Coastal and Inland News

The second of two new high-speed catamarans from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding has been delivered to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA).Funded by a grant from the Federal Transit Authority (FTA), M/V Glory will pair with her sister-ship to provide year-round commuter service in Boston Harbor, replacing the high-speed ferries built by the Somerset, Mass. shipyard in 1997.Designed by Incat Crowther, the all-aluminum ferry is 88.7 feet LOA, 28.8 feet abeam, and draws approximately four feet loaded.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri hosted a float-out ceremony for a new cruise ship under construction for Carnival Corporation’s Italian brand Costa Cruises. The new ship, Costa Venezia, is Costa’s first ship designed and built specifically for the Chinese market.“As our first ship built specifically for the Chinese market, Costa Venezia marks a new era not just for Costa Cruises and Fincantieri but for the Chinese cruise industry as a whole,” said Mario Zanetti, president of Costa Group Asia.

Indonesian teams searching a lake for a sunken ferry in the hope of recovering nearly 200 bodies trapped inside have to contend with dangerous currents and cold, murky water far deeper than any scuba diver can ever go.The over-loaded ferry Sinar Bangun sank in bad weather in Lake Toba on Sumatra island on Monday. The lake, in the crater of an ancient supervolcano, is ringed by steeply sloping mountains, and is about 450 meters (1,500 feet) deep.Three people have been confirmed…

Danish shipping and logistics firm DFDS says it is working on a campaign to attract more IT developers.“We employ 250 people in our IT department and have many digital experts, but the world may still anticipate that shipping companies are only for shipping experts and seafarers,” said Henrik Holck, the company’s EVP, People and Ships.“We need all categories of competencies and our future success very much depends on our ability to create digital and IT solutions. Creative solutions make life easier for our customers and enable us to move people and goods ever more efficiently…

LNG Hrvatska launched a second round of bidding for potential operators of an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Croatia's northern Adriatic on Friday, after the previous round drew little interest.Last week, Croatia's parliament passed a law to enable the construction of the terminal, part of a European Union drive to diversify away from Russian gas imports.The project, which will be built on the island of Krk will be partly funded by the EU but has been criticised by environmental groups and local councils.LNG Hrvatska, the company behind the project which is expected to be operational in 2020 or 2021, said interested…

The Rotterdam-based inland shipping cooperative NPRC is the first logistics service provider in the inland shipping sector to be appointed as ‘incentive provider’ by the Green Award Foundation. In practice, NPRC can be expected to pay a share of the audit costs associated with certification for its members, as well as actively thinking along about the requirements set for the Green Award certification of inland shipping companies. According to the Member of the Provincial Executive of South Holland Rik Janssen, this is a ground-breaking collaboration.

Continuing its active work on attracting more cruise ships and, respectively, more cruise passengers to Riga, the Freeport of Riga Authority has become a member of CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), the world’s largest cruise industry association, said a press release. Membership in this organisation will open a path for closer cooperation between the Freeport of Riga Authority and the world’s largest cruise line operators, thus facilitating the development of the cruise sector in the Port of Riga.

When it was time for France Pelagique to start renewing its fleet, an electric-power alliance of Dutch and Scandinavian yard interests formed up and delivered. The result was the first installation aboard a trawler of NES’s Odin’s Eye, a DC grid solution to integrate another first for trawlers — quiet-running permanent magnate, or PM, propulsion.Where to begin a fleet modernization that ends with green credentials and richer harvests? Well, there are multiple points of contact…

Shipbuilding software solutions developer SSI says it plans to capitalize on the resurgence of Turkish shipbuilding.The Candian based company announced it has contracted Entech & Semar to be an authorized reseller of its ShipConstructor and EnterprisePlatform software.Entech & Semar will add sales and support of SSI software to its range of ship services and engineering solutions, including ship machinery and spare part sales, maintenance services and engineering.Such a diversity of offerings fits with the diverse nature of Turkish shipbuilding…

Congress enacted the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) a mere 17 months after the disastrous oil spill following the grounding of the tanker Exxon Valdez in Prince William Sound. Among the many provisions in the voluminous bill was a detailed planning requirement. For the first time, tank vessels and facilities handling oil in bulk were required to develop extensive plans for responding to a worst case discharge of oil into waters of the United States. As regards vessels and marine-transportation-related facilities, the U.S.

East Libyan forces said on Thursday they had retaken the shuttered oil ports of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, though clashes resumed south of Ras Lanuf in the afternoon after a counter-attack by rival factions.Staff were evacuated from terminals in Libya's eastern oil crescent and exports were suspended last Thursday when armed opponents of eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar stormed the ports and occupied them.The closure has led to production losses of up to 450,000 barrels…

CNOOC's Zhejiang terminal will receive 5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas in 2018 up from 3.58 million tonnes last year, CNOOC Gas and Power Co said on Thursday.The Zhejiang terminal located in Ningbo in Zhejiang province has unloaded 33 LNG tankers as of June, or 2.3 million tonnes, up 94 percent from the same period last year, CNOOC Gas and Power said.Storage tanks linked to the terminal are nearly full, CNOOC said.The terminal is a supply hub of LNG for Zhejiang province in eastern China where gas consumption is surging as households switch to gas for winter heating.(Reporting by Men

China earns cruise newbuild business, aims for ship financeWhile China has steadily built shipbuilding market share, cruise ship construction –  more specifically mastering the logistical complexities inherent in cruise ship design, outfit and construction – has proved elusive. But it appears that Chinese shipbuilders have turned the corner, with contracts signed for the first cruise newbuilds. We were in Tianjin, China, earlier this year for the 4th Annual China Maritime Finance Forum for a look behind the covers of passenger vessel in China…

How can ports cut emissions to ensure cleaner air and contribute to the battle against climate change? An International Maritime Organization (IMO)  training course is supporting countries to help find the answers, which include the need to first quantify emissions and then identify measures to reduce port-related emissions in a cost-effective way. Maritime officials in Morocco are the latest to undergo the training, at a workshop in Casablanca (19-21 June). The event is being…

All American Marine, Inc. and the Hanke family of Puget Sound Express announced the launch of the Saratoga, the newest member of the PSE whale watching fleet. The 73-foot, high speed aluminum catamaran vessel was designed by Nic De Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand and built by All American Marine in Bellingham, WA. The Saratoga was the second vessel to be completed and launched from All American Marine’s new state of the art facility on Bellingham Bay. “This is a very special event for Puget Sound Express,” said co-owner Peter Hanke.

Eighty-two Crowley Maritime Corporation vessels recently received the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA)’s annual Jones F. Devlin Awards in recognition of their outstanding safety records in 2017. Each year the CSA grants Devlin Award certificates to manned merchant vessels that have operated for two or more years without incurring a lost time injury (LTI), specifically highlighting the skills and dedication of the crewmembers responsible for safe vessel operations.Crowley’s 2017 Devlin Award-worthy vessels together have achieved an impressive total of 613 years of service without an LTI.

China Merchants Port Holdings has made a $584 million payment as part of a $1.12 billion deal to operate Sri Lanka's deep sea Hambantota port, a state-run agency said on Wednesday.Under the deal, signed in July 2017, China Merchants Port (CM Port) will run the $1.5 billion Chinese-built port on a 99-year lease. The $1.12 billion total price is to be used to reduce the Sri Lankan government's debt to China."With this payment, CM Port fulfils the $976 million investment ... CM Port has agreed to deposit a further sum of $146 million being investment to be utilized for port and marine-related activities," the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said in a statement.The port is near the main shipping route from Asia to Europe and likely to play a major role in China's "Belt and Road" initiative.

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3.745 million tons in May, an increase of 3.9 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association reports. May’s loadings also bettered the month’s five-year average by the same percent.Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 3.155 million tons, an increase of 7.9 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 590,000 tons, a decrease of 13.5 percent.Year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 5.2 million tons, a decrease of 1.5 percent compared to a year ago.

Belle Chasse, La. based C&C Marine and Repair said it has expanded its shipyard with the acquisition of another 1,000 linear feet of bulkhead, along with a 16,725 square foot Spooling Shop equipped with two 20 ton overhead cranes.With this latest expansion, C&C Marine and Repair now has 3,200 linear feet of continuous waterfrontage along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Algiers Canal), and more than 470,000 square feet of area under roof. The C&C Marine and Repair facility sits on over 80 acres and includes eight large fabrication bays…

Below-the-hook equipment manufacturer Modulift and Siemens Heat Transfer Technology B.V. combined forces to design a special rig for lifting modules that weighed nearly 200t apiece. Modulift sent two rigs for on- and off-load in Korea and Thailand respectively—a total of 16 no. 34t capacity MOD 34 beams in addition to slings, shackles, tie-plates and other rigging gear.The two vertical Benson-type Heat Recovery Steam Generators (or HRSGs) first needed to be lifted aboard a vessel for transportation to the 1…

U.S. shipbuilder Metal Shark powers into the second half of 2018 with a healthy backlog, multiple recent deliveries into foreign markets, and a portfolio of patrol craft that has attracted multiple clients – here and abroad.At a time when more than a few workboat builders are feeling the pain of lingering offshore malaise and an oversupplied inland market that no longer needs large quantities of barges, Louisiana-based Metal Shark has found its groove in a suddenly active and highly competitive niche market.

May imports at the Northwest Seaport Alliance of Seattle and Tacoma reached their highest level since 2010 this year.At 131,067 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), import volumes were 0.7 percent above last May's total.Export volumes of 114,227 TEUs marked a 11.2 percent decrease from the prior year, but were still above the five-year average.At 245,294 TEUs, the total international container volumes decreased 5.2 percent over the year, with the May 2017 volumes having been inflated during the launch of the new carrier alliances.

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) operated Ports of Durban, Cape Town, and Elizabeth have been nominated for the Africa & Indian Ocean segment of the 25th annual World Travel Awards in the category of “Africa’s Leading Cruise Port 2018”.Founded in 1993, the World Travel Awards seek to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. Global travel and tourism industry leaders will be recognized at the various World Travel Awards gala ceremonies, with Durban hosting the Africa and Indian Ocean segment for the third time.

Cap San Antonio is passing a river at night on the way to the open sea. Herbert Boettcher took this photo for Hamburg Süd when he travelled on the container ship Cap San Antonio from Europe to South America and back to Hamburg. Boettcher started with his worldwide long-time project Seamotion in 2004. Boettcher is a German professional photographer working worldwide for shipping companies to create photos of merchant ships with his unique visual language. He has been working as…

Divers and an underwater drone on Wednesday joined a fleet of rescue vessels in Indonesia's search for at least 192 passengers missing two days after an overcrowded wooden ferry sank in one of the world's deepest volcanic lakes in Sumatra.Authorities are unable to confirm how many were aboard when the vessel sank on Monday in bad weather, since it did not have a manifest. Four were confirmed dead and 18 survivors picked up, but officials fear the death toll could be much higher.Tearful relatives waiting for news gathered at the small port of Tigaras on Lake Toba.

The logistics surrounding the Port of Rotterdam are daunting. Eight deep sea terminals; 600 barges with 150 different owners; some 150,000 shippers from across Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany all relying on the port. The result is a fragmented and complex area - which especially affects the delivery of fresh produce. Delivering fresh fruit, vegetables and other goods demands efficient, timely and reliable logistics chains. From the terminals to the importers' distribution centres to the local European consumers, clean lines of delivery are key.

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has signed a contract with Rotterdam Short Sea Terminals (RST) to supply two Kalmar rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes with remote control and extensive customisation. The order was booked in Cargotec's 2018 second quarter order intake. The first crane will be delivered in Q4 of 2019 and the second during Q1 of 2020. Rotterdam Short Sea Terminals, located in the Port of Rotterdam, is the largest short sea shipping hub in Europe, with over 320 employees working around the clock to process over 800,000 containers each year.

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.Participation is free, but to be considered you must apply at http://mn100.maritimemagazine.com/. The July 5 deadline to apply is fast approaching.Contact Joe Keefe with questions at: keefe@marinelink.com

In 1993, Bouchard Transportation Co. christened the B. No. 230, which was the first double-hulled barge to enter service in the United States. Joined together for this milestone celebration was (pictured left to right): Mr. John Dane III, former President/CEO, Halter Marine Group Inc.; Mr. Gerhard Kurz, former President, Mobil Shipping and Transportation Company (MOSAT), a Mobil Oil-affiliated company; and Mr. Morton S. Bouchard Jr., former Chairman, BTC. The July 2018 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will feature a special “Bouchard Transportation Co.

Shipbuilder Senesco Marine has delivered a new articulated tug and barge (ATB) to Reinauer Transportation Companies. The launch of the unit, including the 8,000hp tug and 150,000bbl barge, marks the largest such ATB constructed in the U.S. Northeast.The ATB was built as an international SOLAS class unit and incorporates the latest build technology and equipment design, Senesco Marine said.The 124’ x 40’ tug Bert Reinauer features two 12-cylinder GE U.S. Tier 4 certified marine diesel engines for propulsion…

Sanctions-hit Russian aluminium producer Rusal said on Tuesday it had started shipping bauxite from its Dian-Dian bauxite project in Guinea to its alumina refineries in other countries.Rusal, the world's largest aluminium producer outside China, has been hit by U.S. sanctions imposed on it and co-owner Oleg Deripaska in early April, a move that damaged the company's exports and internal supply chain.The company said it had completed the first stage of development of the Dian-Dian bauxite deposit in Guinea, the world's largest, and started exporting the ore."The commissioning of the bauxite mine means not only the creation of new jobs and increased employment for the local population…

ABB said it has signed a contract with India’s largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, to deliver a first-ever integrated power and automation package to an Indian shipowner.ABB’s contract with Cochin Shipyard covers two new 1,200-passenger ferries, to be delivered to the Andaman & Nicobar Administration in 2020. In what’s said to be a first for a shipowner in India, these vessels will benefit from a full integration of their power generation, distribution and propulsion systems…

One of two oil storage tanks ignited amid clashes at the Libyan oil port of Ras Lanuf has collapsed after burning for two days, a local engineer and a fire fighter said on Tuesday.Ras Lanuf's storage tank No. 12 was set on fire on Sunday, three days after another storage tank, No. 2 caught ablaze during an attack by an armed group.Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) has said that at least 400,000 barrels of storage capacity has been lost due the fires.Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli Writing by Aidan Lewis

U.S. salvage industry update: Coast Guard recognition and continuous improvement for the domestic salvage industry and its working professionals.Professional salvors are called in when the ship’s crew is overwhelmed – the last resort to protect lives, minimize environmental impacts and save the ship and cargo. These salvage masters, divers, firefighters, naval architects, heavy lift operators and other salvage team members regularly go into harm’s way and consistently perform incredible feats. They commit their lives and livelihoods to this work.

The search for victims of a ferry that sank in the lake of an ancient supervolcano crater in Indonesia will resume on Wednesday with divers and an underwater drone to scour the depths for at least 128 missing passengers.The wooden tourist ferry sank in rough weather on Lake Toba on Sumatra island on Monday. Eighteen survivors were found that evening, but only one body was recovered, and a day long search on Tuesday was suspended having failed to account for any more.One survivor, Widya, said her family died when the boat was hit by strong waves."There were at least five couples with two children each. I wish I had died with my family…

The largest gantry crane in the Nordic countries was delivered to Meyer Turku shipyard by Finnish Konecranes. The goliath crane will be used to build increasingly large cruise ships at Meyer Turku shipyard with an even higher degree of industrialization.“Normally we are the ones delivering large high tech products to our customers, but this time we are the customer. The new crane is an essential part of our €200m ($231m) ramp-up investment program, as it will triple our daily lifting capacity.

Libya has lost some 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil production in recent days because of militant attacks at the Ras Lanuf and Es Sider ports, the head of the National Oil Corporation, Mustafa Sanalla, said on Tuesday.Sanalla said there were still militants present in the area of the terminals, which were closed on Thursday following an early morning attack by opponents of eastern-based Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar."We look to fight the fire first of all, stabilise the situation…

Railport Antwerp, a joint initiative by Antwerp Port Authority, the Left Bank Development Corporation and the industry associations Essenscia Vlaanderen and VOKA-Alfaport, is to expand its activities. The company will actively serve rail transport in the port, including intermodal container transport, with the aim of doubling the proportion of rail transport in the port of Antwerp over the next few years. An important step in this process is the appointment of Nils van Vliet as CEO. "Nils van Vliet takes over as CEO of Railport Antwerp as of 1 July 2018," said a press release from the company.

Feedgas supplies into Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Louisiana fell again after recovering briefly following a month-long maintenance shutdown affecting one of three production units, data showed on Tuesday.Input levels on the three pipelines serving the facility showed feed levels had fallen to 2,180 million cubic feet/day (mcf/day) on Tuesday after a fall and briefly recovering to a high of 2,860 mcf/day on Saturday.Current inflow levels suggest that the expected restart of the plant's third liquefaction train, or unit, had suffered a setback.Chenie

The fifth run of the MPA Academy Port Management Programme (PMP), aimed at port masters, harbour masters and middle managers from maritime and port authorities, kicked off today with a record 20 maritime officials from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and Oceania. Developed and organised by MPA Academy, the five-day programme will be delivered by practitioners from the industry as well as senior officers from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Some of the key subjects that will be covered during the programme include safety, port planning and security.

ICHCA International, the global NGO and membership association for cargo handling operations, technical, HSSE and risk professionals has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) to pursue cooperative projects of mutual interest. This includes the sharing of the research and findings of ICHCA’s Technical Panel (ITP) with the IAPH membership through its own working groups. The ICHCA Technical Panel has recently launched four new working groups on Dangerous Goods, Digital & Innovation, Straddle Carrier Safety and Dry Bulk Cargoes.

The Great Lakes Group announced recent new hires to the company’s management team: Thomas Rigolo – Shipyard General Manager; Kirsten Buccigrossi – Director, Marketing & Communications; and Emery Eiber – Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (QHSSE) Manager.Tom Rigolo is a senior shipbuilding executive with more than 25 years of experience gained from hands-on engineering and high-level leadership roles at several U.S. shipyards. Rigolo is a licensed Professional Engineer…

An estimated 18 people were rescued and one was confirmed dead from among about 80 passengers aboard a ferry that sank on Monday in Lake Toba in Indonesia's North Sumatra province, a disaster agency official said.The Sinar Bangun ferry sank in rough weather at around 5:30 pm (1030 GMT) about a mile from the port of Tigaras, carrying passengers from the lake's Samosir Island, Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPT) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.Nugroho added that search and rescue efforts had involved two other ferries and one wooden boat had been hampered by weather conditions in the area on Monday night.It was not immediately clear if any of the missing passengers were foreigners.Ferry accidents are common in Indonesia, a vast archipelago, especially during the Islamic holiday of Eid when

Dutch companies GustoMSC and Barge Master join forces in the development of a motion-compensated feeder solution to service the emerging U.S. offshore wind marketsThis solution offers a flexible and cost-effective alternative for installing the first wave of U.S. projects. Combining the strengths of both companies creates a strong and advanced technical organization with commercial representative offices in the United States, through which prospective clients will be served.GustoMSC…

The ownership of the Canadian firm Island Tug and Barge has changed with the purchase by the U.S. parent company Tidewater Inc. The firm is now known as Island Tug.The second tug, with the hull and superstructure completed and with the Cummins K38s installed still requires more work, was also launched in early May of 2018.The vessels were built in a warehouse on the Fraser River. With no launching facility and a railway track between the yard and the steep bank of the river, it took some innovative heavy lifting.

ExxonMobil Corp, southeastern Australia's biggest gas supplier, is considering importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to help plug a looming gas shortage from 2021 and protect its market share.The move would compete with plans by both Australia's no.2 energy retailer AGL Energy to start importing LNG by 2021 and a consortium involving Japan's JERA to start imports from 2020.ExxonMobil is also stepping up exploration off the coast of Victoria and considering developing a gas field called West Barracouta close to an existing field…

With the delivery of the Peter last Thursday, Dutch Dredging (Baggerbedrijf de Boer) claims to have added “the world's most sustainable bed leveler” to its fleet.The 22.4-metre-long vessel, built by Hoekman Shipbuilding in Urk, the Netherlands, complies with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier 3 emissions standards as well as the Euro Stage 5 standard for emissions in inland shipping.John Nieuwenhuijse, the manager of New Building at Baggerbedrijf de Boer – Dutch Dredging…

The U.S. Coast Guard received a report of a generator fire aboard a 1,013 foot bulk carrier freighter in Lake Superior, at 4:20 a.m. Monday.The master of motor vessel Paul R. Tregurtha reported the fire extinguished at 5:30 a.m. and stated that there were no injuries or pollution, and all 23 crewmembers are accounted for.The ship is carrying 68,200 tons of coal, 124,000 gallons of fuel and 88,000 gallons of caustic soda.The Coast Guard said it is dispatching resources to monitor the situation and to conduct a marine casualty investigation into the cause of the incident.The Paul R.

Russian exports and transit of Urals oil through Baltic Sea ports are seen at 19.15 million tonnes in the third quarter, down from 19.8 million tonnes in the second quarter, industry sources said.Exports of Russian Urals and Siberian light oil from the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk are expected to rise to 8.5 million tonnes in the third quarter from 8.1 million tonnes in the second quarter, the sources said.(Reporting by Olga Yagova; writing by Maria Tsvetkova; editing by Jason Neely)

A major global marine terminal operator has OKd a new Port of Oakland lease that runs through 2027. The agreement includes options that could keep SSA Terminals (Oakland) here to 2042. The Port today characterized the deal as validation for the city’s maritime future. “SSA is an influential player on the waterfront worldwide, and a significant presence in Oakland,” said Port Maritime Director John Driscoll. Oakland’s Board of Port Commissioners approved the new lease last night.

Shipping company Nor Lines has allocated its two LNG-powered multipurpose vessels to a biweekly liner service from the SCA terminal in Rotterdam to the Norwegian coast. Titan LNG, the service supplier of liquefied natural gas, will be supplying the chilled fuel to two Nor Lines' vessels - The MV Kvitnos and the MV Kvitbjørn. The ships are bunkering, like the Wes Amelie, with Titan LNG at the City Terminal in the Prins Willem Alexander harbour (port number 2790). The LNG is delivered to the vessels by trucks.

The Dubai-based port operator DP World said that it will not consider alternative legal options outside a court settlement in a dispute with the Djibouti government over the Doraleh Container Terminal. A DP World spokesperson said that the concession agreement remains in place, and the action taken by the Djiboutian government is subject to legal process in the International court of Arbitration in London. “We await the outcome of this process. The Doraleh terminal has a capacity of 1.6 million TEUs per year.

Al-Iraqia Shipping Services & Oil Trading (AISSOT) is shortly commencing bunkering operations at Iraqi Ports mainly at Basra, Khor Al-Zubair and Umm Qasr. AISSOT is a joint-venture company of Iraqi Oil Tankers Company (IOTC) & Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company (AMPTC) to handle plethora of activities ranging from Trading of petroleum products, Ship chartering, Oil terminals, various Marine services, and Bunkering. Iraq ports are growing exponentially as shipping hub over the years and AISSOT is confident to cater to all marine related needs of the shipping lines calling Iraq…

Port officials on Tuesday are expected to consider $300 million in financing that would prepare the country's largest oil-export port - Corpus Christi, Texas - to handle a surge in U.S. shale production over the next five years.International buyers would like more U.S. crude but are unable to get it because of infrastructure constraints along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Terminals originally designed for imports only recently have revamped operations to handle exports including accepting…

China will impose additional 25 percent tariffs on 659 U.S. goods worth $50 billion in response to the U.S. announcement that it will levy tariffs on Chinese imports, the Chinese commerce ministry said.Tariffs on $34 billion of U.S. goods including agricultural products such as soybeans will take effect from July 6, the ministry said. Soybeans are China's biggest import from the United States by value.The tariffs will also be applied to autos and aquatic products, the ministry said.The list of 659 U.S.

A series of presentations organized and presented jointly by Resolve Marine Group and the SNAME - Greek Supper Section was held Wednesday, June 6 at the Posidonia 2018 exhibition in Athens.The two-hour event included a total of four presentations – two from SNAME and two from Resolve  – focused on the issues of direct and prompt response to merchant vessels’ accidents and damages that have shaken the global shipping community over the past three years.The event was attended by…

European harbor towage operator Kotug Smit Towage named two of its newest tugs Rotterdam and Beagle during a ceremony Wednesday at the Port of Rotterdam, where both tugs are currently operating.The new vessels were constructed by Dutch shipbuilder Damen. The Rotterdam is an ASD Tug 2913 with a bollard pull in excess of 80 metric tons, and the Beagle is an ATD Tug 2412 Twin Fin with 72 metric ton bollard pull.During 2017 and 2018, Kotug Smit Towage has taken four newly-built Damen tugs into service for its European harbor towage activities.

Bolidt Synthetic Products & Systems' position for decking and flooring in mainstream cruise ship and superyacht markets has been quickly converted into a series of business wins in the fast-emerging polar expedition cruise ship sector.The most recent contract for the Dutch manufacturer’s hardwearing, environmentally friendly and visually attractive products covers the Hurtigruten newbuildings, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansens, two hybrid propulsion expedition cruise ships under construction at Kleven shipyard in Norway.

Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) announced that it is launching a new China-Australia express service, under the name ‘A1X (Australia No.1 Express) with carriers Evergreen and APL. The A1X service covers the ports of Ningbo-Shanghai-Yantian-Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane from August 17 starting its first service at Ningbo on the vessel Hyundai Supreme.Previously, HMM provided the service through a slot purchase from Maersk, MSC, ONE and Hamburg Süd.For the new service, a total of five Panamax (4,600TEU) vessels will be deployed.

New pre-arrival clearance protocols and reduced terminal handling charges for containers in transit, mean that Jordan’s deep-water Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT), located on the Red Sea, is now a realistic alternative maritime gateway for Iraq-bound cargo. Containers imported into Iraq will no longer have to be trans-loaded onto new trucks as they cross the Jordanian/Iraqi border. “The Aqaba Container Terminal has been working hard over the years to develop a competitive gateway to Iraq," says ACT Managing Director Steven Yoogalingam.

Recognizing the need for the container terminal industry to prepare for the 4th industrial revolution and to further advance digitalization, an open group of 15 global private container terminal operators and some port equipment manufacturers has recently met in Brussels on 30thMay 2018 at FEPORT (The Federation of European Private Port Companies and Terminals) premises to discuss the current challenges for the cargo handling industry. A press release from Port Equipment Manufacturers…

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has signed partnership agreements with four recent participants in the annual PortXL innovation programme. The products developed by these promising start-ups range from compact tulip-shaped wind turbines to blockchain applications for freight tracking. Together with 10 other start-ups and scale-ups, these companies took part in this year’s PortXL innovation accelerator programme, which brings innovators from all over the world to Rotterdam to further develop their technologies.

Oosterhout Container Terminal (OCT) has now joined the West-Brabant corridor, the partnership launched in February 2018 between deep-sea terminals, inland shipping companies and inland terminals to bundle container cargo on the sailing route between Tilburg, Moerdijk and the Port of Rotterdam. The addition of OCT has resulted in an approximate thirty-percent increase in container volume on this sailing route. In practice, the partnership means that vessels consolidate cargo at different terminals in Moerdijk…

ESPO congratulates Port of Dunkerque (France) for obtaining for the first time EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS). Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s Secretary General, handed over the PERS certificate to Stéphane Raison, CEO of Port Dunkerque, during a special ceremony which took place at the port. “I welcome the PERS certification of Port of Dunkerque which has become the ninth port certified with PERS from France. The Port of Dunkerque is clearly a port that puts environmental sustainability on the forefront.

MSC Cruises has ordered a fifth Meraviglia class cruise ship at STX France. Due to be delivered in 2023, the vessel will be equipped with a new generation of dual-fuel engines designed to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).The agreement for the new Meraviglia-Plus vessel represents an additional investment of €900 million (approximately $1.06 billion).With today’s order, MSC will be adding 13 new ships through 2026.The announcement was made at a ceremony held at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard…

The number of ships waiting to berth at Brazilian ports to load soybeans and its byproducts is currently almost 60 percent larger than in the same period last year, according to data from shipping agency Williams compiled by Reuters.At the same time, the amount of ships that are berthed and currently loading is 42 percent smaller than seen at this time last year.Associations representing soy processors and grain exporters said the situation is caused by slower transportation of grains from producing regions to the ports…

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL.N) said on Thursday it would buy a 66.7 percent stake in privately owned Silversea Cruises for about $1 billion to add ultra-luxury and expedition cruises to its fleet.Silversea Cruises, which has nine ships, sails to destinations including Antarctica, the Arctic and Greenland, with most of its tickets selling for more than $5,000.In contrast, the most expensive cruises run by Royal Caribbean under its Azamara Club Cruises brand cost around $3…

U.K. shipbuilder Wight Shipyard Co has delivered its latest vessel to Scottish tourism operator Loch Ness by Jacobite. The new 20-meter day-cruise passenger catamaran Jacobite Maverick is joining the company’s fleet sailing between Dochgarroch, just outside Inverness, Clansman Harbour and the ruins of Urquhart Castle.Designed by Australia’s One2three Naval Architects, the hullform of the new catamaran is engineered to provide through-life efficiency with low structural weight assisting lower fuel consumption…

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced a five-point aid plan for Yemen's Hodeidah port and surrounding areas on Wednesday, after a Saudi-led alliance of Arab states launched an attack on Yemen's Houthi-held main port city.As part of the plan, the two coalition states aim to establish a shipping lane to Hodeidah from the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and Jizan, a city in southern Saudi Arabia, officials told a news conference in Riyadh.They will also distribute food, provide medical supplies, equipment and staff to hospitals, sustain electrical stations and provide economic support, they

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, introduces an eco-efficient reachstacker with a Fuel Saving Guarantee to customers. Kalmar Eco Reachstacker is the very first solution in Kalmar's new eco-efficient portfolio - The Kalmar Eco Range.The solution was introduced to the customers today at TOC Europe that is taking place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, June 12-14."I am very proud to introduce a new, eco-efficient solution from Kalmar, which guarantees to substantially cut the fuel consumption and costs, while lowering carbon emissions and helping customers meet current and future emissions standards.

Emerging spill response trends fit into two big categories: technology and a combination of economic and social forces. Both will shape what comes next.Florida’s stunning Tampa Bay stands out as exactly the kind of place where you have to think about hazardous materials emergencies. It was 25 years ago, on August 10, 1993, that a freighter collided with two barges near the entrance of Tampa Bay, causing a fire and spilling over 32,000 gallons of jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline and about 330,000 gallons of heavy fuel, devastating beaches, wildlife and habitat.

In 1990, Richie Bates (pictured) joined Bouchard Transportation as a mate on the Ellen S. Bouchard, and soon rose to Captain of the Morton S. Bouchard Jr. in 1994. As one of BTC’s long-standing employees, Capt. Bates currently serves as Captain of the M/V Donna J. Bouchard, and leads his crew with a laser focus on always delivering petroleum products safely and efficiently. 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.

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.Participation is free, but to be considered you must apply at http://mn100.maritimemagazine.com/. The July 5 deadline to apply is fast approaching.Contact Joe Keefe with questions at: keefe@marinelink.com

Singapore marine fuel sales climbed to a four-month high of 4.283 million tonnes in May, up 1.2 percent from the previous month and 2.5 percent higher compared with a year ago, data from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) showed on Wednesday.The strong volumes sold in May were largely in line with industry expectations and come despite sharply higher bunker fuel prices due to rising crude oil prices and shortages of finished grade bunker fuel oil during the month.The cost of 380-centistoke (cst) fuel oil cargoes, the mainstay bunker fuel for large vessels, in May averaged $433

European shipowners, represented by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), express their deepest concerns about recent developments on global bilateral trade relations. The result of the G7 meeting last weekend offered no improvement, on the contrary. European shipowners recall that open trade relations based on transparent rules and procedures are crucial for world trade and world economic growth and prosperity. Any unilateral measures appearing to show benefits at the short term will in the longer term prove to be counterproductive for all.

Global trade by sea is dependent on the interconnection between ships, ports and people - and everyone needs to be involved, from port operators, to regulators, to maritime security experts and innovators in technology. The theme of mutual cooperation and collaboration was highlighted throughout a special event on ports, held at  International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters (11 June). The Special Port Event was supported by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, in collaboration with the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH).

Veneto shipbuilder Vittoria Shipyard has marked its return to the construction of harbor and coastal tugs with its latest delivery to the port authority in Skikda, Algeria.The new tug C.869 was ordered in December 2016 by the Algerian Transport Ministry for a cost of €7 million and was delivered in June during an official handover from representatives of the Vittoria Shipyard to a delegation from the Algerian port authority.Following the launch at the end of last year and on-site personnel training…

Stena Line confirmed that the first of its new RoPax ferries currently under construction in China is planned to enter service on its Holyhead – Dublin route early 2020, with the following two vessels to be assigned to Liverpool-Belfast planned for spring of 2020 and early 2021.Last year Stena Line’s parent company, Stena, announced a newbuild contract for a new generation of RoPax ferry vessels, Stena E-Flexer, with planned deliveries during 2020 and 2021. Stena has ordered the construction of six new vessels from the AVIC Shipyard in China.

Quark Expeditions has signed an agreement with Croatian shipbuilder Brodosplit to build a new expedition ship designed for operation in the polar regions.The 13,000+ gross metric ton, 200-passenger ship was designed by LMG Marin in cooperation with Quark Expeditions and is scheduled to be launched in 2020.“This ship will be more than just a ship – it will be an unrivalled operational base for polar expeditions,” said Andrew White, Quark Expeditions President.The ship will carry 20 zodiacs that will be rapidly deployable from an internal zodiac hangar with four embarkation points.

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 6.3 million tons in May, an increase of 3.1 percent compared to a year ago, and just about on par with the month’s 5-year average, the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA) said.Shipments from U.S. Great Lakes ports totaled 5.9 million tons in May, an increase of 2.4 percent. Loadings at Canadian terminals in the Seaway totaled 443,000 tons, an increase of 13.7 percent.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 15.7 million tons, a decrease of 7.6 percent compared to the same point in 2017.Year-over-year, loadings at U.S.

In accordance with Subchapter M, Cenac Marine Services has been issued one of the first Certificate of Inspection’s (COI) from the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard.Subchapter M was designed to take safety in the towing industry to a new and historic level by setting minimum safety standards for towing vessels, incorporating and building on the safeguards that AWO members have already put in place, and to ensure that the entire industry achieves the level of safety that is necessary to protect lives…

Australian power producer AGL Energy said on Tuesday it has signed two agreements for its planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at Crib Point in the southeastern state of Victoria.The first is with pipeline firm APA Group to develop and construct the Crib Point Pakenham pipeline, and transport gas from the proposed LNG terminal to the domestic market, AGL said.The second is with the Port of Hastings Development Authority for the long-term use of Crib Point Jetty berth 2 to moor the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU).Both are subject to a final investment decision to be made on the terminal by the financial year 2019.The company expects the delivery of first gas into the domestic market during the 2021 financial year.AGL said it is working on getting environmental

The delivery date for Irish Continental Group’s (ICG) new ropax ferry W.B. Yeats has been pushed back due to delays at the shipyard, German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) said.The vessel, which is currently in the final stages of construction at FSG, was originally scheduled to be delivered in May 2018, but delays in the delivery of interior components for public areas as well as the installation of electrical system in the hull and deckhouse have forced…

Eleven people on a river cruise were killed when their boat collided with a tugboat late on Monday in the Russian city of Volgograd, which is hosting matches in the soccer World Cup, rescue services said.Emergencies services received notification at around 10 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Monday that the vessels had collided on the Volga River, about 250 meters from the riverbank.There were 16 people on board the pleasure craft, all of them Russians, the RIA news agency cited the local administration as saying.Five people had been rescued…

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, and DP World London Gateway are celebrating the successful introduction into service of an electrically powered Kalmar FastCharge(TM) shuttle carrier, as part of a joint pilot project that will run for approximately six to 12 months. Kalmar has enjoyed a long and successful relationship with DP World, a leading global operator of marine and inland terminals. A semi-automated facility, DP World London Gateway is one of the most advanced deep-sea terminals in the world and is strategically located close to the United Kingdom's biggest consumption centre.

Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque (DSDu) has completed an eight-day refurbishment project for the 132-metre DP2, self-propelled, jack-up vessel Sea Installer. Operated by A2SEA, which was purchased in 2017 by DEME’s subsidiary GeoSea, Sea Installer was purpose-built in 2012 for installing the next generation of large wind turbines off the coast of Europe. The primary task was the fitting of new spud can shoes to the vessel’s four columnar legs. These massive pieces of steelwork, weighing 160 tonnes each…

Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark said it has acquired the assets of Alabama-based Horizon Shipbuilding, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2017.Metal Shark will assume ownership of Horizon’s fully developed 35-acre shipbuilding facility in the Mobile Bay region, following a motion approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Alabama on June 5, 2018.The Horizon facility, which features separate east and west yards both fronting a dredged deepwater inlet…

It was a warm and sunny early summer morning in an increasingly popular and typically busy domestic harbor. And, not surprisingly, the water and waterfront were crowded with commercial and private vessels of every description. From a slowly moving tug/barge combination, a working dredge and a small tanker delivering fuel on the more industrial side of the harbor, to numerous water taxis, sightseeing boats and larger catamaran ferries, the harbor was buzzing with activity.All of these commercial vessels were operating in close quarters with a fleet of small yachts…

Rolls-Royce Marine said it has signed a contract with Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, L.L.C. in Louisiana for the development of a 100-meter-long trawler to be built for the Seattle based company Arctic Storm Management Group, LLC.In addition to being the largest fishing vessel contract to date for Rolls-Royce with a value of about £15 million, it also marks the first Rolls-Royce fishing vessel concept to be built at a U.S. shipyard.Rolls-Royce has been working closely with the owner…

Spirit of British Columbia, one of two BC Ferries vessels that will use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel, has finished conversion at the Remontowa Ship Repair Yard S.A. in Gdansk, Poland and has returned to service for the Canadian operator.The 1993-built ro-pax ferry Spirit of British Columbia was the first to undergo conversion while its sister vessel, the Spirit of Vancouver Island, is expected to complete conversion during the spring of 2019. The 550-foot ABS-classed vessels are the largest ships in the BC Ferries fleet with a capacity to carry 2…

Spain offered on Monday to take in a rescue ship that is drifting in the Mediterranean sea with 629 migrants stranded on board after Italy and Malta refused to let it dock.The Aquarius picked up the migrants from inflatable boats and rafts off the coast of Libya at the weekend, and the United Nations refugee agency said on Monday it was running out of provisions.Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who took office just over a week ago, has given instructions for the boat to be admitted to the eastern port of Valencia, his office said in a statement."It is our duty to help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and offer a safe port to these people…

Iron ore shipments to China from Australia's Port Hedland terminal in May rose 2.4 percent from a month earlier to 37 million tonnes, port data released on Monday showed.Iron ore shipments to China in April stood at 36.1 million tonnes.Overall iron ore shipments from the world's biggest export terminal rose to 45 million tonnes in May from 42.6 million tonnes in the previous month, the Pilbara Ports Authority said.Port Hedland is used by three of Australia's top four iron ore miners - BHP Billiton , Fortescue Metals Group and Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting.(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Edi

The liquefied natural gas tanker Al Bahiya arrived at Britain's Isle of Grain terminal on Sunday, having previously partially discharged its cargo at the Dragon terminal in Wales, Reuters shipping data showed.The 201,000 cubic meter capacity vessel loaded in Qatar.(Reporting by Sabina Zawadzki; Editing by Mark Potter)

The top 12 major ports in India recorded 2.41 percent growth in cargo handling at 116.26 million tonne (MT) in the first two months of the current fiscal.For the period from April-May 2018, nine ports (Kolkata [including Haldia], Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Kamarajar, Chennai, Cochin, New Mangalore, JNPT and Deendayalhave) registered positive growth in traffic.The highest growth was registered by Kamarajar Port (11.69 percent), followed by Kolkata [including Haldia] (11.33 percent)…

Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to set record numbers this summer and fall even as the debate over trade and tariffs continues in Washington, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released  by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates.“Consumers are buying more and that means retailers are importing more,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Imports continue to be the primary source of high-quality, mass-produced necessities at affordable prices and will be for the foreseeable future.

In line with the commitments of the PA2D (Sustainable Development and Action Plan), Dunkerque-Port has just received the EcoPorts network's PERS certification (Port Environmental Review System), granted by the ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation). This environmental management certification, specific to the port sector, attests to correct compliance with current rules and standards, and rewards involvement in projects and initiatives for better environmental performance in ports.

A new international cruise terminal will be operating in Brisbane within two years after Port of Brisbane and Carnival Australia announced they had reached a commercial agreement. The Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (BICT) at Luggage Point will be operating by mid-2020 and is expected to generate almost $5 billion in economic value for the Queensland economy alone within 15 years. The amended commercial agreement between Australia’s Port of the Year, Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) and Australia’s leading cruise organisation…

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has been made aware of a communication sent on 30 May 2018 by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to the Union de Capitanes y Oficiales de Cubierta (UCOC) about reducing the tug’s complement to the minimum manning established by the Panama Maritime Authority. The ACP has informed the UCOC that from 1 July 2018 there will be further reductions to the crew with the removal of the additional captain. This position is currently part of the forward tug’s crew since the opening of the new locks in 2016.

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, and Navis, part of Kalmar Business Area within Cargotec, have been awarded the contract to supply a state-of-the-art, fully automated intermodal terminal solution for Qube's Moorebank Logistics Park (MLP) in south-western Sydney. The order, valued at approximately EUR 80 million, includes the supply of the OneTerminal solution comprising Kalmar's automated train handling, automated yard crane and automated horizontal transportation equipment and the Navis N4 terminal operating system (TOS). It was booked into Cargotec's 2018 second quarter order intake.

Fifty-six aids to navigation will be removed in the Virginia Inside Passage on Virginia’s Eastern Shore after shoaling in the area created a significant hazard to navigation.The U.S. Coast Guard said it is overseeing the work of a contractor who is removing previously identified dayboards in waterways from Gargathy Inlet to north of Great Machipongo Inlet from June to August.As continued shoaling within these shallow-draft waterways, the areas are no longer safely marked as the aids can be misleading and unsafe for mariners. Additionally, the shoaling prevents the Coast Guard from safely accessing the aids to navigation to maintain them adequately.“When aids to navigation become a potential hazard to navigation, it is our responsibility to remove them,” said Capt.

Seastreak’s newest vessel, Seastreak Commodore, has been developed in response to significant passenger volume growth and brings the operator’s fleet of Incat Crowther-designed vessels to a total of eight.The 45m-long, 600-passenger ferry built at the Gulf Craft shipyard in Louisiana is the highest capacity UCSG k-Class fast ferry ever built. Incat Crowther said it worked closely with Seastreak to develop the vessel’s layout and styling to allow 600 people to safely and comfortably undertake their daily commute.

Adriatic LNG, the company which operates the regasification terminal located off the Veneto coastline, announces the arrival of the 600th carrier, the Al Jassasiya. The carrier left Ras Laffan Port in Qatar, delivering a cargo of about 140,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), equivalent to nearly 85 million cubic meters of gas. The event was celebrated on the terminal with a brief ceremony that involved the vessel's personnel and Adriatic LNG's staff, including the Operations Manager Fabian Erle, who delivered a recognition to Georgios Pissaris, the Captain of the Al Jassasiya.

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the 29th Fast Response Cutter (FRC), USCGC Forrest Rednour, to the U.S. Coast Guard, Thursday in Key West, Fla.“The vessel’s commissioning is scheduled for November, 2018 in southern California. This will be the first of four FRCs to be stationed in San Pedro, Calif.,” said Ben Bordelon, Bollinger President & CEO. “Previous cutters have been stationed around the nation including Alaska and Hawaii.”The 154-foot patrol craft USCGC Forrest Rednour is the 29th vessel in the Coast Guard's Sentinel-class FRC program.