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
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.
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
Unfinished Hornbeck MPSV Arrives at Eastern for Build Completion
The first of two incomplete ultra high-spec multipurpose support vessels (MPSV) has arrived at Eastern Shipbuilding Group's Port St. Joe Shipyard, where the builder will finish constructing the vessel for Hornbeck Offshore Services.Earlier this year, Eastern secured a contract to complete construction of the two 400 class MPSVs after Hornbeck terminated the original build contracts with Gulf Island Shipyards in Houma, La. in 2018 over what it described as "performance issues".
ABS and Seatrium Partner on Decarbonization and Energy Transition
U.S.-based classification ABS on Wednesday announced it is expanding its partnership with Singaporean shipbuilding group Seatrium to advance cutting-edge marine and technology projects that target decarbonization and energy transition in the marine and offshore sectors.The newly signed three-year Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA) entitled âAccelerating Decarbonization and Energy Transitionâ is a foundation for further collaboration on a succession of state-of-the-art projects under four broad themes: decarbonization, electrification, new energies and digital transformation, ABS said.
Conflict Heating Up Over Cosco's Megaport in Peru
The Chinese state-owned company at the center of a dispute over operations of a megaport it is building on Peru's Pacific coast insisted on Tuesday on terms agreed with the government, as some local officials have sought to backtrack on the deal.Hong Kong-based Cosco Shipping Ports will defend its legal rights to provide services as the exclusive operator of the deepwater Chancay Port Terminal under "terms that were agreed at the beginning of this investment," the firm said inâŠ
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
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
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
Marlink Upgrades Simon Møkster Shippingâs Network
Marlink has completed a fleet-wide upgrade of its hybrid network solution for long-time client Simon Møkster Shipping.The upgrade to Marlinkâs Sealink Nextgen solution, which includes the Starlink LEO service, enables the company to use standard office software applications including MS-TEAMS as its default collaboration platform and primary voice channel.Simon Møkster Shipping sought a hybrid solution that would optimize its operations around high throughput connectivity and managed networksâŠ
Bollinger Names Andy Naquin Sales VP
Bollinger Shipyards announced it has promoted Andrew âAndyâ Naquin to lead its sales team as the company's new Vice President of Sales.âSince joining Bollinger, Andy has been an invaluable addition to our team,â said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. âHis deep experience and breadth of relationships in the maritime industry are second to none, and I know heâll continue to deliver our customers the highest level of quality service and solutions that Bollinger has been known for nearly eight decades.âNaquin first joined Bollinger in 2023 as Director of Sales.
Finnlines Adopts Graphene-based Hard Foul Release Hull Coating
Finnlines has turned to a innovative graphene-based hard foul release hull coating to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across its ro-ro and ro-pax fleets.After starting with its first vessel in 2022, the Finnish shipping company has already applied GIT Coatings' XGIT-FUEL low-friction hull coating to four vessels as part of a recently signed fleet agreement, reducing fuel consumption and emissions by around 7% compared to previously used coating.Over the past decade, FinnlinesâŠ
Sapura Energy Lands $1.8B Petrobras Deal for Six Pipelaying Vessels and Subsea Services
Malaysia-based offshore services firm Sapura Energy has through its joint venture companies secured $1.8 billion worth of contracts with Brazilâs state-owned energy giant Petrobras for the provision of subsea services and six pipe-laying support vessels (PLSVs).Sapura Energy has through the joint ventures owned by Seabras Sapura Holding and Seabras Sapura Participações, in collaboration with Paratus Energy Services, secured contracts for its full fleet of six multi-purpose PLSVs as part of a competitive tender process run by Petrobras.Sapura EnergyâŠ
Taylor Smith Shipyard Partners with Nouum Engineering on Engine Overhauls
South African Nouum Engineering, a provider of diesel engine services for marine, power, locomotive and generators globally, and Mauritius-based ship repair and conversion yard Taylor Smith Shipyard (TSS) have signed a cooperation agreement, expanding both companiesâ commercial and operational scopes.As a part of the agreement, Nouum Engineering will be focusing on the repair and maintenance of marine engines and related equipment, such as turbochargers and automation systems, a growth market for Taylor Smith Shipyards.
BAE Systems Wins $87 Million Contract to Upgrade USS Carter Hall
The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth more than $87 million for repair work aboard the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50).The nearly 30-year-old vessel will undergo a year of restorative work at BAE Systemsâ shipyard in Norfolk, Va., which is also the shipâs homeport. The company said it will begin working aboard the 610-foot-long ship in July 2024, performing a combination of maintenance and preservation work on the shipâs hull, its internal fuel and ballast tanks and the engineering plant.
Crescent Towing Adds New Escort Tug for Port of Savannah Operations
New Orleans-based marine towage provider Crescent Towing announced it has taken delivery of its newest tugboat, Angus R. Cooper II.The new escort tug was constructed at Blakeley BoatWorks in Mobile, Ala., to be added to Crescent's ship assist operations in the Port of Savannah, Georgia. It is powered by twin Caterpillar 3516E EPA Tier 4 engines, each producing 3,004HP to power Kongsberg 255 fixed pitch azimuthing drives (z-drives).This vessel is named in recognition of The Cooper Groupâs longtime Chairman and CEO.
Young Brothers Is First in the US to Use Innovative Mooring System
Hawaiâiâs interisland freight company Young Brothers has become the first marine transportation company in the Unites States to install an innovative mooring system designed to improve safety and efficiency.The new $1.5 million ShoreTension mooring system was blessed in a ceremony at the Port of Kaumalapau in LÄnaâi on Monday. The technology, which keeps the barge steady against the dock during inclement weather, is already being utilized in harbors around the globe in countries like New ZealandâŠ
New Long Island Ferry Launched at Eastern Shipbuilding
Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) on Friday held a launch and christening ceremony for the ferry Long Island at its Allanton Shipyard in Panama City, Fla.Scheduled to be delivered later this year, the new Subchapter H passenger and auto ferry is being built for Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, a subsidiary of McAllister Towing, for operations between Bridgeport, Conn., and Port Jefferson, N.Y., traversing the Long Island Sound. The vessel was christened by Rosemary McAllisterâŠ
Senegal's O3S Orders Fast Supply Vessel from Penguin
O3S â Oil Senegal Support Services, a homegrown Senegalese operator servicing the country's fledgling offshore energy sector, has ordered a new 36-meter fast supply vessel (FSV) from Singaporean shipbuilder Penguin International. Construction on the new FSV is expected to start later this year, with delivery of the new vessel expected to take place in 2025.The new Incat Crowther-designed vessel will be capable of transporting 28 service personnel as well as 20 tonnes of cargo at speeds of up to 33.5 knots.