Marshall Islands releases a CSM commemorative stamp
The Marshall Islands Postal Service is issuing a commemorative 10-stamp set of selected vessels registered in the Marshall Islands, one being the CSM-managed CAPE NORVIEGA, a 1510 TEU containership. A significant number of vessels, either managed by Columbia or owned by one of our affiliated companies, are sailing under the Marshall Island flag, and the feature of one of our ships in a limited stamp collection reflects the close collaboration between Columbia and authorities in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands.
One of the largest and most reputable flag States in the world, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as it is officially called, is located on the easternmost part of Micronesia. The islands are actually coral caps set on the rims of submerged volcanoes rising from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. From 1886 until 1916, the Marshall Islands were a colony under German protectorate before being conquered by Japan during World War I. After being invaded by the United States of America (USA), they were added to the so-called “Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.” The Islands gained their independence by international law in 1986, when the UN officially ended the trust given to the USA. Thereafter the Government maintained its close relationship with the USA under a Compact of Free Association which is still in place today.
A total of some 61,000 people live in this tropical state, which used to be home to some of the world’s best navigators, who used the stars, as well as stick and shell charts to cruise the world’s oceans. These days, the small economy produces a GDP of $115 million (thirteenth -smallest of any registered state in the world, 2001), with imports exceeding exports by far.
The Marshall Islands Postal Service came into being in 1984, when the first stamps of the Republic were issued. Since then, the Marshall Islands' subject range of stamps has captured exotic seashells, brilliant tropical fish, and historic sailing ships to name a few. Many of the subjects have been inspired by the marine history and natural beauty of the Marshall Islands. As stamp collectors from around the world continue to enjoy the range of subjects, the latest series that includes the CAPE NORVIEGA promises to be another highlight.
Timothy Scheller
MADRISA
The Madrisa was confirmed as delivered to the owners on the 20th of September 2006 after a two and a half year building period during which Columbia had assumed yard supervision duties. The vessel is a 27,000 dwt. handymax bulk carrier built at Astilleros Rio Santiago shipyard and is sister to the Calanda, Alpina and Maloja, which were all built at this shipyard over the past 7 years.
The vessel names - Calanda, Alpina, Maloja, Madrisa and Casanna (next one on the slipway), are all taken from the names of mountain peaks in Switzerland and blend in with the owning company's name - Alpina Shipping.
Geographically, the shipyard ARS is situated on the banks of the Rio La Plata outside the small town of Ensenada which is in turn a suburb of La Plata, a city 60km south of Buenos Aries.
The shipyard is around 52 years old and has mostly built naval vessels including the sailing frigate Libertad. The Argentine Confidence (Calanda) was built around 1998 and was the first commercial vessel delivered to an international owner. Due to contractual problems the original owner withdrew and she was then renamed Calanda by the new owner Alpina Shipping.
The shipyard is owned and operated by the province of Buenos Aires with most of the approximately 2000 workers at the yard being members of unions. The scenario of politicians running the day-to-day operations of a shipyard that operates within tight union regulations implies that to the objective observer it may not always appear as if an efficient workflow is the top priority in all of the yard’s activities, which also puts the nine months delay in completing the vessel into perspective.
However, Argentinean workers are blessed with an unrivaled sense of humor, a peaceful nature and a good sense of professionalism and quality, and an appetite for meat and wine second to none.
Amidst all these attributes of the local culture at the yard we have a number of owner’s representatives whose task it is to ensure that the vessel at delivery not only is internationally compliant to the numerous rules, codes and regulations, but is also commercially available and attractive to potential charterers.
Our big thanks and congratulations for monitoring the above tasks and ensuring their appropriate completion go to our CSM supervision team consisting of locals Jose Dellepiane and Jose Costa, Klaus von Glahn (Henderson) assisting for the last three months of the outfitting period, the Class NK team consisting of Nicolas Grimaldi and Senior Vasquez and not forgetting the ship’s staff who stepped into it "knee deep" for five weeks, Cpt. Arcenal, Cheng Obciano and ETO Lumbao.
As it is typical for a vessel of this type and size, she will now sail around the lesser known ports of the world with maiden voyage San Lorenzo to Puerto Cabello with a cargo of soya.
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