Impala Terminals News

The ideal solution for the tightening regulatory noose also brings a different (and welcome) shade of ‘green’ for workboat operators.As the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ramps up enforcement of regulations that mandate that all vessels over 24 meters (78 feet) operating in US waters must switch over to EALs in all oil-to-sea interfaces before their next drydocking, it is an arguably good time to be in the lubricants business. At the same time, Thordon Bearings, a manufacturer of seawater lubricated bearings for the marine industry has its own thoughts on that very topic. Specifically, Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings’ Director of Marketing and Customer Service, asks, “What is the point in shipowners investing in costly bio-lubricants when seawater is widely available and 100% free?

Marine News showcases the best of North America’s 2017 workboat deliveries. There is something for everyone. Notwithstanding the lingering offshore energy downturn, there were plenty of bright spots for North American shipyards in 2017. If a hull was delivered in 2017, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For starters, it is always exciting when a domestic yard delivers a vessel – or multiple vessels, for that matter – to foreign buyers. We can compete in a foreign arena; on price, quality and on-time delivery. This year was no different. No less important is the environmental footprint of a vessel, and there was plenty to report on from that angle in the past 12 months. The domestic waterfront is indeed getting greener and cleaner.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. said it has delivered the last of four newly built inland river towboats to IWL River, Inc., one of the builder’s newest clients. The four new towboats – Impala Soledad, Impala Salgar, Impala Mompox and Impala Cantagallo – will service the inland waterways of Latin America for Impala Terminals. Impala owns and operates a network of terminals that facilitate global trade flows, specializing in warehousing, multi-modal logistics and related port services for essential commodities worldwide. This series of CT Marine designed 134 ft.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has launched Impala Cantagallo, the final vessel in a series of four triple screw inland river towboats for IWL River, Inc. Launched on December 14, 2016 Impala Cantagallo is part of a series of 134-foot inland river service towboats designed by CT Marine and currently under construction at Eastern’s Allanton facility, with deliveries starting in late 2016 and going through 2017. Once in service, IWL River’s new towboats will work the inland waterways of Latin America for Impala Terminals. Reverse Reduction Gears: (3) Reintjes, WAF665.

The first four of 15 Impala Terminals Colombia-operated tug/tow boats have been converted from oil to water-lubricated tailshaft bearings. Impala Zambrano, the first of 15 triple-screw and twin-screw push boats scheduled for oil-to-water conversion, was retrofitted in July 2015 with a Thordon RiverTough bearing and TG100 shaft seal combination. Three triple-screw and one twin-screw pusher vessels have since been converted and Thordon’s Colombian distributor Delta Marine and River Services will now work on the next vessels in the series.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. launched the Impala Soledad, the first in a series of four inland river towboats for IWL River, Inc. This series of CT Marine designed 134 ft. ABS Classed Inland River Service towboats are Triple Screw with a Retractable Pilothouse and all are currently under construction at Eastern’s Allanton facility. The vessel series is scheduled for delivery starting in late 2016 into 2017. The launch on June 10, 2016 was hosted by Eastern’s Project Manager Joe Stark, a Navy veteran, followed by a decorated 25 year career with the FDNY as a Marine Engineer.

Commodity trader Trafigura said its logistics and warehouse unit Impala Terminals has scrapped plans for a metals warehousing joint venture in China and will also exit its refined base metals business. Trafigura had announced a joint venture last October with Citics Global Trade, a subsidiary of Citic Securities Co Ltd , China's largest investment bank. "This (cancellation) is due to the necessary conditions not being in place," Trafigura said in a statement on Tuesday, giving no further details. The statement did not mention suspected metals financing fraud at China's Qingdao port, but last year Trafigura said a probe had affected some partners and hit confidence in the industry as a whole.

IWL River, Inc., a Impala Terminals Colombia affiliate, and Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) on May 20, 2015 signed a contract for the construction of four 134-foot ABS Classed Inland River, Triple Screw Towboats each with a Retractable Pilothouse (ESG Hulls 243-246), the shipbuilder announced. According to Eastern, this inland towboat design and detailed engineering is being provided by CT Marine of Portland, Maine. The new towboats for IWL River, Inc., one of Eastern’s newest clients, will service the inland waterways of Latin America for Impala Terminals.

The hulking backhoe dredges up rocks and silt from the shallows of the muddy Magdalena River in the first laborious step to transform the waterway into an engine of economic growth. The excavation along a verdant stretch near Barrancabermeja, an inland oil and coal hub, is part of a $600 million government bid to reclaim the river, once Colombia's primary transport route. By clearing logjams, the aim is to allow big cargo barges to steam up 900 km (560 miles) from the Caribbean coast to Puerto Salgar, close to the capital Bogota.

Commodity trader Trafigura said on Monday its logistics and warehouse unit Impala Terminals plans to focus its refined metals business in Antwerp, Dubai and China, exiting several sites to concentrate on places where it has greater control. Trafigura, one of the world's largest commodities traders, said Impala planned to cease operation in Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey and Italy by the end of 2014. The company said the impact of suspected metals financing fraud at China's Qingdao port on Impala Terminals "was not material", but the probe had affected some partners and hit confidence in the industry as a whole.