US Coast Guard Says Boardings of Chinese Fishing Vessels in South Pacific Legal
The U.S. Coast Guard has rejected comments by a Chinese diplomat that its recent boardings of Chinese fishing boats in the Pacific Islands alongside local police are illegal, saying the joint patrols are at the behest of Pacific nations to protect coastal fisheries.Reuters reported last month that six Chinese fishing boats were found to be violating Vanuatu's fisheries law after being inspected by local police who were on board the first U.S. Coast Guard boat to patrol the waters of the Pacific Islands nation.China's Ambassador to New Zealand Wang XiaolongâŠ
ONE Announces New Transpacific Service from February 2025
Ocean Network Express (ONE) has announced its Transpacific service starting from February 2025 which will deploy 16 core weekly services.âThe emphasis will be on quality end-to-end direct services with high schedule reliability.
Passenger Ferry Grounds Near Maui
A passenger ferry has run aground near the entrance to Maui's Maalaea Harbor, the U.S. Coast Guard said. At 5:05 a.m. on Monday, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders received notification from the 55-foot ferry Expeditions Five, which had run aground with three crew members on board.Watchstanders issued an urgent marine broadcast to mariners and dispatched a 29-foot Response Boat-small crew from Station Maui. The Station Maui crew confirmed that the vessel was hard agroundâŠ
USCG's New Cutters Canât Arrive Soon Enough
The much-needed replacement for the U.S. Coast Guardâs long-serving medium endurance cutters (WMEC) took a giant step closer to joining the fleet as the first Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) was launched and christened at Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) in Panama City, Fla. on October 27, 2023.The future USCGC Argus (WMSM 915) was christened by the shipâs sponsor, Captain (Ret.) Beverly Kelley, the first woman to command a U.S. military vessel, the 95-foot patrol boat, USCGC Cape Newagen (WPB 95318).
ONE to Trial Wind-Assist Propulsion
Ocean Network Express (ONE) has launched a wind-assist propulsion trial in partnership with Dutch maritime wind-powered technology company Econowind.The companies are set to install two containerized wind-assist devices, known as VentoFoil containers, on the MV Kalamazoo. The 1,036 TEU feeder vessel operates between Pusan, Yokohama, and Honolulu, and is owned by NORSE UK and operated by Goodwood Ship Management, Singapore.The VentoFoils, which resemble airplane wings, are designed to harness wind energy, resulting in a significant reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
All American Marine Delivers New Vessel for Hawaii Dolphin Tours
Bellingham, Wash. boatbuilder All American Marine (AAM) has delivered a new tour and dive vessel for Hawaii Dolphin Tours based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The highly customized vessel 50- by 17-foot Poseidon features a semi-displacement aluminum catamaran hull developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand and was constructed to USCG (US Coast Guard) Subchapter T regulations in AAMâs facility on Bellingham Bay. The new vessel started operations this week in OahuâŠ
Matson Adjusts Its Sailing Schedule to Increase Whale Safety
U.S.-based Pacific shipping company Matson announced it has adjusted its sailing routes to help reduce the risk of whale strikes off the coast of California.Shipping channels into and out of San Francisco Bay and the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex transit federally protected national marine sanctuaries. These sanctuaries âMonterey Bay, Greater Farallones, and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuariesâare destination feeding areas for threatened and endangered humpback and blue whales from late spring through the fall.In 2015âŠ
Pasha's New LNG-fueled Containership Makes Maiden Call in Honolulu
Pasha Hawaiâiâs second liquefied natural gas-powered containership made its inaugural arrival at Honolulu Harborâs Pier 51, completing the construction and delivery of the companyâs âOhana Class vessels.The vessel, Janet Marie, will serve the Hawaiâi/Mainland trade lane, joining the companyâs first âOhana Class ship, George III, which began service in August 2022. The new $225-plus million shipâbuilt at Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville, Texasâbegan its maiden voyage from the Port of Long BeachâŠ
Fuel Savings Are Just a âNudgeâ Away
The commercial maritime industry is hard at work developing, testing and implementing new and innovative technologies to limit its environmental impacts. While much of the effort has focused on physical solutions such as improved hull design, cleaner burning engines and alternative fuelsâall of which are important components of the industryâs decarbonization journeyâsoftware firm Signol has its sights set on helping vessel owners and operators reap the rewards of behavioral efficiencies.TheâŠ
The U.S. Navy Needs More Ships, Encourages Industry to "Pick up the Pace"
The demand for warships is strong, and the Navy continues to receive support from the Congress to build more ships. The Navy is working to achieve a fleet of about 355 ships, plus a fleet of about 150 unmanned vesselsBut to achieve something close to that goal requires more than demand, and even more than money. For one thing, it requires an industrial base that can build, repair and sustain that fleet.While Navy leadership acknowledges the challenges of a stressed supply chainâŠ
US Monitoring Russian 'Intelligence Gathering Ship' Near Hawaii
The United States in recent weeks has been tracking what is believed to be a Russian military spy ship off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands.The U.S. Coast Guard said in an update on Thursday that it has been keeping tabs on the vessel, a suspected "intelligence gathering ship", for several weeks. Video footage released by the agency showed the ship in waters off the Hawaiian coast on January 11.The ship has been identified as the Kareliya (SSV-535), a Vishnya-class intelligence ship used by the Russian Navy for signals intelligence gathering.
Great Ships of '22: MV George III, LNG Containership
Operating on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from day one in service, the MV George III, the first of Pasha Groupâs two new âOhana Classâ, Jones Act-qualified containerships, features a state-of-the-art engine, an optimized hull form, and an underwater propulsion system with a high-efficiency rudder and propeller. George III is the first LNG-powered vessel to fuel on the West Coast and the first to serve Hawaii. The 774-ft. Jones Act vessel surpasses the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2030 emission standards for ocean vessels.
Marine News' Top Vessels of 2022
The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industryâs engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine Newsâ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.
Keel-Laying for NOAA's Discoverer at Thoma-Sea
NOAA, the U.S. Navy and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors (TMC), LLC., recently held a keel-laying ceremony today in Houma, La., for Discoverer, a new oceanographic research vessel being built for NOAA.The keel-laying ceremony marks the beginning of a shipâs construction. Second Gentleman Douglas C. Emhoff was named the shipâs sponsor. In keeping with maritime tradition, the initials of the shipâs sponsor were welded onto a steel plate that will be incorporated into the ship as it is built.The 244-foot Discoverer will support a wide variety of NOAA missionsâŠ
Catastrophic Engine Damage Led to OSV Fire -NTSB
Catastrophic engine damage led to the fire aboard the U.S. -flagged offshore supply vessel Ocean Intervention near Honolulu, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.No pollution or injuries to the 16 crewmembers were reported in connection with the mechanical failure, which resulted in a fire in the engine room on December 19, 2020. The crew isolated the fire before it could spread throughout the vessel.The Ocean Intervention, a 243-foot-long, steel-hulled vessel, was built in 1998 and operated by Oceaneering International, Inc.
Pasha's New LNG Containership Makes Maiden Call at Port of Long Beach
Hawaii-based Pasha Hawaii welcomed the newest member to its containership fleet with the arrival of George III at the Port of Long Beach in California, where she will begin her maiden voyage to Honolulu, Hawaii. This is the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered vessel to fuel on the West Coast and the first to serve Hawaii. The 774-foot containership was built in Brownsville, Texas by Keppel AmFELS, marking the first of two new âOhana Class containerships to join Pasha Hawaiiâs fleetâŠ
DOT Announces $703M in Port Funding; 41 Projects in 22 States
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that designed to help improve port facilities through the Maritime Administrationâs Port Infrastructure Development Program. Following is the full list of FY 2022 Port Infrastructure Development Grant Awards:ALASKANorth Extension Stabilization Step 1 Project ($68,700,000), Anchorage, AlaskaThe Project will reconfigure and realign the shoreline within the âNorth Extensionâ (the area north of the existing general cargo terminals) at the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska.
Keel Laid for NOAAâs New Oceanographic Research Ship
Houma, La. shipbuilder Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors hosted a keel-laying ceremony for NOAAâs newest oceanographic research ship, Oceanographer.âTodayâs keel-laying ceremony marks a major step forward both in the construction of Oceanographer and the revitalization of NOAAâs ship fleet,â said Rear Adm. Nancy Hann, director of NOAAâs Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.Oceanographer is one of two ships being built for NOAA by TMC to support a variety of missionsâŠ
Rival of Container Shipper Matson Can Proceed with Antitrust Lawsuit
Two Matson Inc subsidiaries must face claims from rival container shipping company American President Lines LLC that Matson is abusing its market power over service from the United States to Guam, a federal judge ruled in an antitrust lawsuit.The ruling Friday by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, D.C., declined to dismiss claims against Matson Navigation Company Inc and Matson Logistics Inc brought by American President Lines last year seeking unspecified monetary damages for alleged violations of U.S. competition law.The court dismissed parent company Matson Inc as a defendant.Honolulu-based Matson, a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, in 2021 recorded revenue of more than $3.9 billion.
Army Corps Announces Industry Days
The US Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) announced four upcoming Industry Days. (Check SAM.gov for details).The St. Louis District Industry Day is Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 9:00AM to 5:00PM at the Engineering Center of St. Louis. Topics will cover ACE projects and opportunities within other agencies. ACE leadership will participate, and ACE will host one-on-one afternoon briefings covering specific topics. Advance registration is required. Use this link:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022âŠ
New Container Barge Launched for Matson
Matson's new flat-deck container barge was christened and launched during a ceremony at the Greenbrier Gunderson Marine shipyard in Portland, Ore. on Saturday, April 23, 2022.The new barge, christened Haleakala, will be deployed in Matsonâs Neighbor Island service in Hawaii starting this summer, connecting cargo to and from the U.S. West Coast through its hub terminal in Honolulu.With a carrying capacity of 620 TEU and room for 72 refrigerated containers, the new Haleakala isâŠ
Shipbuilders Council Announces 2022 Shipyard Safety Awards
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipyard industry, today announced the 2022 Annual Shipyard Safety Awards. SCA recognized a total of 15 U.S. shipyards and repair facilities with seven recipients receiving multiple awards.SCA honors shipbuilding and repair organizations with the âExcellence in Safetyâ Award and âImprovement in Safetyâ Award each year for enhancement of operations and promotion of safety and accident prevention.
USCG Report: Small Cutters Prove They Can Patrol a Big Ocean
The Coast Guardâs 353-ton, 154-foot fast response cutter (WPC) is capable of deploying independently to conduct missions that include port, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The service plans to build 64 of them to replace the 110-foot Island class patrol boats. The FRC has a range of 2,500 miles, but the endurance of the 24 crewmembers is normally limited to about five days based on the quantity of provisions carried. Both the 110s and 154s have about the same speed and rangeâŠ