New Container Scanner System for Colombo Port
A new container scanner system has been introduced to the Colombo Port. The installation ceremony was launched by the Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Custom officials. According to the newest initiative four portals of Eagle P60, state of the art scanning units with complete turnkey solution would be installed by the Rapiscan Systems (Pvt) Ltd, an American based leading global supplier of security inspection. It was learnt the Rapiscan Systems (Pvt), the lowest bidder for the tender was awarded the contract by the government under the purview of customs authority. Customs Director General Choolananda Perera said that around 1…
Alaska Ocean-going Ferry Project: Seattle Consultants Chosen
Naval engineering firm Glosten and Associates of Seattle will guide the state as it plans a new ocean-going ferry to replace the 49-year-old ferry Tustumena, reports the 'Kodiak Daily Mirror', citing news from a meeting of the state's ferry advisory board in Anchorage. The state is prepared to spend up to $10 million designing the Tustumena, money that has been reserved from the state's vessel replacement fund. The design study report will recommend a particular vessel design, and the state may proceed with procurement at that point.
Oldest Coast Guard Vessel Decommissioned
The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned its oldest vessel, retiring the cutter Storis with eight rings of a bell and the playing of taps in a gymnasium at the Kodiak Coast Guard Base. About 70 Storis crew members wearing dress blues stood at attention during the ceremony to retire the 64-year-old icebreaker. About 200 invited guests also attended. Storis crews have boarded 7,500 vessels, saved 250 lives, kept 25 vessels from sinking, assisted 100,000 people and traveled 1.5 million miles. The Storis has been patrolling Alaska waters since the late 1950s. Capt. James M. McCauley, commander of the Storis, thanked Kodiak for the town's hospitality as homeport. McCauley's last outing with Storis was a 54-day patrol in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea.
Shippers Avoid Sri Lanka Because Of High Cost
Sri Lanka's port crisis deepened as insurers raised their war risk surcharges even further, prompting top shipping lines to sharply reduce services to the Colombo port. The crisis was triggered by a rebel attack on the country's only international airport on July 24, which prompted Lloyds of London to label the entire island a war-risk zone. "The crisis has worsened. We have now been told that some shipping lines have to pay double what was earlier asked. As much as $480,000 per visit for the newer ships," said Parakrama Dissanayake of the Ceylon Association of Ships Agents. The local Daily Mirror paper said P&O Nedlloyd, Hyundai, Senator and Hapag Lloyd lines were asked to pay more than double the previously announced surcharge of $150,000 per call.
