Ministry Of Infrastructure And Transport News

Fincantieri announced on Monday it has reached a deal that will allow it to expand its shipbuilding footprint in the port of Ancona.The Italian shipbuilding company said it has signed a program agreement with the Port System Authority of the Central Adriatic Sea (ADSP) to develop the port’s current infrastructure, including construction piers, dry dock, technological and lifting facilities, for the construction of ships of greater size and tonnage, both in the cruise and merchant sector.The value of the investment is €80 million…

Damen Shipyards signed a contract with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications & Transport of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for the supply of five inshore ferries to carry tourists visiting Pemba Island and others nearby in the Zanzibar Archipelago.The contract is for three vessels of the Damen Ferry 804 design and two of the Damen Ferry 1204 design, together with a spare parts package for the first year of operation and on-site training in operating and maintaining the vessels.

ABS has been authorized as a Recognized Organization (RO) for Italy, giving the organization the ability to carry out statutory reviews and certifications on behalf of the Italian Flag Administration. “This authorization strengthens our offering to Italian flag vessel owners and provides a compelling option as they consider their classification and RO partner,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. Working closely with Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea and Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, this authorization allows ABS to verify compliance of Italian flag ships with the major international safety and pollution prevention programs: the International Load Line, SOLAS and MARPOL Conventions.

A National Seminar on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic is being held in Suva, Fiji (13-15 July). The event aims to assist Fiji to more effectively implement the Convention of Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) and to advise on the recently-adopted amendments to the Annex to the FAL Convention. The seminar has been organized by International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), and is being attended by 26 participants from ministries with responsibilities in the clearance of ships, cargo, crew and passengers at ports of Fiji, and private stakeholders. IMO is represented by Julian Abril.

ABB’s Symphony Plus control system to help protect Venice from high water flooding at the long Venetian Lagoon Malamocco inlet. Every four years or so, text messages, church bells and sirens alert the Venetians to what they call an "Aqua Alta" or the imminent arrival of an exceptionally high tide. These are high waters of more than 140 cm, which cover around 54 percent of the city. More frequent, but no less worrying, are high tides of around 110 cm, which occur up to four times a year…

RINA updates GREEN PLUS notation to cover transhipment terminals. International classification society RINA has updated its industry-leading GREEN PLUS notation to include new potential sources of pollution involving seagoing ships and ships operating at fixed locations. GREEN PLUS is awarded to new vessels that make a significant investment in design solutions, onboard equipment and operational procedures which contribute to an improvement in environmental performance beyond the minimum levels required by regulation.

Genoa-based verification, certification and ship classification group RINA has published a new notation GAS FUELLED SHIPS which establishes requirements for the use of liquefied or compressed natural gas (LNG or CNG) on board ship as an alternative to traditional fuels. It is designed to  give the industry a regulatory tool to ensure that the arrangement and installation on board of machinery using this type of fuel are such as to provide a level of integrity, from the point of view of safety and reliability, equivalent to that of a conventional installation. RINA notes that the use of natural gas as a fuel provides the advantages of a total reduction in sulphur oxide emissions…