Haun, Eric
Editor-
03 Jun 2021
Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Ferries Hit by Cyber Attack
The operator of a ferry service to and from Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole, Mass. said it was hit by a ransomware attack on Wednesday that continues to impact passenger bookings.The attack has prevented passengers from booking or changing reservations online or over the phone, local officials said, adding that credit card payment systems used to process ticket purchases and parking fees…
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28 May 2021
Containership Grounds in the Suez Canal
A Singaporean flagged containership has been refloated hours after running aground in the Suez Canal, a local agency said.The 366-meter, 13,100 TEU Maersk Emerald grounded around noon local time on Friday after reportedly suffering engine problems while traveling south through the north end of the canal. The vessel was fifth in the convoy.Unlike the March 2020 grounding incident involving the larger 400-meter…
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26 May 2021
Denmark to Send Frigate to Protect Shipping in the Gulf of Guinea
Danish Parliament on Tuesday approved plans to send a naval warship to boost maritime security in one of the world's top piracy hot spots. In the fall of 2021 the European country will deploy its frigate Esbern Snare to the Gulf of Guinea off Africa's west coast where it will contribute to international efforts to curb rampant piracy.As the world’s fifth largest marine nation Denmark said on average 30-40 Danish operated ships sail through the Gulf of Guinea daily…
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14 May 2021
Barge Operations Cleared to Resume on the Lower Mississippi
The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday lifted its marine traffic restrictions on a section of the lower Mississippi River that has been closed since Tuesday, clearing towboats and barges to resume operations on one of America's busiest and most vital trade arteries.All river traffic came to a halt near Memphis, Tenn. on Tuesday when a large crack was discovered on a structural beam supporting the Hernando DeSoto Bridge…
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14 May 2021
A Newbuild VLOC is the First Wind-powered Bulk Carrier
Brazilian miner Vale expects to soon put into service the first-ever bulk carrier propelled partially sails, the company said on Thursday.The rotor sail-equipped newbuild, a very large ore carrier (VLOC) named Sea Zhoushan, is being built in China for owner by Pan Ocean Ship Management and will be chartered by Vale upon delivery in the coming days. Not only is Sea Zhoushan the first bulk carrier to be fitted with rotor sails…
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13 May 2021
Barge Traffic Backs Up Near Memphis Amid Mississippi River Closure
More than 700 barges are delayed on the lower Mississippi River on Thursday after a structural crack in the Hernando de Soto Bridge prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to halt vessel traffic on a portion of the crucial trade artery.The Coast Guard restricted all vessel traffic between mile markers 736 and 737 on the Mississippi River near Memphis after the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) discovered…
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12 May 2021
Vessels Queue After Mississippi River Closed Near Memphis
Towing vessels and barges are lining up near Memphis, Tenn. after a significant structural crack discovered on the I-40 Hernando de Soto Bridge bridge led the U.S. Coast Guard to halt vessel traffic in the area.At least 16 vessels with a total of 229 barges are waiting to transit in either direction after vessel traffic was restricted between mile markers 736 and 737 on the Lower Mississippi River…
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05 May 2021
Salvage Crews Begin Lightering Fuel from Seacor Power
Salvors have started removing fuel from the tanks of a lift boat that capsized in the Gulf of Mexico last month, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The 234-foot Seacor Power could have been carrying up to 35,000 gallons of fuel, lube oil, hydraulic and waste oil when it overturned in rough weather on April 13, about eight miles south of Port Fourchon, La., according to the Coast Guard. No spills have been reported.Salvage…
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05 May 2021
Castor Buys Another Bulk Carrier
Castor Maritime announced it has acquired a 2013 Japanese-built Kamsarmax dry bulk carrier for $21 million, marking the Cyprus-based shipping company's 18th vessel acquisition of 2021.Castor did not name the seller, but said it expects to take delivery of the vessel within the second quarter or beginning of the third quarter of this year.The Nasdaq-listed company has been swiftly expanding its dry bulk fleet, having bought three bulk carriers in 2020 and another 10 so far in 2021.
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03 May 2021
Castor Maritime Buys Five Tankers
Cyprus-based shipping company Castor Maritime said it has reached a deal to acquire five tankers from an unaffiliated third-party for an aggregate purchase price of $49.25 million.The vessels, including two 2006 Korean-built MR1 tankers, two 2004 Korean-built Aframax/LR2 tankers and one 2002 Korean-built Aframax/LR2 tanker, are expected to be delivered to Castor in the second quarter of this year, the company said in a press release.
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27 Apr 2021
Responders Working to Salvage Capsized Lift Boat Seacor Power
The U.S. Coast Guard is working with the Seacor Power's owner to salvage the lift boat that capsized earlier this month in the Gulf of Mexico.A unified command including representatives from the Coast Guard and Houston-based Seacor Marine engaged in-person for the salvage and wreck removal, including the removal of fuel and oil from the overturned vessel, the Coast Guard said on Tuesday.The 234-foot Seacor Power capsized in heavy seas and winds approximately 8 miles south of Port Fourchon…
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20 Apr 2021
Video: RoPax Ferry Explodes in China
A ro-pax ferry exploded and caught fire while berthed at Weihai Port in Shandong, China.There were no passengers on board at the time of the blast, and no injuries have been reported.According to Chinese media, the 186-meter ferry Zhong Hua Fu Qiang had departed Weihai for Dalian on Monday night, but the vessel returned to port once smoke was observed coming from a truck on board. All passengers and…
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19 Apr 2021
US Coast Guard Ends Search for Missing Seacor Power Crew Members
The U.S. Coast Guard said on Monday it will call off its search at sunset for the remaining eight crew members missing from the lift boat Seacor Power, which capsized in the Gulf of Mexico last week.The Coast Guard said its vessel and air crews worked with local agencies and good Samaritans to scour more than 9,200 square nautical miles of sea over the course of 175 cumulative hours after the 234-foot…
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18 Apr 2021
Two More Deceased Crew Members Recovered from Seacor Power
Divers recovered two unresponsive crewmembers from the overturned lift boat Seacor Power on Friday, bringing the death count to four with nine still missing after the vessel capsized in extreme weather conditions in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.U.S. Coast Guard and other local responders have been scouring the area by sea and air since the 234-foot Seacor Power overturned in rough seas and hurricane force winds approximately 8 miles south of Port Fourchon, La.
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16 Apr 2021
Second Casualty Recovered from Capsized Lift Boat, 11 Still Missing
A second unresponsive person has been recovered from the water near a lift boat that capsized in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Friday.A Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted the person in the water at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday while searching the area about 8 miles south of Port Fourchon, La. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Benjamin Daily, also in the area searching, recovered the unresponsive…
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15 Apr 2021
Search Continues for 12 Missing from Capsized Lift Boat
The U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday it is still searching for 12 people missing from a lift boat that capsized in extreme weather conditions Tuesday in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.Coast Guard vessel and air crews have worked with other local agencies to scour the area overnight Wednesday and through the day Thursday in search of the dozen missing from the Seacor Power, which overturned in rough seas and hurricane force winds approximately 8 miles south of Port Fourchon, La.
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14 Apr 2021
Panama Canal Delays Fee Increases
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced Tuesday that it will postpone increasing canal transit fees following calls from the shipping industry to reconsider the rate hikes amid a spate of global supply chain disruptions.The higher rates for the canal's transit reservation system were scheduled to take effect on Thursday but will now start on June 1, allowing the maritime industry more time to prepare for the adjusted booking fees, ACP said.
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14 Apr 2021
Antarctic Supply Ship Returns to Australia After Engine Room Fire
Antarctic resupply ship MPV Everest berthed in Fremantle, Australia at 5:30 p.m. local time Tuesday, after it suffered an engine room fire earlier this month, the Australian Antarctic Division said.Australia’s chartered Antarctic resupply vessel MPV Everest was about 1,700 nautical miles south of Perth when the April 5 fire engulfed the vessel's port engine room and destroyed two inflatable rubber boats on the deck.
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12 Apr 2021
Golar LNG CEO Ross Resigns
Golar LNG said on Monday its chief executive officer Iain Ross has tendered his resignation, and the company will immediately start the process to recruit his successor.The liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping company said the contractual termination period is six months, though it can be prolonged or reduced upon mutual agreement.Ross joined Golar LNG as CEO in September 2017 after holding various leadership roles at WorleyParsons.
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14 Apr 2021
TT Line Circles Back to Rauma Shipyard for RoPax Pair
Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) said on Wednesday that it has secured an order from Australian shipping company TT Line Company to build two car and passenger ferries at the Rauma shipyard.The newbuild order comes after TT Line, also known as Spirit of Tasmania, withdrew from a previous memorandum of understanding (MOU) last July while the Tasmanian government-owned company investigated…
