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11 Mar 2024

Coast Guard Will Not Enforce New California Rule, Citing 'Safety Concerns'

© Jill Clardy / Adobe Stock

(The Center Square) - The U.S. Coast Guard says it “will not enforce” a new California Air Resources Board regulation, citing “safety concerns.”The Coast Guard and business organizations oppose CARB's requirement that commercial harbor craft install diesel particulate filters (DPF) linked to a number of fires. Seventeen states are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for giving an exemption to California alone to enact its own air standards that, by power of its market size…

21 Feb 2024

Yantai Dual-fuel Methanol WTIV Design Receives ABS Approval

Illustration of the wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) design (Image: Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd.)

Classification society ABS reports it has issued approval in principle (AIP) to Chinese shipbuilder Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd. for its design of a dual-fuel methanol, heavy-duty, offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).The WTIV is capable of transporting and installing the largest wind turbines in the world, those capable of producing up to 20 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and promises to reduce carbon emissions with its dual-fuel methanol propulsion system. The design also features a 3…

24 Nov 2023

Damen Wins Order to Build Vessel for Taiwan Offshore Wind Market

Credit: MOL

Japan-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, (MOL)  and Taiwan-based Ta Tong Marine Co. have through their joint venture Ta San Shang Marine Co. Ltd. (TSSM), signed a deal with the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards for the construction of a new service operation vessel (SOV).As TSSM's second Taiwan-flagged SOV, following Asia's first, the TSS Pioneer, which was delivered in 2022, the vessel is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2025 in Vietnam. The new CSOV, which will be methanol-ready will support offshore wind farms in Taiwan…

11 Nov 2022

BMS Unveils SOV Design for the US Offshore Wind Market

(Image: Baker Marine Solutions)

Covington, La. based marine engineering firm Baker Marine Solutions has unveiled a new service operation vessel (SOV) design for the U.S. offshore wind industry.The new 275-foot (LOA) BMS 1776 is designed be built in the U.S. to ABS class standards and is fully certified to operate in U.S. waters, utilizing U.S. offshore workers, BMS said."With the U.S. offshore wind industry expanding rapidly, U.S. companies must be ready to build SOVs designed specifically for U.S. shipyards to support the installation and maintenance of domestic wind farms," said BMS president Jim Baker.

01 Nov 2022

DPS Safety Alert Follows DP3 Drillship Blackout Investigation

Copyright donvictori0/AdobeStock

The United States Coast Guard issued the following Marine Safety Alert rergarding Dynamic Positioning Systems.Dynamic positioning (DP) systems1 meeting equipment class 2 (DP2) and equipment class 3 (DP3) have control features and redundancies that are often regarded by the crews of vessels using these systems as infallible. A recently investigated DP incident revealed that a DP system may still have weaknesses, even when the design and testing of the system aims to remove or mitigate those weaknesses through engineering controls.

01 Sep 2022

KOTUG Buys Seaways

Seaways 24, the latest DP2 asset of the Seaways fleet - Credit: Kotug

Dutch marine services and towage firm KOTUG has closed the acquisition of Seaways, first announced in April. The fee was not disclosed."The acquisition of Seaways brings together the assets, expertise and people of two leading companies that support the worldwide floating facility business such as FSO, FPSO, FLNG, FSRU and SPM Terminals. With all customary, governmental, and other required approvals, KOTUG will now focus on the integration of Seaways and strengthening its leading presence in the floating offshore market…

05 May 2022

Hybrid-electric Tour Boat Enters Service in Svalbard

(Photo: Eric Haun)

High-latitude tourism company Hurtigruten Svalbard has launched a first-of-its kind hybrid-electric excursion vessel in Longyearbyen, just 800 miles from the North Pole.The 14-meter vessel, Kvitbjørn, runs on a hybrid-electric propulsion system developed by Volvo Penta in partnership with Swedish boatbuilder Marell Boats and Hurtigruten Svalbard.The new 12-passenger aluminum vessel, which will take sightseers on wilderness tours around Svalbard during the local tourist season from May through October…

19 Apr 2022

KOTUG to Buy Seaways International

Credit: KOTUG

Dutch marine services and towage company KOTUG has agreed to buy offshore support vessel firm Seaways International, in what is the largest acquisition in KOTUG's history.KOTUG said the move, of an undisclosed value, was part of its strategy to expand its business in assisting worldwide floating facilities such as FSO, FPSO, FLNG, FSRU, and SPM Terminals. "In addition, it will further consolidate the position of KOTUG in this niche market that is expected to grow as new offshore floating projects emerge in response to rising energy demand…

14 Mar 2022

Update: Valaris Drillship Collides with Bulk Carrier in Pascagoula, Mississippi

A drillship sits up against a bulk carrier vessel March 12, 2022, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The vessels collided when the mobile drilling unit vessel broke free of its moorings due to high winds. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo by Coast Guard Sector Mobile)

A Valaris drillship hit the Akti bulk carrier ship on Saturday, after breaking free its moorings near the VT Halter Shipyards and Chevron docks in Pascagoula,  Mississippi. At around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Coast Guard Sector Mobile watchstanders received a report from the National Response Center of a collision between two vessels. Per the Coast Guard, Valaris' a 752-foot drillship, reportedly broke free of its moorings due to high winds and collided with the Akti bulk carrier. According to photos shared by the Coast Guard…

17 Dec 2021

Solstad Bags 572-day Charter for Platform Supplier in Australia

Norwegian offshore vessel operator Solstad Offshore has won a contract with Woodside in Australia for the platform supply vessel Normand Tortuga.The vessel will support the activities of the DPS-1 semisubmersible drilling rig on the Enfield P&A and Scarborough projects, starting in late Q1/early Q2 2022.During the period of the contract, the Normand Tortuga will be operating from Dampier, Western Australia.The vessel is on a firm 572-day contract, with additional extension options available to Woodside.

12 Apr 2021

ABS Grants Its Software Quality Management Notation for OOS Serooskerke Semi-sub

Credit: ABS

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted its Integrated Software Quality Management (ISQM) notation to OOS Serooskerke one of the world’s largest semi-submersible, heavy-lift crane platforms.The ABS Integrated Software Quality Management (ISQM) notation recognizes OOS' risk-based approach to critical software control safety systems.ABS said that key operational software on the ABS-classed OOS Serooskerke, a 138m-long vessel with hotel capacity for 750 people, has undergone…

19 Jan 2021

Brix Marine Building Research Vessel for Northrop Grumman

(Photo: Brix Marine)

Boatbuilder Brix Marine (formerly Armstrong Marine USA) has been contracted by aerospace and defense technology company, Northrop Grumman, to build a catamaran survey-research vessel, slated for fall 2021 completion.The 44- by 16-foot vessel is Brix’s third IPS-drive catamaran; the first two were 4216-CTC models, both delivered in 2019, to UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography (R/V Bob and Betty Beyster) and Orca Maritime, Inc. (R/V Benthic Cat), respectively.Northrop Grumman said they will utilize the vessel for testing commercial navigation systems…

08 Apr 2021

Marine News' Top Boats of 2020

General MacArthur (Photo: Callan Marine)

This year, despite innumerable challenges and setbacks, a great number of new U.S.-flagged vessels made their way into service. In addition to Maid of the Mist's new electric tour boats James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla featured Wednesday, the newbuilds highlighted below are some of the most noteworthy to come out of U.S. shipyards in 2020.DredgerU.S. dredging contractors have been adding tonnage in a big way. This Spring, Callan Marine added a significant piece to the U.S. fleet with its new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur.

27 Oct 2020

ABS Updates Its Shuttle Tanker Advisory

© Fotos von Schiffen / Adobe Stock

Classification society ABS announced Tuesday it has updated its Shuttle Tanker Advisory, offering insights on shuttle tanker design and operation all over the globe, with particular focus on Brazil, the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.The Advisory explains how ABS optional notations complement class and statutory requirements to fulfill varying regional and operational requirements. As well as exploring new technologies having an impact on the sector, the Advisory identifies…

15 Sep 2020

Harvey Gulf Converting Four PSVs for Lightering Support

(Photo: Harvey Gulf)

Harvey Gulf International Marine is continuing its push to diversify, announcing on Monday its plan to convert four of its platform supply vessels (PSV) to be redeployed in the lightering support market.The four vessels will provide lightering services in California, Texas, Louisiana and Florida, said Shane Guidry, CEO of Harvey Gulf. “In this market, we will offer a larger vessel with newer equipment in order to provide a safer service, all at the price of the smaller vessels presently doing this work…

10 Sep 2020

New LNG ATB Bunker Vessel is a US First

(Photo: Q-LNG)

Bunkering ports around the world have long used a variety of small tankers or tug and barge combinations to deliver fuel to visiting ships. Mostly this was heavy oil, but recently a new breed of bunkering vessels is emerging to deliver clean burning liquefied natural gas (LNG) to modern ships with dual-fuel capabilities.The fall of 2020 will see a new addition to this fleet servicing ships in Florida and the Caribbean. As an articulated tug barge (ATB) combination, the vessel will have a cargo capacity of 4,000 cubic meters of LNG.

05 Aug 2020

Vard Secures ABS AIP for Second SOV Design

(Image: Vard Marine)

Vard Marine (VARD) is doubling down on the U.S. offshore wind sector, having recently secured ABS Approval in Principle (AIP) for a second Jones Act service operation vessel (SOV) design.The AIP awarded in June 2020 is for a customized version of the VARD 4 19 US SOV and follows an AIP for the VARD 4 07 US SOV granted in December 2019 -- the first AIP awarded for a Jones Act SOV.The latest, larger SOV variant is designed for functions including accommodation, transferring technicians to installations as well as storing spare parts and tools for operations in U.S.

16 Jun 2020

MARIN, IHC Assess DP for Autonomous SOV Project

(Image: Royal IHC)

MARIN and Royal IHC completed the dynamic positioning (DP) assessment tests for the autonomous-enabled T60-18 service operation vessel (SOV) at MARIN’s basins in Wageningen, The Netherlands.For the project, which is part-funded by a subsidy from TKI Wind Op Zee, shipbuilder IHC has developed technology that will allow one of its SOVs to navigate safely through an offshore wind farm and provide access to the turbines. The operations will be executed by the vessel’s autonomous software while under the supervision of the duty officer at the wheelhouse.Following the powering and seakeeping tests…

02 Mar 2020

25 More Years for Ocean Surveyor

Damen Oskarshamnsvarvet in Sweden has won the public tender for a contract to undertake a major life extension program on the survey and research vessel S/V Ocean Surveyor, owned by SGU, Sweden’s national geological survey agency.“We are happy to let Damen Oskarshamnsvarvet perform the extensive conversion of the vessel and are confident that she will be ready for another 25 years of marine surveying prior to the field season 2021. Ocean Surveyor is a key platform for many marine surveys conducted in Sweden, not only for SGU, but also for other operators hiring the vessel’s unique surveying facilities,” said Björn Bergman, operations manager at SGU.Ocean Surveyor will undergo the life-time extension over the course of 12 months.

06 Dec 2019

First Jones Act SOV Gets ABS Nod

(Image: VARD)

Classification society ABS said it has granted the first Approval in Principle (AIP) to VARD for its design of a Jones Act service operations vessel (SOV).The AIP addresses a customized version of VARD 4 07 US SOV design, with primary functions including accommodation, transferring technicians to installations as well as storing spare parts and tools for operations in US offshore wind farms.According to Vard, the vessel is designed to be environmentally friendly with a focus on low fuel consumption and ease of construction.

18 Jun 2019

Harvey Gulf Wins Work in Nigeria

(Photo: Harvey Gulf)

US based Harvey Gulf announced on Tuesday that it has signed a pair of one-year charters in Nigeria, for the placement of two US-flag 3250DWT DPS-2 platform supply vessels (PSV). Both PSVs are capable of working in shallow water ports with 4.5 meters of transit depth and will depart for Nigeria in late June.The company said it also expects to send two 1,000-square-meter deck vessels to the area in the third quarter.CEO Shane Guidry commented, “We are continuing with our commitment to our shareholders of doing all we can to continue to generate positive EBITDA and cash flow…

17 May 2019

PISR touts its Detention 'Clean Sheet'

Panos Kirnidis BEng, MSc CEO PISR (Photo: PISR)

Palau International Ship Registry (PISR) reports it has recorded a zero percentage detention record with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the latest figures issued for 2016-2018 Port State Control examinations.The USCG targets flags for additional Port State Control examinations if their detention ratio scores are higher than the three-year rolling average detention record. In the latest figures, PISR recorded an  overall 0.00% detention record with zero detentions for safety playing a major part in this.In the two year period recorded…

21 Apr 2019

Gulf Island to Build OSU Vessel

American manufacturer of specialized structures and marine vessels used in the energy sector Gulf Island Fabrication announced that it received an award for the construction of a third Regional Class Research Vessel for Oregon State University (OSU).The fabricator of marine vessels, this represents OSU’s execution of its third option for Gulf Island’s construction of three Regional Class Research Vessels. All three vessels will be built in the Company’s shipyard in Houma, Louisiana. Each vessel will be ABS Ice-Class CO and DPS-1, Green-Marine Certified, acoustically quiet, and carry up to 29 crew and embarked scientists."I am pleased that OSU has exercised its third contract option…

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