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Central America News

07 Feb 2024

Container Market Growth Modest in 2023

Image courtesy of CTS

In 2023, the container market grew 0.2% year-on-year, ending at 173.8 million TEU. Compared to 2019, before the COVID pandemic hit, the market grew 1.5%.“Container market growth has lagged behind overall economic development significantly, as the world economy has grown 10% since 2019,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Highlighting the challenge for liner operators, the container fleet capacity in 2023 grew 21% vs 2019 and 8% vs 2022. The order book of new ships will add nearly 25% to the capacity during the next four and a half years.

02 Feb 2024

Seacor Sells Its Caribbean Liner Business

(File photo: SEACOR Island Lines)

SEACOR Holdings Inc. announced it has concluded the sale of its Caribbean liner and logistics business SEACOR Container Lines LLC (“SEACOR Island Lines”) to King Ocean Services Ltd. The transaction includes all operations and assets.King Ocean specializes in marine transportation and logistics solutions to close to 50 destinations across the Caribbean and South and Central America out of their Port Everglades facilities in Ft Lauderdale, Fla.“For 40 years, King Ocean, a multi-generational…

11 Jan 2024

Karpowership Orders 48 Dual-Fuel Engines

Source: MAN Energy Solutions

MAN Energy Solutions and Karpowership have signed a contract for the delivery of 48 dual-fuel engines for Karpowership’s fleet of power plant ships (Powerships). The engine order consists of MAN 18V51/60DF dual-fuel engines with a mechanical output of 20.7MW each.The engines will be split between a number of Powerships. In addition to the engines, MAN Energy Solutions will also supply the control systems for the Powerships as well as other electro-mechanical equipment.Karpowership has the world's largest fleet of Powerships.

20 Nov 2023

BRIX Marine Launches New Pilot Boat

(Photo: BRIX Marine)

Port Angeles, Wash. boatbuilder BRIX Marine has launched its newest pilot boat, Aldebaran, for a customer in Central America.The trailerable 11.3-meter-long rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) is powered by twin 300-horsepower Yamaha outboards with 3 bl 15.75" X 18" SS props.The boat's Naiad hull has a 23 degrees progressive deadrise,, 5086 alloy aluminum hull skins, D-shaped foam EV50 (approx.

24 Oct 2023

Crowley to Launch LNG Bunkering at Panama Canal's Pacific Side

(Photo: Crowley)

Shipping and energy logistics company Crowley said Tuesday it is proceeding with plans to provide liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering services on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, under the first permit issued by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) for the provision of such services.Crowley’s advanced energy group will operate the service to manage the ship-to-ship LNG transfer services. With a potential start date in 2024, Crowley is preparing to provide bunkering and related…

02 Oct 2023

Bosch Rexroth Appoints North and Central America CEO

Erwin Wieckowski courtesy of Bosch Rexroth

Bosch Rexroth has appointed Erwin Wieckowski, P.Eng. as the new President and CEO of Bosch Rexroth North and Central America based in Charlotte, NC, effective October 1, 2023.The role has been performed on an interim basis by Reinhard Schaefer in addition to his role as a member of the Divisional Board of Management with responsibility for Manufacturing. Schaefer will remain in the region to support the transition.“We are thrilled to have Erwin join our organization,” said Schaefer.

25 Aug 2023

Volvo Penta Expands Marine Services in Central America

(Image: Volvo Penta)

Volvo Penta announced it has entered into a new partnership with SVF Panama, part of the SVF Group, to support its customers with marine services in Panama and Costa Rica.In recent years, Volvo Penta has steadily expanded its service and support network, partnering with companies that specialize in marine operations to provide technical support, field service, maintenance operations and parts supply for its customer base across the marine leisure and commercial sectors.“SVF is an ideal partner for Volvo Penta…

21 Jul 2023

Meyer Werft Delivers Silver Nova to Silversea Cruises

Silver Nova (Photo: Meyer Werft)

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft announced it has delivered the new environmentally advanced cruise ship Silver Nova to Royal Caribbean's luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises."We are very pleased to once again deliver a ship that will set new standards on the way to climate-neutral cruising. With the propulsion system, a combination of LNG, fuel cell system and batteries, the ship has the best possible measures to reduce emissions," said Jan Meyer, managing director of Meyer Werft.A…

08 Jun 2023

America's Sea Services Building Large Fleet of Small Ships and Craft

U.S. Navy Sailors aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD-48), moor a landing craft, utility during amphibious operations, off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, in March 2023. (Photo: Christopher R. Lape / U.S. Marine Corps)

Not every vessel in the U.S. Navy is built for major combat operations on the high seas. There are large numbers of boats and service craft that provide essential services to the sea services, the nation and its partners.The U.S. Navy procures about 100 small boats per year. Some of these boats are based on commercial designs, procured to a Navy developed specification that tailors the requirements to the end user needs. They are procured and managed by two Naval Sea Systems Command program offices—PMS 300 and PMS 325.Compared to warships and auxiliaries…

13 Mar 2023

Seaboard Marine Adds First LNG Vessel to its Fleet

Seaboard Marine's newly acquired LNG dual fuel containership Seaboard Blue was bunkered with LNG at PortMiami. (Photo: Seaboard Marine)

U.S.-based Seaboard Marine announced it has acquired its first vessel fueled by cleaner burning liquefied natural gas (LNG).The 1,000 TEU Seaboard Blue, previously known as the Elbblue, was retrofitted in 2017 with the capability of running on both LNG and diesel fuel. The vessel was the world’s first containership converted from conventional diesel propulsion to LNG.The vessel, now part of Seaboard Marine’s North Central America service, called and bunkered at PortMiami on Monday…

19 Jan 2023

Interview: Tim M. Clerc, VP Engineering, Seacor Marine

SEACOR Demerara 9th hybrid in the program.
By permission of SEACOR Marine

Tim Clerc’s maritime career spans half a century, starting with his cadet training in 1969 in the U.K. He sees hybrid technology as one of the most transformational technological developments in maritime in that span, and the company is currently awaiting its 10th hybrid, the Seacor Yangtze. Clerc discusses the hybrid strategy and offers some practical insights.If you had to pick one technology that you think has made the business of running ships more efficient, more cost effective…

29 Dec 2022

Sanmar Delivers Four New Tugs

(Photo: Sanmar Shipyards)

Sanmar Shipyards delivered four tugs during the final week of 2022 rounding off a year that saw the Turkish tugboat-builder deliver a total of 30 tugs to operators across Europe, the Middle East, Australia, South and Central America and Asia, along with others to its domestic market in Türkiye.The last tug to be delivered in 2022 was YENICAY XVI to Türkiye based Marintug, where it was been renamed ADAKALE by its new owners. The RAscal 1800 Class of compact tugs have been developed exclusively for Sanmar by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd…

21 Nov 2022

At Least One Dead after Cuban Migrant Vessel Capsizing off Florida

©USCG/Twitter

The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday said it had recovered the body of one person after a vessel carrying Cuban migrants capsized off Florida's Little Torch Key, adding it rescued nine people and was searching for five others. Survivors told rescuers a total of 19 people were originally on the homemade vessel and that four people drowned immediately after it capsized, Coast Guard spokesperson Nicole Groll said. Rough seas and winds of 30 miles per hour made an already dangerous voyage more perilous, she said.

28 Oct 2022

NOAA Sued Over Whale Injuries from Drift Gillnets off California

© Enrique / Adobe Stock

Environmentalists on Thursday sued the agency overseeing U.S. fisheries, claiming it had failed to protect endangered humpback whales from entanglement in drift gillnets - sprawling curtains of nylon mesh - used in commercial fishing off California.The lawsuit accuses the National Marine Fisheries Service of violating the Endangered Species Act by allowing drift gillnets without safeguards and failing to take into account the harm posed to whales already at risk of extinction.The suit…

19 Sep 2022

Eastern Pacific Shipping Orders Four LNG Containerships for Crowley Charter

From L-R: Fredrik Gloersen, MD Newbuilding Clasrksons; Thoger Bering, Charterting Containerland Chartering; Shin Hyun-Dae, Chairman, President & CEO HHI Mipo; Tucker C. Gilliam, VP Marine Assets Crowley; Dean Sahr, Manager of New Constructions and LNG Engineering Crowley; Thomas Preben Hansen, Commercial Director Containerships EPS; Capt. Gardiner F. Nealon, Director Crowley; Dan Kwek Manager of Sales & Purchase EPS; Sei Heung Won, SEVP Production Management Department HHI Mipo (Photo: EPS)

Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) said it has secured a contract from U.S.-based Crowley for the charter of four dual fuel liquified natural gas (LNG) powered containership newbuilds.The 1,400-TEU vessels, which will be built by South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard for delivery in 2025, will be deployed on Crowley’s U.S.-Central America trade connecting U.S. markets to Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Each ship will feature 300 refrigerated unit plugs.Using LNG significantly lowers vessel greenhouse gas emissions…

12 Sep 2022

ZF Marine Hires Lewis as Head of NA Commercial-Fast Craft Product Line

George Lewis (Photo: ZF)

ZF Marine announced it has hired George Lewis as its new head of product line commercial-fast craft, North/Central America and the Caribbean, reporting to Wolfgang Schmid, ZF’s Industrial Division Head for North America.“ZF Marine welcomes George aboard and looks forward to the positive impact he will have upon the company’s sales across the Americas and Caribbean,” Schmid said. “With his deep industry knowledge and technical skill as a trained naval architect and proven sales leader…

16 Dec 2021

Crowley Awards Scholarships to Four USMMA Cadets

USMMA cadets Frank, Mathes, Poznanski, and Roberts. (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley recently honored four U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) cadets with Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships during the Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Awards on December 6 in Newark, N.J.Cadets Breanna Frank, Nathan Mathes, A.J. Poznanski and Erin Roberts were awarded the memorial scholarship based on their interest in pursuing a career at sea, as well as their service during their sea year aboard a Crowley-owned or -managed vessel.Midshipman First Class Breanna Frank, from Sidney, Mont., is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in maritime logistics and security.

23 Nov 2021

Two New Tugs Enter Service at Port of Acajutla

(Photo: SAAM Towage)

A pair of new new tugs at the Port of Acajutla will provide services for the first project to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to El Salvador, a joint initiative from Energía del Pacífico (EDP) and the U.S. group Invenergy.The SAAM Towage vessels SAAM Acaxual and SAAM Centzunat were christened as part of the festivities to celebrate the arrival of the first floating storage and regassification unit (FSRU), the BW Tatiana, at the city’s port. This is the first FSRU stationed…

09 Sep 2021

US Gulf Coast Grain Exports Slowly Resuming

© walkingarizona / Adobe Stock

Louisiana Gulf Coast grain exports are slowly ramping up after a nearly two-week halt due to damage from Hurricane Ida, with at least two large terminals loading vessels and power steadily being restored to others, government and shipping sources said on Thursday.More than 50 oceangoing vessels have lined up along the lower Mississippi River waiting to dock and be loaded with soybeans or grain, according to Refinitiv Eikon shipping data and industry vessel lineup summaries seen by Reuters.Restoring shipments from the busiest U.S.

02 Aug 2021

Two Texas A&M Students Earn Crowley Scholarships

Mavry Sepulvado (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley Maritime Corp. has awarded Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships to Mavry Sepulvado and Andrew Hubert of the Texas A&M University Maritime Academy. The recipients earned the scholarships based on their academic performance, cadet shipping experience and interest in pursuing a career at sea.Sepulvado, a senior from New Caney, Texas, is pursuing a degree in marine transportation. He is a first-generation college student and serves as treasurer for the Triathlon Club. Sepulvado served his sea term aboard the Crowley-managed tanker Golden State.

03 Jun 2021

US Corn Exports On the Rise -BIMCO

© sandycrea / Adobe Stock

Many agricultural trades have been exceptionally strong in 2021, and several grain types have experienced record high exports, says shipping industry organization BIMCO. U.S. corn exports are no exception, reaching a record high of 49.1 million tonnes between September 1 (when the marketing year started) and May 20. This is 77.6% higher than in the 2019/2020 marketing year which recorded exports of 27.7m tonnes and finished the season at 43.3m tonnes (September to end-May), a…

17 May 2021

Wind Power: 'Trade Wings' Containership Design Gets BV AIP

Bureau Veritas has granted an  Approval in Principle (AIP) for Trade Wings 2,500, a design for a 197 x 32 m, 2500-TEU container ship designed jointly by VPLP Design, Alwena Shipping, SDARI, and AYRO. Image courtesy BV

Bureau Veritas has granted approval in principle (AIP) for the Trade Wings 2,500 design, a wind- and LNG/electric-powered containership concept designed jointly by VPLP Design, Alwena Shipping, SDARI and AYRO.As the maritime industry moves toward designs and technologies that minimize emissions, the 197- by 32-meter, 2,500-TEU Trade Winds ship design combines six Oceanwings wind-assisted propulsion sails with liquefied natural gas (LNG)-electric propulsion with pods. The wing sails are installed on a vertical sliding mechanism to retract them partially while the vessel is in port…

03 May 2021

Two Great Lakes Maritime Academy Cadets Awarded Crowley Scholarships

From left: Tristan Barnett and Jackson Dagata (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley Maritime Corp. awarded Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships to Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA) cadets Tristan Barnett and Jackson Dagata for their achievements and interest in maritime careers.Named in honor of former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas B. Crowley Sr., the scholarship benefits promising maritime students. While earning their bachelor’s degrees at GLMA, both Barnett and Dagata also participated in Crowley’s cadet shipping program where…

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