American Constitution Completes Inaugural Cruise
American Cruise Lines has announced that its brand new 175-passenger cruise ship, American Constitution, completed its inaugural sailing on Chesapeake Bay.The cruise departed from Baltimore on April 18 for an 11-day, 10-night American Revolution itinerary. “American Constitution has been exceptionally well received and all the spring 2018 American Revolution cruises are already sold out,” a company official said.During the inaugural sailing last week…
Canada's PM: US Steel, Aluminum Tariffs a 'Very Bad Idea'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said any move by the United States to impose tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum would be a "very bad idea" guaranteed…
DP World Sets Its Sights on Hyperloop Cargo Shipping
Dubai-based port operator DP World has partnered with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Hyperloop One to create a new venture that aims to provide hyperloop-enabled cargo systems.DP World and the U.S.-based Virgin Hyperloop One introduced their vision for “the future of on-demand freight transportation” at an event on April 29 at the historic vessel Queen Elizabeth 2.The joint venture, called DP World Cargospeed, will set out to be the world’s first to ship cargo with hyperloop technology.
China Aims for Global Cruise Shipping Dominance
Last week in Tianjin, China, the Intercontinental Tianjinyujiapu Hotel & Residences played host to The 4th China Maritime Finance (DFTP) Summit, a two-day event which saw nearly 800 delegates from across China gather for discussions on all matters maritime finance, including day one, Wednesday, April 25, dedicated exclusively to the growth and future for China’s cruise industry. As the exclusive international media outside of China to cover the event…
Icebergs Could Float to the Rescue of Cape Town Water Crisis
Marine salvage experts are floating a plan to tug icebergs from Antarctica to South Africa's drought-hit Cape Town to help solve the region's worst water shortage in a century.Salvage master Nick Sloane told Reuters he was looking for government and private investors for a scheme to guide huge chunks of ice across the ocean, chop them into a slury and melt them down into millions of liters of drinking water."We want to show that if there is no other source to solve the water crisis…
ExxonMobil Launches MFMS for Marine Gas Oil in Singapore
ExxonMobil said it is launching its mass flow metering system (MFMS) for marine gas oil (MGO) in Singapore, with the first barge deliveries set to start in May 2018.The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has mandated that all distillates must be delivered via a MFMS from July 1, 2019. ExxonMobil worked closely with the MPA during a trial that was concluded in October 2017 and is now in a position to launch its MFMS for MGO deliveries ahead of the deadline.According to ExxonMobil…
Taiwan: The Next Battleground for Offshore Wind
Taiwan is becoming the next battleground for the world's top offshore wind developers as they seek a foothold in Asia for a technology that has been expanding fast in Europe.Taiwan announced results on Monday of its first major offshore wind farm auction that aims to add 3.8 gigawatts (GW) of capacity to its existing network of just 8 megawatts (MW).The island's offshore wind market is expected to expand to 5.5 GW by 2025…
OSM Developing High-tech Operations Center
Ship management firm OSM said it is in the final stages of completing a Singapore-based Maritime Operations Center that will help transform decision-making, efficiency and performance for its global customer base.The facility, developed in partnership with Singapore based analytics company Azendian Solutions, will initially allow OSM to connect all its data sources around the world. In the near future…
Canada, Australia to Monitor North Korean Ships
Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Saturday the country will send a military patrol aircraft to monitor North Korean vessels suspected of transferring prohibited goods in defiance of United Nations sanctions.Canada also plans to deploy patrol aircraft for such activities, and surveillance planes from both countries will be based in the U.S. military’s Kadena air base on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa…
Chevron to Idle Gorgon LNG Unit in May
Chevron will idle the second production unit at its Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in May to carry out modifications already implemented at the other two units…
Baltic Index Down For Third Straight Session
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Monday for a third straight session as rates for capesizes continued to decline.* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was down 20 points, or 1.5 percent, at 1,341 points.* The capesize index also fell a third consecutive session and lost 78 points, or 3.5 percent, at 2,173 points.* Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typi
Boaters Strike Decommissioned Oil Rig
The U.S. Coast Guard said it has medevaced five boaters who were injured after striking a decommissioned oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, Sunday.Coast Guard watchstanders in New Orleans received a mayday call on VHF-FM Channel 16 at 12:03 a.m. from a boater stating multiple persons on board had suffered injuries after their vessel struck a decommissioned offshore rig 23 nautical miles southeast of Venice…
Heavy Lift: Boka Vanguard to Ship 90,000-ton FPSO
Boskalis' mega lift ship Boka Vanguard -- the world's largest semi-submersible heavy lift vessel -- is preparing to load a truly enormous cargo: a 90,000-ton floating production…
U.S. Ethanol Makers Snap Up Cheap Sorghum after China Tariffs
U.S. ethanol makers have joined global livestock producers to snap up discounted American sorghum supplies after buyers in China backed out of deals due to stiff…
Prysmian Orders New Cable Laying Vessel
Vard Holdings Limited reported having been selected by Prysmian Group for the design and construction of one cable laying vessel. The contract value, including owner supplied special equipment…
SSY Pacific Capesize Index Rises Again
Shipbrokers Simpson, Spence and Young's Pacific Capesize Index reported a gain by 241 points in the week ending Monday to 4,915. "The SSY Pacific Capesize Index…
Viking Line: Using Wind Power to Cut Ship Emissions
As the commercial maritime community is collectively pressed by international and regional regulation to cut emissions, news today from Viking Line proves action as Viking Grace -- which is already fueled by LNG -- has become the first passenger ship in the world to use a rotor sail for wind-assisted propulsion. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations shipping arm, agreed in mid-April to cut carbon emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050 as compared to 2008 levels…
GAC Taiwan Wins DSLNG Contract
GAC Taiwan won an agency contract from Donggi Senoro Liquefied Natural Gas (DSLNG), Indonesia’s leading LNG provider, to handle its vessels’ calls and provide discharge…
MISC to Spend $4B Capex in 5 Years
MISC Bhd, the shipping arm of Petroliam Nasional Bhd or Petronas, which is optimistic of delivering better earnings in its financial year 2018, is setting aside…
Fluxys to Add a Permanent LNG Bunkering Facility in Antwerp
Fluxys has taken over the concession in the port of Antwerp at quay 526-528 to make liquefied natural gas (LNG) available as an alternative fuel for ships and barges…
