Enter Force News

Russia is considering banning foreign vessels from shipping Russian energy cargoes via the Northern Sea Route, as well as from icebreaking and coastal navigation, the Kommersant newspaper reported on Tuesday citing a draft government resolution.The step, proposed by the Industry and Trade Ministry, would restrict vessels built outside Russia on the Northern Sea Route that Moscow wants to become a major shipping lane as the Arctic warms at a faster rate than the rest of the world.The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Kommersant reported that the ministry on Nov.

ABB Marine & Ports has opened a new shipping cyber security laboratory ahead of stricter maritime cyber security rules due to enter force on January 1, 2021.In line with the guidelines set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the new laboratory features hardware and software systems developed to help shipowners and operators combat the maritime industry’s growing cyber security risks, ABB said. Customers are now being invited for virtual demonstrations of the laboratory’s systems and capabilities.With the rise of smarter…

“I think it is very early to project what will be the fuel of the future. I think that it will be much more clear in January 2020 (when the new IMO fuel rules enter force) and we see the direction of fuel costs.”To start, put in perspective the current pressure to reduce emissions in the maritime industry.It all really started at the beginning of the 1990s when the world started discussing that something needed to be done on exhaust gas emissions from marine vessels. We stayed in contact with various regulatory authorities, as we tried to be a part of the conversation in the creation of rules.

On Thursday, May 9, 2019, Total Lubmarine brought its "Total Global Sulfur Cap Forum" to New York City, a meeting including of Total Lubmarine business and technical executives and shipowners.The event, held aboard the historic Aircraft Carrier Intrepid Museum, gathered a full-house of local shipowners, and New York was the sixth stop on an 11 city world 'road show' of the forum to deliver insight on the soon-to-be-implemented fuel rules from the International Maritime Organization (IMO)…

Norwegian industrial chemical corporation Yara International said it is evaluating options for its Yara Marine Technologies (YMT) business, including a potential sale.Yara formed YMT after acquiring Green Tech Marine in 2014. The top three scrubber supplier expects its 2019 sales will more than double from 2018's predicted NOK 700 million, as ship owners and operators prepare for new ship emissions regulations due to enter force in 2020.Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer of Yara International ASA…

DHT Holdings, Inc. will have exhaust gas cleaning systems, also know as scrubbers, retrofitted on a dozen of its tanker vessels ahead of the IMO Sulphur Cap due to enter force January 1, 2020.The Bermuda headquartered ship owner said it has entered into agreement with manufacturer Alfa Laval to supply the systems and has also secured shipyard capacity to install all systems within 2019.The scrubbers will be installed on very large crude carriers (VLCC) built between 2012 and 2004, “the part of the fleet that stands to achieve the greatest economic benefit,” the ship owner said.“We look at the upcoming IMO Sulphur Cap as an opportunity for DHT rather than a threat. We come well prepared and are very pleased with the timely project we have put in place.

Earlier this year in New York City the Exhaust Gas Cleaning System Association (EGCSA) held its annual meeting to discuss the business, technologies and future of scrubbers as a solution to the looming IMO 2020 fuel rules. At the meeting, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was afforded the opportunity to pick the brains of several leading executives to help understand the challenge and promise that scrubbers provide. In October 2016 a landmark decision was handed down from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which set January 1…

As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrates its 70th anniversary, Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, sits in his London office with a sense of satisfaction that in his two plus years at the helm of IMO tremendous strides have been made toward significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, punctuated by the recent MEPC meeting where the target was set for a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. But the Secretary- General’s sense of satisfaction is tempered with the fact that his job has just begun and his plate is full.

South Korea’s largest shipping line Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) announced it will order 20 new containerships, including eight 14,000 TEU vessels and 12 ships above 20,000 TEU. The announcement comes less than a week after the South Korean government unveiled its Five-year Plan for Rebuilding Korean Shipping. HMM said it has sent a request for proposal (RFP) to eligible shipbuilders. Once a builder is selected, HMM will decide between scrubbers or liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering in order to comply with the environmental regulations due to enter force in 2020.

Hanjin Heavy Industries (HHI) has announced that it will construct  two Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) in their Philippines Facilities for EXMAR, the Belgian integrated gas shipping company. The 80,000 m3 newbuildings will each be powered by an individual MAN B&W 6G60ME-LGIP Mk9.5 engine. MAN Diesel & Turbo reports that the VLGCs have chosen LPG as a fuel option so they can comply with the new IMO sulphur-emission legislation due to enter force in 2020. Engine delivery to the yard has been scheduled for December 2019. Upon construction, the carriers will be chartered by Statoil. Bjarne Foldager – ‎Vice President Sales & Promotion, Two-Stroke Business at MAN Diesel & Turbo – said: “Interest in using LPG as a fuel…

Shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries announced it will construct two 80,000 m3 very large gas carriers (VLGC) at its Philippines facilities for Belgian integrated gas shipping company EXMAR. Upon construction, the carriers will be chartered by Statoil. The newbuildings will each be powered by an individual MAN B&W 6G60ME-LGIP Mk9.5 engine. MAN Diesel & Turbo reports liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was chosen as a fuel option so the vessels will comply with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) sulphur-emission legislation due to enter force in 2020.

The move to LNG as fuel in the maritime sector picks up steam, as CMA CGM announced plans to outfit nine of its new 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG fueled engines. A trend that started in the United States is spreading to the world, as global containershipping giant CMA CGM announced its intention to outfit its series of new 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG-fueled engines. The move to ‘clean fuel’ in the maritime sector has been rapid, spurred by new rules from the International…

The move to LNG as fuel in the maritime sector picks up steam, as CMA CGM announced plans to outfit nine of its new 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG fueled engines. A trend that started in the United States is spreading to the world, as global containershipping giant CMA CGM announced its intention to outfit its series of new 22,000 TEU containerships with LNG-fueled engines. The move to ‘clean fuel’ in the maritime sector has been rapid, spurred by new rules from the International…

As the maritime world increasingly mulls alternative fuel and propulsion solutions, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News discusses the path ahead for (liquefied natural gas (LNG) with Timo Koponen, VP, Flow & Gas Solutions, Gas and LNG, Wärtsilä. The road toward acceptance of LNG as marine fuel has neither been short nor straight, but anyone who knows this market could not reasonably expect anything different. “Even though it (LNG) is very well proven both from the technology side and its benefit to the environment, nevertheless there are too many people who still doubt,” said Koponen.

Shipping’s data revolution, its environmental responsibilities and its continuing reliance on ‘the human factor’ will be the focus of attention as the eyes of the maritime world turn once more to Rotterdam between 7th-10th November 2017, for the staging of the long-established, and always well-supported Europort event. Organised by Rotterdam Ahoy, Europort is the highlight of the maritime exhibition calendar in 2017, with a finely crafted programme expected to attract an estimated 30,000 visitors and 1,100 exhibitors. The Europort exhibition team has chosen three highly topical themes for the event this year. These are: Big Data; The New Environmental Age; and The Human Factor.

At the annual International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Conference in London  (September 7) – in the presence of IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim – the new ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson, suggested that the shipping industry must respond proactively to three major challenges: maintaining the authority of IMO; addressing the legitimate demand for even greater levels of environmental protection; and making policy makers better aware of the industry’s existing achievements. With respect to protecting the global maritime regulatory system…

At the annual International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Conference in London today (7 September) – in the presence of IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim – the new ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson, suggested that the shipping industry must respond proactively to three major challenges:  maintaining the authority of IMO; addressing the legitimate demand for even greater levels of environmental protection; and making policy makers better aware of the industry’s existing achievements. With respect to protecting the global maritime regulatory system, provided so successfully by IMO, Mr Poulson said this is being challenged by the increasing tendency for EU Member States’ positions to be co-ordinated by the EU, with negative impacts on the quality of IMO debates and its decision making.

U.K.-based Solent Refit and global marine equipment specialists Cathelco have teamed up to help international customers meet new ballast water management regulations. Solent Refit, at Hythe, on Southampton Water, has built its reputation on maintaining and refitting classic and modern superyachts. Now it has entered into a ‘preferred partner’ agreement with water treatment systems specialists Cathelco and its Antibes based subsidiary HEM. The move comes as owners of ocean going…

With new rules regarding the declaration of the accurate gross mass of a packed containers due to enter force, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) answers the industry’s frequently asked questions (FAQ). What are the new rules? On July 1, 2016, new requirements to verify the gross mass of a packed container enter into force under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Why have the requirements for verification of the gross mass of the container been introduced?

In response to the new SOLAS regulations due to enter force on July 1, 2016, LCM Systems has launched a new fully SOLAS compliant container weighing system. The company said it has been supplying container weighing systems for around five years with more than 40 system sold to date, and have utilized this experience to design a flexible modular system that can be easily and quickly retrofitted onto straddle carriers, container cranes and telehandlers. The new system verifies the container weight in real-time to an accuracy of 1 percent of rated load…

Interferry CEO Len Roueche reviews the latest regulatory challenges impacting the ferry industry. With U.S. origins dating back more than 40 years, Interferry is the trade association and main voice for the global ferry sector – a crucial but often forgotten part of the wider shipping industry. Historically this has been particularly true with regard to regulatory issues at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), but in recent times the association has emerged as an increasingly influential platform within the corridors of power.

"Our first three months of Emission Control Area operation have run without a hitch," said Carisbrooke Shipping CEO Robert Wester. Since January 1, ship operators running vessels in Emission Control Areas (ECA) have been required to use bunkers containing no more than 0.1% sulphur in ECA waters. Carisbrooke said it is especially affected by the new regulations as it operates a fleet of some 60 vessels mostly on coastal and short-sea trades. Compliance options have included re-engining, scrubber installation or fuel-switching between waters in and outside ECA regions.

As new emission standards enter force across the commercial maritime sector, Royal Caribbean has opted to outfit 19 of its ships with scrubbers from two manufacturers. This month we visit with Harri Kulovaara, EVP, Maritime, and Kevin Douglas, VP, Technical Projects/Newbuilds, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., to discuss the reasoning behind the decision. As new emission standards enter force across the commercial maritime sector, Royal Caribbean has opted to outfit 19 of its ships with scrubbers from two manufacturers.