World 19S Largest

China to Build World's Largest Repair Facility

China Ocean Shipping, China’s dominant maritime firm, is investing Yuan2bn in what is envisioned to become the largest shiprepair facility in the world. The base will be in the Zhoushan archipelago in Zhejiang province, two hours’ steaming from Shanghai, which is likely to become the world’s biggest port in the coming decade providing plenty of repair work, particularly for very large crude carriers and containerships.

Shell, BP 2005’s Leading Oil Tanker Hirers

Royal Dutch Shell plc and BP plc, Europe’s largest energy companies, were the leading hirers of oil tankers last year as crude prices rose to records. Shell hired 762 crude oil tankers for single voyages in 2005, accounting for 7.5 percent of the global total, according to figures compiled by New York-based shipbroker Poten & Partners. BP rose from fifth in 2004 to second, with a share of 4.9 percent. Exxon Mobil Corp, the world’s top energy company, came third in the survey.

This Day in Naval History - Nov. 29

From the Navy News Service 1775 - Capt. John Manley in schooner Lee captures British ordnance ship Nancy with large quantity of munitions. 1890 - First Army-Navy football game (Navy won 24-0). 1929 - Cmdr. Richard Byrd makes first flight over South Pole. 1944 - USS Archerfish (SS 311) sinks Japanese carrier Shinano, world's largest warship sunk by any submarine during World War II.

Pension Fund Set to Scrap Plan to Bid for Daewoo

AFP reported that 's state pension fund is likely to scrap plans to bid for Daewoo Shipbuilding because of global financial turbulence. The National Pension Service the world's fifth largest, had been in talks with POSCO, GS Group and Hanwha Group to find a partner for the acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding. Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipyard, is also interested in Daewoo Shipbuilding, the world's third biggest yard.

Report: Three Carriers Dominate TransAtlantic Trade

Three new carrier groups now control 58% of the total capacity in the transatlantic container trade, according to World Liner Supply, a new quarterly report from the compairdata.com on-line shipping database. The fourth quarter 2000 issue of World Liner Supply shows that the merger of services and the combination of smaller carrier groups has led to a substantially higher market concentration in the North America/northern Europe container trade.

Dubai Drydocks World Established

Dubai World has consolidated its drydocks and maritime business by bringing Dubai Drydocks, Al Jadaf Shipyard, Platinum Yachts FZ and Platinum Yacht Management under a single umbrella - Dubai Drydocks World (DD World), a statement said. Dubai World, which runs DP World, the world's third largest port operator, yesterday announced the establishment of Dubai Drydocks World (DD World) to consolidate the dry docks and maritime sector of the organisation

Report: S. Korea lags China, Japan in Shipyards

According to reports, South Korea fell behind China and Japan in the number of shipyards ranking in the world's top 50 in terms of order backlogs as of the end of May, although seven South Korean companies were No 1 through No 7, a London-based market research firm said. Fifteen Japanese shipyards and the same number of Chinese companies were included in the world's top 50 list, while only nine South Korean shipyards made it, Clarkson Plc. said.

Last Liberty Ship Leaves James River Reserve Fleet

The Department of Transportation announced that the last of ’s famous ships, the Arthur M. Huddell, will be towed from the James River Reserve Fleet site at , , to , on July 28, to prepare the World War II-era vessel for a cross-Atlantic tow to its new homeport in .  Greek officials say the ship will become a merchant marine museum of that nation’s shipping industry. While in , the Huddell will be berthed at the W3 Marine facility while the cross-Atlantic tow-prep is

First Phase Completed at Changxing Shipbuilding Base

The first phase of the Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding Base has been finished and is already in operation on Changxing Island, Shanghai. Built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), it has three production lines and four boatyards capable of holding 300,000-ton ships. Almost unparalleled in the world, it is the biggest shipbuilding project ever to be undertaken in China. Shanghai has the potential to be the world's largest shipbuilding base.

P&O Agrees to $6.3B Takeover Offer

The AP has reported that the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. said it has agreed to a $6.3 billion offer from Singapore port operator PSA International -- a switch of alliances that is likely to spark a bidding war for the 165-year-old British maritime icon. The approach from PSA trumped a 3.3 billion pound ($5.9 billion) cash offer from government-owned Dubai Ports World that P&O agreed to in November.