Cruise Shipping Miami 2014 Refines Conference Program
"Ship and Ship Operations"; "Global Geography of Cruise Tourism"; "Market Segments"; and "Cruise Product Development". "The conference program was developed by our partner Seatrade Communications based largely on feedback from attendees and participants following last year's show," said Daniel Read, director of UBM's Cruise Event Portfolio. Since 1985 Cruise Shipping Miami has been a major annual event of the worldwide cruise industry.
Bunker Oil Stock Increase at Baltic Sea Entrance Port
Frederikshavn Harbour and Nordic Marine Oil have entered a strategic agreement to establish a tank farm at the port of Frederikshavn with at least 20,000 cubic meters with the possibility of further extension. The tank system to be used as storage of fuel for ships in the port of Frederikshavn and the ships passing by in the Kattegat, and will be ready in the 2nd half of 2014. "Nordic Marine Oil has a goal to establish itself further in the bunker market around the entrance to the Baltic region.
Panama Canal Expansion Should Slice US Grain Freight Rate
Upon completion of the expansion of the Panama Canal, the cost to transport grain from the U.S. corn belt to Asia will drop by an estimated 12%, thus increasing the cost competitiveness of the U.S. as a grain exporter to Asia, Rabobank forecasts. In a new report, “Panama Canal: Expanding the Gateway for U.S. Grain to the East,” Rabobank says the expansion of the Canal will accommodate grain-laden ships from the U.S. of 25% more capacity than before, resulting in a shift in U.S.
Greenpeace: Duma Draft Needs Amendment to Benefit 'Arctic 30'
Lawyers for Greenpeace International believe the draft text of a Russian amnesty to be voted on by the Duma (the Russian parliament) would be unlikely to benefit the Arctic 30 protesters. Thus they still face the possibility of trial and conviction for their protest. In its present form, the proposal would apply only to people who have either been convicted of hooliganism, or people who are on trial and will be convicted within the six month period after the amnesty decree is adopted.
OSX Korea Shipyard to Build 5 Peru Navy Patrol Boats
STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. has signed a deal with the defense ministry of Peru to build five patrol ships for 75 billion won (US$71.3 million) reports Yonhap News. Citing the shipbuilders, Yonhap adds that STX will deliver the ships by the end of 2015, and that in March 2012, the company signed a first contract for building the same type of ships with Colombia's defense ministry. Source: Yonhap News
Ferry's Lost Propeller Recovered From Cook Strait
KiwiRail confirms that salvors Seaworks have successfully recovered the ferry Aratere’s propeller, which was lost from the ship when the shaft fractured on November 5, 2013 outside the Tory Channel. “The propeller was retrieved from a depth of around 120 meters and approximately two nautical miles from Tory Channel using strops that were fitted around the blades of the propeller and part of the shaft via a remote controlled underwater vehicle.
Caution: Check Air Draft For Safe Passage Under NY's Bayonne Bridge
The Bayonne Bridge is undergoing a major construction project and special care is required to avoid ship allisions, including ship antenna strikes similar to those that occurred in the past, which may cause severe property damage or loss of life. It is imperative that ships transiting under the Bayonne Bridge know the distance from the ship’s keel to the highest point and provide accurate information to the Pilot and the ship’s agent for safe navigation.
Scorpio Bulkers Raise Scope of IPO
Scorpio Bulkers Inc. say it has increased the size of its public offering from the initially announced 15,500,000 common shares to 31,300,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $305,175,000. The Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 4,695,000 additional common shares, and they say they plan to use all of the net proceeds of this offering to fund newbuilding vessel capital expenditures.
Hijacked Vessel Nears Return to Service
FreeSeas Inc., a transporter of dry-bulk cargos through the ownership and operation of a fleet of Handysize and Handymax vessels, announced that it has entered into terms with the insurers of M/V Free Goddess pursuant to which the sum of $1.1 million will be paid by the insurers to the company. The amount of $700,000 has already been disbursed in favor of the company pursuant to the terms agreed. In 2012…
New OPS Plant to Start Production in Abu Dhabi
Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), and Polysys Additive Technologies Middle East (PAT ME) held a groundbreaking ceremony, laying the foundation for its One Pack Systems (OPS) manufacturing plant which will be located in the industrial zone within the dedicated mixed use cluster covering an area of 197,424 square feet. PAT ME signed a 30-year Musataha agreement with Kizad.
Don’t Forget: Seawater is a Free EAL
If your vessel is trading in U.S. waters, you need to be aware of the new oil to sea interface law that comes into effect on Dec. 19, 2013. According to the new U.S. Environment Protection Agency Vessel General Permit (VGP), all vessels built on or after Dec. 19, 2013, must use an environmentally acceptable lubricant (EAL) in all oil to sea interfaces. For all vessels built before this date, unless technically not feasible, ship owners must use an EAL in all oil to sea interfaces.
Are PAGS the Answer?
Ron van Wachem, President of Coast Lubricants and Nanaimo Shipyard Group, reasons that PAGS are the best solution to meet the new VGP requirements. In December 2013, the EPA through its Vessel General Permit (VGP) will introduce the mandatory use of “Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants,” or EALs. These products include the lubricating oils that are directly used in applications referred to as “oil…
EPA’s Vessel General Permit (VGP) & You
Nothing stirs the maritime pot like new regulation, and coming soon to you (in less than a month) is the new iteration of the Vessel General Permit (VGP). The VGP…
100 Years of Dredging Culebra Cut
The Panama Canal commemorates 100 years of dredging Culebra Cut, removing the last barrier during its construction for the free movement of vessels along the 80-kilometer waterway. Following the calendar of activities in the countdown to the centennial, the Panama Canal highlighted the significant role played by dredging to ensure the safe navigation through the waterway, even before its opening 100 years ago.
U.S. Navy to Audit Port Services
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus spelled out in a memorandum last week his expectations for the review and audit of procedures, administration, and performance of…
Commissioner Doyle's Briefing on China Value Added Tax
Commissioner Doyle briefed the Federal Maritime Commission at today's open meeting and provided details and recent information pertaining to efforts to clarify the People's Republic of China new Value Added Tax regime. He also discussed China's interest in establishing a mutual NVOCC legal assistance and mutual bond rider recognition mechanism as well as tax concerns in connection with terminal ownership and operations. On October 28, 2013, the Annual U.S.
Royal Caribbean Liner Set for New Orleans Maiden Voyage
Royal Caribbean International’s newly revitalized 2,360-passenger Serenade of the Seas arrives at the Port of New Orleans’ Julia Street Cruise Terminal Dec. 12 to sail weekly itineraries through April. The 965-foot cruise ship was completely refurbished in December 2012 and replaces Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, which was home-ported in New Orleans during the 2012-2013 cruise season. Sleek and sunlit…
BMT Defense Applies NAPA Software in New Vessel Design
Naval design and engineering company BMT Defense Services Ltd. included a software package created by maritime software house NAPA during the design process for…
Aloha Foss Maritime
Hawaiian Tug & Barge, which provides harbor support services in all major ports of Hawaii, has adopted new colors and a new name: Foss Maritime Company. Founded by Young Brothers Ltd., Hawaiian Tug & Barge (HTB) was formed as a sister company to separate harbor operations and charter activities from Young Brothers' inter-island freight operations. HTB has since become Hawaii's leading tug and barge transportation company operating four tugs with 20 employees.
Suga to Chair Tanker Forum
The Tanker Structure Cooperative Forum (TSCF) has elected Hayato Suga as its next Chairman at a recent Steering Committee Meeting. Hayato Suga is the General Manager of ClassNK’s Natural Resources and Energy Department and one of ClassNK’s foremost experts on tanker vessels. The TSCF was established in 1983 to allow members to share their collective experience in order to improve tanker structural safety.
