The US Navy is to delay the release of tenders for its broad area maritime surveillance (BAMS) unmanned air system requirement until mid-February, to enable the modification of bid documents to meet unique Australian requirements for the system, writes Peter La Franchi.

Canberra signed an agreement on 13 January to participate in the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase of BAMS.

US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is advising contenders that the delay is intended to allow the request for proposals to be modified to meet “USN requirements, as well as options to address Australian-unique objectives”.

Australian-specific requirements focus on the development of the integrated ground environment and ground support system - a role expected to be carried out by an Australian-based company, but with both USN and BAMS prime contractor inputs.

Additional requirements include requests for alternative sensors able to support combined wide-area land and maritime surveillance, electronic intelligence systems, and an alternative communications architecture.

Australian industry officials expect any delay to the US programme will cause a reciprocal delay in the planned release of a tender for a local industry partner to integrate BAMS into the Australian defence force’s command, control and intelligence architecture. This had been due for release in mid-February and to close on 4 April, with a contract expected within two years.

NAVAIR is advising BAMS contenders that “formal agreement to proceed with SDD co-operative development activities involving Australia is not expected until after the BAMS unmanned air system selection”.

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The maritime industry in Europe witnessed the latest industry trends at leading marine leisure exhibition, Boot Düsseldorf 2007.

The European maritime industry is steadily on the rise, chronicling average annual growth rates of six to eight per cent.

The exhibition saw over a 1,000 international shipping and marine companies participating this year, including the largest and most comprehensive maritime complex in the world, Dubai Maritime City.

Boot Düsseldorf 2007 occupied 17 halls and covered 220,000 square metres of exhibition space. It featured some of the most up-to-date products and services in yachting and water sports, said an event official.

Dubai Maritime City’s participation at the global maritime event, added a further fillip to their mission of positioning Dubai as a world-class maritime centre.

Potential customers and visitors to the exhibition got a first hand glimpse of the ambitious project as well as an insight into the various business opportunities available at Dubai Maritime City.

Commenting on their presence at the internationally renowned event, Ahmed Bin Harib, assistant sales manager at Dubai Maritime City said: ‘Boot Düsseldorf is one of the finest exhibitions worldwide featuring the latest products and services in marine leisure. With a high visitor turnout of over 50,000, Dubai Maritime City made a strong impact at the event.’

When completed, Dubai Maritime City will be the world’s biggest and the most comprehensive purpose built maritime complex spread across 227 hectares of man-made peninsula between Port Rashid and Dubai Dry Docks, and will be surrounded by the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

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We support the governor’s position in going forward with the rebuild of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Building a new elevated structure will save the citizens of the Seattle area $3 billion. We believe the majority of the Seattle citizens oppose any tunnel.

The two lane tunnel (Tunnel Lite) will not have the same capacity as the present viaduct. The two lane tunnel will be a death trap at rush hour and will devastate Seattle maritime industry.

The mayor’s financial plan for Tunnel Lite is a house of cards, the Port of Seattle does not support tunnel lite because of reduced capacity.

The city can still develop the waterfront, protect people and the maritime industry, and can keep the freight corridors open with the new elevated structure.

The city cost estimates are being developed by the same mayor who was off on a fire station levy by over 40 percent. The city would be responsible for the cost overruns on the tunnel portion of the project, which could run into the multiple hundred of millions of dollars.

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The volume of inter-Korean maritime shipping reached an all-time high in 2006 on a sharp rise in sand transportation despite increased tension stemming from North Korea’s nuclear test, officials said Wednesday. South Korea transported 5,469 TEUs (20-foot-equivalent units) of goods to North Korea via two inter-Korean regular sea routes, while 6,860 TEUs of goods were transported to the South from the North, according to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

* Two freight ships are used for as many regular shipping routes between the Koreas four times a month, respectively.

* According to the ministry, most of the items shipped to the South from the North were assembled goods, raw materials and fisheries products, while Seoul sent mainly relief goods except rice and fertilizer to Pyongyang.

SUMMARY

Volume of inter-Korean maritime shipping reached an all-time high in 2006 on a sharp rise in sand transportation

ASIA IN FOCUS

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SINGAPORE : All-round trade growth is buttressing Singapore’s position as the world’s busiest container port and ship fuelling hotspot, despite increased competition from China and other parts of the world.

In the latest numbers, a record 24.8 million container loads passed through the Singapore port last year.

And to top it all, numbers for fuel sales and ship calls also hit record highs.

2006 was a bumper year for Singapore’s maritime and shipping industry.

The sector moved a record number of containers, sold a record amount of fuel, and docked a record number of ships, outstripping the record numbers achieved in 2005.

Industry leaders said that did not come easy, given the increased competition from new ports in China and around the world.

“Competition not only from China but globally as well, because shipping is a global business. But it’s a different market, so sometimes we complement each other… And for us, we’re competing with the world. But sometimes, even between ports, we can work together,” said Teo Siong Seng, chairman of Singapore Maritime Foundation.

In 2006, ship calls in Singapore hit 1.3 billion gross tonnes - up 14% - and crossing the 1 billion mark for the second straight year.

Meantime, ship fuel sales jumped 11% to reach some 28 million tonnes.

The sterling numbers were unveiled by Transport Minister Raymond Lim at an industry event on Wednesday evening.

The minister also said that 2006 saw significant milestones in the industry. These included working with industry partners to grow and attract more talent, as well as enhancing Singapore port’s competitiveness, especially in the area of security.

Going forward, the industry expects to heighten its profile on the world stage with an inaugural global event, Sea Asia 2007, to be held in Singapore.

“We feel that Asia, controlling more than 40% of the world tonnage, deserves to have a major event, not only to showcase Asian maritime industry, but also to raise an Asian voice. So it’s a very important event, not only for Singapore, but for Asia,” said Teo.

Recruiting and nurturing talent will also be another key focus area for industry players in 2007.

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