World Maritime News – 24 Oct., 1997 – excerpts
January 2nd, 2009 From
>Date: Thu, 30 Oct 1997 14:33:12 -0800
>From: Mike Potter
>Organization: Artecon, Inc.
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>To: mahan@microworks.net
>Subject: World Maritime News – 24 Oct., 1997 – excerpts
>Precendence: bulk
>Sender: mahan-owner@microworks.net
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>
>World Maritime News – 24 Oct., 1997
>———————————–
>
>Kvaerner to build ships at former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
>
> On 21 Oct., Kvaerner A.S.A. signed a memorandum under which it
>agreed in principle to build and operate a shipbuilding facility at the
>former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. It would be named Kvaerner
>Philadelphia Shipyard. Details still need to be negotiated before a
>formal contract is made. The agreement included public investment of
>U.S.$399 million including U.S.$182 from Pennsylvania for renovating the
>yard, U.S.$65 million from the Delaware River Port Authority, U.S.$49
>million from Philadelphia and U.S.$50 million in federal funding. The
>state and city will also loan Kvaerner U.S.$30 million at a favorable
>interest rate. The shipyard will be publicly owned and operated by
>Kvaerner under a 99-year deal. In addition, CSX Corp. and Norfolk
>Southern Corp. are creating a U.S.$75 million economic development fund
>which will be coordinated by the office of Pennsylvania’s governor and
>the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Of
>this, U.S.$20 million will be spent on the shipyard. Kvaerner will
>invest U.S.$165 million over 15 years with U.S.$45 million in the first
>five; buy the first three containerships built at cost, likely U.S.$80
>million; guarantee minimum job levels of 700 people at the end of five
>years and at least 500 more 10 years after that; and relocate its North
>American headquarters to Philadelphia. The yard may build tankers and
>passenger ships as well and will build as many as nine ships in the
>first five years. Construction of the first ship is expected to begin in
>summer with completion in 2000. Kvaerner plans to use two dry docks on
>at least 36 hectares/90 acres.
>
>Sri Lanka Navy attack kills more than 100
>
> Sri Lanka Navy vessels attacked boats of the Liberation Tigers of
>Tamil Eelam on 19 Oct. off northeastern Sri Lanka, killing more than 100
>people. Seven boats were sunk in a five hour battle 272 kilometers/170
>miles northeast of the capital, Colombo.
>
>Engineer of vessel killed in pirate attack at Manila…
>
> Pirates attacked the Yi He (Chinese-registry 25,078-dwt
>containership built in 1968, operated by COSCO Container Lines) shortly
>after it arrived 17 Oct. at Manila, the Philippines. The engineer was
>killed when he fought back. The ship, with 30 crew, arrived from Hong
>Kong before dawn and anchored off the main harbor. Four pirates boarded
>from a motorboat.
>
>…Containership docked in Rio de Janeiro boarded by pirates
>
> Pirates with scuba gear and submachine guns boarded the Zim
>Montevideo (Antigua-registry 22,525-dwt containership built in 1994,
>operated by Hermann Buss GmbH & Cie.) on early 21 Oct. at Rio de
>Janeiro, Brazil. As many as 15 people in small craft used ropes to scale
>the hull of the ship as it was docked in Guanabara Bay. They reportedly
>stole electronic equipment from a container.
>
>Canadian warship commander relieved
>
> The commanding officer of the Canadian Maritime Command’s
>Halifax-class Frigate H.M.C.S. Calgary (FFH 335) was relieved of command
>18 Oct. Cmdr. Robert Bush, 42, is being investigated by two military
>officers. He assumed command of the ship in July 1996. On 22 Oct., Bush
>released a public letter in which he admitted drinking less than six
>hours before sailing the warship from Campbell River, British Columbia,
>at 0430 8 July. He apologized and said he would seek professional help.
>Regulations bar any crewmember from drinking alcohol within six hours of
>standing a watch. Bush is now serving in Esquimalt, British Columbia.
>
>Albanian People’s Navy vessel sunk in collision has been raised
>
> An Albanian People’s Navy vessel carrying Albanian migrants to
>Italy that capsized and sank 28 March in the Adriatic Sea has been
>raised and towed to Brindisi, Italy. About 83 people were killed and 34
>were rescued. Many of the survivors said that the ship sank after
>colliding with the Italian Navy Minerva-class Corvette Sibilla (F 558).
>The sunken vessel was reportedly stolen from Sarande, Albania, on 26
>March and then sailed to Vlore, Albania. Survivors said the vessel was
>deiberately rammed, once astern and once on a side. Italy said the
>vessel was evading Italian ships and sailed on a collision course. The
>commanding officer of the Italian ship, Maurizio Laudadio, was relieved
>of his duties 30 March. Eleven bodies have been removed.
>
>–