EU Says No Deal Yet in Ukraine-Russia Gas Talks
The European Commission cancelled a news conference planned to follow talks between Russia and Ukraine on gas supplies on Wednesday, saying negotiations in Brussels…
Mercy Ships Founder Receives Service Award
Mercy Ships, a global charity based in Garden Valley, Texas, operates the world’s largest civilian hospital ship. Mercy Ships founder Don Stephens was recognized this week with the Daily Point of Light Award from Points of Light, a U.S. organization dedicated to volunteer service. The national award was presented at a special event held at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston. The event, “Advancing Hope and Healing in Africa,” featured President George W. Bush and Laura Bush.
St. Lawrence Seaway Receives Strike Notice
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) was served a 72-hour notice to strike by UNIFOR, a group representing the Seaway’s 460 unionized employees. The notice, which was issued Tuesday, October 28, indicates that the union intends to begin strike action as of 12:15 p.m. on Friday, October 31, 2014. As a result of UNIFOR’s strike notification, SLSMC has started implementing its detailed plans for an orderly and safe shutdown of the system within the 72-hour notice period.
Maritime Reporter @ 75: The Daily Cartoon
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was founded by John J. O'Malley (1905-1980) in 1939, and today ranks as the world's largest audited trade publication in the world serving the maritime industry, with a circulation of more than 35,000 worldwide, including ship and boat owners, ship and boat builders, naval architects and marine engineers. Today Maritime Reporter heads a group of four print and 10 websites serving the global maritime, offshore and subsea sector.
US Natgas Exports Would Raise Energy Prices but Boost Economy
Expanded U.S. liquefied natural gas exports would mean a modest price increase for domestic consumers, but the higher costs would be offset by a boost to the economy, the U.S.
New Videoconferencing Kits Offer Medical Lifeline
DigiGone, a communication solution provider specializing in secure video transmission, introduced its new remote telemedicine kits for marine, aviation and land-based applications. Based on DigiGone’s proprietary SecureChat video encryption and compression software, the new DigiMed kits provide real-time teleconferencing with emergency medical service professionals using satellite or terrestrial wireless links, enabling a face-to-face consult between patient and doctor.
Korean Register to Drive LNG Fuelled Shipping
Korean Register (KR) will work alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat (APEC) to promote the use of LNG fuelled ships in the APEC region. APEC…
UK P&I Club: 6.5% General Increase for 2015
The UK P&I Club board has agreed at its meeting on October 27, 2014 that the general increase for the 2015 renewal will be 6.5%. The premium rating increase is in…
Iran Gas Exports to Europe Would Take at Least 5 Years
Iran would take at least five years to start exporting natural gas to the European Union if sanctions were removed, industry experts said on Wednesday. Last month…
Ferry Unit SNCM to Seek Court Protection Next Week
France-Corsica ferry operator SNCM will file for court protection next week, a source close to the company told Reuters on Wednesday, which will clear the way for its shareholder Veolia to restructure its transport division. Water and waste firm Veolia and the French state, which together control SNCM, have said court protection from creditors is the only way to shield the loss-making ferry operator from two separate European Union state aid repayment claims totalling 440 million euros.
USCG Rescues 33 Cuban Migrants off Florida
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 33 Cuban migrants from an overloaded boat taking on water off the southeast Florida coast on Wednesday, two days after 11 Cubans were…
ClassNK Certifies Ship with Air Lubrication System
ClassNK has completed the EEDI appraisal of Harvest Frost, the world’s first post-panamax bulk carrier fitted with the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS). The Harvest Frost was constructed by Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for ADM Harvest Shipping in accordance to ClassNK rules and guidance. Developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with support of ClassNK’s Joint R&D for Industry Program, MALS…
Cruise Shipping: RCL's 'Quantum of the Seas' Delivered
MEYER WERFT delivered the 167,800-gt cruise ship Quantum of the Seas to the U.S. cruise operator Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. yesterday in Bremerhaven. According to the builder, the first ship of the Quantum class sets new standards in terms of eco-friendliness, featuring highly energy-efficient systems, optimized hydrodynamics, heat recovery, an effective underwater paint coating, a state-of-the-art exhaust gas treatment plant (hybrid scrubber) as well as energy-saving LED lighting systems.
'Environmental' Hull Cleaning Ops OK'd in Oman
Oman’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs has granted GAC EnvironHull permission to conduct underwater hull cleaning operations using the brush-and-diver-free HullWiper system at the port of Sohar, just outside the Gulf of Hormuz. It is the fourth port in the Middle East at which the revolutionary Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is now available to provide fast, efficient, safe and eco-friendly hull cleaning services for ships.
Minimize the Risks, Think Cold Bonding
Hot work required for welding, grinding and cutting operations presents certain potential hazards when conducted in potentially explosive and flammable environments. According to the Health and Safety Executive guidance 2013, “flammable liquids and vapors such as petrol, diesel, fuel oil, paints, solvents, glue, lacquer and cleaning agents are found in many places of work. In order to minimize the risk…
EU to Invest in Port of Dublin Development
The EU's TEN-T Program will co-fund with almost €2.5 million studies on the capacity development in the Port of Dublin to improve the freight traffic connection…
CSC Launches Gas Storage Integrity Management Team
UK-based Chesterfield Special Cylinders (CSC) has launched a new integrity management team to work with owners and operators of high pressure gas storage vessels as installed in rigs and ships, and with gas majors and classification bodies to maximize vessels’ lifetime performance and safety. The integrity team is now managing periodic inspections and tests at its Sheffield, England factory as well as delivering them worldwide while the vessels remain installed.
Naviera Integral Orders Damen Fast Crew Suppliers
Naviera Integral of Mexico is the launching customer of Damen’s new Sea Axe Fast Crew Supply vessel, the FCS 4008. President of Naviera Integral, Juan Pablo Vega, signed the order for the two new vessels at an official ceremony at the Offshore Energy Exhibition in Amsterdam. Naviera Integral’s two new vessels are due for delivery in 2016. A company in offshore transport and supply services with a fleet of 35 vessels…
BG Group to Delay LNG Terminal on Canada's Pacific Coast
British oil and gas producer BG Group Plc will delay until the next decade a proposed liquefied natural gas export terminal on Canada's Pacific coast, the Wall Street Journal reported…
Explosion-protected Crane Systems
Crane systems manufactured by the J D Neuhaus company can be supplied with Atex classifications EX II 2 GD IIA T4 / EX II 3 GD IIB T4, with increased spark protection also available for explosion level II C. The company said its products are currently used worldwide, operating in some of the most dangerous dust laden conditions as well as hazardous, toxic and potentially explosive atmospheres, where typical applications include mining…