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First Call News

20 Jul 2023

LNG Barge Clean Canaveral Bunkers First Cargo Ship in Canaveral

LNG bunker barge transferring LNG to Damia Desgagnés at Port Canaveral (Photo: JAX LNG)

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge Clean Canaveral completed its first barge-to-ship bunkering of a cargo vessel at Port Canaveral’s South Cargo Berth 4. JAX LNG, along with Polaris New Energy, handled the LNG refueling of the Damia Desgagnés on the ship’s inaugural call to Port Canaveral. The asphalt/bitumen tanker Damia Desgagnés completed her discharge of cargo and then JAX LNG proceeded with Desgagnés’s first barge-to-ship bunkering of LNG. The seafarers safely transferred approximately 400 cubic meters of LNG from North America’s largest LNG bunker barge


05 Dec 2022

Foss Charters Vessel from Tug Construction

Earl W Redd (Photo: Tug Construction, LLC)

Foss Maritime has reached a deal to bareboat charter the tug Earl W Redd from Tug Construction, LLC for use in the U.S. offshore wind industry.The Earl W Redd will sail from Portland, Ore. to Massachusetts later this month to begin work on Foss 's offshore wind projects, including Vineyard Wind, the first large-scale offshore wind installation in the U.S. "The Earl W Redd is a great addition to the Foss fleet and will allow our skilled mariners to safely accomplish complex projects," said Joel Whitman, President of Business Development Foss Offshore Wind.

19 Oct 2022

Light Structures Reports First Call European Defense Fund Success

(Photo: Royal Norwegian Navy)

Maritime structural health monitoring specialist Light Structures is a member of two winning consortia in the first call of the European Defense Fund (EDF). Both consortia consist of the leading naval yards in Europe, organized through The Shipyards’ & Maritime Equipment Association of Europe (Sea Europe), national delegates, and the Norwegian partners SINTEF, Kongsberg, Jotne and Light Structures.The EDF was established to support high-end defense capability projects such as the next generation of aircraft fighters


17 Jun 2022

GUH Issues Defense Sector Innovation Call

Neil Gordon, chief executive, Global Underwater Hub. Image courtesy GUH

The Global Underwater Hub (GUH), in partnership with the Royal Navy and Babcock, has launched a call for innovation that aims to identify technologies and techniques used in the offshore environment that can be applied to the defence sector to address key problem challenges and generate efficiency savings.The joint initiative seeks to identify ways to increase the operational uptime of assets and reduce dry-docking periods by adopting and adapting existing in-water inspection


16 Mar 2022

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Teams Up with Union Apprentice Program for Offshore Wind

© MMA

With the passing of the historic infrastructure bill in August 2021, the backbone of the United States will undergo a transformation over the next several years, and for this, workers will be needed in all facets of the construction industry.Building Pathways South (BPS), a pre-apprenticeship program in Southeastern Massachusetts, is preparing young adults for opportunities available today as well as down the road, including in the growing U.S. offshore wind industry.Yvonne Tobey


13 Apr 2021

Port of Oakland Reports Record Cargo Surge

(Photo: Port of Oakland)

The Port of Oakland reported all-time high container volume for import and export cargo in the month of March amid an ongoing trade boom exploding through U.S. ports.The port said Oakland received the equivalent of 97,538 20-foot import containers in March. It said it shipped out the equivalent of 94,169 20-foot export boxes. Both totals were single-month records at the 94-year-old port. March imports were up 45% from the same month a year ago, the port said. March 2020 was when the port felt the initial impacts of the pandemic. Exports gained 12% year-over-year.

08 Jan 2021

Port Everglades Receives 'Marine Highway' Designation

© dani3315 / Adobe Stock

Port Everglades received approval from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) for “Marine Highway” designation for a new route connecting Port Everglades with Port Houston, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). National Shipping of America (NSA) will be the first company to offer service on this new route. Port Everglades is the first port to receive this designation in South Florida and is among only 45 others nationwide.“We are honored to be part of MARAD’s Marine Highway program,” said Jonathan Daniels, Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director.

04 Jun 2020

World's Largest Containership Makes Its First Call in Europe

HMM Algeciras made its first European stop in the Port of Rotterdam this week. (Photo: Port of Rotterdam)

The world's largest containership HMM Algeciras made its first European port call this week, entering Rotterdam’s Amaliahaven Wednesday on its maiden voyage to transfer containers at the Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) terminal.The most recent vessel to hold the world’s largest containership crown, HMM Algeciras at maximum capacity carries slightly more 20-foot containers than its predecessor MSC Gülsün: 23,964 TEU versus 23,756 TEU. During its maiden voyage, HMM Algeciras is carrying a total of 19


09 Mar 2020

AAL Kembla's Maiden Call at Hamburg Port

Port of Hamburg welcomed the ‘AAL Kembla’ on her first call in Germany’s largest universal port. She berthed at C. Steinweg’s multi-purpose Süd-West-Terminal.AAL Shipping is deploying the heavy-lift/project cargo ship on its new monthly liner service connecting ports in Europe, the Middle East, India and Asia. The service is overseen by AAL’s Hamburg office, opened in 2012, which also offers tailormade tramp chartering shipping to all regions in the world. Built in 2011, the ‘AAL Kembla’ is one of the carrier’s second generation A-class multi-purpose, heavy-lift vessels. She is 193.81 meters long and 29.1 meters wide, with a draft of 9.2 meters. The vessel has four shipboard cranes and a maximum lift capacity of 700 tons.

02 Dec 2019

Mega Box Ship on Maiden Call at APM Costa Rica

APM Terminals Moín made history when it welcomed the MSC Sara Elena, the largest container ship to ever berth in Costa Rica, measuring 300m long and a capacity of 8,000 TEUs.In 337 lifts, exports of key Costa Rican exports, included pineapples and bananas, were loaded onto the Sara Elena destined for Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The vessel was in port for just under nine hours, including the obligatory first call celebrations.This successful call once again validates the opportunity to serve Costa Rica’s economy with larger vessels. APM Terminals Moin has been consistently breaking its own gross moves per hour (GMPH) record, achieving GMPH of 28 in its first half year of operation.In this first phase


27 Nov 2019

Orsted Raises $660m Green Finance

Denmark-based energy giant successfully issued green hybrid capital securities for €600m ($660m) to refinance existing securities issued in 2015.The latest issue will have a maturity in 3019 and first call option after eight years, the Danish energy company said.Investments undertaken by Ørsted A/S in green renewable energy projects will be allocated to the new issue corresponding to the amount issued in accordance with Ørsted’s Green Finance Framework, which has received a second opinion with a Dark Green shading from Cicero.Ørsted A/S is rated Baa1, stable outlook, by Moody’s, BBB+, stable outlook, by Standard & Poor’s, and BBB+, stable outlook


08 Jul 2019

Unifeeder Intros New Sweden-Poland Service

Sweden's Port of Gävle will be included on the rotation of the newly launched Unifeeder Sweden-Poland Service.According to Yilport Gavle, this is the first commercial feeder service ever to directly connect the Swedish east coast to Poland with a weekly service.The service will start from Gdansk and then call Gdynia, Gavle, Norrkoeping, and back to Gdansk. The first call is expected on August 12th.Yilport  Nordic Region General Manager Eryn Dinyovszky said: "We are very proud to announce that we can now connect directly to Poland from Gavle. It is not often that you get to be a part of the first ever new service corridor of this magnitude.

04 Jul 2019

MSC Kaya Maiden Call at APM Terminals Moin

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel MSC Katya R. became the largest ever container ship to berth at APM Terminals Moin last month. Its first call at the terminal was part of a new weekly transatlantic reefer service.Measuring 281m long and 32.2 m wide, it can transport up to 4,200 TEUs. To date the record at APM Terminals Moin stood at 3,800 TEUs.“We feel very proud to continue expanding the horizons and open new opportunities for national trade, undoubtedly this event contributes to raising the level of port competitiveness in our country”, said Kenneth Waugh, Manager Director of APM Terminals Moin.“We will continue working to guarantee the arrival of increasingly larger ships and the incorporation of new commercial routes”


31 May 2019

Sun Princess Debuts in Southampton

The Port of Southampton has celebrated the inaugural call of Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess, one of 11 vessels to be making their maiden visit to the UK city this season.A traditional plaque and key ceremony took place on board the ship to mark her first call to Europe’s leading cruise turn around port. Alastair Welch, Port Director, and Craig Barbour, General Manager, took part in the official exchange with the ship’s Captain.The plaque and key ceremony is a tradition for all vessels on their maiden call to the port. It has its roots in the medieval history of Southampton, when visiting ships bringing business to the city were given the keys to the city walls.

28 May 2019

Kirby’s Secret Sauce

Image Credit: Kirby Corporation

Another year; another major fleet takeover by Kirby Corporation. But the leader of the inland tank-barge sector is not growing for growth’s sake: a deeper look at the numbers shows a disciplined strategy at work.“Kirby is definitely the big gorilla in the inland barge market,” affirmed Jefferies analyst Randy Giveans. Indeed, Houston-headquartered Kirby Corp has been extremely active buying fleets over the past few years, most recently acquiring the 63 tank barges of Cenac Marine in March for $244 million.

19 Apr 2019

AET Tankers Conduct Maiden LNG Bunkering

First dual-fuel sister Aframaxes owned by AET, a unit of the Malaysian shipping giant MISC, have completed their maiden ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunkering.The petroleum and chemical tanker owner announced in a press release that Eagle Brasilia and Eagle Bintulu have successfully completed their STS LNG bunkering at the Port of Rotterdam (POR).The latest in AET’s eco-friendly innovation towards a sustainable industry solution that meets IMO’s 2050 goal, this is their first call to port in Europe as they make their journey and tour of duty towards the Atlantic Basin.Commenting on this milestone occasion, Ron Wood, Global Director, Mid-Size Tankers Crude Shipping


25 Jan 2019

First MOL Car Carrier Vessel Arrives in Cambodia

The 6,400 standard passenger car capacity, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL)-operated car carrier Grand Orion has made a first call for such a vessel type in Cambodia.The Japanese shipping company said in a release that the car carrier called at the Port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and discharged about 12,000 tons of construction machinery. It was the first call at a Cambodian port by an MOL-operated car carrier, it added.In commemoration of the first call, Grand Orion Capt. Denis C. De la Peña received a memento from Sihanoukville Autonomous Port while the ship was in port.Most of the cars imported to Cambodia, both brand-new and second-hand, are currently carried in ocean containers or by car trailers


02 Nov 2018

First Aloha-Class Ship Delivered to Matson

Matson, Inc. took delivery of the first of two new Aloha Class containerships built for Matson's Hawaii service at Philly Shipyard.Christened 'Daniel K. Inouye' in honor of Hawaii's late senior U.S. Senator, the vessel is the largest containership ever built in the United States. Weighing in at over 51,400 metric tons, the 850-foot long and 3,600 TEU capacity Daniel K. Inouye is Matson's largest ship and also its fastest, with a top speed in excess of 23 knots."This new ship, our fifth delivered by Philly Shipyard, is the product of a great partnership with the Philly team in designing and constructing a new class of containership that will set a new standard for cargo delivery in the Hawaii trade


20 Jul 2018

Ice-Breaking LNG Carrier Vladimir Rusanov First Call at PetroChina LNG Jiangsu Terminal

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that the Ice-Breaking LNG Carrier "Vladimir Rusanov", which is jointly owned by MOL and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited for the Yamal LNG project, made its first call at PetroChina LNG Jiangsu Terminal in China on 17 July.A ceremony celebrating this milestone was held on 19 July.At the end of March 2018, the vessel started transportation services for LNG produced by the Yamal LNG plant at Sabetta port in Russia. For its latest voyage, the vessel departed from Sabetta port on 25 June, and had its first opportunity to navigate independently eastwards along the Northern Sea Route without ice-breaker support.The vessel passed the Bering Strait on 6 July, and safely made its first call at PetroChina LNG Jiangsu Terminal in China on 17 July.

06 May 2018

Efficient Shipping Needs Nautical Standards

Ben van Scherpenzeel is Chairman of the international Port Call Optimisation Task Force said that it’s rather curious that the shipping sector, whose history goes back some 5,000 years, only recently adopted international standards for nautical port information. Numerous younger industries, including aviation and telephony, set up international standards a long time ago. The task force works to improve the quality of information in the port call process by identifying data bottlenecks, embracing existing industry standards for these data and subsequently testing these standards with the aid of prototypes (i.e. not with commercial products). "But then shipping does involve a huge number of parties across the planet.

18 Apr 2018

London Thamesport Boosts Short Sea Capacity

Dutch-based transport company A2B-online Container B.V. has added a fourth weekly sailing on its service between Hutchison Ports London Thamesport and Moerdijk in The Netherlands. The new sailing is inaugurated today (18 April 2018) by the first call of the m.s. A2B Spirit (ex-Norfeeder), a Sietas 151 type 508 TEU container ship, the fourth of this class owned and operated by A2B. Commenting on the new sailing, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director Hutchison Ports, said:“London Thamesport offers its customers a service tailored to their specific demands. We are seeing a growing demand in the short-sea container market as a response to increasing labour shortages in the driver-accompanied market and uncertainty around Brexit.

23 Mar 2018

New Samskip Container Service for Amsterdam

A new short-sea container service between Amsterdam and Hull has been formally inaugurated with the first call of the 340-TEU vessel THEA II at Amsterdam Container Terminal (ACT). The new service, operated by leading short sea container operator Samskip, offers three sailings a week on this new route with vessels departing from Amsterdam on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Commenting on the new service, Clemence Cheng, Managing Director of Hutchison Ports Europe, said: “Amsterdam Container Terminal offers shipping lines the opportunity to serve their customers in a fast, efficient, reliable and sustainable manner. ACT is operated by TMA Logistics in which Hutchison Ports is a 50% shareholder.

20 Mar 2018

World’s Second Largest Container Ship CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupéry Docks in Hamburg

The ‘CMA CGM Antoine de Saint Exupéry', the largest containership ever to call at the port on the Elbe, berthed in Hamburg early on Thursday morning, 15 March. The maiden call by this ocean-going giant is a further milestone in the Port of Hamburg’s success story as one of the world’s most important and state-of-the-art container handling hubs. The triumphant advance of the container, which has revolutionized the worldwide transport industry, commenced in the Port of Hamburg on 31 May 1968. With the ‘American Lancer', a containership berthed at Burchardkai for the first time that day. It was the first step in a new era that was to shape change in the Port of Hamburg for ever. Scepticism predominated in Hamburg at the time.

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