Dutch Shipbuilder Niestern Sander launched the world’s first ‘Walk-to-Work’ vessel in early October which, upon delivery in 2015, will support the maintenance and service activities of NAM/Shell UK under a 10 year contract in the Southern North Sea. The vessel was built for Royal Wagenborg and provides accommodation, workspace and storage for up to 60 people. The vessel’s design allows her to transport personnel to and from unmanned offshore platforms. The Kroonborg (above) is 79.30m long with a beam of 15.85m, 3,750gt, a deck area of 500m2 and a speed of 13.5 knots. Royal Wagenborg may have the first official contract for such a vessel but Dutch competitor Damen Shipyards began construction in September on their own version of the Walkto- Work vessel, the ASV 9020, on speculation. The vessel is a monohull with bridge located amidships, a length of 90m and a beam of 20m. The Damen WSV will feature 500m2 of deck space, approximately 400 m2 of internal storage space, a helicopter platform and a motion and heave compensating crane and gangway.

The largest ship ever to enter the Thames arrived at DP World London Gateway on 19th October in the early hours of the morning. The 397 metre long, 56 metre wide Edith Maersk (above) has a draught of 16 metres and can carry up to 15,500 TEU.

Vale was permitted to to berth one of its 402,285gt Valemax ore carriers, the Shandong Da Ren (ex Vale Malaysia), at Dongjiakou port in Qingdao, eastern China, on 2nd October before departing for Singapore two days later. She last docked at a Chinese port in April 2013 which marked a Valemax’s first entry since the 2012 Chinese ban. The latest visit indicates a thawing of relations between Vale and both the Chinese authorities and shipping industry.