Urs News

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has enhanced it cyber safety unified requirements (URs) to reflect new survey requirements, industry feedback and applicability.To address the need to enhance the cyber resilience of ships, last year IACS published UR E26 “Cyber Resilience of Ships”, and UR E27, “Cyber Resilience of On-Board Systems and Equipment”, which applied to new ships from January 1, 2024.Since the publication of these requirements, and as experience of cyber security oversight in the maritime sector grows…

An 89-year-old passenger ship, out of commission due to the coronavirus pandemic, was repurposed on Tuesday as a COVID-19 vaccination center for thousands of residents from cities on Lake Constance.The 500-passenger MS Thurgau normally carries tourists and commuters between German and Swiss cities on Europe’s third-largest lake. In coming weeks it will serve as a floating inoculation hub for northern Swiss towns Romanshorn, Arbon and Kreuzlingen.Regional officials emphasized the ship’s practicality since it can sail from harbor to harbor…

The Governments of Peru and the United States signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations.Peruvian Foreign Minister Néstor Popolizio Bardales and U.S. Ambassador to Peru Krishna R. Urs signed the Agreement to strengthen cooperation in the field of maritime and aeronautical SAR and to enhance effectiveness in assisting persons in distress.The Agreement allows enhanced, formal cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard and the Peruvian General Directorate of Captaincies and Coastguards and Peruvian Air Force during maritime distress cases in the eastern Pacific Ocean.This is the first binding SAR Agreement between the United States and a South American country.

Kotug Smit Towage has taken four newly-built Damen tugs into service for its European harbour towage activities, in 2017 and 2018. One of this quartet, the Southampton is currently operating in the Port of Zeebrugge.The Southampton is an ASD Tug 2913 and has a bollard pull in excess of 80 tonnes. The tug is renowned for its manoeuvrability and environmentally efficient performance. The naming ceremony of the tug Southampton was performed by Lady Sponsor Mrs. Ariane Labargue, the spouse of Mr. Rik Goetinck, Vice President of the Port of Zeebrugge (MBZ).Kotug Smit’s General Manager Scheldt Area, Geert Vandecappelle: “As a token of our appreciation for the many years of cooperation between MBZ and Kotug Smit Towage…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that its group company MOL Engineering  has acquired a certificate of approval to engage in the servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching equipment, on-load release gear, and automatic release hooks. It is the second firm in Japan to earn ClassNK certification in this category. Inspection and maintenance of this critical ship safety equipment are regulated by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Treaty). MOL Engineering  provides annual inspection, the fifth year inspection, of lifeboats and launching equipment aboard MOL Group-operated vessels about 130 times a year.

The International Association of Classifications Societies (IACS) has adopted new Unified Requirements that will further improve the safety of Large Container Ships by enhancing consistency between pre-existing Class Society provisions in this area. Amalgamated within a single new Unified Requirement (UR S11A) are three new safety measures that provide a robust, timely and complete response to the findings of the investigation by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued in March 2015 and subsequent papers to the IMO. UR S11A is further complemented by an additional Unified Requirement (UR S34) which deals with minimum loading conditions to be analysed.

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) announced the adoption of new Unified Requirements to further improve the safety of large containerships by enhancing consistency between preexisting class society provisions in this area. Amalgamated within a single new Unified Requirement (UR S11A) are three new safety measures that provide a response to the findings of the investigation by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued in March 2015 and subsequent papers to the IMO.

The International Association of Classifications Societies (IACS) informs it will study the final report issued in Japan by the Committee on Large Container Ship Safety (CLCSS), which concludes that the Mol Comfort break up possibly occurred because the sea loads exceeded the hull girder ultimate strength at the time of the casualty, as well as the recommendations formulated in the document, and will make public the results of this examination. At the beginning of 2014, IACS launched an expert group on structural safety of containerships…

The International Association of Classification Societies chaired by Philippe Donche-Gay of BV held its December Council meeting yesterday in London. The flagship Common Structural Rules project for bulk carriers and oil tankers was discussed and a presentation delivered to industry representatives who attended the closing session. The rules will enter into force on July 1, 2015. The IACS expert group on structural safety of containerships reported on a post MOL Comfort review which it has carried out. This work has resulted in the development of two new IACS Unified Requirements (URs): UR S11A which is a longitudinal strength standard for container ships and URS34 dealing with functional requirements and load cases for direct analysis of container ships.

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the world’s leading maritime services provider, is celebrating the awards of ISO 22000:2005 – Food Safety Management System and ISO 9001:2008 for the company’s supply chain operations in Dubai, Mombasa and Mogadishu. Ceremonies recently took place at its global headquarters in the UK and in its regional Head Office in Dubai. As a pre-requisite to fulfilling the requirements of a three year (plus two year option) contract with the United Nations to supply the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), ISS had to meet a number of operational criteria relating to the procurement, supply chain management, transportation, warehousing and distribution of food to the Mission.

Crude oil tanker earnings on the major Middle East route fell on Tuesday as a build up of vessels available for hire weighed on rate sentiment. Shipping markets continued to monitor developments in Ukraine after Russia sent military forces into the Crimea region of southern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would only use military force in Ukraine as a last resort. A U.S. official said it was ready to impose economic sanctions on Russia. The world's benchmark VLCC export route from the Middle East Gulf (MEG) to Japan reached W50.73 in the Worldscale measure of freight rates, or $25,765 a day when translated into average earnings. That compared with W51.33 or $27,219 a day on Monday and W55.05 or $32,176 a day last Tuesday.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District has awarded two separate contracts to URS Corporation for environmental remediation work at military facilities in Utah and Kansas. At McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, URS will investigate, design and execute environmental remedial actions using a variety of innovative, in-situ remediation technologies to treat chlorinated and petroleum-related contaminants. At the Utah Test and Training Range and Hill AFB in Utah, URS will be providing a full range of environmental remediation activities including munitions response cleanup at active and former military ranges. URS has partnered with U.S.

Retired Rear Admiral Nevin Carr has been named Vice President for Surface Readiness & Future Capability at URS Corporation. In his new position, Mr. Carr will be responsible for expanding URS’ capabilities and solutions to meet the evolving needs of the surface warfare community. He will be based in the company’s Norfolk, Virginia office. Mr. Carr retired from the U.S. Navy in 2012, following a distinguished 34-year career as a surface warfare officer. Navy assignments in Washington included Chief of Naval Research…

Clarkson Capital Markets (CCM) equity analyst, Urs Dur, winds silver medal for being one of the industry's top stock tipsters. The award was in the marine category in this year's Thompson Reuter's annual 'StarMine Analyst Awards' which are issued in collaboration with the 'Financial Times'. Clarkson Capital Markets (CCM) is the investment banking arm of Clarkson PLC, focussed on the global maritime, energy and natural resources sectors.

Environmental professionals in industry are tasked with the unenviable responsibility of managing the delicate balance between compliance with ever-increasing and at times mind-numbingly complex and stringent regulations and maximization of production efforts. Consequently, Environmental Compliance Officers are perpetually on the hunt for alternatives to costly process controls and best management practices designed to mitigate potential negative impact. Requirements of the Clean…

URS Corporation has been awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contract by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic to execute global contingency construction projects worldwide. Under the terms of the contract, URS can compete for or be awarded task orders by the U.S. Navy on behalf of the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies when authorized, for construction and engineering services related to natural disasters, humanitarian assistance, conflict, or other projects with similar characteristics. In conjunction with construction efforts, URS may also be asked to provide initial base operating support services incidental to construction under specific task orders.

The Forum looked at a broad spectrum of topics concerning container shipping including: stowage and lashing, the potential for LNG vessels and bunkering, trends in the liner markets, high tensile steel and thick materials for ship building, pilotage and maneuvering XXL container ships in the Hamburg harbor and the advantages of having an Emergency Response Service. Some 50 representatives from the container industry met with GL experts at the Container Ship Forum, to hear the presentations and participate in informal discussions.

W R Systems Ltd. of Norfolk, VA, along with URS Federal Services Inc. and other team members has been awarded the Submarine C5I & NC3 Engineering, Technical, and Logistic Support follow-on contract from SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic. This contract is valued at $27,746,842 for the base year, plus one option year. Work under this contract includes engineering, technical, analysis and assessment, logistical, life cycle, and program management support for VIRGINIA Class (SSN 774) Non-Propulsion Electronics Systems and Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical Systems (SWFTS) C5I systems and subsystems installed in SSN 21, SSN 688/I, SSBN 726, SSN 774, and SSGN Class Submarines and SUBOPAUTH shore facilities.

W R Systems, Ltd., was awarded a follow-on Contract Award N65236-12-D-4806 for SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic. W R Systems, Ltd. (WRSystems), of Norfolk, VA, along with URS Federal Services, Inc. (prime) and other team members, has been awarded the Submarine C5I & NC3 Engineering, Technical, and Logistic Support follow-on contract from SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic. Work under this contract includes engineering, technical, analysis and assessment, logistical, life cycle, and program management support for VIRGINIA Class (SSN 774) Non-Propulsion Electronics Systems and Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical Systems (SWFTS) C5I systems and subsystems installed in SSN 21, SSN 688/I, SSBN 726, SSN 774, and SSGN Class Submarines and SUBOPAUTH shore facilities.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) received six proposals from around the world for the design of the first-ever bridge on the Atlantic side of the waterway, at a public event held Tuesday in Panama. Currently, the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge, on the Pacific side, provide the only routes for vehicles to cross the Canal. This new bridge will be the third across the Canal and the first located near the Gatún Locks, spanning the west and east sides of the city of Colon.

RALEIGH —The North Carolina Department of Transportation today announced the launch of the North Carolina Maritime Strategy planning study. The Governor’s Logistics Task Force recommended a study be initiated to evaluate the current and future role ports play, if any, in sustaining North Carolina’s efforts to create jobs and strengthen the economy across the State. “The study provides us the opportunity to take an objective look at the future of the maritime industry in North Carolina and assess these options with a fresh set of eyes,” said Lt.

ABB Turbocharging reported two achievements with turbochargers from the A100 family. The first A100 achievement is a new efficiency record. In final testing of the A190-L turbocharger for two -stroke low speed diesels, ABB technicians measured peak efficiency at 75.8%. “The 75.8% figure is all the more impressive because it was measured on a turbocharger featuring a higher pressure ratio than the model that achieved the previous record figure,” said Urs Gribi, Vice President of Engineering at the Baden, Switzerland headquarters of ABB Turbocharging.

J. Ray McDermott, S.A. (J. Ray) announced the appointment of Stephen M. Johnson as President and Chief Executive Officer of J. Ray, effective January 1, 2010. Johnson is the current President and Chief Operating Officer of McDermott International, Inc. (McDermott), J. Ray’s parent company. He succeeds Robert A. Deason, who, as previously announced, will retire at the end of the year. Separately, McDermott announced that it plans to separate its operating subsidiaries, The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) and J. Ray, into two independent, publicly traded companies.