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Rubber News

15 Mar 2024

Migrant Boat Sinks Off Türkiye, Children Among 22 Dead

© giannis / Adobe Stock

At least 22 people drowned, including seven children, when a rubber boat carrying migrants sank off Turkey's northwest province of Canakkale, the local governor's office said on Friday, adding that search and rescue efforts continued.In a statement, the Canakkale governor's office said that two people had been rescued by the coast guard and two others had survived "by their own means" after the boat capsized.It said a plane, two helicopters, and a total of 18 vessels from the coast guard and other rescue authorities were involved in the search and rescue efforts…

12 Mar 2024

German Shipowners Seek Clarity from Berlin on Carbon Trading

© enanuchit / Adobe Stock

German shipowners' group VDR on Tuesday urged the Berlin government to provide legislation implementing European Union requirements to include the sector in the bloc's carbon trading system.The government is behind in transforming an EU agreement late in 2022 to require shipowners to buy EU carbon permits to trigger investment in greener technologies, into national legislation, VDR said at its annual press conference."For us, the cornerstone of our operations is not only planning certainty but also the assurance of uniform competitive conditions on an international scale…

18 Feb 2024

Two Dead in Migrant Rescues off Libya

Source: MSF

More than 80 migrants were saved, but two died and three were missing following two sea rescue operations in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) charity said on Sunday.MSF's vessel Geo Barents picked up over 60 people late on Saturday from a rubber dinghy in distress in international waters off Libya. It also recovered one body, and one of the migrants taken on board died shortly after the rescue.Another 19 people were picked up from a nearby abandoned Tunisian offshore oil platform, MSF said.

07 Feb 2024

Kobe-Osaka Port Launches Demo of Hydrogen-Powered Crane

(Credit: MOL)

Kobe-Osaka International Port Corporation has launched a project to demonstrate rubber-tired gantry (RTG) crane, which uses a hydrogen-powered engine to demonstrate decarbonization of advanced cargo handling machinery.The project is said to be the first in the world to convert RTG crane's diesel engine generator to a hydrogen engine at Hanshin Port’s Kobe International Container Terminal (KICT), operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).The initiative is led by the Kinki Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land…

18 Jan 2024

Not All Underwater Reefs are Made of Coral

The South Carolina Army National Guard and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources turns unused armored carrier vehicles into an artificial reef off the coast of Beaufort, S.C. in 2014. (Courtesy photo by Phillip Jones/South Carolina Army National Guard)

When people hear about underwater reefs, they usually picture colorful gardens created from coral. But some reefs are anchored to much more unusual foundations.For more than a century, people have placed a wide assortment of objects on the seafloor off the U.S. coast to provide habitat for marine life and recreational opportunities for fishing and diving. Artificial reefs have been created from decommissioned ships, chicken transport cages, concrete pipes, rail cars and more.We study how ocean-dwelling fish use artificial reefs in the U.S. and beyond.

19 Oct 2023

Mississippi River Lowered Near Minneapolis for Dam Maintenance

(Photo: Patrick Loch / USACE)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, have lowered the Mississippi River water elevations between Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam 1, both in Minneapolis, from October 13.Corps officials plan to maintain the lower river elevations through October 30, to allow Twin Cities Hydro, LLC, to inspect and repair the rubber dam atop the spillway at Lock and Dam 1, also known as the Ford Dam.To access the rubber dam, the water levels need to be lowered approximately one foot below the spillway crest for approximately two weeks.

25 Jul 2023

Yokohama Port Call is First by an LNG-powered Containership in Japan

(Photo: CMA CGM)

A port call made by CMA CGM Liberty at the Honmoku D4 terminal in Yokohama on Monday is the first by a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership in Japan. At 15,000-TEU, the containership also ranks amongst the largest vessels to be calling in Japan.CMA CGM Liberty is one of three e-methane ready LNG-powered vessels that the Group has lined-up on the weekly Asia Central South America 1 (ACSA1) service. They form the ACSA1 service fleet of 12 vessels, ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 TEUs and deployed on the regular Transpacific service.

21 Jun 2023

Water Levels to Be Lowered for Lock and Dam 1 Repairs

(Photo: USACE)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plan to slightly lower the Mississippi River between Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam 1, both in Minneapolis, starting June 24.Corps officials plan to maintain the lower river elevations through July 7, to inspect and repair the rubber dam on top of the spillway at Lock and Dam 1. To access the rubber dam, the water levels will be lowered approximately one foot below the spillway crest for approximately two weeks.

21 Apr 2023

US Set to Blow Up Fake Warship in the South China Sea

Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), right, transits with Philippine navy ships BRP Tarlac (FF 601), left, and BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150) during a replenishment-at-sea rehearsal for Balikatan 23, April 15, 2023 in the Philippines territorial waters. (Photo: Kendra Helmbrecht / U.S. Navy)

As part of a joint military exercise with the Philippines, the U.S. Navy is slated to sink a mock warship on April 26, 2023, in the South China Sea.The live-fire drill is not a response to increased tensions with China over Taiwan, both the U.S. and the Philippines have stressed. But, either way, Beijing isn’t happy – responding by holding its own staged military event involving actual warships and fighter jets deployed around Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own.The tit-for-tat war games underscore a reality that U.S.

23 Mar 2023

Svitzer Adds New Tug in Brazil

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Brazilian shipbuilder Estaleiro Rio Maguari (ERM) has delivered the first in a series of six new tugs for Svitzer Brazil.The vessel, Svitzer Arthur, is a a RAmparts 2300-ERM tug designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd., who said the design is optimized for maximum efficiency in ship-handling operations in harbors.With an overall length of 23.2 meters and 11.4-meter beam, the tug features a raised fo’c’sle deck for safer operations in heavier weather. Operational requirement are met with a single drum hawser winch from Ibercisa Deck Machinery…

13 Mar 2023

Dredge Firms Focus on Sustainability as ESG Issues Climb Agenda

Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger - Vox Apolonia. Image courtesy Van Oord

Climate change, rising sea levels, land reclamation and offshore energy are all factors underpinning business models at Europe’s dredge and marine engineering majors. They are adopting strong sustainability credentials as their operations come under closer environmental, social, governance (ESG) scrutiny and new opportunities open up in the US offshore wind sectorThe relatively small number of global marine engineering and dredge firms face more observation of their business models than ever before.

20 Jan 2023

Konecranes Inks Licensing Deal with Larsen & Toubro

© Taina Sohlman / Adobe Stock

Konecranes and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have signed a licensing agreement for the manufacturing and distribution of Konecranes port cranes in India. The first products have been sold under this agreement: two shipyard jib cranes will be delivered to the Cochin Shipyard in Cochin, Kerala province.The agreement between Konecranes and L&T’s Minerals & Metals business unit covers manually operated Ship-to-Shore cranes, Rubber-Tired Gantry cranes and Rail-Mounted Gantry cranes across Konecranes’ brand portfolio. Konecranes shipyard cranes are also included.

18 Jan 2023

CMA CGM Argentina: Largest Containership to Call a Japanese Port

©CMA CGM/Twitter

The CMA CGM Group said this week it had received the arrival of the CMA CGM Argentina containership as its largest vessel to call at the Honmoku D4 terminal in Yokohama, Japan.The containership is one of two 15,000-TEU series that the group has deployed on the weekly Asia Central South America 1 (ACSA1) service. Arriving from central and south America, the CMA CGM Argentina is now the largest containership to call a Japanese port on a regular service and has brought import shipments of fresh fruits from Ecuador and Guatemala…

08 Jan 2023

Italy Rejects NGO Ship's Request for Closer Safe Port

The Italian government has rejected a request from a ship run by Doctors Without Borders non-governmental organisation (NGO) to assign a safe port closer to the place where it rescued 73 migrants, an NGO official said on Sunday.Italy's interior ministry did not comment on the issue.The dispute is part of a broader tug-of-war between Italy's right-wing government and NGOs over where to disembark migrants saved in the Mediterranean sea.On Saturday Doctor Without Borders' ship Geo Barents received permission from Rome to dock to Ancona port, which is in central Italy and on the country's east coast, far away from Sicily where NGO boats…

21 Nov 2022

Chinese Exports to North Korea Surge in October

© ABCDstock / Adobe Stock

China’s exports to North Korea surged in 46.3% October from a month earlier, with foodstuffs including rice and sugar among the main items, though it shipped less COVID-related items except for rubber gloves, Chinese customs data showed on Sunday.Totaling $132.43 million in October, China’s exports to North Korea were 2.5 times more than a year ago.

31 Oct 2022

DOT Announces $703M in Port Funding; 41 Projects in 22 States

Copyright bannafarsai/AdobeStock

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that designed to help improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. Following is the full list of FY 2022 Port Infrastructure Development Grant Awards:ALASKANorth Extension Stabilization Step 1 Project ($68,700,000), Anchorage, AlaskaThe Project will reconfigure and realign the shoreline within the “North Extension” (the area north of the existing general cargo terminals) at the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska.

25 Oct 2022

ZF Marine Debuts 4600 POD Propulsion System

(Image: ZF Marine)

Marine driveline specialist ZF announced it will premier its new 4600 POD Propulsion System for large vessels for the first time in North American markets during this week’s Fort Lauderdale Boat Show (FLIBS).Engineered for large recreational and commercial vessels with planing and semi-displacement hulls measuring from 80 up to 130 feet, the 4600 POD Propulsion system first set sail in the Grande 26M motor yacht by Azimut last fall, but has been unavailable outside of European markets until now.

23 Aug 2022

Thordon’s SXL Bearings Installed on History-making Ferry Daleela

Thordon Bearings’ Egyptian distributor and integrated services provider Nefertiti Marine has commissioned the water lubricated Thordon SXL propeller shaft bearings installed aboard the 24,112gt ferry Daleela.The 1991-built, 400-passenger capacity RoPax, owned by El-Etehad International and chartered to Scandro Holdings, began operations on the revived Piraeus–Limassol route in June 2022 following an extensive refit in the floating dock operated by the Suez Shipyard in Egypt.Nefertiti Marine supplied a total of 14 Thordon SXL forward…

07 Jun 2022

Strategic Marine's New Fast Crew Boat Can Carry 80 Passengers

Credit: Strategic Marine

Singapore's Strategic Marine has announced its latest offshore fast crew boat, a 38-meter extra fast crew transfer catamaran vessel (FCTV). "The new vessel has been designed in collaboration with One2Three naval architects in Sydney Australia, incorporating direct feedback from customers," Strategic Marine said.Greg Daniel, Technical Manager of Strategic Marine, said: “Our offshore customers are increasingly asking for faster transfers but still want to reduce their costs. Often helicopters are used but this is expensive and limited to small numbers (only about 10 crew at any one time).

26 Apr 2022

Norway Arrests Activists Blocking Tanker from Unloading Russian Oil

 Greenpeace activist Andreas Randoy - Credit: Greenpeace - Free Use License

Norwegian police said they had arrested 20 Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion campaigners who on Monday blocked a tanker from delivering Russian oil to an Exxon Mobil terminal.In a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, activists had fastened their red rubber dinghy to the Ust Luga's anchor chain, Greenpeace said, as they sought to prevent it offloading an estimated 95,000 tonnes of oil."Oil is not only at the root of the climate crisis, but also of wars and conflicts.

14 Feb 2022

New Push Boat Delivered to Plimsoll Marine

(Photo: Plimsoll Marine)

Push boat operator Plimsoll Marine announced it has taken delivery of the fourth vessel in a series of newbuilds from Master Marine, Inc. “Plimsoll Marine strives to provide the Lower Mississippi River with premier push boat services utilizing the industry’s most modern and capable fleet of vessels. The delivery of the Steel Skipper marks another milestone in that effort,” said Angus R. Cooper III, President, Cooper/T. Smith. “Our ongoing investment in building and maintaining…

22 Mar 2022

Snow & Company Delivers New Launch to the Savannah Pilots

(Photo: Snow & Company, Inc.)

Seattle shipbuilder Snow & Company earlier this month delivered Savannah, the first of two new 64-foot pilot boats for the Savanah Pilots Association. Designed by Camarc Design, the single chine, flush deck 5086 aluminum vessel is the third pilot boat the U.K.-based firm has designed for the Savannah pilots.Savannah is powered by MTU 12V2000M86 marine engines, Hamilton HTX 52 waterjets with electronic AVX controls, ZF 3055 marine gears, and Geislinger Carbon Fiber driveshafts / Silenco couplings.

09 Feb 2022

The Time to Reduce Port Emissions is Now

© Getty Gallery / Adobe Stock

Port operations across the country are vital to America’s economy, often coming at a cost to health and welfare of neighboring communities—notably, by emitting harmful emissions and producing poor air quality.Incorporating propane can help ports support economic growth while safeguarding our environment.The loading and unloading of container ships at marine terminals requires a variety of cargo handling equipment, historically powered by diesel and gasoline. As the country seeks to reduce emissions and fight climate change…