Predicting that world seaborne trade will increase by a factor of 2.5 from 29,043 billion ton-miles in 2005 to 72,498 billion ton-miles in 2050, the OPRF says 830,000 seafarers will be required in 2050 “as a result of the increased number of vessels. If we assume that the supply of seafarers will remain the same as at present, the total will be 364,000 short of the required number,” it claims.

By 2050, the OPRF says that container shipments will show a particularly sharp rise during the period of just under six times that of 2005 levels to register 2,894bn teu-miles by 2050.

Predictions regarding intra-regional transportation show that shipments within Asia will increase by a factor of 10.7 from 18bn teu-miles in 2005 to 194bn teu-miles in 2050.

“However, these increases in global and regional seaborne trade are expected to cause heavy maritime traffic congestion and a shortage of skilled seafarers. Accordingly, there may be a corresponding increase in the number of accidents, posting severe risks in terms of safety and the environment,” it says (source: www.www.shipmanagementinternational.com).

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]]> http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/11/01/up-to-364000-seafarer-shortfall-by-2050-says-tokyo-think-tank/feed/ 0 http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/10/04/worlds-largest-cruise-ship-nears-completion/ http://www.thinkmaritime.com/2009/10/04/worlds-largest-cruise-ship-nears-completion/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:43:33 +0000 admin http://www.thinkmaritime.com/?p=1083 In a little more than two months, Oasis of the Seas will be cruising the waters of the Caribbean on its maiden voyage. For now, however, it is in a shipyard in Turku, on the south-west coast of Finland, with 2000 workers on board, busy putting the finishing touches to what is said to be the largest cruise ship in the world. Sea trials began in May and next month the liner is due to be handed over to its owners, Royal Caribbean.

On my visit to the shipyard, the ship’s gleaming white turrets of steel and glass dwarf the gantries and cranes perched alongside. Though the ship is 95 per cent finished, many fittings are missing and, as I move through the interior, I continually have to duck wiring, step over cabling and avoid workmen.

I get a better sense of the size of Oasis only when I emerge on the top deck, which provides view over Turku harbour.

“We made the ship 50 per cent bigger than anything we’ve ever done, in fact any other cruise ship out there, because we had so many things we wanted to do,” the chief executive of Royal Caribbean, Richard Fain, says. “On Oasis of the Seas, working together with the architects, with the shipyard, with our own engineers, we’ve been able to make much better use of the space than ever before.”

There’s certainly plenty of space – the ship is 360 metres long and 65 metres wide. The Oasis story is one of large numbers and cruising firsts.

There is the ship’s capacity, for a start: 6300 passengers and 2165 crew. There’s the accommodation: it includes 2706 staterooms, some of which span two decks and feature floor-to-ceiling windows with ocean views. The plant life: 12,000 plants, including 56 trees, some more than seven metres tall. The activities: on-board surfing, scuba diving, ice skating, shopping. And so the list goes.

Fain anticipates that the size of the vessel and the scope of activities and facilities will entice passengers on all budgets. Certainly he is encouraged by ticket sales despite the economic climate.

To accommodate all those people, the ship is divided into seven “neighbourhoods”, including Central Park and Royal Promenade. And there is no shortage of things to keep passengers entertained.

Among the attractions are an aqua theatre pool 5.4 metres deep, two rock-climbing walls, the obligatory casino and 21 swimming pools and jacuzzis. There’s also a carousel, ice rink, themed bars and restaurants, high-end shops, a nightclub, a Rising Tide bar that ascends three decks while you sip your martini, a wedding chapel, scuba diving lessons, two wave-flow riders for surfing, a jogging track, library and roaming entertainers.

Entertainment also includes stunt divers, swimmers and actors performing in the 50-metre-wide outdoor pool amphitheatre designed to seat 500 guests.

Royal Caribbean’s schedule has the first Oasis cruise starting in early December in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with ports of call that include Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas, Philipsburg in St Maarten and Nassau in the Bahamas.

Ready for that voyage is Captain William Wright, who began his seafaring career aged 16 and has taken the helm of several new cruise ships on debut at Royal Caribbean.

He had a sneak peak at the ship’s performance during the pre-launch “floating out” ceremony last November.

“It’s clearly one of the most stable ships we have built,” he says. “The size has allowed us to … demonstrably increase the safety of the ship, which is really nice to know. It helps us captains sleep at night.”

Other safety features include smoke and heat detectors and a Hi-Fog water mist fire-extinguishing system.

The ship will have three doctors, five nurses and one medical assistant on board.

It is equipped with 18 life boats – or “rescue vessels”, as Wright prefers to call them – each with a toilet on board. “That’s a first, I can assure you,” he says (source: www.theage.com.au).

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A number of the respondents say that a recovery is on the way. However, many respondents are aware of the oversupply of ships, which likely will influence the pace of the recovery, as one respondent said: “Because two newbuildings are being delivered for every vessel scrapped, the shipping market will not be able to pick up over the next three to four years. And it may deteriorate even further, with a number of owners forced into bankruptcy.”

Many respondents expressed their concern about developments in China: “China is now the producer, the consumer, the trader, and the transporter, it has got the cheapest and the most plentiful supply of labour, and it is possibly the richest country in the world. None of these things can be good for the international shipping industry.” (source: www.ShipGaz.com).

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The decision has shocked the Danish shipping community. Ship officer students at Svendborg and Marstal carried out a media stunt, putting up Villa Anna – the house where Mr A P Møller founded the company – for sale.

A P Møller-Mærsk has 3,000 officers employed, of whom 800 are Danish citizens. “I don’t think that the 800 Danes are any better than the 2,200 officers of foreign nationality”, says Henrik Sloth. It has not yet been revealed if the 170 Danes are to be laid off or transferred to other units within the group, or offered land employment (source: www.ShipGaz.com).

MaritimeJobSearch.com | Shipping, Transportation, and Engineering Jobs

In terms of volume, 90% of the freight exchanges of Europe with the rest of the world are seaborne. Maritime transport services, including off-shore activities, are essential for helping European companies compete globally. Among EU Member States, short sea shipping is a key element in reducing congestion, ensuring territorial cohesion and promoting the sustainable development of the European continent. With more than 400 million sea passengers a year travelling through European ports, passenger ships and ferry services have a direct impact on the quality of life of citizens in islands and peripheral regions.

Shipping represents one of Europe’s largest export industries, providing deep sea transport services between Europe and the rest of the world, as well as in cross trades between third countries. European shipping is present in all segments of the sector in all regions of the planet. Transport of freight and passengers at sea generated € 24.7 billion in 2006 as a net contribution to the EU balance of payments. In terms of added value, traditional maritime sectors represent a share of 1.09% in the total GDP of the EU-27 and Norway. Maritime transport activities’ related employment in Europe amounts to 1.5 million people. Some 70% of shipping related jobs are onshore – in shipbuilding, naval architecture, science, engineering, electronics, cargo-handling and logistics.

Challenges and opportunities for maritime transport in the next 10 years

The continuous success of European shipping in world markets cannot be taken for granted. A number of major challenges have been identified by experts consulted by the Commission. The current crisis of the international financial system, its impact on the real economy and the sluggish recovery prospects in different parts of the world have affected seaborne trade and thus the different branches of the shipping industry.

Moreover, recent developments in the energy markets, including the cut of pipelines for gas supplies, have underlined the strategic importance of LNG tanker-ships for ensuring a stable and long-term solution to guarantee reliable energy supplies to the EU. In a wider context, those developments remind the importance of the fleet, in all its branches of activity, for the well being of the European citizens and of the European economy as a whole.

Operators involved in the provision of maritime transport services and the European maritime transport as such will face significant challenges in the years to come. They will have to cope with the fluctuations in sea-borne trade, the negative impact of the financial crisis and other external factors, such as the risk of overcapacity in certain market segments, the rise of protectionist measures affecting world trade, environmental concerns related to climate change, volatility in energy and other commodities markets and loss of European maritime know-how because of the scarcity of skilled human resources.

Moreover, competitive advantages given by third countries to shipping businesses entail a real risk of de-localisation of head offices and maritime industries outside Europe. Often the position of European operators is undermined by unfair competition, which results from lax enforcement of safety, security, environmental and social standards in certain parts of the world. Achieving effective governance of maritime affairs and an international fair level playing field for maritime transport remains a crucial challenge to the global community.

Strategic options at European level

The EU’s sustainable transport policy aims at addressing the economic, social and environmental needs of our society. An efficient maritime transportation system is essential for Europe’s prosperity, having significant impacts on economic growth, social development and the environment.

In autumn 2007, after having consulted the main stakeholders of the sector, the Commission started a strategic review of the EU’s integrated maritime policy, examining also the challenges European and international maritime transport will face in the next ten years.

This work has included the conduct of a prospective study analysing trends and signals of change in the maritime sector (the so-called ’shipping scenarios’ for 2018). It has also involved consultation with experts from maritime administrations in the Member States and Norway, as well as advice from a group of senior industry leaders representing different interests within the maritime transport industries.

The prospective study “Benchmarking strategic options for European shipping and for the European maritime transport system in the horizon 2008-2018″ can be downloaded from the following address:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/maritime/studies/index_en.htm

The three basic shipping scenarios for the year 2018 (”Asian Phoenix”, “Break Point” and “Global Fissures”) are briefly described in annex.

The recommendations of the group of senior shipping professionals (see IP/08/760 of 19/05/2008) present an industry opinion on the more urgent issues to be addressed and on the way the EU could intervene. The recommendations can be downloaded from:

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/maritime/policy/index_en.htm

In both cases, two major issues guided the reflection:

• By 2018, European shipping transport services should be at least as efficient, reliable and sustainable as today. There should be sufficient transport capacity available and the port and port hinterland capacities should be able to cope with increased cargo volumes.
• By 2018, the shipping industry should be at least as competitive as today, and have an equally strong or better position on the global markets.

Strategic recommendations

Several important conclusions come from this strategic review exercise. First of all, the recovery of the world economy from the current financial crisis would lead to a growth in international trade and will require a maritime transport system able to deliver advanced logistic solutions. Moreover, in a recession period, short sea shipping is a perfect vehicle for stimulating intra-EU trade exchanges and thus supporting recovery of growth in the EU and its neighbouring countries.

Overall, the next ten years may offer a unique opportunity to reinforce the competitiveness of European shipping, and to strengthen its contribution to the objectives of a sustainable European transport policy.

The strategic recommendations concern seven main issues:

• Competitive European shipping: The priority is to achieve and maintain an attractive framework for quality shipping and quality operators in Europe including financial measures. This will help maritime transport achieve sustainable development goals. Such a framework would also help the sector adapt to adverse financial conditions and to the slow-down in growth of the world’s sea-borne trades.
• Human Factor: There is a genuine European interest in making maritime professions more attractive to young people and thus improving employment of seafarers. Positive measures may include facilitating life-long career prospects in the maritime clusters; enhancing the image of shipping; supporting the work of international organisation (IMO and ILO) on fair treatment of seafarers; and implementing simplification measures which aim at reducing the administrative burden on masters and senior ship officers.
• Greener Maritime Transport: The EU should encourage all actors to promote green solutions in maritime transport. The Commission, the Member States and the European maritime industry should be working together towards the long-term objective of “zero-waste, zero-emissions”. The measures announced in the Greening Transport Package should be fully implemented.
• A safe and secure system: We should give priority to the enforcement of existing Community and international rules and the speedy implementation of measures introduced with the 3rd maritime safety package. The work already started should be completed by establishing a comprehensive framework for security measures in terms of prevention, reaction capacity and resilience.
• International Scene: The global challenges faced by the shipping and maritime industries demand convincing answers from the international community. The Commission and the Member States may be a real driving force for change towards a comprehensive international regulatory framework for shipping, adapted to the challenges of the 21st century.
• Short Sea Shipping and Ports: Further economic integration of the EEA Member States and of the neighbouring countries will have positive impact on maritime transport connections within the EU. It should be noted that sea-trade normally grows even in periods of business contraction. In the 2018 horizon, the European economy should recover from the current stagnation. Positive measures in support of short sea shipping should also help intensify sea-exchanges in all the European maritime façades. These measures will include the creation of a European Maritime Transport Space without Barriers the full deployment of the Motorways of the Seas but also the implementation of measures for port investment and performance. In all cases, the principles of open markets, fair competition and greening transport should be respected.
• Innovation and technological development: The competitiveness of the European maritime industries and their capacity to meet the environmental, energy, safety and human challenges is positively influenced by increased efforts in research and innovation. There is wide scope for improving energy efficiency in ships, reducing environmental impact, minimising the risks of accidents or providing better quality of life at sea. In the years to come, innovation and technological research and development in shipping should be further promoted. A framework of reference should be introduced for the deployment of “e-Maritime” services at European and global levels.

The Communication on the EU Maritime Transport Strategy 2018 is addressed to the European Parliament and the Council. In the light of their opinion and conclusions, the Commission will continue to look for concrete ways to implement the recommendations. This work will involve close cooperation with all interested parties (source: http://europa.eu).

The Government wants to open a major new centre of marine expertise – and Tyneside has been shortlisted as a possible location for the project.

If the plans are given the go-ahead, at least 150 highly-skilled jobs are expected to be brought here. The centre, called the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), will also act as a magnet to bring more firms to the area and boost employment further.

However, the North East is competing for the scheme with other parts of the country. Bids have been made by places including Plymouth, Carrick, the East Riding of Yorkshire, London, Lowestoft/Great Yarmouth and Merseyside.

Ministers are expected to announce their decision by the end of January.

But MPs and various organisations in Tyneside are in the process of lobbying for the project to be brought to this region.

Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell said: “I have met representatives at Defra and have presented our case for the MMO to come to the North East.

“There is a lot of competition for it. But we have a lot to offer and I believe Tyneside is the best place for it.

“We have a tradition of marine industry, whether it’s fishing or shipbuilding and ship repair, and increasingly wind farm and off-shore technologies.

“I have stressed the strengths of the North East with regards to the economy over the last decade or so. I have emphasised that our universities have strong marine departments and research bases.

“Indeed, Newcastle University has the Dove Marine Laboratory in my constituency.

“The benefits of the MMO will be great. There will be at least 150 high-value jobs, it will raise the profile of Tyneside and attract more firms and work in the marine industry. More jobs will follow.”

The MMO headquarters will be responsible for regulating all marine activities and help to enforce laws to protect coastal waters.

It will be a centre for marine management, planning, conservation and licensing.

Consultants have been involved in forming the shortlist of locations. The criteria of assessment includes the availability of labour market with appropriate skills, transport links and access to key stakeholders.

Mr Campbell added: “We have a strong lobby from the North East. Nick Brown, Minister for the region, and regional development agency One North East are among those campaigning for this project. This will be a real boost for Tyneside and will show the rest of the country what we have to offer.”

The MMO will be created under the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, which aims for better protection and development of the seas around Britain.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: “The effects of climate change and the increasing use of the sea by many competing interests mean we must look after our marine areas for future generations.

“This new system of protection and management of our seas will help to halt the decline in biodiversity and to create clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically-diverse oceans and seas. And all of us will be able to walk along more of the length of the coast and get close to the sea right around England.” (source: www.chroniclelive.co.uk).

www.MaritimeJobSearch.com | Shipping, Transportation, and Engineering Jobs

International Niche Job Board Invites Employers and Recruiters To Post Jobs For FREE!!!

Chicago, Illinois, January 31, 2009 – MaritimeJobSearch.com, an international niche job board for the Shipping, Transportation, and Engineering industry, is celebrating its one year anniversary and is providing free job postings. The site www.MaritimeJobSearch.com has been up and running for one year and has positioned itself as a global niche job board for maritime, offshore, and port jobs to be reckoned with.

“MaritimeJobSearch.com started as a hobby project and has grown to an international job board with a quality resume database of nearly 4,000 job seekers in the last year”, indicated Dirk Meuzelaar, Interactive Project Manager at Maritime Job Search. The website www.MaritimeJobSearch.com is receiving much praise for its design and high level of usability “I have to say it is very easy to use and thank you for loading our logo into the Halcyon profile. I am very impressed”, says Heidi Heseltine of Halcyon Recruitment. “I found the usability of the site very good. It is pretty user friendly”, says Charlotte Bollu of KeyPower Consultants.

For additional information about MaritimeJobSearch.com or to start your free job posting trial until 3/31/2009, contact Dirk Meuzelaar.

“Excellent! I found your site very easy to use to post our job. Thanks for offering this opportunity to companies such as ours”, Carolyn Macina of Young Brothers, Ltd.

About MaritimeJobSearch.com

MaritimeJobSearch.com is an international niche job board for the Shipping, Transportation, and Engineering industry. There is the ability to add video and keywords to your company profile and job postings for search engine optimization. In addition, employers and recruiters may gain access and receive daily resume alerts from the resume database with almost 4,000 job seekers.

Information about your apprenticeships/internships can be added to your company profile for FREE. To increase your exposure, all your job postings with MaritimeJobSearch.com are distributed to all major job boards around the world like BaseGoogle.com, Indeed.com, SimplyHired.com, CareerJet.com, JobRapido.com, Recruit.net, etc.

All services for job seekers are FREE. This includes searching and responding to jobs, uploading video and resumes, and receiving daily job alerts.

Overall, MaritimeJobSearch.com is an effective, usable, and well designed site that will fulfill all your needs.

Contact Information

Dirk Meuzelaar | Interactive Project Manager
MaritimeJobSearch.com
200 S. Wacker Drive – 15th Floor
Phone: 312.924.1020
Fax: 413.513.5697
Email: dirk@maritimejobsearch.com

www.MaritimeJobSearch.com | Shipping, Transportation, and Engineering Jobs

Engineering is one of the employment sectors in Australia where employers are crying out for skilled migrants.  There are massive skills shortages, and the gaps in the employment landscape are just not being filled by local people.  So, even if Australia thinks about restricting migrant numbers in 2009 as the nation watches jobless figures rise, sectors such as engineering will go on recruiting.You only have to look at any one of the dedicated recruitment sites and companies seeking employees to work as anything from a civil planner to a mining engineer and you quickly realise how many vacancies there are!

If you’re an engineer with experience, professional qualifications and a desire to find engineering jobs in Australia, you could well discover that 2009 is the perfect year for you to apply for your visa and emigrate.

According to a survey by HiFX, the global currency specialists, up to a quarter of Britons currently want out of the UK as we fall deeper into recession, as the government throws more debt our way and as jobless rates rise.  Well, the good news for those of you who are skilled engineers is that your talent is very much in demand in Australia.  Whilst the nation has a glut of accountants and hairdressers, it is very short on engineers – and even those it does have are of a high average age meaning that the skills shortage already in place is set to rise over the next decade.

For example, engineers in the natural resources industry are aged on average 55, whilst electrical engineers specifically in the mining sector average 53 in age!

Whether you want to work in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney or Perth, there are lists and lists of engineering jobs available.  Dams and hydropower specialists, tunnel design engineers, maritime engineers and even pavement engineers are being sought.  And according to a report in a leading British newspaper about the state of things in Australia in employment sectors such as engineering where demand is so high and the local talent pool is limited, the right candidates are walking off the plane today and into jobs.  They are having their entire relocation sponsored by an only too grateful employer.

Where there is most demand, so salaries are the highest – so even if you’re currently being paid handsomely in the UK and are torn between getting the heck out before the nation’s debt drowns you and remaining to enjoy the good wage, take a good look at what Australian employers offer, and what Australia as a nation offers you!  After all, a country that really wants and needs your skills is going to be more respectful of you in general than one that just wants as much tax out of your wallet as possible!

There is a jobs expo coming up in March in London and in Leeds – each of the four dates will play host to a specific jobs pavilion just for those in engineering.  Employers seeking you and your skills will be there waiting to meet you.  These dates in London and Leeds are perhaps your easiest and best way into a new life Down Under.  You can find engineering jobs in Australia before you even begin thinking about filling in a visa application – and then when you do secure a position, your employer will help you get the visa you need anyway!  See our dedicated article about getting a job in Australia before you migrate through the Opportunities Australia Expo for more information, and check out engineeringjobs.net.au for what’s currently on offer in terms of job available (source: www.shelteroffshore.com).

Giant vessels are so sophisticated that they require only a handful of crew members. But the ships still burn a thick, dirty sludge called bunker fuel while at sea and slurp diesel to keep the lights and air conditioning running while in port.

Inefficient yard tractors and cranes guzzle fuel and spew exhaust as they stack containers. And tugboats, pound for pound the most powerful vessels on the water, waste most of that idling or cruising.Now, as seaports try to raise their environmental standards, some companies are finding business opportunities.

Foss Maritime, of Seattle, for instance, has developed the Prius of tugboats, which consumes less diesel and generates less pollution by using batteries for all the vessel’s low-power needs.

Foss calls it the world’s first hybrid tug and expects to deliver it to the Port of Los Angeles later this month. The tugboat currently is undergoing testing, said Foss spokesman Dave Hill.

The tugboat, which is being built at the Foss shipyard in Rainier, Ore., across the Columbia River from Longview, will be based at Southern California’s twin ports for five years in exchange for the funding help.

Outwardly, it looks much like other tugboats. Inside, the tug is so different that it will be able to operate like a regular work boat while using less fuel and expelling less exhaust.

The stakes are high for the Port of Los Angeles, said William Lyte, co-founder of Technoplex Group in Los Angeles, a consulting company that helps entrepreneurs market new technology.

“The ports have about $5 billion in expansion projects they want to do, and they can’t do it without mitigating the impact of pollution. Green systems will have to be in place to get these projects approved,” Lyte said. “Companies from all over the world will be trying to sell that kind of technology here, so California businesses have to be prepared to compete.”

Those companies will discover what Foss learned. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the largest cargo-container ports in the nation, are willing to serve as testing grounds, business incubators and venture capitalists. About $1.35 million in development costs for the Foss hybrid tug came from the two ports and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

“We asked for help to offset the increased capital costs of doing this,” said Susan Hayman, vice president of environmental and corporate development for Foss.

Geraldine Knatz, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said she hoped other businesses would bring their best ideas to the busy harbor.

“The concept of a hybrid tug really gets to the heart of our technology advancement program, where both ports have set aside a funding pool for the development of clean-technology applications in a maritime environment,” she said of the $15 million, five-year program. “So it’s very exciting for us to see this concept that Foss brought to us come to fruition.”

Ruminating on idea

The idea had been kicking around Foss’ offices since 2006, based on the knowledge that tugboats tend to run on full power only 7 percent of the time and waste their 5,000-plus horsepower by idling 50 percent of the time. Knowing that railroads were moving to electric propulsion, Foss initially looked at switching locomotives, which are used to move trains inside rail yards.

There was one big problem.

“The batteries were too heavy. They would have sunk the boat,” Foss Chief Engineer Rick McKenna said.

The solution came from the oil industry.

Canada’s Aspin Kemp & Associates had expertise with “ultra-deep-water” drilling rigs that are held in position with “dynamic positioning thrusters” instead of anchors. The thrusters have to power up quickly to keep the rig in place.

New design

The engineering company designed a way to run the diesel engine and the electrical motor generator through the same drive shaft, McKenna said, enabling Foss to switch to smaller batteries and smaller diesel engines.

“It drives like a normal tug,” McKenna said. The system’s design would enable most existing tugboats to switch to the diesel-battery setup through a retrofit. Foss is hoping that will be a key selling point.

Tests have raised expectations that turning hybrid would cut a tug’s particulate and nitrogen-oxide emissions as much as 44 percent. That’s enough to impress environmental groups that have been some of the ports’ harshest critics.

“Moving the ports’ tugboat fleet toward hybrid technology is a benefit to both local residents and companies who do business at the ports,” said Jessica Lass, a spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It shows it’s entirely possible to move the ports toward greener, hybrid technology that cuts down on toxic greenhouse emissions and diesel fuel that fouls our local waterways and bodies.”

Foss has been in the tugboat business since 1889. But Heather Tomley, senior environmental specialist at the Port of Long Beach, said companies don’t have to have a maritime background to gain the ports’ attention.

Yorba Linda, Calif.-based Vycon has developed a flywheel technology that attaches to yard cranes. The flywheel system collects energy as cargo containers are lowered and then releases it, helping lift containers. That reduces the power the diesel engine has to supply, cutting fuel consumption and the release of pollutants.

Tomley said Vycon achieved more than a 25 percent reduction in particulate emissions in California Air Resources Board testing.

Vycon has been watching sales of the $150,000 devices grow. “This year we have sold 38 machines,” said Louis Romo, vice president of sales. “We sold five during all of 2007, so that is a nice jump for us.” (source: seattletimes.nwsource.com).