DP Offshore Safety Vessel Launched at Zamakona Yard
Zamakona Yards say they have successfully launched the 'Ocean Marilin' for owners Atlantic Offshore A.S. at their shipyard in Pasajes in Northern Spain. The shipbuilder explains that the principal mission of the vessel will be to provide immediate attention in emergency situations to offshore oil rigs and installations. Being especially adapted to the severe climatic conditions of the North Sea, it will commence operations for the Oil Company TOTAL in the second semester of 2014.
Canadian Coast Guard's Massive Fleet Renewal Underway
As part of the Government's investment in its Coast Guard fleet, Federal Ministers Gail Shea and Rob Moore announce the award of a $1.2 million contract to St. John’s Dockyard Limited for Vessel Life Extension (VLE) and refit work to Canadian Coast Guard vessel 'CCGS Cygnus', . In the unprecedented investment to the Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet renewal program allocated in Economic Action Plan 2012…
Latest Global Deep-Sea Shipbuilding Contract Round-Up
Far East shipbuilders scoop the pool of latest big ship newbuilding orders reports Clarkson Hellas in their latest Weekly S+P Bulletin. This week Clarkson Hellas say that Bocimar has announced an order for two firm 206,000 DWT Newcastlemax and one firm 180,000 DWT Capesize at Imabari, with delivery of all three vessels in 2016. Also at Imabari, Wisdom Marine announced an order for two firm 81,000 DWT Kamsarmax.
Martek: ECDIS Overlays Cover Most Nav Variables
Martek Marine claims that its recently launched iECDIS offers the most comprehensive chart overlay options on the market. The company explains that chart overlays are an excellent decision support tool that provide a more holistic representation of available data. They allow navigators to easily superimpose additional layers of information over a chart displayed on the ECDIS screen. These overlays include weather data…
Israeli Unmanned Surface Vessel to Debut at Defexpo 2014
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will be participating in this year's military systems exhibition in India - Defexpo 2014 - Land, Naval & Internal Homeland Security says company CEO & President Joseph Weiss. In the field of Homeland Security (HLS) and protection of maritime economic exclusion zones (EEZ), IAI says it will be presenting an unmanned surface vessel (USV), which supports a wide range of applications for HLS and EEZ protection…
China Set to Expand Antarctic Research, Build New Icebreaker
China is preparing for a new period of polar exploration with its first fixed-wing aircraft and plans to build a new icebreaker for Antarctic research, report Xinhua according to information from Chinese oceanic authorities. China plans a new icebreaker and a feasibility study on the new vessel has been submitted for approval. The current icebreaker, Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, continued its research in Antarctic after being trapped by heavy floes from December last year until Jan. 7, 2014.
Update & Nav Warning: Upper Mississippi Rock Removal
The Big River Coalition provides the following update on progress made by the contractors on the ongoing “Rock Removal” (pinnacle rock) project being conducted on the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) in the vicinity of Thebes, IL., as well as navigational warnings issued. The contractor has completed work at locations C-105 and C-106. Surveys are being preformed at locations: C-107, C-108, C-109 to verify…
Electric Boat Awarded $520 Million Sub Contract
The Department of Defense, Navy, announce that Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $520,000,000 undefinitized contract action under existing contract (N00024-12-C-2115), for additional long lead time material associated with the two fiscal 2015 Virginia-class submarines (SSN 794 and SSN 795) and the two fiscal 2016 Virginia-class submarines (SSN 796 and SSN 797). This contract modification provides additional long lead time material for steam and electric plant components…
Distressed British Royal Air Force Rowers Landed
Four members of the British Royal Air Force were rescued by the crew of the bulk carrier 'Hedvig Bulker' and are now back on dry land after a treacherous 51 day, trans-Atlantic attempt from Spain to Antigua in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, informs the US Coast Guard. Rescued were the Atlantic Forces rowing team: Jane McIntosh, Warren Burns, Howard Raw and Elizabeth Beauchamp. The team had a broken rudder on day 46 and after exhausting all efforts to fix it in heavy seas…
ACL Designate Newbuilds for Mississippi & Columbia Rivers
American Cruise Lines (ACL) confirms it will be placing the first of 4 upcoming newbuilds on the Mississippi River, where it currently operates its newest riverboat, 'Queen of the Mississippi'. The second newbuild will operate in the Pacific Northwest on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, where the line is operating the 120-passenger 'Queen of the West'. The company adds that construction of both new riverboats is well underway at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, MD.
USCG Cutter Spills Diesel Fuel
The Coast Guard reported a diesel fuel discharge Tuesday afternoon from the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw while the ship was taking on fuel in the Detroit River in the vicinity of the Ambassador Bridge. The crew immediately secured the source of fuel and conducted initial clean-up operations onboard. Crewmembers also deployed boom around the fuel to prevent further spread. Coast Guard Sector Detroit pollution responders currently on scene estimate that 200-300 gallons entered the water.
Many Leadership Changes at W&O
W&O, a global supplier to the marine and marine offshore markets for pipe, valves and fittings, valve automation and engineered solutions, announced several changes to leadership at its Gulf Coast branches, as well as at its offices in Charleston, Norfolk and Fort Lauderdale. Vince Rodomista, a graduate of Kings Point with a degree in Marine Engineering and Marine Transportation, joins W&O as General Manager of the Houston branch.
America's Tall Ship to visit Morehead City
The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, America's Tall Ship and seagoing classroom for future officers in training, is scheduled to arrive March 26 in Morehead City, N.C. From its homeport in New London, Conn., the cutter will sail along the eastern seaboard and transit through Morehead as part of its spring training for Coast Guard and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officer candidates. Eagle's…
TRACE International and DA-Desk Form Alliance
TRACE International and DA-Desk FZ-LLC today announced a partnership to create greater transparency in the shipping industry. The first-of-its-kind shipping industry partnership pairs TRACE…
Maritime Reporter @ 75: The Daily Cartoon
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was founded by John J. O'Malley (1905-1980) in 1939, and today ranks as the world's largest audited trade publication in the world serving the maritime industry, with a circulation of more than 35,000 worldwide, including ship and boat owners, ship and boat builders, naval architects and marine engineers. Today Maritime Reporter heads a group of four print and 10 websites serving the global maritime, offshore and subsea sector.
Strike Could Disrupt Tanker Operations
Tanker operations at Fos and Lavera Fluxel oil terminal may be interrupted today, February 4, following the call by CGT (Confederation generale du travail - France's General Confederation of Labor) for terminal employees to stop work for one hour each end of their shift. The stoppage is subject to each working shift decision. from 1-2 p.m. from 9-10 p.m. from 5-6 a.m. French trade unions have also called for a 24-hour national strike from 6 a.m. on February 6 to 6 a.m. on February 7.
Wachel Joins Parsons Brinckerhoff
William Wachel has been named a Senior Supervising Engineer, Ports and Marine, in the Houston office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global infrastructure strategic consulting, engineering, and program/construction management organization. In his new position, Wachel will manage ports and marine projects throughout Texas and the Southeastern United States. Wachel comes to Parsons Brinckerhoff following 25 years with the Port of Houston Authority.
Amphibious Ship America Runs Successful Trials
The amphibious assault ship America (LHA 6) returned to Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division Friday following successful acceptance sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. Ingalls' test and trials team successfully demonstrated more than 220 test events to the U.S. Navy's board of inspection and survey (INSURV). "It was a proud three days at sea, and America proved she is a quality ship," said LHA 6 Program Manager George Jones.
Iridium Launches Portable Satellite Hotspot
Iridium Communications Inc. today announced Iridium GO!, the industry’s first portable satellite hotspot that connects to any smartphone or tablet, dramatically extending voice and data coverage for personal devices when they are out of range of cellular networks. Iridium GO! creates a satellite-backed Wi-Fi zone anywhere on the planet, enabling up to five smartphones to make calls, get their email, text and use some apps, even when terrestrial networks are non-existent, unreliable or costly.
ISS Appoints Mackay Senior VP, Africa
Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the world’s leading maritime services provider, has appointed David Mackay as Senior Vice President for its Africa region. Based in Mombasa, Kenya, David will have operational management responsibility for eight countries in the region, with ambitious plans for more country openings in the coming year. As part of a strategic geographical realignment, Africa has now been designated by ISS as a specific region its own right…
