Workers From a BP Gulf of Mexico Platform Test Positive for COVID-19
Several workers on a BP Plc oil platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico have tested positive for coronavirus, the company said on Wednesday, a day after a worker at BP's operations in Alaska also tested positive.The cases are the first recorded among oil workers in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, and follow a positive test at an Equinor offshore project in the North Sea.A case of the coronavirus was also reported at BP's Whiting…
Underwater Bow Thruster Removal in Rotterdam
Last month a Hydrex team removed a bow thruster from a 170-meter container ship. This was done during a stop in Rotterdam. The unit needed to be overhauled and the operation had to be carried out within a very short window that would fit the schedule available to the vessel’s owner.The team mobilized to the ship’s location using a workboat loaded with all the needed equipment. These workboats are fully equipped as dive support stations with hydraulic cranes…
TFG Marine Names New CEO
Trafigura's marine fuels joint venture TFG Marine said on Wednesday that Anders Gronborg had been appointed as its chief executive to oversee expansion efforts.Gronborg…
Oil Storage at Sea Approaching Record Levels
Oil traders are storing as much as 80 million barrels of oil on tankers at sea, with further ships being sought as land storage sites fill up fast due to a global glut of stocks, shipping industry sources say.Traders rushed for storage after global oil demand collapsed by a third due to the coronavirus outbreak, and as top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia have refused to curb output so far, creating…
BIO SEA BWTS Approved by USCG and IMO
BIO-UV Group has received IMO & USCG type approval for its next generation low flow rate ballast water treatment system range.The BIO-SEA L Easy-to-Fit system had to undergo new type approval testing as it incorporates a completely new UV-reactor, designed to meet market demand from the luxury yacht, expedition cruise and offshore vessel segments, where ballast water pump flow rate capacities are often under 100m3/h.Benoît Gillmann…
ChartWorld Acquires Maritime Services
ChartWorld announced the acquisition of Maritime Services Ltd. in Vancouver as the latest addition to the maritime digital navigation group.Steven van de Schootbrugge, ChartWorld’s CEO, commented, “We have seen double-digit growth in the North American region in recent years due to our navigation solutions that cover everything from hardware as a service, SAAS, electronic charts, support and service.
US Shipyards Forge Ahead Through COVID-19
As the novel coronavirus and its impacts continue to spread across America, U.S. shipbuilders, by and large, continue to build. While most yards have been deemed essential to marine transportation and/or national security and have been able to maintain operations, the situation at and around every shipyard is different, and there are several builders across the country that have had to temporarily suspend activity.
Egypt's Suez Canal Shipping Unaffected by Coronavirus
Traffic in Egypt's Suez Canal has so far been unaffected by the spread of the coronavirus, the chief of its authority said on Wednesday, citing a 4.6% increase year-on-year in the number of ships passing through.The canal is the fastest shipping route between Europe and Asia and one of the Egyptian government's main sources of foreign currency.The container shipping industry, a bellwether for international trade…
Australia Cruise Ship Evictions Tread Diplomacy Tightrope
Australia is pushing foreign-flagged cruise ships to leave its territorial waters amid the coronavirus pandemic, walking a diplomatic tightrope as it also tries to bring home citizens trapped on ships abroad.Western Australia state Premier Mark McGowan on Wednesday called on the federal government to kick out the German-owned MV Artania after the crew was reported to have asked the Australian Border…
Crabber Vessel M/V Zenith Delivered
A new crabber vessel has been delivered to JSC Arcticservice and departed Tersan Shipyard in Turkey for its journey up to Kirkenes in Norway.The newbuild M/V Zenith will be used for catching, processing and freezing king crab and snow crab in the Barents Sea. The vessel has main dimensions of 62 x 15m (L x B) and will be operated by a crew of 38 persons, enabling a production capacity of up to 60 tons crabs/24h.
China's Ports Brace for Second Hit as Virus Spread Wipes Out Exports
China's ports and shipping firms are bracing for a second wave of supply chain disruptions that may be deeper and more prolonged than during the country's coronavirus lockdown as the global spread of the virus chokes off international demand.With Beijing reporting only sporadic domestic transmission of the coronavirus since March, workers have been allowed to return to posts, factories are restarting…
South African Ports Remain Open Despite Lockdown
South Africa's ports remain open to all types of cargo despite a nationwide 21-day lockdown though essential goods should be prioritized, the Department of Transport said in a notice."(The) government has now decided that in the interest of ensuring a functional supply chain across all ports, that all cargoes will be accepted for loading and off-loading," said the notice, which was dated March 31.That…
FMC Investigating COVID-19's Suply Chain Impacts
The Federal Maritime Commission issued an order authorizing Commissioner Rebecca Dye to identify operational solutions to cargo delivery system challenges related to Coronavirus-19.The Order notes that “Recent global events have only highlighted the economic urgency of responsive port and terminal operations to the effectiveness of the United States international freight delivery system. Given the Commission’s mandate to ensure an efficient and economic transportation system for ocean commerce…
Trump Urges Florida to Welcome Coronavirus-hit Cruise Ship
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Florida officials to open an Atlantic Coast port to a Dutch cruise ship stuck at sea with a deadly coronavirus outbreak onboard, urging the governor to drop his opposition.Weighing in on the fate of Holland America Line’s MS Zaandam during a White House briefing, Trump said he would call Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has declared the vessel unwelcome to prevent its sick passengers from being “dumped” on his state.“They’re dying on the ship…
Siem Offshore Gets Breathing Room
Norway-based offshore vessel owner Siem Offshore has received some breathing room after reaching an agreement with its banks.The company last week warned that the…
Solstad Offshore, Creditors Agree on Draft Restructuring Plan
Norway's offshore service vessels (OSVs) supplier Solstad Offshore and its creditors have agreed on a draft restructuring plan, which includes converting 10 billion crowns ($962.17 million) of debt into equity, the company said on Tuesday.The large majority of stakeholders, including secured lenders, leasing companies, industrial shareholders and key bondholders plan to sign a binding agreement by the end of April…
V.Group Names Traaholt CFO
Ship management and marine services company V.Group announced it has appointed Petter Traaholt as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the V.Group Board.Traaholt joined V.Group from Eltel Group where he was Group CFO, based in Stockholm. Prior to joining Eltel in 2017, he held a number of senior operations and finance roles in Wilhelmsen Holding ASA; initially combining roles as CFO and Deputy CEO of Wilhelmsen Maritime Service…
Navico Inks US Coast Guard Contract Through 2025
Navico announced it has signed a five-year agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to provide C-MAP cartography under the USCG’s Small Boat Product Line (SBPL). Navico was selected for a competitive award by the USCG for products that met all of their technical needs. Navico’s C-MAP will deliver cartography cards to 300 different stations across America, twice a year.The SBPL aligns all boat support…
'Sailors Do Not Need to Die,' Warns Captain of Coronavirus-hit US Aircraft Carrier
The captain of the U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, in a blunt letter, has called on Navy leadership for stronger measures to save the lives of his sailors and stop the spread of the coronavirus aboard the huge ship.The four-page letter, the contents of which were confirmed by U.S. officials to Reuters on Tuesday, described a bleak situation on board the nuclear-powered carrier as more and more sailors test positive for the virus.The Navy puts the ship’s complement at 5…
Oakland Dockworker Killed in Containership Fall
A longshore laborer at the Port of Oakland reportedly fell to his death from the deck of a containership at berth in the early hours on Tuesday.The International Longshore and Warehouse Union confirmed that the accident victim was one of its members. The port said the fatal accident was under investigation by local authorities.“This is a tragedy that strikes everyone very deeply,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll.
