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Regards
Snooper
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THE ZAC SUTHERLAND UPDATE
Zac's Blog
My name is Zac Sunderland and I am 17 years old. I departed 14th June 2008 from Marina del Rey, California in an attempt to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the world alone by yacht.
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Further tales from our long haired solo sailor !
No Update received.
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Visit www.zacsutherland.com
YouTube Videos http://www.youtube.com/zacsvideos
Blog http://www.zacsunderland.com/blog/
Email zacsworldadventure@yahoo.com
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Mike Perham aged 16, the youngest person to sail across the atlantic solo now has his eye's on an even more adventurous challenge.
To become the youngest person to sail around the world solo in an open 50 racing yacht.
Crossing the Line - 08 01 09
Almost there! I'm almost at the Equator. Hurrah! I will be crossing sometime around midnight at a guess. At the moment the wind is all over the place and I'm just trying to get south anyway possible. Even now I'm on a south-westerly course as the wind has swung right round to the south with the cluster of clouds I'm under at the moment.
Today’s been busy to say the least. I've had the sails up and down over and over again. A couple of times I even just left them heavily reefed and waited for the next squall to arrive. It's hard though, as one minute there's six knots of breeze and the next there's twenty-nine! The Doldrums have surprised me once again by suddenly shifting south at quite a rate and if I were further east I would have found myself suddenly becalmed.
But I'm not bothered about the Doldrums now; I'm almost out and am relishing the arrival of the South Atlantic trades. I know Totallymoney.com will perform fairly well in the upwind/close reaching conditions, and it will be so nice to have steady winds for a change.
I'm just itching to get across the line, crack open a bottle of champagne and celebrate achieving of our first major goal! Thanks everyone for your comments, support and for helping me get this far...
Bring on the Cape of Good Hope, that's what I say.
Visit : http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/
Blog : http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/?cat=5
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January 06, 2009 19:12 PM
Navy Says Strait Of Melaka Not Pirate-infested Zone
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Navy Chief of Malaysia, Admiral Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, has rejected claims that the Strait of Melaka was unsafe, saying there was no basis to allege that the area was a pirate-infested zone.
He said that Malaysia and three neighbouring countries -- Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand -- had intensified security surveillance in the area to ensure the safety of passing ships.
A Malay daily quoted Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Director-General Admiral Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish as saying that there was a possibility that piracy threats would recur in the Strait of Melaka in view of the global economic slowdown.
Abdul Aziz said the navy was working closely with the MMEA, marine police and other maritime enforcement agencies to enhance security surveillance in the area and keep pirates at bay.
"The international community, therefore, need not worried over the safety of navigation in the Strait of Melaka," he told reporters after attending a diploma presentation ceremony organised by the Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College.
He said that although maritime enforcement was under the MMEA's jurisdiction, the navy had the power to act in matters involving threats to the country's sovereignty.
Abdul Aziz also said that the trilateral cooperations between the littoral states of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia through the "Eye in the Sky" and coordinated patrol programmes had brought about immense benefit to the safety of navigation the area.
Meanwhile, he said, the move to deploy the navy ship KD Mahawangsa, and later KD Sri Indera Sakti, in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, had raised the country's profile in the area.
This was especially so after the ship had successfully freed the hijacked MISC Bhd's vessels, Bunga Melati Dua and Bunga Melati 5, in August last year, he said.
The navy's "Operasi Fajar" to protect Malaysian ships in the Gulf of Aden would be concluded on Feb 28.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=381934
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Durban Port - Pier 1 to close cartage operations
Citing low cargo demand, Transnet Port Terminals has advised that cartage operations at Pier 1 will be closed at the following times:
Close: Saturday 10 January 2009 18:00 reopen on 11 January 2009 06:00
Close: Sunday 11 January 2009 18:00 reopen 12 January 2009 06:00
All stack dates and free storage will be adjusted accordingly.
Story By : -
Date :1/9/2009
http://www.cargoinfo.co.za/newsdetails.asp?&newsid=7145
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Growth in Africa will slow to five-year low
Growth in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to slow to 4.6% in 2009 – falling below 5% for the first time in five years due to falling commodity prices.
The World Bank’s 2009 Global Economic Prospects report says, however, that “direct effects of the global financial and economic crisis are likely to be much more limited than in other regions, because African economies are less integrated into the international financial system and rely relatively less on international capital and bond markets to finance investment”.
Story By : Ed Richardson
Date :1/9/2009
http://www.cargoinfo.co.za/newsdetails.asp?&newsid=7141
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Tanzanian forwarders protest at container storage charges doubling
The Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TFFA) has protested a decision by the government to double container storage charges in an effort to ease congestion at the Port of Dar es Salaam, said a report by Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Members of the association slammed the move by saying the tariff hike places greater financial burdens on port customers as well as the general public that relies on imported goods.
The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has increased the container storage charges by 100% to decongest the port yard facilities. It now costs US$40 per TEU and US$80 per FEU to store containers in the port yard. The new storage fee went into effect on January 1, for containers that have stayed in the port for more than 21 days.
Furthermore, unclaimed containers occupying port space will be sent to the Tanzania Revenue Authority for auction.
The report added that it currently takes around 41 and 43 days to clear containers ferried from elsewhere.
Story By : Alan Peat
Date :1/9/2009
http://www.cargoinfo.co.za/newsdetails.asp?&newsid=7148
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Hyundai Heavy Industries to Build New Frigate
Friday, Jan 09, 2009
Hyundai Heavy Industries has been awarded a contract to build the lead ship of the South Korean Navys new 2,300 ton-class frigates to begin service in 2011, a military source said Wednesday.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed the contract worth about 140 billion won Dec. 26 with Hyundai, which had been in charge of the basic design of the state-of-the-art frigate codenamed FFX, said the source.
FFX ships will replace the older Ulsan class frigates and Donghae/Pohang class corvettes by 2020, according to the Navy.The first six FFX ships are to be built by 2015 to replace the current nine Ulsan class frigates in service. The lead ship of the Ulsan class was commissioned in 1981.
http://www.yourshipbuildingnews.com/hyundai+heavy+industries+to+build+new+frigate_20550.html
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Jan 9, 2009
Japan urged to join piracy fight
TOKYO - JAPAN should join anti-piracy operations near Somalia and not get entangled in debate on whether the step would violate the pacifist constitution, the US ambassador here said.
'I hope Japan will make a contribution and will do more to help rid the world of this scourge of piracy that we're experiencing now,' Ambassador Thomas Schieffer told the Yomiuri Shimbun in an interview published on Friday.
US, European and Chinese vessels have all been dispatched to waters off lawless Somalia to stop pirates who attacked more than 100 boats last year and dealt a costly blow to the global shipping industry.
Conservative Prime Minister Taro Aso called last month for Japan to join the operations, but lawmakers are still working on drafting a law to allow the navy to use force against pirates.
Japan renounced the right to wage war in Article 9 of its constitution imposed by the United States after World War II. Current law allows the navy to protect only ships flying the Japanese flag or carrying Japanese passengers.
'If they were the sailors of another nation, I can understand the problems that Article 9 of the constitution would present,' Mr Schieffer said.
'But I just can't understand how anybody can't protect themselves and their citizens against pirates.' Tokyo has steadily sought a greater role in international security, most notably by sending troops to Iraq on a reconstruction mission.
Japan has often jostled for influence with China, whose anti-piracy mission marks the first time in recent history it has deployed vessels on a potential combat mission well beyond its territorial waters. -- AFP
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_323966.html
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Despatch of China piracy flotilla not an easy decision
BEIJING, JAN 9 — This week, three Chinese ships join an international task force operating in the Gulf of Aden to protect shipping from attacks by Somali pirates, marking the first time since the 15th century that Chinese naval vessels have sailed so far from home.
This reflects a marked strengthening of Chinese military capabilities since the country shifted its focus three decades ago from supporting revolutionary movements around the world to the development of its economy.
The decision to send this flotilla — two destroyers and a supply ship — could not have been taken lightly. China knew that political analysts around the world would study the implications of this move.
On the one hand, China had been accused of being a free rider, relying on Washington to keep open sea lanes for China-bound shipping carrying oil and other cargo from Africa and the Middle East.
The United States has exhorted China to be a “responsible stakeholder” and the Chinese, in explaining their decision to send warships off to Africa, have explained that they are simply discharging their responsibility.
The Chinese decision was announced after a resolution by the United Nations Security Council authorising international forces to combat piracy and, indeed, to pursue pirates on land.
China has long had a policy of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and its participation in anti- piracy efforts does not violate that principle because the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia has welcomed the participation of the Chinese navy.
But China knew that by sending this naval force, it would demonstrate its ability to project power far beyond its shores and revive fears of a “China threat”.
That is why Beijing is trying its best to look unthreatening and depicting its action as that of a responsible power.
In the end, Beijing really had no choice. In the last year, seven cases of hijacking by Somali pirates involved China, either because the ships were owned by China or had Chinese crews. In fact, one Chinese ship with a crew of 18 is still being held hostage by Somali pirates.
Moreover, the day before Beijing disclosed its decision, a Chinese ship was attacked by pirates. The attempt was thwarted by Malaysian naval forces.
It would be difficult for China to explain why relatively tiny Malaysia could contribute forces to protect international shipping when a large country like China remained passive.
Major countries, such as the US, the European Union, Russia and India, are already involved. Since China is a permanent member of the Security Council, it could well have been accused of shirking its responsibility if it were to remain uninvolved.
Liu Jianchao, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, explained that the purpose of the Chinese mission “is to ensure the safety of Chinese ships and personnel on the route and protect vessels of international organisations carrying humanitarian materials”.
This is a rather narrow definition. After all, if Malaysia can help a Chinese ship under attack, there is no reason why Chinese forces should not be deployed to assist non-Chinese ships.
It is very likely that once the Chinese ships begin their patrols, they will find it advantageous to coordinate their actions with warships from other countries, all of whom are out to counter piracy on the high seas.
This in itself would be a positive development since it would in effect revive a military-to-military dialogue with the US that China suspended to protest against arms sales to Taiwan.
While Washington has welcomed China’s contribution to the anti-piracy effort, there are undoubtedly mixed feelings as well, as China moves slowly from having a coastal navy to having a blue-water navy. The US has little to fear at present, but competition from China will increase.
In the same week that China announced the despatch of warships to Africa, its Defence Ministry confirmed that it was giving serious consideration to building aircraft carriers. The spokesman quickly added that China “has a long coastline and the sacred duty of China’s armed forces is to safeguard the country's marine safety and sovereignty over coastal areas and territorial seas”.
Given the Taiwan context, the US has to consider the implications of China's rise as a naval power. Similarly, Japan, which has disputes with China over energy resources in the East China Sea, cannot afford to be complacent.
But the bottom line is that China is now not only integrated into the world economy, it is integrated into all aspects of global life.
Protecting its shipping is part and parcel of China’s emergence and its participation in the new world order. — Business Times Singapore
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/15574-despatch-of-china-piracy-flotilla-not-an-easy-decision
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Friday, 09 Jan, 2009
Indian government plans reservation policy for ships
ET reported that the shipping ministry is exploring the possibility of introducing a cargo reservation policy that would allow Indian flag vessels to ferry a majority of import and export trade commodities. The policy initiative is in line with the current freight market turmoil, which is a result of the financial meltdown.
The report cited a senior shipping ministry official as saying that “The shipping ministry is in talks with various industries to understand the feasibility of implementing the new policy. Like other major maritime nations, such as the US, China and Malaysia that have already implemented similar laws, the domestic shipping industry is also lobbying for the same.”
Mr YD Khatau MD of Varun Shipping said that “The cargo reservation policy will help the industry in getting easier access to equity, cheaper loans and a most conducive fiscal environment. Moreover, a cargo reservation policy will help long term employment of Indian vessels, which in turn would help restore the confidence of financial investors in the prospects of the industry.”
According to Mr SS Kulkarni secretary of Indian National Shipowners Association, “The industry is passing through its worst situation. It is, therefore, essential that a certain percentage of all the government controlled cargo should be set aside for a minimum level of employment for the domestic players.”
(Sourced from Economic Times)
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/01/09/Nzc3OTY%3D/Indian_government_plans_reservation_policy_for_ships.html
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Pirates Hijack Ship Carrying Palm Oil
Wynfred Russell
Published 01/09/2009 - 2:47 a.m. GMT
Pirates using small, fast speed boats hijacked a Liberian-registered tanker in the Gulf of Aden, said the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) piracy reporting center (PRC) in a statement from its head office in Malaysia.
The MV Biscaglia was transporting palm oil when it was captured Nov. 28 off the coast of Somalia, where heavily armed bandits have commandeered nearly a 100 ships this year and are currently holding them for ransom.
Three security guards – all former British soldiers – jumped into the sea after futile attempts to prevent the pirates from taking control of the vessel. They were later rescued by a German naval helicopter and taken to a nearby French frigate, said Nick Davis, director of the London-based Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions (APMSS) that hired the unarmed guards.
In a news release issued last week, Davis said: “APMSS security team came under heavy attack from pirates, but were able to mount sustained, non-lethal, resistance, denying the attacker’s access to the ship long enough for the ship’s operating crew to seek safety below decks and to summon assistance from coalition warships.”
“I have spoken with my team leader on the phone and he informs me that the level of violence was unprecedented and forced them to reluctantly leave the vessel after every effort was made to ensure the safety of the ship’s crew,” said Davis.
He said the three guards are well with no reported injuries, but there are still 25 Indian and two Bangladeshi crew members on board the Biscaglia, which is believed to be headed to anchorage in Puntland, Somalia.
Pirates have become increasingly daring in the in the narrow shipping corridor between Somalia and Yemen, a major international shipping lane through which about 20,000 oil tankers, freighters and merchant vessels pass each year.
Another Liberian-flagged ship was hijacked earlier this month in the most high-profile hijacking so far, when Somalia-based pirates seized the MT Sirius Star, some 518 miles south-east of Mombassa, Kenya. The Saudi oil super tanker, carrying $100 million worth of crude oil, is the largest vessel to be hijacked to date. Pirates are still holding 25 crew members.
“Although this is just the latest of a large spike in attacks off the east coast of Africa, this incident is significant on two counts,” said Pottengal Mukudan, director of the International Maritime Bureau. “ Firstly, this is the largest vessel to have been hijacked. Secondly, the distance from the shore would suggest a highly organized operation – this is not mere opportunism.”
In response to the worsening situation, several countries have dispatched warships to the Gulf. Germany and France have ships in the area as part of a NATO armada which, along with Denmark, India, Malaysia, Russia and the U.S. navies, have started patrolling the vast waterway in the Indian Ocean.
Liberia generates $13 million annually from its ship registry program – the second largest in the world – which includes nearly 2, 800 ships, 10 percent of the world’s ocean going fleet. According to the U.S. Maritime Administration, Liberian flagged vessels transport more than one-third of the oil imported into the United States.
Wynfred Russell
Email: wynfred@umn.edu
http://mshale.com/article.cfm?articleID=18307
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Record container volumes at Ports of Auckland
NZPA | Friday January 9 2009 - 03:48pm
Container volumes at Ports of Auckland reached record levels in December as the company benefited from shipping company decisions in favour of the port, but this month volumes are looking relatively soft.
The company said today it handled 59,585 containers last month, 13.2 percent up on the 52,599 in December 2007, and also above the previous high of 58,484 in March 2007.
In the standard shipping industry measure of 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), the port processed 81,772 TEU last month, compared to 72,241 in December 2007. Last month was the highest recorded since 81,915 TEU in March 2007.
Managing director Jens Madsen said the port had benefited from changes to ship calls.
"The pre-Christmas import season was surprisingly solid and we have also seen good volumes from Pacific Shipping's new coastal service," he said.
The port handled the high volumes well, with improved productivity from new technology and operational innovations making it much better placed than in March 2007 when the port was temporarily gridlocked by the high volumes.
While container volume was strong, the number of imported cars handled at the port's general wharves was down to 9110 in December, compared to 11,995 a year earlier, Mr Madsen said.
"Stockpiling of vehicles by dealers prior to the 2008 emissions rule has combined with the economic downturn to spark a major drop-off in car imports."
He was concerned about the outlook for 2009. January volumes looked relatively soft and the company was being geared to face the challenges of the global recession.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/record-container-volumes-ports-auckland-39479
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Pentagon drifting from nuclear deterrence, report says
A task force recommends that leaders go back to school and refocus the nation's nuclear mission.
By David Wood
January 9, 2009
Reporting from Washington -- After firing the two top Air Force leaders last year for a series of embarrassing nuclear weapons mishaps, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was told Thursday that the same problems of inexperience, poor training and splintered authority over nuclear arms affect the entire Pentagon, including its top leadership.
A task force headed by former Defense Secretary James R. Schlesinger painted a dismal picture of a Pentagon that has drifted from the mission of nuclear deterrence during the nearly two decades since the Cold War ended. Among the Pentagon's senior military and civilian leaders, the panel found "a distressing degree of inattention" to the role of nuclear weapons in deterring attacks on the United States.
Education in nuclear deterrence theory and practice at the nation's top military schools has largely ended, senior-level exercises have stopped and the number of senior officials familiar with deterrence is rapidly dwindling and will soon become an "acute" problem, Schlesinger reported.
Many senior leaders "lack the foundation for understanding nuclear deterrence, its psychological content, its political nature and its military role -- which is to avoid the use of nuclear weapons," the report concluded.
Among Schlesinger's recommendations: Send senior leaders back to school, ramp up training, consolidate responsibility for nuclear missions within the Pentagon bureaucracy and encourage the new administration to construct a new strategic framework to define the role that nuclear weapons should play.
The report also urged creation of a position of assistant secretary of Defense for deterrence to oversee the nation's nuclear weapons programs.
Gates issued a short statement Thursday saying the nation's force of intercontinental ballistic missiles, bombers and submarine-launched missiles "remains safe, secure and reliable."
"No one should doubt our capabilities or our resolve to defend U.S. and allied interests by deterring aggression," Gates said.
Schlesinger said Gates had reviewed all of his panel's recommendations, and told reporters that "so far we have gotten no push-back" on them.
Underlying the Pentagon's loss of focus on the nuclear mission, officials said, is uncertainty and confusion over how deterrence -- the prospect of certain nuclear retaliation -- works in an age when many of the potential U.S. adversaries are not states but terrorists who hold no territory and are clearly willing to engage in suicide attacks.
Within senior military and civilian circles, there have been ongoing debates about whether the leadership of Al Qaeda, for instance, would buy into the kind of mutual strategic deterrent rationale that governed the U.S.-Soviet confrontation during the Cold War.
Without a clear answer, many officials have simply turned to other issues, Schlesinger indicated.
The report said that the Navy had maintained its commitment to safeguarding nuclear weapons but that there had been "fraying at the edges," and it urged Navy officials to conduct more frequent reviews of how it handles weapons programs.
The Schlesinger report released by the Pentagon is the second commissioned last year by Gates after he abruptly fired the Air Force secretary, Michael W. Wynne, and its chief of staff, Gen. T. Michael "Buzz" Moseley, in June.
Gates took that unprecedented step after receiving a classified Pentagon briefing on two incidents in which the Air Force lost track of nuclear weapons and components.
In one case, the Air Force mistakenly loaded live nuclear missiles onto a B-52 bomber and unwittingly flew it from North Dakota to Barksdale Air Force base in Louisiana, a major violation of strict weapons accountability procedures. In the other incident, the Air Force shipped nuclear bomb fuses, or triggers, to Taiwan in boxes labeled "helicopter parts." The error wasn't discovered for two years.
Those may have been sensational examples but were evidence of a "serious erosion" of training, expertise and accountability within the Air Force missile and bomber force and the bureaucracy that oversees it, Schlesinger concluded in his first report, published in September.
The Air Force has moved to fix those problems, officials say.
david.wood@baltsun.com
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nuclear-report9-2009jan09,0,2231904.story
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Russian warships to visit Greece
www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-09 10:10:29
ATHENS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Three Russian Navy vessels, a destroyer and two support ships, are expected to arrive in the Greek port of Piraeus on Friday for a courtesy visit, Athens News Agency reported on Thursday.
The two support ships are oiler "Sergey Osipov" and salvage tug "Nikolay Chiker" and the destroyer is "Admiral Levchenko."
The Russian warships will be open to the public on Jan. 11 and Jan. 13 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
The vessels are accompanying Russian aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" in an air and naval exercise being conducted south of the Greek islands of Rhodes and Crete.
The aircraft carrier had requested use of Greek air space for the exercise and the Greek Civil Aviation Authority approved it, the Hellenic National Defense General Staff said last Friday.
Greece and Russia have strengthened their ties in recent years, especially in the energy field.
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09/01/2009 02:22:07
Argentina-Cruise Ships boost for beef industry.
Cruise ships starting this summer, are expected to bring 3 million visitors to Argentina and a similar number the Chile.
The Falklands/Malvinas are expecting over 70,000 cruise ship visitors this year.
The cruise vessels stock up in Buenos Aires, for, beef, fresh vegetables and fruit, which has become a multi million dollar industry in the last five years.
The beef has to be aged for 14 days in carcass form, then cut trimmed and vacuum packed, for this very high quality market.
The cruise liners have been so impressed with the Argentine beef product, that regular shipments now go each week in containers to Hamburg, to service their other shipping routes.
http://www.farminguk.com/news/Argentina-Cruise-Ships-boost-for-beef-industry.9880.asp
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Tricon Completes Shipyard in China
1/8/2009 10:36:59 AM
Tricon Marine, a builder of FRP/Composite luxury yachts up to 180 ft long, has completed construction of China’s first and only North American-owned and operated shipyard. Yachts currently under construction have been moved to the new facility, including Tricon’s next launch, a 92 ft long-range offshore performance motoryacht commissioned by an undisclosed Tricon client. The launch will be unveiled during the official shipyard opening ceremony in the spring of 2009.
“With most segments in the shipbuilding industry contracting and consumers demanding greater value, our timing in offering a solution that addresses these needs and establishes a competitive offering couldn’t be better,” said Christos Livadas, Chairman and CEO, Tricon Marine. “We intend to put China on the map as a place for world-class yacht construction as never before. Tricon Marine is committed to strictly adhering to client specifications and contractual obligations while offering unmatched craftsmanship at a price that sets a new value standard in the industry.”
Dave Adams, Vice President of Tricon Marine, added, “Ironically, the birth of Tricon Marine comes at a time when it makes the most sense, especially in this worldwide economy. We are offering the industry a great solution to the pricing-versus-quality challenge that has often been talked about in the yachting business. Clients today want to know that they are getting the best value for their money inch by inch. Consumers are scrutinizing their lifestyle investments more than ever after some of the major financial mishaps of 2008.”
Located just outside the city of Zhuhai in China’s Guangdong province (an easy ferry ride to Hong Kong and Macau), Tricon’s half-million square foot complex is designed to operate at American and European standards of craftsmanship, cleanliness and security. In order to underscore its commitment to producing the finest boats at true value pricing, Tricon Marine will limit build-slots to a maximum of three yachts in simultaneous production for the next few years so that no detail is overlooked.
The yard will be the largest for composite yacht construction in China with a production capability of 16 yachts indoors and in-water work on two additional yachts up to 180 ft in length at its pier. The company can complete up to $60m in work per year depending on the size of the yachts under construction.
Tricon’s management team has more than 75 years of combined industry experience with recognized names such as WestBay and Ocean Alexander. Prior to founding Tricon, its principals also commissioned and supervised the construction of 14 yachts using Chinese builders since the beginning of this decade.
Tricon’s currently has 120 Western-trained employees and expects to grow its skilled labor pool to 210 workers over the next 18 months. It carefully selects workers and craftspeople, most of whom have experience at other shipyards in the area and a minimum of five years of active work in the yacht-building trade.
(www.triconmarine.com)
http://sname.marinelink.com/snamestory.aspx?stid=214093
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New U.S.-led Counter-Piracy Task Force established
12:47 GMT, January 8, 2009 MANAMA, Bahrain | The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) has established Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) specifically for counter-piracy operations.
Naval ships and assets from more than 20 nations comprise the Combined Maritime Forces. U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Terence “Terry” McKnight has been named the commander of the new task force which will be fully operational by the middle of January.
The CMF created the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) in the Gulf of Aden in August of 2008 to support international efforts to combat piracy. Coalition efforts included CTF-150 assets patrolling the area with ships and aircraft. However, the charter for CTF-150, established at the outset of Operation Enduring Freedom, was for the conduct of Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Operations included the deterrence of destabilizing activities, such as drug smuggling and weapons trafficking. The establishment of CTF-151 will allow CTF-150 assets to remain focused on those activities, giving CTF-151 the ability to focus solely on the counter-piracy mission.
“Some navies in our coalition did not have the authority to conduct counter-piracy missions,” said Vice Adm, Bill Gortney, CMF Commander. “The establishment of CTF-151 will allow those nations to operate under the auspices of CTF-150, while allowing other nations to join CTF-151 to support our goal of deterring, disrupting and eventually bringing to justice the maritime criminals involved in piracy events.”
Vice Adm. Gortney highlighted the reduction in piracies in the region due to merchant mariners’ proactive measures. He also continued to caution that the efforts of Coalition and international navies won’t solve the problem of piracy.
“The most effective measures we’ve seen to defeat piracy are non-kinetic and defensive in nature. The merchant ships have been doing a great job stepping up and utilizing these methods to defeat piracy attempts. That’s a great first step. But the problem of piracy is and continues to be a problem that begins ashore and is an international problem that requires an international solution. We believe the establishment of CTF-151 is a significant step in the right direction.”
CTF 151 is a multinational task force that conducts counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea and was established to create a lawful maritime order and develop security in the maritime environment.
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/4729/
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New Navy Contracts
1/8/2009 10:31:12 AM
Lockheed Martin MS2 Division, Syracuse, N.Y., is being awarded a $25,795,680 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-5201) to exercise an option for upgrade kits for the Navy's AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Undersea Warfare System.
The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 is a surface ship combat system with the capabilities to search, detect, classify, localize and track undersea contacts; and to engage and evade submarines, mine-like small objects, and torpedo threats. Work will be performed in Lemont Furnace, Pa. (50 percent); Syracuse, N.Y. (25 percent) and Eagan, Minn. (25 percent) and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.
CCI, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded $6,518,549 for firm fixed price task order #0133 under the previously awarded Facilities Maintenance Job Order Contract (N62472-05-D-7510) for the construction of Dry Dock #3 Propulsor Work Enclosure with a high bay fixed roof and service platform at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Work will be performed in Kittery, Maine, and is expected to be completed by November 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One (1) proposal was received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.
http://sname.marinelink.com/snamestory.aspx?stid=214092
AN/SQQ-89(V) Undersea Warfare / Anti-Submarine Warfare Combat System
Description
The AN/SQQ-89(V) Anti-Submarine Warfare / Undersea Warfare Combat System (ASWCS / USWCS) provides surface warships with a seamlessly integrated undersea/anti-submarine warfare detection, localization, classification and targeting capability. The system presents an integrated picture of the tactical situation by receiving, combining and processing active and passive sensor data from the hull-mounted array, towed array and sonobuoys.
AN/SQQ-89(V) is integrated with the AEGIS combat system and provides a full range of Undersea Warfare (USW) functions including active and passive sensors, underwater fire control, on board trainer and highly-evolved display subsystem. The system has been deployed on the Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) class frigates, the Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and Spruance (DD 963) class destroyers, Ticonderoga (CG 47) class cruisers and is the technological foundation for the USWCS for DDG 1000 and the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Program is the newest variant to the AN/SQQ-89(V) Undersea Warfare Combat System which will be back fit to upgrade current systems. The AN/SQQ-89(V)15 is the system being forward fit on the new construction DDG51 class ships. The AN/SQQ-89(V)15 with EC200/204 (DDG 103-112) is an A(V)15 with no towed array. The Scaled Improved Sonar System (SIPS) takes selected functions from the A(V)15 development system and adds them, as an adjunct system, to current AN/SQQ-89(V) systems to enhance current ASW performance while A(V)15 completed development.
The AN/SQQ-89(V) USWCS is composed of a hull-mounted sonar (SQS-53 series) and Towed Array Sonar (AN/SQR-19 or Multi-Function Towed Array (MFTA)), and is fully integrated with the ship's Light Airborne Multi-Purpose Systems (LAMPS MK III and Block II Upgrade) helicopter. The AN/SQQ-89(V) Integrated USW Combat System suite is the most advanced ASW system in the world today, and gives the US Navy the best equipped anti- submarine warfare platforms in the world today.
The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 system was developed using a best of breed build-test-build process with cost effectiveness through commonality. The system incorporates the new Multi-Functional Towed Array (MFTA) integrated with an Acoustic Intercept capability in a littoral environment. It greatly expands sensor performance using Open Architecture Level 3 Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) processing; The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 also incorporates expanded active processing capability with the integration of Echo Tracker Classifier (ETC) for both AN/SQS-53C Hull sensor and the MFTA.
Background
The AN/SQQ-89(V) series is the first integrated anti-submarine warfare (ASW) combat system for surface ships, combining sensors and weapons control systems with sophisticated data processing and display. The SQQ-89(V) has evolved through various configurations over the years to accommodate multiple classes of ships and evolving sensors and ASW weapon systems.
The AN/SQQ-89(V) has a continuing development program, the objective of which is to incrementally modernize the existing AN/SQQ-89(V) systems by providing contact fusion capabilities, improved data processing and classification performance, as well as an open system architecture. The open system architecture developed into the AN/SQQ- 89(V) enables further affordable performance growth to meet fleet requirements. Additional improvements under development will provide a fully integrated AN/SQQ-89(V) ASW Combat System with improved performance in the shallow, littoral environment.
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2100&tid=887&ct=2
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US Navy to name submarine after former Sen. Warner
By Dale Eisman and Matthew Jones
The Virginian-Pilot
January 9, 2009
Washington
A Virginia-class attack submarine will finally be named for a Virginian: recently retired Sen. John Warner, the Navy announced Thursday.
The vessel, SSN 785, will be built in Newport News by Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. It will be the first in the class named after a person; the other 11 are named for states.
"Sen. Warner has served his country for over 63 years and has been an unwavering advocate of the men and women of our nation's armed forces," Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter said Thursday. "It gives me great personal pleasure to be able to honor him in this manner, and I thank him for his support and mentorship."
Warner retired this week after serving 30 years in the Senate, where he was a member of the Armed Services Committee.
He served as an enlisted sailor during World War II and as a Marine officer during the Korean War. He became Navy secretary in 1972.
As a senator in the mid-1990s, Warner was instrumental in blocking a Navy plan to ship submarine production entirely to Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. Instead, Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman build portions of each submarine.
Virginia-class subs carry out several missions, including surveillance of land and sea, mine delivery, minefield mapping and delivery of special forces.
Warner said he learned of the honor Wednesday night, in a phone call from President George W. Bush.
He said he had spoken Thursday to Winter and Defense Secretary Robert Gates to convey his thanks and express "my humble gratitude to all the sailors and Marines who whipped me into shape."
"I am deeply humbled and grateful to many, many people who made this thing possible," he added.
Pilot reporter Kate Wiltrout contributed to this report.
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/01/navy-name-submarine-after-former-sen-warner
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Body found off Bay harbour, possibly Kingfisher crewman
Gareth Wilson HERALD REPORTER
A BODY, thought to be that of a fisherman from the sunken Kingfisher chokka boat, was recovered almost 2km off the Port Elizabeth harbour yesterday.
Police suspect it is one of eight missing seamen presumed drowned when the fishing vessel sank near Cape St Francis late last month.
Police rapid response unit Captain Rassie Erasmus said tests would have to be done to establish the identity.
He said the police had been alerted to the body‘s presence by the crew of a boat that was on its way out of the harbour. Police notified the NSRI which recovered the body.
“We cannot be sure at this stage if it is the body of one of the fishermen, but it is definitely a possibility,” Erasmus said.
The Kingfisher sank off Gibson Bay, near Cape St Francis. Five crew members survived and six bodies have been found so far. Police Inspector Marianette Olivier said shore-based searches were continuing.
http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n05_09012009.htm
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U.S. Navy X-47B UAS unveiled!
(Photo: Northrop Grumman)
08:59 GMT, January 8, 2009 EAST HARTFORD, Conn. | Pratt & Whitney, along with Northrop Grumman, unveiled the first X-47B air vehicle for the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program. The X-47B is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220U engine. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.
The unveiling ceremony offered a first look at the most technologically advanced unmanned air vehicle in development.
Northrop Grumman unveils the X47B UCAS-D at its Palmdale manufacturing facility. (Photos: Jeff Swann)
"To see this revolutionary unmanned combat air system equipped with a Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220U engine is truly a proud moment," said Michael Ondas, Pratt & Whitney UCAS-D program manager. "To see the tangible results of our design and development efforts is very rewarding. We are proud to celebrate this accomplishment with Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Navy, and the entire X-47B team."
Pratt & Whitney was awarded a $54 million contract earlier this year to develop and integrate the engine and exhaust system for the X-47B.
The Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220U engine, a derivative of the F-100-PW-220E, is capable of providing up to 16,000 pounds of thrust while operating in a maritime environment, including carrier deck operations. First flight of the X-47B is scheduled in 2009, with at-sea carrier trials planned to begin in late 2011.
Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F100 family that powers the F-15 and F-16, the F119 for the F-22 Raptor, the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II, the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III, the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler, the TF33 powering AWACS/Joint STARS/B-52/KC-135 aircraft, and TF30 for the F-111. In addition, Pratt & Whitney offers a global network of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and military aftermarket services (MAS) focused on maintaining engine readiness for our customers.
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/4722/
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Two Norfolk-based subs winners of efficiency award
The Virginian-Pilot
January 9, 2009
Two Norfolk-based submarines are among the winners of the Navy submarine force's annual Battle Efficiency competition.
The Battle "E" is awarded to ships that demonstrate a maximum condition of readiness for their class and the capability to perform wartime responsibilities, according to a news release.
The fast-attack subs Montpelier from Submarine Squadron 6 and Oklahoma City from Submarine Squadron 8 were honored.
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/01/two-norfolkbased-subs-winners-efficiency-award
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PORT ELIZABETH Friday January 9, 2009
Luxurious Lady Michelle pays Knysna a visit
Katherine Wilkinson GARDEN ROUTE CORRESPONDENT
LOCALS watched in awe as the opulent Lady Michelle squeezed through the Knysna Heads yesterday, the largest craft to do so in a number of years.
At 165ft she is even larger than the 150ft SA Navy minesweepers which berth in Knysna during the annual Oyster Festival.
Owner Mike Fernandez said they left the Mediterranean in the last week of October and arrived in Cape Town on New Year‘s Day.
Five of the nine crew members are South African, including skipper Brett Gething and his wife Gillian, the chief stewardess, who both hail from Knysna, as does the boson, Vaughn Hoffman.
Fernandez said: “As the crew is primarily from South Africa we thought it would be nice to have them home.”
He said they intended berthing in Knysna for two to three weeks.
Fernandez, 56, is from Miami, Florida but was born in Cuba in 1952, before Fidel Castro and the Communist regime took over in 1959.
“I was a boy of seven and I remember my father‘s grocery business being confiscated. In 1964 we moved to the United States as refugees with nothing. No clothes, no passports, no money.”
Developing software for the insurance industry lead to the establishment of his first business.
He sold the software company when he was 27 and intended to take a year off from working, but instead started another company a week later.
“I have started and sold nine companies in the insurance and medical field.”
The Lady Michelle has five crew bedrooms, five owner bedrooms, a media room, dining room, main salon and bar. There is even a jacuzzi and a helicopter pad.
Two smaller boats, stored in an onboard garage, are used for shopping and errands, and for fun there are jet skis, kayaks and scuba equipment.
Capt Gething has a number of skipper‘s licences. He arrived in Knysna when he was in Grade six and matriculated from Knysna High School.
“I started with boats with my father who taught me how to sail. I spent a lot of my youth racing here at the yacht club. The boats got bigger and bigger and I changed to motor boats a few years ago.”
http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n09_09012009.htm
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Team Torpedo: Raytheon Partners to Support MK48 and MK54 Requirements
08-Jan-2009 11:20 EST
The Mk-48 is the standard heavyweight torpedo used by the US military, and is mounted primarily on submarines. Surface ships use the smaller Mk46 or Mk50. The Mk-54, in contrast, stemmed from the need for a smaller, lighter, and cost effective advanced torpedo – one that could be dropped from helicopters, planes, and smaller ships. In recent years, the US has moved to modernize and maintain its Mk-48 inventory; the Mk-54 also requires servicing and spares.
These contracts are being issued under a total enterprise partnership between Raytheon and the US Navy called Team Torpedo, dedicated to meeting the needs of U.S. and allied naval fleets. Team Torpedo combines Raytheon’s manufacturing, design engineering, and support services expertise with the systems engineering and testing capabilities of Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) operations in Newport, RI, and Keyport, WA. Total announced awards under that consolidated torpedo contract since its announcement on June 22, 2004 have now risen to $261.9 million, issued on behalf of the US and Royal Australian navies.
DID has the complete set of contracts below… plus more details regarding the torpedos involved, and the answer to the question “what the heck is CBASS standard”? The latest development is a support contract, but not to Raytheon…
Heavyweight & Flyweight: Mk-48 ADCAP and Mk-54
US torpedoes
The Mk-48 is a huge 533mm torpedo (19 feet long, 3,500+ pounds) with advanced homing, wire guidance capabilities, and devastating consequences when its 300kg warhead hits a target. It is designed to kill both fast, deep-diving nuclear submarines and high performance surface ships, and is carried by US Navy and Royal Australian Navy submarines. The Mk 48 ADCAP has improved target acquisition range, reduced vulnerability to enemy countermeasures, reduced shipboard constraints such as warm-up and reactivation time, and enhanced effectiveness against surface ships. These torpedoes can operate with or without wire guidance, and can use active and/or passive homing, conducting multiple re-attacks if they miss the target. Cost estimates for this weapon are around $2 million each, rising to almost $3 million in some cases with upgrades factored in.
The Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) kit is for the Mk48, and includes a Broadband Sonar Analog Receiver, preamplifier and interfacing hardware. This gives the retrofitted torpedoes the ability to transmit and receive over a wide frequency band, and takes advantage of broadband signal processing techniques to improve their targeting & tracking capabilities. This is especially helpful in shallower waters, where the bottom and other clutter is more likely to be in the way. The CBASS kits procured in before the end of FY 2007 are for Mk-48 ADCAP Mod 5 and below, and so they include the Torpedo Propulsion Upgrade (TPU) modification required for forebody/ afterbody compatibility.
Raytheon also manufactures the AN/BYG-1 combat management system used in new American submarines and scheduled for retrofit to older Los Angeles Class boats and the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarines. This reportedly allows for a degree of synergy that improves the Mk-48 ADCAP torpedo’s effectiveness.
Mk54 HAWC
The Mk-54, on the other hand, stemmed from the need for a smaller, lighter, but cost effective advanced torpedo that could be dropped from helicopters, planes, and smaller ships. To achieve this, it combined the expensive Mk-50’s search and homing system with the propulsion system of the Mk-46 torpedo (the previous NATO/US standard), and added off-the-shelf electronic components. Its size improves its ability to go after targets in shallower littoral regions, but it is designed for both deep water and near-shore or shallow environments. It is the primary torpedo system used by US P-3C Orion aircraft, for instance, and a kit called HAAWC/Longshot is under development by Lockheed Martin to allow launches from high altitude instead of the usual ceiling of several hundred feet. Cost estimates for this weapon are around $1 million each.
The MU90 Eurotorp is the Mk-54’s primary international competitor. It has been very successful in the international marketplace, and has been selected by Australia as its main lightweight torpedo.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/team-torpedo-raytheon-partners-to-support-mk48-and-mk54-requirements-02533/#more-2533
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Korea orders six more German Class 214 submarines
RoK Navy Class 214 Submarine of the 1st Batch. (Photo: TKMS)
16:34 GMT, January 7, 2009 Hamburg/Kiel |A contract for the delivery of six material packages to build Class 214 submarines for Korea was signed in December 2008 by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW), a company of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AG, and MarineForce International LLP (MFI). The contract was made between the HDW/MFI consortium and the South Korean procurement authority DAPA (Defense Acquisition Program Administration). This will provide Korea with a 2nd batch of boats in this successful class of submarines.
After studying the tenders produced by national Korean shipyards, DAPA selected Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to build the first boat of the 2nd batch. Submission of tenders for the second boat is due to take place in summer 2009.
All six boats will be equipped with an air independent propulsion system on the basis of fuel cells. The 2nd batch of Class 214 for the Korean Navy is a further development of the already proven overall design for the first three boats. The new submarines will be almost identical to the 1st batch boats, which were ordered in 2000 and all three of which were built/are being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries. The first two boats of this class were delivered to the Korean Navy in December 2007 and 2008.
The contract further underlines the position of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems as worldwide market leader in the field of non-nuclear submarines. It safeguards not only industrial core capabilities and jobs at the two ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems locations in Kiel and Emden but also several hundred jobs with subcontractors all over Germany for the coming years.
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/4718/
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Business Times - 09 Jan 2009
Maritime leaders prepare for choppy waters
By VINCENT WEE
(SINGAPORE) While maritime industry leaders gathered to celebrate the new year at the annual Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) New Year cocktail reception, it was inevitable that the downturn in the industry weighed on their thoughts.
'While the maritime industry will feel the effects of the economic downturn, the maritime cluster in Singapore has a strong foundation and I am confident it will emerge even stronger. The government's commitment to the industry is for the long-term, and we look forward to strengthening our partnerships with the industry in the coming year,' said Transport Minister Raymond Lim, who was guest of honour at the event.
The Singapore maritime industry has been enjoying healthy growth in the last five years, till the recent economic slowdown and credit crunch, although it continues to play a vital role in world trade, being a prime mover of goods and services, with 90 per cent of world trade transported by sea.
The industry contributes about 7 per cent to Singapore's gross domestic product and employs over 100,000 people in the maritime workforce.
Over the years, the industry has built up its reputation as one of the leading international maritime centres, which offers an excellent array of maritime ancillary services and outstanding port services.
The SMF's annual cocktail is a major networking session and also marks the foundation's fifth anniversary.
Guests included over 200 leading maritime industry professionals and leaders, including key representatives from the private and public sectors and partners who have helped the SMF in its key initiatives and projects.
To celebrate its fifth anniversary, SMF has published a commemorative publication, SMF: Steering the Maritime Industry (The First Five Years).
The coffee-table book encapsulates the key accolades and initiatives of the foundation from 2004 to 2008 and will be distributed to SMF's key partners and associations this year.
The SMF saw its inception in 2004 as a private-sector driven organisation to work in partnership with the government to develop and promote Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC), heighten public awareness of the maritime industry and attract new talent into the industry.
'The SMF may be a young foundation but it has played an instrumental role working with different partners to raise the profile of the maritime industry and nurturing the diverse maritime clusters,' said SMF chairman SS Teo.
'For 2009, one of the SMF's key priorities would be to ensure that our young maritime entrants into the industry remain employed and groomed even during the rough times,' he said.
'We are in for very choppy waters ahead, but we must remain confident and optimistic. It is important for us to brace ourselves with strong determination and courage to manage these drastic changes in today's global shipping industry,' he added.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg:80/sub/storyprintfriendly/0,4582,313367,00.html?
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Business Times - 08 Jan 2009
US Shipping defaults on debts, in talks with lenders
It is the 5th shipping line worldwide to succumb to collapse in cargo rates
(SINGAPORE/HONG KONG) US Shipping Partners LP, a carrier of petroleum products, is in talks with lenders after defaulting on US$333 million of debt, becoming at least the fifth shipping line worldwide to succumb to a collapse in cargo rates.
The Edison, New Jersey-based company failed to pay the principal or interest due on a senior credit agreement by a Dec 31 deadline, it said in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Tuesday, and is now discussing options with creditors including a possible sale of the firm and its assets.
US Shipping has suffered from waning demand for petrol and petrochemicals as manufacturing slows and US driving suffers its longest continuous decline on record. Four commodity shippers including Armada (Singapore) Pte and Britannia Bulk Holdings plc have sought creditor protection since October as the global recession damps trade.
'The demand figures are obviously contracting in the US,' said Louisa Follis, general manager for research at Simpson, Spence & Young shipbrokers in Singapore. Most shipowners are 'expecting lower freight rates for 2009 and of course, that will impact on the bottom line'.
Moody's Investors Service cut US Shipping's debt rating one level to 'Ca', its second lowest non-investment grade, after the company's statement. It also raised its probability of a default rating, affecting US$450 million of rated debt.
Creditors have agreed to take no action against US Shipping before Feb 10 as it holds talks on its future, according to the shipping line.
'There can be no assurance that the partnership's negotiations with lenders will be successful, or that the lenders will not declare all outstanding obligations under the senior credit agreement to be immediately due and payable,' US Shipping said in its filing.
The company operates 12 vessels, according to its website. It is governed by the Jones Act, which means that its vessels are built and registered in the US, as well as being crewed by US citizens.
US petrol demand fell last year after retail fuel prices reached US$4.37 a gallon during the week of July 16. Motor fuel consumption fell 3.2 per cent in the week ended Dec 26 from the same time in 2007, the Energy Department said in a Dec 31 report.
The nation's drivers travelled 100 billion fewer miles in the 12 months ended October than a year earlier, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
Armada Singapore on Tuesday said that it filed for creditor protection in Singapore and the US after a collapse in rates for carrying commodities such as iron ore and coal. It followed Atlas Shipping Group, Industrial Carriers Inc and Britannia Bulk, which have taken similar steps because of tumbling rates.
The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of commodity shipping costs, plunged 92 per cent last year. -- Bloomberg
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg:80/sub/storyprintfriendly/0,4582,313153,00.html?
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3 more ships to be converted for BMD role
By Christopher P. Cavas - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 8, 2009 9:52:10 EST
Three more Aegis warships will be upgraded to take on the ballistic missile defense (BMD) role, bringing the number of ships with the capability to 21, Pentagon and industry sources confirmed Wednesday.
The ships — two cruisers and one destroyer — will all be from the Atlantic Fleet, Lisa Callahan, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for Maritime Ballistic Missile Defense programs, told reporters during a teleconference about Lockheed’s BMD programs.
Chris Taylor, a spokesman for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) — which oversees all Pentagon BMD programs — would not confirm that three ships have been selected, but acknowledged that “MDA and the Navy are discussing how to do two to four additional ships as soon as possible.”
The Navy would make no official comment on the situation. But one source said “two to four” more ships would receive the upgrade. Pending notifications to Congress, an announcement might come as soon as next week, the source said.
Previously, the Navy and Lockheed have upgraded three cruisers and 15 destroyers with the ability to track and intercept enemy ballistic missiles. The Aegis BMD upgrade costs approximately $10 million to $12 million per ship, and includes new Aegis software and minor hardware adjustments.
Of the 18 ships already in the program, all but two are assigned to the Pacific Fleet and based at San Diego, Calif., Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Yokosuka, Japan. The two Atlantic ships operate from Norfolk, Va.
But while the initial Aegis BMD effort was aimed at North Korean ballistic missiles, the U.S. also is concerned about Iran’s potential to strike targets in Europe.
"I believe near term that we need an additional four to six Atlantic Fleet ships in order to give the necessary flexibility to the fleet commander to keep the presence forward," Rear Adm. Alan Hicks, program director for Aegis ballistic missile defense, told reporters last August.
A BMD communications system test was carried out earlier last summer when the Pearl Harbor-based destroyer Russell in the Mediterranean Sea and the San Diego-based destroyer Benfold in the Persian Gulf worked "with one another in detecting, tracking, sharing information and engaging a simulated ballistic missile by sharing data via a number of paths," according to information from 6th Fleet in Italy.
The first ships upgraded with Aegis BMD — or Aegis version 3.6 — were capable of handling long-range surveillance and tracking of enemy missiles and shooting down those while they were in the exo-atmosphere, or upper reaches of the earth’s atmosphere.
The latest upgrade, 3.6.1, adds the ability to intercept targets in the terminal phase when they’re heading back towards earth.
All 18 ships currently configured with Aegis BMD will receive the upgrade by June, said John Holly, Lockheed’s vice president of Space Systems company. Work on the next three ships is expected to begin after those ships have been completed, Callahan added.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/01/defense_BMD_ships_010709w/
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Business Times - 08 Jan 2009
Armada owes US$500m to creditors
(SINGAPORE) Armada (Singapore) Pte, which won Singapore court protection this week, said it owes at least US$500 million to creditors including Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd after the price of hauling coal, ore and grains collapsed.
Hong Kong's Transfield Shipping Co and Kawasaki Kisen, Japan's third-largest shipping line by sales, are among 64 creditors owed money by Singapore-based Armada, which operates about 50 vessels, according to an affidavit filed by the company's managing director Tommy Jensen Rathleff.
Armada joins Atlas Shipping Group, Industrial Carriers Inc, and Britannia Bulk Holdings plc in seeking court protection after a 92 per cent tumble in commodity shipping rates last year. Customers defaulted on contracts as the global recession and a credit squeeze damped demand for cargo shipments.
'The cumulative value of the total number of claims which the company could be facing in the course of the next few days, or weeks, at the very least, would be in the region of US$500 million,' Mr Rathleff said in the filing.
Kawasaki Kisen is owed about US$95.5 million, while Hong Kong's Transfield Shipping is owed US$113 million. Other creditors owed more than US$50 million were Pacific Bulk Shipping Ltd, Rozzi- Bottiglieri de Carlini Armatory SpA and Deiulemar Group.
Court protection gives Armada eight weeks to come up with a restructuring plan. With a plan, creditors may recover 30 cents on the dollar, compared with receiving 5 cents on the dollar at most if the company liquidated, the court filing said. The company has hired KPMG as its adviser, Mr Rathleff said yesterday.
Armada, which is reorganising under Section 210 of Singapore's Companies Act, estimates 'substantial losses' for financial years 2008 through 2014, the court filing said, compared with an August projection for profits. It will continue operating vessels under court protection.
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, Ashapura Minechem Ltd and Pioneer Freight Futures were among six clients named that had defaulted on a total of US$214 million in payments to Armada, according to Bloomberg calculations based on figures in the affidavit\. \-- Bloomberg
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg:80/sub/storyprintfriendly/0,4582,313141,00.html?
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January 8, 2009
Markus Junianto Sihaloho
Navy Launches Two New Vessels, Needs Another 128
The Indonesian Navy has launched two new, locally made patrol vessels as part of ongoing attempts to bolster and upgrade its aging fleet.
Navy spokesman First Adm. Iskandar Sitompul said on Thursday that the vessels, code-named KRI Krait-827 and KRI Tarihu-829, would be operated by the Western Fleet Command, based in Jakarta.
The ships, measuring 40 meters in length and 7.3 meters wide, were each equipped with a radar system, a twin-barreled cannon and two 12.7 mm machine guns, he said. Each had a maximum speed of 25 knots per hour.
“The hulls are made from special reinforced fiberglass and aluminum,” Iskandar said. “Because they are not made from steel they are faster. It also costs us less for maintenance.”
The naval shipyard had previously assembled nine warships and was planning to produce another two warships, Iskandar said without disclosing details of the plan.
Including the latest two vessels, the Navy has a total of 146 warships.
But Iskander said the Navy still required another 128 ships.
“According to our strategic plan for securing Indonesia waters, by 2024 we must have 274 warships with strike and patrol capabilities and supporting forces,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, the secretary general for the Defense Ministry, last week announced that the ministry had decided to postpone the purchase of two Russian-made submarines that it had intended to purchase as part of its 2004-09 strategic plan.
Sjafrie said the purchase would instead be incorporated into the 2009-14 plan.
However, Iskandar said the Navy expected the government to finalize the purchase and sign the contract this year.
“It takes two or three years to assemble the submarines. So if we sign the contract this year, they can be handed over to us in 2012,” Iskandar said.
“We just need to be assured that the government really wants to purchase the submarines.”
Adm. Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, the Navy chief, said earlier that the Navy needed submarines to defend its sovereignty, adding that they had only asked for two because they knew the state budget was limited.
A military source, who declined to be identified, said the Navy was in desperate need of the submarines to maintain some parity with Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore has ordered two new submarines from Sweden and Malaysia has ordered four from France.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/national/article/5547.html
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Business Times - 08 Jan 2009
Shanghai port's net profit rises 27%
(SHANGHAI) Shanghai International Port (Group) Co, China's biggest port operator, said yesterday that its unaudited net profit in 2008 rose 27 per cent from 2007.
But its statement showed that its business lagged its 2008 targets, apparently as the global financial crisis and the consequent slowing economy in China hurt operations at the port of Shanghai, the world's busiest port in 2007.
Shanghai Port's unaudited net profit attributable to investors stood at 4.61 billion yuan (S$993 million) for 2008, up from 3.64 billion yuan for 2007, it said in the statement published in the official Shanghai Securities News.
Its container throughput rose 7.1 per cent to 28 million twenty-food equivalent units (TEUs). Total handled cargo reached 369 million tonnes, up from 353 million tonnes in 2007, it said.
Shanghai Port had said last March that it hoped to achieve a rise in container traffic to 30 million TEUs in 2008 and in total cargo throughput to 385 million tonnes\. \-- Reuters
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg:80/sub/storyprintfriendly/0,4582,313158,00.html?
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NYK takes delivery of new capesize bulker
Friday, 09 January 2009
On December 22, a new Capesize bulker of 200,000 DWT, SG Capital, was completed at Universal Shipbuilding Corporation’s Tsu Shipyard in Mie Prefecture. The ship will be engaged in a 15-year long-term contract for iron-ore transportation with Shougang Corporation of China. A total of 2 million tons of iron ore will be transported annually from Western Australia. Many guests attended the naming ceremony at Tsu Shipyard, including Zhu Jimin, chairman of the Shougang Group, NYK vice president Hiromitsu Kuramoto, and NYK director managing corporate officer Hidenori Hono, all of whom watched the ship set sail on its maiden voyage.
Source: NYK Line
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31509&Itemid=79
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Friday, January 9, 2009
Observing The Establishment of Combined Task Force 151
As The Custodian noted on Thursday, the US Navy has established a multinational task force focused solely on counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The name of this new task force is Combined Task Force 151 (CF-151). Despite the previous rhetoric otherwise from 5th Fleet and the political forces in Washington, including Condoleeza Rice at the United Nations, this is the first tangible action taken by the United States Navy to address the piracy problems emanating from Somalia. Previous efforts have consisted solely in information sharing and assistance response to mariners under threat. These are my observations of the political, tactical, and strategic thinking behind this action by the US Navy.
Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) will operate from the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) which will act as a command ship, and initially will be supported by two unnamed warships. It will be interesting to see what kind of helicopters we see flying off the USS San Antonio (LPD 17), we have recently seen AH-1s and UH-1s on the flight deck (click image above and look at it in hi-res), and it will be interesting to see if it becomes Marine airmen who become the sharp end of the spear. I also noted the announcement that the Boxer ESG will deploy Friday, which includes both the USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and the new UH-1Y Huey's. Go back and read my conversation with Expeditionary Strike Group 5 leadership, including the transcript of the whole conversation. The announcement today puts a lot of that conversation in context, making me think they kind of knew this was coming. As a consistent vocal fan of the San Antonio class, this is exactly the scenario that I have so often discussed this ship... as the flexible sea-air-land nGW maritime domain command ship (mothership). It will be interesting to observe whether reality confirms or discredits my theories through this implementation.
One final note on this, the Boxer ESG only has 2 warships and 1 Coast Guard Cutter. If this ESG replaces the Iwo Jima ESG in the 5th Fleet operating theater, the net effect is a reduction of one warship. It is interesting we are setting up a new command to be resourced by ships at a time the Navy appears to be gradually reducing the number of ships in the region. This could be telling us something about the Navy's obligations being reduced as it relates to the Iraq war theater.
Depending upon your point of view, or world view, the reasons regarding why the US Navy is developing CTF-151 may very. The Europeans, in particular the Germans, believe this is a reaction to the German Navy taking over command of Task Force 150 next week. The German Navy has a very specific mandate in the region regarding action against piracy, and German command over Task Force 150 coalition forces that take proactive steps to curb piracy could create political problems, and disrupt what has been a very successful coalition effort dealing with other security issues maritime forces are operating to address in the region.
While it is an interesting theory, that would not explain why the US Navy's commitment to date fighting piracy has been lackluster at best, so it wouldn't explain why the US Navy decided to all of a sudden take a more proactive approach against piracy simply because Germany is taking command of Task Force 150. The fundamental change here has nothing to do with the Germans, the fundamental change is a shift in strategy towards piracy. Without the decision to adjust the Navy's fundamental strategic approach to fighting piracy, the US Navy would be quite content operating in Task Force 150 under German command.
I also think CDR Salamander couldn't be more off the mark with his analysis that this represents the US Navy going it alone in theater. The US Navy has talked tough about piracy and has intentionally NOT done the job of the Europeans in protecting their trade for a long time now. In my opinion, the result of the pirate problem is that pirates have become the solution to developing a multinational approach to solving the difficult challenges in Somalia, and has built the largest collection of warships in the 21st century dedicated to the single purpose of curbing piracy against global trade in a concentrated region. There are 3 Saudi frigates and 3 Chinese ships missing from my last Order of Battle for the 5th Fleet. I'm stunned that the CDR believes as we observe another prerequisite for the framework required in developing a Global Maritime Partnership, he sees it as a sign the US Navy is abandoning the maritime strategy that has so brilliantly shaped these conditions? The patience that has been demonstrated, particularly given the incredibly harsh criticism of the US Navy by so many people on both the CDRs blog and mine, has been extraordinary, and the results in the form of a shared international responsibility against the difficult challenge of piracy has been well worth the wait.
CTF-151 will have a one-star Admiral in command, Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, which I think is exactly the right approach towards building this force for the long haul. After all, I suggested it would be the right approach towards coalition building for a multinational approach to piracy back in December after the U.N. Security Council unanimously passed UNSCR 1846.
My only concern by the pick of Rear Adm. Terry McKnight is that I am surprised the Navy picked an Admiral from the Atlantic Fleet. Expeditionary Strike Group 2, last I heard, was associated with the USS Bataan (LHD 5). I am sure Rear Adm. Terry McKnight is capable, but I was just expecting leadership to come from the Pacific Fleet. Put another way, I expected the Navy to pick someone with experience and familiarity dealing with the PLA Navy.
There is another reason the Navy may be forming CTF-151 besides taking a unilateral approach or because the Germans are taking Command of Task Force 150. This week the PLA Navy entered the action curbing piracy against regional commerce off the coast of Somalia. While the establishment of Combined Task Force 151 might represent the tactical development of an infrastructure to fight the pirate problem originating from Somalia, a problem everyone agrees is on land more than sea; the establishment of Combined Task Force 151 also represents a long term strategy towards the ends of linking the national security strategies of CENTCOM and PACOM looking into the future. Consider for a moment what CTF-151 looks like in the context of an image posted by EagleOne the other day, what I'm calling in the spirit of Thomas Barnett, the Navy's New Map in the first term of the Obama administration.
The tactical purpose of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) might be to establish "a multinational task force focused solely on counter-piracy operations," but the strategic purpose has larger ends. Combined Task Force 150 represents a mostly Western approach to nGW in the maritime domain in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. The nations that contribute to Task Force 150 are European and North American, but also made up of regional partners including Pakistan. If there is any vision behind Combined Task Force 151, the number one priority of Rear Adm. Terry McKnight is to build an Eastern approach to nGW in the maritime domain in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Essentially, Rear Adm. Terry McKnight priority from day 1 should be to recruit China, Russia, India, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia into CTF-151, all of whom have already committed ships with the intent to fight piracy. If or when Japan and South Korea send ships, recruit them as well.
The US Navy has absolutely nothing to gain in creating maritime competitions in fighting piracy, indeed the Maritime Strategy is about creating maritime coalitions in dealing with maritime challenges. With the creation of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) the US Navy continues to evolve at the pace of the international community towards the development of a cooperative approach to dealing with the problems in Somalia. The strategy here has been absolutely brilliant in my opinion. By not solving the piracy problem for others, a problem that has no economic impact whatsoever to the United States; by encouraging and assisting coalition partners with existing resources; and by remaining patient but engaged in the slowly evolving political process (UNSCR 1846) the United States Navy now finds itself with the internal infrastructure, regional participants, enabled by evolving international political and legal frameworks, and the right tactical resources to address a maritime nGW problem with an international, coalition approach.
For better or worse, the US Navy's Maritime Strategy has put the US Navy exactly in the position the maritime strategy states it is designed to do. It is now up to our national leadership, both political and inside the Navy, to close the deal with the opportunities at hand. In this bloggers opinion, there is some irony the success in developing a coalition approach to deal with Somalia will fall to the new Secretary of State, one Hillary Clinton. She, more than anyone, understands the challenges of military activities in Somalia. The question is whether that is an advantage, or a burden in the process. Time will tell.
Posted by Galrahn at 2:00 AM
http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/
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Box Fleet Shrinks
Friday, 09 January 2009
Idled ocean container capacity has reached 550,000 TEUs, with 210 vessels out of work as carriers continue to cut or suspend services in the face of sharply falling demand on key liner trade routes. The idle capacity, up from 420,000 TEUs in December, accounts for 4.5 percent of the existing world container ship fleet in TEUs, according to AXS-Alphaliner, the Paris-based consultant. This compares with 3.5 percent of the world fleet that was idled in the depths of the 2002 slump.
With the suspension or closure of Far East-Europe loops and volume reductions on regional or feeder services "ships of all sizes continue to gather up at anchorages or in ports," AXS-Alphaliner said.
The jobless fleet has grown from 165 vessels of 420,000 TEUs two weeks ago and 135 ships of 300,000 TEUs a month ago.
The idled tonnage includes seven ships of 7,500-10,000 TEUs, and 24 vessels of 5,000-7,500 TEUs. Feeder tonnage is the hardest-hit sector with 68 vessels of 1,000-2,000 TEUs at anchor.
Idle vessels include 125 ships whose charters have expired and are seeking employment.
The total weekly capacity of the three main East-West liner routes has fallen by 11.5 percent from 916,000 TEUs to 812,000 TEUs since Aug. 1, AXS-Alphaliner said. The decline accelerated in December when several Far East-Europe loops were abruptly closed or suspended, removing almost 30,000 TEUs of weekly capacity.
Capacity on the Far East-Europe-Mediterranean trades has declined 16 percent in the past five months, from 418,000 TEUs per week to 351,000 TEUs. Far East-North America capacity is down 9 percent to 342,000 TEUs from 376,000 TEUs.
Europe-Mediterranean-North America capacity has been cut by 2.5 percent from 121,500 TEUs to 118,000 TEUs.
Source: Journal of Commerce
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31423&Itemid=79
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China Shipping and Shougang set up shipping joint venture
Friday, 09 January 2009
China Shipping has agreed to establish a shipping joint venture with one of China's largest steelmakers, the Shougang Group, reports Chinadaily. The shipowner will hold a 51% stake, while the steelmaker will hold the remaining shares in the jv. The venture, which will boast a registered capital of 100m yuan ($14.60m), is expected to begin operations in March. Its main business will be to ship steel products from manufacturing facilities, including Shougang's, to the country's coastal regions and markets in Southeast Asia.
Source: SeatradeAsia Online
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31508&Itemid=79
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Gulf of Aden - developments
Friday, 09 January 2009
After a relatively peaceful end of 2008, piracy levels in the Gulf of Aden have sky-rocketed again at the start of the new year. So far in January two vessels have been reported hijacked and 13 unsuccesfully attacked - some of them more than once. At the same time there have been several incidents where pirate skiffs have been intercepted/destroyed and/or pirates apprehended. French, Danish and Indian navy vessels have been involved in several such incidents. As far as numbers go, between them these vessels have disarmed and released on the spot a total of 15 pirates. Out of a total of 32 others and who were caught in the act (of whom 19 by French vessels) 27 have been handed over to representatives of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland who have apparently confirmed their intention to prosecute them. The remaining five being held on the Danish vessel Absalon are said to be awaiting handover to Dutch authorities who also intend to prosecute them.
The navy presence in the area continues to go up, although the day-to-day figures may vary, bearing in mind that several vessels have more than one mission. In broad terms the following capacities are currently in Horn of Africa waters:
EU ATALANTA: 5 vessels
CTF 150: 5
Russia: 2
India: 2
China: 2 + 1 supply vessel
France: 2 contributions to EU fleet + 1 under national command
UK: vessels under national command in addition to contributions to CTF 150 and EU. Combined no. unknown
USA: Several vessels inside and outside of CTF 150
Saudi Arabia + Pakistan: No. unknown
We hear conflicting figures as far as the presence in the UKMTO Transit Corridor (UTC) at any one time is concerned. +/- 10 is one that has been suggested.
You will be aware that other missions which the vessels are engaged in are
• protection of the food aid shipments to Somalia
• prevention of weapons of mass destruction proliferation
• prevention of drug smuggling (to be escalated)
• anti-terrorist activities
At the time of writing we do not want to speculate on the number of helicopters in the area. With their speed and deterrent capacity these have proved to be very successful anti-piracy instruments.
We will continue to seek to ascertain more accurate capacity numbers. But overall, it can be concluded that the enhanced capacities have made their mark. Successful interventions have been made in a considerable number of ongoing attacks, the "success rates" (= hijackings) of which continue to decline.
EU ATALANTA sources also report that merchant vessels are better equipped and prepared than before to withstand attacks. Repeaters as far as protection is concerned are reported to be distress signal pistols, hired security guards (the large majority of which are unarmed), high-pressure water cannons and some even molotov cocktails. You will also be familiar with electric fences. Recommendations regarding speed, evasive maneouvring, light and night voyages seem to be extensively observed.
For vessels defined as vulnerable (apparently quite a few have qualified for the term) the EU ATALANTA command is making an effort to provide escort. From 1 January two frigates have been earmarked for patrol activities in UTC, known as Group Escort. Typically, 2-3 merchant vessels are said to be escorted at a time. It is also reported that so far no vessels travelling in these groups have been attacked.
Source: Skuld
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31484&Itemid=79
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Regards
Snooper
NNNN
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