Len News

As COVID-19 continues to challenge many business plans and practices, the advent of remote inspection techniques is growing in popularity. What is reported to be the world’s first in-water remote ship surveys using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) have been completed by DNV GL.In-water bottom surveys using ROVs have now been carried out on three separate Wilson ASA-managed vessels with the first having been completed on the Wilson Fedje in December 2019 by a surveyor from Høvik. The survey was performed earlier in July on another ASA Wilson-managed vessel in Bergen, Norway.

Expedition cruise operator Hurtigruten extended an operational pause for its fleet of small, custom built ships until June 15, but hopes to gradually restart cruises from mid-June as restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic begin to ease.Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam, said, "There is still a lot of uncertainty in what the next weeks and months will bring. However, we do see international restrictions gradually being lifted. Step by step, the pandemic is being brought under control.

Len Badal has joined the senior executive team of BioBlend Renewable Resources, LLC, as the company grows its management team to help meet growing demand for environmentally friendly lubricants. Badal is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and holds an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Rice University in Houston. Throughout his career Badal has held a number of high-level positions with both Chevron and ExxonMobil and delivers a diverse range of experience that will aid BioBlend’s future growth, the company said.

A four-person team from the ship's company of HMAS Melbourne raised $3,000 when they pushed their personal limits in the Oxfam Australia 100 kilometre Trail Walk Challenge. Led by Sub Lieutenant Katrina Burkett the team set off from the Sydney suburb of Brooklyn, hiking to Balgowlah Heights, with the aim of raising and awareness and money for the impoverished. With only 48 hours to complete the course, the team comprising Chief Petty Officer Electronics Technician Len Harrison, Able Seaman Communication and Information Systems Blake Ridge and Able Seaman Communication and Information Systems Jacob Macgregor, was pushed as they negotiated gullies, hills and rocky outcrops by day and night.

Len Roueche, a Director of WFSA and a Consultant to Förde Reederei Seetouristik (FRS), and previously the CEO of Interferry – the trade association lead for the worldwide ferry sector, has offered his views on ways to implement some of the key suggestions in this important and forward-looking just-released report, authored by the United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Group (HLAG) on Sustainable Transport of which he is a member. The U.N. report is wide ranging…

On June 2-3, 2016,  the Ferry Safety and Technology Conference will be held in downtown Manhattan. Throughout the world, the quickening pace of technological advances is impacting all sectors of the maritime business; ferries are no exception. The conference, now in its second year, will feature practical and affordable technologies already deployed in passenger transportation, or soon to be. Topics to be discussed will include Vessel Design; Landings – with a focus on their resiliency and Maritime Weather – with fresh information on timely fine scale marine weather detection. Information management and Communication applications will be center stage.

Darrell Bryan, formerly president and CEO of Victoria Clipper, has started work as interim CEO of Interferry following the retirement of Len Roueche. The Interferry board of directors named Bryan for the role – effective from April 1 - late last year pending the appointment of a permanent successor. Roueche, who has retired after 14 years as CEO, led the organization’s evolution from the International Marine Transit Association (IMTA) to Interferry, the leading international association for ferry operators and industry suppliers. Interferry chairman Mike Grainger commented, “We thank Len for his long commitment to our organization and to the international ferry community.

Drew Marine, a provider of technical solutions and services for the maritime, defense and aviation industries, announced its acquisition of NAL Research Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of Iridium tracking and communications equipment. The financial terms of the acquisition were not released. NAL Research will team up with ACR Electronics, Inc., a brand of Drew Marine known as a leader in safety and survival technologies. The acquisition allows Drew Marine to expand its footprint into the Iridium tracking and communication product offering. NAL brings an experienced research and development team that specializes in Iridium satellite modems and tracking terminals from design through integration for the defense, research and commercial sectors.

Korea’s Kitack Lim, whose term as IMO secretary-general began January 1, will address the opening conference session on October 17, following an invitation inspired by 10 years of IMO and Interferry cooperation to improve domestic ferry safety in developing nations. The campaign has recently focused on Southeast Asia, where an estimated 10,000 have died in domestic ferry incidents since the year 2000. Last year the joint initiative progressed with a special conference in Manila…

Interferry CEO Len Roueche reviews the latest regulatory challenges impacting the ferry industry. With U.S. origins dating back more than 40 years, Interferry is the trade association and main voice for the global ferry sector – a crucial but often forgotten part of the wider shipping industry. Historically this has been particularly true with regard to regulatory issues at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), but in recent times the association has emerged as an increasingly influential platform within the corridors of power.

Firefighting led a stream of topical debate at trade association Interferry’s 40th annual conference in Copenhagen last week – but not before a record 342 delegates came under fire from a leading Green politician claiming that ‘shipping is currently one of the unaddressed areas of air pollution’. Michael Cramer, German chair of the European Parliament’s transport and tourism committee, delivered a stinging opening address demanding that the ferry and shipping sectors become more environmentally sustainable. He said ‘most vessels are like hazardous waste incinerators because they burn heavy fuel oil which should be processed as highly toxic waste but is usually exhaled without sufficient filtering’.

Auckland’s bumper cruise season has officially kicked off with the arrival of Princess Cruises’ mega liner Diamond Princess into port today (October 08). New Zealand's tourism sector can expect a big boost, with a record breaking cruise season ahead. Sixteen ports around the country will benefit from cruise ship visits over the next six months, including the Bay of Islands, Gisborne and Dunedin. The Diamond Princess cruise ship is grand, it's royal and it's making her presence known at Auckland's Queen's Wharf and bringing with her the first of many visitors to New Zealand's shores. The 116,000-tonne, Diamond Princess arrived in the…

Furuno’s new FI70 Instrument/Data Organizer aims to help manage all vessel data in a compact, single display. According to the manufacturer, the new unit is a powerhouse when it comes to taking in information from all the vessel's different sensors, processing it and then displaying it clearly and concisely. The FI70 features a 4.1-inch color display that matches Furuno’s NavNet TZtouch, TZtouch2 and NavPilot Autopilot, allowing for a common family look at the helm. Furuno said…

A convergence of forces makes for market opportunities for new safe ferry systems in the developing world. Need, policy, and funding are poised to provide a moment of opportunity. The expanding global economy has resulted in economic and population growth in developing world cities, resulting in horrendous road congestion. In response, governments and businesses have begun planning for intra-urban ferries wherever possible. Ferries in the developing world have a deserved reputation for being unsafe.

A review of the ferry industry’s latest challenges and opportunities attracted a record 340 delegates to Vancouver last week for the 39th annual Interferry conference. The global trade association event exposed a string of concerns – notably over punitive safety and environmental regulations – but also highlighted the financial potential of new routes, onboard shopping incentives and the use of LNG fuel. Alongside sessions on the future of the industry, Canada-based CEO Len Roueche outlined a vision for maintaining Interferry’s influential lobbying role among politicians and regulators.

Two major examples of Interferry’s growing influence will be highlighted next week at the global trade association’s 39th annual conference in Vancouver. CEO Len Roueche will report on his nomination to a new UN high level advisory group on sustainable transport, while executive director for European Union and IMO affairs Johan Roos will explain a breakthrough by ferry operators in obtaining EU funding to help them comply with the low sulphur rules that enter force in Emission Control Areas next January.

City councilors in South Portland, Maine, voted late Monday night to ban the loading of crude oil onto tankers along its waterfront, throwing up yet another roadblock to the export of Canadian oil sands crude and setting up a showdown with industry which called the process illegal. The city of 25,000, known for its scenic lighthouses and sweeping views of the island-speckled waters of Casco Bay, is also the east coast's second largest oil port, located at the southern terminus of the Portland-Montreal Pipeline, which currently flows north to Canada.

Kentucky may be well positioned to meet a carbon emission target for power plants set by federal regulators, even as U.S. Senate candidates there blast the plan, saying it will cripple the state's coal industry. The Environmental Protection Agency seems to have listened to feedback from state officials before the rollout on Monday, said John Lyons, Kentucky's assistant secretary for climate policy. The result: the Bluegrass State may be able to meet EPA targets between now and 2030. "I appreciate EPA's stakeholder process. Undoubtedly they did listen to our concerns," Lyons told Reuters. Shedding the carbon intensity of its fleet by 400 pounds of CO2/MWh will rely on retiring coal plants and shifting to natural gas…

Leading middle-market private equity firm focused on the maritime, defense and aerospace sectors, J.F. Lehman, has sold its portfolio company Drew Marine to affiliates of The Jordan Company. With a corporate heritage that dates back to 1928, Drew Marine is the leading independent global manufacturer and provider of advanced performance chemicals and safety solutions to virtually every sector of the international maritime and offshore markets. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Since acquiring Drew Marine in 2009, J.F. Lehman worked successfully with the company’s management team to reinvigorate Drew Marine'’s core business of providing global maritime customers (representing over 11…

Drew Marine announced it is merging with ACR Electronics, Inc., a global provider of safety products and solutions to the aviation, marine, military and commercial markets worldwide. ACR’s core products include life-saving devices such as rescue beacons, safety lights, and other safety equipment which have been sold for decades under the ACR and Artex brands. Drew Marine is a global provider of technical solutions and services to the maritime and offshore industries specializing in fire, safety and rescue (FSR), water treatment, maintenance chemicals, fuel management and welding and refrigeration products. “The addition of ACR to Drew Marine is part of our strategy to expand our offerings in the safety and rescue markets,” said Len Gelosa, Drew Marine President and CEO.

Port Officials and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), on the eve of WWL’s 26th anniversary at the Port, executed a fifth modification of its 1991 contract extending its agreement for an additional five years through December 31, 2018. Wallenius Wilhelmsen ships first began calling at the Port of Hueneme in1987. In 1991, WWL established Pacific Ro-Ro Stevedoring (Pac-Ro) to handle autos arriving at the Port and Pacific Vehicle Processors (PVP) as part of a further expansion of the company’s logistics capabilities. WWL has been instrumental in driving the Port’s economic recovery and growth. Harbor Board President Jason Hodge said, “Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics is a vital long term community partner and a significant economic engine.

Colonel Leonard Waterworth, Executive Director of the Port of Houston Authority announced today that he is stepping down as its Executive Director, effective January 31, 2014. Roger Guenther, Deputy Executive Director of Operations, will take over as the Port Authority's Executive Director. Waterworth advised the Port Commission that he had accepted the role for two years, to help the Port Authority through recent transitions and to use his U.S. Army Corps of Engineers background to help obtain permits to deepen and widen the Port Authority's container terminal channels.

Len Holder, Videotel Chairman, died April 21 after a short illness. Len dedicated his lifetime in the maritime industry to developing better training practices. After serving at sea for 10 years, he came ashore to undertake study and research at Liverpool Polytechnic, becoming Director of the School of Engineering and Technology Management over his time there. From 1989, Len acted as an independent consultant. He was a founder member of the Nautical Institute, serving as President (1993-1996), and was Master of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners (2000-2001).