The Navy awarded a $5.1 billion contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat for Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) of the Columbia Class submarine Sept. 21. The IPPD contract award is for the design, completion, component and technology development and prototyping efforts for the Columbia Class Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs). This work will also include United Kingdom unique efforts related to the common missile compartment. "The Columbia class submarine is the most important acquisition program the Navy has today," said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer.

Jamaica and Malta have become the latest States to sign up to International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Ballast Water Management Convention – the international treaty requiring ships to manage their ballast water to help stop the spread of invasive aquatic species across the globe. The Convention entered into force earlier this month (8 September) and a total of 65 signatories now represent 73.92% of the world's merchant fleet tonnage. Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade…

The International Maritime Prize for 2005 has been presented to Dr. Tom Allan (United Kingdom), former Chairman of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to IMO. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, presented the prize to Dr. Allan during a special ceremony (on Monday, 6 November) during the 97th session of the IMO Council, which met at Central Hall, Westminster, London. The International Maritime Prize is awarded annually by IMO to the individual or organization judged to have made the most significant contribution to the work and objectives of IMO. The 96th session of the IMO Council in June 2006 took the decision to award the prize to Dr.

Qatar Petroleum (QP) has announced the delivery of the 500th liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from QP affiliate Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (2) to the South Hook LNG Terminal at Milford Haven in the United Kingdom. The landmark delivery, on Thursday March 24th, was made on board the Q-Flex LNG vessel Al-Hamla. Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, described the delivery as “another significant achievement for Qatar’s LNG industry”. Mr. Al-Kaabi…

T.D. Williamson, Inc. (TDW), provider of equipment and services for pipelines and pressurized piping systems for more than nine decades, is pleased to announce that John Ball recently joined the company as Country Manager, United Kingdom, for T.D. Williamson (U.K.) Limited. In this capacity, Ball is responsible for sales development and execution, the maintenance of operational excellence, and team management. Based in Sheffield, England, and formerly of Applus RTD UK Ltd. and Team Industrial Services…

Maersk Line announced a new direct service between North Europe and Piraeus (Greece). The company will include Piraeus in its Scan Med service. The new rotation will be Gothenburg (Sweden), Bremerhaven (Germany), Felixstowe (United Kingdom), Antwerp (Belgium), Piraeus (Greece), Haydarpasa (Turkey), Ambarli (Turkey), Izmir (Turkey), Gioia Tauro (Italy), Felixstowe (United Kingdom), and Gothenburg (Sweden). The first vessel to enter the new rotation is Maersk Barcelona, departing Gothenburg 23 June 2007 and arriving in Piraeus on 3 July 2007.

Thales is announcing a major commitment to develop future autonomous and unmanned technology across air and sea by investing in two new UK-based trials and training centers. Following Thales’s successful trials during the Royal Navy’s Unmanned Warrior exercise in 2016, Thales is now investing in two trials and training centres based in West Wales and in South-West England to test and develop autonomous systems for both military and civil activities. "Investing in these facilities enables the safe test…

The Consultative Shipping Group (CSG) is meeting in the United Kingdom during the London International Shipping Week (LISW) to discuss the challenges facing global shipping markets, said a press statement from Danish Maritime Authority (DMA). Director-General of DMA Andreas Nordseth, has chaired the CSG since 2009 while the DMA itself is secretariat for the group. The CSG members hail from 18 European, Asian countries plus Canada - all sharing the values and principles of open and unhindered shipping markets.

Telenor Satellite Services announced the signing of a contract with Fugro Survey Limited of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, for Sealink maritime high-speed data communications aboard three of the company's survey and research vessels. Under the terms of the annual agreement, Telenor will provide Ku-Band service for two of Fugro's site survey vessels, both operating in the North Sea. Telenor will also install a new combined "quick change" C- and Ku-Band system aboard a third vessel, operating globally. Ku-Band provides Fugro the capability to use high-speed communications applications at sea including LAN and WAN connectivity, video conferencing, and Internet access, while using smaller, less expensive shipboard equipment.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that preliminary February steel imports were $2.6 billion (2.9 million metric tons) compared to the preliminary January totals of $2.7 billion (2.9 million metric tons). The January change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected an increase primarily in blooms, billets and slabs and a decrease primarily in reinforcing bars, the Census Bureau said. Increases occurred primarily with Brazil, United Kingdom and India, while decreases occurred primarily with Turkey, Korea and Canada. The year to date final statistics through January 2014 showed steel imports of 2.9 million metric tons compared with 2.4 million metric tons through January 2013.

The GAC Group announces key management appointments for its head office and local operations in Oman and the United Kingdom. Group Vice President for Human Resources Jan Farnelid will retire on 31 August and take on a consulting role with the Group until the end of the year. Since 2004, Jan has successfully implemented HR policies and initiatives that underline the importance of GAC’s focus on human capital as a key enabler of its expansion strategy. Taking over Jan’s position…

On 14 June 2010, Rear Admiral Hudson Peter Hudson CBE handed over the responsibility of Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Somalia, Op ATALANTA to Major General Buster Howes OBE. The handover was conducted in the Operational Headquarters in Northwood near London. Rear Admiral Hudson, who joined the operation in June 2009, has been instrumental in the ongoing success of EU NAVFOR and the execution of the Op ATALANTA mission. Rear Admiral Hudson leaves EU NAVFOR to continue his appointment as Commander United Kingdom Maritime Force (COMUKMARFOR) in Portsmouth.

Last week two dive support workboats arrived at the Hydrex headquarters in Antwerp. Both vessels can be used for a wide range of operations in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and France. The catamarans are fully equipped as dive support stations with hydraulic cranes, hydraulic winches, nautical and communication equipment and a dive control room. The workboats are stationed at our Antwerp office, where a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment and tools is available at all times. Hydrex has an experienced and certified team of diver/technicians ready to mobilize immediately together with the workboats. They can carry out routine operations as well as highly technical repair work within a very short time frame and without any loss of quality.

Royal Caribbean International announced plans to deploy Independence of the Seas - the third in its new Freedom class of ships - in the United Kingdom, when she debuts in May 2008. to be home-ported in Europe. a rock-climbing wall and a boxing ring. sail the 2008 summer season from Southampton, United Kingdom.

BBC Chartering announces the opening of a new representative office in London, United Kingdom, starting immediately. “We continue to strengthen our position at important shipping hubs for breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo”, said Svend Andersen, CEO of BBC Chartering. The London branch is the second location of BBC Chartering in the UK and closely cooperates with the existing representative office in Liverpool. Ms. Valeria Salzano, who transferred from BBC Chartering Genoa Srl., was appointed as regional Sales & Chartering Manager for the London office.

Laborde Products recently completed refurbishing and testing of three diesel generator sets for a wind farm in the United Kingdom. According to Joe Manning, manager of Laborde's Channelview operations, these units will provide backup to the wind turbines when the prevailing wind is low. Mitsubishi S16R large bore diesel engines power the generators. Seven total units are involved in the project, each rated from 1,400kW to 2 MW. Because of Laborde's extensive experience with Mitsubishi diesel engines, these units were shipped to their Channelview facility from a project in California where they were operating on biogas. The scope of Laborde's work includes converting the generators from biogas to #2 diesel fuel…

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract to perform a study for the United Kingdom's Maritime Airborne Surveillance and Control (MASC) program. This study will concentrate on a manned rotary-wing solution for MASC, which will provide the future maritime airborne early warning and battle management system. Follow-on phases are expected to further define the preferred option or options, working towards a production contract after further U.K. Ministry of Defence approval. Northrop Grumman's contract is one of several studies that have been awarded. MASC will be the airborne node of the Royal Navy's network-enabled capability -- the third element in its carrier strike capability and, as such, integrated with the Joint Combat Aircraft and the Future Carrier.

Imtech Marine Group and Radio Holland Group announced that a new Radio Holland service location in the southern part of the United Kingdom has been established. The office of Imtech Marine & Offshore in the UK will perform service activities for navigation and communication equipment, trading as Radio Holland. Imtech Marine & Offshore UK will, with direct support from Radio Holland, perform service activities from their service station in the Southampton area. The service area is the United Kingdom including Ireland. Predominantly the office will focus on deep sea and coastal shipping, both on board UK ships as well as serving international shipping visiting UK ports.

Ships assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 pulled into Faslane, Scotland, ready to commence Exercise Joint Warrior 15-1, April 9. DESRON 26 arrived in Faslane with guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) and guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78), ready to participate in Joint Warrior, a semi-annual training exercise conducted in the coastal waters off the United Kingdom. The training, led by the United Kingdom, is designed to provide NATO and allied forces a multiwarfare environment in which to prepare for global operations.

The Australian Government is joining forces with countries from around the world to conduct Exercise PACIFIC PROTECTOR, as part of an ongoing major international commitment to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials. The exercise will be held in Cairns, Queensland from 6–9 September 2017 as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative, which is an effort by 105 partner countries to build networks, tools and capabilities to counter illicit weapons of mass destruction-related trade across the globe.

SENER opened an Engineering and Construction division in Manchester to reinforce its presence in the United Kingdom. The group already has work sites set up in the UK and it maintains a close 25-year relationship with Rolls Royce through ITP, a leader in the global market for industrial and aeronautical engines in which SENER (53.125%) and Rolls Royce (46.875%) are the two shareholders. The new office will lend the support needed for ongoing projects such as the construction of two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy.

Thales, BAE Systems and their partner SAAB, ECA Group and ASV Global welcome the confirmation by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) that the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) and French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) will continue its collaboration for the combined United Kingdom and France MMCM (maritime mine counter measures) program. Initiated in 2010 under a cooperation agreement between France and the United Kingdom, the MMCM program develops a prototype autonomous system for detection and neutralisation of sea mines and underwater improvized explosive devices (UWIEDs). The agreement signed at Euronaval today between Harriet Baldwin…

Technip was awarded by EnQuest earlier this year a large(1) engineering, procurement, installation and construction (EPCI) contract for the Kraken development located in the North Sea,  400 kilometers North-East of Aberdeen and 130 kilometers East of Shetland, at a water depth of approximately 120 meters. - pipeline flooding, hydro testing and leak testing. Technip’s operating center in Aberdeen, United-Kingdom, will execute the contract. The Group will leverage its unique vertical position in the subsea business.