Direct Kiel-Duisburg Rail Link to Open
The Port of Kiel is getting an additional direct intermodal train service. From February 3, 2014, a complete block train will operate three times a week in both directions between the Port of Kiel and Duisburg. The trains are 490 meters long which means that 24 slots will be available per departure for loadable trailers or 48 slots for containers and swap-bodies. The train will be operated by Kombiverkehr KG, Frankfurt, which will serve both Kiel’s Schwedenkai Terminal and Ostuferhafen.
Astrium, Inmarsat Sign Distribution Agreement
Astrium and Inmarsat have reached a strategic distribution partnership agreement which will see Global Xpress services made available to Astrium Services’ large partner and customer base. Astrium Services will deliver Global Xpress high-speed broadband services through its worldwide distribution channels. The strategic agreement will cover key vertical markets, including the maritime as well as the government and defense sector, initially in Europe.
Optimized Voyage Planning in PC Maritime ECDIS
PC Maritime’s Navmaster ECDIS is able to combine with MeteoGroup’s SPOS weather routing service to provide optimized voyage planning. Navigating officers can create a route in Navmaster and load it into SPOS for optimization. Weather limits, speed profile, bunker profile, voyage speed, fixed ETA, track types and delays are all taken into account and, with this information, the route can be quickly adjusted. The route is then transferred back to Navmaster ECDIS and rechecked for safe navigation.
New Kongsberg DP Simulator DNV Class A Certified
The latest version of K-Sim DP, a Dynamic Positioning (DP) Maneuvering simulator from Kongsberg Maritime, has received Class A Certification from Det Norske Veritas (DNV). This makes it compliant with the highest DNV standard for DP simulators according to Standard of Certification of Maritime Simulators number 2.14 (January 2011). K-Sim DP Maneuvering is the most advanced in a long line of Dynamic Positioning simulators developed by Kongsberg Maritime.
Harvey Gulf Launches New Website
New Orleans based Harvey Gulf International Marine, has announced the launching of its completely remodeled corporate website: www.HARVEYGULF.com. The website has been updated to reflect the growth and presence of Harvey Gulf as one of the leaders in the U.S. oil and gas industry as well as being the leader in LNG powered offshore support vessels. Visitors to the website will be able to access detailed specification sheets for the fleet…
Maritime Safety: Two EU States on Paris MOU 'Grey List'
Certain European Union (EU) Member States are struggling to meet their commitment to ratify international maritime conventions, according to a recent European Commission report on compliance with flag state requirements. Despite good progress for many EU flag states, Bulgaria and Slovakia remain on the grey list of flag states in terms of the number of their ships detained, or the number of deficiencies detected on board, whilst being checked when in port.
SES Gain 40,000 Tons in Seaweed Deal
Seaweed Energy Solutions (SES) says it has reached an agreement to buy all of Norway's Biotrål AS in a deal that transforms SES' position as one of Europe's leading producers of seaweed. The combination of SES and Biotrål, a leading harvester of wild seaweed, opens up new business opportunities by immediately increasing volumes to supplement SES' growing seaweed farming operations, improving logistics, boosting economies of scale and reducing the seasonal impact on production.
Viking Supply Ships Open Canadian Office
Sweden's Viking Supply Ships (VSS) have opened an office in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. They say they have had several vessels working in Canada over the past few years and the opening of the Canadian office will strengthen their strategic position in the Canadian market. Mr. Gerard Dunphy, who has been in the Offshore Business for over 20 years in Atlantic Canada, the Canadian Arctic, Alaska, Greenland and the North Sea, has been employed as the Managing Director.
Greenpeace Arctic 30 Back Home for Christmas Soon
The Greenpeace activists who spent two months in jail after their protest in the Arctic have expressed relief after the Russian parliament voted to grant them amnesty. The Russian parliament, the Duma, has voted for an amendment that extends an amnesty decree to defendants who have been charged with hooliganism. It therefore includes the Arctic 30 - the 28 activists and two freelance journalists who were arrested following a protest at a Gazprom-operated Arctic oil platform three month ago.
BP's Commitment to GofM Confirmed: New Oil Discovered
BP says it has made a significant oil discovery at its Gila prospect (which it co-owns with ConocoPhillips) in the deepwater US Gulf of Mexico. This is BP’s third discovery in recent years in the emerging Paleogene trend in the Gulf of Mexico and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to the US offshore region. The Gila discovery was made by an exploration well on Keathley Canyon Block 93, about 300 miles southwest of New Orleans, in approximately 4,900 feet of water.
Middle East, Jordan, Navigation Simulator Upgraded by Transas
Transas Middle East say they have won a contract to re-equip and expand Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies (JAMS) with new maritime simulators. The project includes relocation of existing navigational simulator NTPRO 5000 and Transas GMDSS Simulator 4000 (TGS 4000) Classroom and installation of the latest generation of the Transas Full Mission Ship Simulator NTPRO 5000 with 240 degree visualisation and real ship controls.
Transocean's Latest Fleet Update Summary
Offshore contract drilling services provider Transocean Limited's monthly Fleet Update Summary includes new contracts, significant changes to existing contracts, and changes in estimated planned out-of-service time of 15 or more days since November 18, 2013. The total value of new contracts since the November 18, 2013 Fleet Update Summary is approximately US$292-million. Cajun Express - Awarded a six-well contract at a dayrate of $495,000 ($181 million estimated backlog).
GPS lll Satellite Build Contract Goes to Lockheed Martin
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin more than US$200-million in contract options to complete production of its fifth and sixth next-generation Global Positioning System satellites, known as GPS III . Lockheed Martin explain that the GPS III improves capability to meet the evolving demands of military, commercial and civilian users. GPS III satellites will deliver three times better accuracy…
Private Maritime Security Ship & Crew Still Detained in India
The Madurai bench of Madras high court has dismissed the bail plea of the 35-member crew of the US-based anti-piracy ship 'M V Seaman Guard Ohio', which has been detaind by Tamu Nadu police since the vessel was arrested in October 2013, reports 'The Times of India'. Captain Dudinik Valentyn and 34 others were booked under the 'Arms Act' and the 'Essential Commodities Act' and were also accused of illegal purchase of diesel from local agents.
Russian Shipyard Delivers Salvage/Rescue Vessel
The salvage vessel Spasatel Zaborschikov has been handed over by Nevsky Shipyard to the appropriate department of Russia's Transport Ministry after successful sea trials. The M/V Spasatel Zaborschikov (Rescuer Zaborschikov) is third in a series of multi-purpose 4MW salvage vessels of project MPSV07, under construction at the Nevsky dock. The series design was developed by Marine Engineering Bureau-Design-St. Petersburg, JSC.
LDD Gets Liverpool New Container Terminal Drilling Order
Large Diameter Drilling (LDD), an Acteon company, say they have won a contract to supply drilling equipment and personnel for the delivery of foundation installation services at the UK's new Liverpool 2 container terminal. 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.
Port of LA's TracPac RMG Cranes to be Integrated by Kalmar
Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has been awarded a contract for the integration of the controls for the new rail mounted gantry (RMG) cranes at the intermodal yard of TraPac Inc's terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. Kalmar explain that the RMGs will be supplied to TraPac by PACECO with the Kalmar Terminal Logistic System (TLS) ensuring they are integrated in the automated operations. TLS is part of the Kalmar SmartPort equipment automation portfolio.
Shipbuilders Grateful for Congress Budget Concensus
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) called the bipartisan budget agreement now passed by both houses of Congress an important first step and thanks Members of Congress for providing the much needed resources for the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry. “Passing this bipartisan agreement was crucial because of the pending losses of construction and repair jobs the Navy forecasted if full sequestration and a continuing resolution were to remain in effect in fiscal year 2014…
Water Mist in Large Machinery Spaces
Water mist systems are extensively used as fire protection of machinery spaces onboard passenger ships, and have almost taken over as fire extinguishing systems after IMO standardized such systems. Water mist systems are documented through full scale fire testing of the manufacturers' solutions. In practice it has been shown that in spaces with a ceiling height above approximately 10m it is necessary with more water mist nozzles to extinguish low seated fires.
Green World Products Offers Distribution Rights
Bids for distribution rights are currently being accepted for businesses selling directly to the industrial and environmental marine markets. Green World Products…
