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Mitchell News

26 Feb 2024

Caribbean Officials Search for Missing Couple After Yacht Hijacking

Ralph Hendry and Kathy Brandel (Photo: Salty Dawg Sailing Association)

Police from two countries in the eastern Caribbean are investigating the possible murder of two people believed to be U.S. citizens who owned a catamaran that was hijacked by three fugitives in the waters off the island of Grenada.The yacht's alleged owners, Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry, were last seen Sunday night, when three men escaped from the custody of Grenadian authorities. Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines captured the men on Wednesday.The Royal Grenada Policeā€¦

22 Jan 2024

New Tug Enters Service for Signet Maritime

Forepeak structure, 3D design and as-built (Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

Signet Sirius, the first of two ART 92-32W Rotortugs was recently delivered by Signet Maritime at their Pascagoula Shipbuilding and Repair facility. This is the first ART Rotortug that Signet has built and operated in their fleet. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd. in collaboration with RotorTug BV, the Advanced Rotortugs (ART) incorporate the patented triple Z-drive Rotortug propulsion layout, featuring omni-directional maneuverability, and the benefits of a fully redundant and precise propulsion machinery configuration.

26 Nov 2023

Engine Room Fire Investigation Highlights Due Diligence Failings

Source: ATSB

A fire on board a multi-purpose vessel chartered by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) while transiting the Southern Ocean highlights the risks and challenges of operating in harsh, remote conditions.On April 5, 2021, the 145 meter MPV Everest was en route from Antarctica to Hobart with 37 crew and 72 Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) staff on board when a fire broke out in its port engine room.The fire was contained and eventually extinguished using the engine room water mist fixed fire-extinguishing system after about 2.5 hoursā€¦

07 Nov 2023

Bleecker Street Group Acquires Marine Learning Systems

Ā© Yakov Stavchansky / Adobe Stock

Software holding company Bleecker Street Group (BSG) announced the acquisition of Marine Learning Systems, an eLearning technology and services provider.Marine Learning Systems is a trailblazer in introducing eLearning methodologies to the maritime sector, providing solutions to enhance learning outcomes and increase safety for maritime customers including the largest cruise, ferry and workboat operators.As part of the Bleecker Street Group, Marine Learning Systems will join a growing portfolio of maritime software businesses.

21 Sep 2023

BSG Acquires Maritime Software Company

"We are thrilled to announce the successful acquisition of Ripple," said Chad Mitchell, CEO of Bleecker Street Group. "The addition of Ripple's exceptional team, advanced software products and blue-chip customer base will significantly strengthen our position in the global maritime sector and position us for further growth and success."

Bleecker Street Group (BSG), a global software holding company, announced the acquisition of Ripple, an integrated maritime software company. The acquisition underscores BSG's commitment to the maritime sector, solidifying its position as an emerging force in the broader Supply Chain Software industry.Ripple has earned acclaim for its mission-critical solutions designed to address unique operating challenges faced by maritime, and it has a long client list in the sector delivering to tugboatā€¦

19 Sep 2023

ATSB: Fatal Pilot Ladder Accident Has Enduring Lessons

Source: ATSB

Managers of the two vessels involved in a fatal crew transfer accident off Brisbane, Australia, had not ensured personnel had a common and complete understanding of how the transfer would be conducted, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has concluded.On 9 August 2021, crew were being transferred to and from the bulk carrier Formosabulk Clement via the launch boat PT Transporter in the Port of Brisbane anchorage, about five nautical miles off the coast.The operation involved multiple visits from PT Transporter to transfer crew on and off the anchored bulk carrier.

15 Sep 2023

Naval Architect Mitchell Levi Joins The Shearer Group

Mitchell Levi (Photo: The Shearer Group, Inc.)

The Shearer Group, Inc. (TSGI) announced Mitchell Levi has joined its naval architecture, marine engineering, and marine surveying firm as a naval architect. He holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. For his undergraduate research, Levi examined the highly coupled relationships between propulsion loads and cooling systems.While studying at the University of Michigan, Levi completed internships at TSGI, the American Bureau of Shipping and Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

08 Aug 2023

After Attacking Ukraine Wheat Exports, Russia Faces Own Shipping Challenge

Ā© olgavolodina / Adobe Stock

Russia's lack of ships and Western grain traders' shrinking appetite for business with Moscow are adding to rising costs of moving Russian wheat, at a time when the war in Ukraine has spilled perilously close to vital Black Sea supply routes.President Vladimir Putin promised to replace Ukrainian grain with Russian shipments to Africa after Moscow in July ended an arrangement that gave Ukraine's food cargo safe passage in the Black Sea, imposing a de-facto blockade on its neighbour and attacking storage facilitiesā€¦

19 Jun 2023

Dredging: Keeping the Mississippi Open

(Photo: USACE)

ā€œNot only does the top of the river move, but the bottom of the river also moves.ā€ - James Bodron, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division, Regional Business Director.Dredging was the Herculean act that allowed much of the U.S. economy to keep chugging along as usual, at least for Midwest and Central states, as drought conditions threatened to shut down river traffic on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, during fall and winter 2022 and early 2023.The full scope of these U.S.

07 Jun 2023

Interim Report Describes Grounding After Failure of Rudder Angle Indicators

Source: ATSB

An interim report from an ongoing Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has detailed the sequence of events of a loaded iron ore carrierā€™s grounding in a channel while departing Port Hedland, Western Australia in 2022.The interim report details factual information but contains no analysis or findings.In the early hours of April 9, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Hagen Oldendorff departed its berth at Port Hedland, with a harbour pilot onboard. About 50 minutes after departureā€¦

23 Mar 2023

Lack of Bridge Resource Management Training Contributed to Collision

Source: ATSB

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its investigation report into a bulk carrierā€™s collision with two tugs in Tasmania last year highlighting the importance of bridge resource management (BRM) and the design of bridge systems to reduce the risks of human error.On January 28, 2022, the Australian-flagged bulk carrier Goliath was turning in the swing basin to berth at the Port of Devonport, Tasmania, when it collided with two moored tugs, which subsequently sunk.

03 Feb 2023

Fire on World's First Hydrogen Carrier Sparked by Electrical Issue

Suiso Frontier (Photo: ATSB)

A fire that broke out during the maiden voyage of the world's first liquified hydrogen (LH2) carrier gas carrier Suiso Frontier was caused by an onboard electrical issue, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation foundThe 116-meter vessel, built as a prototype ship to assess the technical aspects of transporting LH2 by sea, had arrived at the Port of Hastings, Victoria on January 20, 2022, on its maiden voyage.The ship had departed Kobe, Japan on December 25, 2021 with 55 t of LH2ā€¦

16 Dec 2022

APL England Fittings in Poor Condition Prior to Containers Loss off Sydney

(Photo: Australian Transport Safety Bureau)

Fixed container securing arrangements on containership APL England were in poor state of repair and corroded prior to loss of dozens containers in heavy seas off Sydney, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation found.The Singapore-flagged containership was making way down the east coast of Australia on May 24, 2020 when, in adverse weather, it underwent a series of heavy rolls that resulted in the loss of 50 containers overboard, and shutdown of the main engine.Theā€¦

30 Aug 2022

New Bedford Port Authority Names Gordon Carr Executive Director

Gordon Carr (Photo: New Bedford Port Authority)

The New Bedford Port Authority (NBPA) has named Gordon Carr as the next Executive Director of the Massachusetts seaport.Carr, who current serves as Deputy Director of Real Estate Strategy and Policy at the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), has more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors in the areas of public policy, economic development, and enterprise strategy, including on projects related to the City. As an independent consultant in 2014-15, Carrā€¦

09 Aug 2022

First-ever U.S. Sour Crude Cargo Sails to Germany as Russia Sanctions Bite

A tanker of U.S. sour crude was delivered at Germany's port of Rostock last week for the first time ever, according to sources, analysts and vessel tracking data, as local refiners test alternatives to Russian oil.The European Union plans an almost-complete embargo of Russian barrels by year-end, and is trying to wean itself off Russian crude imports, which have fed inland refineries in Germany, Poland and other central European nations via pipeline.Refiners plan to replace Russian oil with seaborne Norwegian, Saudi Arabian, British and U.S. crude grades. Russia has already shown through its natural gas exports that it is willing to cut off European destinations in a tit-for-tat over the EU's financial sanctions that followed Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February.

19 Jul 2022

UK Dockworkers at Major Container Port to Vote on Strike Over Pay

Credit: Unite

Hundreds of dockworkers at one of Britain's largest container ports will be balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions, a union representing them said on Tuesday, threatening disruption to supply chains.Staff from a range of sectors, including rail and aviation, have resorted to strikes as pay hikes fail to keep up with British inflation, which reached a 40-year peak of 9.1% in May.The Unite union said more than 500 dockworkers at MDHC Container Services, part of Peel Portsā€¦

23 Mar 2022

Foss to Develop Offshore Wind Terminal in New Bedford

(Image: Foss)

The Port of New Bedford in Massachusetts will add another base of operations and terminal logistics facility to support offshore wind projects off the northeastern coast seaboard.Foss is partnering with key local investors of New Bedfordā€™s Cannon Street Holdings LLC (CSH) to develop the 30-acre site, currently home to the decommissioned Cannon Street Power Station in the cityā€™s central waterfront. The former Sprague/Eversource site was selected for its proximity to offshore wind blocks located approximately 15 miles south of Marthaā€™s Vineyard and Nantucket islands.

07 Mar 2022

Sovcomflot's Tankers Find Refuge in the Bahamas Amid Growing Sanctions

At least three tankers controlled by Russian maritime powerhouse Sovcomflot that have been unable to deliver their cargoes due to Western sanctions have re-routed to the Bahamas, vessel tracking data showed on Monday.Russian state-owned Sovcomflot was blacklisted by the United States last month over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Britain and Canada also banned vessels flagged, operated or owned by Russia from docking at their ports.Sovcomflot oil and refined products tankers SCF Don, SCF Neva and SCF Ussuri since the weekend signaled the Bahamas as their destination, after rerouting from other nations, according to Refinitiv Eikon trackingā€¦

09 Feb 2022

MARAD Seeks Port Microgrid Demonstration Projects

Ā© be free / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) has an open request for proposals (RFP) that demonstrate microgrids for marine terminal operations. Closing bid date is February 16. Total funding could equal $1.5 million. This is a cost sharing effort. MARADā€™s share tops at 50% of total project cost.This effort builds on MARADā€™s Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance Program which partners on projects to investigate, test, and demonstrate the use of alternative fuels and technologies to reduce air emissions from vessels, ports, and marine terminal operations.

07 Feb 2022

Isle of Man Ship Registry Reduces Fees for ā€˜Greenā€™ Ships

Cameron Mitchell (Photo: IOMSR)

The Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) announced it will reduce registration fees for ships deploying green technology, in a move aimed at spurring decarbonization in the maritime industry.The new measure, which the flag state claims is the first of its kind in the world, will give a 15% reduction on annual registration fees for cargo ships, commercial yachts or passenger ships investing in biofuel, alternative fuels, wind or shore-side energy technology.The initiative forms part of the Isle of Man Governmentā€™s Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2022ā€¦

19 Jan 2022

DSC Dredge Hires Duplantis in IT Role

Mitchell Duplantis (Photo: DSC Dredge)

DSC Dredge announced it has welcomed Mitchell Duplantis as the newest member of its information technology (IT) team.As a former IT support analyst and helpdesk specialist, Duplantis brings experience in applying technical and problem-solving skills to improve both team and organizational performance and the ability to leverage existing technology with internal resources to facilitate DSC achieving its technological goals. He joined DSC Dredge on October 26, 2021As IT specialist for DSCā€¦

21 Jun 2021

Weithman Named Director of Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon

Ben Weithman (Photo: Ports of Indiana)

Ports of Indiana (POI) announced that it has hired Bernard (Ben) Weithman as the new Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon port director.Weithman will lead port operations and business development for the Mount Vernon port. His industry experience includes more than 30 years in business development, startup and long-term sustainable operations. A senior-level executive in the transportation, agriculture and freight sectors, he most recently served as a senior transportation market consultant at IHS Markit.

17 Mar 2021

Kongsberg to Deliver $40M Tech Package for First Jones-act WTIV

Dominion Energyā€™s new Wind Turbine Installation Vessel, due for delivery by the end of 2023, will be built by Keppel AmFELS and fitted with Kongsberg Maritimeā€™s field-proven integrated solution for WTIV operation - Credit: Kongsberg Maritime

Norway's Kongsberg Maritime has secured a $40 million contract to supply an integrated technology solution for the first U.S.-built wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) - the Charybdis.The vessel, being built at Keppel AmFELS shipyard in the U.S., is being constructed for US energy company Dominion Energy. The vessel is expected to be delivered by the end of 2023 and will be among the largest of its kind.The new WTIV will be able to transport and install several sets of next-generation wind turbines and their foundations.