Industry News
Ferry Sinks off Papua New Guinea
Feb 3, 2012
Radio New Zealand
The 22-year-old Japanese-built MV Rabaul Queen went down early on Thursday morning near the end of its 20-hour journey between Kimbe, on the island of New Britain, and Papua New Guinea's second largest city, Lae. So far, 238 survivors have been rescued but searchers have yet to find any bodies. It is feared 100 bodies are trapped inside the ferry.
The ferry had an official limit of 310 people, but the ship's owner reports 362 people were on board. A journalist says passengers are reporting there were more than 500 people on board. Passengers say the ship was overcrowded and running on just one engine when it sank about 16km offshore.
UK Committee Favours EU Carbon Curbs
Jan 30, 2012
Lloyd’s List
Shipping has reacted angrily to accusations that its insistence on an international cap-and-trade solution to curbing its carbon emissions is a delaying tactic. A report from the UK parliamentary select committee on energy and climate change has suggested that discussions at the IMO are progressing too slowly to be able to provide a meaningful reduction to shipping’s CO2 emissions. The committee report suggests the EU should push ahead with its plans for finding a solution for shipping, recommending the industry’s possible inclusion in the region’s emissions trading scheme.
Zanzibar Ferry Crew Charged with Murder
Jan 24, 2012
Lloyd’s List
The master and 10 other people have been charged with murder after the 800 gt ferry Spice Islander I sank off the coast of Zanzibar last September, killing more than 240 passengers and crew. According to the authorities, Spice Islander I was carrying more than 800 people when it sank, far exceeding its 600-person capacity. The defendants include the crew and workers in charge of loading the ferry. Collectively, they face 200 charges of negligence and a murder charge. The master of the vessel fled after the sinking and is still at large. A government investigation released recently said the vessel, which was built in 1967, was in “dangerous mechanical condition” before the voyage.
New RoPax For China
Jan 14, 2012
Marine Log
Chinese operator, Weihai Haida, has ordered a 2,200-passenger/1,100-lane-meter Ropax ferry at Huanghai shipyard. The “Shen Shen 2 “ will serve on the Bohai Strait in northern China connecting the major cities of Weihai and Dalian. It will replace one of two ships currently on the route. The MAN engines will provide a design speed of 18 knots. The regional increase in tourism is an important driver for the order of the ferry. The city of Weihai and its hinterland has a fast-developing and attractive seaside location and is currently experiencing growing numbers of tourists from northern China, especially from around the Dalian area.
Black Ball Line Sold
Jan 11, 2012
The Vancouver Sun
The executive management team at Black Ball Ferry Line has acquired the operation from the current owner. The company traces its history back to the days of sail on the Atlantic. Until the 1950’s it was the major ferry operator in Washington State with other services across the border in British Columbia. After government takeovers it was left with a single vessel running between Victoria and Port Angeles. The MV Coho has served the route for 52 years and is still going strong after re-engining a few of years ago. A former owner bequeathed the company to the Oregon State University Foundation in 2004. With the takeover by the management team, Black Ball remains one of the few privately owned ferry companies in North America. Black Ball's executive management team includes Ryan Burles, president and COO (who has been with the company for 30 years), CEO Capt. John Cox, senior vice president of finance David Booth, district manager Rian Anderson and director of marketing Ryan Malane.
A Message from Fast Ferry International
Jan 10, 2012
Alan Blunden
We are sorry to announce that the December 2011 issue of ‘Fast Ferry International’, the 230th published since January 1989, will be the final one. The editor has been writing for ‘Hovering Craft & Hydrofoil’, ‘High-Speed Surface Craft’ and ‘Fast Ferry International’ since 1977 and has edited the magazine since 1983. He feels that facing monthly publishing deadlines ten times a year for the past 23 years, and deadlines six times a year for five years before that, is enough in any one lifetime and he has decided to step down.
The ‘Fast Ferry International’ website (www.fastferryinfo.com) will continue, as will the Fast Ferry Vessel Database. New subscribers to the Database are always welcome. From April 2012, Database subscribers will receive a summary of news and developments in the fast ferry industry with each quarterly Database update. The summary will be issued as a pdf file.
Southeast Asia Makes Commitments for Ferry Safety
Jan 6, 2012
Lloyd’s List
Michael Grey
WHILE we are gearing ourselves up for the Titanic centenary commemorations, it might be apposite to recall that this year is also the 25th anniversary of the worst peacetime maritime disaster. In 1987, 4,386 men, women and children lost their lives in a huge fireball that enveloped Philippine ferry Dona Paz, after the ship collided with the laden coastal tanker Vector in the Sibuan Sea. It is worth reminding ourselves about this far more recent disaster, before we get too wrapped up in the earlier tragedy and what has become arguably the world’s most famous ship.