Port Elizabeth in US gets 4 new giant cranes

A four giant ship-to-shore gantry cranes which will help to serve the ever-larger ships calling on the U.S. East Coast, has been delivered at Port Elizabeth, New Jersey.
The cranes, which reach 23 containers across the vessel beam and are part of the APM Terminal facility’s USD $200million infrastructure investment plan scheduled for completion this year, arrived this week aboard a heavy lift ship from China.
The CEO APM Terminals North America, Wim Lagaay, declared in his words: “We are proud to offer our liner customers and landside customers this new service capability, increased productivity and deeper water depth.
“The completion of the dredging six months ahead of schedule was made possible by the dedication and proactivity of the Port Authority of NY & NJ working with Federal and State agencies, as well as other stakeholders to secure all the permits and contracts in record time. This will result in more berthing capacity for our liner customers at a time when cargo volumes continue to increase.”

The ongoing modernization plan for APM Terminals Elizabeth facility at the Port of New York and New Jersey includes reinforcing berths which have been dredged to 50 feet (15.25 meters). Combined with the recent raising of the Bayonne Bridge, the busiest port on the U.S. East Coast will be capable of handling some of the largest ships on the water.
In his comment, the Port Authority Port Director, Molly Campbell said: “The multi-billion dollar programme to deepen our port channels to 50 feet, coupled with the raising of the Bayonne Bridge, has ensured that our port is ready to handle the biggest ships now calling on the East Coast.
“The arrival of these new cranes is further evidence that our terminal operators are confident on the port’s bright future and willing to invest in it.”
In 2017, the Port of NY & NJ handled a combined 6.7 million TEUs, with APM Terminals Elizabeth accounting for 1.43 million TEUs, or 21% of the port’s container volume.

Group warns of Abu Sayyaf kidnapping threat in Malaysia

A watchdog group, ReCAAP ISC, has issued a warning to seafarers over crew abduction threat posed by members of Abu Sayyaf in Malaysia.
Aby Sayyaf is one of the most violent jihadist groups in the southern Philippines, notorious for kidnappings for ransom.
Citing information from Philippine Focal Point, the ReCAAP ISC stated: “The group will be using a blue 3-Engine speedboat and is expected to be underway to Sabah within the next 24 hours”.
According to ReCAAP ISC, the group is planning to kidnap mariners operating in the area.
“All vessels transiting the area are advised to exercise extreme caution when transiting in the waters of Lahad Datu and surrounding waters in Sabah,” the warning further stated.
Since October 2016, the perpetrators have begun to target ships of larger tonnage, such as Dong Bang Giant 2, Royal 16, Southern Falcon and Kumiai Shagang.
Once in their hands, mariners are often subject to months of captivity and sometimes even execution. This is in particular due to the fact that the Philippine government has adopted a no-ransom policy when dealing with the militant group.
In an incident dating November 2016, six men were taken by the militants from the bulk carrier Royal 16.
Bodies of two decapitated seafarers were found by the Philippine military in July 2017, while one seafarer was allegedly killed in a gun battle in the same month. However, two seafarers have been rescued from the group, while the fate of one more mariner remains unknown.