USCG's New Cutters Can’t Arrive Soon Enough
The much-needed replacement for the U.S. Coast Guard’s long-serving medium endurance cutters (WMEC) took a giant step closer to joining the fleet as the first Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) was launched and christened at Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) in Panama City, Fla. on October 27, 2023.The future USCGC Argus (WMSM 915) was christened by the ship’s sponsor, Captain (Ret.) Beverly Kelley, the first woman to command a U.S.
Great Lakes Bags $173.7 Million in New Dredging Contracts
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation on Thursday announced the receipt of five dredging contracts totaling $173.7 million. The projects are in Texas, New Jersey, Florida and Louisiana.The Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement Project-Phase 1 (Capital, Texas, $62.8 million) includes dredging for channel deepening along the Sabine-Neches Waterway from Sabine Bank Channel to Sabine Pass Channel.
Workboat Power: Alternatives Join Diesel to Power Current—and Future—Vessels
Analysts and commentators are quick to point out that fossil fuels will power maritime equipment, and indeed dominate the fueling marketplace, well into the future. However, they will do so alongside new fuels, and new technologies, that will be introduced to the maritime sector in the coming years. In its September, 2023 report “Beyond the Horizon: View of the Emerging Energy Value Chains”, the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) explains that…
Oil Loadings Resume from Russia's Port of Novorossiisk After Storm
Oil loadings from Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiisk have resumed after being suspended due to a storm on Dec. 27, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.The port will likely be able to ship all the crude volumes scheduled for December, as the weather has improved, the sources added.Oil loadings from Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiisk were suspended on Wednesday.
Navico Invests to Boost Manufacturing Capabilities
Navico Group, a division of Brunswick Corporation, announced a multimillion-dollar investment in its Lowell, Mich. facility to create two Centers of Excellence in metal fabrication and electrification. The investment is intended to increase quality, capacity and efficiency, as well as improve product manufacturing capabilities, the company said.“Navico Group is committed to being a leader in metal fabrication and electrification for the industries we serve…
US Allies Reluctant on Red Sea Task Force
U.S. President Joe Biden hoped to present a firm international response to Yemen's Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping by launching a new maritime force, but a week after its launch many allies don't want to be associated with it, publicly, or at all.Two of America's European allies who were listed as contributors to Operation Prosperity Guardian - Italy and Spain - issued statements appearing to distance…
China Aims to Build More than Half the World's Cleaner-fuel Ships by 2025
China has set itself the goal of producing more than half of the world's ships powered by cleaner fuels by 2025, in guidelines published by the industry ministry on Thursday.It did not give any estimates of the number of ships involved.
Germany in Talks with EU Partners on Red Sea Maritime Mission
Germany and its European Union partners are examining whether they could mount a new maritime mission to protect commercial vessels under threat of attack in the Red Sea, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday."We as the German government are ready for this. It is important that we as the EU are able to act as quickly as possible in view of the ongoing attacks," the spokesperson said, adding…
Island Offshore Lines Up Long-term Work for Island Condor
Norwegian shipowner Island Offshore announced it has secured long-term employment for its offshore support vessel Island Condor, commencing in autumn 2024."This is a fantastic Christmas gift for the company! We have worked purposefully to secure longer assignments and are grateful for the trust the customer has shown us," said Tommy Walaunet, managing director of Island Offshore Management AS.Having worked as a walk-to-work vessel in the British sector for many years…
"Green" Loan Secured for Low-Emission Cruise Ship
Fincantieri signed a "green" construction loan for a maximum amount of $461m with Intesa Sanpaolo (IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division) and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), the proceeds of which will be used to cover the financial needs linked to the construction of the Mein Schiff Relax, the first of two newly designed dual-fuel inTUItion class cruise ships (Liquid Natural Gas - LNG and Marine Gas Oil - MGO) that Fincantieri is building for TUI Cruises…
All Clear for Fincantieri’s Acquisition of Remazel Engineering
Advanced Technology Industrial Group, a company controlled by Alpha Private Equity, has reached an agreement for the sale of 100% of Remazel Engineering to Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri.The anticipated completion of the transaction, expected in the first quarter of 2024, will result in Remazel becoming part of Fincantieri.The integration will combine Remazel's engineering and technological expertise in the offshore energy sector with Fincantieri's strategic vision…
Bulk Carrier Hits Mine in Black Sea, Two People Injured
A Panama-flagged bulk carrier that was headed to a River Danube port to load grain has hit a mine in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday.It was the latest incident of a civilian vessel hitting an explosive in the Black Sea in what Kyiv says is stepped-up Russian attacks on shipping and port infrastructure."A Panama-flagged civilian vessel was blown up on an enemy sea mine in the Black Sea...The vessel lost its course and control…
Alabama Pilots Receive New Launch from Gladding-Hearn
The Alabama Pilot, Inc. in Mobile, Ala., has taken delivery of its second Chesapeake Class high-speed pilot boat, Mobile Pilot, from Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. Delivery of its first Chesapeake launch, Dixey, was in 2017.With a length overall of 53.6’, a beam of 17.8’, and a draft of 4.6’, the new all-aluminum pilot boat, features the Ray Hunt Design deep-V hull.
Hapag-Lloyd Studying Wind-assisted Propulsion
Hapag-Lloyd reports it has initiated a conceptual study for a 4,500 TEU ship featuring a wind-assisted propulsion system.The German shipping company, which aims to be carbon neutral by 2045, is exploring the use of wind-assisted propulsion systems among a number of options to make its shipping operations sustainableThe company said its recent wind-assisted propulsion research is supported by Boris…
Shipping Firms Take First Steps Toward Red Sea Return
France's CMA CGM is increasing the number of vessels travelling through the Suez Canal, it said on Tuesday, joining Maersk in returning to the area after U.S.-led efforts to prevent attacks.The world's top shipping companies, including Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, stopped using Red Sea routes after Yemen's Houthi militant group began targeting vessels this month, disrupting global trade through the Suez Canal.Instead they have rerouted via southern Africa, a longer and more expensive journey.
Maersk Puts Dozens of Vessels Back on Schedule for Travel Via Suez Canal
Denmark's Maersk said on Wednesday it has scheduled several dozen container vessels to travel via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea in the next several weeks, in a further sign that global shipping firms are returning to the route.The schedule remains subject to change based on specific contingency plans that may be formed over the coming days, the company said.The world's top shipping companies, including container giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd…
NYK Sets Out Plans for Full-Scale Biofuels Trials in 2024
Japanese shipping company NYK has unveiled plans to conduct full-scale trials of long-term use of biofules for its existing heavy oil-fired vessels starting from 2024.Considered to have net-zero CO2 emissions, biofuels are produced from biological sources (biomass), such as waste cooking oil. Usable in heavy oil-fired engines, biofuels are considered to be one of the critical solutions to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.In this trial…
Japanese Shipbuilders Go Forward with LCO2 Carriers for Large-Scale Transport
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group and Nihon Shipyard, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mitsui & Co on the collaborative study for ocean-going liquified CO2 (LCO2) carriers for large-scale international transportation from 2028 onwards.With the plans for LCO2 carries the companies aim to accommodate the carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS)…
ClassNK Amends Class Rules
ClassNK has released amendments to its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships dated December 22, 2023.ClassNK is constantly revising its Rules and Guidance in order to reflect the latest results from relevant research and development projects, feedback from damage investigations, requests from industry as well as changes made to relevant international conventions, IACS Unified Requirements (UR), etc.
Prysmian Commissions Inter-Array Cable System at French Offshore Wind Farm
Prysmian Group has commissioned the inter-array cable system for the Fécamp offshore wind farm, located in the English Channel, offshore France.The Fécamp offshore wind farm is composed of 71 wind turbines with a total capacity of nearly 500MW.It will be able to generate clean electricity equivalent to the power needs of over 770,000 people.Prysmian had secured this project in 2020 with a contract…
