05/Dec/08  -  Rasprava i konzultacije o dekriminalizaciji pomoraca

Sindikat pomoraca Hrvatske potaknut će raspravu i konzultacije o 'dekriminalizaciji pomoraca' s ciljem donošenja međunarodne rezolucije kojom bi se onemogućilo da pomorci budu privedeni, optuženi ili osuđeni samo zato što su zapovjednici ili druge odgovorne osobe na brodu, kazali su danas na konferenciji za novinare predstavnici SPH.
Tajnik SPH Predrag Brazzoduro kazao je da će taj sindikat organizirati okrugle stolove na koje će pozvati predstavnike pomoračkih i brodarskih udruga, mjerodavnih ministarstva i drugih institucija, kako bi se raspravilo i potaknulo izmjene nacionalnih zakonodavstava, koje bi onemogućile da se pomorcima događa ono što se dogodilo dubrovačkom kapetanu Kristi Laptalu.
ptalo je bio osuđen radi krijumčarenja droge pronađene u teretu iskrcanu s njegova broda Coral Sea. Prije nekoliko dana drugostupanjski sud oslobodio ga je optužaba i pustio na slobodu. Od uhićenja do donošenja oslobađajuće presude Laptalo je u grčkom zatvoru proveo 16 mjeseci.
S okruglih stolova i rasprava koje će organizirati SPH bit će Međunarodnoj pomorskoj organizaciji upućene smjernice, koje IMO zatim može usmjeriti prema nacionalnim zakonodavcima i drugim institucijama.
Postavlja se pitanje, ako se nešto ne promijeni, hoće li itko htjeti biti zapovjednik broda uz ovakve uvjete, mogućnost da nevin završi u zatvoru ili da ga puškama 'ganjaju' somalijski dječaci, kazao je Brazzoduro.
Istaknuo je da kapetan Laptalo nije prije nekoliko dana oslobođen optužaba za krijumčarenje kokaina na svom brodu zbog nedostatka dokaza, nego zbog toga što je dokazano da nije sudjelovao u krijumčarenju droge.
Dodao je da se više ne smije događati da sud donese presudu, a da uopće ne zna ništa o poslu i ovlastima zapovjednika broda te da bi takve situacije mogle opteretiti svjetsku trgovinu, budući da se oko 80 posto trgovačkog prijevoza obavlja morskim putovima.
Brazzoduro je još rekao da u svijetu ima još slučajeva u kojima se prema posadi broda nepravedno postupilo te da će SPH učiniti sve da se slučaj kapetana Laptala ne ponovi.

05/Dec/08  -  Maersk mothballs container ships

Maersk Line announced today the lay up of eight 6,500 TEU (twenty- foot equivalent unit) vessels.
The decision, the company said, follows the recently announced changes in their Asia - Europe, Asia - Central America, and Transpacific service networks. This resulted in surplus vessel tonnage, which will not be redeployed in their service network.
"In view of the market conditions, we have reached the point where laying up the eight vessels makes better economical sense than redeploying them. Freight rates remain under severe pressure, and in several corridors the rates do not fully cover our variable costs. Rate improvements are imperative for the industry to create a sustainable environment," says Michel Deleuran, Head of Network and Product in Maersk Line.
The company said it will continue to adjust capacity in light of market developments by optimising schedules, consolidating services, vessel sharing agreements (VSA), enhancing port productivity, economical sailing (reducing speed), and - unless current market conditions improve - additional laying up of vessels.
"We make these changes to reduce capacity and save costs, while we at the same time seek to maintain or expand our service level and coverage. For example, our recently announced Asia - Europe and Transpacific service changes includes more direct services," Michel Deleuran says.
"We belong to a financially strong group and we will continue offering our customers reliable services in line with their requirements, also in these challenging times".
Lay up of the eight ships will be from December 2008 to May/June 2009, predominantly in Asia. 

05/Dec/08  -  CMA CGM pay bonus to Gulf of Aden crews

In light of the increase in piracy in the Gulf of Aden and as a member of IMEC (International Maritime Employers' Committee), CMA CGM Group confirms its decision to set up a High Risk Bonus for its officers and crews.
When transiting through this dangerous region, seafarers will receive extra pay equal to 100% of their basic wage.
65 CMA CGM vessels transit each month through the Gulf of Aden, most of which are deployed between Asia and Europe.
These large container vessels have a capacity from 4.000 to 11.000 Teus and sail at an average speed of 24 knots.
CMA CGM applies very strict safety and security regulations and has set up a number of measures to avoid potential attacks even though container vessels are less vulnerable than other ships due to their speed and high freeboard.
CMA CGM say all these measures and decisions confirm the Group's commitment to the security and well-being of its seafarers.

04/Dec/08  -  Stiže nam novi jadranski plimni val

Dok se duž jadranske obale zbrajaju milijunske štete od plime koja je poplavila kuće, poslovne prostore i javne objekte, stručnjaci za iduće dane najavljuju novi porast razine mora, koja ipak ne bi trebala dosegnuti rekordne razine.
Kretanje razine mora ovisit će o tlaku zraka nad jadranskim prostorom i jačini vjetra pretežno južnih smjerova, poručuju stručnjaci i dodaju kako su slični prirodni fenomeni predvidljivi i njima se bave posebni centri za uzbunjivanje i pravodobno obavješćivanje javnosti, koje imaju brojne mediteranske zemlje, poput Italije.
04/Dec/08  -  IBF extends high risk area to cover entire Gulf of Aden

Following a full meeting of the IBF in Hong Kong on Friday 21 November and subsequent correspondence, the International Bargaining Forum have agreed to extend the "high risk area" to cover the entire Gulf of Aden*, backdated to 21 November at midnight. The expansion has been agreed because of the number of attacks which had occurred outside the previously agreed zone, including the "Sirius Star" which had been hijacked off the coast of Kenya.
The Agreement that was reached during these discussions will continue to provide that seafarers on ships covered by IBF Agreements will receive a bonus equal to 100% of their basic wage while the vessel is in transit. Likewise the normal rates of death and disability compensation for seafarers will continue to be doubled during this period. The previously agreed terms adopted for Filipino seafarers by the POEA will also continue to stand in the extended high risk area.
Despite the increase in piracy in the region, the effectiveness of the channel through the Gulf provided by the designated, IMO-approved, Maritime Security Patrol Area was recognised by the IBF and the intervention of, and the increase in, armed naval forces in the region was welcomed. The IBF also acknowledged the continuing resolutions of Governments and Industry Organisations to make the Gulf of Aden a safe sea lane for the world's shipping. The IBF therefore agreed that seafarers on ships that used this corridor for the transit should continue to be expected to serve on their vessels during transits. However, seafarers that served on ships that chose not to use the Maritime Security Patrol Area should have the right to refuse to make the transit and to be repatriated at owners' expense.
*The new high risk area has been projected north and south of the existing area, to the Yemeni coast in the north and to the existing warlike operations area in the south, also encompassing the Island of Suqutra. The Eastern and Western boundaries of the area have been adjusted to meet the mouth of the MSPA on each side. The western border of the high risk zone, therefore runs from the coastline at the border of Djibouti and Somalia to position 12 15 N, 45 E; from 12 35 N, 45 E to Mayyun Island in the Bab El Mandeb Straits. The Eastern Border runs from Rhiy di-Irisal on Suqutra Island to position 14 35 N, 53 E; from 14 45 North, 53 E to the coastline at the border between Yemen and Oman. A copy of the chart showing the revised area is below:
                      

04/Dec/08  -  Keel laid for ALLURE OF THE SEAS

The keel of ALLURE OF THE SEAS, the second in the series of two of the world's largest cruise ships was laid today at the Turku yards of STX Europe.
The keel laying ceremony marked the placement of the very first block of ALLURE OF THE SEAS in the dry dock where the ship will begin to take shape. The event also included the coin laying ceremony, with representatives of the Owner, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and the Builder, STX Europe placing the lucky coins under the keel, the tradition for bringing luck and also symbolising the keen cooperation between the owner and the yard.
The "keelblock" of this size of the vessel weighs several hundreds of tons. The building of this big challenge has been compared to a huge 3-dimensional puzzle. One vessel consists of 180 grand blocks, the biggest with a size of length 22 m, width 30 m and weight 600 tons! The vessel´s weight is 12 times the weight of the Eiffel tower.
STX Europe in Turku has on its orderbook two huge luxury cruise vessels of the Oasis class to be delivered for Royal Caribbean in 2009 and 2010. Behemoth, leviathan, colossal, overwhelming are words that have been used to describe these giants; and the truth is they will be the world´s largest cruise vessels taking an enormous step into the future with their bold design, daring innovation and technological advancements.
The vessels called OASIS OF THE SEAS and ALLURE OF THE SEAS will be 47 metres wide and 360 metres long, i.e. 40 m longer than the height of the Eiffel tower! Height over the water line will be 65 m.

            Arhiva vijesti za NOVEMBAR 2008