Identifying and dealing with potential threats to port security operations was at the core of a three-day workshop in Belize City, Belize (18-20 July). The event took a closer look at security needs and associated risks. Through interactive presentations and discussions between participants the workshop helped identify opportunities for increased collaboration between government agencies and port owners/operators as well as assessing port security training priorities. The workshop…

Svitzer will provide marine support services for the Excelerate Energy FSRU at Bangladesh’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal. Excelerate Energy Bangladesh Limited awarded Svitzer the 15-year contract following a competitive tender process. The contract also includes a five-year option. Bangladesh’s first LNG import terminal, located offshore Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal, will enable Petrobangla, the state owned energy company, to increase natural gas supply in the country by up to 20 percent, sufficient to support up to 3,000 MW of power generation capacity. The construction of the terminal will commence in the fourth quarter of 2017 and is anticipated to be in service by mid- 2018.

Virginia’s Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) has christened its newest passenger ferry, the first of three to be delivered to the agency as part of a $7 million program to replace the fleet’s aging vessels, the newest of which was delivered in 1990 and the oldest of which has been in service since 1982. Designed by BMT and constructed by Armstrong Marine in North Carolina, the new vessel is a 149-passenger, 78-foot, aluminum ferry powered by twin Volvo D13-400 Tier III-compliant engines, spinning 36-inch propellers via Twin Disc reduction gears.

July 20 marks a milestone in Subchapter M implementation. Towing vessels with keels laid or major conversions on or after July 20, 2017 are required to meet 46 CFR Subchapter M and obtain a Certificate of Inspection (COI) prior to operating. Additionally, starting July 20, 2018, a portion of existing towing vessels will have one year to meet all of Subchapter M and obtain COIs. By July 19, 2022, 100 percent of the towing vessels must have valid COIs on board. Owners or managing…

With an increase in throughput of 3.9%, the port of Rotterdam can look back a good first half year. There was growth in eight of the ten market segments. The only falls were in the volumes of mineral oil products and other liquid bulk. In particular, the volume of containers handled (9.3% in TEU, 10.4% in tonnes) was the determining factor for the overall growth in throughput. Dry bulk increased (5.2%), liquid bulk decreased slightly (-1.0%) and break bulk was very much on the rise (10.8%). A total of 238.0 million tonnes of goods were handled in the first half of the year.

Florida-based Swordfish Partners and Deep Blue Exploration have contracted Blue Water Ventures International to recover potentially valuable artifacts and coins from a shipwreck site off the coast of North Carolina the parties believe to be the 1838 sinking of the steam paddle wheeler, Pulaski. Endurance discovered the site of the loss and the shipwreck is currently subject of a Swordfish Partners admiralty claim in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa.

Van Oord has been awarded the contract for Dubai Harbour marine works, a prestigious mega project in Dubai. The project, which Van Oord carries out for Projects Link Contracting Co LLC, is the next step in achieving ‘Dubai Tourism Vision 2020’, Dubai’s strategy to attract 20 million visitors per year by 2020. A strategy to which Van Oord has contributed since 2001 by building amongst others Palm Jumeirah, The World  and many other artificial islands. Dubai Harbour is set to span 185 hectares, and will include berths for 1,400 boats and a cruise terminal.

The port of Antwerp handled 111,385,518 tonnes of freight during the first six months of this year, 2.8% more than in the same period last year. Container freight once more performed well after a number of exceptional years, with an increase of 2.5% in terms of tonnage and 1.9% in TEU. Liquid bulk, a regular climber, finished 1.8% up at the end of June. After the previous record years these figures inspire further confidence. “We have achieved them against a background of already good performance,” declared Port Authority CEO Jacques Vandermeiren.

Qatar Gas Transport Company and Norwegian shipping business Hoegh LNG have embarked on a joint project to open new markets for Qatar to sell its liquefied natural gas (LNG) via floating import terminals. Hoegh LNG, a developer of floating LNG import terminals, expects to start work on the import terminal project in a matter of months, CEO Sveinung Stohle told Reuters. Stohle said Hoegh LNG and Qatar Gas Transport Company, which operates a large fleet of LNG tankers, are evaluating countries in which they could establish a floating terminal, naming South America and south-east Asia as attractive prospects. Top LNG producer Qatar, which is in the midst of a diplomatic crisis that erupted when Saudi Arabia and other Arab states cut diplomatic and transport links with Doha in early June…

Norway’s offshore vessel provider SolstadFarstad has secured a contract with Australian energy company Cooper Energy to support drilling operations within the Bass Strait region of Australia. The contract consists of the  two anchor handling tug and supply vessels - Far Statesman and Far Senator - towing the Ocean Monarch from the North West Shelf of Australia to the Bass Strait, and then continuing with rig support duties for a firm period of 120 days, and two lots of 60-day optional periods. Both vessels are of a UT 731 CD design built in 2013.

Norwegian offshore shipowner GC Rieber Shipping has entered into an agreement to extend the fixed contract period for "Polar Onyx," according to a press release. The agreement secures the ship until the end of August 2017. It had won the initial contract for the vessel in early March. At the time, the company said that the charter would see the vessel continue operating in West Africa. Polar Onyx is a high capacity flexible piplay and subsea construction vessel built for harsh conditions and deep waters. The vessel is designed to operate in the SURF/Construction/IMR market.

A newly built Damen Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) 650 has completed sea trials in Shanghai and is now underway to new owner, Gippsland Ports in Australia on her own keel. The TSHD, named Tommy Norton, is the first Damen dredger built for Australia. Having left Shanghai on July 14, a Damen team is sailing Tommy Norton approximately 5,000 nautical miles over a period of approximately 30 days to reach Australia. Along the way, the vessel will stop off in Guam for bunkering and to enable the crew to take on supplies of fresh water and food.

Harley Marine Services has welcomed its newest vessel, Dr Hank Kaplan, to its Puget Sound fleet on June 22. The vessel has a length of 80', a beam of 36' and a depth of 13'7" and is equipped with two 3516C marine propulsion engines that deliver a combined 5,350 HP. The vessel also features the brand new Cat MTA 524-T azimuth thrusters, which were specially designed for high performance tractor tugboats. Designed by Robert Allen Limited in Vancouver, the tug was built at Diversified Marine in Portland, Ore. and is a sister class vessel to the recently built Michelle Sloan and Lela Franco.

Following a recent capital investment and the growing global interest from the marine sector, Sea Machines Robotics said it has been expanding its crew and is poised for further growth, expecting to deliver first generation systems to marine customers this summer. Over the past two months, Sea Machines has added multiple new members to its experienced team of engineers, scientists and mariners. Among the new hires is Phil Bourque, the company’s new director of business development.

A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday its anti-virus software was not effective against a new type of malware that hit the Danish shipping giant last month, but said further protective measures have now been put in place. "This virus attack was a previously unseen type of malware, and updates and patches applied to both the (Microsoft) Windows systems and our antivirus (program) were not an effective protection in this particular case," Maersk said in a statement. "In response to this new type of malware, we have put in place different and further protective measures," it added.

Regional tankerman service Liquid Services, LLC, is celebrating 25 years of operation on the inland waterways. In what started as a mom and pop shop in Paducah, Ky., in 1992, has flourished into a fully licensed, bonded, and dangerous liquid endorsed tankerman service specializing in safe and cost-effective transfer of liquid materials for the marine industry. “We are family owned, and family operated,” said Philip Chapman, owner and operator of Liquid Services. “We always have been. We also treat our employees like family. In addition to dangerous liquid cargo transfer, Liquid Services also offers tankerman training, hose and line pressure testing, tank barge engine repair, gauging, terminal and barge maintenance and more.

Rapp Marine said it has received a new order from Odd Lundberg As, marking the third generation of owners from the shipping company who have selected its deck machinery. “This is the first time the shipping company has selected a high-tech electrical solution,” confirms Morten Stenkjær, VP Sales at Rapp Marine AS. “The owner’s new pride is a combined ring-net and pelagic trawler and will be equipped with a complete electric deck machinery solution from Rapp Marine. Mats Lundberg…

With strong increases in iron ore and other cargo, total tonnage shipped via the St. Lawrence Seaway is up 20 percent over last year. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation reports that cargo shipments from March 20 to June 30 totaled more than 12 million metric tons – up two million metric tons over the same period in 2016. “St. Lawrence Seaway shipping is a bellwether for the health of the overall U.S. and Canadian economies and reflects strong demand for raw materials to support the automotive…

U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 9.7 million tons of cargo on the Great Lakes in June, a virtual repeat of a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). However, this June’s shipments were down 3.6 percent from the month’s long-term average. Iron ore cargos for steelmaking totaled 4.9 million tons, an increase of 3.5 percent compared to a year ago. Coal loadings rose 8.1 percent to 1.6 million tons. The increase was almost entirely due to higher shipments of low-sulfur coal from Superior, Wisc. Limestone cargos hauled in U.S.

U.K.-based manufacturer of ballast water treatment systems based on unique inert gas technology Coldharbour Marine said it has signed a contract with Lloyd’s Register (LR) to oversee the complete range of tests required by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in its type approval process. LR has Independent Laboratory Approval from the USCG and will work closely in the type approval tests with Marine Eco Analytics (MEA), a test laboratory in the Netherlands. Revised and more comprehensive…

Nautisk’s NaviPlanner, a voyage planning solution which utilizes touch-screen functionality and cloud technology based on the Microsoft Azure platform, is set to be enhanced with the inclusion of more comprehensive port data following a new partnership with Shipping Guides Ltd. The integration of port information from Shipping Guides’ online service FindaportAPI will enable users to benefit from improved ports and port operations data. Nautisk Head of Innovation, Kjetil Bentsen, said, “Following the integration of FindaportAPI, the next step will be to develop a feedback module for port information so that users of NaviPlanner can evaluate and update information. “Software will be built into the NaviPlanner system with the aim of interacting with the user.

RH Marine recently installed the Rhodium 4500 dynamic positioning (DP) and tracking system on Hakkers’ new flagship, Noordzee, an inland multipurpose vessel that can be used for lifting, dredging or pile driving. Hakkers is a specialist in the development, production and realization of excavation, dredging, construction, foundation, coastal and shoreline works. Its new vessel Noordzee required a system that could automatically hold position and maintain track with high accuracy on low speed.

A total of 36 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships (comprising 30 actual incidents and six attempted incidents) were reported during January-June 2017 in Asia, said a report by Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC). The total number of incidents reported during January-June 2017 has decreased by 22% compared to the same period in 2016. A total of 46 incidents were reported during January-June 2016.

The government of India has approved a draft bill to empower 12 major ports in India by providing them full autonomy in decision-making for greater efficiency. According to Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Lal Mandaviya, the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016 once enacted, would replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. "With the growth and development of private ports, the major ports are facing severe competition and difficulties in implementing the changes which may help them compete in the evolving market conditions.

Welsh workboat builder Mainstay Marine said it has delivered a newly built 15-meter crew transfer vessel to Scottish tug operator and owner Targe Towing. The Camarc designed vessel is constructed with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. It sails at speeds in excess of 15 knots and has a bollard pull of 6 metric tons. Compliment is for two crew and 12 passengers. Targe Towing provides dedicated towage for north east Scotland ports including BP’s Hound Point Marine terminal on the Firth of Forth.

Just days away from a verdict on its ultimate fate, the historic cruise liner SS United States has received a lifeline in the form of a $150,000 donation to a fundraising effort which aims to save “America’s flagship” and restore the storied vessel to its former glory. The $150,000 contribution from cruise industry executive Jim Pollin to the SS United States Conservancy's "We are the United States" campaign has enabled the national nonprofit organization to extend its fundraising and outreach effort through mid-September.

American Commercial Barge Line’s leadership and early adoption of ZF Marine’s z-drive propulsion technology underscores a growing trend on the inland waterways. American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) has been around a long time – since 1915, to be exact – and along the way has developed into one of the dominant players in the inland marine transportation industry. With a passion for safety and a green footprint, ACBL has always embraced technology and innovation. That point was obvious when it made the decision to outfit at least 15 of its towboats with ZF Marine’s Z-drive systems.

Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC informs it has launched Adani’s 8,000m3 IHC Beagle trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) – Shanti Sagar 18 – at a ceremony on July 7 at the builder’s shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, The Netherlands. Shanti Sagar 18 will be mainly utilized for maintenance dredging. Its launch follows the previous TSHD launched for Adani – Shanti Sagar 17 on March 31 – to be deployed for capital dredging in challenging soils. Therefore, it was equipped with a heavier draghead.

Canadian transport minister Marc Garneau announced a five-year extension to the Government of Canada’s agreement with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation to manage, maintain and operate the Seaway. This extends the existing agreement until March 31, 2023, and will provide stability for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and the marine shipping industry. A vital artery between the Great Lakes and the lower St. Lawrence River, the St. Lawrence Seaway connects the heartland of North America to the world as an important, competitive and sustainable transportation corridor. The St. Lawrence Seaway consists of 15 locks and connecting canals or channels extending from Montreal to Lake Erie. Within the Great Lakes and St.

Wison Offshore & Marine said its newly-developed floating storage regasification and power generation barge (W-FSRP) has received Approval in Principle from Bureau Veritas. W-FSRP integrates functions of LNG loading and storage facilities, regasification and power generation. Wison and Bureau Veritas have completed the validation for the specified design of 50MW FSRP this time. As the turnkey service provider for the world’s first FLNG and FSRU barge,Wison built on its rich expertise in floating LNG facilities to provide the LNG industry with innovative solutions…

Siem Offshore and Subsea 7 have signed a joint three-year service agreement with Rolls-Royce. The agreement covers a total of 74 offshore vessels. This is the first agreement the two Siem owned companies have signed with the same service provider. Under the agreement, Rolls-Royce will maintain and service all of the equipment it has delivered to the two companies’ offshore vessels. At present, aftermarket services account for roughly 40 percent of Rolls-Royce Marine’s revenues. Long-term agreements account for around a quarter of this.

Majestic Ferries’ fleet continues to grow with the delivery of Majestic Dream, the first of a new class of Incat Crowther-designed fuel-efficient 39m HSC compliant passenger vessels. Majestic Ferries operates vessels between Singapore and Batam in a competitive marketplace. The operator worked with Incat Crowther to develop a cost-effective vessel that offers comfort, performance and fuel consumption superior to that of the competition. This process saw the construction of a trio of 33m vessels; Majestic 7, Majestic 8 and Majestic 9.

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Tuesday on stronger rates for capesize and panamax vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was up 20 points, or 2.19 percent, at 932 points. The capesize index gained 51 points, or 5.47 percent, to 984 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, were up $391 at $8,171.

Traffic in Turkey's Bosphorus Strait, an important international shipping lane for oil and grain, was suspended on Tuesday due to poor visibility and heavy rain, shipping agent GAC said. It said shipping was suspended at 830 am (0530 GMT). The Bosphorus is one of world's most important choke points for the maritime transit of oil, with over 3 percent of global supply - mainly from Russia and the Caspian Sea - passing through the 17-mile waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. It also carries large amounts of grains from Russia and Kazakhstan to world markets.

DP World and Indonesian government and port officials signed an agreement to advise on the development of the Kuala Tanjung greenfield port and logistics zone and Belawan port in North Sumatra. As part of a Technical Assistance Contract, DP World will share its expertise and experience in increasing efficiencies, training and development for employees and developing multi-modal transport hubs. The agreement was signed by DP World Group Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Anil Wats and state-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) I President Director…

The Port of Los Angeles reports it has closed its 12-month fiscal year with total cargo volumes of 9.2 million twenty-foot units (TEUs), a new annual record for most container throughput for a Western Hemisphere port. Volumes increased 8.1 percent in June compared to the same period last year, marking the second busiest June in the port’s 110-year history. “As we mark the midpoint of 2017, we are grateful to our terminal operators, shipping lines, labor force and land-side supply chain stakeholders for their focus on teamwork and efficiency…

Mapping and shaping the growth of marine hybrid means many things to different stakeholders. The journey leads us all to the same place. If you follow the advancements in automotive design, the term or tag “hybrid” has come to define the alternative energy movement on our roads and highways. HEV autos have moved past Ford and GM in Detroit and into the hands of contemporary entrepreneurs and inventors the likes of Tesla’s Evan Musk or Dr. Victor Wouk. BMW, Ferrari, Bentley and…

French oil and gas company Total said on Monday that crude exports from its Djeno terminal in Congo Republic was ongoing and unaffected following a strike last week and the sinking of a loading buoy in an unrelated accident.   Traders said on Friday that the company had declared a force majeure on exports of Djeno crude following the incident.   A spokeswoman for Total said: "exports from Djeno remain unaffected and safely continue with the second available loading buoy," adding that the tanker that was loading at the time of the buoy incident was safely disconnected.   She added that the strike at the terminal ended on Friday, while an investigation into the buoy accident was ongoing. (Reporting by Bate Felix, Julia Payne and Edward McAllister; Editing by Michel Rose)

Every port and terminal facility needs weighing systems for containers. Weighing is critical in several processes in ports where accurate readings are paramount. To achieve this, the following weighing solutions can be incorporated. Weighbridges offer a vehicle weighing solution that may be placed at entrances and exits of the ports and terminals. An incoming truck can drive over the weighbridge and the total weight will be registered immediately. The tare weight of the truck must be deducted from the total weight to determine the container weight.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stressed the strategic importance of security agencies to the achievement of safe and secure shipping and a viable and vibrant maritime sector for the country’s benefits. The Director General who stated this while playing host to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Peter John Dauke at the Agency’s Headquarters in Lagos said that as the Agency strives to achieve a secure maritime environment…

StormGeo’s shipping division (formerly AWT) has received its certification as an EU MRV supplier by Verifavia Shipping. The European Union’s decision to monitor CO2 emissions for most vessels in excess of 5000 gross tons affects owners or vessel managers with ships that are calling on ports in EU member states. The EU requires ship-specific monitoring plans to be in place by August 31, 2017, including being MRV compliant for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification. StormGeo's shipping division (formerly AWT) has been collecting data, monitoring data and reporting data on fuel consumption and emissions for over twenty years. More than 60,000 voyages utilized StormGeo’s methods of collecting and reporting data in 2016.

Water on the Rhine and Danube in Germany remains shallow and cargo vessels cannot sail fully loaded, traders said on Monday. The rivers had fallen below normal levels in late June after dry weather. The Rhine is still too shallow for normal sailings from Duisburg and Cologne to southern stretches of the river, traders said. All of the Danube in Germany is too shallow for normal loading. Shallow water means vessel operators impose surcharges on freight rates, increasing costs for cargo owners.

With the aim to dominate maritime industry China has been acquiring overseas ports with huge investments which crossed USD 20 bln last year, Financial Times reported. Beijing has spent billions expanding its ports network to secure sea lanes and establish itself as a maritime power, says the report. China is aggressively pushing its  “One Belt One Road”, a grand scheme to win diplomatic allies and open markets in around 65 countries between Asia and Europe. It is pushing ahead with plans to open new shipping routes through the Arctic circle, the report said.

The Greek shipping community is confident that Greece can be a maritime center in near term, said a research report. A study -‘repositioning Greece as a global maritime capital' - conducted by  Ernest & Young in cooperation with Aegean University professor Thanos Pallis said that Greece, especially the port of Piraeus, is viewed as future competitors of Asia’s aggressive shipping hubs in the coming decade. The study gauging the views and forecasts of 779 Greek shipping executives revealed that the most attractive and comprehensive framework among  shipping hubs or “clusters” today is Piraeus…

M/V Acorus vessel was detained in Port of Asprogirpos (Elefsis) - Greece on 6 July 2017. This is the third detention in the Paris MoU region within the last 36 months. The ship flies the flag of Moldova Republic, which is black on the current Paris MoU WGB list. "Therefore under the provisions of section 4 of the Paris MoU, Article 16 of EU Council Directive 2009/16/EC, the ship will be refused further access to any port and anchorage in the Paris MOU region, except a port and anchorage of the ship’s flag State," said a release from  Paris MoU.

Denmark based boat builder Tuco Marine has launched a newly developed boat for high-pressure cleaning for fish farm operations in Norway. According to Tuco Marine, the 15-meter workboat – an expansion of its ProZero vessel series – has been designed by the builder’s engineers in collaboration with aquaculture experts to match the exact demands of the industry. In order to preserve a healthy fish population and a steady production rate, aquaculture facilities must ensure good net hygiene by removing marine fouling.

U.S. shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO has taken delivery of a new tug, Blue Fin, to support its waterfront activities. The new tug, built by Marine Group Boat Works in National City, Calif., was christened July 8 at a ceremony at NASSCO’s shipyard in Barrio Logan in San Diego. Bonnie Fanelli, the wife of 43-year NASSCO employee and assistant dockmaster Tom Fanelli, christened the tug. The name Blue Fin was selected for the new tug after NASSCO invited local K-8 students to participate in a vessel naming contest.

Indonesia renamed the northern reaches of its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea as the North Natuna Sea on Friday, the latest act of resistance by Southeast Asian nations to China's territorial ambitions in the maritime region. Seen by analysts as an assertion of Indonesian sovereignty, part of the renamed sea is claimed by China under its contentious maritime boundary, known as the 'nine-dash line', that encompasses most of the resource-rich sea. Several Southeast Asian states dispute China's territorial claims and are competing with China to exploit the South China Sea's abundant hydrocarbon and fishing resources. China has raised the ante by deploying military assets on artificial islands constructed on shoals and reefs in disputed parts of the sea.

MARIN (Maritime Research Institute) tested an innovative concept for a floating mega island. The island comprises 87 large floating triangles that are flexibility connected to one another. Together they form a flexible floating island that can be as large as 1 to 5 km in cross-section. Olaf Waals, project manager and the concept developer: “As sea level rises, cities become overcrowded and more activities are carried out at sea, raising the dikes and reclaiming land from the seas are perhaps no longer an effective solution. • Building houses and recreation close to the water.

The recent dredging to the Port of Maputo, Mozambique, access channel, early this year, from -11 to 14.3 meters served as an enabler to other infrastructure projects, some already taking place at the Port. According to a press release, Terminal de Carvão da Matola (TCM) will be the port’s first terminal to take full advantage of the dredging initiative with its Berth Deepening and Expansion project  has inaugurated last week. The works include, on the marine side, the deepening of its existing berth, refurbishment work and the extension of the quay by an 8.5 meter offset.

Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat said it has partnered with satellite communications provider Network Innovations and maritime transportation provider Dunlap Towing to install Fleet One across its fleet of 12 vessels. For Dunlap, the Dutch Harbor and Pacific Coast routes in Alaskan waters have traditionally been challenging and its existing service did not offer the reliability required to transmit important operating and safety reports, communicate back to shore or make critical inter-fleet voice calls, according to Inmarsat.

An algorithm has been developed to schedule transit vessel traffic in two-way waterways where safe distances between transiting vessels must be maintained and passage restrictions may hold. It limits the negative effects of the safety constrains on cargo volume throughput by finding schedules which increase the utilization of these waterways. The potential of this algorithm has been demonstrated on a plausible model of the Strait of Istanbul, and also the Suez Canal has been identified as a waterway where the algorithm could increase the volume of goods transported.

Grand Bahama Shipyard and L&R Midland (UK) Ltd have signed an exclusive agency agreement covering the U.K. markets effective June 1, 2017. Caribbean shipyard Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) has engaged L&R Midland (UK) as its representative in the U.K. in what is expected to be an increasingly busy period due to approaching new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations that will require ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) and exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) retrofits.

On Tuesday, July 11, Damen hosted a dredging seminar in Dhaka, Bangladesh attended by more than 100 representatives from the Dutch Embassy in Bangladesh, experts from the Bangladesh Government, the Bangladesh Navy, local financing institutions, various customers of Damen and other industry stakeholders. Damen said it has enjoyed great successes all over the world in the sale of its dredging equipment, including Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers, Cutter Suction Dredgers and renowned DOP pumps.

Logistics entrepreneur Klaus-Michael Kuehne has raised his shareholding in German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd to 17.15 percent from 14.1 percent, his Swiss-based Kuehne Holding said on Thursday. Kuehne was taking advantage of shares being sold by TUI , which on Tuesday completed the disposal of its remaining 7.9 percent of shares to focus on cruise ship acquisitions. TUI's move allowed Kuehne to expand its investment in Hapag-Lloyd, which it said it considered to be long-term.

Second such cargo in a year - traders; cargo loads from Cherry Point, heading to Botany Bay. Oil major BP Plc is shipping diesel from the United States to Australia in an unusual shipping flow, several industry sources told Reuters on Thursday. The Jupiter Express carrying about 35,000 tonnes of diesel loaded from BP's Cherry Point, Washington refinery on June 29 and is currently headed to Botany Bay, New South Wales in Australia, shipping data on Thomson Reuters Eikon showed. BP declined to comment.

Anything but new, the Victaulic method of pipe-joining has been around for a long time. Armed with myriad type approvals from most IACS groups, Victaulic’s output will no doubt (and soon) form a part of your marine equipment for a long time to come. The conservative and staid domestic waterfront, especially where it intersects boatbuilding and repair, recently set sail for increased efficiencies, driven in part by emerging technologies, but also through improved management and new assembly techniques.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Excelerate Energy Bangladesh Limited (Excelerate) are co-developing the Moheshkhali Floating LNG project – Bangladesh's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal. The project will be located offshore Moheshkhali island in the Bay of Bengal with a project cost of $179.5 million. IFC and Excelerate announced securing the debt financing for the project to help expand access to clean energy in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's first LNG import terminal will enable Petrobangla…

South Carolina Ports Authority moved a record 2.14 million twenty-foot equivalent units in fiscal year 2017, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year’s container volumes. Highest-ever June volumes of 183,237 TEUs gave SCPA a strong finish to its fiscal year, which runs July through June. The Port’s previous record was 1.98 million TEUs, achieved in FY2006. “We had a very strong fiscal year, reflective of a capable and hard-working SCPA team and entire maritime community,” said SCPA president and CEO Jim Newsome.

The Ministry of Shipping in India is organizing a workshop titled ‘Promoting Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation in India’ in Bhubaneswar, Odisha state today. This is the second in a series of workshops the Ministry plans to hold over the next 6-8 months to create awareness about the Sagarmala programme amongst the stake holders and to engage with them. India’s 7500 kms of coastline and almost 14,000 kms of navigable rivers provide the perfect platform for the development of integrated water based transport system for domestic and EXIM freight as well as passenger transport.

Braking systems manufacturer Dellner Brakes has rolled out two new spring applied failsafe brakes to its SKP range for cranes, winches, deck machinery, oil rig draw works and other equipment, both on and offshore. Precision engineered in Sweden, Dellner’s new SKP 180 weighs in at 315 kg and delivers braking force from 141 kN up to 226 kN through two brake housings, each containing a powerful spring applied piston. The SKP 4 x 180, weighing 630 kg, combines two brake assemblies containing a total of four pistons to deliver braking force of up to 453 kN.

U.S. shipbuilder Blount Boats together with naval architecture firm Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) has been awarded the contract to design and construct a new passenger-only ferry for Governors Island, New York by The Trust For Governors Island. The vessel will provide passenger ferry service between Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan and Soissons Landing on Governors Island, New York. “Blount Boats is honored to have been chosen by the Trust to build another iconic vessel for New York Harbor,” said Marcia Blount, President of Blount Boats.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) new Container Freight Station (CFS) at the Subic Bay Freeport is at the forefront of ensuring the faster movement of goods in the Northern and Central Luzon markets. The two regions continue to grow, driven by industrial centers like Subic, Clark, Bataan, and Tarlac. Launched last year, the CFS is one of Subic Bay International Corp.’s (SBITC) value-added services. The CFS, envisioned to serve as a regional distribution center (RDC)…

French based CMA-CGM, a member of the Ocean Alliance, began the new INDIAMED service to Mumbai with the arrival of the 5,009 TEU capacity CMA CGM Virginia at APM Terminals Mumbai. The service, linking South Asia with ports in the Arabian Gulf and Mediterranean, was officially introduced on July 2nd, operating with vessels provided by CMA-CGM, its APL subsidiary, and Chinese-based Alliance partner COSCO. The weekly INDIAMED service provides the fastest transit times between India and CMA CGM hub ports in the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf…

India's largest container port Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)registered a growth of 5.11 per cent in container traffic in the first quarter of 2017-18. According to a press statement, the JNPT handled 1.20 million TEUs in the first quarter of the current financial year as compared to 1.14 million TEUs in the corresponding quarter of the last financial year. Meanwhile,  Jawaharlal Nehru Port Container Terminal (JNPCT) handled 4.01 lakh TEUs during this period as against 3.99 lakh TEUs in the corresponding quarter of the last year, showing 0.5% growth.

MobileOps, Inc. said it has signed a deal with Westar Marine Services, a tug and barge operator headquartered in San Fransisco with operations in Seattle and all along the West Coast. Westar will utilize the MobileOps Platform across its fleet of tugs and crew boats to further bolster its safety, quality and maintenance initiatives. The MobileOps Platform is a cloud-based subscription solution that includes both a Web Application and an offline-capable iPad application called Voyager.

Deltamarin Ltd said it has signed contracts with Chinese shipbuilder Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd (XSI) for engineering and construction support services for the Viking Line Liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled ro-pax vessel newbuilding. The contracts cover basic and detail design as well as comprehensive project management support and supervision services to the shipyard during vessel construction. The new ro-pax vessel for Viking Line will have a passenger capacity of 2,800 people, and the length of its cargo lanes will be 1,500 meters.

Tideworks Technology Inc., a full-service provider of terminal management and planning software solutions, announced that Thomas J. “T.J.” Rucker will assume the role of president effective September 1, 2017, succeeding retiring president Michael Schwank, who led the company for 19 years. Rucker will relocate to Seattle in August to ensure a smooth transition into the role. Rucker is currently vice president of operations at Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), one of the largest container terminals in Latin America, where he is responsible for managing liner customer relationships, strategic planning and ensuring terminal productivity and KPI performance.

The U.S. Navy on Tuesday said on Tuesday it has temporarily relieved, for medical reasons, the commander of a warship involved in a crash with a container vessel in Japanese waters that killed seven American sailors. The collision between the guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald and the Philippine-registered ACX Crystal on June 17 resulted in the greatest loss of life on a U.S. Navy vessel since the USS Cole was bombed by Islamist militants in Yemen's Aden harbour in 2000. At least six investigations have been launched, including two U.S.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCC) has signed a deal with NAVTOR to install the NavBox navigation solution across its entire corporate fleet of 49 vessels, in a deal which spans RCC's six different operating companies. E-navigation specialist NAVTOR launched NavBox in 2013. The solution, which complements NAVTOR’s range of electronic navigational chart (ENC) based services, automatically downloads, distributes and updates all vessel navigational charts and publications, cutting administration time, while ensuring the very latest, compliant charts are always at hand.

SEA\LNG, the multi-sector industry coalition aiming to accelerate the widespread adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, has announced Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation (YKIP) as its latest member. Representing the Japanese ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki, YKIP brings essential knowledge from a port’s perspective to SEA\LNG, which is working collaboratively with key players across the entire LNG value chain. SEA\LNG and its member organizations continue to advocate for the need to collaborate…

BOURBON entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Automated Ships Ltd to support the building of the world’s first autonomous, fully-automated prototype vessel for offshore operations, in collaboration with the project’s primary technology partner, KONGSBERG. BOURBON will provide detailed input to the development and design of the Hrönn project, ensuring flexibility, reliability and cost efficiency to operate safely and effectively in the offshore environment. In the second phase of the project…

U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen and the Amver participating Handysize tanker Nord Nightingale came to the rescue of two German sailors who abandoned their burning sailboat more than 500 miles off of Florida. On Friday, July 7, 2017, U.S. Coast Guard rescue authorities in Miami, Fla. received a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) for a 42-foot German flagged sailboat. Working with rescue authorities in Bremen, Germany the Coast Guard personnel learned that two sailors had abandoned their burning sailboat approximately 525 miles east of Port Canaveral…

Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3,455,019 tons in June, a decrease of 7.3 percent compared to a year ago, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reported. June’s loadings were also 8.9 percent below the month’s five-year average. Loadings from U.S. quarries totaled 2.8 million tons, a decrease of 5.5 percent compared to a year ago, while shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 668,000 tons, a decrease of 14.3 percent, LCA said. Year-to-date the Great Lakes limestone trade stands at 8.8 million tons, a decrease of 10.4 percent compared to a year ago, according to LCA.

As oil continues to sell below $50 per barrel, 2017 could be one of the toughest years in decades for Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) companies, according to a study of 44 companies in the industry by AlixPartners. The firm’s analysis highlights these companies’ rising debt burdens, making it increasingly unlikely that most of them can maintain solvency. The industry faces grave financial pressure, which is clear from recent bankruptcy filings and distressed mergers. Exploration and production (E&P) companies have drastically reduced their rig counts, causing demand for OSV services to plunge.

A new all-terrain vessel propulsion system specially engineered and built for operation in extreme shallow water, riverine and mud flat environments will safely and reliably propel a vessel through dense vegetation, mud and debris-strewn waters. The highly durable Swamp Shark Drive system has been introduced through a partnership between Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark has partnered with Angelle Development, LLC of Breaux Bridge, La. “I began designing this system and building the initial prototype in 2011 with the goal of creating the ultimate ‘go anywhere…

Bibby Marine Services said it has signed a contract with Total E&P Netherland to charter the new Damen designed and built walk-to-work’(W2W) service operationvVessel Bibby WaveMaster1 from April 2018 through to October 2018, with options to extend up to three years. Total E&P Nederland will use the Bibby WaveMaster 1 to replace jack ups and helicopters and to provide access to gas platforms in the southern North Sea. The vessel will provide accommodation for up to 90 pax including crew.

Ampelmann has launched its latest gangway for personnel transfer: the A-type Enhanced Performace (AEP). Now providing clients with 10 percent greater workability in sea states up to 4m significant wave height; the AEP also has the ability to use smaller vessels to obtain similar performance (compared to current A-type). The AEP features an advanced motion compensation control system with precision controls to enable fast landing and comfortable people transfers. The system significantly improves operational up-time on projects year-round and provides benefits to operators in rougher waters…

Damen Shipyards said it has won an open tender for the supply of a tug to Port Autonome de Papeete on the Pacific island of Tahiti. Tahiti is part of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of the French Republic. The tug will be Damen’s popular ASD 2810 model, a rugged, versatile vessel capable of delivering 60 tonnes of bollard pull. Pape’ete is the capital of French Polynesia and the economic hub of the archipelago. Port Autonome de Papeete serves a wide range of vessels including local ferries…

After completing its sea trials program, Pax, the second dual fuel tug ever built in Europe, has been delivered to its owner, the Norwegian company Østensjø Rederi A/S. The first tug of this kind built in Europe, Dux, was delivered by the company last May. The vessel is the first tugboat of a series of three. Built by Spanish shipbuilder Gondan and designed by Canadian company Robert Allan Ltd. the new escort tug, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meters beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil…

COSCO Shipping Holdings Co Ltd saw its stock climb on Monday after bidding $6.3 billion for a Hong Kong peer, a deal that would see it become the world's third-biggest container shipper and underline China's supply-chain ambitions. The offer for Orient Overseas International Ltd (OOIL) comes as China's government pushes to raise the country's profile in global shipping, which dovetails with its Belt and Road initiative aimed at increasing China's influence over distribution from Asia to Europe.

NITC, Iran's leading oil tanker operator, said on Monday its shipments to Europe were increasing daily and it plans to upgrade its fleet to support expansion. International sanctions on Iran were lifted in January 2016 and NITC is looking to come in from the cold after years of isolation. Mohammad Reza Shams Dolatabadi, NITC's head of international affairs, told Reuters on the sidelines of an energy industry conference in Istanbul that the company aimed to replace some of its older tankers with new vessels. He added that the company also planned to acquire liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers, marking a new direction for the company. "We are thinking of an LNG fleet in the future," he said. Dolatabadi said the number of NITC ships calling at European ports was set to increase.

The Suez Canal Authority is committed to a ban on allowing Qatari ships to dock in ports within the Suez Canal’s economic zone, Ahram reported as chairman Mohab Mamish saying. In press statements on Friday, Mamish said that Egyptian ban on the ships is being imposed on all ports within the zone based on Egyptian sovereignty over its territorial waters. The decision, however, does not include a ban on passing through the canal, as under the Constantinople 1869 agreement it is illegal to ban ships coming from any country from passing through.

Bahri Logistics, one of the top 10 breakbulk carriers in the world and one of the six business units within Bahri, has added Alexandria to its portfolio of ports in Egypt. The addition of Alexandria will enable Bahri to offer breakbulk and ro/ro transportation service on its North American itinerary from key US ports to Alexandria and from Alexandria to the Middle East and India. “Alexandria is our third direct port call in Egypt after Suez and Port Said. Our decision to operate at this port comes after an increasing demand for logistics services to and from this destination…

Bulgaria and Greece agreed to expand Multimodal Freight Corridor Between Black Sea, Aegen Sea and Dunabe. Bulgarian Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski and Greek Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Christos Spirtzis have agreed to extend the multimodal transport corridor between the two countries connecting the ports of Varna, Burgas, Kavala and Alexandroupoli. The Greek part accepted Bulgaria’s proposal to include a connection with the port of Ruse in the joint project.

Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has delivered a record annual throughput of 668.5 million tonnes (Mt) for the 2016/17 financial year. This is an increase of 35Mt or 6% from last year’s annual throughput. In June 2017, PPA achieved a total monthly throughput of 55.8Mt, a slight decrease of 53,000 tonnes from the previous year. The Port of Port Hedland achieved a record annual throughput of 500.9Mt, an increase of 40.5Mt or 9% from the previous year. Iron ore exports for the year totalled 494.6Mt, an increase of 40.3Mt or 9% from the previous year.

On June 23, 2017, Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau (TVIB) issued its first Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) certificate to Crounse Corporation, who successfully completed a full Subchapter M TSMS audit including a review of its operations for compliance with Subchapter M. Crounse is the first of a number of companies that have chosen TVIB as their U.S. Coast Guard Approved Third-Party Organization (TPO) for Subchapter M compliance. TVIB said it is working with a number of TPO customers to take advantage of the recent Coast Guard policy letter CG-CVC Policy Letter 17-02 and the AWO Alert issued on June 8, that provided guidance on how a company can use its previous RCP Management Audit toward the issuance of its initial TSMS Certificate.

The steel cutting ceremony of the third Vista class cruise ship, which Fincantieri is building for Carnival Cruise Line, a brand under Carnival Corporation & plc, took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera. The newbuild, scheduled to be delivered in autumn 2019, will be a sister ship of Carnival Vista, delivered in Monfalcone in April, 2016, as well as of Carnival Horizon, also currently under construction at the shipyard in Marghera with delivery scheduled at the beginning of 2018.

John Parker Conrad, Sr., founder of Conrad Shipyard, died peacefully on July 6 surrounded by family and friends at his home in Morgan City, La. He was 101 years old. A shipbuilding pioneer and a legend along the Gulf of Mexico coast and beyond, Parker founded Conrad Industries in 1948. Conrad now has five shipyards along the Louisiana-Texas coast. From age 12 to age 17, Parker trained as a Christian Brother, which formed in him a deeply rooted and lifelong commitment to others.

Physical bunker supplier Monjasa has been active in the Panama Canal since 2011 and established a physical presence for operations and bunker trading in Panama City in 2015. Now one year after the official inauguration of the new locks of the expanded Panama Canal, Monjasa said it has seen supply volumes continually grow. “Since the opening of the new locks exactly a year ago, we have seen a positive development in the local bunker market,” said Rasmus Jacobsen, Managing Director for Monjasa Americas. “On a daily basis, we already see sicx ships passing through the new locks, and as the tonnage further increases, we expect this number will increase to eight1, 10, or possibly 12,” Jacobsen said.

A 557-foot tanker Argent Cosmos lost use of a fuel pump and ran aground near Skamokawa, Wash. at 6:28 a.m. Thursday while heading outbound on the Columbia River following a port call in Longview, Wash. The Panamanian-flagged tanker is loaded with 1.63 million gallons of ethanol and 6.65 million gallons of monoethylene glycol. It also has 458,074 gallons of high-sulfur oil and 99,064 gallons of low-sulfur oil aboard. There have been no reports of pollution in the river, flooding aboard the vessel or injuries to crewmembers, according to the U.S.

Asia CEO said ports have resumed releasing cargo; will discuss settlement, liability issues with customers. Maersk said it was too early to predict the financial impact of last month's global Petya cyber attack that hit the shipping giant's computers and delayed cargoes, but added that normal operations had resumed at its ports. A.P. Moller-Maersk, Danish owner of the world's biggest container shipping line, operates 76 ports via its APM Terminal division and was one of the many firms hit by the ransomware virus along with Russia's Rosneft and advertising agency WPP.

China opposes the use of freedom of overflight as an excuse to harm its security, the country's foreign ministry said on Friday, after two U.S bombers flew over the disputed South China Sea.   Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the comments at a daily news briefing in Beijing.   Reporting by Ben Blanchard; 

FEPORT supports the approach of the Estonian presidency and believes that four priorities constitute a consistent strategy for Europe. The four priorities are:  An open and innovative European Economy, A safe and secure Europe,  A digital Europe and the free flow of data and  An inclusive and sustainable Europe. Besides endorsing the content of the paper that has been co-signed by 22 organizations representing different industries of the logistics chain, FEPORT would like to underline in this paper a number of key items for private terminal operators.

The EU is ignoring the risk of Brexit to European ports, the UK Chamber of Shipping has said. Hard border controls will lead to increased bureaucracy and will threaten prosperity. The Chamber warns that the return of border controls would lead to increased bureaucracy, “guaranteed” lorry gridlock and threats to the prosperity of both EU member states and the UK. It also says that the dangers to major EU ports has been understated. Chief executive of the Chamber, Guy Platten said: “The EU sells £240bn of goods to the UK each year, most of which travels through ports.

Renovation work on Anholt Lighthouse has begun and is expected to be finalised in late October. Brickwork, windows and doors are to be renovated. Once the renovation is complete, the classified lighthouse on the island of Anholt will be shining brightly. The front of the lighthouse is to be both replastered and painted and, in addition, both the windows and doors of the old lighthouse are to be renovated. Anholt Lighthouse is one of Denmark's oldest lighthouses. It was established…

Direct services between Asia and the East Coast of South America will begin port calls at APM Terminals Buenos Aires, Argentina, and APM Terminals Itajaí, Brazil. The joint service deployed by Hapag-Lloyd, NYK, ZIM, Hyundai and Hamburg Sud prefers their vessels call APM Terminals' facilities in Itajai (Brazil) and T4 in Buenos Aires (Argentina). The weekly Asian service, operated jointly with 13 vessels from Hapag-Lloyd, NYK, Zim, Hamburg Süd and Hyundai, will call the Asian ports of Kelang, Singapore, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Shekou and Busan.

Barge Master and Bosch Rexroth have jointly introduced a new motion compensated gangway to the offshore wind market. After numerous simulations and virtual tests, the first actually manufactured gangway is currently being tested onshore at the Bosch Rexroth facilities in Boxtel, the Netherlands. On June 21 this location was transformed into a presentation area, where the visitors were informed about the partnership between the two companies, and allowed to have a close look at the complex technology on the demonstrated gangway.

The world of dredging is an ever changing and endlessly fascinating niche of the global marine industry, an indispensable activity essential to keeping world commerce flowing. For insight on recent trends we visited last month with René Kolman, Secretary General, International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC), for his take on a world of dredging challenges and opportunities. In true Dutch fashion René Kolman is refreshingly forthright. Kolman assumed the mantle of leadership at IADC more than seven years ago, coming to the post from the landscape and garden trade association business.

In the world of maritime training, MSRC has carved a unique niche in the training of pilots. Founded in 2005, MSRC is a division of the Corporation of Lower St. Lawrence Pilots (CLSLP). The MSRC is a purpose-built simulator with a fully instrumented DNV Class “A” configured bridge with 330° visuals that exceed the requirements of the 1995 STCW Convention. MSRC’s Full Mission Simulator (FMS) is one of the most advanced simulators of its type and is continually being upgraded. The Center is also equipped with three fully instrumented ship bridges, with a horizontal view of 240°.

Aluminium Marine Consultants informs it has handed over MO4 to Mainprize Offshore this week for work as a wind farm support vessel carrying both cargo, equipment and personnel out of the port of Hooksiel to the German wind farm sector on an eight-year contract with Deutsche Windtechnik on the Nordergründe wind farm. MO4 took a break from sea trials to attend Seawork where she showed off her expansive deck and cabin area, with the ability to increase to 24pax. She would require a small alteration that has been designed into the construction and layout of the saloon.

Italian maritime service provider Ocean S.r.l. has welcomed its first Damen tug – a Stan Tug 2608 – into its fleet. The company, part of the Ocean-Team Group, will deploy the vessel in harbor towage operations in the ports of Monfalcone and Porto Nogaro in the northern reaches of the Adriatic Sea. The signing of the delivery protocol was attended by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, at the Palazzo Reale in Milan, as part of a recent State Visit to Italy with a parallel Netherlands Economic Mission.

ClassNK has released its annual report on Port State Control. The report aims to assist ship operators and management companies in maintaining compliant operations by providing information about ships detained by PSC as well as deficiencies that were found on board from many port states in 2016. PSC inspections ensure that vessels departing the port meet international standards and have proved to be highly effective in eliminating substandard ships that are in operation. They oversee not only the physical structures and components of a ship…

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has released new rules for liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled coastal and inland vessels. The new rules, which come in addition to its already established rules for ocean going ships, aim to underscore the increasing importance of using cleaner fuels, and help maritime stakeholders to promote environment friendly fuels for coastal and inland vessels, the class society said. The rules for gas fuelled vessels have been developed based on a study of the various international requirements such as the ESTRIN (European Standard laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation Vessels), the IMO IGF Code and consultations with various stakeholders.

COSCO Shipping Holdings expects to post a profit of around 1.85 billion yuan ($272 million) in the first half, helped by an improving shipping market. The world's fourth-largest container shipping line made the forecast in a stock market statement on Thursday. It recorded a loss of 7.2 billion yuan in the same period last year. "Freight rates for container shipping operations have increased year-on-year, container volumes have grown 34.72 percent, and earnings have continued to grow from the base set in the fourth quarter of last year," it said.

The Abu Sayyaf group beheaded two Vietnamese nationals held hostage for almost eight months,  CNN reported quoting the military. Colonel Juvymax Uy, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan, said the bodies of Mr Hoang Trung Thong and Mr Hoang Va Hai were found at 5.40am on Wednesday in Tumahubong village, Sumisip town, in Basilan province. The two were among the six crew members of the MV Royal 16, a Vietnamese cargo vessel, seized by the Abu Sayyaf off Sibago Island in Basilan on Nov 11, 2016.

Anchor winches, cranes, level winders and other equipment exposed to the elements on the deck of a vessel ay look good with a thick, consistent layer of grease, but appearances can be deceiving. In fact, several problems may be lurking below the surface of commonly used greases. 1. Premature wear can occur if the grease is not up to the design loads and speed of the equipment. Today’s deck equipment is being pushed much harder over a wider range of operations, resulting in higher loads on gears and bearings that are rotating faster.

Colombia is making progress towards salvaging a Spanish galleon carrying jewels and coins that sank more than 300 years ago, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday after receiving a proposal from an investor to bring it to the surface. The ship named San Jose, thought by historians to be carrying one of the largest unsalvaged maritime treasures, sank in 1708 near the historical Caribbean port of Cartagena, and its wreckage was located in 2015. "The discovery of this ship…

U.S. inland vessel management company Inland Marine Service (IMS) said it has taken on Campbell Transportation Company as its latest client. A fully integrated marine services company, Campbell is currently undergoing an acquisition with American Commercial Barge Line. Once completed, Campbell Transportation will own and/or manage more than 1,100 barges and 50 towboats on the inland waterways, along with four shipyard facilities and a marine construction company, moving over 60 million tons of product annually.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) today held a public hearing on its tolls structure modifications proposal. “The modified tolls will safeguard the Canal's competitiveness, charge a fair price for the value of the route and provide a competitive service to the global shipping industry,” said Panama Canal Administrator, Jorge L. Quijano. The hearing follows the conclusion of a 32-day formal consultation period for industry feedback. All comments received both in writing and at the hearing will now be evaluated and analyzed by the Board of Directors…

On June 2, 2017, MTG-Dolphin Shipyard delivered to Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar) JSC the tug Alcor, the first of three vessels in series built to the RAmparts 2700 design by Robert Allan Ltd. The tug adds to the fleet of four tugboats in the Navibulgar fleet and is the first tugboat built by the Bulgarian shipyard MTG Dolphin PLC-Varna for the Bulgarian ship owner, who owns more than 30 bulk carriers. The naming ceremony took place on June 2 at Port of Varna and was attended by the Deputy Governor of Varna. The vessel is named after the star Alcor from the Big Dipper constellation.

Ibna Zaman of Royston highlights the growing operational advantages provided by the effective analysis of intelligent data in the marine sector – if certain challenges can be successfully overcome. With the impending introduction of the EU MRV Regulations forcing shipping operators to think more seriously about monitoring, reporting and verifying fuel and emissions performance, new data driven improvements have the potential to transform the shipping sector. As its name implies…

Marine services company Campbell Transportation Company, Inc. (CTC) said it has completed the acquisition of certain affreightment contracts along with 155 barges and four towboats from American Commercial Barge Line LLC that will operate on the Ohio River system.   The four towboats, all of which are 3,000 HP, include the M/V Roger W. Keeney, M/V James R. Morehead, M/V James R. Pinson, and the M/V Jeffery A. Raike.    With this acquisition, CTC now owns and/or manages more than 1,100 barges and 50 towboats on the inland waterways, along with four shipyard facilities and a marine construction company.

Shanghai Salvage Bureau’s (SSB) new ship is purpose-designed for a range of roles including deep-water salvage operations, deep-water pipelay and construction as well as a saturation diving capability for up to 24 divers in two bells. Recently, GE’s Marine Solutions has been chosen by SSB, one of the largest rescue and salvage companies in the world, to provide a suite of marine technologies including power and propulsion equipment, dynamic positioning (DP) and automation and control systems to its newest deep-water dive support vessel (DSV).

Holland Shipyards has asked Hatenboer-Water to supply two Tethys reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment  units for diving support barges scheduled to be deployed along the Gabon coast. The order marks the first project for Tethys, the new Hatenboer-Water standard water maker series for compact applications. The RO units are to be installed aboard two diving support barges currently under construction in the Holland Shipyards’ site in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands. Each unit will provide drinking water at a capacity rate of up to 6 m3 per day.