The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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waterfront business in brief… Sparta Saga Repairs are underway on the Sparta after the Russian owned fishing vessel was towed back to New Plymouth by Port Taranaki's largest tug Tuakana in April. Sparta required replacement parts to be delivered after engine clutch plate problems caused her to break down en route to Fiji in late March. Shark fin carrier An airline has been discovered to be one of the foremost carriers of shark fin to Hong Kong. Soon to be rebranded as Fiji Air, the international airline Air Pacific was exposed by an investigation revealed in the South China Morning Post. The airline had been transporting shark fin on its new A330 craft and some pilots were aware of the operations. Hong Kong Shark Foundation director Alex Hofford, believes that shark fins harvested from the Cook Islands and Vanuatu were shipped to Fiji and appeared to be making their way to Hong Kong on the Air Pacific flights, many of them to be sold on to the mainland China market. Surf clams marked for harvest Thousands of tonnes of surf clams found off Foxton Beach have been earmarked for harvest in the next eight months. The native shellfish quota has significantly increased since the discovery. Cloudy Bay Clams general manager Mike Ponder said the Blenheim fishing company contracted Auckland University of Technology to survey the Foxton coast after it felt it had potential. ''There has been a significant increase [in surf clam numbers], it has basically doubled the country's quota because there is that much out there.'' Ponder says that the shellfish would be smaller at Foxton than those harvested from Pegasus and Cloudy bays in the South Island and is an opportunity to develop a new market. ''The the world is wanting smaller and smaller shellfish.'' Extra staff will need to be employed to meet the demand as exports increase and the company will begin harvesting from the Foxton coast in the next eight months when its equipment is ready. 40 Professional Skipper July/August 2013 Shutdown after centuries INDIA'S DHOW SHIP building industry has been decimated by an anti-piracy ban which prevents small cargo boats of "motorised sailing vessels" from sailing south of Oman. The ban, imposed by India's directorate general of shipping was put in place in March 2010 after Somali pirates captured eight boats from Gujarat and almost 100 Indian crewmembers in a number of attacks. The smaller Indian dhow boats appeared to be easy targets for pirates active in one of the world's busiest shipping routes. In western Gujarat, Mandvi is where shipbuilding and sea trading have taken place for centuries. Using traditional techniques and tools "dhow" craftsmen build a type of durable, mast-less dhow suitable for the smaller ports of the region. Part of the wooden boat building industry of India, the shipyard at Mandvi is on the banks of the Rukmavati River that flows to the Arabian Sea. "Four years ago, around 20 ships were being made at any one time, now there are just two," said Madiyar, of the Mandvi shipbuilders' association. "These days, no more than five or six are made in a year," Madiyar says. For the Indian traders the new antipiracy prevention of craft sailing south of Oman has put a stop to trade to Somalia and African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya and Yemen. Many ship builders have closed their businesses, most traders have seen their incomes drop by half and investment in the construction of new dhow has almost disappeared. Many of these dhow boats once filled a trade niche carrying staples such as rice and flour to Somalia – a country less accessible to container ships due to its few large ports. Other traders, such as those based in the United Arab Emirates, who unaffected by anti-piracy restrictions have been ready to step in and fill the gap left by the dhow ships. Multimillion dollar harbour facilities for Milford Sound NEW HARBOUR FACILITIES in Milford Sound were officially opened at Fresh Water Basin on May 10. The Milford Sound Development Authority has invested $6 million in the upgrade which includes a new breakwater and additional wharves. MDA Chairman Jeff Grant says the project has been six years in development and represents a substantial investment in Milford and the Milford visitor experience. "Visitors have very high expectations when they come to Milford Sound, it has been our aim to provide a cost effective, quality infrastructure that is very much in keeping with the environment," said Grant. Grant says the harbour redevelopment complements the recent visitor terminal upgrade and also allows improved boat manoeuvrability and safety. "We want Milford to maintain its reputation as New Zealand's leading tourism destination." The Milford Sound Development Authority is owned by tourism operators Real Journeys and Southern Discoveries along with the Southland District Council. www.skipper.co.nz