Shipping, shipbuilding, offshore news

DECEMBER 2005

Shanghai now world's top port
2005 cargo throughput reported to be 443 million tons

Lighter sentences recommended in S.I. ferry crash
Probation official says lion's share of blame rests with NYC DOT senior managment

Ray Miles and Ian Warner step down at CP Ships
Restructured executive team to be announced

Promotions at Crowley Maritime
Art Mead and Dan Warner move up

England steps down as Navy Secretary
Continues as Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense

More post-Panamax orders for MacGregor
Hatch covers for four more COSCO 10,000 TEU newbuilds

Cape May--Lewes Ferry Study
Makes recommendations for ending five year traffic decline

Ambassadors International buys American West
Hires former Holland America EVP to head up new cruise unit

EQT to acquire MTU Friedrichshafen
$1.9 billion deal includes Detroit Diesel off-highway activities

CBO analyzes Navy shipbuilding plan
Differs with published estimates on annual cost

Chinese shipbuilding output reaches 12 million tons
China yards account for 18 percent of 2005 world output

Brittany Ferries and Aker Yards sign LOI
Larger ROpax replaces option under earlier contract

Futuristic ferries planned for Baltimore
Wind tunnel testing under way

Fredriksen's SeaDrill set to make Mosvold offer
Now owns more than 40 percent of Mosvold Drilling

Record penalty for Australian spill
German shipowner and master must pay more than A$ 1 million in fines and penalties

Consolidation in Gulf offshore fabrication industry
Gulf Island to acquire Gulf Marine assets

Management changes at Horizon Lines
...and a clue that fleet renewal is on the agenda?

Ferry operators respond to NYC transit strike
Face a surge in demand

"Magic pipe" costs MSC $10 million
Guilty plea in MSC Elena pollution case

Smit buys into Brazilian harbor towage
Acquiring 50 percent of Rebras

Dubai Drydocks to build hulls for Aker semisubmersibles
Units will be towed to Stord for completion

Conferees agree $9.6 billion for Navy shipbuilding
Sunday agreement on FY06 defense appropriations

Daewoo cancels order for Frigstad rigs
Filing with Korean Financial Supervisory Service

B.C.'s not-so-fast ferries may sail again
Washington Marine Group may put PacifiCats in service on Vancouver route

$17 million Navy contract for Earl Industries
Planned Incremental Availability of USS Truman

Carnival reports record earnings
Buoyant quarter despite rising fuel costs--and Katrina

Aker yards books PSV order
88 m vessel for undisclosed owner

Environmental harm now a reportable marine casualty
USCG publishes Final Rule

U.S. needs more icebreaking capability
Age and condition of current polar icebreakers jeopardizes security and science

DNV names new CEO
Henrik O. Madsen to succeed Miklos Konkoly-Sege

DCN and Thales in consolidation move
Thales to take 25 percent stake in DCN and transfer its French naval businesses

Britain expands Aircraft Carrier Alliance
Adds VT Group and Babcock

Chevron refuses to take part in spill drill
Washington State will now likely toughen spill legislation

Ferries gird for NYC transit strike
Extra services will be added by Staten Island Ferry and private operators

Carnival in $2 billion newbuilding deal with Fincantieri
Four ships plus two options extends cruise giant newbuild program through 2009

EC seeks end to liner shipping competition exemption
Proposes two year window before conferences lose exemption

$120 million financing for innovative FPSO
First Sevan SSP under construction for Petrobras Piranema field

Noble in $685 million swoop on Smedvig
Buys out Peter T. Smedvig

$200 million Navy contract for NASSCO
Seven year maintenance of eight LSD/LPD

Austal confirms order for Turkey
Two 88 m cats for 2007 delivery

Signal International to build Tarzan jackup
LeTourneau procures Rowan Companies' fourth Tarzan from Signal International

Venzuela and Iran plan new shipyard
Marina PDVSA and SADRA sign MOU

China consolidates Dalian yards
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (Group) Co. is now China's largest shipbuilder

Alaska ferry heads to Todd for repairs
First time since 1997 AMHS has sent emergency repairs south

Green containership makes first Tacoma call
Hatsu Sigma puts the "green" in Evergreen

California puts limits on HFO use in ships' diesels
Air Resources Board ruling faces likely challenge in Federal courts

Maritrans to raise $73.1 million
Selling 3 million shares

Coastwise designs landing craft for Alaska
Shallow water passenger vessel ferry

Senator seeks tougher antipollution measures in Puget Sound
Cantwell to introduce "The Oil Pollution Prevention and Response Act."

Gulf Island wins topsides contract
Fabricating topsides for Neptune Platform

Falklands patrol vessel takes shape
First newbuild in Britain's Portsmouth Naval Base in 40 years

Wallenius orders four more 8000 vehicle LCTC's
Total order book now adds up to more than $800 million

Governor fights EB job cuts
Writes Secretary of Navy protesting decision to steer sumarine repairs to Navy yards

U.K. detains Aries aframax products tanker
Hull and deck cracking detected

$140 million in marine orders for ABB
Azipods ... and more

Guilty plea in containership pollution case
Second Engineer of MSC Elena could face five years jail

OSG appoints Grenier as VP Compliance Operations
Reports directly to President and CEO

Navy plan is 313 ship fleet
New York Times reports on CNO's 2020 vision

San Diego to be home port of first LCS
USS Freedom (LCS1) is to be homeported in San Diego

Rowan to build two jack-up rigs
New LeTourneau design

Worlwide shortage of ships' officers
BIMCO/ISF updates manpower survey

SEC settles case with ex-Stelmar execs
SEC says loans from company violated Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Sea Containers appoints interim CEO
Sherwood remains as Chairman but is recuperating after surgery

Exmar and partners shortlisted for Petronet LNG charter
Will build 156,100 cu.m LNG ship at Daewoo

Shell time charters three Golar LNG ships
Stasco will be technical manager

Manitowoc wins ATB order
Will build barge at Bay Shipbuilding, tug at Marinette Marine

Rolls-Royce delivers first CVN 77 propeller
Pascagoula propeller plant up and running after Katrina

L-3 to acquire SAM Electronics
$150 million cash deal for marine electronics specialist

First Snohvit LNG ship named
147,000 cu.m is currently world's largest LNG tanker

American Commercial Lines launches JeffLabs
Broadening the market for barge freight

VT Halter Marine wins $28.8 missile craft design contract
Foreign Militry Sales program award