Keel Laid for Ports of Auckland's New E-Tug
In Vietnam, Damen Song Cam Shipyard, together with joint venture partner Song Cam Shipyard hosted a keel-laying ceremony Tuesday for the electric RSD-E Tug 2513 that Damen is building for the Ports of Auckland, New Zealand.A fully electric version of Damen’s standard RSD Tug 2513, the new RSD-E Tug 2513 is the world’s first fully electric tug with 70 metric tons bollard pull. It will contribute toward meeting Ports of Auckland’s goal of being a zero emissions operation by 2040.
In the Dock with Selective Electroplating
Surface plating is widely used to repair or salvage critical components in the marine industry. As many components need disassembly, the repair process is typically carried out when the ship is in dry dock. Due to the nature of the plating process, this work is usually performed by plating or machine shops off-site. In a quest to add value through reduced downtime and labor costs, many shipyards are looking to bring this service in-house.
Wave of N. American Oil and Gas Bankruptcies to Continue at $40 Oil
A wave of oil and gas bankruptcies in North America is likely to continue this year as oil prices remain depressed and a new surge of COVID-19 cases threaten to stall any recovery in fuel demand, law firm Haynes and Boone said in a report released this week.Bankruptcies surged in the second quarter, including from major shale independents Chesapeake Energy and Whiting Petroleum, as oil prices collapsed due to the pandemic and a brief…
Governments Pledge Crew Change Action
A dozen countries have have committed to facilitate crew changes and achieve key worker designation for seafarers, following a virtual ministerial summit hosted by the U.K. government on Thursday, marking progress to help resolve a growing crisis facing the maritime industry, and enable hundreds of thousands of stranded seafarers to go home or join ships.“The inability of ship operators worldwide to…
Wabtec to Supply Engines for Marad's NSMV Fleet
Wabtec Corporation said it has been awarded a contract worth more than $10 million to supply engines for the first two of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs) being built at Philly Shipyard.In April Philly Shipyard was selected to build up to five NSMVs that will enable at-sea training for America’s future mariners and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Zvezda Begins Building World’s Most Powerful Nuclear Icebreaker
Russia's Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex has cut first steel for the Leader project's flagship nuclear icebreaker Russia, said to be the world's most powerful.The Zvezda shipyard, owned by a consortium led by oil giant Rosneft, is working with Atomflot, a subsidiary of Russian nuclear group Rosatom, to build the icebreaker, which will help boost year-round commercial vessel traffic on the Northern Sea…
LISCR Hires Former USCG LNG Expert
The Liberian Registry announced Dallas Smith has been hired as the Director of LNG and Offshore Technology, and as General Manager of the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry’s (LISCR) new Houston Office.Smith brings to his new role at LISCR over 20 years of experience as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. Before his retirement last month, Smith was head of the USCG Liquefied Gas National…
Second Oil Tanker Heads to Recently Reopened Es Sider Port
The Kriti Bastion oil tanker is making its way to Libya’s recently re-opened Es Sider oil port, two shipping sources said and ship tracking data showed on Thursday.The…
Italy Seizes Charity Rescue Vessel
Italian authorities have seized a boat operated by a German NGO that last month rescued more than 200 people stranded at sea, because it did not comply with safety rules, the Coast Guard said on Thursday.In April, Italy banned migrant rescue ships from docking in its ports until July 31 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Port of Rotterdam to Trial PIN-free Container Handling
This week, various parties in Rotterdam will be launching a new pilot project, in which containers are handled and released without a PIN code: a widely used verification method in this transport segment. The project revolves around a new application, Secure Container Release, which replaces the PIN code with a digital signal: a solution that is significantly less susceptible to fraud. It is not only intended to make container handling more efficient, but also safer.
Northern Offshore Services Adds Two More Vessels to Its Fleet
Crew transfer vessel specialist Northern Offshore Services (N-O-S) has expanded its fleet with two vessels SURE Diamond and SURE Dynamic from Sure Wind Marine Limited. The company's offshore support vessel fleet now stands at 41 vessels. The two vessels are being renamed to M/V Master and M/V Mariner and will be part of the M-Class series, now four vessels in the series.They will continue their current operations on offshore wind farms in Germany…
Uni-Tankers Begins VDR Upgrade Program
Danish shipping company Uni-Tankers is upgrade aging and obsolete voyage data recorders (VDR) on more than 10 of its vessels. Some of the VDRs are 10 or more years old and are nearing the end of their service life.Uni-Tankers has chosen Danelec Marine to implement an upgrade program ensuring that it ships are equipped with the latest VDR technology, which will also help boost efficiency and the proactive use of ships’ data.A required piece of equipment on large vessels…
Saudi-led Alliance Destroys Explosive Boats in the Red Sea
The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen destroyed two explosive-laden boats in the Red Sea on Thursday, its spokesman said.The two remotely controlled boats belonged to Houthi forces and were threatening navigation, his statement carried on Saudi state news agency SPA said.They were destroyed 6 km (3.7 miles) south of the Yemeni port of Salif in the early hours of Thursday morning…
OCIMF Publishes New Guidance on DP System Failures
A new information paper on assurance of dynamic positioning (DP) system failure mode and effects analysis (FMEAs) seeks to improve the process of identifying all possible consequences and failures of DP systems.Entitled ‘Dynamic Positioning Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Assurance Framework, Risk-based Guidance’, the new information paper has been published by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF)…
Berlin’s new "Editorial Ship" Powered by Schottel
Having been in the marine publishing business for nearly three decades, it is increasingly rare to find a purpose-built vessel that is truly unique, but across my desk today comes news of the delivery of “The Pioneer One”, Germany’s first “editorial ship.”Delivered to Berlin-based media company Media Pioneer, the vessel is envisioned as a “floating editorial hub”, providing a workplace for around 30 journalists.“The Pioneer One” was built by the Lux-Werft shipyard in Niederkassel…
Japan to Develop Offshore Wind Farms at 30 Sites in 10 years
Japan will craft new rules and support infrastructure in a drive that aims to build offshore wind farms at 30 sites during the next decade, the Nikkei business daily said on Thursday.Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama is expected to announce policy measures soon to target the goal, the paper said, without identifying sources.The new policy aims for three or four projects each year with total generation capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW)…
Cox Powertrain Ships Its First Diesel Outboards
Cox Powertrain's production line has been in full flow over the last few weeks with the company’s team of engineers working around the clock to meet their next big milestone. This week Cox watched the first ever production CXO300 diesel outboards come off the assembly line, ready to leave the factory to the company's global network of distributors.Cox’s distributors have been awaiting the delivery…
Grand Bahama Shipyard Reopens After COVID-19 Pause
Ship repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) reports it has resumed its summer dry-docking program June 2, after a short period of lockdown as a result of COVID-19.A spokesperson for the shipyard told MarineLink that the yard had no COVID-19 cases but was partially shut for portions of April and May due to government imposed travel restrictions on the island. The yard focused on fabrication…