Efficiency Equipment News

The U.S. Navy has chosen the Fairbanks Morse MAN 12V48/60CR engine as main propulsion for a new series of 17 ships as it begins plans to phase out its existing tanker fleet. Known colloquially as oilers, the existing aging fleet of 15 tankers is used to transfer fuel from coastal ports to naval vessels at sea. Lex Nijsen – Head of Four-Stroke Marine – MAN Diesel & Turbo, said, “The U.S. Navy knows our 48/60 engine very well, especially our L48/60A variant, and this played a key role in Fairbanks Morse winning this contract. In studying the replacement of the existing tankers, the U.S.

Profitability in shipping goes up and down in waves. 2012 wasn’t too bad, with annual operating costs shrinking by 1.8% on average versus 2011, when average costs rose 2.1%, but 2013 weighed anchor in the losses column for many. And 2014? So far the waters are choppy, with the overall mood up in May but dipping down in the quarter that ended in August, according to Moore Stephen’s quarterly Shipping Confidence Survey. Much of what worries the industry concerns issues over which it has little to no control – oversupply…

IMO will be fully operational, once again, from its Headquarters on 's Albert Embankment, following a 20-month period in temporary accommodation while the Headquarters building underwent major refurbishment. The first major meeting to be held in the refurbished Headquarters will be the 84th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (7 to 16 May) and the building will be formally re-opened in a special ceremony in mid-June to coincide with the 100th session of the IMO Council. Although the IMO building is largely unchanged externally, internally the changes are dramatic. IMO staff and delegates to the Organization's meeting now have a building that reflects the very latest technological…