Richard W. Spinrad Confirmed to Lead NOAA
Richard “Rick” W. Spinrad, Ph.D., an internationally renowned scientist with four decades of ocean, atmosphere, and climate science and policy expertise, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and the 11th NOAA administrator.“As an accomplished and respected scientist, educator, communicator and executive, Rick has dedicated his career to the science that is at the core of NOAA’s mission,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo.
Tug Operates Under Remote Control in Singapore
A tugboat in the busy Port of Singapore has become the first in South Asia to operate under remote joystick control, in a trial demonstrating the increased safety and efficiency of operations utilizing advanced digital solutions already available today.The harbor tug was controlled from a shore command center located at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s Maritime Innovation Lab in April 2021.The 32-meter harbor tugboat Maju 510…
Crowley Takes Delivery of New Compact Escort Tug
Crowley Maritime Corp.’s ship assist and harbor escort services group has taken delivery of Apollo, a powerful and maneuverable tugboat with the most compact size in the U.S.The tugboat has completed final outfitting at shipbuilder Diversified Marine Inc. in Portland, Ore., and will deploy soon to serve the San Francisco Bay. Like its sister tug operated by Crowley, Hercules, the Apollo was designed by Robert Allen Ltd.
Callan Marine Releases Tender Package for US' Largest Hopper Dredge
Texas-based dredging contractor Callan Marine on Monday said it has released a tender package to build what it said will be the nation’s largest capacity trailing suction hopper dredge.The new dredge, to be named the Admiral Nimitz, will have an overall length of 422 feet, a breadth of 92 feet and a hopper capacity of 16,000 cubic yards. The diesel-electric powered Nimitz will have a maximum draft of 28.8 feet…
Maine Maritime Academy President to Retire
William J. Brennan, president of Maine Maritime Academy, announced he will retire after the upcoming school year, capping off 12 years of service to the institution.“It is an exciting moment for me, but I really do have mixed emotions about the announcement,” Brennan said. “This is truly the best job I have ever had. MMA’s mission, our students and our staff and faculty, they all mean the world to me.
NSML Taps Into Draft and Trim Optimization Data
NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML) signed a contract with Kongsberg Maritime to deliver Shell’s patented JAWS (Just Add Water System) draft and trim optimization software across the entire NSML fleet of 11 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. JAWS will be distributed using Kongsberg Maritime’s K-IMS digital solution – a portfolio of specialized applications to support complex operations – making…
Weithman Named Director of Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon
Ports of Indiana (POI) announced that it has hired Bernard (Ben) Weithman as the new Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon port director.Weithman will lead port operations and business development for the Mount Vernon port. His industry experience includes more than 30 years in business development, startup and long-term sustainable operations. A senior-level executive in the transportation, agriculture and freight sectors…
Court Grants Relief Against CDC Order in Cruise Line Lawsuit with Florida
A Federal court in Tampa on Friday granted Florida a preliminary injunction against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) decision to prevent an immediate resumption of cruise operations.The order will prevent the agency from enforcing against a cruise ship arriving in, within, or departing from Florida.The lawsuit was filed in April by Republican Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody…
Freight Tech Startup Forto Raises $240 Million in Softbank-led Round
Forto has raised $240 million from investors led by Softbank (9984.T), the freight technology startup said on Monday, and will invest in expanding its platform for organizing trade shipments between China and Europe.The five-year-old Berlin firm offers a single platform for managing the journey of a shipping container from origin to destination - a task long handled with pen, paper and post-it notes…
KNUD E. HANSEN Unveils WTIV Design
Naval architecture firm KNUD E. HANSEN has unveiled a new wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) design engineered to carry and install up to four new-generation 14 megawatt wind turbines.The Atlas A-class vessel is specifically dimensioned for transporting and assembling wind turbines on top of pre-installed foundations, the designer said. The foundations, which are heavy but do not require jacking, can be efficiently installed from a heavy-lift vessel.
Wärtsilä Tapped to Power BC's RAL-designed Escort Tugs
Wärtsilä was tapped to supply the main engines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel gas supply systems for two new LNG-fueled escort tugs being built for Canada’s HaiSea Marine, a joint venture between the Haisla Nation and Seaspan Marine Transportation. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd., the vessels are under construction at Sanmar Shipyards in Turkey. They are expected to be two of the most environmentally advanced escort tugs operating in the coastal waters of British Columbia in Canada.
New Compensation Offer Made Over Suez Canal Blockage
The owners of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March have made a new offer in a compensation dispute with the canal authority, and a court ruling on the case was postponed for two weeks on Sunday to allow more time for negotiations.The giant Ever Given container ship has been anchored in a lake between two stretches of the canal since it was dislodged on March 29. It had been grounded across the canal for six days…
As Big Oil Pushes into Offshore Wind, Seabed Lease Prices Will Rise
The world's largest offshore wind developer Orsted is concerned that Big Oil's eagerness to harness wind at sea could push up prices for seabed leases, making the technology less competitive, its chief executive told Reuters.European oil firms including Total, BP, Equinor and Shell have all outlined plans to speed up investments in renewables, including offshore wind, as they look to reduce their reliance…
Odfjell’s WindGrid Floating Wind System Passes Milestone, Aims to Help O&G cut Emissions
DNV completed a concept verification review of Odfjell Oceanwind’s WindGrid (WindGrid) system for Mobile Offshore Wind Units (MOWUs). DNV’s review confirms the technical feasibility of the WindGrid system, and that expected reductions in CO2-emissions for North Sea applications are in the range of 60-70%, compared to generation of electricity from conventional gas turbines.Odfjell’s WindGrid is a solution…
$279m Royal Yacht a 'Good Idea'
The British government's plans to build a 200 million pound ($276.3 million) successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was retired in 1997, are a good idea, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said on Monday."I think it is a good idea actually," Kwarteng told Sky, though he said there was still a discussion in government over the plans. "It's a huge amount of money.""What it does is it represents…
Maersk VC co-leads Funding Round in Egyptian Freight Logistics Start Up
Egyptian startup Trella, a digital platform connecting truckers with freight loads, has raised $42 million in equity and debt, including from the venture capital arm of shipping giant Maersk, its chief executive said.Founded three years ago in Cairo, Trella operates in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. It is one of several technology firms around the world seeking to upend traditional truck brokerages.Through Trella's online platform…
As Iran Eyes Return to Oil Trading, Storage at Sea Rises
Iran could quickly export millions of barrels of oil it is holding in storage if it reaches a deal with the United States on its nuclear program and has been moving oil into place to prepare for an eventual restart, four traders and industrial sources said.The U.S. and Iran began in mid-June their sixth round of indirect talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal that former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2018.
Chinese Regulators Eye Irregularities in Spot Iron Ore Trading
China's state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said on Monday it and the market regulator are jointly looking into the iron ore spot market and have pledged to crack down on hoarding and speculation.The move comes after NDRC said on Thursday that new rules on the management of price indexes for commodities and services will be effective Aug. 1 and will standardise price…
