Editorial

A few changes and some interesting developments

As we reported last month the numbers of visitors have risen again, maintaining a 15% month on month rate of increase. We have more positive feedback from readers and more requests to place advertising. We have had to review the system by which we rotate adverts so that we give fair coverage to all and can easily see who has now had the offered 3 months of space. This is necessary to enable us to make space for the new advertising that needs to come online. IN fact we have a current backlog of adverts waiting to be placed. This should clear during May and June.  Advertising placement is now chargeable but the prices are at a low level which is really not a difficult decision for anyone.

In response to reader requests we have now creeatd the offshore section in the site and thanks to companies like Aker Solutions we have a lot of news in there already; good news in most cases.

We are looking at linking with a Baltic Sea charity and will press this forward when we have reviewed the volumes of advertising by the end of June. At this stage it is promising.

Out of area visitors - Baltic expertise in demand

We have noted that we have a steady increase in site visitors from outside the Baltic area, notably China, Indonesia, Russia and the USA. It is fair to say that the maritime industry expertise around the Baltic is something which the maritime sectors in the above country seek to use in their shipbuilding and repair operations. This observation was expected when we started the project as it enables a global audience to view what is on offer in our region. We would especially welcome contact with companies offering technical innovations to the industry so we can run features on the expertise around us. This is especially important for the smaller companies who have something to offer beyond the big global players.

Growing concern for the availability of LS fuel

It can be see from the latest content that there is spreading concern around the globe concerning the availability of low sulphur fuel when the next stage of emissions regulations become applicable. It is surprising that many authorities who might have something concrete to say on the subject have done a good job of distancing themselves from the issue.

Given that we are in a time of economic squeeze, lower volumes, limited growth or stagnation and cutting costs in every direction, it still seems short sighted to be pressing ahead with imposition of the new regulations when the outcome will be significantly higher shipping costs, (assuming there will be fuel available) and the inevitable knock-on effect on economies in many areas where the price hike will have to be passed on one way or another. Even a high school economist can work out the consequences.

It is unlikely that you will find anyone who does not support the good intentions of the regulations toward the environment but you will find many who are involved in or related to the maritime sector asking whether this has been well handled and well informed. Applying yet more progressive introduction would help, especially in recognition of the need to ensure fuel supply and at prices which won't further damage fragile economies. Also, and especially in the Baltic, to what extent is the maritime sector really damaging the local environment when compared to agricultural product run-off and continuing outflow of industrial and human waste around the Baltic. The desert at the bottom of the Baltic is not the sole creation of shipping. Perhaps we can hear some more informed opinions on this topical issue so that we might all feel less inclined to ask questions that should have been clearly and very publicly answered already.

Any comments or if you want to write a full piece on the issues facing the maritime sector in the Baltic then please feel free to get in touch at editorial@maritimenorth.com.

Around the region

Rolls-Royce to design and power high tech subsea construction vessel
Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has been selected by Island Offshore to design, power and equip an advanced subsea construction vessel. Read more/...

Aker Solutions secures NOK 470m subsea contract from Total

Aker Solutions has been awarded a contract by Total E&P Angola, to deliver seven new subsea tree systems to the Dalia field located offshore Angola. Contract value is approximately NOK 470 million, the Company said Friday. Read more/...

Muuga CT container traffic jumps 33 percent in Jan-Apr 2012

Container throughput at AS Muuga CT (subsidiary of Transiidikeskuse AS) in January-April 2012 totaled 77,290 TEUs, a 33-percent spike from the same period of last year, Transiidikeskuse AS said. Read more/...

Update to GL Rules for Seagoing and Naval Ships
Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has released updates to its Rules for Seagoing Ships and Naval Vessels. The updated Rules came into effect on 1 May 2012. Read more/...

Nordic Yards starts construction work on third offshore transformer platform Sylwin alpha

- First steel blank cut made at Warnemünde
- Largest offshore transformer platform of its type currently under construction worldwide
- SylWin alpha will be installed west of Sylt to provide the grid connection for DanTysk and Butendiek offshore wind farms    Read more/...

Aker Solutions gathers and strengthens CO2 expertise

Aker Solutions is extending and strengthening the company's long-term commitment to the treatment of CO2 from industrial sources by taking full ownership of Aker Clean Carbon. Read more/...

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has today received an order from Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co, Ltd. to design and equip four deepwater platform supply vessels. Read more/...

Aker Solutions wins Snorre A Drilling Facilities contract

Aker Solutions has been awarded a contract by Statoil to deliver replacement and upgrading of the drilling equipment and systems on the Snorre A platform in the North Sea. Read more/...

Lithuanian port receives European funding boost
Regulators have authorised approximately $24 million of public financing for a new ferry terminal at Klaipeda, Lithuania. Read more/...

Logistics company Katoen Natie will build a distribution centre in Muuga
Estonian state-owned port operator AS Tallinna Sadam and one of the world's largest logistics firms Katoen Natie-owned Unieveem Eesti signed a cooperation agreement on building a warehouse complex and distribution centre in the Muuga Port, costing 16 million euros. Read more/...

Greater Protection for the Baltic Sea

Nord Stream plans the establishment of an international nature conservation foundation
The protection of the Baltic Sea will be further expanded: this spring, Nord Stream AG intends to establish an international nature conservation foundation for the Baltic Sea. Read more/...

Taking ocean freight to new levels at Damco

International logistics professional Martin Sieg, a long time ocean freight expert, has taken responsibility for ocean freight at Damco. Martin Sieg joins Damco at a time of ambitious growth plans, where the ocean product will play an integral part. Read more/...

Get Norden in the palm of your hand
Now NORDEN’s website www.ds-norden.com has a little sister, a compact version, adapted to visitors from mobile units such as iPhones and iPads. Read more/...

German cruise ports promote at the Seatrade cruise convention in Miami
Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft Rostock is taking part in the largest international trade fair for the cruise shipping industry – the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention – in Miami (USA) from 12 – 15 March. Read more/...

Rolls-Royce wins Environship order to feed Norwegian fish farms
Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has won a second order for a vessel from its award winning Environship range. Read more/...

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Canadian Procurement Agency PWGSC Sign Joint Support Ship Design Study Contract
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) a leading European systems house providing submarines and naval surface ships and Canada’s procurement agency PWGSC have signed a contract in Hamburg for a multiphase design study for the Canadian Navy’s next generation Joint Support Ship (JSS). Read more/...

Ferry passengers stimulate retail business and the tourist industry

The approximately two million passengers recorded every year on the four ferry lines operating to and from Rostock spend more than Euro 41 million at the seaport, in the Hanseatic City of Rostock and in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Read more/...

Norden receives Information Prize for 2011 from The Danish Society of Financial Analysts (DDF).

On 12 January, Norden received the Information Prize for 2011 from the Danish Society of Financial Analysts. Read more/...

Hamworthy Krystallon signs contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries for full scrubber system on VLGC

Hamworthy Krystallon, the leading marine scrubbing technology manufacturer, signed a significant contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the worldʼs biggest shipyard. The contract will see Hamworthy Krystallon deliver a scrubber system on a Liquified Petroleum Gas tanker being constructed for Solvang ASA. The 84.000 cubic meter (cbm) VLGC will have the worldʼs first full vessel scrubber system. Read more/...

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard to build an Innovative Multipurpose Emergency and Rescue Vessel for Russian Ministry of Transport

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard has been awarded a contract to build a multipurpose emergency and rescue vessel for Russian Ministry of Transport. The contract has been awarded together with Shipyard Yantar JSC. The value of the order is about EUR 76 million.  Read more/...

BLRT Grupp delivers world’s largest gas-powered ferry

On 14 December 2011 in Ålesund, Norway, a naming ceremony for MF Boknafjord, the world’s largest gas ferry,took place. Read more/...

Maersk Line Leads Fuel Switch at the Port of Virginia

Norfolk, VA, 26 January, 2012

Maersk Line will switch to low-sulfur fuel while at berth for all of its containerships calling the Port of Virginia starting in February. This fuel switch program will help improve air quality in the greater Hampton Roads area by significantly reducing emissions of sulfur and nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Read more/..

Features Section

 

Disney Cruise Line takes the helm and prepares for the journey home to Florida Disney Cruise Line took possession of Disney Fantasy, its newest ship, on Friday 9 February  from the Meyer Werft shipyard in a traditional maritime ceremony aboard the ship. The Meyer Werft flag was lowered, while the Disney Cruise Line flag was raised, transferring ownership from the shipbuilder to Disney. Read the story/...

Is Logistics facing a fair challenge? While the consumer may not recognise the logistics involved in the arrival of the new washing machine, the new car or the latest book, logistics has played a major part in the procurement and satisfactory fulfillment of the customer's order. A manufacturer's guarantee of the delivery of something to someone at the right time, in the right condition and at the best price (delivery costs often absorbed by the manufacturer) can be a key factor in the decision to buy. In production, industries cannot afford to sit on massive stocks of parts so the "just in time" concept and practice of supply has been around for years. Read the feature/...

pictures courtesy of Dachser PR

Finnlines looks forward to meeting challenges   We interview Finnlines President and CEO, Uwe Bakosch, who spells out his vision and actions to make Finnlines a success in these challenging times.   In 2009 one might have questioned if there was a safe future for Finnlines in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Now with third quarter 2011 results showing positive numbers, Uwe Bakosch explains his strategy for turning round the company with a real sense of optimism for the future, no matter what the challenges. Read the feature/...

Small, impressive and very fast - Dockstavarvet - a good example of the smaller specialist boat builders important to the maritime economy

While so many of the large scale maritime projects and operations occupy the headlines in the industry news, it is worth looking at how the smaller specialist boat builders provide a sizeable contribution to the maritime economy in the region.   Dockstavarvet are just about completing delivery of an order for six pilot boats ordered by the German Government through Fachstelle Maschinenwesen Nord. These are impressive working boats which add to their portfolio of small, fast and well equipped specialist boats. Read the feature/...

 

Maritime North print and web editions

Some readers have asked about the relationship between this web site and that of the existing print magazine, Maritime North. This is the website edition of Maritime North and the existing print magazine web address is now pointing to this website.