Port of Oakland Adds 400 Dockworkers
The first of 400 new dockworkers arrive this week to meet the Port of Oaklandâs need for more labor, the port announced today, noting that additional hires will be phased into the workforce through September to handle a buildup of ships and cargo. The port said its aim in brining in the new workers is to accelerate cargo operations and clear out a backlog of vessels anchored in San Francisco Bay. âWeâre not operating with the speed and efficiency our customers deserve right nowâŚ
Force Majeure Lifted for Most Illinois River Grain Terminals
CME Group on Thursday said force majeure was no longer in effect at a majority of Illinois River terminals that are regular for Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures delivery.
CMA CGM Christens 18,000 TEU Mega Ship
The CMA CGM Groupâs largest vessel, CMA CGM Georg Forster, was christened today in Hamburg, Germany. The new ultra large vessel, a 398-meter-long, 18,000 TEU containership, is the second in a series of six vessels of the same size that will enter service for CMA CGM in 2015, joining the groupâs fleet of 460 ships. The U.K. flagged Georg Forster was delivered to the CMA CGM Group on June 2 in South Korea, when she began her first rotation sailing the groupâs French Asia Line (FAL).
12 Migrants Drown, 500 Rescued in Mediterranean
Twelve migrants died on Thursday when their overcrowded rubber dinghy sank off the coast of Libya, the Italian Coast Guard said, while some 500 were rescued in theâŚ
US Navy Promotes Security in South China Sea
The U.S. Destroyer Squadron 15 DDGs have operated in the South China Sea since August 2013, the Navy said, adding that it has performed safe interactions with People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels at sea, courteous radio conversations and prudent ship handling during these patrols, establishing U.S. commitment to maritime security and informing Chinese counterparts that the U.S. Navy intends to operate freely in international waters.
Crowley Promotes Communications VP
Crowley Maritime Corporation has promoted Mark Miller to vice president, corporate and marketing communications, within Crowleyâs corporate services group. Miller directs all aspects of internal and external communications around the world for Crowley and its commercial subsidiaries. He, along with his team, is responsible for the companiesâ brand development and protection; media relations and crisis communicationsâŚ
Davie Wins Icebreaker Life Extension Work
Canadian shipbuilder Davie informs it has been awarded a $16 million contract to refit and upgrade the CCGS Henry Larsen, a CCG T1200-Class Icebreaker based in St. Johnâs, Newfoundland. Medium icebreaker CCGS Henry Larsen is capable of sustained icebreaking and escort operations in the Arctic and Atlantic Region for the winter and summer seasons. The vessel joined the CCG fleet in 1988 and is named after the commander of the first vessel to cross the Northwest Passage in a single season.
Fugro Americas Completes Maiden Voyage
Geophysical survey vessel Fugro Americas completed data collection for a geochemical coring campaign in the Caribbean on June 11, 2015, marking the maiden voyage of Fugroâs newbuild vessel. Mobilization for the campaign immediately followed the vesselâs departure from the construction shipyard in Louisiana in April. Her stable design and crew enabled efficient and intelligent data collection to enhance survey results beyond expectations, Fugro said.
Seas Could Rise 6m Even if Govts Curb Warming -Study
Sea levels could rise by at least six metres (20 feet) in the long term, swamping coasts from Florida to Bangladesh, even if governments achieve their goals for curbing global warming, according to a study published on Thursday. Tracts of ice in Greenland and Antarctica melted when temperatures were around or slightly higher than today in ancient thaws in the past three million years, a U.S.-led international team wrote in the journal Science.
Venezuela Bid to Review $46mln Tidewater Award Rejected
Venezuela's request to review a $46 million compensation claim it has been ordered to pay to oil service company Tidewater was rejected and the stay on the award's execution lifted, a World Bank tribunal said in a decision posted on its website on Wednesday. The South American OPEC country had sought a revision "based on what it describes as an error in the tribunal's damages calculation," an International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes' (ICSID) tribunal said in its decision.
Kongsberg Maritime Delivers Space-based AIS
On July 8 2015, ESA authorized the delivery of KONGSBERGâs fourth generation SAT-AIS Receiver flight models, to the Norwegian Space Center; for integration into the NORSAT-1 satellite. With this delivery, KONGSBERG further strengthens its position as a supplier of space-based infrastructure in the maritime domain. NORSAT-1 is scheduled for launch in Q1 2016 and will be Norwayâs fourth AIS capable satellite to embed an AIS Receiver from Kongsberg Seatex AS.
Magdalena River Project Dredges Up Economic Promise
The hulking backhoe dredges up rocks and silt from the shallows of the muddy Magdalena River in the first laborious step to transform the waterway into an engine of economic growth. The excavation along a verdant stretch near Barrancabermeja, an inland oil and coal hub, is part of a $600 million government bid to reclaim the river, once Colombia's primary transport route. By clearing logjams, the aimâŚ
Libya Warns Tankers Away from Ras Lanuf Port
Libya's recognized government warned its security forces would seize any tankers approaching the Ras Lanuf terminal without permission, saying any attempt to makeâŚ
Proposed UK Non-dom Tax Changes, No Need to Panic
Shipping should not panic in wake of proposed U.K. Shipowners likely to be affected by wide-ranging changes to the taxation of non-U.K.-domiciliaries introduced in the U.K. Summer Budget have been urged not to panic by international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens, which says it will actively participate in the consultation process in the lead-up to planned implementation of the changes on April 6, 2017.
Billy Smith Rejoins Trinity Yachts
William S. Smith III (Billy) has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Trinity Yachts effective immediately. The announcement was made today by Shane Guidry, president and CEO of Harvey Gulf International Marine. Smith previously served as vice president of sales and marketing at Trinity Yachts and Gulf Coast Shipyard Group (GCSG), a position which was eliminated upon the purchase of the companies by Harvey Gulf on June 25, 2015.
Ships Still at Risk in Libya Ports
The restructuring of port facilities in Libya will only take place when a unity government is in place, says British maritime security company MAST. âUN sponsoredâŚ
Best Bunkering Practices
Vessel operators have an additional tool in their arsenal for preventing oil spills during bunkering operations. âBunkering Best Practices: Protecting People and the Environmentâ is a free, 14-minute training video that demonstrates bunkering best practices applicable to the North American West Coast. That said; any marine operator â located anywhere on the globe â can glean valuable âtake-awaysâ from this video.
US Crude Export Would Help Europe -Czech Republic
Lifting the U.S. ban on oil exports would bolster energy security in Europe by allowing countries to find alternative sources, the Czech Republic ambassador to theâŚ
Marine News Editor's Note, July 2015
This edition of MarineNews headlines the increasingly diverse articulated tug-barge (AT/B) units which are beginning to make up a large percentage of the domestic merchant fleet.
Marine News Insights: Engine Room Challenges
Those MarineNews readers who are not familiar with Bob Kunkel, probably should be. Thatâs because Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Professional Magazine and of course, MarineNews.