Today in U.S. Naval History: January 9
Today in U.S. Naval History - January 9 1861 - Union steamer Star of the West fired on in Charleston Harbor 1918 - Establishment of Naval Overseas Transportation Service to carry cargo during WWI 1945 - Carrier aircraft begin two-day attack on Japanese forces, Luzon, Philippines For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Damen Delivers Second Oil Tanker to James Fisher Everard
The Damen Double Hull Oil Tanker 8000 Kestrel Fisher was delivered end 2013 to Dutch managers De OpfeartBeheer. In a two-tanker deal, the Kestrel Fisher’s sister vessel King Fisher was delivered in June 2013. Both have been built by Damen Shipyards Bergum. The oil (product) tankers’ names are a reference to James Fisher Everard Ltd., which have taken up their commercial management. The 7,076-deadweight…
Kristin Gas Export Project Terminated
The Kristin gas export project (KGEP) partners have made a decision to terminate the project due to unsustainable economics caused by increased investment costs and increased risk to volume availability. The Kristin gas export project (KGEP) – a pipeline connection between the Kristin field and Polarled – was sanctioned by the KGEP partners (Statoil 53.4%, Petoro 35.6% and GdFS 11%) in conjunction with the Polarled project sanction late 2012.
BMT's CargoHandbook Goes Mobile
BMT Surveys, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd., an international design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has announced the launch of a new App which will provide mobile access to its world-renowned CargoHandbook database. The App is now available as a free download for both Android and iOS users. CargoHandbook is the world’s largest online database for cargo transportation in the marine industry.
NTSB: Ineffective Shiphandling Probable Cause of Casualty
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the June 2012 allision between bulk carriers Mary Ann Hudson and Star Grip was the pilot’s ineffective handling of the Mary Ann Hudson and his ineffective use of the two tug boats to maneuver the vessel around the Star Grip’s crane arms, which were extending into the navigable waterway. On June 6, 2012, at 0530 central daylight time…
EU Funds LNG Bunkering Study
Studies on liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering infrastructure in Spain and France get EU grant. The European Union will support with just over €1 million from the TEN-T Programme a series of studies to analyse the potential introduction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure in Spain and France. The studies, selected for funding under the 2012 TEN-T Multi-Annual Call, aim at determining the…
Tognum America changes name to MTU America Inc.
Name change aligns corporate name with primary product brands MTU and MTU Onsite Energy; German holding company Tognum AG renamed Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG. Effective immediately, Tognum America Inc. has changed its name to MTU America Inc. Based in Novi, Mich., the company is responsible for the manufacture, development, sales and service of MTU engines, propulsion and drive systems and MTU Onsite Energy distributed energy systems in North and Latin America.
Study: Big Savings from Emissions Monitoring
Ship owners could save up to €9m with advanced emissions monitoring. Advanced emissions monitoring of large ships calling at EU ports could help save owners and…
ClassNK Unveils IACS Compliant Design Software
ClassNK Releases World’s First Harmonized CSR Compliant Ship Design Support Software. Classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has announced the release of a new version of its PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) ship design support software that is fully compliant with the new IACS Common Structural Rules (harmonized CSR) for oil tankers and bulk carriers. The new ship design support software is the first in the world to fully support the new Common Strucutural Rules…
Bid for Wärtsilä Corporation Takeover Not Yet on Agenda
"We confirm the approach by Rolls-Royce with a preliminary proposal for a possible offer for the company. In case the company receives such proposals, the Wärtsilä Board has an obligation to evaluate such proposals.
APL to Reorganize Management Structure
Container ship operators APL says it is to move from the current geographically-organized structure to a functional one. The functions will be in the areas of Trade, Commercial, Operations, Procurement and Planning & Strategy. “The container shipping industry is undergoing profound changes, characterized by low growth and intense competition. We recognize there is a need for APL to respond more quickly to the market and to our customers.
Norway's DHT Holdings Orders One More VLCC
DHT Holdings, Inc. says it has taken up its option to construct another VLCC at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in South Korea on the same terms as for two others ordered earlier. The contract price of US$92.7-million, includes certain additions and upgrades to the standard specification. at HHI that are scheduled for delivery in April, July and September 2016. About DHT Holdings, Inc. DHT is an independent crude oil tanker company.
Chinese Icebreaker's Antarctic Response Gains Recognition
China’s research vessel and icebreaker 'Xue Long' has entered an area of clear water, after more than ten hours spent breaking up ice. A change in wind direction loosened the floes packed around the vessel, providing an 80-meter stretch of water for the Xuelong to navigate in, reports CNTV. The vessel's helicopter had earlier evacuated all 52 passengers from the stranded Russian ship Akademik Shokalskiy to the Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis.
Houston LPG Terminal Capacity to be Expanded
Oiltanking Partners, L.P. says it has expanded its terminal agreement with Enterprise Products Partners, L.P. to further increase exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at the Partnership's terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. With an expected completion date of year-end 2015, the expanded LPG export terminal will have total loading capacity in excess of 16 million barrels per month of low-ethane propane and/or butane.
BAE to Drydock 'USS Wasp'
The Department of Defense has issued a $13,895,899 modification to a previously awarded Navy contract to BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Va., for the warship's dry-docking planned maintenance, which includes maintenance, alterations, and modifications. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va., and is expected to be completed by November 2014. USS Wasp was built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
MRA Launches Marine Salvage Fire-Fighting Data App
Marine Response Alliance (MRA), an association of the top U.S. emergency responders providing OPA 90 Salvage Marine Firefighting (SMFF), says it has launched an exclusive mobile app, providing ship owners/operators, qualified individuals (QIs) and the U.S. Coast Guard with immediate access to the MRA’s resources for Salvage Marine Fire Fighting as per OPA 90 compliance as well as the ability to report incidents through TITAN Salvage (MRA partner) around the world.
Kongsberg Open 'Subsea Valley', Oslo, Office
The company says it has installed 330 employees in a new building which will be the main headquarters for the Group's Oil & Gas business area in addition to accommodating some of the Group's defence activities. According to the cluster organisation 'Subsea Valley', the area between Fornebu and Drammen currently includes some 200 enterprises that represent nearly 57 000 workplaces and roughly NOK 111 billion in sales.
Winter Grips But Great Lakes Group Keeps Busy
The Great Lakes Towing Company says it has been extremely busy providing icebreaking assistance, and Great Lakes Shipyard has started repairs and maintenance on Interlake Steamship vessels, with more vessels contracted to follow. Recently, the 140-foot USCG Bay-class Icebreaking Tug Katmai Bay (WTGB 101) was dead in the icy waters and required towing assistance to its homeport dock, and the towing company's tug Missouri was dispatched to break ice and assist it back to its dock.
Mass Gulf of Aden Pirate Attack Foiled
An attempt by pirates to hijack an Iranian oil tanker in international waters has been foiled by the timely action of Iranian warships present in the region, reports Iran's FARS News Agency, citing Admiral Siyavash Jarreh. The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, is an important energy corridor, allowing Persian Gulf oil to be shipped to the West via the Suez Canal.
WTS Wins Xflow Watermist Fire Fighting Contracts
Ulsteinvik-based Island Offshore has specified Unitor XFlow for two vessels under construction by Vard at its Brevik facility. The scope of the contract includes supply of a total flooding water mist system for the ship’s engine room and a local protection water mist system. The vessels which are being built to a Rolls-Royce design will be delivered to Island Offshore in 2014 and Q1 2015. Bergen-based…
