New research vessel ‘Alba na Mara’ to be completed

Macduff Shipyards are completing the new 27-metre research vessel ‘Alba na Mara’.

Presently undergoing trials in the Moray Firth the vessel has been designed and built in Macduff to the order of the Fisheries Research Services. Powered by twin Mitsubishi engines the vessel is fitted with a range of fishing and scientific deck machinery and electronic equipment.

Judge Orders Limits on Navy Sonar to Protect Whales

To protect marine wildlife, a federal judge ordered limits placed on the Navy’s use of sonar off the Southern California coast.

Environmentalists, led by the National Resources Defense Council, claimed the mid-frequency active sonar used by the Navy during its exercises harms marine life, resulting in more beached whales. The Navy said the tests are crucial to train its sailors to detect quiet submarines. The U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Navy to stop using the sonar when marine mammals are within 2,200 yards and to monitor its test area for one hour before tests to make sure no marine wildlife is in the area. Cooper allowed the Navy to conduct exercises within 12 miles of the coast — environmentalists had asked for a 25-mile exclusion zone — because keeping exercises that far away “would unduly hamper the Navy’s training efforts.”

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Zambia awards Kuwait’s IPC 1.4 mln tonnes oil deal

Zambia has awarded a $1.2 billion two-year oil supply contract to Kuwait’s International Petroleum Group (IPG).

Energy and water development permanent secretary Peter Mumba said IPG had been selected ahead of four other international firms, including Russia’s Lukoil. “IPG has been awarded (a contract) for supply of 1,440,000 metric tonnes of crude oil over a period of two years and the first batch of 90,000 tonnes will arrive on or before 9 February.” IPG would supply 16 shipments of 90,000 tonnes of crude oil to the mineral-rich southern African country, which has recently faced serious fuel shortages. The cost of this crude oil will tentatively be $1.2 billion, it may go up or come down depending on the prices on the international market, and our hope is that the prices will begin to come down, Mumba said.

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