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HX Launches Education Program for Antarctic Passengers
HX (formerly known as Hurtigruten Expeditions) has partnered with the University of Tasmania, Australia, and its Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) on a training program for Antarctic cruise passengers.For the first time, HX’s guests and expedition teams will have the opportunity to explore Antarctic and polar science with world-leading researchers in a university-developed program that blends immersive learning with real-world experiences – with the online course…
Singapore Bunker Sales Hit Nine-Month High
Sales of marine fuel at Singapore rose to a nine-month high in October, led by an increase in container throughput and vessel calls for bunkering, data from Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore showed on Thursday.Bunker sales at the world's largest vessel refueling hub totaled 4.88 million metric tons in October, up 11% both month-on-month and year-on-year, the data showed.Total vessel calls for bunkering rose 5.7% from September to 3,452 in October, while container throughput firmed 6.5% to 3.51 million TEUs.Volumes for the mainstay low-sulfur fuel grade totaled 2.51 million tons in Octob
New Social Media Platform Opens for Maritime Industry
The Hood is a new social platform built to unite seafarers, their families, and maritime professionals into one inclusive community.Inspired by terms like ‘sisterhood’ and ‘brotherhood,’ The Hood captures the spirit of family and mutual support. Members can job hunt, chat with colleagues, or share ideas and experiences with ease - no matter where in the world they are.The vision behind The Hood began six years ago when Josephine Le, Founder and Managing Director, first entered the maritime industry and recognised its uniqueness.
FMC Seeks Public Comment on Container Shipping Alliance Agreement
The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has opened a 15-day comment period for members of the public to comment in response to a newly filed vessel sharing agreement between Ocean Network Express (ONE), Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Yang Ming Marine Transportation (Yang Ming).ONE, HMM and Yang Ming are parties to THE Alliance Agreement (No. 012439) that is currently in effect.The five-year agreement, titled the Premier Alliance Agreement, authorizes the three ocean common carriers to share vessels…
Finland Coast Guard Detects SatNav Jamming, Spoofing in the Baltic Sea
Finland's Coast Guard said it has detected constant disturbances to satellite navigation signals in the Baltic Sea since April and in recent weeks has seen tankers spoofing their location data to cover up visits to Russia.Last week, Finland's interior minister Lulu Ranne said Finland believes Russia is behind disturbances detected in Finland and the Baltic Sea region in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) signals used in navigation.The Coast Guard said the GNSS jamming…
Blaze Suppressed at Nuclear Submarine Shipyard
Emergency services suppressed a huge blaze that broke out in the early hours at a BAE Systems shipyard yesterday in north west England that builds Britain's nuclear submarines.Earlier in the day pictures online showed what looked like flames and black smoke emerging from the top of the vast Devonshire Dock Hall building. Police said there was no nuclear risk.BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence company, later said that while the affected area was only accessible for essential personnel…
Adonis by Ripple Operations Joins Forces with Certus Online
Adonis, a specialist in global HR, payroll and crew management software under the Ripple Operations brand, has formed a strategic marketing alliance with Certus Online, a provider of maritime booking and operational solutions. This partnership aims to enhance their collective service offerings for the maritime industry.This collaboration represents a pivotal move toward delivering seamless, integrated solutions for maritime operators. By combining Certus Online’s advanced Booking Platform…
Exhaust-sucking Barges Slash Ship Emissions in Port
STAX Engineering, based in Long Beach, California, has experienced significant growth since launching its innovative emissions capture and control technology earlier this year.Available as a land- or barge-based solution, the company’s mobile, flexible exhaust capture system is designed to fit all ships without modification, removing 99% of particulate matter (PM) and 95% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from all exhaust funneled into its system before the exhaust is released as purified gas.The idea for the solution comes from seasoned inventor and engineer Bob Sharp…
Marlink to Equip Transpetro’s Tanker Fleet with Sealink NextGen Solution
Marlink, the managed services provider of business-critical ICT solutions, has secured a deal to supply its Sealink NextGen network solution for Brazil’s biggest crude and product tanker operator Transpetro.The hybrid solution includes Marlink’s global VSAT integrated to the high throughput, low latency Starlink solution together with MSS as back-up, to be installed on 26 Transpetro’s tankers.The installation will include Marlink’s XChange network management platform to enable software-defined application routing…
LNG Shipping Rates Tumble as New Vessels Enter Market
Liquefied natural gas shipping rates have hit multi-year lows and may extend losses going into 2025, analysts and shipping sources said, with new tankers being added at a faster rate than LNG production is rising and spot demand still tepid.New LNG tankers, built in anticipation of rising U.S. exports after a plunge in Russian gas supplies to Europe in 2022, are coming online earlier than liquefaction projects, which have been delayed amid inflation from strong wage growth and a shortage of skilled labour and equipment.With more ships expected to come…
FloCloud: Making Welding More Efficient, Cost-Effective
InduSuite introduced FloCloud, its latest application in its line of welding and cutting digital software solutions. FloCloud includes a combination pressure and flow sensor system that digitally tracks the pressure, temperature, consumption and complete flow of gas from the manifold start to the welding operator’s arc, and automatically communicates this data. FloCloud’s dashboard and reporting system tracks every end user point and sends notifications if gas pressure drops (potential leak) or if the flow is outside the process parameters and preset WPS (weld procedure specification).
Did You know? Fancy Bear, Cozy Bear, Stately Taurus More Menacing Than They Sound
What drives cyber attackers and what are their main motives for malicious online activities? Who are the most prominent attackers in the maritime industry and how do they do it?According to the report from Marlink’s Security Operations Center on cyber security threats, cyber attackers targeting the maritime industry had a few main motives.Two of the main are operational disruption and financial fraud, where the attackers aim to disrupt or damage critical systems, causing significant interruptions to business operations…
High Frequency Tracking System Developed for Workboat Fleets
Nebo Global is launching its NeboFleet tracking solution for workboat fleets at the International Workboat Show, November 12, 2024.Already in operation with selected businesses in the United States and Australia, NeboFleet provides fleet managers and operational staff with a clear view of fleet and vessel status and an accurate track of where each vessel has been.Nebo Fleet is accessed via a secure online portal and app, with a self-contained, waterproof GPS tracker installed on each vessel.
Offshore: Feedering for the Win(d)
With clean energy projects maturing in U.S. waters, the nation’s offshore wind industry is poised to grow substantially, requiring a robust industrial base. A feedering model using domestic tugs and barges to transport turbines to offshore wind sites, is positioned at the heart of this emerging growth.Currently, the entire global fleet of wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV)—except for Dominion Energy’s Charybdis currently under construction at the Seatrium AmFELS yard in Brownsville, Texas—is flagged, owned and operated outside of the U.S.
Santos Optimistic About 2024 Output
Australia's second-largest oil and gas producer Santos estimated its full-year production to be at the top half of its forecast range on Thursday, and said its Pikka project could start oil production as early as 2025.The company expects to report full-year production in the top end of the forecast range of 84 -90 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), with 65.6 mmboe achieved year-to-date.The Adelaide-based company said its drilling program for the Pikka phase one project in Alaska's North Slope is progressing well and could start oil production as early as December 2025.
Captain's Gender Had Nothing to Do With Sinking of New Zealand Naval Ship, Defense Minister Says
New Zealand's Defence Minister on Thursday publicly criticised online trolling of the female captain of a naval vessel that sunk at the weekend, saying while the cause of the incident was unknown, it had nothing to do with the captain’s gender.The Manawanui, the navy's specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, sank on Sunday on a reef off the coast of Samoa that it was surveying. Its 75 crew and passengers were ordered to abandon the vessel in life rafts and were later rescued."A court of inquiry has been stood up to establish what caused this terrible incident.
“Cybersecurity is a Hoax” and other Maritime Misconceptions
With new rules on Cyber Security coming down from the U.S. Coast Guard, Angeliki Zisimatou, Director Cybersecurity, ABS, is uniquely positioned to discuss maritime cyber security in the round, with insights on what she’s seen and heard from the draft rules, with advise on what it could mean for vessel owners.Cyber security and all that it entails is quickly climbing the priority ladder in maritime, as increasing dependance on connectivity is a double edge sword of promise and peril.While the level of cyber security preparedness varies widely across all industries…
How a Minor Change in US Trade Law Turbocharged the Fentanyl Crisis
In January 2023, U.S. federal agents raided the home of a Tucson maintenance worker who had a side hustle hauling packages across the border to Mexico.They estimate that over the previous two years, the gray-bearded courier had ferried about 7,000 kilos of fentanyl-making chemicals to an operative of the Sinaloa Cartel. That’s 15,432 pounds, sufficient to produce 5.3 billion pills – enough to kill every living soul in the United States several times over. The chemicals had traveled by air from China to Los Angeles…
US Says New Chinese Submarine Sank Earlier This Year
China's newest nuclear-powered attack submarine sank earlier this year, a senior U.S. defense official said on Thursday, a potential embarrassment for Beijing as it seeks to expand its military capabilities.China already has the largest navy in the world, with over 370 ships, and it has embarked on production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines.A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said China's new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack…
US Approves Maryland Offshore Wind Project
President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday announced final approval of a wind project off the coast of Maryland, bringing the U.S. halfway to its goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of the clean energy technology by 2030.The project is the 10th approved by Biden's Interior Department. He has made offshore wind a cornerstone of his climate change agenda.The Maryland Offshore Wind Project, which is being developed by US Wind, could one day generate enough electricity to power 718,000 homes, Interior said in a statement.
Lloyd’s Register Foundation Seeks Donations to Expand Historic Maritime Collection
The Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Heritage and Education Centre (HEC) is calling on businesses and individuals to donate maritime archival materials and artifacts, as it prepares to make its extensive maritime collection publicly accessible.In 2023, the HEC completed a major digitization project that preserved and catalogued over 1.15 million records in its historic Ship Plan and Survey Report Collection. These records, spanning from the 1830s to the 1970s, detail the design, construction…
184-ft. Yacht 'Bayesian' Sinks Off Italy: One Dead, Six Missing
One person died and six people were missing after a luxury yacht was struck by a whirlwind and sank off the coast of the Sicilian capital Palermo, Italian media reported. Italy's fire brigade and coast guard had earlier said divers were searching for seven missing people and did not immediately confirm that a body had been found.The 56-metre-long (184-ft) luxury sailboat, which was British registered, sank with 22 people on board when it was hit by a violent storm at sunrise, the coast guard said in a statement.It said one crew member and six passengers were missing…
Philippine Fishermen Fear Floating Solar Farm Could Sink Their Livelihoods
Fishing has been a lifeline for Alejandro Alcones for the past four decades, but he now fears his small boat may be replaced by a floating solar farm on the Philippines' largest lake.Alcones is part of a group of fishermen opposed to the government's plan to place solar panels atop Laguna de Bay, one of the country's biggest sources of freshwater fish, as it looks for renewable energy sources to meet growing demand for power."Laguna Lake gives life and income to fishermen like us who didn't finish school.