FULL SAIL

Voith Wins Landmark PSV Contract

Norwegian shipowner Østensjø Rederi AS has placed an order with Voith Turbo Marine for two Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP) for a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV), a landmark order for the propulsion manufacturer as this is its first application on this vessel type. Designed by Norway’s Skipsteknis, the vessel will be built in Spain at Astilleros Gondan shipyard. The PSV is scheduled to begin working in the beginning of 2007. The PSV will be Dynamic Positioning (DP II) capable. According to the propulsion manufacturer, a PSV driven by two VSPs requires 10 to 20 percent less power, depending on the load conditions and the sailing speed, helping to save fuel and reduce maintenance. First model test series were carried out at Marintek in Trondheim, Norway, in February 2002. In the first test series, the power uptake of the two propulsion elements ‘contra-rotating propeller’ (CRP) and ‘VSP’ was established. Here, the VSP needed approximately 10 percent less power at various hull drafts and across the entire speed range. The second model test series at SVA in Vienna in February 2005, a test which reportedly confirmed that the R&D team had taken the correct path. A special feature of the VSP is its roll damping capacity. At standstill and when not in full sail, the VSPs can be used to reduce the effects of high seas on the ship. This is particularly important, since PSVs are loaded and unloaded on the high seas

Stolt-Nielsen S.A. Reports 4Q and 2007 Results

Stolt-Nielsen S.A. reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended November 30, 2007. The financial statements for the full year ended November 30, 2007 have been audited. Highlights for the fourth quarter and full year ended November 30, 2007, compared with the fourth quarter and full year ended November 30, 2006, included: • Operating revenue for the fourth quarter of $460.8 million, up 14% compared with same quarter last year

Voyager Of The Seas Goes Live

Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), a subsidiary of ATC Teleports of Alexandria, Va. set sail from Finland to the port of Miami on the world's largest cruise ship — Voyager of the Seas. MTN has equipped Voyager with full redundancy services including dual antennas and two MPEG-2 Digital Video units. Each antenna on the 142,000-ton vessel will have 12 lines for multiple voice and data capabilities. In preparation for Voyager's live broadcast

Crowley to Launch Third Sailing in U.S. Gulf

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that its liner services unit will add a third, weekly, fixed-day sailing effective May 18 between Gulfport, Miss. and the Central America northern zone countries of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Crowley had been serving the trade in the Gulf with vessels leaving Gulfport on Tuesdays and Saturdays, but will now sail on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. With this move

New WSDOT Ferry Salish in Sea Trials

The new Washington State ferry Salish is completing builder’s sea trials in Puget Sound. The vessel is expected to begin serving the Port Townsend-Coupeville route this summer, restoring full two-boat service to the route for the first time since 2007. Contractor Todd Pacific Shipyards is conducting sea trials to demonstrate the vessel to U.S. Coast Guard and WSDOT Ferries Division (WSF) inspectors before WSF accepts delivery of the vessel

Goodrich Deliver Composite Sail Cusps for USN Sub Newbuildings

Goodrich delivers first composite sail cusp for Virginia Class submarine Goodrich Corporation recently delivered its first composite sail cusp to Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.  Goodrich is under contract to manufacture lightweight, composite sail cusps for the next eight Virginia Class nuclear fast attack submarines, collectively referred to as Block III. Fabrication of all eight sail cusps will occur at Goodrich's Engineered Polymer Products

Crowley Returns With Scheduled Liner Services to Port of Gulfport

Crowley will resume its liner cargo services to and from Gulfport, Miss., effective Saturday, Oct. 1. The service will commence with the northbound sailing of the RoRo Gothica, which will bring cargo from Central America including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. That vessel will make the turn - discharging import cargo and loading export cargo - the same day and sail to the northern zone of Central America. That ship will be followed by the Express on Oct. 4

Pacific Beachcomber Acquires Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, announced that the company has been acquired by Pacific Beachcomber. Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the luxury cruise ship MS Paul Gauguin, featuring itineraries among the islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific. "The acquisition of Paul Gauguin Cruises by Pacific Beachcomber is a most positive development for our company, our Travel Agent partners and valued guests

Cruise Ship Disabled in Remote South Georgia

Oceanwide Expeditions' cruise ship 'Plancius' anchored off South Georgia, after repeated propulsion failures, awaits relief ship Trouble started 12 days into a 31-day journey from Ushuaia, Argentina, one of the southernmost cities in the world, to Ascension Island, an isolated volcanic island near the Equator. After returning from a small island, the ship suffered a complete power failure. Ship's engineers were able to fix the problem and course was set for Tristan de Cunha heading

Crowley Maritime Extra Sailing to Meet US/Caribbean Demand

The liner services group will offer ocean-freight customers a second weekly southbound sailing from Port Everglades, Fla., to Nassau, Bahamas. The new Saturday sailing day, starting Saturday, March 23, 2013, will give customers an additional option for the transport of their goods, including groceries, retail merchandise, building materials, refrigerated (reefer) products, and vehicles from Port Everglades to Nassau each week