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Indian Navy sinks pirate ship

THE Indian Navy frigate Tabar has sunk a pirate mother ship off the Somali coast. Indian reports say the large ex-fishing vessel fired at the warship when ordered to stop. The vessel had been towing two fast launches which were used by the pirates to escape from their main vessel which was set ablaze by gunfire.

Meanwhile pirates released one vessel yesterday, the Hong Kong-flag bulk carrier Great Creation, and captured two more, a bulker and a Thai-owned, Kiribati-flag fishing vessel.

The owners of the VLCC Sirius Star have started negotiations for her release, the Saudi Arabian Government confirmed. The country foreign minster Prince Saud al-Faisal said that Saudi Arabia would join the international efforts to combat piracy in the region.

It is though that about 17 merchant ships and approaching 400 seafarers are now being held by Somali pirates

Although more countries are now sending warships tot he Gulf of Aden/Red Sea region British Royal Navy (RN) Commodore Keith Winstanley, deputy commander of the Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East, has underlined the problem facing the naval forces attempting to counter the pirates. He said: “The pirates will go somewhere we are not. If we patrol the Gulf of Aden then they will go to Mogadishu. If we go to Mogadishu, they will go to the Gulf of Aden.”

Eight suspected pirates caught by the RN last week have appeared in a Kenyan court after being landed in Mombasa on Tuesday. UK press reports says that the UK and Kenyan governments agreed a deal ensuring a fair trial for the group and confirming the would not face the death penalty.

THE latest Shipping Confidence Survey by Moore Stephens has revealed a significant drop in overall confidence levels in the market, and an increased expectation that rates in the tanker, dry bulk and container ship sectors will fall in the next twelve months.

The firm's shipping partner, Richard Greiner says, "Our latest survey reflects weakening demand in the global economy and growing concern across shipping markets. The results show an industry less confident about its ability to maintain the momentum it has built in recent years. Market anecdote provided by respondents confirms that the global economic downturn and the credit crunch are starting to bite. Shipping has shown repeatedly that it is a robust and innovative sector. It is likely to need those qualities now more than ever before in order to ride out the storm."

On a scale of 1 to 10, the average confidence level reported by respondents was 5.6, compared to 6.8 in the previous survey in June 2008. Confidence levels fell across all sectors and regions and the greater divergence between respondents suggests greater uncertainty across market participants. Ship managers and owners were the most confident at 6.0 and 5.8 respectively, although these were markedly down on the corresponding figures in June.

A number of respondents acknowledged that the shipping industry is very vulnerable to the current global economic downturn, that any recovery will depend on a return to confidence in the financial markets, and that trade will inevitably suffer as a result of worldwide recession. A number of respondents felt freight markets would never again recover to reach the levels achieved over the last three years, while others noted that difficult market conditions would likely force out under-capitalised and over-exposed operators, to the ultimate benefit of the market as a whole. There was some evidence of a reluctance to conduct business with first-time customers, with one operator explaining, "Right now we prefer not to work than to work and not get paid, so we will rely on regular customers or at least on new ones whom we know we can trust".

Other respondents, however, saw reasons for optimism in sustained growth in China and India, where energy demands will continue to drive tanker business. Some hoped that recent falls in commodity prices would support demand in the dry bulk and container ship sectors, albeit at reduced levels.

Demand trends, the cost and availability of finance and competition are now clearly respondents' key concerns. Although Moore Stephens' unique operating costs benchmarking report, OpCost, recently confirmed that ship operating costs had surged by over 11% last year, this survey reveals that just 10% of respondents expected such costs to significantly affect their performance over the next year.

As with confidence levels, there was a wider range of sentiment on the likelihood of respondents making a major investment during the coming year. Ship managers replaced ship owners as the most likely, but their expectation level of 5.6 out of 10 (against an average overall score of 5.2) was still significantly down on the previous survey. Owners, meanwhile, dropped a whole point, from 6.5 to 5.5 in this category.

There was a fall from 66% to 60% in the number of respondents who expected finance costs to rise over the next twelve months. However, the proportion of respondents expecting lower finance costs rose from 9% to 19%. Brokers, managers and owners led those who expected costs to rise over the next year.

In the freight markets, there was evidence of a significant shift in expectations towards lower rates, most strongly in the tanker and container ship sectors. In the tanker market, for example, 52% of respondents expected rates to fall whereas in June, 45% expected them to rise. The number of owners expecting rates to fall was also up, from 37% to 45%. Regionally, North America and Asia, with 29% and 23% respectively, led the way in expecting an increase in tanker rates, while in Europe the figure was 18%.

In the dry bulk market, there was an increase, from 35% to 43%, in the number of respondents predicting lower rates, but a rise also, from 32% to 35%, in the numbers of those anticipating increases. While in June responses to this question were more evenly spread, a smaller proportion of respondents in November expected rates to stay the same. More managers and brokers expected higher rates than expected lower while more owners expected lower rates than expected higher.

Finally, 50% of respondents to the survey expected container ship rates to be lower in twelve months' time, compared with 20% who expected them to be higher. This represents a significant change compared to Moore Stephen's June 2008 survey, when respondents' views were somewhat inconclusive.

NORWEGIAN based heavy lift specialist Ocean HeavyLift (OHL) says that the owner of the liftboat KS Titan 1 has arrested the HeavyLift Ancora in the US, claiming US60m plus potential costs and damages as a result of the total loss of the liftboat which was lost at sea from the HeavyLift Ancora last month. A statement says: “OHL fully rejects the claim and will rely upon the provisions in the transport contract, which includes industry standard knock-for-knock provisions clearly defining that OHL carries no risk whatsoever related to its cargo. OHL evaluates actions to recover any loss of income, costs or other damages related to the claim.”

THE master of a chemical tanker has been jailed for two months by a UK court after pleading guilty to being in command of a ship while the alcohol limit. He will be deported on release from jail.

Ukrainian national Gonchar Volodymyr, a was master of the Cypriot-flag chemical tanker Elousa Trikoukiotisa on 4 November bound for London from Rostock in Northern Germany. The vessel was laden with liquid ammonium nitrate and had a crew of 15 on board. When the pilot boarded at the Sunk boarding area, he reported to the Port Authority that the master appeared drunk.

Metropolitan Police officers boarded the vessel berthed at Dagenham Dock and administered a breath test which proved positive. The master was arrested and taken to Dagenham Police Station where a later breath test indicated 103 microgramme's of alcohol in 100 microgramme's of breath. The legal limit for seafarers is 80, the same as for UK road users.

Bryan Hopkins, Surveyor-in-Charge at the MCA's Orpington Marine Office said: "Although the limit is the same as for road drivers, I cannot emphasise the seriousness of this situation. Captain Volodymyr was in command of a vessel that had a strict no alcohol policy with 15 persons on board and carrying a dangerous cargo transiting one of the busiest shipping areas in the world. The captain was relieved of his command by the ships owners following his arrest."

ON the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Questionnaire 88 (Q88), Intertanko has revised its industry standard questionnaire. In February this year, the tanker industry organisation's Vetting Committee revived the ‘Questionnaire 88 Working Group’ to work under the chairmanship of Ashley Cooper of Scorpio Ship Management to review the Q88 to ensure that it meets today’s commercial environment.

Capt Cooper, Marine Manager at Scorpio Ship Management, says, “The revised Q88, with incorporation of further and up to date information required for the ship assessment decision, will prove more user friendly and should find greater appeal within the industry.”

The Q88 was last revised in 2004 and the new version takes into account new questions and changes to the document’s format which makes it much easier to view. The Working Group also took a revolutionary step in making the Q88 easier to transfer between various parties’ internal systems by publishing an XML version of the questionnaire. Further revisions are expected in the future to ensure the questionnaire remains up-to-date and continues to be seen as an industry standard.

Intertanko Marine Director, Howard Snaith, says, “Keeping Questionnaire 88 up to date and relevant to today’s industry’s needs is all part of the continuous improvement approach undertaken by our members”. This work has been carried out with the assistance of Heidenreich Innovations LLC which operates the web site, www.Q88.com. Fritz Heidenreich, President of Heidenreich Innovations, says, “We emailed our subscribers to find out what additional information would be the most beneficial to include in the new version. We received an overwhelming response and this helped us enhance the information which is contained in the Q88.”

SOMALI pirates struck again yesterday afternoon, hijacking the Hong Kong-flag, Iran Shipping Lines-owned bulk carrier Delight with 25 crew onboard. The 43,218 dwt,1986-built ship was bound for Bandar Abbas with a cargo of wheat. This latest hijacking means there 16 ships and around 300 seafarers being held by Somali pirates.

Responding to the news the Hong Kong Shipowners' association commented that the risk to shipping is “extremely high, and getting worse”. The association's managing director Arthur Bowring said: “The pirates are well armed, well organized and superbly efficient. While there are some preventative measures that can be put in place by the owner and master of the ship, there is very little more that can be done in the event of an attack. The terrifying nature of the attack, with no apparent shortage of firepower and ammunition, means that the seafarers and the ship itself are under threat of severe injury and damage. And boarding of ships by the pirates under such conditions is unpreventable.”

He observed that while merchant seafarers are not trained in the use of arms, and merchant ships are not warships they are now trading through areas within which the potential for attack is extremely high.

Referring to the attack on the VLCC Sirius Star at the weekend Mr Bowring said: “With the extension of the pirates’ operating area to include vast distances off the east coast of Africa, there is little alternative for ships carrying cargoes from Asia to Europe and the east coast of the United States.

Calling for action he said: “This is a problem that must be solved as soon as possible, both by preventative and defensive action by the world’s navies to protect the safe passage of world trade, as well as by the provision of aid and humanitarian work in Somalia, in order to restore a working government and install effective law enforcement along the Somalia coast.”

Meanwhile, following the seizure of the Sirius Star some 450 miles off the coast the International Chamber of Shipping has updated its guidance to owner sand masts.

In a circular to its members ICS says: “Whether the latest attack is evidence of a change of tactics by the criminal gangs remains to be seen. However it is clear that current guidance that routeing 200nm off shore provided some comfort is no longer adequate. Therefore as interim advice the following would seem appropriate:

Routeing decisions should take into account the location of the attack on the Sirius Star and a significant distance offshore should be maintained for the entire Somali coastline. Current passive defence measures including most importantly the posting of extra lookouts particularly in the stern sector should be extended to a much greater geographic area as indicated in the previous point.

Advice to communicate with warships and the military authorities as previously advised is strongly reinforced and should now cover the extended area indicated above.”

THE newly elected president of InterManager, and president of major shipmanager V.Ships, and has started his period in office by urging shipowners to place training at the top of their manning agendas, despite having to deal with the effects of the credit crunch on the global shipping industry.

Mr Giorgi said that the industry must not repeat the mistakes of the downturn in the mid-1980s when ship owners cut back on all areas of cost including seafarer training. “Seafarer training has to be a priority for the industry, because the age profile of the average seafarer is increasing and the industry needs to invest in a future that has as its backbone, adequate numbers of well trained seafarers,” he said.

While some in the industry believe the crewing shortage could improve in the medium to long term because of the cancellation of ships on order and an increase in the numbers of ships being scrapped, ship managers were expressing continued concerns over the lack of trained officers for the immediate future.

Outlining his key objectives Mr Giorgi said intends to: • Ensure he represents the views of both owner-managers and third party managers throughout the global shipping industry • Protect the welfare and well-being of seafarers, particularly by addressing the issue of criminalisation and by encouraging consistently high standards for training within the industry • Uphold the values of the new InterManager KPI system to make sure they are adopted fully by the entire industry.

InterManager now has a membership of 73 – both full and associate members – representing a worldwide fleet of some 2,500 vessels and more than 100,000 crew.

THE European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has strengthened its network of stand-by oil finalised contracts for the Black Sea and North Sea. In the Black Sea, Romanian shipowner Grup Servicii Petroliere (GSP) will provide a pollution response capability using an offshore supply vessel which services the oilfields off the coast of Romania.

In the North Sea, Belgian shipowner DC Industrial will provide a service based on two hopper dredgers which operate in this sea area. All vessels will be pre-fitted and specially equipped for oil spill recovery activities and are expected to enter into operational service during the first half of 2009. The vessels are contracted over the next three years. “Following another successful tender process, EMSA’s network of vessels which are available to “top-up” Member States capabilities during a marine pollution now covers all the regional seas of Europe. Previously existing “gaps” around the coastline have been filled,” said EMSA Executive Director Willem de Ruiter. “I am particularly pleased that the Agency has been able to contract response capacity for the Black Sea, as this was one of the main target areas this year and was not covered previously. Three fully equipped vessels with a combined additional response capacity of 6,056 m3 and costing in the region of € 3,5 million for three years represents good value for the Agency.”

HAMBURG-based classification society Germanischer Lloyd says that it has had to order major remedial work on the welding of newbuildings that owners wished to bring into GL class. At a press dinner in London last night senior GL executives said that in the case of about a dozen ships coming out of yards in Asia within the last 12 months welding was so bad it had to be redone and remedial took weeks to carry out. The ships were being built to the standards of other class societies, in at least some if not all cases members of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), for owners who wished to use GL once the ships were completed. The yards in question refused to build to GL class.

Anderimar Shipping news put it to GL executive board member Herman Klein that this was an indictment of IACS, in that ships being built to rules IACS members were clearly substandard. While he was clear the standard of the welding in the vessels concerned should have been unacceptable to any class society he would not not except that this was case against IACS itself. He stressed that IACS is made up of 10 competing societies with different approaches. Dr Klein is due to take over as chairman of IACS next year.

Although GL dismisses the idea that it is criticising IACS the problem that is has flagged up is potentially serious since only a few ships from the yards in question changed to GL class, the majority would have entered service with the class they were built to. That raises the question of whether the welds on those vessels also had problems.

THE world economic climate index, compiled by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, has dropped for the fifth consecutive quarter in a row, hitting its lowest level since 1998.

The ICC/Ifo index for the fourth quarter fell steeply, dropping 13.4 points to 60.0 from 73.4 the previous quarter. The index is based on a poll of 1,001 economic experts in 91 countries in October, before US elections were concluded.

“On the whole, the survey data point to the danger of a global recession,” said Hans-Werner Sinn, President of Ifo. “A scenario where the index will remain in a recessionary period in the first half of 2009 appears realistic,” he added.

The decline is largely due to economists’ unfavourable assessments of the current economic situation, but also their expectations for the next six months.

In the US, the economic outlook fell to the lowest level since the ICC/Ifo index was created in 1983. Lack of confidence in the US government’s economic policy was cited as the most important problem. The index also dropped sharply in the euro area and Russia, and fell to the lowest level since 2001 in Asia.

ICC says, however, that it is encouraged by the recent G20 leaders’ rejection of protectionism and their pledge to reach agreement this year on modalities leading to a successful conclusion to the Doha trade negotiations.

"Leaders of the world's major economies signalled their willingness to bring the Doha round of multilateral trade talks to a rapid and successful conclusion. This is as powerful as any economic stimulus programme," said Guy Sebban, ICC Secretary General.

Economists surveyed expect a global inflation of 5.4% for 2008, slightly higher than the rate predicted in the previous quarter of 5.2%.

The experts polled said the US dollar is no longer undervalued but has reached a fair level, and they anticipate a moderate strengthening in the value of the dollar almost worldwide in the next six months.

The economists’ outlook for economic growth for the next three to five years dropped markedly to 2.5% from 3.3% recorded a year ago.

Economists were also asked whether they thought the difficulties in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations would have an impact on concluding inter-governmental agreements on climate change.

A strong majority of economists surveyed said a failure in international trade talks will have negative consequences for striking a global agreement on climate change. They were worried that the lack of a climate agreement would lead to trade sanctions by governments to deal with competitiveness concerns brought on by variances in national climate change policies.

NEWS of the hijacking by Somali pirates of the 319,430 dwt Liberian-flag VLCC Sirius Star helped push up the price of crude oil yesterday. US light crude for December contract rose 2%, or US$1.24 a barrel to $58.28 while Brent crude rose 27 cents to $54.51 a barrel.

The hijacking of the Saudi Arabian-owned tanker has caught the attention of the world's media which is now also starting to focus on the wider piracy issue.

Meanwhile Stolt-Nielsen has confirmed that the chemical tanker Stolt Valor, chartered to a Stolt-Nielsen subsidiary, was released on Sunday morning by its hijackers, who took control of the ship two months ago. The company says that all crew members were unharmed.

The company says, however, that it remains “deeply concerned with the welfare of the crew members of M/T Stolt Strength”, also a time-charter ship, which was hijacked on 11 November 11 and continued to be held by the hijackers in the Gulf of Aden. Stolt Tankers B.V. follows all established and recommended procedures designed to support the safe passage of ships in the region. In addition, the Company is through various membership organisations promoting further action to protect seafarers and trade through the Gulf of Aden.

IMO has launched a campaign to address the global shortage of seafarers, especially officers, which, the UN agency says, “threatens the very future of the international shipping industry”. The move is being taken association with the International Labour Organization, the “Round Table” of shipping organizations - BIMCO, ICS/ISF, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO - and the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

Amongst specific calls for action, the shipping industry is urged to take the lead and more can to promote itself through the media, in particular the electronic media. The industry should continue to provide support for and endorse campaigns aimed at improving its image and use some key industry figures as examples of career progression. It is also urged to do more to make life on board and away from home more akin to the life enjoyed by others ashore; to encourage women to work in the seafaring profession; and to promote the industry at non maritime-related events. IMO has launched a campaign to address the global shortage of seafarers, especially officers, which, the UN agency says, “threatens the very future of the international shipping industry”. The move is being taken association with the International Labour Organization, the “Round Table” of shipping organizations - BIMCO, ICS/ISF, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO - and the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

The campaign calls on governments, industry and IMO, supported by ILO and other international organizations, to take specific actions, within their areas of influence, to increase the recruitment of seafarers to tackle the problem.

IMO points out that a recent report issued by maritime industry analysts Drewry Shipping Consultants assessed the current shortfall of officers in the global shipping fleet to be some 34,000, against a total requirement of 498,000. Moreover, based on Drewry’s fleet growth projections, and the assumption that officer supply will only increase at the current rate, the report predicts that, by 2012, the officer shortfall will have grown to 83,900.

IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos said: “As everyone in shipping is aware, the global shortage of seafarers, especially officers, has already reached significant proportions and is now a source of genuine concern to all involved in the industry.”

He argued that the shipping industry can provide the basis for a “fulfilling and satisfying life-long career and the problem is one of recruitment, rather than retention in the profession”. He said that a shift in the public perception of shipping, particularly amongst the young, was need.

“I have long been an advocate of the need to promote the industry and improve its public image. Outside the industry itself, the wider public has little conscious perception of the vital role that shipping plays in everyday life and this, clearly, needs to change,” Mr Mitropoulos said, adding that all the adding that all the organizations associated with the ‘Go to Sea!’ campaign were united in wanting to address concerns over the future supply of quality manpower to the shipping industry and in taking positive steps for that purpose.

US-based company BioPetroClean’s new says it has developed a lower cost, fully-automated system for ports to treat oily bilge water.

“Bilge water is both a financial strain and an operational hassle. Problematic disposal of waste storage complicates a port administrator’s tasks and can become an uninvited financial burden.” says David Amir, CEO of BPC.

BPC’s ACT system is claimed to treat all categories, quantities, and levels of contaminates. It produces an output that can be directly returned to the sea.

EARLIER reports of a hijacking of a crude oil tanker have been confirmed. Suspected Somali-based pirates have hijacked the Liberian-flag VLCC Sirius Star in an attack 450 miles South East of Mogadishu, far out in the Arabian Sea. The Vela newbuilding, completed in March, will be by far the biggest vessel seized. It is reported that the ship's crew comprise British, Croatian, Polish, Filipino and Saudi nationals.

The commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, tasked to protect merhcnat ships from pirates,US Navy Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, is quoted as saying: “Piracy is an international crime that threatens global commerce. Shipping companies have to understand that naval forces can not be everywhere. Self protection measures are the best way to protect their vessels, their crews, and their cargo."

SOMALI-based pirates have freed the chemical tanker Stolt Valor but have hijacked the Panamanian chemical tanker Chemstar Venus and, according to so far unconfirmed reports, have also seized a crude oil tanker.

The 19,455 dwt Chemstar Venus is Japanese-owned and managed by Tokyo-based Iino. Few other details of the vessel or the hijacking have emerged so far.

The Stolt Valor, seized on 15 September, was released yesterday and her crew of crew of 18 Indians, two Filipinos, a Russian and Bangladeshi are under stood to be safe and well although the vessel will not be out of the danger area until later today.

An ICC International Maritime Bureau spokesman repeated the agency's call for “robust” action against pirates by the warships operating He welcomed the action taken by the British Royal Navy, when two pirates were killed in a firefight and a stolen dhow returned to its crew, but said continued interventions like that were necessary to deter the pirates. He added: “At present the pirates still calculate that the risks do not outweigh the benefits they get from hijacking ships. That must change.”

If the hijacking of the crude oil tanker is confirmed that will mean 14 merchant ships are being held to ransom in Somalia.

Meanwhile the IMB reported that a reefer vessel was fired on in Nigerian waters yesterday while in the Bonny Outer Anchorage. There were no casualties and the ship was not boarded.

NORWEGIAN-based parcel tanker Odfjell SE says that all its owned, managed and time chartered ships that normally would sail through the Gulf of Aden will be routed via the Cape of Good Hope. “We will no longer expose our crew to the risk of being hijacked and held for ransom by pirates in the Gulf of Aden,” says company president and CEO Terje Storeng.

A company statement says: “When sufficient protection is in place or action taken to prevent attacks from pirates in this area, Odfjell SE will resume sailing through the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal. “

Making clear the move will involve additional costs Mr Storeng says: “Unless we are explicitly committed by existing contracts to sail through this area, as from today we will re-route our ships around Cape of Good Hope. We trust our customers will appreciate this decision which we have taken to safeguard not only our crews and ships, but also the ships' cargo. The re-routing will entail extra sailing days and later cargo deliveries. This will incur significant extra cost, but we expect our customers' support and contribution” Mr Storeng adds: “ Several chemical tankers have been hijacked at gunpoint, and although hostages up to now reportedly have been released seemingly unharmed, we do not know if this will be so in the future. Odfjell is frustrated by the fact that governments and authorities in general seem to take a limited interest in this very serious problem. The efforts that are being made do not seem to put an effective end to what can best be described as ruthless, high level organised crime.”

EIGHT Somali nationals detained after a firefight with British Royal Marines last Wednesday were transferred to a naval auxiliary while the UK's Foreign Office decided what to do with them. As of Friday, according to a UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesman, the suspects were on board the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Wave Knight, having initially been taken aboard the frigate HMS Cumberland.

The MOD says that there were 17 men on board the dhow which had been identified as being involved in an abortive attack on a Danish merchant vessel. Two Somali nationals were shot dead when the pirates opened fire on two small craft carrying the marines who returned fire. There were eight other Somalis, believed to be pirates, on board as well as eight Yemenis who turned out to be the rightful crew of the dhow. One of the Yemenis was severely injured as a result of an earlier incident and subsequently died despite attempts by Cumberland's doctor to save him.

The surviving Yemenis sailed their dhow back to their home port. The Foreign Office appears to be attempting to land the the Somalis in a country within the region. The MOD says the RN took the action it did under the provisions of UNCLOS.

The UK does not appear to be invoking its powers under the Piracy Act 1837 to bring the suspects to the UK for trial although this has been the course advocated consistently over several years by seafarers' union Nautilus UK (previously NUMAST). Certain sections of the 1837 Act remain in force and at the most recent review by the Law Commission it was accepted that its provisions were necessary to define “piracy” as a specific criminal offence punishable (since the abolition of capital punishment in the UK in 1997) with life imprisonment.

A new appeal is being made to cover the US$750 a day running costs of the Flying Angel, a charity vessel bringing home comforts to thousands of seafarers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

The appeal was launched by the Mission to Seafarers in Dubai, part of the international organisation that cares for seafarers regardless of race or religion in over 300 ports around the world. The aim is to raise funds to cover the running costs of the locally-built Flying Angel. More than US$1m was raised in 2006/7 to build the vessel and this year the charity is looking to raise more to contribute to its invaluable work.

The Flying Angel was launched in February 2007 and provides seafarers based off the East Coast of the UAE with Internet access, a library with educational and fictional DVDs and books, a medical clinic with a paramedic, access to telecommunications, and pastoral and spiritual support with a dedicated welfare officer.

On average 75 seafarers per day visit the Flying Angel at sea, which means in a month she helps over 2000 seafarers who would not otherwise have the opportunity to come ashore and call home. The service operates every day in the hours of daylight sailing out to the ships using the East Coast anchorage. Running costs average $750 a day.

Reverend Stephen Miller, of The Mission to Seafarers in Dubai, said: “One of the things that has struck me while operating the Flying Angel is the amount of loneliness and isolation that seafarers face. To illustrate the scale of the problem, the East Coast is the second largest bunker anchorage in the world with 100 to 150 ships anchored off shore at any given time. As many as 3,000 seafarers can be unable to communicate with family and friends at home for weeks, sometimes months, leading to isolation and loneliness, which the Angel is designed to alleviate."

Following the success of the Angel, there are hopes of expansion in the future. “The Flying Angel is the first of its kind but hopefully the idea will catch on and we will be able to build more vessels to help seafarers at sea," Miller said.

The Angel Appeal has received substantial pledges of support from the Fujairah National Group, Lamnalco of Sharjah, the National Bank of Dubai, the Fairmont Dubai, Al Maktoum Foundation, Inchcape Shipping Services, Albwardy Marine Engineering, Caterpillar, International Marine Coatings and Dutco as well as many smaller private donations.

The Flying Angel was this year's global winner of Seatrade's Investment in People award, given by the maritime industry in recognition of outstanding achievement.

The Angel Appeal team can be contacted on mts150@eim.ae

NORWEGIAN-based offshore support specialist Farstad Shipping has reported a strong Q3 but is cautious about the future. It made a Q3 operating income of Nkr836.7m (US$120.0), including a profit from sale of vessels of Nkr61.m, against an NKR 616.6 million for the same period in 2007 which included profit from sale of vessels of NKr56.0m. EBIT was Nkr427.4m and the profit after taxes was NKr320.4m.

The company notes: “The balance for supply vessels is still good in all markets which has resulted in high rates in most of the markets. The rate level in the North Sea spot market has reached new records in the period.”

However the company cautions: “The future development for our business is uncertain because of the last months events. The dramatic fall in the oil price has not resulted in a significant change in the activity level so far. But a reduced growth in the world economy will eventually be reflected in our markets as well. The financial crisis has created a totally new situation when it comes to financing of investments. This may result in a repressive effect on the activity in the offshore markets, and it will affect the newbuild activity of supply vessels. It will affect both existing newbuild projects as well as new investment projects.

DUBAI-based Global marine terminal operator DP World and the Algerian government signed agreements this week that mean DP World taking over the operation of the ports of Algiers and Djen-Djen.

Under the agreements, a joint venture partnership, which is a 50:50 shareholding between DP World and the two Algerian port authorities, will hold a 30 year concession at each of the ports, with DP World operating the two facilities. DP World has committed to an initial investment of €84m (US$108m) over three to four years.

The joint venture will redevelop the main container terminal at Algiers to expand capacity to around 800,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent container units), investing in new cranes, equipment and training to improve efficiency and productivity. Currently, capacity is around 500,000 TEU. DP World says that the joint venture will also invest in expanding the new Djen-Djen facility in eastern Algeria over time, according to market demand. It adds: “Djen-Djen has the potential to handle the new generation mega-vessels and become a major transshipment hub for the region.

The latest annual National Statistics on waterborne freight in the UK produced by the Department for Transport, according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.