Round Table News

A new report offers safety recommendations for ship owners and port authorities seeking to establish green shipping corridors.As the shipping industry continues to make progress toward its decarbonization goals, a number of green shipping corridors are being being set up as maritime routes that help to enable the use of low- and zero-emission lifecycle fuels such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen, as well as other green technologies. To date, more than 30 green shipping corridors…

The United States' Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, on Monday hosted executives from major ship repair companies at the Pentagon for a roundtable discussion focused on surface ship repair and modernization initiatives.Navy and Marine Corps leaders have expressed that repair process improvements are critical to meeting the needs of worldwide combatant commanders.“The maritime industry is a strategic sector critical to our economic and national security,” said Secretary Del Toro.

On October 23, NYK held its annual roundtable discussion on current conditions and issues on board vessels, highlighting the role of communications in ship safety.The meeting was held at the NYK head office in Tokyo in a hybrid format and attended by more than 150 participants, including three captains and three chief engineers on leave, the captain and chief engineer on board the car carrier Iris Leader, the captain aboard the crude oil tanker Tensho, 22 executive officers, and…

The 2023 edition of The Future of Maritime Safety Report from Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, reveals that the number of distress calls from ships at sea remains high, despite a continuing decline in vessel losses. The new report, which analyses Global Maritime Distress and Safety System information captured by Inmarsat, registered 853 distress calls from January to December 2022 – up from 794 in 2021.With the number of losses of vessels over 100 gross tonnage (GT) falling by 65% in the last decade…

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has reached an historic membership milestone by now representing 32% of the global dry bulk fleet DWT.INTERCARGO now has within its global fleet more than 3,200 bulkers registered by more than 155 dry bulk owners/managers/operators, with its membership supplemented by 90 associate member companies supporting the sector.INTERCARGO’s members, who span 30 countries, predominantly operate bulk carriers in the international dry bulk trades…

Reuters Events has officially launched their flagship offshore wind event, US Offshore Wind 2023 (USOW23) being held in the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, July 11-12, 2023.The event will unite more than 1000 offshore wind developers, utilities, OEMs, financiers, and supply chain executives, hosting industry-breaking discussions covering all corners of project development, from permitting through to construction.Click here to see the Speaker and Agenda line-upU.S. Offshore Wind ConfEx 2023 will feature more than 70 speakers across two tracks…

BAE Systems announced it will spend $200 million for upgrades aimed at increasing capacity and flexibility at its Jacksonville, Fla. ship repair yard. The investment covers the preparation, construction, procurement and installation of a modern Pearlson shiplift and land-level ship repair facility, giving the yard the capability to service a greater number of vessels more efficiently.Located two miles from the Atlantic Ocean, at the intersection of the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway…

Marine News spoke to leaders at three North American naval architecture and marine engineering firms about some of the latest trends impacting their business today. Mike Fitzpatrick, president, Robert Allan Ltd.; Jeff Bowles, director, DLBA Naval Architects; and Rich Mueller, president and CEO, NETSCo., weigh in on topics such as digitalization, decarbonization and the naval architect talent pool.How do you view the maritime industry’s ongoing shifts in areas such as digitalization and decarbonization…

Richard Branson’s cruise line Virgin Voyages announced it has partnered with independent sustainability experts, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), along with three waste-based sustainable fuel providers to deliver low carbon fuels to the marine industry. Argent Energy, GoodFuels and Twelve are collaborating with the cruise line to further advance Virgin Voyages’ commitment of reaching net zero by 2050.Recognizing there is currently no one-size-fits-all, low-carbon fuel solution…

The National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) announced the dates for its 2022 New England Fall Conference in Newport, R.I. and North 2022 Pacific Fall Conference in Bremerton, Wash.The New England Fall Conference, to be held October 27 and 28, 2022, will include a roundtable and reception at the IYRS School of Technology & Trades. IYRS is a non-profit, post-secondary experiential learning institution and is the premier marine trades and modern manufacturing school in the United States. IYRS offers education and training programs for people with a passion for thinking and working through their hands.NAMS-accredited marine surveyors…

Retlif Testing Laboratories, a globally recognized, independent EMC/EMI and environmental testing organization, welcomed New York State Congressman Andrew Garbarino to its secure facility for an escorted tour of their EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and Environmental Simulation Services (ESS) laboratories. The tour was followed by a roundtable discussion in support of military contracting and defense manufacturing on Long Island, logistics and supply chain issues, and the…

If you’re interested in the inside track in the federal infrastructure world, check out the upcoming Legislative Summit being planned by AAPA – the American Association of Port Authorities, scheduled for March 29-31 at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center.A draft agenda is available and it’s a who’s who of heavy hitters, starting with DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose remarks precede a roundtable session titled “Now We Build!” Another session is titled “How Ports Get to the Front of the Line for Infrastructure Funds.” The speaker is Mitch Landrieu…

The unique mix of data and digital solutions approach developed by safety culture specialist SAYFR has been given added momentum from the Nordic venture fund Corinthian Venture Partners (CVP).CVP has invested nearly $3m in SAYFR’s share issue to scale up SAYFR’s SaaS offering. This solution comprises unique data insights and a set of digital products which improve organizational safety culture, improvements that can help to save lives and reduce accidents and environmental pollution.

The White House and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Friday that John D. Porcari will be the Port Envoy to the Biden-Harris Administration Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force.Porcari will work closely with Secretary Buttigieg and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) as well as the National Economic Council to address congestion at U.S. ports. Disruptions in global shipping and rapid shifts in demand have led the cost of shipping containers between China and the West Coast to grow more than 90% compared to 2019. Containerized cargo volumes rose 40% in the first half of this year compared to the same time last year at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which together handle the largest share of containerized cargo moving through U.S. ports.

As we take a breath and collectively step into 2021, I’m choosing to be optimistic and focus on the opportunities ahead. Trust me, that’s not easy to say. Even as we are still experiencing a global pandemic which has devastated both the health and financial safety of our families, friends, employees, businesses, and communities. We may be down, but I say don’t lose hope.Stronger togetherAs President of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) and President of my family’s business…

Strict EU enforcement of competition rules prevents the development of the global champions necessary to compete with Chinese and U.S. companies, the head of shipping company Maersk warned in an interview."Is it really a good idea that we don't allow the creation of a European global champion? In doing so, we risk being outperformed by a Chinese company, over which the European Union has no influence," Maersk CEO Soren Skou told Danish business daily Finans.A Maersk spokeswoman confirmed his comments to Reuters.Skou is a member of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT)…

William P. Doyle is the incoming Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration. A former U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner, Doyle currently serves as CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America – and the group's member companies have recently made a series of announcements to build new dredges of several types and sizes. We caught up with the incoming Port of Baltimore head to discuss his initial goals for the new role. How do you feel about being selected the head of MPA and Executive Director of the Port of Baltimore?I feel terrific.

Dozens of seaports across Asia, Oceania, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Americas have pledged to remain open to merchant vessels to ensure the flow of essential goods throughout the coronavirus pandemic.To date, more than 50 port authorities have signed on to support the Port Authorities Roundtable (PAR) COVID-19 declaration, initiated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for ports to commit to staying open to merchant vessels and work together to share best practices in ensuring that port operations can remain undisrupted.“Now is the time…

“Freedom” – the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic governmentIt has been decades since international relations in the world order dictated true competition for sea control, sea lines of communication, access to world markets, and diplomatic partnerships. However, it is becoming increasingly alarming that nations such as Iran, China and Russia seek to accumulate/consolidate power and re-define international maritime norms, potentially at the peril of diplomatic…

As Brexit approaches,  the UK needs to follow some key characteristics of the Strong Ports to thrive post its exit from the EU, given that the global trade and the maritime sector face many challenges.Global trade, and the maritime sector that enables so many of its flows, faces uncertain and challenging times, according to the UK Major Ports Group.Nowhere more so than the UK, with Brexit - in whatever form it takes - dominating the agenda. But ports are long horizon businesses and must steer through the immediate storms.What these trends mean and how Strong Ports can be delivered will be discussed at a breakfast roundtable being held Tuesday 10th September by the UK Major Ports Group for port CEOs…

British Columbia Ferry Services (BC Ferries) informed that its President & CEO Mark Collins is the latest executive to join the BC Safety Charter, a move that highlights the company’s commitment to improving and promoting workplace safety.The signing ceremony took place this morning at BC Ferries’ head office in Victoria, British Columbia, said a press release from the provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia.“Safety is our highest value. Maintaining a safe environment for our customers and employees requires our continued focus and diligence,” said Mark Collins, BC Ferries’ President and CEO.

Changing climatic conditions are opening up the polar regions to more and more maritime activity, said International Maritime Organization (IMO).But ships which operate in the harsh Arctic and Antarctic regions are exposed to many unique risks – so their safety, and the protection of the polar environment, have always been a matter of concern for IMO.IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim is visiting Ilulissat, Greenland (25-29 August) to participate in a high-level roundtable on Arctic shipping. It is the first ever visit to Greenland by an IMO Secretary-General.During his opening remarks, Lim emphasized the need for balanced and sustainable shipping activities in Arctic waters.

Leaders of the major shipping industry trade associations - international shipping associations representing shipowners BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) and International Association of Independent Tanker Owners  (INTERTANKO) met in London yesterday (September 13) to consider the transformational issues affecting the sector.Top of the agenda were the preparations for the implementation of the 2020 Global Sulfur Limit. With less than four months to go until the introduction of the new limits on sulfur emissions from shipping, there is still significant uncertainty…