South Carolina Ports Project Funding Agreed by US Senate
The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly passed the Omnibus appropriations bill, allowing key SC Ports Authority projects to proceed, says the Ports Authority. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives with support of five members of the South Carolina delegation, and it now goes to the President's desk for signature. The bill includes funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue its Feasibility Study of the Post-45 Harbor Deepening project…
Big Ship Newbuildings: Global Order Update
Container ship newbuildings figure most active in the latest weekly news from Clarkson Hellas, with the majority of orders placed with China and Korea shipbuilders. Clients of Diana Shipping reports Clarkson Hellas in its Weekly Bulletin have announced a further order for one 82,000 DWT Kamsarmax at Sinopacific’s Dayang facility. Based on the Sinopacific MHI 82 design, the vessel is planned for delivery in the second quarter of 2016.
Google Workers Get Free Ferry Rides to Work & Back
Google workers commuting from San Francisco to the company's Mountain View campus can now make the trip on an 83-foot, Wi-Fi-equipped catamaran. Google has launched a free ferry service from San Francisco's ferry terminal to the Port of Redwood City, where employees can hop a private bus to work, reports 'The Telegraph' via AP. Named the Triumphant the charter ferry can carry up to 150 passengers and runs twice each morning and evening…
Looking to Fix Spot Charter? Beware of Turkish Port Fraudsters
These frauds always emanate from Turkey and involve criminals purporting to be ship brokers and port agents. At present Signum say they are aware of at least twenty cases over the past eighteen months. The nature of the frauds are that non-existent cargo is offered to ship owners / managers at attractive rates, generally at a time when their vessel is 'spot' i.e. at a port without a cargo. The type of cargo offered varies but the favourites are cement, boilers and phosphate.
Petrofac Order Hi-end Offshore Construction Vessel
Service provider to the oil and gas industry, UK-based Petrofac, confirms placement orders to build its new proprietary design Petrofac JSD 6000 deepwater derrick lay vessel, which will be available for construction and installation activities in early 2017. Petrofac inform that the vessel is based on a unique design which integrates the J-Lay, S-Lay and derrick functions and will provide Petrofac with access to high-end turnkey opportunities in the high growth deepwater and SURF markets…
Coastal Zone Management: ABA Publish New Book
With oceans considered by many as one of the last frontiers, the American Bar Association's new book “Zoning the Oceans: The Next Big Step in Coastal Zone Management’’ is intended to help experts and government planners use zoning as a vehicle for ocean development and management. It is claimed to be the first book to focus on new and emerging state ocean zoning programs in the context of recent developments in offshore coastal zone regulation at the state and federal levels…
US Navy Awards $227-Million Contracts to General Dynamics
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, says it has been awarded two contracts valued at approximately $226.7 million by the U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs (SSP) office for continuing efforts to modernize and repair training and support equipment for the U.S. and United Kingdom ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and SSGN fleets. "These contracts are…
Aegean Bunkering Secures Cash for US Expansion
Aegean Marine says it has secured a $150 million uncommitted working capital facility from ABN AMRO Capital USA to finance the working capital requirements of Aegean Bunkering (USA) LLC, which Aegean Marine recently formed to complete the acquisition of the former U.S. East Coast Bunkering business of Hess Corporation. "This $150 million working capital facility will support our expansion into the U.S.
More Certainty Expected in Navy's 2014 Budget Says Admiral
On his visit to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) Vice Adm. Bill Moran spoke to Sailors about the latest on manning, the budget and uniform changes, among other topics. In his 'All Hands Call', Moran told Sailors that he was expecting a budget for fiscal year 2014 which should provide more certainty regarding, pay and benefits, training and operations any day now. He also assured them that…
Latest Transocean Offshore Rig Status Report
Transocean's latest comprehensive Fleet Status Report provides the current status and contract information for the company's entire fleet of offshore drilling rigs. The total value of new contracts since the December 18, 2013 Fleet Update Summary is approximately $48 million. GSF Arctic III - Awarded a two-well contract in the U.K. sector of the North Sea at a dayrate of $410,000 ($48 million estimated backlog). The rig's prior dayrate was $339,000.
Bishop to Address SUNY Maritime Commencement
Congressman Tim Bishop will deliver the commencement address when SUNY Maritime graduates its mid-year class Friday, January 31. Maritime’s President, Dr. Approximately 100 students will receive Associate’s, Bachelor’s,or Master’s degrees during the ceremony, which is open by invitation only. Approximately 60 of the January graduates will have also passed the examinations required for licensing by the US Coast Guard as Merchant Marine Officers.
Sunken Vessel Leaking Fuel Near Alaska
Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Ketchikan personnel are working with responders to assess and mitigate pollution from the 60-foot Silver Bay II that reportedly…
Alion Opens New Facility in Charleston
Keeping warfighters connected at all times is essential to mission success and is the driving force behind the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) and…
New CMA CGM Middle East to Somalia Service
CMA CGM announced the launch of the direct service Noura Express from Middle East to Somalia. The service will connect at Khor Fakkan with CMA CGM long haul services from / to worldwide to reach Mogadishu, Somalia. The Noura Express will start as of January 29, 2014, with M/V CMA CGM Kailas voyage DB227R, deploying 1,854 TEU capacity with 21-day frequency. Noura Express full rotation is as follows…
USCG Ice-breaking on Lake Manistee
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG ) issuead an alert warning residents, particularly ice fishermen and other recreational users of Lake Manistee, of ice-breaking activities…
New Bulk Carrier E-Learning Module
A new addition to the existing catalogue of the American P&I Club’s e-learning modules covers compliance with the mandatory requirements of the IMO’s International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code. Speaking in New York, Dr William Moore, senior vice president of Shipowners Claims Bureau Inc. (the club’s managers), said, “The aim of this timely initiative is to provide club members with relevant and useful training tools for safety and environmental protection compliance.
Sabine-Neches Canal Channel Limitations
Contractors continue work to remove construction scaffolding that collapsed into the waters adjacent to the Highway 82/Martin Luther King (Gulfgate) bridge in Port Arthur, Texas.
Palfinger Delivers Two Offshore Cranes
Archer, the global oilfield service provider, has secured a contract with Statoil for the permanent plugging and abandonment of 12 gas wells on the Heimdal field in the Norwegian North Sea.
New Website for Panama Canal Expansion
Myths: Clarification of the most common doubts about the Expansion. Main international and local news coverage related to the Expansion Program. All the official press releases that have been issued. Interesting photos from the Expansion Program. General summary of the components of the Expansion Program and their progress.
Navy's Newest Vessel on Maiden Deployment
The Navy's first joint high-speed vessel departed Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Ft. Story today on its maiden deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility. USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) is expected to remain in U.S. 6th Fleet until May 2014 and sail to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility through the end of fiscal year 2014. While deployed, the ship will undergo planned experimentation and testing to determine the ship's capabilities.
