Maritime Industry Top News
Shipping Confidence Holds Firm
Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry held firm over the three-month period to August 2013, maintaining the highest level reached since November 2010, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. Doubts persist, however, over the level of excess tonnage and the resultant effect on freight rates, while there is growing concern over the increasing cost of regulation.
The Russian Federation Confirms Flag State Approval for Admiralty Digital Publications
Over 75% of the world's vessels over 2,000 gross tonnes now permitted to carry digital nautical publications. The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) can confirm that vessels flying the flag of the Russian Federation are now able to use ADP to meet carriage requirements for nautical publications. The Russian Federation is the world's eighth largest flag state, as measured by the number of vessels…
Ray LaHood Accepts 2013 WTS Navigator Award
Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood accepted the 2013 WTS Navigator Award—the first ever awarded by WTS International--at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC, Tuesday night. The Navigator Award was created by WTS, the association for building the future of transportation through the global advancement of women, to recognize the achievements of an individual or organization for extraordinary efforts to attract, retain, and advance women in the transportation industry.
New Ship Shape Claims 60% Fuel Savings
Norway is no stranger to maritime innovation, as the small Scandinavian country with a population just north of five million (according to most recent statistics from the World Bank) has a strong historical and current affinity towards anything to do with the sea. In addition, Norwegians are traditionally a population that considers environmental matters a top concern, so it’s little surprise to see continued commercial maritime innovation emanating from Norway.
Coast Guard Detains Motor Vessel
The U.S. Coast Guard detained motor vessel Stargold Trader to its berth in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, until the safety deficiencies found onboard are corrected by the vessel’s crew. Port State Control officers from Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Portland, discovered the discrepancies during a routine inspection of the 618-foot Panamanian flagged vessel. A majority of the safety discrepancies were related to fire hazards…
Home Study Programs for Working Mariners
If there’s anything Capt. Guy Sorensen’s learned in his decades of working with professional mariners it’s that they learn in a variety of ways, times and places. They have to. After spending weeks and months at sea, that precious homeport time can be hard to fill up with training. “That’s why we launched our home study programs,” said Sorensen, who founded the Virginia-based Chesapeake Marine Training Institute in 1992 following a career in the U.S. Coast Guard.
VBR Names McCreary Sales Manager
Variable Bore Rams, Inc. (VBR), a global original equipment manufacturers (OEM) of blowout preventer components and ram provider, has named Cameron McCreary as sales account manager, announced President Hines M. "Chip" Marshall, Jr. Based in San Antonio, TX, McCreary will be responsible for expanding sales and revenue in the west and south Texas regions. He will establish productive, professional relationships…
Delta Wave Announces Swiftships Newbuild Contract
Delta Wave Communications, LLC, has announced that it has been selected by Swiftships Shipbuilders, LLC to provide marine navigational electronics and a dynamic positioning (DP-2) system for two Swiftships 175’ fast supply vessel (FSV) new builds. The vessels, which will be operating in the Gulf of Mexico in support of the oil and gas industry, will allow for expanded capabilities in deep water operations.
Halliburton Guilty Plea in Deepwater Horizon Case
Halliburton Pleads Guilty to Destruction of Evidence in Connection with Deepwater Horizon Disaster and Is Sentenced to Statutory Maximum Fine; Former Halliburton Manager Is Charged. Halliburton Energy Services Inc. (Halliburton) pleaded guilty today to destroying evidence pertaining to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster and was sentenced to the statutory maximum fine, the Justice Department announced.
A New Shipyard Opens in Azerbaijan
President of Azerbaijan, H.E. A new shipbuilding yard that is jointly developed by Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) was officially opened this morning by President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev. Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, also attended the inauguration ceremony of the new yard.
Russian Icebreaker Azipod Double Order for ABB
ABB has won an order worth around $25 million to supply its marine propulsion system, Azipod, and complete electric power plants for two new rescue and salvage icebreakers that are under construction at Nordic Yards GmbH in Germany. The new vessels, owned by Russia’s State Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (SMRCC), will be used for patrols and rescue operations in offshore oil-and-gas fields. They will be fitted with equipment for search and rescue tasks and oil-spill response.
Arctic Drilling Protest: Russian Coast Guards Hold Crew
Greenpeace in a 'Tweet' report their ship, 'Arctic Sunrise', boarded in the Pechora Sea by the Russian Coast Guard, and the 25 crew arrested and locked in a room, following a protest against Gazprom's Arctic drilling operations. The Greenpeace website carried information that by means of a helicopter and ropes, armed Coast Guard officials boarded the vessel and started rounding up the activists, assembling them on the helideck.
FMC Commissioner Gives Keynote on Panama Canal
Commissioner William P. Doyle of the Federal Maritime Commission, has given the keynote address at the Eno Center for Transportation Forum on the Panama Canal entitled: Lessons Learned and Implications for World Commerce. His comments on the future of the canal's LNG trade are also extracted below. Commissioner Doyle noted that the Obama Administration, members of Congress and state and local officials support the tremendous economic…
Lighthouse Relay Baton Arrives in USA
A commemorative baton sent on its way from Europe by Inchcape Shipping Services and containing a scroll with all nominated charities listed on it, has arrived by participant ship in Mobile, Alabama, on its way to Panama City. Inchcape CEO Capt. Claus Hyldager was earlier the originator of the ISS Lighthouse Relay Voyage, a major Corporate Social Responsibility initiative benefiting disadvantaged communities in all the countries around the world where ISS does business.
Offshore Wind Substation Contract for Semco Maritime
German energy group RWE has chosen Semco Maritime as subcontractor for design and installation of the substation platform at the offshore wind farm Nordsee Ost in the German North Sea region. The project includes offshore commissioning of the electrical and technical systems at the substation. The contract was won in close cooperation with the Danish partner Bladt Industries. RWE’s Nordsee Ost (NSO) offshore wind farm is situated around 35 kilometres to the northeast of the island of Helgoland.
Navy Renews SRA's Sealift Command IT Contract
SRA International, Inc. say they will continue to provide mission-critical support for the U.S. Department of the Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) Information Technology (IT) Afloat Operations.
GNSS Spoofing Test Bed to be Developed
Spirent Communications, has teamed up with Qascom to develop a test tool that reproduces spoofing attacks in a controlled laboratory environment. They say that their…
Bunker Industry Supports 2015 Fuel Availability Review
The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) says it supports the UK government’s call for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to bring forward…
Scorpio Issue Shares in Newbuild Tankships Deal
Scorpio Tankers say they have agreed with certain unaffiliated third parties to issue shares in exchange for the transfer of ownership to the Company of four MR product tankers currently under construction in South Korea. The newbuildings are expected to be delivered in the first and second quarters of 2014 and are similar to the Company's newbuildings that are also under construction at the same shipyard. The purchase price of the four vessels, in aggregate, is approximately $151 million.
Charterer Pays Heavily for Breaching 'Safe Port' Warranty
Charterer incurs US$138-million liability by breach of 'safe port' warranty in the 'Ocean Victory' case. Alistair Feeney, partner of London law firm Holman, Fenwick & Willan LLP gives valuable insights via London P&I Club news. The recent decision of the Commercial Court in Gard Marine & Energy Ltd v China National Chartering Co Ltd (The Ocean Victory) [2013] EWHC 2199 (Comm) serves as a useful reminder of how far charterers' warranties of port safety extend…
