HMM Intros Scrubber Installation Fund
South Korean shipping company Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a win-win fund for scrubber installation in preparation for IMO 2020 and to seek cooperation in the shipping-related industries.The total investment amount will be KRW 153.3 billion (USD 135.8 million) which consists of HMM’s investment of KRW 46 billion and the…
NCL Plans Crew Training facility in Manila
The third-largest cruise line in the world Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced plans for the development and construction of the Norwegian Cruise Line Center of Excellence, a new shipboard seafarer training facility near Manila in the Philippines.The Center, which will serve both new and existing crew and provide training for various service-related jobs, is due to open in late 2020, said a press…
Guyana Build-up Oil Spill Response Capacity
Guyana is the latest country to benefit from International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s continuing work to strengthen oil spill response capacity in the Wider Caribbean Region.According to the UN body, Guyanese officials from 28 different government agencies, environmental stakeholders, and local industry representatives took part in the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training…
Dynagas Vessel Employment Almost Full
Monaco-headquarters Dynagas LNG Partners said that it had estimated contracted time charter coverage for 98% of its fleet estimated available days for 2019, 100% of its fleet estimated Available Days for 2020 and 92% of its fleet estimated Available Days for 2021.As of March 21, 2019, the Partnership’s contracted revenue backlog estimate was $1.38 billion, with an average remaining contract term of 9.5 years, the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) maritime transportation company said.
MOSI Anti-Fouling Coatings for Barnacles and Zebra Mussels
Marine organisms such as barnacles and zebra mussels have been a long-standing nuisance to ship hulls, causing exterior damage, increased power and fuel consumption and environmental concerns. While anti-fouling coatings help to prevent biofouling, a new research study suggests that an innovative approach to marine coatings may solve the problem of barnacle and zebra mussel fouling, an approach stems from the MOSI (Marine Organism Sensory Interference) concept.
Anadarko Mulls 16 LNG Charters for Mozambique
Anadarko said on Thursday it would seek long-term charters for around 16 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers it would need to ship gas from a proposed project in Mozambique.The independent U.S. energy producer aims to take a final investment decision on the $20 billion project in the coming months, having signed up long-term buyers for its LNG.Anadarko said all the contracts signed so far, for over 9.5 million tonnes a year (mtpa) out of a capacity of 12.88 mtpa…
Ferry Capsizes in Mosul, 80 Feared Dead
At least 79 people died when an overloaded ferry carrying families on an outing sank in the Tigris river in Mosul in northern Iraq, medical sources told Reuters…
2019 Shipping Season to Open for Duluth
Last night’s arrival of United States Coast Guard Cutters Alder and Mackinaw signaled that the 2019 commercial shipping season is soon to commence for the Port of Duluth-Superior and the entire region.The Alder and Mackinaw made their way across Lake Superior from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, opening a 100-foot lane in the ice that will be widened soon by Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley in support…
Report: FBI Falls Short On Port Threat Assessment
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is not taking appropriate steps to review and assess potential maritime terrorism risks facing U.S. sea ports, the Justice Department's internal watchdog has found.The audit, released on Thursday by Inspector General Michael Horowitz, found that while top FBI officials believe the country faces a low maritime terrorism threat, that view is actually based on "incomplete and potentially inaccurate information."Moreover…
30 Migrants Missing as Boat Sinks off Libya
At least 30 migrants are believed to be missing after their boat sank off the western Libyan city of Sabratha this week, a coastguard spokesman said on Thursday.According…
First Ever ‘DP Digital Survey’
A team of industry partners say they have successfully tested a new solution for dynamic positioning (DP) system performance and redundancy audits – an industry first.Developed by Norway's Kongsberg Maritime in collaboration with offshore service provider BOURBON and DP experts at Bureau Veritas (BV), the ‘DP Digital Survey’ application runs on an industrial data management system that ensures unprecedented data consistency for the verification of installed systems, Kongsberg Maritime explained.
Ferry Sinks on Tigris River, 40 Dead
At least 40 people died when an overloaded ferry sank in the Tigris river near Mosul in Iraq, police and medical sources told Reuters on Thursday.Most of the casualties on the ferry were women and children who could not swim, said the head of Mosul's Civil Defence Authority, Husam Khalil.The rescue team is still retrieving survivors and has rescued 12 people so far, Khalil added. (Reuters reporting by Jamal Al-Badrani Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
Marine Coatings: Moving with the Tide
The maritime industry has always followed a path of gradual improvement, albeit with many opting to travel the route of least resistance. In some ways, this is a good thing. A cautious approach to navigating change brings stability, assurance and predictability. This measured attitude toward managing change has been fundamental to ensuring that the commercial shipping industry remains the most financially viable transportation solution for moving most goods around the world.
The Decommissioning, Marine Life Connection
Data sharing and better understanding of how marine life interacts with manmade structures is the target for the next phase of the Insite program.What to do with offshore structures is a sticky problem for oil companies, regulators and policy makers alike, as many structures are starting to cease production in the North Sea, where some fields have been producing oil and gas since the early 1970s.Regulations…
Wintershall: Expanding Offshore Brazil
BASF's oil and gas subsidiary Wintershall said it would build up its presence in the Brazilian offshore oil sector this year where it won exploration licences in…
OP/ED: Smoother Sailing
Consistent Regulations Critical to Maritime Commerce, American Prosperity.“The ease of moving people and cargo on America’s waterways is a competitive advantage and wellspring for economic prosperity and national security,” states the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook, released last fall by ADM Karl Schultz, Commandant. The owners and mariners of the vessels that ply our nation’s waterways…
Damen: Construction of Shortsea LNG Bunker Vessel Underway
Steel cut for first short-sea LNG bunker vessel for Eesti Gaas at Damen Yichang Shipyard, China.On March 18, 2019, a ceremony was held at Damen Yichang Shipyard, China, to mark the start of cutting steel for the first of a planned series of short-sea LNG Bunker vessels to be built for Eesti Gaas of Estonia. The 6,000m³ capacity vessel and its future sister-ships are intended to accelerate the wider…
First 'DP Digital Survey' Completed
Kongsberg Maritime, Bureau Veritas (BV) and Bourbon verify a new application that enables remote surveying of Dynamic Positioning systems on boardKongsberg, BV and Bourbon announced a first in the maritime industry: the successful testing of a new solution for DP (Dynamic Positioning) system performance and redundancy audits.The ‘DP Digital Survey’ application runs on an industrial data management system to help ensure data consistency for the verification of installed systems.
China Builds 30,000-tonne Nuclear-Powered Ship
China is working to develop a 33,069-ton nuclear icebreaker, which would be even bigger than the epic nuclear-powered vessels built by Russia.South China Morning Post reported that while the purpose of the ship has not been specified, the plan is to have a 152-metre long, 32-metre wide and with a displacement of 30,000 tonnes.China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) has invited bids for the contract…
Columbus Launches 80m Yacht Dragon
Italian yacht builder Columbus Yachts (part of Palumbo Superyachts) launched its current flagship Dragon - the new 80-meter Columbus Classic - in Ancona.Dragon is set to become the largest vessel ever built by Columbus Yachts, featuring impressive interior volume of over 2,100 GT spread over six decks.The vessel with exterior and naval architecture by Hydro Tec and interior by Francesco Guida Design…
