Maritime Industry Top News
Arctic Ice Sets New Record Low for Winter
The extent of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has set a new record low for the wintertime in a region strongly affected by long-term trends of global warming, U.S. and European scientists said on Wednesday. Sea ice around the North Pole expands to its biggest extent of the year in February or March after a deep freeze in the winter polar darkness and shrinks to the smallest of the year in September, at the end of the brief Arctic summer.
Trump's Navy: A Look at the Future US Navy
Itâs still too early to know for certain what the new administration will do about building up the U.S. Navy, as the numbers are a moving target. But with President Trumpâs recent pledge to add $54 billion to defense spending, itâs a safe bet to make that the fleet will grow. So letâs start with the numbers. There are different ways to count the fleet size, including whether or not you count auxiliaries, but letâs use this number as the baseline: There are 274 ships in the U.S. Navy now.
Danish Finance Minister to Report on North Sea Oil Negotiations with Maersk
Denmark's finance minister Kristian Jensen will hold a news conference about the government's ongoing negotiations with the Danish Underground Consortium (DUC) aboutâŠ
Gowind 2500: DCNS Creation Passes first Test
DCNS announced the success of the first sea trials of the first-of-class Gowind 2500 corvette under construction in Lorient, France by DCNS. Ten Gowind 2500 corvettes, aimed at supplementing DCNS surface vessel product range, has been ordered so far by international navies. âIt is a very important moment for DCNS: the Gowind corvette designed especially for the international market is now sea proven,â said Eric Chaplet, DCNS Marketing Vice-President.
Roxtec Services Expands in North America
Global safety seal provider Roxtec said it has launched its second specialized service company offering inspections and maintenance of cable and pipe transits. TheâŠ
Shell Signs 3-year Contract to Lease Oil Tanks in Panama
Oil company Royal Dutch Shell has signed a three-year contract to lease storage tanks at a large terminal in Panama that had been used by U.S. refining company Tesoro CorpâŠ
ICE to Offer First US Gulf Coast LNG Futures Contract
With the United States about to become a net exporter of natural gas for the first time in 60 years, Intercontinental Exchange Inc said on Wednesday it would begin trading the first-ever U.S.
ASIS Debuts New 9.8m Amphibious RIB
ASIS Boats has debuted its last release, a 9.8m Amphibious RIB able to achieve speeds of 55mph on water. Special composite material and Kevlar has been used in the boat construction to keep it light weight and strong at the same time. Enhancements such as the speed increase are not only found in the on-water performance but also on the amphibious capabilities provided by Sealegs. The power of the Amphibious systemâs motor has been doubled giving better on land performance as well.
Damen's Mobile BWTS Receives IMO Type Approval
Damen said its mobile ballast water treatment system has received type approval from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). An external ballast water treatment unit designed primarily for use in ports and harbors, the Damen InvaSave treats ballast water to the IMO D-2 standard, for ballast water received from inbound ships. It can also deliver water treated to the same standard to outbound vessels.
Falling Capesize Rates Weigh on Baltic Index
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Wednesday on weaker rates for capesize vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was down 10 points, or 0.83 percent, at 1,190 points. The capesize index lost 63 points, or 2.58 percent, to close at 2,378 points. Average daily earnings for capesizesâŠ
Alternative Ferry Propulsion Systems: A Case Study
Is it Right for Your Operation? That Depends, says EBDGâs John Waterhouse. Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) serves many ferry customers in North America. These clients read the trade publications and see various articles on new technologies such as hybrid propulsion, battery powered vessels or zero emission vessels. After finishing such an article they ask themselves: âWhat advantages would that technology bring to my operation and what will it cost?â To that endâŠ
Cruise Ship Passenger Missing off Cuba
U.S. and Cuban emergency responders are searching for an overboard passenger who reportedly fell from the eighth deck of a cruise ship roughly 30 miles off the coast of Cuba.
Maersk Line, Hamburg Sud Offer Merger Concessions to Gain EU Approval
Maersk Line, the world's biggest container shipping firm and part of Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk, has offered concessions to EU antitrust regulators in an attempt to get approval for the takeover of German rival Hamburg Sud. A ruling on the deal, one of several in an industry seeking consolidation to offset low freight rates and oversupply, will now be given by the European Commission by April 10, according to the commission's website on Wednesday.
Seattle/Tacoma Container Volumes Up 8% for 2017
The Northwest Seaport Alliance, consisting of the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, has recorded an 8 percent year-to-date increase in container cargo through February. International container volumes for the month of February remained steady with a 9.1 percent year-to-date increase despite fewer sailings. Compared to same time last year, full export loads saw a 4 percent increase, and import loads were up more than 7 percent for the year.
Schottel Propels Rotortugs for FMG
Six Robert Allan-designed Advanced Rotortugs ART 85-32W for Perth-based Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) will be driven by Schottel Rudderpropellers. The order is about the delivery of 18 SRP 430 FP (1765 kW each). The vessels will be built by Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam. FMG cited Schottel's strong presence in Western Australia and Port Hedland for more than 10 years as a benefit for contracting the thrusters. Rotortugs were chosen for their outstanding maneuverability and capabilities.
BV Acquires MAC
Bureau Veritas (BV) acquired Maritime Assurance & Consulting (MAC). Based in Aberdeen, MAC was established in 2010 and now has 30 employees as well as more than 40 associates.
Ro-Ro Terminal in Assam to Boost Traffic
The government of India said berthing operation of a vessel was carried out at the newly-constructed Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) terminal on the Brahmaputra in Assam.
USS Lake Erie Assists Distressed Mariners
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) provided assistance to 25 mariners in the early hours of March 19, after receiving a distress call from a civilian ship taking on water.
MOL Holds Graduation Ceremony for Filipino Seafarers
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced the graduation of 88 students in the sixth class of the "3rd Year Program," which MOL introduced with the goal of developing crewmembersâŠ
USS Laboon Makes Second Drug Bust in a Week
For the second time in five days, guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) intercepted a small, stateless dhow in the international waters of the Arabian Sea and seized 500 kilograms of HashishâŠ
