Antarctic Expedition Vessel Passengers to be Airlifted
The latest news update from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) informs that the Australian icebreaker 'Aurora Australis' is unable to reach the stranded 'Akademik Shokalskiy' as it would risk becoming beset itself if it continued with rescue attempts. Evacuation of passengers by helicopter is now planned. The Aurora Australis made attempts yesterday…
Subsea Production, Arctic Shelf Oil, Gazprom 2013 Milestones
Gazprom lists amongst its 2013 achievements: the first subsea gas production facility by any Russian company, and secondly, extraction of the first oil from the Russian Arctic Shelf. Russia's first subsea production facility was successfully tested in the Kirinskoye field within the Sakhalin III project. The subsea production facility makes it possible to produce gas with no platforms or other above-water facilities.
Siem Offshore Order Duel-Fuelled PSV's
Norway-based Siem Offshore has contracted Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Poland to build four dual-fuelled Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs). The vessels are to be of VS 4411 DF design, and Siem Offshore say that they currently have two vessels of similar design under construction for delivery in 2014 and 2015. The new PSV's will be equipped with dual-fuel LNG or Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) systems which Siem Offshore claim to represent the latest technology of dual fuelled systems and hull design…
JW Fishers' Side Scan Sonars Key in Somali Port Mine Clearance
JW Fishers inform that Bancroft Global Development is using its side scan sonars to locate and make safe Somalia's harbor in the capital city, Mogadishu, which was heavily mined during the civil war in that country. Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) launched the Mogadishu Port Rehabilitation Project and assisting in this work is Washington-based Bancroft Global Development, an organization that receives some funding from the United Nations and the US State Department.
Austal Launches JACKSON (LCS 6)
First of Austal’s ten-ship Littoral Combat Ship contract. On December 14, 2013, Austal USA successfully completed the launch of the future USS Jackson (LCS 6). The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. This vessel is the first of ten 127-meter Independence-variant LCS class ships Austal has been contracted to build for the U.S.
Marine Response Alliance Relocates to Houston
Marine Response Alliance (MRA), an association of U.S. emergency responders providing OPA 90 Salvage Marine Firefighting (SMFF), has relocated from Pompano, Fla., to Houston to be situated with international salvage partner TITAN Salvage. Conveniently located near George Bush International airport, the new office boasts a 102,500 square-foot maintenance and warehousing facility with 4.61 acres of outside storage.
Attention on Deck!
U.S. Coast Guard Safety Alert for Commercial Fishing Vessels. According to U. S. Bureau of Labor statistics, in 2012 commercial fishing was the second most dangerous occupation in the country…
Berkshire Hathaway to Acquire Business from Phillips 66
Berkshire Hathaway is acquiring Phillips Specialty Products Inc. (PSPI), a flow improver business, from Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX). In exchange for the share capital of the wholly owned subsidiary…
Seaspan Extends, Refinances Credit Facility
Company says that move further strengthens Capital Structure. Seaspan Corporation ("Seaspan") announced that it has entered into an agreement to extend and refinance its $1.0 billion credit facility.
Steamship Mutual: US Vessel Response Plans – Contingency Plans
Washington State – Alaska – Non tank final rule & Washington State – Contingency Plan requirements. We refer to our circular no. B.613. As stated in that circular…
Navy's Unmanned Plane Take-Off a Seminal 2013 Navy Event
The first-ever launch of an unmanned aircraft from a modern aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, was described by Rear Adm. Mat Winter Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, as – "An inflection point in history". "These are exciting times for the Navy as we are truly doing something that has never been done before – something I never imagined could be done during my 29-year naval career.
New British Warship Enters Service Early
HMS Duncan, the Royal Navy’s sixth Type 45 Destroyer, has entered into service from BAE four months ahead of schedule. The 7,500 tonne vessel will now embark on a program of trials to prepare the ship and her crew for operational deployment. HMS Duncan is the final Type 45 to enter service with the Royal Navy. Her handover to the Fleet marks the end of a 13-year build programme with BAE Systems to deliver the six ships – Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender and Duncan.
FPSO Wins Korea Government Award for HHI
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) which claims to be the world’s largest shipbuilder, says it has gained an additional ‘World Class Product’ certificate from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for its cylindrical FPSO. The newly certified ‘World Class Product’ is a cylindrical FPSO: the Goliat FPSO ordered by Eni Norge will be installed in the Goliat field, 85 km northwest of Hammerfest, in the Barents Sea.
China Shipyard Refunds Algoma Tankship Newbuilds Cancellation
Algoma Central Corporation says it has received payments totalling $41.7 million from two Chinese banks on refund guarantees related to the cancellation of three ocean tanker shipbuilding contracts which occurred in 2010. In 2007, Algoma, through its wholly owned subsidiary, entered into contracts to build three 16,500 - deadweight ton product tankers in China. Each contract contained provisions that permitted cancellation under certain conditions.
Job Openings at American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines, which claims to be the largest cruise company in the United States, says it is hiring an additional 52 people to fill positions throughout various departments. Headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut, the company is interviewing candidates for marketing and sales positions, including supervisors and trainers, as well as shore side operations positions, including directors of hotel and marine operations.
Korea Shipbuilding Orders Back to Pre-Financial Crisis Level
The nation's top three shipbuilders have seen their combined orders rise again to the US$50-billion mark, six years after they first soared past this level in 2007 when the industry was flourishing…
Rotterdam Subsea Cable Centre Set Up by NKT
NKT Cables has established a submarine cable Logistics Centre, with a 9.000 and 4,600 tonne turntable capacity at Rotterdam’s deep-water port in the Netherlands. The company informs that with its unique cable splicing technology, NKT Cables can connect long single cable lengths together to form extra-long continuous submarine cables, enabling load-outs of up to 6,000 tonnes - and even more - in one campaign to any cable laying vessel.
Korea Warship Order Helps DSME Best 2013 Target
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has clinched a 322.6 billion won (US$305.8 million) deal to build a frigate that will help it exceed its 2013 order target of $13 billion…
Record Freight Throughput Year at Port of Antwerp
Freight volume was up by 3.5% to 190.6 million tonnes which represents an increase of 3.5% compared with 2012 when the volume came to 184.1 million tonnes, making 2013 a new record year for Belgium's principal port. The previous record dates from 2008, the last year before the global financial crisis. The main driving force behind the growth in volume was liquid bulk, with the container volume being slightly down as a result of the continuing recession.
Offshore Shipbuilding Demand Prompts HHI Design Expansion
Hyundai Heavy Industries plans to establish a new ship design subsidiary early next year by expanding its Mipo Engineering Co, reports Yonhap News Agency. Hyundai…
