Cost of Somali Piracy Slumps as Attacks Fall
The cost of Somali piracy to the global economy fell by almost half last year as attacks slumped, but piracy in West Africa was on the rise, an annual security report said on Wednesday. The Oceans beyond Piracy report put the total cost of Somali piracy - by far the largest single threat to international shipping in recent years - at only $3.2 billion in 2013. There were still at least 50 hostages in Somali captivity in desperate conditions…
Maritime Community to Pay Tribute Oberstar
The Great Lakes Maritime community will honor Former Rep. James Oberstar on Thursday, May 8. All U.S.-flag vessels working the Great Lakes will lower their flags to half-mast in honor of Congressman Oberstar. Also on May 8, at almost the same time funeral services for Congressman James L. Oberstar are scheduled to get under way in Washington D.C., the U.S.-flag laker that bears his name is scheduled…
DNV GL Acquires Marine Cybernetics
DNV GL, a ship and offshore classification society and technical risk service providers, has acquired Marine Cybernetics, a company for third-party testing of computer control systems. The acquisition expands DNV GL’s scope of services in the offshore and maritime industries. Marine Cybernetics was established in 2002 as a spin-off from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Based in Trondheim…
China-Vietnam Ship Ramming Incident Raises US Concern
The United States is concerned about dangerous conduct and intimidation in the South China Sea after reports of a Chinese vessel ramming Vietnamese ships, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki also said China's deployment of an oil rig in a disputed part of the South China Sea was "provocative and unhelpful" to security in the region. (Writing by Bill Trott; Editing by Susan Heavey)
Today in U.S. Naval History: May 7
Today in U.S. Naval History - May 7 1779 - Continental Navy sloop Providence captures British brig Diligent off Cape Charles 1934 - USS Constitution completes tour of principal U.S. ports 1940 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders Pacific Fleet to remain in Hawaiian waters indefinitely 1942 - Carrier aircraft sink Japanese carrier Shoho during Battle of Coral Sea For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
CMA CGM Expands West Africa Service
The CMA CGM Group announced the improvement of its ASAF service which will deploy 12 vessels of 5,700 containers (TEU) in direct service to West Africa starting May 9…
Coast Guard Medevacs Injured Man from Cargo Ship
According to a report by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), a man was medically evacuated late Tuesday evening after suffering a head injury aboard a 797-foot cargo ship 103 miles west of Key West, Fla. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Key West command center received a report at approximately 7 p.m. from a crewmember aboard the OBO carrier SKS Tana concerning a 28-year-old male requiring urgent medical care.
First Pieces of Scrubber System Fitted on AIDAluna
AIDAluna left the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg yesterday after extensive maintenance work was carried out from April 26 to May 5, 2014. Work on the cruise ship included among others the installation of the first elements of a comprehensive filter system with which AIDA Cruises is gradually fitting out its fleet. The system for the treatment of exhaust gas emissions, which was developed within the Carnival Group…
Trelleborg Selected for FPSO Water Injection Package
The pump manufacturer Ruhrpumpen has chosen Trelleborg Gimbal Mountings for its water injection package for LNG in Gjerdrum, Norway. The package is placed on a special designed Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit from Sevan Marine, the Sevan Voyageur. Trelleborg’s gimbal mountings will be used as a three point suspension system protecting the equipment from vibration and the movements of the vessel.
Two Rescued from Vessel Taking on Water
The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa rescued two men from a vessel taking on water approximately one mile southwest of Petersburg, Alaska, Tuesday. A…
Clean Shipping Groups Mull Potential Merger
BSR’s Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG) and the Clean Shipping Index (CSI)— two environmental reporting initiatives for ships and ship operators—signed a memorandum…
DHT Acquires 2004-built VLCC
DHT Holdings, Inc. announced that it has acquired a VLCC built in 2004 at Daewoo for $49 million (USD). The vessel will be delivered during the second quarter of 2014 and will be named DHT Condor. The company said it will finance the acquisition with cash at hand. DHT considers this an attractive addition to its fleet and will continue to pursue investment opportunities and grow the company.
MHI, Siemens Establish Production Machinery Joint Venture
Today Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) concluded an agreement with Siemens AG of Germany calling for the establishment of a joint-venture company (JV) in steel and metal production machinery effective as of January 2015 subject to regulatory approvals. According to MHI, the move has two aims: expansion of the product line in the steel and metal production machinery business and acceleration of globalization.
Ulstein Increasing US Focus
Approximately 100,000 people will attend the Offshore Tecnhology Conference (OTC) in Houston this week where Ulstein is among roughly 80 Norwegian companies that are included. “U.S.A. is an increasingly important area of growth, and we see the importance of being present,” said Ulstein’s CEO, Gunvor Ulstein. Several Ulstein designed vessels are working in the Gulf of Mexico with Galveston as port. A N.Y. listed shipowner recently bought eight platform supply vessels from Ulstein.
Vietnam: Chinese Ships Rammed its Vessels
Chinese ships purposely collided with two Vietnamese vessels in disputed waters where Chinese firms started operating at the weekend, causing large scale damage…
Manila Arrests Chinese Fishermen; "Sovereign Rights" Cited
The Philippines on Tuesday intercepted a Chinese fishing boat off Half Moon Shoal in the Spratly Islands and arrested 11 fishermen after they found 350 marine turtles, said to be endangered species.
Lisbon Sees Record Cruise Passenger Numbers
Total 18,000 passengers and crew arrive by sea in one day; last year saw record number of tourists, rise continues. A record 13,000 passengers disembarked on Tuesday…
Libyan Rebels Refuse to Deal with New PM
Stance threatens efforts to reopen terminals; Maiteeq sworn in as PM after chaotic election. Seizure of ports, oilfields has cut vital crude output. Rebels occupying…
Fishing Boat Incident Heightens Philippine-China Tensions
Philippines police seized a Chinese fishing boat in the disputed South China Sea on Wednesday, an official told Reuters, the latest flare-up of tensions in the oil…
Mobile Harbor Channel Dredge Contract for Dutra
The U.S. Department of Defense informs that Dutra Dredging Co., San Rafael, California, has been awarded an $8,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite…