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Finished Products News

08 Mar 2023

Future-Fuel-Ready Courage Enters Service on the Rhine

 2 The low-water vessel, “COURAGE”, will supply Covestro’s customers with finished products from its business sites in North Rhine-Westphalia from now on. Copyright: Covestro Deutschland AG, Michael Rennertz

Following a successful initial loading operation and maiden voyage on the river Rhine, Covestro and HGK Shipping GmbH officially put into service the new low-water vessel called 'Courage' at the beginning of March. Designed 'future-fuel-ready', It is designed to supply the material manufacturer’s customers with finished products from the company’s business sites in North Rhine-Westphalia. Sister vessel 'Curiosity' will be delivered in a few weeks.The two low-water vessels sport a particularly efficient diesel-electric drive system…

07 Feb 2023

US Great Lakes Fleet Set for $126 Million in Winter Work

(Photo: Lake Carriers’ Association)

The U.S. Great Lakes shipping fleet has begun the annual transition from sailing to scheduled periods in regional docks and ship repair facilities for repair, maintenance and modernization.This year alone, U.S. Great Lakes shipping companies will invest more than $126 million in their vessels—from over 1,000-feet to smaller tug and barge combinations—at shipyards and facilities across the Great Lakes, according to trade group the Lake Carriers’ Association. This includes more than $48 million in Wisconsin…

23 May 2022

SOS (Save our Shipbuilding): Germany’s VSM Calls for Reduction of Dependence on China

Copyright Christian Horz/AdobeStock

As the geopolitical landscape continues to quickly transform with the Russia/Ukraine war, Europe's over-dependence on Russian energy has become painfully apparent. VSM – the German Shipbuilding and Ocean Industries Association that represents the political and commercial interests of the German maritime over a diversity of maritime market segments – issued the following statement and overview of the global shipbuilding market, highlighting how highly subsidized shipbuilding markets…

13 Dec 2021

New China Import Rules Bring Headaches

© Mariusz / Adobe Stock

Makers of Irish whiskey, Belgian chocolate and European coffee brands are scrambling to comply with new Chinese food and beverage regulations, with many fearful their goods will be unable to enter the giant market as a Jan. 1 deadline looms.China's customs authority published new food safety rules in April stipulating all food manufacturing, processing and storage facilities abroad need to be registered by year-end for their goods to access the Chinese market.But detailed procedures explaining how to get the required registration codes were only issued in October…

18 May 2020

Maritime Medical: Keeping Ship Crews Healthy During a Pandemic

© Suphanat/AdobeStock

In the best of times, keeping ship crews mentally and physically healthy is a challenge premised on the inherent nature of and dangers in the job, plus the proximity of ship from ready, shoreside help. Add a global pandemic and the situation becomes untenable. We checked in with a select group of maritime medical care organizations for mitigating COVID-19 maritime medical risk.Seafarers are an essential workforce to the global economy with as many as 1.5 million working day and night…

07 May 2020

China's Iron Ore Imports Jump in April

© masterskuz55 / Adobe Stock

China's iron ore imports in April rose 11.4% from a month earlier on robust demand from steelmakers, as downstream sectors started to emerge from lockdowns to contain the coronavirus epidemic.Arrivals of the steelmaking ingredient were 95.71 million tonnes last month, data released on Thursday by the General Administration of Customs showed.That compares with imports of 85.91 million tonnes in March and 80.77 million tonnes a year earlier, when shipments from Brazil's top miner Vale SA were disrupted after a tailings dam disaster.In the first four months of 2020…

05 Nov 2019

BAM Bags 2nd JV Contract in Canada

JGC-Fluor joint venture has awarded BJM the contract for the construction of the LNG Canada MOF, a material offloading facility to support the realization of a LNG export facility in Kitimat on the west coast of Canada, British Columbia (approximately 600 km north-west of Vancouver).BJM is a joint venture between BAM International (the operating company of Royal BAM Group active outside Europe), JJM Construction (Canada) and Manson Construction (USA).The project is part of the overall LNG Canada project. The MOF project consists of a 230-metre-long north quay wall and a 260-metre-long west quay wall. Work has already started as of July…

22 Oct 2019

Tankers Unable to Offload in Malaysian Port

© Igor Groshev / Adobe Stock

Refineries at Port Dickson on Peninsular Malaysia's west coast are unable to receive crude oil after a port facility that carries crude from the ships to the plants broke down.A system known as a single point mooring (SPM) unit, a loading buoy anchored offshore that allows tankers to offload their crude via pipeline to the refineries, has been out of service, the refinery operators said.The SPM connects to a refinery operated by Hengyuan Refining Company Bhd (HRC), a subsidiary of China's Shandong Hengyuan Petrochemical Co…

24 May 2019

IMO Concludes Growing Blue Conference

What is maritime development and why is it important? Isn’t one of the biggest challenges the failure to appreciate the value of the maritime sector? These are the questions being raised by International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the Growing Blue Conference in Maputo, Mozambique (23-24 May).“Ultimately, more efficient shipping, working in partnership with a port sector supported by governments, will be a major driver towards global stability and sustainable development for the good of all people” said IMO’s Chris Trelawny, speaking at a side event on maritime development.IMO’s Maritime Development programme is assisting countries…

08 Nov 2018

BAM International Begins Kitimat Wharf Contract

The Hague-based BAM International, together with JJM Construction (Canada) and Manson Construction (USA), has received the full order to build the new Rio Tinto BC Works Terminal A on behalf of LNG Canada.The mobilisation and construction works being carried out by BAM and its partners for the Rio Tinto Terminal A expansion have started. BAM expects to complete this project in Autumn 2020.The project is valued at CAD 135 million, with BAM’s share amounting to 50% and JJM and Manson covering the other 50%. BAM initially announced this contract in October 2017, ahead of final confirmation by LNG Canada.LNG Canada has agreed to extend the existing BC Works Terminal A in exchange for their Terminal B, which handles exports of finished products for Rio Tinto’s ongoing operations.

08 Aug 2018

Peak Season Promises Better Box Freight Rates -MSI

© VanderWolf Images / Adobe Stock

After a pattern of divergence at the start of the year, July saw a modest realignment between charter and freight markets as liner operators react to cost pressures and the wider industry awaits the impact of the potential trade war between the U.S. and China, according to the latest Container Shipping Forecaster from MSI.Following an impressive run since the end of 2017, timecharter earnings have leveled off in recent weeks, a slowdown that began with smaller feeder vessels and has now spread to larger units.

20 Jul 2018

Great Lakes Shipping Supports 237,000 Plus Jobs

The new study by the Department of Transportation Great Lakes - Saint Lawrence Seaway says that shipping  supports more than 237,000 jobs and billions in economic activity.A year-long study of the economic impacts of the entire Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway navigation system is a definitive and detailed report documenting the many contributions made by the Great Lakes Seaway system to federal, state/provincial and local economies.The study reports that in 2017 maritime commerce supported: 237,868 jobs, $35 billion in economic activity, $14.2 billion in personal income and local consumption expenditures and $6.6 billion in federal, state/provincial and local tax revenue.The study also highlights the specific economic benefits of key navigation infrastructure, such as the St.

27 Apr 2018

'Best of the Best' Welds Help Metal Shark Succeed, Expand

Quality and meeting customer needs are the driving forces for Metal Shark. Even on jobs with demanding turnaround times, the company won’t sacrifice quality or customer satisfaction for speed. Dynasty 400 TIG welders from Miller Electric Mfg. Co. allow the company to weld thicker materials without preheating — saving time and improving productivity.

Louisiana-based shipbuilder eliminates preheat and saves time with Dynasty 400 TIG welders.As a well-known shipbuilder specializing in the design and production of vessels, Metal Shark Boats doesn’t shy away from tackling tough and diverse jobs. It’s a philosophy that has fueled the company’s growth from small shop to major industry player.Launched more than three decades ago as a small family-owned operation crafting custom fishing boats, the transition to Metal Shark Boats began…

12 Jan 2018

Victaulic to Add Manufacturing Space in Pennsylvania

Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining solutions, has unveiled a plan to build an additional state-of-the-art manufacturing center in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The 400,000 square foot facility is the result of increased domestic demand for the company’s products. The facility is expected to break ground later this year and be fully operational in 2019. “This new facility will play an important role in meeting increased customer demand, while also producing the highest quality products in the industry -- something our customers have come to expect from us since our first innovation nearly 100 years ago,” said John F. Malloy, CEO of Victaulic.

04 Aug 2017

DNV GL's Tørstad Talks Energy Trends

Elisabeth Tørstad (Photo: DNV GL)

When Elisabeth Tørstad took the helm as CEO of DNV GL - Oil & Gas in late 2013, the price of a barrel of NYMEX (WTI) crude oil was more than $100. Today, that price has been halved, and the 40-month period between her ascension to the top post and our meeting with her in Houston in May 2017 has been arguably the most tumultuous in the oil industry’s history. Tørstad shares with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News her insights on the market going forward. With the energy slump entering its fourth year…

25 Oct 2016

Sagarmala: Revolutionizing Logistics Through Port Led Development

Sagarmala, the ambitious program for ‘Port-led development’ in the country is all set to change the logistics sector performance by optimizing India’s logistics modal mix. The flagship program by the Ministry of Shipping  will help in reducing the logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimized infrastructure investment. An overall cost savings of approximately $6 billion per annum by 2025 is estimated from the same. According to a study conducted under the Sagarmala programme, there lies a significant potential for moving raw materials and finished products using coastal shipping and inland waterways which is 60-80% cheaper than road or rail transport.

15 Apr 2016

Essar Ports Handles Record Volume

On the back of increased production by its anchor customers, Essar Ports Limited (EPL) has registered significant growth in cargo handling over the last three months. In March 2016 alone, EPL’s four operational ports handled total cargoes of 6.25 million tonnes (MMT), which translates to a run rate of 75 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). With the recent commissioning of the 20 MMT Salaya Bulk Terminal, cargo handling will see a further boost in FY2017. The contribution of third-party traffic to overall cargo handling stands at about 10% currently. About 90% of the cargo handled at EPL’s Hazira, Vadinar, Vizag and Paradip ports is contracted with captive businesses, like Essar Steel India Ltd, Essar Oil Ltd and Essar Power Ltd.

23 Mar 2016

Robust Commodity Imports Don't Tell the Whole China Story

The improved sentiment surrounding the outlook for China's demand for natural resources is being reflected by rising imports for some major commodities, but as usual it pays to be wary when interpreting the numbers. Customs data released this week shows strong import growth in the first two months of the year in copper and crude oil, a more modest expansion in iron ore and a surge in imports of alumina and bauxite, the main raw materials used to make aluminium. Taken at face value this lends support to the view that China is heading for a better spring season after a gloomy autumn and winter cast a pall over the outlook for demand in the world's largest consumer of commodities.

10 Mar 2016

Sluggish Freight Movements Have Downside Risks

Global distillate markets remain heavily oversupplied but the glut will not clear unless the world economy avoids recession and there is a renewed acceleration in freight demand. Recent data have been mixed. The consumer side of the U.S. economy appears to be strong but the industrial side is still struggling, and in the rest of the world growth appears to be slowing. U.S. freight movements picked up at the start of the year but demand for moving manufactured products and raw materials across the country remains sluggish. Combined freight movements by road, rail, barge, pipeline and aircraft increased in December and January, the first time freight has increased for two consecutive months since November 2014 (http://tmsnrt.rs/1pa8DbM).

17 Dec 2015

Total Lubmarine Up and Running in Singapore

Photo: Total

Total’s new Asia Pacific blending plant in Singapore produced its first batch of Total Lubmarine products. Andrew Knox, Total Lubmarine’s Asia-Pacific General Manager said, “Now that our Singapore blending facility is up and running, we can cater more effectively for our growing Asian customer base. Located at Tuas, Singapore, the plant opened in July 2015 and is Total’s largest with an annual production capacity of 310,000 metric tons. The Asia-Pacific region already accounts for more than 50 percent of Total Lubmarine’s sales and with increasing shipping flows through the area…

16 Jun 2015

U.S. Energy Security: Maritime Infrastructure Investment is a Key, says Moniz

U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz

The maritime industry was front and center yesterday in Washington, D.C., as “getting more oil on the water” was touted as one piece of the puzzle in ensuring future U.S. energy security, said U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. Sec. Moniz spoke yesterday at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2015 EIA Energy Conference at the Renaissance Downtown Hotel in Washington, DC. Building U.S. energy security via a strategic evaluation of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve  (SPR) was central to his comments…

31 Aug 2015

Georgia Hooks Trident Seafoods

Trident Seafoods' new production and distribution center in Carrollton, Ga., includes an 88,000 square-foot manufacturing floor overlooked by 18,000 square feet of office space and another 20,000 square feet of support area. (Photo: Georgia Ports Authority)

Trident Seafoods has opened a $40 million production and distribution center in Carrollton, Ga., providing 175 full-time jobs and the capacity to produce 50,000 tons of finished products annually for the U.S. market. "We are excited to add Trident to our family of customers, especially within the valuable refrigerated cargo market," said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz. Savannah's Garden City Terminal offers 84 refrigerated container racks and 814 chassis plug-ins, powering 2,830 refrigerated boxes at a time.

28 Oct 2015

Rolls-Royce Bridge Awarded for Ergonomic Design

Image: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce announced that its Unified Bridge Design has won this year’s Ergonomics Design Award, presented by the UK Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors. The award recognizes industrial design which puts the customer at the heart of the process using their views to generate ideas, develop concepts and test prototypes and finished products. Rolls-Royce describes its Unified Bridge as a complete redesign of the ship bridge environment, including consoles, levers and software interfaces…