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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WATERWAYS – Waterfront Business PORT PROFITS INCREASE In brief… New climate change atlas The research organisation NIWA has designed what it says is the world's first regional climate change ocean "atlas" for New Zealand's exclusive economic zone. The atlas maps out New Zealand's resources within the EEZ, highlights climate change-related issues and shows how our plants and animals may respond to future changes. As it is developed they will be able to focus on particular questions. Users will eventually be able to view multiple layers of information overlaid on a digital map and view information based on different time periods. "It will help reduce uncertainties on the future of the marine life in our EEZ," says Dr Philip Boyd of the NIWA Centre of Chemical and Physical Oceanography. It will interlink who lives where, how vulnerable they are to environmental change and how our EEZ environment is projected to change. "We can construct a wide range of scenarios to address a wide range of topics – it's like a toolkit," Dr Boyd said. New data improves routing efficiency New data that enables ships and superyachts to improve their routing efficiency is being trialled with a major cruise line company. The data, provided by oceanographic data specialist Tidetech, is claimed to allow captains and deck officers to route their vessels more efficiently, saving time, fuel and money while reducing environmental impact. The data can be integrated with onboard navigation systems and provides an accurate feed of global ocean currents, sea surface temperatures and wave forecasts. Tidetech's managing director Penny Haire said the data could potentially save shipping companies and superyacht owners thousands of dollars in fuel. "Ocean currents and trade winds have been relied upon for hundreds of years in trade shipping," Haire said. "Previous data was based on estimates and historical information, providing an average ocean current estimate for a given month. Our oceanographic scientists evaluate data from multiple sources to establish the exact location of constantly moving currents." The company is running a live trial aboard several cruise liners and should have definitive results by the end of the year," she said. Tidetech is a technical supplier to the 34th America's Cup and the current Volvo Race. 46 Professional Skipper January/February 2012 LYTTELTON PORT OF Christchurch has reported a record quarter in the three months to September and is forecasting a trading profit of between $13 million and $15 million for the full year. The port handled 75,344 containers in the first quarter, up 14.1 percent on the same quarter last year, and October volumes were a record. "New shipping services are contributing significantly to this container growth," said the chairman, Rodger Fisher. Log exports rose 32.4 per cent to more than 85,000 tonnes. However, only three cruise ships are booked to arrive over the summer, down from 64 last year. The port's lead insurer is disputing the port's latest insurance claim from the earthquakes that devastated the city. The port has received progress payments of $35.7 million for business interruption and material damage expenditure following the 6.3 earthquake that struck on February 22. A further progress claim of $11 million was made in August, which has grown to $20 million with additional expenditure over the past few months. Fisher said the lead insurer formally advised the board on November 2 that it was disputing the progress claim. "We are taking this issue very seriously and we will be taking all necessary legal advice." The dispute relates to the level of insurance for reinstatement of assets. "It is our view that LPC's assets are covered for reinstatement. Significant resources have been and will continue to be committed to resolving these insurance issues," Fisher said. The reduction in cruise ship visits would reduce annual gross revenues by $3 million, less associated costs, and this is included in the port's insurance claim. Bad weather delayed trawler salvage A FISHING TRAWLER which lay stranded on a beach north of the Waiapu River mouth for nearly a week was finally refloated and towed to Gisborne on November 22. Adverse weather had thwarted several attempts by Eastland Port's tug Titirangi to refloat the 18.8m Philip V, which went aground at about 0030 on November 16. Gisborne regional on-scene commander Louise Bennett said the operation had gone to plan, apart from a few tense moments, as a tug pulled her off the sand and into deeper water. "We are pleased the vessel has been refloated with no oil spills and no environmental damage, as this is an area of significant cultural and conservation value," Bennett said. The privately owned fishing boat, built in 1967 by A & G Price Ltd of Auckland, fishes for Moana Pacific. Her two crew were uninjured. Salvors and a marine oil spill response team removed about 2300 litres of diesel and 170 litres of heavy fuel oil three days after the grounding to lighten the Philip V and minimise any environmental risk. Two pumps were taken to the vessel to remove as much water as possible and an excavator pushed away sand which had built up around her. Her steel hull remained in good condition. Maritime New Zealand is investigating the grounding.