Roll Off

Freedom Joins the U.S. Flag Fleet

Maritime Administrator Captain William G. Schubert welcomed a new ship to the U.S-flag commercial fleet at a shipboard ceremony in Baltimore, Md. American Roll-On Roll-Off Carriers (ARC) today introduced its reflagged ship, FREEDOM, which will bring important additional sealift capacity to the Maritime Administration’s Maritime Security Program (MSP). Freedom will replace the Tanabata in the MSP fleet and the TANABATA will remain in the U.S.-flag fleet as a non-MSP participating ship under a new name, RESOLVE. RESOLVE will continue to operate in the company’s service between the U.S. and Northern Europe. FREEDOM will also operate in the service between the U.S. and Northern Europe. Schubert praised ARC for adding capacity to the U.S.-flag commercial fleet. "The additional Roll-on Roll-off capacity the Freedom brings to the U.S.-flag fleet is important in increasing our commercial presence in the international trades and the military utility of Roll-On Roll-Off vessels was certainly proven during Operation Iraqi Freedom. " Combined, more than 100 U.S. government-owned and commercially owned/operated Roll-on Roll-off ships provided sealift in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Approximately 84 percent of all cargo moved in Operation Iraqi Freedom was carried aboard U.S.-flag vessels. Freedom has a crew size of 18 U.S. citizen mariners. This is the third new U.S.-flag vessel that Captain Schubert has welcomed into the U.S.-flag commercial fleet since 2001.

China Launch Passenger RoRo Ship with Military Capability

China's largest RoRo 'Bohai Emerald Bead' with the longest reach leaves Yantai Port in East China. Different from ordinary ships, the 36,000 displacement civilian passenger and roll-on/roll-off ship was constructed in accordance with national defense requirements in mind in its design and construction so that it can carry organic troop units and heavy equipment.
 The 178-meter-long and 28-meter-breadth ship can carry 2

MLL Adds Two Vessels to MSP and VISA

Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) announces the addition of two U.S. flag roll-on/roll-off vessels in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA). The two vessels will carry U.S. government, preference and commercial cargo. Both vessels will operate in a round-the-world service and have completed the reflagging process. "MLL is pleased to conclude arrangements with Höegh Autoliners and Alliance Navigation, its U.S

MLL Welcomes Aboard 50 Cadets This Summer

Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) and Farrell Lines, a subsidiary of MLL, will provide sailing opportunities this summer to 50 Cadets of U.S. maritime academies. The Cadets will be able to apply classroom lessons at sea while aboard U.S. flag commercial container and roll-on/roll-off vessels. For more than a decade, MLL has contributed to the training of future U.S. Merchant Mariners through its summer sailing program. This program is similar to a traditional internship for college students who

VIBS ATB Completes Sea Trials

Cut VIBSATB Van Isle Barge Services, Ltd. (VIBS) said that its Van Isle Link and Sealink Pusher articulated tug-barge combination (ATB) recently completed sea trials off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia. This commercial drop trailer ATB is powered by two fuel efficient, V228 medium-speed diesel engines provided by GE Marine, Erie, Pa. Similar to others in VIBS’ fleet, the Van Isle Link/Sealink Pusher ATB will provide cargo services between Vancouver and Vancouver

HPI Project Award for USNS Roy M Wheat

HPI, LLC, a supplier of turbine control solutions and turnkey power plants, announced a project award to install a Propulsion Control System (PCS) aboard the USNS Roy Wheat. HPI was contracted by Keystone Shipping a ship management company for the US Navy. The USNS Roy Wheat is one of the Military Sealift Command's thirteen Container & Roll-on/Roll-off Ships and is part of the 32 ships in Military Sealift Command's Prepositioning Program.

PortVision Appoints Perduto

PortVision has appointed James Perduto as Director of Transportation and Government Business Development.  Based in N.Y., James assumes responsibility for business development for the company's enterprise software solutions and PortVision, a web-based platform that provides visibility and reporting for global commercial AIS vessel tracking activities. A veteran mariner and maritime transportation executive, James has had extensive business development experience in the maritime

Ferry Contract for German Shipbuilder

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited announce Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft  preferred shipbuilder  for new Scottish highlands ferry Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has announced that Lloyds Banking Group plc (LBG) are to provide financing for a replacement vessel for the Stornoway to Ullapool route and has named Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft MBH & Co. KG (FSG), Germany as the preferred shipyard for the detailed design and construction of the vessel.

Matson to Pay Quarterly Dividend

The Board of Directors of leading US carrier in the Pacific, Matson Inc., declares its second quarter cash dividend of $0.15 per share. "I am pleased to announce that our Board of Directors have authorized our second quarter 2013 dividend," said Matt Cox , Matson's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The dividend is emblematic of the continued soundness of our businesses and further reflects the confidence we share in the Company's prospects."

TOTE Wins $7.5M Contract

Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc. (TOTE), Federal Way, Wash., is being awarded a $7,500,000 six-month, firm-fixed-price contract with reimbursables for the time charter of one U.S.-flagged roll-on/roll-off cargo ship to support operations in the Persian Gulf. The contract includes one six-month option, which if exercised, would bring the total fixed-price value of the contract to $15,100,000. Work will be performed in and around the Persian Gulf, and work is