Maritime Safety & Environment Rule Changes Clock In
The amendments cover passenger ship safety (in relation to safe return to port after a flooding casualty); the testing of free-fall lifeboats; minimum safe manning levels; prohibition of blending onboard; the revised MARPOL Annex III; the United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area; and the Winter Seasonal Zone off the southern tip of Africa. Amendment to SOLAS regulation II-1/8-1, introduces…
Vietnam's First Kilo-class Submarine Arrives Cam Ranh Port
Vietnam’s first Kilo-class submarine named 'Hanoi' has arrived at the Cam Ranh Port in Khanh Hoa Province after a six week voyage from a Russian shipyard aboard the semi-submersible carrier 'Rolldock Sea', reports VietNamNet Bridge. The Kilo-636 submarine, is the first of the six 636 Varshavyanka (kilo)-class submarines run by diesel power that Vietnam is buying from Russia to modernise its navy, to enhance its capacity to defend the country’s territorial waters.
Update: Chinese Icebreaker Stuck After Rescue
According to a Reuters report, the Chinese icebreaker that helped rescue 52 passengers from a Russian ship stranded in Antarctic ice found itself stuck in ice on Friday, January 3, 2014. According to the Reuters report, Snow Dragon had ferried the passengers from the stranded Russian ship to an Australian icebreaker late on Thursday. It now had concerns about its own ability to move through heavy ice, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.
US Chemical Destruction Ship Not Yet Ready for Syrian Mission
The 'Cape Ray', with the capabiltiy to destroy chemical weapons given up by the Syrian government , is part of the Maritime Administration's Reserve Ready Fleet of cargo ships, and is expected to leave for the Mediterranean in about two weeks reports Reuters, citing officials. Forklifts moved equipment and sparks flew as workers welded containers and other gear on the deck of the MV Cape Ray, which…
Sembcorp's PPL Shipyard Gets Another Perisai Jack-up Order
Sembcorp Marine's subsidiary PPL Shipyard has secured a repeat order to build a third Pacific Class 400 jack-up rig worth US$211.5-million from Perisai (L) Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Perisai Petroleum Teknologi Bhd. Scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2016, this third jack-up rig will be built based on PPL Shipyard’s proprietary Pacific Class 400 design with similar specification as the first and second jack-up rig units, named Perisai Pacific 101 and Perisai Pacific 102.
Navico Acquires Consilium Radar Business
Navico Holding AS, parent company to the Simrad brand and Consilium AB, has acquired Consilium’s radar business. As part of the transaction, Navico takes over all operations of the radar business in Italy, including research and development, product management and manufacturing. “The professional marine market is a strategic priority for our growth ambitions,” said Leif Ottosson, president & CEO of Navico Holding AS.
Vard to Build Harkland Offshore DSC Vessel
Vard Holdings says it has secured a contract with a new customer, Harkand Group (Harkand), for the design and construction of a Diving Support and Construction (DSC) Vessel. The value of the contract exceeds NOK 1 billion. The vessel is scheduled for delivery from Vard Søviknes in Norway in 2Q 2016. and the hull is to be delivered from Vard Tulcea in Romania. The contract includes an option for a second similar DSC vessel.
HII Acquires Environmental & Nuclear Specialists Stoller Corp
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has acquired The S.M. Stoller Corporation (Stoller), a leading provider of environmental, nuclear, and technical consulting and engineering services to the Department of Energy, Department of Defense and the private sector. Stoller will be a wholly owned subsidiary of HII and will operate under its NNS division. NNS is the nation's sole designer, builder and refueler…
National Maritime Strategy Symposium Registration Open
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites the public, officials and other Marine Transportation System stakeholders to participate in a national maritime strategy symposium from January 14-16, 2014.
BW Offshore Acquires VLCC from DSME
BW Offshore has exercised an option to acquire the tanker Blue Opal for USD 83.4 million from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). Blue Opal is a DSME designed and built VLCC (320…
Lynch Takes Helm of NOAA’s Atlantic Fleet
NOAA Capt. Anne K. Lynch has assumed command of the agency's Marine Operations Center-Atlantic in Norfolk, Va., which manages the day-to-day operations of the nine research and survey ships in NOAA's Atlantic fleet. Each year these ships conduct dozens of missions to assess fish and marine mammal stocks, conduct coral reef research, collect seafloor data to update nautical charts, and explore the ocean.
Marine Cybersecurity: Is Your Ship Safe? Are You Sure?
On February 12, 2013, President Obama issued Executive Order 13636 – Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. Citing repeated electronic intrusions into critical infrastructure, the document states that it is the policy of the United States Government to increase the volume, timeliness, and quality of cyber threat information shared with U.S. private sector entities so that these entities may better protect and defend themselves against cyber threats.
Five Minutes With: Tore Morten Olsen, Astrium Services
Astrium Services took a survey of seafarer’s usage of crew communication solutions in the commercial shipping sector to establish a picture of mariner communications requirements.
Suspect in Ferry Suicide Hoax Arrested in Georgia
A man suspected of faking his own death and costing the Coast Guard more than $173,000 was arrested Tuesday near Brunswick, Ga. Georgia law enforcement authorities say Aubrey Lee Price, 47, was pulled over by police in Brunswick for having illegally tinted windows on his vehicle. Price, who is a former Valdosta, Ga. banker, is also accused of wire and security fraud. Price was reported missing by his family on June 18, 2012. A family member in Georgia reported the missing man to the U.S.
Coming your way, a 3% rise in Operating Costs
A new survey from Moore Stephens finds that vessel operating costs are expected to rise by more than 3% in both 2013 and 2014. While this news should not be unexpected it is nevertheless bad news for ship owners that continue to struggle with low freight rates and over capacity across several oceangoing sectors. In total the survey examined 10 main cost areas, summarized in charts one and two. Crew expenses…
Mooring/Unmooring at Tuas View Mooring Buoys
From December 2, 2013-June 4, 2014, bulk carriers, self propelled barges and pusher tugs with barges in composite unit carrying bulk sand will be transiting from…
Ex-tropical Cyclone Christine Update
Port Walcott remains closed after the passing of ex-Tropical Cyclone Christine pending surveyors' inspections of wharfs. Indications are that it will be at least…
New England Ropes Co-Founder Passes Away
New England Ropes, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the TEUFELBERGER Group, said that the company’s original co- founder, Herb Repass, passed away recently in Vero Beach Florida.
Platform P-55 Operational in Roncador Field
The Petrobras’ P-55 platform, one of the strategic projects in the 2013-2017 Business and Management Plan, started-up the last Tuesday (12/31/13) in Campos Basin’s Roncador field. P-55 is part of Roncador´s field Module 3 project and will be connected to 17 wells, 11 of which are oil and gas production and 6 water injection. Oil and natural gas will be transported from the platform via submarine pipelines connected to the unit till the oil and gas offloading system of the Campos Basin.
BHP Iron Ore Mines Resume Operation
Reuters reported that BHP Billiton’s Australian iron ore mines have recommenced work at full operation following a cyclone that battered coastal regions and closed major shipping terminals this week.
