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28 Mar 2024

Svitzer Building New Training Center in Australia

(Image: Svitzer Australia)

Marine towage provider Svitzer Australia is building a new facility to deliver enhanced maritime training capabilities to the East Coast of New South Wales (NSW).The company reports construction is underway at its Port of Newcastle tug base, where Svitzer’s innovative, new TRAnsverse tug vessels are forecast to enter service in 2025 (the second and third to be deployed in the world). The facility will feature state-of-the-art Kongsberg Digital maritime simulators in support of crew training and other marine applications.Svitzer Australia chief operating officer…

07 Feb 2024

UK Supreme Court Piracy Ruling Gives Guidance on War Risk Provisions in Charterparties

The tanker was released from pirate control in August 2011. (File photo: EUNAVFOR)

In a well-timed decision given the current situation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the UK Supreme Court recently handed down judgment in Herculito Maritime Ltd v Gunvor International BV [2024] UKSC 2, a decision that arose from seizure of a ship by Somali pirates.Key factsThe vessel MT Polar was chartered to carry a cargo of fuel oil from St Petersburg to Singapore. The most direct route would be via the Suez Canal and Gulf of Aden.The Gulf of Aden was within the “high risk area” for piracy when the charter was agreed.

02 Jan 2024

Great Ships of 2023: Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean Group)

“Turku is building the real big ships,” said Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer.Meyer is not exaggerating. The yard’s latest newbuild, Icon of the Seas—the first ship of Royal Caribbean’s Icon class—is 248,655 GT, making it the largest cruise ship ever constructed.In general, the cruise ships rolling out of the nearly 300-year-old Finnish shipyard have been steadily increasing in size since the Meyer Group took full ownership in 2015. “We are proud to say Turku has been a first-mover in building these big new classes for Royal Caribbean…

30 Aug 2023

OceanScore Launches EU ETS Solution

Ships calling at ports in the EU will be liable for the cost of their emissions from 2024 onwards Photo: zhaojiankangphoto/123RF

Maritime data company OceanScore has launched an integrated solution that enables ship operators to manage emissions liabilities and trade carbon allowances under the impending EU ETS regime for shipping.Shipping companies, as the designated Document of Compliance holder (DoC holder) under the EU ETS regime, will be required to surrender to the authorities EUAs based on their annual emissions, starting at 40% of emissions in 2024 and rising to 70% and 100% of emissions in 2025 and 2026…

20 Apr 2023

DNV Launches Real-Time Emissions Data Verification Solution

Source: DNV

DNV has launched Emissions Connect, an emissions data verification engine and data management platform designed to help the maritime industry accurately assess and work with emissions data.The solution provides a trusted, verified source of emissions data that can be shared securely with all relevant stakeholders along the maritime value chain. High-quality emissions data provided by the shipowner is verified by DNV and shared with customers for self-service in settlement of transactions or other purposes such as compliance reporting…

17 Mar 2023

Norway's Loke Buys UK Deep-sea Mining Firm from Lockheed

(Photo: Loke Marine Minerals)

Norway's Loke Marine Minerals has acquired deep-sea mining firm UK Seabed Resources (UKSR) from Lockheed Martin, the companies said on Thursday.UKSR holds a 100% interest in two deep sea mineral licences in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the Pacific Ocean, and a 19.9% interest in the Ocean Mineral Singapore, licences issued by the International Seabed Authority (ISA)."We've got the approval from the UK government... Our ambition is to start extraction from 2030," Hans Olav Hide…

09 Sep 2022

Robotic Pipe Cutting Provides the Answer for JDN Group

(Photo: United Precision Services)

While the average person may have a little trouble placing the name Jan De Nul, as in “JDN Group”, that’s not necessarily the case throughout parts of Europe and in nautical circles. There the Belgium-based company is known for its dredging capabilities and high-profile projects in Dubai and the Suez Canal.In addition to dredging, JDN is building a reputation as a global player in its other business segments: offshore services, civil engineering, and environmental. Today, the company continues to invest heavily in all areas of the business.

18 Aug 2022

Port of Aberdeen: Offshore Renewable Charging Hub in the Works for Idle Vessels

Credit: Stillstrom

Stillstrom, an offshore charging company recently launched by Maersk Supply Service, said Thursday it would collaborate with Port of Aberdeen on a project aimed at cutting emissions from vessels on standby outside the port.Stillstrom and Port of Aberdeen will conduct a joint feasibility study into an innovative offshore renewable charging hub. "The ocean clean-tech concept provides a platform for vessels to utilize electricity from either offshore wind or grid-energy, thereby eliminating the need for vessels to consume fossil fuels while idling.

04 Apr 2022

Workers Evacuated after Fire Breaks Out on North Sea FPSO

A fire broke out in a store room at the Petrojarl Foinaven, located at BP's Foinaven field, west of Shetland, on Saturday, prompting an evacuation of non-essential staff, BP has confirmed to Offshore Engineer."BP is working with [Petrojarl Foinaven] FPSO duty holder Altera Infrastructure after a fire was detected in a store room on board the vessel on Saturday," BP said in an email statement.According to BP, the incident was brought under control and, as a precaution, 30 non-essential personnel were safely transferred to nearby installations. In total, there were 80 people on board at the time of the incident."Five people were assessed for possible smoke inhalation but no further treatment was required.

23 Nov 2021

Metal Shark Delivers Pilot Boat to Pascagoula Pilots

(Photo: Metal Shark)

Boat builder Metal Shark said it has delivered a 55- by 17-foot welded aluminum pilot boat to the Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association in Mississippi.Designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team and built at the company’s Franklin, La. shipyard, the new Singing River Island is the second Metal Shark pilot boat to join the Pascagoula Pilots fleet. It represents the latest evolution in the Louisiana-based builder’s Defiant-class pilot boat lineup, combining a proven hull form with a modern…

04 Jun 2021

Tanker Operators File Against Winson Oil in Latest Hin Leong Fallout

(File photo: Maersk Tankers)

Maersk Tankers Singapore Pte Ltd and Scorpio LR2 Pool Ltd have filed separate claims in the Singapore High Court against Winson Oil Trading Pte Ltd for failing to fulfil its contractual obligations, court documents show.The filings are the latest fallout in the unravelling of Hin Leong—once one of Asia's top oil traders—which has left creditors scrambling to recoup about $3.5 billion in debt.Hin Leong's collapse has triggered competing claims for cargoes and assets and ensnared…

12 Feb 2021

Ship Tech: GHG Emission Reduction focus of NYK LNG-Fueled PCTC Newbuilds

Image of LNG-fueled PCTC to be built. Image courtesy NYK

NYK has concluded a shipbuilding contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co. Ltd. for four LNG-fueled PCTCs to be delivered from 2022 to 2023, intended to transport vehicles mainly to/from Europe and/or to the Middle East.The ships are designed with GHG emission reduction, and to that end they will be outfieed with WinGD’s X-DF2.0 iCER main engine, the first time they will be utilized in the world. According to NYK, the engine consumes less gas and reduces GHG by cutting methane emissions from exhaust gas by approximately 50%.

15 Dec 2020

The Philippines: Boskalis Nets Largest Deal in Its History

Dutch marine and dredging giant Boskalis has won a contract for the land development design and construction of the Manila International Airport (MIA) in the Philippines, in what the company said Tuesday was its largest contract ever.The contract was awarded by San Miguel Aerocity Inc (SMAI), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), one of the largest companies in the Philippines. SMAI is the concession holder of MIA, which is a greenfield development aimed at serving the growing air traffic demands in the Greater Capital Region of Manila and will complement the air traffic operations at the existing and congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

10 Dec 2020

Atlantic Shores Bids to Build Up to for 2,3 GW of Offshore Wind for New Jersey

Illustration - Credit: Agrarmotive/Adobestock

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, the 50-50 joint venture between EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies US, has submitted its proposal to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to supply the state with up to 2,300 MW of renewable wind energy.New Jersey seeks to award between 1,200 MW and 2,400 MW of offshore wind energy projects as part of its second solicitation. Atlantic Shores estimates their first project would be completed as early as 2027 and if awarded, the…

02 Dec 2020

Streamlining and Simplifying US Government Guaranteed Vessel Financing

© wi6995 / Adobe Stock

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has taken several steps to streamline and simplify the Federal Ship Financing Program under Chapter 537 of Title 46 of the U.S. Code (commonly referred to as Title XI). The Title XI program provides for a full faith and credit guarantee by the United States government to promote the growth and modernization of the U.S. merchant marine and U.S. shipyards. The Title XI Program supports U.S. shipowners obtaining new vessels from, or reconstructing and reconditioning vessels in, U.S. shipyards. It also aids U.S.

28 Aug 2020

World's First: Drone Brings Cargo to Offshore Production Platform

Image by Ole Jørgen Bratland/Equinor

Norwegian oil company Equinor has successfully sent a drone carrying a 3D-printed cargo from shore to an offshore production platform in the North Sea in what the company says is a world's first.In a flight spanning around 80 kilometers from the Mongstad base onshore to the Troll field in the North Sea offshore Norway, the drone carried a 3D-printed part for the lifeboat system. The flight took one hour, at an altitude of approx. 5000 feet, or 1524 meters."The flight was a test…

07 Aug 2020

Jamaica Opens for Crew Changes and Repatriations

© Jeremy W / Adobe Stock

In order to enable crew changes, the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has listed seafarers among the class of “essential workers” under its Disaster Risk Management Act and has put in place measures to speed up the transit of registered seafarers through its borders.An estimated 600,000 seafarers are waiting for crew changes – 300,000 on vessels and 300,000 waiting to embark – according to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Many of those on board have been working for up to four months past their contracted dates while those waiting to embark are typically not receiving wages…

09 Jun 2020

RightShip Launches New Safety Score

© ValentinValkov / Adobe Stock

Maritime risk management and environmental assessment organization RightShip launched its new Safety Score in response to industry feedback that called for more transparent methods of assessing vessels.RightShip said it has spent the last two years working in collaboration with stakeholders from across the shipping industry. The new Safety Score provides a metric that is explainable, transparent and only includes factors which are in the control of the operator, to help support improved safety across the maritime sector.The Safety Score will be housed on the new RightShip Platform…

23 Apr 2020

Metal Shark Building Launch for Pascagoula Pilots

The new pilot boat for the Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association will be their second Metal Shark pilot boat and the first in a series of this new 55’ Defiant platform. (Image: Metal Shark)

Shipbuilder Metal Shark said it is building a welded aluminum 55’ x 17’ pilot boat for the Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association in Mississippi, scheduled for delivery later this year.Designed in-house, the new 55 Defiant Pilot being built for Pascagoula Pilots incorporates the“faceted hull” design initially developed by Metal Shark for the U.S. Navy 40 PB program, and features an enhanced version of Metal Shark’s “pillarless glass” in a two-tiered, reverse-raked arrangement.The builder…

30 Mar 2020

Wärtsilä Adds Gate Rudders to Its Propulsion Lineup

This Shigenobu vessel has been fitted with the gate rudder for evaluation purposes. (Photo: Yamanaka shipbuilding)

Wärtsilä announced it will include Japanese-designed gate rudders as part of it propulsion offering for newbuild vessels and retrofit.The Finnish-based firm said it signed a license and cooperation agreement with Kuribayashi Steamship Co for future development, sales and servicing of the gate rudders. As an authorized license holder and partner, Wärtsilä intends to fully integrate gate rudders within its propulsion product designs for all vessel classes and focus on global markets outside Japan.

16 Feb 2020

Diana Shipping Cancels Dry Bulker Sale

Diana Shipping announced that it has received a notice of cancellation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), between a separate wholly-owned subsidiary and an unaffiliated third party, to sell the 2005-built Panamax vessel “Calipso”, as previously announced.The global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels said in a press note that the buyers elected to exercise their right to cancel the Contract as a result of vessel’s missing the cancelling date stipulated therein, due to unforeseen events, unrelated to the condition of the vessel, and have requested the refund of the deposit of the purchase price held in joint escrow account by the deposit holder.Diana Shipping has taken steps to release the deposit to the buyers…

10 Nov 2019

Iran Finds New Oil Field of 53bln Barrels

Iran has discovered a new oil field in the country’s south with an estimated 50 billion barrels of crude oil in the oil-rich Khuzestan province, its president Hassan Rouhani said.However, the US  sanctions against Iranian oil could make it difficult for the oil to find its way to international markets.Rouhani made the announcement in a speech in the desert city of Yazd. Some 53 billion barrels would be added to Iran’s proven reserves of roughly 150 billion, he said.He said the oilfield is located in the southwestern province of Khuzestan in a land stretching 2,400 square kilometers between Bostan and Omidiyeh.The president said exploration activities for the oilfield had begun in 2016…

25 Oct 2019

Qilak LNG, ExxonMobil Pact on Gas Supply

Alaska-based Qilak LNG announced that a Heads of Agreement (HOA) has been entered into with ExxonMobil Alaska Production regarding the potential supply of natural gas from the Point Thomson field to Qilak LNG's proposed Alaska North Slope liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project (Qilak LNG 1 Project).According to the Lloyds Energy company, which was formed to identify and develop Arctic LNG projects in North America,  the he HOA foresees ExxonMobil providing at least 560 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of natural gas to Phase 1 of the Qilak LNG 1 Project, based on the design concept of offshore liquefaction and loading…