Salvage World Q4 2014

DECEMBER 2014

INTERNATIONAL SALVAGE UNION

ISU President promotes benefits of LOF contract The Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) is a fair contract with many benefits, ISU President, Leendert Muller, told the annual Salvage and Wreck Conference in London in the keynote speech.

LOF is still the most commonly used salvage contract with ISU statistics showing that its members performed 48 LOF services in 2013, up from 37 the previously year. But the overall trend is a decline in the use of LOF and ISU is set to work with Lloyd’s on communicating the benefits of LOF to the marine insurance market as well as other parts of the shipping industry. ISU wants to tackle misunderstandings such as the misplaced fear that LOF may be costly to use.

Setting out the benefits, Mr Muller said: “LOF is a clear and simple contract, with standard clauses. It enables rapid intervention in an evolving casualty situation mainly because there is no need to negotiate terms “upfront” and the contract can be quickly agreed with a verbal agreement that is legally binding. It can be signed at a later stage.”

taking account of the circumstances of the job.

The integrity of LOF is assured by Lloyd’s, a world scale insurance market with considerable resources and there is a defined process and well-supported system to administer use of the LOF contract. ISU believes strongly that it is a fair contract which provides for a salvage award based on a number of criteria including the value of the property saved

ISU does not consider LOF to be any more expensive to use than other contracts and there is also a Fixed Cost Arbitration Process (FCAP) for smaller cases. Mr Muller also noted that there are cases where the use of daily hire rates and other commercial terms has, in the end, cost more than if a LOF had been used.

Mr Muller added: “Perhaps the best demonstration of the fairness of LOF is that the majority of cases are settled amicably. If they are not, there is a clear dispute resolution process using Lloyd’s Arbitrators and further possibility to appeal against an arbitrator’s award.”

Mr Muller added: “We would like to see Lloyd’s put more weight behind communicating the benefits of LOF and promoting its use to Lloyd’s underwriters.

But we also recognise that there are number of other salvage contracts that are regularly used and which have their place. And there are, of course, cases where other commercial terms are more appropriate”.

ISU was well represented at the conference, with many members speaking and participating in panel discussions. ISU General Manager, Mark Hoddinott, moderated a working group and Communications Adviser, James Herbert, led a workshop of the salvage of “mega vessels”.

ISU opposes concept of the “Property Salvage Consultant” ISU has re-stated its opposition to the idea of a so-called Property Salvage Consultant (PSC) attending nonSCOPIC Lloyd’s Open Form cases.

The initiative has been promoted by cargo insurance interests.

The concept of a Special Casualty Representative (SCR) being deployed during a SCOPIC LOF case is well established and parties agree it generally works well but this idea is for property interests to send a consultant to monitor the progress of the salvage services in non SCOPIC LOF cases and send regular reports. It is the ISU position,

supported by the International Chamber of Shipping; the International Group of P&I Clubs and the Admiralty Solicitors’ Group that a PSC is unnecessary.

ISU General Manager, Mark Hoddinott said: “Salvors are engaged to use their “best endeavours” to save life, protect the environment and save property.

Their pay depends on their success in those objectives, taking account of the circumstances. We therefore reject the PSC proposal because we do not see that it will add any value; it will increase bureaucracy and could even lead to interference which might hamper the 1

conduct of operations.”

ISU recognises the need to ensure all parties are properly briefed on the progress of operations and so it has agreed that, for a trial period, the appointed salvage master will submit to Lloyd’s a Daily Salvage Report (DSR) in a standard format. That report can then be circulated to all interests to keep them updated and sighted on developments.

Mr Hoddinott added: “We do not think there is any need to continue debating the matter during the trial period.”

ISU NEWS Associate Members’ Day 2015 The ISU’s annual conference for its Associate and Affiliate members will be held on Wednesday 25 March 2015 at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall in the City of London. This is a change of venue from previous years. A range of topics will be explored including the importance of Lloyd’s Open Form salvage contract. The Associate members’ conference will be followed on Thursday 26 March by the biennial SCRs’ seminar which is jointly provided by ISU and the International Group of P&I Clubs and which will be held on HQS Wellington. Further details will be issued in the New Year.

Lloyd’s Arbitrators

Committee. Mr Muller briefed journalists on current salvage issues including the ISU’s opposition to the concept of the Property Salvage Consultant (see story Page 1). The highly regarded journalist, Michael Grey, offered a vote of thanks on behalf of the guests.

individuals or teams from ISU member companies or their subcontractors or, in exceptional circumstances, to ISU Associate Members or staff from public bodies. The award may be made for an individual act or for service over a longer period that benefits the salvage industry.

Pollution prevention

It is expressly not a bravery award, though acts of bravery are not excluded.

There is no limit on the amount of Awards which may be made, equally there is no expectation that Awards should be made with set frequency. Nominations should be made directly to the ISU General Manager and will then be considered by the ISU Executive Committee which is made up of senior executives from its membership.

The ISU will again conduct its survey of its members’ pollution prevention efforts in early 2015 and will include more specificity on cargo types. Details will be sent in the New Year to full members.

Meritorious service The ISU Meritorious Service Award was initiated in 2013 and may be made to

The Lloyd’s Salvage Arbitration Branch has announced the new panel of Lloyd’s Arbitrators is to consist of: Elizabeth Blackburn, QC Simon Kverndal, QC Lionel Persey, QC Jeremy Russell, QC Vasanti Selvaratnam, QC The arbitrators will serve for a five year term which will conclude on 11 November 2019. ISU has committed to working with Lloyd’s on enhanced communications about LOF to help improve understanding of the value of this important salvage contract.

Journalists’ lunch ISU hosted its annual lunch for marine journalists at the RAC Club (see below).

Communications adviser James Herbert said: “ISU is proud of the relationships it maintains with shipping media and our annual lunch is a good opportunity to catch up and exchange views about the salvage industry”. ISU President Leendert Muller hosted the event along with members of the ISU Executive

Photograph competition

The competition to choose the best photograph taken in 2014 during a salvage operation is open to all employees of ISU fullmember companies.

The prize is $300 and the completion will be judged by a sub-group of the ISU Executive Committee.

High quality entries should be sent to the ISU Communications Adviser at admin@gemcomms.com if multiple pictures are to be sent, they should be emailed in small batches.

ISU entertains marine journalists.

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China Rescue and Salvage claims record for in-tact sunken bulker removal

The Guangzhou Salvage Bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Transport has removed the wreck, in-tact, of the 57,000 tonne bulker TRANS SUMMER which sank, fully loaded with 55,000 tonnes of nickel ore, off Xiao Wan Shan Island at the entrance to the Pearl River. It is the largest project of its type.

The bulker sank during typhoon “Ute” in 2013, spilling more than 700 tonnes of fuel oil. Guangzhou Salvage immediately dispatched specialist vessels to the site and conducted underwater inspections and controlled the pollution using booms, absorbent and other oil recovery equipment.

Subsequently, engaged by the UK P&I Club, Guangzhou Salvage used underwater tapping to recover the remaining bunkers and protect the environment of the Pearl River. It was then awarded the wreck removal contract for TRANS SUMMER. Work began in November 2013 with the cargo discharge operation. The wreck was leaning to port by 104° which meant

the entrance of the cargo holds were under water and so grab equipment could not be used. Therefore ten 3 metre x 3 metre holes were cut into the starboard side enabling the nickel ore to be pumped out by hydraulic drift dredge pump and large air current mud pump, and then carried away by mud dumping ship. By the end of February 2014, about 29,000 tons of nickel ore had been discharged, which had laid a good foundation for the righting operation.

To provide mooring force for righting, 14 suction anchors, each one 5 m in diameter, 9 m high and weighing 34 tonnes and offering 300 tonnes of force resistance were laid on the seabed and connected by hawsers to the hull. The anchor spread equalled the righting moment of an 8,500 tonne crane barge.

Seabed conditions prevented passing wires under the wreck and so plans were modified and four 800 tonnes camels were installed in the starboard side to be filled with water to increase the righting force when the vessel reached the right angle. Preparations such as the installation of camels, underwater operations, commissioning of steel

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strands and connection of steel wires took 20 days.

In early June the righting operation was undertaken by the coordinated use of three crane barges and 28 groups of pulling jacks and pumping water into the camels and double bottom.

After several days the superstructure, crane bases and five hatches of the wreck were almost above the water and the second phase of cargo discharge began using a large grab bucket vessel and the situation was soon suitable for refloating.

Initial attempts at refloating were disrupted by typhoon "Rammasun" after which much remedial work had to be done before the wreck was refloated using inner and outer buoyancy.

Air was pumped into airtight tanks and cargo holds de-watered, several 500 tonne camels were installed on the port side to stabilize the heel degree during refloating which was achieved using four large crane barges for the record breaking lift of the TRANS SUMMER in one piece.

Members' News Ultratug

maritime casualties in this region.

Chilean ISU member, Ultratug, has announced a new venture in Colombia through its Coltugs unit which provides salvage services, harbour towage, offshore services and special operations.

Ultratug says Coltugs operates one of the most modern fleets in Latin America with a presence in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Colombia.

Boskalis has also announced with Kotug International BV (Kotug) that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to merge their European harbour towage operations.

The companies will establish a 50/50 joint venture for this purpose, combining the European harbour towage activities of Smit, a Boskalis subsidiary, with the European harbour towage activities of Kotug. Boskalis said the merger is the concluding step in its strategy to establish regional partnerships for its harbour towage activities, which has already been as seen with Smit Lamnalco, Keppel Smit and most recently SAAM Smit. Boskalis said that having access to an expanded network and assets will increase Smit’s ability to respond to maritime casualties in Western Europe.

Tsavliris

The new Colombian operations are in Santa Marta, Cartagena and Buenaventura with a fleet of 8 ASD tugboats using skilled Colombian crews.

Since September, Coltugs has assisted container vessels and container barges in the Cartagena terminals as well as attending container ships and general cargo vessels at Buenaventura. Two tugs have also assisted in salvage operations.

At Puerto Nuevo, Coltugs has supported vessel movements at the coal terminal.

In addition to harbour towage, Coltugs has a track record in salvage operations; offshore activities; marine environmental protection and oil and gas operations using a fleet of AHTS and PSVs and with long experience of LNG terminal operations.

Tsavliris Salvage celebrated its new venture in China with its Chinese partners, Kamji Marine International, hosting a reception in November at the Yacht Club of Greece. Guests included the Minister of Shipping, Maritime Affairs and the Aegean, Mr Miltiades Varvitsiotis and the Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Greece, Mr Liwei Sun, the head of the Kamji Marine delegation, Johnny Ma, his colleagues and family members as well as senior figures from the Greek Shipping Industry.

Tsavliris said its exclusive partnership with Kamji Marine, “will serve the Greek shipping industry, assisting Greek controlled ships calling at Chinese ports.

Moreover, in the unlikely event of a casualty in Chinese waters, shipowners will have the peace of mind in knowing that Tsavliris Salvage will be available to provide input whether it operational, advisory or technical, to ensure that the level of service they receive is nothing short of first class.” Kamji Marine will deal with the Chinese coast guard and port authorities and will communicate with Tsavliris to ensure Greek ship-owners are kept updated of the local situation.

Separately, Tsavliris Salvage received an award to recognise its support for and sponsorship of the Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards. The “10 Year Sponsorship” Award was received by the three Principals, Nicolas, George and Andreas Tsavliris. And Alexandra Tsavliris Andreadis presented the “Seafarer of the Year” Award to the winner, Captain Nikolaos Douskos from Chandris Hellas. Mrs Tsavliris said: “Our seafarers are the heart and soul of this industry. Without them our industry could not operate. Each year, by honouring an exceptional seafarer, we call attention to the merits of all seafarers and the exemplary courage and seamanship which they demonstrate”.

Tsavliris noted that 2014 is a special year for the company as it marks 100 years since the birth of its founder father, Alexander George Tsavliris; 75 years since the commencement of the first Tsavliris shipping company and 50 years since the foundation of Tsavliris Salvage in 1964.

Smit Smit Salvage’s parent company, Royal Boskalis Westminster NV (Boskalis) announced in December that Smit Lamnalco, a 50% owned associate, has acquired PB Towage Australia (PB Towage). PB Towage is the second largest player in Australia with activities along the east coast from Melbourne to Cape York Peninsula. Following this transaction, Smit Lamnalco will be active in 8 ports in Australia with a total of 29 vessels offering a combination of harbour towage, terminal and FPSOrelated services. The acquisition is in line with the Boskalis strategy to develop its position in the towage market through partnerships and to grow through regional consolidation opportunities.

Boskalis says Smit Salvage will have access to this network and assets and increase its capabilities to respond to

requirement that ship managers precontract with an approved Ship Pollution Response Organisation (SPRO) prior to the ship arriving in China.

Above from right to left: George A.Tsavliris, Sun Liwei (Commercial and Economic Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Greece), Nicolas A Tsavliris, Minister of Shipping Miltiades Varvitsiotis, Andreas A Tsavliris, Captain George Polychroniou, Johnny Ma (Kamji Marine), David Zhang.

Tsavliris said Kamji Marine is a “reliable, efficient and talented team with considerable experience in marine services in China and one of China's leading registered Ship Pollution Response Organisations (SPRO).”

China introduced new Regulations for the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution from Ships in 2012 with a 4

Resolve Resolve Marine held a reception in the City of London for the shipping industry.

President Joe Farrell, Jr. outlined Resolve's capabilities and plans.

Joe Farrell, Jr (left) with guests Captain and Mrs Nick Sloane.

Tsavliris operations In September the large, modern Pax/ RoRo vessel EUROPALINK stuck rocks off Peristeria Islet, north-east of Corfu island during a voyage from Patras to Ancona with 692 passengers, 70 crew members and 366 vehicles onboard.

Tsavliris salvage tug MEGAS ALEXANDROS alongside EUROPALINK

The vessel sustained severe bottom damage and a substantial ingress of seawater but proceeded to Corfu by its own means. At the entrance to the port it sustained black out and lost power but was berthed with the assistance of local tugs and all the passengers and vehicles were offloaded. The vessel submerged due to flooding.

A Tsavliris salvage team was mobilised from Piraeus while portable salvage equipment was dispatched onboard the Tsavliris tug HERMES from Patras. In the meantime, the anti-pollution oil recovery vessel AEGIS, with anti-pollution equipment was deployed from Piraeus with the anti-pollution oil separator craft AKTEA 15.

disposal of oily residues and pollutants.

Inspection revealed that all the bottom tanks and some of the side tanks were flooded due to internal breakage. A salvage plan was approved by the client and by the local authorities.

Following final inspection by the relevant authorities, the casualty was towed by the salvage tug MEGAS ALEXANDROS to Yalova, Turkey with the salvage team remaining on board.

The salvage services included: environmental protection facilities on site; repairs internally and externally to ensure structural integrity and watertightness; pumping out all flooded spaces and arranging oily water treatment/disposal; washing down and preservation of machinery affected by sea water and

Elsewhere, the MEGAS ALEXANDROS assisted the general cargo vessel SUNFLOWER E - 13,000 dwt and in ballast - which was disabled due to mechanical failure north east of Crete.

The casualty was towed safely to Syros island.

And the salvage tug TSAVLIRIS HELLAS was dispatched provided standby services to the laden 27,000 tonne dwt bauxite bulker ZEUS I at the anchorage of Ponta Delgada, Azores.

In December the tug HERMES was sent from her station at Patras to the assistance of the general cargo vessel MALMO - 11,444 dwt and laden with cement - which was immobilised due to engine failure south of Cefalonia island in the Ionian Sea. The HERMES towed the casualty to Patras anchorage.

Resolve to remove Chilean wreck Resolve Salvage & Fire has been awarded the contract to remove the wreck of the RoRo Ferry AMADEO 1 currently lying in the Kirke Canal in southern Chile.

Resolve is presently mobilizing equipment to the site, south of Puerto Natales.

According to local media, the ferry’s 17 passengers and 28 crew members were all evacuated and no oil spills or casualties were reported.

Initial reports suggested the ship may have struck the rocky bottom and then was purposely steered into shallower water in order to keep the vessel from sinking entirely.

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Spanopoulos YUSUF wreck removal

Spanopoulos Group has successfully completed the removal of the wreck of the aft section of the YUSUF CEPNIOGLU which had grounded on the rocky north coast of the island of Mykonos, Greece, in March 2014. The forward section of the wreck - the bow and cargo holds No 1 and No 2 - had been removed following stabilising and re-floating earlier in the year.

The removal of the aft section, consisting of the engine room and accommodation, was achieved using the semi-submersible barge ATLANTIS 1 and a bespoke pulling

system. The barge was sunk alongside the wreck, with careful asymetrical trimming, at a depth of some 22 metres.

The list of the wreck was adjusted and she was then pulled onto the deck of the sunken semi-sub barge which was then refloated with the wreck on her deck.

The Spanopoulos team included a project manager, salvage superintendents, consultants, marine engineers, naval architects and seafarers.

The contract also included removal of remaining containers from No 1 cargo hold, collection of debris, counter pollution

After

before

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activity and beach clean-up (see below); seabed debris removal; disposal of waste as well as damaged cargo and the hull.

Final recovery of cargo and material on the seabed continues.

Elsewhere, Spanopoulos has provided salvage services to the MV VUOKSA in northern Greece; conducted refloating operations on the MV TINAZTEPE S, which ran aground at Stylida Port in 2013 as well as attending the LADY ROSEBUD off Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and undertaking a number of emergency tows.

Svitzer’s IEVOLI AMARANTH in Dutch and German joint exercise A joint German/Dutch emergency towage exercise has taken place in the North Sea. The drill involved the Dutch Coast Guard Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV), IEVOLI AMARANTH which Svitzer manages for the Dutch Government, along with the German Coast Guard ETVs MELLUM, NORDIC and NEUWERK. For the exercise, the German Coast Guard chartered the Swedish car carrier OTELLO from Wallenius to play the central role. The scenario involved a simulated crankcase explosion leading to immobilisation and blackout on the OTELLO after she left Bremerhaven.

Under the scenario, the fire is fought successfully by the crew using the CO2 fire extinguishing system but a storm with onshore wind means the ship drifts towards the coast. The anchors cannot be deployed as gas pipelines cross the seabed. Towing is therefore necessary to prevent the ship from grounding. Commercial tug assistance is not available within the given time, and harbour tugs cannot operate safely in the open sea due to the harsh weather.

The drill began to unfold when the master of OTELLO called the German Bight VTS for tug-assistance. ETV MELLUM arrived and a boarding party was transferred by helicopter to assist the crew prepare a heavy towing connection. Due to the position close to the Dutch border, the Dutch ETV IEVOLI AMARANTH also proceeded towards the location to render assistance.

In reality conditions were favourable and IEVOLI AMARANTH was able to make

a towing connection to the simulated casualty within 20 minutes. The results of the exercise were well received by all parties and it is expected that similar exercises will be held in the future.

Svitzer operational roundup The container vessel SAMSKIP AKRAFELL ran aground off Rekyafjordur, Iceland. A Svitzer Salvage team boarded the vessel which they stabilized, refloated and brought into the port of Rekyafjordur.

The containers were offloaded, the engine room was patched, pumped dry and machinery was preserved.

The reefer GREEN FREEZER ran aground off Faskruosfiroi, and with the assistance of the local authorities, the vessel was refloated following partial bunker removal and redelivered to the

Dutch ETV IEVOLI AMARANTH, managed by Svitzer

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owners.

In an unusual job some 85km of seismic streamers, including peripherals, were recovered from approximately 50 metres below the surface in the North Sea after they were abandoned due to operational necessity.

Elsewhere, the STEMA BARGE II loaded with 24,000 ton of rock lost the connection to her tug during a gale force storm. The IEVOLI AMARANTH, the Dutch Coast Guard ETV (see above) was mobilized to the site with a salvage team that boarded the barge via helicopter and established an emergency tow and took her to safety away from the shore.

In Colombia the boxship WANHE ran aground in the Port of Buonaventura but

Smit Salvage round up In South America, Smit Salvage has been involved in three recent salvage operations involving refloating jobs in the Amazon River.

The first case was a grounded chemical/ oil tanker near Santarem in Brazil. When notified, Smit dispatched an expert team consisting of senior salvage consultants, a naval architect and salvage master.

The inspection by the team revealed that refloating by tugs was possible and a refloating plan was prepared which was approved by the local authorities.

Two tugs were immediately available from the SAAM Smit joint venture and some pusher tugs were also engaged.

Scouring, pushing and pulling activities were performed by the tugs and the tanker was refloated, redelivered and continued her voyage.

Also in November, two bulkers ran aground in the Amazon River. One was a 75,000 tonne dwt laden bulker off Macapa. Smit mobilized one of its salvage masters to inspect the casualty and decided that refloating by tugs would work.

Two SAAM Smit units were dispatched to assist in refloating the bulker within a matter of hours and she was redelivered to her owners. At the same time an 82,000 tonne dwt bulker was aground in the vicinity and four craft including three tugs from SAAM Smit were made available and refloated the vessel.

In Argentina, Smit Salvage provided services to an open hatch cargo vessel which experienced serious grounding damage. The salvor performed temporary repairs to the vessel in order

The grounded MT SEYCHELLES PATRIOT being pulled by SAAM Smit tug (source: SMIT Salvage)

to reduce the draft to acceptable levels as required by the local authorities. In cooperation with a local subcontractor the salvage team managed to achieve the required resutl and subsequently redeliver the vessel in Uruguay.

Currently Smit Salvage is involved in the Parana River in a case involving a vessel which experienced a collision.

In West Africa Smit was involved in providing salvage assistance to a laden capesize vessel which experienced damage due to an allision. Smit conducted a damage assessment and, based on naval architects calculations, it was deemed safe to transfer and escort the vessel to Spain for further repairs.

The cargo was discharged to shore and the vessel was drydocked. This operation proved to be very challenging due to the Ebola outbreak however close

cooperation and tight safety protocols and cooperation of the various parties the project was successfully concluded.

Smit has also been active in Asia in the recent period with, amongst others, a collision case in Singapore Straits, a fire and explosion in Port Klang, Malaysia; the refloating of a sunken vessel in Kalimantan, Indonesia; several towages in the South China Sea and a grounded vessel in the Philippines.

Having removed the leg sections of the PERRO NEGRO 6 in Angola, preparations are ongoing to refloat the sunken jack up rig. In the Netherlands preparations are currently underway to resume the removal of the sunken BALTIC ACE car carrier.

Shipping, emissions and the environment The global shipping industry, which transports around 90% of world trade, only produced about 2.2% of the world’s total Green House Gas emissions during 2012 compared to 2.8% in 2007.

Shipping’s total emissions have reduced by more than 10% during the same period. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says that the industry is on track to reduce its emissions by more than 20% by 2020 compared to 2005.

The shipping industry is the only industrial sector which is already covered by a binding global agreement to reduce its

CO2 emissions, through technical and operational measures agreed with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The shipping industry is campaigning to ensure that IMO continues as the principle forum for addressing emissions in marine transport which should not be attributed to individual nations.

ICS says shipping is a global industry requiring rules on CO2 to be applied on a global basis to all ships to prevent market distortion and to avoid “carbon leakage” since only about 35% of the world fleet is registered with those developed nations that are covered by emission reduction commitments under the existing Kyoto 8

Protocol on climate change prevention.

At the same time, ICS has voiced its disappointment that the European Union is to pre-empt negotiations taking place at the IMO on the collection of data on CO2 emissions from ships, by unilaterally adopting a regional Regulation which will apply to non-EU flag vessels, as well as ships registered in the EU. ICS says it supports the development of a global data collection system by IMO but the adoption of a regional EU regime, which may not be compatible with whatever is agreed at IMO, will complicate and perhaps jeopardise the negotiations.

ASSOCIATES' NEWS Deep Tek

from regional maritime authorities.

Identifier in the Apple Store.

Deepwater operations specialist, Deep Tek, has linked with Lankhorst Ropes and DSM Dyneema Cooperation to introduce a new system capable of handling heavy loads at depths of well over 3000 metres.

Invited delegates will have free admission to the forum with several social events also planned to allow for networking.

An LOC spokeswoman said: “This industry event, organised by industry professionals, will raise the standards of the industry further, boost cross-industry co-operation and reduce the risks and challenges involved in future major salvage operations.”

Jamie Cashman, Owner and President of Cashman Equipment said: “Everyone lives on their mobile phones these days, so it is important that this information be accessible to our clients whenever and wherever they happen to need it.”

The fully integrated system is based on Deep Tek’s drum winch technology for deploying and recovering payloads in the deepest waters. Deep Tek has developed and patented a spooling pattern that allows multiple layers of synthetic fibre rope to be spooled onto a load bearing winch drum with no risk of it cutting in. Lankhorst has created a new rope design with fully optimised fatigue and load bearing characteristics for use in the deepwater lowering system. This rope is based on DSM Dyneema’s DM20 XBO fibre and a proprietary coating technology.

The new system makes use of a rope condition management system and takes advantage of Dyneema® fibre’s strength which means vessel owners can dispense with the weight of steel wire. The system is currently being qualified by classification society DNVGL using Assurance Case methodology, which enables introduction of new technology without relaxing certification requirements.

Deep Tek’s managing director, Moya Crawford, says the joint development makes the most of the three companies’ technological capabilities and expertise: “It responds to the needs of vessel owners that wish to install higher loads in deeper waters using smaller and more economic vessels than before,” she says.

“It also addresses concerns of major oil companies about the rising cost of developing deepwater fields.”

LOC Singapore event International marine and engineering consultancy, London Offshore Consultants (LOC), is to host a two day forum considering wreck removal and salvage in the shipping industry next year during Singapore Maritime Week.

The invitation-only event will be held at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore 23 – 24 April 2015. LOC says the forum will allow delegates close access to industry leaders who will share insights and their outlook on two of the most important issues facing the shipping industry and its insurers today. There will be speakers from the International Group of P&I Clubs; the International Salvage Union; the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Ltd and senior executives

Intermanager Gerardo Borromeo has been elected as President of InterManager for a second term and will serve as head of the global third party and in-house ship managers' association until 2016.

The AGM also elected five Vice Presidents. They are Ian MacLean from Hill Dickinson, responsible for legal issues; Rob Grool from Seaspan, looking after the Americas; George Hoyt in charge of Special Projects; Bjorn Jebsen from Abojeb who will look after European affairs and Capt Ajay Tripathi from MMS who will act as Treasurer.

Mr Borromeo said: "The youth of today is growing up in a highly digitised world, a world characterised by instant gratification and a wired society where the flow of information is instantaneous.

Thinking ahead, in the context of life on shore, what kind of environment onboard will be necessary to attract and retain the kind of talent that will be needed to serve in a dynamic evolving global landscape?

"We at InterManager are challenged as an association to promote the continued development of a common platform, in order to project an image of an industry that moves the world. This platform, which I call the ’Human Side of Shipping’, must support efforts to tackle the ever pressing risks of greater administrative burdens being placed on our officers; ensure the right competencies are being developed; and find better ways to manage the overall wellness index of our crew members."

Cashman Barges Cashman Equipment Corp. has announced the launch of its new mobile app, the Cashman Equipment Barge Identifier. Cashman Equipment’s new mobile app allows registered users access to information relatiing to its entire fleet of barges, tugs and marine equipment, including drawings, documentation and pictures, anywhere, anytime. It is compatible with both IPhone and Android and can be found by searching Cashman Equipment Barge 9

Cashman Equipment owns and operates a large and young fleet of over 130 vessels, including inland and ocean barges ranging in size from 120’ to 400’; accommodation barges as well as specialized oil spill recovery barges, tugs and cranes. It has offices and fleets in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Singapore/Australia, the Persian Gulf, West Africa and the Caspian Sea. C Solutions C Solutions has announced the appointment of Sacha Christopher as Consultant who will be based at the firm’s offices at the Lloyd’s building in London, working alongside members of the C Solutions’ global shipping team. He will advise on marine and insurance claims with an emphasis on disputes relating to charter parties, the supply and carriage of goods, demurrage, agency, contracts of affreightment and bills of lading.

Mr Christopher is a solicitor qualified in both South Africa and Australia and has worked at the International Group of P&I Clubs; with a leading law firm in London and as in-house counsel at a major shipping line.

Hill Dickinson Hill Dickinson has announced that partner, Patrick Hawkins, is to be its first head of global shipping. Patrick, who also heads the firm’s Greek Office, will manage and co-ordinate the expanding international shipping practice.

Patrick Hawkins said: “I am looking forward to building on our significant investment in the firm’s European and Asia-Pacific offices in recent years and ensuring that the firm’s overall shipping capability is completely aligned to the needs of our clients worldwide. I will be working with the 100 strong team of global shipping lawyers worldwide to coordinate and further expand our current offering to the full range of our established client base.

These include shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, port and terminal operators, insurers and reinsurers and shipping industry suppliers who, we are confident, will welcome the enhanced service this will provide.”

Titan refloats bow section of SMART off South Africa Titan Salvage has successfully refloated and scuttled the largest section of the wrecked bulk carrier SMART. The vessel was carrying a cargo of coal when it went aground in August 2013 in heavy seas at Richards Bay, South Africa. The bulker broke up after only two days.

Titan was engaged to refloat and scuttle the most complex and challenging portion of the vessel, the bow, which was partially buried in mud. Soon after arriving on scene, the Titan team, including salvage master, Guy Wood, deployed its proprietary jack-up barges KARLISSA A and KARLISSA B – which have a combined total of 1,880 sq meters of clear deck space and the ability to jack in depths of up to 50 metres.

Preparations were made to remove pollutants and then lighter the remaining cargo via hopper barge. To further reduce the weight of the wreck, Wood and his team made arrangements to have sand and mud removed from the bow using air-lift techniques and the bow was therefore refloated, towed and scuttled

into designated waters, as approved by the South African Maritime Safety Authority, in only three days.

“It was a difficult job because there were so many unknowns,” said Gordon Amos, Titan’s director operations.

“From the very beginning, we had to accurately assess the weight of the bow to determine the lightering process and

appropriate pulling forces. This was complicated by the fact that we didn’t know how much mud and cargo filled the forward compartments. Additionally, we were battling five-metre swells and challenging weather conditions. It was a job well done.”

Titan is now preparing for the removal of the SMART’s remaining mid-section.

International Monitor Italy The trial on multiple counts of manslaughter of Francesco Schettino, the former captain of the COSTA CONCORDIA, has continued in Italy.

Giving evidence for the first time, Mr Schettino confirmed that he had been entertaining a woman to dinner and took her to the bridge of the liner shortly before it hit rocks off the island of Giglio leading to the disaster in which 32 people lost their lives. But he denied that he undertook a “sail past” of the island to impress her.

He told the court that he did it to please the ship’s head waiter whose family come from Giglio; to impress a retired naval commander who was staying on the island and to provide a spectacle for his passengers.

ICS concern with marine oil pollution compensation regime The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), said it was concerned that the well-established global regime for compensation from oil pollution from ships may be under threat, due to a decision by governments to wind up the 1971 International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF).

ICS, along with BIMCO and Intertanko,

argued that it is premature to wind up the 1971 Fund when there are still outstanding claims not covered by the current 1992 Fund. Some of these claims are subject to litigation, with money potentially still owed to P&I Clubs. ICS is therefore supporting the position of the International Group of P&I Clubs on this issue and suggested a rethink of the decision, confirmed by an IOPCF meeting in April this year.

Republic of Korea The captain of the Republic of Korea ferry which sank in April has been found guilty of gross negligence and sentenced to 36 years in prison.

The Sewol was carrying 476 people when it went down. More than 300 died, most of them school students.

Lee Joon-seok was among 15 crew members on trial for various offences over the sinking. Prosecutors charged him with homicide and called for the death penalty, but judges acquitted him on that charge.

The disaster was blamed on a combination of illegal re-designs, the overloading of cargo and the inexperience of the helmsman.

And crew members did not secure cargo which moved when the vessel made a sharp turn contributing to the disaster.

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UK detentions The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency announced that six non-UK flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during October 2014 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection.

During October, there were three new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port and three vessels remained under detention from previous months.

Four vessels were released during October.

The UK is part of the regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database. This allows the ships of flags with poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

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