US Oil Drillers Cut Rigs for 10th Straight Week
U.S. energy firms this week cut oil rigs for an 10th week in a row to the lowest levels since December 2009, data showed on Friday, as some producers focus more…
US to Award $800 Mln in Transport Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is now soliciting applications for the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant program. The FASTLANE program is a new program in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to fund critical freight and highway projects across the country. The FAST Act authorizes $800 million in funding for the FASTLANE program for fiscal year 2016…
Bulk Carrier Runs Aground in the Suez Canal
A capsize bulk carrier ship has run aground in the Suez Canal at 69 kilometers at about 10:30 a.m. local time February 25, and is still grounded on same position…
First Ship Crosses New East Port Said Side Channel
Shipping group CMA CGM announced that its containership CMA CGM Racine was the first vessel to cross the New East Port Said side Channel, during the Opening ceremony held on February 24. Chérif Ismaïl, Egyptian Prime Minister, Saad El-Giuchy, Egyptian Minister of Transport, and Admiral Mohab Mamish, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority were present for the occasion. Thanks to this new side channel, vessels will have a 24-hour access to East Port Said instead of current 8-hour access.
First Wind Turbine Installed at Gemini Offshore Wind Park
The first wind turbine has been installed at the Gemini offshore wind park, off the coast of the Netherlands. The wind park will be completed in 2017, and will supply 785,000 households with renewable energy. The SOV, Yno 309, currently under construction at Ulstein Verft, will be servicing this park. On February 16, 2016, the first wind turbine was installed by Van Oord at the Gemini Offshore Wind Park, and it will soon begin producing electricity.
EU-US Trade Deal on Course for This Year
EU and U.S. negotiators seeking a transatlantic free trade agreement expressed cautious optimism on Friday that they could resolve most issues by July, which could…
Icebreakers Go to Work on St. Clair River
Icebreaking vessels from the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards are scheduled to break ice in the North Channel of the St. Clair River, Friday. Canadian Coast Guard ship Samuel Risley will break ice in the river near Algonac, Mich., and Harsens Island. Due to concentrated ice buildup, the water levels in the area rose between 15 and 20 inches overnight prompting the Clay Township Emergency Operation Center and Champion’s Auto Ferry to request Coast Guard assistance.
Mexico Sets Its First Deepwater Gulf Oil Auction
Contract awards for Mexico's first-ever deepwater oil auction covering 10 potentially lucrative blocks are expected to take place on December 5, oil regulator CNH said on Friday…
Piggybacking Across the Atlantic
In addition to standard containers, Hapag-Lloyd also transports special cargo that cannot be containerized. Among others, ships and yachts "piggyback" on board container ships. Each year, Hapag-Lloyd’s fleet transports several million containers over the world’s seas. But, on top of that, the vessels also take on board special cargo that doesn’t fit inside standardized steel boxes. Among the most spectacular of these objects are other ships and yachts that “piggyback…
Coast Guard to Be Honored in New Orleans
The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, announced today the details…
This Day In Naval History - February 26
1944 - Sue Sophia Dauser, Superintendent of the Navy's Nurse Corps, is the first woman in the Navy to receive rank of captain. 1945 - TBMs (VC 82) from USS Anzio (CVE 57) sink two Japanese submarines: I 368, 35 miles west of Iwo Jima, and RO 43, 50 miles west-northwest of Iwo Jima. 1945 - USS Finnegan (DE 307) sinks Japanese submarine I 370, 120 miles south of Iwo Jima. 1991 - During Operation Desert Storm…
US Becomes Net Natgas Exporter for a Day with Sale to Brazil
The United States turned into a net natural gas exporter for a day after the first liquefied natural gas export from Cheniere Energy Inc's Sabine Pass terminal in…
Polarcus Grows Vessel Backlog
Seismic vessel owner Polarcus Limited announced it has received multiple awards which together extend the fleet backlog by six vessel months. The projects will be carried out by multiple Polarcus vessels and commence in the first and second quarters of 2016. Commenting on this latest awards, Duncan Eley, COO of the Dubai-based Polarcus, said, “Two of the awards are extensions of current projects.
The New Standard in Transportation and Propulsion
The latest addition to the Coastal Transportation fleet, MV Coastal Standard, was built at Dakota Creek Industries Shipyard in Anacortes, Wash. with a design developed to maximize cargo carrying capacity while minimizing construction and operating costs, according to the shipbuilder. With help from its SCHOTTEL propulsion system, the vessel also scores high marks in safety, maneuverability and operability.
CAPE Holland Deploys Lifting Tool for Pile Installation
Earlier this month the CV-320 upending Vibro Lifting Tool (VLT-U) with was used for installation of 13 piles at the Kanaaldok B3 in Antwerpen. These piles will be…
Houston Ship Channel Closed Due to Tug Fire
The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port has briefly closed a portion of the Houston Ship Channel, as coast guard crews and local fire departments responded to a tugboat engulfed in flames, moored at the LyondellBasell refinery, about 2 miles east of Interstate 610, Friday. The tugboat, San Gabriel, was moored next to an empty sulfur barge when it caught fire and the crewmembers were able to evacuate safely, the Coast Guard said.
INTERSCHALT Debuts Maritime Data Engine Application
INTERSCHALT maritime systems AG, the provider of maritime software and services, as well as the manufacturer of VDR systems, introduces the background application Maritime Data Engine (MDE). 1. All data from one or more ships of a fleet with different data structures, independent of the data source and deployed platform, will be normalized and quickly made usable. 2. The MDE is no proprietary stand…
Baltic Index Inches Up as Panamaxes, Smaller Vessels Gain
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying industrial commodities, rose further on Friday on stable rates for smaller vessels and panamaxes.
NileDutch Upgrades the Europe-West Africa Trade
Starting in March, NileDutch, the container carrier specialized in connections to and from West Africa, will upgrade its services from Europe to West Africa by operating two loops. Antwerp - Le Havre - Leixoes by rail to Lisbon - Lisbon - Algeciras - Tanger - Pointe Noire - Luanda - Lobito - Namibe - Abidjan - Tanger - Antwerp. A new service to Dakar and Abidjan will provide extra loading ports. Dunkerque…
VOSS Fluid Acquires Italian Competitor LARGA
VOSS Fluid has made a strategic acquisition and has purchased all shares of the Italian market competitor LARGA. The German quality manufacturer of tube connections is taking this step to supplement its product range with additional hydraulic components. At the same time the company is also increasing its manufacturing capacities for the global market. The elements that link VOSS Fluid and LARGA are…
