• OAS Supports Port Officials of the Americas in Strengthening their Statistical Capacities
  Source: OAS, December 2, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) through the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) and in conjunction with Peru's National Port Authority (APN), this week held the First Seminar on Port Statistics, an event that is part of the activities of the Technical Advisory Committee of the CIP on Logistics, Innovation and Competitiveness.
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• New cruise port in Amador planned
  Source: The Bulletin Panama, December 3, 2012
  
  Now that the government has awarded the construction of the convention center on the Amador Causeway, the authorities have again taken up the construction of a cruise port on the Pacific. Studies are underway to determine how much must be dredged to increase the depth in the area where the Balboa Yacht Club now operates, which is the site chosen for the terminal.
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• USA: International Shipholding Corp Completes Acquisition of UOS
  Source: World Maritime News, December 3, 2012
  
  International Shipholding Corporation announced the successful closing of the previously announced acquisition of U.S. United Ocean Services, LLC (“UOS”), a provider of marine transportation services for dry bulk and break-bulk commodities in the United States. The acquisition was completed for a total purchase price of $111 million cash and is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings and operating cash flow.
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• Jamaican government signs MoU to enhance port security
  Source: Port Technology, November 29, 2012
  
  Jamaica and UNODC-WCO sign MoU to limit drug trafficking and improve country’s container business. The Jamaican government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-World Customs Organization (WCO) Container Control Programme in a bid to improve the country’s port security. The MoU, which follows the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) earlier this year, will see the UNODC-WCO assist the government of Jamaica to establish effective container controls to prevent drug trafficking, whilst facilitating legitimate trade.
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• Caribbean ports rushing to meet challenges of Panama Canal expansion
  Source: Jamaica Gleaner, November 26, 2012
  
  Ports in the Caribbean are reportedly rushing to meet potential challenges posed by the expansion of the Panama Canal. The Bahamas said it is among ports in Jamaica and Cuba, which are either expanding, or have plans to expand. Some Caribbean port managers say they hope to receive post-Panamax ships and become a transshipment hub that will supply smaller ports with feeder vessels.
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(i) Visit the "CIP-web foto" Official of the CIP to see the pictures of the XII Ibero-American Course on Technology, Operations and Environmental Port Management organized by Puertos del Estado de España and the CIP/OAS in Santander, Spain. More information

(ii) M.Sc in Maritime Affairs: Organized by the World Maritime University to be held from September 2013 to November 2014 in Malmo, Sweden. There are some donor fellowships available, but there are limited to citizens form the least-developed countries. If you wish to apply it is very important that the applications are submitted to the University by the end of January 2013. For more information please visit the site: www.wmu.se

(iii) The Erasmus Mundus Master Course in Coastal and Marine Engineering and Management (CoMEM), is a two-year English taught international Master's programme. The programme is offered by a consortium of five recognized European universities. During the programme, students study in two or three different countries depending on the individual track of study. For more information about the programme and scholarship please visit the site: http://www.ntnu.edu/studies/mscomem

(iv) CIP Magazine Volume 17:The CIP Magazine Volume 17 is in preparation and is hosted by the Venezuelan Port Authority through Bolivarian Ports S.A. The edition will include information about the port system of Venezuela, its present and projects. The volume also includes information on ports across the continent. There is still time to include advertising of your company or institution. Those interested can contact the editors at e-mail [email protected]