Canada’s second busiest port, the Port of Montreal, is still under lockdown following a labour dispute between the Maritime Employers Association and its longshore labour force. The Montreal Port Authority obtained an injunction on July 21 to allow access to the port and to continue work unrelated to the employees of the Maritime Employers Association.
The Montreal Port Authority has said that the grain terminal can receive and ship cargo and that rail traffic can also resume, however cargo on the terminal property is not being handled. No container has entered the port since July 19.
The labour dispute involves the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) and its longshore labour force over issues of pay and work conditions. The MEA is a non-profit organisation representing member companies involved in shipping, including ship owners, operators and agents, stevedoring contractors and terminal operators.
Reuters reports that the association has locked out 800 unionised workers in response to union pressure tactics.
The port handled 1.2 million containers with about 11.3 million tonnes of cargo in 2009.

A second frigate for the Indian Navy has been launched at the Baltic shipyard “Yantar” in the west of Russia. According to Russian and Indian tradition, the launching was marked by the smashing of a coconut and a bottle of champagne against the vessel’s bow and was attended by Deputy Chief of the Indian Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Dilip Kumar Devan. Mr.Devan welcomed the frigate’s launch as a good instance of bilateral defense cooperation.

Under the 1.5-billion-dollar contract, signed in 2006, the Indian Navy is to be supplied with three frigates in 2011-2012. The shipyard’s official has said work to fulfill the order proceeds according to schedule.

Management of Japan’s ports is to be opened up to the private sector, following a decision from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Japan has 997 ports, however only a few are managed by the private sector, reports Japan’s news service, Nikkei.

Source: Nikkei
Courtesy : Baird Maritime

Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed the largest number of shipbuilding orders this year of all South Korean listed companies, according the Korea Exchange.

The company racked up KRW4.8231 trillion (US$3.9 billion) worth of new orders up to June 16.

courtesy : baird maritime

The Royal Malaysian Navy’s Scorpene submarine KD Tun Razak, which is on its maiden journey home from Toulon in France accompanied by corvette KD Lekiu call at the port here for a four-day visit on Friday.

Malaysia’s Defence Attache in New Delhi Colonel Yusri bin Haji Anwar will be in Kochi in connection with the port call of Tun Razak.

Colonel Anwar, along with Tun Razak’s Commanding Officer Commander Mohamad Azuwan bin Haroun and Lekiu’s Commanding Officer Commander Baharudin bin Wan Mohamad Nor will call on Rear Admiral S.S. Jamwal, Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command, on Friday.

a game of football has been organised between the Indian and the Malaysian Navies

Courtesy : Hindu

The US’s busiest seaport complex, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, recorded the second-best May ever, indicating that the economy is finally firing up.

The Los Angeles Times reported that imports increased 12.5 percent in May compared to last year, while exports picked up 5.3 percent in th Port of Los Angeles. For the year through to May, 2.9 million containers have passed through the ports.

At Long Beach, overall traffic was equally good, up 18.5 percent.

More than 40 percent of the US’ imports come through the two ports making them good indicators of national economic health.

COURTESY: BAIRD MARITIME

Russian shipyards are ready to build Mistral class helicopter carriers whenever they receive orders from the military

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said earlier on Monday that Russia had reached the final stage of pre-contract talks with France, Spain and the Netherlands on the purchase of four of the French warships.

Russia built three Ivan Rogov class amphibious transport ships during the Soviet era. One of them, the Mitrofan Moskalenko, is still in service with the Russian Navy but has been put on a Defense Ministry list of assets for sale.

Courtesy : Baird Maritime

Greece is still the largest shipping country in the world in terms of dry/bulk cargo and tanker fleet capacity, despite the growing presence of China which ranks third, just behind Japan.
According to N. Cotzias statistics, Greece is the largest buyer for dry/bulk cargo ship and tankers, and occupies 22 percent of dry bulk/cargo ship use. This compares to Japan and China who occupy 20 perceent and 12 percent respectively, with expectations that China will soon largest buyer in the market.

China currently have 12 percent of global cargo ship fleet capacity, while Greece continues to place massive orders – US$2.6 billion in new cargo ships in 2008 – to maintain its number one spot.

courtesy : Baird maritime

Libya’s General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) has announced plans to break into cruise shipping though the construction of a 1,739-cabin cruise ship for delivery in December, 2012.

GNMTC has signed a letter of intent for the order with STX France after having consulted a number of European builders.

GNMTC, which announced the signing of the letter of intent on its website, said that the new vessel would be comparable to the ‘MSC Fantasia’ and ‘MSC Splendida’, built by STX France for MSC Cruises, but bigger and with greater passenger capacity.

Tripoli-based GNMTC is best known as an operator of crude, product and liquid petroleum gas tankers. It has a fleet of 15 owned and managed vessels.

courtesy : Baird Maritime

The French Navy’s amphibious landing helicopter dock (LHD) ‘Tonnerre’ dock at the port here on Wednesday.

The ship, which is on a training cruise for about 120 midshipmen, was successfully involved in an anti-piracy operation when it was about 450 nautical miles off the Somali coast in early May.

The ship is capable of carrying out a wide range of missions, including amphibious and air support operations, crisis management, command and control and medical support.

LHD Tonnerre, a 21,600 tonne Mistral-class vessel, has the versatility to carry up to 12 medium or 16 light attack helicopters; 110 armoured vehicles or 13 tanks; and troops numbering about 650, depending on its type of mission. In case of need, it can be converted into a fairly big hospital with surgery and X-ray rooms.

coutesy : The Hindu