Neptune Maritime Security Certified to ISO PAS 28007
Neptune announce that it has been certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) to ISO PAS 28007. The PAS, as part of the ISO 28000 family of security standards, gives established guidelines to private maritime security companies (PMSC) providing armed guards to ships. Certification to the standards demonstrates to clients and stakeholders that Neptune Maritime Security and its operatives can legally…
NAO Orders Two Newbuild PSVs
Nordic American Offshore Ltd., which is sponsored by Nordic American Tankers Limited (NAT) and is managed by a subsidiary of NAT, currently has six platform supply…
Is NAT Approaching Recovery?
Nordic American Tankers (NAT) published its financial results from 4Q 2013, noting an expected increase in tanker rates that the company expects to play a role in its recovery. In early December 2013 the Suezmax tanker rates increased significantly compared with the average for 2013. A few weeks into 2014 the rates have weakened again. We expect improved results in 1Q 2014. The timecharter results of NAT were slightly lower in 4Q 2013 than in 3Q 2013.
RINA Certifies Aggreko Marine Generators
International classification society RINA has certified the power generators which Aggreko provides for temporary marine use. The certification provides ship owners with the assurance that the generators meet all applicable SOLAS rules for temporary use on board a ship. Pino Spadafora, Area Manager, RINA Services, said, “This certification delivers peace of mind for ship owners and ship operators that SOLAS rules are fully checked and complied with by the equipment providers.
Topaz to Supply Two PSVs in West Africa
Topaz Energy and Marine, a leading offshore support vessel company with primary operations in the Middle East and Caspian, has announced the expansion of its West African operations with the award of two PSV contracts worth $50 million (USD). The contracts are to supply one of the world’s leading international oil companies with two 3,300 DWT Platform Supply Vessels to support its offshore production operations.
Otto Marine Bags US$40-Million Offshore Vessel Charter
Singapore-based Otto Marine say they have secured a long-term charter contract for their AHTS 'Go Pegasus', which was recently deliverd from their own Indonesia shipyard in Batam, Indonesia. Go Pegasus will soon be mobilized and deployed to the North Sea where she will work for the summer season before commencing its term contract from September 2014. As part of the contract, the client also has options to extend the contract for an undisclosed period.
Ocean Exploration Vessel Will Knock on Neptune's Door
A new ocean exploration vessel, 'SeaOrbiter' which the designer claims will provide permanent and continuous observation and research operations at the heart of the ocean is almost fully funded, ready to be built. Jacques Rougerie describes himself as a visionary architect who aims to deliver a new vision of underwater exploration with his SeaOrbiter, the culmination of over 30 years of research dedicated to bionic marine architecture and exploration of the undersea world.
Suez Canal Tolls Set to Rise Again
Suez Canal tolls will rise for the third straight year by as much as 2.6% with effect from 1, May 2014 for all vessels inform the Suez Canal Authority. In addition, a container stack surcharge for North-bound ships has been increased. 4% for vessels carrying one tier . 6% for vessels carrying two tiers. 8% for vessels carrying three tiers. 11% for vessels carrying four tiers . 15% for vessels carrying five tiers. 21% for vessels carrying six tiers.
DHL Solve Weighty Problem, Deliver UK MRI Scanner to USA
DHL Global Forwarding say they have delivered the world's largest Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner ever built to the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research at the University of Minnesota. The journey of the 100-ton heavy-load module from Oxford, United Kingdom, to its destination in the U.S. via ocean and road freight took almost 6 weeks. "Even though we do have a lot of experience in heavyweight cargo transports, this project has really been an interesting challenge for us.
North Korea Arms Carrier Pays Panama Canal Fine
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) informs that representatives of the ship 'Chong Chon Gang' have paid the total amount of the fine for US$693,333.10 set due to the violation of the Regulations for Navigation in Canal Waters and consequently the ACP has authorized the release of the ship. ACP add that in the case of the ship Chong Chon Gang, its competence was limited to the violation of the vessel to Canal regulations, and is not related to any other fault outside Panama Canal jurisdiction.
Deep Draft Ships Can Access Northern Sea Route Port
The works carried out to deepen the approach channel to the Port of Sabetta on the Gulf of Ob in the Russian Far North have resulted in the removal of previous restrictions on vessel call for large ships, including nuclear-powered icebreakers, report Arctic-Info. Citing a report by the press service of the Arkhangelsk branch of Rosmorport Arctic-Info report that last year the company implemented a…
DryShips Re-state Amended US$1.9-Billion Credit Agreement
From HQ in Athens, Greece, DryShips Inc. announce that through its majority owned subsidiary Ocean Rig, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Drillships Financing Holding Inc. (“DFHI”), and Drillships Projects Inc., have entered into an Amendment and Restatement Agreement to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 12, 2013. “We are pleased with the successful closing of this important transaction which extends Ocean Rig’s debt maturities.
Latest Transit Update: Upper Mississippi Pinnacle Rock
The Big River Coalition inform that the following transits restrictions have been established to allow traffic to pass during rock removal work operations at locations C-100 and C-101 (Thebes, IL). The restrictions may be changed based upon conditions, including weather and experience with vessels passing while the rock removal operations are being conducted. The original request for these locations…
Northern Australia Waters: Emergency Towage Service
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has awarded two substantial new contracts to Brisbane-based company Australian Maritime Systems Limited to provide emergency towage services in Far North Queensland as well as to maintain its aids to navigation network. AMSA Chief Executive Officer Graham Peachey said the Level 1 emergency capability operates out of Cairns and provides a dedicated 24/7…
ASRY Expands Technical Cooperation With SOLAS
ASRY (Arabian Shipbuilding & Repair Yard) says it is expanding its already extensive range of in-yard services in Bahrain by signing an important Service Agreement with Solas Marine Services Group. The Agreement will allow Solas to build a 2,000-square-metre Service Centre for Life Boats, Life Rafts and Fire Fighting & Life Saving Appliances in ASRY. This is the first development in an initiative to increase ASRY’s technical resources, which will continue to roll out in 2014.
Eastern Shipbuilding Deliver 'HOS Riverbend'
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. says it has delivered the M/V HOS RIVERBEND (Hull 204), their fourth and final vessel in the HOSMAX 300 series, to Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC, ahead of schedule. Each vessel is Diesel-Electric powered, twin Z-drive propelled OSV’s. These high-tech vessels feature four Caterpillar 3516C 16-cylinder turbo-charged Tier III diesel generator engines each rated at 1,825 kW at 1,800 rpm.
New Warship Arrives in Melbourne Aboard Blue Marlin
Minister for Defence David Johnston said the second LHD (to be known as 'HMAS Adelaide' once commissioned) was transported from Spain to Australia by a Heavy Lift Ship, 'Blue Marlin'. Blue Marlin has taken eight weeks to travel the 10,000 nautical miles to Melbourne where it will undergo final fitting out. “This is a significant milestone, not just for the Royal Australian Navy but for defence industry here in Melbourne,” Senator Johnston said.
Wärtsilä Supports Finland's Rio Olympics Sailing Team
Wärtsilä say they have signed a 3-year logistic agreement with the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation with Wärtsilä’s new site in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, offering a perfect location and valued logistical services to the Finnish top sailors. The Finnish sailors’ training program for the 2016 summer Olympics includes a number of training camps and the test events on the future Olympic sailing courses.
Moose Boats Delivers Two Patrol Vessels
Moose Boats, an aluminum boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area announced the delivery of two patrol boats in late 2013. Moose Boats delivered a new M1-44 Catamaran Patrol Boat to Bridgeport Police Department on Long Island Sound. The M1-44 all-aluminum catamaran is powered by twin Cummins QSC8.3 600hp marine turbo diesel engines coupled via TwinDisc MG5075SC transmissions to twin Hamilton 322 water-jets with Hamilton Blue Arrow Controls.
USCG Reports Record Icebreaking Season
An early and intense winter season has meant an increased demand for ice-breaking operations for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 9th District's icebreaking fleet, but that didn't stop the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Katmai Bay, homeported in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., from conducting important training earlier this week. Across the district, icebreaking crews logged nearly four times the five-year average of operational ice-breaking hours during the first quarter of 2014.
