Maritime Resources News

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has invited the USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) to join their lead in maritime operations to combat illegal fishing and safeguard maritime resources during August 2023.This marks the first time a joint patrol effort will be executed at sea since the signing and ratification of the recent bilateral defense agreement between PNG and the US, which allows the US to embark shipriders from PNG agencies aboard the ship to conduct at sea boardings on other vessels operating in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).The move emphasizes PNG’s commitment to maritime domain awareness…

The City of Brest, on France’s Atlantic coast, calls itself the Capital of the Oceans and it is surely living up to that moniker this week as the city hosts the international Sea Tech Week, held every two years, with a programmatic focus on “Maritime Transport: Towards Smarter & Greener Solutions.”New Wave Media was honored to join a small international press group invited to attend Sea Tech as well as a chance to participate in expanded activities at some of the related and extensive maritime resources within and around Brest.

The Canadian Coast Guard has awarded Heddle Shipyards a $36.14 million vessel life extension contract for the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) George R. Pearkes. The vessel will be dry-docked and enter an extended maintenance period designed to increase its operational life.The Hamilton, Ont. yard secured the contract following an open and competitive bid process. The project was awarded by Public Services and Procurement Canada on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard.Life extension work includes steel hull reinforcement…

A new decision-support tool could become a game changer in the dredging of ship channels. Millions of dollars are at stake every time a major ship channel is cleaned up. Delays in dredging can cost even more by triggering increased risks, repeated maintenance and lost revenue. In either case, the task cannot be put off indefinitely.All ship channels must be regularly cleared of sand, debris settled on the bottom (called shoal) and miscellaneous trash. That means ship channel management regularly faces the mighty task of dredging.

Kodiak is now home to the Pacific Rim Response Center (PRRC), a facility that serves as a hub for a comprehensive suite of maritime resources providing vessel support, marine casualty response, and oil and hazardous spill response. The PRRC was established as a collaboration between Paradigm Marine and strategic partners Alaska Chadux̂ Network (Chadux̂) and Global Diving & Salvage (Global), providing one consolidated location for a range of resources to serve the Western Alaska maritime industry.With personnel and assets staged in Kodiak…

Placing maritime activity at the heart of national development plans in Africa will help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, which is a key strategic direction for IMO. A recent International Maritime Organization (IMO) P training activity in Nairobi, Kenya is helping to do just that.With 38 of 54 African countries being coastal States – and more than 90% of Africa’s imports and exports being transported by sea, Africa’s future depends on healthy oceans and a sustainable Blue Economy. This inclusive, clean and green approach to harnessing maritime resources is central to a new training course being developed in Kenya with support…

The Offshore Sector's Support of National Interests in Times of Crisis.Desperate Times Call for Diverse ResourcesIn 2017, North America was assaulted by significant weather events resulting in cascading humanitarian crises. Despite the substantial response from the U.S. maritime industry, a misconception arose that insufficient U.S. assets were available to support critical response activities in affected regions; in particular, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Public…

The US Coast Guard has published its Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook. This forward-facing document should be read by everyone in the Coast Guard and by those associated with the US maritime sector. It is intended to guide the Service’s efforts in securing the strategically critical maritime transportation system (MTS) and the marine environment. To accomplish this, the Coast Guard must be Semper Paratus – Always Ready, as it has been for most of its 228 years. The Coast Guard must also be relevant – ready and able to accomplish the tasks important to the MTS and marine environment.

Damen Shipyards will hold its first Fishing Seminar in Cape Town, South Africa on 22 November in recognition of this important industry. To be held at Damen Shipyards Cape Town, the event brings together leading companies, the government and other stakeholders.Damen is aiming to create a platform whereby the industry can come together with the government and exchange information about the latest developments in the sector and the new technologies and innovative ideas driving the growth of a sustainable fishing industry. Other major topics to be addressed include the progress of the fleet renewal programme and available financing vehicles for the industry.Representatives from the Department of Trade & Industry and Department of Agriculture…

The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum has received a $200,000 grant from the Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS) through the National Maritime Heritage (NMH) grant program, for the repair of USS Slater’s mast and hull.Thirty-four of these grants totaling $2.6 million were awarded in collaboration with the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs). With these funds, organizations and agencies conduct education and preservation…

Kongsberg said it has opened its first office and warehouse facility in the Republic of South Africa on Friday, November 4, 2016. Located in Cape Town’s airport zone, the new Kongsberg Maritime South Africa facility joins the company’s global network of first party sites, consisting 64 offices located in 20 countries, employing more than 4,000 people. Kongberg's expansion in South Africa comes as the Government’s National Development Plan turns toward maritime resources as part of ‘Operation Phakisa’; a program implemented to unlock the economic potential of South Africa’s oceans.

The Turnbull Government today signed a contract with Austal Ships Pty Ltd to build and sustain up to 21 steel-hulled vessels to replace the existing fleet of Pacific Patrol Boats as part of Australia’s new Pacific Maritime Security Program. As part of the $280 million (ex-GST) contract Austal will design and construct the first 19 vessels in Henderson, securing more than 120 jobs for Western Australia. Two vessels have also been offered to a new member of the Program, Timor-Leste, with an option for these additional vessels to be constructed by Austal at an agreed fixed price should Timor-Leste accept the offer. Austal has also been awarded a $24 million (ex-GST) contract to provide support services to the replacement vessels for an initial seven-year period.

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo on Tuesday addressed the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in London at the invitation of IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. The visit was part of Lim’s initiative to raise awareness of the Organization within the broader audience of global leadership. Delegates from 107 Member States and 53 NGOs heard Widodo outline Indonesia’s strategy for national maritime development and confirm his support for IMO…

Indonesian authorities sank 23 foreign fishing boats on Tuesday (Apr 5), saying they were "operating illegally in the archipelago's vast waters in continuation efforts for anti-poaching", China's Xinhua news agency reported. Indonesian coast guard authorities blew up 23 foreign vessels this week after charging them with fishing illegally in the country’s waters, bringing the number of vessels destroyed by the Government under the policy to more than 170. Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said her agency sank 10 Malaysian and 13 Vietnamese boats that were caught fishing illegally in Indonesian waters. “The sinking of the boats is to enforce the law and to protect the sovereignty of our territory to ensure that the sea is the future of our nation…

Kenya will start construction work next month on a long-delayed new port to be built on its northern coast, next to the historic trading town of Lamu, the presidency announced on Monday. The Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project is intended to include a port, new roads, a railway and a pipeline by 2030 that will give landlocked South Sudan and Ethiopia access to the Indian Ocean. The overall price of the project, first proposed in the 1970s, has been put at $25.5 billion. Among the reasons for the delay are demands from landowners for greater compensation. "Construction of the Lamu port begins next month, President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced," the presidency said in a statement, without specifying the scope of the work.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said that the construction of the proposed Lamu port is set to begin next month, with the promise of more jobs and expanded regional trade. The facility, which is part of the Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor project, will provide an opportunity for exploitation of Kenya’s expansive maritime resources, he said. Kenya’s maritime domain extends over 230,000 square kilometres — the equivalent of about 31 of our 47 counties. This vast resource has hitherto lain untapped by Kenyans. Special attention must be paid to education and training, so that our skills match the infrastructure we are building, he added.

Kenyan government vowed to strengthen maritime safety and security to help exploit maritime resources. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called for closer cooperation, and effective coordination of all maritime policy at the different decision- making levels both at regional and continental levels. Given that the maritime industry is the carrier of 92 percent of Kenya's international trade by volume, and given the importance of international trade to Keny's prosperity, the choice of investment was prudent too, Kenyatta said. Kenyatta said a special focus must be put on training so that the country's maritime skills match the infrastructure being developed to exploit maritime resources. He said that a public university will soon start to offer training in maritime studies.

The huge potential of the oceans and the maritime industry to assist in the development of the African continent has already been noted, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Koji Shemizu, has said. African should emulate Japan in exploiting their vast maritime resources to bolster their economic progress, he said. Strong industrial policy, firmly and formally adopted by the Government, is a crucial element for any industry in any nation and even more so for the maritime industry. Maritime development, under a formal national maritime transportation policy, will lead Africa towards prosperity. Sekimizu was speaking in Nairobi last in Kenya's first National Maritime Conference.

Representatives from 17 countries would take part in the sixth Maritime Security Desktop Exercise that is scheduled to be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from March 30 to April 1. The drill, dubbed "the 6th Maritime Security Desktop Exercise or MSDE" aims at strengthening coordination among the participating countries in combating crimes at sea at the region, said Edi Fernandi, head of Indonesian maritime security board. The exercise is being organized by the Indonesian Coast Guard (Bakamla) in cooperation with the Australian Border Protection Service, he said. "Many countries have put the prevention on the violation at sea as priority after experiencing many of such violations which has occurred at the global sea territory," he added.

With 4,989 kilometers of Atlantic coastline, Argentina looks to commercial fishing as an important contributor to the Argentinian economy. The promotion of the maritime resources is dependent on quality boats capable of delivering quality product. This spring just such a vessel joined the Argentine trawler fleet. The 20.8 by 6.6-meter FV Don Franco was designed and built by the Contessi Shipyard at Mar del Plata, Argentina’s largest fishing port 400 kilometers south of Buenos Aires. Owned by the Galeano family, the new vessel is classed by RINA and will replace their older boat the Galme I.

Amid increasing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean region, Navy Chief Admiral R.K. Dhowan said that Indian Navy “minutely” monitors the activities of its Chinese counterpart in the region, reports PTI. Underlining that India's maritime resources are directly linked to country's economy, Dhowan said the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships have been deployed in anti-piracy operations in Indian Ocean since 2008 along with some submarines. "PLA Navy's activities are minutely monitored by Indian Navy and our belief is that the responsibility of protecting Indian Ocean and our coastline lies with the Navy. Our ships, aircraft carriers are always on alert so that our security is maintained," he said.

In celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, the Steamship Historical Society of America (SSHSA) is offering access to its archives with the opening of its Ship History Center in Warwick, R.I., where the organization’s entire collection is now housed under one roof and is accessible to researchers. “This is an exciting time for us and we are pleased to finally have this wealth of knowledge available for study,” SSHSA Executive Director Matthew Schulte said. “The information we have gathered over the years helps us understand not only where we’ve been, but where we are heading in the future.

President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, roadmap for Indonesia as a maritime power in the Indo-Pacific region, has been lauded by the international community, with several countries offering to cooperate with the government to realize this vision, according to a report in the Jakarta Post. Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Indroyono Susilo revealed that when the President attended the APEC Summit in Beijing and the G-20 Summit in Australia leaders of top countries said they were ready to cooperate with Indonesia in the fields of fisheries and maritime resource development as well as maritime infrastructure development and capacity building. Indonesia is also prioritizing cooperation in the maritime resources and fisheries sectors, he said.