South & Central Asia
Interview: Kidnappings for Ransom Easy and Less Risky
In 2016, piracy has yet again emerged as one of the key problems seafarers face during their voyages at sea. A particular concern is the ever growing number of kidnappings for ransom against merchant vessels, which has significantly increased in areas off the Niger Delta, with at least 16 of the kid
HHIC Seals Deal with Creditors on Business Normalization
Cash-strapped South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. (HHIC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on business normalization plan with its creditors, led by the Korea Development Bank, on May 10. The shipbuilder filed a request to restructure its debt with its cr
Genting Hong Kong Orders Two More for Star Cruises
Malaysian holding company Genting Hong Kong Ltd has signed a deal for two mega cruise ships with the Lloyd Werft Group for its Star Cruises brand. The deal signed on Tuesday in Wismar, Germany also includes an order for eight river cruise vessels for Crystal Cruises. Star Cruises has designed the “G
Drewry: 2016 to Be Weakest Box Production Year since 2009 as Prices Hit New Lows
2016 could prove to be the weakest year for box production since the collapse of 2009, with equipment increasingly in surplus and the prices decreasing, according to the global shipping consultancy Drewry. Prices for new dry freight containers declined to their lowest point since 2002 during the fir
APM Terminals Readies for Container Weighing
The Netherlands-based APM Terminals is planning to provide container weighing services at 29 locations globally to enable compliance with the upcoming SOLAS verified gross mass (VGM) regulations, effective 1 July 2016. Namely, the new container weighing regulation prescribes that all packed shipping
PHOTO: Van Oord’s HAM 318 Kicks Off Feydhoo Dredging
The Van Oord’s trailing suction hopper dredger HAM 318 has started dredging and land reclamation operations at Addu City Feydhoo, Maldives. Under the contract with the Maldives’ Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure, the HAM’s work will consist of dredging, reclamation and civil works in the Feydho
Emas Offshore bags several charter deals
Singapore’s offshore vessel supplier Emas Offshore has informed that it has secured several new contracts worth up to $32 million in total. Emas said these new charters will see its Anchor Handling Tug, Anchor Handling Tug and Supply and Platform Supply vessels supporting National Oil companies (“NO
DEME Helping Shipping Giant Enter Chinese Offshore Wind Market
China COSCO Shipping and Belgium’s DEME have formed a joint venture to develop offshore wind energy in China. The cooperation is in line with the Chinese climate vision and its aim to develop renewable energy, both of which were recently incorporated in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) for social
Woodfibre LNG, Guangzhou Gas Group sign LNG offtake HoA
Woodfibre LNG said its Singapore-based affiliate, Woodfibre LNG Export, has signed a heads of agreement with Guangzhou Gas Group of China for the potential offtake of LNG from the Woodfibre LNG project, being developed in the District of Squamish, British Columbia.
Sinopec Group appoints new President
China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) has appointed Dai Houliang as the new President, Director and Vice Party Chief of Sinopec Group. Sinopec announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Dai Houliang as President following a senior executives meeting on Monday. Former president Wang Tianpu
Update: Fire on Maersk Line’s Boxship Under Control, Ship Stable
The fire on board Maersk Line’s Safmarine Meru containership is under control, with external firefighting operations concluded, Maersk Line said in an update. The fire broke out after Safmarine Meru collided with a German-owned container vessel Northen Jasper some 120 nautical miles East of Ningbo o
PETRONAS Floating LNG2 Floated Out
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) shipyard in Geoje Island, South Korea has launched the hull of Petroliam Nasional Berhad’s (PETRONAS) second floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit, the PETRONAS Floating LNG2 (PFLNG2). The 393-metre-long hull was floated out from the Green Dock 3 on 30 April 2016