Transportation Division News

The quest to build a series of five National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs), which will serve as training ships for five U.S. maritime academies, has drawn a broad cadre of suppliers. The powerplant was a main focus, helping to evolve the schools from steam power plants to a modern propulsion package.NSMVs being built for the maritime academies is widely lauded as a ‘win’ for U.S. shipbuilding, an example of commercial shipbuilding practices applied to a government shipbuilding project.

An oil tanker runs aground off eastern China, leaking fuel into the water. Another is caught in a collision near Cuba. A third is seized in Spain for drifting out of control.These vessels were part of a "shadow" fleet of tankers carrying oil last year from countries hit by Western sanctions, according to a Reuters analysis of ship tracking and accident data and interviews with more than a dozen industry specialists.Hundreds of extra ships have joined this opaque parallel trade…

Cargill, one of the world's biggest ship charterers, is stepping up a push to resurrect wind power for cargo ships as the agricultural commodities group moves to cut emissions from its chartered fleet, a top executive said.With about 90% of world trade transported by sea, shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions, yet environmental campaigners say regulatory efforts by the sector to cut emissions are still slow.Cargill will test a dry bulk vessel with two wind sails carrying cargo onboard later this year…

Bumper soybean harvests in Brazil and unsold grains stocks in the United States are set to boost dry bulk shipping rates as buyers including China restock after supply shocks last year, leading freight operators said.The dry bulk shipping market has been hit in recent months by slow activity, partly driven by the COVID lockdowns in China, one of the world’s biggest generators of seaborne commodities trade including grains as well as coal and iron ore.Grains supplies were also affected by the war in Ukraine for part of last year until a United Nations-backed corridor was set up…

In a new take on ancient technology, Cargill, one of the world's biggest charterers of ships, is to add state-of-the art sails to a vessel early next year to test whether wind power can cut its carbon emissions, a top company executive said.With about 90% of world trade transported by sea, shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions, yet environmental campaigners say efforts by the sector to cut emissions are slow.Leading agri group Cargill will start testing a dry bulk vessel with two wind sails in the first quarter of 2023…

Mitsubishi Corporation’s Pyxis Ocean is slated to be the first vessel fitted with BAR Technologies’ (BAR Tech) pioneering wind propulsion technology WindWings.The installation, anticipated for deployment at the beginning of 2023, comes as the next step in a collaboration launched in 2019 between Cargill and MC Shipping Ltd. Singapore Branch – the shipping arm of the Mitsubishi Corporation – to increase energy savings and reduce emissions from international shipping.Two WindWings will be delivered by Yara Marine Technologies and installed on the five-year-old…

Hornblower Group announced that Brendan Smith, formerly VP of Engineering, NYC Ferry, has been named President of Seaward Services, Inc. Smith replaces John Keever, who has retired after 50 years in the industry, and will report to Scott Thornton, COO of Hornblower Group’s Ferries and Transportation Division.As President of Seaward Services, Inc., Smith will oversee the operation and maintenance of both government and privately owned craft, including High-Speed Craft, Range Craft, Experimental Craft, Training Craft, Research Vessels and Unmanned Surface Vessels.

Hornblower Group announced on Wednesday it has acquired two offshore vessels: the Seaward Explorer and Seaward Endeavor, previously the California Responder and Pacific Responder, respectively. Seaward Services, Inc. (SSI), part of the Hornblower Group of maritime businesses, is offering the multipurpose supply vessels for charter, with prompt availability.The Seaward Explorer and Seaward Endeavor were built at VT Halter Marine in Mississippi, commissioned by Marine Spill Response Company (MSRC) in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Cargill, one of the world's biggest charterers of ships, has cut nearly 1.5 million tonnes of gross carbon emissions from its fleet since 2017, a top company executive said, as it steps up efforts to go green.With about 90% of world trade transported by sea, global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions.The United Nations aims to reduce the industry's greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050. This target will require the swift development…

A lack of orders for new ships is providing further support to the dry bulk freight market as demand for commodities accelerates, a senior executive at U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill said.The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which gauges the cost of shipping commodities such as grain, iron ore, cement, coal and fertilizer, has rallied close to an 11-year high this week, helped by rising rates for larger capesize ships.Shipping officials say orders for new vessels are…

Some of the world's biggest commodities and energy players on Wednesday launched an initiative to cut and track emissions from the ships they charter as efforts intensify to reduce the maritime industry's carbon footprint.About 90% of world trade is transported by sea, and the UN shipping agency the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050.Carbon emissions from shipping rose in the six-year period to 2018 and accounted for 2.89% of the world’s CO2, the latest IMO-commissioned study showed, mounting pressure on the

Japanese shipping and logistics company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) said that its bulk Shipping division recorded lower profit than previous year.In the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 (April 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019), its revenues from the bulk shipping  amounted to 195.1 billion yen registering -11.3 decrease compared to the same period last year. The profit is down by -1.2 at 9.2 billion yen"Energy and Car transport is robust but lower dry bulk market due to production stoppage in Brazil and Western Australia," it said.However, its container liner profitability improved by ONE’s increasing Liftings/Utilization…

Another year; another major fleet takeover by Kirby Corporation. But the leader of the inland tank-barge sector is not growing for growth’s sake: a deeper look at the numbers shows a disciplined strategy at work.“Kirby is definitely the big gorilla in the inland barge market,” affirmed Jefferies analyst Randy Giveans. Indeed, Houston-headquartered Kirby Corp has been extremely active buying fleets over the past few years, most recently acquiring the 63 tank barges of Cenac Marine in March for $244 million.

Leading shipping finance banks have joined industry players in support of faster action to cut carbon emissions by the sector.In April, the United Nations shipping agency reached an agreement to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared with 2008 levels, which fell short of more ambitious targets.The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) is meeting in London this week to work on an initial strategy on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.In the meantime…

ENTREC Corporation, a heavy haul transportation and crane solutions provider, is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Capstan Hauling .Based in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Capstan is a leading provider of heavy haul transportation services to the oil and natural gas industry in north-west Alberta and north-east B.C. Capstan has approximately 45 employees and lease operators and operates an extensive equipment fleet valued in excess of $9.0 million.Capstan’s fleet consists of mobile cranes, picker trucks, winch trucks and a wide variety of multi-wheeled trailers.“With our outlook improving for the oil and natural gas industry in western Canada, this acquisition is very timely for ENTREC,” said John M.

Matson, Inc. president and chief executive officer Matthew J. Cox will succeed retiring chairman of the board Walter A. Dods, the company announced today. The appointment becomes effective at the end of the company's annual shareholders’ meeting today, as Dods retires in accordance with the company's corporate governance guidelines limiting board members’ age. “In my nearly 30 years associated with Matson, I've never felt stronger about its leadership and long-term prospects,” Dods said.

Donjon Marine, Co., Inc., a global marine services provider based in New Jersey, has announced a number of marine transportation projects the company has been involved with over the last months. SIMS Metals: Donjon tugs transport the barges that carry all of the steel scrap in the New York/Metropolitan Area for SIMS Metals as part of a contract that runs through 2015. Donjon handles approximately 1,800,000 tons of mixed grades of scrap steel each year. O&G Industries: Donjon transports various types and grades of bulk stone products from two upstate New York quarries to various New York/Metropolitan Area receiving facilities in support of its customer, O&G Industries, and its customers. Donjon’s agreement with O&G runs through Spring 2012.

San Diego, California, April 5, 2011: Boatracs Inc., a leader in providing integrated communications and software solutions to the maritime industry, announced today it has completed the installation of BT Forms, an electronic forms product, on 14 vessels for United Barge Lines (UBL), the inland transportation division of United Maritime Group. The project entailed the conversion of UBL’s Master’s Daily Log into an electronic form that captains can complete with their on-board PC, providing an efficient and easy-to-use form that transmits data in a cost effective and timely manner.

Foss Maritime Builds New Ice-Class Tugs as it embarks on a new Arctic Challenge. To support growing Arctic business, Seattle-based Foss Maritime Company is building three ocean-going tugs at its Rainier Shipyard in Oregon on the Columbia River. These 132 feet-long, Ice Class vessels will have strengthened hulls designed to withstand the harsh, Arctic climate conditions into which they will eventually be deployed. Work on the tugs began in July, and the first in the series will be delivered in December 2014.

Dave Hoppes, Matson’s senior vice president, ocean services, will retire March 31, 2015, the company announced. John Lauer, currently vice president, Transpacific services at the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Matson Navigation Company, Inc., will succeed Hoppes as senior vice president, ocean services, effective March 31, 2015. The company also announced that Chris Scott, currently director, Asia at Matson Navigation Company, will succeed Lauer as vice president, Transpacific services at Matson Navigation Company, effective March 31, 2015, as part of the transition plan.

Foss Maritime has opened a new office and the formed a project management group aiming to support its customer base headquartered in Houston. John Tirpak of Foss has been appointed Vice President of Business Development & Contract Services and will be relocating to Houston to develop business in the region and lead the business development function of the entire Marine Transportation division from the new office. There he will oversee domestic and international business development, sales and marketing.

Globe Express Services (Overseas Group) opens terminal yard in Dammam to complete logistics facilities in Jeddah & Riyadh. The company's Dammam Terminal Yard, is a 23,000 sqm facility that includes an open storage area, warehouses, and office buildings that will house the Dammam Branch management and the Transportation Division. While GES (Overseas Group) has had an office in Dammam since 1995, the new terminal yard, which is strategically located at the Dammam Sea Port Zone on the Arabian Gulf…

Answering the needs of longstanding clients, bulk transport giant AEP dips its toes into the liquid transport arena. AEP River Operations needs no introduction for most MarineNews readers. One of the true river giants operating on America’s domestic inland waters today, AEP is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and is primarily known as a barge company that provides transportation of dry bulk commodities throughout the inland river system. AEP River Operations is owned by American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5.3 million customers in 11 states. The current AEP fleet includes more than 79 towboats ranging up to 11,000 horsepower and more than 2,900 hopper barges, moving more than 65 million tons annually.