Maritime Company News

QatarEnergy has selected Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat) to be the owner and operator of up to 25 conventional-size LNG carriers pursuant to Time Charter Parties (TCP).The 25 vessels, each with a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters, will be owned 100% by Nakilat and chartered out to affiliates of QatarEnergy. They are scheduled for construction at South Korean shipyards.This constitutes the first award in the second batch of long-term TCPs under QatarEnergy’s LNG fleet expansion project.

Bourbon was awarded the Trophée de la Charte Bleue (Blue charter trophy) by Armateurs de France at the 18th conference of Les Assises de l'Économie de la Mer on November 28, in Nantes-France. Each year, this emblematic trophy is awarded to a maritime company that is committed to the energy transition and aim at an overall sustainable development that includes strong social responsibility issues.The jury, chaired by Guillaume Vidil, Managing Director of Marfret, chose to award the trophy based on Bourbon's Data Collection and Analysis for Operational Security…

Erika Graziuso, Chief Information Officer, Crowley, brings a breadth and depth of non-maritime experience to bear in her quest to drive Crowley’s digital transformation in the name of decarbonization, holistic transportation efficiency and crew attraction and retention.Emulating best practices from industries outside of maritime has been a mantra in boardrooms and conferences for decades, as traditional maritime mindset has, at times, been seen as an impediment to achieving next-level efficiency.Enter Erika Graziuso…

A.P. Møller Holding A/S has acquired offshore vessel services firm Maersk Supply Service A/S from A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S, through the closing of the previously announced transaction.In connection with the closing of this acquisition, A.P. Moller Holding has elected a new CEO and Board of Directors for Maersk Supply Service A/S. Christian M. Ingerslev will take over the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position from Steen S. Karstensen, who has been at the helm of Maersk Supply Service since 2016.

Wilhelmsen Port Services has entered into an agreement with Vopak to acquire 100% of maritime services provider Vopak Agencies and 50% of Diize. "Vopak Agencies and Diize are highly complementary and a perfect match for the global reach of Wilhelmsen Port Services’ maritime network of 2 200 ports," Wilhelmsen Port Services said.Wilhelmsen said that Vopak Agencies had a strong track record within both hub services and port agency within the tanker segments in Europe and extensive experience within their field.

Dutch marine services and towage company KOTUG has agreed to buy offshore support vessel firm Seaways International, in what is the largest acquisition in KOTUG's history.KOTUG said the move, of an undisclosed value, was part of its strategy to expand its business in assisting worldwide floating facilities such as FSO, FPSO, FLNG, FSRU, and SPM Terminals. "In addition, it will further consolidate the position of KOTUG in this niche market that is expected to grow as new offshore floating projects emerge in response to rising energy demand…

Greece-based Empire Navigation is investigating whether Iranian oil was transferred onto one of the vessels it manages, the company said in a statement, after a U.S. advocacy group first made such allegation last week.Top oil shipping companies say they are grappling with a growing risk of handling oil shipments originating from countries that have been targeted by U.S. sanctions such as Iran and Venezuela.A breach of U.S. sanctions could lead to a company losing access to the dollar financial system, having assets seized, and insurance cover for ships canceled, U.S. and insurance industry officials say.Empire Navigation said it was "aware of the allegation of non-compliance regarding our managed vessel…

Paramount Maritime launched the company’s latest 35m Sentinel ballistic patrol vessel in Elliot Basin, located in Cape Town.Christened MV Meedoi, the next-generation vessel is slated to be used for contemporary security and patrol operations within the Gulf of Guinea. The platform was manufactured by Paramount Maritime company, Nautic Africa.The 35m Sentinel is an aluminium-hulled vessel with an optimal V-bottom hull shape. Measuring 35 x 7.5m with a draft of two meters, the vessel comfortably hosts up to 6 cabins for both crew and security personnel.

Windward, the Predictive Intelligence company applying AI to the maritime industry, announced the launch of Company Risk Insights, providing risk insights into every company in the maritime domain.The capability utilizes a new ownership data repository, risk indicators, data sets and behavioral models to provide Windward users with a complete risk assessment of all maritime related entities including a beneficiary list up to and including the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO), Windward said…

U.S. offshore wind developer Vineyard Wind has contracted Belgium-based DEME for the offshore transport and installation of the wind turbine generators for the first largescale offshore wind installation in the United States.DEME's U.S. arm DEME Offshore US LLC will  team up with American maritime services contractor FOSS Maritime Company LLC to help construct the Vineyard Wind 1 project off the coast of Massachusetts. FOSS will provide the Jones Act compliant feeder vessels,…

Saltchuk Marine announced it has acquired Centerline Logistics’ harbor ship assist operations in California and the Pacific Northwest.Eight ship assist tugs currently operated under the Millennium and Starlight brands will join the Saltchuk Marine fleet in early 2021. Operations will be consolidated under the Starlight brand, which will remain independently-operated – managing, dispatching, and crewing its own boats.The acquisition increases the ship assist capacity of Saltchuk…

Interlake Holding Company announced today the purchase of the assets of Pere Marquette Shipping Company and Lake Michigan Car Ferry Company in an acquisition that includes two working Great Lakes vessels, the articulated tug-barge Undaunted-Pere Marquette 41 and the historic passenger-and-car ferry S.S. Badger.The acquisition signals the creation of a new business entity, Interlake Maritime Services, which will manage the new businesses along with The Interlake Steamship Company…

Centerline Logistics acquired Saltchuk Marine Services’ California ship refueling business, currently operated by subsidiary Foss Maritime Company. According to a press release from Centerline, this "major acquisition" brings together the combined capabilities of two of the nation’s leaders in petroleum transportation, strengthening Centerline’s position as a provider of around the clock bunkering (ship refueling) services.Through this expansion, Centerline will "substantially…

The maritime sector keeps talking enthusiastically about it: artificial intelligence (AI). But what is it really? What is the role of technology in the maritime sector at this moment, and what does it mean for the future? Yves de Vos, Project Manager and Artificial Intelligence Expert at Shipbuilder, explains.“The term Artificial Intelligence is often misused because a lot of tools are not intelligent at all. If you use genuine AI in your maritime projects, the possibilities and benefits are huge…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already being applied in both ship and yacht building by a number of maritime companies that are currently using it successfully. AI technology makes a completely new way of working possible. It helps companies to operate competitively in a highly competitive maritime world.I believe in this way of working, and we have adjusted our software accordingly. I’m convinced that any software which cannot deal with AI has no future. So don't lose track, and work toward knowledge-driven operations with the help of AI.

He has decades of experience in the maritime sector and now works as a maritime consultant for Shipbuilder. André Zijderveld: “In all those years in the maritime sector, I have seen the financial departments in the maritime sector working with beautiful ERP programs. However, it is a misconception that you can manage an entire shipbuilding or yacht building project with it. To my surprise people are still trying to do that though, with all the mistakes that come along. That must…

Last year, China replaced the United States as the No. 1 importer of oil from Venezuela, yet another front in the heated rivalry between Washington and Beijing.The United States had imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil company as part of a bid to topple that country’s socialist president, Nicolas Maduro. U.S. refineries stopped buying Venezuelan crude. Caracas’ ally China, long a major customer, suddenly found itself the top purchaser. Through the first six months of 2019, it imported an average of 350,000 barrels per day of crude from Venezuela.But in August, Washington tightened its sanctions on Venezuela, warning that any foreign entity that continued to do business with the South American country’s government could find itself subject to sanctions.

Arthur F. Mead, Vice President and Chief Counsel at Crowley Maritime Corporation, has been elected Chairman of the American Waterways Operators (AWO), succeeding outgoing Chairman Scott Merritt, former Chief Operating Officer with Foss Maritime Company, LLC.Members of the national tugboat, towboat and barge industry association elected a new slate of leaders this week during the association's Spring Board of Directors / Annual Membership Meeting, which was held virtually due to COVID-19 precautionary measures that resulted in the meeting not taking place in Washington…

Doha-listed LNG and LPG carrier owner Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd (Nakilat) reported a consolidated net profit of QR1,003m (USD $270 million)  in 2019, an increase of 12.4 percent, as compared to QR892m posted for the same period in 2018.The 2019 net profit is Nakilat’s highest profit recorded since its inception, said the Qatari shipping and maritime company.Nakilat's robust financial performance is primarily attributed to operational excellence in the management of its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessels, as well as realizing additional revenues from the two additional LNG carriers, one Floating…

United Kingdom-based maritime company  Silverstream Technologies has entered into a framework agreement with  European ship design consultancy International Contract Engineering (ICE) group for worldwide installation design services for retrofitting of the Silverstream System.Silverstream System is a patented air lubrication system designed for reduction of friction between ships’ hulls and seawater. The company claimed that it the system has been proven to deliver substantial fuel savings and an associated reduction in GHG emissions.Silverstream Technologies is a founding member of the Global Industry Alliance for combating pollution within shipping.Steinar Draegebo…

Marine Components International (MCI) in the UK has been chosen by Denmark’s Daniamant to distribute its British-designed EchoPilot forward-looking 3D sonar systems (FLS 3D).Dorset-headquartered maritime company supplies a wide range of high-end marine products to leading yacht builders and shipyards worldwide. MCI managing director Andy Scott said he is delighted to welcome EchoPilot to MCI’s portfolio.“EchoPilot is a pioneer in Forward Looking Sonar ever since patenting the World’s first forward looking sonar in 1992, and its latest FLS 3D sonar system is one of the very best on the market,” he said.“Boat owners are very familiar with 2D sonars, but these can only give a representation of what lies directly below, and what has already passed, the keel, with a significant time lag.

Qatari shipping and maritime company Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) reported a 10.5% year-on-year increase in net profit to QR728mn (USD 200 million) in the first nine months of this year.Nakilat, which has the largest LNG shipping fleet in the world, comprising 69 vessels, said in a press note that its positive financial performance can be primarily attributed to better operational performance in managing its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels.The company also realized higher revenues on additional income from the acquisition of two additional LNG carriers and one Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) in 2018…

Cook Inlet Tug & Barge (CITB), an independently managed subsidiary of Foss Maritime Company, has announced that operations on Alaska’s North Slope are officially underway for the 2019 ice-free season. Three newly acquired tugs, along with barges and shore equipment, will be operating out of Prudhoe Bay for approximately the next three months.“It is great to see these vessels on the water and ready to work,” said Jeff Johnson, President of CITB. “These shallow-draft tugs and barges…