ELECTRO-COAL TRANSFER
M/V Sheila McDevitt Begins Service
The newest vessel in TECO Transport's Gulfcoast Transit fleet is now in service. The M/V Sheila McDevitt - named in honor of TECO Energy's senior vice president, general counsel and chief legal officer - left Tampa for Texas early last week, where it will load a shipment for delivery to the east coast. Gulfcoast Transit purchased the geared 40,000-ton bulk carrier in February of this year to meet the needs of its growing business. It is the third ship added to the company's diverse fleet, which also includes 13 oceangoing tug and barge units. The M/V Sheila McDevitt will handle new transportation business for Gulfcoast Transit, traveling between the Pacific, Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States. TECO Transport President Jeff Rankin said, "Thanks to the ability of our team to aggressively pursue opportunities to build our business, we were able to make an excellent acquisition - one that we're confident will add value for our customers." Gulfcoast Transit, the largest ocean-going U.S.-flag dry bulk carrier, is a subsidiary of TECO Transport. Other TECO Transport businesses include Mid-South Towing and Electro-Coal Transfer. TECO Transport is a wholly owned subsidiary of TECO Energy, Inc., a $2.3-billion revenue energy holding company based in Florida whose other businesses include Tampa Electric, Peoples Gas System, TECO Power Services, TECO Coal, TECO Coalbed Methane, TECO Propane Ventures and TECO Solutions.
Montrose Heads for Inspection
The cargo ship Montrose began its trip to safe anchorage in the Chesapeake Bay. Divers will conduct an underwater inspection after its arrival 12 miles south of where it ran aground. The divers will look for any damage under the ship. The 712-foot Liberian flagged ship was carrying 74,215 metric tons of coal when it ran aground Feb. 28 near Sharps Island, Md. Multiple tug boats working together were unable to free the Montrose from being stuck and a Unified Command determined coal
QinetiQ Launches ARKs for Hazardous Environments
QinetiQ recently launched a range of Appliqué Robotic Kits (ARKs) designed to convert the current in-service military JCB 4CXM or CAT320B families of vehicles into fully integrated remote controlled units for use in various hazardous environments in less that 12 hours, giving users control of the vehicle from as far as 1 km away. In addition, the ARKs are designed to allow existing vehicles to change between full remote or manual mode
Lightering Company Adds Power
The booming Thai economy and the shallow waters of the Chao Phrya River combine to create a growing demand for lightering operations of bulk cargos in the Gulf of Thailand.. This demand is being met by the S. P. Inter Marine Co. Ltd of Bangpli, Samutprakarn near Bangkok. Originally a trucking and land based company, the firm moved into the marine logistics field in 1995 and now operates a fleet of 80 barges, 20 ocean going tugs, numerous little river tugs
Rheinmetall Wins Breakthrough Malaysian Navy Order
Germany's Rheinmetall Group to supply 12 fire control radars & 6 electro-optical systems for six new patrol boats. Together with spare parts and training, the order also includes a transfer of know-how to Malaysia, which will enable local industry to take an active part in the project. Delivery of the systems will commence in 2015 and continue through to 2020. The Malaysian Navy’s new “Second Generation Patrol Vessels Littoral Combat Ships” (SGPV LCS)
Increased Demand for Panamax Vessels, Drewry Reports
A decline in demand for Capesize vessels has been countered by an improvement in demand for Panamax vessels, according to the latest Dry Bulk Insight published by Drewry Maritime Research. This left the Drewry Hire Index unchanged from January’s level. Panamax was the sole segment to record an improvement in earnings in February. Rates for vessels doing round voyages from Far East to East Australia more than doubled, rising from $3,954pd to $6,818.
Chuan Hup Buys Three Ships
Shipping company Chuan Hup Holdings Limited bought three vessels for S$5.8 million in cash, boosting its fleet to 146 ships to cater to growing regional demand for shipping. In October Maritime Week reported that Lim said Chuan Hup signed a contract with Indonesian company PT Adaro to ship coal from Indonesia's Kalimantan to a power station in East Java, and would have to spend some S$40-50 million on 20 new barges and tug boats
ASA Boot Electro New Offshore Systems Distributor
Leading UK manufacturer of NMEA2000® digital boat management products Offshore Systems has appointed a distributor in the Netherlands, ASA Boot Electro B.V. ASA will distribute Offshore Systems’ range of tank senders, gauges, sensors and display units. “The Dutch boat building sector is an important market for us,” explains Bruce Coward of Offshore Systems. “Many of our products are already being fitted by builders of sailing and motor yachts
Great Lakes Coal Trade Down 3 Percent in August
Shipments of coal on the Great Lakes totaled 2.9 million tons in August, an increase of 6 percent compared to July, but a drop of 3 percent compared to a year ago. Compared to the month’s 5-year average, loadings were down 25 percent. Overseas shipments continued in August. Coal shipped to Québec City for reloading into oceangoing vessels totaled 196,000 tons. For the season, the overseas trade totals 980,000 tons.
Heavy Lift Ship Tests Port Rupert Pilots
Prince Rupert Port Authority, BC, saw the safe arrival of equipment integral to its coal export operations aboard 'HHL Macao'. The stacker/reclaimer unit, for delivery to Ridley Terminals Inc. is considered important for the planned expansion of coal export operations. The successful arrival of the vessel and subsequent movement of the stacker/reclaimer components required a wide-ranging team effort. The Prince Rupert Port Authority collaborated with ship's agent Peter Riley of G.W
ISS Hires New Vice President
Maritime service provider Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) appointed Tim Cahill to a new role as Vice President Bulk Commodity Business Development, to target future growth in cargo services. Tim comes to the role with over thirty years’ experience in business development
Large Dry Bulker Shipbuilding Prices Up in April
During April, 2013 new build prices for capesize, kamsarmax and ultramax vessels rose higher than in the previous month. Purchase prices for ships are often good indicators of financial health in the shipping industry. When shipping demand is expected to grow more than the supply of ships
ST Engineering Showcases Product Range at IMDEX Asia 2013
ST Engineering unveiled a suite of total naval solutions offered by its Electronics and Marine arms at IMDEX Asia 2013, designed to provide users with comprehensive maritime awareness, command, control and advanced communications systems.
Great Lakes April Coal Shipments Unchanged from a Year Ago
Shipments of coal on the Great Lakes totaled 2.2 million tons in April, a virtual tie with a year ago. The trade was 19 percent below the month’s five-year average, however. Shipments from Lake Superior ports totaled 1.4 million tons, a slight increase from a year ago
China Demand Edges Commodity Freight Rates Upward
Rates to ship iron ore, coal and grains rose for the longest streak in almost a year on speculation Chinese demand increased. The Baltic Dry Index gained for a 15th straight session, adding 1.4 percent to 912 today, according to the Baltic Exchange, the London-based publisher of shipping costs
China Shipping Development Order LNG Ships
China Shipping Development Co. to order six liquefied natural gas (LNG) to tap the nation’s rising demand for cleaner fuel. The addition of the tankers comes as the world’s largest energy consumer plans to more than double natural gas consumption to cut its dependence on coal and oil
Mercator Lines Reduce Liabilities in Challenging Market
Mercator Lines (Singapore) Indian-owned international dry bulk shipping company cuts short charters, sell a ship. The sale of the vessel Sri Prem Putli was concluded on 21st March, 2013 resulting in net proceeds of USD 44.4 million. The proceeds from the sale of this ship have been partly used
Trelleborg to Supply Equipment to Yeudong LNG Terminal
Trelleborg Marine Systems has been awarded the contract to supply docking and mooring equipment and LNG cargo transfer technology for the new Yuedong LNG Terminal in China. After working closely with project owner, CNOOC Yuedong LNG
Seeing Forever: Lockhead Martin's Gyrocam
Lockheed Martin recently completed successful demonstrations of its Gyrocam 15-inch Dual Sensor & 15-inch Triple Sensor to the Navy. The demonstration was conducted as part of a cooperative research and development effort with the Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program
Teekay Announces Senior Management Change
Teekay Corporation announced that Geir Sekkesaeter, Senior Vice President, Conventional Fleet Operations, and Head, Technical, Safety and Quality, has decided to leave Teekay for personal reasons, effective as of March 31, 2013. Mr. Sekkesaeter's responsibilities have been transferred to the
Great Lakes Ore Trade Down 11.3% in March
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 1.9 million tons in March, a decrease of 11.3% from a year ago. Loadings were 9.3% ahead of the month’s five-year average, however. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 1.8 million tons, a decrease of 9.7% compared to a year ago
Australian Coal Port Expansion Contract
BMT & Adani Mining Pty Ltd (Adani) to design expansion at the Adani Abbot Point Coal Terminal at Abbot Point, north of Mackay, Queensland. The collaboration will involve BMT engineers from Australia (BMT WBM) and India (BMT Consultants (India)) working closely together with Adani at its
IEA Reports Stalled EffortsToward Clean Energy
The rapid expansion of renewable technologies is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak assessment of global progress towards low-carbon energy, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in an annual report to the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM).
U.S.-Flag Lakers Down Seven Percent
U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 2.2 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in March, a decrease of 7% compared to 2012. However, the fleet’s March float was marginally ahead of the month’s five-year average.
Improved Safety for U.S. Inland Barges
Honeywell reported that operating companies of all sizes within the United States inland barge market are turning to Honeywell’s Tanksystem portable level gauging and sampling technology to optimize custody transfer measurements and improve safety and environmental protection on both newly