Maritime Industry Top News
MacGregor, Rolls-Royce to Study Containership Autonomy
A new collaborative research and development initiative will explore the impact of developments in autonomy for cargo ship navigation and cargo systems onboard containerships.
SOV Bibby WaveMaster 1 Launched
The service operations vessel (SOV) Bibby WaveMaster 1 was officially launched at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania on March 24. When completed, Bibby Marine Services Limited, part of Bibby Line Group, will deploy the vessel to support forthcoming offshore wind construction and O&M projects in the North Sea. Stephen Blaikie, Chief Executive Officer, Bibby Marine Services Ltd, said, âThis is an important key milestone in the delivery of the vessel.
EGCS Ready Notation for MOL Ships
ClassNK issued EGCSR-F (Exhaust Gas Cleaning System Ready Full) notations to nine ships operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., meaning that the ship fulfills requirement for SOx scrubber retrofitting. Following discussions on the implementation schedule of MARPOL Annex VI SOX/PM regulations at MEPC70 in October last year, all ships operating outside Emission Control Areas (ECA) will be required to limit sulfur emission levels to under 0.50% from 1 January 2020.
VLCC Rates to Remain Weak on Output, Tonnage Woes
Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs), which fell to a near six-month low on Thursday, will remain weak until the Asian refinery maintenance season gets completed, starting April-end. "I haven't seen a collapse in rates like this for some time. People are taking insane rates," said Ashok Sharma, managing director of ship broker BRS Baxi in Singapore. Output cuts by oil producers, refineryâŠ
Pirates Seize Somali Vessel to Use as Floating Base
Pirates have seized control of a Somali fishing boat to use as a base from which to attack larger ships, police said on Friday, a week after Somali pirates hijackedâŠ
Heading Towards the 2020 Sulphur Limit
The need for all stakeholders to work towards effective and consistent implementation of the 2020 0.50% global sulphur limit has been highlighted during maritime industry events in Denmark this week.
ICT Changes Bring Capability Enhancement for Navy
The biggest upgrade of Defence Secret and Protected networks in more than ten years will drive significant change for Navy, with 192 shore locations set to experience major network overhauls.
Cosco Shipping 2016 Profit Dip
Cosco Shipping International (Hong Kong) has seen its profit for the year ended December 31, 2016 drop 29 percent to HKD 236.5 million (USD 30.4 million) from HKDâŠ
Denmark Makes More AIS Data Available
Having already published Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel traffic data from 2014-2016 on its website, the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has made even more historical AIS data available. Now anyone who may be interested can also access Danish AIS data from 2006 to 2014. The files will be available for free from the DMA website, but only for the next six months, as the data quantity is comprehensive and will require large storage capacity, the DMA said.
Norwayâs USN to Upgrade Its Maritime Simulators
The University College of Southeast Norway (USN) has contracted Kongsberg Digital to deliver a major upgrade of its maritime simulator park. The contract, signed on March 16, 2017, includes five new K-Sim shipâs bridge simulators to be delivered during Autumn 2017 in addition to a Long Term Simulator Support Programme (LTSSP), which provides dedicated support services in addition to updates to the latest KONGSBERG simulator software developments.
Tradewinds Towing Returns to Laborde for Repowers
In September of 2006, Dominique Smith of the then one tug company Tradewinds Towing came to Laborde Products, to look at the S12R engine for the repower of the Miss Lis, an Alaskan built low profile tug he planned on repowering. Later that same month, the deal was made, and shortly thereafter, the Miss Lis set sail with new Mitsubishi engines and Reintjes transmissions supplied by Laborde Products.
BW Group Grabs Control of Tanker Firm DHT from Fredriksen's Frontline
Shipping tycoons Sohmen Pao, Fredriksen battle over DHT; Sohmen Pao's BW Group becomes top DHT owner with 33.5 percent to surpass Frontline as DHT's top shareholder. The move likely ends Frontline's ambitions to take over DHT, as DHT had twice rejected Frontline's advances. Privately-owned shipping firm BW Group became the top shareholder in tanker firm DHT Holdings on Thursday, in a surprise move that will probably end Frontline's ambitions to take full control of DHT.
Crowleyâs New STS Cranes Arrive in San Juan
Three new ship-to-shore cranes that were constructed in Ireland were delivered to Crowley Puerto Rico Servicesâ Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan on Wednesday. The cranes are a key element of the $130 million Crowley is investing in infrastructure improvements to its Isla Grande Terminal, and their arrival marks the first time new, specialized gantry cranes have been received for operation in the San Juan Harbor in five decades.
Svitzer Orders Escort Tug from Sanmar
Svitzer has signed a contract with Sanmar to purchase a newbuild 80 tbp ASD escort tug for Southampton, U.K., strengthening its fleet to meet current and future customer requirements and reemphasizing its commitment to the port of Southampton. The new Sanmar-built Robert Allan-designed vessel â RAstar 2800 Class ASD Escort vessel â has been specifically chosen for her maneuverability and reliability. The tug will be named Svitzer Adira and will join the fleet in Southampton in early May.
Post Appointed COO of Radio Holland
Maarten Post has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) and member of the General Management Team of the Radio Holland Group. He is responsible for the management of the global operations of the Radio Holland Group and further building the global service network. Within RH Marine Group over the past years, Post has had several managerial positions, among others Managing Director of Elkon (Turkey) and Imtech Marine Canada.
Statoil Wins Licences Off UK, 'Resets' Exploration Off U.S.
Norway's Statoil was the second top bidder for 13 oil exploration leases in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and won six licences offshore Britain, it said on Thursday, inâŠ
Baltic Index Inches Up on Firmer Panamax Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, edged up on Thursday as panamax rates increased. The overall index, which also factors in rates for capesize, supramax and handysize vessels, closed up 6 points, or 0.5 percent, at 1,196 points. The panamax index jumped 51 points, or 4.6 percent, its biggest daily percentage gain since March 1, to close at 1,170 points.
Pair of Catamaran Ferries Delivered to Nigeria
Two newly built 20m catamaran passenger ferries have recently been delivered to Nigeria. The vessels, Confidence 1 and Confidence 2, are the first in a series of four vessels built by SAM Aluminium in Singapore to support Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) with operation to Bonny Island in the Gulf of Guinea. The vessels carry 50 passengers with luggage, additional hot shot cargo and have crew accommodation.
Deck Carrier BigRoll Beaufort Delivered
The heavy marine transportation provider BigRoll Shipping has reached a milestone. The fourth and final MC Class vessel for BigRoll shipping was handed over by Cosco Dalian Shipyard Co. Ltd to new owner BigRoll Shipping in Leiden, the Netherlands. BigRoll Beaufort completes this unique series of four identical deck carriers. The Finnish Swedish 1A Ice Class MC-Class vessels are explicitly designedâŠ
Anglo-Eastern Opens BWT Training Facility
Global ship management services provider Anglo-Eastern Ship Management has created a unique ballast water treatment (BWT) training facility at its Manila base in the Philippines. Working in conjunction with BWT specialist Optimarin and Saga Shipholding, Anglo-Eastern has built an essential resource for training crews in the wake of the ratification of the IMOâs Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.
