Some UK Budget Good News for Shipping Industry
International accountant & shipping adviser Moore Stephens says the UK Budget 2013 contains generally good news for the shipping sector. Measures which will have…
Lake Michigan Marinas Applaud Dredging Assistance Package
The Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) thanks the Michigan State House and Senate for speedy support of bills. The package included assistance to public…
Mercator Lines Reduce Liabilities in Challenging Market
Mercator Lines (Singapore) Indian-owned international dry bulk shipping company cuts short charters, sell a ship. The sale of the vessel Sri Prem Putli was concluded on 21st March…
Restructuring Pays Off: Indonesian Shipyard Wins Orders
Singapore-based Otto Marine contracted to fabricate 4 pre-erected columns & pontoon blocks worth S$6.3-million. Otto Marine Limited, an offshore marine company which…
Tankship Major Crystal-gazes Interestingly
Euronav, report a trading loss of almost US$ 119-million after tax in year-ending 2012 report, expect oil transportation market to re-balance in 2013. On the supply side, given the current state of the tanker market and the difficulty most owners face securing financing it is most probably safe to assume very few newbuilding contracts will be placed in 2013. The market also expects fleets to consolidate due to market pressure.
SE Asia Oil Spill Response Initiative Launched
IMO & IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues, jointly launch a new Global Initiative (GI). The GI programme, aimed at improving the oil spill preparedness and response capabilities in south east Asia was launched at a recent regional workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia. IMO and IPIECA have, for a number of years, been working with their international and regional partners to establish this new regional programme…
ABB Main Electrical Contractor for Ichthys Offshore Project
ABB appointed main electrical contractor for new semi-submersible central processing facility (CPF) at Ichthys oil & gas field in the Timor Sea off Western Australia. The order is valued at $15 million. ABB was awarded the MEC contract by the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the central processing facility, Samsung Heavy Industries. When completed in 2016 the CPF will be the largest offshore production facility in the world.
LNG Shipping's Dream Run Over?
Drewry's latest 'LNG Insight' saw heating demand subside in major importing regions in February & cargo availablilty also tightened. Regarding cargo availability, a few unplanned shutdowns, caused a 4% decline in the LNG Freight Index. LNG shipping enjoyed a dream run during 2011 and 2012, owing largely to increasing tonne-mile demand and an almost stagnant fleet. Freight market prospects would be even brighter if fleet supply were to remain at current levels…
Bow Riding in Heavy Weather: Coast Guard Safety Alert
Several passengers in the bow pulpit of a 106-ft whale-watching vessel were injured when a large wave was struck & threw them backwards. Injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to a broken patella (knee) and jaw. Although there were many other passengers on board at the time, only the passengers standing in the pulpit were injured. • Proper verbal briefings regarding unfavorable weather conditions were made to the passengers; however, some passengers had disregarded these safety warnings.
IMO Pledge to Support African Piracy Code
The organisation will help implement the West and Central Africa piracy code adopted at a recent ministerial meeting. IMO has pledged its support to assist in the implementation of a new Code of Conduct concerning the prevention and repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa, which has been adopted at a Ministerial meeting in Cotonou, Benin.
Guardian Salvage SUPSALV Masterminded
Naval Sea System Command's (NAVSEA) Supervisor of Salvage & Diving (SUPSALV) continues to support the removal of the wreck. Guardian ran aground on the coral reef Jan. 17, while transiting the Sulu Sea. After the initial grounding, strong winds pushed the mine counter-measurees ship parallel to the reef and further aground causing flooding and structural damage which prevented refloating of the vessel or removal of the ship intact.
CFOA Welcome 2013 Canadian Budget Provisions
The Canadian Ferry Operators Association (CFOA) expresses approval of industry-related budget measures. “This government continues to demonstrate its commitment to transportation infrastructure…
Scots Ferry Operator Wins Training Award
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) wins award for its support of trade union-led training in the workplace. The award, from Scottish Union Learning in the Highlands and Islands, was presented to the company at an awards dinner held in Inverness recently to celebrate 10 years of union-led learning in the Highlands and Islands. It was accepted on behalf of CalMac by the Managing Director of David MacBrayne (HR) UK Ltd, Wendy Allardes.
Jones Act Seems Beneficial to Puerto Ricans Finds GAO
American Maritime Partnership (AMP) member, Crowley Maritime Corp. The long-awaited General Accountability Office (GAO) study on the Jones Act in Puerto Rico shows that the U.S.
Advances in Bollard Pull Testing Technology
Many arguments about the capabilities of a tug can be quickly settled when you can conduct a full-ahead power, bollard pull test. “Many captains will argue about horsepower…
FKAB Designs Large Dredger with Nupas-Cadmatic
FKAB has secured a contract for the design of a 2,400m³ trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD). The concept design was developed by the Ministry of Transportation and Communication’s Kaoshing Harbor bureau, which will own and operate the vessels. The order was acquired by the Ching Fu Shipyard. The company won the contract in competition with three other Taiwan-based companies. The Ching Fu Shipyard…
Mass Maritime’s Manned Model Shiphandling Program
As advances in computing power have made marine training via simulator more mainstream, the majority would contend that the most effective training is on the water, at the helm. While training on real-world vessels can be tough due to time and safety constraints, Massachusetts Maritime Academy maintains its unique solutions: the Manned Model Shiphandling Program on the Great Herring Pond. The Manned…
Risk Breakers: Craig Perciavalle President, Austal USA
The recently announced promotion of Craig Perciavalle to President, Austal USA was a logical one. At Austal since 2007, he moves up after serving as Senior Vice President of Operations.
Vessel Specific Training Via Adaptive Learning Experience
It is difficult and expensive to do vessel-specific training well. This is probably why, unlike certification training, it is under specified, and in many cases poorly implemented - often via job shadowing. But there is a technology which is an excellent tool for vessel-specific training, and every vessel operator should be aware of it. It is called adaptive learning. This article describes adaptive…
BAE Systems Starts Construction on GulfMark PSV
BAE Systems’ shipyard in Alabama has begun construction on the first of two platform supply vessels (PSVs) for GulfMark Americas, Inc. Executives and employees from…
