Private Operators News

Spearheaded by the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), Bay Ferry 2050 is a visionary initiative aimed at transforming the San Francisco Bay Ferry service into an eco-friendly and forward-thinking transportation system. With a focus on fleet electrification, community engagement and the exploration of alternative propulsion technologies, the project sets the stage for a more community-minded, sustainable, operationally strong, fiscally sound and environmentally conscious…

Germany has ordered police to guard LNG terminals under construction and increased aerial supervision of its rail network as it prepares a law to bolster the protection of critical infrastructure, its interior minister told Reuters.Suspected sabotage on the German rail network and on the Baltic Sea gas pipelines linking Germany and Russia in recent weeks have raised concerns about the country's exposure to attacks.Minister Nancy Faeser said in an interview it was not possible to comprehensively protect all of the more than 33…

Brazil auctioned off six port terminals for liquid fuels in the northern state of Para to private operators on Friday, with subsidiaries of state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA winning two of the areas.The government raised nearly 450 million reais ($117 million) in the auction of the terminals — five in the Miramar port in the city of Belem and one in the Vila do Conde port in the city of Barcarena.The rights to operate the terminals are the latest in a slew of assets Brazil is selling as part of its drive to shore up public finances and reduce a gaping budget deficit.In an auction broadcast online, Petrobras Distribuidora SA - also known as BR Distribuidora - won a 20-year lease on a terminal in the port of Miramar with a bid of 50 million reais ($12.94 million).Petrobras Transpo

The ferry business, unlike more industrial parts of the shipping business, touches wide swaths of the world’s population across continents. The membership of Interferry, the leading trade group for the industry, with non-Governmental organization (NGO) status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) includes 200+ members from all parts of the ferry spectrum. These include passenger ferries (including fast ferries), Ro/Pax and cruise ferries operating globally. In selecting “the best” we looked beyond the league tables of “the most” (passengers) and “the biggest” (fleet size).

Mumbai and Nhava Sheva Ship Agents Association has drawn the attention of Mumbai Port Trust towards the shortage of dock workers and winch drivers that continues to adversely affects the vessel operations and if need be to outsource these activities. Shortage of workers at the port has been instrumental in prolonging the vessel stay at the port affecting the turnaround time to 4-5 days from around 2-3 days, thereby escalating the costs. As against the normal requirement of 4/5 gangs (workers) per vessel, the supply is only of 1/2 gangs. In fact, the port had invited applications for awarding stevedoring licenses to the private operators in light of the heavy shortage of labour, but the progress of this initiative is yet to be ascertained.

U.S. oil drilling has seen its best quarter since crude prices tumbled two years ago mainly due to small operators returning to the well pad, but analysts say the continued recovery in the rig count depends on whether OPEC's output reduction plan can bring the market back to $50 a barrel. Since May, drillers have added 100 oil rigs with the rig count rising to 416 rigs last week, that included the most additions in a quarter since the first quarter of 2014, according to oil service firm Baker Hughes Inc. The number of rigs had plunged from a record high of 1,609 in October 2014 to a low of 316 in May after crude prices collapsed in the biggest price rout in a generation, in part due to U.S. shale producers adding to a global oil glut.

Defence and security company Saab has been awarded a contract from the Curacao Ports Authority to install the latest version of Saab’s KleinPort for the Authority’s new Harbor Management System. Curacao Ports will be using KleinPort to manage its multi-harbor operations. System functionality includes the scheduling of vessel traffic and services, the dispatch of pilots and tugs, the recording of cargo data, full tariff billing and provision of comprehensive management reporting. “Curacao Ports required a new harbor management system that also met the needs of its tug subsidiary, KTK.

The Canadian Government has committed $51.9 million to support Atlantic Canada ferry services, announced Canada’s Transport Minister Marc Garneau. The funding, announced as part of Budget 2016, will support operations, maintain and repair ferry assets and dispose of the MV Princess of Acadia, which was taken out of service in July 2015 and replaced by the MV Fundy Rose. The funding has enabled the one year extension of contracts for interprovincial ferry services in Atlantic Canada…

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Citywide Ferry Service is on track to launch in 2017, with the selection of Hornblower, Inc. as its operator. The new service, which will include up to 20 boats and connect 21 New York City eighborhoods for the price of a single subway ride ($2.75) is scheduled to be fully operational by 2018, and is estimated to carry 4.6 million trips per year across six routes. “For the price of a single subway ride, tens-of-thousands of New Yorkers are going to have a new public transit option linking them to jobs…

Strategically located Spain, linking countries in Europe, Africa and the Americas, along with a dynamic coast line dotted with number of highly proactive ports have bolstered its progress helping it to become a global leader in the ‘ship’ repairs and conversion. Spearheading the ship design and construction operations in Europe, the sector is witnessing an unusual boom with an annual volume of about €400 million. One can find 13 shipyards competing in this ship repair/conversion market. The smaller ones being able to repair vessels of up to 100 meters in length and the bigger ones – considered to be the biggest shipyards in Europe in terms of docking facilities – have dry docks that service vessels of up to 400 meters.

The Indian government’s has been going all out to put the growth of the Indian maritime Industry on a fast track by opening up a host of opportunities, offering goodies and putting in place new facilities. Setting the tone for his keynote address at the 9th Biennial International Conference on Ports, Shipping & Logistics organized by the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, Nitin Gadkari, Union Ministry of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, government of India assured his all out support to the head honchos of ship owning, ship manning, logistic companies, and other players of the Maritime Industry…

A few months ago the Essar Group from India decided to buy back the shares from her daughter company Essar Ports Limited (EPL). Port of Antwerp International (PAI), the international consulting and investment subsidiary of Antwerp Port Authority, set up an alliance in 2012 with EPL, which was accompanied by an investment of 25 million euros, five million of which was contributed by the Flemish Regional Investment Company (FRIC). PAI and FRIC have come out of the existing financial arrangement with a capital gain of 6.8 million euros on top of their original investment, which has been recovered in full. In the meantime the collaboration with EPL will continue unabated in other areas.

The enactment of Law No. 2014-742 of 1st July 2014 and the signing of decrees related during late 2014 and early 2015 resulted in June 2015 to approve the first private companies wishing to conduct activities of protection of French flagged vessels (APPN). Active since 2011 in the training of PCASP and involved from the earliest discussions (2013) on the French bill, the holding GROUPE PRORISK started its first missions for French flagged vessels. of its subsidiary PRORISK INTERNATIONAL ensured in September the protection of a tanker in the Gulf of Aden and three teams are being deployed on tuna-seiners in the Indian Ocean. In order to anticipate demands of ship-owners and answer them in the best conditions…

President Dilma Rousseff unveiled a concession program on Tuesday to draw 198.4 billion reais ($64 billion) in private investment over five years to upgrade and operate Brazilian roads, railways, airports and harbor terminals. The logistics plan includes 4,371 kilometers of new highways, the extension of existing railway concessions and the private operation of airports in the cities of Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, Salvador and Florianopolis, according to a government presentation. The new concessions will have access to less state bank financing in the midst of Brazil's current drive to cut spending and reduce a bulging fiscal deficit. Bidders will be expected to partially fund projects with private financing.

In a move to encourage traders to use India's vast 7,500 km coastline for transporting local freight, the country's shipping ministry is formulating a plan to revive several of its 133 nonfunctional ports, reports Economic Times. A concept note for forming special purpose vehicles by Shipping Corporation of India and Dredging Corporation of India with state governments and private operators was prepared by the ministry. The ministry is looking at developing five coastal ports in the next one year itself as part of the plan. To start with, $ 5 million per port would be provided by the government to kick start their development. The state governments should take care of remaining funds in order to provide connectivity to nearby state, national highway or railway station.

Following a call for tenders in November last year, the Marseilles Fos port authority has chosen automotive logistics specialist TEA – part of the Charles Andre transport group - to develop and operate an import/export terminal for new cars at the Brule-Tabac quay in Fos. The decision was announced during a review of the port’s first five years under a revised management structure decreed by the French government in 2008. This established three governing bodies – the executive, supervisory and development boards – which are about to be renewed after completing their 2009-2013 terms of office.

Government of Canada to invest in replacement of 'MV Princess of Acadia' for Digby to Saint John ferry service. The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Central Nova; Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova; and Rodney Weston, Member of Parliament for Saint John, have announced that the Government of Canada will invest in a replacement vessel for the federally-owned MV Princess of Acadia. Travelling the 70 kilometres between Digby…

MarineNews spoke with industry experts to get an overview of the passenger vessel market as it stands today, including a legislative update and business leaders’ insights on pricing, ridership and vessel construction and renovation. Actions in Congress this year provided a mixed bag for passenger vessel operators. Because of the new tax law, private operators will be able to take advantage of an immediate 100% depreciation deduction for capital investments made in 2011. Also,…

A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program is receiving proposals for grants to be used to reduce emissions from existing diesel engines used in various transportation modes, including marine. Grants can be used for up to 75 percent of the cost of repowering marine vessels with cleaner engines (there must be a non-federal cost share of at least 25 percent). Proposals must be submitted by December 8. A publicly-owned ferry system is eligible to submit a proposal on its own. In most situations, a private vessel operator is not eligible to apply by itself. However, if a privately-owned ferry vessel is being leased or otherwise made available to a public entity, it may compete for a grant, but the public agency has to be the applicant.

Marcon International, Inc. of Coupeville, Washington reported the sale of four U.S. flag, 110 x 24 ft., aluminum hull crewboats from Stanco Boat Rental Ltd. Panama. The four vessels, Milky Way, Brenda Lee, Twix and Kit-Kat are all being delivered promptly on their own bottom directly to the Buyer. Three of the vessels are sister-boats, built by Breaux Bay Craft in Loreauville, La., in 1979 and 1980. Each of these vessel has capacity for about 38 tons of deck cargo plus seating for 59 passengers and accommodations for a crew of five.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) agents have arrested a ships Master in Gladstone following allegations that he had operated a ship in a protected zone within the Great Barrier Reef. On April 12, 2004, a private vessel operator allegedly saw the ship in the protected zone and reported it to Gladstone Vessel Traffic Service. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) was alerted to the sighting and they in turn advised the AFP. About 2:00 pm on April 14, federal agents and GBRMPA officers boarded the 17,000 ton bulk alumina carrier when it berthed at Gladstone. Federal agents will allege the ship was operated in the Capricorn Bunker Group area between Fitzroy Reef and Lamont Reef on or about 12 April 2004. The particular area of ocean is zoned General Use 'B'.

The process of bioremediation of waste oil through patented biodispersion technology, consists of a breakthrough in ballast water treatment, which has been discovered via research based on the evaluation of SpillRemed (Marine), which was developed on the basis of biodispersion technology for remediation of bilge water on boats and ships in an effort to develop an environment friendly solution to the problem of operational discharges by ships. A study was conducted on board cruise ships equipped with oil water separators. SpillRemed (Marine) is considered a suitable replacement to chemical dispersants. Although in volumes as large as found on such ships…

Recent growth in ferry construction, particularly in the U.S., has been significant. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently reported that the U.S. marine transportation system annually transports 134 million passengers by ferry. Although the U.S. fleet represents a small percentage of the worldwide fleet, the U.S. fleet has recently experienced one of the largest and most rapid growth rates. This growth represents an increase both in sheer numbers as well as in the size of new vessels. The DOT recently reported that the U.S. currently has more fast-ferry shipbuilding under way than any other country, with an estimated 14 fast ferries under construction. With this increased demand and growth in newbuildings and transaction size, U.S.