Maritime news

An important milestone was reached on 23rd of February, 2013 with the semi-launch of the 1st Triple-E at the shipyard in Okpo, Korea.

In order to make room for accomplishing the next vessels, the drydock was filled with water and the partially finished hull towed into the bay. A bulkhead wall sealed off the end to keep this ‘half vessel’ dry during the exercise. Fortunately, everything went as scheduled, and the huge vessel could return to the dock where the final assembly is going to take place. The vessel is well set to be ready for the delivery deadline of 28th of June, 2013.

The drydock is sealed off by heavy steel walls with a system of ballast tanks that make it potential to open and close the gate. To fill the dock, the gates are opened and the water rushes in at a rate of 2,500 cubic meters of water per minute. It takes 4 hours before the dock is sufficiently filled, and the gate can be towed away. In the reverse process, a series of pumps empty the drydock again so work on the vessel may continue.

by VesselFinder

General cargo ship Yongxing, that belongs to Chinese-Polish joint company, has been attacked by pirates in Gulf of Aden on 20th of May, 2013 at around 12:30 UTC in position 13 11N 48 54E, some 45 nautical miles off Yemen coast.

The attacked freighter ship escaped pirates and continued its sailing to port of Jeddah from port of Shanghai. No other details available.

by VesselFinder

The container shipping arm of Singapore’ Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), APL, has taken its 3rd of ten 14,000-TEU vessels constructed by Hyundai Samho for service on its Far East-Europe service.

American President Line is to deploy the suezmax ultra large container vessels, the APL Raffles, on Loop 7 of the G6 Asia-North Europe service. Of the 2 already delivered, the APL Temasek, is deployed on Loop 4 of the same service while the other vessel went to MOL as MOL Quest.

The units from this series may do a speed of 23 knots, propelled by a completely electronically-controlled slow speed engine of 63,910 kW assembled by Hyundai under licence from MAN-B&W (model S90ME-C9 in eleven cylinder version).

by VesselFinder

The captains that are going to take charge of the Triple-E vessels should prepare for the new ship and its twin-skeg setup that is different from the single engine and propeller on the Es-class ships (and other container ships).

They do this with the assistance of the same bridge simulation programme that is also made available to the pilots and tug vessel captains in the ports where the Triple-Es vessels are going to be calling.

In a press release, 2 of the captains that are soon going to be at the helm of a new Triple-Es ship, explain how the bridge simulation prepares them for the task ahead and what the major differences are among the current largest ships of the fleet of MAERSK, the E-class, and the new Triple-Es.

by VesselFinder

2 incidents off the UK coast led to the dead of 4,000 sea birds. Wildlife conservation charities are concerned and want the chemical (Polyisobutene) PIB hazard classification status to be reviewed.
Uses of the chemical: Fuel and lubricant additive, Explosives, Sporting equipment, Gas masks and chemical agent protection, Chewing gum, Tires and more.

It is known that the chemical is not directly toxic to sea birds but the polyisobutene becomes sticky when is in contact with water.
The plumage of sea birds is affected and the birds have difficulties with their movement and feeding.

The law allows now small quantities to be discharged in certain conditions. The threat on marine eco-systems has not to be underestimated.

by VesselFinder