Baltic Index Slips, but Posts Best Week in Almost 2 Months
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index marked its biggest weekly percentage gain in almost two months, although declining on Friday on a fall in capesize rates.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels carrying dry bulk commodities, shed 14 points, or about 1%, to 1,324.The main index gained 11.4% for the week, its biggest rise since Oct. 7.The capesize index .BACI was down 51 points, or about 3.3%, at 1,519.
French Grain Exports from Dunkirk Port at 10-year High
Nord Cereales, which runs France's third largest grain export silo at Dunkirk port, has shipped its biggest volume in over 10 years for the first five months of the season, it said on Friday, illustrating a fast pace of French exports. Between the start of this season on July 1 and the end of November, Nord Cereales exported more than 1.2 million tonnes of grain, it said. This is a turnaround after…
MMA Offshore Sells Batam Shipyard
Australian offshore vessel operator MMA Offshore has completed the sale of its shipyard in Batam, Indonesia.The planned sale was first announced back in May when MMA Offshore said it would sell its shipyard facility to Wasco Engineering Group."The final installment of the US$15 million purchase price has been received with the total proceeds from the sale to be used to make a voluntary prepayment of amortization on the company’s debt facility…
Valeura Energy Books Tanker for Gulf of Thailand Oil Field
Oil and gas company Valeura Energy has entered into a definitive agreement with PT Samudra Alam Transport to charter the MT Vula crude oil tanker to store oil produced from the Wassana oil field…
TotalEnergies Joins Ammonia-powered Tanker Project
France's TotalEnergies said it had joined a shipping project building test tankers which can be powered by ammonia, part of moves to speed up maritime industry decarbonization.Widely used in industrial applications, ammonia's suitability as a transport fuel has been limited because of the challenge of converting it into energy in a confined space. TotalEnergies is joining a subsidiary of Norwegian chemical company Yara International ASA…
EU Tentatively Agrees $60 Price Cap on Russian Seaborne Oil
European Union governments tentatively agreed on Thursday on a $60 a barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil - an idea of the Group of Seven (G7) nations - with an adjustment mechanism to keep the cap at 5% below the market price, according to diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.The agreement still needs approval from all EU governments in a written procedure by Friday. Poland, which had pushed for the cap to be as low as possible…
Injured Ferry Deckhand Medevaced Near Galveston
An injured deckhand was medevaced from a ferry near Galveston, Texas, on Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston command center watchstanders received notification at 2:42 p.m. relayed by Vessel Traffic Services Houston/Galveston personnel that a crew member aboard the John W. Johnson ferry had been struck in the face by the vessel's anchor chain after the ferry lost…
Scania to Power MSRC's Oil Response Vessels
Engine manufacturer Scania on Thursday announced it has been selected by Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) to power its new fleet of five 47-foot Skimmer oil response vessels, built by Rozema Boat Works. Powered by twin DI13 087M 700hp engines provided by Cascade Engine Center, the new vessels will be delivered in 2023.Formed in conjunction with the Marine Preservation Association in 1990 by oil and gas companies, MSRC is a not-for-profit organization with U.S.
Vigor Begins Work on USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53)
Vigor, a Titan company, has been awarded a $131 million U.S. Navy contract to complete a docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) on USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) at Harbor Island in Seattle. The ship arrived at Harbor Island on November 4, becoming the fourth U.S. Navy vessel currently undergoing maintenance at the Seattle shipyard.The DSRA will consist of underwater hull preservation, propulsion overhaul…
Corvus Containerized ESS Will Charge Crowley's eWolf Electric Tug
Corvus Energy on Thursday announced it will supply shoreside battery energy storage systems (ESS) for Crowley's eWolf, the first zero-emission, all-electric tugboat being built for operations in the U.S.The system will consist of two Corvus Orca BOBs—the containerized version of the Corvus Orca ESS—used for charging the vessel shoreside from when it enters service in San Diego’s harbor in 2023.Corvus Energy is also supplying the 6.2 MWh Corvus Orca ESS on board eWolf…
GTT Tank Design for 7 LNG Carriers Being Built by Samsung Heavy Industries
French engineering company GTT has received two orders from the Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries for the tank design of seven new liquefied natural gas carriers.GTT said that Samsung Heavy Industries was building the LNG carriers for "a European shipowner and an American shipowner."GTT will design the tanks of the seven vessels, which will each offer a capacity of 174,000 m3. The tanks will be fitted with the MarkIII Flex membrane containment system developed by GTT.
Shell Taps Alfa Laval to Develop Gas Combustion Unit for Liquid Hydrogen Carriers
Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alfa Laval regarding the development of a new Gas Combustion Unit (GCU) for use on liquid hydrogen carriers.By paving the way for the safe transport of hydrogen by sea, the project is an important step on the path to global decarbonization. Crucial safety for zero-carbon fuel Under the MOU,…
EnCap Backs Houston-based Firm to Build Jones Act WTIVs
Houston-based Bleutec Industries, a company which describes itself as the builder, owner, and operator of Jones Act-compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessels, said Thursday it had secured "a significant capital commitment" from EnCap Investments L.P.Bleutec said the support from EnCap would enable the company to develop its Jones Act wind tubine installation fleet "quickly."“Partnering with EnCap…
Goodchild Marine to Build New Pilot Boat for Portland Port
UK boat builder Goodchild Marine Services Limited said it is to build a new pilot boat for Portland Harbour Authority in Dorset. The Great Yarmouth based company will construct an ORC 121 for Portland Port; part of broader investment the port is making to enable larger cruise ships and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships to berth alongside. Scheduled to enter service in 2025, the vessel will be the third pilot boat of its class in the Southwest…
NOAA Hires Fugro to Monitor Shoreline Changes in Texas, Louisiana
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded Fugro two mapping projects on the US Gulf Coast to monitor and quantify shoreline change in this flood-prone region.The projects, located in Texas and Louisiana, are underway and were awarded under an existing indefinite delivery indefinite quality (IDIQ) contract to support the agency’s Coastal Mapping Program. Geo-data deliverables are scheduled for Q3 2023 and will be integrated into the national shoreline dataset…
Construction of Shell's Penguins FPSO Completed in China
The construction of the Penguins FPSO for Shell's namesake field in the UK North Sea has reportedly been completed in China.CGTN, the China Global Television Network website, on Thursday, shared a video of the completed Penguins FPSO, and said the 118-meter-tall cylindrical FPSO, constructed by the Chinese Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd. company in Qingdao, had been delivered to "a British client."In January 2018…
BMT Unveils New Crew Transfer Vessel Model
BMT has unveiled its new 32-meter hybrid propulsion crew transfer vessel design, citing industry demand for lower carbon emissions, capacity, and prolonged offshore operations."Crews and engineers’ safety and comfort are fundamental to BMT’s approach with this design. Spaces around the vessel have been carefully arranged to improve workflow. The wheelhouse has been designed to offer outstanding visibility to facilitate crew transfers.
AAM to Build Research Vessel for NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
Washington-baed shipbuilder All American Marine (AAM) has won a contract to build a research vessel for the NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS). GRNMS is located 19 miles off Sapelo Island, Georgia, and is one of 14 marine sanctuaries and monuments that make up the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System. AAM will build the research vessel at its Bellingham Bay facility. The vessel is a 52’…
Saudi Arabia Signs Deal with Navantia to Build Combat Ships
Saudi Arabia's defense ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Spanish state-owned Navantia company on Wednesday to build multi-mission combat ships for the Saudi Navy, the Saudi state news agency (SPA) reported early on Thursday."The MoU aims to raise the level of readiness of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces to enhance maritime security in the region, and protect the vital and strategic interests of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," it said.According to the agreement, the Spanish co
The Climate Upside to The Downturn in Container Shipping Rates
Global container shipping rates are a widely used gauge of overall consumer sentiment, with high and rising costs indicating strong demand for goods, gadgets, and clothes, while falling rates attest to slowing or falling buyer interest.As the main conduit for global trade in finished and intermediate goods - including an overwhelming majority of the parts and machinery needed to produce other merchandise…
