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Bermuda News

27 Mar 2024

Britain’s Forgotten Prison Island: Remembering the Thousands of Convicts Who Died Working in Bermuda’s Dockyards

An 1862 photo of a prison hulk docked in Ireland Island, Bermuda. (Photo: UK Royal Navy)

We think of Bermuda as a tiny paradise in the North Atlantic. But long before cruise ships moored up, prison ships carried hundreds of convicts to the island, first docking in 1824 and remaining there for decades.Islands have long been places to deport, exile and banish criminals. Think of Alcatraz, the infamous penitentiary in San Francisco, or Robben Island in South Africa, which held Nelson Mandela. The French penal colony Devil’s Island was immortalised in the Steve McQueen film Papillon…

02 Feb 2024

ICS Publishes Flag State Performance Table

© Paulrommer / Adobe Stock

A new table published by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) indicates continuing positive performance by the vast majority of the maritime industry's flag states.Merchant ships are required to register under a flag state, which determines the vessel's nationality and gives jurisdiction under which to operate. Flag states have the authority and responsibility to enforce regulations over vessels registered under their flag, including those relating to inspection, certification…

08 Nov 2023

Gladding-Hearn Delivers New Pilot Boat to Bermuda

(Photo: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation)

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has delivered a Chesapeake Class pilot boat to the Bermuda Government, Department of Marine and Port Services. It follows delivery of a 61’ pilot/rescue vessel to the port services in 2011.The new all-aluminum launch is certified to Lloyd’s Register class and replaces a 10-knot steel pilot boat built by the Somerset, Mass. shipyard in 1980. With a deep-V hull designed by Ray Hunt Design, the new boat measures 52.11’ overall, with a 15.10’ beam and a 4.8’ draft.

21 Aug 2023

The Internet is Not As Useful As We May Think

Image courtesy Martin & Ottaway

I was discussing torsional stiffness in ship’s hulls with one of our intern engineers and pointed out a torsional stiffness problem with a certain hull design section since it could not inscribe a decent sized circle.I expected it to be a comment that would be confusing to a young engineer and proceeded to explain that torsional stiffness is related to gyradius which is powerfully related to radius and radius is related to circles. Inherently the stiffest shape in torsion is a…

09 Feb 2023

Cox Marine Expands Distributor Deal With Ring Power

Left to right: Patrick Bucci, General Manager – Cox Marine, Ring Power with Doug Ross, Regional Director – Americas, Cox Marine (Photo: Cox Marine)

Cox Marine, the manufacturer of the CXO300 diesel outboard engine, announced an expanded contract with U.S.-based distributor and Cox investor, Ring Power, to cover additional regions as the exclusive distributor. The Florida-based company is increasing its territories beyond the state of Florida and the Caribbean to include Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as Bermuda.Appointed by Cox Marine in 2019, Ring Power has a growing order book and is also hiring a team of qualified technicians and a skilled sales team to support the Cox Marine operation in the region…

30 Jan 2023

Flag States Increase Seafarer Reporting 25% - ICS

Copyright iQoncept/AdobeStock

The annual Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table, published today from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), highlights a 25% increase in flag states reporting on seafarer labor standards compared to last year. Each year flag states must report on labor standards as part of their ILO audit commitments. Some of the labor standards specific to seafarers include repatriation of seafarers, accommodation provision, health protection and medical care. This year 67.6% of flag states reported on their ILO audit commitments…

03 Jan 2023

Gladding-Hearn Refitting Ferry for Government of Bermuda

(Photo: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)

The Government of Bermuda’s Marine and Port Services has chosen Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, to undertake a major refit of the 700-passenger ferry Bermudian. Built in 1988, the 118’ steel vessel completed the 635-mile crossing of the North Atlantic, arriving at the Somerset, Mass. shipyard, this week. With engineering and project management by Gladding-Hearn and Propulsion Data Services, and Class oversight by Lloyd’s Register, the refit is scheduled for completion in mid-2023.Among the myriad items to be removed…

23 Dec 2022

Two Offshore Drilling Firms Set to Merge

Credit: Aquadrill

Offshore drilling firms Seadrill Limited and Aquadrill (ex-Seadrill Partners) on Thursday announced a definitive merger agreement under which Seadrill will acquire Aquadrill in an all-stock transaction. When the transaction is completed, Seadrill shareholders and Aquadrill unitholders will own 62% and 38% of the common shares in the new company, respectively. Based on Seadrill's 30-day volume-weighted average share price of US$31.25 on the NYSE as of December 22, 2022, the deal…

11 Nov 2022

Divers Find Challenger Space Shuttle Wreckage Off Florida Coast

Underwater explorer and marine biologist Mike Barnette and wreck diver Jimmy Gadomski explore a twenty-foot segment of the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger, the team discovered in the waters off the coast of Florida, U.S., during the filming a History Channel documentary called "The Bermuda Triangle: Into Cursed Waters", in this handout picture taken May, 2022. (Photo: The HISTORY® Channel)

Divers from a documentary crew looking for the wreckage of a World War Two aircraft off the coast of Florida found a 20-foot section of the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded and broke apart shortly after its launch in 1986, NASA said on Thursday.The divers contacted NASA after spotting a large, clearly modern object mostly covered in sand at the bottom of the ocean and bearing the shuttle's distinctive tiles, the space agency said in a written statement."This discovery gives us an opportunity to pause once again…

29 Jul 2022

Norwegian's First Prima Class Cruise Ship Delivered

Norwegian Prima (Photo: Fincantieri)

Norwegian Prima, the first of six vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new Prima Class of ships was delivered at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera on Friday.Along with her sister-ships, Norwegian Prima will form the backbone of the future NCL fleet, at more than 142,500-tons, almost 300 meters long, and accommodating 3,215 guests. Deliveries are scheduled through 2027.Starting in the summer of 2022, Norwegian Prima will offer itineraries in Northern Europe with voyages from Amsterdam…

05 May 2022

EU Eyes Ban on All Shipping, Financing Services for Russian Oil

Credit: newroadboy/AdobeStock

The European Commission has proposed to ban in a month's time all shipping, brokerage, insurance and financing services offered by EU companies for the transport of Russian oil worldwide, an EU source told Reuters on Wednesday.The measure is part of a proposed embargo on Russian oil that is meant to cripple Russia's oil industry. Read full storyProvided the proposal gets the approval of EU governments, all insurance, finance, and shipping services for Russian oil transport would be banned in a month's time…

31 Mar 2022

Tech File: ABB Launches New Permanent Magnetic Shaft Generator

Image courtesy ABB

The latest in-line shaft generator from ABB is designed to enable ship operators to benefit from the multiple advantages of permanent magnet technology. The new generator brings flexibility and ease of installation to a wide range of vessels including bulk carriers, container carriers, liquid natural gas tankers and ferries transporting passengers and cars.The AMZ 1400 permanent magnet shaft generator is optimized for converter control and enables better efficiency than either induction or electrically excited synchronous machines at both full and partial loading.

21 Mar 2022

Yacht Linked to Russian Oligarch Docks in Turkey

A superyacht linked to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich docked in the Turkish tourist resort of Bodrum on Monday, after skirting the waters of European Union countries which have sanctioned the oligarch over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Abramovich was among several wealthy Russians added last week to an EU blacklist, and EU governments have acted in recent days to seize yachts and other luxury assets from them.World governments are seeking to isolate President Vladimir Putin and his allies over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which the Kremlin calls a "special military operation".Last week, Abramovich flew into Moscow after leaving Istanbul in his private jet.

08 Mar 2022

Yacht Linked to Russian Oligarch Leaves Barcelona

A superyacht linked to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich left Barcelona on Tuesday where it had been undergoing repairs in a local shipyard, ship-tracking data showed.The 140-meter (460-foot) My Solaris, which sails under a Bermuda flag according to monitoring site Marine Traffic, left Spanish company MB92's Barcelona shipyard just after 5 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Tuesday, according to the same site. MB92 declined to comment.The superyacht, which was built in a German shipyard and first took to the sea early last year, is one of a string of yachts owned by Abramovich, according to reports in luxury goods publications SuperYachtFan, SuperYacht Times and Forbes.Abramovich…

17 Jan 2022

Bermuda Pilots Order New Launch from Gladding-Hearn

(Image: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)

Somerset, Mass shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, said it will build a a new Chesapeake Class pilot boat for the Bermudan Government's Department of Marine and Port Services.The shipyard, which built a 61’ pilot/rescue vessel for the port service in 2011, said the new launch will be built to Lloyd’s Register class for scheduled delivery in early 2023.With a deep-V hull designed by Ray Hunt Design, the new all-aluminum pilot boat measures 52.11’ overall, with a 15.10’ beam and a 4.8’ draft.

14 Dec 2021

Gladding-Hearn Delivers Completely Refitted Ferry to Bermuda

(Photo: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding)

Resolute, one of two high-speed passenger catamarans delivered by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, to the Government of Bermuda, Ministry on Transport in 2002, has returned to service after a compete refit. In turn, the vessel’s sister ship, Serenity, has been delivered to the shipyard for the same types of upgrades — scheduled for completion by next March.Designed by Incat Design (currently Incat Crowther), Resolute carries 250 passengers. It measures 84 feet (27.7m) long…

15 Nov 2021

ABB to Deliver Magnet Shaft Generators for Himalaya's Bulk Carriers

Credit: ABB

ABB will deliver an equipment package for Himalaya Shipping's ultra-large bulk carriers that will feature innovative shaft generators with a Power-Take-Off (PTO) solution, comprising new drive systems and permanent magnet technology.The equipment will improve the energy efficiency of the ultra-large bulk carriers by up to four percent while enhancing operational flexibility, and save about 20 percent of space on board compared to a conventional solution.ABB will deliver an integrated scope of solutions with permanent magnet shaft generators at its core for twelve 210…

14 Oct 2021

WISTA International Elects New Board members

(Photo: WISTA)

The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) executive committee held its election for three executive positions during their International AGM on October 13. The AGM was hosted in Hamburg alongside a conference that is taking place today and Friday.Connie Roozen, WISTA Netherlands, retains her position as treasurer for another term, whilst two new members were elected as Executive Committee members, Sofia Fu¨rstenberg Stott, WISTA Sweden and Nazli Selek…

13 Aug 2021

VIDEO: Norwegian Cruise Line's New Ship Floated Out in Italy

Credit: Fincantieri

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new cruise ship Norwegian Prima was floated out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Venice) this week.The Norwegian Prima is the first of six vessels of the Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) new Prima Class of ships. NCL is part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.Along with her sister-ships, “Norwegian Prima” will form the backbone of the future NCL fleet, being more than 142,500-tons, almost 300 meters long, and accommodating 3,215 guests, Fincantieri said Friday.

27 Jul 2021

Man in Hamster-like Floating Wheel Washes Ashore in Florida after Failed Attempt to Reach New York

Credit:  Flagler Sheriff/Twitter

A  man in a hamster wheel-like vessel washed ashore near the Old Salt Park beach approach in Flagler County, Florida. He said he was on the way to New York. "[The vessel's] sole occupant was with the vessel and advised that he came to shore because he was missing some of his equipment," Flagler Sheriff's report from July 24 reads. In a tweet on Saturday, Flagler Sheriff said the occupant of the vessel was safe with no injuries. "The occupant advised he left the St. Augustine area [the day before] to head to [New York]…

10 Jun 2021

Diana Shipping Bags Charter for Capesize Dry Bulk Vessel

Dry bulk shipping company Diana Shipping has secured a charter contract for its m/v Boston Capesize dry bulk vessel.The charter is with C Transport Maritime Ltd., Bermuda, with the gross charter rate set at US$25,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until a minimum of April 15, 2022, up to a maximum of June 15, 2022.The charter is expected to start on June 15, 2021. The m/v Boston is currently chartered, as previously announced, to Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co. KG, Lübeck, Germany, at a gross charter rate of US$15,300 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties.The “Boston” is a 177,828 dwt…

21 May 2021

NOAA Predicts Active Atlantic Hurricane Season

NOAA's GOES-East satellite captured this image of Hurricane Laura on August 26, 2020 as it approached the Gulf Coast. 
NOAA's GOES-East satellite captured this image of Hurricane Laura on August 26, 2020 as it approached the Gulf Coast. (Photo: NOAA)

The U.S. government on Thursday forecast an above-normal 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, which is already off to an early start with a storm expected to form off Bermuda this week.The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast between three and five major hurricanes, with sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour (178 kph), will form in 2021.Between six and 10 hurricanes with winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph) are expected out of 13-20 tropical storms in 2021, NOAA forecasters said.

24 Mar 2021

Video: Ill Tanker Crewmember Medevaced off Bermuda

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

An ailing crewmember was medevaced from an oil tanker off the coast of Bermuda on Friday.Rescue Coordination Center Bermuda notified watchstanders at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fifth District command center in Portsmouth of an ill crewmember aboard the Malta-flagged tanker Antonis last Wednesday at approximately 1 p.m.The Coast Guard coordinated the rendezvous of two nearby commercial vessels to deliver needed medical supplies through the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue…