East Coast News

Axpo, a Swiss utility and energy trader, said on Thursday it was in talks for a 10-year supply deal with a Canadian company planning to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal.A sales and purchase agreement would boost the chances that Pieridae Energy would decide to build the C$10 billion ($7.6 billion) Goldboro project, which would be the first LNG export terminal on Canada's East Coast.Canada is rich in oil and gas but has yet to export major shipments of LNG to Asia from its West Coast or across the Atlantic from its East Coast."Under the term sheet with Pieridae Energy…

NOAA presented awards to 13 global shipping firms for their commitment in helping prevent ship collisions with whales off the coast of California.The companies participated in a Voluntary Speed Reduction initiative by slowing their ships to speeds of 10 knots (about 11.5 mph) or lower while transiting vessel traffic lanes outside the Golden Gate during whale feeding season, from May through mid-November.The national marine sanctuaries of North-central California - Greater Farallones…

Hurricane Florence is forecast to be a major hurricane when it nears the U.S. coast on Thursday, bringing life-threatening storm surge and rainfall to portions of the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic states, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory on Wednesday morning.The extremely dangerous hurricane, currently a category 4, is located about 530 miles southeast of Cape Fear, N.C. packing maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour, it said in an advisory issued…

A fishing vessel went up in flames about 65 miles off the coast of of Chatham, Mass. on August 23, 2018.The four fisherman aboard the 23-meter Rose Marie at the time of the fire were rescued by the crews of three nearby fishing vessels.A U.S. Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry air crew from Air Station Cape Cod and the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Legare, 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter also diverted to evaluate the scene.The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Brazilian exporters are facing delays shipping goods transported in containers, including coffee and cotton, due to overbooking, the world's largest container shipping company, A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, said on Monday.In a report on its operations in Brazil, Maersk said exports fell for the second quarter in a row, citing the practice of some exporters reserving more space in ships than they need, leaving other companies failing to find room for their cargo."Exporters are hurting each other when they book space they end up not using…

Oil major BP on Tuesday offloaded about 1 million barrels of Angolan crude from supertanker Olympic Light to an independent Chinese refiner after holding the oil at sea for about three months, people with knowledge of the discharge said on Wednesday.The oil had been aboard one of four supertankers held up or delayed off China's east coast near Shandong since as long ago as April, unable to discharge BP's oil due to slowing buying from private refiners in the world's second-biggest economy.All four have delayed cargoes…

Preparations underway all along the Eastern Seaboard. As Hurricane Florence threatens a wide swath of the U.S. East Coast, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard are taking no chances as the dangerous storm advances westward. As that happens, most Navy ships are departing ports in Virginia. As many as 30 vessels from Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek on Monday. Following close behind, the Coast Guard’s medium endurance cutter Bear could also be seen heading…

The Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Montreal, arrived at Halifax Shipyard for a 53-week docking work period (DWP) that includes routine maintenance and upgrades to ensure the ships longevity.More than 400 Halifax Shipyard employees will work on HMCS Montreal DWP, including apprentice and journeyperson crane operators, electricians, engine fitters, ironworkers, joiners/stagers, labourers, material handlers, pipefitters, riggers, and welders…

MarineLink was given the opportunity to ride aboard the Virginia Pilot Association's new pilot boat Hampton Roads.The newly-built Chesapeake class MKII launch from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding was delivered earlier this summer, equipped with a range of state-of-the-art technologies for improved safety, stability, reliability and efficiency.Chief among Hampton Roads' high-tech features is its Volvo Penta propulsion system. The vessel is powered by twin D13-700, EPA Tier 3-certified diesel engines…

Marlink has re-established its commitment to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to provide its Sealink services on the fleet of four cruise vessels, plus two new cruise ships which are due to enter operational service in 2019. The contract renewal reflects Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' desire to meet the requirements of the growing market for adventure and expedition cruises, as the ships are now in remote areas that were previously considered inaccessible for cruise ships, such as Arctic and the Antarctic.Marlink’s global Sealink services provide stable…

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Center (NAVCEN) is involved in a number of activities that have an impact on all Americans, even if they don’t realize it.From motorists checking directions with their Global Positioning System (GPS) to boaters to ships coming and going to U.S. ports, the NAVCEN plays an unseen but vital role.With a staff of19 officers, 17 enlisted personnel and 19 civilians, NAVCEN falls under the Director of Marine Transportation Systems (CG-5PW) at USCG Headquarters…

Danish shipowner ESVAGT and offshore wind farm developer MHI Vestas have sealed long-term contracts for the delivery of two new service operation vessels (SOVs) for separate wind farms off the Netherlands and the U.K.The wind farm service vessels will work the fields Borssele 3-4, located 22 km off the coast of Zeeland in the Netherlands, and Triton Knoll, which is 33 km off the coast of Lincolnshire in England, which together will produce 1,600 MW green energy from 2021. An option for an additional SOV for servicing the farm Moray East off the U.K. is also included.

A pair of multifunctional 29-meter catamaran passenger vessels, Acadia Explorer and Schoodic Explorer, have been delivered on the U.S. East Coast.Designed by Incat Crowther and built by Gulf Craft in Franklin, La. for Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co, the USCG Subchapter T certified vessels will be used for whale watching excursions, nature cruises and light house tours in the Acadia National Park and surrounding areas as well for providing tender services to cruise ships which frequent picturesque Bar Harbor…

British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Norfolk, Va. a bit later than planned on Monday after evading Hurricane Florence, which devastated large areas of the U.S. East Coast.The Royal Navy said HMS Queen Elizabeth skirted south of the hurricane, but sailed close enough for the effects of a four meter swell, five meter wave height and winds gusting 40 knots to be felt throughout the carrier, as the 65,000-metric-ton ship rolled around the Atlantic.The 'WESTLANT 18' Task Group…

Norway's Hoegh LNG has won a tender to supply a floating LNG import terminal for a consortium aiming to import liquefied natural gas to Australia's east coast from 2020 in a push to boost local supply.Australian Industrial Energy, a consortium that includes Japan's JERA and Marubeni Corp, said on Monday it signed an agreement giving it the right to lease one of Hoegh LNG's floating storage and regasification units (FSRU), to be docked at Port Kembla.The project needs approvals from the state of New South Wales, which is evaluating the proposal on a fast track as "critical state significant inf

Gulftainer, the world’s largest privately-owned independent port operator and logistics company based in the United Arab Emirates, finalized a 50-year concession agreement with the state of Delaware to operate and develop the Port of Wilmington, significantly expanding the company’s global footprint and reach.The agreement, signed by Gulftainer’s subsidiary GT USA, will see an expected investment of up to $600 million in the port to upgrade and expand the terminal and to turn…

The world's largest offshore wind farm will open on Thursday off the northwest coast of England when Danish energy group Orsted unveils the Walney Extension project.The wind farm has a capacity of 659 megawatts (MW), enough to power almost 600,000 homes, and overtakes the London Array off England's east coast which has a capacity of 630 MW.Walney Extension is made up of 87 turbines built by Siemens Gamesa and MHI Vestas, and covers 145 square kilometers (55 square miles), which is equivalent to around 20,000 football pitches.The 40 eight-megawatt MHI Vestas turbines being used stand 195 meters

Norwegian subsea services provider Subsea 7 announced the award of a substantial offshore Conventional contract. Subsea 7 defines a substantial contract as being between USD 150 million and USD 300 million.In a press release, the company said that the offshore execution is planned for 2019 and 2020. No further details are disclosed at this time due to contractual obligations. Early this month, Subsea 7 announced the award of a sizeable contract by Nexen as part of the Buzzard Phase 2 Project, located approximately 55 kilometres off the north-east coast of Scotland.

The cruise ship Star Pride has regained power after becoming disabled about two miles off the coast of Cuttyhunk, Mass. last week.The ship’s captain reported to U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Southeastern New England at about 3:20 p.m., Friday that the vessel had lost power and was disabled.Coast Guard crews and the Buzzards Bay Task Force launched and surrounded the 440-foot, 9,975-grt cruise ship to ensure the safety of 191 passengers and 160 crewmembers on board the ship.

Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten has opened a new office in New Bedford, Mass. The office is the company's second location.Glosten said its expansion to the East Coast is in direct response to increasing client demand and opportunities in the region.“In our 60th year serving the marine industry, we’re reminded that our ability to endure is based on building strong relationships,” said Glosten President Morgan Fanberg. “This expansion enables us to provide our East Coast-based clients and partners with the level of service and attention they deserve.”

There’s a shipbuilding resurgence underway in Canada that’s being driven by a long-term multibillion dollar government initiative to rebuild the federal fleet of Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard vessels and breathe new life into the country’s shipbuilding industry. Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards is an active player.Under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), the Vancouver, B.C. shipbuilder was selected in 2011 to deliver several types of large non-combat vessels for the Navy and Coast Guard…

The shipbuilding and repair market has been slightly increasing over the past year with most of the increase being sporadic on vessel repair. New construction has been steady and in May Ship Repairs business, we have been focused on infrastructure expansion such as passenger ferry landings for the City of New York. Looking to the future, May Ship anticipates this trend to continue or even decline due to possible trade tariffs and lack of needed new construction of small to midsized…

A Maersk vessel loaded with Russian fish and South Korean electronics will next week become the first containership to navigate an Arctic sea route that Russia hopes will become a new shipping highway.The Arctic voyage by the 3,600 20-foot container capacity Venta Maersk is the latest step in the expansion of the so-called Northern Sea Route which is becoming more accessible to ships as climate change reduces the amount of sea ice.The brand new Venta Maersk, one of the world's largest ice-class vessels…