this is from LLoyds list (3 stories):

UK Ministry of Defence set to confirm Gulf ro-ro charters
By David Osler
Section: Breaking News
Release Date: Monday January 06 2003

BRITAIN'S armed forces are expected shortly to confirm details of the ships being chartered as part of the build-up for war on Iraq, perhaps as early as tomorrow.
Meanwhile, market sources suggest that Swedish owner Swedish Orient has struck fixtures for one or two of its British-flag ro-ros to the Ministry of Defence.
It is already known that DFDS has fixed Tor Anglia, a 8,700 dwt ro-ro, to the MoD.
With Sweden still on its Christmas break today, it proved impossible to contact Swedish Orient for comment.
However, the company is on record as being interested is the business possibilities arising from conflict in the Middle East.
Announcing its second quarter results last August, the groups said: "The drawn-out conflict is creating an increasingly large future demand for transportation and necessities.
"When and how large this demand will be is, of course, impossible to predict."
Among the Swedish Orient vessels that might prove suitable are the 16,000 dwt sisterships Thebeland, Tyrusland, Vegaland and Vikingland.
All are late seventies build and were reflagged to the UK between October and December 2000.
The MoD will make a major announcement over its plans on Tuesday, although it is not known whether this will include charter details.
It is understood to be seeking four ro-ros, a containership and a semi-submersible.

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UK prepares to outline Iraq charter details

Section: Front Page News
Release Date: Tuesday January 07 2003

THE UK’s armed forces are expected shortly to confirm details of the ships being chartered as part of the build-up for war on Iraq, perhaps as early as today, writes David Osler.

Market sources suggest that Swedish owner Swedish Orient has struck fixtures for one or two of its UK-flag ro-ros with the Ministry of Defence.
With Sweden still on its Christmas break yesterday, it proved impossible to contact Swedish Orient for comment.
However, the company has gone on record as being interested in the business possibilities arising from any conflict flaring up in the Middle East.
Announcing its second quarter results last August, the groups said: “The drawn-out conflict is creating an increasingly large future demand for transportation and necessities.

“When and how large this demand will be is, of course, impossible to predict.”

Among the Swedish Orient vessels that might prove suitable are the 16,000 dwt sisterships Thebeland, Tyrusland, Vegaland and Vikingland.

All are late 1970s built and were reflagged to the UK between October and December 2000.

The MoD will announce many operational details today, although it is not known whether this will include charter details.
It is understood to be seeking four ro-ros, a containership and a semi-submersible.
The only ro-ro known to be fixed to the MoD so far is DFDS-owned 8,700 dwt Tor Anglia.


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UK charters more ro-ros ready for Iraq
By David Osler
Section: Front Page News
Release Date: Wednesday January 08 2003

THE UK is now thought to have chartered six to eight roll-on roll-off vessels as part of its build up for war on Iraq, while the US Military Sealift Command has fixed a containership for an undisclosed Asian destination.

Market sources have identified the ships taken by the UK Ministry of Defence as the Sochi, the Sea Admiral, the Wind Admiral, the Stena Shipper, the Vikingland, the Nordana Surveyor and the Tor Anglia.

But the Royal Navy press office said: “We are not confirming which ships we are seeking at this stage.

“All we are trying to do is make sure we have sufficient strategic lift if we need it.”

The news comes after UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon yesterday told the House of Commons that 1,500 reservists are to be called up and a “significant” amphibious task force prepared.

Meanwhile, several brokers downplayed news agency reports that the Ministry of Defence currently had a requirement for 20 ships.

“I’m not sure — they might end up taking that many ships but they haven’t put the order out,” said one broker.
Another added: “I don’t know where that number came from. They are saying to us they would like to have a look at ro-ros. They are not doing anything this week, just looking around.”

The Sochi is a Russian-owned and built 13,480 dwt ro-ro managed from London by Novoship. One broker familiar with the ship said it had previously undertaken military charters for the US and Canada.
“I think it’s confirmed by now,” he added. “It’s sitting outside Southampton right now with nothing else to do. I’m almost certain it will do the business.” Novoship declined to comment.

Many Soviet bloc ro-ros of the Cold War period were purposely built with strengthened decks to enable them to carry tanks if required.
They include two East German-built 1980s ro-ros — the 17,850 dwt sisters Wind Admiral and Sea Admiral — operated by Russian interests based in Barcelona.

The 1980-built 8,765 dwt Stena Shipper is also seen as a candidate and is known on the market to be available. No one at Swedish operator Stena Ro-Ro was available for comment.
Lloyd’s List on Monday named Vikingland as one of four UK flag ro-ros, all 1970s built and owned by Swedish Orient, that was in the MoD’s sights.

While the owners were unavailable for comment, market sources say that the Vikingland and at least one sister are now confirmed.

St Vincent & Grenadines-flagged Nordana Surveyor (17,450 dwt, built in 1993 and of unestablished ownership) was also named as a possible. DFDS’s Swedish-flagged Tor Anglia was confirmed shortly before Christmas. It is of 8,700 dwt and built in 1977.

Meanwhile, the US Military Sealift Command has confirmed that it is currently chartering the Warwick, a 1,400 teu boxship managed out of London by V.Ships, which declined to comment.