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Admiralty News

07 Jul 2023

Dumont Takes the Helm at Cal Maritime

Michael J. Dumont (Photo: California State University (CSU) Maritime Academy)

Michael J. Dumont started his tenure as interim president of California State University (CSU) Maritime Academy.Aside from service as a reserve military officer, Dumont was a senior executive in several agencies of the Federal government. Earlier in his career he was a litigation attorney with a private law firm representing aviation and maritime businesses, municipal governments, and institutions of higher education. He later served with the U.S. Department of Justice where he handled aviation and admiralty litigation before leading major white-collar criminal investigations.

27 Dec 2022

Head of Major Russian Shipyard Dies Suddenly, No Cause Given

(Photo: Admiralty Shipyards)

A major Russian shipyard that specializes in building non-nuclear submarines said its general director had died suddenly on Saturday after 11 years in the job, but gave no details.Admiralty Shipyards, based in the western port of St Petersburg, announced the death of Alexander Buzakov in a statement. He had been in the job since August 2012.His main achievement, it said, had been preserving and strengthening the shipyard's order books for modern non-nuclear submarines, surface…

13 Nov 2022

Responder Immunity

Copyright Björn Wylezich/AdobeStock

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA – also known as the Clean Water Act), as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), contains a responder immunity provision. That provision states, in pertinent part:(A)A person is not liable for removal costs or damages which result from actions taken or omitted to be taken in the course of rendering care, assistance, or advice consistent with the National Contingency Plan or as otherwise directed by the President relating…

26 Aug 2022

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. Now, some 19 months later,  the National Transportation Safety Board has released an investigation report which showed that poor bridge resource management and a charting error led to the bulk carrier striking the oil and gas production platform.The 24-person crew of the Ocean Princess was drifting overnight in the Gulf of Mexico before going to New Orleans to load a cargo of grain. The master planned to drift throughout the night with the engine on 15-minute standby, keeping clear of traffic and platforms, NTSB said.Area where the Ocean Princess contacted platform SP-83A, as indicated by a red X.

23 Aug 2022

Superyacht Linked to Sanctioned Russian Oligarch Auctioned in Gibraltar

A $75-million superyacht linked to a sanctioned Russian steel billionaire was auctioned on Tuesday in Gibraltar, court sources said, in what is understood to be the first sale of its kind since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.The Axioma was granted entry into Gibraltarian waters and then impounded by the authorities in March after U.S. bank JP Morgan said its alleged owner Dmitry Pumpyansky had reneged on the terms of a $20 million loan.The 72.5-metre vessel is being auctioned by the Gibraltar Admiralty Court. It was listed for one day, with closed bids to be sent electronically by midday on Tuesday, a court spokesman said.Nigel Hollyer…

17 Aug 2022

UKHO Appoints Marion Leslie as Non-Executive Chair

Marion Leslie (Photo: UKHO)

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) confirmed the appointment of Marion Leslie as Non-Executive Chair. Leslie will chair the UKHO Board in this independent position after a year as interim Non-Executive Chair and six years as a Non-Executive Director at the UKHO.The Board supports, challenges and validates the UKHO business strategy and oversees the organization's performance. Leslie leads the Board as Chair, acting in the interests of the Ministry of Defense and key stakeholders…

26 Jul 2022

UKHO to Stop Paper Chart Production in 2026

Copyright dvoevnore/AdobeStock

The death of the paper chart may finally be coming to fruition, as the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announced its intention to develop options for the withdrawal from global paper chart production by late 2026, as commerical and pleasure boating use of electronic charts continues full steam ahead, and theADMIRALTY Maritime Data Solutions digital navigation portfolio can be updatedin near real-time, greatly enhancing safety of life at sea (SOLAS). The phased withdrawal of paper…

31 May 2022

Canadian Navy Names Pair of New Patrol Ships

(Photo: Irving Shipbuilding)

The Royal Canadian Navy's second and third Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) were officially named at Halifax Shipyard on Sunday.Named HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays in honor of two Canadians who served in the navy in the Second World War, the vessels are among six AOPS being delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.“This is a proud day for our team of over 2,100 shipbuilders. These two ships are visible signs of the success of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.

26 May 2022

Eye on Design: What is Old Can Be Green Again

Photo courtesy Martin & Ottaway

The use of certain technologies is rarely a stand alone decision. The switch from sail to steam did not happen overnight and they actually coexisted for over a century, where, based on available technologies, in certain applications steam was more attractive and in other applications sail was more attractive.The eventual dominance of screw propellers over paddle wheels was not even driven by technological considerations, but rather by a tug of war between a paddlewheel propelled vessel and a screw propelled vessel.

25 Apr 2022

K&L Gates Adds Maritime Lawyer in Houston

© travelview / Adobe Stock

Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has added Felisa Sanchez as of counsel in the maritime and finance practices. She joins the firm’s Houston office from Foley & Lardner LLP.Sanchez focuses her practice on a wide variety of corporate, finance, and commercial matters for domestic and international clients in the financial services, maritime, transportation, and energy sectors. She has nearly 20 years of experience representing public and private companies in complex transactions, including maritime financings and restructurings…

22 Mar 2022

Russian Billionaire's Yacht Detained in Gibraltar

A luxurious super-yacht linked to the owner of Russia's largest steel pipe maker, who is currently under British and European Union sanctions, docked in Gibraltar on Monday and was then detained by the authorities.Western sanctions on Russian oligarchs over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine have triggered an exodus of luxury yachts from Europe in recent weeks, with several heading towards the Maldives, which has no extradition treaty with the United States.Reuters TV footage showed the "Axioma", believed to be owned by Dmitrievich Pumpyansky, owner of steel group TMK, moored at Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula…

21 Mar 2022

American P&I Club Announces Leadership Change

Joe Hughes and Dorothea Ioannou (Photo: American P&I Club)

After 27 years’ service as Chief Executive Officer of Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. (SCB), the Managers of the American P&I Club, Joe Hughes will stand down from that role on August 1, 2022. Dorothea Ioannou, currently Deputy Chief Operating Officer of SCB, will succeed Hughes as CEO from that date, making history as the first woman to ascend to the top executive position of an International Group P&I club in the 167 year history of the marine mutuals.At the same time, Vince Solarino will step down as Chief Operating Officer of SCB, Inc.

11 Mar 2022

What is the Insured’s Duty Under a Marine Insurance Policy? It Depends …

© Aerial Mike / Adobe Stock

The law governing marine insurance in the United States has long been a source of considerable confusion. And if there was once a clear set of principles applicable in such cases, the Supreme Court long ago muddied the waters with their infamous ruling in Wilburn Boat Co. v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 348 U.S. 310 (1955). That case, involving a fire on a houseboat on an inland man-made lake on the Texas-Oklahoma border, established the “litmus test” for when maritime law should…

28 Oct 2021

UKHO Launches ADMIRALTY Small Craft Charts Service

(Image: UKHO)

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has launched its ADMIRALTY Small Craft Charts service - formerly known as ADMIRALTY Leisure Chart Folios – to bring important safety, quality and flexibility benefits to all marine users who depend on these charts.The launch of this new service follows the announcement in May 2021 that UKHO will withdraw the regional folio structure for these charts. Instead users can purchase only those charts that are relevant to their needs without being required to purchase the full regional folio.Through this updated product…

24 Aug 2021

Legal Beat: Rule B Alter-Ego Vessel Seizures

© Muhammad/AdobeStock

Plaintiffs seeking to recover from ship managers or the vessels they operate but lacking a direct claim against a particular vessel have developed a clever strategy under U.S. maritime law. They seize a managed vessel under Supplemental Admiralty Rule B and claim the vessel-owning company is an alter ego of the defendant with whom the dispute really exists. In this way, plaintiffs can take advantage of the relatively low evidentiary bar to delve into protracted discovery to develop…

26 Jul 2021

Photo: Sembcorp Marine Delivers Offshore Facilities for TotalEnergies' Tyra Field

Credit: Sembcorp Marine

Singapore's offshore platform constructor Sembcorp Marine has completed the fabrication of two wellhead topsides, one riser topside, and two bridges for deployment at TotalEnergies’ Tyra field redevelopment in the Danish North Sea.The topsides and bridges sailed away from Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard Sunday. They will replace Tyra’s aging facilities to support further production. According to photos shared by Sembcorp Marine, the facilities are being shipped by the Bigroll Beaufort vessel…

06 May 2021

Impact of Dredging on Maritime Law

© Bill Chizek / Adobe Stock

In 1875, the General Moultrie was the first suction dredge built in the United States and was used in the Charleston River — until it sank within a year. During the same era, the city of Houston and other port towns formed companies like the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel Company to build special-purpose vessels to clear and connect waterways for commercial vessel traffic. Toward the end of the 19th century, the cutter suction dredge made its appearance and effectively dug and maintained water channels.

04 May 2021

UK Hydrographic Office Appoints Peter Sparkes as Chief Executive

Rear Admiral Peter Sparkes (Photo: UKHO)

The U.K. Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announced the appointment of Rear Admiral Peter Sparkes as the new chief executive and accounting officer. Sparkes will be leaving the Royal Navy to take up the role.As chief executive, Sparkes will continue to lead the organization’s important work in supporting safe, secure and thriving oceans. This includes the UKHO’s work in support of Defense and merchant shipping. Working in close collaboration with national and international partners…

16 Apr 2021

Bubble Tech Helps Methane Carrier Save 6.6% net on Fuel, Emissions

The Methane Patricia Camila. Image courtesy Silverstream Technologies/Shell

Retrofit of air lubrication technology achieves verified performance of 6.6% net savings during initial testing.Silverstream Technologies' air lubrication system, the Silverstream System, has reportedly delivered 6.6% fuel and emissions savings during testing on the Shell-chartered 170,000 cbm LNG carrier Methane Patricia Camila.The Silverstream System is designed to enable fuel and emissions efficiencies by producing a thin layer of microbubbles along the full flat bottom of the vessel, reducing frictional resistance between the water and the hull.

02 Feb 2021

Geollect Wins ADMIRALTY Maritime Insurance Innovation Challenge

© harlequin9 / Adobe Stock

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) announced geospatial intelligence technology provider Geollect as the winner of the second ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation Program challenge.Launched last year in collaboration with RE_SET, the program aims to help start-ups and innovators develop new solutions that support safe, secure and thriving oceans. The program’s second innovation challenge focused on ‘Transforming Maritime Risk & Insurance’, with entrants tasked with identifying, trialing and proving how marine geospatial data can be used to enhance maritime insurance products.For this challenge…

07 Oct 2020

LQ, Pipe Rack Modules Installed on Energean Power FPSO

LQ Lifted - Credit: Energean Power FPSO

Living quarters and eigh pipe rack modules have been lifted aboard the Energean Power FPSO hull as the construction of Energean's FPSO destined for the Mediterranean Sea progresses in Singapore.The FPSO hull, built in China is being outfitted with topside modules at Sembcorp’s Admiralty Yard, Singapore. Once completed the FPSO will sail away to Israel, where it will be used to develop the Karish offshore gas field.The LQ module lifted on the hull is 20 meters long, 40 meters wide and 26 meters high, weighs in at 1,727 tonnes, and has seven decks.

10 Sep 2020

Energean Power FPSO to Set Sail from Singapore in Summer of 2021, Energean Says

Credit: Energean

Oil and gas company Energean, working to develop its Karish field offshore Israel, expects that the FPSO being built for the eastern Mediterranean Sea project will set sail from Singapore in the summer of 2021. The London-listed company shared the info as part of its first-half results presentation on Thursday.The FPSO, called Energean Power, is currently in Singapore where the China-built hull is being fitted with topside modules. The first module was installed on August 24.Mathios Rigas…

10 Nov 2020

LNG to FSU Conversion Completed at Sembcorp

Synergy Group, one of the world’s leading ship managers, has successfully converted an LNG carrier into a Floating Storage Unit. Pictured: The FSU at Sembcorp Marine’s Admiralty Yard in Singapore. Photo: Synergy Group

Ship managers Synergy Group converted a 1992-built, 126,000 cubic meters capacity Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier into a Floating Storage Unit (FSU). The conversion was performed at Sembcorp Marine’s Admiralty Yard in Singapore.Synergy will manage, maintain and operate the FSU, which has a projected lifespan of 15 years. It will be deployed in Myanmar where it will be manned by a Synergy crew of 25 seafarers.The FSU will be moored permanently and used to receive and store…