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Sea Star Line News

06 May 2016

US Aims to Recover El Faro VDR in Next Few Months

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board hopes to recover the voyage data recorder from the cargo ship El Faro, which sank during a hurricane killing all 33 crew on board, over the next two to three months, an agency official said on Thursday. A surveillance trip to the site where the ship sank last year, some 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) below sea level off the Bahamas, pinpointed the location of the recorder on April 26. It should contain navigational data and the last 12 hours of audio on the ship's bridge, Brian Curtis, acting director of the Office of Marine Safety at the NTSB, told reporters. He spoke after the voyage to locate the recorder returned to port in Massachusetts. "We know where it is but it is still a tall challenge.

04 Jan 2016

NTSB Releases El Faro Images & Video

Subsea images and video released as part of NTSB public docket on investigation into the sinking of U.S. cargo ship El Faro. Underwater video and images of the sunken cargo ship EL Faro have been released by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as part of its continuing investigation into the vessel’s sinking in the Atlantic Ocean in October. The docket opened by NTSB includes nine underwater images of El Faro wreckage on the seafloor, as well as more than 47 minutes of video from CURV-21, the remotely operated vehicle used to document the wreckage and debris field. Excerpts from that video are available on the NTSB’s YouTube channel. The U.S.

29 Dec 2015

The Top Five Ships of 2015

Top 5 Ships of 2015: Containership MSC Oscar (Photograph: Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.)

Maritime innovation never stops, and 2015 was certainly no exception, as a number of “world firsts” hit the high seas. In its December 2015 edition Maritime Reporter & Engineering News (http://digitalmagazines.marinelink.com/nwm/MaritimeReporter/201512/) presented its “Great Ships of 2015;” MarineLink.com takes the process one step further, and here confer the “Top Five Ships” of 2015. With a gross tonnage of 168,666, somewhat smaller than the world's largest Oasis class vessels, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

17 Sep 2015

TOTE Shifts Maritime Companies under Unified Brand

Photo: TOTE Maritime

U.S. Jones Act carrier TOTE announced it has shifted operating companies Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Sea Star Line, respectively serving the Alaskan and Puerto Rican/Caribbean markets. Going forward, the companies will be known collectively as TOTE Maritime. Sea Star Line has delivered goods to Puerto Rico for more than 30 years with twice weekly reliable service that is responsible for goods traveling from the U.S. to the island, while Totem Ocean Trailer Express provides twice weekly service to Alaska and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

31 Aug 2015

TOTE’s 2nd LNG Containership Launched

Perla del Caribe, the second of two LNG-fueled Marlin Class ships built by General Dynamics NASSCO for Tote, was launched at NASSCO’s yard in San Diego. (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)

Shipping company TOTE and shipbuilder NASSCO on Saturday launched Perla del Caribe, the second of two Marlin Class ships – the first containerships in the world to be powered by natural gas. The christening and launch ceremony took place at General Dynamics NASSCO’s shipyard in San Diego. The 764-foot-long Perla del Caribe and sister ship, christened Isla Bella, are Jones Act vessels built for the Puerto Rican trade for TOTE Shipholdings and will be operated by TOTE subsidiary Sea Star Line out of Jacksonville, Fla.

29 Apr 2015

Sea Star Line, Boys & Girls Clubs Partner to Name Marlin Class Ships

Paola Dominguez with a rendering of the new Marlin Class ship. The Isla Bella will enter service in the 4th quarter of 2015. (Photo courtesy of Sea Star Line)

In June 2014, Sea Star Line partnered with the 11 clubs of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico in a contest to name the new liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels which will be dedicated to the Puerto Rico trade by TOTE, Sea Star Line’s parent company. The Marlin Class vessels have attracted international attention as the first cargo ships in the world to run on natural gas. In addition to their improved environmental profile, the Marlins will represent a new standard in safety and TOTE’s long-term commitment to the people of Puerto Rico.

20 Apr 2015

Underway on LNG

Dennis Bryant

On 17 January 1955, Commander Eugene P. Underway on LNG has an opportunity to signal an equally significant change in the merchant marine. On February 6, 2015, the newly built Harvey Gulf International Marine offshore supply vessel (OSV) Harvey Energy was bunkered for the first time by liquefied natural gas (LNG) delivered by tank truck in Pascagoula, Miss. After receiving classification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and a Certificate of Inspection from the US Coast Guard, Harvey Energy got underway for its homeport of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.

15 Apr 2015

Sea Star Line, ACT Sign LNG Bunkering System Agreement

Sea Star Line, LLC and Applied Cryo Technologies (ACT), in cooperation with Dragon Products, have finalized plans for the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering system that will supply Sea Star Line’s new ships. Sea Star Line and its parent company TOTE are building the world’s first LNG-powered containerships that will begin serving the Puerto Rican market later this year. The LNG bunkering system is a critical part of the LNG supply chain for the Marlin Class ships. The system is comprised of 25 cryogenic IMO tanks that will transport LNG from Georgia to Jacksonville. In addition, ACT will ensure that the new ships can be fueled safely and effectively in under six hours, enabling Sea Star Line to maintain its on-time commitment to the people of Puerto Rico.

30 Mar 2015

Sea Star Continues Puerto Rico Investments

Tim Nolan, Sea Star President

Sea Star Line, LLC has entered an agreement to on-hire another barge to add to its current service package for shipments from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico. The new asset has the capacity for 320 dry units and its initial departure is scheduled for the first week of April. In January, Sea Star Line added two barges to address increased demand in the market. The total capacity for both barges is 750 FEUs with dedicated space for 84 refrigerated containers. Thus far in 2015, Sea Star Line has on-hired or purchased over 2…

19 Jan 2015

Sea Star’s Puerto Rico Service Start Date Advanced

After announcing last week a new weekly barge service from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico intended to commence on January 29, Sea Star Line has restructured assets and plans to move the start of the new service forward to January 22. Sea Star is in the process of on-hiring 2,300 pieces of new equipment over the next 30 days that will not only support the new barge service but ensure there is adequate equipment to support customers utilizing their twice weekly ship service from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico. The equipment being on-hired includes 800 x 40’ dry, 500 x 45’ dry, 350 x 40’ft reefers, 100 x 45’ft reefers, 185 x gen-sets (50% being sent to Puerto Rico) and 400 x chassis (all being sent to Puerto Rico).

16 Jan 2015

Sea Star Line Barges to Serve Puerto Rico Trade

Finalizing an agreement to service Puerto Rico trade, Sea Star Line, LLC will lease two barges with combined additional capacity of 800 forty-foot equivalent units (FEUS).   The weekly barge service, with a barge departing both San Juan and Jacksonville every Thursday, will commence on January 29, 2015 with a six day transit. The barge is configured to hold dry and refrigerated containers and Sea Star Line has on-hired over 2,100 pieces of equipment to support the additional capacity.   Tim Nolan, President of Sea Star Line, said, “The new barge service will compliment Sea Star Line's current two vessel calls per week and ultimately act as a bridge until the first of new Marlin Class vessels are delivered in October of this year."

21 Nov 2014

Sea Star Line: Equipment Replacement Plan on Track

Photo: Sea Star Line

Sea Star Line, LLC began receiving the first of its new 100 40’ and 45’ refrigerated containers ordered as part of its equipment replacement plan announced in August 2014. The replacement plan aims to reduce the average age of the entire Sea Star Line refrigerated container fleet to less than three years. The reefers have been fit with Carrier PrimeLine Machinery which is the most current technology available for refrigerated equipment. In addition, the entire Sea Star Line reefer…

02 Oct 2014

TOTE Finalizes Charter for LNG Containerships

TOTE, Inc. announced an agreement today between its operating companies TOTE Shipholdings Inc. and Sea Star Line LLC on the charter of the two new Marlin Class vessels being built by TOTE Shipholdings at NASSCO in San Diego, Calif. The new Marlin Class ships will be the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containerships in the world and will almost double the cargo capacity available to Puerto Rico each week. These will be the first ships with fifty three foot container capacity under deck expanding the services that Sea Star Line is able to offer its customers. The ships will also allow Sea Star Line more cargo flexibility to meet the ever changing needs of Puerto Rico. The Marlin Class vessels lead the way in environmental responsibility.

23 May 2014

Sea Star to Implement New Chassis Program

Sea Star Line informs that as part of its long term program related to chassis utilization, commencing Monday, June 2, 2014, it will introduce a new chassis program for shipments moving to and from the Southeast United States. From the above date, Sea Star Line will no longer provide chassis, having partnered with Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc. to provide shippers, consignees, or their agents (motor carriers) with chassis directly. “The decision was made to expand the chassis program because it supports our service commitment to the trade, while positioning us for the future.” stated Jim Wagstaff, vice president of operations for Sea Star Line, LLC.

13 May 2014

Tideworks Selected for Jacksonville, San Juan Terminals

Hosted Turnkey Solution to Provide Strategic Technology Enhancementsand Improved Efficiency. Tideworks Technology, Inc., a premier provider of full-service terminal management and planning software solutions, today announced it has been selected by Sea Star Line, LLC (Sea Star) to implement its suite of terminal operating system (TOS) solutions at its Jacksonville, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto Rico terminals. Sea Star will leverage Tideworks’ complete turnkey solutions under a fully-hosted model.

02 May 2014

Job Opportunities in NE Florida LNG Sector

Northeast Florida is taking the lead in the natural gas industry to attract and keep business in the area. Viewed as a viable player in this industry, the region is building upon its status as an importer and exporter of liquefied and compressed natural gas by cultivating its available, skilled workforce to support this growing industry, says the JAXUSA Partnership via Business Wire. Significant developments are occurring in the area that will offer employment opportunities. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. plans to build a terminal to supply LNG to cargo ships in Jacksonville – the first of its type in the nation and the first LNG facility on the Eastern Seaboard to supply LNG for the maritime, trucking and rail industries.

11 Apr 2014

Sea Star Line Vessel Used in Training Exercise

Photo: Sea Star Line

On April 2, 2014, Sea Star Line’s vessel El Faro and its employees participated in a joint training exercise at North Florida shipyards. The training exercise focused on evaluating agency procedures, communication plans and training programs to assure all agencies can respond in the most efficient way to emergency events and to mitigate risks and damage. “The mock training exercise was an excellent opportunity to participate in and ensure that our local emergency agencies are prepared for emergency response events,” stated Jim Wagstaff, vice president of operations for Sea Star Line, LLC.

07 Apr 2014

Saltchuk Acquires Tropical Shipping

Photo: Tropical Shipping

A subsidiary of Saltchuk Resources, a transportation and petroleum distribution company, has entered into a binding purchase and sale agreement to acquire Tropical Shipping and its related companies. The acquisition includes the premier shipping and logistics company for the Bahamas and Caribbean, Tropical Shipping and all of its related transportation, consolidation and cargo insurance companies. As an international foreign flagged shipping and logistics operation, Tropical and its related companies will become Saltchuk’s sixth line of business.

07 Apr 2014

Saltchuk to Acquire Tropical Shipping

A subsidiary of Saltchuk Resources, one of the nation’s leading transportation and petroleum distribution companies, has entered into a binding purchase & sale agreement to acquire Tropical Shipping and its related companies. The acquisition includes the premier shipping and logistics company for the Bahamas and Caribbean, Tropical Shipping and all of its related transportation, consolidation and cargo insurance companies. As an international foreign flagged shipping and logistics operation, Tropical and its related companies will become Saltchuk’s sixth line of business. Tropical will continue to operate as a standalone operation. The addition of Tropical Shipping to the Saltchuk family of companies furthers the company’s commitment to the Caribbean market.

10 Mar 2014

Two Ocean Shipping Companies to Pay $3.4M

Sea Star Line LLC and Horizon Lines LLC have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by fixing the price of government cargo transportation contracts between the continental United States and Puerto Rico, the Department of Justice announced today. Under the settlement agreements, Sea Star Line has agreed to pay $1.9 million, and Horizon Lines has agreed to pay $1.5 million. “Today’s civil settlements demonstrate our continuing vigilance to ensure that those doing business with the government do not engage in anticompetitive conduct…

18 Feb 2014

Sea Star Assists Vessel Rescue

El Morro (Photo courtesy Sea Star Line)

While in transit from Jacksonville, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the crew of Sea Star Line’s El Morro vessel received distress calls from a small fishing vessel in the Atlantic Ocean. The fishing vessel was attempting to hail the U.S. Coast Guard’s Jacksonville Sector with no success due to a weak transmission signal. The crew of El Morro intercepted the communications from the fishing vessel and began relaying information to the U.S Coast Guard in Jacksonville. The U.S.

12 Dec 2013

Sea Star Line, TOTE Leadership Changes

Peter Keller (left) and Tim Nolan

Effective January 1, 2014, Sea Star Line (SSL) President Peter Keller will become Executive Vice President of Sea Star Line’s parent company, TOTE, Inc. In this new capacity he will assist in the oversight of both TOTE Shipholdings and the TOTE Maritime Division, which includes Sea Star Line and Totem Ocean Trailer Express (Totem Ocean). Keller joined TOTE in February of 2012 as President of Sea Star Line and has been leading the conversion of the company’s fleet to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

16 Oct 2013

Last Call to Register: SHIPPINGInsight 2013

The second annual SHIPPINGInsight Fleet Optimization Conference convenes next week, and there’s still time to register online. The conference will take place at the Sheraton Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Conn., Oct. 22-24, and will address solutions and best practices for reducing costs and improving efficiency to meet the challenges of operating ships’ profitably. The keynote speakers are Peter I. Keller, president, Sea Star Line, and Yasushi Nakamura, executive vice president, ClassNK.