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Kenney News

20 Jul 2023

Biden Attends Steel Cutting for Great Lakes' Subsea Rock Installation Vessel

From left to right: Lasse Petterson, CEO of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock; Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa.; President Joe Biden; and Steinar Nerbovik, CEO of Philadelphia Shipyard (Photo: Philly Shipyard)

President Joe Biden traveled to Philadelphia on Thursday to attend a steel cutting ceremony for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's new offshore wind rock placement vessel, touting his administration’s clean energy agenda and job creation efforts as the U.S. builds up its offshore wind industry. "The clean energy future we’re building all across America will be transformational,” Biden said during the ceremony at Philly Shipyard. “Thousands of families will rely on good jobs these projects create…

11 Aug 2022

UN Expects 'Big Uptick' in Ships Wanting to Export Ukraine Grain

© Ded_F12 / Adobe Stock

The United Nations expects a "big uptick" in ships wanting to export Ukraine grain through the Black Sea after transit procedures were agreed and a goal of 2-5 million tonnes a month is "achievable," a senior U.N. official said on Wednesday.Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations agreed transit procedures on Monday for a deal struck in July to resume Ukraine Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports. The procedures include a 10 nautical mile protection zone for ships."We're expecting to see a big uptick in applications for transit," said Frederick Kenney, interim U.N.

25 Sep 2020

Canada Commits Nearly $240 Mln to Aid Offshore Oil Industry

© Stephen / Adobe Stock

Canada will spend C$320 million ($238.56 million) to support its offshore oil industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, which has struggled as coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions reduced demand, the government said on Friday.The funds are intended to support jobs and to lower greenhouse gas emissions from crude production, and could be used for maintenance, upgrades and environmental services, Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan said St. John's.The money falls short of requests from the industry…

07 May 2020

Eye on Maritime Design: Better Ferries by (EBDG) Design

Elliott Bay Design Group is a well-known, long tenured Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm.We checked in with John Waterhouse, Chief Concept Engineer at EBDG, for insights on some of the design elements on the new Staten Island Ferries.Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) served as the design lead on the new “Ollis” class of Staten Island Ferries. “We started with them at the end 2014 to make a preliminary design investigation,” said John Waterhouse, Chief Concept Engineer at EBDG.

12 Feb 2020

Rand Logistics to Buy American Steamship Company

New Jersey-based Rand Logistics announced it has entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire rival Great Lakes shipping company American Steamship Company (ASC) from Chicago-based GATX Corporation for $260 million.Headquartered in upstate New York, ASC operates the Lakes' largest U.S.-flagged fleet, annually transporting more than 27 million tons of dry bulk commodities such as iron ore, coal and limestone on vessels ranging in size from 634 feet to over 1,000 feet. ASC reported segment profit of $46.1 million for 2019 (including a one-time gain of $10.5 million), said parent company GATX.Rand, an affiliate of American Industrial Partners (AIP)…

10 Sep 2019

Do Ports Need Global Regulation?

Ports are essential for the global supply chain - but do they need more international regulation?High-level speakers engaged in a lively debate at a joint Hutchison Ports, International Maritime Organization (IMO) and IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) seminar (9 September), to address the question: "Do ports need international regulation?"IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim reminded the audience that the IMO Convention does give the Organization a mandate to regulate in ports and some current IMO regulations do indeed extend to port operations - for example those surrounding security, reception facilities and the Facilitation (FAL) Convention."However…

27 Apr 2018

IMO Urges Governments to Implement HNS Convention

The IMO treaty covering compensation for damage caused by Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) transported by sea is the subject of a workshop underway at International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters, London (26-27 April). The event  is focused on helping governments to understand and implement the HNS Convention, and follows excellent progress made earlier this week, when Canada and Turkey signed up to the treaty. This brings the total contributing cargo to 28.7 million tonns – 72% of that needed for the treaty to enter into force. By addressing practical issues raised by States implementing the Convention, the workshop aims to enable further governments to sign up to the treaty.

23 Jun 2017

Abandonment of Seafarers on Agenda

Seafarer abandonment was the subject of a seminar held at  International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters, London (22 June) – a joint IMO-Consular Corps of London event. Diplomats and consular officers involved in dealing with abandonment cases heard speakers provide a variety of perspectives on the subject, including on the legal framework, seafarer support, the representation of seafarers' interests, and the flag State perspective. Click for photos. In his opening remarks, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim emphasized that continued cooperation between IMO, organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), flag States, port States and shipowner groups was essential. "We have a human duty to protect seafarers, and we must not hide from it" Lim said.

16 Nov 2016

IMO’s Climate Change Mandate

An audience of lawyers and academics have heard that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) gives a clear mandate for IMO to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from or through the atmosphere and to address climate change. The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Fred Kenney, speaking at seminar in London on November 14, said that Article 212 of UNCLOS complemented the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to give IMO Member States a clear role to continue to build on the work already done to address the energy efficiency of ships. Kenney highlighted the mandatory energy efficiency requirements under MARPOL Annex VI…

12 Nov 2016

Cruising for a Better and Equal World

The cruiseship MS Koningsdam, will be the backdrop of the Women’s InternationalShipping and Trading Association’s Annual General Meeting (9-13 November). Departing in Port Everglades with stops in Miami and the Bahamas, this unusual meeting location will see participants discuss topics around the theme: "Always in Motion: Ever Changing". The conference will examine the changing regulatory landscape and its impact on maritime safety, security and the environment. Topics of interest to International Maritime Organization (IMO) , and its work on the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals, such as women leaders in the maritime industry will also be featured.

27 Oct 2016

Arctic Indigenous Leaders Meet IMO Secretary-General

The safety and environmental impact of arctic shipping was on the agenda as International Maritime Organization (IMO)  Secretary-General Kitack Lim received a delegation of arctic indigenous leaders at IMO Headquarters, London (25 October). In the first meeting of its kind, a wide-range of issues surrounding climate change and the subsequent increase in number of ships operating in arctic waters were discussed. Secretary-General Lim outlined IMO’s work in this field, in the form of IMO’s Polar Code, which will enter into force in January 2017. The Code applies to ships operating in Arctic and Antarctic waters, provides for safe ship operation and protects the environment by addressing the unique risks present in polar waters but not covered by other treaties. Mr.

13 Jul 2016

Myanmar accedes to CLC Protocol

​Myanmar has deposited its instrument of accession to the 1992 Protocol to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC). The efforts to bring the legislation into national law followed the participation of Myanmar at a five-day workshop hosted by International Maritime Organization (IMO) in November 2015, during which Government officials from Myanmar gained insight into IMO treaties on liability and compensation and the benefits, rights and obligations of Parties to these conventions. Kyaw Htin Lin, Counsellor, of the Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in the United Kingdom accompanied by Ms. Wai Wai Lin, 1st Secretary and Ms. Zin May Hnin, 2nd Secretary deposited the instrument with MR.

25 Jun 2016

UK First to Accept Marine Geoengineering Amendments

The United Kingdom has become the first State to formally accept the 2013 marine geoengineering amendments to the 1996 “London Protocol”, the treaty covering dumping of wastes at sea. The amendments support the precautionary approach by providing for specific marine geoengineering activities to be permitted only when the activity is assessed as constituting legitimate scientific research. Currently, only ocean fertilization for research purposes may be permitted. Meanwhile, the marine scientific expert group GESAMP is currently undertaking a comprehensive study on marine geoengineering to better understand the potential impacts of proposed marine geoengineering techniques on the marine environment – including social and economic consequences.

24 Jun 2016

UK First to Accept Marine Geoengineering Amendments

Photo: IMO

The United Kingdom has become the first state to formally accept the 2013 marine geoengineering amendments to the 1996 “London Protocol”, the treaty covering dumping of wastes at sea. The amendments support the precautionary approach by providing for specific marine geoengineering activities to be permitted only when the activity is assessed as constituting legitimate scientific research. Currently, only ocean fertilization for research purposes may be permitted. Meanwhile, the…

26 May 2016

Saint Lucia Accedes to Four IMO Treaties

Photo: IMO

Saint Lucia has acceded to four International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaties, including conventions covering ballast water management (BWM Convention) and emissions from ship exhausts and energy efficiency (MARPOL Annex VI). Tafawa Williams, Alternate Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to IMO, met IMO’s Frederick Kenney, Director, Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, on May 26 to deposit the instruments of accession. This brings the number of States party to the Ballast Water Management Convention to 50, representing 34.81 percent of the world's merchant fleet tonnage.

14 Mar 2015

Has Russian Ship Confronted Canadian Warship?

NATO disputes Conservative claim that Russians confronted Canadian warship. The parliamentary defence secretary said Russian warships confronted a Canadian frigate in the Black Sea. Nonsense, say NATO officials. A report in Ottawa Citizen says that the federal government has ratcheted up its war of words over Ukraine, with the parliamentary defence secretary claiming Russian warships confronted a Canadian frigate in the Black Sea. NATO officials, however, say no such thing happened. Meanwhile, U.S. Rear Admiral Brad Williamson, commander of the maritime group, said at another point two Russian ships were spotted in the distance. The Russians followed all regulations required of vessels in international waters, NATO added.

12 Oct 2011

World Maritime Day Observance in Tampa on 27 October

North American World Maritime Day Observance and US Coast Guard Missions Conference to feature Piracy, Stewardship, Safety and Security. Two day event draws maritime industry, regulators and regional representatives. Piracy will be the focus of this year’s North American World Maritime Day Observance being held in Tampa, FL on October 27th followed by a US Coast Guard Missions conference on October 28th which will feature panel discussions on the stewardship, safety and security missions of the Coast Guard. Both events will be held at the Marriott Waterside in Tampa and are free and open to the public. North American regional representatives from industry, government and NGO’s will dialog on these critically important regional issues.

28 Sep 2011

N. American World Maritime Day Observance features Piracy, Stewardship, Safety

Piracy will be the focus of this year’s North American World Maritime Day Observance being held in Tampa, FL on October 27th followed by a US Coast Guard Missions conference on October 28th which will feature panel discussions on the stewardship, safety and security missions of the Coast Guard. Both events will be held at the Marriott Waterside in Tampa and are free and open to the public. North American regional representatives from industry, government and NGO’s will dialog on these critically important regional issues. The events directly follow the USCG Flag Officer’s conference and Innovation Expo. For the past several years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has promoted awareness about the maritime community through World Maritime Day.

22 Oct 2010

Ribcraft Delivered to Boston Fire Dept.

Photo courtesy Ribcraft

Ribcraft, manufacturer of professional grade rigid inflatable boats for law enforcement, safety professionals, and military agencies, announced the delivery of a specialized 30-ft Ribcraft 9.0 dive boat to the City of Boston Fire Department. The mission specific RIB was delivered to the Boston Fire Department's Rescue Dive Team for search and rescue operations. Given the large active harbor with considerable commercial and recreational traffic, countless wharves and marinas, and many harbor islands and recreational areas within the city's jurisdiction…

06 Apr 2011

Seventh Session of Deepwater Joint Investigation Concludes First Day

The Deepwater Horizon joint investigation board concluded April 4 the first day of its seventh session of hearings examining the circumstances surrounding the loss of 11 lives, the sinking of the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon and subsequent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, following the April 20, 2010 explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon. The joint investigation board has the powers of both convening agencies, the United States Coast Guard and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), and is co-chaired and staffed by representatives of both agencies. For the public hearing…

16 Apr 2011

WISTA USA Discusses Regulatory, Enforcement, Congressional Impact

At its Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC in early April, more than 70 WISTA USA members and guests gathered to discuss issues of concern to the maritime community. Leading authorities from the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Justice, regulatory and trade associations, and the U.S. Congress met with shipping professionals to discuss and debate the current status of environmental and enforcement issues and the impact of the 112th Congress on the industry, and to examine strategies for moving forward.

12 May 2006

Northrop Grumman Propels Forward on Bush Carrier Construction

Northrop Grumman Corporation has finished installing the propellers on the nation's tenth and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, George H. W. Bush (CVN 77). The carrier is under construction at Northrop Grumman's Newport News sector, the nation's sole designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The George H. from previous Nimitz-class carriers. but the blades are shaped differently to reduce wear and erosion. Northrop Grumman. and complex overhaul. Other new design features for the George H. and a new underwater hull-coating system. The George H. buoyancy to the forward end of the ship and improves hull efficiency. The ship's keel was laid Sept. 6, 2003. October 2006 with delivery to the U.S. Navy in late 2008.

23 Sep 2009

US Delegation at 2009 WISTA Conference

 Photo courtesy WISTA

Reflecting its dramatic growth and participation as an organization, the United States fielded the largest visiting national delegation attending last week’s Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Annual Conference. The US delegation was second only to the host country, the United Kingdom. The Conference was held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, with a theme of “Direction:  Diversity…Route:  Corporate Social Responsibility.”  The Conference was attended by nearly 300 WISTA members from around the globe…