Maritime Training News

AIWA's Executive Director Brad Pickel, reaches out to stakeholders in advance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association's annual meeting:Dear Supporters and Friends of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association,Greetings and I hope this email finds everyone well. I am writing today to announce the opening of online registration for the AIWA’s 20th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Savannah, GA on November 21-22, 2019. We will be meeting at The DeSoto Hotel and are thrilled to be celebrating 20 years as the Unified Voice for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW).

Bethel-Webcor Pacific JV,* Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded firm-fixed-price task order N6247319F4865 at $39,300,000 under a multiple award construction contract for a maritime skills training center at Naval Base San Diego. The task order also contains three unexercised options and one planned modification, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $41,868,747. The work to be performed provides for converting a portion of Building 3304 to house computer simulator trainers to support the Surface Warfare Officers School’s mission to train sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers. The planned modification, if issued, provides for furniture, fixtures and equipment.

Imagine conducting ship checks and training aboard a ship without ever leaving your office. At Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), this has become a reality thanks to virtual reality.NNSY's Radiological Control Special Projects and Refueling Division (Code 105.26) has collaborated with the Nuclear Fluid Systems and Mechanical Engineering Division (Code 2320), the Nuclear Refueling Engineering Division (Code 2370), and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to create laser scans of vessels…

In 1941, geologist Orval Lester Brace stated “it may be tentatively assumed that the Gulf of Mexico is a potential source of salt-dome oil. Whether or not it will be economically feasible to explore these waters for the domes that must exist is a question for the future to answer.”  The future hypothesized by Mr. Brace was not nearly as far off as it seemed. Less than six years after his proclamation, Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, along with Phillips Petroleum, Stanolind Oil and Gas Co…

In order to improve the safety of fishers and fishing vessels, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has put in place, over the years, several initiatives, culminating with the adoption of the Cape Town Agreement of 2012.Accra, Ghana, was the host for a regional seminar (8-12 July), on "Ensuring Safety Of Ships and Fishing", to encourage discussion on promoting and ensuring safety in the fishing industry.The event also provided Member Governments with the assistance they may need in implementing the Agreement."Fishing is considered one of the most hazardous occupation in the world and…

How do you deal with maritime crimes at sea - and how do you train others to do so? These are the skills being taught on the latest in a series of regional training of trainers courses on combating insecurity in the maritime domain.Participants from 18 countries have attended the course, at the Mohammed Bin Naif Academy for Maritime Science and Security Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (30 June - 11 July).Bahrain, Bangladesh, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar…

A consortium of British companies, academia and government  formally established a new national center for maritime innovation and technology (MarRI-UK). The center, offering  development opportunities for the UK’s $45B maritime sector, is based at the University of Strathclyde, with hubs to be announced across the UK. The center will provide a collaborative innovation vehicle to jointly tackle innovation and technology challenges.The first area of collaborative focus is Clean…

Acentech, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based noise, vibration and acoustical consulting firm, has issued its final report to Transport Canada concerning the Quiet Ship Workshop held at the International Maritime Headquarters (IMO) in London.For Canada, this issue is part of a broader concern with the health of the oceans and waterways that surround the country and its marine eco-systems.Canada’s oceans are home to 42 distinct populations of whales, in particular, the Southern Resident Killer whale, the St.

Important training need? A quick video may be the answer!Have you ever witnessed a mariner performing a task poorly or unsafely? Possibly day-to-day confined space entry? A commonly misapplied or misunderstood ColReg? Inattentive watchkeeping? Of course you have. And if you have seen it happen once, you can rest assured that it has happened before, and it will continue to happen unless someone does something about it. So - what can you do?Video may be your answer. It is surprisingly fast and easy to create short, laser-targeted videos that demonstrate best practice.

Government and private stakeholders have expressed their support for climate action in the Caribbean, with a focus on decarbonizing the shipping sector.According to International Maritime Organization (IMO),  during a regional workshop on Capacity Building for Climate Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Industry, held at the Chaguaramas Campus of The University of Trinidad and Tobago (1-3 July), Caribbean maritime sector committed to decarbonization.The workshop, the second for the region…

To help educate audiences about the inland waterways’ connection to agriculture, to the labor community, to freight shippers, to the Corps of Engineers, and to building communities, Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) has produced a series of short videos.  Here is a short on the role of inland shippers. Help spread the word and share across your Social Media channels.

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The END of application period for this year’s MN100 edition is just over the horizon. Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion. Just 7 days to go ...The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

Seaspan Marine Transportation unveiled a new marine simulator facility, the first and only of its kind in North America, in its North Vancouver office, Canada.The simulator, which required an investment of approximately $1.5 million dollars, is described by the company as the “cornerstone” of a $6.5-million, multi-year safety and training program.According to a press release, this training program has been developed in collaboration with SeaWays Global, the international standard bearer in tug training…

More women are joining the maritime ranks in a variety of professions within the industry, said International Maritime Organization (IMO).To encourage this trend, IMO supported a training course aimed at female officials from maritime and port authorities.According to the UN body, 25 women from 17 developing countries took part in the two-week "Women in Port Management" course, hosted in Le Havre, France (24 June - 5 July).The course covered lectures on port management, port security, marine environment, facilitation of maritime traffic, marketing, port logistics and other topics.

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The END of application period for this year’s MN100 edition is just over the horizon. Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

It is truly no accident that Delgado Maritime & Industrial Training Center and Florida Marine Transport collaborate so closely.Zero incidents, zero injuries and eliminating critical barge and equipment failures doesn’t just happen by osmosis. It’s a result of continual safety training that breeds operational awareness and confidence to anticipate a difficult situation on an inland waterway before it actually occurs.With a high school education, Capt. Shelden Detrafford started out making $25/day in the 1960s.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) said that reducing atmospheric pollution from ships and improving air quality is an integral part of its work. "This principle is clearly enshrined Under MARPOL Annex VI," the UN body said in a press release.IMO recently held a workshop on MARPOL Annex VI in Bangkok, Thailand (24-26 June).The workshop, aimed at shipping stakeholders, strongly encouraged ratification and implementation of MARPOL Annex VI including regulations on ships'…

Four winning school classes attended  the prizegiving of the ‘design your ship for the future’ competition at MARIN (Netherlands Maritime Research Institute). The winning ship, with the shape of a sailfish, a retractable sail, a frictionless shark skin and a flexible moving tail was  tested in one of MARIN’s model basins.This competition started last year when MARIN tested its 10,000th  ship model. MARIN President Bas Buchner: “To celebrate the 10,000th model landmark we didn’t want to look, back but to look forward.

The hard-fought passage of VIDA promises a simpler, more unified and logical set of environmental standards related to the discharge of myriad vessel streams. Industry wanted it, and now it is here. Will it deliver, and if so, when? That depends on who you talk to.As most commercial maritime operators know, US ballast water regulations made a sharp turn last December. That’s when President Trump signed the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018.That legislation contained Title IX – the “Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA)…

Indian Ministry of shipping has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with IIT Kharagpur on Wednesday for setting up a Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT).CICMT will provide technological, vessel design and applied research support for inland waterways and coastal shipping, said a government release.Speaking on the occasion, Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Shipping said, “Indigenous technology is the need of the hour for the maritime sector, and…

The second report from the historic MarTID survey initiative to study global maritime training practices, investment and thought is now available on the MarTID website. The findings include the following: expenditure on maritime training continues to rise for vessel owners and seafarers; new safety and environmental regulations are driving seafarers training trends; and the prospect of ship autonomy is entering the discussions on future seafarer training.Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry…

Jennifer Allen is a U.S. military veteran who lives with PTSD. She is also a recent MERTS graduate pursuing a career in the maritime industry.MERTS (Marine and Environmental Research and Training Station) is a small campus situated just east of Astoria on the banks of the Columbia River. It is part of Clatsop Community College and houses a variety of programs including a robust maritime curriculum offering U.S. Coast Guard certifications and associate degrees.“Before coming to MERTS I was going through a rough patch,” Jennifer said.

The expenditure on maritime industry training continues to rise for vessel owners and seafarers, said asurvey.According to MarTID survey, new safety and environmental regulations are driving seafarers training trends. The study of global maritime training practices, investment and thought, also revealed that the prospect of ship autonomy is entering the discussions on future seafarer training.Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University, welcomed the report stating: “For all stakeholders involved in the maritime industry…

Senior officials from the newly established Kenya Coast Guard Services are undergoing training on coast guard functions at a national workshop in Mombasa, Kenya (24-28 June), said a press note from International Maritime Organization(IMO).The UN body said that fifteen participants are taking part in the training, which is using scenario development methodology and plenary discussions to highlight issues, identify insights and develop deeper understanding of effective ways to meet…

Malta-based IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) informed that 2019 academic year marks its 30th anniversary.According to International Maritime Organization (IMO), a special to celebrate the occasion was held at IMO Headquarters (25 June).Malta's Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, spoke of his country's continuing commitment to hosting such an important global institution, while IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim highlighted IMLI's firm commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.IMLI's overall mission is to help build the legal capacity among IMO member states…

Pursuant to the agreement signed last year between Fincantieri, the Liguria Region and the trade unions Cgil, Cisl and Uil, aimed at carrying out a series of initiatives to encourage job placement processes, the offer of the courses of the technical institutes of higher education for next autumn is to be extended.In fact, a new educational pathway meeting the employment needs of the shipbuilding sector will start in Liguria at the Accademia della Marina Mercantile (the Merchant Navy Academy). The Regional Council, following the proposal of the Councilor Cavo, has approved the scheduling of the post-high school diploma specialization course “Foreman for production and maintenance of ships and/or related infrastructures”…

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

Maritime Blockchain Labs (MBL) and BLOC participated in Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Solve challenge, where tech entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing problems."BLOC and MBL participated in the challenge on coastal communities on how to mitigate and adapt to climate change while developing and prospering," said a press release."We are extremely proud to be part of the Solver class of this challenge, and are looking forward to the future collaboration with MIT…

The American Maritime Partnership (AMP) — the voice of the domestic maritime industry — congratulates the more than 1,650 young men and women who have graduated from the seven U.S. maritime academies this Spring. Applauding them for their dedication and commitment to pursuing a career that supports our nation  in times of both peace and war, AMP is proud to welcome a new generation to the workforce. Generations of retirement have created a shortage of mariners, making this and future classes of cadets all the more important.“A strong U.

Greek e-learning company SQLearn announced its collaboration with the international operator, owner and manager of LNG carriers, GasLog, providing e-learning services from its Dolphin Platforms for the entire of its operating fleet of 27 vessels.Mrs. Archontia Leni, Competency Assurance Manager of GasLog stated: "Through our strategic cooperation with SQLearn, and its innovative suite of e-learning products and services, we are able to provide our crew with specialized training…

The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC),  the IMO-administered pollution emergency response centre in the Mediterranean, has delivered a national training course in oil spill response in Montenegro.International Maritime Organization (IMO) said in a press release that the course was designed to prepare the competent national authorities to co-ordinate and manage responses and make decisions on strategies and tactics to be used in clean-up operations.It was aimed at supervisors and on-scene commanders…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said that its training on the International Safety Management (ISM) Code was conducted for nine countries in the eastern and southern Africa subregion.The participanting countries were Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.Thirty-two participants took part in the event, which was hosted by the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) in Dar es Salaam…

The Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has updated the Mission Management System CV-WI-010(2), Work Instruction for OCMI guidance on special consideration for inspected towing vessels.This work instruction provides guidance to OCMIs on the application and implementation of a special consideration determination for towing vessels inspected under 46 CFR Subchapter M.

Due to the port visit of the Mexican Sail Training Vessel ARM Cuauhtémoc to Scheveningen, the Netherlands, Damen Shipyards welcomed a group of officers, cadets and crew into its facilities in Gorinchem, The Netherlands. With this event, Damen celebrates its relationship of more than 40 years with Mexico, a country with some of Damen’s most important and long lasting customers.Through this relationship with Mexico, Damen has contributed significantly and is still committed to the development of the Mexican shipbuilding industry via its technical cooperation program…

A regional workshop in Malé, Maldives has trained participants from four countries in compliance monitoring and enforcement of International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.Delegated from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka have participated in the workshop, said the UN body.The event also included training on how to conduct a relevant risk assessment for implementing and enforcing the BWM Convention – with a focus on ship targeting…

North Carolina Ports took delivery of a CM Labs Simulations, developer of Vortex training solutions, port equipment simulator in May. The simulator will run training packs for Reach Stacker and Ship-to-Shore Cranes.North Carolina Ports, with facilities in Morehead City and Wilmington, has one of the highest crane productivity rates on the United States East Coast, with more than 40 moves per hour. In 2018, North Carolina Ports installed two neo-Panamax cranes for increased efficiency…

Tip #1. Immediate exam retakes should never be allowed.It is very common practice, especially in eLearning environments, to allow trainees to immediately retake an exam they just failed. Worse, sometimes training is set up to allow the trainee to take the exam repeatedly until they pass.Never do this. It will ensure that your learners are not learning what you want them to learn.For most people, this raises two immediate questions. First, why not allow immediate retakes? And second…

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion. Less than a month remains for you to get your entry in.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business.

Southampton, United Kingdom: It has been quite a few years since I last touched down in the UK; longer still for a visit on a maritime business trip. And, I don’t cross 'the big pond' casually for one these events. This morning, Seawork 2019 in Southampton is not yet over but if the past two days have been any indication at all, then the entire event will be regarded as a rousing success for all involved.There is something for everyone here. I overheard one attendee refer to the event as the annual gathering of “the boys and their toys.” To be sure…

France has become the 29th State to sign up to the International Maritime Organization (IMO)  treaty on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F).The Convention sets the certification and minimum training requirements for crews of seagoing fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and above.The STCW-F Convention is the first to establish basic requirements on training, certification and watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel on an international level.

Maritime Administrator RADM Mark H. Buzby, USN (Ret.) has announced TOTE Services, Inc. of Jacksonville Florida as the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) for the newest class of training ship, the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV).TOTE Services was selected by MARAD as the construction manager for selecting a shipyard and ensuring that commercial best practices are utilized to deliver the NSMV on time and on budget.“The U.S. shipbuilding industry is vital to America’s economic strength and security,” said Administrator Buzby. “The selection of TOTE Services to work with a U.S.

Familiarity can and does breed contempt. You don’t need anything else added to that heavy burden.We live and work in a frenetic environment replete with a wide range of both human and technological distractions. When those two elements came together on the bridge of a towboat traveling downriver to pick up a load of empty barges, the result was career-changing for the vessel’s first mate, who was on the wheel. It was yet another costly reminder of the need for professional mariners…

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

Multilingual communication is essential in bringing the work of the United Nations closer to the world’s citizens, fostering trust among Member States and facilitating informed decision-making.By making information available in all official languages, the language and conference services enable their organisations to communicate better, and to be more open, accountable and participatory.International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirmed its commitment to multilingualism at the International Annual Meeting on Language Arrangements…

At its Nor-Shipping press conference in Oslo, DNV GL - Maritime CEO Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen emphasized the classification society’s dedication to maritime safety. Although shipping losses have declined over the last decade, challenging markets, demanding environmental regulations, and new technologies threatened to pull the industry’s focus away from marine safety, he said.“In a time when shipping is rapidly transforming, I believe it is crucial to put our primary focus on safety…

In advance of its AGM in the Faroe Islands next week, the global trade association for shipowners, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), has launched its Annual Review 2019, providing in-depth insight into the most pressing issues confronting shipping, which moves about 90% of global trade.ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson, explains:  “The immediate focus of ICS is the successful implementation of the UN IMO global sulphur cap, which will take complete effect on January 1. ICS…

Responding to changing regulations the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has launched of the third edition of its essential Guidelines on the Application of the ILO Maritime Labor Convention, the only fully up to date guide to the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) for all involved with the employment of seafarers.Focused on today’s MLC, the publication covers all amendments made to the Convention since it entered into force in 2013. It also contains practical advice, information and key learnings from industry bodies at the heart of the shipping community.Natalie Shaw…

The U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade Port of Long Beach announced $100,000 in scholarships for 77 local college and high school students as part of a dramatically expanded and acclaimed education outreach effort. The students receiving the scholarships were recognized at the Port’s sixth-annual “Celebrating Education” event, along with the Port’s 25 incoming high school summer interns, and the 22 local teachers who were trained in engineering education earlier this year as part of the Port's externship program.

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

Discussions on oil pollution prevention, preparedness and response took centre stage this week (20-24 May) at the latest edition of Spillcon 2019 in Perth, Australia.The forum included sessions on cause and prevention, response management and environmental issues.A raft of high calibre national and international speakers addressed the conference on their particular areas of expertise. However, this year, the audience also invited 12 to 15 years olds to join the event to learn more about issues related to environmental protection, oil and chemical pollution, preparedness and response.

What is maritime development and why is it important? Isn’t one of the biggest challenges the failure to appreciate the value of the maritime sector? These are the questions being raised by International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the Growing Blue Conference in Maputo, Mozambique (23-24 May).“Ultimately, more efficient shipping, working in partnership with a port sector supported by governments, will be a major driver towards global stability and sustainable development for the good of all people” said IMO’s Chris Trelawny…

The U.S. Coast Guard is soliciting for members of the public to participate in a Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment (PAWSA) workshop for the Straits of Mackinac that will take place in St. Ignace, Michigan, July 24 and 25.A longstanding and proven Coast Guard process for formal public study, a PAWSA is a joint effort involving waterway users, stakeholders, and agencies to focus on identifying major waterway safety hazards, estimating risk levels, and evaluating risk mitigation measures.

Svitzer has begun sea trials of a new ‘industry-first’ remotely operated line catching technology prototype.The new mechanism is being trialed on the vessel Svitzer Trym, in the company’s Scandinavian fleet, and could significantly improve safety standards and reduce risks for crews during the process of connecting with other vessels, one of the most critical elements of towage operations.Connecting heaving lines at sea is one of the most critical parts of day-to-day towage operations…

Software solutions from Wärtsilä have been selected for installation in three maritime training centers in The Netherlands.The turnkey systems is designed to allow training to commence immediately following the site acceptance. The systems have been ordered by the Rotterdam based STC Group, an international maritime transport and logistics education provider. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in April 2019.The Wärtsilä Navi-Trainer Professional (NTPRO) 5000 software will enable the teaching of the latest approaches to navigation…

Maritime Administrator RADM Mark H. Buzby, USN (Ret.), announced TOTE Services, Inc. of Jacksonville Florida as the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) for the newest class of training ship, the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV).TOTE Services was selected by MARAD as the construction manager for selecting a shipyard and ensuring that commercial best practices are utilized to deliver the NSMV on time and on budget.“The U.S. shipbuilding industry is vital to America’s economic strength and security,” said Administrator Buzby. “The selection of TOTE Services to work with a U.S.

Recently, Alfa Laval inaugurated the Alfa Laval PureSOx Training Center in Shanghai, China. Focused on the training of commissioning engineers, the new facility will be instrumental in ramping up the skilled workforce prior to the global sulphur cap. But with its full-sized PureSOx scrubber, it will also provide crew training opportunities for customers.Alfa Laval has not only invested heavily in PureSOx manufacturing operations, but is also working to further expand its service and training resources in exhaust gas cleaning.

The subchapter M towboat rules, safety management systems, and an emerging culture shift on the inland waterways brings with it a fresh look at how to manage risk. Is it time for P&I clubs to return to brown water? And should inland operators welcome them home?A mass exodus from the inland marine sector by P&I clubs in the mid-1990’s was precipitated by many things. Today, these very same vessels have been put under the subchapter M regime, and most are adapting SMS as a culture in the process.

The Houston Ship Channel could remain under one-way travel restrictions all week following a collision between a deep-draft ship and a barge that spilled petrochemicals into the waterway, according to an official.About 9,000 barrels of gasoline spilled into the channel near Bayport, Texas, when a 755-foot (230-m) tanker collided with a Kirby Inland Marine tugboat towing two barges containing the fuel. One barge ruptured and the other capsized.The U.S. Coast Guard limited travel to one-way traffic because barges blocked part of the channel.

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

Oakley Capital Investments Ltd has acquired majority stakes in two maritime e-learning providers from Norwegian private equity firm Herkules Private Equity Fund IV and US satellite company KVH Industries.Oakley, the private equity investment company contributed GBP25 million, through its Oakley Capital IV fund to buy the stakes in SG MidCo AS, also known as Seagull, and Videotel Marine Asia Ltd and Super Dragon Ltd, collectively known as Videotel.Over the past 40 years, Videotel…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a joint project with Norway to help the shipping industry cut emissions by at least 50 percent from 2008 levels by 2050, the UN's shipping agency said on Monday.The Norwegian government is providing 10 million NOK ($1.1 million) for the first two years of the GreenVoyage-2050 project, and additional funding subject to government approval for 2020 and subsequent years.The scheme aims to bolster government and port efforts to achieve emissions cuts through legal and policy reforms, national action plans, private sector partnerships and n

Suriname is the latest country to benefit from International Maritime Organization (IMO) maritime security training.Participants at a workshop in Paramaribo, Suriname (7-8 May) took part in table-top contingency planning exercises involving a variety of maritime security issues.The UN boday said that these included threats to cruise ships, border security issues involving ports, airports and land border crossing, as well as potential incidents involving proliferation of weapons of mass destruction…

VDAB, the Flemish Service for Employment and Vocational Training, has chosen a unique dredging simulator developed by Kongsberg on its state-of-the-art K-Sim Navigation technology platform. Selected during a multi-million Euro public tender initiated in September 2018 with the contract signed this April, the system will be installed at VDAB’s training facility in Zeebrugge, Belgium, where new and experienced vessel crew will take part in the most realistic dredging training exercises available.VDAB’s new capabilities will enable safer dredging by further building crew competence…

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division hosted a signing day ceremony on Tuesday for the 2019 graduates of its Shipbuilder Academy program. Twenty-six high school seniors were offered full-time positions at Ingalls after successfully completing the specialized career technical education (CTE) program.“For more than 80 years, Ingalls has provided the families of our communities the opportunity to learn relevant job skills and build successful careers,” said George S. Jones, Ingalls’ vice president of operations. “Signing day is a continuation of that legacy.

Data sharing is a prerequisite to enabling the successful implementation of “Just-In-Time” (JIT) operations – which can cut the time ships spend idling outside ports and help cut emissions as well as save on fuel costs.Participants at a roundtable meeting of  International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (GIA) at IMO Headquarters, London (1-2 May), agreed that increased transparency of information through data sharing was imperative…

Maritime training budgets continue to trend upwards, compared to the year before: more than 52% of vessel operators reported an increase in training budget, while over 62% of METI reported a larger budget for training. Around 60% of operators and 68% of METIs expect further increases in their training budget for the coming year.These are preliminary findings from the second annual global Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) survey. Full results will be published first…

Kongsberg Digital has signed a contract for a delivery of two new K-Sim Full Mission Bridge simulators at the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) HMAS Watson Bridge Simulator Facility in Watsons Bay, Sydney, Australia. The project is a noteworthy addition to Kongsberg’s service delivery contracts with the RAN, which includes multiple shiphandling and engine room simulators delivered at training facilities across the country.The requirement for expansion and intensification of RAN’s training program is the result of a sustained period of growth and capability enhancement for the navy.

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) model courses are valuable tools that assist Member States and other stakeholders to develop detailed training programmes, to effectively implement the provisions of the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended, and to achieve the knowledge and skills demanded by increasingly sophisticated shipping industry.According to the UN body, three new model courses and one revised model course have been put forward to the Sub-Committee on Human Element…

Seagull Maritime announced that they have acquired a majority of the shares in Tero Marine. Tero Marine, headquartered in Bergen, Norway, has developed fleet management software for the shipping industry for more than three decades. The company’s flagship, TM Master, is recognized as one of the leading brands in the business. Today, TM Master is a crucial tool for shipowners all over the world, not only as an instrument for planned maintenance (and asset management), but also as a business intelligence resource.Tero Marine is growing fast and has currently more than 55 employees…

South Florida’s marine industry is a $12 billion/year economic engine that provides the region with 142,000 careers and jobs. With an aging workforce and a unique skill set, the maritime community is facing a workforce that’s aging out with skilled labor being very hard to find. To assist, Advanced Mechanical Enterprises/AMESOLUTIONS.COM, and 23 marine industry companies have joined forces with Junior Achievement of South Florida.On May 1, 2019, Junior Achievement of South Florida will unveil the Marine Industry Storefront…

The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has announced the publication of the 2018 Domestic Annual Report.The report highlights, U.S. domestic fleet deficiencies, inspections, and marine casualty statistics and serves as a powerful tool to study trends, identify key performance indicators, and bring attention to issues in the fleet.The report presents information reflecting the entire U.S. Flag fleet, including barges, cargo vessels, passenger vessels, vessels operating on the Outer Continental Shelf…

The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

Subchapter M – Only a few days left to schedule inspections to meet July 22, 2019 compliance requirements. Rear Adm. John Nadeau, assistant commandant for prevention policy, weighs in on options and instructions.As of July 20, 2018, towing vessel owners and operators are responsible for ensuring that their vessels comply with the provisions of 46 CFR Subchapter M, even if they have not received a Certificate of Inspection (COI). Additionally, in accordance with 46 CFR 136.202…

The technology group Wärtsilä is to supply and configure the software solutions for a new, state-of-the-art, purpose built simulation center being constructed near Portsmouth, England. The center is an expansion of the Maritime Skills Academy’s (MSA) training portfolio serving the Solent region, and is designed to meet the specific simulation training requirements of cruise, ferry and superyacht clients. MSA Solent is part of the Viking Maritime Group, headquartered in Dover, England.

The Indonesia-based Waruna Group  has signed up to Videotel Performance ManagerTM (VPM), a solution for maritime training developed by KVH-Videotel.Waruna Group, which has subsidiaries in shipping, shipyards, and ship building, would  use the extensive range of KVH-Videotel’s training content with the power of web-based data analytics.“Waruna Group is committed to crew training and it is a proven fact that well-trained and competent crew will contribute to safer and efficient ship operations…

Marijuana use remains incompatible with sea service despite changes in state laws.Every year, dangerous drug use disrupts or destroys the careers of hundreds of professional mariners, threatening safety throughout the maritime transportation system at the same time. The ravages of addiction and accidental overdose make headlines daily, yet drug use among both the general population and safety-sensitive workforce continues to increase. Much of the rise is attributable to the growing use of marijuana…

Is your company a Top 100 performer? The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) training on the international treaty covering waste dumping at sea, the London Protocol, is underway for Algerian government officials and participants from shipping companies and port authorities.The workshop, held in Alger (9-10 April), is enabling cooperation between different sectors – allowing effective implementation of measures aimed at protecting the marine environment from dumping of harmful wastes at sea.As set out in the London…

The World Maritime University (WMU) signed an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), to cooperate on global maritime leadership training and capacity building for the international maritime community. The enhanced MoU was signed by Ms. Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive, MPA, and Dr. Doumbia-Henry, President of WMU.The agreement provides for cooperation between the two partners on the education of maritime leaders, leadership development programmes…

Maritime software, services and data analysis provider NAPA announced a service and product agreement extension with Carnival Corporation, cruise company with a combined fleet of more than 100 vessels across nine cruise line brands. This covers comprehensive services for the Onboard NAPA Loading Computers, training certification for Carnival’s CSMART training facility, and a framework agreement for future deployments of NAPA solutions.Carnival’s commitment to the highest performance…

World Maritime University (WMU) International Women’s Conference, Empowering Women in the Maritime Community was held in Malmö, Sweden (4-5 April), reflecting this year’s World Maritime Day theme.Remove structural barriers, build good networks and support quality education to ensure no woman, no girl is left behind in the maritime sector - where women remain significantly under-represented. These were some of the themes reiterated by maritime leaders speaking in the event.Opening the conference…

Japanese shipping giant Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK)'s  training program for seafarers responsible for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other low-flashpoint fuels on board NYK Group-operated ships has been accredited by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK).With this, NYK has now become the first Japanese shipping company to obtain an international institution’s certification in the field of International Code for Ships Using Gases and Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) training."Compared with Europe…

Instructors and students from the Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU) and Mokpo National Maritime University (MMU) will be the first to engage with a unique new approach to maritime simulation and training with the delivery of a full suite of Kongsberg Digital simulator systems to the T/S SEGERO and T/S HANNARA, two identical training ships with a length of 133m and a beam of 19m.KDI’s K-Sim simulator technology has set the benchmark for comprehensive instruction on a broad range of maritime workstations…

Ensure adequate maneuvering space!Recently there were three marine casualties that resulted in the sinking of towing vessels on the Lower Mississippi River. One of the casualties resulted in a fatality. These cases are all under investigation by the Coast Guard, but the preliminary fact finding indicates there are some similarities between the three incidents. In all three cases towing vessels became pinned against another object in an aspect that exposed the vessel broadside to very strong currents.

A call for papers addressing transformational change has been launched by global trade association Interferry ahead of its 44th annual conference in London this October.The conference theme is Innovation – and CEO Mike Corrigan stresses that preference will be given to topics highlighting step change rather than incremental improvements. “We want to explore ideas that could revolutionize every aspect of the ferry industry,” he notes. “That might cover anything from customer service, ticketing and IT to ship and terminal design, propulsion, insurance and finance.

Military Sealift Command hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to signify the opening of its new Center for Excellence located on Joint Base Langley-Eustis, March 25.The Military Sealift Command Center for Excellence provides MSC-centric basic training for newly employed civil service mariners (CIVMAR).“Ultimately, the new Military Sealift Command Center for Excellence is replacing the MSC training center in Earl, New Jersey,” said Military Sealift Command Total Force Management Director Mike Morris, who co-officiated the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The application period for this year’s MN100 edition is officially open and underway! Only those who apply can be considered for inclusion.The MN100, always our August print edition, is our annual look at the best 100 firms in the MarineNews, brown water, workboat space. There will never be a better time for you to tell MarineNews just why your firm is one of the best in the business. All of that – the selected 100 companies – will be featured in the August edition of the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre.

Following news of Raal Harris’s promotion to the position of managing director at KVH Videotel earlier in the year, the company has announced a further strengthening of its management team with the appointment of Jason Barreto as European sales manager.Barreto started his sales career with a series of airline, ship management, and marine travel companies, gaining particular experience in the offshore market.Prior to joining KVH Videotel, he worked at the OSM Maritime Group, where…

The third-largest cruise line in the world Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)  announced plans for the development and construction of the Norwegian Cruise Line Center of Excellence, a new shipboard seafarer training facility near Manila in the Philippines.The Center, which will serve both new and existing crew and provide training for various service-related jobs, is due to open in late 2020, said a press release from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.Norwegian said the facility will be "designed to provide trainees with realistic work and living experiences aboard a cruise ship…

Guyana is the latest country to benefit from International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s continuing work to strengthen oil spill response capacity in the Wider Caribbean Region.According to the UN body, Guyanese officials from 28 different government agencies, environmental stakeholders, and local industry representatives took part in the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre for the Caribbean (REMPEITC)-Caribe training workshop (18-20 March) funded…

A training tackling maritime crime is undergoing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (10 - 28 March 2019), informed the International Maritime Organization (IMO).Members of three key regional maritime security agreements -The Djibouti Code of Conduct; the West and Central Africa Code of conduct; and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)-, which IMO has helped to establish, are participating in the program.Thirty participants from 24 countries are learning theoretical and practical skills to deal with piracy/robbery against ships…

The International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) has announced the latest group of Maritime Port Executives who completed the accredited seminar the week of March 11th at DHS/USCG Headquarters in Washington, DC.The latest class of graduates include LCDR. William Albright, USCG-MPE; Mr. Zach Bonheim-MPE; Cdr. Charles Bright, USCG-MPE; CDR. Bradely Clare, USCG-MPE; LCDR. Dan Davis, USCG-MPE; LCDR. Leslie Downing, USCG-MPE; LCDR. Jamie Gatz, USCG-MPE; CDR. Jason Gunning, USCG-MPE; Mr. Rajiv Khandpur-MPE; LT. David Liberman, USCG-MPE; LCDR. Ben Mazyck, USCG-MPE; LCDR.

An Alfa Laval Smit Combustion system (FU type) is now installed at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Center in Aalborg, Denmark. The system, which adds inert gas production to the center’s already comprehensive range of full-scale vessel applications, will ensure that Alfa Laval remains at the forefront of developing and optimizing inert gas systems.Inaugurated in 2014, the Alfa Laval Test & Training Center is essentially a full-sized machine room on land, with equipment from all of Alfa Laval’s marine product groups installed in process lines as they would be on a commercial vessel.

Emerging maritime challenges were at the forefront of discussions at the 11th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on Maritime Security in Da Nang, Viet Nam, (14-15 March).Participants had the opportunity to exchange views on regional maritime issues, review progress of their maritime security work plan, and discuss proposed activities over the coming year.International Maritime Organization (IMO) took the opportunity to update ARF members on IMO's work in…

SUNY Maritime College has appointed Captain Morgan McManus as the Master of the T/S Empire State VI. An alumnus of SUNY Maritime College, Captain McManus graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in Marine Transportation.Captain McManus has over 12 years’ experience sailing as Master including on the SS Cape Jacob, the sister ship to T/S Empire State VI. His sailing career has taken him on various types of commercial ships including steam, motor, breakbulk, container, car carriers, tankers, and cutting-edge dynamic positioned drill ships.

Captain Pat Folan outlines the way forward, especially for the smaller towboat firms. It’s not rocket science, but it does involve common sense. July 20, 2018 came and went, and we are all still here – mostly. The reality of Sub M has begun to sink in and for some it signals the end of a business and career. The AWO RCP members, oil movers and early adopters are going to make it. But for some of the ‘Mom & Pops,’ this is looking like a bridge too far.And some of this group are the ones that needed to be weeded out.

Each year, the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) sponsors the Rhodes Academy Submarine Cables Writing Award for a deserving paper addressing submarine cables and their relationship with the law of the sea. With the award, the ICPC seeks to foster scholarship regarding submarine cables and the law of the sea and promote the rule of law as applied to submarine cables. In 2018, the selection jury chose Ms. Liao Xuexia of China as the winner for her paper titled: “Protection of Submarine Cables against Acts of Terrorism.”Each year…

Lloyd’s Maritime Academy has launched its first ever, in-depth online course focusing on the Ballast Water Management Convention.The ‘Certificate of Ballast Water Management’ will run as a 12-week distance learning course and will start on the March 28, 2019. Split into six modules, the course specifically focuses on ballast water management, the Convention and why it’s needed. It will highlight how the environmental concerns are addressed, as well as the role different job functions can…

Even as the minimum Random Drug Testing Rate is raised to 50 PCT, the Coast Guard wants its mission to consist of 90% outreach and just 10% enforcement. Really.The domestic waterfront got some less-than-happy news when the U.S. Coast Guard announced that the calendar year 2019 minimum random drug testing rate had been set at 50 percent of covered crewmembers. It’s safe to say that nobody is happy about it, much less the Coast Guard itself.In truth, the Coast Guard had little to say about the matter.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) has conducted a Level 2 Training Course on OPRC (Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation) in St Kitts and Nevis  for oil spill response managers in the wider Caribbean region.Participants from 15 countries attended the IMO-funded event, which is focused on tactical aspects of spill preparedness and response, and applying incident management systems to assist effective coordination of spill response.The countries were Anguilla…

Oslo-based Bulkship Management AS has chosen Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 for compliance in ballast water treatment. The company has signed a comprehensive fleet agreement that includes 30 PureBallast 3 Compact Flex systems, as well as commissioning and training.Bulkship Management AS is a fast-growing ship management company focused on technical management and crewing. The company has now signed a fleet agreement with Alfa Laval in ballast water treatment, comprising the supply of 30 PureBallast 3 Compact Flex systems over the next four years.

Massachusetts-based Bristol Community College and JDR Cables, supplier of subsea power cables and umbilicals and a part of the TFKable Group, have launched new collaboration to train the future workforce for the global offshore wind industry.President Laura L. Douglas, Ph.D., of Bristol Community College, and Business Development Manager, at JDR, Neil Brown, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide technical job training as part of New England’s emerging offshore wind industry.They were joined by the British Consul General to New England…