When Conducting Investigations Consider 'Privileges'
Whether voluntarily or as required by the International Safety Management Code, the American Waterways Operators’ (AWO) Responsible Carrier Program, or some other rule or regulation, investigations of accidents and near-miss situations are routinely conducted by companies in the maritime industry. This is due to the widespread recognition that careful examination of the root causes of such incidents can help to prevent future occurrences.
Fincantieri Launches Nuclear Waste Vessel for Russia
Itarus, the new semisubmersible floating platform built to transport Russia’s nuclear materials, was launched at a ceremony on November 19 at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano, La Spezia. Built by Fincantieri for the Russian RosRAO, the Federal State Unitary Enterprise for radioactive waste management, the vessel will be used for the transportation of nuclear submarine reactor compartments decommissioned…
Ballast Water Management in the Field Put to the Test
Turner Designs, along with scientists from around the world participated in a research cruise aboard the RV Meteor, a vessel owned by the Federal Republic of Germany through the Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT) and funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The goal of this cruise was focused on ballast water sampling techniques and protocols. Various instruments were used to test collected…
Port of Bronka Prepares for Opening
Technical plant and equipment installation for the first stage of Bronka’s port facilities is now complete with the Liebherr LHM 800 mobile port crane installed at the end of September, bringing the port closer to operation. The deepwater Port of Bronka is located on the outskirts of St. Petersburg and lies on the Southern bank of the Gulf of Finland. Directly linked to the St. Petersburg orbital highway and the Russian rail network…
The Latest on Ballast Water Mismanagement
On October 5, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a 65-page decision holding that, for the most part, the 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was arbitrary, capricious and not in accordance with the law. The court declined, though, to vacate the VGP, but allowed it to remain in effect until the EPA issues a new VGP.
Out of the Eye ... & Staying There
I have never been in a hurricane. That’s a fact. Actually, my wife likes to say that whenever there is any kind of natural disaster, I’m typically nowhere to be found.
Vesper Marine Debuts New AIS Transponder
Marine safety products manufacturer Vesper Marine has released a new Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS), the XB-6000. The black box transponder includes a built-in NMEA 2000 gateway and GPS antenna that integrates AIS, GPS and NMEA instrument data to display vital safety information on any AIS-compatible chartplotter, multifunction display (MFD) or personal computer. The Vesper Marine XB-6000 offers convenient access to AIS safety information instantaneously while on the water.
Deepwater Downturn: Bump in the Road or Long-Term Slowing of Growth?
IMA/World Energy Reports has just completed a comprehensiveassessment of the five year outlook for the deepwater sector. The new report – the 19th annual floater market forecast prepared by IMA since 1996 -- provides our forecast of orders for floating production systems between 2016 and 2020. Here’s an overview of the findings and conclusions in the report. We see the downturn in market conditions and implosion of Petrobras as a bump in the road.
Crowley Opens Government Services Office
Crowley Maritime Corp. has opened a new government services office in downtown Norfolk, Va. to help the company better serve government agencies such as the Military Sealift Command (MSC) and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). The new location will also help Crowley improve its service for the Norfolk Naval Base and several of Crowley managed ships located there, including three ROCON ships, five BOBO class ships and seven T-AGOS/T-AGM ships.
Interview: Mike Petters - President & CEO, HII
Last month Mike Petters, president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII), was honored by the Coast Guard Foundation at the 35th Annual Salute to the United States Coast Guard, held in New York City. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently caught up with Petters – the man who leads America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of manufacturing, engineering and management services to the commercial and non-commercial oil…
Oshawa Port Authority Joins Green Marine
The Oshawa Port Authority, one of Green Marine’s founding members as the former Oshawa Harbor Commission, announced it is again a Green Marine participant. Green…
McAllister Towing – 150 Years of Family Business
“Early in 1864, a young man names James McAllister stood on board a sailing vessel where he served as a mate. The opening lines from the first chapter of the new book, McAllister Towing – 150 Years of Family Business, begin a voyage through the history of a tugboat and marine transportation firm that runs five generations deep, taking readers on a journey of deepsea adventure, family tragedy and company triumph.
Grandweld Delivers Vessel to ADNOC
United Arab Emirates leading shipyard Grandweld has delivered a dive maintenance and support vessel TAWAM1 to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Grandweld took…
Rolls-Royce Targets Costs and Complexity in Quest for Growth
Rolls-Royce's new chief executive aims to strip out costs and complexity, rather than selling off chunks of the business, as he seeks to return the British engine company to growth. After four profit warnings in just over a year, and with an activist shareholder pushing for change, Warren East is under pressure to outline a revival strategy after spending much of his first four months in the job in firefighting mode.
Turbocharger Retrofits for Royal Caribbean
MAN PrimeServ informs it has won the contract from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) to retrofit the turbochargers aboard four cruise liners from its fleet. The contract covers the retrofit of a total of 30 turbochargers aboard four vessels – two operated by Royal Caribbean International, and two operated by Pullmantur, a wholly-owned RCCL subsidiary, along with attachment kits and technical support.
Morocco, Indonesia Ratify BWM Convention
Morocco and Indonesia have become the latest nations to ratify the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, an international measure adopted in 2004 for environmental protection that requires ships to have procedures in place for ballast water management in order to help prevent the spread of harmful and invasive aquatic species. In all, the total number of ratifications now stands at 45 states. Morocco Transport Minister Abdelaziz Rebbah and H.H.
Concordia Maritime Charters MR Tanker
Concordia Maritime has signed a contract for the charter of an IMO2/3 class MR tanker, the company announced today. The vessel will be chartered jointly with Stena Weco…
Ecoslops Produces First Marine Fuel Prodcuts
Ecoslops' refinery in the Port of Sinès, Portugal, has commenced industrial production and delivered the first volume of marine fuel products compliant with ISO8217, validating the company’s commercial proposition, the company announced today. Ecoslops has also made two senior appointments, further developing its global infrastructure, including new facilities. In the third quarter of 2015, 3,200 metric tons of slops were imported from Northern Europe…
North Group Increases Projected Free Reserve
Directors of the North P&I Club and Sunderland Marine Insurance Company (North Group) have revised their projection for the group’s year-end free reserve up to $380 million…
MacGregor to Supply Cargo Access Systems for Mega RoRo Ships
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has been contracted by South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries to deliver RoRo access equipment packages for a series of two post-Panamax RoRo carriers.