Scorpio Continues to Sell Bulkers in Transition to Offshore Wind
Scorpio Bulkers has sold off another vessel as the NYSE-listed shipowner shifts its focus to the offshore wind market. SBI Tethys was sold for $18.25 million and…
Coronavirus Slows Bangladesh's Shipbreaking Safety Reforms
The coronavirus pandemic has slowed efforts to make safer the often hazardous job of dismantling old ships in Bangladesh, officials said, following the latest worker fatality.COVID-19 temporarily shuttered ship-breaking yards in Bangladesh, one of the world’s main destinations for end-of-life vessels, delaying safety reforms ahead of a 2023 deadline.Almost all of the 70 active yards in Bangladesh have submitted Ship Recycling Facility Plans since 2019…
Hundreds of Thousands of Seafarers Are Still Stranded at Sea
Hundreds of thousands of seafarers around the world are stranded at sea due to coronavirus travel restrictions, unable to go home or get medical care, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said on Tuesday, calling on nations to address their plight.Many shipping and transport workers have been at sea as long as 17 months or longer, as COVID-19-related restrictions make it almost impossible to rotate crews…
US Coast Guard Upgrades First Lighthouse to LED
The U.S. Coast Guard said it lit a first-of-its-kind LED-based rotating beacon at Oak Island Lighthouse on Caswell Beach, N.C., Monday.This upgrade is the Coast Guard’s first LED-based rotating beacon for an active aid to navigation and will provide a permanent, cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for the lighthouse. Necessary renovations of the lighthouse to prepare for the new beacon began in October."Lighthouses have navigational and historic significance here in North Carolina…
2020 Has Been a Big Year for US Offshore Wind
This has certainly been an active year for offshore wind, both in the U.S. and globally. Looking at the U.S. in particular, the East Coast is certainly giving cause for real optimism with a clear pipeline of state procurement targets indicating 12 gigawatts installed by 2030 and 29.1 gigawatts total installed by 2035. That means around $55 to $87 billion of capex, which will support the growth of the…
Bulker Rescues Sailors Caught in Rough Seas
A bulk carrier rescued two people from a sailboat disabled by rough weather approximately 345 miles east of Hatteras Inlet, N.C., Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Watchstanders at the Coast Guard’s 5th District Command Center received notification from the International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center at approximately 9:30 a.m. that a GPS alert had been received from a vessel in distress. The…
Baltic Index Dips as Capesizes Slide to Near 6-month Low
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index fell on Tuesday, as concerns over trade frictions between Australia and China on coal shipments sent capesize rates to a near six-month low.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, was down by 41 points or 3.5%, to 1,121, its lowest since Nov. 18.The capesize index was down 140 points, or about 10%, at 1,279, a trough since June 10.Average daily earnings for capesizes…
US Targets Coal Shipments in Fresh N. Korea-related Sanctions
The United States imposed new sanctions on six groups and four vessels related to the transport of North Korean coal on Thursday, including operations based in China, the Treasury Department said on Tuesday."The DPRK (North Korea) continues to circumvent the U.N. prohibition on the exportation of coal, a key revenue generator that helps fund its weapons of mass destruction programs," Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
France's Next-generation Aircraft Carrier Will Be Nuclear-powered
France's next-generation aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered and replace the national fleet's flagship warship, the Charles de Gaulle, in 2038, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.The 11th carrier-vessel in the French Navy's history will be built by French defense contractor Naval Group and equipped with the new electromagnetic aircraft launch system developed by U.S. company General Atomics…
Sharp Crewing Services Establishes COVID-19 Test Site in Manila
Philippines and Singapore-based crew specialist CF Sharp has established its own COVID-19 testing center in Manila to speed up its crew change process amid mounting coronavirus case counts and ongoing logistical challenges for seafarers and ship managers globally. Sharp, which earlier this year repatriated more than 12,000 crew members from cruise ships around the world, is now pitching in to assist…
Great Ships and The Ship Designer’s Curse
For the Design issue Greg Trauthwein asked me to write about a favorite ship design. I have no favorite ship design, or should say there are simply too many that are truly worthy of mention. But when considering favorite designs, ship designers (and builders) do carry a strange curse. Unique among engineers (and artists, architects, and industrial designers) their creations only live for about 30 years.
Opus Marine Orders Damen Crew Transfer Vessel
Damen Shipyards Group said it signed a contract with Opus Marine for the delivery of a Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2710, to be named Allegro. The company will operate the vessel in support of its charterers, serving the offshore wind industry in the German section of the North Sea.At the time of the contract signing, the FCS 2710 was already being constructed for stock at Damen’s yard, and the vessel will be delivered to Opus Marine in March.Opus Marine operates a fleet of crew transfer vessels…
Austal Launches First of Two Patrol Boats for Trinidad and Tobago
Shipbuilder Austal Australia has launched the first of two Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), under construction at the company’s Henderson, Western Australia shipyard.Under a A$126 million contract awarded by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT), Austal is constructing two 58 meter Cape-class Patrol Boats for the TTCG, scheduled for delivery…
Maersk Sells 14 Product Tankers
Maersk Product Tankers said Tuesday it has entered an agreement with China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Ltd (CDBL) for the sale of 14 product tankers at a total value of $422 million.Under the terms of the deal, nine of the vessels will be bareboat chartered back to Maersk Product Tankers. All 14 ships will be delivered to CDBL during the coming months and remain under the commercial and…
Borealis Acquires Elbsun Containership
Borealis Finance, an Oslo-listed company indirectly owning a fleet of container and bulk vessels, has expanded its fleet.In a stock exchange filing on Tuesday, Borealis…
IN THE YARD: Designing Ship Build and Transport Cradles
Transportation cradles are a key component in the build, transportation and launch of a ship and a suitable design can be fundamental in the success of these operations. Throughout their use they will support the various blocks and completed ship during construction, act as the interface between the vessel and SPMT’s (Self Propelled Modular Transporters) or barge, and ultimately support the ship during float off operations.
Eastern Libyan Force Says It Intercepted Turkish Cargo Ship
Eastern-based Libyan forces have intercepted a Turkish ship under a Jamaican flag heading to the port of Misrata in western Libya, their spokesman said on Monday, a possible new flashpoint in the conflict after weeks of truce.Turkey is the main foreign backer of the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), in the west, which has for years been fighting the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA).LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari added that the commercial cargo ship…
Triumph Subsea Services Orders Offshore Construction Vessel from Brodosplit
Triumph Subsea Services has signed a contract with the Croatian shipbuilder Brodosplit for the construction of a field development vessel.Triumph said Tuesday that the contract was for one firm vessel, with options to order three more.Options will be executed upon completion of the detailed engineering drawings and upon cutting of steel of the initial hull, Triumph Subsea Services said.The first vessel…
