Panama Canal News

The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority has decided to accelerate widening of the Houston Ship Channel, the nation’s busiest waterway.The Port Authority is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other representatives of the federal government, as well as Port of Houston and Houston Ship Channel stakeholders, to obtain authorization and accelerated funding and completion, of a deepened and widened ship channel.“The Houston Ship Channel is open for business for all and will continue to be…

Algoma Tankers, an operating unit of Algoma Central Corporation,  announced that it has taken delivery of the 16,500 DWT Algoterra, a 2010-built product tanker in Amsterdam, Netherlands and the vessel has begun her delivery voyage to Canada.The provider of marine transportation services said in a press release that the vessel departed Amsterdam on March 30, 2019 and will travel through the English Channel before crossing the Atlantic Ocean destined for Halifax. The Algoterra is expected to begin trading in Canada mid-April.“I am pleased to say that our fleet is fully booked for the season…

New Cranes Allow Port NOLA to Accommodate Larger Ships and Meet Growing Needs. The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) have voted to approve the purchase of two new 100-foot gauge container gantry cranes to be used at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. “These new cranes are vital to our success and growth here at Port NOLA,” said President and CEO Brandy D. Christian. “They will increase our efficiency so we can accommodate larger and wider ships…

Kawasaki Heavy Industries delivered the Maple Gas, a 82,200 m3 capacity liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier, for Astomos Energy.The shipbuilder said that this is the 57th LPG carrier and the eighth LPG vessel of the same type to be built by the company.Maple Gas (length: 229.9 m, gross tonnage: 46,851) adopts Kawasaki's uniquely developed bow shape called SEA-Arrow, which significantly improves propulsion performance by minimizing bow wave resistance.The main engine powering the vessel is an energy-efficient, electronically-controlled, ultra-long-stroke, two-stroke low-speed diesel engine.

The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) and terminal operator SSA Atlantic on Monday afternoon welcomed the largest container ship to ever visit Jacksonville.JAXPORT set a new port record today with the arrival of the ZIM vessel Cape Sounio, the largest container ship to ever call Jacksonville, claimed a press release.The 11,000-TEU (container) vessel is operated by ZIM on a service offered by the 2M alliance. The 2M alliance is comprised of Maersk, MSC, Hamburg Süd and strategic partners HMM and ZIM.The vessel, which transited the Panama Canal from Asia before reaching the U.S.

The Panama Canal Authority and A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S are the latest entities to join the International Maritime Organization (IMO)-supported Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (GIA).According to the UN body, the GIA now has 18 members, including leading shipowners and operators, classification societies, engine and technology builders and suppliers, big data providers, oil companies and ports.The new members signed up to the GIA during the fifth meeting of the GIA Taskforce at IMO Headquarters in London…

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) based in Yokohama, held a christening ceremony on March 12th for a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier currently under construction for JX Ocean Co., Ltd. The new ship, named Future Ace, will be the twelfth of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's latest third-generation, 83,000m3-class LPG carriers. In addition to increased energy-efficiency, the ship will have the capability to adapt flexibly to major LPG terminals worldwide, as well as specifications compatible with the new expanded Panama Canal.

Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the 20-year $450 million Senior Unsecured Bonds issued by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to A1 from A2, with a stable outlook, based on the waterway's strong performance since the expansion's inauguration.Moody's noted that the Expanded Canal has increased overall tonnage and attracted new market segments, contributing to the waterway's strong performance. According to Moody's, "stronger cash flow generation coupled with a relatively low leverage…

A consortium of Van Oord and BAM International completed the construction of the APM Terminals Moín in Costa Rica. Last week’s inauguration of the container terminal will enable products to be shipped on transatlantic routes to European and Asian markets without transshipment.The project represents a total investment of $1 billion and is built on a 40-hectare artificial island. The terminal has a 650-m long quay wall and a container yard with the capacity to hold 26,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), including power connection capacity for 3,800 refrigerated containers.

From high-traffic ports to bustling boatyards, and busy shipyards to expanding marinas, marine professionals operate in a challenging environment. They work on land, on or around water, and are exposed to all kinds of weather. And the challenges won’t ease up any time soon. Our nation’s ports continue to expand as trade surges. Add in increased commercial vessel traffic and recreational boating, and it’s clear that marine businesses have to be in shipshape condition. It means that the marine insurance industry has to stay on its toes too…

William P. Doyle, CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA).William P. Doyle is the CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA). Twice a U.S. Senate confirmed Presidential appointee to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Doyle has, over the course of a long and celebrated career, successfully worn many hats. Prior to his FMC appointment, Mr. Doyle served on cabinet and executive level boards and committees under both the Obama and George W. Bush Administrations. Before that, he served as an officer in the U.S.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding held a christening ceremony on February 21 for the next-generation LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier currently under construction for Mitsui & Co., Ltd.The new ship, named Marvel Crane, is a design that significantly improves both LNG carrying capacity and fuel performance due to the adoption of efficient hull structure and hybrid propulsion system. Completion is scheduled for March 2019, after which the Marvel Crane will be put into service, transporting LNG for the Cameron LNG Project in the U.S., in which Mitsui & Co.

Florida's largest port Port Tampa Bay welcome the announcement by the CMA CGM Group, that it will begin serving Port Tampa Bay in late May 2019 on its Pacific Express 3, or PEX3 service.With a presence in 160 countries and a fleet of 506 vessels, CMA CGM serves over 420 ports across the globe and is a member of the Ocean Alliance. The PEX3 port service rotation will be as follows: Singapore – Vung Tau – Hong Kong – Shekou – Ningbo – Shanghai - Busan – Panama Canal - Houston – Mobile – New Orleans – Tampa – Miami – Singapore."We are delighted with this announcement by CMA CGM…

The provider of marine transportation services Algoma Central Corporation announced that the recently completed Algoma Conveyor, the third Seawaymax Equinox Class 740’ self-unloading dry-bulk carrier, has begun its delivery voyage from China to Canada.The vessel began its two month journey home, departing the Yangzijiang shipyard on February 16, 2019.After taking fuel in the Philippines the vessel will cross the Pacific Ocean, travelling through the Panama Canal and from there will make its way to Canada.

Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) delivered the Shinshu Maru, a 177,000 m3 capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport vessel for use by Trans Pacific Shipping 7 Limited.Trans Pacific Shipping 7 is a joint venture between JERA Co., Inc. and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line)."This large-scale LNG carrier is equipped with four independent Moss LNG tanks for a total cargo capacity of 177,277 m3. By increasing the LNG tank diameter to the maximum installable limit and utilizing stretched tanks…

The Panama Canal Board of Directors announced the appointment of Ricaurte Vasquez as the next Panama Canal Administrator.According to a press note from the artificial 82 km waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, Vasquez will take office on September 4, 2019, succeeding current Administrator Jorge L. Quijano, who concludes his seven-year term at the helm of the waterway.The decision was made by the Board of Directors in accordance to an independent…

The demanding conditions of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia are plain sailing for MS Viikki, the world’s first LNG-fueled bulk carrier. The solution, built around WE Tech’s variable frequency drive technology WE Drive and The Switch direct drive permanent magnet shaft generator, helps the vessel achieve Ice Class 1A propulsion, while still slashing fuel consumption, costs and emissions. It is a game-changer for ice-class operations.Demanding high standardsESL Shipping is…

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) moved more containers in 2018 than at any time in its history, totaling 591,253 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 12.3 percent compared to one year ago.The deep-draft multipurpose port at the center of the world's busiest port system -- Louisiana's Lower Mississippi River said in a press release that the record marks the fifth year in a row Port NOLA has surpassed the half million TEU-mark at its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, which…

Danish bunker group Monjasa has transferred a ship from West Africa to Panama, where it carried out its first fuel supply off the coast of Balboa."As part of a fleet reshuffle, Accra arrived in Panama after forming part of Monjasa’s West Africa bunker operation. The tanker fast received all safety and operational approvals from the Panama Maritime Authorities and completed her first fuel supply at Balboa Anchorage on 18 January," said a statement from the marine fuels supplier.Accra is a 2010-built and 8,800 dwt tanker.

The Swiss-based cruise company MSC Cruises  has waved ‘bon voyage’ to MSC Magnifica as the final guests embarked today in Barcelona for the Company’s first world cruise.For many, the idea of seeing the world is just a dream, but a world cruise is an easy way to make this dream a reality, and the only way to circumnavigate the globe without having to unpack a suitcase more than once! On this first world cruise, MSC Cruises guests will visit 49 different destinations, checking off 32 countries from their bucket lists.From the Mediterranean…

Japanese ship building marine engineering and service company Imabari Shipbuilding, with the cooperation of Marubeni Corporation,has secured a newbuilding order of twelve units of 11,000TEU Container Carriers for Evergreen Line, Taiwan.Having dimensions of about 334m in length with about 48.4m breadth service speed in about 23 knots, loading capacity is over 11,000TEU, said a press release."Like our other Ultra large-size containers with track record, this Vessel is adopted with eco-friendly hull form design and Twin-Islander enhancing more loading capacity to compare with our former design…

BP Shipping took delivery of British Partner, the first of a half dozen new 173,400 cu. m. capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers to be delivered through 2018 and 2019 from the DSME shipyard in South Korea. BP Shipping, which launched a fleet rejuvenation program in 2016 that includes 32 new vessels for delivery over a three-year period, said the six new Partnership class ships will increase its ability to transport LNG in emerging new markets, such as Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt and Bangladesh, in addition to established markets, such as India, China, the U.S.

The first Sayaringo STaGE type LNG carrierMitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MHIMSB) delivered the first Sayaringo STaGE type liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, named Diamond Gas Orchid in June, 2018. The Sayaringo STaGE, which was developed based on MHIMSB's cutting-edge technology, has a continuous cover over the cargo tanks, a feature inherited from its predecessor the “Sayaendo”, and while keeping this merit, incorporates apple-shaped MOSS-type cargo tanks and a twin-shaft hybrid propulsion system “STaGE” plant, enhancing economic efficiency, environment friendliness, and versatility.