Maritime Industry Top News
Remote Survey is the New End-Game
More than remote witnessing, more than remote data analysis, remote survey techniques are now going to aid the shift to full vessel autonomy.The technology that enables a robot to safely navigate an environment it has no prior knowledge of is called Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). āIt is the key to autonomy for any aspiring can-do inspection robot.ā Thatās according to ScoutDI, a participantā¦
Strategically Located, Guam's Defense Posture is Growing
With the rise of China and her global ambitions, the military importance of Guam in the Indo-Pacific theater has become apparent. The force levels on the island had drawn down from a peak of about 26,000 at the height of the Vietnam War to a tenth of thatājust 2,500 people in the early 2000s. Today, that's changing. Guam's defense posture is growing.Guam's proximity to major population centers in East Asia underscores its strategic importance.
ScanReach appoints Brooks CEO, Berg CFO
ScanReach announced the permanent appointment of Sven Brooks as CEO effective immediately. Brooks brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the maritime and technology sectors, and he'll look to further solidify ScanReachās position in on-board wireless connectivity.Geir Utne Berg was appointed as Chief Finance Officer (CFO), and he knows ScanReach well from being a member of the Board of Directors.ScanReachās forte is in on-board wireless connectivity. Image courtesy ScanReach
Germany Cannot be Relaxed about Baltic LNG Capacity, Senior Official Says
Germany cannot be relaxed about the need for liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in the Baltic Sea, a high-ranking economy ministry official said on Monday, a week after plans emerged to scale down the region's Mukran project after local resistance. "We should not be relaxed about supply security in the next winter," said Stefan Wenzel, a parliamentary state secretary in the ministry led by Robert Habeck of the Green Party.
Shell Cuts Oil Imports at Singapore Refinery Amid Mooring Repairs
Shell has cut crude oil imports at its Singapore refinery this month and is relying on smaller tankers after extending repairs at its single buoy mooring (SBM) facility to June, according to government notices and shipping data.The company is moving crude from Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) onto smaller Aframax tankers through ship-to-ship transfers before discharging them at another jetty on Pulau Bukomā¦
INTERCARGO Reaches Membership Milestone
The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has reached an historic membership milestone by now representing 32% of the global dry bulk fleet DWT.INTERCARGO now has within its global fleet more than 3,200 bulkers registered by more than 155 dry bulk owners/managers/operators, with its membership supplemented by 90 associate member companies supporting the sector.INTERCARGOās membersā¦
US Celebrates National Maritime Day
Each year on May 22 the US celebrates National Maritime Day. May 22 was declared National Maritime Day in 1933 to honor the SS Savannahās departure from Georgia to England in 1819 to become the first successful steam-powered ship to successfully cross any ocean. The US Merchant Marine has been a pillar in the countryās foundation of prosperity and security. They power the worldās largest economy and strengthen ties with trading partners around the worldā¦
Cattle Offloaded from Disabled Livestock Carrier
The livestock carrier Nine Eagle suffered a major engine failure in the Port of Darwin, Australia, on May 15, while loaded with approximately 1,800 cattle.The Nine Eagleā¦
Container Losses Fall to Record Low
The number of containers lost overboard from ships at sea has been on the decline, according to a recent report from the World Shipping Council (WSC).The 661 containers lost at sea during 2022 is significantly lower that the average of 1,566 containers lost each year since 2008.Lost containers in 2022 represents less than one thousandth of 1% (0.00026%) of the 250 million containers currently shipped each yearā¦
Eastern Shipbuilding Delivers New Hopper Dredge R.B. Weeks
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) on Monday announced the delivery of R.B. Weeks, a 8,550 cubic yard capacity trailing suction hopper dredge constructed for Weeks Marine, Inc.āItās our pleasure to once again deliver a quality vessel on time and on budget to our valued customers at Weeks Marine, Inc.,ā said Joey DāIsernia, president of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. āThe R.B. Weeks joins an impressiveā¦
Israel Accuses Iran of Using Civilian Ships as 'Floating Terror Bases'
Israel accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Monday of turning commercial ships into platforms for launching missiles, drones and commandos, saying the objective was to spread Tehran's clandestine naval clout well beyond the Gulf.The allegation by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant came as tensions between the regional foes surge afresh over Iran's nuclear drive and support for Palestinian and Lebanese militias.Showing images of six purportedly repurposed Iranian vesselsā¦
Volvo Penta Unveils New IPS Professional Platform
Volvo Penta has unveiled its new Inboard Performance System (IPS) professional platform, the next evolution in its fully integrated helm-to-propeller offering. Building upon the existing Volvo Penta IPS range, the new, larger and versatile platform is designed as a powerful and flexible solution for professional vessels and superyachts from 25 to 55+ meters with top speed from 12-40 knots, the manufacturer said.āOur passionā¦
BOEM Completes Environmental Analysis of New Jersey Offshore Wind Project
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said Monday it had completed its environmental analysis of the proposed Ocean Wind 1 wind project offshore New Jersey, which could power up to a half million households.As part of the Ocean Wind 1 project, Orsted's Ocean Wind LLC proposes to build up to 98 wind turbine generators (WTGs) and up to three offshore substations within its lease area. At its closest pointā¦
Managing Offshore Oil & Gas Through Energy Transition
Scientists warn that climate change is the greatest peril that humankind has ever faced. Yet oil and gas exploration is set to clock the highest growth for more than a decade this year and next. Protesters cause disruption but, for the moment, hydrocarbon energy underpins life as we know itāOffshore oil and gas production probably matters now more than ever,ā said Audun Martinsen. The Rystad Energyā¦
Seven Bodies Recovered from Capsized Chinese Fishing Vessel
Seven bodies were recovered from a Chinese fishing vessel that capsized in the central Indian Ocean, according to state media on Monday, days after China President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out search to rescue and recover missing crew members.Several countries, including Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Maldives, and the Philippines, joined in rescue efforts for 39 missing crew members after the Chinese distant-water fishing vessel "Lupeng Yuanyu 028" capsized early last Tuesdayā¦
Mitsubishi, Nihon Launch Effort to Design, Build an LCO2 Carrier
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Nihon Shipyard -- a Tokyo-based joint venture for ship design and sales between Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United Corporation -- have started joint study for the development of an ocean-going liquified CO2 (LCO2) carrier. Nihon Shipyard is pursuing this project with the aim of completing construction of the vessel from 2027 onwards.Demand for LCO2 carriers isā¦
Time to Meet the US Mariner Shortage Head On
We have a national and economic security crisis on our hands. It is time for Washington policymakers to stop dancing around the facts and looking for small fixes. The U.S. mariner shortage is real and it poses an unescapable threat not only to our ability to establish lines of communication to the U.S. warfighter, but also to our nationās ability to project power through international trade.Two Congressional hearings held on March 28 illustrate the challenge.
'Free Money' is Over, but Shipping Finance is Positive
Shipping finance markets for the rest of 2023 look positive, with a depth of lenders, banks, leasing houses and alternative credit funds all seeking to grow their portfolios and offer the best terms to win projects; and competition between lenders in the improving tanker markets is especially fierce, says a recent survey from oceanis.While financing volumes available for each individual vessel have plateaued as asset values rose over the past quarterā¦
OSM Maritime Group and Thome Group Get Merger Approvals, Creating a Ship Management Giant
OSM Maritime Group and Thome Group have received approvals from competition authorities to merge and create one of the world's largest ship management companies.The merged company, OSM Thome, says it will be a powerhouse in the international ship management market, represented in 22 countries and headquartered in Arendal, Norway.Finn Amund Nordbye CEO of OSM Thome said: "This is a big day for OSM Thome. Our merger is now formally and finally approved.
Bangladesh's Moheshkhali LNG Terminal Back to Nearly Full Capacity
Bangladesh's Moheshkhali liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, operated by Excelerate Energy, resumed supply at nearly full capacity late on Sunday, two government officials told Reuters, after being closed for about a week due to a deadly storm. The resumption of operations at the two terminals is set to provide a respite to millions of Bangladesh citizens, who have been hit by frequent outages in recent months.
