Italy to Impose Venice Cruise Ship Restrictions
The Italian government has announced it will begin to limit the number of large cruise ships that pass through Venice. Environmentalists have protested against the ships in recent years, saying they damage the city's fragile lagoon, reports BBC News. From January 2014, the number of cruise ships allowed through Venice will be cut by 20%. Ships of more than 96,000 tonnes will be banned from the centre of the city from November next year.
China, Taiwan, Agree Shanghai Free Trade Zone Cooperation
The Chinese mainland and Taiwan adopted 19 joint proposals at the Ninth Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, including one encouraging the island's cooperation with the newly built Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) reports China's official news agency, Xinhua. The Shanghai FTZ, which began operating in late September, is a 28.78-square-km district intended as a test site for deepening market-oriented reforms and boosting economic vitality.
Greenpeace Arctic Detention & Upcoming ITLOS Hearing
ITLOS is an independent judicial body located in Hamburg, Germany, established to resolve disputes about the interpretation and application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Dutch authorities initiated an arbitration case against Russia on October 4, and on October 21 called for ITLOS to indicate âprovisional measuresâ pending the outcome of that arbitration. In a âprovisional measuresâ case like this oneâŚ
Alewijnse Project Wins KNVTS Ship of the Year Award 2013
Alewijnse Marine Systems celebrated their involvement in the success of the award-winning 'LNG Greenstream' waterway tankship at the recent 16th KNVTS Maritime Awards Gala held in The Netherlands. Alewijnse say that the 110m 'Greenstream' is the first commercial inland vessel to use LNGâelectric propulsion. The vessel was built by Peters Shipyards, Kampen, and Alewijnse was responsible for the entire electrical installation on boardâŚ
Princess Cruises' Inaugural Bayport Sailing Benefits Vets
Princess Cruises' new service from the Port of Houston Authority's Bayport Cruise Terminal in Pasadena, Texas, kicks off with a four-day benefit cruise aboard 'Caribbean Princess' to Progreso, Mexico. About 2,000 passengers supported "Cruising for a Cause" and the first-ever fundraising cruise is expected to raise up to $1 million for two U.S. military veterans' organizations: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and Operation Homefront.
Marine Scientific Sector Major Contributor to UK Economy
The fifth business survey of UK marine scientific industries by the Society of Maritime Industries highlights continued growth for the Marine Science and Technology sector & reveals it is a major contributor to the UK economy. The survey was conducted at Ocean Business, a trade show held in Southampton during April 2013, hosting over 300 companies representing the worldâs leading ocean technology suppliers and service providers.
Prosperity Marks Craig Group's Anniversary Year
Aberdeen head-quartered global shipping and energy services firm, Craig Group, has marked its 80th anniversary with strong performance as it lodges its accounts at Companies House. The privately owned, family-run business, now employing the fourth generation of the Craig family, has reported turnover of £146.8 million with operating profits of £17.4 million for the year ending 30 April 2013. These are up on the previous year when turnover was £123.3 million and profits were £15.2 million.
NAMEPA Host Shipping Industry Awards Dinner
Shipping luminaries gathered recently in New York to discuss issues and recognize achievements at the 2013 North American World Maritime Day and NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) Marine Environment Protection Awards Dinner. âNAMEPA was honored to host this annual event, and gratified by the interest and participation at the highest levels of shipping in our industryâ stated NAMEPA Chairman Clay Maitland.
MATE Center Offers At-Sea Technical Internships
Interns in the At-Sea Technical Internship Program work as marine technicians aboard sea-going research vessels that are part of the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS), the United States Coast Guard, and the Ocean Exploration Trust. The MATE Center and the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) are accepting applications for the 2014 MATE/UNOLS six-month internship through December 2, 2013.
Beachable Hybrid River Ferry Designed by Navtech
Canadian naval architecture firm Navtech designed the recently delivered 'Peter Fraser', a 33-meter Ro-Ro ferry for operation on the St. Lawrence River in shallow waters between Isle- Verte and Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs. Peter Fraser, say the designers, is the very first in the Americas, to be equipped with a Hybrid diesel- electric and lithium ion battery power system. The green technology ferry was built by Chantier Naval Forillon of Gaspé (QuebecâŚ
Change of Command Effected at Bureau Veritas
Frank Piedelièvre has informed the Board of Directors of Bureau Veritas that he has decided to leave the Board to devote himself fully to personal projects, having fulfilled his mission to provide support to Didier Michaud-Daniel in his role of Chief Executive Officer since March 1, 2012. The Board of Directors of Bureau Veritas has expressed its huge gratitude for all he has achieved for the Group and the key role he has played in the success of Bureau VeritasâŚ
TeamSurv Ocean Survey Project Boosted
TeamSurv, the crowd sourcing project to create better nautical charts, has won support and endorsement from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC). TeamSurv has won a call by ESA to enter their Business Incubation Centre (BIC) at Harwell, Oxford. This provides TeamSurv with finance, with business and technical support, and with office space for the next year to enable a plan for a sustainable futureâŚ
Propulsion Troubles for Royal Caribbean Liner
Multiple sources reported that Royal Caribbeanâs Allure of the Seas, the worldâs largest cruise vessel, has encountered difficulties with its propulsion system, impeding full speed capabilities. The ship is reported to be functional, but sailing at reduced speeds. Because of the propulsion issue, the 1,187-foot vessel and its passengers of the shipâs past two Eastern Caribbean sailings were forced to experience shorter port calls to compensate for longer sailing times.
CSL Tacoma Calls at Port of Redwood City
The final in a series of five Canada Steamship Lines' (CSL) state-of-the-art, new Trillium Class self-unloading Panamax vessels, the 228-meter long CSL Tacoma, embarked on her maiden voyage from the Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China on Oct. 12, and is making her maiden cargo voyage to San Francisco Bay. She is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Redwood City at noon on Wednesday, November 6, with sand and gravel construction materials from an Eagle Rock Aggregates quarry in British Columbia.
Crowley Vessels Tow Lucius Spar to U.S. Deepwater
On the heels of the recent delivery of Olympus, the largest tension-leg platform ever to be developed for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Crowley has once again shown support for the domestic petroleum industry by providing ocean towing and positioning support services for the Lucius spar in the Gulf of Mexico for Anadarko Petroleum. Three of Crowleyâs ocean class tugs, Ocean Wind, Ocean Wave and Ocean SunâŚ
NASSCO Lays Keel of Third U.S. Navy Platform Ship
General Dynamics NASSCO today hosted a keel laying ceremony for the USNS Lewis B. Puller, the third ship in the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class. The ship is named in honor of Lewis B. Puller, the most decorated U.S. Marine in history and the only one to be awarded five Navy Crosses. Mrs. Elizabeth Glueck was the honoree for the keel-laying ceremony. She is the wife of Lieutenant General Kenneth J.
ABS Releases Chemical Tanker e-Learning Package
ABS, a provider of maritime classification services, launched Chem-eL, a specialized training package designed to support safety and competence in chemical tanker operations. Chem-eL is a sector-specific e-learning marine product developed in accordance with the requirements stated in the International Maritime Organization's International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers and the relevant IMO Model Course.
Miller Ferry Up for Routine Maintenance at Great Lakes Shipyard
Miller Boat Lineâs ferry, M/V South Bass, is receiving its routine five-year drydocking and USCG inspection at Great Lakes Shipyard. The vessel was hauled out using the Marine Travelift, and the work on the vessel will be completed in two to three weeks. This marks the first time Great Lakes Shipyard has performed work on the M/V South Bass. Since 2010, repairs have been performed on all of the other ferries in the Miller Boat Line fleetâŚ
Today in U.S. Naval History: November 5
Today in U.S. 1775 - Commodore Esek Hopkins appointed to Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy. 1915 - In AB-2 flying boat, L.Cdr. Henry C. Mustin makes first underway catapult launch from a ship, USS North Carolina, at Pensacola Bay, Fla. 1917 - German submarine torpedoes USS Alcedo off French coast. 1923 - Tests designed to prove the feasibility of launching a small seaplane from a submarine occur at Hampton Roads Naval Base.
Man Rescued from Liferaft 20 Miles from Atlantic Beach
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a 51-year-old Jay White aboard a liferaft Tuesday after the man abandoned his 28-foot sailboat, Dove, 20 miles south of Atlantic Beach, N.C. White contacted Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center watchstanders at approximately 7:15 a.m. via a mayday call on a VHF-FM marine radio stating that his boat was taking on water. Sector North Carolina watchstanders issuedâŚ