North Korea Test Fires Anti-ship Missiles
North Korea launched multiple short-range anti-ship cruise missiles into the sea and Sukhoi jets fired air-to-surface missiles on Tuesday as part of its ongoing military exercises, South Korea’s military said.The missile tests came on the eve of a national holiday in North Korea to celebrate the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the country and grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong Un.Launched at around 7 a.m.
OSV Powers Up for Deepwater Efficiency the Island Offshore Way
While facing the same challenging market conditions as offshore vessel owners and service companies worldwide, Norway’s Island Offshore recently broke free from the enforced conservatism of the E&P sector, by adding not just a new ship to its fleet, but one that re-writes the rulebook in capabilities, technology and despite its size and power, environmental credentials.Simply put, Island Offshore’s…
Coast Guard Academy to Hold Virtual Graduation
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy announced it is preparing to hold a virtual graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic.The graduating Class of 2020, along with the rest of the Academy Corps of Cadets were on spring break when travel restrictions were imposed and they were ordered to remain home. The Corps then shifted to virtual remote classes which are ongoing.During the virtual ceremony…
Saipem Crew in Isolation after COVID-19 Case on Pipelaying Vessel
Several crewmembers aboard Saipem's offshore vessel FDS in a port in the Netherlands have been placed in isolation after a confirmed COVID-19 case aboard.As reported by Saipem last Friday, one crewmember on the pipelayer was disembarked and transferred to isolation after he was confirmed positive.Responding to Offshore Engineer's requests on how many people were tested, and how many were on board the vessel…
Port Improvements Continue in Mobile
The Alabama Port Authority completed its 400-foot container dock extension at the APM Terminals Mobile facility on March 20, and three days later, the terminal for the first time simultaneously handled two containerships at the newly expanded berth.Part of Alabama’s seaport modernization program to accommodate larger vessels, the berth extension enables two x 8,000-10,000 TEU be handled simultaneously.
Stena RoPax Ferry to Become a Hospital Ship
Stena RoRo said it is preparing to convert an out-of-work vehicle and passenger ferry into a hospital ship to assist in response to the coronavirus pandemic.The large roll-on/roll-off passenger vessel Stena Saga previously sailed on Stena Line's Oslo–Fredrikshamn route from 1994 but has been idled since the service was permanently suspended in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak and travel restrictions imposed by several countries.Seeking an alternative use for the vessel…
Hornbeck Offshore Strikes Restructuring Deal with Lenders
US-based offshore vessel provider Hornbeck Offshore has struck a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring support agreement with its lenders.The announcement on Tuesday follows Hornbeck’s previous announcement earlier this month when the company said it was in talks with lenders over the terms of the balance sheet restructuring, to be implemented through a prepackaged chapter 11 filing in the Southern…
China's Commodity Imports Remain Robust
The new coronavirus caused barely a blip in China's imports of major commodities, but this likely underscores the ways China differs from the rest of the world, rather than providing a template for the globe's recovery from the pandemic.China's crude oil imports in March, the month when much of the world's second-largest economy was in lockdown, were equivalent to 9.68 million barrels per day (bpd)…
Suez Canal Zone Announces Deal to Boost Competitiveness, Investment
Egypt's Suez Canal Zone and its Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) announced an agreement on Tuesday committing to $50 million of investments that they said would help boost competitiveness at Port Said East port.SCCT opened in 2004 and is operated by majority shareholder APM Terminals, part of Denmark's A.P.Moller-Maersk. It has struggled to attract container and transshipment business in recent years.(Reporting by Patrick Werr Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
China's GCL, Shell Working on LNG Trading JV
GCL Oil& Natural Gas Co Ltd has entered a framework agreement with Royal Dutch Shell to explore setting up a joint venture based in eastern China to market and trade liquefied natural gas (LNG), the privately-owned Chinese company said on Tuesday.The proposed JV would secure LNG supplies from Shell and market the fuel to a receiving terminal which GCL is planning in Jiangsu province, GCL said in a statement.A Shell spokeswoman confirmed the agreement.The companies provided no further details.
Samsung Heavy Scores $209M Order for Two LNG-Fueled VLCCs
South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries has signed a contract worth $209.2 million (KRW 253.6 billion) with a Bermudan ship owner to build two LNG-fueled VLCCs, which will be delivered by April 2022.The Very Large Crude Carriers will be equipped with S-Fugas, an LNG fueling system independently developed by SHI, that will see the vessels will comply with IMO 2020 which took effect early this year and reduce the emission of SOx by 99%…
Saipem Takes Over Norce Endeavour Vessel
Italian oilfield services provider Saipem has taken delivery of the DLB Norce Endeavour lay pipe barge from Solstad Offshore.As previously reported, following a charter period, Saipem in March elected to buy the vessel from Solstad.The vessel was delivered to Saipem Portugal Commercio Maritimo Limitada, the Portuguese subsidiary of the Italian oilfield services provider Saipem, has signed a deal with Solstad Offshore to hire DLB Norce Endeavour lay pipe barge…
Chinese Seismic Vessel Returns to Waters off Vietnam Amid Virus 'Distraction' Charges
A Chinese ship embroiled in a standoff with Vietnamese vessels last year has returned to waters near Vietnam as the United States accused China of pushing its presence…
US Underestimates Offshore Oil Methane Emissions -Study
Offshore oil and gas drilling operations in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico emit far more methane than government estimates suggest, according to a study released on Monday by the University of Michigan.Drilling platforms emit about half a teragram (Tg) of the planet-warming gas each year, according to the study, which claims to be the first to use aircraft to take direct samples of emissions during normal operations.By contrast, the U.S.
USS Theodore Roosevelt Sailor Dies from COVID-19
A U.S. Navy sailor died on Monday after contracting the coronavirus aboard the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, whose captain was fired after warning his crew would die unnecessarily unless strong action was taken.The sailor, the first active-duty U.S. servicemember to die from coronavirus complications, was admitted to intensive care on April 9 after being found unresponsive in his quarters.
Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor Kicks Off 2020 International Season
The first ocean-going vessel of 2020 arrived Monday at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, thereby commencing this year's international shipping season at the Great Lakes port.Port officials welcomed the M/V Muntgracht, a 466-foot general cargo carrier, after her five-day voyage through the St. Lawrence Seaway to the deepwater port on Lake Michigan. Due to the current global pandemic precautions, the ceremonial Steel Stein…
USMI Awarded Contract to Build Special Ops Vesels
United States Marine, Inc. (USMI) has been awarded a $108 million contract to produce vessels for the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).The Gulfport, Miss.
Safeguarding the Maritime Transportation System During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The marine transportation system (MTS) is critical to both our national security and economic prosperity. The U.S. Coast Guard has an enduring responsibility to safeguard the MTS and enable the uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce. While Coast Guard Prevention missions normally address the systemic risks to the MTS through a variety of regulatory and compliance activities on a day-to-day basis,…
Apply Now for the MN100
Each year, the August edition of Marine News magazine profiles 100 of the top firms in brown water, workboat space.Is your company one of the best? Apply now.The 100 companies selected will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre. OEMs, service providers, shipyards, operators and the full gamut of marine-related businesses are eligible. But, only those who apply before July 1…
Callan Marine Wins Corpus Christi Dredging Work
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded a $97.9 million dredging contract on Wednesday to Callan Marine, Ltd., to complete the second phase of the four phase Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project. The project increases the channel depth from -47 feet Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) to -54 feet MLLW, and widens the channel to 530 feet with an additional 400 feet of barge shelves.The newest and largest dredger in the Callen Marine fleet…
