Rotterdam Rules
UN Review of Maritime Transport 2009
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its Review of Maritime Transport 2009, suggesting that the global economic downturn and financial crisis slowed growth in world seaborne trade, while an increase in the supply of vessels has kept freight rates depressed: The year 2008 marked a major turning point in the history of the world economy and trade. A tightening of credit brought about by the global financial crisis and reduced demand for goods and shipping services lead to a decelerated growth in international seaborne trade in 2008. At the same time, the supply of new vessels continued to grow. This growth was the result of vessel orders placed before the financial crisis, when the industry was still expecting continuing high growth rates in demand - which did not materialize. As the world's shipping capacity continues to increase, the industry finds itself confronted with a surge of oversupply and tumbling freight rates. These challenges are further compounded by other developments, including maritime security at sea and the need to address the climate change challenge. The Review of Maritime Transport is an annual publication prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat. Over 80% of international trade in goods is carried by sea, and the Review provides valuable statistical information on this sector as well as other transport modes. Key developments reported in this year's Review
Star Princess Opens in Rotterdam
On May 12 the Star Princess arrived at Rotterdam at 9.30 a.m. With this the Rotterdam cruise season is officially opened. The ship owned by the American shipping company Princess is almost as big as the biggest cruise ship in the world; the Queen Mary 2 and had 2600 passengers aboard. It came from Le Havre and headed for Oslo the same night around seven o’clock. The Star Princess is one of the nine ships owned by Princess calling in at Rotterdam
Port of Rotterdam Selects New U.S. Rep
RMPM has appointed Mr. Michel Heeneman as its new Rotterdam Representative in the USA. Heeneman (35) is from Dutch origin but lives since his university training in the USA. Since 1993 he worked for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, Nedlloyd Flowmasters (Danzas Corporation) and Road Air/Phoenix International. The USA Rotterdam Desk will be transferred from New York to Chicago. Adress: Port of Rotterdam, 8770 West Bryn Mawr - 13th floor, Chicago, IL 60631. Tel. 001 773 867 8060
Rotterdam Harbor Dues Rise
Port senator Wim van Sluis will propose the Rotterdam Municipal Council to rise the harbor dues 2004 with two percent. This equals the rate of inflation. Last two years the dues were frozen to support the rate-pressed shipping industry and the competitiveness of the port. According to mr. Van Sluis the condition of the shipping industry has improved so much that a rise should be possible. He came to this conclusion after a/o consulting the
W&O Opens Second European Facility
W&O, the United States’ largest supplier of marine valves, pipe, fittings, engineered products and valve automation solutions, opened its newest facility in the Port of Rotterdam in The Netherlands, expanding global availability of products and services to better serve European and Asian customers. The new facility in Rotterdam is strategically located in the geographic center of the Port of Rotterdam complex for the efficient delivery of services and distribution of
Rotterdam, Gothenburg Join to Speed Up LNG Bunker Supply
The largest port in Europe & the largest port in Scandinavia, sign an alliance to push availability of LNG as maritime fuel. The Port of Rotterdam and the Port of Gothenburg both located within the SECA area in northern Europe where stricter rules governing sulphur in maritime fuel are due to be introduced in 2015 aim is to have infrastructure for LNG bunkering available once the sulphur regulations come into effect.
Rotterdam Port Volume Dips In First Half
The volume of goods shipped through Rotterdam port in the first six months of 1999 reportedly fell 3.7 percent from levels recorded a year ago to 151.6 million tons.
NOL to Help Develop a New Container Terminal
Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) has been advised by the Port of Rotterdam that a consortium comprising NOL, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mitsui OSK Lines, DP World and CMA CGM has been awarded the right to equip and operate the first container terminal to be developed at Maasvlakte 2 in Rotterdam. The 156 hectare terminal will have a capacity of around 4 million TEU and is expected to be operational in 2013. NOL’s share of the consortium will be 20%.
AKD Prinsen Van Wijmen Expands Transport Law Team
AKD Prinsen Van Wijmen, one of the largest law firms in the Netherlands, is expanding its transport law team. Effective October 15, three partners and three associates are joining AKD from the Rotterdam office of law firm NautaDutilh. The three partners joining AKD are Vincent de Brauw, Erik Klinkhamer and Frans de Vries Lentsch. Also making the move are Emily Derogee van Roosmalen, who heads up the Netherlands arbitration platform
De Vries State Harbour Master of Rotterdam
René de Vries has been appointed (State) Harbour Master of Rotterdam, taking office on 1 March 2010. That is the date on which the current Harbour Master Jaap Lems retires. The port of Rotterdam is not unknown territory for De Vries. He began his career with the Port Authority in 1982, as crew member on one of the patrol vessels. Through the years, he has progressed to his present position, as manager of the Traffic Planning & Operations department, which has 220 staff
OTC Approves New Construction Rules
Two new Rule-sets approved at the first Offshore Technical Committee (OTC) held at LR's Global Technology Centre in Singapore. Lloyd's Register say that these two new rule-sets will be made public later this month (May 2013). The Floating Offshore Installations at a Fixed Location 2013 Rules and
Rotterdam Expands Intermodal Container Service
The CLIP Container terminal at Swarzedz (near Poznan), Poland has joined InlandLinks, the hinterland container terminal link-up. Rotterdam expects to see container flows triple in the next 25 years. Due to the growth in world trade, the favourable geographic location and the increase in very
Samskip Expands Shortsea Services to Hull, U.K.
Samskip Multimodal is increasing capacity on shortsea services connecting Rotterdam to Hull, United Kingdom, further reducing transit times. Samskip Multimodal said that as of May 14 it will replace the 340 TEU Veritas H with the 803 TEU Henrike Schepers on its Netherlands to U.K
ClassNK Updates Steel Ship Survey/Construction Guidance
ClassNK announced the release of the latest versions of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships. These versions include all amendments dated May 17, 2013. Among the amendments made to the Rules and Guidance this time is the establishment of the “Rules for the
The Glass Half Full
I tend to be a glass half full kind of guy, as even in the worst of times there tends to lie opportunity. I would not be remiss in saying there are more than a handful in the shipping community that could label conditions today “the worst of times” – simply put
Salvage Response under OPA 90: Non-Tankers are Next
Maritime casualties have always been tackled by a relatively small, egotistical, passionate and intrepid group of mariners called “salvors.” Salvage as history knows it, however, may be taking a sharp turn as a result of the new game rules being injected by the Oil Pollution Act
Partnership to Provide Simulation-Based Training
Tundra International announced it has entered an exclusive partnership with Mr. David Hammond, Barrister of 9 Bedford Row International Chambers to identify and develop new technology based training methods to test personnel on their knowledge and application of the Rules for the Use of Force and
Key Salvage Issues for 2013 – and Beyond…
This is a good time to look aft and reflect on the accomplishments achieved in 2012, as well as to the distant horizon to see what challenges loom in 2013, and beyond. It is fair to say that the Coast Guard and salvage industry have come a long way in the last few years with implementation of a
Treasure Hunters File Another Suit Against Columbia
Sea Search Armada's (SSA) lawsuit against the Government of Colombia in U.S. District Court, Washington D.C. claims it interfered with SSA's legitimate treasure salvage operations. The galleon San Jose carried coins and precious metals mined and smelted in Peru
ClassNK Releases 2013 Steel Ship Rules
ClassNK released the 2013 edition of the Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships. ClassNK continuously reviews, updates and amends its technical rules and guidance as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the safety of life and property at sea
Rotterdam Port Bunkerers Join to Seek ISO 8217
The bunker sector has entered into close collaboration to better guarantee the quality and quantity of bunkering supplied in the port of Rotterdam. To that aim, Hendrik Muilerman on behalf of the Netherlands Petroleum Industry Association (VNPI)
BMT Restructures Marine Survey Businesses
To better position itself in the market and meet customers’ needs of regional expertise accessible through local offices, BMT Group Ltd (BMT) has announced that marine surveying companies BMT De Beer and BMT Techmar became BMT Surveys on the May 1, 2013.
DNV Enhances Class Rules for Offshore Units
DNV has restructured its offshore classification rules for Mobile Offshore Units in order to improve transparency and enhance safety. “Our aim is to help the rig owner in the building process – to clearly show that the unit is constructed in compliance with reliability and safety
Lloyd’s Register Holds Offshore Technical Committee
Lloyd’s Register’s Global Technology Center in Singapore held its inaugural Offshore Technical Committee last week with representatives from national and international oil companies, EPC contractors, owners, operators, fabricators, shipbuilders
BSEE Announce Final Safety Culture Policy Statement
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) Director James Watson released the Bureau’s final Safety Culture Policy Statement. The non-regulatory statement defines nine characteristics that are indicative of a robust safety culture