The Shearer Group Promotes Two
Naval architecture and marine engineering firm The Shearer Group, Inc. (TSGI) announced it has promoted two members of its team.The Houston-headquartered designer of inland towboats, ferries, workboats, marine construction equipment and barges said on Friday it has promoted Joshua S. Sebastian, P.E. to the position of vice president – operations and Harrison C. Brann, P.E. to engineering manager.Sebastian, a 13-year veteran of the firm, has served as TSGI's engineering manager for eight years.
DP World to Build Dry Port in India's Jammu and Kashmir
Dubai ports giant DP World is set to build an inland port in Jammu and Kashmir as part of plans by the emirate to invest in the Indian territory, the head of the region said on Thursday.The Indian government last year said Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), would invest in infrastructure and other projects in the disputed region claimed by India and Pakistan but ruled in parts by both.Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha…
Gas Gap in Europe Drives US LNG Exports to Record High
Sky-high European demand drove U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to a record in December, Refinitiv data showed, with winter supply worries set to sustain orders for the fuel.About half of the record U.S. LNG volumes shipped last month went to Europe, up from 37% earlier in 2021, data from Refinitiv and the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed.The gains reflected soaring demand for the home heating and industrial fuel that pushed prices in Europe and Asia to record highs.
Baltic Dry Index Edges Lower
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index edged lower on Friday, as a decline in panamax and supramax vessel rates outweighed gains in the capesize segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, fell 7 points to 2,289.The index has risen more than 3% this week, after posting two straight week of losses.The capesize index rose 76 points, or 3.2%, to 2,432.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron
New Management at Aibel's Haugesund Yard
Norway;s Aibel has announced a pair of leadership appointments at its yard in Haugesund.The company said Friday that Lars Inge Hellestveit will take up the role of vice president of yard operations, joined by Hans Jørgen Alfsen as the yard's new fabrication manager. Both will enter the new roles with immediate effect.Hellestveit comes from the position as project manager for the upgrade of the Njord Bravo floating storage unit (FSU)…
Danish Frigate Releases Suspected Gulf of Guinea Pirates
The Danish navy has released three suspected Nigerian pirates who were picked up by a frigate in the Gulf of Guinea in November after it failed to find a country in the region to take them, the Danish Armed Forces said on Friday.The three, who had been detained aboard the frigate Esbern Snare, were put to sea on Thursday in a small dinghy with enough food and fuel for them to reach shore safely to shore."They have no relation to Denmark…
The Latest Supply Chain Snafu: Shortage of McDonalds French Fries in Japan
While the supply chain mess has left consumer globally wanting for everthing from cars to treadmills, the latest hit is arguably the worst: a shortage of McDonalds french fries in Japan's roughly 2900 branches!Japanese customers will have to settle for a small serving of McDonald's fries for the next month or so after the fast-food chain said it was limiting portions due to shipping problems.
China Steel Hopes Drives Iron Ore Demand
Dalian iron ore rose on Friday and advanced nearly 6% this week as traders returned from New Year holidays feeling optimistic about potential demand recovery in top steel producer China.Iron ore's most-active May contract on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange ended daytime trading 1.4% higher at 719 yuan ($112.78) a tonne, rising for a fourth straight session and touching 725.50 yuan earlier in the day, its highest since Oct.
Insights: How Indonesia, the World's Top Thermal Coal Exporter, Hit a Supply Crunch
Indonesia, the world's biggest thermal coal exporter, sent shockwaves through global energy markets this week by suspending exports of the fuel in January due to critically low coal supplies at domestic power plants.WHY DID INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES DECIDE TO ACT?Coal makes up around 60% of Indonesia's energy mix and its energy ministry said by the start of 2022 only 35,000 tonnes of coal had been delivered…
Opinion: Let's Get the Plastic Out of Our Lives (& Waterways)
A confession. I'm part of a very big problem that's easy to ignore. Last year, I contributed the U.S. average-per-person 300 pounds of plastic garbage to wherever it went after convenient curbside pickup. So out of sight, out of mind, right? Not really, but does it matter? Yes, it does.In a fascinating recent report, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine politely told us that…
Eni Extends BW Offshore's Abo FPSO
Italian oil company Eni has extended its contract for BW Offshore's Abo floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for another year.The FPSO's owner BW Offshore said Thursday it has signed the extension with Eni's subsidiary Nigerian Agip Exploration.Under the extension, the FPSO, used for production from the Abo field offshore Nigeria, will remain on the contract until the end of the fourth quarter of 2022, with options until the second quarter of 2023.
Nordic Shipholding Sells Its Final Three Tankers
Ailing Danish shipowner Nordic Shipholding is one step closer to closing its doors after announcing the sale of its final three tankers. The company revealed on…
Hurtigruten Cuts Short Antarctic Voyage After COVID Outbreak
Norwegian cruise and travel operator Hurtigruten Group will cut short a voyage in the Antarctica region following an outbreak of the coronavirus, the company said on Thursday.Ten people on board the MS Roald Amundsen cruise vessel had tested positive for COVID-19, and the ship will return to port in Chile two days ahead of schedule, said a spokesperson for Hurtigruten Expeditions, a subsidiary of Hurtigruten Group.The ship…
Fairbanks Morse Acquires Federal Equipment Company
Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) announced it has acquired Federal Equipment Company (FEC), expanding its product capabilities and service solutions for shipyard, defense, and industrial customers – with emphasis on its support for and offerings to the U.S. Nuclear Navy.The transaction includes FEC Military, a global leader in designing and manufacturing mission-critical components and systems for the U.S. Navy and U.S.
Bollinger Delivers Final Bahrain-bound Fast Response Cutter
Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC Clarence Sutphin to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Florida. This is the 170th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 47th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.The USCGC Clarence Sutphin is the final of six FRCs to be home-ported in Manama, Bahrain, which will replace the aging 110’ Island Class Patrol Boats…
Baltic Dry Index Inches Higher on Firm Capesize Demand
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index edged higher on Thursday, buoyed by an uptick in capesize and panamax vessel rates.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, gained 7 points to 2,296The capesize index rose 55 points, or 2.4%, to 2,356Average daily earnings for capesizes, which transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, rose by $451 to $19,535Iron ore futures rose on Thursday, on expectations of a recovery in Chinese dema
Coast Guard, NTSB Investigating Towboat Bridge Strike
The U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) marine casualty investigators are investigating a barge allision with the Bayou Ramos Bridge near Morgan City and Amelia, Louisiana, on Highway 182. On December 23, 2021, at approximately 3:26 a.m., a towing vessel pushing six barges was traveling southeast along the Avoca Island Cutoff waterway when one of the lead barges in the tow struck the Bayou Ramos Bridge.
Jan De Nul's Next-Gen Offshore Wind Installation Vessel Launched in China
Offshore installation firm Jan De Nul said Thursday that Les Alizés, its next-gen floating offshore installation vessel had been launched at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China.The vessel is now ready for the final construction phase, including sea trials, to be completed by H2 2022.Les Alizés will be the largest Heavy Lift Vessel in Jan De Nul’s fleet, able to install XXL offshore wind components, in floating conditions and with ultra-low emissions.The launch started on January 2…
Sembcorp Marine Delivers Vito Floater to Shell
Singapore's Sembcorp Marine said Thursday it had completed the construction of the Vito floating production facility, bound for deployment in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for Shell.The integration of Vito’s topside structure with its hull was executed by a pair of goliath cranes with 30,000-tonne combined lifting capacity and 100-meter hook height in Tuas Boulevard Yard in Singapore. "The yard’s ability…
BMS Orders Huisman Mega-crane for Offshore Wind Turbines
Denmark-based BMS Heavy Cranes has ordered a 3,000mt Ringer Crane, with an option for a second unit from the Dutch crane maker Huisman.According to Huisman, the crane setup has been optimized for operations in the wind industry. With the capability to lift components of 1,200mt at heights of up to 225m, and heavy structures of 3000mt at a reduced height, the crane will ready BMS for installation of the next generation of wind turbines on and offshore and on floating foundations…
