JAXPORT Hires Collins as Security Director
The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) announced Monday that retired United States Coast Guard (USCG) Captain Dwight Collins has joined the port as Director of Public Safety and Security.Captain Collins directs all law enforcement, physical security, safety, and emergency management and preparedness services in support of more than 200,000 port employees, tenants and customers. He is also responsible for ensuring enforcement of seaport security initiatives in compliance with all federal…
China October Iron Ore Imports Dip
China’s iron ore imports slipped 1.7% in October from a month earlier, but still hovered well above 100 million tonnes, official customs data showed on Saturday, propped up by firm demand at Chinese mills and shipments from major miners.The world’s top iron ore consumer imported 106.74 million tonnes of the steelmaking ingredient in October, 14.9% more than in October 2019, but still below the 108.55 million tonnes brought in during September…
Gallery: Ulstein Launches Nexans Aurora Cable Layer
Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein on Sunday launched Nexans’ new cable-laying vessel, the ‘Nexans Aurora’.The hull of the vessel, built at CRIST, Poland, arrived at Ulstein Verft in June 2020. It has since been fitted with electrical installations, insulation work was carried out, the remaining main equipment (e.g. engines, thrusters, main switchboards, winches) and cable lay equipment was installed. The work at the Norwegian shipyard also included other minor and major installations…
Methanol-operated Fuel Cell System Gets DNV GL AIP
A methanol-operated fuel cell system from Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has received approval in principle (AIP) from classification society DNV GL, setting the course for further testing aboard the cruise ship AidaNova as soon as 2021.Converting the approximately 100,000 commercial ships on the world’s oceans to CO2-neutral propulsion systems is one of the maritime industry's greatest challenges.
Singapore Launches Its First 'Cruise to Nowhere'
Hit by cabin fever, hundreds of Singapore residents itching to get out of the tiny country boarded a “cruise to nowhere” on Friday, a rare chance to sail the seas after the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the cruise industry.Before starting their short “seacation” on the 335-meter World Dream, passengers underwent coronavirus swab tests before boarding the vessel, which was operating at half capacity to prevent crowding.Retiree Ang Sen Hock…
NAT Expects Tanker Market Lull Will Be Short Term
The recent slowdown in the oil tanker market is expected to be short-lived, shipowner Nordic American Tankers (NAT) said Friday in a letter to shareholders.NAT,…
MESPAS Revamps its Technical Ship Management Software
Swiss IT and engineering firm MESPAS informs it has completely redesigned its Technical Ship Management software, resulting in a user interface that is more modern, intuitive and user-friendly.The new look is based on Microsoft design guidelines, says, noting the new software solution feels familiar and easy to use for those who know Microsoft Office products. Meanwhile, the interface itself uses…
Baltic Index Edges Higher on Stronger Capesizes Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, edged up on Friday on stronger rates for the capesize vessel segment.The Baltic dry index was up 2 points, or 0.2%, at 1,196.However, the index lost 6.9% this week, its fifth straight weekly loss.The capesize index rose 30 points, or 1.8%, to 1,739, but declined about 8.8% for the week.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore a
Schottel Scores Two-year Supplier Deal for Sanmar's Bigaçay Tugs
Turkish boatbuilder Sanmar Shipyards has signed a framework agreement with Schottel that makes the German propulsion specialist the exclusive supplier of thrusters for the Bigaçay class tugs for two years.“The agreement puts Sanmar in a position of a contractual partner offering the latest propulsion technology with Schottel exclusively providing our shipyards with two 2,700 kW rudderpropellers type SRP 560 CP for each vessel of the Bigaçay tugboat class…
Concordia Damen Bags Order for 40 Dual-fuel Tank Barges
Dutch shipbuilder Concordia Damen said Friday it has signed a contract for 40 eco-friendly dual-fuel barges with institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management. The barges will be chartered by Shell and operated by the VT Group/Marlow. Frachtcontor Capital Partners was the broker for the deal.The 110- by 11.5-meters vessels will have liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion and extreme shallow draft capabilities – 2…
Austal's Vietnam Yard Delivers Its First Newbuild
Shipbuilding group Austal announced Friday that its Vietnam yard opened in 2018 has delivered its first vessel fully constructed at the Vung Tau shipyard.The 94-meter high-speed catamaran A.P.T James was officially handed over from Austal Vietnam to the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCo), to be used for maritime transport services on the Trinidad and Tobago ‘sea bridge’ route between…
EU Eyes Huge Hike in Offshore Wind Capacity to Meet Climate Goals
The European Union is considering a plan to increase its offshore wind energy capacity five-fold this decade and 25-fold by 2050, as it seeks to become climate neutral by mid-century, according to a draft policy.The 27-nation EU, which is already home to 42% of the world's offshore wind capacity, says the technology now produces clean power at a lower price than any fossil fuel-based source.A draft of the European Commission's strategy for offshore renewable energy…
Asia Energy Logistics Sells Bulk Carrier
Hong Kong-based Asia Energy Logistics has said it has agreed to sell its bulk carrier MV Asia Energy.In a brief statement on Thursday, Asia Energy Logistics said that on November 5…
Video: Bulker Crewmember Medevaced Off San Diego
An ailing mariner was medevaced Thursday from a bulk carrier more than 250 miles west of San Diego, the U.S. Coast Guard said.On Wednesday night, watchstanders at 11th Coast Guard District command center received a request for assistance from the Panamanian-flagged bulker Jal Kamadhenu, which reported a 55-year-old crewman on board was displaying symptoms of a possible heart attack or stroke.A Coast…
General Dynamics Awarded $9.47 Bln Submarine Construction Contract
General Dynamics Corp was awarded a $9.47 billion contract for the construction of Columbia class submarines, moving the U.S. Navy's top procurement priority out of the early-construction phase, the Pentagon said on Thursday.The contract for the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines covers the move to full construction of the first ship in the class, the USS Columbia, as well as continued advanced construction of the second ship…
Fire-stricken Venezuelan Oil Tanker Undergoes Repairs in Cuba
An oil tanker owned by Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela's maritime division is undergoing repairs in Cuba after suffering a fire while discharging last week…
Bunker Demand Returns to Pre-pandemic Levels
Asian refiners' profit from producing very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) climbed to six-month highs this week as output cuts keep supplies tight while demand for the shipping fuel at most ports are back at pre-pandemic levels, traders and analysts said.The trend is likely to stay for the rest of the year, encouraging Asian refiners to prioritize VLSFO production along with petrochemical feedstock naphtha…
New Roadmap for Smart and Autonomous Vessels
A new roadmap developed by leading maritime research institutes in Norway and Singapore examines the path ahead for smart and autonomous sea transport systems.Unveiled at the SMI Forum in Singapore on October 22, by Senior Minister of State for Transport and Foreign Affairs, Chee Hong Tat, and the Ambassador of Norway to Singapore, Anita Nergaard, the roadmap has been developed by SINTEF Ocean in Norway and Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine…
ABS Reaches an IHM Century with Seaspan
Classification society ABS reports it has scheduled its 100th Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) Certification for Seaspan Ship Management, 98% of which are remote surveys.ABS says it is on course to ultimately certify more than 100 vessels for the world's largest containership lessor as part of a huge increase in demand for ABS remote surveys of around 300% since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic.“COVID-19 has provided the maritime industry with unprecedented challenges.
Oil Tanker Transits Through the Suez Canal Drop 27% YOY -BIMCO
The number of oil tankers passing through the Suez Canal in October has declined sharply, down 27% for the month year-on-year amid persisting subdued demand for oil transport since the April crash in oil prices that fueled high demand for oil tankers, according to shipping association BIMCO.A total of 3,708 oil tankers passed through this key chokepoint for global shipping between January 1 and October 31…