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Transportation Needs News

27 Mar 2024

St. Johns Ship Building to Build Six Deck Barges for Seapath

(Photo: St. Johns Ship Building)

St. Johns Ship Building on Wednesday announced it has signed a contract with Seapath for construction of a series of six ABS deck barges in support of their Jones Act leasing business.The barges will be built at St Johns Ship Building’s facility in Palatka, Fla. and will be dispatched to multiple charterers along the US East Coast.Seapath is a subsidiary of the Libra Group, which is also parent to St. Johns’ holding company, Americraft Marine Group.Joshua Lubarsky, CEO of Seapath, said, “Domestic maritime transportation is the backbone of the US transportation system.

14 Mar 2024

Seapath Launches Jones Act Leasing Business

(Photo: The Libra Group)

Libra Group subsidiary Seapath has launched a Jones Act leasing business offering maritime leasing and financing solutions and a growing portfolio of vessels valued at approximately $25 million.The group said it sees significant unmet demand for the supply of Jones Act compliant transport assets.Joshua Lubarsky, president of Seapath, said, “Domestic maritime transportation is the backbone of the U.S. transportation system. By launching our new Jones Act leasing business, Seapath…

13 Mar 2024

MARAD Announces $500 Million in Funding for Port Infrastructure

© trekandphoto / Adobe Stock

As a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $500 million in Federal Fiscal Year 2024 funding through MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).Investments made under the PIDP focus on modernizing the Nation’s coastal and inland waterway ports as well as strengthening its supply chains and economic security for generations to come.

17 Nov 2023

NYK Group, Stolt Tankers, and ENEOS Ocean Unveil Chemical Ship Pool Business

Credit: Stolt Tankers (File image)

The NYK Group, Stolt Tankers, and ENEOS Ocean launched a chemical ship pool business in the Asia-Pacific region in October.Shipowners and operators pool their vessels and undertake transportation services at the request of shippers. The pool business allows more flexible transportation services that utilize economies of scale, NYK said.The project started with 13 vessels, comprising two chemical tankers owned by ENEOS Ocean and 11 chemical tankers owned by a joint venture between…

03 Nov 2023

US Awards More than $653 Million for Port Projects

© druid007 / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced over $653 million to fund 41 port improvement projects across the nation under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).The investments—part of the largest dedicated funding for ports and waterways in history, nearly $17 billion through the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—are intended to help grow capacity and increase efficiency at coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports and inland…

28 Aug 2023

Erik Thun Unveils New Lake Vanern MAX Bulk Carrier Series

Source: Erik Thun Group

Sweden’s Erik Thun Group has unveiled its next generation battery-hybrid, dry cargo vessel series being built at Shipyard Ferus Smit in the Netherlands.The Lake Vanern Max is hybrid, with a battery pack for peak shaving and power smoothening, reducing the reliance on auxiliary engines for electricity generation. The vessel is designed to stay at anchor without using auxiliary engines. Shore connection enables clean and silent port operations and allows the vessel to shut down all engines onboard…

03 Aug 2023

WETA's Bay Ferry 2050: Water Transit Reimagined

(Photo: WETA)

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…

31 Oct 2022

The Case for an Inland River Transportation Caucus Within US Congress

© doganmesut / Adobe Stock

An Inland River Transportation Caucus could help inland river transportation interests that are often misunderstood and greatly undervalued.For anyone doing business on the inland river transportation system, the goal is to keep the rivers open for business, the barges moving and the landside facilities efficient in order to keep America’s supply chain strong.To accomplish this, it takes the federal agencies that are charged with operating and maintaining inland rivers to have the support of congress, the funding congress allocates and legislation passed by congress.

14 Jun 2022

Keystone Charters Jones Act Tanker Pair from AMSC

American Shipping Company ASA (AMSC), A Norwegian-based ship finance company focused on the intercoastal U.S. Jones Act shipping market, announced it has entered into bareboat charters for two of its vessels commencing in December 2022 with U.S. tanker operator Keystone Shipping Co.The bareboat charters have minimum terms of three years which may be extended at the charterer’s options. The charters are secured by back-to-back time charters of the same duration between Keystone and a major U.S. based oil and refinery group.AMSC said the new charters add almost $60 million to its existing charter backlog, excluding any proceeds from the profit share component of the charters.AMSC CEO Pål Lothe Magnussen said…

23 Dec 2021

Over $241 Million in MARAD Grants Awarded for US Ports

© Matt Gush / Adobe Stock

More than $241 million in discretionary grant funding has been awarded for projects to improve U.S. port facilities, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on Thursday.The grants, which will go to 25 projects in 19 states and one territory through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), are intended to help strengthen America's supply chains to meet heightened demand and help address inflationary pressures, the DOT said.“U.S. maritime ports play a critical role in our supply chains,” said U.S.

15 Oct 2020

MARAD Awards $220 Mln in Port Infrastructure Grants

© Stuart Westmorland, Danita Delimont / Adobe Stock

More than $220 million in discretionary grant funding has been awarded to improve U.S. port facilities in 16 states and territories through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced Thursday.“This $220 million in federal grants will improve America’s ports with nearly half the projects are located in Opportunity Zones, which were established to revitalize economically distressed communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L.

15 Jun 2020

MarAd Insights: “In peace and war” -- Even Against a Virus

The U.S. maritime industry takes great pride in our motto: “In Peace and War.” It sums what we’re all about. From colonial times, through the Revolution, the Civil War, two World Wars, several regional conflicts, and many natural and humanitarian disasters, we got the cargo delivered because our economic security and our national security depend on it.Today, we confront a new kind of enemy: an invisible, debilitating, and too often deadly disease. Yet, just as the courageous merchant…

10 Dec 2021

Siemens Gamesa Launches 14MW Offshore Wind Turbine

Image: Siemens Gamesa

Wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa has unveiled a new SG 14-222 DD offshore Direct Drive wind turbine with 14-megawatt (MW) capacity.The capacity can reach up to 15 MW using the company’s Power Boost function. The turbine will have a 222-meter diameter rotor, 108-meter long blades, and a 39,000 m2 swept area.The 14 MW capacity allows one SG 14-222 DD machine to provide enough energy to power approximately 18,000 average European households every year. Approximately 30 SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbines could furthermore cover the annual electricity consumption of Bilbao…

30 Apr 2020

Three of Five Converted VLOCs Are No Longer Operating -BIMCO

© Zdenar Adamsen / Adobe Stock

Converted very large ore carriers (VLOC) are increasingly becoming a thing of the past with the long-term freight contracts coming to an end as newer and more reliable ships replace them in the market. Since June 2017, 43% of the VLOC fleet have been sent to the scrapyards, while 18% of the fleet is idled or damaged.“The tragic Stellar Daisy accident brought the safety aspect of VLOCs into question. Now, three years on, three out of five VLOCs are no longer in operation as their long-term charters have now expired.

12 Mar 2020

CITB Adds Shallow-draft Tug in Alaska

(Image: CITB)

Cook Inlet Tug and Barge (CITB) is adding a versatile shallow draft tugboat, the Bristol Wind, to its fleet in mid-April. The uniquely designed tug will join her sister vessel, the Capt. Frank Moody, in support of the construction, and oil and gas industries' remote cargo transportation needs along the Arctic coastline."Drawing just 3.2 feet, the Bristol Wind is uniquely designed to operate efficiently as a coastal tug. She has the unique ability to lighten the draft when water…

16 Mar 2020

The National Freight Strategic Plan and the Inland Waterways

© Gerard Corprew / Adobe Stock

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was enacted in December 2015. The FAST Act required the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a National Freight Strategic Plan to address multimodal freight transportation. In the Federal Register of December 27, 2019, DOT requested information from the public, including industry trade groups, to aid development of the National Freight Strategic Plan.This article summarizes certain of the comments that were submitted by Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals, Inc. (IRPT) in response to DOT’s request.

14 Feb 2020

US Ports Get More Than $280 Mln in MARAD Grants

© John McQuiston / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced that it has awarded more than $280 million in discretionary grant funding through the new Port Infrastructure Development Program. This funding is designed to improve port facilities at or near coastal seaports.The Port Infrastructure Development Program supports efforts by ports and industry stakeholders to improve facility and freight infrastructure to ensure our nation’s freight transportation needs, present and future, are met.

13 Jan 2020

Tomini Adds 3 New Ultramaxes to its Fleet

Dubai-based ship owner and operator Tomini Shipping has boosted its shipping fleet with the delivery and naming of three ultramax carriers.Three vessels named Tomini Entity (63,500 DWT), Tomini Felicity (63,300 DWT) and Tomini Tenacity (63,601 DWT) were delivered on 7 January 2020.According to the company statement, the naming ceremony was held at the COSCO Shipping Ltd, Hudong Shipyard, Shanghai, China. Shoaib Seedat, Head of New Buildings and Pradeep Bajpai, Head of Fleet Management attended from Tomini Shipping together with representatives of the builder and seller, it said.Tomini’s newbuilding program seeks to replenish the fleet with modern…

20 Oct 2019

Nakilat Posts 10.5% Surge in 9 Month's Net Profit

Qatari shipping and maritime company Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) reported a 10.5% year-on-year increase in net profit to QR728mn (USD 200 million) in the first nine months of this year.Nakilat, which has the largest LNG shipping fleet in the world, comprising 69 vessels, said in a press note that its positive financial performance can be primarily attributed to better operational performance in managing its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels.The company also realized higher revenues on additional income from the acquisition of two additional LNG carriers and one Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) in 2018…

02 Sep 2019

Turkish Steel Giant in Logistics Pact with MOL

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a memorandum of agreement with Turkish steel producer Tosyali Holding A.S.A joint press release said that the agreement is to begin the research toward a strategic partnership, and in this respect signed a memorandum of agreement in the presence of Dr. Hasan Murat Mercan, Turkish Ambassador to Japan, at the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo on August 30.The companies will study the possibility of a partnership in the transport of raw materials and steel products in Tosyalı's production networks in Turkey and overseas, building a port in southeastern Turkey and further cooperation on new Tosyalı business ventures.Tosyalı is a major Turkish steel company…

10 Oct 2019

MISC Secures ExxonMobil LNG Tanker Contract

Photo: MISC

MISC Berhad (MISC) through its wholly-owned subsidiaries have secured agreements with Exxon Mobil Corporation’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SeaRiver Maritime LLC (SeaRiver) for the time charter contracts of two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers.Each of the LNG carriers will respectively serve the transportation needs of ExxonMobil’s worldwide LNG portfolio on a 15-year charter contract.Prior to this, MISC, through the same subsidiaries have also signed an agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (SHI) for the construction of the LNG carriers in Korea.

25 Jun 2019

Over 1,650 Cadets Graduate from American Maritime Academies

One of seven U.S. maritime academies, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s picturesque campus in Buzzards Bay has sent thousands of mariners into the global maritime workplace since its inception in 1891. CREDIT: MMA

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) — the voice of the domestic maritime industry — congratulates the more than 1,650 young men and women who have graduated from the seven U.S. maritime academies this Spring. Applauding them for their dedication and commitment to pursuing a career that supports our nation  in times of both peace and war, AMP is proud to welcome a new generation to the workforce. Generations of retirement have created a shortage of mariners, making this and future classes of cadets all the more important.“A strong U.

02 Jun 2019

Maersk, DB Schenker to Fight Ocean Pollution

Danish shipping  conglomerate A.P. Møller – Maersk A/S and German logistics company DB Schenker have partnered to establish a CO2 target to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% per container transported from 2014-2020 for DB Schenker’s business with Maersk.As a result of Maersk’s fuel efficiency efforts, the companies met this target in 2018, 2 years ahead of schedule, said a press release from the largest container ship and supply vessel operator.“We’re on the same page with our carriers and the transportation providers who are striving for higher levels of environmental sustainability and less pollution,” says Andrea Schön, DB Schenker’s Corporate Climate Protection Manager.“We work together to hold the flag…