Reederei NSB Widens Panamax-class Container Vessels
In an unprecedented endeavour, the ship manager Reederei NSB is widening its Panamax-class container vessels. DNV GL, the class in charge, is on board, says a report in DNV GL, Maritime Impact. Too young for scrapping, too old to compete: Roughly 500 Panamax-class container ships are currently less than ten years old, barely half their useful life. But facing overcapacities, low charter rates and ierce competition, the Panamax class is under intense pressure. Compared with state-of-the-art and much more capacious newbuildings, its prospects are dim. This is mainly due to the way these vessels were designed. To pass the old locks of the Panama Canal, they were built with unusual dimensions – long and thin and with a large amount of ballast water to compensate the poor stability.
New Tug Guidelines from Bureau Veritas
International classification society Bureau Veritas has worked closely with the towing industry to develop a set of Guidelines for Design, Construction and Operation of Tugs. The Guidance Note provides safety rules for tugs in an area of marine safety where there are many vessels not covered by international conventions, with no established framework. Gijsbert de Jong, Bureau Veritas’ Business Development Manager for offshore service vessels and tugs said, “Active involvement with industry stakeholders was vital to building these rules. Bureau Veritas has worked in close cooperation with several industry leaders, including Robert Allan Ltd…
From Bow to Stern: Performance & Sustainability
Understanding On Board Lubricants – examining impact on performance and the environment, too. Performance and sustainability—two words with growing importance in the marine industry, especially when it comes to lubricants. Performance is a must-have for a wide range of components to function properly aboard any ship, while regulatory vessel oversight and greater corporate understanding is providing an opportunity for enhanced sustainability. From bow thrusters to stern tubes, onboard lubricants are seeing the convergence of performance and sustainability.
