Company Operator News

Marine News showcases the best of North America’s 2017 workboat deliveries. There is something for everyone. Notwithstanding the lingering offshore energy downturn, there were plenty of bright spots for North American shipyards in 2017. If a hull was delivered in 2017, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For starters, it is always exciting when a domestic yard delivers a vessel – or multiple vessels, for that matter – to foreign buyers. We can compete in a foreign arena; on price, quality and on-time delivery. This year was no different. No less important is the environmental footprint of a vessel, and there was plenty to report on from that angle in the past 12 months. The domestic waterfront is indeed getting greener and cleaner.

The first two passenger vessels built by Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark for New York's new NYC Ferry have been completed and are now making their way to New York. Late last week at Metal Shark's Franklin, Louisiana shipyard, the Incat Crowther-designed, 149-passenger, USCG Subchapter T passenger ferries were handed off to crews from HNY Ferry Fleet LLC (a Hornblower company), operator of the new passenger vessel service. Both of the Metal Shark-built ferries are currently running in tandem, making their way northward in the Atlantic after running the Gulf of Mexico coastline and rounding Key West. The boats are expected to arrive in New York within the next few days.

Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark said it has put the first two passenger vessels for New York's new Citywide Ferry Service on the water, having splashed the new builds at its Franklin, La. shipyard late last week. At 7:30 a.m. on February 24, operators from Berard Transportation began the process of moving the first of two 86' x 26' catamaran-hulled aluminum passenger vessels from Metal Shark's final assembly building to the waiting cranes from H. Brown Crane Service, which hoisted the vessel and placed it into the adjacent Charenton Canal.

Metal Shark was selected by HNY Ferry Fleet, LLC (a Hornblower company), operator of New York City’s Citywide Ferry Service, to build 26-m149-passenger aluminum high-speed ferries. Metal Shark will produce a series of ferries at its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard, a  25-acre waterfront facility which recently received a Small Shipyard Grant from the United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to expand its facilities and shipbuilding capabilities.

Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) has issued Certificates of approval for tank containers made of polymer composite materials (PCM) intended for transportation of aggressive media. The manufacturers of tank containers are JSC “Research and production corporation UralVagonZavod” / Uralcryomash JSC. Issuance of RS documents is a logical end of one and a half year activity of a group consisting of specialists from JSC “Research and production corporation UralVagonZavod” / Uralcryomash JSC where a series production of PCM containers is expected to be commenced, “STTC ApATech-Dubna” ltd. which is responsible for design of material and structure, Spectransgarant LLC - tank container company-operator and RS.

‘Polarsyssel’, a Havyard 832 L WE designed offshore supply vessel has been delivered from Havyard Ship Technology’s yard in Leirvik in Sogn to the Icelandic shipping company Fafnir Offshore. A long-term contract has been secured for the vessel, under which she will operate six months a year for the Governor of Svalbard for a period of six years. On her voyage from Tromsø to Longyearbyen, ‘Polarsyssel’ encountered both high seas and storm force winds, which put her seaworthiness to the test. Captain Kjetil Enoksen was full of praise after having put the ship to the test in the Barents Sea. ‘We experienced heavy weather during most of the passage’ the Captain said. "The wind blew high from the west during most of our journey and, on approaching Svalbard, we ran into a full storm.

Tug company operator Seaspan and GUILD (the union representing captains, mates and engineers) have agreed to enter blind arbitration. GAC reported in its daily Hot Port News report. Seaspan will defer the imposition of new terms and GUILD will not take a strike vote. The situation is different, however, with the International Longshoremen Workers' Union (ILWU) representing deckhand and cook. Seaspan has withdrawn the contract imposition. The ILWU, which had voted in favor of strike action, has suspended further action. The union has not agreed to blind arbitration.

Novoship tankship 'NS Columbus' the first Sovcomflot Group vessel to receive an IMO 2006 Maritime Labour Convention certificate. The Aframax crude oil tanker NS Columbus underwent an inspection by the Maritime Authority and was declared to be in full compliance with the regulations of the convention. The document granted will be valid until 20 February, 2018. This certificate confirms that the company-operator follows best practices in the observance of sailors’ rights, the provision of proper living and working conditions, and the granting of social safeguards.

The NYK-owned containership NYK Arcadia, and the LNG carrier Pacific Eurus, managed by NYK LNG Shipmanagement, an NYK Group company, (Operator: LNG Marine Transport Limited) have received the Best Quality Ship Award for 2011 by the Japan Federation of Pilots’ Associations (JFPA). An awards ceremony was held at the Todofuken Kaikan in Tokyo and was attended by pilots from all over Japan as well as other interested  parties. The Best Quality Ship Award was first presented in fiscal 2003 by the JFPA with the aim of enhancing awareness of the need for environmental conservation within ports and oceans through safe vessel operations. Pilots…