Star Shipping News

A Liberia-flagged cargo ship carrying corn from a Russian port to Turkey is trying to stop water leaking in after sustaining a crack in the Sea of Azov earlier this week, Russia's port agency said.The vessel, Pavel Grabovskiy, was loaded with 2,939 tons of corn.

Philippine authorities believe they have found the location of a tanker that sank off a central province last week, the environment ministry said on Monday, amid a race to assess the extent of an oil spill and contain further environmental damage.The tanker, the MT Princess Empress, is thought to be lying at about 1,200 feet (366 meters) below sea level, off Oriental Mindoro province, though the information still needed to be verified, the ministry said in a statement.A remotely operated vehicle would be deployed to help determine the exact location of the tanker…

North Star Renewables, a North Star Shipping subsidiary established earlier this year to target offshore wind business opportunities, said Monday it had finalized a funding package of £96 million (around $131 million) to build its new renewables vessel fleet.The Aberdeen-based company has contracts in hand worth around £270 million (~$368 million), to deliver three service operation vessels (SOVs) to be used on what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the 3.6GW Dogger…

Aberdeen-based offshore wind vessel firm North Star Renewables has named Steve Myers as SOV operations director.As part of this newly created role, Myers, who most recently worked for wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa Renewables, will oversee North Star Renewables’ service offshore vessel (SOV) fleet designed for offshore wind support. He will be based in his hometown at the firm’s Port of Tyne office. The recently created North Star Renewables, part of ERRV vessel specialist North Star Shipping…

Family-owned Craig Group, of Aberdeen, has sold its core North Star Shipping business to international investors  Basalt Infrastructure Partners in a move described as “restructuring for a new era”. "North Star Shipping has been acquired by Basalt Infrastructure Partners. The existing senior management team, staff and crew of North Star will remain with North Star, under the new owners," said a press release from the company. "The opportunity arose to secure the long-term future of North Star Shipping under new ownership who could bring even more opportunity for further investment and growth. Given our rich maritime heritage, this is not a decision we have taken lightly…

Bergen headquartered Grieg Star has chosen Marlink’s Sealink VSAT Premium for its entire General Cargo Open Hatch fleet of 33 vessels. Operating on multiple routes worldwide, Grieg Star’s ships will benefit from seamless, high bandwidth global VSAT services with unlimited L-band back up included in the fixed monthly fee, ensuring continuous availability of vessel and fleet efficiency enhancing applications. Grieg Star’s decision to enable its digital operations with Sealink VSAT Premium…

Global shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group, has launched its first F-Class vessel, the Grampian Fortress. The IMT 958 multi-role emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) was christened in the Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain this week. She is the first of two F-class vessels in the group’s $171 million investment, which has already seen eight vessels delivered to Craig Group in the last two years. At 58 metres long, the Grampian Fortress features diesel electric propulsion via twin Azimuth Stern Drives.

North Star Shipping has reinforced its fleet of next generation vessels after taking delivery of its new ERRV, the Grampian Devotion, in Aberdeen. The latest vessel represents the eighth and final D-class IMT-950 Emergency Response and Rescue vessels (ERRVs) that the company has had specially built as part of a major $169 million investment program. Callum Bruce, managing director of North Star Shipping which is operated by Craig Group, said, “The delivery of the Grampian Devotion…

Ship repair and specialist fabrication firm Dales Marine reports a first time achievement as all of its seven docks around Scotland are full for the first time today. Dales Marine’s docks are filled with vessels ranging from offshore supply vessels to ferries, and are all owned by different firms. The work being carried out at Dales Marine’s six bases in Aberdeen, Leith (which has two docks), Grangemouth, Montrose, Greenock and Troon is a mixture of planned repair and maintenance, along with weather-related unplanned repairs.

Three years ago, North Star Shipping installed ZF thrusters in the Grampion Don, the first in a series of new Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs). After three years in service, the craft’s ZF 4011 RT thruster passed without any problems at its first drydock inspection. North Star Shipping, part of the Craig Group, provides 24/7 support to more than 30 offshore installations in one of the world’s most hostile marine environments. Five of its D-class ERRVs are currently working to support oil and gas operators in the North Sea…

The Canadian Lifeboat Institution (CLI) has taken delivery of a Tyne-class lifeboat from UK's RNLI and renamed the rescue vessel 'Fraser Lifeboat', informs the Chamber of Shipping of British Columbia. The Fraser Lifeboat originally entered service in 1987 as Famous Grouse for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). During her first career, the Tyne-class boat is credited with 363 launches leading to the rescue of 475 people and the saving of 37 lives. She was carried to Vancouver on board the vessel Star Lima due to the generosity of Grieg Star Shipping and following which the boat has been extensively overhauled to ensure reliability for her new role.

Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. has loaned one of its barges to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to help transport relief goods and emergency tools to Tacloban City in Leyte and other sites massively ravaged by the super-typhoon, reports the nations's 'BusinessMirror'. The company’s board of directors approved the availability of its 300-footer Barge Lynx for free offer to the PCG to use in its relief operations in areas badly hit by Supertypoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan).

Aberdeen head-quartered global shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group, has marked its 80th anniversary with strong performance as it lodges its accounts at Companies House. The privately owned, family-run business, now employing the fourth generation of the Craig family, has reported turnover of £146.8 million with operating profits of £17.4 million for the year ending 30 April 2013. These are up on the previous year when turnover was £123.3 million and profits were £15.2 million.

Family owned shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group, announce the investment of £70million to build six new vessels at the Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain. Four D class IMT 950 Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs) and two F class IMT 958 ERRVs will be delivered during 2014 and early 2016, replacing existing tonnage in the fleet. The fleet expansion comprises of four D Class vessels, complementing the existing four D Class vessels already in service within the fleet.

Family-owned shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group, today announced the investment of £70 million to build six new rescue vessels at the Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain. Four D class IMT 950 Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs) and two F class IMT 958 ERRVs will be delivered during 2014 and early 2016, replacing existing tonnage in the fleet. Douglas Craig, Chairman and Managing Director of Craig Group, said, “This significant investment is part of our continued drive to operate the largest and most modern wholly British owned fleet engaged in the U.K.

Raven Offshore Yacht Shipping announces that their first charter with Grieg Star Shipping was loaded and departed on schedule on Sunday, August 25, 2013 from Vancouver, B.C. Cofounded earlier this year by industry experts, insurance broker Rick Gladych, and Anthony Utley of Raven Marine Services in British Columbia, Raven Offshore Yacht Shipping charters the decks of Grieg’s L-Class Ships (paid-in-full), virtually eliminating any third-party issues. For each transport, Ship Raven exclusively utilizes the world-class lift on/lift off services of Marine Heavy Lift Services (MHL).

The Port of Los Angeles honored 26 shipping and cruise lines for their participation in the Port’s Vessel Speed Reduction Program (VSRP), an initiative that involves the lowering of vessel speeds when ships approach the Port. The VSRP has resulted in significant decreases in diesel particulate matter, sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions into the environment since it was established in 2001. For the first time, the Port also honored 12 ship carriers for their participation in the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), an international clean air program that rewards ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the Port.

The Port of San Diego celebrated the inaugural visit of Grieg Star's 'Star Laguna' with a plaque exchange ceremony. The Star Laguna, one of the newest cargo ships visiting San Diego, called at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, where it offloaded 10,000 tons of fertilizer and four yachts. Owned by the Grieg Star shipping company based in Bergen, Norway, the Star Laguna will make regular visits to San Diego. "The Port's cargo business makes an important contribution to our region's economic prosperity as part of the worldwide system of goods movement…

Family owned shipping firm The Craig Group launched its latest Platform Supply Vessel (PSV), the Grampian Sceptre this week at the Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain. The vessel was officially christened by Mrs. Frances Murray, wife of Alistair Murray, Logistics Team Lead at Talisman Sinopec Energy U.K. Ltd. Craig Group committed £50M to the construction of this vessel, and it’ sister vessel the Grampian Sovereign. The vessels are the largest ever built by Craig Group and both have secured long term contracts with Talisman Sinopec Energy U.K. Limited.

North Star Shipping, a division of the family-owned global shipping and energy services firm The Craig Group, entered a £63million contract with BP. The multi-service contract is for five years with a possible extension of five years and includes tanker assist, platform supply and emergency and response rescue vessels, all supporting BP’s operations in the North Sea. Four vessels, with a possible fifth to be added are being contracted – the Grampian Talisker, Grampian Frontier, Grampian Conquest and Grampian Dee.

The agreement between the government and BP allows HM Coasguard to call on a BP-chartered vessel in the event of a pollution incident. An operational and commercial model has been brokered with the oil industry allowing HM Coastguard to call on a BP-chartered vessel, the Grampian Frontier, to provide support in the event of a pollution incident. The Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel (ERRV) operates west of Shetland and the owner North Star Shipping is working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to ensure that the crew and equipment are able to respond. The involvement of the Frontier builds on the UK Government’s commitment last year to fund an Emergency Towing Vessel in waters around Scotland for the duration of the current Spending Review.

Aberdeen (Scotland) based global shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group, has announced healthy results for the year ending April 2012. The privately owned, family-run business has reported turnover of £123.3 million with operating profits of £14.8 million. This is an increase on their 2011 turnover of £11.4 million and a £1.7 million increase on operating profit from the same time period. EBITDA has risen from £19.1million in 2011 to £21.3millionin 2012. The group, whose core activities are the provision of offshore support…

Launch of an S-class Platform Supply Vessel (PSV)  at Balenciaga Shipyard in Northern Spain for the Craig Group. The Craig Group has committed £50-million to the construction of the vessel, Grampian Sovereign, and its sister ship, Grampian Sceptre. Managed by The Craig Group division North Star Shipping, the two IMT-982 designed vessels will also create 50 new jobs for the Aberdeen based company. Going on long term charter in 2013 in the North Sea, the vessel represents a continued…