Grand Bahama Island News

Norwegian energy company Equinor announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its oil terminal in the Bahamas to Estonian logistics and investment business Liwathon. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.The South Riding Point oil terminal at the Grand Bahama Island, commissioned in 1973 was purchased by Equinor in 2009 to enable the company to trade oil primarily originating from the American markets. The facility comprises 10 large storage tanks with a capacity of 6.8 million barrels (1…

Post the departure from Grand Bahama Island of hurricane “Dorian” the most devastating storm to ever hit the Bahamas, Grand Bahama Shipyard confirms it will be ready to resume business on Wednesday September 11th, 2019.“There is no significant damage to the shipyard,” said Graham Couser, Vice President at the yard, “However, the island has suffered badly with personal tragedies and major infrastructure damages. As a business and community leader, it is our obligation to expeditiously return the shipyard…

At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Dorian was located by reconnaissance aircraft and NOAA Doppler radar near latitude 27.1 North, longitude 78.4 West. Dorian is beginning to move northwestward at about 1 mph (2 km/h), and a slightly faster motion toward the northwest or north-northwest is expected later today and tonight.A turn toward the north is forecast by Wednesday evening, followed by a turn to the north-northeast Thursday morning. On this track, the core of extremely…

Norwegian Cruise Line's ship Norwegian Sun has returned to call Port Canaveral its homeport for another year. Also returning are the popular all-inclusive cruises to Cuba.Starting today (April 15), the Norwegian Sun, which in 2018 became the first homeported cruise ship to sail from Port Canaveral to Cuba, will offer four-, five- and seven-day cruises to Havana, Cuba, with select sailings also calling to Key West during its four-day cruises.Ports of call during the Sun’s five- and seven-day voyages include Key West, Nassau, Bahamas, or Norwegian’s private island beach at Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. “We are excited that the Norwegian Sun is returning for another season of cruises to Cuba,” Port CEO Capt. John Murray stated.

The U.S. government has chartered another commercial cruise liner to serve as a floating hotel for relief workers in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Carnival Cruise Line said it reached an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will see the 2,052-passenger vessel Carnival Fascination docked in St. Croix to provide housing and meals for relief workers during a four-month charter from October 15 to February 3, 2018.

Buckeye Partners LP's Bahamas terminal, also known as Borco, has been closed for vessel traffic and will shut all operations by the end of the day due to Hurricane Irma, a source familiar with operations said on Thursday.   That terminal, located in Freeport, on Grand Bahama Island, has more than 26 million barrels of storage capacity for crude, fuel oil, gasoline and other products.   Hurricane Irma has already killed several people after hammering the Caribbean as a category 5 storm, with winds up to 180 mph (285 km/h). It was most recently located off the northern coast of Dominican Republic, about 760 miles (1220 km) southeast of Freeport, according to the National Weather Service.   Reporting By Jessica Resnick Ault

The largest shipyard in the Caribbean and Central America, Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBSL), has reopened for business after sustaining minor damages from Hurricane Matthew. Hurricane Matthew passed through Grand Bahama Island October 6, 2016 with winds up to 120 mph causing disruption and significant damage to the island’s infrastructure and the community in general. The yard reported minor damage, mainly to buildings and general property, and after a coordinated response effort is now clear and ready to safely accept vessels. Three vessels are scheduled to arrive for work on October 14, 2016.

Storm's eye nears Cape Canaveral. The first major hurricane threatening a direct hit on the United States in more than 10 years lashed Florida on Friday with heavy rains and winds after killing at least 339 people in Haiti on its destructive march north through the Caribbean. Hurricane Matthew packed gusts of 100 miles per hour (160 kph) as it tracked north-northwest along Florida's east coast, the National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. The storm's eye was 25 miles (40 km) east of Cape Canaveral, home to the nation's chief space launch site. "We are seriously ground zero here in Cape Canaveral -- hunkered down, lights flickering, winds are crazy," said resident Sandy Wilk on Twitter.

Balearia has requested a license to operate between the U.S. and Cuba from the U.S. Treasury Department, after both countries' announcement of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations. The shipping company is awaiting an official response from the U.S. government, and the subsequent authorization from the Cuban government. The Spanish maritime transport company has operated in the Caribbean region since late 2011 under the brand Bahamas Express, connecting Fort Lauderdale (north of Miami) and Freeport (in Grand Bahama Island).

Hyde Marine is partnering with Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) for installation of the Hyde GUARDIAN Gold BWTS, for vessels docking at the yard. GBS, based in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, is one of the largest ship repair companies in the region with three floating docks for the drydocking and repair of all types of oceangoing vessels, and all the necessary support services required to perform complex repair, upgrade and conversion projects. Cardiff Craftsmen Ltd. Additionally, Hyde Marine announced an installation agreement for the Hyde GUARDIAN Gold BWTS with UK-based Cardiff Craftsmen LTD, an established ship repair and marine engineering company specializing in maintenance solutions to the marine & offshore industry on a worldwide basis.

Hyde Marine, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Calgon Carbon Corporation, announced today it has established two partnership agreements for installation of the chemical-free Hyde GUARDIAN Gold Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) for international markets. Hyde Marine is partnering with Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) for installation of the Hyde GUARDIAN Gold BWTS, for vessels docking at the yard. The system uses efficient filtration and ultraviolet disinfection to treat ships' ballast water to prevent the spread of invasive species from port to port. GBS, based in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, is one of the largest ship repair companies in the region with three floating docks for the drydocking and repair of all types of oceangoing vessels…

On November 28, Donjon Marine, Co., Inc., a provider of multi-faceted marine services including marine salvage, heavy lift, dredging, recycling, demolition and related emergency response services, completed heavy lift work for Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited on Grand Bahama Island. The Donjon tug Mary Alice and derrick-barge Chesapeake 1000 assisted the shipyard with the lifting, transport and placement of a pre-fabricated module weighing approximately 375 metric tons for the Holland America Lines’ Rotterdam cruise ship.

Dave Peter, GE Oil & Gas engineering and technology manager—training, explained the purpose of a subsea tree to children from Robert Gordon’s College and Aberdeen Grammar school attending Offshore Europe. The SVXT subsea tree is a new product launched at Offshore Europe, designed and being manufactured in Aberdeen. 12. Bradford Grand Bahama, Ltd., one of the Bradford Marine family of companies, and Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited are announced that they have signed a Mega-Yacht…

Bradford Marine, Inc. has acquired rights to the Bradford name relating to yacht sales and charter. As a result, they are reuniting the Bradford name for the first time in over 25 years and re-branding their The Shipyard Group subsidiary which will become known as Bradford Marine Yacht Sales. Bradford Marine was founded in 1966. In the early 1980's, co-founder Charles Blickle left the company but retained use of the Bradford name for his yacht sales and charter business called "Bradford Yacht Sales." In the early 1990's, Bradford Yacht Sales was acquired by outside investors, but Blickle's son, Charles Jr., stayed with that business for many years.

Discovery Cruise Line, which offers daily ferry service with cruise line amenities between South Florida and Grand Bahama Island except Wednesdays, announced that it is lowering its fares and fuel surcharge. Hanns J. Hahn, General Manager of Discovery, said that "Effectively immediately and at least through January 3, 2009, the fare for a same day roundtrip Fun Day Cruise has been reduced to just $39.99 per person and the price of a two day, one night Cruise N Stay Staycation has been reduced to only $89.99 per person. In effect, two are sailing for the previous price of one." Hahn said that "In addition, we have lowered the fuel surcharge by $10 to $19 per person.

VNS International began implementing its Marine Administration and Planning (MAP) Solution for HMS - Bahamas Florida Express (BFE), fast ferry operating between Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas. guest management needs. management. implementation services. The MAP Solution is designed for full visibility of passenger activity. activities, and disembarkation real-time. from anywhere with internet access. BFE. of the guest. embarkation process easier for our guests. said Benjamin Keeley, CEO of VNS. the marketplace today. nature of businesses today.

During the recent hurricane assault on the Bahamas, Bradford Grand Bahama, Ltd. (Bradford), one of the Bradford Marine family of companies, hardly missed a beat in the operation of its 50 acre full-service, ISPS-compliant shipyard in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. On September 4, Bradford’s Freeport shipyard was hit by Hurricane Frances, which caused some damage at the facility but inflicted major damage to the utility infrastructure on Grand Bahama Island. Determined to minimize any disruption and to continue providing jobs for its shipyard workers, Bradford swiftly sent a container load of water, food and other supplies to its workers and also purchased a 275 KW, 400 amp generator which it quickly had up and running.

SeaJets, the Palm Beach-based Jetfoil will leave the Port of Palm Beach on November 6, inaugurated regular service of the jets into Grand Bahama Island. SeaJet Kara will depart from the Port Thursday through Monday at 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. with scheduled arrivals on Grand Bahama Island at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively. Departures from the Island will be at 11:30 a.m. and 6:50 p.m., arriving in Palm Beach at 1:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively. Combining their innovative and high speed operation, the jets are able to cover the 65 nautical miles between the Port and the Island in 99 minutes flying time. Flying over the sea's surface, the JetFoils leave no wake and can absorb shock waves up to 19 ft. (5.7 m) - with little or no movement in passenger cabins.

SeaJets, a Palm Beach-based transit firm, has brought two American-made Boeing 929 JetFoils back to U.S. waters for the launch of high-speed marine transportation between South Florida and Grand Bahama Island. The two JetFoils, completely refurbished in 1999, arrived in South Florida at the Port of Palm Beach. The arrival marks the vessels' first visit back to the U.S. since 1982. Currently, there are 44 JetFoils in service throughout Europe and Asia. JetFoils fly over the surface of the sea leaving no wake and can absorb the shock of waves up to 19 ft. with little or no movement in the passenger cabins. The main and upper cabines will accommodate a total of 250 passengers…

First making headlines this past summer, when the Vancouver-based yard performed the emergency pod repair on Celebrity's Infinity, Victoria Shipyards has booked an additional five cruise vessels that are scheduled for routine repairs and drydockings from May 9 through the middle of October. With the departure of Cascade General's Number Four drydock last year to Grand Bahama Island, Victoria has gained a foothold in the realm of West Coast ship repair for cruise vessels that frequent the Alaska and Vancouver areas. According to Malcolm Barker, Victoria's manager of Ship Repair, the yard has scheduled five cruise vessels for the remainder of 2002, beginning with Princess Cruises' Dawn Princess, which will arrive on May 9 for 10 days.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice stating that it plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) relating to the proposed Seafarer U.S. Pipeline System project. It will also hold a public scoping meeting in Rivera Beach, Florida on July 22, 2004. Comments on the project should be submitted by August 16. The project involves construction of an undersea natural gas pipeline from Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas to Palm Beach County, Florida. 69 Fed. Reg. 41248 (HK Law).

The Cloud X, a 365-passenger fast ferry that has been operating between Port of Palm Beach and the Bahamas since August 2005, will discontinue operations at the end of May, the vessel’s owner said today. “Rising fuel costs and disruption of travel priorities caused by four hurricanes are among factors beyond our control that contributed to this decision,” said John Martin, owner of the vessel, which was operated by Party Line Cruise Co. “While we had hoped to overcome these challenges, and even though passenger levels have been slowly increasing, we recognized that we could not feasibly sustain operations under present circumstances,” Martin added.