Shipbuilder Austal USA Partners with USV Firm Saildrone
Shipbuilder Austal USA and has formed a strategic partnership with Saildrone, Inc to build cutting-edge, autonomous uncrewed surface vehicles.The partnership ensures that production of the autonomous and uncrewed Saildrone Surveyor will accelerate to meet the growing demand of the U.S. Navy and other government customers for the cutting-edge solution for maritime domain awareness, hydrographic survey, and other missions requiring persistent wide area coverage.
Hempel Taps Michael Hansen as Next CEO
Michael Hansen, Executive Vice President Energy & Infrastructure at Danish coatings manufacturer Hempel A/S, will succeed Lars Petersson as CEO of the company on October 15, 2022. Petersson leaves Hempel to take up the position of CEO of VELUX Group.Hansen joined Hempel in May 2017 as Chief Commercial Officer and has delivered remarkable results as a central driver of the global transformation in Hempel.
Zim Inks $1 Billion LNG Bunkering Deal with Shell
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. on Wednesday announced it has signed a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering deal valued at more than $1 billion with Shell NA LNG, LLC as the Israeli container shipping seeks to reduce emissions from its operations.Under the 10-year sales and purchase agreement, Shell will supply 10 LNG-fueled vessels that will be deployed on ZIM's flagship ZIM Container Service Pacific (ZCP), on the Asia to USEC trade.
Cuba Seeks More Electricity Supply from Turkish Powerships
Cuba, mired in an energy crisis that has brought frequent blackouts, is negotiating with a Turkish company to have it double the megawatts it currently produces for the country from shipboard generators just offshore, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.Cuban officials are in talks with Karpowership, one of the worldâs largest operators of floating power plants and part of the Turkey-based Karadeniz Holding, the sources said.
Kongsberg's Thrusters, Technology Suite for Olympic CSOV Duo
Norway's Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract with Norwegian vessel operator Olympic to outfit two new Construction Service Operation Vessels with a technology suite. The contract is worth around NOK 64 million (around $6,4 million).Two KONGSBERG US 205 PM L FP L-drive azimuth thrusters will be situated fore and aft in the TWIN X-STERN double-ended hybrid-powered vessels."The KONGSBERG US thrusterâŠ
KNOT Takes Delivery of Dual-Fuel Shuttle Tanker. Charter Secured with Eni
Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers (KNOT), an affiliate of NYK, has taken delivery of a dual-fuel LNG shuttle tanker built at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering yard in South Korea.
Maritime Data Usage Soars, Inmarsat Says
Data usage on commercial maritime vessels has jumped more than threefold since 2019, according to new communications analysis by maritime comms specialist Inmarsat.Inmarsat said the study results underline the shipping industryâs reliance on digital connectivity to enhance operating efficiency and safeguard crew welfare during a period of unprecedented disruption to seaborne trade.The internal study undertaken by InmarsatâŠ
Solstad Offshore Nabs New Contracts for CSV Quartet
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured four new contracts for its subsea construction vessels (CSV). The contracts have a combined firm vessel utilization of 410 days, with additional subsequent options, on projects in North Europe, West Africa, and Asia.The contracts have a combined value of approximately NOK 260 million (~around 26,5 million), including addition services, such as ROVs, âWalk to Workâ-systems, and project support.
This Decade's Oil Boom is Moving Offshore - Way Offshore
Global oil companies are pumping billions of dollars into offshore drilling, reversing a long decline in spending on the decades-long projects, including some in the remote iceberg waters far off Canada's Atlantic coast.Surging oil prices are encouraging the investments, along with Europe's mounting energy demand as the Ukraine-Russia war drags on. Offshore production sites are more expensive to build than onshore shale, the last decade's investment darling.
Norwegian's First Prima Class Cruise Ship Christened
Norwegian Prima, the lead vessel of Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) new Prima Class cruise ship series, has been christened in Reykjavík, Iceland.Built by Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri, the newbuild is 965 feet (294 meters) long and more than 143,535 tons with capacity for 3,100 guests at double occupancy.The ship features a three-level go-kart racetrack, waterslides, expansive pool decks and infinity style poolsâŠ
US Coast Guard Vessel Blocked from Bunkering in Solomon Islands
A United States Coast Guard vessel was unable to enter Solomon Islands for a routine port call because the Solomon Islands government did not respond to a request for it to refuel and provision, a U.S. official said.The islands' government did not immediately answer a Reuters request for comment. The Solomon Islands has had a tense relationship with the United States and its allies since striking aâŠ
Iran Caught Trying to Capture US Navy Sea Drone
The U.S. Navy said it thwarted an Iranian attempt to capture one if its unmanned surface vessels (USV) in the Arabian Gulf.While transiting international waters around 11 p.m. (local time), Aug. 29, U.S. 5th Fleet observed Iranâs Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) support ship Shahid Baziar towing a Saildrone Explorer USV in an attempt to detain it. U.S. Navy patrol coastal ship USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) was operating nearby and immediately responded. U.S.
Baltic Dry Index Extends Dip
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index fell for a fourth straight session on Tuesday as weakness in Chinese steel consumption took a toll on capesize demand, while rates for other vessel segments also retreated.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 65 points, or about 6%, to 1,017 points, a more than two-year low.The capesize index fell for the fourth consecutive sessionâŠ
SeeByte Selected to Develop Future Crewed-uncrewed Teaming Concept
SeeByte, developer of smart software solutions for uncrewed maritime systems, reports it been selected by the U.K. Ministry of Defenseâs Defense and Security Accelerator (DASA) to design and develop a proof-of-concept solution to improve communication and understanding between operators and uncrewed maritime systems.The new concept will include tailoring the volume and content of messages received and predicting vehiclesâ actions between communication updates, SeeByte said.
Greensea Opens San Diego Office
Marine robotics technology specialist Greensea Systems Inc. announced it has opened an office in San Diego to accommodate its growing workforce and support strengthening its presence in the region.The new locationâGreensea's third alongside existing offices in Richmond, Vt., and Plymouth, Mass.âprovides ample room to accommodate the local team, new hires, as well as a spacious production area, the company said.
Floating Production Market Is Booming
The market for floating production systems is booming, according to World Energy Reports' (WER) latest assessment of activity and developments in the offshore oil and gas market.âBusiness conditions and market sentiment in the deepwater sector have seldom been so positive,â said Jim McCaul, founder and principal analyst of WER.âMajor upstream operators continue to rake in record cash and spending on new upstream projects has been ramping up,â McCaul said.
Bulk Carrier Aground After Collision with LNG Carrier in Gibraltar
An LNG tanker and a bulk carrier have collided off Gibraltar, leaving the latter beached, authorities in the British overseas territory on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula said on Tuesday.The collision forced the closure of the port for four hours, but it has fully reopened, authorities said, while booms were being deployed around the beached vessel to prevent any potential fuel spill."TheâŠ
Egypt Introduces Measures to Help Clear Backed Up Ports
Egypt's finance ministry has put in place a package of measures to clear a backlog of goods piled up in port, a ministry statement said on Tuesday.A severe shortage of foreign currency in Egypt over the last six months has sent banks and importers scrambling to pay for the letters of credit needed to get their cargo released from customs. Factories and retailers complain that production and sales haveâŠ
New Bedford Port Authority Names Gordon Carr Executive Director
The New Bedford Port Authority (NBPA) has named Gordon Carr as the next Executive Director of the Massachusetts seaport.Carr, who current serves as Deputy Director of Real Estate Strategy and Policy at the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), has more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors in the areas of public policy, economic development, and enterprise strategy, including on projects related to the City.
Wabtec's Power Play
With shipowners pressed to upgrade machinery to meet strict new emission targets, thereâs much confusion with chatter surrounding âdecarbonizationâ and âfuture fuelsâ, solutions that donât exist today â and may not exist in mass for another generation â cluttering the conversation. Enter Wabtec, formerly GE Transportation, which today offers a Tier 4 compliant engine with no need for urea. Is it the cheapest propulsion solution on the market? No.
