Athena News

Analysts and commentators are quick to point out that fossil fuels will power maritime equipment, and indeed dominate the fueling marketplace, well into the future. However, they will do so alongside new fuels, and new technologies, that will be introduced to the maritime sector in the coming years. In its September, 2023 report “Beyond the Horizon: View of the Emerging Energy Value Chains”, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) explains that, “During the recent 80th meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80)…

Prysmian Group has commissioned the inter-array cable system for the Fécamp offshore wind farm, located in the English Channel, offshore France.The Fécamp offshore wind farm is composed of 71 wind turbines with a total capacity of nearly 500MW.It will be able to generate clean electricity equivalent to the power needs of over 770,000 people.Prysmian had secured this project in 2020 with a contract awarded by EDF Renewables and its partners.Asso.subsea was contracted by Prysmian Group to execute the seabed preparation, installation and protection works for the cables.

FPSO leasing company BW Offshore has signed a short-term extension for its Abo FPSO.The extension was signed with Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd, a subsidiary of the Italian oil firm Eni, and runs until August 14, 2023.BW Offshore has been in talks to divest the FPSO, which is operating at the Abo field offshore Nigeria, and is seen as non-core to its FPSO fleet. This extension is the latest in a series of short-term extensions announced for the Abo FPSO recently.The ABO FPSO started producing in April 2003.

Crowley has entered into its fourth long-term charter for its newest Tier IV ship assist tug, Artemis, with Brusco Tug & Barge.The 77-foot tug will deliver 7,000 horsepower with a bollard pull of 96 tons using two Caterpillar Marine 3516 Tier IV-compliant engines, meeting U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emission standards. Artemis will also feature advanced technology to enhance maneuverability and provide operators with remote monitoring of its performance, making it highly…

When Hurricane Michael slammed the Florida Panhandle in October 2018, the deadly category 5 storm inflicted billions in damages to the region, tearing apart homes and businesses in its path. Among those severely impacted was Eastern Shipbuilding Group, which suffered a nearly direct hit at its Allanton shipyard, located about 15 miles east of the company’s headquarters and main yard in Panama City.Eastern, which had been scheduled to begin building the first of up to 11 Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC) for the U.S.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) commenced construction of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Rush (WMSM-918), the fourth hull of the Heritage Class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. The occasion was observed by leaders of the U.S. Coast Guard Project Resident Office at ESG’s Allanton Shipyard where the first steel plates were cut by ESG personnel in the builder’s 103,000-square-foot steel and aluminum processing facility.“The first four offshore patrol cutters are fully under production for the U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard on May 20 announced it modified its current contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) so installation of the Athena combat weapons system and multi-mode radar system will be completed during the production phase of the offshore patrol cutter (OPC). The Athena system, radar and armament of the OPC are provided to the Coast Guard as Navy type-Navy owned government furnished equipment.Prior to this modification, installation of both systems was to occur after contract delivery while each cutter was in its homeport.

Crowley has taken delivery of Athena, its fourth and most powerful Tier IV ship assist and harbor escort tugboat.The 77-foot Athena provides the agility of its compact size without the sacrifice of power – offering the most bollard pull for a tug under 80 feet in the market. The Robert Allan Ltd.-designed RApport 2500 D vessel operates on a pair of 3,386-horsepower Caterpillar Marine 3516 Tier IV-compliant engines, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions while achieving a power output of nearly 6,800 horsepower and 96 tons of bollard pull.

Algoma Central Corporation and Nova Marine announced their global short sea shipping joint venture NovaAlgoma has acquired five secondhand bulk carrier vessels, including three cement carriers from KGJ Cement in Northern Europe and two handy-size bulk carriers from Swire Bulk Holdings Pte. Ltd. of Singapore.“We carefully consider each opportunity for growth and these vessel purchases fit perfectly into our long-term plan for sustaining a profitable business alongside our partners at Nova Marine,“ said Gregg Ruhl, President and CEO of Algoma Central Corporation.

Nova Marina Carriers, the Lugano based shipping company (controlled by the Romeo and Bolfo/Gozzi families), confirmed the purchase of two new 39,000 dwt bulk carriers, presently owned by the Swire China Navigation group in Hong Kong. These new vessels are due to be delivered to the company shortly; the first in the next few days on the U.S., and the second In April in the Far East.These ships were built in 2013 and 2014 and will join the 80 vessels Nova Marine fleet, with seven other ships in the fleet holding similar characteristics, including EEXI engines. The new vessels will be renamed Sider Athena and the second Sider Evamaria.

Crowley’s ship assist and escort services group has agreed to charter its third Tier IV ship assist tug, Athena.Athena meets U.S. EPA Tier IV requirements for emissions control technology. The vessel will be equipped with remote monitoring for the improved efficiency of vessel operations and data exchange to further the company’s commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its fleet.“Athena will provide innovation and performance for customers in the Pacific Northwest,” said Paul Manzi, vice president, Crowley Shipping.

Melanie Olsen is harnessing 10 years of missile defense and electronic warfare systems expertise to drive rapid technological innovation in marine research and monitoring. Today, on International Women in Engineering Day, the AIMS Team Leader for Technology Development Engineering shares her unique journey.Growing up in a third-generation farming family near the small settlement of El Arish in north Queensland, Melanie Olsen thought engineers were train drivers.When a James Cook University engineering lecturer visited her small rural high school with a quad helicopter…

Marlink entered an agreement with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) to supply its satellite voice and data connectivity services for use on five adventure cruise ships in the O.A.T. fleet.Marlink will provide the O.A.T. Small Ships with a suite of solutions; equipment, bandwidth and operations to reliably meet and exceed guest voice and data requirements; uninterrupted voice and corporate connectivity to facilitate ship management tasks; and flexible connectivity services to…

Norwegean shipping company Grieg Star and investment management firm Maas Capital have established a joint venture for ownership of Supramax and Ultramax vessels.The new company is named GriegMaas AS, said the ship owner, manager and operator for over 40 open hatch and conventional bulk vessels.The joint venture was established in December 2018. The companies have each 50 percent ownership of the GriegMaas joint venture.The company aims to acquire high quality Supramax- and Ultramax bulkers. G2 Ocean will be responsible for the commercial management of the vessels, while Grieg Star will provide corporate- and ship management services to GriegMaas.As a first step, the two Grieg Star Supramax vessels, Star Athena and Star Eracle, was sold to GriegMaas early January 2019.

Scorpio Bulkers announced that it has received a commitment from Nordea AB (publ), acting through its New York branch, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) for a loan facility of up to $184.0 million.The loan facility will be used to finance up to 60% of the fair market value of six Ultramax dry bulk vessels (SBI Athena, SBI Thalia, SBI Zeus, SBI Hera, SBI Poseidon and SBI Apollo) and six Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels (SBI Conga, SBI Bolero, SBI Sousta, SBI Rock, SBI Reggae and SBI Mazurka).The loan facility, which is expected to close within the third quarter of 2018, will be comprised of a term loan up to $104.0 million and a revolver…

After a long break, CJSC Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company has restored its operation in foreign waters in 2014 by the respective order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and took series of effective measures in this regard. In the past four years, number of vessels sailing outside Caspian basin – in the Sea of Azov, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea increased by 13, out of which 11 are dry cargo vessels, while 2 are tankers. These vessels floating under our three-colors flag are operated by companies “Caspdry” and “Casptankers” established by the Caspian Shipping Company in Turkey. All these testify to the fact that CJSC Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company managed to strengthen its position in foreign waters to the great extent.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, continues to serve the busy Greek shipping industry from its new, larger premises at Akti Miaouli, which is in the heart of the Greek port of Piraeus. "We serve 1,500 Greek-owned vessels annually and handle over 4,000 customer requests for spare parts and services around the world," says Athena Kanellatou, Managing Director­ of MacGregor Greece. MacGregor has enjoyed a presence in the city for almost half of a century and mid February this year, after 20 years' in the same location, MacGregor moved its Piraeus office to be even closer to its customers. "We continuously want to develop our skills and services and aim to provide the fastest possible supply of spare parts…

A new lifeboat station has been opened on the Greek island of Chios – with the cooperation of International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) members – to help support the rescue of migrants in the Aegean. The Lifeboat station was made possible through a partnership between Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij (KNRM), the maritime search and rescue service from the Netherlands, and the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT), and with the support of the Maria Tsakos Foundation along with community leaders and local volunteers. At an event to celebrate the opening of the centre – which was completed in only three months – two lifeboat vessels donated by the KNRM, Athena and Arina to be deployed on the surrounding waters, were also christened.

The annual Surface Navy Association (SNA) West Coast Symposium was held on the waterfront at Naval Station San Diego on July 16, and provided attendees an update on some key operational and career developments important to the surface warfare community. Capt. Mark Johnson, president of the SNA San Diego Chapter, was the host and master of ceremonies for the symposium. Capt. Warren Buller, commander of LCS Squadron 1, provided a comprehensive update on the LCS program, to include a detailed summary of the status of mission package development.

The Coast Guard is responding to a fishing boat taking on water 130 miles east of Nantucket, Massachusetts, Saturday. At about 12:45 a.m., the fishing vessel Athena’s crew reported to Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England watchstanders in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, that the Miss Shauna, a 51-foot fishing boat with seven people aboard, was taking on water through a hole in the boat’s engine room. The Coast Guard established communications with the crew of the Miss Shauna, and they reported their pumps were keeping up with the flooding, but the rate of flooding was increasing. An HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft crew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, launched with pumps for the boat.

On 23rd January 2015, the Royal Mumbai Yacht Club saw around a hundred dignified members of the shipping fraternity gather for the second WISTA Annual Forum, an event that lived up to the industry’s expectations. The select crowd included long-term supporters of WISTA India and WISTA members, as well as members who flew down from Delhi, Chennai, Cochin and Bengaluru especially for this conference. The program commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp by key dignitaries – Hon Mr Deepak Shetty, the  DG of Shipping who was the chief guest of the evening, Mr Sanjay Bhaty, from Kandla Port trust, Mr.Umesh Grover, CEO of INSA and Ms Sanjam Sahi Gupta, the President of WISTA India and Board member of WISTA International.

Bibby Athena, the latest custom-build vessel from Osiris Projects, is due to arrive in the U.K. in the next few days.   Built by French shipbuilders Socarenam, the vessel was constructed to the same specifications as the company's Semi-SWATH catamaran, Bibby Tethra, launched in 2011.   Bibby Athena includes a number of subtle enhancements, including a full rate dual head RESON multi-beam system, larger moonpool and high capacity deck-crane.

DryShips Inc. an international provider of marine transportation services for drybulk and petroleum cargoes, and through its majority owned subsidiary, Ocean Rig UDW Inc., or Ocean Rig, of offshore deepwater drilling services, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014. and diluted loss per share. compared to $112.3 million for the second quarter of 2013. $1.3 billion on that date. Consequently, an amount of $75 million which was previously restricted under the $1.35 billion facility was released to Ocean Rig. The new Term Loan B facility is secured primarily by first priority mortgages on the drillships, Ocean Rig Mylos, Ocean Rig Skyros and Ocean Rig Athena, bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin, and matures on July 25, 2021.