David Smith News

War underwriters have raised the premiums they charge to U.S., British and Israeli firms by as high as 50% for ships transiting the Red Sea and some providers are avoiding such business due to targeting of the vessels by Yemen's Houthis, sources said.Attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza…

The owner and insurers of one of the world's largest container ships stuck in the Suez Canal face claims totaling millions of dollars even if the ship is refloated quickly, industry sources said on Wednesday.The 400-metre, 224,000-tonne Ever Given ran aground on Tuesday morning after losing the ability to steer amid high winds and a dust storm, the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) said in a statement, threatening to disrupt global shipments for days.GAC, a Dubai-based marine services company…

The Aframax tanker ProStar recently made its first North American delivery to discharge 442,131 barrels of jet fuel at Seaport Canaveral."820-foot-long ProStar – first of its kind vessel to berth at Port – makes its inaugural North American delivery of transportation fuels to Seaport Canaveral," the Canaveral Port Authority announced in a statement.Built in 2018, the 144-foot-wide ProStar has a crew of 23 and a summer dead weight tonnage of 115,000 tons.Port Canaveral cargo operations reached another highpoint recently with the arrival of the Aframax tanker ProStar at North Cargo Berth 2 for its first delivery in North America to discharge 442…

The Woodmac report we saw offered us cause for pause — “Strong activity from the (major oil companies)” while “national oil companies have tightened their purse strings.” What Maritime Reporter found, was that national oil companies — nation-builders, for many — are putting their money in affiliate shipyards. The hope of two, new shipbuilding giants is jobs, innovation, national survival and export security. The model is to invite those who have done it before: Koreans, Japanese, French and a contractor with offshore and marine experience.

The boss of Rolls-Royce wants to speed up change at the British engine maker, which is battling to recover from a string of profit warnings, saying more needed to be done to increase the group's resilience in the face of uncertain conditions. The British company, which makes engines for fighter jets, commercial aircraft, ships and nuclear submarines, is one year into a programme to cut costs and simplify operations after a slowdown in several markets hit profits. Chief Executive Warren East said cost savings would be towards the top of his target range, but he was not complacent.

Rolls-Royce announced that Stephen Daintith has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and as an executive director of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc. Stephen will take up his new role in 2017, succeeding David Smith who will leave Rolls-Royce after three years to pursue other business interests. Stephen Daintith is currently Chief Financial Officer of Daily Mail & General Trust plc. Previously he was employed by News International as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer of Dow Jones & Co. His earlier career was spent working internationally in a number of senior positions at British American Tobacco, also at Forte, the Civil Aviation Authority and PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

Rolls-Royce announced today that David Smith has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc. He takes up his new role with immediate effect, replacing Mark Morris who has decided to leave the company after 27 years, serving most recently as Chief Financial Officer since January 2012. David Smith joined Rolls-Royce earlier this year, and is currently Chief Financial Officer of the Aerospace Division. David spent the first 25 years of his career at Ford where he held a number of senior positions including Chief Financial Officer and subsequently Chief Executive Officer at Jaguar Land Rover, before he moved to the technology company, Edwards Group as Chief Financial Officer.

Steve Farris runs a $33 billion Texas oil and gas company and turns, for advice, to a bearded Vermont environmentalist. As other energy firms battled climate change and anti-pollution activists in recent years, the Apache Corp chief executive instead built an alliance with Steven Heim, managing director of Boston Common Asset Management, one of the better-known socially responsible investment firms. The relationship helped Apache side step time-consuming proxy fights that have plagued some of its peers, in exchange for changes like committing to protect the rights of native peoples living near remote gas projects, and using cleaner chemicals in hydraulic fracturing, a drilling method that environmentalists say could threaten groundwater.

IOS InterMoor AS, an Acteon company, contracted by Eni Norge to provide two complete mooring spreads in the Goliat Oilfield. The contract is for the provision of general mooring equipment services, including equipment rental, service and repair, and personnel for mooring operations. To meet these contract requirements, IOS InterMoor AS will make a considerable investment in new equipment, personnel and facilities in Hammerfest, Norway, during spring 2013. With more than 27 years of experience operating on Norwegian offshore bases in Stavanger…

Flagship Maritime Recruiting focuses on servicing the needs of maritime companies in the USA and Canada. Flagship Maritime Recruiting is founded by shipping professionals and augmented by specialists in the recruitment, human resources (HR), and organizational development (OD) fields giving it the ability to not only identify qualified job candidates, but to match the best candidates to open positions. "Locating well qualified candidates for positions and successfully matching an individual with a maritime company, requires a unique blend of shipping knowledge and recruitment expertise" says David Smith, Master Mariner, co-founder, and President of Flagship Maritime Recruiting. Flagship Maritime Recruiting says it is run by shipping professionals for shipping professionals.

IOS InterMoor AS, an Acteon company, signed a framework agreement with ExxonMobil Exploration & Production Norway AS to provide engineering services and equipment offshore Norway. The contract will run for five years with the option of three one-year extensions, and the work scope includes inspection and logistics on the Jotun and Balder fields in the North Sea. IOS InterMoor AS’s scope of work will also include other mooring-related engineering tasks. “IOS InterMoor AS was chosen because of its technical competence, quality and 26-year track record of reliable service in the industry in Norway,” said David Smith, managing director for IOS InterMoor AS. “IOS InterMoor AS embraces health, safety and environmental focus in our operations.

Every four years the excursion vessel segment of the commercial marine industry stages one of the largest festivals in the United States, yet except for the vessels that participate in it, little is known about this event. It overshadows the Workboat Show but receives little attention in the marine press. From an attendance standpoint, if this event were the World Series of Baseball, the Workboat Show would be T-ball for five-year olds. The event is called Tall Stacks and is held on the Ohio River every four year in Cincinnati, Ohio. The 2003 event was the fifth such Tall Stacks event and was attended by over 800,000 people during a five-day period in mid-October.

Elliott Bay Design Group announced that David Smith has joined the firm as Project Manager. David brings over 25 years of shipyard design and construction experience to the team and has worked in shipyards across the country. David is currently leading the design effort for a new Ship Docking Module. John Farmer joins the team as a Designer II. John has a BS in mechanical engineering technology from Purdue University and over 10 years of 3-D design and surface modeling experience. John is currently working on a tank barge for Bollinger Shipyards. Alisha Lamb has been promoted to Designer III. Alisha joined EBDG in 2003 and has been actively supporting the firm's design team. She is currently working on multiple betterment projects that EBDG is completing for SeaRiver Maritime.

Elliott Bay Design Group announced that David Smith has joined the firm as Project Manager. Smith brings over 25 years of shipyard design and construction experience to the team and has worked in shipyards across the country. Smith is currently leading the design effort for a new Ship Docking Module. John Farmer joins the team as a Designer II. Farmer has a BS in mechanical engineering technology from Purdue University and over 10 years of 3-D design and surface modeling experience. Farmer is currently working on a tank barge for Bollinger Shipyards. We are also pleased to announce that Alisha Lamb has been promoted to Designer III. Lamb joined EBDG in 2003 and has been actively supporting the firm's design team.

The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) is moored at pier 88 in New York City during Fleet Week New York 2006. The annual event also provides an opportunity for citizens of New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area to meet Sailors and Marines as well as witness first hand the latest capabilities of today's Navy and Marine Corps team. Fleet Week includes dozens of military demonstrations and displays, including public tours of many of the participating ships. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class David P. The 19th New York City Fleet Week came to a close May 31, as Sailors and Marines left New York City in their wake, headed for their next destination.