Crew Expenses Big Factor, Ship Operating Costs Set to Rise
According to Moore Stephens LLP, a shipping and insurance adviser, vessel operating costs are expected to rise by 3.2 per cent in 2010 and by 3.5 per cent in 2011…
MOL Starts Vietnam Tugboat Business
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that the company has established a joint venture with two local companies in Vietnam and started a tugboat business. The joint company will allocate high-powered…
Fifty-Nine Foss Vessels Honored for Environmental Excellence
For 18 years, the Drew Foss, a tugboat operated by the Foss Maritime Company, has been free of environmental mishap. So have the Arthur Foss, the Justine Foss and a dozen other Foss vessels. In fact, 59 vessels owned by the Seattle-based Foss are being recognized by a major maritime organization for their standout environmental safety records. Altogether, the Foss vessels feted by CSA have gone a combined 551 years without an environmental incident.
CSD Al Jarraf Launched at ASL Shipyard, Singapore
Al Jarraf, meaning “dredging vessel” in Arabic, was launched on Wednesday October 27 at the ASL Shipyard in Singapore. VOSTA LMG is responsible for the design, supplied the components and developed the dredging technology together with MEDCO and DEME. VOSTA LMG built the main dredging components in Asia, 100% to European standards. Owner of the vessel is Middle East Dredging Company (MEDCO), a partnership between DEME, United Development Company (UDC), and the Qatari government.
Polarcus to Build Seismic Vessels at Ulstein
Polarcus, a provider of marine geophysical services, is building two seismic vessels of the new generation type SX134 at the Ulstein Verft shipyard. ULSTEIN has designed and built a number of state-of-the-art seismic vessels the past few years, and the contracts attest to the company's leading role in designing and building seismic ships. Polarcus is a shipowner committed to innovation and the environment…
Washington State Ferry System Reform Action Plan
Washington State Ferries (WSF) said it will work to implement a majority of 36 recommendations made by an independent panel to improve ferry operations. Changes will come in ferry management…
Hamworthy Supplies Asian FSRU
Hamworthy has secured the contract to supply liquefied natural gas handling technology for what will be Asia’s first Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU).
Bering Strait Port Access Route Study for Comments
The Coast Guard is currently seeking input from the public to evaluate the need for establishing vessel routing measures in the Bering Strait. The port access route…
Kvichak’s Dutch Pilot Boat Christening
On September 29 the owners of Kvichak Marine Industries represented their company at the christening of P/Vs Aquila, Draco and Orion. These three 72-ft pilot boats were designed by Camarc Design, Ltd., UK and built at the Kvichak yard in Seattle for the Dutch Pilotage Organization, Loodswezen. The christening gala was held at Hoek van Holland, the Netherlands . The vessels are powered by two, Tier II compliant Caterpillar ACERT C32 engines…
Hornblower Names Shaw COO
Hornblower Cruises & Events has appointed Bob Shaw, a senior executive with more than three decades of operations experience, to the position of chief operating officer. In his new role, Shaw will be responsible for day-to-day management of all Hornblower companies, including charter yacht and public dining operations and two National Park Service concession contracts. "Bob’s management and passenger…
MTU Displays Latest Iron Men Engine
MTU Detroit Diesel will feature three of its most popular marine engines – the Series 4000, Series 2000 and Series 60 – at the International WorkBoat Show, booth #621, in New Orleans, December 1–3, 2010. As part of the WorkBoat Professional Series, a representative from MTU will be participating in a panel discussion about predictive and preventive maintenance. MTU will also be highlighting its control systems, genuine parts and service products at the show.
MV Northern Valour Outpaces Pirates
On 18 November, in the early evening, a pirate action group failed in its attempt to pirate the MV Northern Valour in the Somali Basin, thanks to use of best management practices. The MV Northern Valour reported it was under attack by pirates and been fired upon with machine guns and an RPG, approximately 400 nautical miles (750 kilometres) South East from Mogadishu (Somalia). As the two skiffs approached to within 200 metres…
“Immediately” Means Now!
U.S. By Frederick B. Most commercial mariners and their vessel operating employers probably know that when certain significant vessel-related events occur, these must be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard. In my experience, however, there is widespread uncertainty in the marine industry about what must be reported and, more significantly, when. Many companies learn the hard way about these requirements…