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ICB Tankers Deal Boosts Weeks' Ship Sales

Greek shipowner John Angel-icoussis' acquisition of four ICB tankers last week was the highlight of a busier market, Allied Shipbroking Inc. said in its latest ship sales report. Angelicoussis paid $189 million in total for the Mindoro (1995-built, 300,294-deadweight tons), the Irian (1992, 286,006-dwt), the Ambon (1992, 285,771-dwt) and the Flores (1995, 284,410-dwt). Aegean Marine Petroleum, also of Greece, paid $2.5 million to buy the 1976 Norwegian-built tanker Maersk Ascension (60,810-dwt). Italian buyers also picked up two tankers last week. Gemarfin paid $8.75 million for the 1982 Japanese-built Meandros (40,632-dwt) while unknown Italian buyers paid $480,000 at an auction in the U.S. for the 1977 Italian-constructed Campo Duran (30,572-dwt). Other tankers sold last week were the 1993 South Korean-built Nathalie SIF (9,176-dwt) by Ramona of Sweden for $14 million and the 1970 British-constructed Stella Orion (5,093-dwt) taken by unknown buyers at an auction for $290,000. Two gas tankers were also sold last week, according to the Greek broker. Olympi of Chile purchased the 1968 French-built Mundogas Europe for $4 million including three years time charter at $9,000 a day, and MC Shipping based in Monaco bought the 1990 Japanese-built Leo Gas (4,316-dwt) for $4.8 million. Greek shipowners also bought heavily last week into bulk carriers, acquiring four of the six vessels sold.

Bulker, Freighter Collide

The Panama-flag bulker China Prospect was involved in a collision on January 2, off Flushing, Netherlands, with the German-flag freighter Veerseborg, Reuters reported. The 45,260 dwt China Prospect, bound for Flushing with a cargo of coal, had a three m hole one m below the waterline and was still outside the port. Damage to the 8,667 dwt Veersborg was unknown.

Britain Prepares For Next Anticipated Computer Glitch

British maritime authorities have reportedly chartered winter tugboats early to help head off a possible shipping disaster anticipated on Thursday - the ninth day of the ninth month, 1999. The date entry "9/9/99" is a "stop file" in some old computers - a command that could shut down systems on an unknown number of ships plying the open seas, Maritime and Coastguard Agency officials said. The failure of navigation or other operations on large ships is the main concern for the MCA when the

Impounded Ship Escapes

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority discovered on Thursday that an impounded Romanian cargo ship had escaped and its whereabouts were unknown. They said the Romanian-flagged Sapphire had been impounded under a court order in February after its owners failed to pay $204,000 in port and transit fees to the authority. There were 23 sailors aboard the 10,046-gt ship. Its cargo included timber.

Barge Capsizes

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Press Release stating that the tank barge that struck an unknown submerged object in the Gulf of Mexico has capsized. Salvage and spill response operations continue. The agency also issued a Photo Release of the capsized barge.

Daewoo To Split Into Three Units

South Korea's Daewoo Heavy Industries Co apparently plans to split into three units on October 23, pending an approval from its board of directors. It's unknown at present how the spin off will effect the world's second largest shipbuilder. The company planned to divide its shipbuilding and machinery operations and form a third company to manage its debts. The machinery and shipbuilding units are expected to list separately around December 20

Anchor Caused ’04 Delaware River Oil Spill

The U.S. Coast Guard announced the cause of the November 2004 oil spill in the Delaware River, saying a submerged 18,000-pound anchor of unknown origin caused the gash in the hulking Greek tanker, the Athos I. The other objects that had been suspected in the accident - a pump casing, a large concrete block, an 11-ton propeller - have been cleared of all charges. It was a costly accident, both financially and environmentally

Malaysia, Ship Robbed at Anchor

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an incident alert stating that a chemical tanker anchored at night off southeast Malaysia was boarded by an unknown number of robbers, who stole some engine spare parts. Masters are reminded to maintain vigilance and to adopt precautionary measures when anchored in the area. (3/11/10). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

Japanese Fishing Boat Derelict Approaching Alaska

Coast Guard monitoring Japanese tsunami drifter as it nears the Alaskan coast A derelict Japanese ship dislodged by last year’s massive tsunami is drifting toward Alaska, the Coast Guard said. The shrimping vessel was floating slowly northwest in the Gulf of Alaska about 125 miles west of the nearest point of land — Forrester Island outside the Dixon Entrance, a maritime transportation corridor separating U.S. and Canada jurisdictions

Sunken Fishing Vessel Identified 8,920-ft Down

The Coast Guard has identified a sunken fishing vessel missing since 1972. The Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel Falkor in concert with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management found an unknown sonar target object December 2012, and sent  a remote operating vehicle (ROV) to investigate.   The fishing vessel Katmai was discovered in 8,920 feet of water approximately 200 miles offshore.  After receiving data of the discovery from BOEM, the U.S