Coastal and Inland News

SAFE Boats International (SAFE), delivered boats 17, 18 and 19 to the marine division of the New York Fire Department during the month of August. Since 2006 SAFE has successfully built and delivered a variety of boats to FDNY ranging in size from a 27’ full cabin vessel with firefighting equipment all the way up to the 64’ “Bravest” with three separate fire pump stations that went into service in 2011.The three latest additions to the FDNY fleet are 33’ full cabin boats. They are the 11th, 12th and 13th boats of that size and configuration.

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, extended losses for a sixth consecutive session on Friday, on weak demand across all vessel segments.The Baltic index, which reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, dropped 6 points, or 0.3%, to 1,855. The overall index posted its fifth weekly loss in six, closing 3.6% lower.The capesize index was down by 17 points, or 0.6%, at 3,064, falling for a sixth straight session.

U.S. crude exports to Asia, which have slumped due to record freight costs, stirred on Thursday as rates slid and the premium in Asia for Russia's ESPO Blend oil sent buyers back to U.S. grades, according to market sources.Oil shipping costs for United States Gulf Coast to Asia cooled this week from record highs on the prospect of more vessels becoming available. Nearly 300 oil tankers globally were placed off limits due to U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela.Seventeen supertankers returned to service in October after being sidelined for overhauls, as 11 entered drydocks.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is intensifying its joint activities with parties in India. 'As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is investing heavily in the development of seaports, industrial areas and hinterland connections.The largest port in Europe will sign two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with India, appointed an office and also supported the establishment of a maritime university that will partner with Rotterdam's institutions, marking the…

Global Container Terminals (GCT) will deploy the IBM-Maersk TradeLens platform at its four North American terminals.GCT operates four strategically located, big ship ready terminals on the west and east coast of North America. A leader in technologically advanced terminal operations, no company is more prepared to keep pace with the changing needs of global supply chains than GCT.In the Port of Vancouver, GCT Canada is the heart of the Asia-Pacific Gateway. GCT Deltaport is Canada’s largest marine terminal…

European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) congratulates Port of Barcelona (Spain), Port of Vigo (Spain) and Port of Baku (Azerbaijan) for getting EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS).Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s Secretary General, handed over the PERS certificates to the ports’ representatives during the Green Port Congress in Oslo.“I would like to congratulate Port of Barcelona and Port of Vigo for renewing EcoPorts’ environmental standard and Port of Baku for obtaining it for the first time.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s second-biggest container shipping line, has decided not to use the Arctic as a new short cut between northern Europe and Asia and will instead focus on improving environmental performance on existing global trade routes.In declaring the northern sea route out of bounds, MSC follows CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd that have similarly eschewed the commercial benefits of an Asia-North Europe option that is 30 percent shorter than the southern…

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) is mandatory instrument addressing the safety and security of ships, ports, cargo and crew, says International Maritime Organization (IMO).According to the UN body, it contains detailed security-related requirements for Governments, port authorities and shipping companies to ensure preventive measures can be taken if a security threat is determined.Maldives has become the latest country to receive maritime security training from IMO on the ISPS Code…

New 12m Site-Management boat from ProZero.After success with sales of both 8m, 11m and 15 Meter ProZero vessels for the aquaculture industry, ProZero now launch a new ProZero model in the fish farming markets. This time a 12m site-management boat developed in close dialogue with aquaculture experts.The new ProZero 12m site-management boat is basically equipped for tough offshore missions and built on the reliable and extremely seaworthy ProZero hull platform.The boat's large aft deck can…

Transnet National Ports Authority has redeployed a new tug to the Port of Cape Town, as Tug UMBILO went into service recently after being redeployed from the Port of Durban.Built in 2017, UMBILO was the sixth of nine new vessels to roll off the production line as part of $95 million tug construction contract being executed by Durban ship builder Southern African Shipyards. The Port of Cape Town also took delivery of tug USIBA last year, originally intended for the Port of Richards…

Southern Engineering Co. Ltd (SECO), based in Kenya, won a contract from the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to build and deliver three pilot boats.Designed to specification of naval architecture firm Southerly Designs, the boats will be 20-m long, 3-m deep with a 1.7-m draft.Built in steel with an aluminum superstructure and classed by BV, the deckhouse will include seating for two crew and up to 12 passengers, while accommodation for three crew will be provided below deck.The boats will be powered by two MAN D2862 LE 432 engines which will develop a total output of 882 kW at 2…

The Elektra push boat ordered by BEHALA, Berlin harbor’s warehousing and logistics firm will be equipped with rudder propellers from Schottel. Elektra will be a hybrid canal push boat powered by a combination of fuel cells, batteries and an electric motor. The boat is currently under construction at the Hermann Barthel shipyard in Derben (Germany), and is planned for testing in Berlin in 2020."Elektra shows what is possible," said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerd Holbach, Project Manager at TU Berlin for the Department of Design and Operation of Maritime Systems.

Delivered tonnage of crude oil tankers have grown by +37%, whereas total fleet demolitions for 2019 have slumped to the lowest in a decade with a reduction of 52% from the year before, says BIMCO, the largest of the international shipping associations representing shipowners.Newbuilding orders have remained low through the year with contracted tonnage down by 48%, it said.Amidst a market filled with uncertainty and geopolitical unrest, BIMCO maintains its bearings and turns to the market fundamentals to cut through the mist of market speculation and uncertainty-driven hype.

The total freight volume handled by Port of Antwerp rose from January through September 2019 by 1.1% compared with the same period last year. The container volume (in TEU) was up by as much as 6.4%.However the slowdown in the world economy reduced the growth rate of more volatile trade flows such as conventional break-bulk, liquid bulk and vehicles. On the other hand the volume of dry bulk such as scrap metal, minerals and coal soared by 9.5%, further propelling the overall freight…

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has announced that it will supply 25 Kalmar Hybrid Shuttle Carriers to the Port of Virginia, a growing, deep water port on the U.S. East Coast.The $23 million (USD) order was booked in Cargotec's 2019 Q3 order intake, and represents the exercising of a contract option for further units that was agreed upon in 2017. Delivery of the new machines is scheduled to be completed by the end of July 2020.The new units will be delivered to Norfolk International Terminals (NIT)…

Crystal Yacht Cruises announced the 55-cruise roster of 2022 and early 2023 itineraries for Crystal Esprit.A number of new options punctuate the collection of regionally focused voyages, with dozens of seven- and eight-night options catering to busy travel schedules or easily combined into longer adventures, said a company press release.In addition to exploration of hubs of profound history, featured destinations also capitalize on the 62-guest Crystal Esprit’s adventurous spirit…

The Port of Oakland is a major container ship facility located in Oakland, California, in the San Francisco Bay, said that its loaded container volume from January through September increased 3.1 percent compared to the same period in 2018.The Port said that despite a dip last month, loaded exports are outpacing last year’s numbers.Loaded imports are up 3.5 percent and loaded exports are up 2.7 percent compared to the same January-September period in 2018.The Port attributed this…

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, fell to a one-week low on Wednesday, on weaker demand for all vessel segments.The Baltic index, which reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, was down 1 point at 1,897, extending losses to a fourth session.The capesize index fell 10 points, or 0.3%, to 3,194. The average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170,000-180,000 tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal…

America’s first offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) barge has been launched for owner Q-LNG Transport, Mississippi shipbuilder VT Halter Marine announced on Wednesday.The Q-LNG 4000 barge, designed to carry 4,000 cubic meters of LNG, with dimensions of 324’ x 64’ x 32’.6”, will be operated as part of an articulated tug and barge (ATB) unit designed to meet the requirements of American Bureau of Shipbuilding (ABS) and the International Gas Carrier code as an LNG bunkering barge.Its tug, the Q-Ocean Services, is scheduled to launch late October.

U.S. Great Lakes ports are on pace to beat 2018 cargo volumes following a robust September handling road salt, cement, stone, petroleum and wind energy components.“U.S. Great Lakes ports are reporting cargo growth as they support the region’s construction activity and energy needs and help our cities prepare for the winter ahead,” said Bruce Burrows, President of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “Iron ore exports from Minnesota to Japan and China via the St. Lawrence Seaway are also continuing.”Overall, St.

BMT Specialized Ship Design has recently designed an 85m catamaran vehicle-passenger ferry built by Strategic Marine Vietnam, for family-owned Scottish ferry operator Pentland Ferries. The vessel is the latest in a series of collaborations between Strategic Marine and BMT, which now includes a variety of ferries and the extensive portfolio of windfarm support vessels, with the partnership continuing to expand. The MV Alfred, delivered on Thursday, August 29th, was named after the father of Andrew Banks…

Jan De Nul group of the beginning of work on dredging and expansion on an internal ship canal and a turning circle in port of Nouadhibou (Mauritania), one of the largest centers through which iron ore from the country is exported, is told in the group message.With the deepening and widening of the 25-km long entrance channel to the mineral terminal of Port of Nouadhibou, the National Industrial and Mineral Authority of Mauritania (Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière or SNIM) opens the port for vessels with a capacity of up to 250…

The government of India will put in place a comprehensive plan to develop 204 minor ports in the country in the next six months to boost coastal shipping and inland waterways, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. These minor ports will be developed so that it can support 12 major ports in India. Small cargo will reach to major port from minor ports and boost EXIM cargo, the minister said.All these ports have been centers of maritime activity in the past, and if revived, they can once again become important centers of sea trade.

The Maritime And Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore has stripped marine fuel services provider Inter-Pacific Petroleum (IPP) of its bunker craft operator licence in the port of Singapore, effective immediately.Inter-Pacific will not be allowed to operate tankers used to load marine fuel, known as bunker fuel, onto ships in the Port of Singapore, MPA says in a statement.As part of MPA’s ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity of bunkering in Singapore, checks were conducted on Inter…

An intensive training on port management and operational efficiency was delivered to high-level officials and decision-makers from maritime and port authorities around the world.The annual five-week course, delivered by the Institut Portuaire d’Enseignement et de Recherche (IPER), concluded on 11 October in le Havre, France.The 33rd Advanced Course on Port Operations and Management welcomed 19 participants from 19 countries. Seven of these participants were women. The participating countries were Algeria…

APM Terminals Gothenburg plans to double the volume of containers transported by rail to and from Gothenburg by 2022.APM Terminals Gothenburg is connected to more than 300 inland destinations in Sweden via rail. With more than 60 rail shuttles per week, Gothenburg has an unprecedented rail coverage in Sweden.Insjön in Dalarna, some 460 kilometers from Gothenburg, showcases how rail can offer the best transport solution. Six weekly shuttles by Vänerexpressen, connect the center…

Britain said on Tuesday it would complete a plan next year to achieve net zero emissions from all forms of transport, as climate change activists targeted the transport ministry.Britain is the first G7 country to commit to a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2050."From driving our cars, to catching a train or taking a flight abroad, it is crucial that we ensure transport is as environmentally friendly as possible," said transport secretary Grant Schapps.Due to be complete next year, the plan will set out in detail what government, business and society must do to deliver the signific

USDA Study Underscores Value of Inland Waterways to U.S. Agriculture.On August 28, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Assistant Secretary of the Army (ASA) for Civil Works R.D. James toured Mel Price Locks and Dam in Alton, Illinois, and held a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the importance of the waterways,  agriculture and the U.S. economy. At the event, Secretary Perdue briefed agricultural and waterways stakeholders on a newly released study – Importance of Inland Waterways to U.S. Agriculture – from the U.S.

Hungarian prosecutors are expected to charge the captain of a cruise ship that struck and sank a small tourist vessel on the River Danube, killing 28 mostly Korean tourists, after police finished their investigation, officials said on Tuesday.The tourist boat Mermaid, with 35 people on board, sank in seconds in May after the river cruiser hit it from behind under a bridge in the Hungarian capital during heavy rain, in the worst disaster on the Danube in more than half a century.Lawyers for the Ukrainian cruiser captain, identified by police as 64-year-old C. Yuriy from Odessa, who has been in custody since he was arrested after the incident, have said he is devastated but did nothing wrong.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has announced that it has participated in ‘Noah’s Train’ as part of the Rail Freight Forward (RFF) initiative, a collaborative effort to cut freight transport emissions by 30% by 2030.The longest mobile work of art and ambassador of the RFF initiative, Noah’s Train, is an initiative launched by several European railway companies to promote freight transport by rail. Gathered in the Rail Freight Forward coalition, they defend a common goal: reducing…

Sea Machines Robotics CEO & President.Michael Gordon Johnson is a marine engineer, an accomplished entrepreneur and sector leader with a primary goal of building progressive and sustainable innovation for modern society. He is the founder of Sea Machines, a Boston-based tech company that is a leading provider of autonomous control and intelligent perception systems for marine vessels. Johnson earned a marine engineering degree from Texas A&M University before starting a career focused on complex projects in offshore oil and gas, marine transportation and salvage.

Global investment firm The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and private equity firm Stellex Capital Management today announced they have closed on their acquisition of Vigor Industrial LLC and MHI Holdings LLC. In addition, Carlyle and Stellex announced they have appointed Jim Marcotuli as CEO of the newly created company comprising Vigor and MHI, effective today.Marcotuli brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the defense and manufacturing industries. He has served in a number of executive and operating roles with Carlyle portfolio companies and in industries spanning defense…

Incat Crowther has announced the launch of Kilimanjaro VII, a 45m catamaran passenger ferry for AzamMarine of Tanzania, Africa. This vessel is the tenth vessel designed by Incat Crowther for the operator, and theseventh vessel built for the operator by Richardson Devine Marine.The 500-passenger, 35 knot vessel features the operator’s trademark parallel boarding system, whereby fiveramps per side load passenger and cargo in segregated flows. VIP and Royal Class passengers board into adiscreet stair tower directly to the upper deck cabin…

The BWM Convention amendments formalizing the implementation schedule for the D-2 standard are now in force. Amendments to an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of potentially invasive species in ships' ballast water entered into force on October 13, 2019.Ships regularly take on sea water, in tanks, to ensure their stability. Known as ballast water, this can contain many aquatic species, including in microscopic or larval form. These can become invasive and harmful if the ballast water is released…

Japan has cancelled a maritime fleet review planned for Monday, a spokesman for the Maritime Self-Defence Force said, after a fierce typhoon pounded Tokyo and surrounding regions over the weekend, causing flooding and widespread power outages.Last held four years ago, the review was due to include 46 naval vessels and 40 aircraft. Ships from Australia, India, the United States, Canada, Singapore and Britain were to join.Reporting by Tim Kelly

A Panama-registered cargo ship was found sunk in waters near Tokyo on Sunday after authorities lost track of it as Typhoon Hagibis lashed Japan, the transport ministry said, while a newspaper said at least five of the 12 crew were killed.The Yomiuri newspaper said four crew were rescued, while three crew were still missing. The crew were from Myanmar, China and Vietnam, the ministry said. The coastguard could not immediately be reached for comment.The ship had been anchored off the coast of Kawasaki city, south of Tokyo, but contact was lost on Saturday, the ministry said.Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim

C-Shipping & Logistics handles freight transport from origin to destination and is a strong new addition to the port of Rotterdam’s roster of players. The new company was founded by Rederij de Jong, after teaming up for the occasion with two other big names in shipping and transport: Wouter Kleiss and Mathijs van Schaik.As operational directors, Kleiss and Van Schaik bring along a large network in the shipping sector, and Rederij de Jong ranks as one of the largest shipping companies in the inland shipping and push towing segments.

Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy  Peter Altmaier and coastal states agree package of measures for shore-generated power.Instead of burning fossil fuels to generate shipboard electric power, in future vessels in port should be using renewable shore-based energy. The German government is now launching appropriate measures to promote shore-generated power.Along with the premiers of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg and representatives of the state governments of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania…

APM Terminals Barcelona has reached a new milestone in its history, breaking the record for movements during a call by registering 5,394 movements on the Millau Bridge ship, which belongs to The Alliance, the terminal's main service.It is the highest level of activity registered on a ship in the Catalan terminal since the arrival of the OOCL Brussels in 2017, when 5,323 movements were performed. A sustained productivity of 135.46 Berth Moves Per Hour was reached during the operation.Jordi Vidal…

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, edged lower on Friday, weighed down by lower capesize vessel rates, while the main index posted its first weekly rise in five.The Baltic index, which reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, fell 5 points, or 0.26%, to 1,924.The capesize index dropped 29 points, or 0.87%, to 3,290, while the index recorded its first gain in five weeks. The average daily earnings for capesizes…

The visit of the cruise ship AIDAprima on Saturday, October 12, marked the end of the oceangoing cruise season in Kiel, and what a season it was with ship visits and passenger numbers up over 2018.In total the port was visited 174 times (2018: 169) by 32 different cruise ships with a total tonnage of 15 million GT (2018: 11.5). For the first time the port exceeded the 800,000 cruise passenger threshold (embarked or left a ship at the terminals) in Kiel (+ 33.6 %). The cruise and…

Britain said on Friday it had signed deals worth 86.6 million pounds ($109.50 million) with shipping firms to ensure the supply of vital medicines in the event of border chaos after the country leaves the European Union.The country's transport ministry said the six-month contracts meant that Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O and Stena Line would be ready to deliver capacity equivalent to thousands of lorries each week from the Oct.

DSC Dredge, LLC wins bid for a new, non-propelled, cutter suction head dredge solicited by The Marine Design Center (MDC) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) earlier this month. When completed, the new cutter suction head dredge will operate out of Astara, Azerbaijan to not only maintain the harbor depth and harbor entrance but the US Government is purchasing this dredge for the country of Azerbaijan as a part of Azerbaijan’s support of the US in anti-terrorism efforts.

Marine Highways Gain Traction in the Intermodal Supply Chain.In the United States, landside infrastructure is at a crisis point. Congestion at the big hub ports, exacerbated by imperfect intermodal interfaces with surface transport serving cargo hinterlands is at the heart of the matter. As politicians bicker over a possible infrastructure package, the Highway Trust Fund, funded by taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel, has continued its downward journey towards further deficits (now $144 billion). And, where countless U.S.

Congressional Leaders Rebuke Fatally Flawed Congressional Research Service Reports on Dredging and U.S.-flag Shipping.The Chairman and Ranking Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) and the Chair and Ranking Members of T&I’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation sent a letter to the Library of Congress refuting a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on the American dredging industry as “filled with misleading…

Highly sought after types of oil best suited to making cleaner shipping fuel are suddenly finding they are a tougher sell for thirsty East Asian markets, traders say, in an unintended consequence of U.S. sanctions on a Chinese shipping fleet.With just over two months until environmental rules are set to mandate the biggest changes to ship power in over a century, certain rare types of West African oil have soared in value but have had to be marked down due to the higher costs of transport.The United States imposed sanctions on units of China's COSCO on Sept.

Oil prices jumped more than 2% on Friday, October 11, 2019, after Iranian media said a state-owned oil tanker had been struck by missiles in the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia, raising the prospect of supply disruptions weeks after attacks on Saudi oil plants.The Suezmax crude tanker Sabiti was ablaze and suffered heavy damage after being hit by two missiles, Iranian media reported.Both oil benchmarks recorded their biggest daily rise since Sept. 16, the first trading day after the…

Singapore-listed operator of offshore support vessels PACC Offshore Services Holdings (POSH) has agreed to acquire the 50 per cent stake held by Sembcorp Marine (SMM) in harbour services provider Pacific Workboats Pte Ltd (PWPL) for over US$679,400 in cash.PWPL is a 50:50 joint venture between POSH and Dolphin Shipping Company, a 100% owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Marine Limited. The 50% stake actually belongs to Dolphin. PWPL offers harbour services in Singapore and across the region.The Acquisition is expected to complete by end 2019…

Scottish operator Pentland Ferries’ new vessel Alfred arrived in Orkney after completing a 5,481 nautical mile voyage from shipbuilder Strategic Marine’s Vung Tao, Vietnam, shipyard that began August 29.After final fittings and trials, MV Alfred will connect passengers from Orkney to the Scottish mainland on the service already operated by family business Pentland Ferries."The new vessel will provide the most environmentally-friendly ferry service in Scotland," said a press release.MV Alfred can hold more passengers than its predecessor…

DP World, a Dubai-based global port operator, announced that it has expanded its business in Peru into a fully-integrated maritime and logistics operation.It has completed the development of the first phase of the deepwater port of Posorja in Ecuador for around $538 million. The whole project is estimated to cost around $1.2 billion.The development of the port by DP World will make Ecuador a trade and logistics hub for South America’s west coast. It will also see large container ships with capabilities exceeding 10…

Effective January 1, 2020, Dennis Lenthe Olesen, currently Global Head of Operations at APM Terminals, will assume the role of Managing Director for APM Terminals Nordics.This joint management structure will enable APM Terminals Aarhus and Gothenburg to strengthen collaboration and unlock operational synergies. The terminals will remain separate legal entities in Denmark and Sweden.“I am pleased to announce Dennis in this new and exciting role, as we embark on an important journey of unlocking further synergies between our two terminals and strengthening collaboration in the Nordics area”…

Jan De Nul Group completed the capital dredging works for the Channel Risk and Optimization Project (CROP) in Port Hedland, Western Australia, and can look back on a successful three-year cooperation with the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA).Over the past three years a combination of Hopper Dredgers, a Cutter Suction Dredger and Split Hopper Barges were deployed to dredge sections of the 42-km long navigational channel and to further enhance the safe and sustainable access to the port of Port Hedland.

If autonomous vessels are the future of maritime shipping, then cyber threats may be its Achilles heel. Congested shipping, restricted visibility, limited maneuverability, and intensive docking activities all contribute to port hazards – 42 percent of EU reported marine accidents (injury/death/damage to ships) took place in port areas and 44 percent of workboat fatalities occurred on Tugs. Autonomous shipping should provide numerous benefits including increased safety by relieving crewmembers of unsafe and repetitious tasks.

Greece has trimmed an investment plan by Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) to boost operations at one of Europe's largest harbours, rejecting proposals for a new container terminal.PPA, majority owned by China's COSCO Shipping , had submitted to Greece's shipping ministry an 800-million-euro plan, which included a new cruise ship terminal, a mall and four hotels in the port.PPA had also proposed to build a fourth container terminal that would boost Piraeus' total throughput to 10 million…

Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP) and Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS have reached an agreement to establish a shore power facility in Copenhagen, which means that the Crown Seaways and Pearl Seaways vessels will be able to receive electricity from land.A shore power facility will reduce emissions of air contaminated particles such as NOx, SOx and particulate matter, which goes hand in hand with the ambitions of both CMP and DFDS to actively contribute to a greener Copenhagen.CMP and DFDS are engaged in a joint effort…

Lithuania's state-run oil and LNG terminal operator Klaipedos Nafta (Klaipedos Oil, KN) said on Wednesday it’s currently negotiating an operations and maintenance services agreement for a LNG terminal in Brazil with Brazils' Gas Natural Acu (GNA).Under such Agreement KN may commit to incorporate a company in Brazil (hereinafter – Brazilian  SPV) for the provision of such services.For that reason, KN may need to give a guarantee or guarantees to secure the fulfillment of obligations…

All partners including Customs, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Port of Amsterdam Authority, PortBase and the involved municipalities are working hard on preparations for a possible no-deal Brexit on 31 October 2019.The aim of the coordinated action is to minimize any delays resulting from additional customs formalities at Rotterdam en Vlaardingen ferry terminals, said a press release from the Port of Rotterdam Authority.So-called traffic circulation plans have been designed…

KOTUG International B.V. and Canada-based offshore vessels operator Horizon Maritime Horizon Maritime Services have formed KOTUG Canada, a joint venture company which will offer terminal and harbor towage services across Canada.The joint venture looks forward to developing a strong presence within the Canadian terminal and harbour towing market.The strategic partnership brings complimentary skills from each partner and the sharing of joint experience, expertise, and best practices…

Work to dismantle and remove the old West Street Pier in Gravesend is well underway. The pier was used for a number of years by passengers of the Gravesend-Tilbury ferry. But in 2012 the ferry service moved to the renovated Town Pier.The old West Street pier has therefore not been used for a number of years and is now in very poor repair. The structure was further damaged in winter storms last year.The Port of London Authority (PLA) has recently taken ownership of the old pier and begun work to remove the structure.

The Panama Canal has closed the 2019 fiscal year (FY19) with a record tonnage of 469 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS), a 6.2 percent increase compared to FY2018.With this figure, the waterway exceeds the 450.7 million PC/UMS tons projection for FY2019, as well as the record tonnage of 442 million PC/UMS tons registered in the previous fiscal year. These record-setting results reflect the Canal workforce's commitment to efficiency and ongoing investments in infrastructure, which will allow the waterway to meet the growing demand and offer a reliable and safe service to customers.

Combined soya bean exports from Brazil and the US are down 7.8% in the first eight months of this year, as the main Brazilian soya bean export season disappointed. The fall in volumes from the two countries has also led to an 8.5% drop from last year in the tonne mile demand generated by the two dominant soya bean exporters.In particular falling exports from Brazil have hurt the shipping industry, with accumulated soya bean exports from Brazil in the first eight months of this year 7.8 million tonnes lower than the first eight months of 2018.

Almost a third of companies who ship goods to Britain through the Netherlands have failed to complete the necessary paperwork for their trucks to embark on ferries after Brexit, the Dutch transport association TLN said on Wednesday."The registration is absolutely necessary, without it trucks will be sent away at terminals after Brexit," TLN spokesman Elmer de Bruin said.The Netherlands is home to Europe's largest seaport in Rotterdam, making it a major hub for trade with Britain.To keep the traffic across the North Sea flowing after Brexit…

Dublin-based SSE Renewables, a renewable energy subsidiary of Airtricity, has selected the port of Montrose on the east coast of Scotland to serve as the operations and maintenance (O&M) base for its 1100MW Seagreen offshore wind farm.Situated over 27km off the Angus coastline, Seagreen is the furthest from shore of any Scottish offshore wind farm and is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power over 40% of all households in Scotland. When completed, it will become Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm.John Hill…

It is now only weeks left until the UK leaves the EU. According to the current timetable, this will take place on 31 October. The question of Brexit is raised in the Port of Gothenburg.Although the road leading to this point has been long and at times rocky, the date of the UK's withdrawal from the EU is approaching relentlessly. A 'soft' or 'hard' Brexit does not matter – the UK will be classed as a ‘third country’ in relation to EU countries such as Sweden, as it will be outside the single market.

Ports of Stockholm has been nominated as a finalist for the 2019 C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award. The prize is awarded in seven categories to provide global recognition for cities demonstrating climate action leadership.Ports of Stockholm has reached the final for the power installations at the Värtahamnen port as one of three nominees in the Air quality category.“It is really great that we have reached the final, as our power installations have been a focus area this year.

Polish rail freight operator PKP Cargo has rebranded its Czech subsidiary Advanced World Transport (AWT) to PKP Cargo International. Besides the new name, the Czech company has obtained a new corporate logo and colours.Advanced World Transport is the second largest rail freight carrier in the Czech Republic. In May 2015, PKP Cargo S.A. took over 80 percent shares in the company, and in November 2017 the remaining 20 percent.In December 2018, AWT acquired 80 percent shares in the company Primol-Rail d.o.o.…

French container transportation and shipping company CMA CGM plans to introduce its new product GUINEA GULF EXPRESS (GGX) service in complement of the current 6 weekly services as part of improving its  offer on the trade Europe and Mediterranean to West Africa strategic markets.The new Guinea Gulf Express is the second service from Gibraltar hubs linking European, Med and North America to Tema, Ghana, Nigeria Lagos port and Conakry, Guinea.It will provide perfect answers to Customers’ needs with transit times amongst the best on the market…

Taiwanese ocean shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has announced the launch of CVK service (China-Vietnam-Cambodia Service) with effect from October 21st, 2019."We are launching the service in light of the strong cargo volumes in the area of China, Vietnam and Cambodia," said a press release.The port rotation of CVK service is Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh, Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Ningbo.This will be Yang Ming’s first service that directly links China’s ports, Da Nang and Sihanoukville.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the cargo operating partnership of the ports of Tacoma and Seattle, has teamed up with Washington State Ferries, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Puget Sound Partnership to identify ways to protect the endangered orca population.The Partnership co-convened a workshop of a broad range of experts and interests to identify ways to reduce underwater noise in effort to support recovery of the endangered population…

Following reports by two seafarers onboard the Alp Striker during the night of Sunday to Monday, of signals that they interpreted as potentially emanating from a distress flare, the vessel immediately set a course for the area, in coordination with the CROSS Antilles-Guyane.The CROSS called on 3 additional commercial vessels to change course and head to the area reported as being the origin of the signal. It also received air support from U.S. authorities by way of the aircraft Hercules C-130. The search operations led by the Alp Striker, involving namely drones, as well as the operations carried out by the three other vessels, and the flyover by the U.S.

Marcon International has announced to report the recent sales of the following two U.S. flag tugs as sellers continue to upgrade their fleets.The U.S. flag, 4,800 HP twin screw, flush-deck, articulated pusher tug “Java Sea” has been sold by Kirby Offshore Marine of Houston, Texas to private buyers. The tug was originally built by the well-respected Main Iron Works of Houma, Louisiana as the “Patriot” (Hull 360) - a 3,000 HP, EMD 12-645E6 powered, conventional twin screw tug with a raised 49.3’ height of eye pilothouse.

Due to the continuous growth of its South American operations, global logistics provider Dachser recently relocated both its Buenos Aires, Argentina regional office as well as its Santiago, Chile regional office to larger facilities.“The business in both Argentina and Chile is expanding and we simply outgrew our offices in these countries. We needed more employees, equipment and space to properly handle the business we have today as well as prepare for the growth we anticipate in these markets,” said Guido Gries, Managing Director Dachser Americas.

Confidence in the shipping industry fell in the past three months to its lowest level for two and half years, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from leading shipping adviser and accountant BDO. Yet owners, charterers and managers were more confident than they were at the time of the previous survey in May 2019.The average confidence level recorded by the survey in the three months to end-August 2019 was 5.8 out of a possible maximum of 10.0. This compares to the…

Iron ore shipments to China from Australia's Port Hedland terminal, the world's biggest iron ore port, fell more than 5% in September from a month earlier, port data showed on Tuesday.Shipments to China totalled 36.05 million tonnes in September, down from 38.14 million tonnes in August, the Pilbara Ports Authority said.Overall iron ore shipments totalled 41.97 million tonnes in September, down more 7% from 45.43 million tonnes in August.Port Hedland is used by three of Australia's top four iron ore miners: BHP Group, Fortescue Metals Group and Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill.Reporting by Colin Packh

A set of complicated lock-and-dam projects on the Illinois Waterway, from Chicago to the Mississippi, has yellow lights flashing throughout the Midwest freight industry. In effect, the entire Waterway will be shut down next summer as the Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island Division, starts some hefty replacement and maintenance projects, from LaGrange to Brandon Road locks and dams.Officials advise maritime, freight and agricultural businesses to look ahead now, to prepare a logistics scenario that will be ready by July 1, 2020.

Oil shipping rates are soaring following a series of sanctions on a Chinese transportation giant and limitations placed on movement of Venezuelan crude oil tankers.WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO SHIPPING RATES?The cost of chartering a supertanker to send crude oil from one country to another is rising sharply. A South Korean importer paid more than $12 million in shipping costs for one crude shipment from the U.S. Gulf Coast. This was followed by Friday's tentative charter of another crude…

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday that mysterious oil slicks polluting the country's northeastern beaches were likely to have been left there criminally.Had the oil originated from a shipwreck, as Bolsonaro posited on Monday, it would still be seeping onto the beaches, he said.The oil has washed up in recent weeks on more than a hundred beaches in nine northeastern states from Maranhao down to Bahia. Its origin has yet to be explained.Reporting by Pedro Fonseca

Drewry Shipping Consultants has revealed that it now expects global port throughput to rise by 2.6% in 2019, down from the previous 3.0% expectation.The mood-music surrounding the container market has deteriorated further in the last three months, resulting in Drewry downgrading its outlook for world container port throughput for the current year and the rest of the five-year horizon in the Container Market Annual Review and Forecast.The weight of risks pressing down on the container market seems to be getting heavier by the day…

The $538 million first phase of the new Deepwater Port of Posorja in Ecuador by global trade enabler, DP World, is now completed and successfully operational.The overall $1.2 billion project will replicate Dubai's Jebel Ali Port and freezone, making Ecuador a trade and logistics hub for South America's west coast, and opening a gateway for large container ships with capacities exceeding 10,000 TEUs.Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, visited the facility to assess progress of the project, which is one of the largest international investments in Ecuador.

India can now use two crucial Bangladesh ports - Chattogram and Mongla - for shipment of its cargo, which will cut time and cost significantly, India's shipping minister Mansukh Lal Mandavia said.He has said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy initiative regarding use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports in Bangladesh for movement of goods to and from India will bring revolutionary cost-cutting in shipments to and from the North Eastern States.During the official visit of  Sheikh Hasina…

Occidental Petroleum Corp provisionally chartered a supertanker to ship U.S. crude to South Korea for a new record of $13.25 million in November, three shipping sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Maran Andromeda was chartered by Occidental on Friday for an estimated Nov. 20 departure, according to one shipbroker and Refinitiv Eikon shipping data.Global shipping rates, and in particular U.S. Gulf Coast to Asia <TD-LPP-SIN>, have skyrocketed after the United States in late September imposed sanctions on two units of China's COSCO…

The Danish company Bawat A/S, specializing in the treatment of ballast water aboard ships and in ports, has just finalized the provision of capital equal to more than $2.94m from new and existing shareholders.The new shareholders include Selfinvest Family Office as a key stakeholder, and previous TORM CEO and current SKULD chairman Klaus Kjærulff. Former Sondex owner Åge Søndergaard of SonFlow A/S joins the new shareholders. Their engagement represents considerable support of…

Perth-based Harbor towage operator, Westug Pty Ltd (Westug) has announced their successful start with the OptiPort AI-assisted Dispatch system in its new Port Hedland operation to ensure long-term, efficient and sustainable towage services in the port on behalf of KOTUG for Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue). The announcement was made alongside the official start of Westug’s towage operations in the world’s leading and largest dry bulk export port with an annual export volume of over 500 million tons of iron ore…

Recent years have seen a considerable upturn in the number of orders from Italian customers for the sophisticated ASD or tractor configuration tug boats constructed by Sanmar Marine at either of its two custom-built shipyards in Turkey.As in many parts of the world, this growth in demand has been spearheaded by the enormously successful 24.4m x 11.25 Bogacay series – currently Sanmar’s ‘best seller’. It is undoubtedly appropriate that the first example of a newly configured version is also Italy bound.

ONE SEA, the industry alliance whose primary aim is to lead the way towards an operating autonomous maritime ecosystem by 2025, has appointed Riku-Pekka Hägg as Chairman of its Management Board.Hägg, who will oversee ONE SEA while retaining his current role as Vice President, Ship Design and Integrated Solutions Sales at Wärtsilä. He is a maritime technology thought leader and strategist whose experience is steeped in the business of change.Having fulfilled an array of strategic roles at Wärtsilä…

It just might. And, you’ve got options.The Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) carriage requirements apply to all passenger ships regardless of gross tons or year of build, and to all cargo ships 3000 gross tons or larger built after 2002. A simplified VDR (S-VDR) is allowed on older ships built before 2002. The performance standard was updated in 2014. That said; a full type-approved VDR is not a requirement for inland vessels under 3,000 GT. Nevertheless, a good case to be made for installing a (less costly) data recording device on such vessels…

At least nine people died when a boat carrying dozens of migrants sank off the coast of the island of Lampedusa, south of Sicily, Italy's coastguard said on Monday.The coastguard said rescue vessels had picked up 22 people, and search operations for other survivors were underway after an alert was received late on Sunday night that a boat carrying some 50 people was in difficulty.The U.N. migration agency said the boat had set sail from Tunisia and had been carrying Tunisian and west African migrants.Vessels from the coastguard and customs police had reached the vessel, which overturned in rough seas about six nautical miles from the coast of Lampedusa, the coastguard said in a statement.

North Sea Port and Lineas are joining forces to increase efficiency with 12 new rail connections to the European hinterland.According to a press note from the cross-border port that consolidates the port areas of Vlissingen, Terneuzen and Ghent, this is a significant expansion of the volume of rail transport from the port.A new rail connection between Interface Terminal Ghent and the Lineas Main Hub in Antwerp allows goods to be shipped via the international rail network of Lineas.The 12 new destinations are Madrid…

In just six months since the inauguration of the new Moín Container Terminal (MCT) in Costa Rica, highly-trained employees are meeting all productivity KPIs outlined in the concession contract.By reducing berthing times to an average of just 10 hours per vessel, the Terminal has been able to create an additional berthing window for a new direct service to Shanghai, China.The first ship on this new commercial route arrived from Houston on Sunday, 22 September, leaving on Monday laden with Costa Rican pineapples, bananas, meat and orange juice.

France-based developer of smart data for ports Traxens has led the development of the first standards for smart container data exchange now published by the United Nations Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT).Business Requirements Specifications (BRS) delivers internationally standardized messaging to facilitate the use of smart container data. Although many smart containers are already in use, there are no global standards in place to capture and…

The Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) and the Port of Rotterdam Authority celebrated the completion of the deepening of the Nieuwe Waterweg and Botlek on Thursday (October 03).One of the busiest waterways in the Netherlands has been deepened by a metre and a half across a distance of 25 kilometres, said a press note from the largest port in Europe, located in the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands.The ceremonial opening of the deepened Nieuwe…

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday that the U.S. team was "open-minded" about the outcome of U.S.-China trade talks next week, which will include deputy-level meetings on Monday and Tuesday, with minister-level meetings Thursday and Friday.Kudlow declined to make any predictions about the talks but said that there had been a "softening of the psychology on both sides" in the past month, with the United States delaying some tariff increases and China making some modest purchases of American farm products.Reporting by David Lawder

Another milestone for the establishment of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) as marine fuel in Germany has been achieved. Nauticor successfully conducted the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation in a German port. The trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Scheldt River received the low emission fuel from the bunker supply vessel (BSV) Kairos.Today, the world’s largest LNG BSV Kairos conducted the first ship-to-ship bunkering operation in German waters. The vessel, which was christened in Hamburg on February 2019…

Exxon Mobil Corp this week banned the use of vessels linked to oil flows from Venezuela in the last year, according to four people familiar with the matter, placing new pressure on the U.S. sanctioned country and on global crude freight rates.The largest publicly-traded oil producer's contract clause would affect about 250 tankers, two of the people familiar with the matter estimated. Exxon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Over 25 foreign vessels touch Venezuelan ports per month, according to PDVSA's and Refinitiv Eikon data.Reporting by Collin Eaton

Freight rates to ship U.S. crude to Asia continued to surge, with costs to charter a supertanker rising to a record $12 million on Thursday, shipping sources familiar with the matter said.South Korea's top refiner, SK Energy, tentatively chartered the supertanker Maxim to ship U.S. crude to South Korea in November for a record $10 million earlier in the week but that fixture has since failed, the sources said.The company now has conditionally booked the Pacific M at a new record of $12.35 million…

Canadian company Thordon Bearings has notched up another success story for a customer in the demanding offshore sector, with a bearing and seal installation in “perfect condition” after over three years of operation.Global Tiger, operated by UAE-based Global Marine Co is a 42m (138ft) crew/supply vessel currently in service in the Middle East. It is one of a pair of all-aluminium crewboats built by Grandweld of Dubai in 2015/2016. The vessel, with 83-person capacity, is powered by a triple-screw Caterpillar propulsion plant…

In over 20,000 Golden Sea-Drives manufactured, not one has ever failed. While most companies would rest on their laurels with such an impressive statistic, Golden Boat Lifts didn't. Striving to continually improve its products, it enhanced its ultra-reliable drive with more torque and even greater corrosion protection.Made in the USA, the Golden Sea-Drive still utilizes its proven double reduction worm gears so there are no chains to break or belts to slip. It's engineered so that the main gear that supports the load will never back drive…

Volvo Penta gensets are powering the largest electric-hybrid ferry in Sweden. The Tellus ferry operates the 1.8km-wide Gullmarsleden waterway between Uddevalla and Lysekil – one of Sweden’s busy maritime routes. We take a look at the motivations, collaborations, and technology behind this installation.The Tellus ferry was commissioned by the Swedish Transport Administration and built by Baltic Workboats Shipyard – an Estonian company that’s made over 200 workboats and who currently have 30 workboats on order.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has launched a new container tracking application Boxinsider allowing shippers and freight forwarders to locate their containers at any given moment.Boxinsider draws on status information from container vessels and inland and deep-sea terminals, tracking containers and determining arrival and departure times for vessels, as well as container unloading and departures at container terminals. Users are also warned about any delays or disruptions."When I order a book online, I can almost follow the package live," explains CEO Allard Castelein.

On October 3, 2019, Damen Shipyards Galati hosted a celebration marking the keel-laying of a Damen Marine Aggregate Dredger (MAD) 3500 for Hanson UK. The event was well attended by representatives of both Damen Shipyards Group and Hanson UK.The keel of the new MAD 3500 was laid at the Romanian yard a few days prior to the celebration, on September 20th. At this event, tradition was observed with the inclusion of four coins in the keel – a Romanian lei, a British pound, a Dutch guilder and a euro.The MAD is a new design from Damen that can dredge material at depths of up to -55 meters.

Hidrovias do Brasil S.A. has started operating two new pusher tugs custom-designed by Vancouver, Canada based Robert Allan Ltd, pushing barges containing bulk products along the Amazon River system. This HB PIRARARA shallow-draft pusher tug and sister vessel HB PIRARUCU have a Robert allan RApide 4000-Z3 tug design and were constructed by Estaleiro Rio Maguari in Belem, Brazil.Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were used in the early phases of the design work to optimize the hull shapes and minimize total convoy resistance…

As car carrier shipping is expected to continue its slow recovery, backed by better utilization and minimal vessel ordering, costs are increasing while the trade outlook seems vulnerable to emerging geopolitical risk. Slow car carrier recovery is expected to lead to more distressed vessel sales as shipping lines focus on landside investments in search of profitability, according to the  global shipping consultancy Drewry.Seaborne trade in finished vehicles, including high & heavy and used autos…

The Port of Los Angeles has announced a development opportunity for an Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal at Berths 46 and 50, with plans to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) later this fall.The proposal is intended for cruise lines, terminal operators, and real estate developers interested in creating a new state-of-the-art cruise terminal in a prime location for expansion of west coast cruise travel at America’s busiest port. Located on the south end of an extensive LA Waterfront development, the proposed 13-acre site offers unique panoramic views of the coastline and Catalina Island.