G6 Alliance Announces Asia-Europe Cancellations
The G6 Alliance, which consists of members APL, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Orient Overseas Container Line, announced the cancellation of two Asia-Europe sailings in response to seasonal changes in market demand. These two void sailings are in addition to those previously announced in October 2013. The G6 Alliance continues to offer services between the Far East and Europe covering all major port pairs with weekly sailings…
TMEIC Receives Order from Georgia Ports Authority
TMEIC has received an order to supply MAXSPEED electrical drive systems upgrade for three Ship-to-Shore Crane at Georgia Ports Authority. The project will be to replace the original DC drives with TMEIC’s TMdrive 10e2 drives and controls. TMEIC will be supplying new AC hoist motors with higher HP that will enable GPA to increase container moves by two containers per hour. “The Georgia Ports Authority…
Canada’s Most Powerful Tug Enters Service
On December 13, 2013 the 6,000 kW ASD tug Ocean Tundra was commissioned into service for its Owners, Ocean Group Inc. (Ocean) of Quebec City, Canada. This icebreaking escort tug becomes the most powerful tug in Canadian registry, and heralds a new generation of extremely capable tugs which will provide the highest degree of year-round escort towing capability to Canada’s east coast and the St. Lawrence River and Seaway system.
Norwegian Cruise Ship to Pilot High-tech Satellite Modem
MTN Communications (MTN) announces its partner, Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian), is pioneering the new iDirect X7 high-performance satellite modem on its Norwegian Breakaway ship. MTN installed the X7 after a six-month test process in its Miramar, Fla. engineering lab. The modem has dramatically improved the efficiency and throughput of the vessel’s communications system, enabling the most cutting-edge Internet service at sea.
Signet Poised for Growth
Signet Maritime Corporation is investing $7.2 million in infrastructure improvements to their Pascagoula, Mississippi shipyard, Signet Shipbuilding & Repair (SS&R) to support an increased workload and future growth. In addition to the recent acquisition of the 150-ton crawler crane, the shipyard facility modernization includes the dredging and renewal of a 1000-foot waterfront bulkhead, a new fabrication shop…
L-3 SAM to Supply Electrical Package for DanTysk Wind Project
L-3 SAM Electronics announced today that together with its associated L-3 companies, it has been awarded a major contract for the supply and installation of the electrical system package on an accommodation platform being built in Kiel, Germany, by Nobiskrug of Rendsburg as part of the DanTysk offshore wind farm project jointly developed by Stadtwerke München (SWM) and Vattenfall. The accommodation…
Qatar Champions LNG as Cleaner Marine Fuel
Nakilat, Qatargas and RasGas Company Limited will convert a Q-Max vessel as a pilot project making it capable of running on LNG and reducing the ship’s exhaust gas and greenhouse gas emissions.
AKD: Shipping to Benefit from EU Debt Recovery Proposal
Rotterdam-based law firm AKD says shipping and international trade and logistics operators should welcome a recent decision by European Justice Ministers which will improve their chances of successfully recovering money owed to them by trading partners in EU countries by effectively opening the door to the Europe-wide freezing of bank accounts. At the end of December, 2013, European Justice Ministers reached agreement on the European Account Preservation Order (EAPO)…
GAC Australia Signs Three-Year Contract with MOL
Multimodal transport operator Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) has awarded an exclusive three-year contract to serve its vessels and port calls across Australia to GAC Australia, part of the global shipping, logistics and marine service provider GAC Group. The contract was signed by Mark Austin, Managing Director of Mitsui O.S.K Lines Australia (MOL), and Phil Coolican, Managing Director, GAC Australia, following a rigorous tender process.
Nautronix Deliver First Systems of $10M Order to Rowan
Nautronix have successfully delivered the first two NASDrill RS925 and NASeBOP (Emergency BOP Acoustic Control) systems from their current order of four systems for two of Rowan’s new ultra-deepwater drillships, the Rowan Relentless and the Rowan Reliance. The total contract value is worth approximately $10 million. Nautronix’ NASDrill RS925 system has been designed specifically to meet the requirements for a reliable…
U.S. DOT Updates National Transportation Statistics
BTS’ National Transportation Statistics Updated - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative…
Oman Drydock Announces Strongest Year of Trading
The Oman Drydock Company (ODC), one of the Middle East’s newest and biggest shipyards, is announcing its strongest year of trading. The shipyard undertook 75 drydockings and repairs in 2013 taking the total number to 190 since the yard which was opened in Duqm in Central Oman in 2011. ODC also saw staff numbers increase to more than 2,000 in 2013. The vessels ODC has worked on include Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs)…
Drydocks World to Build Mega Jack-up Rig for the North Sea
Drydocks World, international service provider to the maritime, oil and gas and energy sectors, signed an Agreement with Drill One Capital for building the “Dubai Expo 2020 NS” mega jack-up rig. Gusto MSC, a major partner in the project, designed the CJ 80 rig and the rig will be the first of this design to be built and will be the largest jack-up rig ever built. Designed to be operated in harsh environments…
ICS Reports on Lessons from Somali Piracy
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), a global trade association for shipowners, has issued a paper drawing upon the international shipping industry’s experience of Somali-based piracy during the period 2007 to 2013. “The intention is to identify lessons learned in order to shape future policy responses, wherever in the world they might be needed,” explained ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe.
Most Powerful Canadian Icebreaking Tug Enters Service
The 6000 kW ASD tug 'Ocean Tundra' has been commissioned into service by owners, Ocean Groupe Inc. (Ocean) of Quebec City, Canada. This icebreaking escort tug, say designers Robert Allan, becomes the most powerful tug in Canadian registry, and heralds a new generation of tugs which will provide year-round escort towing to Canada’s east coast and the St. Lawrence River and Seaway system. The 36m long…
Adm. Papp Advises Coast Guard Cadets "Remember the Chief's Mess"
At the United States Coast Guard Academy, hundreds of cadets funneled from the bitter January cold into Leamy Hall to hear a personal address from Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp, and this year to hear a different sort of speech. “This year, I don’t have a formal speech prepared for you,” said Adm. Papp. “I thought tonight, rather than talking about lofty ideas and theoretical leadership, I’d talk about some practical matters to consider. Adm.
China Bans US West Coast Shellfish Imports
China has banned shellfish imports from the US west coast, cutting off a US$270-million Pacific Northwest industry from its biggest export market, reports Shipping Gazette (China). The ban was imposed after recent shipments of geoduck clams from northwest waters were found to have high levels of arsenic and a toxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning. The restriction applies to clams, oysters and all other two-shelled bivalves from Washington, Oregon, Alaska and northern California.
Local Shipyard Constructs Port Metro Patrol Boats
Port Metro Vancouver has previewed 2 new harbour patrol vessels currently under construction at local shipyard, Campbell River’s Daigle Welding & Marine. The new vessels will provide continuous marine surveillance with early incident detection and activity tracking. Peter Xotta, Port Metro Vancouver’s Vice President of Planning & Operations spoke about the announcement saying, “This is an exciting day for Campbell River.
Korea Shipbuilders Take Firmer Stance on Business Ethics
Korea’s big three shipbuilders are committed to making a fresh start with regard to business ethics in 2014 after getting hit with bribery scandals in 2013, reports the Korea Joong Ang Daily. According to the Korea Joong Ang Daily, Hyundai Heavy Industries, the nation’s largest ship manufacturer, held an “ethics management resolution” event recently at its headquarters in Ulsan during a management strategy seminar.
Aids to Navigation GLA 2015 Review: Mariner Input Sought
The General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) will be undertaking a review of Aids to Navigation provision around the coasts of Ireland and Great Britain during 2014. The GLA consider good quality user input to be an essential component of this review. The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention requires the provision of “such aids to navigation as the volume of traffic justifies and the degree of risk requires”.
