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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Ground News

25 Mar 2024

Demopolis: A Cautionary Tale for Increased Infrastructure Investment

Demopolis Lockā€”which suffered a recent catastrophic failureā€”is a cautionary tale for other locks and those in Congress and the White House who may fail to see the urgency and importance of investing in the inland waterways system. (Photo: Chuck Walker / U.S. Army)

Demopolis Lockā€”which suffered a recent catastrophic failureā€”is a cautionary tale for other locks and those in Congress and the White House who may fail to see the urgency and importance of investing in the inland waterways system.The nationā€™s inland waterways lock and dam infrastructure, largely constructed in the 1930s, has seen modernization and rehabilitation across the system, albeit very slowly. Despite those efforts, lock failures continue, and the risk of failure persists.Whileā€¦

18 Mar 2024

Schottel Breaks Ground for Rudder Propeller Factory Expansion in Germany

Ground breaking ceremony for new logistics center (Credit: Schottel)

Schottel has marked the symbolic start of construction for the expansion of its rudder propeller factory in Dörth, with the construction already advancing towards the planned commissioning in 2025.Schottel is expanding its rudder propeller factory by adding a logistics center measuring around 4,000 m2.As the official ground-breaking ceremony was delayed, it has now taken place symbolically against the backdrop of the shell construction that has already begun.The total investment volume amounts to ā‚¬9.5 millionā€¦

14 Mar 2024

HaiSea Unveils New Operations Facility for Its Green Tug Fleet

(Photo: HaiSea Marine)

HaiSea Marine, majority owned by Haisla Nation in partnership with Seaspan ULC, is celebrating the official naming and blessing of its new floating operations facility ā€“ which will be the home base for its fleet of three full-electric and two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled tugboats.The new facility, named Zewén, is a floating operations and maintenance building purpose-built and designed to withstand the extreme tidal range in the Kitimat region. It features a large workshopā€¦

12 Mar 2024

First Aid Ship to Gaza Leaves Cyprus Port in Pilot Project

First aid ship to Gaza sets sail (Credit: World Central Kitchen)

A ship transporting almost 200 tons of food to Gaza left a port in Cyprus early on Tuesday in a pilot project to open a new sea route for aid to a population on the brink of famine.The charity ship Open Arms sailed out of Larnaca port in Cyprus, towing a barge containing flour, rice and protein.The 200-mile (320 km) voyage across the eastern Mediterranean to Gaza with a heavy tow barge could take up to 2 days, Cypriot officials have said.The mission, funded mostly by the United Arab Emirates, is organised by U.S.

29 Feb 2024

New York Awards Equinor and Orsted New Offshore Wind Contracts

Ā© Fokke Baarssen / Adobe Stock

New York officials on Thursday awarded provisional contracts to two proposed offshore wind projects under a program meant to support the embattled industry and keep the state's clean energy goals on track.The state selected a planned 810-megawatt project, Empire Wind 1, (developed by Equinor) and Sunrise Wind, a planned 924-megawatt project (developed by Orsted and Eversource).The closely watched solicitation by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)ā€¦

26 Feb 2024

US Coast Guard Boards Chinese Fishing Boats Near Kiribati

The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew pick up Kiribati Police Maritime Unit officers and recruits from the Guardian-class patrol boat RKS Teanoai II (301) in Tarawa, Kiribati, on Feb. 16, 2024, during an exchange. (Photo: Nicholas Haas / U.S Coast Guard)

The U.S. Coast Guard and Kiribati police boarded two Chinese fishing boats during a patrol against illegal fishing in the Pacific Islands nation's vast exclusive economic zone this month but found no issues aboard, a coast guard official said.The United States is seeking a bigger role for its coast guard in helping remote Pacific Islands nations monitor millions of kilometres of ocean - a rich tuna fishing ground - a move that also boosts surveillance as a rivalry with China over security ties in the region intensifies.Reuters reported on Friday that Chinese police are working in Kiribatiā€¦

21 Feb 2024

Orca AI Platform Helped Fleet Cut CO2 Emissions

Ā© donvictori0 / Adobe Stock

Maritime technology company Orca AI has calculated that its automated situational awareness platform achieved significant operational gains for clients in 2023, including a 172,716-tonnes reduction in CO2 emissions and fuel savings.The drop was attributed to fewer sharp manoeuvres and speed drops, as well as an overall reduction in the number of potential incidents and collisions avoided.The analysis was carried out on 15 million nautical miles-worth of data collected in open waters by 267 customer vessels ā€“ comprising tankersā€¦

19 Feb 2024

Insights: Catherine Gianelloni, MITAGS

Catherine Gianelloni, Director, MITAGS East Coast Campus (Photo: MITAGS)

Catherine Gianelloni sailed with the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (IOMM&P) for about 10 years after graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 2009. But in between times at sea, she would help out at the MITAGS (Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies). Operating simulators evolved into teaching opportunities, and Gianelloni took a full-time position in 2012. ā€œBecause we are the union school, I was allowed to take breaksā€”leave of absencesā€”to go out and sail.

12 Feb 2024

Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao Killed in Car Accident

Angela Chao (Photo: Foremost Group)

Angela Chao, chair and CEO of the Foremost Group, has died in a car accident, the New York-headquartered dry bulk shipping company announced on Monday.Angela Chao was an experienced and well-respected shipping executive, having worked her way up through several leadership positions at the company founder by her father, Dr. James S.C. Chao, with her mother, the late Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, in 1964.Before joining Foremost Group in 1996, Angela Chao worked in the mergers and acquisitions department of Smith Barneyā€¦

12 Feb 2024

Philippines Accuses China of Dangerous Maneuvers Near Scarborough Shoal

(Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)

The Philippines' coast guard (PCG) on Sunday accused China of "dangerous and blocking" manoeuvres while its vessel patrolled near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea this month.Manila's coast guard said in a statement that on a nine-day patrol near the shoal by its 97-meter (318-foot) vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua, four Chinese coast guard (CCG) vessels had shadowed the boat more than 40 times.Four Chinese maritime militia vessels were also present near the shoal, the PCG said.Located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ)ā€¦

01 Feb 2024

Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) Completes Builderā€™s Trials

San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) on builder's sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico (Photo: HII)

HIIā€™s Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. on Thursday announced new amphibious transport dock ship Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) it is building for the U.S. Navy has completed builderā€™s sea trials. The San Antonio-class ship spent time in the Gulf of Mexico testing all systems in preparation for the remaining events that will occur prior to delivery of the ship, expected to occur in the spring.ā€œOur shipbuilders have worked hard to get LPD 29 to sea,ā€ Ingalls Shipbuilding Ship Program Manager Davianne Stokes said.

25 Jan 2024

Panama Canal Appoints Chief Sustainability Officer

Ilya Espino de Marotta (Photo: Panama Canal Authority)

The Panama Canal announced that Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta will now also serve as the Canalā€™s first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).As CSO, Espino de Marotta will spearhead the development of a comprehensive sustainability strategy focused on decarbonization, adaptation, and transition. Working with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, the Canal is already in the process of finalizing an inventory of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and aims to complete a climate risk assessment by the end of the year.

24 Jan 2024

Aurora Botnia - RoPax Ferry + Greentech Proving Ground

Photo: Wasaline

Built by Rauma Marine Constructions, in Rauma, Finland, and launched in 2021, the 150-meter-long Aurora Botnia boasts a long list of onboard equipment that help it to earn its ā€œgreenā€ designation, a label that is confirmed via a Clean Design notation from classification society DNV. The ship is also compliant with the International Maritime Organizationā€™s (IMO) 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target.Wasaline CEO Peter Ståhlberg describes Aurora Botnia as ā€œa masterpiece of cooperationā€ and noted that the vessel is over 80% domestic made."I'm really proud of the Aurora Botnia.

22 Jan 2024

Vigor Wins Repair Contract for Hospital Ship USNS Mercy

The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) anchored off Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia on January 18, 2024. (Photo: Jacob Woitzel / U.S. Navy)

Vigor Marine has been awarded a contract for a 93-calendar day shipyard availability for a mid-term availability of Military Sealift Commandā€™s (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).The $21,198,656 firm-fixed-price contract includes a base period and options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $21,711,746. Vigor was the sole bidder for the project.Work will be performed in Portland, Ore., beginning March 15, 2024, and is expected to be completed by June 15ā€¦

19 Jan 2024

Leichtfried Named Head of Danfoss Drives in N. America

Hannes Leichtfried (Photo: Danfoss)

Danfoss Drives announced that Hannes Leichtfried has been appointed head of sales and marketing for the Drives business segment in North America.Leichtfried, an Austrian native, brings to the role nearly 30 years of experience at Danfoss in Austria and Germany. He began his career at Danfoss in 1994 as a technical support engineer, then moved into sales and marketing roles. He was most recently the head of sales and marketing for Danfoss Drives in the Central European region.

12 Jan 2024

APM Terminals to Develop Container Terminal at Plaquemines Port

Ā© Kalyakan / Adobe Stock

Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District announced it signed a letter of intent (LOI) with APM Terminals (APMT) to build a container terminal on the West Bank of Plaquemines Parish, La.Plaquemines Port will lease the land to APM under a 30-year agreement with extension options. APMT, one of the largest terminal operators in the world and is a subsidiary of shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk, estimates the initial investment in terminal infrastructure will be approximately $500 millionā€¦

02 Jan 2024

NOMARS Puts New Officers in Charge

(Credit: DARPA)

DARPAā€™s NOMARS program aims to revolutionize naval operations by designing a ship that can operate autonomously for extended periods at sea without an onboard crew.One project at the forefront of maritime innovation is the development of a vessel called ā€œDefiant,ā€ a project of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Defiant is referred to as a NOMARS vessel ā€“ ā€œNo Manning Required Ship.ā€The projectā€™s been underway at least since January 2020, when DARPA held a ā€œproposers dayā€¦

22 Dec 2023

Sub-Continent Recyclers Hope for Better 2024

Source: GMS

As we enter the last week of 2023, sub-continent markets struggle on, says cash buyer GMS, going the final furlong to round out what has been an overall disappointing year for pricing and volumes.Prices have collapsed from over $600/LDT to below $500/LDT over certain stages this year, seeing around $150/LDT wiped from residual values in a shock for owners and cash buyers alike.ā€œNow that currencies and steel prices seem to have stabilized across the board for the time being, many will be hoping for a more bullish 2024, particularly as the supply of tonnage is set to increase ā€“ from both the dry

19 Dec 2023

Hijacked Ship Off Somalia Fuels Fears Pirates Back in Red Sea Waters

Ā© Fotosasch / Adobe Stock

A merchant ship sailing off Somalia has been hijacked by unknown raiders, Spain's defence ministry said on Tuesday, fuelling fears pirates are returning to the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea waters already plagued by a surge in attacks on shipping.A Spanish warship rushed to check on the Maltese-flagged vessel Ruen on Friday after reports it had been hijacked. It "has been under piracy (control) since the morning of Dec. 14," the ministry said in a statement, in its first confirmation of the ship's fate."The MV Ruen has indeed been hijacked.

14 Dec 2023

Getting Started with Propane: Port-Side Refueling & Storage

(Photo: PERC)

Emissions regulations continue to become more stringent for ports, pushing more port authorities and terminal operators away from diesel and gasoline and toward alternative energy sources like propane. Capable of powering essential port applications like yard tractors, forklifts, and other cargo handling equipment (CHE), propane is available now to support ports in achieving emissions reduction goals.The Propane Education & Research Council often gets questions about what refueling infrastructure looks like and what to expect when transitioning to propane-powered terminal equipment.

13 Dec 2023

ā€˜Americaā€™s Fireboatā€™ Heads to Quonset Point for Renovation Work

(Photo courtesy Fireboat Fire Fighter Museum)

Preservation efforts are underway to renovate an 85-year old vessel known as ā€œAmericaā€™s Fireboatā€.Designed by noted naval architect William Francis Gibbs and built in 1938 at United Shipyards on Staten Island, the vessel Fire Fighter would go on to serve a long and storied career before being decommissioned and eventually transferred to The Fireboat Fire Fighter Museum in 2013.The iconic fireboat is undergoing extensive renovations to return the vessel to her original glory, the museum announced this week. Escorted by the U.S.

27 Nov 2023

Study Calls for 'Liberation of Data' in Shipping Shift for Decarbonization

Interconnection of disparate shipboard systems is seen as necessary to drive digitalization for enhanced operational efficiency. Image: BV

Siloed data systems represent a ā€œrecipe for duplicative and multiplicative cost inside a company and across companiesā€, an OrbitMI-hosted panel at the recent Shipping Insight event in the US was told, as a Bureau Veritas-backed study highlighted this as a big barrier to data collaboration for digitalization of shipping to cut emissions.Vast amounts of data are generated from ship operations - such as from sensors onboard or vessel performance management systems - as well as fromā€¦

21 Nov 2023

Accelerating US CTV Market Development with Hybrid Solutions

Ā© twixter / Adobe Stock

As the world looks to renewable energy sources to combat climate change and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, offshore wind has emerged as a promising frontier in the United States. A report by the University of California Berkeley released in August concluded that due to the nationā€™s long coastlines with sustained winds in many areas and falling turbine costs, offshore wind could feasibly supply between 10% and 25% of the countryā€™s energy demand by 2050.While that may paint a rosy picture of a cleanerā€¦