Largest Containership Classed by GL

The biggest containership ever classed by Germanischer Lloyd (GL) was delivered in mid-December at Samsung Heavy Industry Shipyard in Geoje, Korea.

‘The newbuilding named MSC Daniela has a capacity of 13,800 TEU. To meet SOLAS requirements for bridge visibility on the large containership, the design includes the separation of deckhouse and engine room. The arrangement of the deckhouse in the forward part of the ship permits an increase in container capacity and a reduction in ballast water. In addition, the international regulations on the protection of fuel tanks are being fulfilled, since they are located in the protected area below the deckhouse. Also, reduced bending as well as increased stiffness of the hull had been realized in the design. The use of high tensile steels (HTS) was a prerequisite for building the megaboxer. Due to HT steel the plate thickness had been reduced to allow lightweight and strong ship construction. This was necessary to keep the plate and stiffener dimensions at an acceptable level. Hamburg-based classification society Germanischer Lloyd conducts safety surveys on board of more than 6,800 ships with about 77 Mio GT.

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Dubai looks to Hamburg to become best port in Middle East and Asia

As Dubai aims to become the best port in Middle East and Asia, it is looking at Hamburg for lessons to learn about the shipping and logistics industry.

‘“We are looking at Hamburg, which is the second largest container port in Europe, even though it is on a river and ours is on the sea,” said Hesham Al Shirawi, vice president of Dubai Chamber of Commerce. “In Dubai, we are trying to become the best possible port, not only in the region, but in Asia. It won’t be easy and it won’t be fast, but it is possible,” he added. Al Shirawi was speaking at the Dubai-Hamburg business forum. Hamburg Port recorded a volume of 140 million tonnes of cargo in 2007 and 9.9 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent container units). Around 50 per cent of the world container fleet is managed by Hamburg-based enterprises, according to Hans-Jorg Schmidt-Trenz, chief executive of Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. “It is clear that Dubai looks to Hamburg to foster its own harbour function,” Schmidt-Trenz said.

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China Plans to Send Three Warships to Somalia to Combat Pirates

China will send three warships to the waters offshore Somalia to fight pirates attacking vessels in the Gulf of Aden.

‘China’s Ministry of Defense will send two destroyers and a supply ship to the Gulf, the official Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday, citing Liu Jianchao, a Foreign Ministry spokesman. The vessels will depart from Sanya in China’s southern province of Hainan on Dec. 26. Pirates in the area have increased attacks on ships using the Suez Canal, and vessels transporting oil from Sudan and Saudi Arabia to China. The United Nations on Dec. 16 authorized a resolution that allows governments to pursue the brigands into inland Somalia. “Chinese naval vessels will strictly follow UN Security Council resolutions and international laws,” Xinhua cited Liu as saying. Somali pirates have attacked about 120 boats in the region this year, seizing at least 40 vessels and collecting more than $120 million in ransoms. Some 20 percent of Chinese ships passing through the area between January and November were attacked by pirates, Xinhua reported. China’s ships will join vessels from the European Union, which on Dec. 8 approved sending a naval force to the area, the 27-nation organization’s first such mission.

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