Congress, GAO Set Their Focus on Cargo Preference Fixes
On September 14, 2022, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I Committee), Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, held a hearing which indicated a potential revitalization, and new enforcement regime, of U.S.-flag requirements under the Cargo Preference Act of 1954 (the CPA). The hearing occurred on the heels of a Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report regarding the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) lack of COA enforcement…
Ethylene Carrier Completes Biofuel Trials
Japan's Marubeni Corporation announced it has conducted a trial voyage onboard one of its chartered ethylene carriers using a marine biofuel blend, from Vlissingen, the Netherlands to Morgan's Point, Texas, as the maritime industry continues to explore ways to decarbonize its operations."To the best of our knowledge, this is the first biofuel supply to an ethylene carrier in the world," the company said.
Vigor Launches MSV(L) Prototype for the US Army
U.S. shipbuilder Vigor launched the first in a series of modernized landing craft for the U.S. Army at its fabrication facility in Vancouver, Wash.The Maneuver Support Vessel (Light), or MSV(L), will replace the Landing Craft Mechanized-8, (LCM-8,) a Vietnam-era watercraft that is unable to transport some of today's equipment due to the weight of modern combat vehicles. Designed with increased payload capability…
Marine Travelift Delivers New Boat Lift to Stevens Towing
The recent delivery of a Marine Travelift 820CII (820 metric ton/1,804,000 lbs. capacity) Mobile Boat Hoist to the Stevens Towing Company, Inc. shipyard located on Yonges Island in South Carolina will transform marine services by alleviating overwhelmed dry dock schedules in the region.Founded in the late 1800s as Stevens Brothers with a single boat, Joseph Stanyarne Stevens and William Yates Stevens transported produce and supplies from Edisto Island to Charleston and many points in between.
Fincantieri Lines Up Greek Suppliers for Corvette Builds
Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri announced on Wednesday that it has signed a number of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a selection of potential new suppliers for the construction of four naval corvettes and the provision of Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) and In Service Support (ISS).The purpose of these MoUs, signed at the Italian Embassy in Athens, is to set the basis for defining possible business relationships for specific supplies…
Israel Fast-tracks Lebanese Maritime Deal but Lawmaker Review Looms
Top Israeli ministers on Wednesday endorsed a U.S.-brokered deal to delineate a maritime border with Lebanon, paving the way for a potentially fractious two-week parliamentary review before it goes into force.Prime Minister Yair Lapid's security cabinet said the deal should be "urgently" green-lit, according to a statement following the meeting.If finalized, the agreement - hailed on Tuesday by all…
Hurtigruten Expeditions to Install SpaceX’s Starlink Fleetwide
Hurtigruten Expeditions said it will be the first cruise line to implement SpaceX’s broadband service Starlink across its entire fleet.The expedition cruise line and its long-time connectivity partner Speedcast began testing and integration of Starlink terminals on board the operator's fleet of small-size expedition cruise ships in March. Installation will be complete by end of October, making Hurtigruten Expeditions the first cruise line to introduce the high-speed…
VIDEO: 'Historic Moment' as Seabed Nodules Collected and Lifted to Production Vessel Using 4 km Riser
The Metals Company (TMC) said Wednesday it had collected an initial batch of seafloor polymetallic nodules, and transported them up a 4km-long riser system to the surface in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.TMC, the explorer of what it says is the world’s largest estimated undeveloped source of critical battery metals, said the move was a historic one, representing the first integrated…
SCHOTTEL Gets Canadian Funding to Develop Quiet Propulsion
German propulsion company SCHOTTEL has been selected for funding within the Government of Canada's Quiet Vessel Initiative, which supports the development of new quiet vessel technologies, designs, and operational practices, leading to less underwater noise from vessels in Canadian waters.SCHOTTEL will assess the noise reduction achieved by the installation of a redesigned propulsion system by measuring underwater noise.
AAL Expands Its Heavy Lift Fleet
AAL Shipping has added further vessels to its owned multipurpose cargo vessel (MPV) fleet. This month saw the delivery of the 2010 AAL Gunsan (ex-BBC America) and her sister vessel, the 2009 AAL Geelong (ex-BBC Valparaiso) – the latter taken a few months ago. These are the last of four 25,800 deadweight (DWT) multipurpose heavy lift sister vessels (classified by AAL as G-class) secured through an acquisition transaction penned back in 2021 by AAL / Schoeller Holdings Group.During the summer…
Cadeler's Hybrid Offshore Wind Installation Vessel Booked until 2030
Danish offshore wind installation company Cadeler said Wednesday it had secured a contract with an undisclosed client for its recently ordered hybrid F-class vessel that will keep the vessel busy from 2027 to 2030. "If all options are called during the four-year agreement, the potential agreement value will exceed 330 million Euro," Cadeler said. In addition, this agreement provides Cadeler the possibility of bidding on the transport and installation (T&I) scope."Today…
“Welcome to a Dying Industry (1988)”
While pundits have long proclaimed the U.S. maritime industry dying or dead, the recent delivery of Great Lakes laker Mark W. Barker suggests an innovative future instead.Jacksonville Shipyard was a well-known repair yard that was particularly well known for servicing the Jones Act tanker fleet and Gino Ferrari was its New York representative. Each Christmas season Gino hosted a reception at the Four…
Danfoss Hybrid Drivetrains Selected for Hamburg's New Ferries
Danfoss Power Solutions said its Editron division has been chosen to provide drivetrain systems for three hybrid passenger ferries that will operate on the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany. German shipyard Schiffbau- u. Entwicklungsgesellschaft Tangermünde mbH (SET) will build the vessels for Hamburg transportation company HADAG, expanding its fleet to 29 ships.Hamburg’s passenger ferry service is integral to its public transportation offering.
Parker Towing Acquires General Marine Services
Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based barging company Parker Towing Company on Tuesday announced it has acquired Baton Rouge, La.-based tank barge operator General Marine Services (GMS).GMS operates a fleet of liquid tank barges and towboats and provides services to customers in the refining industry. For Parker Towing the acquisition expands its tank barge division and fits into its strategy to continue to diversify and grow from a traditionally dry cargo carrier, the company said.
FMD to Provide Engines for LPD 32
Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), has been awarded a purchase order by Huntington Ingalls Industries to build and deliver four main propulsion diesel engines featuring common rail technology to power the U.S. Navy’s newest Landing Platform/Dock (LPD) ship, LPD 32.According to FMD, its common rail system technology maximizes performance through enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.“For many decades…
First of Five New Patrol Boats Delivered to the Norwegian Police
Swedish builder Marell Boats recently delivered the first in a series of five new Marell M12 RIB patrol boats for the Norwegian Police.The multipurpose fast patrolling and interceptor vessels will be delivered through the first quarter 2023, entering operations at five different locations along the coastline in southern Norway.The medium-sized, aluminum-hulled patrol boats will be used for patrolling and assignments such as surveillance…
US Gulf Grain Exports Slowed by Low Mississippi River
U.S. crop exports at Louisiana Gulf Coast terminals were at their lowest level in nine years for the first week of October, a period when export shipments typically accelerate, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data issued on Tuesday.Low water on southern sections of the Mississippi River closed the major shipping waterway for days last week, halting the flow of grain barges from Midwest…
Fire Breaks Out on Containership in the Red Sea
A fire has broken out aboard a containership in the Red Sea, northwest of the Farasan Islands off Saudi Arabia. All 25 crewmembers on board have evacuated the burning ship and were rescued by a nearby vessel.The blaze erupted in container stacks immediately forward of the accommodation block at the stern of the Panama-registered TSS Pearl while the ship was en route to Aden, Yemen.The fire is reportedly still active…
Brown Named US Sales VP for Carboline
Coatings manufacturer Carboline announced it has named Rick Brown as Vice President of Sales USA, reporting to Darrin Andrews, Executive Vice President of Sales North America.Brown has been a member of the Carboline team since 2000, most recently serving as the Director of Sales Southeast Region USA. In his new role, Brown will oversee sales strategy and growth throughout the United States."Rick has been an invaluable member of the Carboline family for years," said Andrews.
Thrustmaster to Supply Propulsion for DARPA Uncrewed Vessel
Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. announce it is providing a customized thruster propulsion system to SERCO, Inc. in support of its recently awarded No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The advanced platform design has been developed by SERCO to meet the performance requirements established by DARPA to demonstrate true unmanned operations for extended time periods.Joe Bekker…
