Maritime Industry Top News
Finnlines Continues to Add Capacity
Finnlines said it is continuing capacity expansion efforts in response to growing volumes. The Baltic Sea ro-ro and passenger vessels operator has purchased MS Europalink as reports further progress in its vessel lengthening program. Finnlines Plc’s fully owned Swedish subsidiary, Rederi Aktiebolaget Nordö-Link, has purchased a Star class passenger-freight vessel, MS Europalink, from the Grimaldi Group in accordance with an earlier signed purchase agreement.
Wärtsilä Extends Service Agreement with WinGD
Wärtsilä said it has signed a 10-year service partnership agreement with the Swiss company Winterthur Gas & Diesel Ltd. (WinGD), a developer of two-stroke low-speed gas and diesel engines used for propulsion power in merchant shipping. The new partnership agreement appoints Wärtsilä as an authorized global service provider for all WinGD products and provides WinGD and its customers continued access to Wärtsilä’s worldwide service network and comprehensive services offering.
Lower Rates Drag Baltic Index
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index fell for the second straight session on Tuesday, weighed down by lower rates across vessel categories. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels that ferry dry bulk commodities, was down 23 points, or 1.89 percent, at 1,191 points. The capesize index snapped its five-day winning streak and shed 36 points, or 2.02 percent, to 1,748 points.
Cruise Ship Passenger Medevaced near Bahamas
The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced a 50-year-old man suffering heart attack-like symptoms from the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine Tuesday approximately 46 miles north of the Bahamas. Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders received a medevac request at approximately 7:20 p.m. Monday. Watchstanders launched an Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew stationed at Great Inagua, Bahamas and embarked the patient and nurse at approximately 12 a.m.
US, Australia Join Search for Kiribati Ferry Survivors
United States and Australian aircraft joined the search for passengers of a missing ferry off Kiribati on Tuesday, as rescuers scoured the central Pacific Ocean for a liferaft believed to be carrying survivors. Eight people rescued from an drifting dinghy on the weekend said the ferry broke up soon after setting out on Jan. 18 and that they had seen other passengers scramble aboard a liferaft. "There…
The U.S. Navy's Fundamental Problem
A series of mishaps at sea has prompted the U.S. Navy to examine the way it conducts business. The accidents shared some similar contributing causes such as fundamental watchstanding and seamanship, and each of these incidents were preventable. The four incidents involved surface combatants in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility. • On January 31, 2017, the Yokosuka-based Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Antietam…
Marlink Expands in Japan
Satellite communication provider Marlink said its Tokyo office has relocated to new, larger premises as the company grows its Japan team to meet the needs of an expanding VSAT customer-base in the region. “The new location is over twice the size, which helps us to accommodate more field engineers, technical support and sales staff, in addition to enabling us to build a new service management function for better coordination and smoother operations towards the customer…
EDF Offers Long-term LNG Regas Capacity at Dunkirk Terminal
Electricite de France (EDF) has offered up to three billion cubic metres of annual regasification capacity at the Dunkirk liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal for 18 years from Jan. 1, 2019, it said in a market notice. The terminal's remaining 10 bcm/year capacity has already been booked by shippers, EDF said. Long-term capacity is offered on a ship-or-pay basis. Subscribers will acquire firm rights to slots…
US Coal Firms Plead for West Coast Export Terminals
The ailing U.S. coal industry is ramping up its political and legal offensive to win approval for West Coast export terminals that could provide a lifeline to lucrative Asia markets. Coal producers filed two recent lawsuits against governments in Washington state and California challenging local decisions to block port projects on environmental grounds. The industry is also lobbying the Trump administration to override the local bans.
US Navy to Survey Downed Aircraft in the Philippine Sea
The U.S. Navy said it has contracted a research vessel owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen to survey the location of a downed C-2A Greyhound plane before attempts are made to recover the aircraft from 18,500 feet below the surface in the Philippine Sea. The C-2A Greyhound was transporting 11 crew and passengers when it crashed into the ocean on November 22, 2017, killing three. On December 29…
Ultra Deep Solution Signs 5-Year Charter for DSCV Andy Warhol
Ultra Deep Solution has gone into a 5 year contract to Charter out the UDS DSCV Andy Warhol announced Shel Hutton, CEO of the company in his Facebook post. The…
Energean Israel Awards Contract to Stena Drilling
Energean Oil & Gas announced that Energean Israel has signed a contract with Stena Drilling for the development drilling of the Karish Field, offshore Israel. Pursuant to the contract…
M/Maritime Adds Olympia, Orders 3 Bulkers in Japan
Olympia GR, a 61,222 DWT Ultramax dry bulk carrier, has been successfully delivered to M/Maritime Corp from Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Recently, the clients of M/Maritime Corp.
Gulf Navigation to Acquire Atlantic Navigation
Dubai-based Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC (GulfNav) is in discussions to acquire a majority stake in Singapore-based Atlantic Navigation Holdings, a provider of offshore marine logistic services.
Hyundai Heavy Industries, KOTC Ink Gas Carriers Deal
Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) has signed a contract with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for three very large gas carries (VLGC). The three 84…
NYK Signs Charter with EDF LNG Shipping
Japanese shipping company NYK Line announced that it signed a contract with EDF LNG Shipping, a subsidiary of Electricité de France (EDF), to charter a newly built…
Germany, Norway Join HST Strike Group
Two coalition naval vessels arrived at Norfolk naval base Jan. 26 and 28, to conduct training and operations as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG).
Hapag-Lloyd to Commence Middle East-Africa Service
Ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd will commence a new weekly service between the Port of Jeddah and the east coast of Africa in April. With the East Africa Service (EAS)…
Petrobras Settles Taxes Owed for Vessel Leasing Contracts
Brazil's state-controlled oil company, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, said on Monday it adhered to a federal tax refinancing program to settle taxes owed on vessel leasing contracts.
Tanker Outlook: McQuilling Publishes 2018-2022 Report
In 2017, global ton-mile demand to transport crude and residual fuels increased by 5.4 percent, supported by a 4.9 percent increase in VLCCs (which accounted for 62 percent of the total demand for dirty tankers), according to McQuilling Services’ 2018-2022 Tanker Market Outlook report. Suezmax demand meanwhile accounted for 24 percent of all DPP demand in 2017, 1 percent higher than 2016 due to higher…
