Netherlands Antilles News

At least 38 workers from Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela’s, including the president of maritime subsidiary PDV Marina, were detained on accusations of trafficking fuel, Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said on Saturday, describing the accusations as "treason."The move comes just days after other state officials were detained and amid a shakeup at PDVSA after President Nicolas Maduro last month named a committee to restructure the OPEC nation’s oil industry, which is struggling under U.S. sanctions designed to force Maduro’s ouster, as well as years of mismanagement, corruption, and declining cash flow.On Friday…

Wartsila has won a 6 MW energy storage project contract for the Caribbean island of Bonaire from ContourGlobal Bonaire, a subsidiary of London based ContourGlobal.The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) hybrid energy project includes both the hardware, consisting of batteries and inverters, as well as GEMS, the energy management software from Greensmith Energy, a Wartsila company."The energy storage system will enable Bonaire, part of the Netherlands Antilles, to increase its use of renewable energy such as wind and solar. In order to integrate more renewable energy and its intermittent nature, the Wärtsilä energy storage solution will provide the grid stability and reliability required for the island…

The Netherlands' Defence Materiel Organization (DMO) and Schelde Naval Shipbuilding signed a contract for the supply of four Patrol Vessels. The contract has a value of 240 million euros. The four Patrol Vessels will be built for the Royal Netherlands Navy, and are to be delivered in a time-frame between November 2010 and November 2012. The Patrol Vessels fulfil the operational requirements of the Royal Netherlands Navy for a robust platform with a limited weapon outfit, specifically…

Several key actions were taken by the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) Legislative Policy Council (LPC) at its 92nd annual convention being held this week in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. The LPC is comprised of port directors representing each region of AAPA’s U.S. Delegation. Port security continues to be one of the highest priorities for AAPA. Actions taken in this area relate to Federal funding and limited liability. Highlights include the following. · A call for $400 million in Federal funding for the Transportation Security Administrations (TSA) port security grant program in the FY ’05 Federal budget. The FY’04 level is expected only to be $125 million, while the Coast Guard projects the cost to be $1.125 billion in the first year.

Twenty seven ports were recognized today for exemplary projects and initiatives at the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) annual Awards Luncheon, held in conjunction with AAPA’s 2003 annual convention in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Winners were announced in the association’s national Communications, Information Technology, Environmental Improvement and Facilities Engineering Competitions. Engraved plaques were bestowed at the ceremony upon the Port of Tacoma and the Port of Portland, winners in of this year’s Information Technology Awards; The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Portland, the Virginia Port Authority and the Port of Tacoma, winners of the Environmental Improvement Awards; the Port of Vancouver, U.S.A.

A motor vessel capsized in the port of Albany NY yesterday as it was in the process of loading operations. the vessel. Unfortunately three crew members are still unaccounted for. low," says Jumbo spokesman Van der Heul. vessel. members. Hospital, but he has in the meantime been discharged from the hospital. each 180 mton safe work load. It has a combined capacity 360 mton. list over her portside. in the Port of Albany. the actual cause of the accident. order to determine the cause of the accident. to LLoyds 100A1. Her last special survey was carried out in 2002. to determine further steps to be taken.

Port authority leaders from across the Western Hemisphere will gather from September 22 - 26, 2002, at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, to address issues such as trade trends, maritime security, financing requirements at ports, and cruise operations. The 91st Annual Convention of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) is expected to attract up to 800 delegates and guests to Palm Beach. The Port of Palm Beach will serve as host and plans a number of social events to highlight the region. The Palm Beach Annual Convention will begin with a reception on Sunday evening, September 22. Technical and policy committees will meet on Monday, September 23.

Hopes were fading on Saturday of finding more survivors among about 50 people missing and feared dead after two boats carrying illegal migrants, most of them from the Dominican Republic, sank this week in separate incidents in the Caribbean. Haitian and French authorities reported that they had found 31 bodies so far from the wrecks - which took place off the southwestern coast of Haiti, and off the coast of the small Franco-Dutch island of St. Martin. The double tragedy highlighted the perils of voyages in often small and overcrowded vessels that hundreds of people from poorer Caribbean nations make every year to seek a better life in more prosperous parts of the region.

On January 10, 2005 a contract was signed between the Royal Netherlands Navy and Damen Shipyards Gorinchem for the design and construction of a Logistic Support Vessel (LSV). Following a tender procedure the initial award took place at the end of 2004 after which the contract was signed early January. The 65 m long Support Vessel will be based in the Caribbean and will be deployed for the transport of equipment and personnel, mainly within the Netherlands Antilles. A large cargo area is located at main deck level and can accommodate a range of different vehicles…

The Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises Ocean Fund awarded $796,000 on March 30 in 15 new grants to marine conservation and environmental organizations, including a $100,000 grant to The Conservation Fund for its Alaska land preservation program and a $100,000 grant to Conservation International for its campaign to conserve Caribbean biodiversity. Almost $9 million has been awarded to 64 non-profit organizations working to protect the marine environment since the fund’s inception in 1996. The mission of the Ocean Fund is to support efforts to restore and maintain a healthy marine environment, minimize the impact of human activity on this environment, and promote awareness of ocean and coastal issues and respect for marine life.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta will address port authority leaders from across the Western Hemisphere on Tuesday, September 24, 2002, at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Secretary Mineta will address delegates and guests at the 91st Annual Convention of the American Association of Port Authorities AAPA), from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday's luncheon, in the Venetian Ballroom. "We're really pleased that the Secretary will join us to address some very important port issues," said Kurt J. Nagle, AAPA president. Secretary Mineta will likely talk about port security, the new Transportation Security Administration, reauthorization of the Transportation Efficiency Act of 2001 (TEA 21), and the need for SEA 21 legislation.

Agustin Díaz, deputy general manager of the Curaçao Ports Authority, Inc., was installed as Chairman of the Board of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) during the September 26th Annual Membership Meeting at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL. Díaz succeeded as Chairman of the Board Dick Steinke, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach. “We’re pleased to have Agustin lead the Association on behalf of AAPA’s Latin American delegation,” said Kurt J. Nagle, AAPA President. “He will be working to help connect and build stronger relationships between our 150 port members who come from more than 30 countries and speak a variety of languages. Before joining the Curaçao Ports Authority, Díaz was the commissioner of the island government in charge of ports.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced that it has approved requests for transfer and sale of five U.S. vessels, including a tanker and a cable ship. · K-Sea Transportation LLC, Staten Island, NY, has received approval to sell the 6,430-gross-ton tank barge, KTC-115 to McKeil Work Boats Ltd., a Canadian corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Canadian registry and flag. The vessel was built in 1968 in Avondale, LA. · Nowitna Fisheries, LLC, Seattle, WA, has received approval to sell the 2,457-gross-ton freight, BARGE-I to Grupo Pesquero De California, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Mexican registry and flag. The vessel was built in 1969 in Portland, OR. 1,929-gross-ton barge, MBC-1 to Noroeste, S.A.

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) approved requests for transfer and sale of five U.S. vessels, including a tanker and a cable ship. • K-Sea Transportation LLC, Staten Island, NY, has received approval to sell the 6,430-gt tank barge, KTC-115 to McKeil Work Boats Ltd., a Canadian corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Canadian registry and flag. The vessel was built in 1968 in Avondale, La. • Nowitna Fisheries, LLC, Seattle, Wash., has received approval to sell the 2,457-gt freight, BARGE-I to Grupo Pesquero De California, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation, and transfer said Vessel to Mexican registry and flag. The vessel was built in 1969 in Portland, Ore. • Marine Barge Company, LLC, Weehawken, NJ, has received approval to sell the 1,929-gt barge, MBC-1 to Noroeste, S.A.

Norwegian Maritime Investigator and the U.S. Coast Guard released their Joint Marine Casualty Investigation