So it is the start of a new decade and one wonders what surprises it might bring in the shipping world? There have been plenty of them that gained attention worldwide and also on the local scene, but the downturn in the global economy last year was far from good news for the industry.

Major container ports throughout the world recorded a significant drop in the number of containers handled.

And, at times, there were more than 550 boxships laid-up for varying periods at anchorages and ports in Europe or the Far East.

Other sectors of the industry were also affected and, at one stage, 12%
of the world fleet of pure car and truck carriers were in some form of
lay-up.

Another major casualty was the shipbuilding industry, where a few
months ago one source reported that orders for more than 350 vessels of
all types, including 281 bulk carriers, had been cancelled.

This recession also had a flow-on effect for engine builders and other major suppliers to the industry.

But it was a good year for demolition yards in Bangladesh, China, India
and Pakistan, where tankers, bulk carriers, car carriers and a record
number of older container ships ended their days.

During the last quarter of the year, the largest vessels of their types
have featured in the news. On October 28, Royal Caribbean took delivery
of Oasis of the Seas from STX Europe’s yard at Turku.

The largest cruise ship ever built at 225,282gt, the 360m long vessel
was designed to carry a maximum of 6296 passengers and a crew of 2165.

More recently, the largest ship ever built, the 260,941gt, 564,763dw,
458.54m-long Knock Nevis, launched in September 1975 and lengthened in
1980, made its last voyage.

The Fred Olsen interests sold the ultra large crude carrier-cum-storage
vessel in November to Asian interests, possibly for further use as a
floating storage and off-loading unit.

However, the buyers have since sold the vessel for scrap. The vessel,
which has had a colourful history, arrived off Alang on December 20,
having made its last voyage under the name Mont and the flag of Sierra
Leone.

It is estimated it could take the best part of a year to dismantle this record-holder.

On the local scene, there have been interesting changes and developments.

In 2002, 10 of the 4100TEU container vessels were built for a round-the-world service.

Today, only four of them are still calling here on a weekly Tanjung
Pelepas hub service. And with the phasing in of the larger ships, the
older remaining first and second-generation vessels were all sent for
demolition in 2002.

The introduction of the larger class also brought an end to the North
America east coast services operated by the Blue Star Line and
Hamburg-Sud.

The latter company has been calling here again since the middle of last year.

The decade saw Maersk take over P&O Nedlloyd and Hapag-Lloyd acquired the CP Ships group.

Mediterranean Shipping started calling here in March 2006 and since
then has provided a diverse line-up of chartered and owned vessels,
some dating back to the 1970s.

The lucrative seasonal cruise ship market resulted in much larger
vessels calling, with several taking their turn at establishing new
port records.

Although cruise ship visits have increased over the past couple of
years, it is of interest to note that 360 cruise ship visits, including
93 to Dunedin, were recorded in the decade.

Many will have watched all types of vessels come and go during the past 10 years.

Others may not even afford them a cursory glance unless some well-publicised spectacular and special event is to take place.

And this was certainly the case on the evening of February 25, 2006,
when both sides of the lower harbour were lined with spectators
watching the arrival of Zhen Hua 5 from Shanghai, with three
fully-assembled container cranes.

Source: Otago Daily Times

Search to find what you want

• Largest River Cruise Ship Ever Heralds Rebirth of River Cruising

     (cruisecritic)  It’s a sign of the times: The largest river cruise ship ever built, the 416-passenger, 10,000-ton, 439-foot-long Victoria Jenna debuted for Victoria Cruises this September. The launch of this technologically advanced vessel, which will cruise China’s Yangtze River between Chongqing and Yichang, is yet another signal that river cruise ships are

• Cruising in 2010 will be bigger, better and cheaper

     (telegraph)  Even taking into account the staggering growth of the cruise industry over the past decade, 2010 will stand out as a milestone year. For a start, 16 new ships will be joining the global cruise fleet. In November Royal Caribbean International will be unveiling the world’s largest cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas.

• Port of San Diego \ \ u0026 # 39; s new cruise terminal breaks ground on 4 August

    The Board of Port Commissioners and representatives from the major cruise lines serving the Port will be wielding sledgehammers on Tuesday, August 4, to break ground for a new cruise ship terminal on Broadway Pier. Read at Port of San Diego\’s new cruise ship terminal breaks ground on August 4

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     Running on Waves is a unique sail cruise ship capable of carrying 45 passengers in absolute luxury.

• Harwich Cruise wins major award

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• Gulf ports ready to receive the worlds largest cruise ship in January next year

    Next January the Brilliance of The Seas, the worldâ??s largest cruise ship, is scheduled to visit the ports of UAE, Oman and Bahrain. Read at Gulf Ports ready to receive worldâ??s largest cruise ship next January

• DP Worlds Dubai Cruise Terminal Wins Leading Cruise Port Near and Holland followed in 2010

     Dubai Cruise Terminal has won, for the third consecutive year, the prestigious World Travel Award of “Middle East’s Leading Cruise Port 2010”. The Dubai Cruise Terminal, located at Port Rashid, has received both the Middle East’s Leading Cruise Port award as well as the World’s Leading Cruise Port award in