Russia’s Inability to Dominate the Sea has Changed the Course of the War in Ukraine
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago, most of the fighting has been on land. However, there has also been a less visible – but nonetheless crucial – maritime dimension to the war across the full spectrum of tactical, strategic, economic and diplomatic considerations.After land troops crossed the Ukraine border on February 24 2022, the Russian navy quickly secured control of the northwestern Black Sea.
Salvors Recover Sunken Tug in Alaska
Salvage workers have recovered a partially submerged tugboat at the National Guard Dock in Gastineau Channel, near Juneau, Alaska.the 107-foot tugboat Tagish was secured on the beach nearby on February 19, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Melino’s Marine Services, the contracted salvage company, successfully removed the vessel with its barge and crane system.Contractors dewatered and defueled the vessel prior…
St Johns Bar Pilots Order New Launch from Gladding-Hearn
Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, announced it has received an order from the St. Johns Bar Pilots for a new high-speed launch.The newbuild, to be based on the Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder's 40-foot Resilient Class pilot boat introduced in 2005, is scheduled to be delivered to the Florida-based pilots in mid-2024—the pilots’ fourth Gladding-Hearn pilot boat since 1962.Designed by Ray Hunt Design, the all-aluminum launch measures 35 feet overall.
Vigor Completes USS Chosin (CG 65) Modernization
Vigor announced it has completed a three-year modernization project on U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) at its Harbor Island shipyard in Seattle.The project, which encompassed more than 1.7 million hours of work for Vigor employees, in addition to work by dozens of subcontractors and the U.S. Navy, was one of the largest, longest and most complex in Vigor’s history, the company said.
AET and PTLCL Sign MOU for Zero-emission Aframax
Tanker operator AET announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Malaysia's PETCO Trading Labuan Company Ltd (PTLCL) to explore a potential collaboration to deploy a future zero-emission Aframax tanker powered by green ammonia.AET said it would be responsible for selecting a suitable shipyard to build the net zero-emission dual-fuel tanker, which would be delivered to PTLCL for long-term charter by 2026.The companies also intend to collaborate on the design…
Bangladesh Shipping Corporation to Get $22.48 Million for Ship Hit by Missile in Ukraine
Insurers are about to pay state-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) $22.48 million for its vessel that was hit by a missile during fighting in Ukraine, two officials involved said on Tuesday.The expected settlement is one of the first shipping claims to have been paid out since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year, in a conflict that has added tens of thousands of dollars to risk premiums…
ABS Issues CyberSafety Certification for Nabtesco Engine Control System
After prototype testing in January 2023, classification society ABS has issued the world's first ABS CyberSafety Product Design Assessment (PDA) certification for the main engine and main propulsion remote control systems (M-800 series) from Nabtesco Corporation.“In vessel operations today, more and more components are connected and reliant on digitally enabled systems that introduce new risks and vulnerabilities into the maritime supply chain.
Shell and Hapag-Lloyd Ink LNG Supply Deal
German container liner Hapag-Lloyd announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with Shell to bunker its ultra large dual-fuel containerships with liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Port of Rotterdam.LNG bunkering for these 12 new 23,500+ TEU vessels is expected to start during the second half of 2023 as the ships deploy on Europe-Far East routes, calling ports such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, Singapor…
USCG Research and Development Center Turns 50
The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) on Monday celebrated its 50th anniversary during an open house event at the center’s campus next to Fort Trumbull in New London, Conn.The event, designed to showcase RDC history and ongoing work, and provide an opportunity to speak with its researchers, focused on several key themes, such as the impact past and current researchers have had on the service as well as appreciation for Southeastern Connecticut…
Moose Boats Wins New Fireboat Order
San Francisco Bay Area shipbuilder Moose Boats announced it has been awarded a contract from the Woodbridge Fire District for the construction of a M3-36 Monohull to serve as a fireboat in California's San Joaquin Delta.The 36-foot-long vessel will feature twin 300-horsepower Mercury outboards and a dedicated fire pump to flow through two monitors at approximately 1,500 gallons per minute. This vessel…
Interview: Five Minutes with Robert Ekse, President, EBDG
Late last year we caught up with Robert Ekse, President, Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG), for his take on how the Future Fuels debate is effectively shaping maritime technology development and vessel investment.Most reading these pages know the EBDG name, but can you give us a quick update?Elliott Bay Design Group has been around for a long time, [at first] primarily focused on ferry design and refurbishment.
Marlink Providing Network Solutions for Quark Expeditions
Marlink has provided high throughput hybrid network solutions for Quark Expeditions’ MV Ultramarine since the start of the 2021 Arctic season. After the first full year with the service, the operater said it found that guests and staff on Ultramarine enjoyed continuous, high-quality connectivity despite the high latitudes and harsh operational environment.While Quark Expeditions has operated a fleet of chartered vessels and icebreakers for more than 30 years…
Italy: Police Arrest Three Alleged Traffickers after Fatal Migrant Boat Wreck
Italy has arrested three people who they believe trafficked up to 200 migrants aboard a wooden boat that smashed apart on rocks off southern Italy on Sunday, killing at least 64 people, police said on Tuesday. Lieutenant Colonel Alberto Lippolis said a Turkish man and two Pakistani nationals had sailed the boat from Turkey to Italy despite the terrible weather, and were identified by survivors as "the main culprits of the tragedy"."According to initial investigations…
C-Job says New Ship Design Tool Cuts Lead Time in Half
C-Job Naval Architects and VIKTOR have worked together on the ACD Resistance Module, a tool that will benefit shipowners during the ship design process.“In the early phases of design, engineers must make decisions that can have an irreversible influence on later design stages," said Roy de Winter, R&D Engineer, C-Job Naval Architects. "Therefore, it is beneficial to make these decisions in a data driven way.
Australia Bans MSC Containership Over Safety Deficiencies
A Liberian-flagged containership operated by MSC Shipmanagement Ltd (MSC) has been banned from Australian ports for 90 days over a long list of safety failures and deficiencies, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.AMSA said it issued a refusal of access direction notice to the MSC Kymea II following months of sub-standard performance from the ship’s operator, including critical maintenance issues.The agency's inspection of the vessel found 21 deficiencies in total…
FSG Lays Keel for SeaRoad's New RoRo Ship
German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) on Monday held a keel laying ceremony for a new new roll-on / roll-off (RoRo) vessel currently under construction Tasmanian shipping and logistics company SeaRoad. It was announced during the ceremony that the vessel will be named SeaRoad I.During the ceremony, the first module for the newbuild, weighing more than 154 tonnes, was lowered by crane onto the blocks…
Alfa Laval Debuts Compact PureBilge
Alfa Laval announced the launch of PureBilge Compact, a compact version of the oily water separator PureBilge, designed to reduce the sytems footprint and ease install.PureBilge Compact is dseigned to be a highly compact and modular solution that provides a great opportunity for small-segment vessels to benefit from the proven oily water separation technology without space and installation constraints.
ClassNK Publishes New Containership Safety Standards
Classification society ClassNK announced new sets of guidelines to aimed at safer and more efficient ocean container transport. The new "Guidelines for Container Stowage and Securing Arrangements (Edition 3.0)" and "Guidelines for Parametric Roll Countermeasures" are available to download via ClassNK’s website.Responding to rapid increases in the size of container ships and advances in lashing technology…
Baltic Index Marks Best Month in Five on Stronger Vessel Demand
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index posted its biggest monthly percentage gain in five months, supported by higher rates across vessel segments. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax shipping vessels, rose 55 points, or 5.9%, to 990, on Tuesday. The main index was up 45.4% for the month, the most since September 2022. The capesize index rose 28 points, or about 4%, to 729, marking its seventh straight session of gains.
Ukraine Urges UN and Turkey to Start Talks to Extend Grain Deal
Ukraine has sent an appeal to the UN and Turkey to start negotiations on extending a grain export deal, but so far there has been no response, a Ukrainian government source said on Tuesday.Yuriy Vaskov, Ukraine's deputy minister of restoration, told Reuters last week that Kyiv would ask all sides to start talks to roll over the deal, seeking an extension of at least one year that would include the…
