China Begins Work on its SATNAV Test Network
China to build a test & certification network for its Beidou satellite navigation system over the next three years. An authoritative testing and certification system…
Cableship Blaze off Skeleton Coast Forces Abandon Ship
France Telecom-Orange announce abandonment of its cable ship 'Chamarel' off the coast of Namibia. A fire broke out on the cableship Chamarel while returning from a repair operation on the Sat3-Safe cable off the coast of Namibia in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the crew's efforts to control the fire, the decision was made to abandon the ship and all 56 crew members were safely recovered by a Namibian fishing vessel without injury or incident.
Hurricane Season Stakes Raised by NOAA
NOAA raises hurricane season prediction despite expected El Niño, updated outlook calls for near- or above-normal Atlantic season. This year’s Atlantic hurricane season got off to a busy start, with 6 named storms to date, and may have a busy second half, according to the updated hurricane season outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The updated outlook still indicates a 50 percent chance of a near-normal season…
China Shipyard Christening for Two RoRo's
Two Pure Car/Truck Carriers (PCTC) for GCC named at the Nantong Mingde Shipyard. At the christening ceremony of the two vessels at the Nantong Mingde Heavy Industry shipyard, godmothers , Ms. Agnes Blystad from Norway and Mrs Shishido a director of MOL, Japan named the RoRo's Viking Ocean and Viking Sea respectively. Mr Ji Fenghua, the Board chairman of Mingde , Mr Shinobu Shishido ,the Board chairman of Japanese MOL…
AHTS Contract for Solstad Offshore
Solstad Offshore ASA (SOFF) contracted by a large oil company for its 5500 bhp AHTS 'Nor Tigerfish'. The duration of the contract is for one year firm, and with two by three months options. The new contract will commence during August 2012. Total value for the firm contract is approximatly US$ 9,5-million.
What's Inside that Container?
US Dept of Homeland Security develop a 'Container Security Test Bed' to facilitate research on container surveillance. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and its Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) in Atlantic City, NJ, have developed a way to test technical solutions to the need to find out quickly what's in a container. The Container Security Test Bed (CSTB) – an outdoor “laboratory” allows researchers and developers from government…
US Warship Collides with Tanker
Navy destroyer 'USS Porter' and a Japanese-owned tanker collide near the Strait of Hormuz. The impact tore open the destroyer’s starboard side but left both crews unharmed, 5th Fleet said in a news release. The circumstances of the collision — whether the collision was in the channel, the relative speeds at impact, or which ship had right of way — remain unclear. Porter had just completed an inbound transit through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf, said 5th Fleet spokesman Lt.
Alabama Shipyard to Build GulfMark PSV's
BAE Systems' Alabama Shipyard contracted to build Platform Supply Vessels for GulfMark Americas. GulfMark Americas, Inc. has selected BAE Systems’ shipyard in Mobile…
LNG Exports from US Will Grow Says Analyst
LNG Exports: 'Not Huge, Not Soon,' but with geopolitical impact forecasts market analyst. Ken Medlock, a Baker Institute energy fellow at Rice University in Houston…
Panama Canal Transit Fees Up
Government of Panama approves canal tolls increases effective Ocober 2012. The Government of Panama has approved the proposal to restructure and apply selective…
Container Terminal Industry Market Research Published
Global Marine & Container Terminal Operation Industry market research report available. Over the long term, IBISWorld projects that trends towards globalization…
New Charters, AHTS Acquitions by Topaz
Topaz signs over $65 million of new charters and announces the acquisition of two AHTS. Renaissance subsidiary, Topaz Energy and Marine (“Topaz”), a UAE-based oil field services company…
Fugro Get Papua New Guinea Pipeline IRM Contract
Fugro-TSM, a division of Fugro Subsea Services, has been awarded the Kumul Marine Terminal Pipeline IRM (Inspection Repair Maintenance) contract by Oil Search Limited. The contract is for the provision of a DP2 DSV to support air diving services around the Kumul Marine Terminal in the Gulf of Papua, PNG. FTSM has mobilised the Rem Etive, complete with work class ROV, air diving spread and associated diver tooling to undertake the IRM works around the platform, oil export pipeline and CALM Buoy.
Far North Deployment for Coast Guard Cutter
US Coast Guard Cutter Juniper deploys to far Arctic region for joint operations. The Newport, R.I., based Coast Guard Cutter Juniper is deploying to the Arctic to conduct maritime safety and security exchanges with the Canadian navy and coast guard along with elements of the Danish navy. During the deployment, Juniper will participate in various elements of Operation Nanook. The operation is in the…
Britain's Oldest Shipping Firm in Liquidation
UK-based Stephenson Clarke Shipping goes into liquidation after nearly 300 years trading. Stephenson Clarke Shipping Ltd is the oldest British shipping company.
China Launch Passenger RoRo Ship with Military Capability
China's largest RoRo 'Bohai Emerald Bead' with the longest reach leaves Yantai Port in East China. Different from ordinary ships, the 36,000 displacement civilian…
Port of Refuge Still Denied MSC Flaminia
Ship operator's latest report says fire remains under control although hotspots still exist. The ship's geographical situation remains unchanged, some 200 miles off the nearest land.
Bollinger Names Bowen VP Government Relations
Bollinger announces the appointment of Charles "Skip" Bowen as Vice President Government Relations. Mr. Bowen joined Bollinger in April 2011 as Program Manager for the FRC “Sentinel” Class Patrol Boat building program at Bollinger’s Lockport facility, following a very successful 32 year career with the United States Coast Guard, culminating with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, from 2006 to 2010.
Over 200 Feet, Over 10,000 HP: McCall Builds Bigger
The US and global offshore industry are in the habit of watching what SEACOR Marine is building as this will invariably predict future goals for the industry. Just…
Coalition for Responsible Transportation Honors TOTE
The Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT) today commended one of its members, Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE), for becoming the first container shipping…
