World Maritime Market
THE New World Alliance (TNWA) carriers - APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) - and CMA CGM have announced a new joint West Mediterranean (MED). The new service offers shippers access and fast transit times to the growing Middle East and Mediterranean regions.
Eight vessels will be deployed on the service. TNWA will operate six vessels while CMA CGM will operate two vessels. Capacity for these eight ships will be between 4,000 and 4,500 TEU. Port rotation for the MED service is: Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Singapore, Port Klang, Damietta, Genoa, Barcelona, Fos , Damietta, Jeddah, Port Klang, Singapore, Chiwan and Shanghai.
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CONTAINER shipping lines MISC, NYK, OOCL, MOL and PIL are combining the current NZM and NZS services into a single loop, the NZX service. The service will be operated with five 2,800 TEU vessels (two from PIL and one each from MOL, NYK, and OOCL). The new rotation includes fixed-day weekly port calls at Singapore - Port Klang - Brisbane - Auckland - Lyttelton - Wellington - Napier - Tauranga - Brisbane - Singapore. MISC will retain its participation in this service.
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GERMAN-based carrier Hamburg Sud and Brazilian associate Aliance are raising rates. A statement says: “Due to the sharp rise in operating costs in their services between Europe and the East Coast of South America Hamburg Sud and Alianca have decided to increase their rates by euros 150 per TEU with an effective date of 15 May 2008. The first sailings for which the new freight rates will apply are: on 16 May Monte Rosa Voy. 821s from Rotterdam on 19 May CMA CGM lguacu Voy. 821s from Rotterdam.
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MITSUI OSK Lines has signed a time charter agreement with Gulf LPG Transport Company of Qatar for the first, in a series. of four LPG carriers currently being built at the Hyundai Heavy Industries yard in South Korea. The 82,000 cu m Bu Sidra was delivered. A second vessel, the Umm Laqhab will be delivered in July of this year and will also be chartered to MOL. The third and fourth vessels are due in late 2008 and early 2009, respectively. The service is being run under a Joint Operating Venture between the companies. Gulf LPG is a jointly established limited liability company (LLC) between Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (NAKILAT) and Qatar Shipping company (Q-ship) Gulf LPG is located in Qatar.
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DNV Maritime says that it has secured 50% of the Middle East and Indian markets for the classification of new vessels on order or being built. This represents 39% of the total tonnage of vessels currently operating in the region. DNV notes: "With windfall profits, cash- rich oil companies are also driving the demand for Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs( of various types of which DNV has classified 300 currently on order worldwide.
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ITALY- based classification society RINA has introduced a new voluntary notation which will help shipowners meet the new international standards for crew accommodation.
The notation, ILODESIGN will ensure compliance with the ship construction and accommodation layout and outfitting requirements of the new ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
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FRENCH-based international classification society Bureau Veritas has developed guidelines intended to reduce the number of accidents to seafarers and surveyors during the inspection and maintenance of ships structures. The guidelines will help yards to design in safety in detail.
World Maritime Market
