Doug Barrow News

Metal Shark announced Monday its Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipyard has delivered its first newbuild, a 120’ x 35’ river towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboat Stephanie Pasentine, which bears the distinction of being Louisiana-based Metal Shark’s first-ever steel newbuild and also its first inland towboat, was designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc.The vessel’s twin Cat 3512C marine diesel engines deliver 2…

A naval architect and graduate of the Webb Institute, Co-Owner/CEO Chris Allard introduced the engineering-centric approach that has fueled Metal Shark’s growth; driving innovation and transforming the company from a regional builder to a globally recognized industry leader.A member of the ownership team since 2005, Mr. Allard has overseen the expansion of Metal Shark from several employees to over 350. Under Mr. Allard’s direction, Metal Shark has successfully captured over $500…

Metal Shark announced it has secured a contract to build three 120’ x 35’ river towboats for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT), signalling the U.S. shipbuilder’s entry into the towboat market.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboats were designed by John W. Gilbert Associates, Inc. and will be powered by twin Cat 3512C Tier 3 marine diesel engines rated at 1,911 HP each. Construction is underway at Metal Shark Alabama, with deliveries commencing in 2019.With the FMT contract…

The UK Ship Register has signed its first ever unmanned vessel to the flag, showing how it is adapting to the changes of the maritime industry. ASV’s C-Worker 7 will be used for work such as subsea positioning, surveying and environmental monitoring. It can be used under direct control, semi-manned or completely unmanned. Although such autonomous vessels are now being introduced to many fleets in both commercial and military sectors across the world, they are still relatively new in the maritime sector. Doug Barrow, Director UK Ship Register said: ‘By supporting emerging technologies such as autonomous systems, we are helping to keep the UK at the forefront of the global maritime industry. ‘The UK Flag is growing, as we have invested in resources to meet the demands of that growth.

China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and Economic Belt development vision has takers in UK maritime sector, reports Xinhua News Agency. Both countries expected to improve bilateral maritime cooperation in the "Belt and Road" initiative, chairman of Maritime London Lord Mountevans said. ‘All maritime roads lead to London’ stated moderator Doug Barrow, chief executive of promotional body Maritime London, organiser of the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) event. CMA CGM, the third biggest container operator globally, signed a strategic "Belt and Road" project with China Merchants Holdings, investment arm of China Merchants (CM) Group, to investigate and evaluate together investment opportunities.

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) noted an improvement in bunker quality from across the marine fuels supply chain thanks in part to a campaign launched by the association. Addressing an audience of more than 1,000 marine fuel buyers, suppliers and traders at the association’s annual dinner in London last night, IBIA Chairman Jens Maul Jorgensen said that the early results for 2015 show that there has been a marked improvement in bunker fuel quality with 8% of samples found to be off-spec compared with 10% in 2014. These results are based on samples taken by testing company Intertek ShipCare. “Test figures for standard…

The UK government’s new maritime strategy “poses the right questions” about the country's shipping industry but “does not yet provide compelling answers on a range of key points that will have a major impact on this valuable sector of our economy” according to Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee. The report here is from shipping trade association 'Maritime London'. Ms Ellman’s remarks launched the publication of a review into the UK shipping industry which was undertaken after the government and industry entered into a ‘strategic partnership’ in 2013.

The Chinese and British shipping industries are set to take their mutual cooperation to a higher level following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) reports Xinhua. The MOU was signed by the Lord Mayor of London, Fiona Woolf; the Vice President of the Investment Committee at China Merchants Group, Yu Liming; the chairman of Maritime London Jeffrey Evans, and the chief executive of Maritime London Doug Barrow. China Merchants Group is a Chinese state-owned enterprise with a strong presence in the shipping sector…

On the first day of the upcoming London International Shipping Week, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, supported by Maritime London and UKTI, is holding a conference on the opportunities for foreign investment in the Nigerian Maritime Industry, particularly in the provision of technology, business and transportation services. Speakers include the director general of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, Mike Purves, director of trade for UKTI Nigeria and chief executive of Maritime London, Doug Barrow, as well as Steve Cameron, marine director of RTI and Simon Rickaby, managing director of Braemar Howells. There is currently a large gap in the Nigerian maritime sector's infrastructure because of the huge financial outlay required to acquire vessels…

Maritime London will be leading a delegation of British maritime professionals to Athens, Greece, next month. The high level group will present to an audience of shipowners at the British Ambassador’s Residence on 17 June, 2013. The delegation will be accompanied by UK Shipping Minister, Stephen Hammond, and Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the UK Ship Register. Maritime London chief executive Doug Barrow said: “The Greek British maritime relationship has always been strong and I’m delighted that we have government recognition of the importance that Greek shipowners play in the UK economy.

U.K. Shipping minister says he is committed to putting the £31.7-billion shipping industry center-stage. Stephen Hammond, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, speaking at a Maritime London/Shipping Professional Network London event underlined the government’s commitment to the U.K.’s maritime industry and declared its importance to Britain’s economic growth. Contributing £13.8bn to the U.K. economy directly and enabling a further £17.9 billionn, the U.K.’s maritime industry accounts for 2.1% of the entire economy, supports one in every 50 jobs and creates £8.5 billion for the U.K. Exchequer. Announcing the beginning of a “much more coordinated approach from the government to shipping policy,” Mr.

The U.K. Government has put its support firmly behind the inaugural London International Shipping Week (LISW) by confirming two of its Ministers as main speakers at the LISW Conference to be held at the Lloyd’s Building on Thursday, September 12. Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Minister for Trade and Investment will address delegates on the key issue of London’s role in propelling world trade while the Rt Hon Stephen Hammond, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport and the Shipping Minister, will give a keynote address emphasizing London’s position at the center of world trade, shipping and maritime services. Confirmed speakers include The Lord Mayor of the City of London…

The industry-led Steering Group running the inaugural London International Shipping Week (LISW) has established an official Board of Advisors which will act as guardians of the event to ensure it maintains objectivity and furthers London’s role as a major global maritime center. The purpose of the Board of Advisors is to lend credibility and high profile support to the LISW event, its aims, objectives and international engagement; while also taking a strategic view of the impact of LISW’s focus, its activities and attractiveness of London’s role in the global shipping industry. The Board of Advisors will have responsibility and accountability for reviewing and assessing LISW’s progress in achieving its strategic aims…

Maritime industry leaders from across the globe are expected to gather for a week of meetings and events in the capital. Welcoming the new initiative, Maritime London's chief executive, Doug Barrow, said that London International Shipping Week was the right vehicle to underline London’s role in maritime services and to promote London’s position as a maritime leader. “It is an opportunity for great networking with representatives across all maritime sectors,” he said. London International Shipping Week – Propelling World Trade will run from of September 9 to 13, and is organised by Shipping Innovation – a joint venture between Elaborate Communications and Petrospot – in association with Maritime UK partners…

'Ever Leading' welcomed at container terminal Felixstowe, UK, on maiden voyage, the third Evergreen L-Type on UK shipping registery. The new container ship is owned by Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd. is 334 meters in length, 45.8 meters wide, with 942 reefer plugs and a draft of 14.2 meters. The L-type vessel can cruise at a speed up to 24.5 knots. The latest L-class containerships meet the standards of international regulations for environmental protection and can reduce CO2 emission by 15 percent compared to the carrier's earlier award-winning S-class eco-ships.

The UK’s £2bn maritime services sector cemented its ties with China’s shipping industry at the 3rd International Shipping Strategic Development Forum in Shanghai organised by the trade promotional body Maritime London (21 Sept). With high profile support from the Lord Mayor of London David Wooton who opened the forum, the event was attended by 450 and brought together some of the UK’s leading maritime professionals and China’s shipowners and charterers. Lord Mayor David Wooton…