New LNG Carrier Delivered to FLEX LNG
Shipping company FLEX LNG said it has taken delivery of its latest newbuild, Flex Amber, from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in South Korea.Flex Amber is a large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier with 174,000 cubic meters of cargo space. The Marshall Islands-flagged ship is equipped with a highly efficient dual fuel slow speed two stroke engine (X-DF).The 297-meter Flex Amber is the sister vessel of Flex Aurora delivered on July 29…
NAT Secures Financing for Suezmax Newbuilds
Nordic American Tankers (NAT) told investors on Friday that it has lined up full financing for two new tankers on order from South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries.
COVID-hit Bulk Carrier Leaves Australia
A Panama-flagged bulk carrier with a coronavirus outbreak on board has sailed from its anchorage off Port Hedland and is enroute to Manila, the Philippines.The clearance…
Baltic Index Posts Worst Week in Three Months
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index that tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities fell on Friday, registering its worst week in nearly three months, weighed down by weaker demand across vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was down 84 points, or 5.4%, at 1,477 points.The index, which fell for an eighth straight session, has lost more than 20% this week.The capesize index slipped 215 points,
Major Supply Contracts Awarded for Finland's New Warships
Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) revealed it has entered into three major supply contracts worth over €100 million ($117.4 million) in total for the main equipment of Pohjanmaa Class multi-purpose corvettes commissioned by the Finnish Defense Forces.The most crucial contracts for the supply of critical main equipment with long delivery times were signed during spring and summer in highly unusual circumstances…
Environmental Protection Notation for Saudi Aramco's Offshore Vessel Fleet
Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco plans to achieve the ABS ENVIRO notation for its 23-strong fleet of offshore support vessels, tugs, self-elevating units, and special purpose vessels.The notation identifies the level of compliance with international environmental protection requirements and integrates further ABS environmental protection requirements, ABS, one of the world's largest maritime classification companies said.The notation…
Offshore Wind Webinar: North American Opportunities and Challenges
Offshore wind has the potential to impact North America's entire offshore energy, maritime, ports and logistics value chain. An October 22 webinar presented by World Energy Reports, Ørsted and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) will deliver insights on the current progress, future pace and direction of development in the offshore wind market in North America.When: October 22, 2020, 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada)Register here.
Glencore to Send First Spot LNG Cargo to Zhoushan
Swiss-based global mining and commodities trader Glencore is set to send its first spot liquefied natural gas cargo to Zhoushan in eastern China in a trading joint venture with Zhejiang Energy Group, a top company trader said on Friday.Glencore's joint venture with Zhejiang, which is backed by the provincial government, dates from 2018, making it one of the few Western traders with such tie-ups in China…
Prelude FLNG Won't Restart in 2020
Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project off Australia, off line since early February, is working on restarting…
Scorpio Bulkers Sells Another Ultramax Amid Offshore Wind Pivot
Scorpio Bulkers said on Thursday it has sold another Ultramax bulk carrier, the sixth ship to leave its fleet since the Monoco-based shipowner announced plans to…
Stena Line Lengthening RoPax Pair
Sweden-headquartered ferry operator Stena Line on Thursday revealed plans to replace two vessels currently operating on its Nynäshamn-Ventspils route with the modernized and lengthened RoPax ferries Stena Lagan and Stena Mersey.Stena Line said the vessels switch will increase freight capacity by almost a third, and improve the onboard experience for travelers on the Baltic Sea route.Stena Line, which operates 18 ferry routes in Europe…
Reverse Osmosis and the New Dawn of Marine Desalination
Today’s desalination plants are rugged, durable and highly automated to meet the demands of operators and the crew, enabling them to meet schedule and mission with ample potable water production.In the days of old, marine distilling plants – then mostly steam – relied on archaic flash evaporators, which used steam to heat, power an air ejector, and ultimately create a vacuum whereby seawater would flash or boil and ultimately be distilled.
Bridge Heights Are Not Guesswork: Accuracy Is Imperative
“Your true pilot cares nothing about anything on earth but the river, and the pride in his occupation surpasses the pride of kings.” -Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi (1883).That statement made by the great chronicler and river pilot over 137 years ago is arguably as true today as it was then. But what has changed dramatically in the almost century and a half since then is the variety and complexity of the daily challenges that river pilots confront on our increasingly busy inland waterways.
Comprehensive Sanctions: Iran, Syria and North Korea
This article will focus on “comprehensive sanctions,” which prohibit most trade between the U.S. and the target country, with a particular focus on three countries currently targeted by comprehensive sanctions: Iran, Syria and North Korea. Similar jurisdictions which are subject to varying levels of comprehensive sanctions, including Cuba, the Crimea region (Russia/Ukraine) and Venezuela (which may…
MARAD Awards $220 Mln in Port Infrastructure Grants
More than $220 million in discretionary grant funding has been awarded to improve U.S. port facilities in 16 states and territories through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced Thursday.“This $220 million in federal grants will improve America’s ports with nearly half the projects are located in Opportunity Zones…
MarineTraffic Extends Partnership with ORBCOMM
Ship tracking and maritime information service MarineTraffic has extended its contract through the end of 2023 for ORBCOMM’s satellite Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.MarineTraffic…
NAPA Loading Computer Awarded DNV GL Type Approval
Maritime software, services, and data analysis provider NAPA said it has been awarded type approval by DNV GL for its latest loading computer, the NAPA Loading Computer Type 4 and Loading Computer System Damage Control, LCS(DC). The type approval, which is the first of its kind to be awarded by DNV GL, is significant in enabling further adoption of a new generation of loading computers, which assess damage in real time with increased accuracy…
IMO, IAPH Partner to Reduce Emissions from Ships and Ports
A new strategic partnership to strengthen cooperation between ships and ports to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been signed (on 13 October) by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the GreenVoyage2050 Project, which is executed by IMO.The partnership will result in collaboration to jointly deliver technical cooperation and capacity-building activities to support implementation…
Svitzer to Commence Operations in Emden, Germany
Towage operator Svitzer Europe announced it will start a new towage operation in Germany’s third-largest North Sea port from January 1, 2021. To fully service customers at the seaport of Emden, Svitzer will deploy two tugboats: the Svitzer Valand, a tractor tug with 45 tons bollard pull and part of the organization’s existing European fleet, and the newly purchased Svitzer Vestri, an azimuth stern drive tug with 60 tons bollard pull.
Scotline Marine Exercises Option for Fourth Newbuild at Royal Bodewes
Dutch shipbuilder Royal Bodewes announced that U.K.-based shipping company Scotline Marine Holdings Ltd has exercised its option for a fourth newbuild 4,800 DWAT Bodewes Trader, to be named Scot Isles and launched in the third quarter of 2021.A 90-meter sister ship Scot Ranger is currently being built at Royal Bodewes' yard in Hoogezand.Previous vessels in the series include Scot Explorer delivered…