Ship Networks News

IMO2021 came into effect on January 1, and it is vital that ship owners and managers continue to monitor the systems and processes in place to ensure vessels remain cyber secure. Mike McNally, Commercial Director at GTMaritime discusses what shipping companies can do to ensure cyber security and that they remain compliant with the new regulations.The IMO2021 guidelines on maritime cyber risk management provide the basis for a safer, more secure and resilient cyber space for shipping operations.

Korean Register (KR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to conduct a joint study on “Ship Cyber Security Network Construction and Design Safety Evaluation” at the Marine Engineering Research Center of SHI.Under the MOU, the two organizations have agreed to evaluate the construction and design safety of cyber security networks applicable to new ships. In addition, they will jointly study technologies that can respond to cyber threats faced by ships…

Korean Register (KR) has completed a comprehensive cyber security survey of the chemical/oil tanker SONGA HAWK and has certified the ship to be fully compliant in all areas, the very first ship to achieve the certification.Songa Ship management manages and operates 18 chemical/oil tankers and five semi-submersible vessels. The company signed a cyber security contract (valid for five years) with KR in 2018, covering its fleet of 23 vessels.KR conducted a cyber security audit of Songa Ship management and certified the company to be fully compliant in all areas in 2019…

A new satellite device that combines the Inmarsat Fleet Xpress Network Service Device (NSD) with the RedPort Optimizer Enterprise satellite router and VoIP gateway was launched by RedPort Global.The single rackmount appliance will manage ship networks with satellite broadband routing, VoIP connectivity and crew services, and replaces at least three pieces of hardware that were previously required for Fleet Xpress installations.The innovative RedPort Optimizer Enterprise NSD for Inmarsat Fleet Xpress gives satellite service providers and ship operators an all-­in-­one solution…

The Kongsberg Information Management System (K-IMS) has now had more than 100 installations for vessel owners and charterers in the LNG sector. As interest in data-sharing for operational efficiency grows in the LNG sector, Kongsberg  has conducted several successful customer trials to show the capabilities and benefits of integrating K-IMS in the last year. K-IMS is designed to enable continuous access to data both on board and ashore through an interactive web portal solution.

Months of planning to create the Navy's most sophisticated at-sea communications platform went on-line Oct. 10 aboard amphibious flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) to provide Commander, 7th Fleet and his staff with increased command and control capabilities. According to Lt. Cmdr. Mark Baehr, the flagship's communications information systems officer, the estimated $3.5m project was necessary to upgrade the aging hardware and dated software to keep up with the ever changing world of technology.

CP Ships Limited today announced unaudited fourth quarter 2003 operating income of US $49 million, up from $34 million before exceptional items in fourth quarter 2002 and up from $44 million in third quarter 2003. Basic earnings per share was $0.46 compared with 2002's $0.23 before exceptional items and third quarter's $0.37. Net income available to common shareholders was $41 million, compared to $23 million in fourth quarter 2002. For 2003 overall, operating income before exceptional items was $131 million compared with $83 million in 2002. Basic earnings per share before exceptional items was $1.02 compared with $0.59. Return on average capital employed at 7.3% was up from 5.7% in 2002. Net income available to common shareholders was $82 million compared to $52 million in 2002.

Following the appointment of Frank Halliwell as CEO by the Board of Directors in early May, CP Ships announced a restructured executive management team. Alan Boylan is joining CP Ships as Executive Vice President Commercial for Montreal Gateway, Australasia and Middle East/India. He was previously Senior Vice President responsible for ocean freight activities at Exel, the global logistics company. He joined the shipping industry in 1974 as a marine economist with Ocean Transport & Trading, an Exel predecessor company. He will be based in Gatwick, UK. Juan Manuel Gonzalez has been promoted to EVP Commercial for Americas-Pacific and Gulf/Atlantic. He was formerly Senior Vice President Americas-Pacific. He is based in Tampa, Florida.

The CP Ships Limited Board of Directors has unanimously recommended that shareholders accept an offer from TUI AG to acquire CP Ships in an all-cash transaction for US $21.50 per share or about $2 billion on a fully diluted basis. Including the assumption of net debt of $0.3 billion at 30th June 2005, the transaction has a total value of $2.3 billion. The offer price represents a premium of about 28% over CP Ships average closing share price over the past three months. TUI, the parent of Hapag-Lloyd, plans to combine Hapag-Lloyd and CP Ships to create the world's fifth-largest container shipping company with a fleet of 139 ships (and a further 17 on order) for a capacity of approximately 400,000 teu on over 100 routes spanning the globe.