Maritime Industry Top News
Abandoned Crew Repatriated After Six-Month Ordeal
The majority of the crew of a ship that have gone unpaid and lacking in basic human requirements finally flew home over the weekend. For the last few months nine Pakistani crew onboard a reefer…
ABS Grants AIP for Small LNG Carrier Design
ABS granted engineering company GTT approval in principle (AIP) for a 32,000 m capacity LNG carrier design. "While a few membrane LNG carriers in the 20,000 m capacity range were built in the 1990s, this is the first new design to be introduced since that time," said ABS Vice President, LNG, Patrick Janssens. The reason for this innovation, Janssens says, is the development of new markets that have led to a keen interest in smaller LNG carrier designs.
Underwater Robotics National Challenge set for Indy
In only a few weeks, SeaPerch, a national educational outreach program using underwater robotics, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), will hold its 2013 National SeaPerch Challenge. Hosted by the Indiana State Regions this annual competition will take place on the campus of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at the University’s Natatorium housing the Olympic pool.
Cold SCAR Steel is Weapon of Choice on Baltic 2
Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) reported a successful start to a 10-week boulder clearing and trenching campaign on the Baltic 2 offshore wind farm project. Mobilized onboard the Siem Topaz anchor handling vessel, Ecosse Subsea’s SCAR subsea plough system is engaged on route clearing and pre-lay trenching operations on behalf of Siem Offshore Contractors. Soils have varied from dense sands and hard clays to high boulder density ranging up to four meters…
By the Numbers: Oil Spill Response
An explosion aboard the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon on April 20, 2010 set off a chain of events that led to its sinking and subsequent oil spill. That same day, the DHS Secretary declared the Deepwater Horizon incident a Spill of National Significance (SONS). Eventually, at least 47 offers of International assistance were received. Response to the incident required extraordinary coordination…
Newport News Completes Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is complete following the addition of the ship's upper bow section at Newport News Shipbuilding. The upper bow extends the overall length of the carrier to its full size, which is 1,106 feet—equal to a 75-story building lying on its side. Weighing 787 metric tons and comprising 19 steel sections, the addition of the upper bow brings Ford to 96 percent structural completion.
Editor's Note
Offshore energy is a unique animal. I say that because, increasingly, the vessels that provide offshore service are becoming the mainstream of our bluewater merchant marine.
Maritime Anti-Piracy, The Captain’s Guide Book
The fight against global piracy is as old as the seas themselves. Recent years have seen huge increases in pirate attacks against commercial shipping and, while the risk of piracy off East Africa is now believed to be somewhat diminished, the threat remains in the region and the cost to the global economy has been estimated to be as much as $6 billion by Oceans Beyond Piracy in their 2012 report. Piracy in West Africa and the South China Sea, meanwhile, is very much on the increase.
General Dynamics Begins $9.5 Million Maintenance Project for U.S. Navy
The U.S Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $9.5 million contract modification to plan and perform maintenance and modernization work on USS Hartford, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the contract, Electric Boat will perform a dry-docking selected restricted availability at the company’s shipyard in Groton. Work is expected to be completed by September 2013.
Being LNG Ready could be the Best Option for Many Ships
DNV now offers shipowners the support they need to make newbuilds and existing vessels LNG ready with class approved designs, ready for later, simple retrofit of LNG technology. The service enables shipowners to make smart choices and minimal investments now in readiness for when LNG bunkering becomes widely available. Shipowners are supported through all stages of the decision-making process as they prepare to meet the IMO air emission regulations entering into force from 2015.
Comark’s Shipboard Applications Display Passes MIL-STD-901D Shock Testing
Comark Corporation completed full environmental testing of its latest version of the MDU19PC ruggedized COTS computer including MIL-901D grade-A lightweight shock test. The MDU19PC is an all-in-one display and computer designed and tested to meet military requirements for shipboard applications including propulsion, machinery control and ECDIS navigation. The panel is NEMA 4 rated when panel mounted and is available with an array of options including touchscreen…
USCG Accepts BWTS as Alternate Management Systems
The U.S. Coast Guard announced the acceptance of nine ballast water treatment systems today as Alternate Management Systems (AMS) in compliance with the service’s…
North Star Announce £63million BP Contract
North Star Shipping, a division of the family-owned global shipping and energy services firm The Craig Group, entered a £63million contract with BP. The multi-service contract is for five years with a possible extension of five years and includes tanker assist, platform supply and emergency and response rescue vessels, all supporting BP’s operations in the North Sea. Four vessels, with a possible fifth to be added are being contracted – the Grampian Talisker…
Rina Announces Annual Results
The Board of Directors of Rina S.P.A approved the consolidated balance sheet for the period 2012: revenues of 280 million Euros (+23%) were achieved and the operating income reached 26.3 million Euros. The Board of Rina S.p.A. – holding company of the RINA Group – has approved the consolidated balance sheet for 2012 which confirmed the growth trend of recent years with revenues of 280 million Euros (+23% compared to 2011). For the first time, the balance sheet of Rina S.p.A.
Shell Considering Sale of Downstream Businesses in Italy
Shell announced it is considering the sale of its Retail, Aviation and Supply and Distribution Downstream businesses in Italy. Shell’s non-service station Lubricants and Marine businesses are not part of this announcement. This announcement also has no impact on the Upstream and Gas and Power businesses in Italy. These businesses present strong growth opportunities for the company in Italy. The potential…
Turkey Raises the Stakes on Pollution Fines
Turkish authorities implemented a revised Pollution Fine Tariff that will apply to pollution incidents taking place in this calendar year. In an urgent alert to American P&I Club members…
Grandweld Shipyards to Build Fast Aluminum Crew Boat
Dubai-based Shipbuilder Grandweld Shipyards has signed a contract to design, build and deliver 33.5-meter Fast Aluminum Crew boat for LIWA Marine Services LLC, Abu Dhabi. The contract was signed on April 9, 2013. The 33.5-meter crew boat will be designed by Grandweld Shipyards and will be powered by three high-speed diesel engines driving three fixed pitch propellers to reach speeds in excess of 25 knots. The vessel can seat 60 passengers, and will have 80 square meters of deck cargo area.
Nordic Cold Storage Blasts into Savannah
Nordic Cold Storage announced the grand opening of the first phase of its storage and blast facility, located just minutes from the Port of Savannah. The site has over 200,000 square-feet of convertible temperature-controlled storage space and is capable of blasting more than 10 million pounds of product, ranging from fresh poultry to produce, per week. This $30 million facility currently employs 150 workers…
Coastal Riverine Sailors Injured in U.S. Navy Training Mishap
Three U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 10 were injured in a training accident when their 34-foot patrol boat ran aground near Charleston Harbor April 13.
Transas Supplies Vessel Traffic Management in Johor
Transas Marine Pacific together with its local partner Global Teamwork Sdn Bhd has been awarded a contract to supply and install a Vessel Traffic Management System for Pengerang Oil Terminal in Johor by Dialog Pengerang Sdn Bhd. The Vessel Traffic Management solution will allow for the Pengerang Oil Terminal compliance with the ISPS requirements. Based on the Transas Navi-Harbour VTS software package…
