Abu Dhabi Ports Company Accredited for VTS Training
Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), says it has recently been accredited by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to conduct IALA model courses for Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) operators at its dedicated training center, making it the first maritime educational institute in the Gulf Region to offer this NTA approved training. “Being accredited to teach IALA training courses is a further example of our best practices”, says Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting CEO, ADPC.
MSC Lirica-class Cruise Ships to be Up-Sized
MSC Cruises says that its multi-million euro 'renaissance programme' will involve all four of its Lirica class ships over the next two years in major upgrades, lengthening, at Fincantieri shipyards in Italy. The almost €200 million programme is due to be complete by 2015. The "renaissance" of MSC Armonia, MSC Lirica, MSC Sinfonia and MSC Opera, the owners say, will add exciting new entertainment options, technological advancements, extended shops and up to nearly 200 new cabins per ship.
BAE Systems Appoint Group Communications Director
Claire Divver has been appointed as BAE Group Communications Director. She will join the group early in the new year and will be a member of the BAE Systems Executive Committee, reporting to Chief Executive Ian King. Claire was formerly General Manager, Group Corporate Affairs for Xstrata plc where she was responsible for the global communications of the multinational diversified mining group. She joined Xstrata in 2004 and was also a Board member of Xstrata Nickel…
Conservation Groups Challenge Navy's Sonar Plans
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has approved the Navy’s 5-year plan to expand its sonar & live-fire training exercises in the Pacific ocean, but environmentalists are challenging the decision because of the threat it poses to marine life, reports Care2 in the following (excerpted) report. It’s been well established that marine mammals rely on hearing to navigate, communicate…
Wilson Sons Place OSRV Brazil Shipyard Contract
Wilson Sons Estaleiros Ltda, has contracted with Braizilian subsidiary shipyard Oceanpact for the construction of four Oil Spill Recovery Vessels (OSRVs), with recovered oil storage capacity of 1,050 m³, a length of 67 meters, and a beam of 14 meters. Wilson inform that for the construction of the four vessels, Oceanpact will pay approximately BRL 333 million (three hundred and thirty three million brazilian reais).
Jones Act Tankship Chartered at Record Daily $100,000
ExxonMobil Corp has agreed to renew its charter agreement for the 337,000-barrel 'Overseas Cascade' at an unprecedented $110,000 a day, nearly a 50 percent increase from its previous rate for the same ship this summer, reports Reuters, citing shipping sources. The century-old Jones Act, explains Reuters, requires all vessels operating between U.S. ports to be U.S.-built, U.S.-owned and U.S.-crewed in order to protect the U.S. commercial maritime industry.
Costa Cruise Ship Makes First Abu Dhabi Port Call
The cruise ship 'MV Costa Fortuna' was warmly welcomed on its intitial visit to Abu Dhabi, which it will follow with regular weekly calls until March 2014. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Acting CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) handed over a commemorative plaque to Captain Massimo Garabarnio to officially mark the ship’s maiden call to the city. Owners, Costa Cruises, say that the 'Costa Fortuna' carries 2,720 passengers and 1,027 crew.
Christmas 'Angel Tree' Gifts Donated by HII Employees
Employees from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division teamed up to provide holiday gifts for 145 children as part of the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. HII explains that the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program matches donors with children from qualified families unable to provide gifts and clothing for their children during the holidays. The Salvation Army provides a wish list for each angel. This year there were more than 1,500 angels to be adopted.
New President of APL Logistics Appointed
NOL Group has announced the appointment of Beat Simon as President of its wholly-owned subsidiary APL Logistics, a global third party logistics provider. He will assume the role on 1 March 2014, undertaking responsibility for the management and growth of APL Logistics. MOL Group explain that Mr. Simon is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of diverse international experience. He joins APL Logistics from Agility…
Navigator Declares Further Newbuilds
Navigator Holdings Ltd. today announced that it has exercised its last remaining option to construct a 22,000 cubic meter gas carrier at Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co Ltd.
LDD Awarded Liverpool 2 Terminal Work
Large Diameter Drilling (LDD), an Acteon company, has won a contract to supply drilling equipment and personnel for the delivery of foundation installation services at Liverpool 2, the new deepwater container terminal for the U.K. port. The contract is part of a major initiative to expand Liverpool’s dock area and to improve local infrastructure; the new terminal will more than double the number of containers handled in the North West of England.
Resolve Maritime Academy Opens Engine Room Simulator
Resolve Maritime Academy recently completed its installation of Transas engine room simulator platform, the ERS 5000 TechSim. As part of the Academy’s Simulation Training Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the engine room has booked classes for January 2014. The ERS 5000 TechSim has allowed Resolve Maritime Academy to expand its course offerings to engineers from all sectors of the maritime industry including the offshore, tanker and cruise sectors.
Intelsat to DoD: Multiyear Satcom Contracts Reduce Costs
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) directs the Department of Defense to move toward multiyear leases and hosted payloads to acquire commercial satellite capacity and services.
Newport News Shipbuilding Gives Back to Hampton Roads
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division lent support to the community by participating in three area charitable events. Shipbuilders donated nearly 20,000 school supplies to benefit an estimated 1,000 area students, contributed $2 million to the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, and recently delivered more than 20 metric tons of non-perishable food--five tons heavier than an anchor on the aircraft carrier Gerald R.
MARPOL Reception Facility Inadequacies
In recent months, the Coast Guard received complaints alleging that certain waterfront facilities within the Sector Houston-Galveston area of responsibility are…
Diamonds—and Shipping—in Antarctica
Kimberlite deposits, igneous rock formations often containing diamonds, have been discovered in Antarctica, according to a report by Nature Communications. And though no diamonds have been discovered…
USCG Seeks Comments on Overhead Clearance Accidents
The U.S. Coast Guard, in the Code of Federal Regulations, has called for public comment on a petition that requests the Coast Guard to initiate a rulemaking to address…
Indian Sailors Released from Togo
The Union Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan said Indian sailors, Capt. Sunil James and Shri Andi Vijayan, have been released from West African country Togo. The…
Six Rescued from Sunken Barge, Five Still Missing
Around 8 a.m. (Singapore time) on December 19, 2013, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that a life raft with people onboard had…
Fuel Removed from Sunken Fishing Vessel
The U.S. Coast Guard hired a contractor Thursday to remove the remaining fuel and hazardous substances that may be aboard the sunken commercial fishing vessel Lady Eva in Shem Creek…
