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Best Educational Company Award for Feadship Royal Van Lent
Royal Van Lent, one of the two Feadship yards, has been awarded Best Educational Company 2007 by the Dutch Association of Centres of Expertise on Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market. The award was established by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Science in 1996 and is annually presented to a company with top quality educational and internship policies for young professionals. The jury described Royal Van Lent as a company providing a great opportunity for apprentices to develop themselves and as having excellent ties with affiliated schools and academies. They commended the fact that employees on all levels were offered the chance to develop and educate themselves further. The jury also remarked on the overall passion among the staff for their craft and the loyalty shown towards Royal Van ...

Evidence of a warming climate
A chunk of ice the size of the Isle of Man has started to break away from Antarctica in what scientists say is further evidence of a warming climate. Satellite images suggest that part of the ice shelf is disintegrating, and will soon crumble away. The Wilkins Ice Shelf has been stable for most of the last century, but began retreating in the 1990s. Six ice shelves in the same part of the continent have already been lost, says the British Antarctic Survey BAS. Professor David Vaughan of BAS said: Wilkins is the largest ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula yet to be threatened. I didn expect to see things happen this quickly. The ice shelf is hanging by a thread - well know in the next few days or weeks what its fate will be. Like an explosion BAS researchers were alerted to the break-up by daily monitoring of satellite images. They sent a Twin Otter aircraft on a reconnaissance mission to video what was happening. Jim Elliott, who was on board the plane, said he had never ...

CONTEST YACHTS EXPANDS RANGE WITH 40-FOOTER
The design of the Contest 40CS is distinctive from other Contest yachts due to its aft cockpit. This reflects the yard’s conviction that such a cockpit makes optimal use of the available space both above and below deck on yachts of this length. It also gives the 40CS a sporty look, which is exactly what designer Georg Nissen and Contest Yachts had in mind for this model. “The entire design is aimed to make the yacht perform at its best in all weather conditions and offer a multifunctional character,” Contest director Arjen Conijn comments. “The large cockpit provides plenty of room for the crew to move around. The reef genoa drum has been placed below deck and the fore deck kept free and orderly. “Sail trimming and other actions can be performed quickly and effectively thanks to the smart arrangement of winches and lines. And, naturally, we equipped this performance cruiser with fractional rigging and angled spreaders.” Space and light Birgit Schnaase was responsible for the ...

AMELS SHIPYARD IN PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT
Dutch superyacht builder increases capacity and efficiency Vlissingen, The Netherlands: AMELS, a global leader in the art of yacht building and member of the Damen Shipyards Group, has ten 10 newbuild projects in various stages of design, engineering, and construction. Inspired by this activity AMELS is undergoing a phased improvement of its extensive Vlissingen facilities on the North Sea—increasing production efficiency, advancing construction quality, and enhancing on-time delivery of Custom and Limited Editions yachts and major refits. The program, representing a substantial investment of more than eight million euros, will be completed in 2008. Since 2000 AMELS has shared the vast covered drydocks—and expert naval architects, designers, and engineers—of Damen’s Royal Schelde Shipyard, builders of more than 400 advanced naval and commercial ships. Within that facility, AMELS will soon complete the second of two new state-of-the-art covered finishing bays for hulls brought inside ...

Outboard engines - 2 Stroke or 4 Stroke
There are two types of outboards available, 2 stroke and 4 stroke. Each has its good and bad points, depending on what you want the engine to do. Weve put together a handy guide to help you decide which is the best outboard motor for your boat. 2 Stroke Outboards 2 stroke engines are lighter and faster so when speed and acceleration are required, this would be the engine of choice. They are also more affordable and have a higher resale value. As 2 stroke engines have been around for almost 80 years, parts are readily available, making repairs easy. Also, the design on these engines is less complex than a 4 stroke, meaning problems are less likely to arise. There are some disadvantages to the 2 stroke engine. 2 stroke outboards are not as environmentally friendly as 4 strokes as they produce far more pollution. Their engines are lubricated by the oil that is mixed into the gasoline, meaning the exhaust is smoky and contains unburned oil, which in turn pollutes the water. With new ...

The new spacious Hatteras 56 Motor Yacht
Hatteras Yachts is pleased to announce the newest member of its fleet, a 56 Motor Yacht that incorporates original design concepts, a spacious interior and intuitive features that make this an ideal boat for the owner-operator. Priced at under $2 million, the 56 Motor Yacht represents a new entry-level product for the thousands of boat owners who aspire to own a Hatteras. Thanks to its impressive interior, innovative features and solid Hatteras-worthy construction, the 56 Motor Yacht stands ready to introduce a whole new group of boaters to the benefits of becoming a member of the Hatteras family. To learn more about the 56 Motor Yacht, contact an authorized Hatteras dealer today, or visit a Hatteras display at an upcoming boat show. Boaters the world over appreciate the advanced design and robust construction that sets Hatteras apart from the fleet. Like all Hatteras models, the 56 features a solid-fiberglass hull bottom that includes beefy support for key areas such as the ...

Australian ship seeks out whalers
An Australian patrol ship tasked with monitoring Japans whaling fleet has departed from the western city of Perth for waters off Antarctica. The Oceanic Viking, a customs vessel, left Stirling Naval Base on Tuesday night on a 20-day surveillance mission. It will collect photographic and video material for a possible legal challenge against the whalers, Australian officials have said. Japans fleet began its annual whale hunt in mid-November. It plans to kill about 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales by mid-April 2008 as part of what it calls a scientific research programme. But it has suspended plans to kill 50 humpback whales, amid a storm of international criticism. Legal challenge Acting against the whalers was one of the new Labor-led Australian governments election pledges. An Airbus A-319 will also conduct surveillance flights over the fleet. Evidence from the vessels would be used to help Canberra decide if it could take action against the whalers in international ...

Sealine to Launch new 35 Sport at the 2008 London Boat Show
Perfect for day and weekend cruising, the new 35 Sport has a complete wrap around sport windscreen with a distinctive stainless steel frame. The clean sophisticated lines of the totally open deck layout together with the low screen emphasise the fact that this is a boat that has been built for a true wind in the hair experience. The boat at the show will have a striking Sealine blue hull with teak side decks and light pebble coloured sunbrella ...

Rescuers new faster helicopter
Coastguards have taken delivery of the first of three helicopters, which can travel faster and further to rescue casualties at sea. The AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, designed as search and rescue SAR aircraft, will be based at Portland, Dorset and Lee-on-the-Solent. The two at Lee-on-the-Solent will operate 24 hours a day, the other, at Portland, on a 12-hour daytime basis. Contractors CHC Helicopters will also manage a service based at Stornoway. Winch speed The AW139 can fly at a cruising speed of 140 knots with a top speed of 167 knots, compared with the 110 knot cruising and 130 top speed of the previous Sikorsky helicopters used by the coastguard. The AW139 also has a 40% increase in winch speed and has a maximum flight time of three hours and 20 minutes. Peter Cardy, chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency MCA, said: These new aircraft will be able to fly more quickly, and will be able to fly farther to people in distress at sea than those currently in ...

Tow plan for stricken cargo ship
Coastguards have said attempts will be made later to tow back to shore a cargo ship from which 20 crew were rescued off the Devon coast on Sunday night. The crew members were rescued after the Greek-registered Ice Prince got into difficulties about 35 miles off the Start Point. MCA spokesman Fred Caygill said salvors were on the way to the vessel which is carrying 5,260 tonnes of timber. Mr Caygill said it had not been decided where the stricken ship will be taken. It depends where we can get her in, he said. Twelve of the crew were airlifted to Portland by coastguard helicopter and eight others were taken by the Torbay lifeboat to Brixham. Dark on board The MCA said an emergency call was made from the Ice Prince at about 1900 GMT on Sunday. Crew reported that the ship, which was heading for Alexandria in Egypt, was rolling heavily in very poor weather, 35 miles south east of Start Point. At 2015 GMT, the MCA said the coastguard received word that a 41-year-old Greek crewman ...

Sailors die after trawler sinks
Two French sailors have died and four others are missing after a French fishing vessel sank about 50 miles 80km off Cornwall. Two French helicopters were first sent to search for the crew of La P ite Julie at its last reported position south of The Lizard at about 0400 GMT. French authorities said one of seven crewmen from the 24.6m 81ft trawler had been rescued and two bodies found. Two helicopters from RNAS Culdrose have been assisting. One pilot said wreckage could be seen over a wide area. Two empty life rafts were found in the area where the trawler radioed for assistance before sinking. British rescue services were alerted to the incident at about 0700 GMT. Coastguards at Falmouth were contacted by French authorities and the first helicopter from Culdrose was scrambled at about 0730 GMT. Helicopter pilot Lt Chuck Norris said: We arrived at the scene at 0810 to find a French fixed-wing aircraft coordinating the search, and a French heliopcter. We searched about 20 square ...

New Lifestyle Magazine for Sealine
Sealine International is delighted to announce the appointment of Seascape Media as the official publishers of its biannual customer magazine. Designed to capture the personality of the Sealine brand and to reflect the lifestyle associated with owning a luxury motorboat, the new ‘Sealine Magazine’, which replaces the former ‘Instinct’ publication, will be a glossy lifestyle title. It will include features on a wide range of subjects from inspirational real life adventures, on board living to beautiful cruising destinations. It will be published in March and September and has exclusive distribution rights via the company’s dealer network and at international boat shows. It will also be distributed direct to Sealine owners in the UK. Commenting on their appointment Claire Read Managing Director of Seascape Media said we are thrilled to be handling this exciting new project and look forward to working with Sealine as their exclusive magazine publishers. Our objective is to produce a ...

Moonen To Launch Two Yachts In New Series
s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands: Moonen Shipyards—builders of a full range of Displacement, Semi-Displacement, and Explorer models, will add two new 97-foot “pocket-size superyachts” to its growing fleet this year. The Moonen 97 is the latest model in the shipyard’s acclaimed Displacement Series. It is handsomely shaped by René van der Velden Design, with a round-bilge hullform drawn by naval architects Diana Yacht Design. Both yachts will have interior styling by Art-Line. With steel hull and aluminium superstructure, they also feature Caterpillar engines and zero-speed stabilizers, and are built to Lloyd’s Register Class and MCA Certification. The Moonen 97 is an evolutionary design, derived from two recent yachts by Moonen—the custom Moonen 96 Clementine launched 2005, and the shipyard’s most successful model, the Moonen 84 the eighth will be launched this year. The strong attraction of the Moonen 84 has been its ideal four-cabin layout. The equally strong attraction of ...

What happened to the Branscombe booty
In January 2007, scavengers swarmed to Branscombe in Devon in search of plunder. But what happened to the booty they took away? A year on, the MSC Napoli still casts a shadow over Branscombe - literally. Half of its stern, still waiting to be removed by salvagers, is still visible from the shore. When it ran aground off the coast of Branscombe, the villagers could not have predicted what the wreck would bring them. Containers washed from the stricken vessel delivered BMW motorbikes, pet food, anti-wrinkle cream, empty wine barrels, copies of the Bible in Xhosa - and a horde of scavengers eager for booty. Most were disappointed. Only 17 motorbikes - by far the most valuable item of cargo - came ashore, and most beachcombers could only fill their pockets with soggy cosmetics. But a select few were lucky. Contrary to portrayals of them as lawless looters, the Receiver of Wreck has been informed, as the law requires, of the whereabouts of 13 bikes. Two undocumented bikes were ...

Engine repairs free ice trawler
A British trawler stuck in Antarctic ice for more than a week has been repaired and is set to resume fishing once its engine warms up, crew say. A US air force plane was called in to drop a piston to the Argos Georgia, with an icebreaker due to deliver extra parts shortly. A number of British fishermen are among the 25 crew on board the ship, which lost its power in the Ross Sea. Fish master Shane Jennings said the ship would soon be back up to steam. He had earlier said he was extremely relieved that they would be able to free themselves, having been stranded since 23 December. Boring experience Describing how it felt to be stuck in the remote region, he said: It has been okay - a bit boring for the crew but its just part of the job. We have just been on watch, keeping an eye on the ice and making sure we are not running into any danger, or watching videos and playing cards. New Zealand, which is responsible for co-ordinating rescues in the area and has a research base there, ...