Maritime Industry Top News
Navy Won't Reinstate Coronavirus-hit Carrier Captain
The U.S. Navy will not reinstate Captain Brett Crozier after finding fault with his response to the outbreak of the coronavirus aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and is also putting an admiral’s promotion on hold, sources told Reuters on Friday.The decisions, first reported by Reuters, are expected to be announced later on Friday at a news conference by the Navy’s top leaders.Crozier was…
Carnival Corp Names Weinstein COO
Carnival Corp on Friday named Josh Weinstein as its new chief operations officer as the company continues to grapple with the global COVID-19 pandemic.Reporting to Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald, Weinstein's responsibilities will include oversight of major operational functions, including global maritime, global ports and destinations, global sourcing, global IT and global auditing.Weinstein will retain oversight of Carnival UK…
Damen-led Consortium Awarded Contract to Build German Navy Frigates
Damen Shipyards Group and the German Bundesamt fur Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr on Friday signed the contract for the construction of four MKS-180 frigates for the German Navy. Damen is the main contractor for this complex project which it is undertaking, together with partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, in Germany.The combination of companies was previously declared the winner of a European tender; the largest in the history of the German Navy.
Chinese Demand Lifts Baltic Index to Record Weekly Gain
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry commodities around the world, posted its biggest weekly gain ever, underpinned by a rebound in global commodities trading as iron ore demand from China picked up.The 35-year old index, which reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax ships, has now surged nearly 300% since tumbling to a low of 393 points…
UK Inspecting Cruise Ships Over Crew Welfare Concerns
Several cruise ships idled without passengers due to the coronavirus pandemic are being inspected in British ports in response to crew welfare concerns.Surveyors acting for the U.K.
Released by Australia, Containership APL England Sails to China for Repairs
Singapore-flagged containership APL England, detained in Australia after losing dozens of containers off the country's southeastern coast in May, has been released and is sailing to China for repairs, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said Friday.The ship departed the Port of Brisbane without cargo and with a new master after AMSA's inspectors attended the ship and determined it is fit to sail.
'Strong Interest' in China's New Marine Fuel Contract
China's marine fuel futures contract that debuts on Monday on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) is likely to attract strong interest, despite weakened ship fuel demand amid the coronavirus pandemic, industry participants said. The new low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) contract features marine fuel meeting stricter international emissions rules and is the latest commodity futures product - and second oil contract after Shanghai crude - open to foreign investment.
Aker BioMarine to Raise $225M Before Listing
Norway's Aker BioMarine plans to raise 2.15 billion Norwegian crowns ($225 million) in a private share sale valuing it at 8 billion crowns, followed by a listing of the company's stock, its owners Aker ASA and Aker Capital said on Friday.Aker BioMarine harvests off Antarctica small ocean crustaceans known as krill, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and eaten by whales, fish, seals and penguins, and turns it into food supplements and animal feed.Arctic Securities, DNB Markets, and Skandinaviska Enskild
HamiltonJet Unveils Electro-Hybrid Drive (EHX)
Waterjet propulsion specialist HamiltonJet unveiled its new Electro-Hybrid Drive (EHX) system, which it says offers all the advantages of electric drive with the full capabilities of diesel.The system delivers lower fossil fuel consumption (reduced further when dock charging, as infrastructure allows) combined with the speed, maneuverability, efficiency and safety of waterjets, the manufacturer says.With EHX…
BC Ferries’ Hybrid-electric Newbuilds Enter Service
Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries said its newest vessel, Island Aurora, officially entered service Thursday on the Port McNeill - Alert Bay - Sointula (Vancouver Island-Cormorant Island-Malcolm Island) route. This follows last week’s start of service for sister vessel Island Discovery on the Texada Island-Powell River run.The two new ferries are the first in the company’s new Island Class, based on Damen’s 81-meter Road Ferry 8117E3 design and built at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania.
MN100: Time Is Running Out. Apply Now
Marine News magazine is accepting entries for its annual MN100 awards edition. 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.
Hopper Dredge Sails 2,000 Hours on Biofuel
Jan De Nul Group has completed, in collaboration with MAN Energy Solutions and GoodFuels, 2,000 hours using 100% renewable second generation Biofuel Oil (BFO) on board the trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Alexander von Humboldt. The milestone represents the longest continuous use of 100% sustainable marine biofuel in the maritime industry, the partners say.The Alexander von Humboldt was refueled at various stages over the last nine months, with reduced fossil CO2 emissions by 85%.
Baltic Index Sees Best Day Ever—Again
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index marked its largest single-day percentage rise on Thursday, as capesize vessel segment rates jumped 50% on strong iron ore demand.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, rose 281 points, or about 22.6%, to 1,527, its highest since Dec. 10.The Baltic capesize index jumped 1,217 points, or 49.6%, to 3,672, its highest since Sept.
Brittany Ferries Cancels Newbuild Order
French shipping company Brittany Ferries has terminated its contract with German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) for the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled RoPax ferry, the shipyard announced Thursday.Stefan Denkhaus, general representative of FSG, said, “We cannot understand the customer’s decision, and the termination came as a surprise. According to the calculations of all experts, the completion of the 774 will take 11 to 12 months.
Metal Shark Introduces 52' 'Super Interceptor' Patrol Boat
Shipbuilder Metal Shark has introduced the welded-aluminum “52 Fearless Super Interceptor,” an offshore-capable, ultra-high-performance military patrol vessel delivering 70-knot top speeds. Production has commenced at Metal Shark’s Jeanerette, La. production facility, with 15 vessels currently on order for overseas military and law enforcement interests.Metal Shark developed the 52 Fearless Super Interceptor…
Great Lakes Shipyard Launches Tug Wisconsin
The Great Lakes Shipyard on Wednesday launched the new tug Wisconsin, the fifth in a series of 64-foot Damen Stan tug 1907 Ice design harbor tugs that the Cleveland, Ohio shipyard is building for The Great Lakes Towing Company.Wisconsin, like its sister tugs, is powered by two 1,000-horsepower MTU 8V4000 Tier III diesel engines, and generates over 30-tons of bollard pull. Its propulsion system includes the Logan FlexaDrive Hybrid power system…
Heerema's Aegir Heavy Lifter in Drop Fall Incident Offshore Taiwan
The article has been updated to include a statement by the Heerema Marine Contractors' spokesperson.Heerema Marine Contractors' heavy lift vessel Aegir has earlier this week experienced a drop fall incident off the coast of Taiwan where it is working on an offshore wind project."There were no injuries as a result of the incident, and no environmental impact has occurred. The piling frame and pin pile have only suffered minimal damage," the Dutch company said.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Pleads Guilty to Cartel Conduct in Australia
Norwegian shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean AS pleaded guilty to charges of criminal cartel conduct in Australia’s Federal Court on Thursday, following an investigation by the country’s competition regulator.The charges relate to the transportation of vehicles, including cars, trucks and buses, to Australia between June 2011 and July 2012, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission…
Carnival Posts $4.4 Billion Quarterly Loss
Carnival Corp reported a quarterly net loss of $4.4 billion on Thursday, as the cruise operator took major write-downs on the sale of some ships and was virtually crippled by the global COVID-19 pandemic.Shares of the Florida-based company, which also warned of a net loss for the rest of the year, fell over 4% in premarket trading.Cruise line operators were among the hardest hit in the global health crisis and the industry had some of the largest early high-profile infections.The company said it
Bunkering at UAE's Fujairah Plummets in May
Ship fuelling activity in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, a bunkering and fuel storage hub in the Middle East, fell in May as declining demand was made worse by slowing global trade because of the coronavirus pandemic, four trade sources said.Fujairah's ship refueling, or bunkering, volumes shrank to about 200,000-300,000 tonnes in May, down from average volumes of about 700,000-800,000 tonnes…
