Marine News' Top Vessels of 2023
The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted a selection of the most notable American newbuilds delivered of 2023—from a first-of-its-kind green towboat, to the lead vessel in a series of game-changing ships to train U.S. mariners.Empire StateAs the lead vessel in a series of five new training ships being constructed to serve America's state maritime academies, Empire State is easily one of the most important U.S.-built vessels delivered in recent memory.Built by Philly Shipyard for the U.S.
Swire Projects Launches Transpacific Semi Liner Service
Swire Projects, the projects and heavy lift shipping arm of Swire Shipping, has officially launched a dedicated semi liner service connecting East Asia with the West Coast of North America.Previously offered on an ad hoc basis, the service will provide enhanced cargo connectivity and support the growing demand for reliable breakbulk and project cargo transportation into the West Coast and a gateway to the interior of the Continent avoiding the need to route cargo via the Panama Canal.Swire Projects' semi liner service connects the base ports of Qingdao and Taicang in China and ports en route…
Metal Shark Inks Deal to Build Fire Island Ferries to EBDG Design
Metal Shark won a contract to build a new vehicle ferry for Fire Island Ferries, a vessel designed by Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG).Construction of the new Fire Island Maid recently commenced at Metal Shark’s Bayou La Batre, Alabama shipyard, and the 70 x 23-ft.vessel features a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. With its hydraulically operated bow ramp and reinforced decks designed to support fully loaded concrete trucks and general cargo, the new ferry will provide transport between Bay Shore…
Equinor, BP JV Picks Vestas' Giant 15MW Turbines for New York Offshore Wind Projects
Offshore wind turbine maker will deliver its giant 15MW wind turbines for Equinor and BP joint venture's offshore wind farms in New York.Vestas said Monday that, Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and BP, had named it as the preferred turbine supplier for the 2.1 GW Empire Wind 1 and Empire Wind 2 offshore wind projects in New York, USA. "This is one of the largest preferred supplier agreements to be announced in the USA," Vestas said.Vestas will provide 138 V236-15.0 MW turbines for Empire Wind 1 and 2, located 15-30 miles off the coast of Long Island.
The Disappearance of the Service Contract in Ocean Shipping and Resurgence of Ocean Tramp Practices
The below e-mail recently received by the author paints the picture we are seeing a thousand fold in the current ocean shipping marketplace in the inbound/outbound Asia trade lanes which underscores the serious disconnect currently between ocean common carriers and shippers in these U.S trade lanes:“Carlos:We are seeing examples where there was a rate agreed upon and the cargo was tendered to the carrier. In many cases the freight gets rolled and sits at the original terminal for an additional 1-2-3 weeks.
MSC Rolls Out Electronic Bill of Lading Globally
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is introducing the electronic bill of lading (eBL) for its customers globally following a successful pilot phase of the independent blockchain platform.The eBL enables shippers and other supply chain stakeholders to receive and transmit the bill of lading document electronically, without any change or disruption to day-to-day business operations, potentially saving the industry billions of dollars, the Swiss-headquartered container shipping giant…
Keppel Delivers Another LNG Vessel to Avenir LNG
Keppel Offshore & Marine has delivered its second newbuild LNG carrier, the Avenir Accolade, to Avenir LNG.The LNG carrier can also function as an LNG bunkering vessel (LBV), making it the third LBV that Keppel has delivered."The dual-fuel Avenir Accolade attests to Keppel’s growing track record in solutions for the gas value chain and reinforces Keppel’s Vision 2030 to seize opportunities in LNG solutions," said the company which in January announced it would exit the drilling rig building business.The 7…
Port Improvements Continue in Mobile
The Alabama Port Authority completed its 400-foot container dock extension at the APM Terminals Mobile facility on March 20, and three days later, the terminal for the first time simultaneously handled two containerships at the newly expanded berth.Part of Alabama’s seaport modernization program to accommodate larger vessels, the berth extension enables two x 8,000-10,000 TEU be handled simultaneously. The quay extension was part of a $50 million Phase 3 expansion that increased…
Marine News' 2020 ATB Report
There’s a barge full of reasons why many operators turn to ATBs.A mainstay of the U.S. coastwise dirty and refined products trades, articulated tug barges (ATB) have increasingly filled a void left as the fleet of Jones Act tankers (with crew complement requirements exceeding that of tugs) has aged out. With the cargo capacity of the larger ATBs – some with barges exceeding 300,000 barrels capacity – rivalling that of workhorse tankers that had served oil consuming regions, the concept certainly makes sense from a supply and distribution perspective.With 50…
Tug Training & Consultancy, ADMA Sign MoU
Tug Training & Consultancy (TTC) and Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy (ADMA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a long term strategic partnership. The MoU encompasses exclusive training of hundreds of (tug) masters and captains in the Middle East Region by certified trainers of TTC at ADMA’s state of the art facilities.Facing the increasing demand for qualified maritime professionals, ADMA is seeking ways to safeguard its best-in-class training for which the organization is renowned.TTC fulfills this requirement…
Avenir LNG in Brazilian Pact with Golar Power
Small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier Avenir LNG announced that it will collaborate with the Bermuda-registered Golar Power in developing the small-scale LNG market in Brazil.Avenir’s second 7,500 cbm LNG Carrier will be used to deliver LNG to various ports across Brazil upon delivery. The vessel will also offer ship-to-ship bunkering capability as part of Avenir’s global multi-nodal bunkering solution; adding to the Colombian, Mediterranean and Malaysian nodes which the company currently offers.Commenting on the collaboration with Golar Power, Andrew Pickering, Chief Executive Officer of Avenir LNG Limited, said, “This is…
US-flagged LNG Bunker Barge Launched
America’s first offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) barge has been launched for owner Q-LNG Transport, Mississippi shipbuilder VT Halter Marine announced on Wednesday.The Q-LNG 4000 barge, designed to carry 4,000 cubic meters of LNG, with dimensions of 324’ x 64’ x 32’.6”, will be operated as part of an articulated tug and barge (ATB) unit designed to meet the requirements of American Bureau of Shipbuilding (ABS) and the International Gas Carrier code as an LNG bunkering barge.Its tug, the Q-Ocean Services, is scheduled to launch late October.
Rotterdam Port to Host WPCAP
The first World Ports Climate Action Program (WPCAP) congress will take place in Rotterdam next May. The starting signal for the WPCAP was given in September 2018 at the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s initiative.Eleven leading European and American ports have now become affiliated with WPCAP: Antwerp, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Le Havre, Barcelona, Gothenburg, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Vancouver and New York & New Jersey. The ports are working on plans to reduce CO2 emissions from shipping and ports and improve air quality.In the coming spring they will take stock of what has been achieved and will share the results with interested ports, the shipping sector and authorities (port cities and national governments). Agreements will then also need to be made about the follow-up.
Aker Arctic's Icebreaking Ships Busy
Finnish engineering company Aker Arctic Technology Oy said that its Arctic condensate tanker Boris Sokolov has now been transporting gas condensate from Sabetta to various ports in Europe for more than half a year.Last spring, Aker Arctic’s expedition team carried out full-scale ice trials on the vessel based on our Aker ARC 212 design.In order to evaluate the performance of the vessel, the fully-laden Boris Sokolov deviated from her regular route and headed towards the Siberian coast to seek ice conditions that were closer to the tanker’s maximum independent icebreaking capability. The analysis of the results is currently ongoing.The new Chinese icebreaking polar research vessel…
Samskip Connects Norway to Baltic
European container transportation company Samskip has announced the launch a new service connecting Norway to Baltic countries.The logistics company said in a press release that this service will start on August 16th, 2019 and will add various ports to the Samskip Europe’s largest network transport service.The new connections are counting Iceland and Faroe Islands via Cuxhaven and Aarhus, North Norway. On the operational side we introduce two geared container vessels, 220 TEU vessels, 85 reefer plugs, and a deep sea feeder via Hamburg.''Customers who are demanding reliable transit times and have any kind of transport requirements for business between the Balticum / Poland and Norway…
Incat to Build World’s Largest Aluminium Ship
Australian shipbuilder Incat said it has secured a contract to build the world’s largest aluminium ship.Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd will build the 130 meter long ship for long standing customer, Buquebus to operate between Argentina and Uruguay.The completed vessel will be the largest aluminium ferry ever built and the ninth vessel for Incat’s valued South American customer.The 130-meter ferry will join the other Incat ships already serving various ports on the River Plate (Rio Plato) between Argentina and Uruguay.At a probable 13…
US Shutdown Impacts Shipping: North P&I Club
US Coast Guard and other federal agencies are operating at a reduced capacity following US government shutdown, said North of England Protecting and Indemnity Association (North P&I Club).Since 21 December 2018, the US Government has been in shutdown following the failure of Congress to agree federal funding. With no end in sight, it is the longest shutdown in US history, it said."We have not received any indications as yet that the shutdown is causing significant disruption to shipping," said a statement from North P&I Club. However, it outlines how the federal agencies relevant to shipping are affected by the shutdown as follows:The…
APH Pushes Container on Vessel Service for St. Louis Region
Innovative waterway concept vessel could deliver transportation savings for shippers on the Mississippi River. Plans to transport freight via innovative waterway vessels that backers say will revolutionize the inland waterway system and provide significant transportation cost savings for shippers, especially those accessing the Midwest by utilizing the Mississippi River and its tributaries, are underway, according to Sal Litrico, CEO for American Patriot Container Transport, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Patriot Holdings LLC.Litrico presented information about Container on Vessel (COV) innovations at two St. Louis Regional Freightway Industry Forums in late August in St.
Q-LNG, VTHM Execute LOI for Another LNG Bunkering Vessel
Quality Liquefied Natural Gas Transport, LLC (“Q-LNG”) announced its further commitment to support the cruise line industry and its liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) marine fueling needs by executing a letter of intent (“LOI”) with VT Halter Marine, Inc. (“VT Halter”) to construct an 8,000m3 LNG Bunkering Vessel on speculation.CEO, Shane Guidry, commented, “With the past and recent announcements by major cruise lines to build and deliver LNG powered cruise ships to the U.S. market, Q-LNG is committed to deliver the safest, most cost effective solution to the cruise line industry.”This contract represents a continuation of Q-LNG’s commitment to developing LNG fueling infrastructure in North America.
REGULATORY WATCH: The Global 0.50% Sulfur Cap: 30 months and counting down …
Industry frets about the coming deadline. Shipping desperately wants to be ready, but will global shore-based infrastructure and refining capacity match the demand that is sure to come? And … are regulators listening to industry’s concerns? In early June, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public workshop in Washington to help the agencies prepare for the January 1, 2020 deadline for worldwide implementation of very low sulfur marine fuel that meets the new 0.50% sulfur cap as set forth by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
St. Louis, Plaquemines Ports Ink MoU for Mississippi River Cooperation
St. Louis Regional Freightway, Port of Plaquemines and St. Louis Regional Ports Sign Agreement to Foster Economic Growth on the Mississippi River. The pact will help support development of a new transportation link for cargo to move along the Mississippi River. The St. Louis Regional Freightway, Plaquemines Port Harbor & Terminal District located in the State of Louisiana and four ports in the St. Understanding (MOU) to establish and grow an alliance to generate new business by promoting international and inland trade routes at strategic locations along the Mississippi River. The agreement, which represents a five-year commitment, calls for joint marketing initiatives and exchange of data to further those goals. The agreement embodies the St.
VT Halter Marine Cuts Steel on Offshore LNG ATB
VT Halter Marine and Q-LNG Transport team members during start of construction of ATB Tug Q-Ocean Service and Barge Q-LNG 4000. VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine), a company of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), today held a ceremony to commence construction on America’s first Liquefied Natural Gas Articulated Tug and Barge (LNG ATB) unit. “We are honored to be able to celebrate the official start of construction on the first LNG Bunkering ATB unit ever built. We believe that this is a significant step towards the USA becoming the premier supplier of LNG as the environmentally friendly maritime fuel source of choice,” said Rob Mullins, Chief Executive Officer of VT Halter Marine.
Krilo Jesenice: Village of the Cruisers
Driving south on the coastal highway from the ancient city of Split in Croatia in late October, one is amazed to come on a forest of masts. These are not your usual sailboat masts lined in orderly rows in a marina, they are masts of all shapes and they are supported by a range of what at first appear to be spectacularly well maintained mega-yachts. A few are classic, bright finished wood but bold, white, steel-hulled ships with cruise ship style raked bows predominate. On the shore…