Gemini News

Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk signed an agreement for a new long-term operational collaboration called Gemini Cooperation, aiming to start in February 2025.Simultaneous with the announcement, Hapag-Lloyd informed its partners in THE Alliance that it would end its participation in January 2025. In a press call with journalists, Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO, Hapag-Lloyd stressed this is “not a decision against THE Alliance, this is a decision for Gemini Corporation.”“This is about bringing schedule reliability to the next level…

Shipping industry majors Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk have signed an agreement for a new long-term operational collaboration called ‘Gemini Cooperation’, which will start in February 2025.The ambition is to deliver a flexible and interconnected ocean network with industry-leading reliability.The new cooperation between the companies will comprise a fleet pool of around 290 vessels with a combined capacity of 3.4 million containers (TEU). Maersk will deploy 60% and Hapag-Lloyd 40%, the shipping giants said.As a part of the agreement…

David Clark Company is best known within the marine market for its wireless and digital headset workboat crew communication systems – the Series 9900 Wireless Marine Headset System and the Series 9100 Digital Marine Headset System. The company has over 20 years of experience designing and manufacturing boat crew communication solutions for a variety of workboats, e.g., patrol boats, fire/rescue craft, and offshore service vessels.But you may not know that David Clark Company started…

BW LPG has demonstrated the value of dual-fuel LPG operations beyond the company’s initial aim of meeting IMO 2020 Sulphur Cap regulations.In October 2020, the LPG carrier BW Gemini became the first very large gas carrier (VLGC) to have its low-speed main engine converted to an LPG dual-fuel engine. The project started several years earlier, sparked by Oslo-listed BW LPG’s preparations for the IMO’s 2020 Sulphur Cap regulations.Compared to heavy fuel oil, LPG reduces Sox emissions by approximately 97%…

Spearheaded by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), Bay Ferry 2050 is a visionary initiative aimed at transforming the San Francisco Bay Ferry service into an eco-friendly and forward-thinking transportation system. With a focus on fleet electrification, community engagement and the exploration of alternative propulsion technologies, the project sets the stage for a more community-minded, sustainable, operationally strong, fiscally sound and environmentally conscious…

The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) announced that WETA’s Gemini Class Clean Air Conversion Project has been completed, resulting in a substantial decrease in air pollution emissions from four San Francisco Bay Ferry vessels serving Oakland, Alameda and Richmond.In September 2021, WETA's Board of Directors approved a $5.5 million project to upgrade the engines and reduce emissions on the agency’s four Gemini-class vessels.

International trade by sea has long been a key part of the world economy and approximately 90% of traded commodities is reliant on shipping. Once wind-propelled in the days of sail, the current generation of ships now heavily rely on fossil fuels. Fossil fuel propulsion contributes to global warming with carbon emissions approximating 940 MtCO2e per year and also has health implications for communities surrounding ports through the release of air pollutants. The environmental impact of fossil-fuelled engines is further compounded by their use in port infrastructure…

MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division, MAN PrimeServ, has announced the signing of a contract to retrofit two LPG carriers for Tianjin Southwest Maritime Ltd. – the Chinese liquefied-gas carrier operator. The COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Guangdong) yard will host the respective conversions of the individual MAN B&W 6G60ME-C engines aboard the ‘Gas Gemini’ and ‘Gas Aquarius’ to dual-fuel MAN B&W 6G60ME-LGIP units capable of running on LPG. The two vessels will be retrofitted in parallel, beginning May 30, 2023.PrimeServ will jointly carry out the work with CMS (CSSC Marine Service Co.

Pieter van Oord is candid in discussing the future growth of his storied company’s activities in offshore wind with specific insights on challenging current jobs, Van Oord’s recent order of a massive and groundbreaking Wind Turbine Installation Vessel, and the company’s future working in the United States.Pieter, to start, can you give a ‘By the Numbers’ look at your company today using the metrics of your choice?Well, 2021 was a disappointing year for us. As we said in our annual report…

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on Thursday announced the membership of its newly formed National Shipper Advisory Committee.The committee is comprised of 24 members, evenly divided between those who export cargo from and those who import cargo to the United States, that will advise the commission on policies relating to the competitiveness, reliability, integrity and fairness of the international ocean freight delivery system.“The current freight transportation challenges…

Pauline Delia (Duperre) Duclos, age 87, wife of George Duclos, the former CEO of Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, died peacefully on April 24, 2021, surrounded by her family. The daughter of the late Jean Baptiste and Claire (Paradise) Duperre, she was born in 1933 in Warren, R.I. Pauline spent most of her life in Westport, Mass., enjoying summers on the Watuppa Pond and moving to the Pond permanently in 1960.Pauline is survived by her four children: John (Kimberly), Peter (Kimberly)…

Wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa has secured an extension of the operations and maintenance services agreement at the 600-MW Gemini offshore wind farm in the Dutch North Sea until 2036.The company said in a social media post that the original 15-year long-term service program has been extended by another five years. It did not share the financial details of the agreement."This new agreement builds on the service work that we’ve provided since 2016 including full maintenance of the 150 SG 4.0-130 wind turbines installed at one of the largest wind parks in the Netherlands…

BW LPG announced it will retrofit three additional vessels to make them dual fuel capable, brining to 15 the number of its ships slated to be equipped for running on both fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).The Oslo-listed shipowner, part of the BW Group, announced in 2018 that it would initially equip four very large gas carriers (VLGC) with the novel propulsion solution. Later, two four-vessel options were confirmed with this new three-vessel option making a total of…

BW LPG's BW Gemini, the world’s first Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) to be retrofitted with LPG dual-fuel propulsion, completed loading at Enterprise Terminal in Houston Monday. BW LPG, part of BW Group, said Monday that the VLGC had completed its "historic" crossing of the Pacific Ocean on LPG propulsion on December 5."BW Gemini is carrying a record load of 49,000 metric tons of LPG on a single keel. As the vessel refueled while loading and no additional bunkering was needed, she has proceeded on her voyage.

BW LPG has entered into memorandums of agreement (MOA) to sell two very large gas carriers (VLGC) BW Confidence and BW Cedar, the Singapore-based shipowner announced Monday.BW Confidence was built in 2006 and has a carrying capacity of 83,270 cubic meters. The sale is expected to generate approximately $36 million in liquidity and an expected net book gain of approximately $4 million. The sale and delivery of the vessel to its new owner is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.BW Cedar was built in 2007 and has a carrying capacity of 82,260 cubic meters. The sale is expected to generate a net book gain of approximately $3 million.

Singapore-based shipowner Petredec Holdings (Eastern) PTE Ltd announced earlier this month that it has signed a contract for the construction of up to six 93,000-cubic-meter-capacity liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers with dual fuel LPG propulsion at Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd. The initial firm three vessels will deliver in January, March and May 2023, and the optional vessels would be handed over within the second and third quarters of 2023.Jiangnan have designed the new Panda Class vessels with patented ‘Brilliance Technology’ to improve hull efficiency and lower consumption…

The world's first very large gas carrier (VLGC) to run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel propulsion technology has completed sea trials, shipowner BW LPG announced Wednesday.BW Gemini and its newly retrofitted LPG propulsion technology were tested to their safe limits by an expert team from engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions, BW LPG’s Newbuilding & Projects and Technical departments, and classification society DNV-GL, who awarded the required classification certificate to following satisfactory performance.

BW LPG said the week-long sea and gas trials have kicked off for very large gas carrier (VLGC) BW Gemini, which has been retrofitted with pioneering liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel propulsion technology. The shipowner said the 2015-built BW Gemini achieved "a historic milestone" as the world’s first VLGC to be fueled by LPG, after its main engine was retrofitted from a MAN B&W 6G60ME-C9.2 type to a MAN B&W 6G60ME- LGIP dual-fuel type capable of operating on both LPG and traditional fuel oil."The retrofitting process at Yiu Lian Dockyard in Shenzhen…

With less than ten months before the IMO 2020 regulation on sulfur oxide emission goes into effect Jan 1, carriers and shippers alike are facing an 'uncomfortable uncertainty' over its potential effects on costs and freight rates as they enter the 2019-2020 trans-Pacific contracting period.The International Maritime Organization 2020 (IMO 2020) regulation on sulfur oxide emission will translate into an increase in freight rates, said Seabury Maritime, the global maritime and transportation investment & merchant banking and industry advisory firm, in a whitepaper.The IMO 2020 regulation mandates the reduction of sulfur oxide emission…

South African Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) builder Gemini Marine has announced Berthon as its sole UK & Ireland dealer for its range of military, rescue, commercial and leisure RIBs.Gemini Marine designs and manufactures comprehensive range of cabin and open RIBs for many of the world’s military, rescue and commercial operators, as well as supplying RIBs into the leisure, expedition and adventure sectors. "As one of the UK’s established marine sales and service brands, Berthon will give Gemini customers the highest quality product and the most reliable after-sales care and in-service support. From its Lymington base, Berthon will be promoting sales of Gemini RIBS throughout the UK and Ireland into all market sectors…

The deepwater drilling contractor Seadrill said that its contract backlog, as of May 23, 2019, totaled approximately $1.9 billion.The drilling services provider said it has added $130 million of additional backlog from March, including the AOD I award of a three year follow on contract with Saudi Aramco keeping the unit employed until June 2022, which adds approximately $82 million in backlog.In addition, Equinor exercised two options for the West Hercules in Norway adding approximately $17 million in backlog. The unit is expected to be employed until the first quarter of 2020.The West Telesto was awarded a six firm plus two option well contract in Malaysia.

George Raymond Duclos, age 86, died peacefully on February 15, 2020 surrounded by his family. The son of the late Raymond and Albertine (Bertha Chenard) Duclos. Born in 1933 in Fall River, MA, George spent most of his life in Westport, MA spending summers on the Watuppa Pond and moving to the Pond permanently in the 1960's.George is survived by his wife and life-long partner in adventure, Pauline D. (Duperre) Duclos, and his four children: John (Kimberly), Peter (Kimberly), Carol Hegarty (Steven) of Westport…

New powerboats have been delivered to the UK Royal Navy’s Tyneside headquarters to improve seafaring training for reservists.HMS Calliope in Gateshead has taken delivery of two Gemini RIBs to take the unit’s volunteers out on to the water – part of an initiative to provide numerous Royal Naval Reserve bases around the UK with fast boats again, an idea first mooted three years ago.Following hundreds of hours of hard work, dedication and commitment, that vision is now reality.Given the increasing use of reservists in seagoing billets – such as the Gibraltar Squadron or fishery protection ships –