Salvage team begin cutting Kursk's hull

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER

DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER : Wednesday 05-09-2001

LOOK FOR THE LATEST UPDATE OF THE KURSK SALVAGE AT : WWW.KURSKSALVAGE.COM

Salvage team begin cutting Kursk's hull MOSCOW (Reuters) - An international salvage team working to raise Russia's Kursk submarine has begun cutting into the hull after overcoming faults in the robot cutting gear. Work began on slicing into the exterior of the nuclear submarine after the high-tech cutting gear, which will be used to cut away the nuclear submarine's mangled torpedo bay, carried out a successful test operation overnight, a Russian navy spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday. The Dutch and Russian team is striving to lift the Kursk by late September, some 13 months after two explosions sent it to the bottom of the Barents Sea with the loss of all 118 men on board. Dutch heavy transport firm Mammoet, which is leading the salvage project, said it planned to start cutting off the bow more than a week ago, but stormy weather at the remote Arctic site has put additional strain on an already tight schedule. Russian officials concede the timetable for raising the Kursk into dry dock still depends on weather conditions over the coming weeks. But Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov, speaking in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, said the operation should be completed by September 25, Interfax news agency said. He is in charge of a commission investigating what caused the Kursk's torpedoes to explode while on exercises off Russia's northern coast.

PSi-Daily Shipping News

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DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER Rear-Admiral Mikhail Motsak, commander of the Northern Fleet who is leading the salvage operation, was quoted by RIA news agency as saying the Kursk would be put into dry dock some time between September 25 and October 2.

Crew from Mammoet Smit has commenced with the cutting of the damaged bow section last night. After 2 hours and 15 minutes, 25 % of the hull was successfully cut before the operations faced a setback. Cables connecting the sawing element to the suction anchors broke due to friction caused by stones and other foreign matter in the soil where the Kursk lies. Currently, the team is busy deploying ROV's and divers to reconnect the cables. It is anticipated that there will be no delay to the schedule as initial cutting progress was faster than anticipated. From the on set of the cutting operations, there was a height of 6 metres from the damaged section to the base of the submarine to be cut. There is presently, a remaining section of 4,5 metres. The Kursk's bow section must be removed and will be left on the seabed because the structural integrity of the damaged section could complicate and endanger the final lifting operation. Meanwhile, semi-submersible barge, Giant 4, is making good progress and arrival at Kirkeness is as scheduled on the 10th of September.

Bergers verwijderen neus van Koersk De operatie waarbij de neus van de gezonken kernonderzeeër Koersk wordt afgezaagd, heeft dinsdag een kleine tegenslag te verwerken gekregen. Een van de kabels die de zaag in positie houdt, is gebroken. De bergingsoperatie van de Koersk wordt naar verwachting toch op schema afgerond, zo heeft Smit Internationale dinsdag bevestigd. Het zagen van de neus van de gezonken onderzeeër is in de nacht van maandag op dinsdag begonnen. Die operatie verliep aanvankelijk veel voorspoediger dan gedacht. Voor het zagen was drie dagen uitgetrokken, maar de apparatuur bleek zich in een paar uur tijd al door anderhalve meter van de neus te hebben gewerkt. Er moet zes meter worden gezaagd. De neus moet worden verwijderd omdat die te zwaar beschadigd is om er hijspunten aan te bevestigen. Een grote kei nabij het wrak verzoorzaakte dinsdagmorgen echter een kabelbreuk bij de zaagmachine. Volgens hijs- en transportbedrijf Mammoet en berger Smit Internationale levert het herstellen van die kabel hooguit een paar uur vertraging op. Berichten van Russische marineofficieren dat de gehele bergingwel eens een maand langer zou kunnen duren, spreken de Nederlandse bergers met klem tegen. ,,Zoiets wordt wel vaker geroepen, tot onze verbazing. We gaan nog steeds uit van 15 september. Zal het een paar dagen later worden, meer zeker niet'', aldus een woordvoerder van Smit. Het tijdschema is van groot belang, omdat het weer in de Barentszzee in oktober snel verslechtert.

EHIME MARU NEWS PSi-Daily Shipping News

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U.S. Navy mulling rigging alternatives in Ehime Maru salvage HONOLULU, Sept. 4, Kyodo - An obstruction under the hull of the Japanese fisheries training vessel Ehime Maru that was sunk in February by a U.S. submarine continues to challenge technicians as the U.S. Navy tries to reposition one of two lead wires, and alternative options may be considered, a Navy spokesman said Monday. The Navy has been trying to lift the vessel's stern to move a forward wire, called a messenger wire, closer to the front of the ship where it needs to be fitted before the ship can be rigged. Although the messenger wire was supposed to have been pulled under the pilot house, the messenger wire became snagged around the center of the ship during a previous lift last week. Precise positioning of the two messenger wires is crucial to rigging and transporting the vessel from the ocean floor where it lies about 600 meters below the surface to a shallow shoal, where divers will attempt to retrieve the remains and personal effects of the nine Japanese who went down with the ship. Once in place, the two wires will connect to two steel lifting plates that will be slid under the ship and used to support the vessel as it transits to shallow waters. At this point, however, the Navy is considering other ways of pulling the messenger wire forward, an official said. The official also stressed that this type of salvage operation is unprecedented and that the entire process is a fluid one. This operation to move the wire has faced setbacks over the past several days, including the need to replace the original stern lifting mechanism after it broke in half on Friday night. Although the ship was dropped about 7 meters when the lift broke, officials said there was no damage to the hull. After the incident the salvage ship, Rockwater 2, returned to port to pick up a spare reinforced plate prepared beforehand. The stern lift with the reinforced plate began at 2 a.m. Monday and was expected to continue until the work is complete. Kyodo News, however, has learned that the Rockwater 2 will return to Honolulu Harbor on Tuesday morning where officials are expected to discuss other ways to pull the forward wire in place. The 499-ton Ehime Maru was struck and sunk Feb. 9 by the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine Greeneville while the sub was conducting an emergency surfacing maneuver for a group of civilian visitors. Nine of the 35 people aboard the ship, including four high school students from the Uwajima Fisheries High School in Ehime Prefecture, were lost at sea. But the navy believes only five to seven of them remain inside the ship.

EVENTS, INCIDENTS & OPERATIONS Refugees depart Tampa Over 430 refugees were transferred from the Norwegian cargo ship, Tampa to the Australian Navy vessel Manoora last night, for the voyage to Port Moresby and then a flight to Nauru where they will be processed. The transfer started during the afternoon, local time and continued for several hours. The Tampa’s gangways were lowered for the


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DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER refugees to climb down onto a barge. About eight people at a time were transferred to the Manoora. Australian police were given the go-ahead to board the Tampa and arrest six Indonesians suspected of human trafficking. The Federal Court lifted an injunction to permit the Manoora to sail after a deal was struck. If the Australian Government loses the case filed against it by human rights groups, the refugees will be permitted to return to Australia. A ruling should be handed down on Thursday. Prime Minister Howard said he had informed the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan of the group’s transit arrangement and expressed his approval. He said Australia would accept its "fair share" of the people deemed to be refugees. He said he also expected Norway to accept some and lashed out at international critics, saying some of the attacks were “ludicrous".

Santa Fe merges with Global Marine Santa Fe International said it agreed to purchase Global Marine in a $3 billion stock-swap deal. The deal comes during a surge of consolidation among offshore drilling contractors seeking to unite to meet client demand in the international energy market. The merger comes amid falling drilling stock prices, due to a slump in US natural gas prices from $10 per thousand cubic feet late in 2000 to $2.26 on Friday. The merged company will rank second among global offshore oil and gas drilling contractors, after Transocean Sedco Forex. Global Marine is strong in the US Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. Santa Fe’s strength lies in the Middle East and Asia. The new company will operate over 100 drilling rigs worldwide and have a market capitalization of around $6 billion, based on Friday's closing stock prices, compared to Transocean’s $9 billion. GlobalSantaFe Corp is to be based in Houston, where Global Marine headquarters are located. Global Marine Chairman and CEO Bob Rose will act as chairman of the combined entity, with the 14member board represented equally by the two companies. The deal provides for Global Marine shareholders to receive 0.665 shares in the new company for each Global Marine share. Santa Fe shareholders will receive one share in the new company for each Santa Fe share. Global Marine shareholders will own a 50.6 percent stake in GlobalSanteFe, while Santa Fe shareholders will own 49.4 percent. The transaction is expected to complete by the end of this year. The companies anticipate the deal will accumulate savings of $25 million by the end of next year. Geographic expansion and improved bargaining power to maintain rental rates for drilling rigs during low market prices for gas and oil were the main reasons for such deals, analysts said. Santa Fe and Global Marine reported combined revenues of over $2 billion for the year ended 30 June, but stocks in both companies have slipped because of falling US natural gas prices and a global economic slowdown.

Algoma looks to newbuildings ALGOMA Central Corp has asked shipyards for proposals for at least two 15,000 to 20,000 DWT tankers that will meet Canadian government requirements for double hulls. Reid Scheidt, director of sales and marketing with Algoma Tankers, said the company hopes to place an order for the ships


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DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER within the next 6 to 12 months. The company has not settled on a final design but is looking for a ship in the 140 m range, suited to trade on the Great Lakes and the St Lawrence Seaway. The company would like to place the order with a Canadian builder but is waiting for more details from the new federal shipbuilding strategy promised by industry minister Brian Tobin in June before it makes a final decision

Nenaco to sell subsidiaries PHILIPPINE shipping operator Negros Navigation Co (Nenaco) plans to sell non-core subsidiaries to concentrate on its inter-island shipping operations and return the company to profitability. Companies to be sold include its logistics arm Nenaco Sales Corp, the in-house construction and engineering contractor Wescon Machine Works and the shuttle bus operator in Negros island, NN Tours and Transport Corp. The sale of wholly-owned subsidiary Nenaco Insurance Brokers is also under consideration. At the same time, the company has allotted PhP150M ($3M) to upgrade its fleet and increase market share for both passenger and cargo traffic. A special ship carrying Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Walt Disney Co. executives, Chairman and CEO Michael Eisner, right, Vice President Roy Disney, waving, and Oriental Land Co. President Toshio Kagami, right, sails during the grand opening ceremony of Tokyo DisneySea in Urayasu, east of Tokyo, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2001. The world's first Disney marine theme park is expected to draw up 10 million people a year and repeat the success of nearby Tokyo Disneyland

Yemen seizes two ships carrying 116 Sri Lankans ADEN, Sept 3: Yemeni authorities have seized two ships carrying about 116 Sri Lankan men, 20 of them without passports, after the Ukrainian- and Sri Lankan-flagged vessels entered Aden port illegally, a port official said on Monday. The official said port authorities had refused to let the passengers enter Yemen or sail out of the port aboard the two vessels, described as not equipped to carry passengers safely. Witnesses and port officials said some of the passengers swam ashore and held a demonstration demanding that Yemeni authorities allow them to leave aboard the ships. Yemeni riot police dispersed the demonstration and sent the protesters back to the vessels. The official said the captains of the ships, which slipped into Aden port more than a week ago under cover of darkness to restock with food and water, had been asked to contact the ships' owners to arrange other transport for the passengers.


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DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER The official said authorities were questioning the captains, who had refused to disclose their destinations. It was not immediately clear if the ships, which sailed from a Sri Lankan port, had been trying to smuggle the men to another country. Several wealthy countries in the region, particularly impoverished Yemen's larger neighbour Saudi Arabia, attract labourers from the Indian sub-continent seeking better pay.

CASUALTY REPORTING Fishermen rescued after boat capsises Crewmembers on board the US Coast Guard cutter Anacapa rescued four fishermen from Alaska’s frigid waters on Saturday after their vessel capsized 75-miles northwest of Ketchikan near Warren Island. The Coast Guard received a 406 MHz Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon signal at 9:43 am, belonging to the 58-foot fishing vessel Joycelyn registered out of Seattle. Rescue coordinators here diverted the nearby cutter Anacapa crew at 10:14 am. When Coast Guardsmen arrived on-scene they found Dennis Haldane, 50, Dennis Parsens, 49, John H. Dicks 30, and Lester Nelson 56, all in the water near the capsized Joycelyn in eight to 10-foot seas. Haldane is the only person reportedly wearing a survival suit, while all wore personal flotation devices. The Petersburg-based Anacapa crew recovered all four fishermen alive. Parsens, Dicks, and Nelson, suffered hypothermia, while Haldane remained dry because he wore his survival suit. Anacapa crewmembers transported the four to Craig for medical treatment. A Sitka-based helicopter crew also responded and spotted light fuel sheening in the area of the incident caused by the 650-gallons of fuel reportedly aboard the Joycelyn. The helicopter crew also reported the fuel sheen is breaking up with wind and wave action. The Marine Safety Detachment in Ketchikan is currently investigating the cause of the capsizing and monitoring any pollution impacts to the environment. “We’re monitoring the situation, and if necessary, will take action to minimise the threat of pollution to the environment,” said investigating officer Chief Petty Officer Jeff Prince, of MSD Ketchikan. “The master said he intends to have a diver survey the vessel to determine the amount of fuel remaining onboard, and to also determine whether it is feasible to salvage the Joycelyn.” Good Samaritans on board the fishing vessel Oregon recovered and secured the transmitting EPIRB.


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SHIPYARD NEWS Norway to get German face-lift

LLOYD Werft of Germany is to overhaul Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)’s veteran cruise ship the Norway. The 76,049 GT, 1961-built ship yesterday embarked on a 16-day farewell voyage from Miami to Southampton. Its refit at Bremerhaven, scheduled to last up to eight weeks, is expected to start in mid-October. NCL’s former flagship was detained in Miami at the end of May because of leaks in its sprinkler system, resulting in the cancellation of a seven-day cruise. After modernisation at Lloyd Werft, which carried out the Norway’s last overhaul in 1999, the ship is to take up a new role in the NCL fleet, intended for cruises on the Asian market. A newbuilding option held by NCL at Lloyd Werft has not yet been exercised.

ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES Durban port to be upgraded Portnet is to inject R1,34bn to upgrade facilities at the port of Durban, which currently handles about 65 percent of South Africa’s container throughput. Phase one of the proposed development includes three new cranes and 20 new straddle carriers. Capacity at the terminal will increase from 1,3-million TEUs to 1,6-million TEUs per year. The upgrade will support growth in container traffic which increased 18 percent last year. The upgrade should meet the requirements over the next few years. Extra capacity will need to be provided with the conversion of Pier 1. The second phase will be the development of the city terminal. New deep-water quays will be built and equipment will be replaced. This phase will strengthen general cargo handling operations and create a balance between container and breakbulk operations. Phase three involves the conversion of Pier 1 for container handling, adding 325000 TEUs to the annual container-handling capacity. The decision to convert Pier 1 rested on good rail and road access to the area. The investment is expected to boost the local job market and ultimately have positive repercussions on the city's economy.

Panama Canal raises charges PANAMA’S Canal Authority (ACP) has increased port pilotage and several other service charges by an average of three per cent, with effect from October 1. The last increase in port tariffs was in 1997 and this one is expected to provide an additional $20M in revenue. The decision to raise the port services tariff was made at the last ACP board meeting and then ratified by Panama’s cabinet last week. The Chamber of Shipping and canal users had previously complained about the scheduled pilotage fee


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DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER increase announced in May and called for the ACP to consider privatisation, a proposal ACP officials rejected. The latest increase in charges includes transiting inspection services, transit related tug services at locks and in the Gaillard Cut and line handling services in general, in addition to pilotage.

Golar LNG confident of contracts GOLAR LNG, the new Bermuda-based LNG carrier company controlled by John Fredriksen, is upbeat on the future as the board expects this quarter to announce employment prospects for at least some of its four newbuildings. The vessels will enter service between 2004 and 2006. The existing fleet of six is employed on long term contracts. Golar LNG reported a $0.52M net profit for June, its first month in existence. The board says the fact that Golar LNG is the only party that can offer substantial shipping capacity within 2004 “makes the board confident of getting attractive employment for the ships.” Golar LNG is incorporated in Bermuda, its business is run from London by a fully owned subsidiary called Golar Management and the parent company is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange’s SMB list for small and medium sized companies.

Ferries upset P&O profits INTERIM profits before tax at P&O slipped by six per cent to £90.4M ($131M), the company reported this morning. Its ports and logistics operations put in sparkling performances but its ferry operations saw losses double to £18.1M, where the company claims the foot and mouth epidemic cost £6M. Group turnover fell by £115M to £2,125M. The company’s views on performance for the rest of the year are cautious. Noting that the level of trade is down on what it was six, or even three months ago, and the uncertainty about the US economy, P&O says to some extent these will affect its business. P&O’s shares rose eight pence to 231p on the news but have since slipped back to 226p, six pence up on last month’s 52-week low of 220p.

Bundeling cargadoorsactiviteiten Spliethoff en LBH Group De Amsterdamse rederij Spliethoff en scheepsagent LBH Group bundelen per 1 november van dit jaar hun cargadoorsactiviteiten. Hierdoor denken beide bedrijven efficiënter te kunnen gaan werken. Het Spliethoff Agentenkantoor in Rotterdam zal worden gehuisvest in het LBH hoofdkantoor in Rhoon, terwijl de kapiteinskamer van LBH in Amsterdam verhuist naar het hoofdkantoor van Spliethoff in de hoofdstad.

Den Haag stapt naar rechter om Cubaans schip Met een kort geding wil de gemeente Den Haag het Cubaanse vrachtschip Maydin Reefer uit de haven van Scheveningen wegkrijgen. Het schip, dat begin dit jaar door schuldeisers aan de ketting is gelegd, ligt de gemeente in de weg. Den Haag hoopt dat de rechter een dwangsom oplegt aan de reder. Als deze het schip niet weg haalt, loopt de dwangsom op en volgt mogelijk een faillissement. Vervolgens wordt het schip verkocht en komt de ruimte die het nu inneemt vrij. Volgens wethouder Verkerk van Economische Zaken lijdt het gemeentelijk havenbedrijf schade omdat


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DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER ze de ligplaats die de Maydin Reefer inneemt nu niet kan verhuren aan andere schepen. Het is nog niet bekend wanneer het geding dient.

HBG laat rode cijfers achter zich Bouw- en baggerconcern Hollandsche Beton Groep (HBG) heeft in de eerste zes maanden van dit jaar weer zwarte cijfers kunnen schrijven. Het verlies van 125 miljoen euro over de eerste helft van 2000 werd in dezelfde periode van dit jaar omgezet in een winst uit normale bedrijfsuitoefening van 36 miljoen euro (f 79,3 miljoen). HBG is zeer te spreken over de eigen prestaties. Het denkt dan ook dit jaar de eerder uitgesproken winstverwachting van 90 miljoen euro te kunnen halen. Verder ontwikkelt de solvabiliteit van het concern zich goed. De verhouding eigen vermogen-vreemd vermogen bedroeg eind 2000 nog 19,9 procent. Inmiddels is de solvabiliteit opgelopen tot 22,7 procent. Eind dit jaar komt die uit op een verwachte 25 procent. Hollandsche Beton Groep heeft alle baat bij het presenteren van goede cijfers. Het Rijswijkse concern wordt van verschillende kanten belaagd. Baggeraar Boskalis heeft het gemunt op HBG's baggeractiviteiten, concurrent Heijmans wil de bouwactiviteiten van HBG. De Rijswijkers dachten deze zomer de aanvallen te hebben afgeslagen door de baggerpoot HAM met de baggerdivisie van Ballast Nedam te laten samengaan. De Ondernemingskamer heeft, na klachten van aandeelhouders, echter bepaald dat die fusie voorlopig moet worden opgeschort. Baggeren blijft voor HBG wel een lucratieve bezigheid. De bedrijfsopbrengsten van HAM stegen met 13 procent tot 212 miljoen euro. De bodemloze put die de Duitse bouwactiviteiten de afgelopen jaren voor HBG vormden, lijkt te zijn gedempt. Het concern denkt dit jaar in Duitsland quitte te draaien.

IHC Caland wil 330 miljoen gulden binnenhalen Het gaat IHC Caland voor de wind. De Schiedamse bouwer van schepen en offshore-installaties heeft over het eerste halfjaar de nettowinst met 29,3 procent zien stijgen tot 38,4 miljoen euro (f 84,5 miljoen) ten opzichte van dezelfde periode vorig jaar. De winstverwachting over heel 2001 werd maandag verhoogd tot 80 miljoen euro. De orderportefeuille bedraagt 3,6 miljard euro, een toename van 26 procent in vergelijking met eind 2000. Om de groei van de onderneming te kunnen financieren geeft IHC Caland de tweede helft van dit jaar ten hoogste 9,9 procent nieuwe aandelen uit. De bedoeling is dat hiermee 150 miljoen euro (f 330 miljoen) wordt binnengehaald. Hooggespannen verwachtingen heeft IHC Caland vooral van het opengooien van de Golf van Mexico voor FPSO's (gespecialiseerde drijvende productieplatforms voor oliewinning). Tot nu toe rust daar een verbod op vanwege de kans op tyfoons, die de installaties op zee kunnen verwoesten. Presidentdirecteur J. van Dooremalen verwacht echter dat het gebied binnen drie jaar wordt opengelegd. ,,Mogelijk zit daar een bulk olie, waarmee we tien jaar aan de slag kunnen.'' Hoewel de opdrachten binnenstromen, was er ook teleurstelling bij IHC Caland. Bijvoorbeeld over het afketsen van een grote order door HAM (de baggerpoot van HBG) voor een jumbo sleephopperzuiger. Meer nog zat Van Dooremalen in zijn maag met gunstige taxlease-constructies die in Spanje zeer populair zijn. Volgens de IHC-topman zit aan die regelingen op z'n minst een luchtje. Er is dan ook al overleg geweest met het ministerie van Economische Zaken om deze constructies aan de wet te toetsen. Van Dooremalen wil net als andere Nederlandse scheepsbouwers dat de Europese Commissie ook z'n licht hierover laat schijnen. ,,De Nederlandse scheepsbouw loopt hierdoor de bouw van vijf tot tien vaartuigen per jaar mis. Vooral rivier-cruiseschepen waar Amerikaanse toeristen gebruik van maken.


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DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER En deze markt is groeiend, want dit soort cruises wordt ook populair op de Ganges in India en de Yangtzee in China.'' Opgetogen was Van Dooremalen over de overname van Atlantia Offshore in Houston. Het kostte IHC 52 miljoen dollar, maar de door het bedrijf toegepaste techniek om op volle zee door drukverschillen olie te winnen, is veelbelovend. ,,De eerste grote order hebben we al binnen.

NAVY NEWS USS Greeneville checked for possible damage after rough arrival at Saipan FINEGAYAN — The USS Greeneville, on its first deployment at sea after accidentially sinking a Japanese fishing boat in February, is being inspected in Guam for damages it may have suffered during a Saipan port call. Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Kelly Merrell said Wednesday that the Pearl Harbor-based Greeneville is being inspected at the Navy’s Submarine Refit Site THREE after apparently grazing a shallow area off Saipan on Monday. Rough waters caused submarine skipper Cmdr. David Bogdan to abort the Saipan port entry and to try to leave the area when the incident occurred, Merrell said. Saipan harbormaster Tony Cabrera said a storm had caused large waves and strong winds around Saipan, and he had canceled ferry service Monday with neighboring Tinian. Cabrera said he had to send a small boat to guide the Greeneville into port because the harbor tugs could not safely leave the port. "The weather was very, very bad," Cabrera said, adding that the pilot could not board the submarine from the small boat because of the high swells. Cabrera said communications with the submarine were garbled, so he was surprised when the Greeneville appeared to be attempting to turn around in the narrow channel leading to the port. The channel is 400 feet wide with a depth of 40 feet. The submarine is 362 feet long, with a draft of 31 feet. Cabrera said that if Bogdan had asked for assistance from the pilot, who remained in the small boat with a radio, he would have been advised to proceed to a turning basin. Instead, the ship continued its maneuvering and left the area. Cabrera said better communication between the Navy and his section would help prevent accidents. Merrell said the Navy is investigating the incident. The Greeneville was on its first deployment after repairs following an accident off Hawaii Feb. 9, when it sank the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru during a demonstration of an emergency surfacing procedure. Nine people were declared missing and presumed dead following the accident.


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HMS ILLUSTRIOUS LEADS TASK GROUPS TO MIDDLE EAST The aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS sailed from Portsmouth on Monday 3 Sept as the flagship of the largest maritime deployment undertaken by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines since the Falklands conflict. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS is the flagship of three groups of warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries deploying on ARGONAUT 2001 to the Middle East and back. The series of manoeuvres and visits will culminate in a major exercise - "SAIF SAREEA 2" involving the British Army, the Royal Air Force and the Armed Forces of Oman. The ships and personnel are due home from the 13,000 mile, four month deployment before Christmas. The deployment includes the helicoptor carrier HMS OCEAN, ( Photo Right ) the assault ship HMS FEARLESS, destroyers, frigates, mine countermeasures vessels, other amphibious warfare vessels and Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships. In all, 24 surface ships from Britain will be involved, plus two nuclear submarines. Royal Navy Sea Harriers and RAF Harrier GR7s will also be embarked in ILLUSTRIOUS, together with a variety of helicoptors in other ships of the Task Group. Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade will be involved in amphibious landings on the coast of Oman. The amphibious warfare and mine countermeasures groups have already departed from Plymouth and Portsmouth; the faster carrier group will catch them up en route for the Middle East. Heading the task group is Rear Admiral James Burnell-Nugent CBE, Commander of the UK Maritime Forces. He said: "This is a significant display of maritime power - we are sending 8,500 sailors, airmen and Royal Marines to the Gulf Region. In total the Argonaut task group consists of 40 separate commands, brought together into an integrated, self sustaining joint fighting force."

HMS CAMPBELTOWN HOSTS ARTIC CONVOY VETERANS HMS Campbeltown was in Archangel on 31 August to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the start of the Arctic convoys to the north Russian ports, and hosted a group of British veterans.


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DAILY SHIPPING NEWSLETTER The convoys endured both the extreme weather of the Arctic Ocean and the gauntlet of German aircraft, U-boats and surface raiders, delivering essential aid to the Russian ports of Archangel and Murmansk. In 1941, the Royal Air Force contributed a wing of Hurricane fighters in northern Russia. These were initially operated by British crews, before being handed over to Soviet pilots, who continued to fly them with notable success.

MOVEMENTS ATLAS MOUNTAINS SAMAMA Monte Carlo/Panama 1982 Japan GT 8041 dwt 8778 Loa 139.9m Bm 21.2m ex Kijima-89, Frontier Reefer-94, Winfast Reefer96, Van Dover naar de Merwehaven Tekst/foto Jan van der Klooster

AIRCRAFT / AIRPORT NEWS An Air France Concorde takes off from the Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2001, at the beginning of a new round of training flights to prepare pilots and flight instructors for the aircraft's likely return to commercial use. The Concorde fleet was grounded after an Air France Concorde crashed outside Paris in July 2000, killing 113 people

RIJNMOND WEATHER WOENSDAG 5 SEPTEMBER 2001 9 uur 's ochtends : temperatuur: 14 graden kans op neerslag: 37% wind: matig (17 km/u) uit NW 5 uur 's middags : temperatuur: 16 graden kans op neerslag: 15% wind: matig (22 km/u) uit WNW


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….AT LAST BUT NOT LEAST ….. Hong Kong-Shenzhen bridge gets nod AUTHORITIES in Hong Kong and Shenzhen have agreed to go ahead with the project to build a 5.1 km bridge across Deep Bay to link the two cities. The long-awaited HK$4.8Bn ($615M) bridge, expected to be completed in 2005, will provide fast access between Hong Kong’s container port, Shekou port and Shenzhen airport in southern China. A six-lane dual carriageway will take 88,000 cars and container trucks a day, easing congestion at the Man Kam To, Lowu and Lok Ma Chau checkpoints. Hong Kong will spend HK$2.8Bn to build the 3.2 km section in its waters and Shenzhen will build the 1.9 km section on its side at an estimated HK$2Bn. Both sides have agreed to try joint customs and immigration clearance on the bridge to speed up border crossings

HAVE A LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING SITE FOR SHIPPING INFO AND PICTURES OF SHIPS AROUND HOEK VAN HOLLAND AT : http://home.soneraplaza.nl/qn/prive/j.vander.klooster/index.html


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Salvage team begin cutting Kursk's hull

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