USCG Takes Delivery of First Upgraded 47' Motor Lifeboat
The U.S. Coast Guard recently accepted the Birdon America's first upgraded 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (47 MLB) at the agency's National Motor Lifeboat School (NMLBS) in Ilwaco, Wash., completing the first major milestone in the MLB Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). The first article vessel will undergo a four-month operational assessment by members of NMLBS.The 47 MLB is the Coast Guard's standard lifeboat…
Ukraine Secures $1.6 Bln from UK to Build Military Ships
Ukraine will sign a memorandum with the United Kingdom, securing 1.25 billion pounds ($1.61 billion) to build new military vessels for the Ukrainian Navy, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.The memorandum would be signed during Zelenskiy’s state visit to the U.K. on October 7-8.“This is an important strategic document ... we will sign this memorandum for the amount of 1.25 billion pounds…
US Navy's New Frigates Named the Constellation Class
The name of the first ship in the U.S. Navy's new guided missile frigate (FFG(X)) class will be USS Constellation (FFG 62), Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite announced Wednesday while aboard the museum ship Constellation in Baltimore.The warship will be the fifth U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name Constellation. Braithwaite said the name was selected in honor of the first U.S. Navy ships authorized by Congress in 1794: six heavy frigates named United States…
Two Crewmembers Medevaced from Tanker in US Gulf
Two ailing crewmembers were medevaced from a Panamanian flagged tanker approximately 25 miles off Freeport, Texas, Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston were contacted at 1:20 p.m. by the captain of the 473-foot tanker Morholmen requesting assistance for two seafarers on board, aged 29 and 57.The captain said one of the ailing mariners was experiencing…
Cutting Machinery Firm HGG Eyes US Growth
With much of North America still reeling from the pandemic, HGG Profiling Equipment continues to grow, responding to immediate and anticipated customer demand for profile-cutting machinery. Since opening its new 6,500-square-foot facility in Houston in this spring 2020, HGG has added an area manager to its sales and support team, three new customer service and support specialists, and two new service…
Yanmar Expands in Denmark
Yanmar Europe BV said it has signed an agreement with the Danish independent service provider VMS Group A/S as a new service agent for commercial marine engines and spare parts.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine Buys a Pearlson Shiplift
Fincantieri Marinette Marine is gearing up to build the recently named Constellation Class Frigates and other larger ships, having recently signed a contract with Pearlson Shiplift Corp. to design and build a state-of-the-art shiplift system in the Marinette, Wis. naval shipyard.Scheduled to be completed in 2022, the shiplift will give FMM the capability to launch and retrieve larger vessels that will be produced in the shipyard.
Loss of Towline Shackle Pin Led to 2019 Tug Sinking -NTSB
The loss of a towline shackle pin and deteriorated watertight fittings caused a towing vessel to sink in the Pacific Ocean about 800 miles northwest of Guam, the National Transportation Safety Board revealed in a Marine Accident Brief on Thursday.The 114-foot-long U.S.-flagged tugboat Mangilao sank on August 5, 2019 while being towed to a drydock in Subic Bay, Philippines by the 97-foot U.S.-flagged tug Chamorro. Both vessels were owned and operated by Cabras Marine Corporation.
WorkBoat Show Canceled Due to COVID-19
The International WorkBoat Show has become the latest maritime industry event to be canceled due to health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the tradeshow's organizers announced on Thursday.“After extensive consultation with the WorkBoat community, it is clear there are too many uncertainties about the impact COVID-19 will have on travel and mass gatherings this December. Accordingly, it…
US Sanctions: Spotlight on Cuba
The U.S. maintains a comprehensive sanctions program against Cuba, generally prohibiting all trade between the two nations, subject to multiple exceptions. In a previous article we addressed U.S. comprehensive sanctions generally, focusing on Iran, Syria and North Korea. Because the Cuba sanctions program has several idiosyncrasies that are unique to Cuba we address the Cuba sanctions program on its own.Background to Cuba sanctionsThe Cuba sanctions program is the oldest U.S.
Golden Ray Salvage Facing More Delays
Operations to remove the overturned car carrier Golden Ray in St. Simons Sound, Ga. are facing further delays after new engineering challenges surfaced relating to the mooring system of a specialized heavy-lift crane vessel that will be used for the project.The complex salvage project had been paused earlier this year due to coronavirus concerns and Hurricane Isaias, and now the cutting and lifting operations will be pushed back several weeks to allow engineers to modify the VB-10…
MARAD Launches Port Planning and Investment Toolkit
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has set up a new online resource intended to help U.S. ports plan, evaluate and finance freight transportation projects.The new Marine Highway module of the Port Planning & Investment Toolkit (Toolkit) was produced as part of a cooperative agreement between MARAD and the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and is designed to be easy-to-read…
WinGD, Alfa Laval Develop Solution to Reduce Methane Slip
With methane slip regulations looming as a possibility on the horizon, Sweden-based Alfa Laval and global Swiss engine developer WinGD say they have already cooperated on a solution. The Alfa Laval PureCool system is the main component in WinGD’s iCER technology, an option for next-generation WinGD X-DF engines that slashes methane slip and boosts fuel and energy efficiency.As a growing number of vessels…
HMM's New Mega Ships Each Sailed Fully Loaded on Maiden Voyages
South Korean shipping company HMM said all 12 of its new 24,000 TEU containerships—the world's largest—have each made their maiden voyages fully laden with containers.On September 31, HMM St. Petersburg, the last of the 24K-class series, departed for Europe from the Port of Yantian, China with 19,529 TEUs loaded on board.Consequently, all 24,000 TEU ships delivered to HMM have been entirely filled with cargoes on their first voyages…
Yanmar Dual Fuel Engines to Power Japan’s First LNG Ferries
Japanese engine manufacturer Yanmar said it received an order from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (MOL) for dual fuel 8EY26LDF engines that will be used to power generators on board Japan’s first two liquefied natural gas (LNG) ferries. The ferries, provisionally named Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki, are to be built at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.’s Shimonoseki Shipyard.Ferry Sunflower (a…
Virtual TAT: MAN 32/40R-DF Passes Type Approval Test, New Retrofit Package for Dual-Fuel Ops
MAN Energy Solutions announced the successful conclusion of the Type Approval Test (TAT) for its dual-fuel retrofit kit for its MAN 32/40 engine type. The TAT took place at the company’s Augsburg, Germany works from September 15-18, 2020 with the participation of the three classification societies: DNV GL, American Bureau of Shipping, and Lloyd’s Register.The TAT confirmed the suitability of the retrofit…
Historic Lindenau Shipyard Part of Nobiskrug's Expansion Plans
German shipyard NOBISKRUG, renowned for its custom superyachts such as Sailing Yacht A and Artefact, is expanding the capacity and capabilities of its new build and refit business, an expansion that will include the historic Lindenau facility located in the city of Kiel.Nobiskrug continues to see high demand for new build projects and large refits despite the global economic impact of Covid-19 in 2020.
Danish Offshore Wind Installation Firm Set for Oslo IPO. Picks New Name
Danish offshore wind turbine transportation and installation company Swire Blue Ocean (SBO) is getting ready for listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange, to position the company for the next phase of its growth.Also, Swire Blue Ocean, as a subsidiary of Swire Pacific Offshore, will be rebranded and renamed Cadeler. The company said the new name would reflect the company’s Scandinavian maritime heritage "and its commitment to excellence in maritime operations."In connection with the Mikkel Gleerup…
Opinion: Legislative Loophole Could Keep U.S. Offshore Wind Jones Act Fleet at Dock
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Expanding Access to Sustainable Energy Act of 2019, which enforces Jones Act requirements for all offshore renewable energy production. However, the bill's current language has the potential to create a loophole that would leave the U.S. Jones Act fleet on the sidelines. The Jones Act and its applicability to the offshore wind sector has long been debated by politicians, activists, and industry professionals.
Kongsberg Propulsion for Finnlines' RoPax Duo
Norway's Kongsberg Maritime has signed a deal with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) to deliver a propulsion and maneuvering system for two 230 meters roll-on, roll-off passenger (RoPax) vessels being built for Baltic Sea-focused operator Finnlines. The two Finnlines' flagship Superstar RoPax vessels, vessels, equipped with sustainable technologies for green operation, will each have a capacity for 1,212 passengers.