Southport News

International shipbroker Braemar announced on Monday that it has acquired Southport Maritime, one of the highest volume U.S.-based shipbroking tanker companies.With a particular focus on spot tanker fixtures, Southport’s 18-strong team will complement Braemar’s existing Tanker desks in London, Singapore, Madrid, Houston and Geneva.Braemar’s new offices in West Palm Beach and Winter Park Florida, will continue to be led by Michael Corey and Peter Tornaben, the co-founders of Southport Maritime.

Chembulk Tankers signed commercial management agreements for its entire fleet of owned and chartered stainless-steel chemical tankers to enter commercial pools managed by Womar Logistics. “Chembulk’s commercial shift to the Womar chemical pools places our quality vessels in an established and growing revenue sharing platform, providing commercial efficiencies, logistics flexibility and a seamless continuation of the performance our customers expect from Chembulk vessels," said Bart Kelleher, CEO, Chembulk. "All other ownership responsibilities will remain fully within Chembulk.”Together with several current Chembulk chartering and operations professionals, the fleet will transition to commercial management by Womar.

A seven-meter (23-foot) long, wind-powered unmanned surface vehicle (USV) called a saildrone has become the first unmanned system to circumnavigate Antarctica.The vehicle, known as SD 1020, was equipped with a suite of climate-grade sensors and collected data in previously unchartered waters, enabling new key insights into ocean and climate processes.The 196-day mission was launched from Southport in Bluff, New Zealand, on January 19, 2019, returning to the same port on August 3 after sailing over 22,000 km (13,670 miles) around Antarctica. During the mission, the vehicle survived freezing temperatures, 15-meter (50-foot) waves, 130 km/h (80 mph) winds…

Florida International Terminal (FIT) has successfully deployed the eModal Community Portal (eCP) PreGate appointment module to improve turn times and customer service.The port operator of a 41 acre marine terminal in the Southport area of Port Everglades is the first port terminal in South Florida to implement an appointment system.Advent Intermodal Solutions, provider of the eModal suite of applications that simplify and accelerate the flow of cargo across the landside supply chain, said that this is Phase One of FIT’s eModal implementation.In this first phase, truckers picking up import containers will now schedule a pick-up appointment via eModal.

Mr. Cernak was AAPA’s immediate past Chairman and its 2019 Cruise Award recipient.Port Everglades Chief Executive and Director Steven M. Cernak passed away over the weekend, following a long, valiant battle with cancer. He was the immediate past Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and immediate past Chairman of the Florida Ports Council.Upon learning of Mr. Cernak’s passing, AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle said: “Today we mourn the loss of one of the greatest champions of the port industry…

The Coast Guard medevaced a man suffering severe abdominal pains from Bald Head Island, North Carolina, Monday.Coast Guard Station Oak Island watchstanders received a report of the 49-year old man's condition and the request for a medevac from medical personnel with the Bald Head Island Public Safety Department.Station Oak Island launched a 29-foot Response Boat-Small boat crew, who embarked the man and two medical personnel at Bald Head Island, and transported them to awaiting EMS personnel at Deep Point Marina in Southport.The two medical personnel were returned to Bald Head Island."It's imperative we continue to work hand-in-hand with our local partners on Bald Head Island," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Josh Meyer, officer-in-charge at Station Oak Island.

Broward County’s Port Everglades reports that it is progressing with manufacturing the first three new Super Post-Panamax container-handling gantry cranes being built by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Inc. (ZPMC) of China. The design phase is nearing completion, and today Port Everglades Chief Executive Steven Cernak issued a second notice to proceed to begin manufacturing the cranes valued at $13.8 million each.“This is a significant step towards the delivery and installation of the first three Super Post-Panamax cranes later next year,” Cernak said.

Chembulk Tankers named Steve Laino its Chief Commercial Officer, based out of the Southport office and responsible for all facets of our commercial strategy worldwide, including chartering, projects and client relations. Laino comes to Chembulk with more than two decades of diverse experience in the maritime transportation industry, with experience in the chemical tanker sector. Laino has held roles in operations both at sea and ashore, in commercial capacities as a tanker broker, projects broker and shipowner. Most recently, Laino held the role of Chief Operating Officer of Chemical Transportation Group (CTG), which he founded together with two partners and a group of investors in 2014.

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, has highlighted the U.S. dredging industry’s commitment to build and maintain safe, efficient and cost-effective navigation channels in the nation’s inland waterways and ports. The recent deliveries of four state-of-the-art vessels, constructed by nearly 700 American workers in U.S. shipyards, are a reflection of the U.S. dredging industry’s continued investment in building dredges with increased…

Weeks Marine’s new self-propelled hopper dredge, Magdalen, was delivered by Eastern Shipbuilding on December 22 following sea trials and regulatory inspections. The newbuild is one of the two newest, and among the largest hopper dredges in the U.S., and will bring formidable pumping power to offload beach quality sand or other materials for land reclamation. On December 28, the new dredger sailed from Eastern's Allanton facility in Panama City, Fla. on her maiden voyage to the East Coast.

Broward County's Port Everglades said it is purchasing three low-profile Super Post Panamax container-handling gantry cranes at $13.8 million each to meet demands from current customers and new services anticipated from the port's multi-million-dollar expansion program. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners approved the $41.4 million crane purchase today, with an option for the seaport to purchase an additional three cranes anytime within five years of placing the order for the first three cranes. "Cargo ships are getting larger and several shipping lines already coming to Port Everglades from Europe and South America need Super Post-Panamax cranes now.

Broward County's Port Everglades exceeded one-million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, the industry's standard container measurement), for the third consecutive year, reporting a total of almost 1.04 million TEUs and maintaining its status as Florida's number one container port, according to preliminary data for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016. Compared to the prior fiscal year 2015, total TEUs were down by 2 percent from 1.06 million, which Port officials attribute to market fluctuations. However, Port Everglades posted its best September ever with 90,641 TEUs compared to 80,550 TEUs in 2015. Looking at growth over the past five years, TEU throughput is up almost 18 percent from FY2011 to FY2016.

C. Raymond Hunt Associates, a boat design firm that continues to expand on the legacy of its founder, C. Raymond Hunt, to produce innovative boats with rugged seaworthiness, is now celebrating its 50th year. “Ray Hunt was a genius, able to intuitively know how boats work and with the courage to experiment,” said C. Raymond Hunt Associates President, Winn Willard. “We have taken Ray's ideas and applied them, honing our expertise and knowledge from the days of the early deep-v hulls. Now we have an 11-meter RIB on virtually every large ship in the U.S.

Coast Guard Oak Island crew members and a Brunswick County paramedic came to the aid of an ailing man Wednesday aboard a charter fishing vessel approximately 15 miles southeast of the Cape Fear River entrance. Personnel at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received notification from the 25-foot charter vessel with five people on board Wednesday about noon stating a 35-year-old male passenger with heart problems was in and out of consciousness approximately 28 miles southeast of the Cape Fear River entrance. A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) crew from Station Oak Island launched first and a 29-foot Response Boat-Small (RBS) from Station Oak Island later launched after taking aboard a Brunswick County paramedic.

The world’s largest listed crude-tanker operator Euronav is planning to buy 18 tankers for around $1.2 billion in one of the biggest deals involving oil carriers this year, reports WSJ. The reports says that Euronav is in advanced discussions with Greece’s Metrostar to buy eight very large crude carriers, The deal to buy four of the VLCCs, plus an option for another four, will be signed as early as next week. Euronav also is in the market to buy 10 smaller Suezmax tankers from Southport, Conn.-based Principal Maritime Tankers Corp. However, Euronav stated that company policy is no to comment on market speculation but it can confirm that it is in advanced discussions to acquire four VLCCs and if concluded…

Cape Fear Pilots Association of Southport, N.C. has taken delivery of its second St. John’s Class pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. This vessel marks the Somerset, Mass. shipyard’s 400th boat built since its founding 1955. The new all-aluminum launch, an updated version of the pilot’s first St. John’s Class delivered in 2001, features a deep-V hull designed by C. Raymond Hunt Associates. It measures 52 feet overall, with a 17-foot beam and a 4.8-foot draft. It is powered by twin Caterpillar C-18 diesel engines, each producing 479 Bhp at 1,800 rpm.

Broward County's Port Everglades has partnered with public and private entities on several multimillion-dollar landside infrastructure improvements designed to improve connections with South Florida's major highway and railroad systems. "Landside congestion plagues many seaports, but Port Everglades is fortunate to have direct interstate highway access and a strong partnership with the Florida East Coast Railway and the State of Florida that keeps commerce on the move," said Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director Steven M.

Coast Guard and partner agencies rescued five boaters Saturday after their boat capsized in Lockwoods Folley Inlet near Holden Beach, North Carolina. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina watchstanders received notification from a good Samaritan reporting a disabled vessel at anchor within the inlet had capsized. Sector watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and dispatched a crew aboard a 25-foot Response Boat-Small from Coast Guard Station Oak Island. The RB-S crew arrived on scene at approximately 8:30 a.m. and rescued four of the five boaters. The fifth boater was rescued by a local beach patrol boat and transferred to the RB-S. One boater was reported to have sustained a leg injury.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) rescued two people Thursday aboard a disabled boat approximately 50 miles southeast of Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Henry Fischer, aboard the 33-foot sport fishing boat Atlanta, contacted Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center watchstanders at approximately 5:15 p.m. Wednesday requesting assistance after his boat lost steering. Sector watchstanders dispatched a crew aboard a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Coast Guard Station Oak Island, North Carolina, to assist. The MLB crew arrived on scene at approximately 10 p.m. Wednesday and placed the Atlanta in tow. A second crew from Station Oak Island got underway aboard a 25-foot Response Boat - Small at approximately 4:25 a.m. Thursday to relieve the first crew from their tow.

Port Everglades is planning for the year 2033 with an updated roadmap for future growth over the next 20 years that identifies $1.6 billion in capital investments to improve productivity for cargo, cruise and petroleum businesses that operate at the South Florida seaport. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners, which governs the Port as a self-funded enterprise fund, approved the Port Everglades 2014 Master/Vision Plan today during its regularly scheduled meeting. Over the past year, Port staff and maritime consultant AECOM Technical Services, Inc. held more than 20 meetings with customers, stakeholders and the general public to develop the Plan. “This is the second update to the original Master/Vision Plan that was adopted in 2006.

Australia's Queensland government has backed away from controversial plans to allow a cruise ship terminal to be built on state-owned land on the Gold Coast, according to the 'Brisbane Times'. Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney announced on Tuesday that in response to community concerns, vacant land at Doug Jennings Park and parts of the Southport Spit would not be made available to Chinese property company ASF Consortium as part of its application for an integrated development licence. The company plans to build a mega-resort on the Broadwater, which would include a casino and cruise ship terminal. However, Brisbane Times reports that Mr Seeney said ASF Consortium has updated its concept plan to relocate the cruise ship terminal from The Spit to Wave Break Island.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today that Capt. Kevin Brenton (U.S. Navy, Ret.) has joined the company as corporate director of customer affairs for submarine programs. Brenton served most recently as deputy director of the Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, overseeing strategic weapons systems. He began his new position on Monday. "Kevin brings a wealth of leadership and maritime experience to our company, and he is going to be an excellent fit for our team," said Marty Chanik, HII's corporate vice president, customer affairs for Newport News Shipbuilding.

Principal Maritime Tankers Corp, which is backed by Apollo Global Management LLC, filed with U.S. regulators to raise up to $100 million in an initial public offering of common stock. UBS Investment Bank was underwriting the IPO, the company told the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission in a preliminary prospectus on Wednesday. Principal Maritime owns tankers used to transport crude oil and petroleum products. The company had 12 modern Suezmax tankers as of March 31, according to the filing. The filing did not reveal how many shares the company planned to sell or their expected price. Net proceeds from the offering would be used to reduce outstanding debt under its credit facility, the Southport, Connecticut-based company said in the filing.