Think Maritime » Shipping

Up to 364,000 seafarer shortfall by 2050, says Tokyo think tank

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:26:51 +0000

The gloomiest forecast yet of the widening scarcity in skilled and trained seafarers has been delivered by the highly respected Tokyo-based think tank Ocean Policy Research Foundation which claims that a boom in global seaborne trade over the next 40 years will result in a shortfall of 364,000 seafarers by 2050.

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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World’s largest cruise ship nears completion

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:43:33 +0000

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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Shipping industry fears ambitious China

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:33:11 +0000

Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry have shown a slight improvement over the past three months – up from 5.5 in May to 5.7 in the recent survey, on a scale of 1 to 10. The survey, by shipping accountant Moore Stephens, shows that “owners, managers and charterers all exhibited increased confidence in connection with the shipping markets in which they operate”.

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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Creditors Back Eimskip

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:40:08 +0000

All Eimskip’s unsecured creditors have now voted in favour of the composition proposal, which was therefore approved. Eimskip states that it will “preserve the company’s operations and safeguard 1,500 jobs”. The next step for the company is to submit a written petition for confirmation of the composition agreement to the district court judge next week. If the proposal for reconstruction is accepted, the total group obligations in interest bearing debts will be reduced from around EUR 1.6 billion to around EUR 100 million in the new business.

In July, the struggling Icelandic shipping company Eimskip launched a financial re-organisation plan. The plan proposed to create a new and strong shipping and logistics business and to leave the cold storage business. The new business will be owned by the financial creditors of Eimskip; the Icelandic bank Landsbanki is the major secured lender and will own 45 per cent of the new company and Los Angeles investment fund Yucaipa will take a 32 per cent stake, the remaining 23 per cent of new Eimskip will be owned by other unsecured financial creditors, representing more than 50 different creditors. Yucaipa has bought a 49 per cent stake in Eimskip-controlled Versacold Atlas and has an option to buy the remaining 51 per cent of Versacold. Eimskip has sold three reefer vessels in Norway to Atlantica Shipping and reduced indebtedness by EUR 30 million (source:shipgaz.com).

Russian Press Allege Mossad Connection To ‘Arctic Sea’

admin — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:33:31 +0000

A Russian newspaper claimed Friday that suspected pirates who boarded the freighter Arctic Sea were actually agents of the Israeli secret service trying to stop it from smuggling arms into Iran.

According to Russian media, the Arctic Sea may have been carrying illegal X-55 cruise missiles destined for Iran hidden among its cargo of lumber.

Men acting on behalf of the Israeli Mossad secret service commandeered the ship to divert the weapons away from Israel’s regional enemy, the daily Novaya Gazeta said.

Citing Moscow publicist Yulia Latynina, the daily pointed to the surprise visit of Israeli President Shimon Peres Aug 18, a day after the Arctic Sea, which had been missing for three weeks, had been tracked down and liberated by Russian forces off West Africa.

During his visit, Peres, who according to Latynina had no other business in Russia, requested Moscow refrain from supplying weapons or missile defence systems to Iran.

Russian authorities denied that the Arctic Sea had been smuggling weapons.

Russian ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Dmitri Rogozin, said earlier Friday that such allegations were a ‘fantasy’ and ‘ridiculous’.

The deployment at great expense of Russian Black Sea fleet to liberate the hijacked ship was undertaken for the sake of the 15 Russian seamen on board and not supposed weapons, Rogozin said.

Russian authorities in Moscow late Friday formally charged the eight alleged hijackers with kidnapping and piracy, the Interfax news agency reported.

The suspects include a Lithuanian, a Russian, three stateless people, and a Spaniard, the report said, adding that the citizenship of the two remaining suspects had yet to be clarified.

According to official reports, the Arctic Sea was liberated from pirates Monday off the coast of West Africa. According to the Russian sources, pirates seized the freighter July 24 off the coast of Sweden.

Victor Matveev, director of Solchart Management, the shipping company that owns the Arctic Sea freighter stated Friday that his company ’still has not received any official information’ about the ship or its crew (source: www.argentinastar.com).

Shipping News (Video)

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:25:06 +0000

Regional maritime sector faces challenging times

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:35:34 +0000

Middle East Workboats conference to reflect on good and bad of global financial crisis; crewing and piracy also seen as principal concerns

A major growth area for the Middle East maritime industry – workboats, with an estimated 2000 vessels docked or repaired in the region – is facing unprecedented challenges, says a leading expert.

“We are operating in challenging times,” said Captain James MacHardy, the former CEO of the Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators, who will be chairing the region’s premier event focused on workboats to be held in Abu Dhabi later this year. “Never has the shipping industry, in all its sectors, had so many factors working for it or against it,” he added.

The 2009 Middle East Workboats exhibition and conference takes place from 5-7 October at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Public Works and Chairman of the National Transport Authority. Workboats include tugs, ferries, supply vessels; police, fire, patrol, pilot, rescue and oil spill boats; along with, dredgers, barges and floating cranes, among others.

“The boom and burst cycles we live through are exciting and for many provide the spice in shipping,” said MacHardy who, on retiring after nearly 40 years with BP Shipping, MacHardy became CEO of the society, a London-based trade organisation linking shipping companies and terminal operators in the liquefied gas industry. His main interest now is the promotion of the marine industry as a career for young people and the continuance of the safety record of the industry.

“For Middle East Workboats we have tried to bring together the principal areas of challenge and concern in our industry and at the same time reflect on all aspects, both the good and the bad, in the present financial climate,” he added.

Several areas of concern affecting the industry will be addressed and two principal ones are personnel and piracy. “There is a serious lack of competent seafarers throughout the shipping industry and probably more so in the small vessel sector,” said MacHardy.

According to Seatrade, organisers of Middle East Workboats, the source of skilled manpower is diminishing even as the provision of quality training increases. In addition, the immigration regulations of a number of regional countries, including the UAE, are posing major challenges for workboat operators.

“The issue of piracy is serious, expensive and dangerous but little talked about outside the marine industry,” MacHardy added. The Gulf of Aden and the Somali coast is currently the piracy hotspot. There are around 34 naval vessels from 16 countries operating off the Somali coast to deter piracy but pirates continue to hold 10 boats and 190 seamen for ransom

“The loss of life, loss of cargo and loss of vessels goes on daily on a worldwide basis but industry organisations and the world navies seem powerless,” said MacHardy.

Middle East Workboats will also feature speakers on marine products, vessel design, construction and operations.

Principal sponsors for 2009 are DNV, ESNAAD, Irshad. Other sponsors are ABS, DVB, Khalid Faraj Shipping, Lamnalco, Svitzer, Topaz Energy & Marine, Wartsila and ZMI. Supporting organisations are the International Marine Contractors Association and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. For more details about Middle East Workboats 2009, visit: www.middleeastworkboats.com

-ends-

Photo caption:

“Never has the shipping industry, in all its sectors had so many factors working for or against it,” says Captain James MacHardy, former CEO of the Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators and chairman of Middle East Workboats.

About Seatrade

Seatrade is among the shipping world’s most respected brands, specialising in publications, events, management training, awards schemes and websites covering all aspects of maritime activity. In 2004 Seatrade Middle East opened in Dubai emphasising the company’s commitment to the region. Seatrade is also involved in the organisation of the Seatrade Academy management training courses for shipping professionals, in association with the Cambridge Academy of Transport. For more information about Seatrade’s evolving portfolio of publications and events, visit www.seatrade-global.com

Media contact

Nathalie Visele

Shamal Marketing Communications

Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971 4 365 2711

Cell: +971 50 457 6525

Email: Nathalie@smc-pr.com

Where will the money come from?

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:25:57 +0000

Middle East Money & Ships to examine financial challenges and investment opportunities in regional shipping industry

The financial challenge faced by the regional shipping industry in the global economic slowdown is to be examined at Middle East Money & Ships, the region’s premier networking event for senior executives from the maritime and finance sectors.

The conference from 7-8 October 2009 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai, UAE, will assess the regional appetite for investment in shipping, the likely pattern for recovery, where the money will come from as well as providing a realistic assessment of the current order book.

A special session on financing the industry will be chaired by Marcus Machin, Director of Tufton Oceanic (Middle East), a fund management firm for the maritime and energy related sectors with offices in London, Isle of Man, Dubai, Cyprus, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“For a capital intensive industry such as shipping, developments in the international capital markets have direct and immediate relevance as has been demonstrated through the extreme volatility of recent market cycles across all sectors of the shipping market,” he said.

“Forums such as Middle East Money and Ships provide a valuable opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas amongst all market participants in relation to the biggest continued challenge of the shipping industry – that of attracting institutional investment capital.

“For investors shipping has always provided cyclical investment opportunities which – though not for the faint hearted – have on occasion provided exceptional returns. As a barometer of the international economy, marine sector assets have been more widely accepted as an asset class in recent years than ever before.

“Arising from the rapidly changing dynamics of the shipping market, for institutions based in the Middle East, which traditionally have not had wide exposure to international shipping, there is a strong argument to invest in the liquid, US dollar based, and international shipping sector.”

Richard Coxall, Chief Financial Officer of Abu Dhabi owned Emirates Ship Investment Company which operates a fleet of bulk carriers and product tankers, sees the need for more transparency and higher levels of equity as crucial issues for the regional industry. “The how much, where from and what costs questions in the context of capital for finance need to be answered,” said Coxall, who will also be speaking in the debate.

“The regional maritime industry has witnessed great changes and never more so than in today’s financial climate,” said Christopher Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, the conference organisers. “All market conditions provide opportunities for those who really want to find them and we will explore the potential for growth and development of the sector.”

The 2009 Seatrade Middle East & Indian Subcontinent annual regional awards, recognising maritime safety and environment, ship and port operations and security, plus port and shipping business efficiency, will follow this year’s Money & Ships conference. The award’s Gala Presentation Dinner will be staged at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, on the night of Thursday 8 October 2009. This high level event is expected to be attended by around 800 senior executives from the region’s maritime industry.

For more details about the conference, please visit: www.moneyandships.com

For more about the Seatrade Middle East & Indian Subcontinent Awards, visit www.seatrade-middleeast.com/awards

-ends-

Machin picture caption:

“As a barometer of the international economy, marine sector assets have been more widely accepted…in recent years than ever before,” says by Marcus Machin, Director of Tufton Oceanic (Middle East), who will be chairing a debate on finance at the Middle East Money & Ships conference in October.

General picture caption:

The financial challenge faced by the regional shipping industry is to be examined at Middle East Money & Ships, the region’s premier networking event for senior executives from the maritime and finance sectors.

About Seatrade

Media contact

Chris Mullinger
Shamal Marketing Communications
Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates
Tel.: +9714 365 2711
Cell: +9715 0658 5843
E-mail: chris@smc-pr.com

MaritimeJobSearch.com | Shipping, Transportation, and Engineering Jobs

Faststream Launch Seagoing Recruitment Division

Dirk — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:05:49 +0000

Global maritime recruiter Faststream has made its first steps to sea by launching a dedicated seagoing recruitment division. This new business area sees Faststream expand from its roots in shore-based shipping recruitment to become one of the only global providers of recruitment throughout the entire shipping mix.

The seagoing recruitment division has been established due to the high demand for this type of service from Faststream’s shipping clients. Headquartered in Faststream’s North East base in Massachusetts, the seagoing division will also operate through Faststream’s other US regional headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and Houston.

The division has already been launched in Faststream’s global headquarters in the UK. Planned future expansion will see this business area span across other Faststream operations in the Asia-Pacific and Scandinavia.

Heather Twiss will be heading up the seagoing division throughout The Americas. Heather was the former Director of Career Services at Massachusetts Maritime Academy where she provided career guidance and placement opportunities to both cadets and alumni in both seagoing and shore-side maritime employment opportunities. She is also a graduate of Massachusetts Maritime Academy and has sailed on seismic vessels.

Mark Charman, Group CEO and Founder said:

“This is an exciting chapter in Faststream’s development. Although this is our first planned step into the seagoing market we’re certainly not wet behind the ears. We are shipping people through and through and our specialist consultants hold a wealth of knowledge of the shipping industry in its entirety”.

“Our business is based around supply and demand. Our clients have a huge demand for seagoing staff. The quantity of enquiries we’ve received about providing seagoing recruitment over the years had reached a level where launching a stand alone seagoing division was a must”.

“From what we hear, the seagoing market lacks a quality recruitment model. Industry knowledge is all very well but it’s critical that this is combined with best recruitment practice and Faststream are in a perfect position to provide both” (source: www.faststream.us).

The Worst Jobs in History – The Maritime Age – Part 2

Dirk — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:22:26 +0000