US Navy Contract for National Steel & Shipbuilding
!['USS Essex': Photo credit Dept of Defense](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/uss-essex-photo-credit-dept-10277.jpg)
National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif., awarded a US$107,994,835 contract for work on 'USS Essex' dry docking maintenance program. The new contract is a modification to previously awarded cost-plus award fee/incentive fee contract (N00024-07-C-4013) for the USS Essex (LHD 2) fiscal 2012 dry-dock phased maintenance availability. It would include the planning and execution of depot-level maintenance…
China-built Supramax Delivered to Ugland
![Bulk Carrier 'Isabelita' Photo courtesy of Ugland](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/bulk-carrier-isabelita-photo-courtesy-10276.jpg)
'MV Star Norita', a 58,000 dwt supramax bulk carrier named and delivered from Tsuneishi (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding Inc., China. The vessel is a sister of the recently delivered Isabelita, Bonita and Kristinita of the TESS 58 design. Star Norita is 100% owned by Ugland Shipping AS. Margrethe Nes Beisland, wife of Ugland's Managing Director Øystein Beisland, christened the vessel 'Star Norita' which is to join the UBULK Pool and is fixed on a 5-year TC to Grieg Star Shipping AS, Bergen.
DNV to Class World's First LNG FPSO
DNV has been contracted to class the Petronas LNG FPSO (Floating Production, Storage, Offtake) vessel to be built by Korea's DSME. The unit will be built by DSME…
Harvey Gulf Buys 9 Bee Mar OSV's & to Stretch 5
![A Harvey Gulf Vessel: Photo courtesy of Harvey Gulf](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/a-harvey-gulf-vessel-photo-10275.jpg)
Harvey Gulf International Marine closes its asset purchase purchase deal with Bee Mar LLC. The purchase price for the all-cash sale of Bee Mar's nine Offshore Supply Vessels was US$243-million. Harvey Gulf immediately renamed the vessels consistent with other Harvey Gulf vessels and began seeking bids to stretch 5 of the new vessels to meet 250’ OSV class specifications. Harvey Gulf also announced…
New Solutions Soothe Sub M Uncertainties
Germanischer Lloyd, Baker Lyman Sub-Chapter M Alliance brings affordable, turnkey TSMS solutions – and compliance – to towboat operators. When a family-owned, Gulf…
First Person: Whales & ROVs in Patagonia
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-10268.jpg)
Several years ago I found myself on a tourist boat that carries out whale watching tours in Península de Valdés, Patagonia, Argentina. This location became famous over the last 30 years, due to the massive yearly encounter of the southern right whales (Eubalena australis) during their mating and birth period from May to December. The southern right whale got its name due to the friendly behavior and the fact that they float when the animal is dead. This was the ‘right’ whale to chase.
WISTA Conference Focuses on Shipping’s Challenges
The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) conference program scheduled to be held in Paris October 3-5 will focus on issues facing shipping today.
Lubmarine Launches Three New Barges
![Marine Champion](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/marine-champion-10267.jpg)
Total Lubmarine strengthened its global service offering to the shipping industry with the introduction of three brand-new barges at the port of Singapore. The 700 dwt double-hulled barges – Marine Champion, Marine Prosper, and Marine Talent - have a cargo load capacity of 860 cu m for bulk and packaged lubricants, and are fitted with state-of-the-art firefighting equipment. They will be operated by Lubmarine’s logistics partner…
Maitland Pinpoints Global Shipping's Woes, Solutions
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-10269.jpg)
Clay Maitland is a ubiquitous figure in the global shipping circuit, never shy to share his accrued maritime experience of more than 40 years, ask the tough questions or supply the blunt opinion. Set to celebrate his 70th birthday later this year but not slowing a step, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News caught up with Maitland in his Manhattan office late last month. Most anyone who has seen Clay Maitland address a crowd…
Report: Maersk to Reduce Capacity, Raise Rates
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S is set to address the continued sluggish global trade numbers by reducing its capacity and raising rates…
Shipping Operating Costs Rise 2.1%
![Richard Greiner, partner, Moore Stephens](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/richard-greiner-partner-moore-stephens-10265.jpg)
The findings are set out in OpCost 2012, Moore Stephens’ unique ship operating costs benchmarking tool, which reveals that total operating costs for the three main tonnage sectors covered – bulkers, tankers and container ships – were all up in 2011, the financial year covered by the survey. Both the bulker and tanker indices increased by 3 index points (or 1.7 per cent) on a year-on-year basis, while the container ship index (with a 2002 base year…
Rickmers-Linie Transports Three LPG Storage Tanks
Rickmers-Linie’s 19,100dwt Baltic Winter has recently completed the transportation of three LPG storage tanks, each weighing 475 tons, from Kuantan in Malaysia to Shuaiba in Kuwait.
Business 'Doctors' Honored for Work on Deep Ocean Group
Business advisory specialists, AlixPartners, honored by TMA for 'International Turnaround of the Year' for their work at DeepOcean Group. AlixPartners, the global business-advisory firm…
Live-fire Weapons Shoot by USS Cowpens
![USS Cowpens Missile Shoot: Photo credit USN](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/uss-cowpens-missile-shoot-photo-10261.jpg)
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser 'USS Cowpens (CG 63)' carries out a live missile shoot in the W. Pacific. Standard Missiles (SM) 2 were fired at an airborne drone during the live-fire weapons shoot. USS Cowpens is part of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, the U.S. Navy's only forward deployed carrier strike group, and is conducting a routine patrol of the western Pacific region. The excellent photo was taken by U.S.
Charter Extended on Seabird's 'Hawk Explorer'
![Photo courtesy of Seabird Exploration](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-seabird-exploration-10260.jpg)
SeaBird Exploration Plc announce that the contract for 'Hawk Explorer' has been extended by Spectrum ASA for a minimum of 2 months. Hawk Explorer is a 2D seismic survey vessel of LOA 66 m, breadth 14.5 m. and draft of 5.8 m with a transit speed of 12 kts. SeaBird is a global provider of marine acquisition for 2D/3D and 4D seismic data, and associated products and services to the oil and gas industry.
Scientists Strive to Make Fuel from Seawater
![Refuelling at Sea: Photo courtesy of NRL](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/refuelling-at-sea-photo-courtesy-10259.jpg)
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is developing the chemistry for producing jet fuel from renewable resources. Refueling U.S. Navy vessels, at sea and underway, is a costly endeavor in terms of logistics, time, fiscal constraints and threats to national security and sailors at sea. In Fiscal Year 2011, the U.S. Navy Military Sea Lift Command, the primary supplier of fuel and oil to the U.S.
Fuel-Saving New Tidal Model of Malacca Straits
![Image courtesy of Tidetech](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-courtesy-of-tidetech-10258.png)
A new high-resolution tidal model for the Malacca and Singapore Straits will potentially save ships thousands of dollars in bunker fuel costs. Simulations have shown that transit time savings of between three and 12 per cent can be made depending on vessel type, speed and tidal phase. The high-resolution (up to 800m) Malacca and Singapore Straits commercial tidal model, developed by applied oceanography specialist Tidetech…
Energy Supply Not Sustainable for Next Three Generations Says BP CEO
In a speech at the Kansas Renewable Energy Conference the President & CEO of BP's wind energy business advocates energy supply alternatives. "The rules for energy…
Offshore Living Quarter Modules Delivered by SAL Heavy Lift
![Loading the Modules: Photo courtesy of SAL Heavy Lift](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/loading-the-modules-photo-courtesy-10257.png)
SAL Heavy Lift recently transported two living quarter modules from the fabrication yard in Stord, Norway to their destination in Onne, Nigeria. In addition to the sea transportation of the modules, SAL arranged a multi-modal pre-carriage from the manufacturer to the berth where MV “Lone” loaded the Living Quarters. For the pre-carriage, SAL and Norwegian agents Alex Birger Grieg mobilized a 9,000…
C.H. Robinson Worldwide to Acquire Phoenix International
C.H. Robinson Worldwide to acquire Phoenix International for $571.5 million in cash & about $63.5 million in newly-issued C.H. Robinson stock. Founded in 1905, C.H.