Maritime Partner News

Hornblower Energy LLC, in partnership with the Port of San Franciso, the U.S. Department of Energy and six corporate partners, including Air Liquide and Glosten, is leading a project to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of using hydrogen (H2) as a maritime fuel.The project is located at Pier 68 in San Francisco. DOE selected the project for funding in 2020. It’s supposed to be completed in 2025 but there are important decision dates before then. So far, project activities have concentrated on planning and modeling.

Following the launch of OneWeb’s 18th satellite deployment, Applied Satellite Technology (AST) Ltd has brought to market an opportunity for maritime organizations to ‘try before you buy’ the new OneWeb service.AST is enabling maritime users across Europe, the Mediterranean and 50 degrees North to get connected to the fast, reliable and affordable OneWeb service with the additional benefit of AST’s exclusive bandwidth management solution INTEGRA Control, a data management software offering real-time, application-level control.With OneWeb’s LEO constellation, industries, such as maritime, offsho

The United States has transferred three U.S. Navy patrol craft to the Egyptian Navy in an effort to help boost regional maritime security.During a formal ceremony in Alexandria, Egypt on March 21, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) turned over USS Hurricane (PC 3), USS Sirocco (PC 6), and USS Thunderbolt (PC 12), three former Cyclone-class patrol coastal ships built by Bollinger Shipyards in the early 1990s.“The Egypt-U.S. maritime partnership has been a fundamental pillar of our bilateral defense cooperation for decades,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, U.S.

Finland-based naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy Foreship has appointed Shaun White as Managing Director of its new UK subsidiary Foreship UK.White heads Foreship UK from offices in Southampton, with the city selected for its significance as a global center for pioneering marine science, research, and technology and as the UK’s acknowledged ‘cruise capital.’ "Shaun joins Foreship UK from Spear Power Systems, where he led on the electrification and energy solutions of the marine business as Senior Project Manager.

It was an unusually slow day on the docks back on April 21, 2021 when crewmembers onboard a Brusco tugboat sprang into action from the Port of Hueneme to assist a vessel in distress. A 17-year-old containership named the President Eisenhower was headed from Los Angeles to San Francisco when it suffered an engine room fire that disabled command of the vessel.A vessel named Teresa Brusco and her crew pushed the Eisenhower vessel away from shore while other tugboats and salvage companies came to assist. The vessel was disabled in the shipping lane while fully loaded and drifting to shore.

Oslo-listed GC Rieber Shipping has agreed to sell its SURF / Construction Vessel Polar Onyx to Taiwan-based offshore wind service conglomerate Dong Fang Offshore and Hung Hua Construction.The delivery of the vessel, built at Ulstein Verft in 2014, is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2022. The sale includes the VLS tower onboard the vessel. "Polar Onyx has since delivery proven herself as a solid and valuable asset in the SURF market. Starting out in Brazil in 2014, the vessel has performed robust operations on three continents on great depths.

Operational risk management company ABSG Consulting Inc. and marine offshore and engineering consultancy Global Maritime announced their alliance to support the U.S. offshore wind sector. Global Maritime's U.S. subsidiary, American Global Maritime Inc., and ABS Consulting will offer a service that supports the offshore wind life-cycle from concept design through decommissioning."We are thrilled to be working in collaboration with Global Maritime and employing their extensive track…

A hybrid-electric tour vessel caught fire off Norway's southern coast on Thursday, and while the flames have been extinguished, local authorities fear the situation could deteriorate in the days ahead.Authorities said the fire broke out in or near starboard battery compartment and engine room aboard the 24-meter catamaran MS Brim, operated by Brim Explorer, on Thursday afternoon, while the vessel was west of the island Nordre Søster off Fredrikstad in Østfold. There were no passengers on board…

The U.S. national security adviser said on Friday the U.S Coast Guard was basing Fast Response Cutters in the western Pacific for maritime security missions, citing illegal fishing and harassment of vessels by China.In a statement, Robert O’Brien also said the Coast Guard planned to evaluate next fiscal year the feasibility of basing Fast Response Cutters in American Samoa in the South Pacific.The statement described the United States as a Pacific power and added that China’s “illegal…

Wilhelmsen, one of the world's largest shipping companies, has agreed to acquire a 25% stake in Østensjø Group’s growing offshore wind business Edda Wind.Wilhelmsen has also secured an option to buy another 25% before June 2021. Launched in 2018, Edda Wind owns and operates service vessels supporting the maintenance work conducted during the commissioning and operation of offshore wind farms.Commenting on the Edda Wind deal, Thomas Wilhelmsen, CEO of the Wilhelmsen group said: "The Wilhelmsen group’s strategy is very clear…

London-based international law firm Watson Farley & Williams has advised TUI Cruises GmbH on its acquisition of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises from TUI AG for US$1.3bn, excluding net debt.According to the the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in summer 2020. The deal includes the acquisition of HL Cruises’ luxury and expedition fleet, consisting of two five-star plus luxury vessels and three expedition cruise ships, by TUI Cruises. This expands TUI Cruises’ existing fleet to twelve cruise ships, which will enable it to participate in the growth of the cruise industry as the…

It was Canadian whalers, the Norwegians tell us, who first noticed that a dead whale does not bob in the waves. The carcass didn’t pitch or roll, either, and it was somehow “self-propelled” — its fins giving it forward motion and acting as stabilizers, or foils. The story still inspires Trondheim company Wavefoil, maker of scalable, retractable foils that offer ship owners and designers fuel savings and passenger comfort. In Norway, high-speed ferries, cruise ships and fishing vessels are the first customers for retrofits and newbuilds.

Innovation in the world of marine design and propulsion continues to move forward at record speed, driven by new emissions regulation and the push toward emission free ships. In September 2019 an innovative new technology from Wavefoil AS of Trondheim, Norway was installed on the Faroese ferry M/F Teistin, the first ship in the world with retractable bow foils that are designed not only for ship stability but also to convert wave energy directly into propulsive thrust.The foils are designed to both help in saving fuel and improving comfort on board.

On September 24, 2019, the Board of Directors of PAO Sovcomflot elected Sergey Frank as its new Chairman. Igor Tonkovidov was appointed as the company's new Chief Executive Officer. Both appointments are with immediate effect.The meeting was attended by Maxim Akimov, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, who noted in his address: "Through consistent implementation of Sovcomflot's Strategies 2005-2011 and 2012-2018, the company has transformed itself into a global leader in energy shipping and offshore services. Over the past 15 years, Sovcomflot fleet has grown more than threefold.

The international law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised Bremen-based Breakbulk shipping line Zeaborn Group (ZEABORN) on its acquisition of Claus-Peter Offen Tankschiffreederei (CPO Tankers).ZEABORN acquired CPO Tankschiffreederei from the Offen Group, which specialises in the management of oil and product tankers. A purchase agreement for the acquisition of all shares was signed, though the transaction remains subject to approval by the cartel authorities.The Offen Group, owned by Claus-Peter Offen, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of charter-container tonnage.ZEABORN is a global shipping company providing services along the entire value chain from financing, commercial and technical management to chartering its own and chartered vessels.

Watson Farley & Williams advised Bremen-based ZEABORN Group on its acquisition of all outstanding shares in its joint venture ZEAMARINE from partner New Mountain Capital, New York/USA.In May 2018, ZEABORN and Intermarine, a subsidiary of New Mountain Capital, merged their multipurpose and heavylift activities into a global joint venture named ZEAMARINE with offices in Germany, the USA, Denmark, Cyprus, Japan, Belgium, Singapore, Korea, China, Malaysia and Dubai.Now, after the acquisition of all shares, ZEABORN as the sole shareholder continues to focus on its dynamic and strategic expansion. Above all internationally, ZEABORN emphasises…

London-based international law firm Watson Farley & Williams advised MPC Container Ships ASA (MPCC) on its acquisition of exhaust gas cleaning systems, also known as scrubbers, to be retrofitted on selected vessels in its fleet prior to 1 January 2020 when the IMO’s new 2020 rules come into force.A press release said that the deal, which will be financed with cash and available debt capacity on MPCC’s fleet, includes ten firm orders and options to purchase scrubber kits for 45 other vessels and allows for further installations in both 2019 and early 2020.WFW also advised MPCC on the planned conclusion of certain charter parties in the light of the retrofit of its fleet…

Tanker shipping company Euronav has secured a loan facility providing financing for four ice-class suezmax newbuildings under construction by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., two of which have recently been delivered with the remaining two scheduled for delivery later in 2018.Watson Farley & Williams LLP (WFW) said it acted for Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank in relation to a $173.5 million loan facility for Euronav NV signed on March 22, 2018. The commercial lenders were Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV and Sea Bridge Finance Limited and The Export-Import Bank of Korea acted as ECA lender.WFW also acted for ING Belgium SA/NV on a $220 million loan facility for Euronav and International Seaways signed on March 29…

Norwegian suppliers Framo, Maritime Partner, Norbit Aptomar, and NorLense have come together to create the OSRV (Oil Spill Recovery Vessel) Group to offer a complete oil spill response solution. “Our aim is to be a one-stop-shop where we pool our efforts and act as a total systems supplier of safe, highly functional, and well-tested technology. The emergency response equipment has undergone thorough testing and quality assurance drawing on 40 years of oil spill response experience,” says Jørgen Brandt Theodorsen, Area Manager, Oil & Gas Pumping Systems, at Framo.

Watson Farley Williams  (WFW) advised NYK Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha  (NYK) on the execution on 26 January 2018 of its long-term charter contract with EDF LNG Shipping, a subsidiary of the electricity major, Electricité de France (EDF). The contract is for the chartering of a newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for seven years, with optional extension periods for up to thirteen additional years. WFW also worked closely with the commercial and in-house legal teams at NYK, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and EDF on the construction arrangements for the vessel for the project. The LNG carrier will be built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in Korea and is due for delivery in 2020.

LOUIS DREYFUS ARMATEURS Group (LDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with palm oil plantation company Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) to develop maritime logistics business opportunities in Indonesia. The MOU signed between GAR and LDA focuses on developing logistics in Indonesia for the next five years with planned acquisitions and investments amounting to around $100 million. In 2014, LDA and GAR established a joint venture company dedicated to transport LDA and GAR cargoes within Indonesian waters. In 2016, this JV transported 4,500,000 metric tons of various cargoes. “This new step in our partnership with GAR confirms LDA’s strategy to keep strong links with Indonesia where our Group has been active for more than 25 years…

Satlink Satellite Communications has entered into a new agreement with Inmarsat to integrate Fleet Xpress into Satlink’s existing service portfolio. Through the agreement, Satlink will bring more than 1,500 vessels to the Fleet Xpress service over a five-year period. Fleet Xpress, the Global Xpress maritime solution, sets a new standard for maritime global communications with crew welfare, regulatory and operational efficiency at its heart. The service, which is facilitating innovative ‘connected ship’ applications, delivers the highest levels of reliable, high-speed broadband connectivity and exceptional performance across all of the world’s oceans, with continuous connectivity and guaranteed performance.

Damen Shipyards Group said it has signed a sales agreement with scrubber producer AEC Maritime, meaning Damen will now be able to offer ship owners exclusive access to efficient, low maintenance and IMO-certified exhaust gas scrubber technologies. With the inclusion of scrubber solutions, Damen has added another facet to its strategy of providing ship owners with a total solution regarding the latest IMO requirements. AEC Maritime is a business that draws upon experience and cooperation…