Carrier Operations News

Germany’s United Heavy Transport (UHT) and Korea’s Dongbang Transport Logistics have joined forces in a new strategic alliance combining their expertise in heavy lift vessels and transport.UHT and Dongbang Transport Logistics signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), symbolizing the integration of UHT's heavy lift expertise and Dongbang's mastery of open deck carrier operations."In this strategic alliance, UHT in conjunction with United Engineering Solutions and Dongbang unite their strengths…

When China sailed one of its two active aircraft carriers, the Shandong, east of Taiwan last month as part of military drills surrounding the island, it was showcasing a capability that it has yet to master and could take years to perfect.As Beijing modernizes its military, its formidable missile forces and other naval vessels, such as cutting-edge cruisers, are posing a concern for the U.S. and its allies. But it could be more than a decade before China can mount a credible carrier threat far from its shores…

The below e-mail recently received by the author paints the picture we are seeing a thousand fold in the current ocean shipping marketplace in the inbound/outbound Asia trade lanes which underscores the serious disconnect currently between ocean common carriers and shippers in these U.S trade lanes:“Carlos:We are seeing examples where there was a rate agreed upon and the cargo was tendered to the carrier. In many cases the freight gets rolled and sits at the original terminal for an additional 1-2-3 weeks.

The cargo-handling solutions provider Kalmar is to supply DP World with a total of 63 Kalmar Hybrid Straddle Carriers for use at four of its European container terminals: 12 units will be delivered to GMP in Le Havre, France; 20 units to Eurofos in Marseille, France; 19 units to Antwerp Gateway in Belgium; and 12 units to DP World Southampton in the UK.The order was booked in Cargotec's 2019 Q1 order intake, and the majority of the machines is expected to be delivered by the end of 2019, said Kalmar, part of Cargotec.Kalmar and DP World, one of the world's leading operators of marine and inland terminals, have developed a highly successful partnership over many years of working together.

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has signed a contract with DP World Southampton to supply 12 hybrid straddle carriers for use at their container terminal, said a press release.The Southampton agreement also includes maintenance and operator training as well as six months of on-site maintenance support. The order was booked in Cargotec's 2018 third quarter order intake, and delivery is scheduled for Q2 of 2019. DP World Southampton is the UK port of choice for many global leaders in the container shipping industry. Thanks to its strategic location on the UK's south coast it is an ideal first or last port of call for container ships serving the Northern Europe-Far East trade routes.

In all the excitement surrounding the digitalization of shipping it is easy to overlook the human element. Failing to appreciate and understand properly how people – and by extension organizations – interface with new technology can lead to poor implementation and unnecessary exposure to risk. Technology has sometimes been described as an ecosystem. This analogy from the natural world is rather apt in a shipping environment struggling to adapt to digitalization, where at least three species are thriving.

Naval cooperation between India, US and Japan epitomises the strong and resilient relationship between the three democracies. The MALABAR series of exercises, initiated in 1992 between the Indian and US Navies, have steadily grown in scope, complexity and participation into a multifaceted exercise with the participation of Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). The 21st edition of the exercise, MALABAR-17 will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 10 to 17 July 2017. The primary aim of this exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the three navies as well as develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations.

China's sole aircraft carrier has arrived at a naval base on the southern Chinese province of Hainan, a senior Taiwanese military officer said on Wednesday, after drills that took it around self-ruled Taiwan, an island China claims as its own. Taiwan warned on Tuesday that "the threat of our enemies is growing day by day", as Chinese warships led by the carrier sailed towards Hainan through the disputed South China Sea. The Chinese drill comes amid renewed tension over Taiwan, which China says is ineligible for state-to-state relations, following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's telephone call with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen that upset Beijing.

Tokyo-based Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Group is not only one of the world’s largest ship owners with a diverse fleet of more than 800 ships, it is a growing global maritime logistics powerhouse. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News visited with Yasuo Tanaka, Senior Managing Corporate Officer, Naval Architect, in Tokyo for his insights on the company’s continued efforts to invest in operational efficiency. The story of NYK cannot start without a look at the numbers, because the numbers tell the story in a most impressive fashion.

CargoSmart Limited, a shipment management software solutions provider that leverages big data for greater visibility and benchmarking, announced that COSCO Container Lines Co. Ltd. (COSCON) has started to implement CargoSmart’s online customer service and ocean carrier analytics solutions. The customer service solutions provide COSCON with process-oriented documentation and visibility tools for its customers to manage their shipments online. The carrier operations solutions help COSCON to optimize their vessel operations. Using predictive analytics, COSCON leverages CargoSmart’s global vessel and route data to improve planning, marine operations, and cost savings. Increased visibility to vessel operation exceptions and potential disruptions enables COSCON to respond faster and save costs.

Strike aircraft from nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) flew their first missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the fight to destroy the ISIL terrorist organization, Dec. 29. Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 join French nuclear powered aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R 91) in conducting combined combat operations in Iraq and Syria from the Arabian Gulf. Rear Adm. Bret Batchelder, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, said the abilities his forces bring to the fight are a vital part of the DIME equation - diplomatic, informational, military and economic. "Warfighting is the priority; that's why we are here," Batchelder said. "We provide the hard power in the collective DIME, and look forward to contributing however we can.

Leaders of the U.S. and British navies agreed on a shared vision for closer cooperation Dec. 11, the culmination of a yearlong effort that will build on a long-standing maritime partnership over the next 15 years. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert and his counterpart in the United Kingdom, First Sea Lord Sir George Zambellas, signed a combined strategic narrative that articulates a shared vision for deeper cooperation between the U.S. Navy (USN) and the Royal Navy (RN). "The United States and the United Kingdom rely on our navies to project power in critical regions and to protect the freedom of navigation that underpins the global economy," said Greenert.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa hosted 23 distinguished visitors from multiple European countries aboard aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as a part of the Navy's Distinguished Visitor (DV) Embark program, Oct. 30. The DV program is a unique experience that allows civilian and military guests board the ship while underway and experience the Navy's mission and witness carrier operations firsthand. The DVs included Lithuanian Minister of National Defense, Juozas Olekas; Latvian Minister of Defense, Raimonds Vejonis; Polish Undersecretary of State, Maciej Jankowski; Estonian Defense Forces Commander, Commander, Estonian Defense Forces, Maj. Gen. Riho Terras; and Spanish Fleet Commander in Chief, Adm. Santiago Bolibar.

Herbert-ABS says use of an approved damage stability computer program is the “only logical option” to meet new International Maritime Organization (IMO) Damage Stability Regulations requirements for onboard damage stability verification. Herbert-ABS Software Solutions LLC has published an assessment of the impact of new damage stability regulations on tanker and gas carrier operations. Hendrik Bruhns, Herbert-ABS Software Solutions President, argues that employing an approved damage stability verification software is the most practical and cost-effective means of demonstrating compliance with the regulations. The IMO recently adopted guidelines for demonstrating compliance with the requirements for damage stability reporting in April and May 2014 during MEPC 66 and MSC 93.

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has been awarded a contract for the integration of the controls for the new rail mounted gantry (RMG) cranes at the intermodal yard of TraPac Inc's terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. Kalmar explain that the RMGs will be supplied to TraPac by PACECO with the Kalmar Terminal Logistic System (TLS) ensuring they are integrated in the automated operations. TLS is part of the Kalmar SmartPort equipment automation portfolio. The intermodal yard is a substantial part of the terminal, with 30 percent of the TEUs shipped inland by rail.

Sunday, July 14 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gerald R. Ford, 38th president of the United States. This was an important historical milestone for the country because of President Ford’s exceptional legacy of service, but also an important historical milestone for the Navy as we fittingly get ready to christen and launch the first of our next generation of aircraft carriers, the Gerald R. Ford class with the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Former President Ford was born in 1913, around the time of Eugene Ely’s pioneering flights aboard USS Birmingham and USS Pennsylvania.

Increased interest in the building of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers at Chinese shipyards spurred the recent Large LNG Carriers Forum, held in Shanghai, and conducted jointly by classification societies ABS and CCS (China Classification Society) in conjunction with leading LNG operators. More than 150 representatives from the Chinese government, shipowners, shipbuilders, designers, energy corporations and universities attended the forum. Topics presented by leading industry participants Poten & Partners, NYK Line LNG Group and BG Americas included the global LNG market outlook, LNG carrier specifications and LNG carrier operations and fleet management.

The Cape Town container terminal’s R4.2 billion expansion project has seen several milestones for the port in recent months, and the upward trajectory is set to continue as the country’s second largest container terminal ramps up its capacity over the next five years. Oscar Borchards, Transnet Port Terminals’ Business Unit Executive, said ongoing expansion works and procurement of state-of-the-art equipment would ensure the facility is better prepared when the global market picks up again in the near future. “In May we took delivery of four rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) manufactured by Kalmar Industries. By the end of the expansion programme…

Seabulk Systems has opened a new office in Montreal to handle transhipment opportunities on the U.S. and Canadian East Coast. A new-patented Capesize vessel unloader (SCU) will be used to unload Cape bulkers and a unique 10,000dwt self-unloader will be used for loading into Panamax/Cape ships. Captain John D. Pace has been appointed vice president, Marine Operations to manage Seabulk's Montreal operations. Captain Pace was involved in various aspects of self-unloading bulk carrier operations for more than 20 years at Canada Steamship Lines, most recently as vice president, Fleet Management.

The ownership of Columbia Coastal Transport, a container barge operator on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts, announced the addition of two new companies to its Columbia Group of Companies. Palmer Industries, Inc., a logistics company in Port Newark, has been acquired and will be named Columbia Container Services at a grand opening ceremony to take place on July 1, 2003. Also added to the Columbia Group of companies is Columbia Intermodal, a full container trucking company based in Port Newark. Principals of the newly acquired companies include Bruce Fenimore, President, Greg McGinty, Managing Director and John Armstrong, Vice President.