The Bahamas Island News

Fleet Ocean Tug USNS Apache (T-ATF 172) departed Norfolk, Virginia, today to begin searching for wreckage from the missing U.S. flagged merchant vessel El Faro. The ship is deploying to a search area northeast of Crooked Island in the Bahamas island chain, which is the last known location of the vessel. The initial search area is 100 square miles, and water depth is estimated to be 15,000 feet across the expected search area. Transit to this search area is expected to take four-to-five days due to weather.

Coast Guard crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Charles David Jr. and the Coast Guard Cutter Valiant repatriated 86 migrants illegally migrating from Cuba and Haiti. These repatriations are a result of five separate interdictions of people attempting to illegally migrate to the United States through the Florida Straits stemming back to Sunday. On Aug. 21, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter William Flores interdicted 24 Haitian migrants (12 males, nine females, three infants) north of Grand Bahamas Island, Bahamas. Sixteen of the migrants were reported to have jumped into the water but were subsequently rescued by the motor vessel Cap Guillame and the Coast Guard Cutter William Flores. All 24 migrants were safely transferred to the William Flores and were given a medical evaluation.

Global shipping management company, PV Enterprises International, Inc. "We realized people are the most profitable cargo," said Mr. Peter Villiotis, CEO of PVEC. "We are very excited about our focus on tourism in undeveloped areas, a much larger market where my unique experience as Chief of Technical Operations for two major Cruise lines for 25 years can be effectively utilized. "PVEC has recognized the huge potential in specialty cruises coupled with ecotourism. This relatively new, immature and inefficient segment of this $36 billion market presents enormous potential. "Consistent with our firm commitment to build a global integrated maritime services company, we have accomplished much this year to develop this plan.

Venezuelan's Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) will begin selling bunker fuel via two Internet sites later this month, its first sales project across the Web, a company official said. PDVSA will offer fuel from its terminal in Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island to shipping companies via two industry Internet sites: www.oceanconnect.com and www.bunkerstem.com. "I believe that before the end of the month, in one or two weeks, we will be selling fuel (over the Internet)," said Rafael Vilagut, commercial support manager for the project. PDVSA hopes to expand the sales project later this year to sell bunker fuels from its other terminals on the Venezuelan coast. The company will also consider selling cargoes of other fuels via the Internet.

Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) will begin selling bunker fuel via two Internet sites later this month, its first sales project across the Web, a company official said. PDVSA will offer fuel from its terminal in Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island to shipping companies via two industry Internet sites: www.oceanconnect.com and www.bunkerstem.com. "I believe that before the end of the month, in one or two weeks, we will be selling fuel (over the Internet)," a company official close to the project said. PDVSA hopes to expand the sales project later this year to sell bunker fuels from its other terminals on the Venezuelan coast.

Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) has chosen Bunkerstem, as one of only two approved outlets for bunker fuel sales. PDVSA will begin selling bunker fuel via the Bunkerstem purchasing network later this month from its terminal in Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island. "I believe that before the end of the month, in one or two weeks, we will be selling our fuels via Bunkerstem. We are very excited about this new development" said Rafael Vilagut, commercial support manager for the project. PDVSA sells bunkers for approximately $150 million a year at present. Bunkerstem is currently the largest on-line marine fuel purchasing service covering 577 ports around the world, serving close to 700 members on all continents.