Industry News
Michael Grey Honoured With Seatrade Award
May 25, 2010
From Seatrade
The 22nd Seatrade Awards Dinner took place last night at London’s Guildhall. This year a special Seatrade Award was presented to mark the IMO’s Year of the Seafarer. The Award was presented to Michael Grey MBE, in recognition of his strong advocacy of the interests of seafarers in his columns over many years. Michael Grey received the award from Guest of Honour, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, First Sea Lord and IMO Secretary-General, Efthimios Mitropoulos.
Marine Atlantic to Charter two Stena Ferries
May 22, 2010
From ShipPax Information
Stena RoRo reached an agreement with Canadian government-owned Marine Atlantic to supply two ferries from Stena Line’s Hoek van Holland to Killingholme route, STENA TRADER and STENA TRAVELLER [built 2006, 2007]. Marine Atlantic operates a ferry service between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The first vessel will be delivered in December this year and the second two months later. The vessels will be on a five-year charter, with possibility to extend another five years, with purchase option. The order value for the initial five years amounts to more than SEK 1 billion [$US 128 million].
“This is one of Stena RoRo's largest deals ever, and the order is very important for us, not only economically, but also because our collective expertise is paying off, " says Bo Severed, Managing Director of Stena RoRo.
Australian Cat for Tanzania
May 21, 2010
From Baird Maritime
‘Kilimanjaro II’ is the latest launch from Hobart, Australia shipbuilder, Richardson Devine Marine. She follows her sistership, which was delivered in August 2009, and will support ‘Kilimanjaro’ on the competitive and popular Dar es Salaam – Zanzibar route. Operated by Coastal Fast Ferries / Azam Marine, the Incat Crowther-designed, 35-metre vessel carries up to 400 passengers in three classes. The vessel has a lightship speed of 27 knots and a service speed of 25 knots, keeping the journey to just two hours.
Protest Over SOx Cuts
May 19, 2010
From Lloyd’s List
European manufacturers, shippers and shipowners have united to protest at the impending sulphur dioxide emission reduction rules set to impact Northern Europe. They are objecting to strict rules that will make shipowners in the Emission Control Area (ECA) of Northern Europe use more expensive distillate fuels with 0.1% sulphur content from 2015, while those in other regions including the Mediterranean Sea can still use cheaper fuel oils with 4.5% content until 2012 and then 3.5% until 2020.
Bangladesh Ferry Sinks
May 14, 2010
From Yahoo News
Up to 16 people are believed to have drowned in northeastern Bangladesh after an overloaded passenger ferry sank, police said Thursday after calling off search and rescue operations. The ferry sank in Kishorganj district, about 100 kilometres north of Dhaka. The boat was carrying nearly 100 passengers, most of whom managed to swim to shore when the vessel, which was also heavily loaded with rice and cattle, began to sink.
Interferry Member News Release
May 13, 2010
Another Eco Friendly Ferry From Aluminium Boats Australia
Another Environmentally Friendly Ferry for San Francisco
May 12, 2010
From Baird Maritime
Kvichak Marine Industries and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders recently delivered TAURUS, their fourth high-speed, environmentally friendly ferry to the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) located in San Francisco. WETA mandated that their new passenger ferries integrate as much green technology as possible and that emissions be 85 percent cleaner than the current EPA emission standards. The builders started with a sleek, low wake 36-metre catamaran hull, designed by Incat Crowther of Australia, to minimise shore erosion from wake and reduce fuel consumption. The vessels are powered by a pair of Tier II compliant, MTU 16V2000 diesel engines with selective catalytic reduction systems (SCR). Using a biodiesel/ultra-low sulphur diesel blend in conjunction with SCR, these ferries exceed Tier II requirements by more than 85 percent in trials and by 90 to 95 percent in actual operation. In addition to minimal shore impact and low emissions, the passenger ferries showcase several additional green features: custom exhaust systems minimise noise pollution; solar panels augment the electrical system; sonar system allows the captain to detect and avoid whales and debris.
Staten Island Ferry Crash
May 11, 2010
From Lloyd’s List
US federal investigators yesterday interviewed the crew and passengers on the Staten Island ferry Andrew J Barberi, which slammed into a pier injuring up to 37 people. The same vessel was involved in a fatal docking accident in 2003 killing 11 passengers.
The ferry smashed into a pier on Saturday morning as it approached the St George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island. It was carrying 252 passengers and 18 crew members on a routine run from Manhattan. Early reports suggested that the throttle failed to engage, which prevented the vessel from being slowed down. The ferry was moving at five knots, according to the early reports. Investigators said the two engines closest to the dock stopped functioning at the point of impact while the two rear engines continued to operate normally. It did not appear that anyone shut off the two forward engines. An initial underwater examination of the Voith Schneider propulsion system indicated no visible damage.
EU News
May 4, 2010
From Lloyd’s List
Sulphur
Concerns over new low-sulphur fuel limits in the North Sea and Baltic Sea have been raised in the European parliament. Switching to low-sulphur distillates will lead to more greenhouse gas, according to Swedish Euro MP Olle Schmidt. Vessels within the emissions control areas will have to use “much more expensive distillates”. This would lead to a shift in traffic from sea to road, he claimed. “The production of these also leads to the combustion of more carbon dioxide and thus an increase in the emission of greenhouse gases,” the MEP said. The measure was agreed by EU member states in IMO, not by the EU (which is not an IMO member) and can therefore only be undone using the same political process, Brussels officials say. The IMO rule change was reportedly agreed without an impact assessment.
Passenger Rights