ABS Launches 'First' Sustainability Guide for Offshore Industry
Maritime classification society The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) on Monday launched detailed requirements for greener offshore operations in what it said was the first sustainability guide to target the offshore industry."Developed by working with major offshore industry clients, ABS today launches a revised sustainability guide expanded with offshore asset compliance requirements.The updated…
Offshore Wind: Vestdavit Nets CSOV Davit Order
Vestdavit said Monday it had secured a contract to deliver its docking-head davit technology on a construction service operation vessel (CSOV) being built for Rem Offshore by Norwegian shipbuilding group VARD.The order for a PAP-15000 davit with painter boom has been secured with contractor Mare Safety for the first of two firm newbuild CSOVs that is due to be delivered in the first half of 2023 from…
US Warships Transit Taiwan Strait, First Since Pelosi Visit
Two U.S. Navy warships sailed through international waters in the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the first such operation since a visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged China which regards the island as its territory.The U.S. Navy, confirming a Reuters report, said cruisers Chancellorsville and Antietam were carrying out the ongoing operation. Such operations usually take eight to 12 hours to complete and are closely monitored by China's military.In recent years, U.S.
ClassNK Updates Guidelines for Direct Load Analysis & Strength Assessment
Classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Direct Load Analysis and Strength Assessment (Edition 2.0), which clarifies the requirements for more rational structural design reflecting the latest structural strength assessment methods based on R&D outcomes.ClassNK’s Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships and IACS CSR stipulate that hull strength assessment based on finite element analysis should be conducted…
Fire Breaks Out on Car Ferry off Swedish Coast
A fire has broken out on board a car ferry carrying 300 people off Sweden's coast, Swedish authorities said.The ferry is the 222-meter RoPax Stena Scandica, which…
Texas Firm to Pay $13 Million to Settle Charges Over California Oil Spill
A Texas oil company agreed to plead guilty to criminal negligence charges and pay nearly $13 million for a crude oil spill that killed wildlife and fouled southern California beaches…
Ukraine Allows Sailors to Leave Country in Likely Boost for Grain Shipments
Merchant sailors will be allowed to leave Ukraine if they receive approval from their local military administrative body, the Ukrainian prime minister said on Saturday, a move that could ease the process of shipping grain from the country's ports.Premier Denys Shmyhal said the decision had been approved by the cabinet on Saturday. The change would cover male crew members of sea and river vessels, as well as students who need to undertake practical training aboard ships…
Callan Marine Promotes Two VPs
Texas-based dredging and marine construction company Callan Marine announced the promotions of Chris Dearing to Vice President of Engineering and Production and Oliver Jones to Vice President.Dearing brings extensive experience in the development and management of production and field engineering programs at some of the leading dredging companies in the nation. He will continue to lead the development and training of Callan’s engineering personnel assigned to field-based and office-based roles.
Seafarers Supported Amid Felixstowe Port Strike
A Stella Maris chaplain is supporting crew onboard ships berthed at Felixstowe port amid the ongoing dockworkers strike.Julian Wong had gone on board the container vessel George Washington Bridge which arrived in Felixstowe on August 19 before the start of the strike, to meet the crew and left them his contact details in case they needed to get in touch.The ship was scheduled to leave the port on August 20, but its departure was delayed, so the crew had to stay on board.
Bulk Carrier Hit Offshore Platform Due to Charting Error, Poor Bridge Resource Management, NTSB Finds
On January 7, 2021, the dry bulk carrier Ocean Princess struck the uncrewed/out-of-service oil and gas production platform SP-83A while operating 24 miles south of Pilottown, Louisiana.
MOL Orders Six LNG-fueled Vessels
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced it has ordered six liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled vessels—four bulk carriers and two tankers—as the Japanese shipping company makes headway toward its goal of 90 LNG-fueled vessels by 2030.The company said on Friday signed a deal for construction of four 210,000 DWT-class Capesize bulkers with CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., marking MOL's first newbuild order from the Chinese shipyard.
New Wood Chip Carrier Will Collect Ocean Microplastics
A newly built wood chip carrier vessel recently delivered to Japanese shipping company NYK is equipped to collect ocean microplatics for researchers to study.The Stellar Harmony, built by Imabari's Iwagi Zosen Co., Ltd shipyard, was officially handed over on August 23. The vessel will transport wood chips mainly from New Zealand, Australia, North America and South America under a long-term contract between NYK and Marusumi Paper Co.…
Chinese Defense Firm Takes Over Lifting Venezuelan Oil for Debt Offset
China has entrusted a defense-focussed state firm to ship millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil despite U.S. sanctions, part of a deal to offset Caracas' billions of dollars of debt to Beijing, according to three sources and tanker tracking data. China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) stopped carrying Venezuelan oil in August 2019 after Washington tightened sanctions on the South American exporter. But it continued to find its way to China via traders who rebranded the fuel as Malaysian…
Record $1.6 Billion Meth Seizure Made at Port Botany
Australian authorities are reporting a record seizure of methylamphetamine after another metric ton of the illicit drug was discovered at Sydney's Port Botany.The development comes after detectives attached to the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad earlier this year commenced Strike Force Chellington to investigate the importation of illicit drugs into New South Wales.Acting on intelligence…
CMT to Take Over Barge Services at Yellow Creek State Inland Port
Cooper Marine and Timberlands (CMT) is set to take over as the exclusive barge fleeting and shifting service provider for Yellow Creek State Inland Port, located at the intersection of the Tennessee River and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, effective September 1.“Thanks to the leadership of federal, state and local officials, Yellow Creek Port is on a trajectory of exciting new growth,” said YCP Executive Director Robert Dexter.
Shipping Container Suppliers Abandon $987 Million Deal After US Probe
Global shipping container suppliers China International Marine Containers and Maersk Container Industry in a joint statement on Thursday said they have abandoned a merger plan, citing significant regulatory challenges.China International Marine Containers (CIMC) in September had agreed to buy the Danish shipping company AP Moeller - Maersk's refrigerated containers maker for $987.3 million.The U.S.
Port Canaveral to Add New Patrol and Pilot Boats
Port Canaveral will add a new security patrol vessel and a pilot boat after receiving federal grant funding for several projects to protect against terrorism and other security threats.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $472,500 in Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) funding to allow the Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) to purchase a new Security Rapid Response Boat. The vessel will be a 33-ft.
Svitzer Slowing Down to Slash Emissions
A.P. Moller-Maersk's towage operator arm Svitzer on Thursday said it will limit vessel speeds across its entire tug fleet after a speed reduction pilot program led to considerable emissions reductions.Svitzer's so-called Aim for 8 speed initiative—first trialed in the U.K. from late 2021—asks tug crews to navigate at a maximum speed of eight knots during mobilization and demobilization in an effort to reduce fuel burn and vessel emissions.
FSG, Oceanex to Develop Climate-neutral ConRo vessel
German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) and Canadian shipping company Oceanex are teaming up to design a climate-neutral and highly efficient ConRo (container RoRo) vessel.As part of a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), the partners aim to jointly to investigate the utilization of and technologies associated with alternative fuels such as ammonia, methanol, synthetic…
Baltic Dry Index Slides Sharply as Capesizes Hit Two-year Trough
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index registered its worst fall in three months on Thursday, weighed down by lower demand for coal and iron ore cargoes as steel output fell in China.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 90 points, or about 7.4%, to 1,123 points, a fresh low since Dec.