Columbia News

With a year to go before the implementation of the 2020 Sulfur Cap, few topics will be higher on the list of priorities for shipowners than complying with Annex VI of the IMO MARPOL Convention (2008). However, the reduction of sulfur content in marine fuel from 3.5% to 0.5% in time for the deadline means more than identifying a strategically suitable fuel choice. The importance of choosing the correct lubricant, coupled with incorporating the relevant supporting is also a vital consideration.As both a global lubricant supplier and as a part of the wider Total Group…

One year ago, we reported on vacation river cruising, presenting an industry mostly on the optimistic side of growth and expansion for 2018. This year’s review is more geographically limited – to the Mississippi River, heartland cruises centered among New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis and St. Paul – but with links important for a lot of smaller cities in between.Big picture:This industry is strong, at least among its two major players: American Cruise Lines and the American Queen Steamboat Company. Both have extensive and varied schedules for 2019.

Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company, has provided the detailed design for Shaver Transportation Company’s new, Z-drive tug – Samantha S. The multi-purpose tug was built at Diversified Marine Inc., in Portland, Ore., and is operating along the West Coast. The tug is ABS-classed and carries a FFV1 firefighting notation.The 112-foot by 44-foot tug has a 22-foot draft, was built for escort, ocean towing and ship assist, and has firefighting capabilities if needed. The tug features a raised pilot house and a squared forward end.

U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil Corp. has withdrawn its environmental assessment application for a $25-billion LNG export facility on the B.C. coast it proposed in 2015. No reasons given for withdrawing from environmental review process.“After careful review, ExxonMobil Canada and Imperial Oil Resources have withdrawn the WCC LNG project from the B.C. Environmental Assessment process,” a notice on WCC LNG website says. It also says that its websie will only be available until the end…

The British Columbia’s Port of Prince Rupert and DP World have marked a historic milestone as Fairview Container Terminal handled its millionth container (TEU) for the first time in a calendar year.The 40-foot TEU was loaded with dimensional lumber in Prince George before being shipped to Prince Rupert by train and loaded onto the COSCO Africa container ship to be sent to market.“DP World is proud to have achieved the million TEU milestone,” said Maksim Mihic, General Manager DP World (Canada) Inc.

In 1978 Allied Shipyards of North Vancouver built a series of three big steel purse seiners that have become much-admired classics amongst the excellent fleets of British Columbia. In the years since the boats have changed owners and changed names. One, the Viking Star, has even shifted from being a dedicated purse seiner to a transport vessel for salmon farms for the Walcan Seafood plant on Quadra Island.The success of the design, of which more than a dozen were eventually  built…

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced 14 grants, which go to port-related projects, are made through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Grants program.Port-related projects will receive a total of $229.23 million, said a press release from American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA).“BUILD transportation grants are major investments in road, rail, transit, and port projects that serve as a down payment on this administration’s commitment to America’s infrastructure…

Committed to providing tugboat and towing vessel operators with a platform to meet regularity requirements and collaborate with local resources, the annual event also reminds us that Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.On September 28 2018, American Marine Associates, LLC (AMA) coordinated and hosted the 3rd annual Green Apple Spill Response Exercise in Bayonne, NJ. The Green Apple Spill Response exercise was established specifically for the tugboat and towing vessel industry operating in New York Harbor.

Japanese shipping and logistics giant Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has signed long-term contracts with Diamond Gas International Pte. Ltd. (DGI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) located in Singapore, for DGI to charter from NYK three newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.Previously, NYK concluded long-term time-charter contracts for three new LNG vessels for MC’s Cameron LNG project, so these most recent contracts bring the total to six carriers for MC.The NYK Group will be responsible for ship management for the three ordered LNG carriers…

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was offered the opportunity to interview Admiral Karl Schultz, the 26th Commandant in the history of the United States Coast Guard, in his office in Washington, DC. Just five months into his tenure, his plate is predictably full with a number of challenges, including: Attracting and retaining future U.S. Coast Guard personnel; addressing a number of assymetric threats, including cyber attacks; and ensuring captial and operating budgets are adequate to safely and efficiently carry out a global mission envelope, to name but a few.

Malaysian oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) through its subsidiary, Petronas LNG Ltd (PLL) and Vitol Asia Pte Ltd (Vitol) announced the signing of binding Heads of Agreement (HOA) for long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) sale and purchase (SPA) agreement.Under the terms of the agreement signed on 1 October 2018, the LNG supply to Vitol commencing in 2024 will be approximately up to 0.8 million tonnes per annum for a period of up to 15 years on both Delivered Ex-Ship (DES) and Free on Board (FOB) basis…

Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (“ONE”) is has announced that ONE Columbia, with a carrying capacity of 14,000 TEU, has been successfully delivered at Kure Shipyard of Japan Marine United Corporation. The sublet owner is Nippon Yusen Kaisha. This is ONE’s 4th newly built 14,000TEU magenta containership delivered this year, after ONE Stork (delivery date on 12th June 2018), ONE Minato (26th July 2018), and ONE Aquila (7th September 2018). Currently, 3 more vessels in ONE’s order book are in the construction process and expected delivery is in 2019.ONE Columbia…

The Hague-based BAM International, together with JJM Construction (Canada) and Manson Construction (USA), has received the full order to build the new Rio Tinto BC Works Terminal A on behalf of LNG Canada.The mobilisation and construction works being carried out by BAM and its partners for the Rio Tinto Terminal A expansion have started. BAM expects to complete this project in Autumn 2020.The project is valued at CAD 135 million, with BAM’s share amounting to 50% and JJM and Manson covering the other 50%.

U.S. headquartered drybulk shipowner Genco Shipping & Trading  said that it has completed the acquisition of a total of six high specification, fuel efficient Capesize and Ultramax vessels.The New York-based company focused on the transportation of major and minor bulk commodities globally said in a press release: "Beginning in July we took delivery of the Genco Weatherly, a 2014-built 61,556 dwt Ultramax vessel. Subsequently, in August, we took delivery of two 2015 Chinese built 181…

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has been awarded a $197 million modification to a previously awarded contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat to provide long-lead-time material and advance construction activities for the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.The advance procurement funds will be used to purchase major components and commodity material and to begin advance construction on Columbia (SSBN 826). Newport News is a major subcontractor for the construction of the new class of ballistic-missile submarines…

U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Tuesday that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has been awarded a $197 million modification to a previously awarded contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat to provide long-lead-time material and advance construction activities for the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.The advance procurement funds will be used to purchase major components and commodity material and to begin advance construction on Columbia (SSBN 826). Newport News is a major subcontractor for the construction of the new class of ballistic-missile submarines, which are being designed…

The Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) and Columbia Shipmanagement will create a joint venture, the ASCO said in a press release.Rauf Valiyev, the Chairman of ASCO and Heinrich Schuller, the Chairman of Columbia Shipmanagement  signed a memorandum of cooperation in this regard, it said.The new joint venture will further enhance bilateral cooperation. Thus, the company will create a solid basis for the exchange of experience on the operation of large tankers in international waters…

While General Dynamics (GD) is diverse, several significant shipbuilding projects helped to drive Q3 2018 earnings up 13.1% GD reported third-quarter 2018 earnings from continuing operations of $864 million, a 13.1 percent increase over third-quarter 2017. Revenue increased 20 percent to $9.1 billion.Significant activities included the delivery of the Virginia-class submarine SSN 790 (future USS South Dakota), the keel-laying of the first John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler.Significant shipbuilding awards in the quarter included $3.9 billion from the U.S. Navy for the construction of four Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) guided-missile destroyers…

Kwispaa LNG has entered the next phase of project development with the submission of the Project Description to the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.The Project Description provides a comprehensive overview of Kwispaa LNG and represents the culmination of several years of engagement and planning, the results of which have been integrated into ongoing environmental studies and engineering work.Unique among Canadian LNG projects…

American Harmony’s lower bow section has moved from Fabrication Building #4 at Chesapeake Shipbuilding to the Assembly Launchways. The second new ship in American Cruise Lines five-ship, modern riverboat series is well on its way to completion.American Harmony, like American Song (which just made its inaugural sailing earlier this month), will be equipped with every technical advancement and offer the best in contemporary design including a magnificent five-story glass atrium.

Saam Smit Towage Canada (SST Canada) has purchased two new RAstar 3200 escort tugs from Hong Kong’s Cheoy Lee Shipyards.SST Grizzly and SST Orca, which are designed by Robert Allan Ltd, has departed Cheoy Lee’s Hin Lee shipyard, will arrive Vancouver in early November of this year.The two new escort-rated tugs will join SST Canada’s fleet and begin operations in the southern waters of British Columbia. SST Canada is a joint venture partnership between Boskalis of the Netherlands and Saam S.A of Chile.According to a press release from Robert Allan…

The Kwispaa LNG Project achieved a significant milestone in its development this week as Kwispaa LNG signed a contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries for the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) of two At-Shore LNG hulls.This follows the recent Invitation to Tender to shortlisted EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contractors for the FEED work on the At-Shore LNG topsides, marine facilities, pre-treatment, and balance of onshore plant facilities. EPC contractor tenderers include Black & Veatch / Samsung Heavy Industries / PCL Industrial Management Inc.…

The Government of Canada is acting to preserve and restore marine ecosystems that are vulnerable to increased marine shipping and development.Transport Canada has awarded a contract to ESSA Technologies Ltd. under the Oceans Protection Plan to look at methodologies and tools to assess the cumulative impacts of marine shipping on coastal marine ecosystems.Transport Canada’s national cumulative effects assessment framework for marine shipping will identify regionally specific tools…