Coastal and Inland News

A cargo ship collided with a dock on the Parana River in Argentina's grains hub of Rosario on Wednesday, causing a slowdown of activity at terminal 6 in the port of General San Martín and raising soymeal prices."The southern pier of terminal 6 is operational, with difficulties on the barge docks due to the blockage caused by the ship that generated the accident," said Guillermo Wade, manager of Argentina's Chamber of Port and Maritime Activity."The north dock of terminal 6 suffered some serious damage. One operator working in the area suffered a minor blow, but nothing serious," Wade said.Argentina is the world's top exporter of soymeal livestock feed and the third biggest supplier of raw soybeans.The ship…

Singapore-based Keppel Corp said on Wednesday its offshore rig-building unit is on track to deliver in May what the shipbuilder said will be the first tugboat in southeast Asia that can run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). The vessel will be one of seven dual-fuel vessels the company is building, and will be able to run on LNG and diesel, a spokesman for Keppel said, without disclosing how much the ship cost to build. A second dual-fuel LNG tug is due to be delivered by June or July, he said.

London's Baltic Exchange is developing a container shipping index with Hong Kong-headquartered group Freightos in another sign that the centuries-old business is moving into new markets. Founded in 1744 as a forum for chartering vessels, the Baltic Exchange now produces benchmark indexes for global shipping rates, including ones used by the multi-billion dollar freight derivatives market. The Baltic and its partner on the initiative Freightos, a digital container platform which also has a global database of freight rates…

Bourbon Corporation CEO Gael Bodénès & his team plot a bold new course for this offshore industry stalwart.Your career with Bourbon has traversed many industry fluctuations. Looking back to when you joined the company, how is Bourbon today most the same, and most different?Bourbon has transformed from a small regional company to a world recognized leader in offshore marine services. It has seen its teams grow from a 3,000 to more than 8,000 employees of 88 nationalities, the fleet has grown to more than 500 units…

Traditionally, tugs and towboats (hereinafter tugs) have largely been uninspected vessels of the United States. They were subject to basic examinations by the U.S. Coast Guard, but the standards were little higher than those applicable to recreational craft. These tugs were also subject to examination by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The OSHA examinations were rare, but when they took place any violations found could be costly. After one of the OSHA penalty cases was litigated all the way to the U.S.

In 2015, Bouchard Transportation Co. appointed Brendan J. Bouchard (son of President & CEO, Morton S. Bouchard III) as the company’s VP of Sales & Operations, firmly establishing the fifth generation of the Bouchard family as being an integral part of the Company. Also that same year, BTC christened ATB unit M/V Kim M. Bouchard and B. No. 270 in New Orleans.The July 2018 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will feature a special “Bouchard Transportation Co. Celebrates 100 Years” magazine. For more information contact: Greg Trauthwein, trauthwein@marinelink.com, t. 516-810-7405. 

Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark said it has delivered two custom welded aluminum vessels to the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA).The new vessels, a 45-foot pilot boat and a 32-foot port security vessel, were designed by Metal Shark and built at the company’s Jeanerette, La. production facility. Both vessels were recently delivered to St. Thomas and transferred to VIPA and are now operating from the Edward Wilmoth Blyden IV Marine Facility on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront where they serve the island of St. Thomas and nearby St.

The Singapore fuel oil market has rallied this week as inventories have dropped at the same time that some supplies in the region do not meet the standards for use as shipping fuel, further reducing the amount of supply available, five trade sources said.Cash premiums for 380-centistoke fuel oil, which is primarily sold for ship fuel, known as bunker fuel, have soared this week to the highest since May 2017. The premium of the prompt-month swap for the fuel over the second-month swap has jumped to the highest since October…

Houston based tank barge operator Kirby Corporation announced that Joseph H. Pyne will retire as Executive Chairman of the Board, effective April 30, 2018. Pyne will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board in a nonexecutive role.The firm also announced that Kirby will incur a charge for compensation related to retirement in the second quarter of 2018.Pyne began his career with Kirby in 1978, and has held numerous executive positions including Chairman of the Board since April 2014…

Each year the August edition of Marine News magazine, the leading voice in the North American workboat market, features the very best 100 leaders and innovators, including workboat owners and operators, builders, OEMs and repairers, and product and service providers.This year's MN100 edition application portal is live and open. Participation is free, but to be considered you must apply at http://mn100.maritimemagazine.com/. The deadline is July 5.Contact Joe Keefe with questions at: keefe@marinelink.com.

SOHAR Port and Freezone have signed an agreement with Dredging International NV – Earth Moving Worldwide LTD (DINV-EMW JV) for the development of Phase 1 of the SOHAR Port South Construction Package I. Totalling an investment of USD 24mn (approx. OMR 9.24mn), the agreement will see the development of the first 50 hectares of useable land within the new port expansion; which is expected to be fully completed by Q4 2018. The agreement was signed on April 18 at a ceremony held at SOHAR Port and Freezone head office in Sohar.

A French judge on Wednesday placed tycoon Vincent Bollore under formal investigation over allegations his company undercharged for work on behalf of presidential candidates in two African nations in return for port contracts.Bollore's company, Groupe Bollore, announced the decision by Judge Serge Tournaire, which came after Bollore had been questioned for two days by French fraud police.Bollore, whose logistics empire is a powerhouse in former French colonies across West Africa…

The director of a yacht management firm was cleared of manslaughter charges bought on by the death of four sailors in 2014.Four U.K. men – two in their twenties and two in their fifties – were killed when the 40-foot Cheeki Rafiki capsized in the Atlantic in May 2014 while returning across the Atlantic Ocean to Southampton from Antigua. The sailors’ bodies were never recovered.Yacht manager Doug Innes, who had been accused of failing to have the yacht properly checked ahead of its voyage and to ensure that its certification was in date for the intended trip, has been found not guilty on four charges of gross negligence manslaughter today at Winchester Crown Court.Innes along with his company Stormforce Coaching had denied all charges…

In a ceremony held at Damen Shipyards Singapore on April 19, His Excellency, Dr. Augusto da Silva Tomás, Minister of Transport for the Republic of Angola officially launched the new Damen Fast RoPax Ferry 4812 ordered by the Ministerio dos Transportes through IMPA (Instituto Marítimo e Portuário de Angola).The vessel will be operated by TMA Express (Transporte Marítimo de Angola) and operate on Angola’s Atlantic coastline between the capital Luanda and Cabinda, around 400 kilometers to the north, via Soyo.The Fast RoPax Ferry 4812 is the latest addition to Damen’s Fast RoPax Ferry range.

The first of Damen’s new RSD 2513 harbor tugs is kicking-off an introduction tour of European ports with visits to some of Italy’s most important ports plus the Grand Harbor at Malta.The new design of the RSD Tug 2513 is the result of extensive industry consultation to find solutions to the general demand for tugs that are compact for operations in and around harbors and terminals, yet have the power and flexibility to maneuver even the largest vessels safely, quickly and efficiently within restricted waters…

Wärtsilä has partnered with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to promote maritime innovation and R&D. The partnership covers four different streams: digital acceleration, cyber-physical security, intelligent vessel and port operations. Wärtsilä and MPA have also agreed to support and leverage start-ups and small and medium enterprises in Singapore in these four streams.“This partnership with MPA is a great example of how combining digitalization ecosystems thinking, and collaboration will benefit the maritime industry and drive tangible value at pace.

Rolls-Royce said it has signed a contract to deliver ship design and a range of equipment to a 70-meter long stern trawler to be built for Olympic Seafood based in Fosnavåg, Norway.The fishing vessel is to be built by Cemre shipyard in Turkey, who also holds a contracted option for a second vessel of the same type for Olympic Seafood.The vessel is designed for bottom trawling as well as pelagic trawling and will have a modern factory deck arrangement to handle and freeze both white fish and shrimp and ensure a high quality catch. The vessel is expected to be delivered in 2020.

The U.S. Coast Guard and good Samaritans came to the rescue of three people Monday after their vessel capsized near Blount Island. Coast Guard watchstanders in Jacksonville were notified via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 at 6:03 p.m. by a good Samaritan aboard the motor vessel Grand Mercury reporting three people in the water and a capsized 15-foot boat. A Coast Guard Station Mayport 29-foot Response Boat – Small boatcrew launched, arrived on scene at 6:25 p.m. and rescued one person from the water while the crew of the tugboat Sewells Point rescued two others.

The Maersk liner vessel Maersk Honam, which was hit by a serious fire on 6 March, will reach anchorage outside the Jebel Ali Port (UAE) on Tuesday 24 April 2018. The fire broke out around 900 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, Oman, and remains under control. Firefighting activities were initiated by the Indian Coast Guard until vessels with special firefighting capabilities arrived at the scene. Salvage operations are led by Smit Salvage and Ardent – two best-in-class companies within maritime salvage.

Hapag-Lloyd, the market leader in Canada, is expanding its local network. On April 21, the “YM Masculinity” called at a new destination, the Port of Prince Rupert, for the first time. The ship, which operates on the ‘PS8’ service of THE Alliance, was sailing from Asia to North America offering leading transit times and new options for customers. “With the decision to incorporate Prince Rupert into our network, we strengthen and further expand our position in Canada,” explained Uffe Ostergaard, President of Hapag-Lloyd America.

Dongara Marine has delivered Australia’s largest capacity high-speed lobster boat, the 85-foot Holdfast.With capacity for 210 baskets or 6.2 metric tons of live lobster, Holdfast is the fourth 20+ meter lobster boat in as many years to be designed by Southerly Designs, joining Ohana (2015), Daydawn (2016), and Gambler (2017).Although not the lead builder for the Daydawn and Gambler projects, Dongara Marine played a key role as the manufacturer of their resin-infused composite wheelhouses.

On April 18, Rear Admiral Anthony “Jack” Vogt, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy, released an update on the status of the most recent U.S. Salvage and Marine Firefighting (SMFF) industry verification initiative. According to the report, the Coast Guard has conducted 58 scenario-based SMFF verifications within the last year across 19 different Captain of the Port Zones, with 16 different vessel owners and operators. To date, all results have been found to be satisfactory and reflect compliance with the Coast Guard’s Salvage and Marine Firefighting regulations.

The crew aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast (WMEC-623) returned home Friday to Astoria after a 60-day counternarcotic patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.While patrolling international waters off the coast of Mexico and Central America, Steadfast’s law enforcement boarding teams intercepted and stopped eight separate vessels suspected of smuggling illicit drugs. The eight boardings resulted in the discovery and seizure of approximately 13,123 pounds of cocaine worth…

The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force will partner on research and development in several key areas such 3-D printing, Arctic operations, modeling and simulation, cyber research, and satellite technology.Commanding officers from the Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that allows greater opportunity for RDC and AFRL to work together on projects of mutual benefit.Capt. Greg Rothrock, commanding officer of the RDC, and Maj. Gen.

Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has rejected a proposal from its rival Summa Group to complete a deal to buy a Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP), a Transneft spokesman said on Monday.If the deal goes ahead it will allow Transneft to take control of Russia's largest port operator. But Transneft said earlier this month it had suspended talks on the deal after the authorities arrested the co-owner of Summa, Ziyavudin Magomedov, on charges of embezzling more than $35 million.Magomedov denied the charges at a pre-trial hearing…

U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Cheniere Energy Inc said it planned to make a final investment decision to build the third liquefaction train at its Corpus Christi LNG export facility in Texas in the first half of 2018:Cheniere said on Friday its Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC subsidiary engaged financial institutions to arrange up to $6.4 billion of credit facilities. The unit already has about $4.6 billion of existing credit facilities.Cheniere said it will use the credit facilities to fund a portion of the costs of developing…

Even prior to NotPetya, regulatory bodies, insurers, P&I clubs, port authorities, and other segments of the maritime industry started taking steps to minimize the industry’s exposure to cyberattacks.The maritime industry has had an awakening. We have awoken to the fact that digitalization has woven its threads throughout the industry, and we have greatly benefited from being able to operate in an interconnected cyber environment. Likewise, being able to transmit shipboard machinery diagnostic information to shore-side operations centers…

Oliver Design will be showcasing some of its latest projects on its stand at the Navalia trade fair, which runs from May 22 to 24 , in Vigo, Spain.Recent projects from the Spanish firm, which specializes in naval design and architecture, include new state-of the-art vessels ranging from working vessels to luxury cruise ships. It has also carried out renovation on several existing vessels.The biannual Navalia is one of the top international fairs for the shipbuilding industry.

ExxonMobil said its new Mobil SHC Aware HS (Hydraulic System) Series hydraulic oils are specially formulated to offer excellent protection, even in marine operating environments. The oils meet the U.S. Vessel General Permit (VGP) requirements for Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants, making them suited for operators in U.S. inland and coastal waters.According to ExxonMobil , the new oils’ balanced formulation helps to offer a range of performance benefits, including protection across a wide temperature range…

A U.S. national security review has raised concerns about a takeover by China's COSCO Shipping Holdings Co of a large container terminal in Long Beach, California, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.The terminal is part of COSCO's planned $6.3 billion deal to buy shipping firm Orient Overseas International Ltd (OOIL) , the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.COSCO executives met with officials at the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) this week and proposed to divest or carve out the Long Beach terminal to ease U.S.

A Dutch flagged product tanker has reportedly discharged 2,600 gallons of heavy fuel oil into the Mississippi River near Norco, La., Monday. The cause of the spill is under investigation.The U.S. Coast Guard said it is responding to the incident after its watchstanders in New Orleans received a report of the oil discharge from the vessel Iver Exporter at approximately 1 a.m.The source of the discharge near mile marker 126 on the Lower Mississippi River is reported to be secured…

The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced an ailing tugboat captain Sunday from the vessel Willy Landers one mile east of Satellite Beach, Fla.Coast Guard watchstanders in Jacksonville, Fla. received a call from a crewmember of the 75-foot towing vessel at approximately 12:30 a.m., stating the 53-year-old captain was experiencing heart attack symptoms.A Coast Guard helicopter crew arrived on scene at 3:15 a.m., hoisted the captain and transported him to Holmes Regional Hospital.

Vopak Rotterdam Botlek is investing in 63.000 cbm state-of-the-art stainless steel capacity (15 tanks) for the storage of Styrene and other hazardous chemicals. Styrene is a vital product used in manufacturing of a wide variety of consumer goods serving markets such as packaging, construction (for example isolation) and automotive. The new infrastructure will be fully insulated to allow for product temperature control and is designed to prevent any emissions to the environment.

The British Ports Association has written to the Prime Minister calling for funding guarantees for any new border facilities and digital infrastructure, which may be needed after the UK leaves the European Union. There are concerns from the industry that those ports with EU traffic will need to provide new facilities and digital infrastructure for government officials to carry out customs and other border checks. In the letter, Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive of the British…

The crew aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast (WMEC-623) returned home Friday to Astoria after a 60-day counternarcotic patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. While patrolling international waters off the coast of Mexico and Central America, Steadfast’s law enforcement boarding teams intercepted and stopped eight separate vessels suspected of smuggling illicit drugs. The eight boardings resulted in the discovery and seizure of approximately 13,123 pounds of cocaine worth more than $200 million wholesale.

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s largest port developer today said that it had breached the 0.5 Million TEU mark at Hazira Port in FY 2017-18, with year-end throughout touching 500,879 TEUs, corresponding to a remarkable growth rate of 20.7% over 2016-17. With an annual capacity of 1 million TEUs, 2 berths of combined length of 630 metres and quay-side infrastructure comprising 6 QC’s and 16RTG’s, the all-weather port with a deep draft has been able to attract main line services from the world’s largest container shipping companies.

The Coast Guard commissioned North Carolina's first Fast Response Cutter, the Richard Snyder, during a ceremony in Atlantic Beach. FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment that allow their crews to more effectively conduct the Coast Guard’s statutory missions. The cutter is named after Richard Snyder, a World War II hero known for his brave actions in battle defending troops coming to shore on the Island of Biak at the western edge of Papua New Guinea.

Samskip subsidiary Nor Lines will include calls at Rotterdam for the first time in its weekly multipurpose liner service connecting to Western, Mid and Northern Norway, with effect from June 1st. The service is provided by Nor Lines' state of the art, LNG-fuelled vessels MV Kvitnos and MV Kvitbjorn. These flexible ships will sail in 14-day loops, connecting Rotterdam and Eemshaven with Norwegian ports from Hammerfest in the far north, and taking in calls including Sandnes/Tananger, Bergen, Trondheim, Ålesund, Bodo and Tromso.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority will be constructing 16 tide pools along the north side of Calandkanaal. These pools will be realised by embedding raw concrete basins in the banks of the waterway. The design of these tide pools, manufactured by ECOncrete, ensures that water is retained for a longer time in the pools during low tide. This turns the temporary pools into miniature ecosystems, which often occur naturally in rocky coastal zones but are largely absent in modern ports.

Members should be aware that the USCG has increased the marine casualty property damage thresholds for reportable marine casualties that take place in US waters or involve US-flag ships. These changes took effect on 18 April 2018. A marine casualty is any incident involving a ship that occurs on navigable waters of the US and/or involves a US ship that results in any of the following: Loss of life, injury (beyond first aid), grounding, bridge allision, main propulsion loss, loss of any component that reduces a ship's maneuverability, an occurrence that affects the ship's seaworthiness (i.e.

European Union and Italian authorities are investigating suspected wide-scale tax fraud by Chinese criminal gangs importing goods via Greece’s largest port of Piraeus, a trade gateway between China and Europe, officials said.“The VAT is completely evaded, with enormous damage to the national tax authorities and to the community,” Fabio Botto, of the Italian Central Anti-fraud Office’s special investigative unit, said in an interview.He said the suspected scam at Piraeus, part of China’s vast Belt and Road infrastructure project…

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued its very first certificate of inspection (COI) under the Subchapter M requirements, which set new rules for the inspection, standards and safety policies of towing vessels.The COI issued to Marine Towing of Tampa's 90-foot tug Endeavor was signed Wednesday by Capt. Holly Najarian, commander of Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., and was presented Thursday morning at the company’s corporate office in Tampa, Fla.The 4,200-horsepower Endeavor, built in 2000 in Lockport…

German shipping group Oldendorff Carriers is stopping its business in Guyana, the company said on Friday, after the United States blacklisted Russian aluminum producer Rusal, which has a plant in the South American country.The United States on April 6 imposed sanctions against Russian entities and individuals to punish Moscow for its alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and what the U.S. Treasury Department dubbed other "malign activity".Since then, the world's two biggest…

Norwegian cruise ferry operator Hurtigruten has signed a Letter of Intent with Rolls-Royce to upgrade up to nine vessels to hybrid power.The main engines on up to nine cruise ships will switch from diesel to gas power, and the upgrade will also include installation of a hybrid battery system.The deal comprises the supply of equipment to six existing passenger cruise vessels, with an option for a further three. The ships will completely change their power system with the installation of new Rolls-Royce liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines as part of a new hybrid system.

The latest four rope grab crane development of Liebherr´s floating crane segment is going to be installed on a converted handymax bulk carrier (45,000 DWT) with a total length of 185 m and a breadth of 30.5 m. The ship will be retrofitted with the two Liebherr bulk handling cranes at the Turkish shipyard Kuzey Star Shipyard Tuzla / Istanbul. After completion of the conversion in early 2019, the ship will be used as a transshipment solution for grain handling in the Black Sea and…

A runaway barge that went missing after sinking near Cairo, Illinois has been located near mile marker 964 on the Ohio River on Thursday.The barge carrying pig iron is one of six that broke free from a towing vessel near mile marker 964 on Wednesday. The other five barges were quickly located and secured.The U.S. Coast Guard said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Towing working to devise a plan to salvage the sunken barge.The Olmsted Lock and Dam, which was closed due to the missing barge, was reopened Thursday. There are no waterway closures due to the incident.

Oil major buys various grades from Qatar, UAE, Russia; re-sells Qatar Marine and Sokol. Royal Dutch Shell has snapped up more than 8 million barrels of Middle East and Russian crude oil loading in June and resold some cargoes at higher premiums as it profits from robust demand in Asia, five trading sources said on Friday. The region's pull on Middle East and Russian grades, priced off Middle East crude benchmark Dubai, has strengthened this month as a widening of Brent's premium to Dubai has made competing Atlantic Basin supplies more expensive.

The Panama Canal may carry five times as much liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2020 as it did last year as production of the fuel expands in the United States and Asian import demand rises, the head of the canal's governing agency told Reuters.LNG volumes traversing the Canal could hit 30 million tonnes a year before the end of 2020, said Jorge Quijano, who leads the Panama Canal Authority, up from 6 million tonnes last year.Demand for LNG has risen significantly in the last three years as the increase of supply…

In the first quarter of 2018, 1.2% less freight passed through the Port of Rotterdam than in the same period last year. In total, 117.8 million tonnes were handled against 119.3 million tonnes in the same period in 2017. The fall mainly concerned the throughput of coal, iron ore, scrap and crude oil. In contrast, the growth in container throughput continued to increase significantly (+6.1% in TEU, +4.6% in tonnes). The throughput of mineral oil products increased, particularly distribution. The throughput of biomass and LNG increased spectacularly.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate rejected legislation - Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) - that would have simplified regulatory oversight of vessel discharges. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, due to inclusion of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) within the bill, failed by three votes to reach the 60 votes needed in the United States Senate to end debate and move to a vote on final passage. While the vote tally reflected bipartisan support for the Coast Guard authorization bill with VIDA included…

Damen Dredging Equipment has launched a new DOP Dredger Series following the success of the DOP submersible dredge pump, which has proved its versatility across the globe. Damen has built more than 20 DOP dredgers on a one-off basis and at least 380 DOP pumps. The DOP submersible dredge pump has been such a great success over the last 25 years because of its simple concept, which is based on a well-proven dredge pump, directly driven by a hydraulic or electric motor, assembled in a rigid housing with the ability to attach all kinds of specialised suction devices…

Silver Ships, Inc. said it has collaborated with industry vendors to create an aluminum demonstration fire/rescue boat.Designed and manufactured for firefighting and rescue applications, the vessel will be used to showcase the capabilities and craftsmanship of Silver Ships along with participating vendors, whose parts and components enhance the mission-ready abilities of the vessel.Steven Clarke, co-owner at Silver Ships, said, “We tried to put as many capabilities as possible into this AM800 fire boat…

The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded $13.3 million worth of suspected heroin and cocaine and transferred custody of two suspected smugglers to authorities in San Juan Tuesday, following a recent interdiction in the Caribbean Sea off Puerto Rico.The crew of a patrolling Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB) maritime patrol aircraft initially detected a 30-foot go-fast vessel Saturday afternoon transiting with two people onboard and visible packages on deck south of Patillas…

Freeport LNG, a privately held U.S. liquefied natural gas company, said on Thursday it pushed back the projected start date for its $13 billion export terminal under construction in Texas by about nine months to around Sept. 1, 2019.Freeport LNG now expects the first liquefaction train to enter service around Sept. 1, 2019, with the second and third trains seen in service around Jan. 1 and May 1, 2020, respectively, said Zdenek Gerych, a spokesman at Freeport.Previously, the three…

Norwegian Cruise Line has taken delivery of the 168,028-gross-ton cruise ship Norwegian Bliss from shipbuilder Meyer Werft during a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany, marking the conclusion of an 18-month building period.Norwegian Bliss is the third vessel in the line’s Breakaway Plus class and the first cruise ship specifically designed for Alaska cruising.The ship features a two-level competitive electric-car racetrack that sits at the top of deck 19; it is the largest at sea and a first for any North America-based cruise ship.

Wärtsilä and Viking Line signed an Optimized Maintenance agreement for the Wärtsilä LNGPac system onboard passenger ferry Viking Grace, significant in that it is the first Optimized Maintenance agreement ever made for Wärtsilä LNGPac, a complete gas handling system for ships fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Viking Grace was the first passenger ferry to useLNG as a fuel source. The agreement also includes Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) and online support for the Wärtsilä LNGPac system.

Massachusetts based shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, said it has begun building a second high-speed passenger ferry for Rhode Island Fast Ferry, Inc., scheduled to be delivered in 2019.The new 320-passenger, all-aluminum catamaran will operate on a new seasonal route between Quonset Point, R.I. and Block Island.The newbuild follows the 2012 delivery of Ava Pearl, the operator’s first high-speed catamaran built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard, which…

Divers are working to pinpoint the location of a runaway barge that sank in the Ohio River near Cairo, Illinois, on Wednesday.The U.S. Coast Guard said the missing barge is one of six to have broken free from a towing vessel near mile marker 964. The other five barges have been located and secured.Divers are scheduled to search using side scan sonar.The sunken barge is carrying a cargo of pig iron.The Army Corps of Engineers has closed the Olmsted Lock and Dam until the lost barge is located.The Coast Guard is broadcasting a safety message to notify mariners of the situation.

Norwegian tourist vessel owner and operator The Fjords has taken delivery of an innovative newbuild that sets high marks for environmentally friendly passenger transport.The new 42-meter-long carbon fiber all-electric catamaran, Future of The Fjords, is the first vessel of its kind to offer completely emissions-free transport through the Western Norwegian landscape. Starting in mid-May, the 400-passenger vessel will sail sans emissions as it makes around 700 yearly round trips…

DEME's latest trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD), Bonny River, was launched at Royal IHC's partner yard COSCO Guangdong Shipyard in China and is due to be commissioned and put into operation in the coming weeks.The TSHD has a capacity of 15,000 m3 and a maximum dredging depth of 102 meters.According to Royal IHC, Bonny River combines various functions, such as the ability to dredge hard soil with its heavy duty suction tube combined with the ability to reach great depths with its XXL tube.Environmentally friendly aspects such as minimizing turbulence with its closed process water circuit…

Each year the August edition of Marine News magazine, the leading voice in the North American workboat market, features the very best 100 leaders and innovators, including workboat owners and operators, builders, OEMs and repairers, and product and service providers.This year's MN100 edition application portal is live and open. Participation is free, but to be considered you must apply at http://mn100.maritimemagazine.com/. The deadline is July 5.Contact Joe Keefe with questions at: keefe@marinelink.com.

More than 440 tons of heavy fuel oil was extracted from the tanks of the sunken general cargo vessel Thorco Cloud. The wreck lies in two sections 1,730 meters apart and 70 meters down in the middle of the eastbound traffic lane of the Singapore Strait following a collision in December 2015. The heavy oil in the fuel tanks and in trapped compartments was seen as a major pollution hazard. Both the bow and stern sections contained fuel tanks that required emptying, so the Thorco Cloud’s owner…

At about 2.53am on 19 April 2018, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) received a report that five persons had gone overboard from a boat, about 0.7 nautical mile northeast of Pedra Branca, the coordinates being Latitude 01˚ 20.5’N and Longitude 104˚ 24.5’E, within Singapore territorial waters. Personnel and assets from the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) were immediately deployed for search and rescue (SAR) operations. In addition, MPA has issued navigational broadcasts for ships to look for the missing person.

Norwegian start-up technology firm ScanReach is set to redefine safety standards at sea with In:Range, a unique system capable of locating anyone on a vessel or offshore installation in real time. The plug and play technology is simple, easy to install, low cost and, according to the team behind it, could save countless lives at sea. With In:Range ScanReach has solved a problem nobody else has. The firm has created a system and technology capable of sending and receiving data signals wirelessly through any structure, including steel.

Dutch-based transport company A2B-online Container B.V. has added a fourth weekly sailing on its service between Hutchison Ports London Thamesport and Moerdijk in The Netherlands. The new sailing is inaugurated today (18 April 2018) by the first call of the m.s. A2B Spirit (ex-Norfeeder), a Sietas 151 type 508 TEU container ship, the fourth of this class owned and operated by A2B. Commenting on the new sailing, Clemence Cheng, Executive Director Hutchison Ports, said:“London Thamesport offers its customers a service tailored to their specific demands.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it is responding to a vessel fire near Trinidad, Calif. on Wednesday.A helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay has deployed in response to the fire aboard commercial fishing vessel Midori off the northern California coast.The Coast Guard said it also launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Station Humboldt Bay to assist the stricken vessel.

UZMAR SHIPYARD of Turkey has officially joined the Robert Allan Ltd. Century Club, with construction underway on its 100th tug to a Robert Allan Ltd. design. This new tug is a RAstar 3200-W destined for service on Canada’s West Coast with SAAM-SMIT Canada. This milestone tug, expected to be delivered in early 2019, represents the state-of-the-art in the design and construction of ASD escort tugs in a sub-500 GRT hull. With its RAstar hull and deep skeg, the design is optimized for generating high indirect escort forces and is also capable of providing towing operations from the stern.

Plans are in motion to develop a new vehicle processing roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) facility at Alabama’s Port of Mobile in the U.S.Today in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Alabama State Port Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AutoMobile International Terminal, a joint venture of Terminal Zárate S.A. and SAAM Puertos S.A., to develop and operate the new $60 million facility, which is expected to be completed in 2019.The agreement marks a giant step forward in supporting automotive logistics in the Americas and abroad…

Cargo moved by U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters in March decreased 13 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association reported. However, the March float of 1.8 million tons topped the month’s five-year average by more than 15 percent.Iron ore cargos for steel production dominated the month. Cargos totaled 1.4 million tons, a decrease of 17 percent. That no iron ore moved from Escanaba, Mich., is a factor in the decrease. That port used to resume iron ore shipments in early to mid-March. However, the mine that shipped through Escanaba has been indefinitely idled.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) ocean liner has been given a new lease of life as a floating hotel in Dubai, 10 years after the Gulf Arab emirate bought it for $100 million.State-owned Dubai World bought the QE2 from Cunard Line in 2007, but the 2008 financial crisis delayed any plans for the 40-year-old vessel, one of the world's most famous ships.Now the QE2, permanently moored at Mina Rashid port, has been refurbished based on the original design, from its carpets to the theatre…

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Vladimir Rusanov set to arrive at Netherlands' Gate terminal on April 25, according to Reuters shipping data.The tanker has a capacity of 170,000 cubic metres and is coming from Russia's Yamal LNG terminal.The tanker went to Gate terminal earlier this month. Reporting by Nina Chestney

Singapore is set to get new technology to help in preventing ship collisions.The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it has engaged the services of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Fujitsu to develop new predictive technologies for maritime vessel traffic management. These predictive technologies will tap the power of artificial intelligence and big data analytics, to enhance navigational safety within the Port of Singapore.

The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to commission Fast Response Cutter, the Richard Snyder, during a ceremony in Atlantic Beach, N.C. on Friday.The vessel was built by Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana and delivered to the Coast Guard on February 8, 2018, in Key West, Fla.The cutter is named after Richard Snyder, a World War II hero known for his brave actions in battle defending troops coming to shore on the Island of Biak at the western edge of Papua New Guinea. Snyder was awarded the Silver Star…

National Maritime Shipping Company Kazmortransflot LLP has taken delivery of its third Damen Shoalbuster 2709, the last in the current order.The vessels are ideal for operations in the shallow waters of the Caspian Sea and are now playing a role in the development of oil fields in the Kazakh section of the inland sea and significantly expanding the range of services that Kazmortransflot can offer its clients. The contracts for the three Shoalbusters 2709 were signed in July 2017 between Damen, NMSC Kazmortransflot LLP and Al Hilal Islamic Bank, which arranged the Sharia compliant financing.

The United States Coast Guard said it responded to a natural gas pipeline fire near Port O'Connor, Texas, on Tuesday evening.The agency was notified of the incident by vessel Jonathon King Boyd, which was on fire after hitting a gas pipeline while conducting dredging operations.The Intracoastal Waterway is closed to traffic from mile marker 468 to 474 to include the Matagorda Ship Channel from the jetties to 7 nautical miles (13 km) inside the bay.The impacted pipeline has been secured and the remaining gas is residual, the Coast Guard said.Reporting by Apeksha Nair

Egypt will keep its ports running for 24 hours a day, up from 16 currently, in an effort to cut down on "long waiting times" for shipments, Transportation Minister Hesham Arafat said on Wednesday. The extended port hours will not come at any added cost for shippers, he said. Arafat did not specify when the new port hours would come in to effect or how long the new policy would remain in place. Traders have complained of growing demurrage fees in recent months caused by long delays for their vessels at Egyptian ports that have raised the cost of doing business.

Greek ferries remained docked at the country's ports on Wednesday as seamen, marine engineers and ship cooks walked off the job to protest against planned government reforms which they say will further hurt their labour rights. The 24-hour strike was organised by Greece's seamen federation (PNO), which said the leftist-led government was preparing a reform allowing non-European flagged transport ships to sail in Greece, leading to job losses for Greek crews. The reform is coming on top of pension cuts, rising unregistered labour and work without any insurance, PNO said.

The new LPS 420 E is the latest extension of the Liebherr mobile harbour crane product range. The newly designed machine is a purely electric driven portal crane. All crane movements like luffing, hoisting, slewing and travelling are done by electric motors. As the LPS 420 E is a member of the LHM series, it is also characterised by high modularity. Therefore, it is a universal all-rounder and a key asset for handling every type of cargo, from containers to bulk, general cargo and heavy lifts up to 124 t.

PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero) has taken delivery of the first eight, of a total 15, RAzer ASD tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd. The two RAzer 2960, two RAzer 2935 and four RAzer 2940 tugs are part of a major terminal expansion and fleet renewal program undertaken by Pelindo III in its operational territory. The RAzer 2960s and RAzer 2935s were built by PT Daya Radar Utama Shipyards in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the RAzer 2940s were built by PT Dumas Tanjung Perak Shipyards in Surabaya, Indonesia. These will be the first Robert Allan Ltd.

Trials are underway at Southampton as part of a pilot scheme to launch the eco-friendly HullWiper hull cleaning technology at the port. HullWiper is working to test the system on a range of vessels including cruise liners, Ro-Ro ships, container ships and general cargo carriers at the south coast port. Managing Director Simon Doran explains that the trials are to demonstrate the efficiency of the diver-and brush-free ROV to the harbour authority, Associated British Ports (ABP) in Southampton: “HullWiper provides an affordable…

Russian aluminum giant Rusal has stopped placing orders with two logistics firms that ship its exports, executives with the firms said on Tuesday, in a sign of deepening problems for the company after it was hit by U.S. sanctions.Rusal and its major shareholder Oleg Deripaska were included on a U.S. sanctions blacklist this month, leading to anxiety among many of its customers, suppliers and creditors who fear they too could be hit by sanctions through association with the company.A number of traders and customers of Rusal's aluminum have stopped buying the firm's products…

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said it is investigating a collision between two tankers in Singapore waters on Tuesday that led to a leak of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from one of the ships.An estimated 1,796 tonnes of butane gas leaked from the LPG tanker involved but this posed no danger to shipping and measures had been taken by the ship's crew to stop the leak, MPA said in a statement."As liquefied butane has a high evaporation rate, MPA has assessed that any leaked butane would have been carried southward away from mainland Singapore…

Crowley Alaska Tankers, LLC, has completed its acquisition of three tankers from SeaRiver Maritime Inc. and is now chartering the vessels back to SeaRiver under varying multi-year terms.The tankers Liberty Bay and Eagle Bay, now under Crowley ownership and operation and renamed Washington and California respectively, each have a capacity of 760,000 barrels and transport crude from Alaska to West Coast refineries. The tanker SR American Progress, renamed Oregon, has a capacity of 342,000 barrels and transports refined petroleum between the U.S.

While orders for new vessels have continued to decline worldwide in 2017, the situation in the German and European shipbuilding market is different, with an increase of incoming orders. As shipping experts state: “…this is not a trend but a snapshot, but it indicates a high competitiveness of the German shipbuilding industry, particularly on technologically advanced projects.”The global mood barometer of the maritime industry had reached its lowest point in 2016. From the abyss confidence and order have carefully increased…

This March, a robot called Fleet Cleaner was deployed to clean both floaters of Heerema’s semi-submersible crane vessel Thialf in the Port of Rotterdam.The Fleet Cleaner is equipped with a magnetic system that allows it to attach to vessels for cleaning above and below the waterline. The robot captures all removed fouling so that the water environment is not affected by the cleaning operation. Waste is collected, weighed and disposed of, and wastewater is filtered and clean water released.The Thialf hull cleaning was the vessel's first since it last went to dry dock six years ago.

In 2014, Bouchard Transportation Co. announces plans to construct two 6,000-hp ATBs: Morton S. Bouchard, Jr. (pictured) and the M/V Frederick Bouchard, which would then enter service in 2016. That same year, the 4,000-hp tug Denise Bouchard enters service.    The July 2018 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will feature a special “Bouchard Transportation Co. Celebrates 100 Years” magazine. For more information contact: Greg Trauthwein, trauthwein@marinelink.com, t. 516-810-7405.   

ExxonMobil announced it will supply fuels that comply with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 0.5 percent sulfur cap in ports in Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean and Singapore, with additional locations to be announced throughout 2018. “Our new suite of compliant fuels will include residual and distillate grades. We are at a very advanced stage in the development of these fuels, therefore making us well positioned to help customers meet the reduced sulfur limit ahead of the IMO’s 2020 implementation date,” said Luca Volta, Marine Fuels Venture Manager, ExxonMobil.

Rolls-Royce Marine has signed a deal to supply its Autocrossing system to a total of 13 new environmentally friendly ferries for the Norwegian company Fjord1. The vessels are currently being built by three yards in Turkey and two yards in Norway. All contracts also include two azipull propellers for each vessel with accompanying propeller control system from Rolls-Royce. With this contract, Rolls-Royce has sold autocrossing to a  total of 18 new ferries to operate along the coast of Norway, of which 16 have been ordered by Fjord1 and two by another Norwegian ferry company, FosenNamsos Sjø.

Two oil products tankers had collided off Singapore coast but the impact of the accident was not immediately clear, industry sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The tankers were identified as Crystal Sunrise, chartered by Japanese liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) firm Gyxis, and Astro Saturn chartered by European trading house Trafigura. "We can confirm that the Astro Saturn is on TC (time charter) to Trafigura and is carrying fuel oil," said it's spokeswoman without elaborating further.

The Coast Guard rescued a 76-year-old man after his sailboat ran aground in Crystal River, Monday. Rescued was Jack Baird, 76, from Dunnellon. At 11:32 a.m. Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a report of a disabled and aground 45-foot sailboat near the Crystal River navigational marker 2A. Baird reported he was unable to communicate with a local commercial salvage company and needed assistance. A Station Yankeetown 24-foot Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water boatcrew was launched with Nature Coast Emergency Medical Services aboard.

Intercargo welcomes the landmark initial strategy for the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) from ships adopted by IMO. "We firmly believe that IMO is the appropriate body to address the global challenge of GHG emissions, as the competent authority to do so. Shipping is the most efficient transportation mode and, moreover, its regulatory body, the IMO, was the first to address GHG emissions by adopting technical and operational requirements for new and existing vessels with global application as early as 2011.

American Cruise Lines’ first new ship of 2018, American Constitution, passed Sea Trials last week in Chesapeake Bay.With the U.S. Coast Guard aboard, American Constitution underwent speed trials, an endurance run, and was thoroughly tested in all areas of safety and maneuverability.“The American Constitution passed with flying colors,” said Paul Taiclet, Vice President of Hotel Operations, who was aboard for the Sea Trials. “The ship performed exceptionally well and has a number…

Marine engineering services firm SMS is midway through a contract for Woods’ Silver Fleet to build three huge pontoons for the Thames. The works amount to circa 750 metric tons of fully fabricated steel pontoons and over 5,000 man hours of specialized, local, labor in Southampton, Hampshire, U.K.Chris Norman, the managing director of Southampton Marine Services (SMS), said, “This project is of significance not only to SMS but also the local shipbuilding community. “It’s the first time in 13 years…

The recent implementation (January 19, 2018) of the long-delayed small Vessel General Permit (sVGP) requirement has major implications for environmental regulations in general, and specifically how the compliance difficulties continue for vessel owners with no real end in sight. Moreover, the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) recent publication of NVIC 01-18 (March 1, 2018), while helpful in advising owners on how to comply with the ballast water regulations, does not relieve vessels from the underlying requirements…

Chevron Corp will proceed with the second stage of its giant Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant off the northwest coast of Western Australia, the company said on Saturday.Chevron and its joint venture partners plan to sink 11 new wells in the Gorgon and Jansz-Io fields and build offshore pipelines and subsea structures to pipe the gas to the nearby 15.6 million tonne a year LNG plant on Barrow Island.The $54 billion Gorgon project came on stream in March 2016 but suffered numerous unplanned shutdowns in its early stages.Chevron declined to put a cost on stage two of the project…

China aims to establish a free trade zone in Hainan by 2020 and will encourage multinationals to set up their international and regional headquarters in the province, state news agency Xinhua reported citing a government document. The guidance was jointly issued by the ruling Communist Party and State Council, Xinhua said. It comes after President Xi Jinping announced on Friday that the country would grant foreign firms greater economic freedom in the southernmost province. Known for its sandy beaches and resort-lined coast…

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker has left Papua New Guinea laden with the first export cargo of the supercooled fuel since the country's giant LNG project resumed production after a major earthquake triggered a shutdown in February, Thomson Reuters Eikon shiptracking data showed on Monday. The tanker's destination wasn't immediately clear, but the resumption of shipments could put pressure on spot LNG prices, traders said. ExxonMobil Corp restarted output at the project near the capital Port Moresby a fortnight ahead of schedule, its Australian partners said late last week.

TT-Line Company and European shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) have signed a letter of intent (LoI) for the construction of two new ships to replace the current Spirit of Tasmania vessels. TT-Line chairman Mike Grainger said the companies would now commence contract negotiations and agree to final design specifications. “FSG was endorsed by the Board after the company short listed a number of international shipyards to build the new tailor-made vessels,” he said.

Declaration of Nijmegen was signed by the inland shipping sector, along with Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen (Infrastructure and Water Management) on Friday (April 13). This agreement reflects the commitment of the sector to expending its best efforts to expedite the greening process in the years ahead. The goal is to uphold its competitiveness vis-à-vis road and rail transport, and to reduce CO2 emissions by 20 per cent by 2030. ‘Inland shipping has a substantial lead if you compare its CO2 emissions to those of trucks and trains.

APL, one of the world’s leading ocean carriers,  announced that its China Philippines Express 1 (CP1) service will be making additional calls at the Chinese port of Xiamen and Batangas in the Philippines. This development extends the market coverage of the shortsea service that links South China and the Philippines. Each week, the enhanced CP1 service will directly call the Batangas port, facilitating shipments into and out of the economically-thriving Calabarzon region in the Philippines.

Danish shipping and logistics group DFDS has acquired Turkey’s largest operator of Ro-Ro freight ships and will be a major player in the strong and continuously growing trade between the EU and Turkey. U.N. Ro-Ro operates five routes connecting Italy and France with Turkey, 12 ships and port terminals in Trieste and in Pendik, Istanbul. U.N. Ro-Ro employs 500 people. The deal is subject to approval by the authorities. ​Today, Danish shipping group DFDS signed an agreement to acquire 98.8 % of the shares in the shipping company U.N.

With a two-day event on the quay of the Biesboschhaven Zuid harbour in Werkendam, Van Oord will launch its first LNG-powered vessel: the Werkendam. Because of Van Oord’s 150th anniversary, this event is taking place in Werkendam, the cradle of the company. On Friday 13 April, school children from the surrounding area are being given a guided tour of the new crane vessel. Business relations are also being welcomed on board during a special network meeting. On Saturday 14 April, the naming ceremony will be held. In the presence of guests and staff, the vessel will be named by Pia van Oord.

The Coast Guard and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection responded to a dielectric oil leak Friday in the Mystic River near the Alford St. bridge. The source is believed to be a small, slow leak from a cable under the river. Initially, Mass DEP and a pollution response team from Coast Guard Sector Boston discovered a notable rainbow sheen during a routine patrol of the river. Boom was deployed around the sheen, and later, an investigation determined the probable source was a cable encased in a metal pipeline which runs under the river.

Sempra Energy announced that its Mexican subsidiary, Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.B. de C.V. (IEnova), plans to develop, build and operate a receipt, storage and send-out liquid fuels marine terminal at the La Jovita Energy Hub in Ensenada, Mexico. With an expected investment of approximately USD 130 million, the new Baja Refinados liquid fuels terminal will have an initial storage capacity of 1 million barrels of gasoline and diesel that will increase the fuel supply capacity and reliability in Baja California.

DNV GL has revised its classification rules for Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) systems and introduced two new class notations DRILL(MPD) and DRILL(MPD READY). Stena Drilling Ltd. (SDL) is the first drilling contractor to receive the notation Drill(MPD) for their harsh environment drillship Stena Carron. Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) is an adaptive drilling process that allows greater control of the annular pressure profile throughout the wellbore. This can help operators drill new wells safely and more efficiently and in some cases to drill previously undrillable wells.

The European Commission is expected to publish a proposal for a revision of the Reporting Formalities Directive (RFD) in early May 2018 that is intended to remedy the current costly, unharmonised and burdensome reporting requirements facing ships calling at EU ports. Current complex, repetitive and duplicative reporting requirements not only result in productivity losses for maritime carriers and their customers but also create unnecessary workload and stress for ship crews. A…

Efforts to suppress a fire on containership Maersk Honam continue more than a month after a blaze aboard the 15,000 TEU vessel killed five crew members. On March 6, a fire broke out in a cargo hold aboard Singapore-flagged Maersk Honam while the vessel was en route from Singapore toward Suez, about 900 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, Oman. At the time of the incident, the ship was carrying 7,860 containers for the 2M Alliance between Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC).

The Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group (LDA) and Ørsted, the Danish global leader in renewables, reinforce their 2017 partnership with the order of a second service operation vessel (SOV) dedicated to Hornsea Project Two offshore wind farm off the English coast. As sister vessel of the Wind of Change, the first SOV ordered by LDA in 2017, this second ship will also be designed in close cooperation with Salt Ship Design and will be built by CEMRE for a delivery in 2021. The new 84-meter-long ship will be equipped by a hybrid propulsion system using diesel generators with variable speed…

The lineup of vessels to load sugar in Brazil currently is around 60 percent smaller than seen in the same period a year earlier because of lower output and tepid foreign demand, midway through the first month of the country's new cane crop. Ten vessels were at Brazilian ports in the first week of April to load 393,500 tonnes of sugar, according to data from shipping agency Williams. At this time last year, 23 ships were at port to take on 950,400 tonnes. "The main reason for that is the smaller production in Brazil…

Moscow tightened its grip on Russia's biggest port operator on Friday, making a government official chairman and ousting representatives of the only private shareholder from the board.The changes follow the arrest last month on organized crime and embezzlement charges of Ziyavudin Magomedov, head of the Summa conglomerate which with a joint venture partner owns a 50.1 percent stake in the port operator. He denies the charges.Several senior Russian business executives have said the prosecution would allow the state to extend its control over the Russian economy…

When cargo and crew need to get to an offshore platform fast, Seacor Marine delivers with its new Seacor Panther and Seacor Puma. Part of its CrewZer Class of state-of-the-art transport vessels, the 187' x 41' high-speed aluminum catamarans reach 40 kts—a dramatic speed improvement over traditional FSVs (fast support vessel). This blazing-fast speed is due to an innovative hull design, and high-performance Twin Disc QuickShift marine transmissions coupled with HamiltonJet waterjets.Built by Astilleros Armon shipyards in Burela…

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 14 percent growth in March container volumes, moving 355,208 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit containers. For the fiscal year to date (July-March), TEU container trade grew by 9 percent, or 255,786 additional units for a total of 3.08 million, a new record for Savannah. "Savannah's continued strength is a reflection of our customers' commitment, Georgia's leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.

Africa needs to take advantage of the economic potential of its ports and shipping sector if it is to realise its growth ambitions. Globally, ports are gateways for 80% of merchandise trade by volume and 70% by value. Investment in ports and their related transport infrastructure to advance trade and promote overall economic development and growth is therefore vital – particularly in emerging economies that are currently under-served by modern transportation facilities. However, port investment must be channelled appropriately to ensure financial sustainability and economic growth.