EU ship owners could face penalties for scrapping vessels in the developing world under revised proposals by the European Parliament's Environment Committee for a ship recycling scheme funded by a recycling levy. According to MEPs the plans would clean up the scrapping of old ships and ensure the materials are recycled in EU-approved facilities in-line with the 'polluter pays' principle. The EU Parliament explained that the draft regulation aims to reduce the adverse effects of careless scrapping, such as accidents, injuries or damage to human health or the environment, by ensuring that EU ships, and non-EU ships that have called regularly at EU ports, are scrapped in EU-approved facilities worldwide. "Currently, most EU ships are sent to South-East Asia at the end of their lives, where they are beached and their hazardous materials harm human health and the environment," claimed Carl Schlyter, the MEP steering the legislation through Parliament. www.waste-managem...

Greece’s islands have been left without ferry links with the mainland due to a 24-hour strike sztarting in the morning of April 16 by seamen protesting austerity policies. The 24-hour walkout by the seamen ends early Wednesday, April 17.

Malaysia’s Northport has plans to spend about US$328.8 million to finance new redevelopment projects over the next five years, beginning in 2014, according to Abi Sofian Abdul Hamid, Northport’s CEO, reports JOC. Under the proposed plan, the terminal operator intends to upgrade its container wharf facilities, comprising wharfs 8, 9 and 10, and buy new container handling equipment for bigger ships and more capacity. The redevelopment will also include upgrading of the conventional cargo terminals in Northport for break bulk, liquid and dry bulk cargo. More to read at www.joc.com/port-...

Maersk Line will add South Korea's Busan port to its schedule of Asia-Europe (AE10) service from 29 April as the carrier expects rising volumes…

On April 13, 2013, the first phase of the grain terminal (11 reservoirs for 72,400 tonnes) opened at Androsovsky mole of Odessa Commercial Sea Port, informs press center of Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure.

Chairman of RF Government Dmitry Medvedev has signed an order on expansion of Sochi seaport, the government press center informs. Seaport of Sochi is being reconstructed with the purpose to create an international center of passenger and cruise transportation. Upon completion of the reconstruction the port will be able to provide round-the-year handling of foreign cruise liners of up to 311 meters in length and up to 3,000 passengers in capacity as well as ferries. Annual passenger turnover is to make 315,000 people.

On Apr 15, 2013, the Finnish heavy good carrier "Meri" delivered the first of two RTGs for the combi terminal in the East Shore Port which will be replacing the reach stacker end of May. The crane was constructed in Gdynia, and the Transport started on Apr 13. It was unloaded at roro berth 7. The Rubber Tyred Gantry Crane (RTG) cost 1,5 Million Euro and has a breadth of 30 m and a height of 21 m. It is able to handle trailers, containers and has a lift capacity of 45 tons. A new gate and the Yard-IT are already in service, a fourth warehouse is under construction. German report with photos: www.portofkiel.co...

Tianjin port is currently developing a second navigation channel to increase the efficiency of the port. The channel, which is designed for below 10,000dwt vessels, is expected to be operational in the second half of this year. “According to our statistics, 70% of the vessels calling at Tianjin port are below 10,000dwt and they all use the main navigation channel which increases the intensity of the navigation channel and hampers the development of the port to some extent. The second navigation channel will greatly increase the efficiency of the port,” said an official from Tianjin Port. [SinoShipNews 15/04/13]

LNG terminal is to be built in Turku (Finland) by 2015, IAA PortNews journalist cites Tommy Mattila, Head of LNG, Gasum OY, as saying at Alternative Fuel Conference in Helsinki arranged by Northern Dimension Partnership on Transport and Logistics. According to Tommy Mattila, the terminal’s storage volume will be 30,000 cubic meters. The terminal will be primarily focused on servicing industrial consumers and it will be also used for bunkering purposes.

When it comes to exploiting the coming boom in ship-breaking, the UAE is in the right place at the right time, according to Bob Hawke, the managing director of the Abu Dhabi-based marine contractors Khamis Al Rumaithy. Khamis Al Rumaithy envisions a facility that will be fully compliant with all the ecological requirements for a "green" recycling process. "We are looking at a number of coastal free zone sites," said Mr Hawke. "What we need is water depth to build a quay and a large adjoining onshore site where we can remove and then break down the engines and separate any hazardous material for later removal. That leaves the hull still intact for fast breaking. Read more: www.thenational.a...