Maritime Industry Top News
Video: US Warship Aids Iranian Mariners in Distress
The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) provided assistance to an Iranian-flagged dhow in distress in the Arabian Sea, October 15.While operating under Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), Churchill received signal from the motor vessel via flashing light that it was in distress. When hailed over bridge-to-bridge radio, the vessel’s crew explained that their engine would…
Philippe Named Commercial Director of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
Mathieu Philippe has been appointed to the new position of Commercial Director – Marine at classification society Bureau Veritas. Returning to Paris, where he started his career in shipping, Philippe brings extensive experience in commercial ship operations, markets and management to Bureau Veritas. He reports to Marine & Offshore President Matthieu de Tugny, and leads the marine markets team, providing expertise and technology leadership across all major ship types…
Japan to Release Fukushima's Contaminated Water Into the Sea
Nearly a decade after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan's government has decided to release over one million tonnes of contaminated water into the sea, media reports said on Friday, with a formal announcement expected to be made later this month.The decision is expected to rankle neighboring countries like South Korea, which has already stepped up radiation tests of food from Japan, and further…
Singapore Suspends Hin Leong Unit's Bunker Licenses
Singapore has suspended the licenses to sell ship fuel held by a subsidiary of defunct oil trader Hin Leong Trading Pte Ltd since it could no longer meet the licensing requirements, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Monday.The MPA suspended the licenses for Hin Leong's subsidiary Ocean Bunkering Services Pte Ltd (OBS), an agency spokesperson said in an emailed response to questions from Reuters sent on Oct.
L3Harris Wins Comms Contract for USCG Offshore Patrol Cutter
L3Harris Technologies said it has received a contract from Eastern Shipbuilding Group to provide the integrated communications system for the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC).The Coast Guard has said that the OPC program is the highest acquisition priority in the Coast Guard, providing the capability bridge between the National Security Cutter and Fast Response Cutter.The initial award to L3Harris includes the design…
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Gains BV Approval for New LNG Fuel System
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has been granted approval in principle (AIP) by Bureau Veritas (BV) for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel gas supply system (FGSS) for marine four-stroke dual fuel engines. The approval was confirmed in a presentation ceremony at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s Headquarters in Yokohama.The FGSS comprises an LNG fuel tank, gas supply unit, control systems and other relevant equipment.
Malta Stops Cruise Passengers Disembarking Over Suspected COVID-19 Case
Malta on Friday stopped passengers disembarking from the MSC Grandiosa cruise ship over a suspected case of COVID-19, Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said.Although the cruise ship was let into Valletta harbor, it was not allowed to disembark passengers, Portelli said.The ship, which is cruising around the central Mediterranean, left port after taking in supplies.
Japan Export Decline Slows Dramatically
Japan’s exports fell in September at the slowest pace in seven months as U.S.-bound vehicle shipments rose from lows brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating easing pressure on the world’s third-largest economy.Exports fell 4.9% in September compared with the same month a year earlier, more than the 2.4% economists forecast in a Reuters poll. Still, the pace followed six months of double-digit decline…
Interview: Bob Merchent, CEO, Halter Marine
Please describe your professional background and what attracted you to your current position.In June 2020, I was named president and chief executive officer of Halter Marine. I had been retired around six years. My wife and I bought a piece of property outside of Brookhaven, Miss., and we were enjoying retired life split between our country property and our home in Gautier, Miss. Earlier this year…
New US Riverboat Nearly Ready for Launch
American Cruise Lines says its next new ship is already being readied for launch, just two months after the U.S.-flag operator accepted delivery of its latest newbuild, American Jazz. The forward hull section of American Melody was moved from a hull fabrication building to the launch ways last week, where it will be joined to the aft section and launched into the Wicomico River.The hull section utilizes a heavy-lift ground-transfer system that distributes and levels the load as it moves.
Alibaba Group and Zim Partner on Sea Freight
Alibaba Group Holdings and Israeli shipping group Zim have entered a strategic cooperation agreement for the direct purchase of sea freight, which will improve logistic services to merchants selling on Alibaba, Zim said on Monday.Zim said it will provide sea freight and services through a direct interface with the e-commerce giant’s logistics platform.The companies have been cooperating since earlier this year, the shipper said in a statement.Zim is 32% owned by Kenon Holdings.(Reporting by Ari
Damen Delivers Tour Boat to Windermere Lake Cruises
On October 13, 2020, Damen Shipyards Group and Winander Leisure Limited signed the Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance for the official handover of MV Swift, a vessel to be operated by Windermere Lake Cruises Limited. The project has been a unique one, with Damen building the vessel inland on location at Windermere in the Lake District National Park in the U.K.Over the past 40 years, Damen has delivered more than 1,000 of vessels via the Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC).
Harvey Gulf Equipping Four More PSVs for Tri-fuel Ops
U.S. offshore support vessel company Harvey Gulf International has ordered Wärtsilä's energy storage system for four of its platform supply vessels.The order comes just after Harvey said in September it had completed an upgrade of its platform supply vessel Harvey Energy, making it the first "tri-fuel" PSV in the U.S. The upgrade included a Wärtsilä battery-power system on the PSV which was already a dual-fuel vessel capable of fully operating on LNG or diesel.Now…
Ocean Tankers Looks to Return Most Ships to Owners
The court-appointed manager for Ocean Tankers Pte Ltd has applied to the Singapore court to return most of the ships the company manages to the shipowners, as cash is running low and Ocean Tankers will not be able to maintain the fleet, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.If successful, the move will allow Ocean Tankers, the chartering arm of embattled oil trader Hin Leong Pte Ltd…
Outgoing Ørsted CEO Poulsen to Join AP Moller
Henrik Poulsen, CEO of offshore wind giant Ørsted, who recently announced his decision to step down after eight years with the firm, will join Denmark's maritime giant AP Moller Holding.The A.P. Moller Group comprises of A.P. Moller - Maersk, Danske Bank, Maersk Drilling, Maersk Tankers, Maersk Product Tankers, KK Wind Solutions and A.P. Moller Capital. A.P. Moller Holding is the parent company of…
New LNG Carrier Delivered to FLEX LNG
Shipping company FLEX LNG said it has taken delivery of its latest newbuild, Flex Amber, from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in South Korea.Flex Amber is a large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier with 174,000 cubic meters of cargo space. The Marshall Islands-flagged ship is equipped with a highly efficient dual fuel slow speed two stroke engine (X-DF).The 297-meter Flex Amber is the sister vessel of Flex Aurora delivered on July 29…
NAT Secures Financing for Suezmax Newbuilds
Nordic American Tankers (NAT) told investors on Friday that it has lined up full financing for two new tankers on order from South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries.
COVID-hit Bulk Carrier Leaves Australia
A Panama-flagged bulk carrier with a coronavirus outbreak on board has sailed from its anchorage off Port Hedland and is enroute to Manila, the Philippines.The clearance…
Baltic Index Posts Worst Week in Three Months
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index that tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities fell on Friday, registering its worst week in nearly three months, weighed down by weaker demand across vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was down 84 points, or 5.4%, at 1,477 points.The index, which fell for an eighth straight session, has lost more than 20% this week.The capesize index slipped 215 points,
Major Supply Contracts Awarded for Finland's New Warships
Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) revealed it has entered into three major supply contracts worth over €100 million ($117.4 million) in total for the main equipment of Pohjanmaa Class multi-purpose corvettes commissioned by the Finnish Defense Forces.The most crucial contracts for the supply of critical main equipment with long delivery times were signed during spring and summer in highly unusual circumstances…
