Port News

The world's largest containership HMM Algeciras made its first European port call this week, entering Rotterdam’s Amaliahaven Wednesday on its maiden voyage to transfer containers at the Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) terminal.The most recent vessel to hold the world’s largest containership crown, HMM Algeciras at maximum capacity carries slightly more 20-foot containers than its predecessor MSC Gülsün: 23,964 TEU versus 23,756 TEU. During its maiden voyage, HMM Algeciras is carrying a total of 19…

Satellite communications provider Inmarsat says it continues to ramp up its response to COVID-19, with additional initiatives to improve seafarer wellbeing. These initiatives include further collaboration with ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network) and maritime charities, the launch of a new chatcard and the wider roll-out of a COVID-19 video telemedicine call service.As the pandemic has unfolded, the ompany has worked closely with welfare organization…

Singapore’s first LNG bunkering vessel has hit the water in Keppel Nantong Shipyard in China. The vessel was moved from land to water on May 28, 2020.The news was shared earlier this week by the vessel-owner FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel Offshore & Marine and Shell Eastern Petroleum."Construction of the 7,500m3 LNG bunkering vessel is progressing smoothly and is on schedule to be completed in 4Q2020," FueLNG said in a statement earlier this week.The LNG bunkering vessel…

The Port of Aarhus and UZMAR Shipyard connected May 29 via video conference to finalize a contract for the construction of a new RAmparts 3000 series tugboat for delivery in summer 2021.Denmark's largest container port said it invested approximately 45 million DKK, or roughly $6.8 million, to acquire the newbuild, which will be far more eco-friendly, efficient and powerful than the vessel it will replace. The port cited strength, precision and environmental sustainability as key reasons behind its decision to replace the 40-year-old Hermes, which will be sold once its replacement arrives.

French-based CMA CGM, the world’s fourth-largest container shipping group, said on Tuesday it would aim to become carbon neutral by 2050.The company, headquartered in the Mediterranean port of Marseille, also announced in a statement a target for 10% of its energy supplies to be made up of alternative fuels by 2023.CMA CGM, which was citing objectives set out by Chairman and Chief Executive Rodolphe Saade during a United Nations conference, is following market leader Maersk in aiming to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050.The French group…

A pair of new contract wins is helping Maersk's towage services arm Svitzer strengthen operations in Africa.Svitzer announced Tuesday it recently signed a five-year contract with Nacala Logistics in Mozambique for harbor towage, occasional pilot transfer and potential salvage work in the Port of Nacala. At the same time, Svitzer also secured a five-year extension of its current contract with Egyptian LNG assisting the land-based Idku liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant with four tugs…

Brazilian geoscience services company OceanPact Geociências has chosen deep water positioning technology from Sonardyne Brasil Ltda. to support its geophysical, geotechnical and environmental research operations across the region.Ranger 2 Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) systems have been installed on board OceanPact’s research vessels Seward Johnson and Austral Abrolhos, both currently on hire to Brazilian oil major Petrobras. The systems will be used to precisely track the location of underwater equipment and sensor packages deployed from the ships…

Abu Dhabi Ports has established a new feeder services company, SAFEEN FEEDERS, to serve the group’s mainliner shipping clients in the Gulf region.SAFEEN FEEDERS will introduce a new feeder service linking Abu Dhabi to ports serving the UAE, the broader Gulf region and Indian Sub-Continent. The service will be executed in partnership with feeder service operator Bengal Tiger Line (BTL) through a vessel sharing agreement.The service will allow for exchange of container cargo between mainliner vessels and the vessels within the rotation calling at nine regional ports located across the UAE…

Classification society DNV GL launched a custom infection prevention certification aiming to help the maritime industry resume operations better prepared for COVID-19 or other emerging pathogens. Genting Cruise Lines is the first customer working toward the CIP-M certification for its cruise ship Explorer Dream under the Dream Cruises brand.As the coronavirus crisis begins to recede and the world begins moving to return to business, the cruise industry is sharpening its already strong focus on passenger health and safety.

A group of partners in Europe aims to use battery containers on board barges to supply environmentally friendly fully-electric propulsion in lieu of diesel for inland waterway shipping.Supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the concept is being spearheaded by the Zero Emission Services B.V. (ZES), a consortium including technology group Wärtsilä, ING Bank, energy and technical service provider Engie and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The project will launch first in the Netherlands, where inland navigation accounts for 5% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

After a tender procedure, Dutch shipyard Royal Niestern Sander and a joint-venture between Russia's Mercury Sakhalin and Pola have signed an agreement for the construction of the world’s first shallow draft ice-breaking walk to work vessel. After delivery in December 2021, Mercury Sakhalin will operate this vessel on the East Coast of Sakhalin, Russia for the offshore oil and gas industry.Acting as an intermediary between both parties, Wagenborg Offshore have contributed to the…

Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) announced that Senior Engineer, John Reeves has been promoted to Director of Business Development to oversee business development, generate leads and provide leadership to the sales and marketing team.Reeves joined EBDG in 2015 bringing field experience gained through 23 years of operating and maintaining some of the most complex vessels in the U.S. Coast Guard fleet. His background includes five years as port engineer and manager of four industrial repair facilities, serving as an Associate Professor at the U.S.

P&O Cruises' new ship Iona is on sea trials and nearing delivery a few months behind schedule after the coronavirus pandemic caused construction delays at Meyer Werft's Bremerhaven shipyard. The new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered cruise ship had been slated for delivery to Carnival's P&O brand earlier this Spring and was due to enter service in May before COVID-19 disrupted work on board Iona and at many shipyards across Europe, including Fincantieri, MV Werften and others.Outfitting work on Iona was able to resume after the Port Medical Service…

Dozens of seaports across Asia, Oceania, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Americas have pledged to remain open to merchant vessels to ensure the flow of essential goods throughout the coronavirus pandemic.To date, more than 50 port authorities have signed on to support the Port Authorities Roundtable (PAR) COVID-19 declaration, initiated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for ports to commit to staying open to merchant vessels and work together to share best practices in ensuring that port operations can remain undisrupted.“Now is the time…

Two Iranian tankers that delivered fuel to Venezuela as part of a five-vessel flotilla have begun to sail back, according to Refinitiv Eikon, as the government of the South American nation prepares stations to begin charging for the gasoline.The supply is meant to ease fuel shortages that have plagued the country. After three months of fuel rationing, Venezuelans began lining up on Saturday to wait for the Iranian gasoline to be sold at stations from Monday under a new system…

Sovcomflot's Arc7 ice-class Christophe de Margerie liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has made history by successfully transiting the Eastbound ice-covered part of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in May, carrying LNG from Novatek's Yamal LNG project to China.The Russian vessel owner said the event marked the first time in the history of the shipping industry that a large-capacity vessel of this class has passed along the Northern Sea Route eastwards in May when the ice conditions in the eastern sector of the NSR are rather difficult.

Turkish tugboat builder, towage and pilotage operator Med Marine said it has signed a deal with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to build and deliver a new 42-meter tugboat for the Port of Mombasa.The vessel is scheduled to enter service in East Africa’s largest port in 2021 as part of the KPA’s equipment modernization and maintenance program aiming to enhance efficiency at the port.The vessel design is from the RAstar ASD tug series by Canada’s Robert Allan Ltd. The new RAstar 4200 with a bollard pull of 120 metric tons, ranking it among the most powerful tugs Robert Allan Ltd.

The master of Singapore-flagged APL England is facing charges in Australia after the vessel under his command lost dozens of containers overboard in rough seas off the coast of Sydney last week.The offences relate to pollution and/or damage of the marine environment as a result of poor cargo loading, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.The 5,510 TEU capacity APL England had been en route from Ningbo, China to Melbourne last Sunday when a temporary propulsion loss left the 277-meter vessel rolling in heavy seas…

Turkish tug building specialist Sanmar Shipyards followed up on recent deliveries of the two Sirapinar class ASD tugs to Oman's Port of Sohar with the delivery of the first of a three part order of the larger and more powerful Bigacay class ASD tugs. The arrival of this tug to the Port of Sohar, alongside its two sisters due shortly, will conclude the fleet development aims of the operator Svitzer and Port of Sohar; agreed as part of the 15 year renewal of the former's marine services contract, awarded in early 2019.

With uncertainty surrounding business in general, and specifically the future shape and form of the cruise industry, it was announced the the establishment of the new cruise terminal in Copenhagen is postponed indefinitelyA very significantly changed cruise market, due to the crisis with the coronavirus pandemic, means that Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP) will postpone the establishment of what was planned to be a new cruise terminal at Copenhagen’s Oceankaj.With the prospects for healthy growth in the Copenhagen cruise market…

The third - and final - floating wind turbine has been towed offshore as part of the Windfloat Atlantic project, located 20 km from Viana do Castelo on the Portuguese coast. The project, dubbed the first floating offshore wind farm in continental Europe, is operated by the Windplus consortium, consisting of EDP Renováveis (54.4%), Engie (25%), Repsol (19.4%) and Principle Power Inc. (1.2%). Bourbon Subsea Services is responsible for the towing and the connection of the 8.4 MW floating wind turbine supplied by MHI Vestas.With the support of three vessels (the Bourbon Orca AHTS…

Global demand for Brazilian grains is growing as Argentina and Paraguay struggle with low water levels in a key river for agricultural shipments that is preventing ships from being fully loaded, a Brazilian trading company told Reuters on Thursday.Chief Executive Frederico Humberg of trading firm AgriBrasil said the company has sold three shipments of Brazilian corn where the buyer had initially sought to buy from Argentina."The buyer had purchased in Argentina, but ended up reverting to Brazil," Humberg said.Humberg said he knew of 10 shipments in total between AgriBrasil and other suppliers

ExxonMobil is introducing the latest addition to its MobilGard cylinder oil range, Mobilgard 540 X, specifically formulated for use with both 0.10% and 0.50% sulphur fuels and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Mobilgard 540 X is designed to meet the advanced cleanliness and protection needs of newer engine designs and meets WinGD’s requirements for all three fuel types.According to the manufacturer, Mobilgard 540 X has passed extensive fit-for-use testing on the most recent engine…