Austal USA Delivers USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13)
Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA delivered Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) to the U.S. Navy. This is the second Navy ship named after the coastal Florida city; both ships were built in Mobile.EPF 13 is now the largest surface ship in the U.S. Navy fleet with autonomous capability. EPF 13 went to sea five times over a several-month duration allowing Austal USA and their industry partners, L3Harris and General Dynamics Mission Systems, to test and analyze…
BSM Adds Simulators at Cyprus Training Center
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) has invested in a Full Mission Bridge and an Engine Room simulator for its training center in Limassol, Cyprus, allowing BSM to offer training for the career development of its own officers, as well as external training for participants in the region. Training will include STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) courses as well as tailor-made customer courses to the advanced level required for Deck and Engineer officers.
UASC Names Ultra-large LNG-ready Containership
United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) named container vessel M.V. Barzan at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), Mokpo South Korea today. The ship, the largest in UASC’s fleet to date, is part of the industry’s first LNG-ready ultra-large container vessel fleet. With a loading capacity of 18,800 TEU, the DNV GL classed vessel M.V. Barzan is first in a new class of ultra-large container vessels that aim to set new standards for fuel and energy efficiency, due to optimized vessel design and an array of propulsion and equipment efficiency technologies.
BMT Reports Strong Performance for 2014
BMT Group Ltd. announced a strong performance for the year to September 30, 2014, a period which saw BMT secure revenues of £165.1 million with underlying operating profits of £10 million, a proportion of which has been distributed to the staff through the company’s profit share schemes. Comprising 24 operating companies, involved in activity across 10 markets in 35 countries, the BMT group said it continues to concentrate on its core maritime-focused offering across the defense, energy, environment and transport sectors.
Caterpillar Acquires ESRG Technologies
Caterpillar Marine has completed the acquisition of ESRG Technologies Group, LLC, a vessel monitoring and data analytics company in the marine industry. The acquisition includes ESRG’s software suite for the remote monitoring and diagnostics of more than 65 on-board systems as well as the expertise to provide meaningful recommendations to ship owners to help increase efficiency, reduce downtime on their vessels and assist shipyards in reducing warranty expenses. Headquartered in Virginia Beach…
Caterpillar Acquires ESRG Technologies Group
Caterpillar Marine has announced it has completed the acquisition of ESRG Technologies Group, LLC, a vessel monitoring and data analytics leader in the marine industry. The acquisition includes ESRG’s comprehensive software suite for the remote monitoring and diagnostics of more than 65 on-board systems as well as the expertise to provide meaningful recommendations to ship owners to help increase efficiency, reduce downtime on their vessels and assist shipyards in reducing warranty expenses.
Daewoo To Split Into Three Units
South Korea's Daewoo Heavy Industries Co apparently plans to split into three units on October 23, pending an approval from its board of directors. It's unknown at present how the spin off will effect the world's second largest shipbuilder. The company planned to divide its shipbuilding and machinery operations and form a third company to manage its debts. The machinery and shipbuilding units are expected to list separately around December 20, pending approval from the Financial Supervisory Service.
Bulkers Shaped by Regulations?
The possibility of a future regulatory regime in which newbuild bulk carriers over a certain size would need to be double-hulled has moved a step closer towards becoming a reality. In March this year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s sub-committee on ship design and equipment (DE46) started work drafting potential revisions to the SOLAS Convention. The DE initiative followed the agreement at the 76th session of IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC76) that a regulation for double side skin construction should be considered for new bulkers of 492 ft. (150 m)-plus. The task of drawing up the SOLAS revisions necessary for instituting double hulls, if this is indeed to become a mandatory requirement, is not scheduled to be concluded until the DE47 sub-committee meeting in 2004.
