Australia Says 'Not Necessary' to Cancel Chinese Firm's Lease on Darwin Port
Australia said a security review of a 99-year lease held by Chinese company Landbridge on the northern port of Darwin, a key focus of its defense strategy, found it was "not necessary to vary or cancel the lease".In a statement, the prime minister's department said: "Australians can have confidence that their safety will not be compromised, while ensuring that Australia remains a competitive destination for foreign investment".It added that monitoring of security arrangements would continue around the northern port…
Exercise KAKADU War Games at Sea Kick Off
More than 1,200 mariners from the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions have completed the first sea phase of the Royal Australian Navy’s largest maritime warfare exercise, KAKADU 2014. Occurring off the coast of Darwin from August 25 to September 12, 2014, eight ships and 26 aircraft from Australia, Japan, Pakistan, New Zealand and the Philippines have been divided into two fleets for a fictitious battle over disputed maritime territory. On the first day at sea, Royal Australian Air Force Fast Jets simulated an ‘attack’ threat…
Dredging – Boskalis Wins Large Australian Contract
The Ichthys development revolves around the construction of a new 42-inch deep sea natural gas pipeline from the Ichthys field in the Browse Basin 880 kilometers to Darwin onshore. The pipeline will run through the Darwin harbor, requiring dredging services in the near shore area, rock installation and the construction of a landfall. Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) based in The Netherlands, has received a letter of award from Saipem (Portugal) which requires Boskalis to dredge an 18 kilometers pipeline trench in which the gas pipeline will be laid, a pipe-pull over a distance of approximately 3,000 meters and the installation of a protective layer of rock after the pipeline has been laid.
