DOT Unveils Plans for Kings Point
![U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/us-transportation-secretary-ray-lahood-7221.jpg)
The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) today began work on a comprehensive strategic plan that will develop long-term objectives and institutional goals. The USMMA will undergo its next accreditation evaluation in 2016 and a core requirement of American higher education accreditation is that an academic institution has a current strategic plan. “The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is one of my top priorities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Survival of the Fittest
Drewry’s latest quarterly Container Forecaster highlights that 2012 will be another challenging year for liner operators. With question marks over the strength of global demand…
Boatracs Purchases New Corporate Office Building
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Current headquarters will be relocated to larger commercial space in San Diego, California. Boatracs Inc., a leader in providing integrated satellite communications and software solutions to the maritime industry, announced it has acquired a 12,500 square-foot office building in San Diego, California as a space for their Corporate Headquarters. Boatracs will occupy the building to house general operations, engineering, shipping and its Network Operations Center for 24 hour live customer support.
BIMCO Forecasts Challenging Times in 2012
![BIMCO President Y. Khatau](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/bimco-president-y-khatau-7219.jpg)
BIMCO has today published its Reflections 2012, which examines critical issues facing the shipping industry now and in the coming year. This concise but thought-provoking annual analysis of the world in which shipping operates considers the challenges facing one of the world’s most essential industries and its principal sectors. It emphasises the need for regulation to be maintained on a global basis…
Keel-laying at STX Turku Shipyard
The keel-laying of the multipurpose deck cargo vessel, built for Oy Gaiamare Ab, was held at STX Turku Shipyard on Wednesday January 4, 2012. The NB 1379 is 105.4m long and 18.8m wide…
Another Hazardous Cargo, Another Ship Sinking
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On Christmas day, the bulk carrier VINALINES QUEEN, carrying a cargo of nickel ore from Morowali, Indonesia to China, went missing. The ship and its crew of 22 must now be considered lost. Although it is certainly too soon to ascribe a known cause of sinking, it is probably fair to say, as an American judge did many years ago: “Sometimes circumstantial evidence can be very convincing, just as when you find a trout floating in the milk”.
NATO's Weekly Piracy Assessment
Overview of week of 22-28 December 2011. During the reporting period of 22-28 December 2011 pirate activity against vessels was low. One vessel was hijacked on 27…
Positional changes at IMO Secretariat
![IMO Secretary-General Mr. Koji Sekimizu](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/imo-secretarygeneral-mr-koji-sekimizu-7216.jpg)
After taking office on 1 January 2012, the IMO Secretary-General Mr. Koji Sekimizu today announced a number of changes in the structure of the IMO Secretariat. Mr. Sekimizu said: “The biggest challenge I see in the coming years, in terms of management of the Organization, is how to improve the ‘delivery mechanism’ in the Secretariat to address the demanding issues we face, such as anti-piracy measures, the introduction of the mandatory Member State Audit Scheme and our ever-increasing workload.
Ezra Names Global Executives
Ezra promotes key executives to anchor Group’s global strategy. Both industry veterans have assumed their new roles from 1 January 2012. Industry veteran Captain…
GAC India Opens Pipavav Office
![Paul Haegeman, GAC India's Managing Director](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/paul-haegeman-gac-indias-managing-7215.jpg)
Branch will coordinate support for Mumbai High oil field. GAC India has opened a new office in Pipavav to cater to the needs of the growing number of vessels calling at the port and principals using it as a base for operations in the Mumbai High oil field, off the country’s west coast. With this expansion, GAC has a total of 27 offices in 22 locations across India. The new office at the Gujurati port is fully licensed…
EBDG: Keller to Manage New Gulf Office
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Elliott Bay Design Group LLC (EBDG) welcomes Keith Keller as its Gulf Office Manager for the firm’s New Orleans office, re-opening its doors in early 2012. Getting his start at Avondale Shipyard, Keller has over 30 years experience in shipbuilding and engineering, working with various yards and design firms around the country including Marinette Marine, NASSCO, D3 Marine and most recently STX US Marine.
Tight stow for the Jumbo Javelin
Jumbo recently transported two huge Ship-to-Shore Kalmar cranes, combined with a total of 7 knocked down RTG’s from Taicang, China to Cartagena, Colombia for its client Cargotec.
Lloyd's Register: Statutory Alert
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Statutory alert: Design, testing and location of devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo tanks in tankers. Applicabilty: Builders, owners and managers of tankers carrying IBC Code Chapter 17 and 18 products. New requirements for the design, testing and location of devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo tanks in tankers will come into force on January 1, 2013. These apply to both…
STATS Completes North Sea Platform Platform
![North Everest Pipe Layout](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/north-everest-pipe-layout-7212.jpg)
Pipeline engineering experts, STATS Group, has completed an isolation project on behalf of AMEC to allow maintenance and replacement works on the North Everest platform in the central North Sea. The workscope covered three maintenance valves and one ESD valve on a 20-inch gas import line onboard the BG-operated platform. After a detailed site survey and piggability study, STATS decided the best solution was to use a tethered Tecno Plug pushed by stem bar to location from a temporary launcher.
Highly Successful IMCA Annual Seminar
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USA hosted the nineteenth International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) annual seminar from 9-10 November, with its theme ‘The future of marine and subsea operations’. This year’s seminar attracted over 340 delegates, and was endorsed by IADC, OGP, MTS dynamic positioning committee, API, ADC International, OCIMF, and OOC. The two days saw a range of presentations, workshops, social events, an exhibition with stands from 19 different companies…
Crowley Acquires 500 New 40' Containers
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Brings Company Investment in New Equipment for 2011 to more than $23 Million. Crowley Maritime Corporation's liner services group is continuing to grow and update its equipment fleet to better serve customers with the addition of 500 new 40-foot, high-cube containers. The acquisition adds to the company's already robust equipment fleet of more than 45,000 units, as well as phases out some older containers.
Rockwell Provides Safety Calculator Tool
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New Calculator Tool Provides Return-on-Investment Estimates for Safety Automation. Engineers, plant managers and environmental health and safety (EH&S) professionals now have a tool to calculate the potential annual return they’ll receive if they invest in an integrated safety automation system. Rockwell Automation developed the free Safety Return on Investment (ROI) Tool with J.B. Titus, a machine safety consultant and owner of J.B. Titus & Associates. The new Web-based tool, launched on Nov.
New Organizational Structure for Inmarsat
New Organisational Structure for Inmarsat Brings Renewed Focus on Core Markets; Stratos, Segovia and Ship Equip Now Align Under the Inmarsat Brand. Inmarsat, a provider…
This Day in Naval History - Jan. 03
1904 - The cruiser USS Detroit (C 10) lands a Marine detachment at Puerto Plata, Dominican Replublic, to protect American interests during an insurrection. 1944 - Top Marine ace Maj.
RIBCRAFT Offers Special Pricing
RIBCRAFT, a builder of professional grade rigid inflatable boats (RIB) for sailing programs and yacht clubs announced today that during the month of January all…