UAF’s GINA Provides a Guiding Hand in Arctic Ocean Research
The research vessel Sikuliaq navigated among and around the chunks and slabs of Arctic sea ice above Alaska for several weeks on two voyages this fall, breaking through frozen slabs when it had to, just as its sturdy hull is designed to do. It's now on a third trip.The Sikuliaq, a 261-ft. ice-capable research vessel operated by UAF, pauses in the Arctic Ocean in June 2021 during its fifth year of operation.
Eye on Design: The Truth Behind Great Ships
Last year I provided a list of my favorite historical ships as my contribution to the Great Ships issue. Even though I received some pushback on the list, I see no need to amend it.I created that list to avoid having to judge today’s Great Ships, but the second time around I suppose I cannot evade my mission and should focus on present day vessels, and there is a lot of interesting stuff being produced in the U.S.
USCG Concludes Investigation into Auger Lifeboat Accident
A U.S. Coast Guard investigation into a fatal lifeboat drill accident has resulted in 10 safety and eight administrative recommendations, the agency announced.In July 2019, two people were killed and another was injured while testing lifeboats at Shell's Auger tension leg platform (TLP) in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, about 210 miles southwest of New Orleans. The incident occurred during a routine…
Stadt Naval Partners in Development of Modular Multirole Patrol Corvettes
Stadt Naval was invited and approved as a partner in the European Naval Industry Consortium led by Fincantieri, Naval Group and Navantia (coordinated by NAVIRIS). The consortium submitted a proposal to the European Defence Fund (EDF) for the MMPC-call earlier this month.The Consortium aims to maximize synergies and collaboration between European shipbuilding companies and suppliers, through conceptual studies and a design-phase…
OXE Marine Buys Diesel Outboards and Outdoor Network
OXE Marine AB announced it is joining forces with U.S. distributor Diesel Outboards and Outdoor Network Manufacturing to strengthen the focus on commercial and distribution development.The diesel outboard engine manufacturer said it agreed to acquire 100% of Diesel Outboards and Outdoor Network Manufacturing’s U.S. distribution and manufacturing business. Through the transaction, OXE strengthens its position in the U.S.
Equinor Extends Charter for Eidesvik Offshore PSV
Oil and gas company Equinor has declared options to extend the contract for Eidesvik Offshore's supply vessel Viking Queen.The contract extension runs from the end…
LI Council of the Navy League Recognizes Three WWII Veterans
Members of "The Greatest Generation" honored for Valiant U.S. Military Service by the Long Island Council of the U.S. Navy LeagueThe Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States earlier this year held a World War II Veterans Recognition Event in conjunction with Veteran’s Day. The event honored the heroic service efforts of three Long Island World War II veterans during their service in the United States military: Lieutenant Commander Jules V.
Port Sudan Struggles to Recover from Blockade and Turmoil
A blockade of Sudan's main Red Sea port by a local tribal group and threats of more disruptions have hurt efforts to lift the country out of economic crisis and could push trade flows to another regional route, officials and shipping executives say.Several shipping firms were forced to pause bookings via Port Sudan, the African nation's main international trade gateway that generates vital revenue…
Shipbuilder Austal USA Delivers USS Canberra (LCS 30)
The U.S. Navy took delivery of the future USS Canberra (LCS 30) at Austal USA on December 21. This is the second Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) that shipbuilder Austal has delivered to the Navy in 2021.“With two ship launches, two christenings, and now the successful completion of sea trials and delivery for LCS 30, it has been a busy last couple of months at Austal USA,” said Rusty Murdaugh, President of the Mobile, Alabama-based shipbuilder.
Inmarsat Launches I-6 F1, Latest Tech Communication Satellite
With a rapid evolution of communication connectitivity need, Inmarsat launched I-6 F1, the first of seven new Inmarsat satellites to be launched by 2024, a key piece of the satcom giant's platform to deliver enhanced ELERA (L-band) and Global Xpress (Ka-band) for Indo-Pacific.Inmarsat confirmed the successful launch of its first Inmarsat-6 satellite (I-6 F1) by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) from…
Interfax: Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline to be Filled by Year-end
Russia's Gazprom will complete the filling of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline by the end of this year, Chief Executive Alexei Miller said on Thursday, according to the Interfax news agency.The first of the two lines of the pipeline, which runs from Russia to Germany, had already been filled and had reached operational pressure, Miller said.(Reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Edmund Blair)
Taylor Energy, U.S. Feds Reach $475M Settlement in Longest-running Offshore Oil Spill
Oil company Taylor Energy Co LLC agreed to transfer a $432 million cleanup trust account to the U.S. government and pay an additional $43 million to resolve a lawsuit over its role in the longest-running oil spill in U.S. history under a proposed deal filed in New Orleans federal court on Wednesday.The New Orleans company and federal officials filed a proposed consent decree to resolve claims arising…
Solstad Offshore Finds Work for Normand Maximus CSV
Norwegian offshore vessel operator Solstad Offshore has said Wednesday it had secured a contract for its Normand Maximus construction support vessel.The contract is with an unnamed "major energy company." The contract starts immediately, and the vessel will be busy under it for the main part of the first quarter of 2022.The Normand Maximus vessel was built in 2016 by Vard in Romania and Norway.Solstad Offshore, Saipem Settle Vessel Contract Termination Fee Dispute
Christmas Supply Chain Crisis Averted, Biden Says
President Joe Biden said U.S. actions to eliminate supply-chain snarls have staved off a pre-Christmas crisis, ahead of a meeting with U.S. officials and private-sector companies, including FedEx, on Wednesday.Biden created a task force in June to address high prices and shortages of consumer goods and crucial components, thanks to pandemic-related labor and demand issues.After pushing for round-the-clock port operations…
Minerva Sets Up Bunkering Ops in Yanbu and Jeddah
Marine fuel supplier Minerva Bunkering announced it has launched a new marine fuels supply service in the Red Sea ports of Yanbu and Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."The Red Sea is one of the shipping industry's most important waterways yet one that has historically offered limited bunkering options to serve the global fleet. We believe Minerva's new operation will support the increasing number…
Global Shipping in Crosshairs as Environmental Scrutiny Deepens
Ocean freight costs are likely to remain high in 2022 as investors and regulators scramble to accelerate decarbonization of the shipping industry and companies grapple with green financing, sources say.Shipping, which transports about 90% of world trade and accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions, is under growing pressure from environmentalists to deliver more concrete action including a carbon levy.The International Maritime Organization (IMO)…
GTT Wins LNG Tank Design Order from Samsung
French engineering firm GTT announced on Wednesday that it has received an order from South Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries for the tank design of a new…
New Fully-electric Towboats Will be the First in the US
A series of four fully-electric, zero-emissions towboats announced this week are set to become the first built in North America as vessel owners and operators continue to explore new avenues to decarbonize.The new towboats, designed to support cleaner container transport in America's ports and inland waterways, will be built for New York-based Zeeboat and available for charter from 2025. Notably, they'll run entirely on battery power…
Tilting Wind Sail Installed on Theater Ship
A unique "theater vessel" used by La Fura dels Baus and the production company Elipsis Onboard has been fitted with a tiltable wind sail propulsion system, helping to reduce the vessel's environmental footprint.bound4blue said its eSAIL system was installed on La Naumon during a recent docking at Spanish shipyard Astander.The 18-meter-high rigid sail, equipped with a tilting mechanism and an autonomous control system…
Maritime Intelligence Firm Horizon Teams Up With Virgin Orbit
U.K.-based Horizon Technologies is teaming up with Richard Branson's launch and space solutions company Virgin Orbit, the companies announced on Tuesday.Horizon, which provides space-based maritime domain awareness through signals intelligence, has tapped U.S.-based Virgin Orbit to become its preferred launch partner. Horizon will use Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne’s for at least five launches.Also under the deal…
