Corps Dredges Log Record Seasons to Combat 2022 Drought Impact
Extreme weather events—including both high and low water levels—can wreak havoc on inland waterways transport. In late 2022, severe drought conditions brought the latter to the Mississippi River Basin, underlining the importance of America’s dredging fleet.When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Memphis District's dredge Hurley returned to its home port, Ensley Engineer Yard, in Memphis Harbor, on January 13, 2023, it wrapped its longest, most productive season on record.
US Transfers Three Patrol Ships to the Egyptian Navy
The United States has transferred three U.S. Navy patrol craft to the Egyptian Navy in an effort to help boost regional maritime security.During a formal ceremony in Alexandria, Egypt on March 21, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) turned over USS Hurricane (PC 3), USS Sirocco (PC 6), and USS Thunderbolt (PC 12), three former Cyclone-class patrol coastal ships built by Bollinger Shipyards in the early 1990s.“The Egypt-U.S.
Lack of Bridge Resource Management Training Contributed to Collision
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its investigation report into a bulk carrier’s collision with two tugs in Tasmania last year highlighting the importance of bridge resource management (BRM) and the design of bridge systems to reduce the risks of human error.On January 28, 2022, the Australian-flagged bulk carrier Goliath was turning in the swing basin to berth at the Port of Devonport, Tasmania, when it collided with two moored tugs, which subsequently sunk.
Insurers Covering Ukraine Grain Corridor Shipments for Now
Insurers continue to cover grain shipments from Ukraine through a U.N.-backed corridor although more clarity will be required soon, a senior Lloyd's of London official said on Thursday, after the export accord was renewed for at least 60 days.The deal allowing the safe wartime export of Ukrainian grain from its Black Sea ports, initially brokered last July by Turkey and the U.N., was renewed on Saturday…
Ministers Seek to Combat Organized Crime in Global Fisheries
Organized crime in the fisheries industry that endangers stocks, exploits labor and robs states of billions of dollars must be fought with cross-border surveillance and stronger law enforcement, officials meeting in Copenhagen heard on Thursday.Some 600 million people worldwide depend on the sector for their livelihoods, working in a value chain affected by illegal fishing, slave labour, corruption and tax evasion…
Dutra Bags $67.4 Million Dredging Contract
San Rafael, Calif. based dredging and marine construction contractor The Dutra Group was awarded a $67,478,100 dredging contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.Under the firm-fixed-price award, Dutra will perform dredging by hopper or mechanical dredge as well as potential clean-up operations in Norfolk, Va.Dutra is the winner among four bidders for the project.Related - Interview: Harry Stewart, President & CEO, The Dutra Group
Alfa Laval Acquires Air Lubrication Company MPS
Alfa Laval announced it has completed its acquisition of Marine Performance Systems B.V. (MPS), a Rotterdam-based maritime technology company that has developed a fluidic air lubrication system enabling reduced fuel burn and emissions..Having acquired a minority stake in MPS in 2021, Alfa Laval has now taken the final step to fully integrate the company under its own brand. The acquisition will accelerate the advancement and introduction of the patented fluidic air lubrication system…
Oil Spills and Near Misses: More Ghost Tankers Ship Sanctioned Fuel
An oil tanker runs aground off eastern China, leaking fuel into the water. Another is caught in a collision near Cuba. A third is seized in Spain for drifting out of control.These vessels were part of a "shadow" fleet of tankers carrying oil last year from countries hit by Western sanctions, according to a Reuters analysis of ship tracking and accident data and interviews with more than a dozen industry…
Italy's Coast Guard Rescues More Than 700 Migrants
The Italian coast guard has rescued around 750 migrants in two separate operations off the country's southern coastline, hours after at least five people died and 33 were missing in an attempted sea crossing from Tunisia.The coast guard said some 295 people were rescued from a fishing boat intercepted 167 km from the eastern coast of the Calabria region, while about 450 were rescued from another fishing…
Baltic Dry Index Gains as Capesize Rates Rebound
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Thursday buoyed by a rebound in rates of the larger capesize vessel segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 28 points, or about 1.9%, to 1,484 - its biggest daily percentage rise since March 14.The capesize index added 104 points, or about 5.9%, to 1,856.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 1
Port of Aberdeen Banks on Offshore Wind for Future Growth
Port of Aberdeen has welcomed more than 100 vessels working on offshore wind projects to the port so far this year, including the latest arrival of the Blue Tern jack-up installation vessel.Owned by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier, the Blue Tern jack-up is a 151-meter-long, 50-meter-wide vessel equipped with an 800-ton crane, and has recently sailed into the new Aberdeen South Harbour.Roddy James, Chief Commercial Officer…
Frontline's Fredriksen Appointed to Euronav Supervisory Board
Belgian oil tanker and storage operator Euronav said on Thursday its shareholders had elected John Fredriksen from Frontline, a major investor that pulled out of a merger deal with Euronav this year, to its supervisory board. Euronav said shareholders had also approved the nomination to the supervisory board of Marc Saverys from CMB, the Belgian group's largest shareholder, which opposed the Frontline…
Lower Snake River Issues Cause Concern for Barge Transportation Industry
The inland waterways report in September 2022 edition of Marine News focused on issues facing the Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) in the northwest, in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Walla Walla District.That report referenced issues and concerns confronting regional towboat and barge operators about possible changes to the Columbia Snake River System – perhaps even breaching the four Lower Snake River dams, a move with irreversible consequences.In August, a report by U.S. Sen.
Uncrewed Boats Are Changing the Way Wars Are Fought at Sea
When Ukraine successfully deployed self-driving “drone” boats for a major attack on the Russian navy at Sevastopol in Crimea in September 2022 it was a defining moment that changed the future of naval warfare. Uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) have been used before, but this was the first instance of multiple, armed USVs, used simultaneously in combination with aerial drones for a successful, offensive naval operation on a military target.Several Russian ships were damaged in the attack…
EU Moves Toward Limiting Carbon Emissions from Shipping
EU countries on Thursday reached a preliminary agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector by increasing the use of renewable fuels on ships.The deal aims to put maritime transport on the path towards meeting the EU's climate goals in 2030 and 2050, by increasing reduction targets for emissions from energy used on ships and introducing measures to encourage the use of so-called renewable fuels of non-biological origin."The agreement will make sure that fuel suppliers, shi
Svitzer Adds New Tug in Brazil
Brazilian shipbuilder Estaleiro Rio Maguari (ERM) has delivered the first in a series of six new tugs for Svitzer Brazil.The vessel, Svitzer Arthur, is a a RAmparts 2300-ERM tug designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd., who said the design is optimized for maximum efficiency in ship-handling operations in harbors.With an overall length of 23.2 meters and 11.4-meter beam, the tug features a raised fo’c’sle deck for safer operations in heavier weather.
HHLA Urges German Gov't to Approve Cosco Investment in Hamburg port
German logistics firm HHLA on Thursday called on the German government to uphold its responsibility towards the port of Hamburg and finally approve an agreed investment of China's shipping firm Cosco.HHLA has been waiting for a final go-ahead from the economy ministry for 18 months and now expects to hear back soon, Chief Executive Angela Titzrath said. "We believe we have answered all the questions," she said at a presentation of HHLA's 2022 results.
VIDEO: Coast Guard Medevacs Crewmember from Allseas' Pipelayer in Gulf of Mexico
The U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday it had medevaced a motor vessel crewmember Tuesday approximately 15 miles offshore Port Fourchon, Louisiana. "Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a call at 7:54 p.m. from the motor vessel Solitaire stating a crewmember was experiencing seizure-like symptoms," the Coast Guard said.According to Coast Guard, watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew to assist.
