Manta Installs Shore Power Systems for Finnlines Vessels
Manta Marine Technologies (formerly known as Yara Marine Technologies) has completed installation and commissioning of onboard shore power systems for three Finnlines vessels: the Finnlady, the Finnmaid and the Finnstar.The installations, onboard RINA-classed Finnlines RoPax vessels Finnstar, Finnmaid and Finnlady support Finnlinesâ commitment to decarbonize itsfleet and reduce the environmental impact on shore-side communities.Thomas Doepel, Finnlines Deputy CEO Finnlines, saidâŠ
Chief of Naval Operations Tours Austal USA
Austal USA welcomed Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General Christopher Mahoney to the companyâs Mobile, Ala. shipyard on March 4. They were joined by Senator Roger Wicker, Congressman Jerry Carl, and Rear Admiral Tom Anderson, Program Executive Officer Ships.The visitors witnessed Austal USAâs focus on innovation, adherence to proven processes, and continued investment in the companyâs people and facilities to meet the emerging needs of the Navy and Marine Corps.
FMC Mulls Investigation into Suez and Panama Canal Impacts
The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) held an informal public hearing examining impacts from attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on February 7.Opening the hearing, Commissioner Carl Bentzel, voiced concern about safe access through both the Suez and Panama Canals.âWhat is at stake is severe international economic disruption. The United States is still recovering from the aftershock of the pandemic induced supply chain disruption that that saw 30% increasesâŠ
Wärtsilä Books Ammonia Fuel System Order for Two Exmar Gas Carriers
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, will deliver the fuel supply system for Exmarâs two new medium size gas carriers that will operate with ammonia fuel.The ships are being built at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) in Korea for ship owner Danish shipowner Exmar LPG, a joint venture between Exmar, a multi-disciplinary maritime and offshore solutions provider, and Seapeak, one of the largest independent owner-operators of liquefied natural gas vessels.TheseâŠ
Exmar Announces Leadership Change
Carl-Antoine Saverys has been named CEO of listed Belgian shipowner Exmar, the company announced Tuesday. Effective January 1, 2024, he will take over from Francis Mottrie who will stay on board as COO.After assuming various roles in the shipping industry, Carl-Antoine Saverys has held deputy roles within Exmar over the past six years, including the companyâs infrastructure department and thereafter at the shipping department.Joining him at the executive top level are newly appointed CFOâŠ
Exmar Orders Ammonia-Powered Midsize Gas Carriers
Exmar LPG has ordered two ammonia-powered Midsize Gas Carriers (MGCs) from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea.According to the company, a joint venture between EXMAR and Seapeak, the ships will be the first-ever oceangoing vessels to be propelled by dual-fuel ammonia engines, allowing for close to zero emissions trading when using ammonia. The engines will be delivered by Swiss marine power company WINGD, and the fuel supply system by Finland-based Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.Carl-Antoine SaverysâŠ
Baltic Workboats Delivers New Launch for the Laurentian Pilotage Authority
The Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA), based in Montreal, Canada, provides pilotage services in Canadian waters in and around the province of Quebec where cold weather can often be an issue for marine operators. So when it came time to order a new pilot boat, the LPA sought a vessel that could stand up to the regionâs frigid conditions.The pilots turned to Estonia-based Baltic Workboats for the design and construction of the ice-capable Shipeku, a new 17-meter aluminum pilotâŠ
All American Marine Delivers Research Vessel for the University of Hawaiâi at MÄnoa
Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine (AAM) announced it has delivered a new research vessel for the University of Hawaiâi at MÄnoa on behalf of the Hawaiâi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB).The state-of-the-art research vessel, Imua, is a 68.5â x 25â semi-displacement aluminum catamaran hull that was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand. The vessel contains proven design elements found in the recently commissioned research vessels Blue Manta and Shearwater built for BlueTide Puerto Rico and Duke UniversityâŠ
Mass. Maritime to Open On-campus Center for Inclusion
Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) is set to open a new office on campus that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion through programs, events and student support initiatives.MMA's Office of Intercultural Engagement named its new office the Captain Paul Cuffe Center for Inclusion, in honor of the master mariner, philanthropist, abolitionist and education advocate. Approved by unanimous vote of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Board of Trustees, the Cuffe Center is housedâŠ
Four San Francisco Ferries Refit with Cleaner Engines
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) announced that WETAâs Gemini Class Clean Air Conversion Project has been completed, resulting in a substantial decrease in air pollution emissions from four San Francisco Bay Ferry vessels serving Oakland, Alameda and Richmond.In September 2021, WETA's Board of Directors approved a $5.5 million project to upgrade the engines and reduce emissions on the agencyâs four Gemini-class vessels.
Strategically Located, Guam's Defense Posture is Growing
With the rise of China and her global ambitions, the military importance of Guam in the Indo-Pacific theater has become apparent. The force levels on the island had drawn down from a peak of about 26,000 at the height of the Vietnam War to a tenth of thatâjust 2,500 people in the early 2000s. Today, that's changing. Guam's defense posture is growing.Guam's proximity to major population centers in East Asia underscores its strategic importance. The island is just 1,400 miles from Tokyo, Manilla or Port Moresby. All of the armed services have a presence on Guam.
Florida Marine Transporters Refinances with TCW
Florida Marine Transporters LLC Holdings has completed a refinancing with a unit of TCW Asset Management Company LLC.Investment bank Carl Marks Advisors announced it facilitated the transaction.FMT, headquartered in Mandeville, La., is one of Americaâs largest independent, family-owned, Jones-Act-compliant marine transportation companies, providing liquid petrochemical, chemical cargo, and dry cargo transportation services in the inland waterways of the United States, primarily the Gulf intercoastal Waterway and Mississippi River System.
Vattenfall Picks Port for Giant Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone
Renewable energy developer Vattenfall has selected the port at Great Yarmouth, run by infrastructure specialists Peel Ports, as the preferred location for the operations and maintenance base for the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone.When completed, Vattenfallâs Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone will be able to power around 4.6 million households.According to Peel Ports around 130 new jobs would be created with staff directly employed for the lifetime of the project which is around 35 years.
Navigator Line Buys Chemical Tanker from Lomar
Libra's global ship owning and management unit Lomar Shipping last week delivered the chemical tanker Apollo to new owner Navigator Line Ship Management and Operation, in Sharjah, UAE.Built in 2003, the 24,000 DWT vessel was sold for close to $10 million as part of Lomar's ongoing fleet renewal program, the company said.The vessel was the oldest of six chemical tankers, including four 38,000-dwt chemical/products tankers, that joined the Lomar fleet following the October 2022 acquisition of Germanyâs Bremen-based tanker specialist Carl Büttner GroupâŠ
US Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Carl Levin
The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future guided missile destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Jan. 26.Delivery represents the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy. Prior to delivery, the ship conducted a series of at-sea and pier-side trials to demonstrate its materiel and operational readiness.âDelivery of this ship will provide critical capacity to our surface fleet today and well into the future,â said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships.
AAM to Build Research Vessel for the University of HawaiÊ»i at MÄnoa
All American Marine (AAM) on Tuesday revealed it has been awarded a contract to build a research vessel for the University of HawaiÊ»i at MÄnoa and the University of HawaiÊ»i Foundation (UHF), on the behalf of the Hawaiâi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). This research vessel, with construction already underway in AAMâs facility on Bellingham Bay, is a 68.5â x 25â semi-displacement aluminum catamaran hull that was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand.
What is 'Hybrid-ready'?
There are vessels on order todayâincluding crew transfer vessels (CTV) being built in the U.S. (American Offshore Services at Blount Boats and for WINDEA CTV at St. Johns Ship Building and Gulf Craft, for example)âthat are described as âhybrid-readyâ. Of course, a vessel is either hybrid or it isnât. So what does hybrid-ready mean?When asked about the hybrid-ready CTVs that Blount Boats is building, the shipyardâs president Marcia Blount told Marine News that the vesselsâ Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system âis readily upgradeable to hybrid at any time in the future.
Future USS Carl Levin Completes Acceptance Trials
The future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) completed acceptance trials on December 9, returning to General Dynamics Corpâs Bath Iron Works (BIW) Bath shipyard after spending two days at sea.During acceptance trials, the ship and its crew performed a series of demonstrations for review by the U.S. Navyâs Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). These demonstrations are used by INSURV to validate the quality of construction and compliance with Navy specifications and requirements prior to delivery of the ship to the U.S. Navy.
Shell Taps Alfa Laval to Develop Gas Combustion Unit for Liquid Hydrogen Carriers
Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alfa Laval regarding the development of a new Gas Combustion Unit (GCU) for use on liquid hydrogen carriers.By paving the way for the safe transport of hydrogen by sea, the project is an important step on the path to global decarbonization. Crucial safety for zero-carbon fuel Under the MOU, Alfa Laval will develop a system to safely combust hydrogen boil-off gas (BOG) from a vesselâs storage tank, as part of a new liquid hydrogen carrier.
Quote of the Day: Carl Trowell, CEO, Acteon Group
In a recent interview with Offshore Engineer TV, to be published in the September/October edition of Offshore Engineer, Carl Trowell, CEO, Acteon Group, discusses how his company is balancing the transition to 'new energy,' putting in perspective the future he sees:âThere's going to be more infrastructure going into the sea in the next decade from offshore wind than went in throughout the whole lifetime of oil and gas. If you just look at the number of units, the number of installations, when you start moving to floating wind, it's going to be off the scale of the number of moorings.
Stena Line Inks Deal to Operate Birkenhead Terminal Until 2100
One of Europeâs largest ferry route and port operators, Stena Line, said it has signed a new deal with U.K. port operator Peel Ports to operate its 12 Quays port and ferry terminal in Birkenhead until the beginning of the 22nd Century. The Swedish company has operated twice daily ferry services to Belfast since 2011 and this new deal will see them continue to operate there for at least another 77 years, until 2100.The value of the deal has not been disclosed.Stena Line operates six routes and 12 vessels across the region and Birkenhead has been a key focus for investment in recent years.
Leadership Change at NYK Group Europe
Svein Steimler, president and CEO of NYK Group Europe Ltd., will retire on March 31, 2023, and will subsequently become a special advisor of the company. Steimlerâs successor as president and CEO will be Carl-Johan Hagman.
The U.S. Navy Needs More Ships, Encourages Industry to "Pick up the Pace"
The demand for warships is strong, and the Navy continues to receive support from the Congress to build more ships. The Navy is working to achieve a fleet of about 355 ships, plus a fleet of about 150 unmanned vesselsBut to achieve something close to that goal requires more than demand, and even more than money. For one thing, it requires an industrial base that can build, repair and sustain that fleet.While Navy leadership acknowledges the challenges of a stressed supply chainâŠ