Valletta Declaration on EU Shipping Strategy

European Transport Ministers adopted Wednesday afternoon a ministerial declaration on maritime transport. The declaration outlines priorities for the EU's maritime transport policy, focusing on competitiveness, digitalisation and decarbonisation. The so-called 'Valletta Declaration' was agreed at the end of a two-day ministerial stakeholder conference organised by the Maltese Presidency of the EU.
MOL Invests in PKT Logistics

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has announced that it acquired 20.9% share in PKT Logistics Group (PKT), a leading Malaysian logistics company. PKT provides end-to-end logistics solutions comprising freight forwarding, customs brokerage, contract logistics, haulage, distribution and others, to its customers from diverse market sectors. PKT owns and operates state-of-the-art, environment-friendly warehouses at its 'One Logistics Hub' in Shah Alam, Selangor, offering over 55,000m2 of warehouse space in total.
Capacity Augmentation in Indian Ports

Ports development and capacity augmentation is a continuous process in India, says the ministry of shipping. Government is regularly monitoring the Port projects to modernize and upgrade to increase capacity of the Major Ports and also to bring them to the international standards through construction and modernisation of berths; installation of state of art equipment; mechanisation of cargo handling system at ports and dredging projects to accommodate large-sized vessels.
UN to Support Senegal’s Maritime Security

International Maritime Organization (IMO) joined other United Nations agencies supporting Senegal’s maritime and port security, in an assessment visit to Dakar (27-29 March). IMO acted as the lead agency for maritime security provisions during the assessment of Senegal’s implementation of important Security Council resolutions addressing counter-terrorism. Border management was a main focus of the mission, which included meetings with maritime authorities and border management agencies.
MOL Safety Conference 2017 Held in Four Cities

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced that from late February through late March, the company held MOL Safety Conference 2017 programs, targeting MOL Group seafarers, in four locations worldwide. The cities were Split (Croatia), Mumbai (India), Manila (The Philippines) and Tokyo (Japan). Senior Managing Executive Officer Captain Masaaki Nemoto, who also serves as Director General of Safety Operations Headquarters…
US Navy Announces SAAPM 2017 Theme

This awareness month is designed to enhance year-round efforts to eliminate the crime of sexual assault and ensure all Sailors are treated with dignity and respect. Navy leadership challenges Sailors to think about how disrespectful words and actions, whether shared on the internet or within a command, can lead to a toxic culture and the serious crime of sexual assault. "It is up to all of us to root out destructive behavior, whenever and wherever we see it happen, in person and online.
Safety Insight on Offshore Wind Industry

New safety analysis can be used to harmonize safety on board offshore vessels carrying wind turbine technicians. The Danish Maritime Authority is striving to make the International Maritime Organization (IMO) develop international standards. The Danish Maritime Authority has hosted two workshops with experts from the offshore wind industry at which a safety analysis was made for vessels carrying wind turbine technicians – now, this has resulted in a report.
Offshore Supply Vessel Market to Grow 6% by 2021

The global offshore supply vessel market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 6.03 percent during 2016 – 2021, according to Azoth Analytics research report. The growth in offshore supply vessels is expectect to be driven by rise in demand for oil and gas globally, increase in offshore drilling activities and growth in production and exploration activities. Moreover, companies operating in this market…
Daspos Opens its Doors in the US

Danish manufacturer of oil mist and gas leakage detection systems Daspos A/S has opened its new Daspos International, Inc. office in the greater Seattle area to service the maritime industry. Daspos manufactures and markets the patented LAS-10 oil mist and gas leakage detection system for surveillance and prevention of on-board fires through early discovery of either oil mist or gasses in primarily the open engine room.
Seakeeper Names Semprevivo COO

Marine stabilization company Seakeeper Inc. has promoted Andrew Semprevivo to Chief Operating Officer, effective April 10. A Seakeeper employee since the commercialization of the company in 2008, Semprevivo assumed various sales roles, culminating in his appointment as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2014. In his new role, Semprevivo will continue to lead the company’s sales and marketing efforts in addition to playing a leadership role in other departments of the organization.
New LNG Tanker Forges Path for Arctic Shipping

An ice-breaking tanker docked for the first time at Russia's Arctic port of Sabetta to test a new route that could open the ice-bound Arctic Ocean to ships carrying oil and liquefied gas. The route is eagerly anticipated by energy firms that want to develop resources in the Arctic but face obstacles in getting oil and gas from remote and freezing fields to world markets. Environmental activists fear…
World’s First Shipboard Go-kart Track

The world’s first full-scale shipboard racetrack is now on the water, in a project which has brought the best out of German karting technology specialist RiMO Supply and Dutch decking specialist Bolidt for owner Norwegian Cruise Line. The 326m long, 167,800 gt Norwegian Joy entered the water at Germany’s Meyer Werft in March, offering a glimpse of surface from Bolidt that has been extensively used for road works…
KVH Ships 7,000th mini-VSAT Broadband System
KVH Industries, Inc. has shipped more than 7,000 mini-VSAT Broadbandsm systems, designed and manufactured by KVH to provide mobile connectivity at sea. The TracPhone…
Look to the Nordics for Digital Maritime Solutions

Birgit Liodden, Director of Nor-Shipping, argues that Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland have the infrastructure, understanding and ambition to drive the digital transformation shipping requires for future sustainability and success. The world isn’t standing still, and shipping can’t afford to. The pace of change in society is accelerating every day, enabled by digitalization and facilitated by individuals and firms that see potential rather than challenges.
Baltic Index Snaps Five-Session Winning Streak

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Thursday after five straight sessions of gains as capesize rates dropped. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, fell 14 points, or 1.1 percent, to 1,324 points. The index on Wednesday hit its highest level since Nov. 11, 2014. The capesize index fell 65 points or 2.4 percent to 2,690 points.
COSCO Shipping Reports $1.4 bln Loss for 2016

China's COSCO Shipping Holdings Co Ltd made a loss last year of 9.9 billion yuan ($1.44 billion), the company reported on Thursday, due to both persistently weak freight rates and restructuring costs. Freight shipping firms have been hit hard by a prolonged downturn in rates caused by overcapacity and a slowdown in global trade. COSCO, the world's fourth-largest container shipping line, became a new company last year…
Argentine Port Workers Suspend Strike after Protester Run Over
Port workers in Greater Rosario, from where 80 percent of Argentina's grains is shipped, suspended plans for a 24-hour strike on Thursday after a truck driver ran over and killed a protester…
Princess Cruises Takes Ship Delivery from Fincantieri

Majestic Princess, the third Royal Princess class cruise ship built by Fincantieri for ship owner Princess Cruises, was delivered at the Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. Princess Cruises, a Carnival Group brand, will deploy the new vessel on the Chinese market. The 145,000-gross-ton Majestic Princess is said to be the largest ship ever built in Italy, able to accommodate 4,250 passengers in 1,780 cabins and 1,350 crew members.
Alfa Laval Sees Greater Interest in High Flow BWTS

With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention set to take effect in September, Alfa Laval said it has seen growing customer interest in ballast water treatment systems and in its PureBallast. Of particular note is interest in PureBallast systems with high flow capacities. While interest for high flow PureBallast systems has increased, the manufacturer said it is prepared to support vessels with these needs. The IMO and U.S.
Maintenance Dredging Underway at Port of Cape Town

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA)’s Dredging Services division has embarked on a $ 1.1 million maintenance dredging campaign at the Port of Cape Town to restore the design depths inside Duncan dock. The maintenance campaign, which began on March 8, 2017, is scheduled for completion by the end April 2017. The main objective of the dredging campaign is to ensure the Port of Cape Town provides…