Arctic Standards Development Moves Ahead
Improving and updating Arctic design standards for material, equipment, and offshore structures for the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. Seventy representatives from seven countries met for two days in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador in early October to further the creation of standards for resource development in the Arctic. The countries represented included Canada, UK, France, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, and Russian Federation.
Kirby Christens ATB in New Orleans
Inland and coastal giant christens ATB duo Jason E. Duttinger and Winna Wilson in an October New Orleans ceremony. The crew of the Jason E. Duttinger took a break from hauling coal between Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, and Florida on Oct. 30 as Kirby Corp. of Houston christened the articulated tug-and-barge unit in New Orleans at the dock of the Hilton Riverside Hotel. Both units were named in honor of two special individuals.
Blu Logistics Brings Rate Management In-House
CargoSphere, cloud-based global rate management solution and confidential Rate Mesh network for the ocean and air transportation and logistics industries, has announced the completion of Blu Logistics’ integration with CargoSphere’s freight rate management solution. Blu Logistics, a global logistics company offering sea and air freight services, customs brokerage, ground transportation, and warehousing, previously outsourced freight rate and contract management.
Vestdavit: Out Ahead on Innovation and Safety
New regulations for davits used in the Norwegian offshore industry will not come into force until 2015, but in the meantime, they are already raising the safety bar.
LNG – Who Cares?
You say you don’t work on an LNG ship? You should care nevertheless. Just ten years ago, LNG Import terminals were being built and/or contemplated throughout the United States. Then, it was widely expected that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports would account for a large percent of the energy consumption in the US. Fast forward 10 years and we find that industry has made a complete 180 degree turn around.
School Resources Introduce Shipping to Students
A new range of resources for schools to introduce children to shipping and the lives of seafarers has been launched. Written by teachers and produced by the seafarers’ charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS), in association with Ten Ten Theatre, the resources are aimed at KS2 and KS3 students. The downloadable resources include lesson plans and assemblies that are both easy to use and engaging for students. Powerpoints and teacher guidance notes are included.
Loan Options for the Marine Industry
As we launch into 2014, the domestic waterfront continues to fire on all pistons; boatbuilding, charter rates, utilization of tonnage, and so much more. That kind of momentum…
Fendercare Opens Middle East Office
Fendercare Marine Middle East announces opening of new regional head office in Sharjah to strategically support its ever growing clientele. Fendercare Marine Middle East announced the opening of their brand new, purpose built premises at Emirates Industrial City Sajaa, Plot No 146/16, PO Box 25896, Sharjah, UAE. Their new permanent premises will enable the company to offer an even wider range of products and services to both their existing and new clients.
North P&I and Sunderland Marine to Merge
The members of North of England P&I Association (North) and Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Company Limited (SMMI) have voted in favor of the clubs' recent proposals to merge. A target date of February 21, 2014 has been set for the merger, which will create one of the largest marine insurance operations. At their general meeting on 16 January 2014, North's members approved the terms of the merger framework agreement signed by the two north-east England based mutuals last month.
Rolls-Royce to Supply DP for New Farstad Vessels
Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with the shipyard group Vard for its latest DP3 dynamic positioning system to be installed on two new offshore construction vessels. DP systems with classification 3 are the most advanced defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and this is the first Rolls-Royce contract for DP3. Vessels constructed to DP3 standards are able to operate in very demanding situations where any loss of position has the potential to result in fatal accidents…
Gas2 Tests GTL Process Technology
Gas reforming company Gas2 said it has achieved a second milestone at its 3 bpd (barrels per day) Wilton Research Center pilot plant in Teesside, U.K. as it develops a new generation of natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) process technology which has the potential to deliver lower cost solutions for small scale plants. By successfully commissioning and starting-up the Fischer Tropsch (FT) reactor, using syngas produced in the syngas reactor, the company has produced hydrocarbon liquids.
European GPS Slated for 2014 Launch
Galileo, the EU satellite navigation program (the European GPS) and Copernicus, the EU Earth monitoring program, are in decisive phases this year. With the launch of six additional Galileo satellites…
International Ice Patrol Opens 2014 Season
The U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol (IIP) is scheduled to take over responsibility Wednesday for issuing daily iceberg warnings for the North Atlantic Ocean from the Canadian Ice Service under the North American Ice Service (NAIS) collaboration marking the beginning of the 2014 ice season. In early February, the IIP will deploy the first ice reconnaissance detachment to Newfoundland, Canada to meet with Canadian partners and to conduct the initial aerial patrols of the season.
Crowley Opens New Guatemala City Office
In an effort to better serve customers and business partners, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Guatemala-based liner and logistics teams have moved into a new office space in the heart of Guatemala City, the country’s bustling metropolis and most populous city in Central America. Modeled after Crowley’s Jacksonville, Fla., headquarters, the office’s open layout maximizes the workspace while promoting a collaborative environment and synergy between the two business units…
MOL Crew Rescues Mariners from Disabled Vessel
While steaming some 700km west of Guam on January 20, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. operated coal carrier C. S. Sunshine rescued all 24 Chinese crew members of a disabled freighter January 20. At 8:15 a.m. (local time) on January 20, the Panama-registered C.S. Sunshine, which departed Newcastle, Australia, bound for Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, Japan, received a distress signal from a Panama-flagged freighter that had lost power. The 46,700 MT, 228.4m C.S.
More Orders for B.Delta Bulk Carriers
Deltamarin announced that so far a total of 103 B.Deltas and derivates have been ordered by several world-known shipowners at nine Chinese shipyards. The latest addition is the order of eight open hatch B.Delta37 bulk carriers by Polish shipowner, Polska Zegluga Morska P.P. (Polsteam), at Yangfan Group shipyard. The main dimensions of Polsteam’s B.Delta37 are 179.99 m in overall length and 30.0 m in beam, with cargo carrying capacity of 50,000 m3.
Port of New Orleans on Reduced Operating Schedule
Cargo Operations Ongoing, Terminal Operators Adjust Schedules Due To Winter Weather. Non-Essential Employees Must Not Report To Work Jan. 29. Freezing temperatures and a wintry mix of precipitation forced adjustments to operations schedules at the Port of New Orleans yesterday and today (Jan. 29). While ship cargo operations were ongoing today at Port terminals, all gatehouse operations for truck transport were suspended due to bridge and interstate closures in south Louisiana.
ACP, Canal Infrastructure Stakeholders Continue Negotiations
Panama Canal, GUPC and Zurich American to Continue Talks on New Locks Project. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that a meeting took place on Tuesday, January 28th between ACP, Zurich American and Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPC) (formed by the companies Sacyr Vallehermoso, S.A (Spain), Impregilo, S.p.A. (Italy), Jan de Nul Group (Belgium) and Constructora Urbana, S.A. (CUSA) (Panama)).
Mantel to Head New BMT Operating Company
BMT Group Ltd (BMT), an international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has announced a new commercial operating company which will focus on the provision of high value, innovative vessel performance management and decision support solutions for the maritime industry. BMT SMART Ltd. will draw on years of experience and knowledge from around the BMT group of companies to help accelerate the delivery of BMT’s SmartServices business line…
Shell to Sell Interest in Brazilian Offshore Project
Shell has announced an agreement to sell a 23% interest in the Parque das Conchas (BC-10) project offshore Brazil to Qatar Petroleum International for approximately $1 billion, subject to closing . The transaction is subject to approval by the National Petroleum and Gas Agency (ANP, Brazil’s Oil and Gas regulator) and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE, Brazil’s anti-trust authority).
