Nor-Shipping Clean Shipping Awards
Nor-Shipping organizers, in cooperation with Den Norske Veritas (DNV), announced the nominees for the first Clean Shipping Awards. Winners will be announced at Nor-Shipping 2009’s Opening Conference, scheduled for June 9. Working in cooperation with DNV, Nor-Shipping has established the Clean Shipping Awards, scheduled to be introduced at Nor-Shipping 2009’s Opening Conference. Selected by an independent jury, the Clean Shipping Awards cover three categories: Clean Sea, Clean Air, and Clean Innovation. In total, 60 companies were considered for the awards. The Clean Sea Award will be awarded to one company in recognition of superior efforts to limit discharges from ship to sea. The nominees are: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Ferry Designer Says Catamarans Are Safe
The designer of Sleipner, the high-speed ferry that hit rocks and sank off Norway, said that the accident was a freak and insisted that the ultra-modern catamarans were safe. Asbjoern Tolo said the ill-fated boat must have suffered unusually severe damage from the collision in rough seas that punctured both hulls. "This type of vessel is safe but freak things like this happen," Tolo said. The two aluminum hulls of the Australian-built catamaran, which had a capacity of 358 passengers and a top speed of about 36 knots, each had seven airtight compartments. Under international regulations, the ship should be able to sustain damage to two compartments in each hull without sinking.
