Congo Unveils Tender For Exploitation Of Methane Gas
Democratic Republic of Congo's oil ministry has called for bids to exploit reserves of methane gas at the bottom of Lake Kivu on its eastern border with Rwanda, the prime minister's office said on Friday. The office announced the tender on its twitter account but did not give details. An oil ministry official said the tender process had not yet begun but added that Congo needed the gas to help meet its energy deficit. "It is very important that we exploit this gas, because otherwise it has the potential to explode and cause significant damage to the population," said the ministry official, who requested anonymity. Methane and carbon dioxide collect at the bottom of the lake's icy waters.
New Chairman for UK's Third Largest Port
One of the most senior figures in the UK Ports Industry, Peter Jones, has been appointed Chairman of the Port of Milford Haven and will take up the post on 1, August 2013. Having retired earlier this year as Chief Executive of the UK’s largest ports group Associated British Ports, and with a career stretching back over 30 years in the ports sector, Mr Jones will bring a wealth of experience to the UK’s 3rd largest port. The Port of Milford Haven is the country’s single largest energy gateway responsible for handling up to 25% of the UK’s seaborne energy trade.
Interactive Simulation for LNG Ships in Trinidad
MarineSafety International Rotterdam b.v. (MSR) recently successfully completed the first of a series of four training courses for Point Fortin sponsored by Atlantic LNG Trinidad and Tobago. This Interactive Pilot-Tug-Master training for the Trinidad Pilots & Berthing Master Association, the tug masters of Plipwijs, and various masters of LNG carriers calling at Point Fortin, lasted five days. The major portion of the course was related to all aspects of safely piloting the LNG carriers Norman Lady, Matthew and Methane Arctic, loaded, as well as ballasted, in and out of Trinidad's LNG port under difficult circumstances. Special attention was given to tug assistance when operating an Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tug.
Mersey Docks Invests In South Africa
Mersey Docks and Harbor Co. is investing 8.8 million pounds in the South African Capespan Group's fruit terminals. Mersey Docks -- Britain's second largest port group -- said it was buying half the equity in Capespan's terminal operations at the ports of Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Maputo in Mozambique. "Mersey Docks will gain from being actively involved in the export of all South African fresh produce, not just to the UK through the port of Sheerness but to all corners of the globe," Mersey Docks chief executive Peter Jones said. Mersey Docks and Capespan have already collaborated on a 35 million pound fresh produce terminal opened in Sheerness in 1999. - (Reuters)
Mersey Docks & Harbor Not Intimidated by Recession
The slowdown in the U.S. economy may be weighing on British industrial production, but ports operator Mersey Docks & Harbor Company expects to avoid the dark clouds of recession. "We have as yet not experienced any impact from the perceived slowdown in the North American market," Chief Executive Peter Jones reportedly said. The company expected instead to see year-on-year growth in cross-Atlantic traffic. Mersey Docks has about a 25 percent share of the U.S.-UK market in container traffic. "In the early months of this year we are continuing to see strong growth," Jones said. The two main areas of development would be RoRo traffic and fresh produce, handled at the company's docks in Sheerness, southeastern England.
