Ministry Of Transport And Communications News

Lithuanian ship designer Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) is unveiling new designs for what it believes is the first ever electric pusher vessel for use on Europe’s inland waterways called the Electric Eel.Klaipeda headquartered WBE said the first electric pusher is due to be built next year for the Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority, a public body operating under Lithuanian Government Ministry of Transport and Communications.WBE’s Head of Sales & Marketing Eglė Mikalauskienė…

Electromotor Glitch Delays Havila Voyages' Castor Vessel DeliveryNorwegian coastal cruise shipping company Havila Voyages said Thursday that the first trip with its Havila Castor newbuild vessel would be delayed due to a technical problem with its electric motor. Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux start-ups are also expected to experience delays."The [Havila Castor] ship, which was due to start operating on April 7, is being built at the Tersan shipyard in Turkey, where it is currently unable to carry out sea trials due to challenges with an electric motor…

Oslo-based TMC Compressors of the Seas (TMC) has signed a deal to deliver its energy efficient marine compressed air systems to two new cruise vessels Tersan Shipyard is building for Norwegian shipowner Havila Kystruten. TMC has not disclosed the value of its contract. Its scope of work is to deliver a complete marine compressed air system consisting of energy efficient instrument air compressors and air dryers, to each of the two newbuild cruise ships – the Havila Capella and Havila Castor.Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and batteries, they will be the most environmentally friendly coastal cruise ships in service, according to Havila Kystruten.The vessels are scheduled to start sailing in early 2021…

Qatar signed the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU) on Portal State Control during its participation in the 21st Port State Control Committee Meeting held last week in Australia, where a delegation from Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and Communications took part.“Qatar’s membership in the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding will take Qatar’s maritime transport sector from local arena to the international one, leading the region in portal state control field,” said Dr. Saleh Fetais al-Marri, General Supervisor of Maritime Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).The Memorandum will contribute…

Development of transport corridors ensures smart and innovative cross-border transport and logistics services on the core transport network of the Baltic Sea Region. The ways to develop the smart North Sea–Baltic, Baltic–Adriatic and Scandinavian–Mediterranean Core Network Corridors in the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 were discussed in Tallinn earlier this week. The seminar “Delivering Smart and Innovative Strategic Transport Projects: post-2020 perspective” was organized as a part of the 9th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). The seminar was hosted jointly with the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania and Mr.

Kongsberg Norcontrol has signed a framework agreement with the Norwegian Coastal Administration for delivery, operations and maintenance of radars to the maritime traffic service. The agreement has a potential total value of up to NOK 250 million and a duration of up to eleven years. This is amongst the largest framework agreements the Norwegian Coastal Administration has entered into with a single supplier. "The Ministry of Transport and Communications has assigned us to expand the service area for our maritime traffic service, and this framework agreement is an important step in achieving this. The agreement gives us access to modern radars with good performance," says Arve Dimmen, Director of Maritime Safety at the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

Kongsberg Norcontrol has signed a framework agreement with the Norwegian Coastal Administration for delivery, operations and maintenance of radars to the maritime traffic service.The agreement has a potential total value of up to NOK 250 million ($31 million) and a duration of up to eleven years.This is amongst the largest framework agreements the Norwegian Coastal Administration has entered into with a single supplier."The Ministry of Transport and Communications has assigned us to expand the service area for our maritime traffic service…

For the first time, a national workshop on IMO's International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code) was delivered in Arabic during a five-day training course held in Doha, Qatar (22-26 April). Designated authority and port facility security officers had the chance to improve their knowledge and understanding through practical exercises as well as class-based training in how to implement the relevant provisions of the ISPS Code, SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and related guidance. The participants will now be equipped with the necessary skills to train others with similar responsibilities. Organized at the request of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Qatar…

A five-day workshop on maritime security and The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code concluded today in Maputo, Mozambique (24 -28 July). The course provided port facility security officers with the necessary knowledge to perform their duties in accordance with the requirements of key IMO maritime security measures*. As a results, participants improved their knowledge and skills of those requirements with a view to train others with similar responsibilities. The workshop included a port visit, various group exercises and interactive activities - providing solid grounding on the oversight roles and responsibilities of the designated authority.

The Norwegian government is inviting shipping firms to compete for the right to provide a transport service for goods and passengers along the country's coastline, with 34 port calls from Bergen to Kirkenes, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said in a statement on Monday. "We've seen substantial interest from potential bidders," the ministry said, without mentioning numbers or names.

The MPA Academy – the training arm of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) – in partnership with the Singapore Management University (SMU) and Human Capital Leadership Institute, has officially launched its 2nd Advanced Maritime Leaders’ Programme (AMLP). Taking place from 20 to 25 April 2017, the six-day programme will gather 19 senior maritime and port officials from all regions including, Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Oceania. The Advanced Maritime Leaders’ Programme (AMLP) focuses on leadership development and is uniquely designed for senior maritime officers heading maritime and port administrations in their respective countries.

Finland has become the 32nd State to ratify the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks. The treaty, which entered into force in 2015, provides the legal basis for states to remove, or have removed, shipwrecks that may threaten the safety of lives, goods and property at sea, as well as the marine environment. The convention was adopted in 2007 and its contracting states currently represent just over 60 percent of the world's merchant fleet tonnage.

The Finnish government's innovation investment arm, Tekes, said that it is making a multi-year commitment to funding collaborative research and development of autonomous, unmanned ships to ply the world’s oceans in the not-so-distant future. Tekes said in a statement that this research area is a priority for the Finnish government and would contribute to the nation's competitiveness. "Digitalization has a strong role in the development of the competitiveness of the Finnish maritime cluster. Autonomous maritime ecosystem is a concrete action of Finnish digitalization strategy and Finnish Marine Industries envisioning," says the statement. The aim is to provide world's first unmanned maritime products, services and vivid ecosystem by 2025.

Oman’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has signed agreements with three ship classification societies for small ships that do not abide by international treaties, said a report in Times of Oman. The agreements were signed with the British (Lloyds Register of Shipping), Italian (Rina) and Emirati (Tasneef) ship classification societies. Saeed bin Hamdoon bin Saif Al Harthy, undersecretary of Ports and Maritime Affairs, signed the agreements on behalf of the ministry and the chief executive officers and regional directors represented the classification societies. Additionally, the authorization involves conducting a technical survey on ships holding the Omani flag, as well as the issue of global certification.

The first cargo ship delivering Iranian goods docked at the Omani port of Sohar,  a few weeks after Tehran and Muscat opened a new shipping route. The vessel, titled Genaveh 12,  container with a capacity of 96 TEUs, is the first ship put into operation in the new Iran-Oman shipping line, which was opened some two weeks ago. Iran and Oman have recently established a direct shipping line between the two countries to enhance maritime trade. The line will have two sailings per month. According to officials, more vessels will join the line to increase the cycle of maritime transportation. Other ports in both the countries will also be linked in the near future.

The world’s first electrical car and passenger ferry powered by batteries has entered service in Norway, representing a milestone on the road to operating emission-free ferries along Norway’s coastline, with at least 50 other routes currently able to sustain battery-operated vessels. The Norled ferry uses just 150 kWh per route, which corresponds to three days use of electricity in a standard Norwegian household. Built in conjunction with shipbuilder Fjellstrand, Siemens installed…

The Oman Drydock Company has celebrated the handing over of the 300th vessel since starting its operations in 2011, under the auspices of Said bin Hamdoon al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for Ports and Marine Affairs. The vessel, Olympic Luck, which was delivered yesterday (Jan 21) was converted from a multipurpose vessel to an oil tanker, a milestone achievement and an important project for Oman Drydock Company, said a statement from the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for Ports and Marine Affairs. Oman Drydock Company celebrates its success in repairing the Olympic Luck, the 300th vessel to be repaired since the company has started operation, says  Sheikh Dr.

Europe has yet to fully wake up to the danger of maritime disasters caused by signal jamming and blackouts of satellite navigation devices, say the proponents of a back up system on trial in British and Dutch ports. Ships increasingly rely on systems that employ satellite signals to find a location or keep exact time including the Global Positioning System (GPS) and GLONASS. But experts say such systems are vulnerable to signal loss from solar weather effects or radio and satellite interference and can also be affected by intentional jamming by criminal gangs, nation states or potentially from militant groups. The General Lighthouse Authorities of the UK and Ireland (GLA) is pioneering a radio-based back-up prototype called eLoran.

More and larger vessels will pass the Baltic Sea in the years to come, and therefore it is important to address the challenges for maritime safety which will follow in the wake of the increased vessel traffic. At a workshop in Helsinki, co-organised by the Danish Maritime Authority, the Baltic Sea States was for the first time jointly to develop scenarios for the maritime safety and security of the region. The joint challenges of the Baltic Sea States call for joint solutions. At the workshop, the Danish participants in cooperation with delegates from other countries tabled a number of issues relating to maritime safety. Improved surveillance or information exchange among the countries, which often requires joint decisions.

Evergreen Group Chairman Dr Y F Chang is honored in Rotterdam with Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Aug. 22, 2011)-- Evergreen Group Chairman Dr. Chang Yung-Fa was presented the honor of Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau in recognition of his contribution to the port of Rotterdam and the development of Dutch economy. The award was presented on behalf of Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, the Queen Regnant of the Netherlands, by the Mayor of Rotterdam Ahmed Aboutaleb at a ceremony held in the Wereldmuseum and witnessed by many local dignitaries. Said Dr. Chang: "Evergreen has enjoyed a successful and professional relationship with the Netherlands for more than three decades.

RINA has been officially recognized as a competent and authorized authority to carry out classification and statutory services for ships registered under the Kazakhstan flag. The authorization was formalised in a recently signed agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan and RINA Services SpA, the parent company of the Genoa-headquartered RINA Group. Under the terms of this agreement, RINA is authorised to classify and survey Kazakhstan-registered ships…

Support for NEVA 2011, the international maritime conference and exhibition taking place in St. Petersburg between September 20th and 23rd this year, has gathered momentum both within Russia and internationally in recent weeks. The event, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is increasingly being viewed within Russia as not simply a niche maritime exhibition, but as a global business-to-business event. As a result it is being backed by the domestic business community at the highest level.