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World Maritime News - 19 June, 1998

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Steve Schultz

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Jun 19, 1998, 3:00:00 AM6/19/98

World Maritime News - 19 June, 1998
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BUSINESS

India tightens cabotage trade

The Indian Ministry of Surface Transport has announced action to
protect the country's cabotage services. Under the new National Shipping
Policy, vessels with at least 51 percent foreign equity will be banned from
coastal trading and will be regarded as foreign-owned. Only businesses with
at least 51 percent domestic equity will be allowed in the cabotage trade.
The move follows partial relaxation of cabotage regulations earlier this
year.

Indonesia to get three north-south sea lanes

Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said 15 June that the
International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee adopted a
proposal by Indonesia on 19 May to open three archipelagic sea lanes. The
north-south lanes will enable vessels to sail through without permission
from the Indonesian government but will not be able to use routes outside
the lanes. One lane is through the Karimata and Sunda straits to the South
China Sea, one is through the Lombok and the Makassar stratits to the
Celebes Sea and one connects the Arafuru, Savu and Timor seas to the
Pacific Ocean via the Leti strait, the Banda Sea and the Molucca Sea. The
lanes will be implemented six months after they are designated by
Indonesia.

German bank acquires shipping finance operation

Deutsche VerkehrsBank has bought the vessel financing operation of The
Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan.

Three companies form venture to manage British Petroleum tankers

A new company is being formed by British Petroleum, Keystone Shipping
Co. and Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. to manage British Petroleum tankers
operating from Alaska. All the ships are chartered vessels and are
registered in the United States. A new company will be formed by the three.

U.S. Ready Reserve Force management contracts awarded

The U.S. government has awarded 39 contracts for management of 89 U.S.
Ready Reserve Force vessels. Repair work and some operational expenses will
be reimbursed under the performance-based contracts. The awards are:

Apex Marine Ship Management: U.S.$7,870,195 for five years for the
Cape Johnson and the Cape Juby; U.S.$13,792,725 for five years for the Cape
Taylor, the Cape Texas and the Cape Trinity; U.S.$5,074,365 for five years
foe the Cape Jacob and the Cape John; U.S.$9,052,940 for five years for the
Diamond State and the Equality State; and U.S.$1,384,143 for three and a
quarter years for the Gulf Banker and the Gulf Trader.

Interocean Ugland Management Corp.: U.S.$10,923,265 for five years for
the Cornhusker State, the Flickertail State and the Gopher State;
U.S.$6,257,735 for five years for the Cape May and the Cape Mendocino;
U.S.$4,620,530 for five years for the Comet and the Meteor; U.S.$6,257,735
for five years for the Cape Fear and the Cape Mohican; and U.S.$10,844,615
for five years for the Cape Nome, the Curtiss and the Wright.

Keystone Shipping Services Inc.: U.S.$9,575,500 for five years for the
Cape Kennedy and the Cape Knox; U.S.$9,575,500 for five years for the Cape
Victory and the Cape Vincent; U.S.$9,575,500 for five years for the Admiral
Callaghan and the Cape Orlando; U.S.$13,822,690 for five years for the Cape
Henry, the Cape Horn and the Cape Hudson; and U.S.$9,452,330 for five years
for the Beaver State and the Green Mountain State.

Mormac Marine Enterprises Inc.: U.S.$2,028,988 for five years for the
Cape Catawba and the Lake Scan; U.S.$3,983,130 for three and a quarter
years for the Cape Lambert and the Cape Lobos; U.S.$4,097,519 for five
years foe the Cape Archway, the Cape Alava and the Cape Alexander;
U.S.$8,882,610 for five year for the Cape Ann and the Cape Avinof; and
U.S.$2,104.350 for five years for the Mission Buenaventura and the Mission
Capistrano.

Marine Transport Lines Inc.: U.S.$1,821,710 for three and a quarter
years for the Cape Chalmers and the Cape Cod; U.S.$10,155,570 for five
years for the Cape Ducato and the Cape Edmont; U.S.$10,155,570 for five
years for the Cape Decision and the Cape Douglas; U.S.$10,155,570 for five
years for the Cape Diamond and the Cape Domingo; and U.S.$1,821,710 for
three and a quarter years for the Cape Bon and the Northern Light.

Ocean Duchess Inc.: U.S.$3,036,000 for five years for the Alatna, the
Chattahoohchee and the Nodaway.

Patriot Contract Services L.L.C.: U.S.$6,895,110 for five years for
the Cape Bover and the Cape Breton; U.S.$9,247,810 for five years for the
Cape Blanco and the Cape Borda; and U.S.$8,384,140 for five years for the
Cape Gibson and the Cape Girardeau.

Pacific-Gulf Marine Inc.: U.S.$1,242,027 for three and a quarter years
for the Pioneer Commander and the Pioneer Contractor; and U.S.$1,242,027
for three and a quarter years for the Banner and the Courier.

Sea-Land Service Inc: U.S.$13,729,875 for five years for the Cape Ray,
the Cape Race and the Cape Rise; U.S.$8,860,450 for five years for the Cape
Washington and the Cape Wrath; U.S.$9,299,650 for five years for the Cape
Intrepid and the Cape Island; and U.S.$8,860,450 for five years for the
Cape Inscription and the Cape Isabel.

V Ships Marine Ltd.: U.S.$3,722,850.00 for five years for the Cape
Farewell, the Cape Flattery and the Cape Florida; U.S.$3,305,660 for five
years for the American Osprey and the Potomac; U.S.$8,458,890 for three and
a quarter years for the Chesapeake and the Mount Washington; and
U.S.$14,631,130 for five years for the Gem State, the Grand Canyon State
and the Keystone State.

Holland America Line Westours pleads guilty in pollution case

Holland America Line Westours Inc. pleaded guilty 19 June to dumping
untreated bilge water overboard from its former passenger ship Rotterdam
when its oily water separator failed. Crewmembers are then said to have
failed to keep records of the discharge, which took place in Alaska's
Inside Passage during summer 1994. Under the settlement, the company will
pay U.S.$1 million in fines as well as another U.S.$1 million for marine
environmental projects in Alaska under the U.S. National Park Foundation.
The U.S. Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act prohibits discharging
untreated bilge water within five kilometers/three miles of the U.S.
shores. The plea agreement was filed in U.S. District Court in Anchorage,
Alaska.

New Indian ro/ro operator

Seaways Maritime has formed a venture to operate three ro/ros sailing
between Indian ports. The ships are being built in Italy and Japan for 5.3
billion Indian rupees/U.S.$130 million.

Bjorn Aaserod renews bid for Igloo

Bjorn Aaserod has reportedly renewed his bid for the liquefied
petroleum gas carriers under the Igloo shipping pool name. Bergesen DY A/S
cancelled the U.S.$200 million sale of the pool to Aaserod, who reportedly
could not raise the funding, in late April. Aaserod was to pay U.S.$170
million in cash and U.S.$30 million in equity, with the former completely
from external borrowing. The ships are betweem 8,000 cubic meters/10,400
cubic yards and 12,000 cubic meters/15,600 cubic yards in capacity.

Smit Havensleepdiensten restructuring, will cut 100 personnel

Smit Havensleepdiensten, the Dutch port towing business of Smit
Internationale, is being restructured for the third time in as many years.
Its personnel, represented by labor unions CNV and FNV, have agreed to a
new two-year collective contract. Over the next five years, the number of
workers will be reduced from 370 to 270. Personnel aged 58 or over will be
forced to take voluntary retirement while attrition will account for the
rest of the dismissals. In Rotterdam, the number of tugs will be cut from
30 to 18. Four will be redeployed to the Western Schelde.

Japanese labor union agrees to crew cuts

The All-Japan Seamen's Union has accepted a proposal to cut three
crewmembers from each liquefied natural gas carrier hauling cargo for a
project in Qatar. After two years of negotiations, the proposal was
accepted in a meeting with the Shipowner Labor Relations Agency (Major).
Aboard the five ships, one deckhand, one engineer and one radio operator
will be dismissed. The five ships operate between the North Field in Qatar
and Japan under charter to Qatar Liquefied Gas Co. Each has a crew of 33
including 17 Japanese citizens and 16 other citizens. The crews aboard each
ship will now number 14 Japanese and 16 others except for one ship. The
vessels are the Broog (operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha), the Al Khor
(68,200-dwt tanker built in 1996, operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha), the Al
Rayan (69,549-dwt tanker built in 1997, operated by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha
Ltd.), the Al Wajbah (72,348-dwt tanker built in 1997, operated by Mitsui
O.S.K. Lines) and the Al Zubarah (72,557-dwt tanker built in 1996, operated
by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines). The crew of the Broog has yet to be decided.
Another five ships will be added to the project by the end of 2000 to
supply six million tons of liquefied natural gas each year to eight
electric utilities until the end of 2021. The future five will have the
same crew arrangements.

Captrans Shipping in financial trouble, suspends operations

Captrans Shipping has suspended operations due to financial problems.
Its fixed-day weekly container service between Singapore and the Indian
ports of Calcutta and Haldia, which began eight months ago, was suspended
at the start of the month. The two chartered 350-TEU containerships have
reportedly been returned. In February, Captrans Shipping said its capacity
on the route was at 70 percent from India to Singapore and 55 percent from
Singapore to India.

Report: Jacques Saade ignores Lebanese summons

Cie. Maritime d'Affretement-Cie. Generale Maritime has denied a report
that its chairman, Jacques Saade, did not respond to a summons on 12 June
by a Lebanese government prosecutor, who is investigating charges made by
his brother, Johnny Saade. The French newspaper Liberation reported that it
was not the first time Jacques Saade had failed to respond to a summons.
However, the company said that he was not summoned. The legal dispute
started 18 months ago following C.M.A.'s purchase of C.G.M.

Hansatee Grupp applies for stock listing

Hansatee Grupp Ltd. has applied to be listed on the Tallinn Stock
Exchange in Estonia. The company was formed in 1989 as Tallink and began
ferry service in the Baltic Sea the next year. There are 170 shareholders
with Infortar holding 50 percent and Estonian Union Bank 25 percent. The
company encountered financial problems in 1996 and new management was
appointed that November. Many managers are former civil servants of the
Estonian Finance Ministry. Hansatee Grupp operates five vessels and has
more than 50 percent of the ferry route between Tallinn, Estonia, and
Helsinki, Finland. It has 1,600 personnel.

Stena Line completes refinancing

Stena Line has completed a U.S.$725 million refinancing.

New bunkerer formed

Clarkson and METF have formed a joint venture bunkering operation.

OMI shareholders approve purchase

OMI Corp. said 16 June its shareholders approved the purchase of
Marine Transport Lines Inc. the day before at the annual meeting. The
stock-swap deal was finalized 17 June and Marine Transport Lines became a
publicly-traded company on the Nasdaq stock exchange on 18 June. Marine
Transport Lines will continue to operate U.S.-registry vessels but OMI will
now concentrate on foreign-registry ships.

Exxon loses attempt to bring Exxon Valdez back to Alaska

U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland ruled 4 June that the
former Exxon Valdez will remain barred from Prince William Sound, Alaska,
as mandated by the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The tanker spilled 38.30
million liters/10.08 million gallons of crude oil in the sound after
running aground 24 March, 1989, on Bligh Reef. Section 5007 of the act
states in part that "tank vessels that have spilled more than 1 million
gallons of oil into the marine environment after March 22, 1989, are
prohibited from operating on the navigable waters of Prince William Sound."
The only relevant ship at the time was the Exxon Valdez. Since then, four
other vessels have joined it, but they are no longer operable or are not
U.S-registry. Exxon Corp. sought legal action to allow the ship to return
to Alaska, contending the section unfairly singled out its tanker. But
Holland ruled that Exxon knew of the provision in 1991 when it agreed to
settle civil and criminal lawsuits steming from the spill, and should have
raised the concern over the tanker before agreeing. In the settlement, the
claims were dropped and Exxon agreed to pay U.S.$1 billion.

C.M.A.-C.G.M. names new Canadian, U.S. general agent

Inchcape Shipping Services became the agent for Cie. Maritime
d'Affretement-Cie. Generale Maritime in Canada and the United States on 15
June, replacing Norton Lilly International Inc.

John Good Shipping selected by German line

Oldenburg-Portugiesische Dampfschiffs-Reederei GmbH & Co. KG has named
John Good Shipping as its agent in England and Wales as of 1 July.

O.O.C.L. names Tasmanian agent

Orient Overseas Container Line has selected Tasmanian Cargo Services
Pty. Ltd. as its agent in Tasmania, Australia.

Conterm Consolidation Services transfers Houston office

Conterm Consolidation Services (U.S.A.) Inc. changed its office in
Houston on 1 June. It is now at 3340A Greens Road, Suite 400, Houston,
Texas, 77032.

Transoceanic Shipping gets I.S.O. 9002

Transoceanic Shipping Co. Inc. has received I.S.O. 9002 certification.

U.S. Coast Guard seeking new members for advisory committee

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking six new members for its Merchant
Marine Personnel Advisory Committee, which advises on training,
certification and other personnel matters under Coast Guard jurisdiction.
The six will start serving on 31 Jan. for three years. Specifically, those
being sought include an able-bodied seaman, a licensed deck officer, a
licensed engineering officer, a pilot, a representative of a firm in vessel
operations or management and an educator affiliated with a maritime
academy. Applications are being accepted until 1 Aug. Information is
available by writing Commandant (G-MSO-1), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second
Street S.W., Washington, D.C., 20593-0001, telephoning 202-267-0229 or
faxing 202-267-4570.

ROUTES AND SERVICES

C.T.S.A. raising rates

The Canada Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement will increase its rate
U.S.$200 per FEU as of 15 July. Other increases will also be made on the
same date for other equipment and cargoes. The last increase was made in
April.

CAX II ended by Hanjin

Hanjin reportedly has ended its CAX II container service, calling in
South Korea, Japan, northern China, Long Beach, Calif; and Portland, Ore.
The company cited an effort to increase service levels and cargo volumes
and improve schedule reliability. CAX II reportedly had low cargo levels.
One of the six ships on the route is being shifted to the Asia
Mediterranean America service for a total of 13. Another ship has been sent
to the China Europe Express while the others have been sold to
Mediterranean Shipping Co. S.A.

Lykes Lines and T.M.M. in slot deals

Lykes Lines Ltd. has announced port changes and a slot agreement with
Transportacion Maritima Mexicana S.A. de C.V. Lykes Lines is dropping calls
at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and will charter 160 TEUs westbound and 200 TEUs
eastbound on its weekly service between northern Europe and the U.S. Gulf
of Mexico to T.M.M. The slots may vary by 5 percent. As a result, a second
weekly call will be made at Houston and Antwerp, Belgium, and Lykes Lines
will offer service to Altamira, Mexico, for the first time. The deals need
U.S. Federal Maritime Commission approval.

Nordana Line starts new route

Nordana Line has started a service between eastern Africa and northern
Europe with calls every two weeks. Calls are made at Antwerp, Belgium;
Tilbury, England; Mombasa, Kenya; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on
inducement. Three multipurpose vessels are in use. Transit time between
Antwerp and Mombasa is 22 days southbound and 18 days northbound.

Saferoute buys African route

Saferoute has purchased the Barbican Line southern hemisphere shipping
business from Deutsche Afrika-Linien after it ceased operating its own
ships. Saferoute is a non-vessel owning operator.

Norasia Shipping Services charters ship to start Canada-Europe Express

Norasia Shipping Services S.A. has chartered the Selandia (12,340-dwt,
1,012-TEU containership built in 1997) for its weekly trans-Atlantic
service that began this week. The company is reportedly paying U.S.$7,000
daily for an 18-day round-trip. The first vessel on the Canada-Europe
Express was to be the 1,400-TEU containership Norasia Samantha, which was
christened earlier this month by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG in Kiel,
Germany. However, its completion has been delayed. It is now expected that
the Norasia Samantha and the Norasia Savannah, a follow-on ship also under
construction, will be deployed next month. The new route calls at Antwerp,
Belgium; Felixstowe, England; and Montreal.

New Asian service starts

Project Asia Service has started its Australia-Asia Service in
Newcastle, Australia. It will make calls every two weeks.

Gulf of Naples group ends

Linee Marittime Veloci, a group of 11 ferry operators in Italy's Gulf
of Naples, has ceased operating, a year after its start up.

Surcharge to be imposed for Chennai cargo

Several companies will impose a congestion surcharge on containers
moving to Chennai, India, on 1 July. The U.S.$100 per TEU fee will apply to
containers being shipped from Colombo, Sri Lanka; Port Klang, Malaysia; and
Singapore. Chennai has recently experienced delays of 10 to 13 days. The
companies are Advance Container Line, APL, Bengal Tiger Line, Integrated
Container Feeder Services, KPB Priority Feeder Services, Orient Express
Lines Inc., Sea Services Ltd. and X-Press Container Line.

More on general rate increase by five lines

Five companies imposed a general rate increase on 1 June on containers
moving from China to western Africa except Nigeria. Delmas, Gold Star,
Maersk Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and P&O Nedlloyd Container Line Ltd.
increased rates by U.S.$150 per TEU for containers from Hong Kong and
U.S.$200 per TEU on other containers from China.

Hyundai Merchant Marine joins conference

Hyundai Merchant Marine has become the first South Korean business to
join the Japan-Mediterranean Freight Conference. The 14 members control 80
percent of the trade.

Manhattan Cruises starts operating

Manhattan Cruises began preview cruises with its Max I on 18 June
after receiving approval from the New York Gambling Control Commission. The
official start of the gambling cruises will be 26 June. The Max I, a
70.1-meter/230-foot U.S.-registry vessel, was delivered in December and can
carry 200 passengers. It will sail twice each day from the eastern end of
Sheepshead Bay. At 14 knots, it reaches international waters in 30 minutes
where two casinos totaling 630 square meters/7,000 square feet are opened.
There are 24 tables and 207 slot machines and two dining areas and a
140-person sports bar and lounge. Cruises depart at 1300 and 2000 and
return at 1800 and 0200 for U.S.$20. The Max I started service 28 Jan. but
it was suspended 4 May.

CANALS, PORTS AND STRUCTURES

Six-day strike starts in Greece

Dockworkers in Greece started a six-day strike on 18 June in a protest
over plans to privatize the port authorities of Piraeus and Salonica. The
Greek government plans to offer 49 percent of the authorities' stock next
year. During the strike, a few dockworkers will keep working to handle
high-priority cargoes such as perishable products and pharmaceuticals as
well as military items. A spokesman for the dockworkers said that
participating the first day was 97 percent.

Patrick reportedly agrees to settlement with labor unions

Patrick has announced it has agreed in principle to the terms of a
framework agreement with several labor unions, including the Australian
Council of Trade Unions and the Maritime Union of Australia. Patrick
dismissed all of its 1,400 MUA members as well as 600 part-time workers on
7 April. The Australian Hight Court ruled 4 May that the dismissal was
illegal and that Patrick must rehire them. Patrick said that the dispute
cost it Australian$13 million/7.9 million in legal fees, security and
damaged equipment. Revenue was slashed 45 percent during the dispute. The
Age newspaper in Australia said that under the framework agreement, 628
unionized dockworkers would be dismissed and 687 unionized and 200
non-union workers would be kept. In another version, at least 400 MUA
dockworkers would be dismissed and the rest would have 30 percent wage cuts
while all personnel would be employed directly, instead of by four holding
firms. It has also been reported that under the framework, contract
positions will be outsourced, though the MUA has reportedly taken almost
all of them. If such an agreement is reached, Producers & Consumers
Stevedores, formed six months ago by Australia's National Farmers
Federation, may cease to exist. The company used non-union labor as an
alternative to MUA dockworkers and supplied Patrick with personnel after
its MUA personnel were dismissed.

New Costa Rican port planned

OSI Proyectos Costa Rica S.A. announced a plan 15 June to build a port
city in Costa Rica's Limon province. The Costa Rica Project is said to be
the largest development project in Central American history, covering 78
square kilometers/31 square miles. The area will be developed as a free
trade zone over 25 years and follows a letter of intent signed with the
Costa Rican government in January. Under the first phase, port facilities
will be built including the only repair and salvage facility in eastern
Central America. A passenger ship terminal will also be built. Following
the start of construction next year, work will begin on a resort,
residential communities and industrial areas. The primary areas will be
completed in six years, according to the company. OSI Proyectos Costa Rica
is also taking several steps to minimize environmental impact, including
the preservation of land that does not include any rain forest or
endangered species. Only light manufacturing will be allowed to cut down on
pollution and reforestation will be done.

Clearance at two Indian ports stops

Cargo clearance at the Indian ports of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mumbai has
come to a halt following a strike by clearance and forwarding agents.

Shippers to pay for container handling in Angola

The Angolan government has announced that shippers to Angola will now
be responsible for paying for container handling costs. Previously, the
costs were paid by the receiver of the container. The cost is U.S.$160 per
TEU.

Japan appropriates money for building berths at 11 ports

The Japanese Ministry of Transport has appropriated 45.5 billion
Japanese yen/U.S.$330 million in the current fiscal year under the first
stage of a port construction program. Another 1.7 billion yen/U.S.$12
million will be used to improve terminals and 2.5 billion yen/U.S.$18
million for purchasing land. The first stage of the program calls for
building berths up to 15 meters/49 feet deep at 11 ports: Hakata, Kawasaki,
Kitakyushu, Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai-Kita, Shimonoseki, Tokyo, Yokkaichi
and Yokohama. Each port will receive a berth, a gantry crane and a
container yard by 2000.

Strike at Manila's North Harbor averted, cargo handling rate to increase

A planned strike by 1,000 unionized members of United Dockhandlers
Inc. at North Harbor at the Port of Manila, the Philippines, has been
cancelled. The dockworkers had threatened to strike at four of the nine
piers to get a 13 Philippine peso/U.S.$0.32 wage increase granted by the
Philippine government but never implemented by United Dockhandlers. The
company said financial problems due to the Philippine Port Authority's
refusal to extend its cargo handling contracts had precluded the increase.
Following negotiations, United Dockhandlers agreed to release the
additional pay starting 16 June. Cargo handling rates at North Harbor will
increase 12 percent this month as a result.

Colombo hit by work stoppage

Day shift gantry crane operators at the Jaya Container Terminal at the
Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, did not report to work 14 June and night shift
operators struck 16 June. It is believed the actions were taken in protest
of a new shift system that started 1 June. The night shift has been
lengthened to bridge the gap between the two shifts to try to increase
operations by up to two hours each day. On 17 June, operators returned
after the Sri Lanka Port Authority threatened to dismiss them.

Panama Canal Commission workers stage protest

About 300 employees of the Panama Canal Commission marched to the
commission's headquarters on 10 June to protest possible job cuts. The U.S.
Army's Management Analysis Agency is currently finishing a U.S.$700,000
report on the canal's staffing and is expected to recommend job cuts. The
commission has 8,000 permanent and 1,800 temporary employees. The marchers
also protested proposed changes to labor regulations, such as a change in
the salary paid to employees forced to take a junior position. Following a
meeting, those changes were dropped 11 June.

Kandla partially reopens

The Port of Kandla, India, has resumed some operations on 15 June
following a cyclone that did 1.2 billion Indian rupees/U.S.$28 million in
damage on 9 June. Five people were killed. Four of seven jetties were
damaged at the port, while the Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. terminal at Vadinar,
India, was also damaged but reopened 15 June as well.

Kobe waiving charges for first-time vessels

The Port of Kobe, Japan, will waive port entry charges and wharfage
fees for vessels entering the port for the first time. Vessels under 10,000
gross tons requesting a pilot will be exempt from the fees for a year
starting 1 July.

Karachi reducing container handling rates

The Port of Karachi, Pakistan, has decided to reduce recently
announced container handling rates that are applied to full containers for
export by 28 percent. TEUs will be charged 651 Pakistani rupees/U.S.$14.78
each and FEUs will be charged 1302 rupees/U.S.$29.55. The port has also
changed the method it uses to calculate wharfage fees for loose loads.
Deadweight ton measurements will be used instead of weight or measurement
figures, depending on which was higher.

World Bank unit to aid Chinese port

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development's
International Finance Corp. will provide U.S.$10 million to the Port of
Yangluo, China, for development of berths, container freight stations and
warehouses.

Tallinn secures loan

The Port of Tallinn, Estonia, has arranged a syndicated loan of
U.S.$11 million in a deal led by Bankgesellschaft Berlin and Hansabank.
Guaranteed by the Estonian government, the loan has a margin of 0.7
percentage points over Libor.

Oil Tex Thailand takes over area of Sattahip

Oil Tex Thailand has taken over berthing facilities, about 17,000
square meters/20,400 square yards of office and warehouse space and more
than 3,000 square meters/3,600 square yards of open storage at the Port of
Sattahip, Thailand.

Exolgan buys former Buenos Aires shipbuilder

Exolgan has bought Astilleros Alianza S.A., the bankrupt shipyard in
Buenos Aires, Argentina, for U.S.$7.5 million. The 25-hectare/62-acre yard
is a short distance from Exolgan's terminal at Dock Sud and will be used as
a logistics facility by Exologistica, a fellow company, for terminal
customers. Total investment will be U.S.$20 million.

Sulphur export terminal to open at Prince Rupert

Sulphur Corp. of Canada has announced it will build a Canadian$29
million/U.S.$20 million export facility at Prince Rupert, Nova Scotia. The
Ridley Island facility will receive liquid sulphur from Alberta, British
Columbia and Saskatchewan. There will be a storage facility for molten
sulphur, pelletizing equipment and transfer equipment. The first shipments
will be loaded in the first quarter of 1999. It is expected that 500,000
tons will be loaded the first year of operations.

Work at Stralsund begins

Extension of the southern area of the Port of Stralsund, Germany, has
begun. When completed, the extension will enable vessels of up to 8,000
tons to dock. Two new berths and new cranes will be added and the eastern
access to the port will be deepened 6.9 meters/23 feet and widened 70
meters/230 feet.

Cork to get new lead, zinc handling facility

Port of Cork Co. has been given planning approval to build a lead and
zinc storage facility at the Port of Cork, Ireland, by Cork Corp. The 4
million Irish punt/U.S.$5.6 million facility will handle exports from the
Lisheen mine in County Tipperary. It would handle 20,000 tons of zinc and
5,000 tons of lead with shipments on a weekly basis. The planned facility
will be enclosed and the lead and zinc will be moved to ships through a
conveyor system.

Mouchel involved in four new projects

Mouchel recently started work on four new port projects. In Jordan,
the company is designing a jetty for Jordan Phosphate Mines and Norsk Hydro
as part of a proposed U.S.$5000 fertilizer plant. The company is also
supervising work to build reclamation and seawalls for the Kuwait
Foundation for the Advancement of Science is consulting on the construction
of a new oil pier at the Mina al Ahmadi refinery. Finally, Mouchel is
designing the Qalhat liquefied natural gas terminal in Oman for Taisei
Corp.

Miami stevedores merge

Eller & Co. Inc. and International Terminal Operating Co. Inc. are
merging their stevedoring subsidiaries at the Port of Miami, it was
announced 11 June. Continental Stevedoring and Terminals Inc. and ITO Corp.
will form Eller-ITO Stevedoring Co. L.L.C. To enable the merger, Eller &
Co. bought Neal Harrington's 50 percent stake in Continental Stevedoring
and Terminals to become the sole owner. Harrington was one of three men
charged 3 June in a 10-count U.S. government indictment with stealing
U.S.$1.3 million from the Port of Miami to spend on personal products and
services. They were also charged with using the stolen money to donate
U.S.$196,824 to the Democratic National Committee in March 1994.
Harrington, a director at the stevedore, was charged with embezzlement and
theft. Eller & Co. said that the purchase and merger were planned before
Harrington was charged.

Emden gets new ro/ro ramp

The Port of Emden, Germany, has placed a new 256-ton ro/ro ramp in
service. The 30-meter/100-foot structure was built by Ravestein Container
Pontoon B.V. and is 10 meters/33 feet wide on land and 19 meters/62 feet
wide on the water side.

More on new berth at Welsh port

The Port of Mostyn, Wales, has started development of a new
120-meter/394-foot ro/ro berth. In the first phase, Christiani & Nielsen
will build the berth, which will have a depth of nine meters/30 feet, and
will also reclaim two hectares/five acres of land. The berth will be
completed in September.

Oregon, Washington examining deepening of channel

Oregon and Washington are undertaking a feasibility study to determine
if the Columbia River channel should be deepened from 12 meters/40 feet to
13 meters/43 feet.

Indian Ocean port state control governments

The governments that signed a memorandum of understanding on port
state control on 5 June in Pretoria, South Africa, are: Djibouti, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, India, Iran, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles,
South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania and Yemen.

Belgian, Indian ports to cooperate

Belgium's Antwerp Port Authority and India's Jawaharlal Nehru Port
Trust have formally established ties. The two will jointly develop programs
to encourage trade and exchange equipment and expertise.

Singapore authority to monitor Channel 16

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has taken over
responsibility for monitoring Channel 16 from Singapore Telecoms. Singapore
Port Operations Control, based at the Tanjong Pagar Complex, will be able
to listen for very high frequency radio distress messages on the channel
from as far as 50 kilometers/31 miles away.

Port of Oakland renames terminal for Ben Nutter

The Port of Oakland, Calif., on 17 June renamed its 12-berth Seventh
Street terminal the Ben Nutter Terminal. Ben Nutter was executive director
of the port from 1962 to 1977, when it became the second largest port in
the world in terms of container tonnage and container terminal acreage.
During the same period, container service to Europe was started and APL
shifted operations from San Francisco to Oakland.

Panama Canal update

As of 19 June, the maximum draft allowed in the Panama Canal is 11.58
meters/38.00 feet. Bulk carriers and tankers that do not have deck cargo
may be allowed to transit at 11.73 meters/38.50 feet on a case-by-case
basis.

At 0001 22 June, the canal will place Condition 2 in effect, having
accepted reservations under the condition as of 0900 19 June. Condition 1
has been in effect since 0001 6 June.

SHIPYARDS AND EQUIPMENT

Two directors bid for Swansea Dry Docks

Two directors at Swansea Dry Docks Ltd. have launched a management bid
to buy the company from Ugland International Holdings. A proposal by
Managing Director Robert Gray and Finance Director Paul Williams is now
under review by T.J. Heggeli & Co. Swansea Dry Docks has two dry docks, a
floating repair berth and several work areas. It can handle 30,000-dwt
ships. Ugland International Holdings bought the yard in 1993 and has spent
1.5 million British pounds/U.S.$2.5 million on improvements. The yard had
an operating loss last year of 500,000 pounds/U.S.$840,000.

Hijos de Barreras privatized

The first privatization of an Astilleros Espanoles S.A. shipyard has
been completed. Hijos de Barreras S.A. is now 50 percent owned by Naviera
del Odiel S.A. with a management group holding 30 percent, Albacora S.A. 10
percent and Garcia Calvo 10 percent. The buyers reportedly paud 750 million
Spanish pesetas/U.S.$4.93 million and will increase capital 450 million
pesetas/U.S.$3.00 million in the next three months. The new owners have
also taken on 2 billion pesetas/U.S.$13 million in long-term debt through a
loan by a local bank. Any profits in the next five years will be
reinvested. The shipyard is located in Vigo, Spain and has 355 personnel.
Hijos de Barreras can build new vessels up to 17,000-dwt with a length of
143 meters/469 feet and a beam of 24 meters/79 feet.

Imabari Zosen to build largest dock in Japan in 25 years

Imabari Zosen K.K. said 18 June it will start construction of a new
dock at is Saijo facility in Japan's Ehime prefecture later this month at a
cost of 10 billion Japanese yen/$73 million. It will be completed in
November 2000 and is the largest dock construction project by a Japanese
shipbuilder in 25 years, according to the firm. The new dock will be 420
meters/1,380 feet long and 89 meters/292 feet long with a 58,000-ton
capacity. Also at the yard, two 800-ton cranes will be added along with new
automated equipment. A dock at the company's shipyard in Kagawa prefecture
will be dismantled.

European Commission rules river project legal

The European Commission has announced that German government aid for a
barrage dyke on the Ems River to allow Jos. L. Meyer Werft GmbH & Co. to
build larger vessels is legal.

Review of Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre underway

French Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn has ordered a report on
the financial problems of Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre, which is trying
to complete three 37,000-dwt double-hull chemical tankers for Stolt Parcel
Tankers worth 1 billion French francs/U.S.$166 million. Gerard Piketty, a
senior civil servant with an engineering background, has been designated to
produce a preliminary report within two weeks. The tanker order is more
than a year late due to supply and technical problems for the
stainless-steel ships. One may be delivered by the end of the year with the
second in May and the third in late 1999 or early 2000. The French
government provided financial assistance in early 1997 to the shipyard that
may have totalled 300 million francs/U.S.$50.0 million.

U.S.G.A.O. starts review of U.S. Navy contract awards

The U.S. General Accounting Office has started an investigation into
how the U.S. Navy awards repair and modification work for its vessels. The
review was requested by Owen B. Pickett, D-Pa., a member of the U.S. House
of Representatives who is the ranking Democrat on the Military Research and
Development Subcommittee. The investigation is meant to determine if the
Navy has followed its own regulations for contract awards. It will also
report on any problems that prevent implementation of the procedures,
determine what effect the policies have on private shipyards and determine
what extent of the work performed privately has changed recently.

First quarter shipbuilding statistics

Lloyd's Register of Shipping reported recently that 2,548 ships of
55.2 million gross tons were on order worldwide as of the end of March.
Three months earlier, the figures were 2,604 ships of 56.6 million gross
tons. In the first quarter of the year, 2.34 million deadweight tons were
completed but 1.38 million deadweight tons ordered. Seventy-one
containerships totaling 150,843 TEUs were completed and 24 of 38,989 TEUs
ordered. Some 291 ships of 545,662 TEUs were on order. A total of 113
passenger vessels of 1.95 million gross tons in December increased to 113
of 2.45 million gross tons in March.

New Aker Maritime design for petroleum vessel

Aker Maritime has said it has developed a new concept for a drilling,
production and storage vessel that has bows at each end and no turret.
Depending on the equipment installed, the price will reportedly be between
600 million Norwegian kroner/U.S.$79.6 million and 1.4 billion
kroner/U.S.$186 million.

Yangming Marine Transport orders five containerships

Yangming Marine Transport Corp. has ordered five 5,200-TEU
containerships from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in South Korea. Two
will be subcontracted to China Shipbuilding Corp. at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, if
the shipbuidler can meet specifications and price requirements. The vessels
will be delivered in the second half of 2000 at about U.S.$60 million per
ship.

Norddeutsche Reederei in containership order

Norddeutsche Reederei has ordered three 4,800-TEU containerships from
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in South Korea.

Samsung Heavy Industries receives order for 104,000-dwt tanker

Ugland Nordic Shipping A/S has ordered a 104,000-dwt double-hulled
tanker from Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. The single-propeller motor
vessel will be able to carry 120,000 cubic meters/156,000 cubic yards of
cargo. Dimensions include a length of 246.5 meters/808.7 feet, a beam of 42
meters/138 feet and a draft of 14.7 meters/48.2 feet. The ship will be
classed DP 1 and reportedly cost U.S.$49 million. It will be delivered in
late 1999.

Services Technique Sedco Forex orders new rig

Caspian Shipyard Co. Ltd. and Keppel FELS Ltd. have received a
contract from Services Technique Sedco Forex for a jack-up rig that will
operate in the Caspian Sea down to 107 meters/350 feet. Caspian Shipyard
will undertake construction while Keppel FELS will provide engineering and
procurement.

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven to lengthen the Norwegian Majesty

Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven GmbH has received a contract from Norwegian
Cruise Line Ltd. to lengthen its Royal Majesty (Bahamian-registry 32,000-gt
passenger ship built in 1992) to accomodate 1,440 passengers instead of its
current 1,040. It will cost U.S.$53.3 million.

Reederei Thomas Schulte takes 15th and final ship

Aker MTW has delivered the 15th and final CC 1600 containership to
Reederei Thomas Schulte. The 1,600-TEU, 22,000-dwt vessel has been
chartered to Maersk Line for a weekly service between northern Europe and
western South America.

Second Far Eastern Shipping containership launched

The 30,000-ton containership Vladivostok was launched on 16 June for
Far Eastern Shipping Co. at Szczecin, Poland. It is the second of three
1,748-TEU ships and is 184 meters/604 feet long with a 25-meter/82-foot
beam. It will have a crew of 21. The Vladivostok will sail in the Pacific
Ocean with calls in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

U.S. military evaluates catamaran ferry

A planned evaluation of the 91-meter/300-foot catamaran ferry Devil
Cat by the U.S. military at Fort Eustis, Va., during its delivery voyage
was cancelled. Instead, on 9 June, more than 50 personnel, most of them
from the Maine National Guard, and six M998 High-Mobility Multi-Wheeled
Vehicles ("Humvees") and a five-ton truck boarded the ferry. The 350-dwt
ferry operates between Bar Harbor, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, with
its first voyage on 28 May. The U.S.$44 million vessel sails the route in
2.5 hours with 240 cars, four buses and 900 passengers. It is operated by
Bay Ferries Ltd. from May to October. During the delivery voyage, a U.S.
Navy technician collected data on the vessel's performance.

First Bingo 9000 hull delivered

New Dalian Shipyard in China has delivered the first Bingo 9000
platform hull to Ocean Rig.

Hanjin's second tanker christened

The Andhika Adinugraha was christened for Hanjin last week by Hanjin
Heavy Industries at its Yongdo Shipyard in Pusan, South Korea. It is the
company's second tanker. The 17,500-dwt ship will be chartered to Pertamina
for 12 years carrying petroleum.

EVENTS, INCIDENTS AND OPERATIONS

Strong Texan rescues four in the Pacific Ocean

At 0400 13 June, the three people aboard the 13-meter/44-foot sailing
vessel Golly Gee abandoned it 640 kilometers/400 miles east of Wake Island
in the Pacific Ocean. The two women and two men broadcast a distress
message and activated an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. At
1500, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130H Hercules from Coast Guard Air Station
Barbers Point, Hawaii, located the four in a liferaft and dropped a radio
to them. Two hours later, they were rescued by the Strong Texan
(U.S.-registry 1,382-gt, 2,766-dwt, 81.82-meter/268.4-foot ro/ro and
heavy-lift ship built in 1976 by Arnhem Scheeps in Arnhem, the Netherlands;
operated by Van Ommeren Shipping for the U.S. Military Sealift Command).

Cadet missing from training vessel in the Pacific Ocean

A 19-year-old cadet aboard the Oita Maru, a Japanese fisheries
training vessel, was reported missing 12 June in the Pacific Ocean.

Bombs found aboard ship in Trieste

Titan Maritime Industries Inc., removing scrap metal from the Sandra K
(18,675-dwt bulk carrier built in 1970, operated by Chekka Shipping S.A.)
on 16 June at Trieste, Italy, found 133 bombs.

Polish Coast Guard fires on Danish-registry ship

A Polish Coast Guard vessel fired warning shots at the West
(Danish-registry 1,150-dwt dry cargo ship built in 1961) on 18 June near
Swinoujscie, Poland, after it left port without necessary inspections. A
subsequent boarding found the crew to be intoxicated, according to the
Coast Guard. The vessel left port with the Coast Guard vessel in persuit
but did not stop despite radio and visual communications efforts as well as
the firing of 10 green flares. Five warning shots from a deck gun were then
fired and the West stopped. The West was escorted back to Swinoujscie for
an inspection.

Turkey says missile parts found on Maltese-registry ship

The Turkish Coast Guard found seven mobile missile launch pads 15 June
aboard the Natasha 1 (Maltese-registry 2,926-dwt ro/ro built in 1971,
operated by Misha Shipping Agency & Trade), which had been stopped at the
mouth of the Dardanelles Strait the previous night near Gallipoli, Turkey.
The Turkish government has said it believes the equipment is part of
several 3-RK S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems being transported to
Cyprus. Turkey has said in the past it would take military action if the
missiles are installed by Cyprus, calling them a threat to Northern Cyprus
and Turkey. The island of Cyprus has been divided since Turkey landed
military forces in 1974 following a failed coup attempt by suporters of a
union with Greece, Turkey's historical rival. Only Turkey has recognized
Northern Cyprus as a state. It is unclear where the missile parts were
being taken, as the ship's manifest listed only 142 tractors. It had sailed
from Ilyichevsk, Ukraine, for Alexandria, Egypt. Companies affiliated with
the Natasha 1 said the cargo had been declared. Several boxes, believed to
be linked to the pads, were also found. Last week, Rosvooruzheniye, a
Russian weapons exporter, said the S-300 systems would be shipped in
between mid-July and mid-August. The Natasha 1 was released at 0600 16 June
after 32 hours in detention.

Russia seizes vessel carrying counterfeit excise stamps

The Russian government on 13 June detained the Kafa and seized about
one million excise stamps for Russian alcohol products. The vessel was
boarded in Russian territorial waters of the Black Sea and the stamps were
found in bags hidden under a wooden floor. The stamps, with a face value of
7 million Russian rubles/U.S.$1.1 million, are likely counterfeit,
according to the government. The ship was sailing from Poti, Georgia, to
Ukraine when it called at Novorossiysk, Russia, for water. Before docking,
the vessel was searched. The Kafa is now in the custody of the port.

U.S. Coast Guard evacuations

A U.S. Coast Guard HH-60J Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air
Station Elizabeth City, N.C., airlifted a woman from the Horizon (5,500-dwt
passenger ship built in 1990, operated by Celebrity Cruises Inc.) at 1430
13 June during a storm, 448 kilometers/280 miles east of Elizabeth City.
Margaret Rothwell, 66, of Pine Hill, N.J., complained of chest pain and
shortness of breath as the Horizon sailed from Bermuda to Philadelphia. The
helicopter landed at U.S. Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and she was taken to
Norfolk Sentara Hospital.

A 33-year-old crewmember of the 65.8-meter/216-foot tuna seiner
Roberto M. suffered a severely lacerated foot on 14 June, 1,665
kilometers/1,040 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A Coast Guard
HC-130H Hercules from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, Calif., flew
three members of the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing at
Moffet Federal Field, Calif., to the vessel. The three parachuted to the
Roberto M. just after 1700 15 June. The Coast Guard's Hamilton-class
High-Endurance Cutter U.S.C.G.C. Mellon (WHEC 717) then took the injured
crewmember and the three rescue personnel aboard. The crewmember was flown
by the ship's HH-65A Dolphin helicopter to Isla Socorro, Mexico, and
another aircraft flew the crewmember to San Diego.

A Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak,
Alaska, airlifted a 45-year-old man from the fishing vessel Kiavak on 15
June in Kupreanof Strait north of Kodiak Island. Chris Burns suffered an
injury to his artificial hip and went into shock with involuntary muscle
spasms. Burns was evacuated at 1128 and taken to Spruce Cape on Kodiak
Island, where he was taken by ambulance to Providence Kodiak Island
Hospital.

A Jayhawk airlifted a 57-year-old woman from the Norwegian Majesty
(2,700-dwt passenger ship built in 1992) at 0400 16 June, 104 kilometers/65
miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass. The woman suffered a stroke and was
taken to Hyannis, Mass., by a helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Cape
Cod, Mass.

VESSEL TRANSFERS

Dragon Oil buys new rig

Dragon Oil has purchase the Boldon 61 platform rig for U.S.$3.9
million. It will be used in the Caspian Sea.

B+B Dredging acquires new dredger

B+B Dredging Corp. has bought a trailing arm hopper dredger with a
912-cubic-meter/1,200-cubic-yard capacity from Gulf Coast Trailing Co. The
new dredger will replace the Columbus (2,923-gt, 94.55-meter/310.2-foot
dredging vessel built in 1944) on the U.S. Great Lakes. The Columbus is now
operating for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Mobile, Ala.

Smaland transfers registry

Johann Hermann Rarr has transferred the registry of the Smaland
(3,219-dwt general cargo ship built in 1983) from Tuvalu to Cyprus and its
homeport has been changed from Funafoti to Limassol. The changes were made
recently in Bremerhaven, Germany.

VESSEL CASUALTIES

General cargo ship, fishing vessel collide; five missing

The five crewmembers of the Silvery Sea (265-gt trawler) are missing
after it sank following a collision with the Merkur (German-registry
4,155-dwt general cargo ship built in 1990, operated by Jan-Gerd Bartels)
off western Denmark on 14 June. An empty liferaft and several pieces of
debris were found. The five have been identified as Michael Dyer, Alan
Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie, Alex Manson and William Tait. Four are from
the area around Mallaig, Scotland, and one was from Fraserburgh, Scotland.
The Silvery Sea was sailing to Esbjerg, Denmark, with sand eels while the
Merkur was sailing from Germany to Norway when the collision occurred in
international waters 64 kilometers/40 miles offshore. Weather conditions
included moderate seas and good visibility. The Merkur called at Esbjerg
early 15 June for temporary repairs and discharge of several containers.
The ship was hit a quarter way down the port side and suffered a hole as
large as three square meters/3.6 square yards, which allowed flooding of
the No. 1 cargo hold. Three pumps were lowered to the ship by a helicopter.
The Merkur will sail to Germany after repairs.

Syrian-registry ship sinks at Yemen port

The Alimad (Syrian-registry 2,706-gt motor general cargo ship)
capsized and sank late 12 June at the anchorage at Mukalla, Yemen, at 14
degrees 31 minutes north, 49 degrees 08 minutes east. All crewmembers were
rescued. The ship sailed from Gizan, Saudi Arabia, with 3,800 tons of
bagged cement. There were no injuries. According to the Port of Mukalla,
the Alimad anchored about 300 meters/1,000 feet from the port to allow two
other vessels to be worked. Less than three hours later, it had sunk. Early
last week, a vessel with 3,000 tons of flour ran aground on a breakwater in
Mukalla in high winds. It spilled a large amount of diesel fuel.

Collision at Keelung sinks vessel at dock

The Bunga Tanjung (Malaysian-registry 18,453-gt, 29,980-dwt motor
tanker built in 1991, operated by Malaysia International Shipping Corp.
Bhd.), maneuvering at a wharf in Keelung, Taiwan, on 17 June, collided with
the Wei Fong No. 1 (Taiwanese-registry), which was loaded with limestone.
The Wei Fong No. 1 sank at the wharf. There were no injuries.

Area around St. Lawrence Seaway lock evacuated after tanker spills xylene

The Mountain Blossom (Bahamian-registry 11,598-gt, 19,993-dwt,
160.8-meter/527.6-foot motor tanker built in 1986, operated by Laurin
Maritime (America) Inc.) allided with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Lock of the
St. Lawrence Seaway near Massena, N.Y., at 1745 17 June. The vessel
suffered a crack in its No. 1 starboard wing tank above the waterline. The
tanker was sailing to Montreal with xylene and 190 liters/50 gallons
spilled. The visitors center at the lock was evacuated and under an
emergency response plan, the local U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety
Detachment set-up an incident command center while the Massena Fire
Department and the New York State Police established a
0.8-kilometer/0.5-mile evacuation area. A contractor was hired to remove
the spilled xylene while the Mountain Blossom was ordered to remain in
Massena. Alcohol testing of the pilot and crew was negative.

Collision at Japanese port damages two containerships

The Kuo Hsin (Panamanian-registry 15,122-gt, 18,235-dwt containership
built in 1990, operated by Cheng Lie Navigation Co. Ltd.) and the Sea
Ranger (Myanmar-registry 24,415-gt, 25,298-dwt containership built in 1974,
operated by Myanmar Navigation Corp.) collided 13 June at Tanegashima,
Japan. The Kuo Hsin was sailing from Keelung, Taiwan, to Tokuyama, Japan,
with containers while the Sea Ranger was sailing from Tokyo to Hong Kong
with containers. The Kuo Hsin suffered severe damage to its starboard hull
including a leak from a damaged fuel tank. It returned to Keelung. The Sea
Ranger had severe starboard hull plating damage, including around the
forepeak tank. It sailed to Sasebo, Japan, on 14 June for temporary
repairs.

Lidiya anchors off Isle of Wight with flooding

The Lidiya (Cambodian-registry 2,736-gt, 3,930-dwt motor bulk carrier
built in 1967, operated by Altex Shipping Co. Ltd.) had flooding its No. 1
and 4 cargo holds early 13 June at 50 degrees 23.8 minutes north, 01
degrees 10.4 minutes west, and anchored off England's Isle of Wight at 50
degrees 37.5 minutes north, 01 degrees 06 minutes west. It was sailing to
Portugal with brash ash.

Four injured as ferry hits dock in Seattle

The Sealth (1,910-dwt ferry built in 1982, operated by Washington
State Ferries) hit a dock in Seattle on 12 June, injuring four passengers.
The vessel, which carries 1,000 passengers and 100 vehicles, had arrived
from Bremerton, Wash., at 0950. Four people had minor injuries. The dock
suffered severe damage but the Sealth was not significantly damaged.

Bulk carrier loaded with ore grounds off Quebec

The Cargo Endurance (Liberian-registry 26,412-gt, 45,968-dwt motor
bulk carrier built in 1978, operated by L&W Shipping Agency S.A.) ran
aground 19 June at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River near
Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec. The ship was carrying ilmenite ore to New
Orleans and grounded near its No. 2 cargo hold. The Cargo Endurance
refloated on its own the same day without damage.

Australian-registry fishing vessel loses power

The Sil (Australian-registry 2,156-gt stern-trawling fish processing
ship) has been disabled at 53 degrees 06 minutes south, 73 degrees 31
minutes east, 80 kilometers/50 miles northwest of Heard Island, Australia.
The vessel's nets fouled its propellers.

Tanker drifts off India

A tanker lost power 12 June in the Bay of Bengal while sailing from
Singapore to Chennai, India. It was towed to Chennai on 18 June with only
the master and chief engineer aboard. The Belize-registry ship has a cargo
of 2,280 tons of fuel oil. The vessel reportedly developed hull cracks and
before the tow by Indian Coast Guard vessels, a generator was transferred
to the ship and some temporary hull repairs were made in the engine room.

Vessel loses fuel in Michigan

The St. Clair (27,482-gt, 22,681-nt, 235-meter/770-foot motor bulk
carrier built in 1976 by Bay Shipbuilding Corp. at Sturgeon Bay, Wis.;
operated by American Steamship Co.) lost 2,280 liters/600 gallons of diesel
fuel at Escanaba, Mich., on 12 June. The spill was contained.

Pump provided to flooding vessel off Alaska

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter provided a pump to the 12-meter/39-foot
fishing vessel Lady Leona on 17 June, 96 kilometers/60 miles southeast of
Cordova, Alaska. The vessel hit a rock in Controller Bay and began
flooding. The fishing vessel Sea Run escorted the Lady Leona to Cordova,
where they arrived at 0845 18 June.