STX Pan Ocean fined for intentional pollution

It's one thing when there is accidental pollution. That's bad enough.

But, it certainly gives the entire international shipping community a bad reputation, when a company intentionally pollutes, and lies about it.

From the Journal of Commerce

Korean company pleads guilty to dumping oily waste water off Fla.

The corporate owner of a Korean-flag bulk carrier will pay a $2.2 million fine for violating U.S. oil pollution laws, the Justice Department announced Friday.

STX Pan Ocean, which operates the M/V Ocean Jade, pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy and making false statements and records in the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Fla. They were charged with dumping oily waste and waste water overboard between July and October 2008, then falsifying log books and lying to Coast Guard inspectors.

click here for complete article

The BBC Box is abandoned

I don't know for sure the BBC box has been abandoned, but it certainly is being neglected.

It has been empty in Japan for about 3 weeks now, since May 19.

Click here for the latest update from NYK tracking site

Input the container number, prefix and number, no spaces

NYKU8210506

The BBC hasn't had any reporting since the container arrived in Japan.

I am also a bit disappointed they did not have information as to the destination of the contents of the container and it's use, but instead did a report about the general economy of Japan.

Guess I will e-mail the BBC to find out what's going on.

United Airlines looking to the future

The container carrier industry is just now going through what the airlines have been through the past couple of decades.

If an airline is still in business, they are probably doing some things right.

United Airlines is using the downturn as an opportunity to order some new fuel efficient jets at a good price. They haven't bought new planes in a decade.

From American Shipper

United Airlines may order up to 150 new planes worth $10 billion and has asked both Boeing and Airbus for competing bids on the jets.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the airline could be seeking to take advantage of the slow economy by requesting bids during the current downturn. The new planes would be used to replace both older widebody planes and B757s, with newer, more fuel efficient planes. Reportedly United has not ordered new jets in a decade.

CMA CGM credit rating downgraded

All of the three big credit rating agencies downgraded the debt ratings of CMA CGM.

This was the action by Fitch

The ratings company downgraded the long-term Issuer Default Rating and its senior unsecured rating to 'BB-' from 'BB+'. It rated the outlook “Negative.” CMA CGM's Short-term IDR remains 'B.'

And this was the reaction of CMA CGM

FRENCH container line CMA CGM will no longer allow its debt to be rated by any of the big three agencies after losing patience with Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch for failure to understand the container shipping industry.

Well, I guess that's one way to handle the bad news.

click here for article from Journal of Commerce

Piracy Surcharges

I don't find it illogical that ocean carriers sailing in the Gulf of Aden are charging a piracy surcharge. Some of the crews sailing in this area were demanding additional wages, and the carriers must also pay higher insurance premiums.

However, the surcharges vary quite a lot by carrier, with MSC not charging at all.

This from Lloyd's List.

CMA CGM has confirmed it is one of the container lines levying a piracy surcharge to cover the risk of operating in waters where attacks are commonplace.

The French line said it applies a piracy risk surcharge of $20 per teu on its Swahili Express service that links Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique and on its on Asia-East Africa rotation between Singapore, Port Kelang, Kenya and Tanzania. Both call at Mombasa where cargo interests have vented their anger about the additional costs of shipping cargo.

But in some cases, a far higher piracy fee is in place, with Zim said to be charging $100 per teu as the Israeli line calls at the port of Djibouti.

Some lines such as Maersk and sister company Safmarine have a war risk surcharge of $25 per teu, but they usually do not charge their regular customers, according to agents.

Not every line is charging extra. Mediterranean Shipping Co said: “We have not so far introduced any piracy surcharge for vessels calling at Mombasa.”

click here for complete article

Future plans of NOL/APL

Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) purchased American President Lines (APL) several years ago. OK, it was probably more like several decades ago, I am old. In fact, I find it interesting that both web-sites only use the acronyms, not the complete names.

Anyway, today NOL announced a "rights issue" allowing current shareholders to purchase stock at a price less than the current market price.

SINGAPORE (AFP) — Singapore container shipping firm Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) announced plans to raise almost a billion US dollars through a rights issue.

NOL said the issue, amounting to 1.43 billion Singapore dollars (993 million US), would boost the company's balance sheet, help repay debt and tap any business opportunities that might arise.

About 1.1 billion new shares will be issued at 1.30 Singapore dollars each, which is about a 15 percent discount from NOL's stock close of 1.53 dollars on the local stock exchange Friday.

Shareholders eligible to subscribe will get three new shares for every four existing ones, NOL said in a statement.

I would say this is a good move on their part. They are going to need cash to get through this downturn, and, who knows what bankrupt carrier they might want to buy at a fire sale price.

Hamburg Süd christens new ship

The vessel Monte Aconcagua was christened in Hong Kong last week.

I find it a bit strange that in this day and age, with hurricanes named using both male and female names, it is still the customary to have women christen ships.

The name of this ship comes from Monte (for mountain) and Aconcagua is from Cerro Aconcagua

Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas, and the highest mountain outside Asia. It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Argentine province of Mendoza. The summit is located about 5 kilometres from San Juan Province and 15 kilometres from the international border with Chile.

Here is the press release from Hamburg Sued.

Hamburg Süd: Final "Monte" class ship christened in Hong Kong

Hamburg, 2 June 2009. Friday, 29 May, saw the "Monte Aconcagua", the
last of a series of ten of Hamburg Süd's successful 5,552 TEU "Monte"
class, christened in Hong Kong. The container ship's sponsor was
Luise Klus, daughter of Dr Ingeborg von Schubert, Chairlwoman of the
Advisory Board of the Gundlach Group, Bielefeld.

Following the naming ceremony, the "Monte Aconcagua" was phased into
Hamburg Süd's Asia - South Africa/South America East Coast Service
(New Good Hope Express).

In addition, Hamburg Süd will be adding three further "Rio" class
vessels to its fleet until the end of the year. They have a container
capacity of 5,900 TEU, making them one bay longer than the ships of
the "Monte" class. The "Rio" ships are to be phased into the shipping
group's Europe - South America East Coast Service, gradually
replacing the "Monte" vessels, which will then operate in the Asia -
South Africa/South America East Coast Service.

Technical data of the "Monte Aconcagua":

Capacity 71,270 tdw
Container capacity 5,552 TEU
Length overall 272.00 m
Length between perpendiculars 259.00 m
Breadth 40.00 m
Draught max. 13.20 m
Speed 23.3 kn
Main engine output 45,765 kW

You can download a photo of the christening at www.hamburgsud.com
under Press & Media/Photo Gallery (Ship christenings).