Ship Operating

Navy Charters Kite-Powered Cargo Ship

For the first time, the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command has chartered a kite-assisted, fuel-saving cargo ship to carry military equipment.MV Beluga SkySails departed , , Oct. 5 after the first of three European port calls to load U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force cargo before the ship's month-long voyage to the . The 400-ft. Beluga SkySails is the world's first cargo ship to use a sky sail - a giant, computer-controlled kite that can rise 100 yards into the air and uses wind power to help propel the ship during long ocean transits. Though MSC frequently charters commercial ships to meet mission requirements, this is the first time the command has chartered such a ship. The ship operating company estimates that the sky sail can reduce fuel costs by 20 to 30 percent, or roughly $1,600 per day.Though Beluga SkySails' wind power was not a factor in awarding the contract, the ship operating company was likely "able to capitalize on fuel savings to make its offer more competitive," said MSC contracting officer Kenneth Allen.  

Bahrein Shipyard Signs Maersk Ship-Repair Deal

Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) signs a long-term contract to repair Maersk vessels on preferential terms With 35  years experience in the shipbuilding and repair business, ASRY will repair Maersk ships operating in the Persian Gulf as required. In 2011 the yard repaired nine Maersk ships. Commenting on this agreement, Chief Executive Officer, of the ASRY Group Chris Potter, said: "I am very pleased to welcome Maersk company in the growing list of our customers

Ship Operating Costs Continue to Rise

OpCost 2007, Moore Stephens unique ship operating cost benchmark, reveals that all vessel categories covered by the report experienced an annual average increase of 8.5 per cent in total operating costs in 2006, the financial year covered by the survey, and that, generally, the increases were more marked than in the previous year. The OpCost bulker index increased by thirteen index points (10.7 per cent) on a year-on-year basis, with handymax bulkers recording the biggest increase (14

MARAD Advisory – Niger Delta area

The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued an advisory warning that extreme caution and vigilance should be exercised by ships operating in the Niger Delta area of Nigerian waters due to numerous acts of aggression against vessels and reports of excessive fines being levied by Nigerian Drug Enforcement Officers. US-flag vessels should refer to MARSEC Directive 104-6, Guidelines for US Vessels Operating in High Risk Waters

California Plans Regarding Fuel Sulfur

The proposal, with some minor modifications from its earlier version, will be circulated soon for comments. The final regulation will come into effect 30 days after publication. The regulation would apply to oceangoing ships operating within 24 miles of the coast. The “Phase I” fuel requirement specifies use of marine gas oil up to 1.5% sulfur or marine diesel up to 0.5% sulfur. The Phase I requirement would apply to main engines and auxiliary boilers as of July 1

Navy Solicits Energy Conservation Proposals

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) discussing Energy Conservation Applications for the U.S. Navy. The BAA solicits innovative concepts from industry and academia that can introduce applications for Navy shipboard energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction with the potential for rapid transition to Fleet operation. The target segment of the Fleet is the ships operated by Military Sealift Command: Combat Logistics

Malta One Of Five Flags Responsible For Half U.K. Ship Detentions

Malta, which registered the tanker that broke up off France in December, is among five flags responsible for nearly half of all ships detained in the U.K. last year, Britain's Coastguard said. Ships registered with the flags of Malta, Cyprus, Panama, St Vincent and Grenadines and Russia accounted for 62 of the 129 detentions made by British port inspectors in 1999, the agency said. Vessels are detained when they are found to have deficiencies ranging from structural problems to faulty

RFA Fort Rosalie Contract Awarded to A&P Tyne

A&P Tyne has won the latest refit contract involving ships operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) - to carry out the 4-month refit of the fleet supply vessel RFA Fort Rosalie in their Wallsend yard. The contract from the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD), which will began on June 15, has secured 500 jobs for the duration of the refit. This contract follows the recent successful refit and repairs carried out aboard the RFA Fort Victoria, which also drydocked at A&P Tyne earlier this year.

Strategic Restructures to Allow Expansion

Strategic Software is restructuring in order to streamline its business services and allow expansion into the ship operating sector. Ownership of VesselOps, the integrated vessel operations and voyage management system developed in close cooperation with the Armada Group, is passing to Softmar Ltd., a dedicated company created by founder and chairman of Strategic software, David Marais. Softmar will work closely with Strategic Software and both companies will continue working from

Wärtsilä Earns Repeat Order from Messina

Wärtsilä has been contracted by the Korean yard STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, to supply exhaust gas cleaning systems for four new Container Ro/Ro (ConRo) vessels being built for Ignazio Messina & Co, the Italy based ship owner and operator. This latest order will enable the new vessels to comply with both current and pending environmental legislation relating to exhaust emissions. For ships sailing in European waters, the maximum sulphur content will be limited to 0