Maritime Industry Top News
'Autonomous Guard Vessel' Concept Unveiled
A new offshore guard vessel concept aims to be smaller, lighter and more efficient than most of the vessels used to protect offshore operations currently. It will also be completely unmanned and autonomous.The so-called Autonomous Guard Vessel revealed Tuesday has been created by a consortium of maritime companies specifically for surveillance of offshore structures throughout their life cycle, ranging…
Eleventh National Security Cutter Named Elizebeth Smith Friedman
The U.S. Coast Guard is naming the 11th Legend-Class National Security Cutter (NSC) in honor of Elizebeth Smith Friedman.Friedman was a pioneering code-breaker for the Coast Guard during the Prohibition Era and World War II, serving within the Coast Guard Cryptanalytic Unit-387. She has been dubbed "America's first female cryptanalyst" and in many ways could be considered the founder of the modern…
MN100 Deadline Extended to July 10
The deadline to apply for inclusion in Marine News magazine's annual MN100 awards edition has been extended to July 10.Each year, the publication's August issue profiles 100 of the top firms in the shallow-draft, brown water, workboat space. Is your company one of the best? Apply now.The 100 companies selected will be featured in the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre. OEMs, service providers, shipyards, operators and the full gamut of marine-related businesses are eligible.
Electric Voith Schneider Propeller Unveiled
With the new electric Voith Schneider Propeller (eVSP), Voith is pushing ahead with the continuous electrification of its drive technologies. Among the advantages of the new eVSP are high efficiency and the reduction of complexity, since the permanent-magnet synchronous motor is already integrated in the propeller. The complete omission of gears reduces noise to a minimum and frees up critical space…
Ardmore Rejects Hafnia's Takeover Bid
Ireland-based tanker shipping company Ardmore Shipping Corporation confirmed Tuesday that it received and turned down an unsolicited acquisition proposal last month…
OVI: 103 Tons of Garbage Removed From North Pacific Gyre
Ocean Voyages Institute’s marine plastic recovery vessel, S/V KWAI, docked at the port of Honolulu at the end of June after a 48-day expedition successfully removing 103 tons (206,000 lbs.) of fishing nets and consumer plastics from the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone (more commonly known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or Gyre).The Pacific Gyre, located halfway between Hawaii and California…
Halter Marine Launches US Navy Berthing Barge
Over the course of several days, Halter Marine Inc. celebrated multiple milestones on the Auxiliary Personnel Lighter–Small (APL(S)) program. The Pascagoula, Miss. shipbuilder launched the first two berthing barges, erected modules on the third barge and laid the keel on the fourth barge.In September 2018, the company received the initial contract to design and build two units, with options for four additional units.
Log Carrier Loses Power Off New Zealand
A log carrier that lost power and went adrift while leaving New Zealand's Port of Tauranga Monday has been towed to anchorage in deeper water while it awaits further inspection, local maritime safety authorities said.The Singapore-flagged Funing was outbound for Lanshan, China when it lost engine power and began drifting amid 30 knot winds and significant swells between Mount Manganui and Matakana Island around 12:30 a.m.
Iran's Oil Storage Almost Full as Sanctions and Pandemic Weigh
Iran has slashed crude oil production to its lowest level in four decades as storage tanks and vessels are almost completely full due to a fall in exports and refinery run cuts caused by the coronavirus pandemic, industry data showed.Total onshore crude stocks surged to 54 million barrels in April from 15 million barrels in January, and swelled further to 63 million barrels in June, according to FGE…
Seanergy Picks Up Capesize Bulker
Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. announced Tuesday it has entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party to purchase a secondhand Capesize vessel for “prompt delivery”.The vessel Geniuship, to be renamed Goodship, was built in 2005 at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Japan, and has a cargo-carrying capacity of approximately 177,536 deadweight tons.Following her delivery, the…
Shipping Emissions to Be Included in EU Carbon Market
European lawmakers agreed on Tuesday to include international carbon emissions from the maritime sector in the EU carbon market, targeting an industry that does not yet pay for its pollution.They also called for binding targets for shipping companies to reduce the annual average CO2 emissions of all ships when in operation, by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels, going further than an original…
Optimarin Completes IMO G8 and USCG Test Program
Norwegian-based ballast water treatment (BWT) systems manufacturer Optimarin informs it has completed testing of its Optimarin Ballast System (OBS) in accordance with the revised IMO G8 guidelines, while also upgrading its existing U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approval certificates to ensure compliance for zero to two hours holding time.The testing procedures were conducted at the NIVA test facility in Norway from September 2019 to the end of June 2020…
CorPower Starts Wave Energy Project in Portugal
CorPower, a Swedish developer of wave energy converters, is establishing an R&D, Manufacturing & Service Centre for wave energy converters in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.The location has been chosen to support CorPower’s demonstration project HiWave-5, and for the long-term development of supply and service capacity for commercial wave energy farms. "Several factors have contributed to choosing Viana do Castelo for this investment.
Carnival: Delivery of Mardi Gras Delayed due to COVID-19
Carnival Cruise Line has said that the delivery of its new ship Mardi Gras, the first LNG-powered cruise ship to operate in the Western Hemisphere, will be delayed due to COVID-19. The same goes for Carnival's Carnival Radiance ship. The company has also been forced to cancel several itineraries between November 2020 and May 2021."Carnival Cruise Line will be notifying guests and travel agents on Tuesday of revisions to the delivery of its newest ship…
Great Lakes Wins Dredging Contracts Worth More than $50 Mln
The United States' largest dredging services provider Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation on Monday reported the receipt of several dredging awards totaling $51.1 million.The awarded work includes:CPRA Cameron Meadows Marsh Creation Project (Coastal Protection, Louisiana, $28.6 million)Oak Island Beach Project (Coastal Protection, North Carolina, $15.4 million)New York and New Jersey Harbor, Port Jersey Channel Maintenance Dredging Federal Navigation Project (Maintenance…
Vigor Wins $133 Mln US Navy Repair Job
Vigor Marine has been awarded a $133,406,869 firm-fixed-price contract to prepare for and accomplish repair and alteration requirements for USS McCampbell (DDG 85) chief of naval operations scheduled depot maintenance availability. The contract includes options which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $155,621,173.The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka…
Video: Seaspan Shipyards Launches CCGS John Cabot
Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan Shipyards on Friday launched the final ship in a series of three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSV) for the Canadian Coast Guard.The 63.4-meter CCGS John Cabot will next undergo sea trials before its delivery to the Coast Guard later this summer. The vessel will be based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.CCGS John Cabot and previously delivered sister ships…
Klaveness Lines Up Sustainability-linked Newbuild Financing
Norwegian shipping company Klaveness Combination Carriers (KCC) said it has secured a $60 million sustainability-linked term loan and revolving credit facility for the financing of the seventh and eighth CLEANBU vessels with delivery in 2021, reportedly a first within the maritime industry. Nordea is acting as coordinator and bookrunner and Credit Agricole CIB as sustainability agent.The credit margin will be adjusted…
Rival Cruise Lines Team Up to Plan Restart
Cruise industry rivals are teaming up in an effort to sail again.On Monday, Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd announced a joint task force to help develop safety standards for restarting their businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.The “Healthy Sail Panel,” co-chaired by former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt and former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, is advising the companies on restart plans they will submit to the U.S.
New Bill Aims to Secure Grant Funding for Maritime Training
A new bill introduced in the U.S. aims to make available $200 million in grant funding for community and technical colleges offering training programs for maritime industry professions. The legislation H.R. 7456 was introduced by Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (Texas-29) alongside Rep. Don Young (Alaska-At-Large), Rep. Anthony G. Brown (Md.-04), Rep. Brian Babin (Texas-36), and Rep. Steven Palazzo (Miss.-04).“Maritime industry jobs are a critical part of our nation’s economy.
