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ICS welcomes MEPC themes
London - The International Chamber of Shipping “will firmly welcome the proposal by the Secretary General of the IMO for a ‘Cross-government industry-scientific working group’ to evaluate the strategy to be adopted by IMO for further reducing ships’ air emissions”, the organisation said in a statement today. Looking forward to next week’s meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the chamber – which claims to represent the views of shipowners who operate more than 70& of the world’s fleet – says that, among other topics, it will “be helping to broker a solution to the problem created by the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, which stipulates that new ships delivered from 2009 must be fitted with new treatment equipment for which the technology does not yet exist in a form that has been officially approved to meet IMO standards.” © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
IMB stands by piracy numbers
Kuala Lumpur (18 July 2007) The International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre has defended its data in the face of criticism by Indonesia. Noel Choong, head of the Centre, told Fairplay the information had been obtained first-hand from ships' crews, using data provided to Indonesian enforcement agencies. Indonesia’s Director General of Sea Transportation Harijogi lashed out at IMB figures this week, dismissing them as "nonsense.” The IMB reported 24 attacks on ships in Indonesia during the first six months this year, which is unacceptable to Indonesian authorities. Harijogi has taken exception to the Bureau’s inclusion of incidents at anchorages and ports as piracy and armed robbery. But Choong says definition is not an issue. “The fact is unauthorised boardings endanger seafarers’ limbs and lives,” he points out. “The data is intended to alert authorities to maintain constant vigil at sensitive spots.” Choong has in fact commended Indonesian enforcement agencies for co-operating with Malaysia and Singapore to reduce the incidence of piracy in the commercially-sensitive Malacca and Singapore Straits. But, he cautioned, “vigilance should continue, otherwise pirates will strike again.” Fairplay's news item yesterday prompted a response from one ship master who strongly supports the IMB’s position and "openly accuses the Indonesian government of complicity in the operation of piracy". © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Jakarta acts on ferry safety
Jakarta - Indonesia’s government has moved to strengthen its commitment to ferry safety by stipulating that ships can only join operators’ fleets if less than 10 years old. The decision has been prompted by mounting pressure to deregulate the transport system, following a series of ship accidents, including last week’s Wahai Star sinking. More than one-third of the 167 ro-ros operating around the archipelago are veterans of at least 25 years’ trading. However, Ahmad Syukri, the transport department official responsible for ferry services, told reporters the new policy only applies to new vessels. “The old ships can continue to operate,” he said. The new policy will put extra pressure on struggling ferry companies who need to find more funding for younger ships, at a time when few second-hand ferries under 10 years of age are on the market. Sumiarso Sonny, director of state owned ASDP Indonesia Ferry, says 19 of the 92 ships in his fleet are more than 25 years; all are expected to be audited with regard to safety regulations. He doubts that shipping lines will be able to meet the requirement. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Malaysia launches new petroleum hub
Singapore - Malaysia today officially launched the construction of a regional bunkering hub. The ground-breaking ceremony, officiated by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi this morning, was described to Fairplay by a Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) spokesman as giving ‘security of supply’ in fuel and bunkering services. “Presently, the bunker supply comes from Singapore. This [bunkering] facility is now readily available and the immediate spin-off is a dramatic reduction in price”, he explained. Moreover as the facility is to be built on Tanjung Bin, PTP benefits by pilotage, added a shipping analyst. Johor Port will be the other to benefit. The analyst said the petroleum hub will greatly benefit its ‘one-stop’ logistics network that includes rail-transport for cargo. Earlier the Prime Minister described the “positive spillover effects and synergy” between Johor's ports. The integrated facility with multiple jetties will be capable of handling all vessel sizes from 1,000dwt coastal tankers to 350,000dwt ultra-large crude carriers. Malaysia is believed to be talking to a few international players for the eventual construction of a bunkering terminal, which it needs to complete by 2009. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Malaysia to release thousands of hawksbill turtles
About 30,000 hawksbill turtles are expected to be released into the sea this year from a conservation programme that collected eggs along the coast of Malacca state, a report said Thursday. Last year, a total of 24,800 turtles were set free and this year we expect to free about 30,000,, said Sukarno Wagiman, head of resources rehabilitation at the Fisheries Department. We started releasing the turtles in stages from April, he was quoted as saying in The Star. About 40 percent of the eggs were found on Upeh Island, off the Malacca coast. The state government is taking back the island -- which was sold to national utility company Tenaga Nasional in 2003 -- to turn it into a research and management centre for the turtles. The government wants to protect the island to help preserve the hawksbill turtles, Malacca chief minister Mohamad Ali Rustam said. Separately, the paper also reported that leatherback turtles -- the most endangered of Malaysia's turtles -- have not nested in the eastern state of Terengganu so far this year. We are just keeping our fingers crossed, hoping that the reptiles will visit us as the nesting season is up to September, said Kamaruddin Ibrahim from the Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre. There were five nestings last year but none of the eggs hatched, he added. Leatherback turtles are the largest turtles in the world and frequently nested in Teregganu in the 1960s but now the sighting of even one turtle is rare. The turtles were a big draw for tourists who came to the state -- famed for its exotic islands and coastline -- to watch the egg-laying as well as the emergence of hatchlings. Turtles are hunted in Malaysia for their meat and shell, but many die after getting entangled in fishing nets in open seas. The World Conservation Union lists the hawksbill turtle and the leatherback turtle as critically endangered. © 2007 AFP.
Malaysia-US armed forces exercise ends with amphibious assault
Mersing - The Malaysia-United States armed forces exercise "Carat 07" (Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training) which began on June 24 ended with an amphibious assault at Tanjung Resang beach. "Carat 07" director Kepten K. Soundrajan who is also Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) maritime tactical centre commander said the exercise was proof of the close cooperation between the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the United States Armed Forces (USAF). "The exercise which called for joint-operations on land, sea and air showed a high level of cooperation," he told reporters here Thursday. About 1,200 MAF and 1,500 USAF members were involved in "Carat 07" held at several locations in Pahang, Terengganu and Johor. He said the exercise gave the two armed forces opportunity to test their inter-operability and war doctrines aimed at upgrading capability in an array of missions. Meanwhile, "Carat 07" deputy director Captain Al Collins Sr of USAF said the relationship and cooperation between the two armed forces during the exercise was strong. The USAF brought a robust force as well as vast capacity to work with the MAF in various combat operations. Collins complimented the professionalism of MAF members during the entire exercise. "Having trained with the Thai Armed Forces and before that, the Philippines Armed Forces, I can say that that the Malaysian Armed Forces members are extremely professional when carrying out their operations and duties." He added the USAF members learnt a lot from their MAF counterparts during training to provide maritime security to the region. © 2007 BERNAMA.
Malaysian ferry operators to merge
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian ferry operators Mesra Feri and Duta Feri are to merge to provide “better quality services”, in the words of Mesra Feri official Beh Wong King. Both operators will be under the Konsortium Feri Mesra holding trust, headed by executive chairman Mohd Nasir Mohd Rashid. The move had been anticipated as the operators have been working closely. It is widely believed that the new holding company will seek to upgrade existing ferries and purchase new ships. Konsortium Feri Mesra officials were unavailable for comment. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
Marine piracy spikes in second quarter of 2007: watchdog
Worldwide piracy incidents jumped 37 percent in the second quarter of this year from the same period last year following increased attacks off Somalia and Nigeria, a watchdog said Thursday. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said the spike in piracy and armed robbery between April and June bucked the overall trend of piracy attacks, which are on the decline globally. The IMB recorded 85 attacks in the second quarter of 2007, compared with 66 for the corresponding period in 2006. For the first six months to June this year, 126 attacks were recorded against 127 in the same period last year. "Despite a sustained decrease in acts of piracy over the past three years, the statistics for the second quarter of this year suggest that we may be seeing a reversal of this trend," Pottengal Mukundan, the London-based director of the IMB, said in a statement. Indonesia remained the world's piracy hot spot with 24 actual and attempted cases during the first half of this year, the IMB said. But that number decreased significantly from 33 in the corresponding period last year, it said. "Somalia and Nigeria remain very dangerous, high risk areas with large numbers of violent kidnappings and hostage takings," Mukundan said. So far this year, three crew members have been killed, 41 kidnapped and 152 were taken hostage while 13 vessels were hijacked. There have been 17 pirate attacks and hijackings this year off Somalia's 3,700 kilometres (2,300 miles) of unpatrolled coastline, more than double the eight incidents during the first half of last year, and marking a "dramatic increase," the IMB said. Mukundan said he hopes international naval forces will be allowed to assist hijacked vessels in Somali waters. "It is only when the pirates see that they can no longer make easy money by seizing vessels, that we will see a reduction in attacks," he said. IMB now advises vessels not calling at Somalia to remain at least 200 nautical miles clear of Somali waters at all times. In Nigeria, the maritime watchdog said attacks have been primarily carried out against oil rig support vessels but pirates have started attacking tankers, increasing the risk of deaths and "enormous environmental destruction." IMB said Nigeria recorded 19 actual and attempted attacks so far this year compared with seven during the same period in 2006. Elsewhere the situation has improved, and the IMB noted in the Malacca Strait -- which runs between Indonesia and Malaysia and down to Singapore -- no piracy attacks were reported in the second quarter this year. "This improvement is largely attributed to the co-operation between states bordering these waters," it said. (AFP) © Garowe Online.
MEPC meets next week
London - The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meets next week (9-13 July) with air pollution, ballast water management and ship recycling high on its agenda. Its opening session will be addressed by Michel Jarraud, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization. According to an IMO briefing note, the committee, which will meet in London, is expected to establish a working group to continue work on reviewing MARPOL Annex VI and the NOx Technical Code and consider issues relating to the reduction of greenhouse gases from ships. The committee will also consider the draft text of a new convention providing globally-applicable ship recycling regulations and is expected to adopt a number of amendments to MARPOL and the IBC Code. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
MISC invests in chemical sector
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian LNG major MISC has confirmed to Fairplay it will buy eight more double-hulled chemical tanker newbuildings from Korea, more than doubling its current chem carrier fleet. MISC operates 10 chemical carriers at present, according to LR-Fairplay data. The new 45,000dwt, IMO II vessels have been ordered from SLS Shipbuilding and cost $430M. They come in addition to eight chemical tanker newbuildings already on order at STX. MISC says that inauguration of the SLS vessels will help enable the company to grow beyond its present capabilities and tap into the growing global vegetable and chemical trades. The tankers, it told Fairplay, are designed to carry a wide variety of chemical commodities of various parcel sizes and vegetable oil products including palm oil. Apart from its leading position in LNG, MISC considers the chemical business as an integral part of its strategic focus and business portfolio. It has long-term plans to develop the business, with a special focus on targeted niche chemical and vegetable oil shipping markets. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
New deep-sea port proposed for Satun by Yuthana Praiwan
The government has been asked to construct a new deep seaport in the west coast of southern Thailand in Pak Bara, Langu district in Satun, to serve marine transport from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, said Thanit Soraj, a Federation of Thai Industries vice-president. Chairing a public and private committee on deep seaport development in the western coast of southern Thailand, Mr Thanit said participants on Monday confirmed construction of the new seaport at Pak Bara because of its suitability compared to alternative locations, which were in Ranong and Phangnga. Many southern provinces have become tourist destinations and a seaport could affect the tourism business. The new seaport project was initiated during the Thaksin Shinawatra administration but was put on hold after the government was ousted in last year's coup. Mr Thani said the seaport at Pak Bara would give impetus to an ambitious plan for a southern seaboard development similar to the Eastern Seaboard development project.The seaport at Pak Bara could be connected by means of a landbridge with Chana seaport in Songkhla. The port is expected to stimulate the South's economy, which could help reduce violence in the three southernmost provinces. Mr Thanit said industries in the Eastern Seaboard area would be overcrowded in the next six years, so it is necessary to find another location for the new industries. The seaport at Pak Bara requires investment of 2.6 billion baht to be develop between 2009 and 2019, and would be capable of handling cargo of 2.4 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent container units) per year. The new seaport would be 15 metres deep with a berth width of 750 metres to accommodate large vessels. Once the seaport is completed, cargo shipments from the southern provinces, especially rubber, would not need to use Penang's seaport in Malaysia. Mr Thanit said the selection of the seaport at Pak Bara would be proposed to Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont who chairs the National Logistics Development Committee on July 19 for approval. © The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2007.
Petroleum hub good for Iskandar
Pontian - The establishment of Asia Petroleum Hub (APH) on a reclaimed island off Tanjung Bin here is a strategic move to meet the nation’s demand for petroleum storage and blending which will bring about positive spillover effects to the Iskandar Development Region. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the RM1.4 billion hub would complement the Pasir Gudang Port and Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP) by providing integrated services and uninterrupted bunkering to ships. The petroleum hub will create opportunities in the maritime industry as well as promote the emergence of marine support activities, he said at the ground-breaking ceremony for the APH at the project site on the island. The reclamation cost RM100 million. Present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy. Abdullah said the hub, which is scheduled for completion in 2009, would be a stimulus for logistics services and other commercial activities in Iskandar as it would be part of the petroleum trading network and the bulk-gateway to regional and domestic markets. He said with the increase of activities in the highly specialised petroleum sector, the APH and the surrounding areas would attract professionals and technical talent. APH is developed by Asia Petroleum Hub Sdn Bhd, a consortium led by the largest independent terminal operator, KIC Oil and Gas Ltd (KIC), and Trek Perintis Sdn Bhd. It will be managed by KIC Oil Terminals Sdn Bhd. © 2007 NST Online.
Piracy report is 'nonsense': Jakarta
Jakarta - The Indonesian government has described as “nonsense” an IMB report that calls the country the “most unsafe” in the world. Director general of Sea Transportation Harijogi said the report is a prejudice rather than factual. The 13 July report listed 24 cases of piracy in the first semester of 2007, down from 27 in the same period of 2006. However Harijogi questioned the figures, arguing that co-operation with Singapore and Malaysia had drastically slashed the number of piracy cases in the first half of the year to just eight incidents. “Where do they get the data from?” he demanded, adding that Jakarta would ask IMB to clarify the data on piracy cases in Indonesian territory. The clarification is important, Harijogi claimed, because IMB often does not have valid data. The debate hinges on how “piracy” is defined. Harijogi regards piracy as “taking over a ship and paralysing the crew through the use of weapons, not stealing wood.” Although he admits Indonesia lacks security personnel, Harijogi says Jakarta is continually making the country’s waters safer.
Rare whale sighted off Malaysia
Kuching - The humpback whale, an endangered marine mammal, has been sighted for the first time in Malaysia, off the Miri coast. The dark-grey whale, which was spotted by a team of aerial marine life surveyors on June 24, is at least 10m in length. Universiti Malaysia Sabah marine mammal and fishery services' lecturer Dr Saifullah A. Jaaman said it was easy to identify the humpback whale due to its distinct physical features and behaviour. The flippers of the humphack whale make up about one-third of its body. When it dives, it brings up its tail, he told reporters at the Sarawak Forestry office at the Hock Lee Centre here on Thursday. Dr Saifullah, the survey team's technical advisor, said the descriptions by a team member who sighted the mammal fitted well with that of the humpback whale. He said the migratory humpback whales, which feed on small fish, had been sighted in the Philippines waters before. The team spent about 30 hours on a Cassna aircraft for the survey, stretching from Lawas in northern Sarawak to Tanjung Datu in the southern region. Sarawak Forestry's chief wildlife warden Wilfred Landong described as most exciting the sightings of the humpack whale and several other marine wildlife. Landong said the team recorded nearly 60 sightings, which included 13 individual dugongs in three groups, seven whales, some 140 dolphins of four species, nine rays, six sharks and 13 marine turtles. There were two sightings of Bryde whales off Pulau Talang-Talang and sightings of three other Balaen and unidentified whales of Miri and Mukah, he added. © 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
ReCAAP ISC fully operational
Singapore - ReCAAP ISC, the new inter-governmental anti-piracy initiative of Asian countries, has achieved “full operational status” within seven months of its launch in November last year. This is well ahead of the one-year target, sys BG Tay Lim Heng, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority and member of the governing Council of ReCAAP. After a special meeting here yesterday, the Council noted that the information network system, which is based in Singapore, has begun exchanging reports on piracy and armed robbery incidents in Asia. The office in Singapore is now staffed with permanent officers seconded from China, India, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, Executive Director Yoshiaki Ito said. The agency has also begun publishing monthly and quarterly reports on piracy incidents with in-depth analysis of significant incidents. “We leverage on technology to maintain a 24-hour vigil,” Ito said, pointing to the ubiquitous Blackberry. ReCAAP has been signed and ratified by 14 members, though Malaysia and Indonesia, described as “founding fathers”, have yet to join the fold. © Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Limited 1999 - 2006.
RI, China exploring possibility of joint maritime operations
Jakarta - The Indonesian and Chinese governments are exploring possibilities of conducting joint maritime operations as a follow-up to the strategic partnership agreement signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his Chinese counterpart,Hu Jintao, in 2005, a Chinese official said. "The cooperation will be part of efforts to create regional peace and security," Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Chen Shiqiu said Thursday. Chen made the statement after a meeting with the chief of Indonesia's Maritime Security Coordinating Board (Bakorkamla) Vice Admiral Djoko Sumaryono. He said as a follow-up to the strategic partnership agreement which also covered the maritime sector, the two countries had agreed to conduct various joint activities in such areas as navigation security, maritime security, ship construction, navalcooperation and maintenance of Malacca Strait security. The joint maritime operations, according to him, would also be conducted in coordination with such institutions as the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Shiqiu said Indonesian waters were relatively safer than the seas of many other countries. (ANTARA). © 2007 JakartaPost.Com.
Tanjung Offshore may expand fleet
Tanjung Offshore Bhd is believed to have identified another three new vessels as it prepares to grow its fleet size, taking advantage of the strong appetite for local-flagged vessels from oil majors operating in Malaysia. Aseambankers Research said yesterday this comes after having ordered three new 5,428 brake horsepower (bhp) anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels, valued at RM132.7 million over the last six months. It said the company's aggressive fleet expansion is not a concern to us, as demand for offshore marine vessels remains strong to support domestic oil and gas (O&G) operations. "Overall, Tanjung Offshore aspires to grow its fleet size to 12-15 vessels by 2009 - from six now, to nine by end-2008, before this latest announcement of three newly identified vessels," it said. However, Aseambankers Research said the company's rising gearing is a concern as it came to understand these three potential vessels - valued at about RM120 million, together with three earlier ordered vessels - would be funded largely by borrowings. This would raise the group's debt from RM141 million as at March 2007 to RM394 million, or a proforma net gearing of 3.3 times (based on shareholders' funds of RM117m as at March 31, 2007). "To address rising gearing, we believe there could be corporate exercises in the pipeline. Among the many potential schemes include the company spinning off its marine vessel business, undertaking the unorthodox sale-and-leaseback approach, or forming strategic joint-ventures to de-gear," it added. The research house also said it was anticipating newsflow to favour Tanjung Offshore later this year. These included new orders from its engineering equipment division, totaling RM250m onwards. It said Tanjung Offshore was also looking at the prospects of extending its agency agreement with rig operator; TODCO to bring an additional two rigs to Malaysia. Aseambankers Research said the three vessels, valued at about RM120 million, could potentially contribute net profit of about RM10 million per annum, based on an internal return of return (IRR) of 14%. "This would effectively increase our target price by 60 sen, pegging earnings at 15 times PER. We are, however, leaving our earnings forecasts unchanged for now, pending further announcements on this development," it said. The research house raised its target price by 16%, or by 60 sen to RM3.35, taking into account the earnings potential of the three new vessels. © 2006 The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd.
Turtle ‘signals’ desire for survival
Alor Gajah - A hawksbill turtle was released into the Straits of Malacca with a satellite transmitter on its back yesterday to help in the survival of its species. Seri Melaka, a female hawksbill turtle, or scientifically known as Eretmochelys imbricata, was released with a RM8,000 satellite transmitter attached to its carapace to track its movement. Satellite telemetry allows researchers to track turtles in the ocean by attaching a platform terminal transmitter (PTT) to their shell. The PTT transmits signals to an orbiting satellite on the Argos Satellite Data Collection System each time the turtle surfaces for air. The satellite sends the data to a receiving station on earth and researchers can access the data on their computers. Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Junaidi Che Ayub, who released the turtle, said the transmitter would trace the migration route and feeding habitat of the hawksbills. "If we do not know where they go and where they forage for food, then we will not know how to protect them and their feeding grounds." Junaidi said: "We would also be able to tell the turtle’s growth rate, the frequency of landing and laying of eggs from the transmitter." The transmitter, about the length of a red brick, has saltwater switches at either end, which will activate the transmitter whenever the turtle comes up for air. The operation is funded by the World Wide Fund for Nature and overseen by its Malacca Hawksbill Turtle Conservation Project team, with the co-operation of the Malacca Fisheries Department. Malacca is the main nesting site for hawksbills in the peninsula, with more than 300 nestings recorded a year. However, the erosion along the Malacca coast is threatening their survival. Junaidi said the department last year released three hawksbill turtles with satellite transmitters and two others would be fitted this year. © 2007 NST Online.
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17 radar stations on Sabah coast by Arman Gunsika
Kota Kinabalu - The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) will have a better watch on coastal activities at Sabah's east coast with the setting up of 17 radar stations costing more than RM200 million. Sabah and Labuan Maritime Enforcement Chief First Admiral Ahmad Fuzi Kahar said they have secured the locations for these stations, on the coastal areas as well as islands, and are in the process of acquiring the land from the government. The stations presently operating on the Straits of Malacca are equipped with high-tech cameras, among others, that allow them to zoom in on targets and monitor their activities clearly. These radar systems implemented in the east coast would be under phase one of the plan while the second phase would see similar stations built in the west coast. The stations are expected to be completed about a year after the land is obtained, he said. Ahmad Fuzi earlier received two refurbished vessels - the KM Serasan and KM Tebrau - that were handed down by other maritime enforcement agencies at APMM base here. The vessels, which can reach a speed of up to 30 knots, arrived from Johor on Sunday with 12 crew members. He said the new arrivals brought the number of vessels operating in Sabah and Labuan to 20, the most compared to other four regions covered by the agency, namely, the north-south, east and Sarawak regions. They expect to receive five more of such vessels soon. The APMM also secured three helicopters and an aircraft to be used for search and rescue operations as well as surveillance in Sabah, he said. "We are also trying to apply for about 10 acres in the Kota Kinabalu International Airport for the helipad, hangar and our office," he said. They also intedn to have their own marine base, housing estates for the staff, and headquarters in Labuan, Sandakan, Tawau and Kudat. © 2007 Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.
MISC still trendsetter despite lack of news
Petaling Jaya - The lack of news flow on Malaysia’s largest shipping firm MISC Bhd has not deterred industry observers from viewing the stock as a trendsetter in the industry. Some of the businesses that were encouraging market talk was MISC’s offshore business and also speculation that it was keen to pursue merger and acquisition (M&A) activities. The national shipping corporation’s offshore business, for instance, is encouraging market talk that the company is keen to pursue M&As. “But there are no confirmed details yet on possible M&A activity as market talk has it that the MISC’s target companies are too pricey,” said an observer yesterday. He also said although the offshore business represented a small part of MISC’s earnings, its growth was encouraging. A recent Aseambankers report noted that other than the current buzz in the oil and gas (O&G) industry, players were also interested in new energy resources in existing and new marginal, shallow and deepwater fields. This leads to continuous offshore exploration and production (E&P) spending over a five-year horizon should oil prices remain favourable (at above US$40 per barrel),” it said. The report said equipment and service providers would be in high demand, given the need for such facilities to support E&P activities. These activities, it said, would benefit MISC’s subsidiary, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (MMHE), which is involved in fabrication works. “This is workable for MMHE, given its strong parentage in Petronas, which has been involved in higher-end fabrication projects such as Kikeh Truss SPAR,” the report added. But a recent OSK Research report said while the research house was bullish on the offshore business and MMHE’s exposure to O&G development in Malaysia, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) business still contributed over 50% to MISC’s earnings. It said the recent mutual termination of Petronas’ agreement with Centrica for LNG supply to Britiain’s Dragon terminal could lead to reduced demand from Petronas for MISC’s LNG ships. © 1995-2007 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd.
SAM asks Fisheries Dept to rethink cloning Leatherback Turtle
Kuala Lumpur - Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) has called on the Fisheries Department to rethink its proposed RM9-million project to clone the endangered leatherback turtle. Its president, S. M. Mohd Idris, said it should instead pay more attention to conservation of the species, like addressing issues that are a major threat to the turtle. SAM, also known as Friends of the Earth, is a non-governmental organisation involved in environment and development issues. "Failing to address these will result in dire consequences for these remarkable creatures and the habitats that they need to survive," he said in a statement when commenting on the cloning proposal by the Fisheries Department. Idris said cloning does nothing to reduce the most pressing threats to endangered species and their habitats. "It (cloning) is only to create more of a particular species. Conservation requires working on the entire population and habitats. The question is no longer whether cloning endangered species will work. "The issue is whether it should be done and for what purpose. Right now, no one knows yet if cloning can help the conservation efforts," he added. Idris also said that there is another danger to cloning because Ian Wilmot, the developer of the cloned sheep, Dolly, had admitted that almost all clones suffer serious abnormalities. In Dolly's case, it suffered premature arthritis and was later euthanised after being diagnosed with progressive lung disease, prompting a moratorium on human cloning and on commercial animal production through cloning. Meanwhile, the Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre (Tumec) in Kuala Terengganu has introduced several measures, including having 24-hour patrols and stricter enforcement on land and sea, to save the leatherback turtles and enable them to nest safely on Terengganu's beaches during the March-to-August nesting season. © 2007 BERNAMA.
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