Solstad Maritime Inks Contract for Normand Sentinel CSV
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Maritime has signed a contract award with an international subsea contractor for the Normand Sentinel contract support vessel (CSV).The firm contract will start early 2026 and will keep the Normand Sentinel fully committed until the end of 2027. The agreement, with an undisclosed client, also includes one yearly option thereafter.Normand Sentinel will support the clientās operations worldwide. As part of the charter party, Solstad Maritime will deliverā¦
ABB Azipod Propulsion to Power New Canadian Icebreaker
ABB has secured a contract with Helsinki Shipyard to supply a complete electric power and propulsion solution for the Polar Max icebreaker, which is expected to be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard by 2030.Polar Max will be constructed through an industrial collaboration between Canadian-controlled facilities in Helsinki, Finland and Lévis, Canada. The 22,800-ton, 138.5-meter vessel is the first shipbuilding project at Helsinki Shipyard under the ownership of Davie, the Quebec-based international shipbuilder.
USCG Confirms Contract Option for 10 Additional FRCs at Bollinger
The U.S. Coast Guard exercised a contract option with Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, Louisiana, to fund initial construction on 10 additional Fast Response Cutters (FRCs), a $507 million option that supports ongoing efforts to modernize the fleet and expand the Coast Guardās global maritime mission.The action increases the total number of FRCs ordered under the current agreement from 67 to 77. Supported by historic investments, this legislation provides nearly $25 billion ā the largest single funding commitment in Coast Guard history ā including $1 billion dollars for additional FRCs.
U.S. Coast Guard Responds to Chinese Research Vessels in the Arctic
The U.S. Coast Guard responded to two Chinese research ships operating offshore Alaska between Sunday and Tuesday. In both instances, the Coast Guard Arctic District deployed USCGC Healy (WAGB-20) to monitor and query the vessels.An HC-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak was also deployed Sunday to provide aerial support.On Tuesday, the Chinese-flagged research vessel JIDI was operating approximately 265 miles northwest of Utqiagvik, Alaska.On Sunday, August 31ā¦
Eureka Naval Craft Teams Up with Strategic Marine in Singapore
Houston-headquartered defense company Eureka Naval Craft is ramping up production of its AIRCAT BENGAL MC warship in Asia after signing an MOU with Singapore shipbuilder Strategic Marine (S) Pte Ltd.Eureka Naval Craft CEO Bo Jardine said the aim of the partnership is to bring a highly advanced Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) to the US Navy and allied navies quickly at a time of increased threat. The versatile catamaran vessel design can further be retooled for the commercialā¦
Coast Guard Responds to Increased Chinese Research Vessel Activity in Arctic
The U.S. Coast Guard has detected two Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic and is currently monitoring five similar vessels in or near the U.S Arctic.On August 5, a C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak responded to the Chinese research vessels Ji Di and the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di. Both vessels were transiting northeast in the Bering Sea.On August 6, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) again responded to the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as it was transiting north in the Chukchi Sea above the Arctic Circleā¦
Whatever the Mission, the Coast Guardās Got a Boat for It
The Coast Guard (including its heritage services) have employed boats since the beginning. Boats are just as important, if not more so, than ever.Americaās first āboat forceā came about in 1878, with the creation of the United States Life Saving Service (USLSS), whose boat crews rescued mariners in distress along the nationās coast line. In 1915, the USLSS merged with the United States Revenue Cutter Service (established in 1790) to form the modern-day United States Coast Guard.
Coast Guard Cutter Mustang Decommissioned
The US Coast Guard decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Mustang (WPB 1310) after nearly 40 years of service.Commissioned on August 29, 1986, Mustang was the 10th Island-Class cutter to join the fleet.Mustang has been stationed in Seward since it was commissioned, and its crews have since responded to over 200 search-and-rescue cases and completed over 2000 law enforcement sorties.Mustang is a 110-foot, Island-Class patrol boat, a multi-mission platform that conducted operations to support search and rescue responseā¦
New Partnership to Develop Advanced Autonomous Naval Craft
US based defense company Eureka Naval Craft has signed a partnership agreement with Australian marine tech company Greenroom Robotics.Eureka Naval Craft CEO Bo Jardine said the partnership with Greenroom will drive the most advanced autonomous systems ever developed for naval vessels and will also be spun into the workboat commercial marine market. The signing comes after the parties earlier this month unveiled designs for the first fully autonomous naval attack craft the AIRCAT Bengalā¦
CGC Naushon Decommissioned
The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Naushon (WPB 1311) during a ceremony in Homer on March 21.Rear Adm. Megan Dean, the commander of Coast Guard District 17, presided over the ceremony honoring the nearly 40 years of service Naushon and its crews provided to the nation.Commissioned on October 3, 1986, Naushon was the 11th Island-Class cutter to join the fleet.Naushon has been stationed in Homer since 2016 and has since responded to over 50 search-and-rescue cases and completed nearly 900 law enforcement sorties.Naushon is a 110-footā¦
bound4blue Installs Wind-Assisted eSAILs on EPSā Tanker
Spanish wind propulsion systems supplier bound4blue has installed its eSAIL wind assisted propulsion system on Pacific Sentinel tanker, owned by Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS).Three 22-meter, DNV-Type Approved eSAILs were installed on the 50,000 dwt Pacific Sentinel in under a day per unit, as planned, bound4blue said.The installation occurred during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory work completed in advance.The fully autonomous wind assisted propulsion system willā¦
Aiviq becomes USCGC Storis, to be based in Juneau
The Coast Guard gets its first new polar icebreaker in more than 25 years.The Coast Guard has accepted its first new polar icebreaker in more than 25 years, but itās not really new. The 12,900-ton, 360-foot Anchor Handling Tug Support Ship (AHTS) Aiviq was acquired by the Coast Guard and renamed USCGC Storis (WAGB 21).According to a Coast Guard statement, āOn Nov. 20, the Coast Guard purchased the M/V Aiviq, a 360-foot U.S.-built polar class 3-equivalent icebreaker for $125 million in a deal with Offshore Surface Vessels LLC.
EPS Extends eSAIL Installation on Newbuild Tanker
Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has strengthened its collaboration with bound4blue by contracting three 22-meter high eSAIL suction sails. The fully autonomous Wind Assisted Propulsion System (WAPS) will be installed on a newbuild MR Tanker from New Times Shipbuilding in Jiangsu Province, China in late 2025. This agreement follows EPSās first project with bound4blue earlier this year, which involved retrofitting three eSAILs on Pacific Sentinel, a 50,000dwt vessel, in February.
US Coast Guard Spots Russian Naval Vessels Near Alaska
The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday located four Russian Federation Navy (RFN) vessels 57 miles northwest of Point Hope, Alaska. While on a routine patrol in the Chukchi Sea, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) observed the RFN vessels transiting southeast along the Russian side of the Maritime Boundary Line (MBL). The Russian Surface Action Group consisted of a Severodvinsk-class submarine, Dolgorukiy-class submarine, Steregushchiyā class Frigate, and Seliva-class tug. The crew of the Stratton witnessed the RFN vessels cross the MBL into the U.S.
Cyan Renewables to Buy MMA Offshore
Singapore's Cyan Renewables, which operates vessels for offshore wind farms, said on Thursday it will buy its Australian peer MMA Offshore for A$1.1 billion ($725.67 million), marking the largest take-private deal in this space in the Asia Pacific region.MMA shareholders will receive A$2.70 per share in cash, a 36% premium over its 90-day average price, according to a joint statement from Cyan and MMA.Cyan, which is backed by infrastructure investor Seraya Partners, had initially offered A$2.60 per MMA share in March before sweetening the offer last month.MMA's shares have climbed almost 44% y
USCG Commissions First Pacific Northwest Fast Response Cutter
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned its 56th Fast Response Cutter and first one to be stationed in the Pacific Northwest during a ceremony held in Astoria, Ore., Thursday, marking the vessel's official entry into active service.Built by Bollinger Shipyards and delivered to the Coast Guard earlier this year, the Coast Guard Cutter David Duren (WPC-1156) is the first of three planned Fast Response Cutterās (FRC) to be homeported in Astoria.The ceremony was presided by Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Pacific Area Commander.
Kongsberg Maritime to Make Solstadās Normand Sentinel More Energy Efficient
Kongsberg Maritime has been tasked to conduct energy efficiency upgrades on Solstadās Normand Sentinel, one of its most prominent subsea construction vessels.This upgrade will see the vessel transition to Kongsberg Maritimeās electric rim-drive azimuth thrusters, marking a milestone in maritime energy efficiency.The Normand Sentinel, measuring 143 metres in length and boasting years of reliable service, is set to receive this upgrade during its next scheduled drydocking.The vesselāsā¦
US Coast Guard Orders Two More Fast Response Cutters
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has opted to extend its Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters (FRC) build program, exercising a contract option with Bollinger Shipyards for two additional vessels.The move brings the total number of FRCs awarded to Bollinger up to 67 vessels since the programās inception. To date, the U.S. Coast Guard has commissioned 55 FRCs into operational service.āWeāre incredibly proud of our long history supporting the U.S. Coast Guard that now stretches four decades,ā said Bollinger Shipyards President and CEO Ben Bordelon.
As Shale Oil Gains Slow, Deepwater Port Struggles for Customers
As U.S. shale oil boomed last decade, an oil pipeline company pitched an ambitious multi-billion-dollar export port off the Texas coast to ship domestic crude to buyers in Europe and Asia.In April, Enterprise Products Partners' SPOT became the first project to receive a license from the U.S. maritime regulator for a deepwater port that could load two supertankers, each of which can carry up to 2 million barrels of oil at a time.But multi-year regulatory delays, a loss of commercial backers and slowing U.S.
LMG Marin Tapped to Support Eastern Pacific eSAIL Install
LMG Marin France reports it has secured an engineering contract with Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) for integration of bound4blue eSAILsEPS will install its first ever wind-assisted propulsion system, three 22-metrer eSAILs o,n board the 2019-built oil and chemical tanker Pacific Sentinel in Q4 this year. The expected net gains in term of consumption are 10% subject to routing.LMG Marin said it worked with EPS, bound4blue, ABS to ensure preliminary feasibility studies of the turnkey eSAILs solution onboard the 183-metreā¦
Eastern Pacific Shipping to Equip Pacific Sentinel with eSAIL Wind Propulsion System
Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has signed a contract for its first ever wind-assisted propulsion system, partnering with bound4blue to install three 22-metre eSAILs onboard the Pacific Sentinel.The turnkey āsuction sailā technology, which drags air across an aerodynamic surface to generate propulsive efficiency, will be fitted in fourth quarter of 2024.The wind-assisted propulsion technology is expected to help the 183-metre, 50,000 DWT oil and chemical tanker reduce overall energy consumption by approximately 10%ā¦
SAAM Towage Taps Markey for Winch Retrofit Project
Markey Machine won a first-ever contract from SAAM Towage to retrofit the controls on a Timberland towing winch aboard the Point Valiant, a tug based in Vancouver, B.C.SAAM first outlined the project to Markey last May, then hired Sentinel Survey, Markeyās after-market service division, to undertake on-site inspection of the winch. Following inspection, Markey offered its Class I winch-control package, and SAAM responded with an order near the end of December. The winch controls package will be provided in mid-2024.āMarkeyās achievements in workboat winches are widely knownā¦
Cyan Renewables Enters UK Offshore Wind Market with Sentinel Buy
Cyan Renewables, a portfolio company of Seraya Partners, has acquired a majority stake in Sentinel Marine to strengthen its position in the UK offshore wind market and boost its local content.Singapore-based Cyan Renewables, Asiaās first dedicated offshore wind vessel operator, has reached an agreement to acquire a 75% stake in Sentinel Marine, a maritime environmental response vessel operator in the UK that currently owns the youngest fleet of Emergency Response and Rescue Vessels (ERRVs) in the UK.Sentinel Marine boasts a fleet of 13 modernā¦