Expanding Network News

Europe’s chemical tanker operator Essberger Tankers has entrusted its ship agency requirements to Gulf Agency Company (GAC) companies in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.Under the agreement, GAC will handle an estimated 600-800 port calls a year for Essberger Tankers’ fleet of vessels carrying a wide range of high-grade chemicals.The deal comes after more than 20 years of successfully managing Essberger’s port calls in Finland. The shipping and logistics service provider’s ability to deliver the same high level of support from its expanding network of offices in Sweden, Denmark and Norway was a key factor in the deal being sealed.The…

Algoma Central Corporation, the largest fleet of dry and liquid bulk carriers on the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Waterway, is adding the crews from 27 of its vessels to an expanding network of whale watchers. For the first time, the crews on Algoma’s self-unloaders, bulkers, tankers and cement carriers will collect data about the whales they see on their journeys this summer."Algoma is committed to providing sustainable and environmentally responsible marine transportation,” said Gregg Ruhl, Algoma’s Chief Operating Officer.

Underwater repair specialist Hydrex says when hull damage leads to the classification society to only allow temporary repair, there is a practical solution that allows ships to continue operations until a permanent repair can be scheduled. Recently called upon to inspect damage to the stern thruster area of a 195m ro-ro ship during a scheduled stop in Antwerp, the Hydrex investigation revealed a large crack in the welding seam on the edge between the hull plating and the thruster tunnel. To repair the vessel, Hydrex was able to fabricate a 600mm x 300mm doubler plate, on-site.

The Port of Salalah completed its first ship to ship transfer operation (STST) at Salalah anchorage recently as part of the port’s expanding service offering in 2018. . The new service was performed by Fendercare Marine which transferred vegetable oil between the vessels NCC Nasma to Ariana while both were in the harbor anchorage. Port of Salalah CEO Andrew Dawes said “Our vision is to make our customer’s supply chains work better, more efficiently and safer. Our new offering of ship to ship transfer of bulk liquids is designed to serve the regional market and Africa’s economic demand. Tom Fitchew, Business Development Manager of Fendercare stated “We identified opening a new STST base at Salalah as a priority to support our ever expanding network.

Bibby Ship Management is once again the largest representative for vessels flying the Isle of Man flag in providing representative services for 30% of vessel tonnage registered on the island. This compares with 25% in 2014, according to official statistics. The Isle of Man Ship Registry’s total merchant vessel fleet stands at 407, equating to 14.95m gross tons. From these vessels, Bibby Ship Management has increased its portfolio to 90, an increase of 10 vessels from November 2015. Mark Robertshaw, Group Commercial Director for Bibby Ship Management, said: “Representing the largest proportion of vessels isn’t just a reflection on the quality of the services we offer to our customers, but also how Bibby Ship Management is regarded on the Isle of Man.

Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has opened a new exclusive survey office in Charleston, USA with operations beginning 1 January 2016. Charleston is a major port city located in South Carolina and home to one of the fastest growing ports in the USA. It has the deepest channels in the southeast region and plans are underway to increase its depth to 52 feet by 2019 to accommodate the ever-increasing size of containerships. Once the project is complete, Charleston will become the deepest harbor on the east coast. The Charleston office joins an expanding network of ClassNK survey offices along the coast including in New York, Norfolk and Miami.

Seakeeper continues to strengthen its worldwide sales and service support with its new facility in Raffles Marina in Singapore. The office will serve as a base for all company operations in Asia. "We're taking a global approach to our business model," said Phil Bourque, Seakeeper global account manager. The Singapore facility rivals those in the West. Customers in Asia now have access to the full level of superior service that they've come to expect from the company. "This is a significant opportunity for Seakeeper; we have ambitious growth targets in the region," said Andrew Semprevivo, Seakeeper VP of sales and marketing. Seakeeper recently launched its expanded line of five gyro models that provide stability to boats from 30–220'.

Jeppesen’s new C-MAP MAX-N Wide cartography, designed for popular navigation systems from global marine electronics leader Navico, is now available to boaters worldwide through the Navico Insight Store and Jeppesen authorized dealers. MAX-N Wide is compatible with Lowrance Elite 7 and HDS Gen1, Gen2 and Gen2Touch; Simrad NSS, NSE and NSO and B&G Zeus Touch Multifunction Navigators. These navigation systems have are used across a spectrum of boaters, including fishermen, cruisers and sailors…

Subsea & offshore solutions provider Unique Maritime Group (UMG) subsidiary Unique System celebrates its 20th anniverary. Founded in 1993 with 3 employees, UMG through its expanding network of companies has now become a specialist in the provision of offshore and onshore services including the sale and rental of equipment for the marine, diving, hydrographic, oceanographic, Oil & Gas and NDT market sectors. The group has also developed an established manufacturing capability for the delivery of customized engineering projects worldwide. Headquartered in the Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah, UAE, the group’s head office is situated within a land area of 14…

Unique Wellube successfully completes 28" to 58" Hot Tapping Project for Chiyoda Almana Engineering in the Middle East. Unique Wellube FZC (UWFZC) , a Unique Maritime Group Company  which is one of the world’s leading integrated turnkey subsea and offshore solution provider is pleased to announce the successful completion of Qty 3 off 28” Class 150 RF Hot Tap on 58” ASTM A358-304L Pipeline for Madina Group WLL and Chiyoda Almana Engineering LLC (CAEL). The end user for the same is RAS GAS.

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has won an order to design and equip two UT 735 SE offshore supply vessels for Brasil Supply. The order is worth £15 million to Rolls-Royce. The contract includes vessel design and an integrated Rolls-Royce equipment system including propulsion, deck machinery, bulk handling and vessel control systems. The vessels will be chartered by Brazil’s state oil company Petrobras and are designed specifically for carrying fluids and solid cargo to and from offshore oil and gas platforms.

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has won an order to design and equip two UT 735 SE offshore supply vessels for Brasil Supply. The order is worth £15 million to Rolls-Royce. The contract includes vessel design and an integrated Rolls-Royce equipment system including propulsion, deck machinery, bulk handling and vessel control systems. The vessels will be chartered by Brazil’s state oil company Petrobras and are designed specifically for carrying fluids and solid cargo to and from offshore oil and gas platforms. This is the second order from Brasil Supply this summer, and the company now has four Rolls-Royce designed offshore vessels on order, all of which will be built at Estaleiro Ilha S.A in Brazil.

LCL network takes another step forward in its expansion with the appointment of Crosslinks Marseilles as agents for cargo flows through the French Mediterranean ports. Opening of LCL activities in southern France will offer integrated logistic services for the export of fruit, fresh and frozen products from France to north Europe, the Mediterranean and world wide destinations, together with the imports of perishable foodstuffs to the area from producing countries throughout the globe. This important market, is located in an extremely attractive region for fresh and frozen cargo logistics, being France a very strong producing and importing country.