Container Industry Stuck in a Vicious Cycle
The industry is stuck in a vicious cycle, Drewry reports – although new ships may give carriers lower slot costs, the supply/demand dynamics are out of kilter and freight rates remain very volatile. Drewry Maritime Research’s 1Q14 Container Forecaster report highlights that the industry remains in an extended down cycle. This is being accentuated and extended by the constant delivery of new ships. The global cascade is now hurting the balance of the north/south trades.
Transas Adds Paper Chart Functions to Navi-Planner 4000
Navi-Planner 4000 has been known for electronic charts, publications and other data management for several years. Recognizing the fact that a lot of shipping companies continue using paper charts, Transas has added a new functionality to its voyage planning software providing one tool for both, electronic and paper charts management to its customers. Users can import complete vessel's inventory or manually select paper charts held onboard.
New CTruk Design Targets Work Farther Offshore
While debate continues about the most efficient way to serve offshore wind installations farther out to sea, CTruk has been quietly forging ahead with a new OWSV designed to safely deal with rougher seas, longer transits and tougher assignments without neglecting the comfort of passengers and crew, the company said. Based on a proven workboat design concept, the CTruk EVOC22 is a 22m composite twin-hull with 7.5m beam and 1.25m draft.
Airbus Expands VSAT Coverage
Ku-band coverage boosted with Seychelles region extension delivering high-speed data. Airbus Defence and Space has expanded its Ku-band VSAT (Very Small Apperture…
CMA CGM Reshuffles Services
CMA CGM announced a revised service between North Europe and South America East Coast as from mid-April which will consist of two loops as detailed below. This change…
MTN, Fred.Olsen Extend 4-Year Relationship
MTN Communications (MTN) announced Fred.Olsen Cruise Lines has extended its four-year relationship with the company. Fred.Olsen chose to increase the breadth of communications, content services and support MTN provides. The MTN partnership includes an enhanced onboard suite of connectivity options for passengers and crew. MTN will continue to provide crew calling and its Worldwide TV service (MTN TV).
LTM Crane Shipped Via the Ostuferhafen
The number of heavy cargo and project loads being handled in Kiel using the port’s efficient port cranes or RoRo ramps is on the rise. The latest example has been what is currently the most up-to-date telescopic mobile crane to be built by the firm of Liebherr. It was shipped directly to Klaipeda in Lithuania on April 1st on a ferry ship belonging to DFDS Seaways. The Type LTM 1750-9.1 mobile crane…
Harkand Names Brown to Gulf of Mexico Management Team
Global inspection, repair, maintenance (IRM) and light construction company Harkand informs it has made a key appointment by securing Mike Brown as general manager of diving services in North America. A U.S. Navy veteran, Brown has considerable experience of commercial diving in the offshore oil and gas sector having held number of senior positions in a career spanning more than 35 years. He was most…
AWO Urged Action on Waterways Infrastructure
As part of the American Waterways Operators’ annual Barge-In, U.S. vessel owners, operators and mariners are fanning out all over Capitol Hill today visiting nearly 150 Congressional offices to talk about the industry’s top advocacy priorities and the industry’s important role as economic generators, safety leaders and environmental stewards. The group’s advocacy priorities this year include: ensuring final passage of needed water resources development legislation…
IHC Merwede Appoints Bram Roelse as CEO
IHC Merwede announced that it has appointed Bram Roelse as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect as of April 1, 2014. He has taken over this leading role within the company from predecessor Dirk Philips who stepped back in November 2013. Roelse has worked at IHC Merwede for the past 13 years. He was originally appointed as the Managing Director of the company’s business unit IHC Systems.
Navis N4, Kalmar SmartPort Chosen for Paraguayan Ports
Kalmar and Navis, both part of Cargotec, revealed at 'Intermodal South America' that Puerto Caacupe-mi in Paraguay has chosen Navis’ N4 terminal operating system (TOS) and Kalmar’s SmartPort process automation solutions for its Asuncion and Pilar facilities. Cargotec explain that Puerto Caacupe-mi selected N4 due to the TOS’ flexibility to adapt to individual customer needs, and at the same time, achieve greater agility, efficiency and control in handling large cargo volumes.
Tsunami Alerts Triggered by Chile 8.2 Quake
A powerful earth quake identified by the US Geological Survey as situated about 52 miles north-west of the mining area of Iquique killed at least 5 people, and 6ft waves have hit some areas of Chile. Power cuts, fires landslides are also mentioned by BBC News. Citing the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the BBC says that an initial warning was issued for Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama, but later all watches and alerts were later lifted except for Chile and Peru.
Keeping it in the Family: Maersk Founder's Scion Steps Aboard
At its recent general meeting of AP Moller-Maersk, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller's grandson Robert Maersk Uggla was elected to the board of the company, which will ensure the family's active ownership and continuity in the company, according to a report by Børsen with Maritime Denmark. Citing Robert Maersk Uggla the report indicates that he thinks it means a lot to the family. They wished to remain as an active owner of A.
UK Nuclear Submarine Assists in MH370 Search
Submarine HMS Tireless has been tasked to assist in the search for flight MH370 as UK support to the international effort continues informs the government's Ministry of Defence. The Trafalgar-Class submarine has arrived in the southern Indian Ocean to help with the search for the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 that went missing on 8 March, and with her advanced underwater search capability, HMS Tireless is expected to be able to contribute to the attempts to locate the missing plane.
Northern Sea Route Usable 125 Days by 2050: New Report
The recently released Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report – ' Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability' – finds that the effects of climate change are already occurring on all continents and across the oceans. It also underlines that the prediction of ice-free periods in the Arctic Ocean is generally underestimated. Shipping from major European ports to Shanghai is some 40 percent shorter via the Northern Sea Route compared with the Suez Canal.
Long Legs Jack-Up 'Maersk Intrepid' Delivered
Maersk Drilling informs it has taken delivery of its first ultra harsh environment jack-up, 'Maersk Intrepid', from the Keppel FELS shipyard in Singapore, and on time. The new offshore jack-up rig will start its mobilisation to the Norwegian North Sea in approximately two weeks, where it will commence a four year contract with Total E&P Norge AS. The Maersk Intrepid will be drilling the demanding and complex wells on the Martin Linge field development in the Norwegian North Sea.
DNV Helps Take the Strain on Subsea Lifting SWRs
Due to a growing focus on safety related to subsea lifting operations, DNV GL informs it has established a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop practical methods for reducing the risks and lifetime cost of steel wire ropes for subsea lifting applications, using an integrated systems approach. 14 diverse industry players have already signed up and more partners are welcomed, especially oil and gas operators, says project manager, Inger-Lise Tangen at DNV GL.
New Bunker Industry Chairman Focuses on Supply Quality
The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) informs of the appointment of Jens Maul Jorgensen as its Chairman for 2014/15. He replaces Simon Neo who has completed his one year term of office. IBIA say that Jens Maul Jorgensen is Director of Bunkers for German dry bulk shipowner, Oldendorff and has 24 years of shipping industry experience, now leading a team of six purchasers and 14 inspectors worldwide servicing 566 vessels.
Wilh.Willhelmsen Holdings Report 2013 Profit Slide
The Directors' report 2013 (extracted here) states that shipowners & technical services firm Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding group (WWH) delivered lower results for 2013 when compared with a very strong 2012. The fallback in results was due to a 7% reduction in shipping volumes and substantial sales gains impacting previous year accounts. The accounts show that operating profit slipped from $562-million in 2012 to $325-million in 2013. Wilh.
Lockheed Martin Awarded Contracts Two GPS lll Satellites
Lockheed Martin inform that the U.S. Air Force has awarded it more than $245 million in contract options to complete production of its seventh and eighth next-generation Global Positioning System satellites, known as GPS III. “With eight GPS III satellites now fully under contract, the GPS III program is moving from development into recurring production,” said Mark Stewart, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Navigation Systems mission area.
