Chemical Manufacturing News

Advanced nuclear energy technology company Core Power is working on a concept for an offshore facility that combines advanced nuclear power with an offshore ammonia production facility, which would enable affordable production of green ammonia for shipping."The production of green ammonia is a key component of the decarbonization plans for international shipping. While the largest 17,000 ships are unlikely to find economic value in using hydrogen-derived green fuels, a very significant…

Vopak Moda Houston, LLC announced that its marine terminal in the Port of Houston is fully operational. Formed in 2016, Vopak Moda Houston is a joint venture between Royal Vopak and Moda Midstream. Located in Houston’s refining and petrochemical corridor and in close proximity to multiple ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen pipelines, Vopak Moda Houston is the first greenfield terminal development in the Port of Houston in more than a decade.Designed to handle very large gas carriers (VLGC)…

The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding trains shipbuilders and leaders to build some of the highest value maritime assets on the planet: U.S. Navy ships. Dr. Latitia McCane, Director of Education, The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding discusses the challenges and rewards of the job.While most shipbuilders lament the dearth of interest from the next generation to take up a career in shipbuilding, Dr. Latitia McCane, Director of Education, The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding has the opposite problem…

V.Group, a global marine support services provider, has announced that it has appointed Steve Holland as a non-executive director.Holland brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise garnered from over 30 years in chemical manufacturing and distribution. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Brenntag, the world’s largest chemicals and ingredients distributor, operating in 73 countries with 16,000 employees.Holland began his career in research and development. In 2007, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Brenntag European business and joined the Group’s management board.

The Global International Orginization for Standardization (ISO) Shipping Container Market is growing at a CAGR of 8.6% during 2017-2026, said a report.According to Stratistics MRC, growth of seaborne trade, growing demand for commodities and rising industrial expansion in China are the key driving factors for the market growth.However, factors such as the effect on the environment and fluctuating raw material prices are hindering the market growth, the market research report said.ISO container is any type of shipping container which is designed, manufactured, tested and certified to the standards of the International Standards Organisation in terms of size, strength and durability. They are made out of various grades of steel and built for freight transport.

Russia's JSC United Transport and Logistics Company (UTLC) jointly with KTZ-Express launched a new transport product for the delivery of non-hazardous chemical goods in tank containers from China to Europe as part of the regular container service U West (Dostyk-Brest). The first train, consisting of 82 twenty-foot tank containers, loaded with butylene glycol produced by XINJIANG MARKOR CHEMICAL INDUSTRY, departed from Korla Station (China). The cargo transited through the territories of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus and further through Poland through the territories of the EU countries to the terminal at the station Duisburg (Germany). UTLC provided a service on a track of 1520 mm at the section Dostyk - Brest.

Westlake, Louisiana - Mammoet, the world’s largest service provider specializing in engineered heavy lifting and transport, has been awarded an important contract by Sasol for its new ethane cracker and derivatives complex. Sasol’s new facilities, which will be built adjacent to its existing site near Westlake, Louisiana, are one of the largest projects on the Gulf Coast. The new ethane cracker will have an impressive annual production capacity of 1.5 million tons of ethylene feeding six chemical manufacturing plants. The facility is expected to be commissioned in 2018. The contract awarded to Mammoet comprises all of the heavy lift and transport engineering, receiving modules and oversized equipment from domestic and overseas yards, transporting the cargo to site and all major lift work.

Abu Dhabi Ports celebrated the groundbreaking of Schmidt ME Logistics’ new facility in Khalifa Port’s industrial, trade and logistics zone, Kizad. The ceremony officiated by Dr. Wolfgang Hoppmann, CEO of Schmidt ME Logistics along with senior representatives from both companies took place on May 27, 2015. Schmidt ME Logistics specializes in the packaging, product handling and intermodal transportation of dry bulk products in addition to providing services to include patent technologies exclusive to Schmidt Logistics.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that two U.S. Areas of Concern, Deer Lake in the Lake Superior basin and White Lake in the Lake Michigan basin, have been removed from the binational list of toxic hotspots that were targeted for cleanup in the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. After decades during which only one U.S. Area of Concern was delisted, federal agencies have accelerated cleanup actions during the past five years by using Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding.

At its Annual General Meeting in New Orleans last week, members of WISTA USA (Women’s International Shipping &Trading Association) were urged to support investment in infrastructure projects in order to maintain and grow the transportation of waterborne commerce in the United States. From U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) to Spencer Murphy of Canal Barge Company, Rick Calhoun of Cargill, Gary LaGrange of the Port of New Orleans, Joel Dupre of Southern Recycling and Colonel Richard Hansen of the U.S.

Principal Maritime Management LLC of Southport, Connecticut, a shipping company owned by affiliates of Apollo Global Management LLC, has formed a new platform in the stainless steel chemical shipping sector. Additionally, Princimar Chemical Carriers has acquired its initial three stainless steel chemical tankers, all of which were purchased from existing owners and are currently in service. Princimar Chemical Carriers is focused primarily on acquiring stainless steel chemical tankers which operate in the global specialty and commodity chemical shipping trades. Princimar has fully committed financing in place for additional acquisitions, and plans an initial fleet of 12 to 15 vessels.

Greenfield Manufacturing Inc., a Saratoga Springs chemical manufacturing company, has received New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) funding of $183,000 to help commercialize and deploy a high-tech hull coating that can improve boat engine efficiency by reducing friction. HullSpeed High Performance Coatings, a division of Greenfield, produces eco-friendly alternatives to current marine paints and coatings that can be environmentally harmful. Greenfield was established in 1998 as an industrial chemical manufacturing facility. The company matched NYSERDA’s investment. HullSpeed High Performance Coatings is currently involved in an EPA study in San Diego Harbor to determine the effectiveness of alternative, environmentally- friendly marine paints and coatings.

International certification, verification and ship classification company RINA is celebrating its ties with China on its 150th anniversary. It also took the opportunity to celebrate the ties between Italy and China on the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification. Formed in Genoa, Italy, in 1861 as a ship classification society, RINA is today a global multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural company with growing business in China and the surrounding region. Today in Shanghai RINA CEO Ugo Salerno and Vincenzo De Luca…

Wabtec Corporation (NYSE:WAB) introduced two new lines of brass ball valve products to serve a variety of industrial markets, including Oil and Gas, LP Gas and Chemical Manufacturing. For industrial markets, Wabtec now offers a robust valve that can withstand extreme temperature changes. The valve features a preloaded seat to extend valve life by keeping the ball seals pressed against the ball as the seals wear. These valves, which can also be refurbished with replacement kits, come in Full port, Conventional port, and UL Listed. They can be configured to fit custom applications. In addition, Wabtec offers an economy brass ball valve line to complement the premium line.

Despite a downgrading in rating from various credit agencies, Kirby Corporation's recent acquisition of Hollywood Marine is designed to reduce costs, as the inland tank barge operations of both companies are highly complementary. Kirby Corp, the largest U.S. tank barge operator, has agreed to buy Hollywood Marine Inc., an inland tank barge company based in Houston, for approximately $325 million. Kirby, also based in Houston, said the purchase price consists of $90 million in stock, $135 million in cash and the assumption or refinancing of about $100 million of Hollywood debt. "Hollywood's operations are complementary to our core inland tank barge operation and are an excellent fit within Kirby's strategy of growing our core businesses through synergistic acquisitions…

Kirby Corp, the largest U.S. tank barge operator, has agreed to buy Hollywood Marine Inc., an inland tank barge company based in Houston, for approximately $325 million. Kirby, also based in Houston, said the purchase price consists of $90 million in stock, $135 million in cash and the assumption or refinancing of about $100 million of Hollywood debt. "Hollywood's operations are complementary to our core inland tank barge operation and are an excellent fit within Kirby's strategy of growing our core businesses through synergistic acquisitions," Kirby CEO and President J.H. Pyne said. As part of the deal, Kirby said it would name C. Berdon Lawrence…