New Harbor Tugs Delivered to Eastland Group in New Zealand
Eastland Group has taken delivery of two new harbor tugs, Maki and Ika Nui, for operations in Tairāwhiti (Gisborne), New Zealand.The 21.4-meter-long, 273 GT newbuilds are RAmparts 2100-CL tugs designed by Canada's Robert Allan Ltd. and constructed at Cheoy Lee Shipyards in China. Each vessel has a 11-meter beam (molded), 4.4-meter depth (least molded) and maximum navigational draft of 4.5 meters.The…
Pipelayer Crewmember Medevaced in the Gulf of Mexico
An ailing crewmember was medevaced from a U.K.-registered pipe laying vessel 167 miles offshore Marsh Island, La., in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.The U.S. Coast Guard said its Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a call around 3 p.m. on Monday from the Seven Arctic of reporting a crewmember was suffering from appendicitis-like symptoms.Coast Guard District Eight watchstanders coordinated the launch…
ABS Report Examines Hydrogen and Carbon Value Chains
The potential for carbon markets and pricing to reshape global shipping, as well as the impact of the emerging hydrogen and carbon value chains, are explored in-depth in the latest support for the industry’s decarbonization ambitions from ABS.The groundbreaking analysis is at the heart of the fourth edition of the ABS Setting the Course to Low Carbon Shipping series, as well as insights on the industry’s…
KR and DSME to Collaborate on Digitalization
Korean Register (KR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), agreeing to work together on increased digitalization and the development smart and autonomous ship technology.The MOU was signed on May 18 and was attended by representatives from both companies, including the CEOs. KR and DSME will form a joint council and cooperate on smart and…
Posidonia 2022: DNV, Saronic Ferries Sign MoU for Electric Ferry Development
DNV and Saronic Ferries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) designed to enable the development of an electric ferry for local deployment in Greece. The collaboration is targeted toward a fully electric concept for deployment on short-sea passenger routes in the Argosaronikos area. The MoU was signed at the Posidonia 2022 trade fair."The use of all-electric or hybrid vessels in the short sea…
BOEM to Conduct Environmental Review of First Proposed Offshore Wind Project in Maryland
The U.S. Department of the Interior said Monday that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) would conduct an environmental review of the first proposed wind energy project offshore Maryland, in line with the country's goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030.The Department will this week publish a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by US Wind, LLC (US Wind).
Marine Insurance: Cargo Fires are a Burning Issue for Shipping
Commercial insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty released its Safety & Shipping Review, an annual analysis of shipping losses and accidents worldwide. The 2022 report reveals that the maritime sector continues its long-term positive safety trend over the past year with 54 total losses of vessels reported globally, compared with 65 a year earlier. This represents a 57% decline over 10 years (127 in 2012)…
Bangladesh: Deadly Container Depot Fire Under Control
Firefighters in Bangladesh brought a blaze at a container depot under control on Tuesday, three days after fiery explosions killed at least 43 people at a facility that a senior fire service official suspected had not followed safety guidelines.Drone footage showed smoke and rows of burnt-out containers from the fire that began late on Saturday, triggering blasts and blazes at Sitakunda, 40 km (25 miles) from the southeastern port city of Chittagong.
Vessel Incidents on the Rise, Inmarsat Report Finds
Tankers, fishing vessels and bulk carriers were the three highest sectors for sending distress signals between 2018-2021, Inmarsat's The Future of Maritime Safety Report 2022 reveals.Among the findings from the Inmarsat data was an abrupt spike in GMDSS calls in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, according to the report, is likely to have been caused by “issues with crew change, rapid turnaround in ports and fatigue on board”.Peter Broadhurst…
Berge Bulk, Kongsberg Maritime Ink MoU on Decarb Tech
Kongsberg Maritime (KM) and dry bulk owner Berge Bulk signed memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and advance the deployment of decarbonization technologies onboard dry bulk cargo vessels.Berge Bulk aims to be carbon-neutral by 2025, and to have a zero-carbon ocean-going dry bulk carrier by 2030. There are two elements of the joint development project. The first will be to evaluate and test emerging decarbonization technologies for use in the maritime sector.
Israel-Lebanon Sea Boundary Row Obstructs Energy Development
A dispute between Israel and Lebanon over their maritime boundary has obstructed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and risks exacerbating tensions between two foes.After months of deadlock in U.S.-mediated talks, Beirut on Sunday warned against any activity in the disputed area, responding to the arrival of a vessel to develop a field for Israel. Lebanon has said the field in question, Karish, is in disputed waters.
Strategic Marine's New Fast Crew Boat Can Carry 80 Passengers
Singapore's Strategic Marine has announced its latest offshore fast crew boat, a 38-meter extra fast crew transfer catamaran vessel (FCTV). "The new vessel has been designed in collaboration with One2Three naval architects in Sydney Australia, incorporating direct feedback from customers," Strategic Marine said.Greg Daniel, Technical Manager of Strategic Marine, said: “Our offshore customers are increasingly asking for faster transfers but still want to reduce their costs.
Esteban Guerra Named BND Commission Chairman
Brownsville Navigation District (BND) Commissioner Esteban Guerra was unanimously appointed to serve as chairman of the BND Board of Commissioners during the board’s regular meeting held Wednesday, May 18, 2022.Guerra serves as chairman alongside BND Vice Chairman Ralph Cowen and BND Secretary of the Board John Wood, also unanimously appointed to serve as part of the executive board. Commissioners John Reed and Sergio Tito Lopez round out the board as assistant secretaries.Wood…
LR Approves Neda Maritime’s Power Limitation Technology
The Shaft Power Limitation (ShaPoLi) system, engineered to help optimize tanker engine output ahead of impending EEXI (Energy Efficiency Existing ship) regulations, has gained approval from classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR).Developed by SELMA in conjunction with Tankers Technical Department of Neda Maritime Agency Co Ltd, the system will be fitted on board the Neda-operated 319,000 dwt very large crude carrier (VLCC) Aragona…
Port Houston Begins $1 Billion Ship Channel Expansion Project
A $1 billion project to expand the Houston Ship Channel kicked off with an official ceremony last week, leading the way for greater safely, efficiency and economic growth in one of America’s busiest waterways.Known locally as Project 11 because it is the eleventh major construction project of the waterway in its more than 100-year history, the Houston Ship Channel expansion will widen the channel by 170 feet along its Galveston Bay reach, from 530 feet to 700 feet.
IMTRA: Growth from Within
IMTRA, the New Bedford, Mass.-based manufacturer and importer of solutions and products for the marine, energy and transportation markets, recently underwent a change in ownership. But even under new owners, so much about the company, including its makeup and offering, will remain unchanged. And that’s because the new owners are the company’s existing employees.Eric Braitmayer, president and CEO, said IMTRA’s leadership—including vice president of recreational sales Chip Farnham…
Do California’s Proposed Harbor Craft Rules Threaten America’s Supply Chain?
Americans became aware of our nation’s supply chain problem when they witnessed a hundred cargo ships anchored off the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, stymied from moving cargo to store shelves throughout the United States. Such circumstances could become all too common, especially as recently adopted engine emission regulations force maritime companies out of the country’s most impacted ports…
Towboat Runs Aground in Florida
A towboat suffered a hull breach after running aground in the Okeechobee Waterway, near Clewiston, Fla.The captain of the 46-foot towing vessel Catherine notified U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders at approximately 8:30 p.m., Friday, stating the vessel and deck barge Mobro 130 ran aground, resulting in a breached hull and ruptured fuel tank. No injuries have been reported. While the towing vessel was initially reported to have approximately 2…
The ZouZou: MII to the Rescue?
A ship financier’s primary security is the mortgaged ship. If the ship becomes a total loss, the mortgage will provide no valuable security, leaving the financier to rely on its rights as assignee and loss payee (and occasionally as co-assured) under the shipowner’s marine insurance policies. However, the owner’s insurers may decline a claim, for example on grounds of breach of warranty or material non-disclosure…
Optimarin Maintains BWTS Deliveries Amid Supply Chain Challenges
Norwegian ballast water treatment systems manufacturer Optimarin said it has so far been able to overcome global supply chain challenges by leveraging a flexible delivery model for key components for its systems.While the world continues to deal with supply chain issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, the company has implemented a dual-supplier strategy that has enabled…
