Page 6: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2000)

Editor's Note International Representatives ' *f

While many facets of the maritime market remain stuck in the dol-drums, the passenger vessel end of the market is one which should continue to expand robustly through the coming year and far beyond. The cruise ship market continues its stampede forward, with 13 new ships and more than 16,000 berths coming on line in 1999 and 14 ships and more than 18,600 new berths scheduled to be delivered in 2000. On the smaller passenger vessel side, a significant development occurred last month when Australia's Austal Ships announced its new partnership with Bender Shipbuilding to construct a new facility in the

Mobile area and vigorously pursue both passenger vessel and government contracts. As an industry leader in the design and construction of alu- minum fast craft, this should serve as a strong signal that the U.S. pas- senger vessel prospects are positioned to perk up.

While most of the news emanating from the passenger vessel sector is positive, there are some disturbing trends which will command increasing attention from owners, builders and suppliers. There are an increasing number of lawsuits being brought about by passengers against carriers in the case of accident or mechanical failure. London law firm Lawrence

Graham, in fact, has warned that cruise shipping companies are increas- ingly vulnerable, and that shipping companies in general can expect to face more stress at work personal injury claims.

The latest potential suit to the long list of litigation in 1999 revolves around reported engine problems on Carnival's Paradise, which was said to have hampered the millennium celebrations of several hundred pas- sengers. At press time there were reports that there was a lawyer — who happened to be onboard the ship — who was chosen to head a commit- tee to pursue a "possible" suit against the carrier. While it is understand- able that passengers should expect comfort, safety and service to be the highest priority, it should similarly be noted that the litigation-happy public seems more than willing to take passenger vessel owners to court, and prudent protection measures should be enacted.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

CHARLES E. KEIL, Vice President 4400 N. Federal Highway, Ste. 121, Boca Raton, FL 33431

Telephone: +561-368-1021; Fax: +561-368-1161 24-hr Tel/Fax: +561-998-0313; Mobile Tel: +561-716-0338

Tony Stein, International Sales Manager 12, Braehead, Bo'ness, West Lothian EH51 0BZ, Scotland, U.K.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1506 822240; Fax: +44 (0) 1506 828085

Australia/New Zealand

Tony Stein 12, Braehead, Bo'ness, West Lothian EH51

OBZ, Scotland, U.K.

Telephone:+44 (0) 1506 822240;

Fax:+44 (0) 1506 828085

Argentina

R. LESLIE RAMSAY

Calle Pellegrini 173

Primer Piso, Departamento C 1009 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Tel: +54 1 394 8821; Fox:+54 1 326 4377

Benelux

PAULA TACQ

Maritime Media ML

Otweg 18 2771 VX Boskoop, Netherlands

Te: +31 172 230707; Fax: +31 172 230708

Brazil

JOSE DUARTE DOS SANTOS

Multipla Agential Martima, Ltda.

Rua Caralino Rodrigues 28

Cuarto Andar, CEP-11055-070

Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Tel/Fax: +55 1 32 32 74 74

Central America

EDUARDO F. LOPEZ/ISELA BA2AN

Transmarine Media Services, P.O. Box 8579,

Balboa Ave., Panama 5, Panama

Tel: +507 617 1469; Fox: +507 223 8367

China

WANG ZE/XU XIAO FENG

Uaoning Foreign Trade Advertising Corp. 2 Zhongshon Square, Dalian, China 116002

Tel: +86 411 2801924; Fax: +86 411 2644606

Eastern Europe

IVAN BERENYI/OLGAIVANOVA

Pannonia Media Agency, 8630 Bolatooboglar

Radnoti Miklos u.14, Hungary

Tel: +36 85 353 319; Fax: +36 85 353 442

Egypt

CAPTAIN TARIQ M. OSMAN

Osman Marine Media Co.

Algamhoria St., P.O. Box 1248, Alkleej Bldg.,

Port Said, Egypt

Tel: +20 66 340988; Fox: +20 66 325706

France

DANIEL SOLNICA

Ediconsult Internazionale, 25 rue Saulnier 75009 Paris, France

Tel: +33 1 4246 9571; Fax: +33 1 4246 8508

Germany/Switzerland

HANSJORG BRANS

Maritime Media

Freiherr v. Stein Sir. 24, D-63303

Dreieich, Germany

Tel: +49 6103 697745; Fax: +49 6103 697743

Italy/Malta

VITTORIO NEGRONE

Ediconsult Internazionale

Piazza Fontane Morose, 3-16123 Genoa, Italy

Tel: +390 10 583684; Fax: +390 10 566578

Japan

AKIOISHII

Ace Media Service Inc. 12-6,4-chome, Nishiike

Adachi-ku, Tokyo 121, Japan

Tel: +81 3 5691 3335; Fax: + 81 3 5691 3336

Korea

JO, YOUNG SANG

Business Communications, Inc.

Kwangwhamun P.O. Box 1916, Seoul, Korea

Tel: +82 2 739 7840; Fax: +82 2 732 3662

Portugal/Gibraltar

PAULO BREHM

AZ Publiciadade Lda., Rua Almirante Barroso, 52-1 D, P-1000 Lisbon, Portugal

Tel: +351 1 3142256; Fax: +351 1 3525157

Scandinavia

STEPHAN R.G. ORN/LEON SCHULZ

AB Stephan R.G. Orn, Box 184

S-271 24 Ystad, Sweden

Tel:+46411-184 00; Fax:+46 411 105 31

Singapore

CATHERINE WONG

The Euro-Asia Link, 20 Maxwell Road 07-18A

Maxwell House, Singapore 069113

Tel: +65 3231025

Fox:+65 3237026,+65 4564610,

South Africa

FINN KVAMSDAHL

Finn's Enterprises, Media Marketing Division

PO. Box 99, 2250,

Blinkpan, Republic of South Africa

Tel/Fax: +27 13 2953 023

Spain

JOSE LUIS SEVA

Via Exdusiuas S.L

C/ Viriato, 69 SC 28010, Madrid, Spain

Tel: +34 91 448 76 22; Fax: +34 91 446 0214

Turkey

NIHAT BOYTUZUN

Komera Corp., Cumhurlyet Cad. 257/3,

Harblye 80230, Istanbul, Turkey

Tel: +90 212 248 48 64;

Fax:+90 212 230 36 97

United Kingdom

MICHAEL J. DAMSELL

Euromedia Ltd., P.O. Box 122,

Hayward's Heath,West Sussex

RH16 1YF, England

Tel: +44 1444 417360;

Fax: +44 1444410497

Don't think about support, use it.

ABB Turbochargers

AM

North Brunswick, call 24 hours: 732-932 6103 6 Circle 201 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News