Japan: ClassNK Certifies World’s First Specially Built Nickel Ore Carrier

The world’s largest classification society ClassNK, announced that the world’s first specialized vessel for the carriage of Nickel Ore has been built and registered to the NK class.

The vessel, the Jules Garnier II, was built by Naikai Zosen Corporation and delivered to Japanese shipping major JX Shipping Co. Ltd on 19 September 2012, and is the first vessel in the world to be recognized as a Specially Constructed Cargo Ship for the carriage of Nickel Ore in accordance with the IMO’s IMSBC Code. The announcement followed a monthly meeting of the Society’s Classification Committee, which reviewed and officially certified the vessel’s registration on 22 October 2012.

Nickel Ore cargoes can liquefy during transport, drastically impairing the ship’s stability and safety, and these cargoes have been cited as the cause of four vessel casualties and the loss of 66 seafarers in 2010-11. INTERCARGO has since named Nickel Ore “the world’s most dangerous cargo” and efforts are underway at the IMO to strengthen the International Maritime Solid Bulk Code (IMSBC), which regulates the loading and transport of bulk cargoes such as Nickel Ore.

The ISMBC code currently requires that the moisture content (MC) of cargoes that may liquefy be tested prior to their loading onboard ships, and forbids non-specialized vessels from loading cargoes with an MC greater than the specified Transportable Moisture Limit (TML). However, questions have been raised about the testing procedures and validity of moisture content test results for Nickel Ore, and there is growing concern about whether nickel ore can safely be carried by standard vessels. While the ISMBC code allows for these dangerous cargoes to be carried by “Specially Constructed Cargo Ships”, no definition or requirements for such vessels are included in the code itself.

In order to address this issue and ensure the safety of the world’s bulk carrier fleet, ClassNK began carrying out independent research on the physical characteristics of Nickle Ore in 2009. Based on this research, ClassNK developed the world’s first hull structure and stability requirements for building such “Specially Constructed Cargo Vessels” in 2011, and released them for use by the maritime industry as part of its Guidelines for the Safe Carriage of Nickel Ore in March 2012. These requirements have since been approved by the government of Panama and Japan for use in vessels flagged with their administrations. They have further earned the recognition of INTERCARGO as well as the wider maritime industry, and ClassNK was presented with the “Safety Award” at the Lloyd’s List Global Awards in September 2012 for its contribution to the safe transportation of Nickel Ore.

The 27,200 dwt Jules Garnier II is the first vessel in the world to apply ClassNK’s new requirements in its construction and makes use longitudinal bulkheads in in its cargo holds to ensure stability and structural strength even when liquefied nickel ore cargoes are loaded. The ship’s design earned the approval of the Panamanian government in September 2012, and with its completion in September 2012, is the first and currently only vessel to be certified as safe to carry liquefied Nickel Ore cargoes in line with the IMSBC code. The vessel is also the first to earn ClassNK’s new SCCS notation for safe carriage of nickel ore in recognition of its special construction.

Commenting on construction and registration of the vessel, ClassNK Operating Officer and Hull Department General Manager Mitsuhiko Kidogawa said:“With the completion of this vessel and the successful implementation of these new standards, we have realized an important step in our efforts to ensure the safety of vessels and their crews.”

“While this is an important achievement, we are continuing our research on nickel ore and other cargoes that can liquefy during transport, and we hope that we can develop methods for existing vessels to safely transport these dangerous cargoes, as well.”

BaltShip AS Transports the World’s Longest Wind Turbine Blade from Denmark

Thursday 18 October, the BaltShip started the transport of the world’s longest wind turbine blade from SSP Technology in Kirkeby, Denmark.

With a length of 83.5 meters and a rotor diameter of 171.2 meters, the blade is by far the largest produced to date. Passing the blade by car at the speed of 50 km/h would take 6 seconds.

Many people watched the gigantic and unique blade depart from the factory, whereupon it went on a 170 kilometer long journey by truck to Esbjerg. From Esbjerg, the blade was shipped 122 NM to Bremerhaven in Germany, where the test facilities are located.

The blade was ordered by Samsung Heavy Industries and the transport was handled by the BaltShip Industry department. Delivery took place – on time – less than 92 hours after departure.

UK: Rolls-Royce Creates Dedicated Team Focused on Naval Ship Design

Rolls-Royce has been at the forefront of innovative ship design for nearly 40 years, designing over 800 vessels, used mainly in the commercial sector.

This new team will develop vessels for customers such as navies, coast guards and other maritime agencies. The new designs, which include variants of the award winning Environship merchant ship concept, will leverage innovative and cost effective technologies from commercial Rolls-Royce ship designs and products, adapted and integrated for the specific requirements of naval operations.

Garry Mills, Rolls-Royce, Chief of Naval Ship Design, said: “There has been a growing trend for commercial marine technology to cross over into the naval market, delivering cost reduction and proven capability. Governmental customers are looking for cost effective and innovative ships and with Rolls-Royce already hugely experienced in ship design, coupled to the world’s largest marine product portfolio, we can offer integrated ‘whole ship’ solutions suited to the demanding roles of the world’s navies.

“Naval vessels typically involve the integration of many disparate and complex technologies, into what tend to be unique ships. We have some exciting designs under development, bringing together world leading capability in propulsion, control systems and deck machinery into advanced hull forms.”

One of the Rolls-Royce designs includes a replenishment ship for refueling and supplying naval fleets and is available in the 9,000 to 25,000 deadweight tonne range. The design is based on the Rolls-Royce Environship concept, featuring a wave piercing bow and hybrid electric propulsion system which increases operation efficiency while reducing fuel consumption.

The design team will focus on offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), survey ships and support vessels, rather than combatant ships such as frigates and destroyers.

Global ports join hands to improve Shipping

Leaders from the world's seven hub ports gathered in Shanghai vowing to join hands to cope with the challenging economic conditions.
Operators of seven ports — PSA International, Hutchison Port Holdings, APM Terminals, DP World, Port of Long Beach, Port of Rotterdam and Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd (SIPG) — had their delegates attend the First Global Ports Leaders’ Conference in Shanghai.
The conference will become an annual event and serve as a port leaders' communication and exchange platform.

The delegates from the seven ports agreed to strengthen their bilateral or multi-lateral partnerships, jointly improve industrial standards, facilitate technology innovation and accelerate the integrated development of these ports.
By sharing experience, the seven ports will be able to learn from each other in the areas of operations, marketing, information application and safety management among other activities.
Choosing Shanghai as the venue for the first port summit has highlighted Shanghai's role as a global shipping center, said Chen Xuyuan, chairman of China’s largest port operator, SIPG.
SIPG processed 24.22 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs of containers) in the first nine months of this year, a growth of 1.9 percent year-on-year, according to Chen.
"It seems our yearly goal of 32.5 million TEUs is reachable. Therefore, SIPG will remain the world's No 1 (container port)," said Chen.
The 2013 Global Ports Leader's Exchange will be held in Singapore, with its theme centering on environment, safety and security.

India now trade-surplus with all Saarc partners

New Delhi : For the first time in years, India has become trade surplus with all  the South Asian countries, besides registering a 12.2% annual increase in overall Intra-Saarc trade at $15.5 billion in 2011-12. While India’s exports with its Saarc partners increased 11.78%, imports rose 14.96%, according to provisional figures obtained from the Commerce Ministry. New Delhi used to enjoy a surplus in trade with all the Saarc countries except Bhutan for the four year preceding 2011-12. Last year,it posted a surplus with the neighboring kingdom as well by $1.08 million. Sri Lanka is India’s largest trading partner in the Saarc followed by Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. India has a free-trade pact with Sri Lanka, while Nepal enjoys duty-free access to Indian markets. Trade with other Saarc countries, namely Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives, is bolstered with their the least developed country (LDC) status.The potentialof tradeamongSaarc nations is settomultiply with the increased focus of these countries to tap Asian markets More aggressively in the wake of  the continuing global crisis that the resultant slump in trade with Europe and the US.
Another factor that would give an impetus to intra- Saarc Trade The Recent Decision Of Pakistan to grant most-favoured nation (MFN) status to India, which means non-discriminatory treatment to the country's exporters. Besides petroleum products, India exports pharmaceutical products, machinery, cotton and sugar, among others to all these countries. Petroleum products are not exported to Pakistan at present.
“We opened up the entire South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta) a few years back and the sensitive list in down to 25 tariff lines for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with the exception of liqueur and tobacco as they are considered demerit goods. Our intention is to increase trade with our neighbours,” said a Commerce Ministry official.

Saarc

In fact, the Cabinet recently approved the reduction of 30% (264 tariff lines,) from the Safta Sensitive list for Non Least Developed Countries (NLDCs), allowing the peak tariff  rates to reduce to 5% within three years, as per agreed Safta process of tariff liberalization. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal benefited as a result of this trade liberalisation move. However, the trend of increasing trade surpluses has worried the ministry and experts alike who fear that the favourable trade balance of $10.5 billion may lead to other countries becoming insecure about India pushing too much for its exports in the subcontinent. “We urgently need to address the issue of adverse trade balance that every SAARC country has with us as we can't carry on with huge surpluses in our favour,”the official added.
“We need a healthy balance of exports and imports and extend the Safta concessions else other countries might act against us for not creating market opportunities for them.
We need to give more for greater political will,”explained Ajay Sahai, Director General and CEO,Federation of Indian Export Organisations.
Another fear pertains to the slowdown in the US and European Union, which might affect Saarc and, there by,intra-Saarc trade. “If exports from Saarc decline, then the capacity to import will also fall. The Saarc nations will not flood the Indian markets with imports if global trade declines. So, it is not an opportunity for the regions,”noted Sahai

Crew Vessel

Crew Vessel.

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Amazing photograph of Container Ship Salvage...