Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Port Of Galveston News

24 Jan 2024

Seaside LNG Performs US Gulf Coast's First Ship-to-ship LNG Bunkering

Seaside LNG's bunkering barge Clean Jacksonville is now operating in Galveston, Texas. (Photo: Seaside LNG)

Seaside LNG announced its liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering barge Clean Jacksonville delivered fuel to Carnival cruise ship Carnival Jubilee in Galveston, Texas, marking the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering delivery along the U.S. Gulf Coast.The bunkering operation took place on December 30, 2023, after months of careful coordination with all parties involved, including the Port of Galveston, Seaside LNG said.The 2,200 cubic meter bunkering barge Clean Jacksonville, previously stationed in Florida…

04 Dec 2023

Meyer Werft Delivers Cruise Ship Carnival Jubilee

(Photo: Meyer Werft)

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft announced it has delivered Carnival Jubilee, the latest cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line.The 183,200 GT ship is 345.4 meters long, 42 meters wide and can accommodate 5,374 passengers in 2,626 passenger cabins, plus 1,551 crew. It has 20 decks.The RINA-classed Carnival Jubilee has a wide range of entertainment options and numerous restaurants. The highlight on the upper deck is the "Ultimate Playground" with a waterpark including large slides and the "BOLT" roller coaster.The newbuild is the first ship for Carnival Cruise Line to be built in Papenburg.

08 Nov 2023

Seaside LNG and Carnival Corporation Partner to Fuel LNG-Powered Cruise Ship in Galveston

Credit:HenSti/Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED

Seaside LNG and Carnival Corporation have entered into a term bunkering agreement to fuel the Carnival Jubilee, the first LNG-propelled cruise ship to call Galveston, Texas, its homeport.Seaside’s barge, the Clean Jacksonville, will move from Jacksonville, Florida, to operate out of Galveston and serve the Texas Gulf Coast with its first LNG delivery to the Carnival Jubilee in December 2023. With the assistance of the Port of Galveston, Seaside aligned all stakeholders to ensure the proper infrastructure is in place to begin the operation this winter.Initially…

12 Oct 2023

Port of Galveston to Co-pilot Shore Power Project

© Irina Starikova / Adobe Stock

Galveston Wharves has been awarded a $1 million grant for a shore-power pilot project in partnership with Texas A&M University at Galveston to reduce emissions from cargo shipping operations.Funded by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the pilot project will include establishing an onshore electricity microgrid to provide a clean portable power source to a docked ship as an alternative to using the ship’s diesel-fueled auxiliary engines.The project study team will evaluate the microgrid’s feasibility…

24 Jul 2023

Meyer Werft Floats Out Carnival Jubilee

(Photo: Meyer Werft)

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has floated out its latest newbuild, a 183,200 GT cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line.Carnival Jubilee left the yard's covered building dock on Friday and was moored at a pier in the shipyard harbor for outfitting. On Saturday, the ship briefly cast off from the pier for its bow thrusters and stabilizers could be tested.The RINA-classed ship is 344.5 meters long, with capacity for 5,228 passengers in 2,626 passenger cabins, plus 1,551 crew. It has 20 decks and an onboard roller coaster.Originally ordered for Carnival Corp.

03 Aug 2021

Port of Galveston Signs LNG Bunkering Deal with Stabilis

© Jorge Luna / Adobe Stock

Galveston Wharves at Port of Galveston and Stabilis Solutions Inc. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to facilitate the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel at the port.Under the terms of the MOU, the port and Stabilis will work together to provide turnkey LNG fueling solutions to marine vessels calling on the port, including identifying suitable dock space for shore-to-ship fueling operations, obtaining the necessary permits and approvals, identifying and educating potential customers, and executing LNG fueling events.

01 Jun 2021

US Records Show Iran Oil Cargo Landed One Month After Ship Seizure

A cargo of 1.033 million barrels of Iranian crude oil landed on U.S. shores in March, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed, the second shipment of Iranian oil to be imported into the United States since 1991.The cargo was registered in EIA data released late last week for the month following the seizure by U.S. authorities of the Liberian-flagged tanker Achilleas, which was transporting Iranian crude.The EIA gave no other details on the Iranian cargo, and the agency could not be reached for comment outside of U.S. office hours. Monday is a holiday in the United States.The United States last recorded Iranian crude and petroleum imports of 3…

15 Feb 2021

Iran Accuses U.S. of Piracy Over Oil Cargo Seizure

Iran said on Monday that a U.S. move this month to seize a cargo of oil on the grounds that it came from Tehran was an act of piracy, adding that the shipment did not belong to the Iranian government.Washington filed a lawsuit earlier this month to seize the cargo, alleging that Iran sought to mask the origin of the oil by transferring it to several vessels before it ended up aboard the Liberian-flagged Achilleas tanker destined for China.Washington said the cargo contravened U.S. terrorism regulations."This shipment does not belong to the Iranian government. It belongs to the private sector," Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh…

10 Feb 2021

US Sells Illicit Iranian Fuel, Another Seized Cargo on the Way

The United States has sold more than a million barrels of Iranian fuel seized under its sanctions program last year, a Department of Justice official said, as another ship with intercepted Iranian crude oil sails to a U.S. port.The seizures are part of Washington's tough economic sanctions on Tehran imposed over its nuclear program and the U.S. designation of a number of Iranian groups as terrorists, continuing decades of rancor between the two nations. Iran rejects U.S. accusations of wrongdoing.In a new approach last year, the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump used civil forfeiture procedures to seize some 1.2 million barrels of gasoline it said were being sent from Iran to Venezuela aboard four tankers.The shipments…

08 Sep 2020

Iranian Fuel Seized by US to Reach Texas Within Days

Iranian fuel that the United States seized last month while it was being transported to Venezuela is now being taken to Texas by two tankers due to arrive in coming days, part of Washington’s efforts to disrupt trade between Caracas and Tehran, according to sources and data.The first fuel cargo, on Liberia-flagged tanker Euroforce, was to arrive in Texas in the coming 24 hours, the sources said. It is broadcasting the U.S. Gulf port of Galveston as destination, according to shipping data on Refinitiv Eikon.The second cargo on Singapore-flagged tanker Maersk Progress tanker, is expected to arrive on Sep 19 to Houston port, the Eikon data showed.Eurotankers and Maersk Tankers, which manage the two vessels, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The U.S.

27 Aug 2020

Port of Houston Reopens as Hurricane Closure Lifted

(File photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)

The Port of Houston, the United States' largest energy export port, began reopening to commercial shipping on Thursday after a day-long closure due to Hurricane Laura, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Ports along the Texas and Louisiana coasts were closed as the Category 4 hurricane churned up the Gulf of Mexico and went ashore in Cameron, Louisiana, early Thursday. The storm brought hurricane winds and high seas to the region.The Port of Houston, a major import and export hub for fuel, chemicals and consumer goods, closed on Wednesday.

16 Dec 2019

Galveston Port, RCL to Develop Cruise Terminal

Miami-based cruise company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) will kick off construction of a third cruise terminal at the Port of Galveston in Texas next year.Both companies have approved a lease agreement to build a third cruise terminal at Pier 10 in Galveston with $100 million in construction cost.Through the public-private partnership, RCL will build the terminal, then lease it from the port for an initial term of 20 years, with four 10-year extension options.The two-story terminal will have a footprint of approximately 170,000 square feet on 10 acres in the eastern section of the Pier 10. Construction is expected to begin in April 2020.Anticipated to open in fall 2021…

25 Oct 2019

USCG Searches GoM for Cruise Ship Passenger

File Image: a USCG fixed wing asset in flight (CREDIT: USCG)

The U.S.

21 Jun 2019

Bludworth Marine Relocates HQ to Galveston

Photo courtesy of Bludworth

As of June 1, 2019, Bludworth Marine, LLC has relocated their corporate headquarters to Galveston, Texas. The new location, at 320 77th Street, is minutes from the Bludworth Marine 100' x 300' graving dock location and the Port of Galveston Pier 38 dockside location. This proximity will allow quicker response and service to the continually increasing marine repair service business in Galveston and surrounding areas. The new 3.5-acre site location also includes a 75' x 150' high bay fabrication shop with a 10-ton overhead crane…

05 Sep 2017

MARAD Calls in NDRF Ships for Harvey Relief

The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) has activated two National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) vessels for a pre-scripted Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mission to support relief efforts in Texas. The State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College’s training ship, Empire State VI, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s  training ship, Kennedy, have received orders to set sail within 10 days for the four- to five-day transit from the east coast to the gulf coast of Texas. MARAD also received notification from FEMA to activate the Texas Maritime Academy’s training vessel General Rudder, which will remain in-port at Galveston.

25 Aug 2017

Carnival Cruise Ships Blocked from Port by Hurricane Harvey

Carnival Corp said on Friday that three of its cruise ships are unable to return to the Port of Galveston, Texas, which is closed ahead of Hurricane Harvey. Two of the ships, the Carnival Freedom and the Carnival Valor, will head for New Orleans where they will pick up fresh supplies. Passengers will have the option of disembarking there, but Carnival advised them to not do so and said the ships will return to Galveston as soon as feasible. A third ship, the Carnival Breeze, will extend its stay in Cozumel, Mexico, and begin sailing back to Galveston this weekend, the company said. The next scheduled cruises on all three ships will be shortened and customers will receive refunds, the company said.

21 Jun 2017

GE Powered USS Gabrielle Giffords Commissioned

USS Gabrielle Giffords commissioning Port of Galveston June 10 2017 - U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Miranda Williams

The U.S. Navy’s 10th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Gabrielle Giffords was commissioned at the Port of Galveston, Texas, on Saturday, June 10, becoming the 16th ship to be named for a woman and only the 13th ship to be named for a living person since 1850. The ship’s homeport will be San Diego. “This is the fifth such LCS in a 10-ship Independence–variant ship program with Austal USA that uses our LM2500. The two LM2500 engines are arranged in a combined diesel and gas turbine or CODAG configuration with two diesel engines…

14 Jan 2017

Industry Leaders to address AAPA Cruise Seminar

Maximizing the number of cruise guest numbers and ensuring they have a favorable cruise experience are among the key topics to be addressed at the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2017 Cruise Seminar in San Diego, Feb. 14-15. Updates on the state of the cruise industry, environmental-related issues and port security, together with a 2.5-hour “Shorex Experience” to discover San Diego as a cruise guest does during a port-of-call, are also on tap for seminar participants. “For the many professionals who work in the cruise industry at ports, there’s nothing like getting together with their industry colleagues to learn new and innovative ideas…

12 Jun 2017

USS Gabrielle Giffords Commissioned

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), the Navy's newest littoral combat ship, was brought to life by her crew before a crowd of nearly 2,500 guests at Pier 21 at the Port of Galveston, June 10. Adm. William Moran, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, delivered the ceremony's principal address before officially commissioning the ship into service. "As we man the rails today, blood gets pumped, the ship comes alive, and the heart begins to beat," said Moran. "It's the blood that is infused by the spirit, the attitude, and the courage of its namesake. Following the commissioning, Dr. The crowd sounded its approval as the crew ran aboard the ship to man their assigned stations and complete the ceremony of bringing the ship into active service to end a story that began more than five years ago.

11 Aug 2015

Harkand Completes $10.5 mln DSV Upgrade

Swordfish (Photo: Harkand)

Harkand informs it has completed the $10.5 million upgrade of its Gulf of Mexico based dive support vessel (DSV) Swordfish. Originally built in 2007, the Swordfish is the youngest DSV in this region. The fully International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) compliant, ABS classed, 104-meter-long, DP2 DSV features a newly upgraded 15-man saturation diving system with a three-man bell along with a new 165-foot surface diving system. The vessel comes fitted with a new build 18-man self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat (SPHL) for evacuation of the divers under saturation in case of an emergency.

11 Dec 2014

CSV Delivered to Bibby Subsea

Olympic Ares

Bibby Offshore’s Houston-based division, Bibby Subsea, welcomed the Olympic Ares, a multifunctional subsea construction support vessel (CSV) which is due to arrive in the port of Galveston on December 16, 2014. The 115-meter Olympic Ares features a 250-metric-ton heave compensated crane for subsea use to 3,000-meter water depth and 1,300-square-meter of clear back deck space. Ahead of arrival in Galveston, the Olympic Ares was recently installed with two SMD Quantum MkIII 250hp 3,000-meter rated Work Class ROVs.

18 Dec 2014

Port of Galveston to Repair Public Pier

Galveston Wharves’ board of trustees today unanimously approved a project to repair pilings and pier deck in the Pier 19 area of the port. The board awarded the contract, with a not to exceed value of $190,000, to Taylor Marine Construction, Inc. to replace damaged pilings and deck. The work, which is expected to last approximately three months, is scheduled to begin in February 2015. Pursuant to the Charter of the City of Galveston, the port is charged with maintaining the Pier 19 public facility. The contract awarded today is one of two current projects. Last month, Texas Gulf Construction Company, Inc was awarded a $120,000 contract to rebuild the pier that connects the fuel pier to shore. On October 25, 2014 a section of the wooden pier that provides access to the fuel dock collapsed.

06 Nov 2015

Cosmo Lifts US, Mexican oil on Common VLCC

Japanese refiner Cosmo Oil has for the first time shipped U.S. condensate and Mexican crude on the same supertanker to reduce costs, industry sources said on Friday. U.S. condensate exports to Asia have slowed this year after West Texas Intermediate prices strengthened against Dubai crude, the Asian oil benchmark. Asian buyers have also faced high freight costs to ship oil from the Americas as shippers are reluctant to lease out their tankers on such long voyages. To reduce costs, Cosmo Oil is co-loading crude and condensate from the Americas onto a Very Large Crude Carrier which can carry up to 2 million barrels of oil. The Japanese refiner chartered the BW Opal, which loaded Mexican crude in early October, according to trade sources and Reuters shipping data. It then sailed to the U.S.