DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER : Friday 06-04-2001

EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS Duiker alsnog overleden

Maassluis _ De duiker die vorige week donderdag in moeilijkheden kwam bij onderwaterwerkzaamheden in de insteekhaven van de Roode Vaart in Moerdijk, is maandag overleden. De 21-jarige man uit Maassluis probeerde een tros van een schip los te maken uit de schroef van een ander schip. Toen zijn collega's geen contact meer met hem kregen, haalden ze hem op de kant. De duiker bleek buiten bewustzijn. Hij werd in kritieke toestand naar het Dijkzigtziekenhuis in Rotterdam overgebracht. De toedracht van het ongeval is nog onbekend.

GAC takes SIETCO activities at Pulau Bukom Gulf Agency Company (GAC) has signed a deal with Shell International Eastern Trading Co (SIETCO) to handle its shipping agency activities in Singapore. The acquisition, says GAC, of SIETCO's ship and port agency activities at Pulau Bukom and other defined locations in Singapore is a milestone in its strategic plan for East Asia. GAC will maintain the Pulau Bukom office, becoming the only shipping agent with an office on the island.

Angelicousis raises Greek flag Greek shipowner John A Aggelicoussis has brought two vessels under the Greek flag and is understood to be interested in the inclusion of a further ten vessels as well as a listing on the Athens Stock Exchange, according to reports in the Greek press. The re-flagged vessels are Anangel Afovos ( 39,942 gt bulk carrier, built 2001 in Korea at a cost of USD 22 million) and Astro Castor (tanker, built 2001, 300,000 dwt). During the month of May, ten vessels totalling 345,567 gt and with an average age of 7 years joined the the Greek flag. In parallel, eight ships were de-registered totalling 162,053 gt and with an average age of 34 years. Of the eight, three were sold for demolition with the other five simply changing ownership. As such, by end March, the Greek register numbered 1,927 vessels totalling 27,572,553 gt.

Divers find Body from capsized yacht Divers searching for a woman missing from a yacht that overturned off the coast of New South Wales have found a body thought to be, Charlotte Lenas. Rescue workers have been searching for her since Monday. The body of Linda Yarr was found on Wednesday. Four others escaped with minor injuries. The wrecked yacht was found by a fishing trawler on Wednesday, hundreds of kilometres away from the site of the incident. The Rising Farrster lost its keel and capsized on Sunday. The four survivivors, British tourists, were treated in hospital for minor injuries. The six crewmembers were on a training course sailing south from Surfers Paradise in Queensland to Coffs Harbour, another coastal resort. RAAF officers on patrol rescued the survivors. The 38ft yacht was believed to have hit a reef.

Illegal Immigrants Rescued The US Coast Guard rescued 149 Ecuadoreans after being left adrift for five days in the Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard said.

PSi-Daily Shipping News

Page 1

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER The Ecuadoreans, who had been abandoned by human traffickers, had no food and water for three days. They were found on Saturday about 250 miles off the coast of Costa Rica, a spokesman said. They departed Ecuador on a 60-foot boat en route to Guatemala, where they intended to travel north to the US, reports said. The boat engine failed and the crew took off in a smaller boat. One of the passengers managed to contact a relative in Ecuador who contacted another family member in New York, who in turn advised the Coast Guard in Alameda, Calif. A Navy plane spotted the group after two days of searching. Two Navy ships headed to the rescue, reports said. The passengers were returned to Ecuador

GulfMark Offshore finalises vessel purchase. GulfMark Offshore Inc has completed the acquisition of the Stirling Fyne - a 1982 built, large platform supply vessel - from Stirling Shipping Co Ltd for GBP 4.5 million (approximately USD 6.9 million). The vessel, which has been renamed Highland Patriot, will begin its firm one-year contract in the next few days. The contract also comes with two one-year options. GulfMark Offshore Inc provides marine transportation services to the energy industry with a fleet of 47 offshore support vessels, primarily in the North Sea, offshore Southeast Asia, Brazil and West Africa.

Crowley to ship to Cuba Crowley Liner Services has begun to accept bookings for licensed cargo from the United States to Cuba. The company obtained authorisation from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control to provide regularly scheduled common carrier services for licensed cargo from the US to Cuba. The service was made possible by the “Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000” implemented last October. The Act authorises OFAC to license the transport of agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices or other products directly from the US to Cuba. Certain Crowley executives can travel to Cuba to make arrangements to ship licensed cargo to Cuba. This includes authorisation to enter into contracts with and pay fees to Cuban port authorities, agents and stevedores where such contracts are needed for Crowley to provide authorised services. Crowley plans to operate regularly-scheduled common carrier services that include the Republic of Cuba in existing multi-destination routings, or if demand requires, direct common carrier services between the US and Cuba. Crowley want to start their service around April 18, 2001. The actual date depends on the ability of shippers to acquire their necessary licenses and find buyers for their goods in Cuba. Crowley must also ensure that all other requirements are met and that all parties involved in the service understand and interpret the law correctly

World's largest FPSO completed The world's largest FPSO has left Korea for Angola on March 30. With a displacement of 400,000 tons, it will arrive at the Girassol site in early July. Construction of the FPSO has been carried out by the Mar Profundo Girassol (MPG) 50/50 joint venture between Bouygues Offshore and Stolt Offshore. The joint venture completed construction of


Page 2

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER the topsides within 21 months, a major milestone in its EPCI contract with TotalFinaElf for the engineering and construction of the Girassol FPSO. TotalFinaElf with a 40% interest is operator of Block 17 offshore Angola. Other partners include Exxon Mobil (20%), BP Amoco (16.67%), Statoil (13.33%) and Norsk Hydro (10%). The Girassol FPSO will be moored in a water depth of 1,400 metres and first oil is due to flow towards the end of 2001. The 50,000t hull supports 24,000t of topsides. The FPSO has oil production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day and a 2,000,000 barrel storage capacity. It also features the largest desulphatation unit in the world, allowing treatment of 400,000 barrels of seawater per day for water injection.

Critics Knock Naming Oil Tanker Condoleezza The White House, already criticized for its connections to Big Oil, now is facing renewed questions over Chevron's decision to name an oil tanker for national security adviser Condoleezza Rice. The double-hulled giant, Condoleezza Rice, is part of the international tanker fleet of the San Franciscobased multinational oil firm, named several years ago in honor of Rice when she was a Chevron board member and stockholder. Rice, the former Stanford University provost, served on Chevron's board from 1991 until Jan. 15, when she resigned after President Bush named her to the national security post. But with California's energy crisis intensifying and human rights groups spotlighting abuses in countries where Chevron does business, critics say the tanker now poses serious diplomatic and ethical issues for Rice and the administration. Even more sensitive, they say, is the appearance of a far too cozy relationship among multinational energy giants, Bush and his key advisers -- including Vice President Dick Cheney and Rice. "It does underscore that there's never been an administration in power in this country that has been so close to a single industry -- in this instance, the oil-and-gas industry," said Chuck Lewis, who heads the Washington-based Center for Public Integrity, which first raised the issue of the tanker's moniker last month. "Look at the president and his background, the vice president (who is a former executive at Halliburton), (Commerce Secretary) Don Evans and his oil interests . . . and now this." Rice is a respected diplomat, but "I don't think anyone recognized the extent of her closeness to a major oil company," Lewis said. "It's not every day that someone has an oil tanker named after her." At a White House press conference this week, Bush spokesman Scott McClellan was asked if Bush should specifically request the Condoleezza Rice tanker be given a name change -- particularly since Chevron does business on six continents and 25 countries, and has been sued for alleged human rights abuses in Nigeria. Last year, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed suit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, charging Chevron aided Nigerian police in attacks on local communities protesting Chevron production activities. A company spokesman yesterday, however, said the incident involved 200 youths armed with machetes, guns and knives who attempted to take over an offshore oil platform, holding workers for ransom and refusing to allow them access to medical treatment. On Tuesday, the question about the tanker came up at the White House briefing in connection with the incident in Nigeria. McClellan, the administration spokesman, repeatedly said the issue of the tanker had "already been addressed" by Rice, and added, "she will uphold the highest ethical standards in office." A Chevron spokeswoman said yesterday that the oil giant has no intention of renaming the Condoleezza Rice and noted that board member Carla Hills also had a Chevron tanker named in her honor before she was appointed former President George Bush's trade secretary -- and the vessel has kept the name. "It's part of a long-standing practice of naming (tankers) after members of the board of directors," a company spokeswoman said, citing other big ships named George Shultz, David Packard and Kenneth T.


Page 3

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER Derr. Rice's office did not return repeated phone calls yesterday, but she told Fox TV last year that she has no regrets regarding her Chevron ties. "I'm very proud of my association with Chevron, and I think we should be very proud of the job American oil companies are doing in exploration abroad, in exploration at home, and in making certain we have a safe energy supply," she said. Lewis notes that both Rice and the White House have promised that she will recuse herself from any decisions directly involving Chevron. "The problem is Chevron operates in dozens of countries all over the world, " he said. "She (is) going to be dealing with issues that are enormous interest to Chevron across the globe -- and you can't recuse yourself from everything." Lewis said that while some have written off the Condoleezza Rice as a small and humorous footnote to the Bush administration, the danger exists that it could turn into more. "From a public relations standpoint, they're desperately hoping this is one tanker that doesn't run aground," said Lewis. "That could be a problem."

New York court battle ensnares six Shell tankers LONDON, April 4 (Reuters) - A dispute has erupted in New York courts over control of a fleet of petroleum product tankers, currently working for oil major Shell. Both the owner of the ships, First International, and an investment fund, which lent most of the $257 million to build the fleet, have asked the court to decide which of them controls the future employment of the six tankers. The tankers have worked for Shell since new on a seven year contract, at a rate described by brokers as "rather generous," but last year, as widely anticipated, Shell exercised its right to pull out from the deal. First International, a chain of eight interlinked tanker-owning companies controlled by Norwegian tanker-mogul Tom Steckmest, was left looking for fresh employment. Steckmest negotiated a fresh charter with Shell at a lower rate, but it is a deal that the investment trust bond-holders have refused to accept. "They (the bond-holders) have not consented, and will not consent, to the acceptance of the Shell bids..." reads a document filed by the bond-holders at the Southern District Court of New York. "Payments to be made thereunder do not provide sufficient funds..." Steckmest's First International has asked the same court to force the bond-holders to accept the deal, and to prevent them from "interfering in any way with the shipowner's performance." BOND-HOLDERS WOULD SELL THE FLEET Sources close to the bond-holders, who provided over 90 percent of the $257 million to build the fleet, said that if they managed to kick out the Shell deal proposed by Steckmest, they would try to sell the tankers to New York-listed Stelmar. The deal with Stelmar, which is owned by Easyjet chief Stelios Haji-Ioannou, was originally lined up last summer, when it first became apparent that Shell was pulling out. But Stelmar's interest in the fleet waned at around the time that First International became embroiled in a bitter legal dispute with a minor lender, Berliner Bank. It was during this battle that control of First International passed from the hands of its founder Paul Slater into those of Tom Steckmest. Industry sources said Steckmest paid $8 million for control of First International, although legal costs were fast adding to that figure. Shortly after taking control of First International in December, Steckmest told Reuters that satisfying the bond-holders was a key issue. But papers filed with the Southern District Court of New York indicate that a severe rift has developed.


Page 4

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER Steckmest, who last month declined to comment on the dispute with investors, was unavailable for comment this week. Shell confirmed that in spite of the dispute it was still chartering the six vessels.

Brand op veerboot in het Kanaal

LONDEN (RTR/AFP/EFE) - In de machinekamer van een veerboot in het Kanaal is donderdagmorgen brand uitgebroken. Het Noorse schip, de Freighter 12, was op weg van Southampton naar Zeebrugge met meer dan driehonderd auto's aan boord. De dertienkoppige bemanning is er met grote moeite in geslaagd het vuur te blussen, volgens de scheepvaartautoriteiten in de Franse havenstad Calais. De schade is groot in de machinekamers maar er zijn geen gewonden gevallen. Een Franse reddingsen blusboot voer naar het schip, maar hoefde niet meer in actie te komen. De Freighter 12 lag tijdens de brand zo'n achttien kilometer ten noorden van Calais. Een sleepboot zal de ferry naar Calais of Zeebrugge brengen.

CASUALTY REPORTING MARINE ADMIRAL (Italy) Genoa, Apr 4 — Ro-ro m ferry Admiral is still at Genoa effecting grounding damage repairs and routine maintenance. Repairs are expected to be completed on Jun 15 when she will resume Genoa/Palau/Genoa service. — Lloyd's Agents. (See issue of Mar 21.) ARCTIC ROSE (U.S.A.) Anchorage, Alaska, Apr 4 — A press report states: The Coast Guard continued an intense search yesterday for 14 missing crewmen of mfv Arctic Rose, which sank in the Bering Sea early Monday (Apr 2). Cold, rough weather was hampering the search. Mfv Alaskan Rose had to withdraw from the search area because of the threat of dangerous deck icing, whipped up by 42-knot winds and 25-foot seas. The vessel was carrying the body of Arctic Rose master David M. Rundall, of Hawaii, who was retrieved from the water by the crew of Alaskan Rose Monday morning. As of 1800 yesterday the Coast Guard said it had searched 2,500 square miles for the missing crew of Arctic Rose. The crew of Alaskan Rose told the Coast Guard they also located debris, an empty liferaft and six survival suits. — Lloyd's Agents. (See issue of Apr 5.) AUTOFREIGHTER (NIS) London, Apr 5 — Following received from Coastguard Dover MRCC, timed 0401, UTC: M vehicle carrier Autofreighter, LAQB4 (5,927 gt, built 1977), Southampton for Zeebrugge with 395 cars, 11 persons on board, reports fire in engine-room off Sandettie Bank, approximately 11 miles north of Calais. Firefighting under way using vessel's carbon dioxide system. M tug Anglian Monarch proceeding. London, Apr 5 — Following received from Gris Nez MRCC, timed 0402, UTC: M vehicle carrier Autofreighter: Fire under control. M tug Anglian Monarch due on scene shortly. London, Apr 5 — Following received from Gris Nez MRCC, timed 0915, UTC: M vehicle carrier Autofreighter: Fire has been extinguished. M tug Anglian Monarch is on standby close to the vessel. M tug Multratug 5 is on scene and will be towing Autofreighter to Zeebrugge. BALTIC CARRIER (MarshallIslands) London, Apr 5 — Denmark has officially blamed the collision off its coast between m oil/chemical tanker Baltic Carrier and m bulk carrier Tern on Mar 28 on a technical fault in the steering mechanism of one of the vessels. The Danish Maritime Authority said in its


Page 5

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER preliminary report that the findings of its investigation would be analysed and studied before a fuller report is issued later in a few weeks time. Some 900 tonnes of oil has been collected from the sea, about half of the total spillage. The report said Baltic Carrier and Tern approached each other in the Kadet Channel on Mar 28, and the intention was to pass each other port-to-port at a suitable distance. However, shortly before they were to pass, the steering on Baltic Carrier failed, causing her to change course and pull in front of Tern. The authority said the reason why Baltic Carrier's steering failed was not yet clear but for the time being must be regarded as a technical fault in the steering system. Tern struck Baltic Carrier on her starboard side and penetrated tank No 6, which contained around 2,700 tonnes of fuel oil. The transfer of oil from Baltic Carrier was expected to be completed this evening and a decision on the port of repair will be made before the cleaning of the tanks has been completed. Around 2,000 birds are thought to have been killed and many more injured. The authority said Tern sustained severe damage at her front end, with a tank being holed and fuel oil from Baltic Carrier spilling in. Inspection by divers will reveal the full extent of the damage, after which the classification society will decide what needs to be done. (See issues of Apr 4 and 5.) BULK TRADER (Malta) London, Apr 5 — Following received from Corsen MRCC, timed 1150, UTC: Mv Bulk Trader (6,049 gt, built 1973) stopped yesterday in lat 48 57N, long 05 26W, to effect repairs to a cylinder. Vessel is still in same position. (Note — Bulk Trader Sodertalje for Douala, passed Brunsbuttel Mar 29.) London, Apr 5 — Mv Bulk Trader: A tug has departed Portland to assist the vessel. Vessel will be towed to Falmouth or Portland. CIELO D'EUROPA (Liberia) Lisbon, Apr 4 — M bulk carrier Cielo d'Europa sailed Sines today. — Lloyd's Agents. (See issue of Apr 5.) London, Apr 5 — Understood m bulk carrier Cielo d'Europa is proceeding to Antwerp, where ETA Apr 14. Further understood her call at Sheerness has been cancelled and her U.K. cargo will be transhipped. HAMILTON ENERGY (Canada) London, Apr 4 — At 1341, local time, Apr 1, while proceeding to Pier 23, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, m bulk carrier Utviken (17,191 gt, built 1987), with a cargo of steel, under tug assistance, struck m tanker Hamilton Energy (982 gt, built 1965) and fuel storage m tanker Provmar Terminal II (4,947 gt, built 1948), in lat 43 16.12N, long 79 47.13W. Utviken was holed. Provmar Terminal II was extensively damaged, with flooding of her engine-room. No injuries and no pollution. NICO (Norway) London, Apr 5 — Following received from Stavanger RCC, timed 1015, UTC: Mv Nico, LDZV, (532 gt, built 1956) grounded in lat 59 49N, long 05 21E, at 0025, local time, this morning. Vessel is hard aground, local tugs are on scene. London, Apr 5 — A report from Sandnes, dated today, states: Mv Nico ran aground a few nautical miles south of Mosterhamn in Hordaland Area, at 0030, local time, today. Crew of three was picked up by tug Bison after about 30 minutes. Damage provisionally unknown. Vessel is still aground. NORDNORGE (Norway) Trondheim, Apr 5 — Understand from Fiskerstrand Verft that ro-ro m ferry Nordnorge has completed repairs and left the yard on Mar 30. — Lloyd's Agents. (See issue of Mar 2.) PROVMAR TERMINAL II (Canada) London, Apr 4 — At 1341, local time, Apr 1, while proceeding to Pier 23, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, m bulk carrier Utviken (17,191 gt, built 1987), with a cargo of steel, under tug assistance, struck m tanker Hamilton Energy (982 gt, built 1965) and fuel storage m tanker Provmar Terminal II (4,947 gt, built 1948), in lat 43 16.12N, long 79


Page 6

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER 47.13W. Utviken was holed. Provmar Terminal II was extensively damaged, with flooding of her engine-room. No injuries and no pollution. STANISLAV YUDIN (Russia) Dubai, Mar 25 — D-e crane vessel Stanislav Yudin arrived Dubai on Mar 20. — Lloyd's Agents. (See issue of Feb 19.) TERN (Cyprus) London, Apr 5 — Denmark has officially blamed the collision off its coast between m oil/chemical tanker Baltic Carrier and m bulk carrier Tern on Mar 28 on a technical fault in the steering mechanism of one of the vessels. The Danish Maritime Authority said in its preliminary report that the findings of its investigation would be analysed and studied before a fuller report is issued later in a few weeks time. Some 900 tonnes of oil has been collected from the sea, about half of the total spillage. The report said Baltic Carrier and Tern approached each other in the Kadet Channel on Mar 28, and the intention was to pass each other port-to-port at a suitable distance. However, shortly before they were to pass, the steering on Baltic Carrier failed, causing her to change course and pull in front of Tern. The authority said the reason why Baltic Carrier's steering failed was not yet clear but for the time being must be regarded as a technical fault in the steering system. Tern struck Baltic Carrier on her starboard side and penetrated tank No 6, which contained around 2,700 tonnes of fuel oil. The transfer of oil from Baltic Carrier was expected to be completed this evening and a decision on the port of repair will be made before the cleaning of the tanks has been completed. Around 2,000 birds are thought to have been killed and many more injured. The authority said Tern sustained severe damage at her front end, with a tank being holed and fuel oil from Baltic Carrier spilling in. Inspection by divers will reveal the full extent of the damage, after which the classification society will decide what needs to be done. (See issues of Apr 4 and 5.) UTVIKEN (Bahamas) London, Apr 4 — At 1341, local time, Apr 1, while proceeding to Pier 23, Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, m bulk carrier Utviken (17,191 gt, built 1987), with a cargo of steel, under tug assistance, struck m tanker Hamilton Energy (982 gt, built 1965) and fuel storage m tanker Provmar Terminal II (4,947 gt, built 1948), in lat 43 16.12N, long 79 47.13W. Utviken was holed. Provmar Terminal II was extensively damaged, with flooding of her engine-room. No injuries and no pollution. SEIZURES & ARRESTS AL EMAN BELLAH (Syria) Limassol, Apr 4 — Mv Al Eman Bellah (ex Alamal Bellah) 2,751 gt (built 1966) was placed under arrest by Admiralty Court Action 18/2001 on Apr 3. The vessel remains in New Port berthed alongside the West Quay. — Lloyd's Agents. (Note — El Eman Bellah arrived Limassol Apr 2 from Damietta.) VIKTOR KURNATOVSKIY (Ukraine) Karachi, Apr 3 — Mv Viktor Kurnatovskiy (6,911 gt, built 1974), which arrived Karachi on Nov 16, is currently under arrest, reason unknown. — Lloyd's Agents.

SHIPYARD NEWS Trico Marine expects first quarter hit PSi-Daily Shipping News

Page 7

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER Trico Marine Inc has warned slower than expected activity for its anchor handling, towing and supply vessels (AHTS) in the North Sea during most of the first quarter will impact earnings in the first quarter of 2001. "While the business environment is strong, the seasonal slowdown in North Sea activity was more pronounced than anticipated during January, February and early March," said President and CEO Tom Fairley. "This was evident in the 70% utilisation rate for three of our large anchor-handling vessels during the first quarter. However, we have already seen improvement in demand and day rates for both anchorhandling vessels and platform supply vessels, not only in the North Sea, but also other international areas." The Gulf of Mexico has continued to show strength through the quarter. In the first quarter, supply boat day rates averaged approximately USD 6,700 per day with utilisation at 72%. Current term bids for Gulf supply boats are at approximately USD 7,500 a day. In the North Sea, the fleet averaged approximately USD 10,100 a day in the first quarter with utilisation at 88%. In parallel, the company announced eight new contracts, totalling USD 32 million in anticipated revenues, for its North Sea vessels, bringing contract coverage for Trico's North Sea fleet to approx. 85% of possible days for the balance of 2001. Trico's Northern Admiral AHTS, built in 1999, was awarded a contract by Unocal Campos Ltda to commence in early April. The Northern Admiral was deployed to Brazil in mid-March. Two additional AHTS vessels, the Northern Chaser and the Northern Comrade, will depart for Brazil in May and June of 2001 under contracts awarded to Trico by Esso Brasileira de Petroleo. In the North Sea, the Northern Corona AHTS begins a new contract April 1. Two of the company's PSVs have been awarded long-term contracts. The Northern Supporter will begin a three-year contract in the North Sea April 1, and the Northern Viking was awarded a two-year contract. In addition, the Northern Seeker, which had been idle since late 1999, has been reactivated and begins a new six-month contract April 1, while the Northern Sea also begins a new six-month contract on April 1. All contracts are at higher day rates, reflecting the improved market conditions. Day rates for these contracts exceed USD 20,000 for the AHTS vessels and USD 10,000 for the PSVs, including mobilisation days. Trico Marine provides marine support services to the oil and gas industry, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea and Latin America.

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES Senator orders new containers Senator Lines has ordered 6,500 40' standard and 7,500 40' high cube containers from Jindo and CIMC as part of its strategy to increase its owned box fleet of 180,000 TEUs. The delivery period is from March through September 2001. The first containers have already been picked up in China.


Page 8

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER

NAVY NEWS Russian submarine 'had nuclear weapons on board when it sank' The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kursk had atomic weapons on board when it sank in the Arctic last summer, experts said yesterday. The Kursk sank off northwestern Russia during training exercises on 12 August, killing all 118 aboard. Russian officials repeatedly told Norway's military that the submarine, one of Russia's most modern, was carrying only non-nuclear practice weapons. But a member of the Russian government investigating commission, Grigory Tomchin, told Norway's TV-2 that the sub was carrying atomic weapons. "That has been known for a long time," he said. Mr Tomchin, who is also a Russian law maker, said he was tired of the secrecy about the wreck and encouraged the military to be more open. Harald Ramfjord, a Norwegian engineer who has been central in planning the proposed salvage of the Kursk, said he too had seen secret Russian documents confirming the presence of atomic weapons. "One of the documents I had access to said there were two atomic missiles on board and that was stamped secret," said Mr Ramfjord, who works for the Global Tool Management offshore oil industry group. Dmitry Burmistov, a Russian navy spokesman, said he had no comment on the television report and officials at the Northern Fleet could not be reached. TV-2 reported that Nato's designation for the missiles is SS N-19 Shipwrecks, with 500 kiloton nuclear warheads. The Kursk Foundation has been set up to pay for raising the Kursk this summer, but negotiations on finding the $70m that it is expected to cost are still continuing. Russia's Finance Minister, Alexei Kudrin, said that the government would raise the sunken submarine even if the foundation failed to share the costs. The cause of the Kursk disaster has not been determined. Many experts suspect one of its torpedoes exploded.

Russian navy denies report of nuclear weapons on Kursk

A top Russian navy spokesman has vehemently denied Norwegian media reports that the Kursk nuclear submarine, which sank in the Barents Sea last August, had been carrying nuclear weapons. The head of the Russian Navy's press service, Igor Degalo, since such accusations were completely false. Yesterday, the Norwegian newsagency, NTB, said that a member of the Russian commission which investigated the accident told a local television station that the vessel was carrying nuclear weapons. Contacted by the A-F-P Newsagency, an employee for the television station played the tape in which the commission member, Grigory Tomchin, confirmed that the submarine had been carrying nuclear weapons. Russian government officials confirmed that Mr Tomchin was in fact a member of the government commission on the Kursk.


Page 9

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER The Kursk, Russia's most modern nuclear submarine, sank on August 12 following a series of still unexplained powerful explosions on board, killing all 118 men on the vessel.

Sub's surprise port call due to U.S. Navy error The arrival Monday of a U.S. submarine in Sasebo port, Nagasaki Prefecture, without advance notification was due to a misunderstanding by the U.S. Navy in Japan over where the sub was anchored, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said Tuesday. The USS Chicago reported the latitude and longitude of its planned anchorage site, which was inside the port, to the Navy, but the coordinates were misunderstood as being a position outside the port, Kono said during his meeting with Nagasaki Gov. Genjiro Kaneko, according to a Foreign Ministry official. The failure to give at least 24 hours advance notice of a port visit by a U.S. nuclear-powered vessel, as agreed by the two countries, sparked a wave of criticism from local governments Monday. Kaneko's meeting with Kono was aimed at urging the central government to take measures against such a failure occurring again. It was the first time the system has failed since it was adopted in 1964. Kono told Kaneko that James Foster, acting deputy chief at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, visited the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday afternoon to explain why the U.S. military failed to report the movements of the Chicago. Foster was quoted as saying that it was a simple mistake and that there was no excuse. He also offered an apology, the official said. The governor told Kono at the outset of their meeting, "There have been a number of times when the 24-hour prior notification was late, but I am surprised at the latest incident. It is a serious issue for the citizens of Nagasaki Prefecture." The Foreign Ministry official said the ministry notified Sasebo city officials that the Chicago would not stop at the port upon receiving information to that effect from the U.S. Navy. Japan and the United States will discuss measures to prevent similar incidents happening in the future at a regular working-level meeting scheduled for Thursday, Kono said.

… .AT LAST BUT NOT LEAST … .. Stuurlieden hopper PCS Van Hattem onschuldig aan dood Indiase vissers AMSTERDAM, Eerste stuurman Jakobus van der Kolk en tweede stuurman Jasper Rem zijn niet schuldig aan de aanvaring van de Nederlandse sleephopperzuiger PCS van Hattem van de HAM met een Indiaas vissersboot in het aanloopkanaal van Mormugao in India. Dat was de uitspraak van de Raad voor de Scheepvaart, direct na behandeling van deze zaak vorige week in Amsterdam. Bij de aanvaring, op 20 januari 1999, werd de boeg van de vissersboot weggeslagen en kwamen twee vissers om. De twee andere opvarenden werden gered door de bemanning van de Van Hattem. De beide stuurlui, vergezeld van advocaat mr. J.F. van der Stelt, werden gehoord als betrokkenen. Kapitein Pieter de Leeuw van Weenen was getuige. Hij was op het moment van de ramp in zijn hut. De voorzitter van de raad, mr. U.W. baron Bentinck, legde meteen uit waarom het soms lang duurt voordat een zaak vóórkomt: iedere betrokkene moet beschikbaar zijn, danwel zich in Nederland bevinden. Behalve over de schuldkwestie boog de raad zich over de vraag of de aanvaring tussen de ruim honderd meter lange sleephopperzuiger en het vissersbootje van elf meter te voorkomen was geweest. Eerste stuurman Van der Kolk was daar heel beslist over: nee, want de tegemoetkomende visser was vlak vóór de zuiger ineens het kanaal overgestoken. In de vroege morgenuren van 20 januari, even na vijf uur, was de Van Hattem van de stortplaats weer op weg naar haar baggerlocatie, een afstand van


Page 10

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER vier mijl. Drie dagen tevoren was begonnen met verbreding van de haven en de zwaaikom. Naast de normale navigatielichten voerde de hopper op verzoek van de autoriteiten ook rood wit rood, een extra voor de loodsen van de overige scheepvaart. Er was een notice van de havenautoriteiten voor de scheepvaart, dat de Van Hattem zestig dagen zou baggeren. Hierin stonden ook de kenmerken van het schip bij dag en bij nacht en werd het advies gegeven goed vrij te blijven. ’ Zelfmoordpoging’ Het vaarwater telt weinig normale scheepvaart, maar het wemelt er wel van de vissersboten en bootjes. Goa Port Control geeft informatie over in en uitgaande schepen, maar niet over vissersboten. Daarom was de agent van de baggeraars naar het vissersdorp gegaan om te vertellen over het baggerschip. Op de bewuste dag voer de hopper om 5.20 uur terug naar de haven; de snelheid was bij boei 5 teruggebracht tot acht à negen knopen. Beide stuurlui waren op de brug. De tweede stuurde en ging op dit punt over op handsturen. ‘ Want in de bagger moet je altijd handelend kunnen optreden’ , zoals de eerste stuurman verklaarde. Bij boei 7 zat een tegemoetkomende visserman. De peiling van het vaartuig zette door en men dacht het scheepje stuurboord op stuurboord te passeren, op een afstand van naar schatting zestig meter. Maar plotseling, om 5.30 uur, ging het scheepje stuurboord uit. De eerste stuurman deed in de raadzaal aanschouwelijk voor wat er toen gebeurde op de brug. Terwijl ze nog maar dáchten ‘ dit is niet wáár!’ , gaf de tweede stuurman uit zichzelf hard bakboord roer en zette de machine op vol achteruit. De eerste stuurman sprong naar het zoeklicht en richtte het als noodsignaal op de vissersboot om in elk geval nog te proberen een óvervaring te voorkomen. De aanvaring was volgens beiden onvermijdelijk. ‘ Het leek wel een zelfmoordpoging’ , zei de eerste stuurman. De geporde en naar boven gestormde kapitein besloot voor het zoeken van drenkelingen geen sloep te gebruiken, maar de beun te vullen om zo het vrijboord te verkleinen en mensen makkelijker te kunnen binnenhalen. De eerste stuurman gaf stuurboord roer en voer op tegenkoers terug, op zoek naar overlevenden. Drenkeling verdwijnt Vrij snel vond men er twee. Eentje kon zelf via de touwladder aan boord klimmen. De tweede had een hoofdwond en ging later per brancard aan boord van de loodsboot. Die loodsboot liet overigens nogal op zich wachten, vond de bemanning van de hopper. Tot driemaal toe moest een hulpoproep uitgaan naar Goa. Pas toen de loodsboot er was, werd duidelijk dat er vier man op het vissersschip hadden gezeten. Eén stoffelijk overschot werd al snel gevonden. Het tweede pas enige tijd later. ‘ Toch moeten andere vissersbootjes hem hebben zien drijven’ , zei de kapitein. Toen de drenkelingen aan boord waren, gebeurde iets vreemds. De een was binnengehaald aan bakboord en de ander aan stuurboord. Toen ze elkaar in het vizier kregen, begonnen zij in het Hindi ruzie te maken. De loodsboot bracht hen naar de wal, waar een van hen meteen de benen nam en nooit meer werd gevonden. Voor de kapotte boot en de nabestaanden treft de Hollandse Aannemings Maatschappij in overleg met de autoriteiten een financiële regeling. Wie raakte nu wie ‘ Vindt u niet dat u te hard hebt gevaren, als u zegt dat je altijd moet kunnen reageren?’ , wilde de raad van de eerste stuurman weten. Van der Kolk: ‘ Dit heeft niets met hard varen te maken. Als ik schuld had, dan had ik daar nu echt vastgezeten.’ ‘ En als je alleen achteruit had gegeven?’ ‘ Dan hadden we alles vermalen. Dan was het schip er onderdoor gegaan en was er geen enkele overlevende geweest.’ Schampen in plaats van overvaren, dat was ook wat tweede stuurman Rem door het hoofd schoot, toen hij hard bakboord gaf. ‘ Op het moment dat het bootje ons raakte, begonnen wij net te draaien’ , zei hij voor de raad. Wie heeft nu wie aangevaren, was ook nog even de vraag. Hard stuurboord en dan vol achteruit was op dat moment volgens de stuurlui zeker geen optie, want op ongeveer honderd meter aan stuurboord was een kade.


Page 11

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER Maar met vijftien graden stuurboord had het schip niet op de pier gezeten en waarschijnlijk ook niet op het scheepje, was een suggestie uit de raad. ‘ Dat is spotten met de mensen aan boord. Je zoekt de veiligste weg. Ik kon niet eens roepen, we moesten meteen reageren. En dan was er nóg wat met de vissersboot gebeurd. Het tijdsbestek was te kort’ , vond de eerste stuurman. ‘ En als u nu langzamer had gevaren? Volgens de eerste stuurman had hij een veilige vaart en was wat de vissers deden net zoiets als iemand, die op het station voor de trein springt. Een van de buitengewone en plaatsvervangende raadsleden (in dit geval allen kapiteins grote vaart) zei de indruk te hebben dat op de brug maar wat was ‘ aangerommeld’ , ook omdat ‘ een betrekkelijk onervaren’tweede stuurman de manoeuvre uitvoerde. De eerste stuurman: ‘ Er gebeurt zóiets onverwachts en dan begint ú over vijftien graden stuurboord! Gezien de twee gevaren aan stuurboord was dit de enige goede reactie van Jasper Rem. Wij rommelen niet. Ik geef altijd orders, maar nu niet. Ik had 'bakboord' kunnen zeggen ja, maar dan waren we minder snel geweest. Ik had hetzelfde gedaan als hij nu deed, voor honderd procent.’ Waarom had hij voor het zoeklicht had gekozen en geen geluidssignaal had gegeven, wilde de raad ook nog weten. Omdat hem dat beter leek, legde de stuurman uit. Zeker níet omdat hij eventueel de kapitein uit zijn hut zou blazen. Goed werk Er was adequaat gehandeld, stelde de advocaat. Hij zag geen grond voor een maatregel van tucht. Tuchtmaatregel niet van toepassing, zei ook inspecteur ing. J.W.R. de Palm. Geen schuld, de reactie is de goede geweest, was de uitspraak van raadsvoorzitter mr. Bentinck. Hij vond het vullen van de beun voor de reddingactie goed werk en besloot met: ‘ Hoe moet je dit nu voorkomen?’ Het kan ook wel góed aflopen, want na dit ongeval heeft de Van Hattem nog negen near misses gehad, zoals de radarpost registreerde. En dat, ondanks het feit dat een extra lamp bij de boeg was geplaatst. (LR)

Turkey says Bosphorus shipping bottleneck worsens

Turkey warned yesterday that waiting times for ships passing Istanbul's congested Bosphorus strait could be radically increased by new shipments of Kazakh oil from southern Russia. A Kazakh-Russian oil pipeline was opened last week and is expected to carry an average of 800,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year to the Russian seaport terminal of Novorossiisk. Its only sea route out of the Black Sea is through the Bosphorus. "The people of Istanbul are seriously concerned about the possibility of a major accident on the Istanbul Strait," Turkey's minister for maritime affairs Ramazan Mirzaoglu said. "We won't say no to the Kazakh oil when it arrives... but this will increase waiting time sharply." Turkey would stand by the 1936 Montreux treaty granting free passage in peace time through the narrow, winding 26-kilometre strait, one the world's busiest. But safety, he said, was paramount. "At present, ships wait up to four hours depending on circumstances before obtaining entry to the strait, from the Black Sea end or Marmara... With the arrival of Kazakh oil, the waiting and tailing (queuing) will greatly increase." "I don't know exactly how many hours waiting time, but approximately one day, maybe two days, maybe one week. I'm trying to estimate the waiting times now. I've ordered my officers to calculate this," he said.


Page 12

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER A leading U.S. tanker brokerage, Poten and Partners, expressed concern last week about the new load on the Bosphorus posed by the Kazakh deliveries. "This level of throughput may start bumping against the upper limit of allowable tanker transits through the Bosphorus," it said. The Bosphorus, with its wild currents, has seen countless collisions, sinkings and oil leaks that are a growing concern for a city of over 10 million people. Mirzaoglu said that at present 50,000 ships a year passed the strait, 14 per cent of them carrying oil or other hazardous materials. This constituted four times the traffic of the Panama canal and three times that of the Suez canal. He said he did not believe the tanker traffic should be a source of friction between Turkey and Russia. It would damage Russian interests, as well as those of other regional neighbours such as Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine if traffic in the strait became choked up. "We could aid the Russians in bringing their oil to European markets," he said. Critics accuse Turkey of exaggerating the dangers in the Bosphorus to further its own plans for piping Caspian sea oil. Turkey is promoting an alternative route to Europe for Caspian oil, channeling it by pipeline to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan and bypassing the Bosphorus. The proposed $2.4 billion pipeline would transport oil 1,730 kilometres from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku through Georgia to Ceyhan.


Page 13

6/30/2002

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER

Recommend Documents