Us Caribbean News

Bellingham, Wash. boatbuilder All American Marine announced it recently secured a contract to construct a research vessel for BLUETIDE Puerto Rico. The 73- by 26.7-foot aluminum catamaran will be constructed to USCG Subchapter T standards for use on both near coastal and ocean routes.The twin-engine vessel will be BLUETIDE’S first for its marine research, education, innovation and conservation work based out of Puerto Rico. The mission of BLUETIDE is to "influence, innovate, support…

Seaboard Corporation announced Monday that its president, CEO and chairman of the board Steven J. Bresky passed away suddenly. The group said its board of directors expects to name Bresky's successor in the near future.Steve was the third generation Bresky to lead Seaboard in its 102-year history, following in the footsteps of his father H. Harry Bresky and grandfather and company founder Otto Bresky. He had been president, CEO and chairman of the board since 2006. Among the agribusiness conglomerate's group of companies is Seaboard Marine…

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued the order granting authorization for siting and constructing of the proposed on-water Jacksonville liquefied natural gas (LNG) Export Facility, developer Eagle LNG Partners LLC announced.The LNG export facility and terminal, planned in Jacksonville, Florida, will have a production capacity of approximately 1.65 million LNG-gallons per day with 12 million LNG-gallons of storage plus marine- and truck-loading capabilities located on-site.“The FERC authorization for Eagle LNG’s Jacksonville LNG Export facility has been many years and countless hours in the making. As one of only a handful of greenfield LNG project proponents to obtain their FERC Order…

The owner and operator will pay a total criminal fine of $3,000,000.00.U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert for the District of the Virgin Islands announced that IONIAN SHIPPING & TRADING CORP., LILY SHIPPING LTD., STAMATIOS ALEKIDIS, ATHANASIOS PITTAS and REY ESPULGAR have been convicted and sentenced for various pollution, recordkeeping, and obstruction of justice crimes on the Motor Tanker (“M/T”) Ocean Princess in St. Croix, U.S.V.I. The defendants’ conduct included using fuel that exceeded the maximum allowable sulfur concentration in the U.S. Caribbean Emission Control Area (“U.S.

Port Everglades' largest tenant is urging the Florida Board of Pilot Commissioners to reject a proposed fee increase for harbor pilot services that it says would unfairly raise average pilotage costs more than 100 percent for shipping lines that call frequently at the port.While the proposed fee structure would decrease fees for cruise ships, it would hike the costs for companies that operate frequent-call feeder vessels that sail in and out of Port Everglades, Crowley Maritime Corporation said in a statement.

Wärtsilä marks another milestone for its Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engine.The 34DF engine has been awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Tier III certification for diesel mode operation when installed together with the Wärtsilä NOx Reducer (NOR) system, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system that converts nitrogen oxides (NOx) with the aid of a catalyst into diatomic nitrogen (N2) and water.Wärtsilä said it is the first engine manufacturer to be awarded…

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).

Veteran sales executive in ocean transportation and logistics Daniel Vargas has been appointed vice president of international business development to support the Crowley Maritime Corp. liner and logistics services groups. He will work closely with Crowley's new director of logistics in St. Maarten, Jeffrey de la Combe, to bring supply chain solutions for customers and their cargoes originating outside the U.S. In the newly created role, Vargas will spearhead the development of both full- and less-than-container load cargo (FCL/LCL) originating from international locations…

The International Maritime Organization’s proposals to reduce sulfur levels in marine fuels to a maximum of 0.5 percent m/m (mass/mass) by 2020 may prove to be controversial, having met with various responses from major shipping organisations and other bodies. The decision to implement the proposals by 2020 was taken by IMO, the regulatory authority for international shipping, during its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 70) meeting, which was held in London, UK in October 2016, and represents a significant reduction from the 3.5 percent m/m global limit currently in place.

DNV GL’s Tanker Working Group looked at the latest trends in the tanker segment with a special focus on the impact of upcoming emissions regulations at its 31st meeting in Hamburg recently. Some 25 representatives from the tanker industry met with DNV GL experts in the classification society’s maritime headquarters to hear presentations and participate in informal discussions. “The Tanker Working Group is a great place for industry representatives and DNV GL to share ideas and the latest news on regulatory developments, innovations, and the challenges and opportunities for the sector,” said Catrine Vestereng, Business Director Tankers at DNV GL.

The members of THE Alliance announced the details of the plan for their product starting from April 2017. THE Alliance plans to deploy a fleet of more than 240 modern ships in the Asia /Europe, North Atlantic and Trans-Pacific trade lanes including the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf/Red Sea. The start of THE Alliance as the most integrated liner shipping consortia is scheduled for April 2017 (subject to completion of all relevant regulatory requirements). “The product of THE Alliance is a milestone which will significantly improve the service offering for all shippers on the East West trade lanes“, said the member carriers Hapag-Lloyd, “K”Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Yang Ming in a statement.

It is predicted that biofuels will make up 5-10% of the global marine fuel mix by 2030 – meaning that biofuels will represent a crucial role in creating a low-emission future for shipping. In the wake of COP 21 and in advance of any subsequent IMO ruling on the environment, it may seem to many that the shipping industry is in limbo when it comes to improving its emissions footprint. On the contrary, ship owners and operators are increasingly looking for ways to ensure that both existing fleets and new builds maximize their business potential…

SAFE Boats International, a manufacturer of aluminum, patrol and response boats located in Bremerton, Wash., has manufactured and delivered two new 41-foot Center Console – Offshore Interceptors for the Royal Bahamas Police Force adding to its growing fleet of SAFE Boats. The 41-foot Center Console - Offshore Interceptor Vessel’s primary mission is counter-narcotics and human trafficking interdiction within the waters of the Bahamas. The vessels were delivered late in December and acquired through a joint effort between the U.S.

The Coast Guard has confirmed several reports it has received stating that main engines may not attain the expected speed when using ultra low sulfur fuel oil. The Coast Guard has revised its list of recommendations to vessel owners and operators about the importance of establishing effective fuel oil changeover procedures to comply with MARPOL Annex VI emission regulations. Ensure fuel oil switching is accomplished outside of busy traffic lanes and the ECA. Generally the ECA is 200 nm from the North American Coast and 50 miles from the U.S. Caribbean coast (e.g., the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Anticipate that there may be many technical challenges for operators when beginning to use ULS fuel oil as a matter of routine and compliance.

As the implementation of Tier III NOx limits approaches, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is rapidly maturing. Now Alfa Laval has introduced Alfa Laval PureNOx Prime, a smaller, leaner and streamlined version of its EGR water treatment system for EGR engines operating with low-sulphur fuel. Many ship owners are considering their choice for compliance with Tier III NOx limits, which will soon apply in the North American and U.S. Caribbean Emission Control Areas (ECAs), Alfa Laval noted…

With Tier III NOx limits entering into force in North America and the US Caribbean in January 2016, the time has come for many ship owners to choose their method of compliance. Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) on MAN B&W engines has strong advantages on its own. But combined with a new pressurized EGR economizer from Alfa Laval, it also offers the potential for massive fuel savings. “EGR provides Tier III NOx compliance with a very compact footprint, but compliance itself is only part of the full potential,” says John Pedersen, Business Manager, Boilers, Combustion & Heaters at Alfa Laval. “Working closely with MAN Diesel & Turbo to optimize the EGR technology, we saw additional opportunities through our expertise in marine boilers.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order from Hitachi Zosen Corporation for a high-pressure gas supply system enabling use of natural gas as fuel in marine engines. In lieu of conventional heavy oil, the system supplies liquefied natural gas (LNG), injected under high pressure, to the engine. This configuration curbs emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2), thus contributing to reduction of environmental loads. Delivery of the system is scheduled for the second half of 2016, for installation at Hitachi Zosen's Ariake Works in Nagasu-machi, Kumamoto Prefecture. After use in gas fuelled demonstration testing of a marine diesel test engine…

Since the implementation of Emission Control Areas (ECAs) on January 1, 2015, ships entering waters in the Baltic Sea; the North Sea; the North American ECA, including most of the U.S. and Canadian coast, as well as the French overseas collectivities of St. Pierre and Miquelon; and the U.S. Caribbean ECA, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands Sea had to use fuels with up to 0.1% sulphur content. Shell Marine Products (SMP) was the first to introduce a complete line of ECA-approved marine lubricants in September 2014.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a marine safety alert today to remind vessel owners and operators to establish effective fuel oil changeover procedures during efforts to comply with MARPOL Annex VI emission regulations. The USCG said that several recent incidents of fuel leakages during changeovers prompted the alert. The USCG cited multiple unspecified incidents involving substantial machinery space fuel leakages that occurred while vessels were switching fuel oil to ultra low sulfur (ULS) fuel oil to ensure compliance with MARPOL Annex VI, Regulation 14.3.4. The new regulations, which came into effect on January 1, lowered maximum fuel sulfur content from 1.0% to .10%.

EPA has released a penalty policy for ECA violations. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a penalty policy for violations of the sulfur in fuel standard and related provisions for ships. The policy, which pursues violations of U.S. and international air pollution requirements by ships operating in the North American and U.S. Caribbean Sea Emissions Control Areas (ECA), applies to violations of new international standards for sulfur emissions from ships that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, and violations under the previous standards.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) authorized formal exemptions by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines that allow for the enlargement of the cruise line’s research program to develop and install exhaust gas scrubber systems on its cruise ships. Under the exemption, as articulated in MARPOL, Royal Caribbean will expand the program from six to 19 ships. This emission control technology will be used in waters surrounding U.S. coasts, known as Emission Control Areas (ECAs). Because emissions from oceangoing vessels can harm air quality on land, the U.S.

This week, find out why and how choosing ExxonMobil Marine Fuels & Lubricants Mobilgard 410 NC can help optimize the performance of engines that meet Tier IV emission requirements, which continue to be phased in from Jan. 1, 2015, depending on vessel and engine type. Optimize the performance of engines that meet Tier IV emission requirements. The EPA requires that new and medium and high-speed engines must significantly reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and diesel particulate matter (PM) emissions within US Caribbean Emission Control Areas (ECAs). In response, ExxonMobil has developed an advanced lubricant that can help optimize the performance of engines and aftermarket treatment devices (ATDs) that meet these requirements.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soon take action to ensure compliance with the forthcoming 0.10 percent fuel sulphur limits in the North American and U.S. Caribbean Sea Emmission Control Areas (ECAs), the USCG’s Maritime Commons said. “We will be coordinated in our efforts to ensure compliance with the new requirements effective January 1, 2015,” said Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for Prevention Policy at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. According to Maritime Commons, the USCG will continue to check Bunker Delivery Notes and other records during Port State and Flag State visits to vessels…