Unison News

After some recent declines in the sub-continent markets, the ship recycling market appeared to have reached the bottom early this week as a certain “stability” across the markets led to some greater confidence to acquire some of the slim pickings of tonnage currently available for recycling.However, as the week came to an end, global currencies seemed to suffer against the U.S. Dollar in unison, as all of the major ship recycling destinations faced some declines (especially in Pakistan), leaving sentiments under pressure.

While pundits have long proclaimed the U.S. maritime industry dying or dead, the recent delivery of Great Lakes laker Mark W. Barker suggests an innovative future instead.Jacksonville Shipyard was a well-known repair yard that was particularly well known for servicing the Jones Act tanker fleet and Gino Ferrari was its New York representative. Each Christmas season Gino hosted a reception at the Four Seasons restaurant for tanker Owners.Gino Ferrari was a close friend of the company and my father always received an invite.

Energy supplies originating from Russia were still being delivered to Britain on Friday after some dock workers at a terminal in southeast England sought to block a cargo in solidarity with Ukraine, ship-tracking data shows.Supplies of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe have been disrupted this week by uncertainty over whether ships can discharge cargoes at European ports after the imposition of sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine and a ban by British ports on Russian-linked ships.British union Unison has complained that its members working at the Isle of Grain LNG terminal did not want to accept Russian gas and called for tougher measures from the government.Britain on Tuesday banned from its ports all ships that are Russian owned…

The recent noteworthy drop in the Indian ship recycling market seems to have reverberated across the sub-continent recycling sector this week, as competing markets start to reverse their vessel offerings in near unison, according to GMS.Bangladesh has remained largely quiet for much of the week as they observe the ongoing price reductions, whilst local Recyclers expect further falls ahead.Indian steel plate prices have declined by nearly $45/LDT over recent weeks, leaving Alang Buyers rather spooked and fearful to maintain previous offers, or even consider offering on any fresh units.

German propulsion firm Schottel has secured an order to deliver a total of ten rudder propellers and two transverse thrusters for five tugs that will serve the LNG carriers stopping at an LNG export facility in Canada.Schottel's equipment will be installed on two LNG-fuelled escort tugs, as well as in three battery-powered harbor tugs. Ordered by Canadian HaiSea Marine, a partnership between the Haisla Nation and Seaspan ULC, the vessels will provide ship assist and towing services to LNG carriers stopping at a new LNG export facility in Kitimat, British Columbia.

DG Risk Group announced Monday it has acquired armed maritime security company Protection Vessels International, along with its trading division Halcyon Yacht Security. The acquisition was completed in 2020.UK-based Protection Vessels International (PVI) specializes in armed maritime security solutions for commercial and governmental agencies. Most recently PVI, in unison with DG Risk Group, supported and partnered with several navies in the Gulf of Guinea in support of two major…

Vane Brothers said it has taken delivery of the 3,000-horsepower Cape Fear, the 17th Maryland-built tugboat to join the Baltimore-based marine transportation provider’s fleet.Since 2008, 15 3,000-horsepower, model-bow tugboats have been delivered to Vane Brothers by Chesapeake Shipbuilding and Naval Architects of Salisbury, Md. Chesapeake has also constructed two 3,000-horsepower push boats for Vane.“The 3,000-horsepower tug is powerful, practical and a perfect fit for Vane’s harbor and coastwise towing operations,” says Vane Brothers President C. Duff Hughes.

A Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier has been banned from Australian ports for six months over the operation of several sets of wage accounts and multiple conflicting seafarer employment agreements, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.The Unison Jasper has remained alongside in the Port of Newcastle, under detention, since July 25, 2020 for the Maritime Labor Convention breaches. AMSA said it also found insufficient quantity and variety of food on board and an ineffective complaints procedure.On July 31, 11 crew members left ship and entered into quarantine arrangements in Sydney so they could be repatriated to their own country.The ship has remained under detention in Newcastle because there were not enough crew onboard to sail the ship safely.

Beneath the decks of vessels across the U.S. a quiet revolution is underway. Inside their underbelly is a high-tech set of components that work in unison – quietly humming together to push vessels through the water without a splash.The technology isn’t new. In fact, it has been powering cars and buses for years. However, with the rise in planet-warming greenhouse gases, it’s now making its way to the open water and creating a new wave of clean transportation. As vessel operators see the environmental benefits…

Better connectivity, easier data sharing and a thriving IoT start-up scene demonstrate that maritime digitalization is flourishing according to satellite service provider Inmarsat.For many, the lasting consequence of COVID-19 may be the upheaval it brought to the familiar rhythms of daily life. Thankfully the internet enabled a semblance of routine activity to continue, as they worked from home while their children attended digital classrooms.The outbreak forced us to work together yet apart through video conferencing and collaborative online platforms…

The Liberian Registry continues its efforts toward the recognition of seafarers as “key workers” and for much needed crew-exchange to be allowed at key ports globally during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and is looking to enlist the help of other flag States in this mission. The Liberian Registry, already working with industry bodies such as the IMO, ICS, and ITF, calls for other major flag States to join in the continued effort to push for a global plan allowing for seafarers…

Engineers at Cox Powertrain have developed a sophisticated testing process for the company's new 300hp diesel outboard to be run through to ensure that, once the engines go to market, there are no faults or failures.With any engineering R&D project, testing is a fundamental aspect of the process. With the production of the CXO300 just around the corner, Cox Powertrain’s Test and Development team have worked tirelessly over the past few years, continuously running an extensive…

Volvo Penta to power three hybrid and hybrid-ready ferries currently being built at GS Marine Production AS. GS Marine is currently building a new ferry for Faroe Island operator, Standfaraskip Landsins. This ferry will have a speed of 20 knots and be powered by two of Volvo Penta’s engines. The D13-700 IMO III engines have a power output of 515kW at 2,250 rpm and will be coupled with a Brunvoll hybrid control system – allowing the vessel to run on the engines or electric alone, and even both in unison.

The South Port Connector Road Project received environmental clearance from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Pharr District Office, advancing the project to the construction phase.The project is part of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority’s (CCRMA) East Loop Corridor plan. When complete, the South Port Connector Road will span two miles and will connect Ostos Road at the Port of Brownsville with State Highway 4.The project will enhance the port’s intermodal connectivity, further facilitating domestic and international trade throughout the Rio Grande Valley.“The Port of Brownsville is a valuable asset to the Texas economy and a major economic force in the region,” said John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman.

While merriam-webster.com is succinct in its definition of ‘autonomous’, ask 10 people in the maritime sector what ‘autonomous’ vessel means to them and the responses vary widely. Achieving autonomous, unmanned operations is not high, today, on the agenda of many (if any) shipowners. What does command their attention? Building ships that are increasingly ‘smart,’ with integrated, connected systems that take on additional decision-making processes while helping to reduce crew size (and cost)…

On September 5, 2018, Weeks Marine, Inc. (WMI) was presented with the first issued Certificates of Inspection (COIs) for achieving full compliance with new USCG “Subchapter M” regulations on the 2,000 HP Tug Elizabeth and the 3,000 HP Tug Katherine. Commander Jacob Hobson from Coast Guard Sector New York Waterways Branch presented the COIs to Ronnie Clifford, WMI Towing Compliance Officer, and Shaun O’Brian, WMI Towing Sr. Port Engineer.The new Subchapter M mandates, part of the US Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act…

The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association for UK freight forwarding and logistics companies, has described the container shipping industry’s recent imposition of a ‘sulphur surcharge’ as unjustified and blatant profiteering.It follows an announcement by Danish giant AP Moller Maersk that it is introducing a new bunker adjustment factor (BAF) surcharge on 1 January 2019, a full year ahead of the global sulphur cap on marine emissions which enters into force on 1 January 2020.According to the shipowner, it could lead to prices of a 40 ft container on the Far East to North Europe route being hiked by anywhere between USD480 to USD840 (depending on fuel price)…

Navios Maritime Containers announced that it took delivery of the Navios Unison, a 2010-built, 10,000 TEU containership on May 30, 2018. As previously announced, the vessel was acquired for a price of $50.25 million. The vessel is chartered out at a net rate of $26,663 per day until March 2019. The vessel is expected to generate approximately $6.8 million of EBITDA for the first year, assuming (a) revenue based on contracted time charter rate through the charter expiration date and same rate per open day thereafter and (b) operating expenses in line with the management agreement and normal operations. The acquisition of the vessel was financed with cash on the balance sheet and a $25.0 million term loan facility.

Hong Kong is chosen to host the Global Maritime Forum’s inaugural Annual Summit on 3-4 October 2018. The high-level meeting will convene key industry leaders with policymakers, experts, NGOs and other influential decision-makers and opinion shapers. Their task will be to share their ideas on the challenges facing the maritime industry and to develop practical proposals to optimise global seaborne trade, thereby increasing sustainable long term economic development and human wellbeing. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s maritime decision-makers to Hong Kong. Like the ocean, the challenges and opportunities that the maritime industry is facing transcend country borders. They are inherently global and the only way to meet them is to join forces and find solutions in unison.

It is not business as usual in the world where we do business. Things are changing. Even regulations themselves are changing from less prescriptive in nature to more performance-based. As Chairman, President and CEO of a global classification and technology-centric company that operates in 70 countries with 5,000 employees, I am continually assessing the impact of these changes on the capabilities ABS needs to fulfill its mission and maintain its leadership position in the maritime, offshore and government industries it serves. To know where we are heading, we have to know where we began.

The potential for drones to be used for inspections is not new, notes Bureau Veritas, but to date trials have not focused on specific survey requirements for ship structures in enclosed spaces; the RECOMMS project will do just that. Bureau Veritas has joined RECOMMS (Remote Evaluation of Coatings / Corrosion on Offshore Machinery and Marine Structures / Ships), a joint investment project (JIP), to develop drones with the capability to inspect steel structures in enclosed spaces.

For the tanker market, in particular for VLCCs, increasing Middle East OPEC production is typically a good sign. Poten and Partners in its Shipbrokers Reports says that does not appear to be the case at this particular moment, since the tanker market is mired in a slump with rates hitting multi-year lows. Is this an (temporary) aberration or has the traditional link between Middle East OPEC production and VLCC rates been broken? The tanker market in general and the VLCC market in particular were going up in unison with Middle East OPEC production through the end of 2015. While crude oil exports from the Arabian Gulf continued to increase, VLCC rates started to weaken. There are several reasons for this apparent disconnect.

Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS) and the Port of Townsville Limited (POTL) have announced the official commissioning of a state-of-the-art bulk handling facility in South Townsville. The facility, which cost $15 million to construct, will be officially opened at 4pm on Thursday 10th September 2015 by The Honourable Coralee O’Rourke, Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland. NSS General Manager Juliette Sperber said that she was incredibly proud of the new bulk handling facility which sets environmental benchmarks in the industry. “This new facility, which is designed to store and handle bulk materials such as mineral concentrates…