SK LUBRICANT LAUNCHED IN THE MALDIVES

SK Lubricant - The Number 1 Korean Lubricant  has been launched in the Maldives. The launching event was held in the Capital Male' at Nalahiya Hotel Conference Hall on 15th July 2012. Officials of SK Energy, Hanyu Energy Ltd. and Green World Company Ltd Korea including  Honorary Consul for Maldives in Korea, Mr. E.B. Kim were present at the launching event. Eminent personnels from local shipping, fishing, utilities and business sector attended this event.

The CEO of Maldive Ports Ltd. Mr. Mahdi Imad was the Guest of Honour in the launching event.

SK Lubricant is said to be a superior  high class lubricant which is environmentally friendly and providing engine protection and enhances fuel efficiency.

Many grades of the Lub Oil is available for sale at "RED ENSIGN" - SK Lubricant shop at Nirolhumagu Tel: No.  3011033

GLOBAL SHIPPING STATISTICS II

Top 20 Countries Controlling fleet

County   (in Million Gross tons)

1. Japan (132)
2. Greece (118)
3. Germany (85.4)
4. China (67.1)
5. United States (43)

6. United Kingdom (40.7)
7. Norway (33.8)
8. South Korea (29.5)
9. Denmark (26.5)
10. Hong Kong (23.4)
11. Taiwan (21)
12. Singapore (20)
13. Italy (17.7)
14. Russia (14.3)
15. Canada (13.2)
16. Turkey (12.5)
17. Malaysia (10.9)
18. India (10.7)
19. France (8.7)
20. Belgium (8.0)

GLOBAL SHIPPING STATISTICS

Top 20 Merchant fleet

Read more »

DAY OF THE SEAFARERS MARKED

A function was held to mark the DAY OF THE SEAFARERS on 25th June at the Faculty of Education auditorium of Maldives National University.

The event was attended by eminent seafarers, personnels of the shipping fraternity including shipping companies, Transport Ministry, Maldives National University , Maldives Ports Ltd and the Transport Authority.

 

Presentations were delivered  from the Centre for Maritime Studies and Transport Authority on maritime training education  and the current status of the seafarering  profession in the country. 

Mr Abdul Rasheed Nafiz addressed the gathering as the Chief Guest. The Deputy Minister Abdul Latheef Mohamed answered the questions raised by attending participants. The function ended with a dinner organized by the shipping companies.

SAFMARINE SHIP AGROUND

1706 TEU ship Agulhas ran aground in rough seas while leaving East London, South Africa on monday, 26 June 2006. Salvage tug Smit Amandia arrived on the scene for salvage but attempts to refloat failed due to rough sea.

The Liberian flag ship is lying on sand 100 metres off East London. It has been reported that there are 22 crew on board and they are unharmed.

The vessel has 469 loaded containers and 112 empty containers. She also has 662 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 88 tonnes of diesel oil.

GREEK SHIPPING

Greece controls over 16 per cent of the world tonnage by deadweight, the largest merchant fleet in the world and has a rich seafaring history.

Two Ships for STO and Fuel Supplies

State Trading Organisation Plc. and Fuel Supplies Maldives Pvt. Ltd. has purchased two ships from Japan. A cargo ship for STO and a small tanker for Fuel Supplies (FSM).

The cargo ship is about 300 ton capacity and the tanker is of approximately 1000 ton capacity.

The cargo ship will be used mainly for Tuticorin - Addoo trade and the tanker is for fuel distribution in the country.

Director Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed and Engineer Zuhooru from STO and Capt. Ahmed Shahid from FSM are already in Japan for finalising the delivery. Two batch 0f crew members, 12 in each are ready to depart to Japan to take the delivery. Capt. Mohamed Shareef and Capt. Mohamed Shafiu will take command on the two vessels. Capt. Shareef is a Singapore qualified Master Mariner while Capt. Shafiu is British qualified. Both of them are well experienced and they both work in Egon Oldendorff, Germany. Both of them are in the Maldives on vacation.

The State Trading Organization PLC is the largest trading house in the Maldives dealing mainly in essential food commodities , petroleum and construction materials. Fuel Supplies Maldives is a subsidiary company of STO with 60 per cent equity shares. The remaining shares are held by Vara Maldives Pvt. Ltd.

MR. AHMED WAJEEH - AN OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY

Mr. Ahmed Wajeeh is among one of many sons of late al Shaikh Mohamed Naseer Manik (Naaibu Manik) and Aminath Mahir . He is a famous boat builder , naval architect and an acrobatic gymnast.

On completing his secondary education in Majeediyya School , he pursued higher studies in University of Queensland (Australia) and University of New South Wales (Australia) in the field of naval architecture. Upon his return he joined Alifushi Boatyard as the chief architect cum chief executive.

During his 18 years in the boat building industry, he has built 380 dhonis of various designs. He is a brave and courageous person. The Government has awarded him in 1986 in recognition to has services to the people of Maldives.

Mr. Ahmed Wajeeh is now the Executive Director at the Ministry of Transport and Communication. Among other posts which he currently holds are, Chairman of Gymnastic Association of Maldives, Member of Disciplinary Committee of Football Association of Maldives (FAM), Member of Referees Committee (FAM). Among former former posts include , Member of Mafannu Ward Development, Vice Chairman Athletic Association of Maldives, Council Member Male' Municipality, Member of MTCC Board of Directors , Member of Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers USA. He has widely travelled the world attending seminars and workshops. He has visited Canada, France, India , Japan, The Nederlands, Japan, Philipines, and USA.

At the age of 55 Mr. Wajeeh is proud of the achievements of his three children, a daughter and two sons.

Mr. Wajeeh's latest achievement is the publication in 2005 of a "Boat Builders Handbook" he has written with his vast experience in the field of naval architecture.

Mr Wajeeh has has gained considerable experience in human resource management and boat designing and boat building during his boat yard era.

Mr. Wajeeh wishes to see the Maldives a "corrupt free" nation and call all fellow citizens to work towards the achieving the same objective.

GURKAS ON GUARD ON SINGAPORE SHIPS

Singapore has tightened security including maritime vigilence, following the Bali bombings. Measures include deployment of Gurka contingent (GC) officers at sea checkpoints. The GC officers are deployed at Singapore Cruise Centre, Tanah Mera Ferry Terminal and Changi Point Ferry Terminal. The Police Coast Guard checks ferries and other vessels which enter Singapore territorial waters.

International Maritime Bureau (IMB) based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia continues to promulgate. (courtesy:SaS)

piracy information to ships sailing the oceans.

MALDIVES - INDEPENDENT FOREVER

The Repulic of Maldives celebrates 41 years of independence on 26 July 2006. The Maldives has a long and proud history of independence. Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 to 1965 during which the British dealt with defence and foreign affairs of the country. The Maldives is a 100 per cent Muslim country having its own language "Dhivehi". 99 per cent of the polpulation of Maldives are literate.

The Maldives is an archipelago of some 1200 coral islands located in the Indian Ocean approximately 650 kilometres southwest of Sri Lanka stretching 750 km from north to south and 120 km across east to west. There are 200 inhabited islands with a population of over 300,000. Today the Maldives is famous tourist destination for its sunny weather, crystal clear water, white sandy beaches, and its colouful aquatic ecosystem. The economy is mainly dependent on tourism and fisheries. Tourist arrivals to the Maldives exceeded 500,000 in the year 2005.

The Maldivians converted to Islam in A.D 1153. From 1153 to 1968 six dynasties ruled the Maldives. The Portuguese captured and ruled the Maldives for 15 years beginning from 1558.

The great Muhammad Thakurufaanu defeated the Portuguese in 1573 and became Sultan. The Utheem Dynasty thereafter ruled the country for 127 years. From time to time Maldives was threatened by other forces.

The Maldives has always maintained a cordial relationship with the Sri Lankans and after independence with the Indians.

Since 99 per cent of the Maldives is sea, the locals are great seafarers. They were engaged in regional trade reaching to Sri Lanka and Indian sub-continent in large sailing vessels and transported across essential items to the Maldives.

In 1948 a public limited company was formed in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in the name of Maldives National Trading Corporation (Ceylon) Ltd. (popularly known as MNTC). The majority of equity shares were held by the Government of Maldives. The company engaged trading and chartering steamers to carry grain and food commodities to the Maldives.

In 1957 and 1958 MNTC purchased its first two cargo ships. The company grew steadily over the years and more ships were added to the fleet establishing regular shipping services from Ceylon to the Indian sub-continent and was extended to the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea and the Middle East.

The Maldives Shipping Limited (MSL) was incorporated in Maldives in May 1967 with 3 ships and by 1980 the company owned over 40 ships.