Maritime Industry Top News
Energy: Uncertain Outlook for LNG Market
June saw more enquiries than May, and more were converted into fixtures, but Drewry’s LNG freight index was stubbornly unchanged according to the latest LNG Insight.
Cruise Industry Spending Up 42% In 2012
Total Cruise Industry Spending Topped $399 Million in Louisiana, Employment Up 37 Percent. A 32 percent increase in cruise passengers at the Port of New Orleans in 2012 resulted in huge gains in employment and cruise spending in Louisiana, according to a report released this week by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Port of New Orleans cruise terminals handled a record 977,703 passengers in 2012, up 32 percent compared to 2011’s former record of 736,908.
Shell to Shut in Auger Platform
Nearly two decades after setting a world water-depth record for drilling and production, Shell’s Auger tension-leg platform is still playing a central and innovative…
German Ferry Switches to Dual-fuel Engines
Wärtsilä has been awarded an important retrofitting contract by the German shipyard, BVT - Brenn - und Verformungstechnik Bremen GmbH. The project entails converting the m/v Ostfriesland, a car and passenger ferry owned by Aktien-Gesellschaft "EMS", so that it can utilise liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. The vessel sails between Emden and Borkum Island on the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park…
New AVEVA Bocad Software Offers 30-40 Percent Project Savings
AVEVA has announced its release of new products and improvements in its AVEVA Bocad range of structural steel detailing software. The new products will increase…
Tractor Tug M/V Robert Franco Arrives in Los Angeles
On July 1st, 2013 Harley Marine Service’s new Z-drive tractor tug, the M/V Robert Franco arrived in Southern California. This 100’x40’ tractor tug will enter the ship assist and tanker escort market for both Millennium Maritime and Harley Marine Services in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. The M/V Robert Franco was built with the most technically and environmentally advanced equipment available. This tug features Tier III engines and cold ironing/shore power capabilities.
ESRG Offers Cloud Based Total Vessel Monitoring to Marine Industry
ESRG introduces the industrial internet to the marine sector with cloud-based total vessel monitoring and analytics. ESRG’s OstiaEdge platform as a service (PaaS), combined with cloud-based data-centers, enable ship managers and owners to have visibility into the performance and health of shipboard equipment from anywhere, including mobile devices. Data is automatically collected, validated and analyzed…
Insights: John Lotshaw, Gulf Coast Director of Training and Workforce Development Ingalls Shipbuilding
When it comes to training, recruitment and retention issues – serious matters facing all maritime employers today – John Lotshaw probably knows better than most; what’s best for you. And, no matter what end of the maritime business model that you hail from, the challenge of hiring good people, training them and keeping them on payroll is an ongoing problem. Lotshaw joined Ingalls Shipbuilding in August of 2002 as the Director of Trades at the Avondale Site…
By the Numbers: Boats, Cargo & the Environment
U.S. The latest statistical roundup of the U.S. flag fleet (2012) shows some interesting trends. We know that the U.S. blue water, deep draft fleet continues to dwindle in size and numbers – albeit some exciting recent orders for tankers and containerships. But virtually 99 percent of our commercial fleet is now represented by inland and coastal pushboats, barges and offshore service vessels. Or, in other words, the demographic represented by the readership of MarineNews magazine.
Cammell Laird Begins ‘Second Chapter’ of RFA Cluster Contract
Merseyside shipyard and engineering firm Cammell Laird has formally started the second five year cycle of its biggest single contract. Work began in June 2013 on the second period of Cammell Laird’s through-life support cluster contract to maintain nine of the 13 ships in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) flotilla. The cluster contract was first awarded to Cammell Laird in 2008 and following reviews of performance and value for money the contract was extended for a further five years to 2018.
Mubarak to Build New Shipbuilding Facility in Dubai
Dubai Maritime City LLC (DMC), the world-class mixed-use maritime cluster, announced the signing of long term partnership agreement with Mubarak Marine LLC. The agreement is for the development of an industrial complex project for maritime services, shipbuilding and repair worth AED 130 million. This complex will enable Mubarak Marine to establish their headquarters as well as a major marine workshop and maintenance facility.
Port of Galveston Contributes to Cruise Industry
The Port of Galveston ranks as the fourth busiest cruise port in the U.S. based upon embarkation according to a recent study prepared by Business Research and Economic Advisors (BREA) for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). In 2012, the Port of Galveston, Texas’ only major cruise port, welcomed 863,000 passenger and crew, which is 4 percent of all passenger and crew visits at U.S. ports.
SECNAV Names New Naval Postgraduate School President
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the new President of the Naval Postgraduate School July 16. Vice Adm. (retired) Ronald A. Route will replace NPS Interim President Rear Adm. Jan E.
Korea Lines Upgrades Navigation Package
Thomas Gunn is delighted to announce that Korea Lines, the marine transportation services company, is the latest ship owner to choose new Voyager 4 for its navigation requirements. It will be upgrading four LNG gas carriers from Voyager 3 to the new Voyager 4 digital chart management system with immediate effect. When asked why Korea Lines selected Voyager 4, Mr Cho Han-Ung, Principal Superintendent…
Ferry Crew Fatigue the Cause of Hong Kong Accident
A Hong Kong Marine Department (MARDEP) enquiry into damage & passenger injuries caused when a local fast ferry hit the anchor cable of a vessel, found that 5 crew members were making their 15th voyage.of the day. "While the ferry was sailing at a speed of 22.5 knots at the Western Fairway, the coxswain and the assistant coxswain claimed to see a white light of a fishing boat crossing ahead of the ferry from port to starboard.
Harley Marine's New Tractor Tug Arrives
Harley Marine Service’s new Z-drive tractor tug, the M/V ROBERT FRANCO has arrived in Southern California. This 100’x40’ tractor tug will enter the ship assist and tanker escort market for both Millennium Maritime and Harley Marine Services in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. This tug features Tier III engines and cold ironing/shore power capabilities. It also marks the second Tier III engine on a ship assist/escort tug boat…
Shell's Olympus Platform Sails for GofM
Shell’s massive Olympus tension leg platform (TLP) sets sail from Ingleside, Texas for a 425 mile trek to its final home on the Mars Field in the Gulf of Mexico. For 10 days, tugboats will pull the over 120,000 ton platform to location where work will begin to secure the platform in place. The Olympus TLP will be moored to the seafloor by tendons grouped at each of the structure's corners and will float in approximately 3000 feet of water.
Global Vessel Newbuildings: Latest News
The past week has been another active one, reports Clarkson Hellas S+P Weekly Report, with notable levels of ordering across all sectors. In Dry and whilst understood…
NCL Order Second Meyer Werft Breakaway Plus Cruise Liner
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) confirms an order for a second “Breakaway Plus” cruise ship from Meyer Werft of Papenburg, Germany for delivery in spring 2017. Along with the first Breakaway Plus ship, which is scheduled for delivery in October 2015, these two new vessels will be the largest in the line’s fleet at approximately 163,000 gross tons and 4,200 passenger berths each and will be similar in design and innovation to the line’s current Breakaway class…
Fincantieri to Build Fourth Ponant Cruise Ship
French cruise line Compagnie du Ponant has contracted with Fincantieri to build a twin to "Le Soleal", the mini-cruise ship delivered last month, following three others. Like the previous three ships, the new ship will also be assigned to Ancona shipyard and is scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2015. It will fly the French flag and will be approximately 11,000 gross tons, about 142 metres long, 18 metres wide and will have a cruise speed of 16 knots.
