Gibraltar- Ocean MC

Aegeon Bunkering operations at FNIDEQ ANCHORAGE

Aegeon bunkering operations

Aegean Marine Petroleum is pleased to announce the immediate commencement of bunkering operations at FNIDEQ ANCHORAGE, North Morocco. Once again Aegean expands its presence in this strategic market through another location.

Tanger Med is a significant location which lies on the North African Coast at the Western entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean and FNIDEQ ANCHORAGE is situated 20miles South of Gibraltar Eastern anchorage just below the Spanish enclave of ‘Ceuta’ in Morocco.

The area, about 2 miles from shore, is well protected by North, West and South winds with a draft varying from 30m to 100m (1 to 4 shackles).
It is also a ‘waiting for order’ area where ships can anchor. Read More…

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc. Takes Delivery of Bunkering Tanker Newbuilding

Qingdao Hyundai Shipbuilding(QHS) held a delivery signing ceremony on July 28 2011 of a 5500dwt product oil tanker ‘HALKI’ the 15th of 16 units of Aegean Greece. This ship delivered on July 31 2011.

Increases Delivery Capacity in Gibraltar

E. Nikolas Tavlarios, President, commented, ”With the delivery of the Halki, Aegean continues to execute its fully funded newbuild program. Our high-quality logistics infrastructure provides a distinct commercial advantage, positioning Aegean well to increase utilization and drive future earnings as we enter new and attractive markets, including Panama. Going forward, we expect to take delivery of two remaining double-hull bunkering tanker newbuilds by the end of 2011.” Read More…

Greenpeace – the dire environmental situation affecting the Bay of Gibraltar and its surrounding hinterland

The dire environmental situation affecting the Bay of Gibraltar and its surrounding hinterland

The following is a press statement prepared by Greenpeace and released at yesterday’s press conference. The ESG has included its own statement (see below)

To a certain extent, the disagreements between Spain, the UK and Gibraltar complicate matters when it comes to finding ways to mitigate the dire environmental situation affecting the Bay of Gibraltar and its surrounding hinterland. We urge that the quest to find solutions to these environmental problems become a focal issue when the Governments of the United Kingdom, Spain and Gibraltar next meet under the Tripartite Forum.

Environmental groups from Spain and Gibraltar have joined forces to urge the Tripartite Forum to resolve the health and environmental crisis affecting our region. Agaden, the ESG, Verdemar and Greenpeace have presented a document entitled: “Environmental and Health Crisis in the Bay of Gibraltar/Algeciras”, wherein they highlight the gravity of the health and environmental situation that affects the Campo de Gibraltar, and point out that one of the factors that is causing this crisis is the disagreements between the Governments of Gibraltar and Spain. Read More…

WSS Launches Straits Solution for Gibraltar

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has launched a new integrated service solution for vessels passing through the Straits of Gibraltar.

Known as Your Straits Solution™, the new initiative will enable customers to utilise the company’s services in Algeciras, Ceuta and Gibraltar from one location and under one banner.

Read More…

Regulation of angling and the marine environment in Gibraltar

Port of Gibraltar Bay - Regulation of the marine environment

The Progressive Democratic Party recently held a meeting with GFSA at their request in order to discuss their concerns with regards the regulation of angling in Gibraltar. At this meeting the PDP made clear to the GFSA that the Party is committed to the regulation of the marine environment. This has been long standing party policy.

The PDP has now written to the GFSA setting out specific answers to a number of concerns the Association expressed to the Party. The PDP will restate its commitments in this field in its next election manifesto. Among these there will be clear undertakings to introduce a strengthened regime which sets out fish sizes, rod numbers, a system of permits, designation of marine reserve areas and enforcement powers. Read More…

M/V New Flame

The New Flame sinking off Europa Point, 13 August 2007

M/V New Flame was a Panamanian bulk-carrier cargo ship. It collided with an oil tanker off Europa Point, the southernmost tip of Gibraltar on 12 August 2007, and ended up partially submerged in the Strait of Gibraltar. The vessel broke into two in December 2007 amid numerous unsuccessful recovery efforts. The cargo was salvaged and the stern section removed for scrap. Following the crew’s rescue, the captain was arrested for having departed without authorisation and later released on bail pending an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Collision

In the early morning of 12 August 2007 the Panamanian cargo ship New Flame ran into the stern of the Danish petroleum tanker Torm Gertrud en route to Turkey after departing from Gibraltar, about one kilometre south of Europa Point, Gibraltar.

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Spain upgrades Guardia Civil’s maritime assets and Gibraltar does nothing says Opposition

Patrol ship Rio Segura

The news that the Guardia Civil has upgraded its maritime assets in the area of Cadiz by deploying to the area the largest vessel in its history will serve to expose the failure of the Gibraltar Government to upgrade its own assets despite a pledge given in Parliament that they would do so.

The 73 metre-long vessel “Rio Segura” has been described as a “superpatrullera” or a super patrol-boat and it was formally received into service recently by the Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. It will form part of a new Guardia Civil unit called the “Grupo Maritimo del Estrecho” which will have an initial complement of 32 officiers. The Minister said that this large vessel will allow the unit to operate further.

Read More…

Gibraltar Ship Register receives accolade

Minister for Enterprise, Development, Technology and Transport, the Hon J J Holliday with visiting Audit Team, Maritime Administrator and Captain of the Port.

The Gibraltar Ship Registry and Port have been placed on the list of Flags of Low Risk in the Paris Memorandum of Understanding, which is the international framework that establishes safety standards for Ports of Registry. This follows an audit carried out by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). This was undertaken between 24 and 29 January this year.

The scope of the audit included the flag, port and coastal State obligations of Gibraltar in relation to the mandatory IMO instruments that apply to Gibraltar. The IMO team audited not only the Port and the Gibraltar Maritime Administration as well as all the other organisations which also play a role in helping to discharge Gibraltar’s international obligations.

Read More…

Four Maritime Cadets Recruited

Port of Gibraltar - Four more training cadets announced

The Gibraltar Government has today announced the names of the four successful applicants who will be taking up scholarship places in its Maritime Cadet Training Scheme.

Angelo Chipolina of Ramillies House, Adrian King of Kent House, Karim A Lopez of Mount Road and Gareth Roman of Bellevue Vineyards House will spend the next three years as from September, combining theoretical work at the Warsash College of Nautical Studies, one of the top colleges for nautical cadets in the United Kingdom and which enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence, plus structured practical experience at sea.

On successful completion, they will each receive a Certificate of Competence as an Officer of the Watch, under the International Convention of Seafarers Training and Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). This is an internationally recognised qualification and allows the officers to serve on any merchant navy ship. Read More…

Culture – Port of Gibraltar

The culture of Gibraltar reflects Gibraltarians’ diverse origins. While there are Spanish (mostly from nearby Andalusia) and British influences, the ethnic origins of most Gibraltarians are not confined to these ethnicities. Other ethnicities include Genoese, Maltese, Portuguese, and German. A few other Gibraltar residents are Jewish of Sephardic origin, Moroccan, or Indians. British influence remains strong, with English being the language of government, commerce, education, and the media. Read More…