Wider Network News

Keel laying and steel-cutting ceremonies for two new ferries being built for Scotland's Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) were held this week at Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Turkey.The first ferry in the production timeline has had its keel laid, while steel-cutting for the second vessel has also begun – three weeks earlier than planned.The new, 94.8-meter vehicle/passenger ferries will each have capacity for up to 450 passengers and 100 cars or 14 commercial vehicles…

There is  increasing pressure for shipowners to sharpen their environmental performance, driven by an IMO target to halve greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 2050, regional regulations and market pull from charterers, banks and investors.“This represents a whole new ball game for the industry. Optimization of ship operations has traditionally been dictated by the efficiency of delivery around the globe that has typically meant being able to sail at full speed, thereby burning more fuel, to minimize costs for the charterer.

Two new 14,000 TEU full-container vessels built for Taiwanese ocean shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation  by Imabari Shipbuilding  Japan, were named as YM Wonderland and YM Wisdom respectively.Yang Ming Chairman Bronson Hsieh, and National Ocean Taiwan University President Chang Ching Fong, were invited to the naming ceremony. Ms. Sun Lan Tien, wife of Mr. Chang Ching Fong and Ms. Wu Li Fen, wife of Yang Ming Shipping Europe GmbH Managing Director Hsu Shih Feng, were also invited to officiate the naming of the new vessels at Imabari Saijo Shipyard.YM Wonderland and YM Wisdom are the second and the third of five 14,000 TEU full-container vessels Yang Ming chartered from Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku and DNV GL have signed a contract for the classification of Royal Caribbean International’s two new ICON Class cruise ships scheduled for delivery in 2022 and 2024.The final concept for the first vessel is currently being discussed, and the concept design phase is expected to start this spring. The initial building phase of the first ship will begin next year, with keel laying planned for October 2019.The new fuel-efficient ICON Class vessels will feature a number of green technologies…

APL is expanding its Intra-Asia service network with the launch of a new Japan Taiwan 6 (JT6) Service and an upgraded Japan Thailand 2 (JT2) Service. The new JT6 Service links the markets of Japan, Taiwan, South China with the Philippines. The upgraded JT2 Service is enhanced with 7 additional ports of call in the key hubs of Japan, Taiwan, South China and Thailand. “APL is committed to keep levelling up our shipping services and market connectivity so that our customers can better access existing and new markets with ease, reliability and speed. It is noteworthy that the two weekly short sea services will call the major transshipment hubs of Hong Kong and Kaohsiung…

One of the world’s most modern shipping terminals has been opened for business in the Port of Liverpool, offering a new state-of-the-art deep water gateway in the U.K. for the world’s largest containerships. Liverpool2 was officially opened Friday, November 4, 2016 by the U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade, Rt Hon Dr. Liam Fox MP, during an event attended by nearly 300 customers and stakeholders, complete with pyrotechnics and a performance by English singer Alison Moyet. “Today marks the beginning of a new era for the Port of Liverpool. Our investment will help global shippers to transport cargo more efficiently to their end destination with lower costs…

As the leader of customer-focused terminal operations in North America, GCT USA has welcomed the Hyundai Saturn to GCT Bayonne. The Saturn is the first of five Hyundai ships in the G6's New York Express (NYX) service calling the port of New York and New Jersey through the expanded Panama Canal. The Saturn and its sisters are the first Hyundai neo-Panamax class vessels deployed on the Transpacific-US East Coast trade lane, all boasting a cellular capacity of 10,077 TEUs. Serving New York as the first North American port-of-call, the enhanced NYX service connects the largest East Coast market to the carrier's wider network in Latin America and Central/Northeast Asia.

The Australian Government has signed a deal with DMS Maritime, a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco, for the delivery, operation and maintenance of an Antarctic Supply Research Vessel (ASRV) with icebreaking capabilities. The vessel, to be built by the Damen Shipyards Group, will form an integral part of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) program in the coming years. The April 28 signing ceremony in Hobart Tasmania was attended by Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julia Bishop and Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt.

Choosing next generation communication systems for professional marine operations can be a daunting task. Not to worry: John Haynes provides a primer. Over the past decade we have come to expect fast, seamless global communications from a single device that fits in our pocket. The age of the smart phone and tablet enables multiple voices talking in a conference call and real time transfer of data, ranging from documents to photos and videos. In the modern bridge, most crew members have a GPS in their pocket which can identify where that person is on the planet.

Rail system needs more tracks and wagons; Not enough coal gets from port to power stations. India is targeting up to $1 billion of private investment by 2017 to build rail lines linking ports and national networks to ease growing congestion, which has delayed coal imports for power plants and contributed to a power supply crisis. Such investment would more than double the $400 million that India's state-owned railways have attracted in the decade since they allowed limited private participation and help fund crucial "last mile" links to ports. Cash-starved, India's British-built rail system has added just 11,000 kilometres (6,800 miles) of track in the 67 years since independence, and the network has come to symbolise the poor state of India's infrastructure.

Maritime software engineering specialists PDMS Ltd. have announced an agreement for its U.K. subsidiary, Professional Data Management Services (U.K.) Ltd., to acquire certain parts of the business and assets of Maxima Information Group Limited, a subsidiary company within the Castleton Technology group of companies. In a deal worth close to £1 million, the acquisition relates to the ERP, payroll software and ferry ticketing business. PDMS has been developing ICT systems and solutions for the public and private sector for more than 21 years…

UASC and CSCL upgrade deployment on joint Asia to Med Service. United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) and  CSCL will as a result of the change in deployment in Asia to North Europe, redeploy tonnage into their existing joint Asia to MED service (AMC1/AMX1) through deployment of a combination of 10 x 7,000 to 8,000 Teu vessel (CSCL 3 x 8,500/UASC 7 x 7,000) bringing the deployment on this service to 10 from the present 9 vessels. Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Port Kelang, Port Said, La Spezia, Genoa, Fos, Barcelona, Valencia, Port Said, Jeddah, Khor Fakkan, Port Kelang, Quingdao. The new deployment will commence from the 2nd half of February 2012.

United Arab Shipping Company announced that the AEC1 service will start new direct calls to Jebel Ali. With that UASC would be adding a direct service from/to North Europe with competitive transit times offering 17 days from the last port in Europe and 25 days from Jebel Ali to the first port in North Europe. To that effect UASC Doha has called at Jebel Ali on May 6th and 7th, 2011. UASC remains committed to offering a wider network of fast and reliable services with highly competitive transit times to cater for its valuable customers growing demand around the globe.

September 25 marked the celebration of World Maritime Day, an annual event which is used around the world to focus attention on the importance of the maritime industries to world trade. Addressing the international maritime community in his World Maritime Day message, IMO Secretary-General William O'Neil recognized the considerable efforts that have been made, and continue to be made, to ensure that ship operations today are as safe, secure and environmentally friendly as they can be and, more particularly, on the many people who work tirelessly and diligently to achieve these objectives. Expounding on the theme "Committed people working for safe, secure and clean seas," Mr.