Arctic Drilling Protesters Scale London Skyscraper
A group of activists from Greenpeace scaled the Shard, the tapered 310m glass tower next to London Bridge station, as a protest against oil and gas drilling in the Arctic. In an action that was perhaps inevitable at some point after the completion last year of western Europe's tallest building, visible across much of central London, the six climbers began their ascent in the early hours of Thursday morning. The activists reached the top of the building at around 7.10pm., reports The Guardian.
GofM Natural Gas Leakage: BSEE Continues Oversight of Control
BSEE continues to oversee efforts by Energy Resource Technology, LLC (ERT) to stop the flow of natural gas from a well located 74 miles southwest of Port Fourchon, LA at Ship Shoal Block 225, Platform B, in 146 feet of water. After equipment preparation and testing, well kill operations began at approximately 4:15 p.m. CDT. Procedures for the source control operations were prepared by ERT and reviewed and approved by BSEE.
Navy's Littoral Combat Ships: Latest Update
The Navy plans to buy 52 LCS in accordance with the long-range shipbuilding plan – continuing the remainder of the block buy ships through FY 2015 (up to hull number 24) and then starting the next procurement contract in FY 2016. To date, the Navy has taken delivery of USS Freedom (LCS 1) , USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3). There is and continues to be discussion on changes to the ships and mission packages.
North Europe Container Transhipment Competion to Intensify
With little market growth likely over the next few years and significant port capacity additions due to come on stream, competition between North European container terminals is set to intensify, reports Drewry Maritime Research. In the search for volume, it will be the transhipment sector which is likely to be the first target. With some fanfare, Eurogate has announced that the Eugen Maersk is to call at its new, deepwater Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven later this month.
Seadrill Secures Jack-up 'West Freedom' Contract
Seadrill Limited has secured a new contract for the LT-Super 116E jack-up rig West Freedom offshore Venezuela with Cardon IV Venezuela, an ENI SpA and REPSOL joint venture. The contract is for a firm period of 30 months plus an option for a 6 month extension at mutually agreed rates. The potential revenue for the primary contract term is approximately US$222 million inclusive of an estimated $8.5 million of mobilization.
MoorMaster Norwegian Contract for Cavotec
Cavotec secured a significant order for its MoorMaster automated mooring technology at a new bulk handling application in Norway. The project has a substantial financial value & is the largest single MoorMaster order in Europe to date. MoorMaster is a vacuum-based automated mooring technology that eliminates the need for conventional mooring lines. Remote controlled vacuum pads recessed in, or mounted on the quayside or pontoons, moor and release vessels in seconds.
Boskalis Sells Stake in Middle East Maritime Contractors
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has sold its 40% stake in Archirodon Group N.V. Boskalis explain that the possible sale had already been announced in November 2012 after Boskalis was approached by the party in question from the Middle East. The equity interest was partly sold to this party and partly to the existing 60% co-shareholder. Boskalis received a cash sum of USD 190 million for its 40% stake, resulting in a book gain of several tens of millions of euros.
Greece's Star Bulk on Ship Buying Spree
Star Bulk Carriers contracts China's Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding to build two Capesize dry bulk carriers, & also signs Letters of Intent with a major Japanese shipyard for construction of two Ultramax dry bulkers. The eco-type, fuel efficient Capesize drybulk vessels are to be delivered in Q4 2015 and Q1 2016, respectively and similar specification Ultramax dry bulkers in 2015. The aggregate purchase price of all four newbuilding vessels is approximately US$151.0 million.
ITF Port Unions Resolve to Campaign Against DP World
ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) dockers’ union representatives meeting in Chicago, USA, resolve to organise a global campaign highlighting the need for global network terminal operator (GNT) DP World to engage with unions over trade union rights/representation in a number of countries. The representatives agreed that action is required, particularly with regards the situation at London Gateway terminal, UK, where Unite the Union’s offer of cooperative working is being snubbed.
Word Maritime University Anniversary Celebrated at IMO
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of the World Maritime University (WMU), based in Malmö, Sweden, with an event which included speeches from the current and former WMU Chancellors & the WMU President. WMU was established at the beginning of the 1980s, when IMO identified a shortage of well-qualified, highly-educated maritime experts, particularly in lesser developed nations.
China's Pingtan in Clear with Nasdaq
Dredging and Ocean Fishing listed firm Pingtan Marine Enterprise Ltd. (Nasdaq: PME) confirms its continued listing & compliance with all quantitative listing requirements.
USCG Cutter Returns from 92-day Deployment
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell returned home to San Diego after a three-month deployment to the Bering Sea, Thursday morning. During this deployment, the Boutwell's crew conducted fisheries enforcement boardings on commercial fishing vessels and patrolled the Maritime Boundary Line between Russia and the United States. Maritime Boundary Line patrols serve to deter illegal fishing by foreign vessels in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
New Middle East Service from Providence, R.I.
Ports America will provide terminal and stevedoring services for Liberty Global Logistics LLC’s (LGL) new monthly service of vehicles to the Middle East from Providence…
Kalmar Secures Order for STS Crane Refurbishment in Hong Kong
Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has won an order to retrofit and upgrade two Hong Kong-based NDC ship-to-shore (STS) crane units for leading global waste management firm, SITA Waste Services Ltd.
Vantage Orders New Drillship
Vantage announced the order of its fifth drillship, the Cobalt Explorer, to be built at Daewoo for an August 2015 delivery. The company will issue convertible debt…
Triton Offers New South American Service
Triton Overseas Transport, a NVOCC and provider of international freight services, said it has recently launched services to and from South America. Less than a month underway…
Capsule Placed on U.S. Aircraft Carrier
Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division welded a time capsule today inside the flight deck control room of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). The time capsule contains items that were placed under the 555-metric ton island during a ceremonial event in January by Susan Ford Bales, the ship's sponsor and daughter of the late president, as well as shipyard and Navy leadership.
ABS Surpasses 200 Million Gross Tons
ABS announced that its registered fleet has surpassed 200 million gross tons. Approximately 12,000 vessels representing 105 flag States currently are registered with ABS.
J2 Joins Acteon
Acteon has completed the acquisition of J2 Engineering Services Ltd, which is based in Aberdeen, U.K. J2 Engineering is involved in the rental, maintenance and repair of ROV manipulator arms and associated tooling and equipment. Over the past five years, the company has forged a reputation within the ROV and underwater survey industries for outstanding service quality, fast turnaround times and the ability to deliver highly reliable customized engineering solutions.
Fairmount Glacier Delivers Rig in Pointe-Noire
Super tug Fairmount Glacier has delivered rig Falcon 100 safely offshore Pointe-Noire, Congo. The rig was towed from Rio de Janeiro via the South Atlantic Ocean over a distance of more than 3,400 miles. The Falcon 100 is a 1974 build semi submersible drilling rig, owned by U.S.-based Transocean and capable to drill to a depth of 7.620 meters. For this job the Fairmount Glacier was mobilized from Trinidad.
