CCRI Designated as Maritime Training Center of Excellence
Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announced the designation of 27 Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE), recognizing community colleges and training institutions that prepare students for careers in the U.S. maritime industry.One of the 27 schools and institutions recognized is the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI).The designation allows CCRI to work with MARAD to enter into cooperative agreements to help advance recruitment of students and faculty…
USN Awards 391 Contractors
The U.S. Navy is awarding indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts to 391 contractors that will provide for their competition for service requirements solicited by Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Military Sealift Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Strategic Systems Programs, and the United States Marine Corps. The 22 functional service areas within the scope of the contracts include 1. Research and Development Support. 2. Engineering System Engineering and Process Engineering Support. 3. Modeling, Simulation, Stimulation, and Analysis Support. 4. Prototyping, Pre-Production, Model-Making, and Fabrication Support.
Rapid Panamax Expansion Affects Freight Rates
A fast expansion of the fleet in the panamax sector has outpaced trade and affected freight rates, shipbrokers on Monday. "Panamax freight rates are not weaker due to falling demand, but rather because the fleet is growing faster than trade," a broker said. Rates quoted on the Baltic Panamax Index reflected a negative trend across the board, with average daily rates for transatlantic round voyages and fronthaul charter starting to ease back, brokers said. They said average panamax freight rates had dropped around 10 percent over the past six months. Shipbrokers also reported the charter of the 1999-built 72,270 dwt Sea Daisy in early July, for Rotterdam delivery followed by a transatlantic round voyage at a daily rate of $11,250.
Chartering Conditions Dull Throughout Atlantic Sector
Chartering conditions were dull throughout the Atlantic sector of the dry cargo freight market, brokers said. Capesize activity was very limited and Panamax rates fell in both the grain and minerals trades. It was also said handy sizes continued to see very difficult conditions from the Continent while the market in Brazil and Argentina was described as weaker. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) declined 10 points to 1,368, the Baltic Panamax Index fell 21 points to 1,379, the Baltic Capesize Index dipped four points 1,689, and the Baltic Handy Index lost three points to 1,045. GRAIN - In a relatively quiet Panamax grain market, softer levels were seen from the U.S. Gulf. Keoyang booked 54,000 tons heavy grain from the U.S.
