First New
First of New Patrol Vessels Operational
On January 11 the first new patrol vessel of the Rotterdam Port Authority got its name and came into operation. The body was constructed in Poland (Stocznia Tczew) and completed at the Damen Shipyard in the Netherlands. The RPA 12 is the first in a series of seven vessels of which five are capable to fight fire as well. Total costs of the renewal of the fleet are 25 million euro.
NYK Obtains ISO Certification
NYK Engineering Co., Ltd., has become the first new shipbuilding consultancy in Japan to obtain ISO 9001:2000 certification. By obtaining the certificate, NYK Engineering has verified the establishment of a quality management system in their new shipbuilding consultancy service, which includes design of new shipbuilding, approval drawings, and site supervision. Source TMCnet
Celebrity Cruises Orders New Ship
Celebrity Cruises has exercised its option to order a second 118,000 gross-registered-ton ship. German shipbuilder Meyer Werft will build the new tonnage, with delivery of the first ship planned for Fall 2008 and the second ship in Summer 2009. Celebrity also announced names of both new ships. The first new ship will be called Celebrity Solstice, and the second ship will be named Celebrity Equinox. The new series of ships will be known as the
Horizon Lines Takes Delivery of First of Five
Horizon Lines, Inc. took delivery of its first new containership, the Horizon Hunter from the Hyundai Mipo shipyard in South Korea. The Horizon Hunter is the first of five new, U.S.-flag, foreign built, sister vessels that the Company is chartering from subsidiaries of Ship Finance International Limited under definitive long-term charters and related agreements closed on April 11, 2006. The gross tonnage of the vessels is 28,592 tons, they have a capacity of 2,824 TEUs
Iraq Launches Oil Tanker
The Iraqi Oil Tanker Co. launched its first new ship in 27 years, according to an AP report. The 14,000-ton, Chinese built Dijlah was inaugurated in Basra, officials said.
Schwarzenegger, Offshore Oil Drilling
According to a June 1 report from the Los Angeles Times, the State Lands Commission lashed out at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt to reverse its rejection of the first new oil drilling in California waters since 1969. At a contentious hearing in Santa Monica, the commission passed a resolution urging legislators not to go along with Schwarzenegger's plan, which would revive a drilling project off the Santa Barbara County coast that the commission killed in January.
University of Hawaii Pushing Navy Research Center
Some University of Hawaii officials and faculty members are still pushing for a Navy research center on campus despite the Faculty Senate's rejection of the project, according to an AP story. University lawyers are reviewing the contract for a Navy University Affiliated Research Center to address concerns of faculty leaders who recently voted against the proposed military partnership. The vote against the center could be overturned if 100 professors sign a petition asking for a vote of all
Matson’s Manukai Heads Toward Panama Canal
Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. (KPSI), of Philadelphia, PA., today delivered the M.V Manukai, a CV 2600 Philadelphia Class Containership. This is the first ship to be constructed at the new yard located in the former Philadelphia Naval Base. The M.V. Manukai is the first ship in a series of two containerships to be built for Matson Navigation Company, a shipping company based in San Francisco, CA. The U.S. Jones Act ship was christened by Margaret Inouye, wife of Hawaii Sen
ClassNK to IACS: “Bring Classification into the 21st Century”
ClassNK Chairman and President Noboru Ueda called upon the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) to play an expanded role in the future as he stepped down from his position as Chairman of the IACS Council. “Even as IACS must continue to maintain the highest quality standards,” said Mr. Ueda, “I hope that IACS will strengthen its relationship with the wider maritime community
World’s First Offshore Barge with Built-in BWTS
The BALPURE ballast water treatment system, which received Type Approval in July 2011, has been selected for use on two flattop oceangoing heavy deck cargo barges. The Type-Approved BALPURE ballast water treatment system from Severn Trent De Nora has been selected for use on two oceangoing heavy deck cargo barges being constructed for Norwegian-based Greenway Shipping by Dalian Shipyard, at its shipyard in Dalian, China
Centrica Energy Delivers First Production
Gas production has begun from the Rhyl gas field in Morecambe Bay, helping to secure the future of 400 North West jobs and boost energy security for the U.K. The Rhyl field, located 39km off the coast of Barrow, was first discovered in 2009 and is wholly owned and operated by Centrica Energy
ABS Grants AIP for Small LNG Carrier Design
ABS granted engineering company GTT approval in principle (AIP) for a 32,000 m capacity LNG carrier design. "While a few membrane LNG carriers in the 20,000 m capacity range were built in the 1990s, this is the first new design to be introduced since that time
Falvey Announces New Pollution Insurance Division
Falvey Insurance Group has formed a new division, Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance. Offering some of the broadest terms available in the commercial market, Safe Harbor's Global Vessel Pollution Policy provides comprehensive protection for any vessel, owner or operator
Viking Goes Blue Water
Viking Cruises launch Viking Ocean Cruises, the first new cruise line in nearly a decade. Developed from the ground up to return the focus of cruising to the destination, Viking Ocean Cruises will begin sailing in May 2015 with its first vessel—Viking Star—embarking on maiden voyages
Two Navy Research Vessels Enter Construction Phase
Construction for two new research ships funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) officially got underway with a keel-laying and dedication ceremony Aug. 17 in Anacortes, Wash. Contracts for both state-of-the-art Ocean-class Auxiliary General Purpose Oceanographic Research (AGOR)
New Safety Milestone for EnQuest
EnQuest PLC, the largest UK independent production company in the UK North Sea, has reached a new North Sea safety milestone by recording five years free of Lost Time Incidents (LTIs) on drilling operations in the Thistle field. The LTI achievement covers a period of major operational activity
Milestone Reached in Take-over Cruise Ship Construction
At the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, two commemorative coins are welded to 'MSC Preziosa’s' mast radar, to mark a construction milestone. Earlier this year, following the termination of the agreement with the original owner, MSC Cruises signed a contract to take over the 140
APT Commits to Build Two New Product Tankships in US
American Petroleum Tankers (APT) affiliate intends to order the new ships from NASSCO Shipyared, San Diego. An affiliate of American Petroleum Tankers Parent LLC (“APT”), a company majority owned by funds managed by Blackstone on behalf of its investors
Bibby Offshore Invests Millions
Aberdeen-based subsea installation contractor Bibby Offshore has announced investment of around £11million in Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems for its latest division, Bibby Remote Intervention Limited (BRIL). Initial investment of close to £4million has been made in ROV
China Shipyard Delays Delivery, Contract Cancelled
Due to continuous delays in the construction and delivery of two Kamsarmax bulkers, Ultrabulk cancels. The bulkships were originally to be built at Zhoushan Jinhaiwan Shipyard Co. Ltd., China, but the yard failed to finish the construction within agreed contractual delivery terms
Container Shipping Line Invests in Port of Long Beach
CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping line, purchases a stake in the Port of Long Beach’s Pier J. The deal will bring an additional 2.6 million container units to the Port and increase Port revenues by about $70 million over the next five years.
American Phoenix
BAE Systems joined with Mid Ocean Tanker Company (MOTC), Mid Ocean Marine and Alterna Captial Partners earlier this year to commission the American Phoenix, a U.S. Flag/Jones Act-qualified product-chemical tanker. Measuring 616 x 105 ft. with a laden draft of 36 ft
Panamax Dry Bulker Delivered to STX Pan Ocean
STX Pan Ocean takes over the 83,000 dwt class Panamax, 'STX Horizon', its first new-build delivery of the year. Having concluded strategic contracts for long-term transportation with domestic and international shippers including POSCO, Hyundai-Steel, KEPCO subsidiaries, Vale and Fibria in Brazil
InterManager Welcomes New Member
InterManager, the international trade association for the ship and crew management sector, has started the year by welcoming a new member. Ukrainian crew manager Alpha Navigation has been approved for Full Membership in what InterManager Secretary General Kuba Szymanski says is a significant
Dutch Superyacht 'Larisa' Launched by Feadship
Feadship has launched the 57.60-metre twin-screw motoryacht with an interior from Bannenberg & Rowell Design. Larisa features a contemporary classic exterior profile, with a wide range of modern features. The strong curvaceous signature lines of the design are supported by a straight