Loan Options for the Marine Industry
As we launch into 2014, the domestic waterfront continues to fire on all pistons; boatbuilding, charter rates, utilization of tonnage, and so much more. That kind of momentum…
Fendercare Opens Middle East Office
Fendercare Marine Middle East announces opening of new regional head office in Sharjah to strategically support its ever growing clientele. Fendercare Marine Middle East announced the opening of their brand new, purpose built premises at Emirates Industrial City Sajaa, Plot No 146/16, PO Box 25896, Sharjah, UAE. Their new permanent premises will enable the company to offer an even wider range of products and services to both their existing and new clients.
North P&I and Sunderland Marine to Merge
The members of North of England P&I Association (North) and Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Company Limited (SMMI) have voted in favor of the clubs' recent proposals to merge. A target date of February 21, 2014 has been set for the merger, which will create one of the largest marine insurance operations. At their general meeting on 16 January 2014, North's members approved the terms of the merger framework agreement signed by the two north-east England based mutuals last month.
Rolls-Royce to Supply DP for New Farstad Vessels
Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with the shipyard group Vard for its latest DP3 dynamic positioning system to be installed on two new offshore construction vessels. DP systems with classification 3 are the most advanced defined by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and this is the first Rolls-Royce contract for DP3. Vessels constructed to DP3 standards are able to operate in very demanding situations where any loss of position has the potential to result in fatal accidents…
Gas2 Tests GTL Process Technology
Gas reforming company Gas2 said it has achieved a second milestone at its 3 bpd (barrels per day) Wilton Research Center pilot plant in Teesside, U.K. as it develops a new generation of natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) process technology which has the potential to deliver lower cost solutions for small scale plants. By successfully commissioning and starting-up the Fischer Tropsch (FT) reactor, using syngas produced in the syngas reactor, the company has produced hydrocarbon liquids.
European GPS Slated for 2014 Launch
Galileo, the EU satellite navigation program (the European GPS) and Copernicus, the EU Earth monitoring program, are in decisive phases this year. With the launch of six additional Galileo satellites…
International Ice Patrol Opens 2014 Season
The U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol (IIP) is scheduled to take over responsibility Wednesday for issuing daily iceberg warnings for the North Atlantic Ocean from the Canadian Ice Service under the North American Ice Service (NAIS) collaboration marking the beginning of the 2014 ice season. In early February, the IIP will deploy the first ice reconnaissance detachment to Newfoundland, Canada to meet with Canadian partners and to conduct the initial aerial patrols of the season.
Crowley Opens New Guatemala City Office
In an effort to better serve customers and business partners, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Guatemala-based liner and logistics teams have moved into a new office space in the heart of Guatemala City, the country’s bustling metropolis and most populous city in Central America. Modeled after Crowley’s Jacksonville, Fla., headquarters, the office’s open layout maximizes the workspace while promoting a collaborative environment and synergy between the two business units…
MOL Crew Rescues Mariners from Disabled Vessel
While steaming some 700km west of Guam on January 20, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. operated coal carrier C. S. Sunshine rescued all 24 Chinese crew members of a disabled freighter January 20. At 8:15 a.m. (local time) on January 20, the Panama-registered C.S. Sunshine, which departed Newcastle, Australia, bound for Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, Japan, received a distress signal from a Panama-flagged freighter that had lost power. The 46,700 MT, 228.4m C.S.
More Orders for B.Delta Bulk Carriers
Deltamarin announced that so far a total of 103 B.Deltas and derivates have been ordered by several world-known shipowners at nine Chinese shipyards. The latest addition is the order of eight open hatch B.Delta37 bulk carriers by Polish shipowner, Polska Zegluga Morska P.P. (Polsteam), at Yangfan Group shipyard. The main dimensions of Polsteam’s B.Delta37 are 179.99 m in overall length and 30.0 m in beam, with cargo carrying capacity of 50,000 m3.
Port of New Orleans on Reduced Operating Schedule
Cargo Operations Ongoing, Terminal Operators Adjust Schedules Due To Winter Weather. Non-Essential Employees Must Not Report To Work Jan. 29. Freezing temperatures and a wintry mix of precipitation forced adjustments to operations schedules at the Port of New Orleans yesterday and today (Jan. 29). While ship cargo operations were ongoing today at Port terminals, all gatehouse operations for truck transport were suspended due to bridge and interstate closures in south Louisiana.
ACP, Canal Infrastructure Stakeholders Continue Negotiations
Panama Canal, GUPC and Zurich American to Continue Talks on New Locks Project. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that a meeting took place on Tuesday, January 28th between ACP, Zurich American and Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPC) (formed by the companies Sacyr Vallehermoso, S.A (Spain), Impregilo, S.p.A. (Italy), Jan de Nul Group (Belgium) and Constructora Urbana, S.A. (CUSA) (Panama)).
Mantel to Head New BMT Operating Company
BMT Group Ltd (BMT), an international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has announced a new commercial operating company which will focus on the provision of high value, innovative vessel performance management and decision support solutions for the maritime industry. BMT SMART Ltd. will draw on years of experience and knowledge from around the BMT group of companies to help accelerate the delivery of BMT’s SmartServices business line…
Shell to Sell Interest in Brazilian Offshore Project
Shell has announced an agreement to sell a 23% interest in the Parque das Conchas (BC-10) project offshore Brazil to Qatar Petroleum International for approximately $1 billion, subject to closing . The transaction is subject to approval by the National Petroleum and Gas Agency (ANP, Brazil’s Oil and Gas regulator) and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE, Brazil’s anti-trust authority).
Sensonics Branches out with Big Contracts
Condition monitoring specialists Sensonics success as a major exporter of instrumentation which protects power plants around the world has been acknowledged by the government initiative to make it easier for the U.K.’s small businesses to grow. Small Business Great Ambition sits alongside the governments Industrial Strategy of promoting growth and making the U.K. more competitive and successful companies were invited to a special reception held at Number 11 Downing Street.
Wärtsilä to Shed 1,000 Staff in Global Efficiency Shake Up
The Group-wide efficiency programme is expected to lead to a reduction of approximately 1,000 employees globally, of which about 200 are planned to be in Finland, in a move to secure future profitability and competitiveness. Wärtsilä add that the reductions will impact all businesses and support functions. The company explains that despite some signs of improvement in market conditions, the business environment remains challenging.
Student Challenge: Control Airship Using Offshore DP Technology
KONGSBERG has introduced a new student project called 'Zeppaloon' which provides students with the opportunity to resolve a complex technological task during the summer months of 2014. The assignment for the 'Zeppaloon' project is to develop a scaled unmanned airship to simulate the dynamic positioning technology that KONGSBERG uses to operate offshore vessels in challenging conditions. The challenge involves developing a prototype with sub systems such as…
Long-Distance Black Sea Gas Pipeline: Project Update
Gazprom board members at the South Stream Transport B.V. joint company in Amsterdam noted significant progress in the project. Approval was given for the signing of pipe supply contracts for the first of 4 lines of the 931-kilometer offshore gas pipeline & a mandate to complete the negotiations on the pipe laying work was given. The South Stream gas pipeline project aims to contruct a gas pipeline…
Delaware River Dredging Contract for GLD&D
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock LLC, Oak Brook, Ill., has been awarded a $14,177,652 firm-fixed-price contract by USACE for deepening the main channel of the Delaware River. The US Department of Defense estimate the completion date to be Nov. 30, 2014 and the contracting authority was Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia, Pa. The company claims it is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States and the only U.S. dredging service provider with significant international operations.
Grand Banks Iceberg Warning System Activates for 2014
The U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol (IIP) announce it is scheduled to take over responsibility Wednesday for issuing daily iceberg warnings for the North Atlantic Ocean marking the beginning of the 2014 Ice Season. In early February, the IIP will deploy the first ice reconnaissance detachment to Newfoundland, Canada to meet with Canadian partners and to conduct the initial aerial patrols of the season. Iceberg reconnaissance is conducted primarily with HC-130J aircraft from U.S.
