April 2010 Archives

Semporna: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman wants Malaysians, especially Sabahans, to think of the annual Regatta Lepa as an event for all communities and not just the Semporna Bajaus. He said that in line with the Regatta Lepa theme this year of "Regatta Lepa Lambang Keunggulan Seni Budaya 1Malaysia," the event was a platform to unite Malaysians. "The harmony among races does not come by itself without the participation of the public in understanding the cultures and traditions of others. "Sensitivity and appreciation of various cultures is the backbone of harmony," he said in his speech read out at the closing ceremony by Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran, Minister in the Chief Minister's Department. The ceremony was officiated by the Yang DiPertua Negeri Sabah Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah. Musa said the various race and cultures in Malaysia was reflected in the Regatta Lepa. He said this regatta, besides being a tourist attraction, was also a boon to other industries such as transportation, hotels, tourist services and craftmaking. -- Bernama From The Star

Singapore: A maritime themed race gave participants the chance to learn about one of Singapore's key industries yesterday. Nearly 900 participants in 220 teams ran the four-hour Amazing Maritime Race, which took them to 14 places around the island. It kicked off a series of activities and events for the annual Singapore Maritime Week, which is on from now until Friday. Yesterday's race, organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and industry associations, took participants to places such as Marina South, the White House near Maxwell Road and Fort Canning, all of which have played a part in Singapore's maritime history. In the race, they had to solve clues, complete tasks and answer questions on the maritime sector and heritage. For example, participants were asked to identify the types of cranes used in shipyards, and locate the headquarters of the Singapore Shipping Association and MPA. Mr Lam Yi Young, MPA's chief executive, said it was important for Singaporeans to understand the maritime sector, and the opportunities it offers. From Straits Times

Oil rig explosion at Deepwater Horizon launched a column of fire into the sky and triggered a frantic search on Wednesday in the sea of at least 11 missing workers. The blast happened Tuesday night at the facility located 84 kilometers (52 miles) southeast of the city of Venice, Louisiana. On the platform were 126 workers at the time of the blast, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Mike O'Berry. Almost all the 126 workers Deepwater Horizon platform apparently escaped unharmed after the oil rig explosion, said the officer. The platform was still burning on Wednesday morning and was skewed about 10 degrees. "We hope that all are in a life raft," said O'Berry. However, the Coast Guard said Wednesday that seven workers suffered extensive injuries and their condition is critical. O'Berry said many of the workers who escaped were taken ashore in a boat owned. When the oil rig explosion occurred, the deepwater horizon was drilling but not removing, according to Greg Panagos, a spokesman for the company owner, Transocean Ltd., of Houston. The platform was working under contract with the British company BP PLC. BP spokesman Darren Beaudo said BP's entire staff was safe but did not know the number of company employees working on deepwater horizon. "For now we are focused on care staff," insisted the spokesman. O'Berry said several teams in the environment of the Coast Guard were prepared to assess potential pollution damages a fish that were smothered the fire. The officer said four helicopters, four Coast Guard vessels and aircraft involved in Wednesday's search for the missing. There were no reports of death, followed O'Berry. From Seven Sided Cube

Stepped up naval patrols in the Gulf of Aden have contributed to a worldwide decline in pirate attacks, although the risk of piracy off Somalia remained high, a maritime watchdog said Wednesday. Sixty-seven incidents of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas were reported around the world in the three months to March, down from 102 in the same period last year, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said. The decrease was attributed at least partly to a dramatic decline in attacks in the Gulf of Aden, where reported incidents fell to 17 from 41 last year. "With the increased naval presence in the Gulf of Aden, stopping and disarming suspicious pirates, the pirates did not have a chance to launch their attacks," Noel Choong, head of the IMB's piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur told AFP. Since 2008 an international armada has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes, in a bid to stop pirates from hijacking commercial vessels. Choong said that attacks by Somali pirates remained high and that the number in the first quarter was "hard to be used as a projection for the whole year." Continue reading the article on www.news.malaysia.msn.com

LANGKAWI, April 7 (Bernama) -- National back up sailor Nur Amirah Hamid remained on course for the girl's Laser 4.7 title in the 2010 World Youth Championships at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club in Pattaya, Thailand. Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) general manager Mohd Afendy Abdullah in an e-mail to Bernama said Nur Amirah who was languishing in second place, moved into pole position after the eighth race, Tuesday. According to Afendy, she (Nur Amirah) sailed past leader Lane Ashlie of Australia while another Aussie sailor Elia Cailin remained in third position. Nur Amirah 17, who finished first and second in the two races held yesterday, now has 28 points. He added that Malaysia had sent three sailors for the championships which features 116 sailors, aged between 12 and 18, from 26 countries. Source: Bernama