Development Ltd News

Ocean Residences Development Ltd. (ORD) has taken the next step in the development of M/Y NJORD, a 290m long residential yacht to be built by DIV Shipbuilding, which owns both Kleven Verft shipyard in Norway and Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia. Both shipyards will have a role in the construction of this vessel, with Brodosplit responsible for the majority of the steel construction of the hull as well as a significant proportion of the technical installations. The hull will then…

Valmet will supply exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubber system) for ten container vessels of COSCO Shipping Lines Co., Ltd. The scrubber systems will be installed in existing vessels in China in 2019.The project is executed in co-operation with Health Lead Development Ltd.The order was included in Valmet's orders received of the fourth quarter 2018 and second quarter 2019. The value of the order will not be disclosed.Details about Valmet's deliveriesThe scrubber system delivery…

The emerging trend of marrying the design of an articulated tug and barge (ATB) to a particular propulsion system to maximize efficiencies of that system has, of late, been taking hold in workboat markets. For example, one recent project involving a dynamic partnership between Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc, Guarino & Cox, LLC (GCL) naval architects, Nautican Research & Development Ltd., integrated propulsion unit manufacturers, and VT Halter Marine shipbuilders, aptly demonstrates the concept in practice. What the collaboration produced, is even more important.

Noble Drilling (U.S.) LLC was charged with environmental and maritime crimes for operating the drill ship Noble Discoverer and the drilling unit Kulluk in violation of federal law in Alaska in 2012, the Department of Justice announced. Under the terms of a plea agreement filed in federal court today, Noble will plead guilty to eight felony offenses, pay $12.2 million dollars in fines and community service payments, implement a comprehensive Environmental Compliance Plan, and will be placed on probation for four years. In addition, Noble’s parent corporation, Noble Corporation plc, headquartered in London, England, will implement an Environmental…

Singapore shares edged lower on Monday, dragged down by losses in Sembcorp Marine Ltd which hit a six-week low after posting lower-than-expected first-quarter earnings. The benchmark Straits Times Index was down 0.2 percent at 3,245.69 by 0506 GMT. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped 0.3 percent. Shares of Sembcorp Marine fell 2.5 percent to an intra-day low of S$3.96, their lowest since March 21, after the offshore drilling rig builder posted a 3.1 percent increase in first-quarter net profit, which nonetheless undershot market expectations. CIMB downgraded its rating on Sembcorp Marine to "hold" and cut its target price to S$4.30 from S$5.10, citing a shortfall in ship repair and rig building revenue.

GL Garrad Hassan has appointed Mr Rajsekhar Budhavarapu as the new Country Manager of GL Garrad Hassan India. Mr Budhavarapu will be based in Bangalore, India and will develop local services and support for designers, manufacturers, developers and investors of renewable energy projects. Budhavarapu has 19 years of experience providing technical, operational and strategic leadership for the renewable energy industry. Before joining GL Garrad Hassan he worked for TERI, Asian Wind Turbines (NEG-Micon, India), ECN – the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands, Enercon India Power Development Ltd and Acciona Energy India. At ECN, as an Engineering Scientist…

China Shipping Development Ltd said it will pay more than $800m for 10 dry bulk carriers and four very large ore carriers. It said the dry bulk carriers were ordered from subsidiaries of its parent, China Shipping (Group) Co. Six carriers of 57,300 dead weight tons and four of 57,000 DWT will be delivered by June 2012 at the latest, the company said. They will be used to transport coal and other bulk cargo. The purchase is subject to approval by independent shareholders of China Shipping Development at an extraordinary general meeting. Meanwhile, the company said its wholly-owned China Shipping Development (HK) Marine Co Ltd will pay $467.2m for four very large ore carriers (VLOC), an order which it announced in October .

The area directly south of Lafayette, La., is authentic bayou country, known for Cajun culture, excellent food, unique music and, for boat lovers, the crew/supply boat capital of the world. Four boat yards in this area build these multi-engine, all- aluminum, speedy vessels, almost exclusively. Each yard turns out up to six crew/supply boats a year. In fact, three of the shipyards are located within just a few miles from each other in the tiny hamlet of Loreauville, La., a town that seems to be made up mostly of aluminum welders. That, of course, is an exaggeration, but not by much. Not every vessel delivered from these shipyards goes to work supporting the search for oil and gas…

Northern Transportation Company Ltd. of Hay River, Canada, recently completed a major refit of one of their quad screw pusher-towing tugs, the Edgar Kotokak. Vancouver's Robert Allan Ltd. provided design and engineering services for the refit which improved the operational efficiency of the tug. The refit included new CAT 3512B engines and replaced the open propellers and rudders with integrated Nautican Nozzles and Triple Rudders. Although total engine power increased from 4,500 to 5,640 hp on the Edgar Kotokak, and obviously bollard pull trials showed improvement, anecdotal evidence from the first month or so of operation seems to indicate that both the nozzles and Triple Rudders together with the new engines have improved the overall fuel efficiency.

Young Brothers, Ltd.'s tug, the Hoku Ke'a, has returned to service after being fitted with Nautican Research and Development Ltd.'s new Integrated Nozzle and Rudder Units at Foss Shipyards in Seattle. Mark Houghton, Vice-President, Maritime Operations, of Hawaiian Tug & Barge, Young Brothers reports that on the return trip to Hawaii, "the Hoku Ke'a was able to run at reduced r.p.m. and still averaged between 9.5 and 10 knots for the Pacific transit, towing a 340 x 78 ft. barge." This is the first installation of the Nautican Integrated Units on an ocean-going tug. Prior to the conversion, the Hoku Ke'a was fitted with conventional open propellers and rudders. The 108 x 34 ft., 3,900 hp tug's bollard pull went from 88,853 lbs with open propellers to 132,810 lbs with the Nautican Nozzles.

A device that increases the efficiency of barges is gaining in popularity on the West Coast, especially for Seattle to Alaska and Southeast Alaska runs. Many people report that Hydralift skegs substantially increase the efficiency of towed barges. This results in either increased towing speed or reduced fuel consumption because the horsepower required to tow at the same speed decreases. The Lynden Companies, Alaska Railbelt Marine (ARM) and Alaska Marine Lines (AML), have several barges with Hydralift skegs and another currently under construction. They are using the barges on Seattle to Alaska runs and runs within Southeast Alaska. Western Towboat Company, Inc., which does all the towing for ARM and AML, has two gravel barges with Hydralift skegs themselves.