Transport Agency News

Finnish companies have designed about 80 percent of the world’s icebreakers, and about 60 percent of them have been built by Finnish shipyards.Finland is home to a strong and vibrant maritime cluster, with a mix of large, medium and small shipyards, as well as a deep pool of marine engineering expertise and a broad network of vessel equipment suppliers.As one of the world’s northernmost countries, Finland is also home to a fleet of icebreakers that keep imports and exports flowing through its harbors, even during the coldest winter months.

A Ukrainian sea drone full of explosives struck a Russian fuel tanker near a bridge linking Russia to annexed Crimea, the second such attack in 24 hours, both sides said on Saturday.No one was hurt, but the Crimean Bridge and ferry transport were suspended for several hours, according to Russian-installed officials in Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014.A Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters that the drone with 450 kg of explosives hit the SIG vessel as it transported fuel for the Russian military in Ukrainian territorial waters."The tanker was well loaded with fuel, so the 'fireworks' were seen from afar," the source said…

New Zealand based MOVE Logistics Group revealed its plans to order a new coastal roll-on, roll-off (RORO) vessel capable of running on methanol fuel.Earlier this year, MOVE secured $10 million in co-investment funds from transport agency Waka Kotahi to support coastal shipping initiatives that improve the competitiveness of domestic coastal shipping, reduce freight sector greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience.Waka Kotahi has endorsed the proposal by MOVE for its vessel design that includes a methanol tank and pipework installation during construction.

Damen Shipyards Group reports it has delivered five zero emissions propulsion ferries to Arriva Denmark in Copenhagen. Arriva is operating the vessels on behalf of Danish public transport agency Movia. When Movia issued the public tender for waterborne public transport in Copenhagen, its aim was to upgrade the service, making it cleaner and more sustainable.The new Damen Ferries 2306 E3 make significant strides towards a zero emission service, reducing Copenhagen’s public transport NOX emissions by 2.5%…

Georgia has become the latest nation to say it will facilitate crew changes amid the coronavirus pandemic, the country's Maritime Transport Agency said.“It’s been more than a month since Georgia has been actively cooperating with the maritime industry worldwide and is involved in the facilitation of crew change process and repatriation of Georgian seafarers. Therefore, the time has come to move to the next stage and become more efficient in the process of seafarers’ rotation,”…

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) is mandatory instrument addressing the safety and security of ships, ports, cargo and crew, says International Maritime Organization (IMO).According to the UN body, it contains detailed security-related requirements for Governments, port authorities and shipping companies to ensure preventive measures can be taken if a security threat is determined.Maldives has become the latest country to receive maritime security training from IMO on the ISPS Code, specifically for its Designated Authority (DA) and Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs).A three-day workshop in Male, Maldives…

The maritime single window enables all information required by public authorities in connection with the arrival, stay and departure of ships, people and cargo, to be submitted electronically via a single portal, without duplication.This system is recommended by IMO's Facilitation (FAL) Convention, to make cross border trade simpler.Officials from various port and shipping stakeholders involved in the stay and departure of ships in the ports of Georgia have had the opportunity to discuss and learn more about the maritime single window and electronic data exchange, during a National Seminar on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic (24-26 September)…

Arriva Danmark has extended the requirements of its contract with Damen Shipyards Group in order to account for longer ferry routes in the city of Copenhagen. Arriva originally contracted Damen to deliver five fully-electric Damen Ferry 2306 E3 vessels to cover passenger routes in the central metropolitan area of Copenhagen. Since agreement of the contract in July 2018, Danish public transport agency Movia has extended the intended routes of its ferry service to the port area…

The Finnish Transport Agency (FTA), which will become the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA) on 1 January 2019, has issued updated instructions for winter navigation.The instructions for winter navigation have been created in collaboration with the industry, shipping companies, charterers, vessels, icebreakers, pilots and vessel traffic services.In accordance with Finland’s maritime strategy 2014–2022, the objective of these instructions is to ensure smooth, economically viable and internationally competitive Finnish foreign trade and domestic waterborne transport with short waiting times during the winter season.FTA is tasked with public office duties and the procurement associated with the assistance of winter navigation as well with the national coordination…

International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s work to promote better understanding of - and steps to reduce - emissions in ports has reached Georgia, at a workshop for regional participants from Georgia, Ukraine and Turkey.The event, in Batumi (10-12 September) focused on how to undertake emissions inventories and calculate emissions, including  GHGs and air pollutants. Participants were also introduced to strategies to address emissions from different sources – such as from seagoing vessels, cargo handling equipment and trucks.The workshop benefited from a training package, specially developed under the strategic partnership between the…

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed that the total ridership of marine transit modes in Dubai has clocked 7,182,435 riders during the first half of this year. Abras (boat) accounted for the biggest number of commuters ferrying as much as 6,867,348 riders. “Serving 7,182,435 riders in six months by marine transit means is indicative of the public uptake of marine transit modes, which offer users enjoyable and convenient rides,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency. “Abras, be it traditional, electrical or air-conditioned, have accounted for the biggest share of ridership by ferrying as much as 6,867,348 riders in the first six months of this year.

Damen Shipyards Group recently signed a contract with leading multinational public transport company Arriva Danmark for five fully-electric ferries, known as the Damen Ferry 2306 E3. Damen E3 vessels are designed with the philosophy of being environmentally friendly, efficient in operation and economically viable. Arriva will operate the ferries for its client, Danish public transport agency MOVIA, in the country’s capital city Copenhagen. Both Damen and Arriva share a common vision of reducing the environmental footprint of public transportation via utilization of innovative technology.

The IMO NCSR Sub-Committee has approved the Danish Maritime Authority’s proposal for new ships’ routeing measures, thereby bringing new routes in the Skagerrak and the Kattegat one step closer and enhancing safety of navigation. Because of developments in shipping, the ships transiting these waters today are larger than those for which the routes were originally designed. Approx. 7,000 ships transit the Kattegat each year, the majority of which are deep-draught ships heading for or coming from the Baltic Sea. Consequently, there is a need to extend existing ships’ routes, thereby making it easier to keep the traffic separate in accordance with the largest water depths.

Maritime digitalization carried out in the European project EfficienSea2 has enabled effective route sharing between different VTS systems in the Baltic Sea. It has the potential to drastically cut the reporting effort for the ship’s crew, while offering authorities a better ability to ensure safe traffic at sea. The days may soon be over when mariners have to pick up a radio to take on the cumbersome task of reporting their vessel and route parameters every time they cross into a new VTS area – at least for those sailing in the Baltic Sea. By cooperating with the Finnish Transport Agency as a part of the EU-funded project EfficienSea2…

On January 19-20, 2017 Novorossiysk Shipping Company (Novoship), a subsidiary of SCF Group, hosted special events dedicated to the company’s 50th anniversary. The anniversary ceremony was attended by Victor Olersky, Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Head of the Federal Marine and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot); Alexey Kondratenko, Member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Evgeniy Moskvichev, Chairman of the State Duma Transport Committee; Alexey Klyavin, President of the Russian Chamber of Shipping; Yury Sukhorukov, President of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia, and Sergey Frank, President & CEO of PAO Sovcomflot. Novorossiysk Shipping Company was officially established on January 20, 1967.

Since it started publishing in 1939, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News has recognized excellence in ship construction. Owner: Arctia Icebreaking Ltd. Arctech Helsinki Shipyard delivered the most powerful newcomer in the Finnish Icebreaker fleet, Polaris, to the Finnish Transport Agency. The Finnish Transport Agency handed the vessel over to Arctia Icebreaking Oy. The prototype vessel built at Helsinki Shipyard is designed to serve for at least 50 years in icebreaking, oil recovery and sea rescue ops.

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard delivered the most powerful newcomer in the Finnish Icebreaker fleet, icebreaker Polaris, to the Finnish Transport Agency on September 28th, 2016. The Finnish Transport Agency handed the vessel over to Arctia Icebreaking Oy. The prototype vessel built at Helsinki Shipyard is designed to serve for at least 50 years in icebreaking, oil recovery and sea rescue operations. Previous time an Finnish icebreaker with similar size range was completed in year 1994.

Practical guidance on how to develop, adopt and update national maritime transport policy was the focus for a one-day seminar in Batumi, Georgia (14 September), aimed at senior maritime transport officials from the littoral States of the Black and Caspian Seas and Moldova. The seminar forms part of an on-going pilot project being rolled out by International Maritime Organization (IMO) on na-tional maritime transport policy development. A series of workshops and seminars have been held worldwide, to trial a maritime transport policy training package which is being developed by IMO and the World Maritime University (WMU) in order to provide training to interested IMO Member States in the development…

The design and technical features of Finland's newest icebreaker Polaris were presented on Monday, June 6, in Helsinki as part of the CIMAC World Congress. IB Polaris is the most environmentally friendly diesel-electric icebreaker ever built. It uses both low sulphur diesel and LNG as fuel, which significantly reduces its emissions. The special hull form and propulsion arrangement will minimize ice resistance and maximize the icebreaking capacity of the vessel. The main purpose of IB Polaris is icebreaking and assisting of other vessels in ice conditions in the Baltic Sea.

The first national workshop under the Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships GloMEEP), Project, which aims to support increased uptake and implementation of energy-efficiency measures for shipping, has been held in Georgia. Georgia is one of the Lead Pilot Countries for the project, which aims to build understanding and knowledge of technical and operational energy-efficiency measures to lead maritime transport into a low-carbon future. The national workshop in Batumi, Georgia (15-17 December), focused on raising awareness of Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), in particular the energy-efficiency regulations in chapter 4.

A naming ceremony was held today for Finland’s new-generation icebreaker, Polaris, built at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard. Presently under construction at Helsinki Shipyard, the vessel is designed especially for icebreaking operations in the Baltic Sea and will be fitted for oil recovery and emergency towing. The nearly 110-meter-long vessel’s design and construction features various Finnish technological innovations, such as ice-strengthened propulsion units and an effective oil recovery system integrated into the hull. Furthermore, the icebreaker will be powered by both diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce both carbon emissions and fuel costs, making Polaris the most environmentally friendly icebreaker in the world, according to its builders.

Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Victoria is reportedly stuck on a shoal off the west coast of Sweden with a 3-meter gash in its hull after running hard aground Saturday night. According to local reports, the 190-meter ship was en route from Rostock, Germany to Guinea in West Africa with a cargo of wheat when it ran aground at about 11:30 p.m. local time Saturday night off the coast of Varberg, Sweden. No leaks or oil spills have been reported. So far no pollution has been reported. The vessel was also loaded with 1,000 cubic meters of heavy bunker fuel and 200 cubic meters of diesel, the Coast Guard said. A dive inspection on Sunday revealed a three-meter gash in the hull of the vessel and confirmed it is hard aground on a shoal.

Dublin Port Company today welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for the Alexandra Basin Redevelopment (ABR) Project which will transform Dublin Port’s infrastructure and enable it to service the economy for decades ahead. The project will increase the port’s ability to handle large ships by deepening and lengthening three kilometres of the port’s seven kilometres of berths. It will also deepen the port to provide an entrance channel with a depth of at least 10m. The ABR Project is the largest single infrastructure development project in the history of Dublin Port. The project is expected to take five years to complete, costing an estimated €230m.