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Wednesday 18 December 2013

Indian sailor Captain Sunil James released from Togo jail: Foreign Ministry

sunil james with is wife 
Captain Sunil James, who was languishing in a jail in Togo in western Africa for five months, has been released, the ministry for external affairs said today. He will leave for India later today, the ministry said.

"Sailors from #India Capt Sunil James & Vijayan released from detention in #Togo. Will leave for home later today," Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson, ministry of external affairs, tweeted today.

"After meet between #India's High Commissoner in Accra & Prez Gnassingbe of #Togo Capt Sunil James & Vijayan released. Now with HC Sagar (sic)," he added.

Mr James' family had been fighting for his release since July, when he was arrested on charges of aiding the pirates who had attacked and looted his ship, MT Ocean Centurion, near Togo. They met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week, asking his officials to coordinate efforts to free the Mumbai sailor.

His 11-month-old son, Vivaan, died earlier this month of septicemia. The baby's body has been kept in a morgue, with the family hoping his father can see him one last time.

The sailor's family has alleged that Mr James was tortured by the pirates and has lost 15 kgs in the custody of the Togo police, but the government took too long to step in. "Does it take the death of a baby for the government to act?" his brother-in-law Rakesh Madappa questioned earlier this month.

support from: NDTV 

Monday 16 December 2013

Wärtsilä’s 2-stroke dual-fuel engine introduced

The marine industry is already showing significant interest in the new Wärtsilä 2-stroke, low-speed, dual-fuel (DF) engine technology. More than 130 industry executives from 89 leading shipping companies attended the introductory event in Trieste, Italy on November 12, which is in itself a clear indication that there is global recognition of the role that LNG fuel will play over the coming years.


Wärtsilä launches 2-speed marine gearbox to significantly reduce fuel consumption


Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading provider of innovative products, solutions and services, has launched its new 2-speed marine gearbox offering notable economic and environmental benefits. The product will serve vessels having multiple operational modes or reduced transit speed, including among others RoPax ferries, offshore support vessels, tug boats, and fishing vessels.

Alfa Laval Wins a Repeat Environmental Order for Marine Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems


Alfa Laval - a world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling - has won an order to supply Alfa Laval PureSOX exhaust gas cleaning systems to the Dutch ship owner Spliethoff. The order is booked in the Marine & Offshore Systems segment and delivery is scheduled for 2014. Due to a confidentiality agreement Alfa Laval is unable to disclose the value of the order.

MOL, WFS Sign Deal to Build, Charter Methanol Carrier: World's First Dual-Fuel Engine Uses Methanol and Heavy Oil

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. yesterday announced the signing of a contract with Waterfront Shipping Company Limited(*1)  to build and charter up to three methanol carriers. The vessels will be equipped with the world's first flex-fuel engines running on methanol, fuel oil, marine oil, or gas oil.

The Shipping Industry must continue to take reasonable security measures through the Suez Canal

Shipowners and Charterers should continue to take normal precautionary security measures when transiting through the Suez Canal, said Andrew Varney, Managing Director Port2Port Maritime Security in a recent webcast discussion: “Is the Suez Canal Safe for Shipping?” with the US Journal of Commerce.

Friday 13 December 2013

Korean companies investing $940m in floating power plant

Korean firms Polaris Shipping, Korea Midland Power, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and 

Siemens Energy Solutions have decided to invest in floating power plant and have agreed to 


put $940m to create a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU).

This ambitious project will be ready according to plans in 3 years. The 'Mobile Powership' will 

have similar design to the known HHI's LNG FSRU with power capacity of 880MW. The floating

 power plant will be able to handle the needs of power in the time of natural disasters. Polaris 

Shipping informed that the produced power will be transmitted with the help of the existing 

infrastructure of cables.

Monday 9 December 2013

How Variable Geometry Turbocharger for Marine Engines Works?


In order to draw the highest efficiency from marine engines, they must be run at the highest rated RPM. However, with several norms, traffic rules, fuel efficiency factor etc., marine engines cannot always be operated at high speed. As the RPM of the engine reduces, the air supply from the turbocharger also reduces, starving the combustion space of air and resulting in improper combustion and increased fuel consumption. To counter this problem, auxiliary blowers are fitted. These blowers come into action at particular low loads.
Variable Geometry Turbocharger or Variable Turbine Angle (VTA) Turbocharger is the solution for supplying sufficient scavenge air to marine engine’s cylinder at all load ranges. Let’s find out what is VTA and how does it works.

What is Variable Geometry Turbocharger or VTA?

Tuesday 3 December 2013

DNV GL and SDARI introduce new Green Dolphin bulk carrier concept


DNV GL and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) have introduced the Green Dolphin 575 concept design for a handymax bulk carrier. This second design builds on the success of the handysize Green Dolphin 38 for which around 80 orders have been placed with the major share to DNV GL class. Green Dolphin 575 aims to be fuel and energy efficient, robust and reliable, operationally flexible and able to meet current and future environmental regulations. It uses technologies that are already available for commercial use, so it can meet ship owners’ current needs in tight market conditions.


The Green Dolphin 575 is a 190m long Common Structural Rules (CSR) compliant handymax bulk carrier with five cargo holds. It is available in single hull standard or double-hull (open hatch) configurations.

Monday 2 December 2013

Why are 10-year-old vessels essential to shipping analysis?



Older vessel prices are another indicator that reflects shipping companies’ fundamentals. Because these vessels are sold and bought in the secondary market, it doesn’t take as long for the buyer to receive these vessels. So changes in price for older vessels often reflect a nearer-term fundamental outlook, and they tend to move ahead of new builds.

Wärtsilä expands its portfolio with two new auxiliary engines


Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading provider of innovative products, solutions and services, is expanding its engine portfolio with the introduction of two additional auxiliary engines, the Wärtsilä Auxpac 16 and the Wärtsilä Auxpac 32.

New ICS initiative to maintain IMO primacy on shipping AND CO2 issues

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) – the worldwide trade association for shipowners – has made an important written submission to the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) suggesting a possible way forward with respect to complex discussions about additional global regulations to further reduce CO2 emissions from merchant ships.
 

In particular, ICS wishes to ensure the primacy of a global IMO framework for addressing the reduction of shipping’s CO2 emissions in the face of proposals by the European Commission for unilateral regional regulations that will apply to international shipping trading to the EU. 
 
In a carefully worded ‘political’ paper, ICS has suggested that IMO Member States should initially focus on developing regulations for the mandatory reporting of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by internationally trading ships, deferring further discussions on how the information collected might subsequently be used to develop additional efficiency measures.
 

Sunday 17 November 2013

Wartsila Completes Testing of Brand New 2-Stroke Dual-Fuel Engine Technology

The biggest service provider in the maritime business, Wartsila, introduced a completely new 

brand of vessel engines, which are based on well-proven and established low pressure

 technology. Wartsila successfully completed tests with the new 2-stroke dual-fuel engines on

 gas.

The 1st of the Wartsila's engines, RT-flex50DF is scheduled to be delivered by the end of 

2014. The implications of the new Wartsila engines are for the vessel operators and owners 

are going to be referred to as a game-changer for merchant shipping. The other series of the 

brand new engines of Wartsila, the X-series are scheduled to be ready for delivery in 2015 

and 2016.





Both new 2-stroke engines of Wartsila are going to be dual-fuel (DF) low pressure versions.

 The brand new Wartsila engines will offer capital expenditure reductions (CAPEX) of 15-20

 per cent, revealed studies. This results will be achieved by substantially lower and much 

simpler cost of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas handling system, which operates at 

pressure, working under 10 bars. Which is really impressive with the new engines technology is

 that there are no needed cleaning systems for exhaust gases to meet any emission 

regulations. The brand new Wartsila engines are constructed to meet IMO Tier III emissions

 compliant in gas mode and to cover the Tier II minimum level with liquid natural gas
.
In addition, there will be considerable gains on the operating expenditure (OPEX) side with the

 new engine technology of Wartsila. This OPEX will be due to the otioseness of the external 

high pressure compression system for gas and the NOx abatement system on the ship will be

 no longer required. The new technology of the engines makes the gas operation across the 

whole load range stable. Due to this, there will be no longer needed to switch to diesel as is the

 current case with other ship technologies. Furthermore, the fuel consumption of the technology

 is only 1% of the entire fuel amount, and therefore pretty much lower compared to other 

technologies.



The new engine low pressure system for gas of Wartsila fulfils all the safety requirements

. Since gas technology with low pressure is the standard for all four-stroke engine makers 

today, the merit of this concept is clearly proven.

“The benefits of the new low pressure dual-fuel technology for 2-stroke engines are significant. 

Describing this as a game-changing development for merchant shipping is certainly no 

exaggeration, since the many advantages of being able to use gas and LNG as primary fuel 

are now, for the first time ever, available to virtually all vessel types. Our well proven 

technologies for both the engines and the onboard gas and LNG handling systems, can now be

 applied to this wider market. With the adaption of low pressure dual-fuel technology to 2-stroke

 engines, Wärtsilä brings the proven advantages it has demonstrated in the 4-stroke, medium-

speed DF engine market to its 2-stroke low speed engine customers,” says Mr Martin Wernli, 

Vice President, 2-stroke, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

The spokesperson of Wartsila announced that the company is currently in finalising all required

 documents for the 1st of its brand new engine types, the Wartsila RT-flex50DF. Furthermore, 

the Classification Society approvals preparations are underway.


Friday 8 November 2013

Cocaine worth £136m found among bananas

The biggest shipment of cocaine for the last two years has been caught in the Hampshire, UK

. Border Force officers together with the National Crime Agency found 850kg 80% pure drugs

 with an estimated value of £136m if sold on the street.




The massive shipment was found onboard MV Crown Jade, a Panamanian vessel, hidden 

between bananas cargo. The ship was sailing from Colombia and according to an officer from

 the NCA's border policing command, Tom Dowdall, this was a ''major blow''.

Monday 4 November 2013

Retrofit Solutions for Exhaust Gas and Water Cleaning by WARTSILA

Upcoming environmental regulations will affect existing vessels, and as a consequence there is a growing demand for exhaust gas cleaning and ballast water treatment systems.

Retrofitting both scrubbers and ballast water management systems is – or will soon be – required for many ships to comply with regulations. There are retrofit solutions available across all ship types, from cruise vessels to merchant and offshore ships. Space requirement is usually the most critical factor when planning and executing a retrofit project but Wärtsilä has found solutions to the challenge.

The execution of retrofit projects for both scrubbers and ballast water management systems requires similar types of planning and engineering. There are typically three things that are analysed when planning a retrofit of exhaust gas or a water cleaning system. First, the space requirements of the system are analysed, taking into consideration the available space in the vessel. Next, engineers study the impact of the additional systems in terms of their weight, ship stability in case of scrubber systems, structural modifications, and relocation of any existing equipment inside the ship. Finally, engineers assess how to further optimise the installation method, with the aim of minimising costs and downtime during installation.

“Retrofitting exhaust gas or ballast water cleaning systems is feasible for all ship types – but how it is done can vary depending on the ship type. Finding space for the system is the most common challenge. When it comes to scrubber installations, we, for example, sometimes need to make changes in the funnel shape or rethink the use of spaces in the vessel to create more room for cleaning systems. However, we have not come across any project in which retrofitting would not be possible. It is just a matter of identifying the best solution or compromise with the ship owner,” says Leonardo Sonzio, Director Retrofit, Wärtsilä Environmental Solutions.

Indian man collapses at Sharjah Airport, dies later in hospital

22-year-old-sailor was about to board a flight home to Chennai early this month.


Abu Dhabi: The body of a 22-year-old Indian sailor has been lying in a mortuary in Sharjah for two weeks and his family is still in the dark about their son’s sudden demise, XPRESS has learnt.

Sunday 3 November 2013

H2S gas affects sea man

An accident happened on loading the cargo in chemical tanker.The crude had to load CST (crude sulphate turpentine),2000 tonnes. The MARPOL annex II gives a category X to the CST.
       The crew members were explained  onboard before loading but not perfectly or exactly with this type of cargo,they strictly fallowed all procedures and check list, including P&A and SMS of the tanker.

     The chief officer gave prior instruction  and arrival but the MSDS were missing and the cargo hazards were not explained properly. 

Wednesday 30 October 2013

ROTTERDAM PORT WINS ----------PORT OF THE YEAR AWARD

Rotterdam port was awarded 'Port of the Year' in London during the 2013 event of

 "Containerisation International Awards". The award was given by experts. They complimented

 the port of Rotterdam for the significant investments they made to be leading European

 industrial complex and logistics hub. Innovations like the initiatives NextLogic and  InlandLinks

 and the port's sustainable object development also were  praised by the jury and gave their 

contribution to the award. 

The director of Containers, Breakbulk and Logistics,  Port of Rotterdam Authority, Emile 

Hoogsteden was very happy with the award:

Monday 21 October 2013

Brodosplit signed the contract for the construction of Multipurpose Container vessels


Shipbuilding Industry Split Inc. and the domestic shipping company Brodosplit-Navigation Ltd., have signed a contract for the construction of a two Multipurpose Container vessels.

The special feature of this vessels is that it will use the LNG fuel (liqufied natural gas), which is the cleanest and environmentally friendly fossil fuel. This is so important because the container vessels with LNG fuel will be more attractive in the global shipping market due to new national and international regulations that will prescribe the permitted quantities emissions (NOx, SO2 and CO2), which is gradually introduced into a new seas (first U.S. and Baltic).
Brodosplit container vessel will have a low speed 2 stroke "dual fuel" (LNG/HFO) engines that have higher efficiency (lower energy) and work at lower rpm (low speed engines), resulting in lower maintenance costs and longer life span . Now, in the world is made ​​only one container vessel with a 2 stroke "dual fuel" engine. Also can use diesel fuel, and in emergency situations has the ability to drive with the cooking oil from food sectors, as well as all other oils or fuels. According to that, coantainer vessels from Brodospolit shipyard will have four to five times lower cost per mile than the other ships of this class, and 30-50 times less will pollute environment. Thanks to more efficient consumption and superb efficiency, investments in the 2 stroke "dual fuel" engines will be paid out after two to three years of exploitation. Extremely important in this project is that the engines will be made by the Brodosplit diesel engine factory, under the license of the MAN, as well as the special tanks for LNG fuel will also produce in Brodosplit shipyard.
Source: Brodosplit Shipyard

AdvanFort Chief Engineer Attempts Suicide


Indian media is reporting this morning that the captain of the maritime security vessel, Seaman Guard Ohio, which has been detained by Indian authorities,  attempted to hang himself in his stateroom.  He was saved by his crew before he was able to carry out his plan.

Captain Dudnik Valentyn has been through a lot.  In 2011, he and his crew aboard the MV Bilda spent 11 months under the watchful eye of Somali pirates after their vessel was hijacked on New Years day.  This latest personal tragedy once again puts himself in a situation that he may feel hopeless to fix and perhaps quite unjustified.
The below graphics via windward  Maritime Analytics Services Company depict the track of the Seaman Guard Ohio before it was detained by Indian authorities.Analysts at Windward point out that for the past month, the Seaman Guard Ohio has bee conducting patrols approximately 50 to 60 nautical miles south of India for the past month.
On the 9th of October, the vessel started to head toward shore and anchored near Tuticorin Port (Tamil Nadu state), where it had previously anchored a month ago, before leaving to its last patrol activity. It anchored 13 nautical miles offshore, just outside India’s territorial waters.
On the 12th of October, the Seaman Guard Ohio began sailing towards the port.
AdvanFort president Will Watson commented in a recent phone conversation that the vessel was directed into port while the vessel was beyond the 12 nautical mile territorial waters limit.  He notes that the hard turn to port in the second image above indicates the turn made when Indian authorities called the Seaman Guard Ohio on the radio requesting them to come in to port due to bad weather from Cyclone Phailin.
When the ship came closer, Indian authorities then arrested the entire crew, claiming they had violated Indian territorial waters.  Watson notes that India has claimed that a pair of islands off the coast extends the territorial waters of India and that the Seaman Guard Ohio was thus inside the 12 nautical mile limit when it was detained.  AdvanFort’s legal council disagrees with India’s claims, noting that these uninhabited “sandbars” do not extend India’s territorial waters and that their territorial waters should be measured from the shoreline of India.
At face value, it seems like India may be trying to avoid getting egg on their face by insisting that the ship was inside territorial waters when it was detained.
Is this a legitimate claim by the Indian government or state-sponsored piracy?  Regardless, this is truly a sad situation for the seafarers on the Seaman Guard Ohio, and an industry as a whole, who’s mission is to protect the very people that are now being held.
The entire crew is currently being held in an Indian jail, with the exception of one individual who is in the hospital.  AdvanFort is currently reaching out via all diplomatic channels to try and resolve this issue.

Thursday 19 September 2013

Biggest Ship in the World PROJECT ITS REALLY AMAZING

What if a futuristic dream for the biggest ship in the world might just come true.

All we have seen similar illustrations in sci-fi publications or vintage popular science, trying to 

present a concept of a floating city in a completely mind-boggling way. Who has ever though 

that may live to see such a project given serious consideration and being on a step away from 

reality?




Thursday 1 August 2013

9 Somali pirates sentenced to 5 years prison each


9 Somali pirates have been sentenced in Kenyan court on Tuesday to 5 years in 


prison each for their attempts to hijack the German merchant ship MV Courier in the 

Gulf of Aden in March 2009.

Even though the number of pirate attacks has decreased markedly since 2011 thanks


 to tougher security aboard vessels and increased Western naval patrols, piracy 

emanating from the Horn of Africa nation might still cost the world economy around 18 

billion U.S. dollars a year, according to a study be the World Bank.

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Sulzer Pumps Launches New Pump Performance Expert Service that Reduces Total Cost of Ownership in the Pulp and Paper Industry


Sulzer Pumps has launched a new Pump Performance Expert service for customers in the pulp and paper industry. This new global service will contribute not only to reducing customers’ Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) but also to achieving significant benefits in their existing and future processes

Friday 26 July 2013

Dozens of Cars Slide Off Ship in Heavy Seas [VIDEO]

For those of you who are considering shipping your vehicle by sea, make sure it’s secured to the ship before the ship leaves port. Apparently it doesn’t hurt to ask… This may be old video  but very usefull for passengers  who makes their  vehicles travel via ship.

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Four dead after Australia-bound asylum boat sinks


At least four people have died after a boat carrying Australia-bound asylum-seekers sank, amid ongoing debate over the new policy.
The boat sank off the Indonesian island of Java, the transit point for people-smugglers.
Women hold posters bearing messages against the Australian Labor Party (ALP) during a rally in support of asylum seekers outside an ALP meeting in Sydney 22 July 2013
At least 157 people have been rescued. It is not clear how many are missing.
Meanwhile, Australia's immigration minister said he would investigate abuse claims at the country's offshore processing centre in Papua New Guinea.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

How To Know If A Shipping Company Is Worth Working For?

Internet has made life so easy for all of us. Whether it’s shopping online or looking for a job from the comfort of your home, all the information is available at the press of a button. Today e-commerce sites offer lucrative discounts and an exhaustive detail of the products you desire to purchase. You also have the choice to read reviews about the services of an e-commerce website or the product of your liking which you intend to purchase. In other words, it is a well informed decision before you decide to hit the PAY button. Does the same criterion apply to maritime websites offering job opportunities?

There are hundreds of shipping companies advertising on maritime websites with attractive offers similar to those offered by online e-commerce websites. Other than their own fancy write-ups about themselves, you don’t get much feedback about the shipping company in the form of reviews from other seafarers who have already worked for them. So in spite of the large scale attrition some of these shipping companies with dubious backgrounds, these companies still manage to attract several seafarers to run their ships and businesses.
fakeIt is no great secret that the biggest anxiety of any seafarer on board is with regards to his wages. After a month’s hard work he expects his employers to fulfill their obligations of remitting his full monthly wages to his nominated bank account. Some seafarers are lucky to get their money in time, however, several unfortunate ones have to spend endless days and nights in deep anxiety when their wages are held back by their employers. With the recent downturn in shipping industry, the local unions and ITF data bases are full of complaints from seafarers against their employers for either  non-payment  of their wages or for not relieving them in time or both. Several other types of complaints being received monthly by ITF offices worldwide are mainly related to:
  1. Poor working conditions on board.
  2. Threats from senior officers or employers for carrying out illegal jobs.
  3. Unsafe or unseaworthy ships.
  4. Unhealthy or inadequate Food
and many others…..
Today it is hard to define which shipping company is good and which is bad. Each seafarer has his own criteria of judgement and job requirement. Mostly, seafarers rely on word-of-mouth publicity from fellow seafarers or are attracted by the fancy advertisements when it comes to selecting a shipping company. In some cases for their own dire needs, seafarers take the first available job only to regret later. The fact is that the seaman fraternity is the most disconnected lot and there is no website or forum or online blog which can guide them about the working conditions on board, before signing their contract of employment.
Most seafarers today are aware of Flag of Convenience Ships. These Flag of Convenience ships or simply FOC ships are prime targets of the ITF.  The worst ones have a bad history of crew problems and trouble with port authorities. Their heavily paid executives and agents lure seamen with sugar coated words and their true identity is revealed only after few days of the seaman landing up either in their office or joining their ship. These ship owners survive on coercion, blackmailing and threats to seamen. They hold back wages of seamen and refuse to relieve them whenever  a seaman complains of poor working conditions on board  Or  disobeys illegal orders  Or acts as a whistle blower.
The dearth of good quality ship crew has been in existence for a long time now and the situation will not change for some time due to premature retirement of ratings and officers due to thegrowing menace of piracy. Sometimes the shortage is so severe that a job is settled between a seaman and shipping company on the phone itself. More affluent shipping companies arrange for video conferences. Commitments are exchanged on phone but the gamble doesn’t always pay off.
There is a saying that “Precaution is better than the Cure” and if seafarers follow these basic rules, they can save a lot of headaches for themselves and their families when joining a new shipping company.
  1. Get as much information about the company, its promoter and his reputation from as many sources as you can. Don’t just get attracted to the big label.
  2. Get information on the manning agent/executive responsible for all your benefits. Sometimes a good company but a bad manning agent/executive can ruin your life and career.
  3. Never agree for a telephonic job agreement and do not commit unless you have secured all necessary information about the company or the person interviewing you.
  4. Never join without undergoing a proper medical examination. There have been cases when seamen have returned back home after few days due to unknown pre-existing illness and had to pay heavily for their repatriation.
  5. Read your service terms and conditions carefully prior signing your contract and never agree to sign your contract either at the airport or on board.
  6. Clear all your doubts prior joining rather than asking questions later from other officers and Master on board. It may be too late to ask then.
  7. If you are carrying your family, cover them with an overseas medical policy as they are not covered by the company’s insurance.
  8. Check the company policy on sailing in pirated water. Check if you have the rights to sign off with full repatriation benefits in case you refuse to sail to pirated waters of countries such as Somalia or Nigeria.
  9. You may be going on board for a long contract. It is always a good idea to find out about the kind of crew welfare existing and provided by the ship owner/manager on board. Does it exist only on paper?
  10. If you are joining a FOC ship. Check with your local union affiliated to ITF about your minimum assured wages, benefits and rights on that ship and a directory of ITF offices worldwide. You may even access the directory online.
  11. If you are required to do any in house courses do not accept computerized signatures on certificates provided by the manning office as you could land into trouble with port authorities.
  12. Ensure that monthly wages agreed on telephone or email is the same as that on the contract.
There will be several other things you may have on your mind like contractual allowances, food, victualing on board.  Rather than asking and troubling the master on board your ship, joining a ship with a clear mind with all required information under your belt, will save you from all the headaches which otherwise would arise as a result of  lack of information exchange with the employers prior to joining.
Remember seafaring today is a tough and difficult profession. Join a ship armed with information and knowledge. Trust me – it’s not worth gambling with your career and your life. 
Thanks to marine insight

All 24 hijacked crew members from MV Cotton were Released Now

Pirates have eventually freed the hijacked tanker ship and its 24 Indian crew members 

after it was hijacked off the Gabon coast a week ago, stated the ship's operator on 

Monday, in the most southerly attack yet off the coast of West Africa.


A surge in piracy in the area of Gulf of Guinea including waters off Nigeria, Africa's No. 


1 oil producer and a considerable source of cocoa and metals for world markets, is 

jacking up costs for shipping companies.

Pirates seized the MV Cotton tanker ship, sailing under the flag of Malta, on 15th of 


July, 2013 near Port Gentil in Gabon, in the 1st reported attack in that region in the 

past 5 years.

The Turkish operator of the tanker ship, Geden Lines, announced on Monday that the 


pirates had left the tanker ship in the early hours of the morning and its captain had 

resumed command.


"The vessel's captain has confirmed that all members of the 24 Indian crew are safe


 and in good condition," according to Geden Lines statement. "The tanker ship is now 

on her way to a secure port."

Unlike waters off the coast of East Africa, where vessels may move past at high speed


 with armed guards on board, a lot of ships have to anchor off West African coastal 

nations, with little protection, making them a soft target for criminals and pirates.

Monday 22 July 2013

Death Penalty to 3 Somali Pirates for Killing 2 American couples

Three pirates from Somalia on trial in United States court for the hijacking and killing

 of 4 United States hostages could face the death penalty if found guilty by the

 Norfolk, Virginia court.