ONI World Threat to Shipping Report

04 Mar 14 - 12:31

Reporting period 26 January – 26 February 2014

Τhe Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has issued Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report for period 26 January – 26 February 2014. The report provides information on piracy threats to merchant mariners and naval forces for the last 30 days.

Monthly Piracy Attacks by Region:

CENTRAL AMERICA-CARIBBEAN - SOUTH AMERICA:

Caribbean Maritime Crime

(Image Credit: ONI WTS Report)

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS:

On 9 February, two masked men boarded an anchored yacht in Fat Hogs Bay. The owner heard them climbing on board and attempt to open the companion way doors. When the yacht owner yelled, the boarders proceeded to run away with the owner in pursuit. As the masked men jumped into their dinghy they fired a shot at the yacht owner which missed and went through the boat’s top approx 3 feet from the owner's head. (www.bvinews.com)

ST MARTIN:

Between late January and early February, a notable increase in boardings and thefts on yachts was noted by boat crews transiting the area. During this time period, there were at least two burglaries of unoccupied boats; four dinghy thefts; three attempted thefts and one burglary with multiple electronic items stolen. (www.noonsite.com; www.safetyandsecuritynet.com)

WEST AFRICA:

West Africa Maritime Crime

(Image Credit: ONI WTS Report)

CONGO:

On 20 February, robbers boarded an anchored supply ship using a rope near position 04:54 S - 011:49 E, Pointe Noire Anchorage. They stole ship's property and escaped when the duty crew spotted them. (IMB)

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND INDIAN SUBCONTINENT:

Southeast Asia - Indian Subcontinent Maritime Crime

(Image Credit: ONI WTS Report)

BANGLADESH:

On 24 February, ten robbers boarded an anchored chemical tanker near position 22:15 N - 091:43 E, Chittagong Anchorage. The robbers, who were armed with knives, arrived in an unlit wooden boat and boarded the tanker using grappling hooks. The duty crewman noticed the robbers and informed the bridge. The crew raised the alarm and sounded the ship’s whistle, which caused the crew to rush to the bridge. In response to the crew’s response, the robbers jumped overboard with the stolen items and escaped in their boat with their accomplices. (IMB)

BANGLADESH:

On 20 February, the crew on a tug towing a general cargo vessel to scrap observed five fishing boats approach the cargo vessel under tow near position 21:00 N - 091:37 E, approximately 75 nm south of Chittagong. Two of the fishing boats came alongside and pirates boarded the vessel and were seen lowering the ship's property. (IMB)

For more details, read: ONI World Wide Threat to Shipping Report

The WTS Reports are posted weekly on the ONI Portal at:

http://www.oni.navy.mil/Intelligence_Community/piracy.htm

Sovcomflot takes delivery of dual-fuel power

04 Mar 14 - 12:55

Ice-class LNG carrier featuring multiple MAN 51/60DF engines

Sovcomflot shipping company, has taken delivery of its latest LNG carrier - the ‘Velikiy Novgorod' - from South Korea's STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.

The ship is equipped with a diesel-electric, dual-fuel propulsion system consisting of 2 × MAN 8L51/60DF and 2 × MAN 9L51/60DF engines, offering a total rated power of 34 MW, which were constructed at MAN Diesel & Turbo's Augsburg plant in Germany.

The propulsion facility provides the LNG carrier with a highly efficient, low-emission propulsion system, especially when running in gas mode. It also features a high degree of redundancy, while the MAN 51/60 DF engines provide multiple fuelling options.

The Velikiy Novgorod has been designed for sailing through sea ice and has an Arctic ice classification. The vessel has a total length of 300 m and a load capacity of 170,200 cubic metres of gas. It is the first in a series of ships to be built by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding in South Korea and becomes the fifth LNG carrier in Gazprom's fleet of long-term-charter tankers.

While working on the Sovcomflot project, MAN Diesel & Turbo utilised the valuable experience it gained from working on its first 51/60DF reference project, delivered in 2010 to Spanish shipping line Elcano. Featuring 5 × MAN 8L51/60DF units, the ‘Castillo de Santisteban' has been operating globally since summer 2010.

APM Terminals - Fit for future growth

04 Mar 14 - 16:17

Developing port infrastructure in growing mega-city areas

The port operator based in The Hague is currently present in 12 out of the top 20 countries predicted by United Nations to become the biggest countries by population in 2020.

“In 2013, APM Terminals invested over USD 1 billion in port infrastructure developments and updates. We will continue to participate in facilitating growth by developing the port infrastructure in mega-city areas where updates to infrastructure are necessary and trade is growing,” says CEO Kim Fejfer of APM Terminals.

“In 2013, APM Terminals invested over USD 1 billion in port infrastructure developments and updates. We will continue to participate in facilitating growth by developing the port infrastructure in mega-city areas where updates to infrastructure are necessary and trade is growing,” says CEO Kim Fejfer of APM Terminals.

APM Terminals’ most recent major scale investments fall in this Top 20 cluster, too. Examples where APM Terminals is developing new container terminals are Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Turkey and China. According to APM Terminals’ CEO Kim Fejfer that is no coincidence:

“Our declared investment strategy since 2010 has been to invest in high-growth markets where access to modern port infrastructure is often lacking. By focusing on the infrastructure needs in future mega-cities, we can become an enabler of further economic growth, development and progress,” says Mr. Fejfer.

“Our declared investment strategy since 2010 has been to invest in high-growth markets where access to modern port infrastructure is often lacking. By focusing on the infrastructure needs in future mega-cities, we can become an enabler of further economic growth, development and progress,” says Mr. Fejfer.

With more terminal investments serving super-growth cities, APM Terminals can directly serve and impact more local communities by 2020, helping societies build better lives by creating jobs.

A good example is Apapa, Nigeria where the United Nations predicts the population to be over 200 million people by 2020. One of its mega-cities, Lagos, is expected to have a population of nearly 16 million. In Apapa, APM Terminals has invested USD 200 million since assuming operational responsibility in 2006, resulting in the creation of over 31.000 new jobs. In addition, a socio-economic study demonstrated that 72% of Apapa Container Terminals’ financial throughput is channeled back into the local Apapa community. Further investments in expansion of the Apapa facility are ongoing, and more is invested in the country. For example, modernization plans of a new deep water mega-port at Badagry and infrastructure investments in Onne to be able to handle growing trade.

With nine facilities in operation, West Africa is a strategic market where APM Terminals is well-positioned to generate higher value and reap competitive advantages of demographic and economic growth. Recently, APM Terminals was awarded the concession to construct and operate a second terminal at the Port of Abidjan in Ivory Coast, one of the busiest container ports in West Africa.

APM Terminals is also serving the growing middle-class populations in Latin America. APM Terminals operates three port facilities in Brazil: Santos, Itajai and Pecem, and is ready to capture future growth in Brazil. According to the study by the United Nations, Brazil is expected to grow its population to 210 million residents by 2020. One of its mega-cities, Sao Paolo will have an estimated population of over 22 million people by then.

In Mexico too, APM Terminals has situated its new infrastructure investments close to mega-populations. The terminal investment in Lazaro Cardenas is located close to Mexico City will be able to directly serve its 23 million residents by 2020.

Source: APM Terminals

Fears of skill shortage emerge in the transport sector

04 Mar 14 - 15:49

Skilled workforce in place is required for future growth

According to global legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright's fifth "The Way Ahead" Transport survey, 17% of respondents from the global transport sector believe a lack of suitably qualified people is the greatest challenge to the future efficiency of their business. Despite this, just 6% of respondents from the aviation, rail and shipping sectors believe investment in the skills and size of their workforce would be the most beneficial investment for their business or sector.

The ability to recruit suitably skilled employees is a particular source of anxiety for respondents based in the Middle East, with 28% of the view that this will be the greatest challenge to the future efficiency of their business, followed by 21% of respondents based in Asia Pacific and 21% in North America.

The survey, entitled Where Next? reveals confidence is growing among the transport sector in line with improving economic sentiment. Three-quarters (75%) of respondents believe current conditions are positive for their business and 47% see new opportunities emerging.

Four out of five (82%) respondents believe passenger numbers and freight volumes will rise and 66% expect fares and freights to increase. Forty percent anticipate that a greater proportion of their funding will be allocated to investment as opposed to operating costs.

China is the most popular market for investment in the next two to five years, according to 30% of respondents, followed by Western Europe (27%) and North America (22%).

Investment in additional assets and in developing new markets are considered the most worthwhile investment opportunities for the aviation and shipping sectors, while rail views investment in infrastructure as most advantageous for their business. Investment in additional assets is particularly popular among respondents in the Middle East (32%) and in North America and Africa (22% respectively) and by 21% of respondents globally. Almost a third (30%) of respondents based in Africa also favour investment in developing new markets, followed by 22% of respondents based in Europe and 21% based in the Asia Pacific region.

However, finance will be required to fund investment and a more beneficial view of asset values for risk weighting purposes is the most popular way of making funding more readily available for the transport sector, cited by 26% of all respondents.

Further consolidation is expected across the transport sector. A quarter (25%) of all respondents anticipate the most significant changes to the participants in their sector will be the increased dominance of the larger players and 23% expect increased joint venture, alliance and pooling activity. Twenty-two percent of shipping respondents believe also that new sources of funding for shipping will bring new participants into their sector.

Harry Theochari, global head of transport, Norton Rose Fulbright; commented:

"The aviation, rail and shipping sectors are all putting in place plans to expand their business in line with an anticipated rise in passenger numbers and freight volumes. China is seen as a key market for the aviation and shipping sectors in particular. The development of new markets and investment in additional assets are likely to be key strategies for the transport sector as it looks for growth opportunities."

"While the majority of respondents believe funding will need to be more readily available if they are to grow their businesses, the risk of a skills shortage developing in the transport sector has also been highlighted. Ensuring a skilled workforce is in place will be fundamental to the future growth of the transport sector."