Maritime Industry Top News
Libya's NOC Reinstates Force Majeure on Oil Exports. Blames UAE for Blockade
Libya's National Oil Corp (NOC) on Sunday accused the United Arab Emirates of instructing eastern forces in Libya's civil war to reimpose a blockade of oil exports…
ABB Power System for World’s Largest Diamond Recovery Vessel
The world's largest, and first custom-built, diamond recovery vessel, to be owned by Debmarine Namibia, will feature an advanced power system by the Swiss company ABB.The vessel is being built by Damen at Damen Shipyards Mangalia on the Black Sea in Romania. The newbuild will be delivered to Debmarine Namibia, a joint venture between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and De Beers Group in 2022.
Fire Breaks Out on US Navy Ship in San Diego
U.S. Navy ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) caught fire on Sunday morning while it was moored pier side at Naval Base San Diego.According to the U.S. Navy, 21 people were being treated for light injuries on Sunday.The Navy said in a statement: "Today, we suffered a terrible tragedy aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) when a fire broke out aboard the ship while in port San Diego. At this point, 17 Sailors…
Carnival Makes Leadership Changes at HAL, Costa
Carnival Corporation announced another set of moves within its global leadership team as part of the company's broader efforts to streamline operations and prepare the organization for the eventual resumption of cruising amid the coronavirus health crisis.Gus Antorcha, currently chief operations officer for the group's Carnival Cruise Line brand, has been named president of the company's Holland America Line…
Futureproof Tugs: Efficient, Sustainable and Automated
Tug owners are cutting emissions and increasing automation. Subject to technology choices, ‘greener’ tugs are a global phenomenon today, while the autonomous tugs of tomorrow are starting to emerge. David Lee S,enior Account Manager, New Build, ABB Marine & Ports, discusses tugs of the future.Around the world, there is a growing appetite for hybrid and electric technology in tugboat operations. In the Asian and European towage markets…
Silver Ships Delivers RHIB for Eglin Air Force Base
Theodore, Ala. boat builder Silver Ships said it has recently delivered an Ambar 1100 oceangoing rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) for the Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida.Built to assist in ocean rescue and firefighting missions, the 36-foot-long vessel includes an enhanced center console model that features Silver Ships’ specially designed console with a front windscreen and additional bolster seating.
Carnival to Resume Voyages in Phases
Carnival Corp said on Friday it was planning to resume operations in a phased manner and would operate with a smaller fleet on its return, months after suspending trips due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The company’s shares, that have lost more than two-thirds of their value this year, rose as much as 11% to $16.12 in morning trading.The world’s largest cruise operator said it has reduced capital expenditures by more than $5 billion over the next 18 months and raised a couple more billions to navigat
Electric Ferry Legacy of The Fjords Delivered in Norway
Norwegian tourist vessel operator The Fjords has taken delivery of a new all-electric catamaran, Legacy of The Fjords, expected to enter service on July 17, ferrying passengers between Flåm and Nærøyfjorden.Like her sister ship Future of The Fjords, the 42-meter Legacy of The Fjords was designed and constructed by Norwegian shipyard Brødrene Aa, with a hull that echoes zigzagging mountain paths that can be seen from her spacious decks.
Baltic Index Snaps Streak of 7 Consecutive Weekly Gains
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index was unchanged on Friday, as gains in panamax and supramax vessel rates offset losses in capesize rates, although it was set for its first weekly decline in eight.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, was flat at 1,810. For the week, the index shed 4.4%.The Baltic capesize index lost 53 points…
BV Opens Remote Survey Center in Singapore
Bureau Veritas (BV) has opened a new remote survey center in Singapore, with more new locations to follow, as the testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services provider continues its digital transformation and push to prove remote class services amid travel restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic. The newest site joins existing BV remote survey centers in Rotterdam, Piraeus, Istanbul…
Desperate Times for Sailors Stranded by Pandemic
Jens Boysen disembarked one of the world’s largest container ships on Thursday after 167 days at sea when he has acted not only as captain but also as doctor, dentist, mental coach and entertainment director for his stressed-out crew.Almost 200,000 seafarers like Boysen are stuck onboard merchant ships, some for more than a year, because coronavirus travel restrictions make it almost impossible to rotate crews…
Royal Caribbean Takes Full Ownership of Silversea Cruises
Royal Caribbean Group has acquired the remaining shares of Silversea Cruises, a specialist in the ultra-luxury and expedition cruising, after previously buying a two-thirds share of the cruise line in July 2018.The remaining one-third stake held by Heritage Cruise Holding Ltd. was paid for in the form of 5.2 million shares of Royal Caribbean Group common stock, which represents about 2.5% of the total common stock."Silversea has been a great fit for our company from the very first day…
Libya's NOC Lifts Force Majeure on Exports. First Tanker Loaded at Es Sider
Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) lifted force majeure on all oil exports on Friday as a first tanker loaded at Es Sider after a half-year blockade by eastern forces…
GTT to Design Tanks for COSCO LNG Tanker Trio
French GTT has received an order from the Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for the tank design for three new LNG carriers. The carriers will be delivered to the Chinese ship-owner COSCO Shipping. Each vessel will offer a capacity of 174,000 m3. GTT will design the tanks of the vessels, which will be fitted with the NO96 L03+ membrane containment system, a technology developed by GTT. Philippe Berterottière…
Ocean Tankers' Supervisor to Start Restructuring Talks with Owners
EY, the court-appointed supervisor for Ocean Tankers Pte Ltd (OTPL), has proposed two restructuring options to the shipping company's owners and could meet with…
Keel Laid for Ports of Auckland's New E-Tug
In Vietnam, Damen Song Cam Shipyard, together with joint venture partner Song Cam Shipyard hosted a keel-laying ceremony Tuesday for the electric RSD-E Tug 2513 that Damen is building for the Ports of Auckland, New Zealand.A fully electric version of Damen’s standard RSD Tug 2513, the new RSD-E Tug 2513 is the world’s first fully electric tug with 70 metric tons bollard pull. It will contribute toward meeting Ports of Auckland’s goal of being a zero emissions operation by 2040.
Wave of N. American Oil and Gas Bankruptcies to Continue at $40 Oil
A wave of oil and gas bankruptcies in North America is likely to continue this year as oil prices remain depressed and a new surge of COVID-19 cases threaten to stall any recovery in fuel demand, law firm Haynes and Boone said in a report released this week.Bankruptcies surged in the second quarter, including from major shale independents Chesapeake Energy and Whiting Petroleum, as oil prices collapsed due to the pandemic and a brief…
Governments Pledge Crew Change Action
A dozen countries have have committed to facilitate crew changes and achieve key worker designation for seafarers, following a virtual ministerial summit hosted by the U.K. government on Thursday, marking progress to help resolve a growing crisis facing the maritime industry, and enable hundreds of thousands of stranded seafarers to go home or join ships.“The inability of ship operators worldwide to…
Wabtec to Supply Engines for Marad's NSMV Fleet
Wabtec Corporation said it has been awarded a contract worth more than $10 million to supply engines for the first two of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMVs) being built at Philly Shipyard.In April Philly Shipyard was selected to build up to five NSMVs that will enable at-sea training for America’s future mariners and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Zvezda Begins Building World’s Most Powerful Nuclear Icebreaker
Russia's Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex has cut first steel for the Leader project's flagship nuclear icebreaker Russia, said to be the world's most powerful.The Zvezda shipyard, owned by a consortium led by oil giant Rosneft, is working with Atomflot, a subsidiary of Russian nuclear group Rosatom, to build the icebreaker, which will help boost year-round commercial vessel traffic on the Northern Sea…
