US Awards Nearly $3 Billion for Clean Port Projects
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a $3 billion investment from his Inflation Reduction Act to improve the country's port infrastructure.The investment includes $147 million in awards for the Maryland Port Administration, which owns the Port of Baltimore, the White House said in a statement.The funding will be used to create union jobs and upgrade port infrastructure to cleaner equipment, the statement added.The announcement comes after the three day port strike on the U.S.
Cruise Operators Reap Benefits of Their Own Private Islands
Major cruise operators are steering their ships - and millions of dollars in investments - into their own private destinations packed with excursions, beaches, bars and restaurants.The phenomenon appears to have started with Royal Caribbean Group, which in 2019 opened "Perfect Day at CocoCay," an amusement park-like private destination in The Bahamas that has caught the eye of Wall Street.By operating their own private destinations on small Caribbean islands…
AYK Energy to Supply Batteries for Mureloil's New Diesel Electric Tanker
Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy reports it has secured a contract to build a new 4,200 KWh battery for Spanish ship owner Mureloil. The agreement will see AYK’s Aries + battery supplied on a new 7999 DWT diesel-electric product tanker being built for Mureloil at Astilleros Murueta shipyard near Bilbao.AYK founder Chris Kruger said the vessel will be able to operate on zero emission battery power…
US Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Auction Draws Just $22 Million in Bids
A Biden administration auction of offshore wind development rights in the Gulf of Maine drew $21.9 million in high bids for half of the eight areas offered, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said on Tuesday.Offshore wind developers Avangrid AGR.N and Invenergy each walked away with two leases following one round of bidding. They were among 14 companies that had been qualified to bid at the sale.Once developed…
GIT Coatings Earns 'Industry-first' LR Type Approval
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted the maritime industry’s first Enhanced Antifouling Type Approval to GIT Coatings.This new approval establishes a benchmark for antifouling coatings, responding to the increasing demand for effective biofouling management. Such advancements are crucial for decarbonization initiatives and for the protection of marine ecosystems.As the first classification society to offer this service…
Underwater Radiated Noise and Ocean Health
The maritime industry's push toward decarbonization brings an unexpected benefit: the reduction of underwater radiated noise (URN). While the sector focuses intensively on emissions reduction and fuel efficiency, these same measures are quietly contributing to a healthier acoustic environment in our oceans. For ship owners and operators already investing in green technologies, addressing URN can be a natural extension of existing environmental initiatives…
Did You Know? Ransomware Still Primary Threat to Maritime Targets
Ransomware remained one of the primary threats to maritime targets in the first half of 2024, as it significantly disrupts operations and causes considerable economic damage, according to the to the report from Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) on cyber security threats.Attacks have paralyzed critical systems, delayed shipments, and compromised logistics, resulting in operational downtime and costly ransom demands.
BAE Systems Ship Repair Begins Making Submarine Components
BAE Systems won a contract by General Dynamics Electric Boat for deck module fabrication in support of U.S. Navy submarine programs. The contract between the companies will cover the production and shipment of structural steel components for both Columbia- and Virginia-class submarines from BAE Systems’ facility in Jacksonville, Florida.BAE Systems currently provides support to the U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base through various business operations…
MacGregor Launches Digital Carbon Calculator
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, launched a new free digital Carbon Calculator to help container shipping companies estimate the carbon dioxide emissions they can eliminate by upgrading their onboard container cargo system with MacGregor Cargo Boost.By maximizing container-carrying capacity on board existing ships, the Cargo Boost solution has been shown to increase average cargo system utilization from conventional rates of 80% to 90%, or even 100%.
Houthis Target Three Ships in Red Sea and Arabian Sea
Yemen's Houthis said on Monday that they targeted three ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, attacks they called part of their efforts to enforce a naval blockade on Israel.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a televised address the vessels were targeted for attempting to approach ports bound for Israel.According to the latest data from LSEG, all three targeted vessels were Liberia-registered.One of the vessels…
Comms Failure Costs Shipbroker $380,000
An arbitration dispute highlighted in the latest Claims Review by International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has concluded with a shipbroker settling a $380,000 claim. Accused of breach of contract and negligence for not disclosing critical navigation restrictions to charterers, the case underscores the paramount importance of transparent communication and due diligence in the shipbroking industry.The…
Schottel Propulsion for Four New Saltchuk Escort Tugs
Schottel won an order to supply azimuthing thrusters for four new escort tugs for Seattle-based Saltchuk Marine, the beginning of the renewal of the Saltchuk fleet for operations on the US West Coast, Hawaii, and Alaska.To be built by Eastern Shipbuilding, the vessels are a RApport 2600 design by Canadian naval architect Robert Allan and will measure 25.6 x 12.8m with a 5.5-m draft. Accommodation will be provided for eight persons…
ABL Teams Up with Tech Start-Up for Maritime Decarbonization
Energy and marine consultancy ABL has signed a partnership agreement with technology start-up Satva Trust to provide its maritime domain expertise to further develop Satva Trust’s data analytics platform aimed at vessels decarbonization.Satva Trust is a climate data tech and fintech company that leverages blockchain, artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies to accurately predict vessel emissions.
LNG Carrier with Nuclear Propulsion Offers Faster Zero-Emission Transits, ABS Finds
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has released its latest report into the potential of advanced nuclear technology for maritime applications, concluding the technology installed on LNG carrier would enable faster transit speeds with zero-emission operations.ABS conducted a study of a small modular reactor on a standard liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.The transformational impact of a high-temperature…
China Seizes Underwater “Lighthouses”
China's Ministry of State Security said on Tuesday that it had retrieved spying devices both on the ocean surface and in the depths of the sea, including underwater "lighthouses" that could guide the transit of foreign submarines.The ministry said it had uncovered devices that had been hidden on the ocean floor and were sending back information that could "pre-set the field for battle," in an article on its official WeChat account…
Oil Spilt During Bunkering off Changi
An oil spill has occurred off Changi in Singapore during a bunkering operation between the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Ines Corrado and a licensed bunker tanker.The incident occurred at about 5.40pm on October 28, and bunkering operations ceased immediately. Singapore MPA craft arrived at about 5.50pm and sprayed dispersants.An estimated 5 tonnes of oil was reported to have overflowed.As a precautionary measure, a Current Buster has been deployed off Changi to recover oil on water, if sighted.
Lankhorst Tow Line Monitoring Offers Live Load Feedback
Lankhorst Ropes is enabling tug crews to receive ‘live’ feedback on the loads experienced by their towing lines using its Sureline real-time rope tension monitoring system.Tug crews can now see, and instantly respond to, the loading on the tow rope. The pen-shaped Sureline sensor is easily installed in the core of the Lankhorst rope in around one minute, ahead of the towing operation. Via an on-vessel tablet display…
WMS to Showcase Wi-Fi Service at Interferry2024
Wireless connectivity provider WMS will feature its Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity solutions at the Interferry2024 Conference (October 26-30).WMS designed the services to elevate the passenger experience, provide faster connectivity and generate significant onboard revenue for ferry operators.“Enabling messaging, emailing, web browsing and streaming for communications with family, friends, and work is critical for ferry operators today,” said Kerry Pettitt, Ferry Sales Director, WMS.
Merchant Vessel Reports Explosions off Yemen
A merchant vessel reported two explosions near a ship travelling 14 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's Al Dhubab, British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Monday.The report followed statements by the U.K.
New Dive Boats Delivered to Hawaii
Annapolis, Md. boatbuilder Ocean Craft Marine has delivered a pair of highly customized 9.5-meter dive/research boats to the ʻĀkoʻakoʻa Reef Restoration Program on the Big Island of Hawaii. ʻĀkoʻakoʻa is an inter-agency partnership integrating federal, state, university, and community organizations spanning science, education, management and law enforcement support elements.The specialized Dive Boats…
