Shipping, shipbuilding, offshore news

JULY 2005

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Owners face low sulfur fuel squeeze
P&I club warns of problems in meeting MARPOL limits

CP Ships in takeover talks
FT says China Shipping and CMA CGM are leading suitors

IMO reports on busy MEPC session
Ballast water, air emissions, fuel tanks and more

Keppel FELS to build secod jackup for GDI
$130 million order for KFELS B

USCG researching escort boat acquisition
65 ft, aluminum hulled, 35 knots

MARAD announces RRF management contracts
Nine companies share contracts worth $1.9 billion

Rickmers orders in Iran
Four heavy lift ships from SADRA shipyard

New ships' sewage regulations take effect
MARPOL Annex IV enters force

Manitowoc marine results "disappointing"
$2.7 million operating loss in second quarter

$5 million for California port security
Schwarzenegger announces awards to 11 ports

Maritrans fits SeaWave system fleetwide
System puts vessel IT control on shore

Diamond Offshore reports soaring income
Driller has potential $2.8 billion backlog of contracts

U.S. and Cyprus sign shipboarding agreement
First PSI accord with an EU member

U.S.Navy moves ahead on paperless navigation
Goal is to equip entire fleet with ECDIS-N by end-2009

Tidewater in $188 million AHTS sales deal
Norwegian buyer will pay $188 million for six KMAR 404 class vessels

Japan pulls plug on Techno Superliner
Soaring fuel costs force cancellation of project even before high speed vessel is delivered

Marine insurers worried by softer rates
Flood of claims could hit in post-shipping-boom drydocking cycle

Senate to consider ballast water measure
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has voted unanimously to approve the "Ballast Water Management Act of 2005"

SeaDrill buys chunk of Indonesian driller
Fredriksen company to take 32-37 percent piece of Apexindo

Senate panel approves MARAD bill
Includes grants program for small shipyards

Tidewater reports increased earnings
Earns 50 cents per share in first quarter FY 2006

Rep. Weldon prescribes tax relief for short sea shipping
Introduces the Short Sea Shipping Tax Exemption Act of 2005

AIS site for Unimak Pass
Ninth of 11 Automated Indentification Sites planned for Alaska

K Line orders cape size bulker from Chinese yard
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding to build 170,000 dwt unit for 2008 delivery

EC approves Dutch shipbuilding loan guarantee scheme
Meets competition rules

Hearings on DD(X) destroyer continue
Industry team members set to testify

Fall in number of reported piracy incidents
but situation is some hot spots is deteriorating

DD(X) development at critical stage
Surface combatant passes design review--and is subject of House hearings

Coast Guard ends cutter conversion program
Islander-class conversions to be limited to eight vessels

Viet Nam yard redelivers car carrier
Second in series of car carrier elongations for Wallenius

$109.8 million Navy contract for Northrop Grumman
Advanced Planning, Long Lead Time Material, Systems Engineering, and Special Studies for the LHA(R) Flight 0 Amphibious Assault Ship

Ground breaking at Great Lakes Towing
"The Towing Company" marks its 106th anniversary

Liberia suspends government maritime officials
Investigations of "alleged malpractices relating to certain financial irregularities"

Insiders buy Aker American shares
Secondary offering complete

More IMO environmental regs on the way
Key committee meets in London

T&T Bisso starts Thunder Horse salvage
Dewatering underway on semi found listing after Hurricane Dennis

EC approves tougher sanctions for ship-source pollution
Majority ruling by ministers paves way for criminalization of some pollution offenses

Carnival orders AIDA newbuild from Meyer
Third Sphinx class club ship for German market

Titan mobilizes for Tsunami-wreck removal
SINAR ANDALAS contract rounds out busy half year for Ft. Lauderdale based global salvor

NASSCO reorganizes production team
three promotions announced

VT Halter Marine launches second NOAA research ship
starts construction of third

Celebrity Cruises signs for newbuild at Meyer Werft
117,000 grt, 2,850 passenger post-Panamax cruise ship

MacGregor to acquire All Set Marine Lashing
Specializes in container securing equipment

Paris MOU plans GMDSS crack down
Concentrated Inspection Campaign to focus on ships' radio stations and operators

Mats Berglund joins OSG
Named SVP of tanker giant's Crude Transportation Strategic Business Unit

SHI completes world's largest containerships
Two 9,200 TEU megaships for Offen

Aker American lists on Oslo Stock Exchange
Start of new chapter for Kvaerner Philadelphia

Ontario Securities Commission issues warning to CP Ships
Restitution paid by insiders will go to fund to protect mutual fund investors

Promotions at Matson Navigation
Cox and Hoppes move up

GlobalSantaFe reports thruster problems with new rigs
Delays startup of new semisubmersibles after nozzle problems found

ExxonMobil to acquire two BP tankers for Alaska service
Will take Kenai and Tonsina to Jurong for overhaul Anchorage Daily News reports

Missing cotter pin blamed in Queen of Oak Bay grounding
Engine speed control malfunctioned when bolt came loose

LeTourneau to supply kits for AMFELS jackups
Rowan announces $55 million contract for its LeTourneau subsidiary

Bourbon Offshore Norway orders X-bow PSV's
Follows up order for X-bowed AHTS

AMNAV to boost tug fleet
Four powerful newbuilds capable of assisting largest ships

MAN B&W L21/31 propulsion for tractor tug
Two 9L21/31 engines drive Schottel rudder propellers

Sea trials for BC ferry that grounded
Repairs to Queen of Oak Bay have been completed and BC Ferries will release report on cause of recent grounding after sea trials

Keppel AMFELS gets more jackup orders
$174 million order for two LeTourneau Super 116 jack up rigs...plus option for third

EC allows Dutch subsidies for inland waterways diesels
O.K. for replacement old engines with low-NOX units

Debris collection vessel strikes reef
Sheen spotted coming from grounded former OSRV

Breakthrough contract for International Paint Japan
First newbuilds are medmax LNG carriers building at Universal Shipbuilding Tsu Works

Labroy to build F &G jackups?
As Singapore's Labroy Group announces record shipbuilding orders, a Reuters report says it is planning to build jackups

FERC denies Providence LNG terminal application
but approves Weavers Cove and Golden Pass applications

Seabulk-SEACOR merger complete
Seabulk now operating as wholly-owned Seacor subsidiary

No injuries in BC Ferries grounding
Recently refurbished Queen of Oak Bay loses power

Aker American raises $125 million
Private placement puts company on course to build OSG products tankers at Kvaerner Philadelphia