GoGibraltarShipping

An imposing sky dominates the bay of Gibraltar in November 2007 (Photo N. Rush)

With the salvage of the New Flame continuing it seems a shame that the Gibraltar Government are now not going to make any more public announcements - here's why!!!

Today more hardware to assist in the wreck removal of the New Flame arrived in Gibraltar. The 866-ton, Portuguese-registered tug Braveheart came in from Marin, Spain, with the 12,641-ton barge, Bigfoot 1 (of MSC Napoli fame!), to assist with the proceedings.

The Wreck of the MV New Flame slipped further under the waves off Europa Point in the early hours of this morning in heavy seas.

MV New Flame pictured virtually submerged at Europa Point, Gibraltar on 10/02/08 (Photo N. Rush)

Aegean Marine Petroleum have entered in to an expansion programme and taken delivery of the new “Amorgos” a 4,600-dwt double-hulled bunkering tanker from Fujian Southeast Shipyard in China. The ship will be delivered to the Gibraltar Service Centre in February and is replacing the 4,853-dwt Aegean Tulip that has been transferred to the new West African Service Centre in Ghana along with the “Fos”, previously the “Mother Ship” in Gibraltar, which has now been replaced by “Leader”.

"Leader" that has now replaced the Fos in the Bay seen on the detached Mole in December 2007 (Photo N. Rush)

The operation to refloat the stern section should begin shortly after a team from the US-based Titan Salvage arrived in Gibraltar. It is hoped that there is enough buoyancy remaining in the section to remove it and assess its condition before attempting to bring it into the Port for dismantling. With the weather hampering conditions at the moment it is not known what sort of timescale is envisaged but with the Salvage ship Union Beaver and the Mistral tug already on station operations should commence as soon as the conditions improve. Further assistance arrived on New Years day when the Crowley Marine tug Warrior arrived towing one of the company's 5756-ton barges. The operation so far is reported to have cost in excess of £20m.

Crowley Marine's 538-ton tug Warrior enters Gibraltar on 01/01/08 with the 5756-ton Barge 408 on tow (Photo N. Rush).

The adverse weather conditions continue to help the break up of the New Flame and over the previous two or three days the sea state has caused the ship's condition to worsen.

The operation to salvage the "New Flame" has been ongoing since 13th August 2007, the day after the collision.

The current status of the salvage/recovery of the wreck 'New Flame' is that the attempt to salvage the aft part of the vessel has been abandoned by the underwriters as they no longer believe the operation to be commercially viable.

The underwriters, are now treating the situation as an entire wreck removal operation, while maintaining the services of the on-site salvage company to sustain the vessel in its current position, as far as technically possible, until the wreck removal operation commences.

With regard to the wreck removal operation, underwriters went to tender some 10 days ago and are expected to award the contract to the successful bidder shortly. Thereafter, it is anticipated that work will commence for the removal of the wreck as soon as logistically possible to do so.

A tender was announced yesterday for companies interested in bidding to pump fuel from the Sea Diamond shipwreck and raise the cruise liner that sank off Santorini more than seven months ago.

The process was initiated as experts warned that the danger of pollution from the sunken vessel is growing.

Theodoros Tsibidis, the head of the Institute of Marine and Environmental Research of the Aegean Sea, also known as Archipelago, told Kathimerini that in the ship there are a number of hydraulic and air-conditioning systems that contain toxic liquids. He also drew attention to hundreds of TV and computer screens in the vessel, which could leak other harmful substances, including arsenic.

“It is vital that no further pollution is caused during the recovery process, possibly from the disintegration of parts that contain harmful components,” said Tsibidis.

Firms have been given 20 days to submit their offer for raising the Sea Diamond and recovering more than 450 tons of fuel inside the vessel, which sank on April 6.

The Government of Gibraltar is to propose establishing a traffic separation scheme for all vessels sailing in and out of the Bay of Gibraltar, a key bunkering spot in the western Mediterranean. however the plan will require close co-operation from Spanish authorities and follows the well publicised collision last month between the New Flame and the Torm Gertrude. It also comes amid continued pressure for tighter maritime safety measures from environmental groups and politicians on either side of the border between Gibraltar and Spain.The two ports share a bay that is visited by more than 30,000 ships a year, but communication between the two is minimal and the incident was the latest in a string of casualties that have brought shipping in this area under intense scrutiny. Earlier this year the laden tanker Samothraki grounded in Gibraltar waters close to where the New Flame foundered. Only its double-hull design prevented a potentially major spill in a sensitive protected wildlife area. Prior to that, the reefer Sierra Nava grounded in harsh weather just off the port of Algeciras and spilt several hundred tonnes of fuel oil prompting major environmental concerns.

MV Samothraki pictured 18/03/07 after being towed round to the Bay of Gibraltar (Photo N. Rush)

The Sierra Nava aground off of the coast near Algeciras (Photo Courtesy of Juan)There have been numerous other bumps and scrapes of the sort common in any area with intense shipping activity. The New Flame collision came in the wake of those incidents and revitalised efforts to establish a formal framework of co-operation on maritime safety between Spain and Gibraltar. The Chief Minister Peter Caruana said the thaw in relations between Madrid, Gibraltar and London meant sovereignty issues could now be set aside to achieve progress on practical matters that affect all sides. He used the recent airport agreement as an example. He also stated that maritime matters would be high on the agenda at the next round of talks between Gibraltar, Britain and Spain. Furthermore he confirmed that Gibraltar would propose establishing a traffic separation scheme for all vessels sailing in and out of the bay and added it is no longer acceptable for ships sailing toward the port of Algeciras from the Mediterranean to tear around Europa Point just to shave off a mile of the journey. The scheme will require input from the International Maritime Organization and will have to take into account recent changes to navigation arrangements in the Strait of Gibraltar. The separation scheme in the strait was amended to take into account a forecast increase in cross-strait traffic as a result of new port developments in Morocco such as the new Tanger-Med port. The response to the New Flame collision at times drew intense criticism from green campaigners and Spanish opposition politicians. They argued, maybe unfairly, according to maritime experts in Gibraltar and Spain that Gibraltar was ill-equipped to cope with a casualty of this sort and urged the Spanish government to intervene. However the Spanish authorities had been kept closely informed at every stage of the casualty and Madrid put at Gibraltar's disposal extensive rescue and anti-pollution resources.

Tarifa based ferry operator FRS Iberia is exploring plans to increase the frequency of its service between Gibraltar and the Moroccan port of Tangier. The service has been operated on a weekly basis for some time, but company officials believe there may be scope for daily sailings. The thinking is based on the increase in flights at Gibraltar airport, particularly to the Spanish capital. The idea is to target tourist traffic from the Spanish hinterland — and from the UK — and use Gibraltar as a stepping stone to north Africa. “We are working to develop the commercial plan to capture traffic from these areas,” says FRS managing director Luis Mora. “We are looking to see if it’s viable.” The company already offers all-in packages to Moroccan destinations from Spanish ports and similar trips could be run from here. It has been looking at ways to boost its Gibraltar schedule for some time.
But the results of an initial trial earlier this year were less than heartening. FRS operated daily services during two weeks at the start of summer and passenger figures were disappointing. Changes in the schedules of airlines operating between Gibraltar and Madrid may further dampen the ferry company’s plans.
GB Airways has pulled its daily round-trip service to Madrid for the winter, although it will revisit its plans for the route next year. Spanish carrier Iberia, the only other airline operating between the Rock and the Spanish capital, has also scaled back its service. FRS Iberia, which remains committed to the project, has met with Joe Holliday, Gibraltar’s tourism and transport minister, to discuss options relating to the daily service. The context for these discussions is the major investment in tourism and trade infrastructure in progress in northern Morocco.
The development of northern Morocco is attracting substantial foreign investment and Gibraltar has explored possible opportunities for joint initiatives. Earlier this year, key executives from the Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency visited Gibraltar to brief local businesses on various projects under way on the other side of the Strait.

THE European Union emergency oil spill response ship Mistra Bay was en route to Gibraltar last night amid concern that the grounded bulk carrier New Flame is close to breaking up. In the first test of the EU's back-up ability, the Mistra Bay was struggling through a force-seven storm and was reported off the coast of Tunisia. The vessel, a bunker tanker now under the control of the Lisbon-based European Maritime Safety Agency, is expected to arrive in the Bay of Algeciras on Thursday. It was mobilised late on Friday, within three hours of a request from Spain, where there are growing fears of pollution from reportedly around 400 tonnes of fuel oil still on board the 26,824 dwt, Panama-flagged New Flame. The ship's structural integrity is said to have fallen from 60% to 25% or less over the last week as the result of bad weather. Mistra Bay, normally managed by Tankship, is based in Valletta, Malta, with a remit to cover the eastern Mediterranean. It was around 1,000 miles away but was the closest vessel in the fledgling EU fleet available to answer Spain's call. The EU has no coverage along the Atlantic seaboard, although a standby vessel should soon be operating out of Portugal. "Emsa is still in the process of building up its contracted fleet of anti-pollution vessels," said Emsa executive director, Willem de Ruiter. "We still have some way to go before we can provide comprehensive pollution response back-up to member states throughout EU waters. However, on this occasion, we quickly assessed the options and offered the Malta-based Mistra Bay to the Spanish authorities within three hours of their request." Two Emsa liaison officers have been dispatched: one, a Russian-speaker, is on board the Mistra Bay to co-ordinate operations with the Ukrainian crew; another, a Spanish-speaker, has been sent to Spain to co-ordinate with the local authorities, which already have anti-pollution vessels on stand-by. Emsa officials were satisfied with the way the ship had been mobilised. The Mistra Bay, which had a ?2m ($2.7m) refit after Tankship won the oil spill standby contract, has recovered oil storage capacity of 1805 tonnes. The oil tanker Torm Gertrud and the New Flame collided off Gibraltar on August 12. Since then the priority has been to avoid pollution by removing oil still on board the New Flame, which is partially submerged with its bow resting on the sea floor. It was hoped that the ship could be re-floated intact, but the salvors are now understood to have ruled this out. The oil removal operation has had to be suspended several times due to bad weather. The casualty has pushed maritime issues to the top of the agenda for three-way discussions between Gibraltar, Spain and the UK. Officials will be looking at ways to improve currently minimal levels of co-operation between the ports of Algeciras and Gibraltar. Both ports share one bay into which around 30,000 ships sail each year. Together they deliver around 6m tonnes of bunker fuel annually. There is now talk of setting up a navigation scheme for ships sailing in and out of the bay from the Strait of Gibraltar. New Flame A press report, dated Aug 31, states: As reports in the Spanish media claimed that fuel had leaked from the stricken bulk carrier New Flame the Gibraltar Government initiated an investigation to verify if the reports were true. With the salvage operations of the vessel still taking place off Europa Point the maritime authorities and the Salvage team met to discuss the next stage of the operation and the claims being made in the Spanish press. It is understood that the authorities were assured that throughout the salvage operations no known leak of fuel has taken place. An independent surveyor acting as a monitor of the operations confirming to officials that there had been no known fuel leak after an inspection of the area. It is, however, believed that some hydraulic fuel from equipment on board the vessel might have leaked into the sea, although the incident is described as a minor one. The denials of a fuel leak came as the salvage team continued with their plans to extract the fuel. Although expectations have been for the vessel to be removed due to bad weather condition due to hit the area. Experts have instead opted to remove the fuel with no risk to the vessel expected with the bad weather. Maritime experts have pointed out that while the vessel seems to have buckled considerably, indicating the extend of the damage, it is not believed it is likely to break away in the coming day. Sound and motion sensors on the vessel have also been put in place providing a pre-warning of any increase in the stress of the hull which might indicate that the vessel is due to break up. Officials have today indicated that all fuel extraction operations will be suspended during the weekend due to the increasing winds and as a safeguard to the barge operating alongside the stricken vessel.

One of the two largest ocean going tugs, Fotiy Krylov, arrived in Gibraltar this morning (19/08/07) to assist in the salvage of the stranded Bulk Carrier, New Flame. The 1989-built, 5250-ton, Russian flagged vessel is owned and operated by Tsavliris Salvage and Towing of Piraeus, Greece, who also utilise her identical sister ship, Nikolay Chiker, on similar worldwide operations.

Just after 08.00 hrs local time the 1994-built Panamanian registered Bulk carrier, "New Flame" was leaving the Port of Gibraltar after routinely picking up bunkers. It appears that she left the Bay without informing the local Port Authority (Unconfirmed at present) and as the 26,824-ton vessel rounded Europa Point she was in collision with the Algeciras bound Chemical/Oil tanker, the 30058-ton, 2002-built, Danish registered "Torm Gertrude" (Suffered damage to the bow) which was carrying 50,000t of Gasoline Oil,. The "New Flame" partially sank in shallow waters just off the lighthouse with Emergency boats from the Port Authority, two local habour tugs and the Spanish SASEMAR Rescue Tug "Miguel de Cervantes" and Rescue launch "Salvamar Algeciras" in attendance.

The New Flame off Europa Point with its bow settled on the sea-bed (Photo N. Rush)

Two offshore support vessels made transits in Gibraltar today, firstly the Smit-Lloyd 25, with Smith Imossi acting as agents, made a transfer of personnel 1 mile south of Europa Point. The 1089-ton, 1982-built, Marshall Islands registered ship picked up two personnel en-route to Istanbul for a dry-docking period.

At the same time picking up bunkers in the Bay was the 8402-ton Toisa Proteus, a 2002 built, Liberian registered ODS on her way from Freeport in the Bahamas to Port Alberni, local agents Inchcape Shipping Services acted on her behalf while she was present.

Today, with the locally based Rock Maritime Services acting as agents, the Panamanian registered 1998-built, 14021-ton General Cargo Ship, the Da Hua, arrived in Gibraltar with two new Indonesian Police Patrol Boats as deck cargo. The vessels, KP Pelikan (641) and KP Punai (642), are the first two of five brand new, Polish built, 36.4-metre, 198-ton vessels which were financed under a US $145-million deal which also included Mi-2 helicopters and a number of Skytruck aircraft.

A Greek-registered Crude Oil Tanker went aground this morning (Saturday 17/03) just after 2.00am on the East side of Gibraltar. The Samothraki, a 1989 built, 27793-ton tanker owned by Cheetah shipping in Piraeus, Greece, apparently then freed herself but later called that she was taking on water. Reports from residents at Europa Point indicate that she was sounding the emergency signal, seven blasts on the horn, at 7.00am and consequently all three of TP Towages tugs, Mumbles, Egerton and Sun Swale were called to the scene as was Marine Services Gibraltar’s tug Capable. The Captain of the Port also apparently requested that the Algeciras-based Salvage/Rescue Tug, Miguel de Cervantes, be called to stand by. At 9.00am the stricken vessel could be seen listing severely to starboard but had been stabalised by just after lunch when the Algeciras-based, Salvamar Algeciras, was also in attendance. The Gibraltar-based diving tug, Palencia was also called to the scene, as was a marine surveyor. It must be pointed out that the ship, which was fully laden, is a double-hulled vessel and was only shipping water in to her ballast tanks and posed absolutely no threat to the local environment. The ship later was towed on to the Bay of Gibraltar at about 18.00 that evening.

With Inchcape Shipping Services acting as agents, the 3406t, 2005 built Offshore Supply Vessel Toisa Valiant is pictured in Port after arriving from Las Palmas for a crew change and spares pick up.

News - Barwil and Unitor, two leaders in maritime services have merged to form the world's leading maritime services network. The new organisation is called Barwil Unitor Ships Service, its mission is to deliver improved vessel operating efficiency to the maritime market, with focus on trading ships. Barwil Unitor Ships Service is part of the Wilhelmsen Maritime Services A/S, a Wilhelmsen group company.

Barwil Unitor Ships Service is dedicated to delivering improved operating efficiency to the marine market. This includes securing an optimal cargo and equipment mix, increasing revenue and reducing empty equipment costs: keeping customers vessels in compliance with regulations and enhancing safe operations and supplying products designed for use in the marine environment that meet customer requirements for performance and stability.

Contact Editorial/Advertising Sales

e-mail: editor@navynuts.com

Tel: (00350) - 54011577

*Advertising Rates Only £175.00 for two years or £99.00 for one, you can change your ad copy each month with no extra charges!!)

Additional Pages: £25.00 per Year per insertion.

Need Your Own Page? Just £45.00 per Year extra.

*This includes 1 Photograph or Advert (up to A5 size) and a short write up of 20-30 words.

Free Inclusion in our Business Directory under the heading of your choice!

Check Out

All About

Gibraltar

(Just click on the logo's for access directly to the websites.)

Performance......surpassing your highest expectations.

The Scamp Underwater Services Worldwide Network are fuel conservation and underwater engineering specialists. Our prime objective is to increase customer profits through minimising fuel consumption and maximising ships' hull efficiency. From our Scamp Co-ordination Centre in Gibraltar our worldwide network operates in over 260 major locations, offering swift solutions to our underwater ships' problems.

Hull cleaning and maintenance, propeller polishing, underwater repairs and inspection surveys are undertaken by trained professionals utilising the latest technology. Our unique outsourcing package for regular propeller polishing has proved successful. It relieves management pressures and ensures regular, effective servicing synchronised with ship schedules.

e-mail: info@scampnetwork.com

Discover......a dynamic approach to fuel buying.

Peninsular Petroleum Ltd is a major physical bunker and lubricant supplier at major ports around the world and are active as worldwide traders with annual sales in excess of 2,000,000 metric tonnes.

As physical bunker suppliers our clients can be assured of a professional hands-on approach for every bunker delivery, either at anchorage or by barge.

Peninsular Supply Stations.

Gibraltar - Canary Islands Las Palmas/Tenerife - Ceuta - Panama, Balboa/Cristobal

World-Wide Traders.

e-mail:bunkers@peninsulapetroleum.com

Gibunco's Caleta and Eileen on bunkering duties (Photo N. Rush)

Diverse......Total Solutions for the Marine Industry

This innovative and dynamic group initially established in 1965, as an underwater engineering and ship repair company, has evolved into one of Gibraltar's most diverse and progressive commercial organisations.

Diversification has been the key to the success for the Group with operations currently embracing petroleum, marine engineering, ship-owners, mechanical engineering, ship agency and property development.

Gibunco Group are totally committed to providing a comprehensive marine service that offers our customers a decisive competitive edge, while respecting the environment and providing for the safety of its employees.

e-mail: enquiries@gibunco.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2004 built 118363 grt LNG tanker Lalla Fatma N'Soumer in the Bay for bunkers on her way to Arzew

(Photo N. Rush).

Shipping Directory.

Freight Agents & Forwarders

Aegean Bunkering (Gibraltar) Ltd: Suite 2, First Floor, Watergardens 4.

Tel: 50246

The Aegean XI on arrival in Gibraltar (Photo N. Rush)

Barwil Unitor Ships Service: Suite 22, Watergardens 6. Tel: 70666

BP Oil (Gibraltar) Ltd: ICC Suite 9, 9th Floor Casemates Square. Tel: 78313

Bunkers Gibraltar Ltd: Suite 621 cd, Europort. Tel: 74743

Cepsa (Gibraltar) Ltd; P.O. Box 51, 2nd Floor, Europort Building 7. Tel: 46910

Clifton Ship Agency: Suite 52, Victoria House, 26 Main Street. Tel: 78880

Cotran (Gibraltar) Ltd: 2B Garrison House, Gavinos Court. Tel: 46801/2

Euroship Supplies Ltd: Unit 7, North Mole Industrial Park. Tel: 44101

Fendertech: 12 Berth, North Mole. Tel: 59878

Gibunco Group: 2nd Floor, Building 7, Europort. Tel: 70454

Gibunco Ship Agency: No 4 Jetty, North Mole. Tel: 42994/47812/47813

Global Agency Co: Suite 21B, Don House, 30/38 Main Street. Tel: 51777

Haven Marine (Automation) Ltd: Haven Court, Library Ramp. Tel: 71512

Helm Marine: Main Office, North Mole. Tel: 44432

e-mail: helm@maritima.gi

Helm Marine's Maresa Uno (Left) and Maresa Dos (Photos N. Rush)

Inchcape Shipping Services: 4th Floor, Leon House, Secretary's Lane. Tel: 42985

e-mail: iss.gibraltar@iss-shipping.com

I.T.M.S. Ltd: Suite 934, Europort. Tel: 48862

Java Oil Ltd: Suite 743A, Europort. Tel: 50346

Lucas Imossi Shipping Ltd: 47 Irish town. Tel: 73500

M.H. Bland & Co Ship Agents: Cloister Building, Market Lane. Tel: 75009

Flyfish (Photo N. Rush)

Marine Service Shipping (Gibraltar) Ltd: 204 Neptune Ho. Marina Bay. Tel: 73606

Maritima del Estrecho (Gibraltar) Ltd: Suite 13, Watergardens 2. Tel: 76697

Mateos A & Sons Ltd: 299 Main Street. Tel: 71241

Medmar Agencies Ltd: No 4 Jetty, North Mole. Tel: 40620

James Molinary Ltd: 4 North Mole Industrial Estate. Tel: 78881

e-mail: jamesmol@gibnet.gi

Peninsula Petroleum Ltd: 2nd Floor, Building 7, Europort. Tel: 52641

John M. Piris & Sons Ltd: Suite 4, 33 Main Street. Tel: 73171

e-mail: pirelec@gibnet.gi

Operating since 1977 the company has grown from providing all electrical services to ships including motor and generator rewinds afloat to mechanical, welding and all shipboard services. The company has also embarked into the field of ship surveys, carrying out hull and machinery surveys for all types of vessels from large ships and tankers to smaller yachts.

John Piris & Sons Ltd is your one stop company for repairs afloat in Gibraltar.

Port & Offshore Services (Int) Ltd, 8 Berth, North Mole. Tel: 47191

Provimar Ltd: North Mole. Tel: 44400

Redwood International Ltd: Unit 1 Air Transit Shed, Gibraltar Airport. Tel: 48879

Rock Maritime: Suite 5, 2nd Floor, Leon House, Secretary's Lane. Tel: 79974

Sandvik Marine Electronics: 29 City Mill Lane. Tel: 79003

Scamp Contractors Ltd: No 3 Jetty, North Mole. Tel: 46267/47090

Scamp Ltd: 2nd Floor, Building 7, Europort. Tel: 79015

Shell Co of Gibraltar Ltd: Shell House, Line Wall Road. Tel: 48213

Karl Netto (Fuels) Tel: (00350) 48218 - e-mail: karl.netto@shell.com

Mark Smith (Lubricants) Tel: (00350) 48215 - e-mail: mark.m.s.smith@shell.com

----------------------------------------------

Ships Bond Suppliers Ltd: 22 Parliament Lane. Tel: 77328

---------------------------------------------

Smith Imossi & Co Ltd: 47 Irish Town. Tel: 78644

e-mail: shipping@smith-imossi.gi

Smith Imossi's Mr. Paul in the port (left) and Fireswift (Photo N. Rush)

Sorek Shipping Ltd: Haven Court, 5 Library Ramp. Tel: 71987

Straits Overseas Ltd: Unit 65, Harbours Deck, New Harbours. Tel: 76452

Tarik Ship Agents: Unit 3 Watergardens 4. Tel: 72836

Tarik Ship Agents are established in Gibraltar and Algeciras and are owners of workboats in Gibraltar.

Tarik able to undertake a variety of jobs including servicing of vessels transiting the Straits of Gibraltar Off Limit Services and delivery of Gasoil to Yachts and small coasters with the Barge AIAKOS.

Our fleet comprises of;

LADY GRANDY a fast patrol boat Lochin 333 with two Perkins engines.