'Seaman Guard Ohio' Personnel Granted Bail by Indian Court
A court in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin city has granted bail to all 35 crew members arrested from the US-owned Sierra Leone-flagged private maritime security vessel 'Seaman Guard Ohio' detained since October 2013, reports the Business Standard (India). Citing the advocate acting for the crew members, Business Standard says that police had been due to file a charge sheet within 60 days of the arrests, but had failed to do so, and hence the court granted bail.
China's Biggest Shipbuilder Floats Billion HK$ Bourse Offering
China Rongsheng Heavy Industries to offer HK$1,000,000,000 worth of 7% convertible bonds due 2016. The estimated net proceeds from the issue of the Convertible Bonds, after deduction of commissions and expenses, would be approximately HK$992,500,000, which will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes and repayment of loans of the Group. The company explains that assuming full conversion of the Convertible Bonds at the initial Conversion Price of HK$1.05 per Share…
USS Carter Hall Drydocking Contract for GD NASSCO
In the latest listing of US Department of Defense, Navy contracts, General Dynamics, NASSCO, Norfolk, Va., (formerly Metro Machine Corp.) has been awarded a $171,961,941 undefinitized contract action as a modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-4416) for 'USS Carter Hall' fiscal 2014 extended dry-docking planned maintenance. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va., and is expected to be completed by April 2015.
All American Marine to Build Two Seattle Catamaran Ferries
The King County Ferry District, whose ferries link the communities that ring Lake Washington and Puget Sound, has contracted with Bellingham-based All American Marine to design and build two new 'water taxis' to replace its pair of 25 year-old leased vessels. The operators explain that the new vessels will each carry 250 passengers, 78 more than the vessels they will replace. That added capacity means more passengers will be able to use the water taxis during the busiest weekday commute periods.
EU to Lead International Counter Piracy Efforts in 2014
From the January 1, 2014 the European Union will assume for one year the chairmanship of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) with Maciej Popowski…
Uruguayan Citrus Cleared for U.S. Delivery
Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Miami-based subsidiary Customized Brokers recently cleared the first shipment of Uruguayan citrus to enter the U.S. in nearly 20 years, a major agricultural milestone made possible by the combined, dedicated efforts of the importer, USDA and Uruguayan Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. To mark the historic occasion, Customized Brokers’ John Donohue, trade development specialist, joined the importer, U.S.
Nigerian Navy SDB Hull Completed
The Nigerian Navy (NN) 38m Seaward Defense Boat (SDB) project is a bold attempt at self-reliance in local construction of naval platforms. Since the Presidential…
Search and Rescue of Ice-trapped Passenger Vessel Underway
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is coordinating a search and rescue for a Russian passenger ship beset by ice approximately 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart.
Two Car Carriers Pay $2.3 Million in Penalties
The Federal Maritime Commission announced compromise agreements reached with two common carriers operating pure car carriers (PCCs) and roll on/roll off (RO/RO) vessels in U.S.
Haitian Migrants Rescued from Capsized Freighter
Approximately 55 Haitians are being rescued by Coast Guard and Turks and Caicos rescue crews, 100 meters off the South Dock in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, Wednesday.
Today in U.S. Naval History: December 26
Today in U.S. 1862 - Four nuns who were volunteer nurses on board Red Rover were the first female nurses on a U.S. Navy hospital ship. 1943 - Seventh Amphibious…
K-Line Add Four to PCC Newbuild Orders
Japan's Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K Line) says it has ordered four additional new next- generation pure car carrier (PCC) vessels from Japan Marine United Corporationon, on top of its recent identical 4-vessel shipbuilding contract placed with Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co. In total, each company will be building four new "K" Line next generation car carriers, respectively, with delivery starting in 2015 and continuing through the first quarter of 2017.
Siemens Wins U.S. Inaugural Commercial Offshore Windfarm Project
Siemens and Cape Wind have signed a major contract for the construction of the United States' first utility-scale offshore wind farm situated off the Northeast coast, 20 kilometers offshore of Nantucket, at Horseshoe Shoal in the Nantucket Sound. Installation and commissioning is expected for 2016. Siemens says it will supply Cape Wind with its industry-leading 3.6-megawatt offshore wind turbines, an offshore Electric Service Platform (ESP) and a long-term service agreement.
China Shipyard Launches Hi-Speed Ferry for Damen
China's Afai Southern Shipyard says it has launched a 4010 high-speed catamaran ferry for the Damen Group of The Netherlands. The catamaran ferry has an aluminum structure with a length of 39.9m, beam of 10.7m, design draft of 1.72m, and design speed of 35 knots. Afai Southern shipyard says that the launch indicates it has achieved another construction milestone by building this international high-end ferry.
China Speeds Up Move to Mixed-Ownership Economy
China will promote a mixed-ownership economy by diversifying the shareholding structure of state-owned enterprises (SOE) reports the Chinese 'Shipping Gazette', citing the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. The Commission informed the nation it will speed up the transformation of SOEs, especially parent companies, into joint-stock firms. The pay system will also be reformed with a focus on using performance as the basis for compensation for SOE managers.
Russian Shipyards Deliver Tugboat, Short-Sea Bulk Carrier
The sixth short-sea multi-purpose bulk carrier for North-West Shipping Co., named 'Neva Leader' has been delivered by the Nevsky Shipyard, as part of a project by Marine Engineering Bureau-Design-SPb, JSC. The tugboat RB-401 was built by Pella Shipyard for port operations in Kalingra, and to support the Russian Baltic Sea Fleet. The shipbuilder explains that multi-purpose dry-cargo vessels of deadweight…
Greenpeace Arctic 30 Activist Remarks: 'An Extremely Odd Christmas Morning'
The final chapter in the legal ordeal of the Arctic 30 began as the group was asked to attend a meeting at Russia’s powerful Investigative Committee, where the criminal case against them is being dropped en masse. According to Greenpeace they will then have one more hurdle – securing exit visas in their passports – before the non-Russians are free to leave the country and be reunited with their families. A meeting with the Federal Migration Service is scheduled for later today.
Canadian Ice-class Ferry Second Order for Damen
This second order, placed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government, is for an identical vessel to one ordered from Damen a few weeks ago, but this ferry will be deployed between Bell Island and Portugal Cove-St. Philip's. Scheduled for delivery in February 2016, the 14-knot Ro-Ro ferry will be able to carry up to 200 passengers and 60 vehicles. According to the shipbuilders, the investment…
Emirates Navy Receives Third New Corvette
The United Arab Emirates Navy has taken delivery of the third Corvette (named 'Al Dhafra') in a series of six ordered from Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding Company, reports CanIndia. These warships, part of the largest construction programme in the Middle East, have multi-mission capabilities, including coastal patrol and surveillance, mine detection and avoidance, helicopter operations, as well as anti-air and anti-surface capabilities.
Australian Contract for an Armada of Dockwise Vessels
Dockwise, a subsidiary of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has been awarded a contract by Bechtel for shipping modules for the Chevron-operated LNG production Wheatstone Project in Western Australia. The contract value is estimated at approximately USD 275 million, making it the largest contract ever for Dockwise and work will commence in early 2014. The scope of work includes logistical…
