Building the Next-Gen Maritime Prepositioning Ship & Auxiliary Crane Ship
The Military Sealift Commandâs Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) and Auxiliary Crane Ships (ACS) were built 50 years ago to pre-position vehicles and supplies in forward locations and load or unload them in undeveloped or damaged port facilities. I serve with MSCâs Taluga Group, charged with finding innovative solutions to pressing problems. One of those challenges is meeting the MPS and ACS mission as the current ships continue to serve past their expected service lines.ToâŠ
Eye on Design: Hybrid Blood, Sweat, and Tears
In earlier columns, I have discussed various approaches and issues with Hybrid Propulsion.I have now had the pleasure of a number of years of experience with the design, operation, upgrade, modification, and maintenance of ship (and car) hybrid propulsion systems and may be able to make a claim of gradually becoming a little less confused.It is still not easy, but at the same time, I am starting to see a few shortcuts that make it less likely that a beautiful vision of marine efficiency ends up being beached somewhere.In essence, they are variants of the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle.
Charges Readied for Demolition of Portion of Key Bridge
The safest and swiftest method to remove the bridge piece from on top of the M/V Dali is by precision cuts made with small charges, said the Unified Command on Thursday as salvors were preparing charges. The charges will enable the upcoming precision cuts to remove section 4 from the port side of the bow of the Dali.The Singaporean-flagged container vessel Dali allided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26. The bridge, which connects Hawkins Point and Dundalk, MarylandâŠ
Rule Change Aids US Mariners' Return to Sea
A rule change is making it easier for experienced U.S. mariners to return to sea after time away from the industry.A new policy letter from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) temporarily extends the renewal grace period for a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), commonly referred to as a Coast Guard license or credential, from one year to six years, lessening the burden for seafarers seeking reentry into the maritime workforce.The move has been welcomed by the U.S. maritime and offshore industriesâŠ
When is a Vessel Built in America 'US Built'?
The United States reserves its domestic maritime trade to vessels âbuilt in the United Statesâ under a set of laws popularly referred to as the âJones Act.â What qualifies as âU.S. builtâ under the law and U.S. Coast Guard interpretations was recently tested in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit case of Diamond Services Corp. v. Curtin Maritime Corp.Coast Guard regulations provide a two-part test to determine whether a vessel constructed in the United States meets the âU.S. builtâ test.
Amogy Presented with New Technology Qualification Letter by ABS
Ammonia-to-power solutions company Amogy has been issued a new technology qualification (NTQ) letter for concept design verification by classification society the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).Amogy has developed an innovative ammonia-to-electrical power system that splits, or âcracks,â liquid ammonia into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen, which then funnels the hydrogen into a fuel cell, generating high-performance power.The ABS NTQ services offer guidance on early adoption and efficient implementation of new technologiesâŠ
Charting the Future: Hiroaki Sakashita President & CEO, ClassNK
ClassNK is one of the worldâs leading maritime classification societies with more than 9,200 ships totaling more than 273 million gross tons under class at the end of 2023, and a global service network of more than 120 survey offices. Last month while in Tokyo we had the opportunity to sit with Hiroaki Sakashita, President & CEO, ClassNK, a marine industry veteran for his insights on the trends driving ship classification today and in the future.Hiroaki Sakashita took the helm at ClassNK at one of the most historically significant times in historyâŠ
Classification and Building the New Fuels Pathway
Long-term initiatives led by classification societies are building the foundation for future fuels uptake.About this time last year, ABS CEO Chris Wiernicki said: âWhen you look at where we are and the steepness of the curve ahead, the biggest risk is the unintended safety consequences of change.â Class, he says, is built for the intersection between technology, safety and regulations and must be prepared.Work is underway. China Classification Society (CCS), for example, has releasedâŠ
Keel Laying for Methanol Tugs
On 8 May 2024, KOTUG Canada Inc., a partnership between KOTUG International B.V. and Horizon Maritime Inc., held a keel laying ceremony for two RAsalvor 4400-DFM dual fuel methanol escort tugs â Robert Allan Ltd. design â to service the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, at Sanmar Shipyards Altinova in Yalova, Turkiye. The first tug is expected to be delivered by mid-2025.The tugboats are reportedly the first of their kind to be powered by methanol and are engineered to provideâŠ
Ultra-fast Boat Delivered to Northern Territory Police
Dongara Marine delivered a fast patrol boat to law enforcement personnel in Australiaâs Northern Territory. Completed in March 2024, PV Deutrom was purpose designed, built, and equipped for police operations requiring very high speed and the ability to carry multiple personnel. Dongara Marine also supplied a custom, heavy duty aluminium trailer to enable the vessel to be used throughout the Territoryâs diverse and often remote maritime landscape.The 8.4 x 3.1-m custom rigid inflatable boat (RIB) has an aluminium hull, foam filled collar, and a control console set up for two-person operation.
Tip #59 â AI to Maritime Trainers: "Watch Your Back âŠ"
Last weekâs headline in the Financial Times was startling to me: âAndreessen Horowitz raises $7.2bn and sets sights on AI start-upsâ. Oh boy. Andreessen Horowitz is one of Silicon Valleyâs most prominent venture capital firms with an eye for investing in the next generation of tech companies that will change our lives. Their new fund tells us that the people who know the science of AI now believe it is poised to make an outsized global impact. AI is no longer a âtomorrowâ thing. It is a âtodayâ thing.
QatarEnergy and Nakilat Sign Long-Term Agreement for Nine QC-Max LNG Vessels
QatarEnergy has signed a long-term agreement with Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat), under which Nakilat will own and operate nine QC-Max class LNG vessels, the largest LNG vessels ever built.The nine QC-Max vessels, with a capacity of 271,000 cubic meters each, constitute half of the 18 advanced QC-Max class LNG vessels that will be constructed at Chinaâs Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard.To date, QatarEnergyâs fleet expansion program encompassed the execution of shipbuilding contracts and time charter agreements for 104 conventional LNG vessels and 18 QC-Max class LNG vesselsâŠ
GCMD and NYK Line Study Long-Term Biofuel Use
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has teamed up with NYK Line to launch Project LOTUS (long-term impact of continuous use of biofuels on vessel operations).This six-month project will trial the continuous use of a biofuels blend comprising of 24% Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) and very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) onboard a short-sea vehicle carrier that will call at multiple ports. The use of a vessel plying short-sea routes will allow regular access to fuels stored onboard for sampling and testing during frequent port calls.FAMEâŠ
Panama and UAE Establish Blue Pass Project
The Panama Maritime Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to create new incentives for vessels of the Panamanian Registry. The MoU establishes a framework for the development of the âBlue Passâ project. Ships of the Panamanian Registry will receive benefits when they enter and exit UAE ports, including discounts in auxiliary services with all companies, shipyards and other businesses registered in the database of the Blue Pass program.
Greece Aims to Deter Russian Oil Ship-to-Ship Transfers
The Greek navy on Wednesday extended an advisory effectively banning ship traffic off the coast of the southeastern Peloponnese that two sources said was aimed at deterring ship-to-ship transfers of Russian oil off Greece.Greece, in a rare move, over the past weeks has issued two NAVTEX notices for military exercises in the Laconian Gulf area, urging merchant and other vessels to avoid the area. One of them was issued on May 1."It was initially expiring on May 9 but was extended todayâŠ
VARD to Build Hybrid Ocean Energy Construction Vessel for Island Offshore
VARD announced it has been awarded a contract to design and build a hybrid power Ocean Energy Construction Vessel (OECV) for the Norwegian shipping group Island Offshore. The deal includes options for two more vessels.The vessel, to be named Island Evolution, is of VARD 3 25 design developed in close collaboration between Island Offshore and VARD for work in offshore oil and gas as well as renewables."We are proud to present the next generation OECVs with versatile capabilities that will ensure long-term employment as the energies of the ocean evolve.
ULA Orders Rocket Transport Ship from Bollinger
American aerospace manufacturer ULA on Wednesday announced it has ordered a new ship to transport rockets from its factory in Decatur, Ala. to launch sites at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.ULA said it awarded a contract to build the 356-foot-long roll-on/roll-off vessel to Bollinger Shipyards, who recently started constructing the new ship at its shipyard in Amelia, La. The company has also hired naval architecture and marine engineering firm Bristol Harbor Group, Inc.
McDermottâs Subsidiary Grabs Marsa LNG Job Worth Up To $250M
CB&I, a wholly owned subsidiary of McDermott, has been awarded a significant contract by TotalEnergies and OQ joint venture for the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) of a full containment concrete liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank, located in Oman's Port of Sohar.Under the contract, awarded by Marsa Liquefied Natural Gas, CB&I will provide turnkey EPC services for a 165,000m3 full containment concrete LNG storage tank and associated piping to grade.Project delivery will be executed in OmanâŠ
Bluestone to Supervise Construction of Prysmian's Two New Cable Layers
Bluestone Group, a maritime technical services company, has secured a contract for plan approval and site supervision of two new cutting-edge cable-laying vessels operated by Prysmian.The two new cable-laying vessels, the first of which is under construction and the second under design, will reinforce Prysmianâs submarine project execution capabilities.The first vessel, which will be an evolution of Prysmianâs preceding vessel, Monna Lisa, is being built by the VARD Group, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group.With a length of approximately 190 meters and a breadth of about 34 metersâŠ
IMO Plans Events for International Day for Women in Maritime
The role women play in ensuring maritime safety will be celebrated worldwide by the IMO on this year's International Day for Women in Maritime. Observed globally each year on May 18, International Day for Women in Maritime aims to promote the recruitment, retention and empowerment of women in the sector, as well as a barrier-free work environment.Ahead of the day, the IMO will host an international symposium on Friday, May 17 at IMO headquarters in London, under the theme âSafeâŠ
Damen and Siemens Set Up Vessel Financing Facility
Damen Financial Services (DFS) and Siemens Financial Services (SFS) have joined forces to establish a new facility for vessel financing solutions under the name of Damen Ship Lease (DSL).The DSL facility is now one of the funds of Damen Ship Lease Cooperation which is managed by DFS. It is designed to provide current and prospective ship owners with the ability to expand their fleets by enabling them to acquire state-of-the-art vessels using flexible financing options. This strategicâŠ
CMM Secures Funding to Facilitate Construction of Ethanol-Powered PSV Fleet
Compagnie Maritime Monegasque (CMM) has secured $94 million in financing from Summit Ridge Capital Partners, which will help the company construct pioneering ethanol-powered fleet of Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) in Brazil.The financing will enable CMM to recompose its shareholder structure and to expand its fleet, the company said. Panorama Capital Partners sourced and advised on the transaction, and participated as a co-investor.As part of this expansion, CMM will construct pioneering ethanol powered PSV fleet in Brazil.
Kongsberg Thrusters for Six Tunisian PA Tugs
Kongsberg Maritime won a contract to supply azimuth thrusters to Turkish shipbuilder Med Marine, to power six new sterndrive tugs for the Tunisian port authority OMMP.The new tugs, of Robert Allan RAstar 2800 series design, are designed for a range of towing and harbor operations in Tunisian ports.Kongsberg Maritime will supply a pair of its US205 FP azimuth thrusters to each of the six 28-m vessels. The thrusters feature 2.8-m, fixed pitch propellers which will deliver efficient operation and enhanced maneuverabilityâŠ