Messages

1

Shipping News and information / Re: Grand Alliance EU 5 'PULL OUT'

« on: January 30, 2009, 10:20:23 PM »

Not suprised to hear this. The Grand Alliance are perhaps the last of the 'majors' to pull capacity from the Far East-Europe route.

What is very interesting though is that in the last few weeks MSC, CMA-CGM and Maersk have all started sending ships via the Cape of Good Hope on the eastbound leg for some of their services. This is not because of the piracy threat in the Gulf of Aden, but because it is now far cheaper to do this than send a ship through the Suez Canal, even though it adds a week to the journey time!

According to Lloyds List the lines may soon start to send ships via the Cape on the dominant westbound leg as well.

The implications of this are significant:

- Suez canal traffic could decrease dramatically
- Excess capacity can be brought back into service as more ships will be required to maintain weekly schedule
- European Importers will face transit times increased by a week

It will be interesting to see how this develops.

2

Shipping News and information / Re: ABP proposing major dredging project for Southampton

« on: January 30, 2009, 08:31:26 PM »

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/pinfo/DevelopmentProjects.htm

The Southampton VTS website has now provided more detailed information and a timescale for the following major projects:

- Redevelopment of 201-2 berths into a containter berth for the largest vessels
- A significant deepening and widening of the main channel that will allow a greater tidal window for deep draught vessels.

These projects are set to begin in 2010 and be completed by 2011. I really hope ABP carries through with these projects as they will certainly help the port to remain competitive against Felixstowe and London Gateway.

I guess though in the current climate nothing is for certain.

3

Shipping News and information / Re: Containership newbuildings > 4.000 TEU - deliveries December 2008

« on: January 23, 2009, 07:20:11 PM »

I can guarantee that every shipping line mentioned above will not be to pleased to receive any of these newbuildings at the moment!

4

Shipping News and information / Re: Laid Up Ships

« on: December 30, 2008, 12:20:35 AM »

Bulk carrier ERIDGE is due at 101 berth Southampton on New Years Day

5

Shipping News and information / Re: Laid Up Ships

« on: December 23, 2008, 05:59:00 PM »

CALA PONENTE IMO: 9232656 due Blyth on the 27th December. I may be totally wrong here but as far as i'm aware this size container vessel does not normally call at Blyth, so I would assume she is in for Lay-up.

Can anyone more familiar with Blyth confirm this?

6

Shipping News and information / Re: Laid Up Ships

« on: December 07, 2008, 12:56:20 AM »

Another Bulk Carrier due at Southampton. 35287dwt Broadgate due to 47 berth on the 9th December. I would strongly assume this is for lay-up

With the Margaret Hill, Morning Cloud and Waterford alongside we will have 4 large vessels laid-up in Southampton.

Can any of the more experienced members comment on how this compares to the situation in the 80's?? I can just about recall the Burmah Endeavour being alongside for a few years, but was there much else laid up in Southampton, or any other UK ports?

7

Shipping News and information / Re: Laid Up Ships

« on: December 04, 2008, 07:15:34 PM »

The 149,513dwt Bulk Carrier Waterford is due alongside 101 berth in Southampton tomorrow. I would assume this will be a short lay-up as there are still a couple cruise ships scheduled to use the berth before christmas.

This will mean there are two Zodiac managed bulk carriers laid up at Southampton.

8

Shipping News and information / Re: BBC The Box leaves to the USA

« on: November 18, 2008, 10:00:25 PM »

Good way to keep track of the box is to put NYKU8210506 into the tracking module on www.nykline.com

This shows container has just loaded onto the NYK Starlight  :-P

9

Shipping News and information / Re: QE2; Doesn't want to go

« on: November 11, 2008, 09:05:30 PM »

BBC, AIS and listening to Southampton VTS Channel 12  :-D

Not the same as being there  :-( , but a decent substitute.

10

Shipping News and information / Re: QE2 For Tyne

« on: October 02, 2008, 09:49:35 PM »

Thanks Steve, I think I should be able to find those places no problem! Just hope the weather is fine and I get the oppurtunity to see her in daylight!

11

Shipping News and information / Re: QE2 For Tyne

« on: October 02, 2008, 09:16:07 PM »

Hi,

Can you tell me where will be the best viewpoint to see her alongside and also sail. I've just moved from Southampton to Ashington so would be a mighty shame not to see her one last time! I'm not familiar yet with the Tyne at all though so advice would be appeciated!

Thanks,
Dan

12

Shipping News and information / Re: Look out Southampton!

« on: August 21, 2008, 06:00:20 PM »

This is in reality just the 'public' announcement of what's been on the cards for years. Although i'm a Southampton man through and through, this is great news for the UK. Not only will it add much needed capacity to service the existing trade, but it should hopefully enable major UK ports to become transhipment hub's for continental Europe.

I certainly don't think it will have negative long term implications for Southampton or Felixstowe.

I do wonder though, where does this leave the plans for Bathside Bay??

13

Shipping News and information / Re: Sea Princess

« on: August 19, 2008, 04:05:29 PM »

Its probably just a matter of time before we see another RCCL ship based in the UK - Perhaps one of the 220000gt newbuilds??

14

Shipping News and information / Re: Sea Princess

« on: August 17, 2008, 07:56:14 PM »

Hi Glen,
I do not think Carnival are looking for a battle with Royal Caribbean in the UK. Carnival are firmly established in Southampton across their various brands. The deployment of Grand Princess is purely based on demand i'm sure. Royal Caribbean are relative newcomers to the ex-UK market and only have one ship based in Southampton in the summer.

I don't think Carnival are in the business of building the biggest and most mass market ship's as Royal caribbean seem to be. If anything, it will be Royal caribbean trying to break Carnival's stranglehold on the market.

15

Shipping News and information / Re: Crane accident at Southampton

« on: January 24, 2008, 05:55:05 PM »

More from Lloyds List this afternoon:

OPERATIONS at Southampton Container Terminal have been severely disrupted after high winds caused a recently refitted crane to collapse on top of a containership.

Although no-one was hurt as a result, around a dozen ship-to-shore cranes at SCT were withdrawn from service after Friday