Fleetwood News

Global commercial fishing activity for 2020 fell by around 1 million hours as of end-April, a 6.5% decline over the two previous years, the result of plummeting demand caused by coronavirus lockdowns, according to Global Fishing Watch.Fishing fleets spent 14.4 million hours on the water for the year so far to April 28, a decline from an average of 15.4 million hours for the same year-to-date periods of 2018 and 2019, according to the nonprofit organization that tracks fishing operation worldwide.Global Fishing Watch collects and analyses data from onboard identification systems known as AIS…

Canadian National Railway (CN) said it plans to invest approximately $345 million across British Columbia in 2019 to expand and strengthen the Company’s rail network throughout the province.“Following a record capital program in 2018, CN has been able to take on more traffic from different commodity sectors based on contracts with our customers. This year, CN is planning to invest even more than last year to continue boosting capacity and network resiliency and to meet growing traffic on our corridors across B.C.,” said Doug Ryhorchuk, Vice-President of CN’s Western Region.The B.C. investments are part of CN’s 2019 record $3.9-billion capital investment focused on enabling growth from all commodity segments…

Pankaj Khanna has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Rig UDW, a global provider of offshore deepwater drilling services,  effective January 1, 2018. Khanna is 47 years old with 29 years of varied experience in the maritime & offshore industry. He last served as Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Marine Inc, a drybulk company that he founded in 2013. Prior to his position at Pioneer Marine Inc Khanna served as Chief Marketing Officer at Ocean Rig UDW Inc. from January 1, 2012 to October 2, 2012. Mr. Khanna served as the Chief Operating Officer of DryShips, Inc. from March 2009 to October 2, 2012. Prior to joining DryShips, he served in C-Suite roles at Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd and Alba Maritime Services S.A.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is concerned about the reduction in monitoring of international shipping by Maritime New Zealand, the Government agency responsible for ensuring a “safe, secure and clean” maritime environment. Less than half of “Priority 1” vessels (49%) coming into New Zealand were inspected in the 2014/2015 year, according to Maritime New Zealand’s annual report. That is well beneath the target of 70% inspections for the year, and the 82% of inspections achieved in the 2013/2014 year. Maritime Union of New Zealand national secretary Joe Fleetwood says the monitoring and investigation of compliance by international shipping was a key role of the agency.

The troubled German-owned, Liberia-flagged containership 'Vega Auriga', which was last week banned by Australia from entering its ports for three months, has now arrived in New Zealand, where it has been detained, informs ITF Seafarers. The ship – described by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority as a "repeat offender" for breaches of seafarer welfare and ship maintenance – was detained in Tauranga after Maritime New Zealand found 14 deficiencies, with 11 to be rectified before it can leave. However, the Filipino crew have now received some of their back pay due; ITF inspector Grahame McLaren reports that they have received their June and July wages, although pay for August was still outstanding.

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) president Paddy Crumlin has met with key stakeholders in Auckland, New Zealand, about the ongoing campaign to secure NZD30 million in unpaid wages for fishers in the region. The ITF has contributed to Slave Free Seas’ campaign to claim outstanding wages in the vicinity of NZD30 million through the New Zealand courts. Crumlin met with senior union representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, the Slave Free Seas advocacy group and the Merchant Service Guild as part of the Regional Maritime Federation meeting.

Merseyside industrial engineering firm SeaKing Electrical said it has undergone a major investment in staff training in a bid to drive growth in the marine, offshore and windfarm sectors. The Birkenhead-based company has invested across a number of areas including offshore survival training and working at heights. Staff have undergone rigorous courses at the Offshore Survival Centre at Blackpool and The Fylde College, which is the only site on the U.K.'s west coast to deliver offshore survival training programs.

Philip Cave, from Fleetwood Nautical College, whose training company is Princess Cruises, has been recognised for his dedication and achievements throughout his training by the award of this year's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Trainee Officer of the Year award. The award aims to encourage and recognise quality within the maritime industry. Nominations are made by nautical colleges alongside the trainee’s sponsoring company. The winner is decided by a panel of judges, including representatives from the MCA and other industry figures.

Arklow Marine Services launch their second 20 metre wind farm service vessel for Alicat into Ireland's River Avoca at Arklow. Painted in Alicat colours the vessel was lifted into the water by 250-ton crane, ready to start up the main engines and later for basin and sea trials. The new vessel is due to leave Arklow on 1st July, for a lengthy coastal inaugural promotional trip. The Owners Gardline and Alicat intend to bring the vessel north heading to the west coast of the U.K.calling on ports Liverpool…

Hamworthy, the international fluid handling specialist, is highlighting its commitment to Brazil’s growing marine and offshore sectors in the run up to opening its first dedicated service centre in Brazil in 2011. Hamworthy’s commitment to offer strong technological solutions at competitive prices and to seek local product content has been strongly rewarded through a series of high profile orders for oil and gas handling systems. Hamworthy has an established presence in Brazil, offering products and services through its local agency, Tridente since the 1970s. Hamworthy Oil & Gas Systems was recently awarded a major contract by Brazilian…

Transas Marine (UK) Ltd and Blackpool and the Fylde College’s Fleetwood Nautical Campus have successfully added a VTS simulation suite to its Transas Navi-Trainer Professional Simulation centre. The two Navi-Monitor workstations are able to monitor the developing traffic situation in any simulated exercise run on the main navigational bridges on site; a capability that is required for Fleetwood to deliver VTS Operator training to the IALA V103 standard. A projected visualisation channel gives the view from the control tower and completes the ‘full mission’ effect that this leading training establishment has always strived for. This installation is a landmark for Transas as it is the first of its kind in the UK…

Transas Marine (UK) Ltd and Blackpool and the Fylde College’s Fleetwood Nautical Campus have successfully added a VTS simulation suite to the Transas Navi-Trainer Professional Simulation centre. The two Navi-Monitor workstations are able to monitor the developing traffic situation in any simulated exercise run on the main navigational bridges on site; a capability that is required for Fleetwood to deliver VTS Operator training to the IALA V103 standard. A projected visualization channel gives the view from the control tower and completes the full mission effect that this leading training establishment has always strived for. This installation is a landmark for Transas as it is the first of its kind in the UK.

window clean from salt spray. number of major companies to Preston-based company Kleentec Marine. improve their resilience to the elements. System I knew it was something which would benefit our members. underwent conversion work at ABP in Garston. pits and craters which hold onto water, dirt and salt. on the wiper blades. Towage, based at North Huskisson Dock.

Six offshore workers were killed and another missing feared dead after a helicopter belonging to an Aberdeen-based firm ditched into the Irish Sea. The aircraft, carrying five Centrica employees and two crew, ditched into freezing water 25 miles off the between the Isle of Man and Morecambe Bay on the Lancashire coast. The Aerospatiale SA-365N Dauphin 2, operated by CHC Scotia Ltd, ditched close to a gas drilling plaftorm on its last journey ferrying workers back to shore. The search continued last night as hope faded for the one remaining crew. Two RAF helicopters - one from RAF Valley and one from RAF Leconfield - as well as RNLI lifeboats from Fleetwood and Barrow were also helping with the search as were several support vessels.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) detained a RoRo vessel at Fleetwood after it was involved in a pollution incident in which approximately two cubic meters of fuel oil was pumped into the River Wyre. Investigation revealed that the division between a fuel tank and an adjacent ballast tank had apparently been breached, allowing fuel oil to flow into the ballast tank. The breach constitutes an unsafe condition, which requires repair. Source: HK Law