with a capacity of 4 million TEU’s has been approved by the Government.
• Construction and Development of two berths namely EU-I and EU-1A have been approved for Visakhapatnam Port Trust which will add a capacity of around 14 MTPA under PPP mode.

For the Protection of Seafarers the Government has approved the establishment of the Indian Marine Casualty Investigation Cell. The objective of the Cell is to undertake investigation into marine causalities such as groundings, sinking or collision of vessels or death or grievous injury omission reports of seafarers. The cell would be empowered to:

(i) To conduct investigation into causes of shipping causalities.

(ii) Co-opt experts for the conduct of causality investigations.

(iii) Depute persons within and outside the country for casualty investigation and other related matters.

(iv) Publish reports of finding of casualty investigation in so far as its causes are concerned.

(v) Participate in national and international forum for investigation of marine accident related matters.

To boost Cruise Shipping in the country, Cochin Port in Kerala, New Mangalore Port in Karnataka, Chennai and Tuticorin Port in Tamilnadu and Mormugoa Port Trust in Goa have developed or are developing dedicated passenger cum-cruise terminals.

Cochin Shipyards Limited, Kochi achieved an all time high Net Profit of Rs. 223 Crores for the year 2009-10 as compared to Rs. 160 crores for the year 2008-09. It declared dividend of 10% on equity shares and 7% on preference shares for the year 2009-10. The yard signed a contract for 4 Platform Supply Vessels for M/s. Seatankers Management Company Ltd. Cyprus on 3^rd September, 2010. It signed another contract for construction of 20 Fast Patrol Vessels for the Indian Navy on 20 October 2010. During the year 2010 the shipyard delivered 7 Platform Supply Vessels to owners in USA and Western Europe.

In the sphere of Inland Water Transport (IWT) two terminals respectively at Bolghaty Island and Willingdon Island in Cochin Port Trust area to provide connectivity between NW-3 and International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICCTT), Vallarpadam have been completed. These terminals will have LO-LO (Lift on – Lift off) and RO-RO (Roll on -Roll off) facilities.

• NTPC has given commitment for transportation of 3 million tonnes per annual of imported coal from Haldi/Sagar/Sandheads to Farakka by IWT mode for at least seven years. A joint Committee of senior officers of IWAI and NTPC has been constituted to develop and implement this project on PPP mode. In this process an EOL was published in Aug, 2010 which evoked encouraging response from prospective investors and subsequently IWAI and NTPSC are finalizing RFP and other documents to invite bids.
• Under Kaladan Multi project for which Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is Project Development Consultant (PDC) for Ministry of External Affairs, the bids for construction of port and IWT portion were invited by IWAI on behalf of MEA and work has been awarded by MEA to an Indian Private agency M/s ESSAR Projects (I) Pvt. Ltd. in May,2010
• In May,2010 Addendum to Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade has been signed thereby incorporating Ashuganj in Bangladesh and Silghat in India as new Ports of Call.

Shipping Corporation of India(SCI) – The Government approved issue of fresh equity of 10% by SCI and sale of 10% by SCI and sale of 10% of the existing Government shareholding in the domestic market as per SEBI regulations. The issue opened on 30 November 2010 and was oversubscribed several times. Rs.582.364 crores was raised by SCI/Government of India each. With the recent follow-up public offer, Government of India’s holding in SCI has come down to 63.75% from the existing 80.12%.

SCI proposes to acquire 62 vessels during 11^th Plan as part replacement of its vessels scheduled for phase out the end of their economic life and also to enhance its capacity. SCI has so far taken delivery of 16 vessels during 11^th Plan period, out of which 9 vessels were delivered during the current year i.e. 2010-11. SCI has placed orders for construction of another 33 vessels. Finance for these acquisitions will be arranged through domestic or international borrowings and the balance amount will be arranged through internal resources and the recently concluded equity issue.

To further International Cooperation and to strengthen cultural ties and also encourage trade and commerce between India and Sri Lanka a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for commencement of ferry services between Tuticorin and Colombo and between Rameswaram and Thalaimannar has been finalized and the proposal for signing of the MoU has been approved by the Govenment. The proposed ferry services would ensure mobility of people and increase trade, tourism and development activities.

To provide Aid to Navigation Two New Lighthouses at Mallapatnam and Pumpuhar and one DGPS station at Rameswaram (All in Tamil Nadu Coast) have been established in the year 2010. Work order for National Automatic identification system to cover the entire Indian Coast line, which will help also in the surveillance of the Indian Coast Line, has been placed. An amount of Rs. 99 crore has been collected as Light dues during the year up to November, 2010.

In the Port Sector, during the year 2009-10, 13 PPP projects were awarded at the Major Ports envisaging an amount of Rs. 265377 crore and a capacity of 65.65 MTPA. In addition, 6 PPP projects have so far been awarded in the current year till December, 2010. This private investment will inject Foreign Direct Investment into the port sector and will result in creation of additional capacity in the ports.

Ennore Port Ltd.(EPL) : The project of Development of Container Terminal with 1.5 TEU’s capacity and costing Rs.1407 crores, on BOT basis has been approved by the Government and an agreement was signed on 13^th August, 2010.

In order 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. 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.

Chartering: During the year 2010 ( January-December, 2010), the chartering Wing made shipping arrangement for and on behalf of Government Departments and PSUs for Cocking Coal, Fertilizers, Crude Oil, Iron Ore, Lime Stone besides project cargoes of 198.43 lakh MT

Besides making shipping arrangements for movement of cargoes, Chartering wing chartered an ice Breaker and an Expedition Vessel for National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research for the 30^th Indian Antarctic Expedition.

During the year Chartering wing collected one percent Chartering Service Charges amount to Rs. 1.45 crores (January-December)

******

MC/

(Release ID :68761)

Cruise ship Carnival Splendor was safely towed to reach San Diego at approximately 0830 hours local time on November 11. The ship lost propulsion power due to fire in engine room (but emergency generators were available for essential services) on November 08, when the ship was about 200 miles south of San Diego. Fire was extinguished successfully, without any loss of life or injury to ships crew/guests.

Some more information available on Carnival Splendor and the rescue operation are:

• Carnival Splendor is a Panamanian-flagged vessel in service from July 2008.
• Ship was on the first leg of a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise that commenced on November 07 from Long Beach, Calif en route to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
• Ship was carrying 3,299 guests and 1,167 crew.
• Ship has cruising speed of 21 knots and is 952 feet long with gross tonnage of 113,300 tons.
• The ship owners
  • have made arrangements for all guests to either travel home same day or after a overnight stay in area hotels.
  • have also arranged full refund of voyage cost along with reimbursement of transportation cost.
  • in addition have decided to give a complimentary future cruise equal to the amount paid for this voyage.
• Rescue operations
  • Immediate assistance was provided by U.S. Coast Guard to safely bring the vessel to San Diego.
  • At the request of U.S. Coast Guard, aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) was diverted by the Commander U.S. Third Fleet to provide 4,500 pounds of supplies to the cruise ship.

Here is a photograph released by U.S. Navy.

An HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter from the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) delivers pallets of supplies to the Carnival cruise ship C/V Splendor. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mikesa R. Ponder (Released)

View a video clip from You Tube: Carnival Splendor Cruise Ship Catches Fire

When storm (cyclone) warnings are given by news channels, they mostly report only the storm warning signal numbers hoisted in sea ports. What those signal numbers imply are not known to the common man listening/viewing the news.

Here I have brought out some details of Visual Storm (Cyclone) Warning Signals for Indian Sea Ports. Before going through the details, let me give you first some information on cyclone warning system in India.

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is responsible to provide tropical cyclone warnings.
• Tropical cyclone warnings are provided by three Area Cyclone Warning Centres (ACWCs) located at Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai in addition to three Cyclone Warning Centres at Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam and Ahmedabad.
• The entire cyclone warning work is coordinated by the Deputy Director General of Meteorology (Weather Forecasting) at Pune and Deputy Director General of Meteorology (Services) at New Delhi.
• Tracking of tropical cyclones is done by integrating data collected from:
  • conventional surface and upper air observations from inland and island stations, coastal Automatic Weather Station (AWS), ships and buoy observations.
  • cyclone detection radar including Doppler Weather Radar.
  • satellite cloud pictures from the Geostationary Satellite (INSAT 3A & Kalpana1).
• Classifications of cyclonic disturbances for the north Indian Ocean region (Weather system and Maximum wind speed):
  • Low pressure area: Wind speed less than 17 knots (31 km/hour)
  • Depression: Wind speed between 17 and 27 knots (32 and 51 km/hour)
  • Deep Depression: Wind speed between 28 and 33 knots (52 and 61 km/hour)
  • Cyclonic storm: Wind speed between 34 and 47 knots (62 and 88 km/hour)
  • Severe cyclonic storm: Wind speed between 48 and 63 knots (89 and 118 km/hour)
  • Very severe cyclonic storm: Wind speed between 64 and 119 knots (119 and 221 km/hour)
  • Super cyclonic storm: Wind speed 120 knots (222 km/hour) and above

Visual Storm (Cyclone) Warning Signals:

The storm warning signals (both day and night signals) are hoisted prominently on masts in ports. Day signals are in the form of cones and cylinders. Night signals are in the form of red and white lamps. In addition to hoisting signals, most of the ports have arrangements to disseminate information and warnings received by them to  ships  in harbour and to ships leaving/entering harbour.

Signal Number One:

1. Implies that there is a region of squally weather in which a storm may be forming (well marked ) low or depression with surface winds up to 61 km/hour (33 knots)	2. Day and Night signals shown below are hoisted to indicate that ships may be exposed to danger after leaving harbour.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Two:

1. Implies that a storm has formed (cyclonic storm with surface winds 62-88 km/hour (34-47 knots))	2. Day and Night signals shown below are hoisted to indicate that ships may be exposed to danger after leaving harbour.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Three:

1. Implies that the port is threatened by squally weather (cyclonic circulation with surface winds 40-51 km/hour (22-27 knots) or squalls due Nor’Westers)	2. Day and Night signals shown below are hoisted to indicate that the port itself and the ships in harbour are in danger.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Four:

1. Implies that the port is threatened by a storm, but it does not appear that the danger is as yet sufficiently great to justify extreme measures of precaution (cyclonic circulation with surface winds 52-61 km/hour (28-33 knots))	2. Day and Night signals shown below are hoisted to indicate that the port itself and the ships in harbour are in danger.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Five:

1.Implies that the port will experience severe weather from a storm of slight or moderate intensity that is expected to cross the coast keeping the port to the left of its course (to the east of the port in the case of Mangla) (cyclonic storm with surface winds 62-88 km/hour (34-47 knots))	2. Day and Night signals shown below are hoisted to indicate that the port itself and the ships in harbour are in danger.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Six:

1. Implies that the port will experience severe weather from a cyclone expected to move keeping the port to the right of its track.	2. Day and Night signals shown below are hoisted to indicate that the port itself and the ships in harbour are in danger.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Seven:

1. Implies that the port will experience severe weather from a cyclone expected to move over or close to the port.	2. Day and Night signals shown below are also hoisted when a storm is expected to skirt the coast without (actually) crossing it.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Eight:

1. Implies that the port will experience severe weather from a severe cyclone expected to move keeping the port to the left of its track.	2. Day and Night signals shown below are hoisted to indicate that the port itself and the ships in harbour are in danger.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Nine:

1. Implies that the port will experience severe weather from a severe cyclone expected to move keeping the port to the right of its track.	2. Day and Night signals shown below are hoisted to indicate that the port itself and the ships in harbour are in danger.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Signal Number Ten:

1. Implies that the port will experience severe weather from a severe cyclone expected to move over or close to the port.	2. Day and Night signals shown below are also hoisted when a storm is expected to skirt the coast without (actually) crossing it.
Day Signal	Night Signal

Failure of communication:

Day Signal	Night Signal

Source: Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea (TCP 21, Edition 2010 of World Meteorological Organization)

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:

• Dr. Björn Kjerfve, President, World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden – as Chief Guest.
• Admiral (Retd) Arun Prakash, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, I.N. Chairman, National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi, India – as Guest of Honour.
• Dr. Prof. Helen Sampson, International Seafarers Research Institute, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.
• Dr. Flemming Just, Director, Department of Maritime Research and Innovation, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
• Dr. Philip Sayer, Reader/Associate Dean (Academic), Department of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, UK.
• Prof. Dr. Vladimir A. Loginovsky, Head of Navigation Chair, Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
• Mr. Philip Wake, Chief Executive, Nautical Institute, London, UK.
• Mr. Richard Speight, Depute Principal, Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, UK.
• Prof. Dr. Capt. Masao Furusho, Faculty of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, Japan.
• Mr. Patrick Routledge, Head of Marine Engineering, South Tyneside College, South Shields, UK.

The seminar is expected to be very useful to:

• Faculty members of maritime colleges/universities/institutes.
• Members of the industry and industry associations.
• Current and prospective Ph.D. scholars.

For more details, log on to AMET University.

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.

Read more from France 24.

Posts in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Somali Pirates Shift to Kenyan Coast and Seize VLCC Sirius Star

The 2008 Pacific Marine Expo is Ready to Start

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.

View from

• SCA: Traffic Simulation of Suez Canal.
• RIA Novosti, Infographics: Suez canal – History, Figures, Facts

For more details, log on to Suez Canal Authority.

Posts in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

South African Navy Ship SAS Spioenkop on Goodwill Visit to Kochi,India

Maritime Security Expo 2008 is Ready to Start

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:

• Built in 1951 in the United States,at the Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, Massachusetts for American Export Lines of New York.
• Formerly known as S.S Oceanic, S.S Independence.
• Was towed by Tug – Barracuda-I (IMO No 6717019) from Dubai by Capt Arun Kumar Das.
• GRT/NRT/LDT of the Ship: 26,658 MT/11,352 MT/18,503 MT.
• Name of the Shipping Agent: M/s Compass Shipping Agency, Bhavnagar.
• Name of Ship Recycler: M/s Haryana Ship Demolition Pvt Ltd, Plot No V-4, Sosiya Recycling Yard, Alang.
• Global Shipping LLC purchased and held the vessel for the purpose of export in July 2007.
• The vessel left the United States in February 2008 to Dubai.
• The seller of the vessel is Mr Anil Sharma of Global Marketing Systems, Inc and the buyer is Mr Komal Sharma, the Ship Recycler, brother of Mr Anil Sharma.

Conclusions and Recommendations by the The Central Technical Team

1. The Platinum II is a passenger ship with all the amenities and not a warship as alleged.
2. Though it was a ship of USA origin it got last registered at Republic of Kiribati in September 2009 and last port was Dubai.
3. Allegations on issues related to USEPA is not known and must have been verified as per normal procedure followed for such purposes at the Republic of Kiribati before registration in the name of M/s Platinum Investment Services Corporation.
4. The importer of the ship through his agent had submitted the required papers including ACM assessment report to GPCB as well as GMB on 3rd October and anchoring was permitted only on 7th October 2009.
5. After anchoring the ship was inspected by GPCB / GMB / Customs as required.
6. All hazardous waste like ACM and PCB, and radioactive material were found to be present in the ship in its structure as is prevalent in any ship of this type and size of 1950s and No hazardous waste were found in the ship in loose form or as a cargo.
7. The team could make an assessment of the ACM but found it difficult to quantitatively assess quantity of PCBs.
8. The Platinum II is much smaller vessel when compared with earlier dismantled Blue Lady ship at Alang wherein the quantities of hazardous wastes were proportionately higher.
9. Sailing in the high sea on/around the Amavashya day is too risky.

Further, there is lack of safety precautions while boarding the tug to ship and vice-versa where there may be risk of human lives while undertaking such boarding in such locations and sailing through such routes. GMB had warned the team of various risks and had taken undertaking for all for any eventualities. The Team actually faced great difficulties in carrying out the inspection, particularly such dead vessel that to much inside sea far away from anchorage point. The problems are further aggravated when the ships are too big/high and the inspection team consists of untrained experts not conversant with climbing the top of the ship in monkey ladder.

Keeping the above conclusions in view and difficulties faced in carrying out the inspection and also in assessing exact quantities, the Team recommends that:

1. The category “Larger” passenger ship requires to be qualified in terms of either dimension or capacity or GRT, NRT etc. to avoid any scope for confusion on “general concern” or “special concern” ship.
2. Similarly, the ship owner or his agent should submit the required documents in advance to GPCB / GMB / Customs before arrival of the ship. However, the word advance may be qualified in terms of days or weeks.
3. As it is difficult to assess or estimate the ACM / PCBs etc. on board, especially for dead ships, GPCB and GMB or other similar State Agencies may quantify the same at the time of dismantle and maintain a stock so that real data base can be generated to develop an empirical factor with the size of the deck/ship or number of rooms etc.
4. MoEF may constitute a standing monitoring committee on ship breaking, if not done already, to monitor/review the implementation of Recommendations of the Technical Expert Committee on at-least half-yearly basis.
5. Trained experts viz. from Navy etc may be deputed for such inspection and or helicopter may be provided to inspectors, if at all, dead vessels are to be allowed. Secondly, any inspector deputed for high sea inspection including those from SMB, SPCB, Customs etc may be provided with proper safety and also extra insurance cover.

Further, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) will be investigating the ownership of the vessel.

Read more

• MoEF’s Office Memorandum No 29-3/2009-HSMD dated November 09, 2009 as pdf.
• Central Technical Team on the Ship “Platinum-II” – Report and Annexures as pdf.
• From Basel Action Network: Indian Government Blocks Toxic U.S Ship
• From USEPA: Global Shipping LLC and Global Marketing System, Inc. to pay penalties for PCB export violations involving Oceanic / Ship exported in violation of the Toxic Substances Control Act
• From Maritime Matters – Ocean liner history and cruise ship news: S.S.Independence

View some video clips:

• Central govt team report on toxic ship
• S.S Independence part 1 life at pier 70, San Francisco
• S.S. Independence part 2 the trip to Dubai

Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Workable Solution for Safe Release of Hijacked Ships Crew

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

View one more video clip: Oasis of the Seas under the bridge of Storebaelt Denmark

For more information about the bridge, log on to Storebaelt- The Bridge.

Posts in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Pakistan Navy Frigate ‘Shamsheer’ Type F22P Launched in China

MT Desh Viraat Largest VLCC of India Takes Collision Course to Join SCI

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.

For more details, log on to EU NAVFOR, Somalia and Statoil ASA.

The above photograph is from EU NAVFOR.

Admiral Wu Sheng Li is the First Chinese Navy Chief to Visit India

Weekend View: Port Metro Vancouver on Webcam

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.

To know the lessons learned from the BBC Box, log on to BBC News.

Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

New Iranian Naval Base at Port of Jask to Control World Oil and Natural Gas Supply

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.

Here is the photograph of container vessel Carina Star.

Read more from Japan Ministry of Defense, Press Conference.

Posts in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

14 Reasons: Why Ship Owners Prefer Filipino Seafarers and How They Exploit Them

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:

• Took nearly six years to complete.
• To depart from Turku on October 30 with Captain William S. Wright at the helm.
• Expected to reach her home port – Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 11.
• Has modern unique concepts like: FlowRider surf simulator, ice-skating rinks, cantilevered whirlpools, rock climbing walls, Royal Promenade – an entertainment boulevard stretching nearly the length of the ship.
• Has industry first, neighborhood concept with seven distinct themed areas which includes: Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.
• The Oasis of the Seas
  • 361 metres long, 66 metres wide at her widest point and at the highest, she rises 72 metres above the sea level.
  • gross tonnage is 225,000.
  • can accommodate 6,360 passengers and 2,100 crew members.
  • has 16 passenger decks and 2,704 staterooms.
  • the total power output of the ship’s engines is 97,000 kW.
  • the cruise speed is 22.6 knots.
• The official naming ceremony for Oasis of the Seas is scheduled on November 30.

The most relaxed and happiest person on this occasion is Mr Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

View all videos from You Tube: Oasis of the Seas.

For updates, log on to Oasis of the Seas.

Posts in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2008 to Go on at Six Locations

Germany Commissions First Offshore Wind Farm

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.

Read more from The Economic Times.

The above photograph is from Government of Orissa.

Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Nautical Joke: How a Captain Remained Successful at Sea

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.

View interesting video clips on Marine Evacuation System:

• MES Drill @ M/S Atlantic Traveller
• Marine Evacuation System Woods Hole

For more details, log on to Zodiac SOLAS.

Posts in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

AIS Class B Units of True Heading Put to Test on Volvo Ocean Race

France Hosts 2nd International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE 2008)

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.

For more details, log on to ISAN – SeafarerHelp.

Posts in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

Weekend Rescue: Largest Ever Rescue of Stranded Penguins Carried Out in Brazil

Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09: To Complete in June 2009

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.

View amazing video clips of operations onboard MV Solitaire: Part 1 and Part 2.

For more details on MV Solitaire, log on to All Seas.

Post in MarineBuzz on this day a year before:

HMS Victory: Flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson is Not for Sale