Panama Canal Opens 2nd Maintenance Congress
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) opens today the Second International Maintenance Congress with the participation of 26 international and six local experts to promoteā¦
Port of Long Beach Raises Small Business Commitment
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners ā seeking to expand opportunities for a wider range of vendors, contractors and consultants ā has set a higher goal for the Port of Long Beach to buy goods and services from small and very small businesses. Historically, the port has succeeded in meeting a 25 percent small business participation goal, which led to the recent Harbor Commission approval of a goal increase to 27 percent for the upcoming fiscal year, beginning October 1.
Survitec Escape Slide Chosen for Norwegian Ferry
The all-electric Zero Cat ferry, currently under construction at the Fjellstrand yard in Norway, will enter service next year with Norled as the first Norwegian vessel equipped with Survitec Group's most advanced ESS MES automatic escape slide system. The new slide can be launched and ready for passenger use with the touch of a button and without any further intervention by the crew. This is now beingā¦
First N.American Boat Powered by Volvo Penta IPS
Thomas Paine, the new 50-ft. aluminum patrol boat that joined the Massachusetts Environmental Police fleet in July, is the first commercial vessel in North America to be powered by Volvo Penta IPS propulsion. Built by Metal Craft Marine Inc., the new vessel is equipped with twin Volvo Penta D11 510hp marine diesel engines driving IPS650 steerable drive units. Power Products, the Volvo Penta Power Center in New Englandā¦
Piraeus Port Posts Flat Profit, Sales Dip
Greece's Piraeus Port (OLP) , the largest in the country, said its first-half net profit was almost unchanged from the same year-ago period, while sales fell. Piraeus Port, which is privatisation, is one of the busiest passenger ports in Europe, a popular destination for cruise ships and one of the top cargo ports in the Mediterranean. The state-owned company reported a net profit of 3.3 million euros (4.3 million US dollar) in the first six months of 2014.
Panama Canal: The Billion Dollar Challenge
As the Panama Canal prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, insurers are warning of the increased risks that will arise from the plan to double the cargo-carrying capacity of the worldās most famous canal. In a report entitled Panama Canal 100: Shipping Safety and Future Risks, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) identifies that the value of insured goods transiting the canal zone may increase by over $1 billion per day following completion of the Third Set of Locks Projectā¦
Wishful Thinking From Across the Pond
Just last month, the Secretary General of the European Community Shipownersā Association (ECSA) opined that the sixth negotiations round of the Trans-Atlantic Tradeā¦
Editorial: software ... is it āevolutionā or ārevolutionā ...
The August āShipbuilding Annualā is one of my favorites to research and produce every year, but even more so when this edition coincides with the SMM exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, which is the largest, best shipbuilding fair in the world. Early next month more than 50,000 visitors from around the world will walk through the halls of the Hamburg Messe und Congress, for meetings, conferences and social occasions for sureā¦
Hyde Marine to Display Ballast Water Tech at SMM
Hyde Marine, Inc., a ballast water treatment technology company, will showcase its Hyde GUARDIAN Gold HG250G Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) at the upcoming Shipbuilding, Machinery, & Marine Technology (SMM) International Trade Fair, September 9-12, 2014, in Hamburg, Germany. The Hyde GUARDIAN Gold BWTS recently received Alternate Management System (AMS) Approval from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), which is a critical step to achieving full USCG Type Approval.
WR Launches On-stack Scrubber Emission Monitor
WR Systems (WR), the U.S.-based maritime technology company, is launching a new variant of its laser-based-emissions monitor at the SMM 2014 Fair in Hamburg. Called the Emsys-iS, the new system is designed specifically for scrubber applications and is targeted at both scrubber manufacturers and shipowners. Simon Brown, WRās International Business Director, explained the reasons for the new product: āOur standard Emsys extractive unit was just too over-specified for the application.
Scottish Independence Would Hurt Maritime Sector
A vote for independence from the U.K. would have a negative effect on the Scottish shipping and offshore maritime sector, according to a survey by leading international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. The survey elicited the views of leading members of the international shipping community on the predicted impact on Scotlandās shipping and offshore maritime industry of the country voting for independence on September 18 2014.
CMR Debuts Engine Supervision and Management Software
CMR Group has introduced a new Integrated Alarm Monitoring and Control System (IAMCS) for marine and naval engine applications which it said provides technologically-advanced capabilities for improved marine vessel supervision, safety and management and delivers a cost-effective IAMCS solution that creates long-term operational savings for marine customers. The new IAMCS systems will be on display at the CMR Group stand at the SMM 2014 tradeshow in Hamburg, September 9-12.
Legislation Signed for Ports Upgrades
Today, Governor Brown signed AB 2395 Legislation. The bill was co-authored by Bonnie Lowenthal chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee and the Select Committee on Ports (D-Long Beach); Jeff Gorell, a member of the Select Committee on Ports (R-Camarillo); and Hannah Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). By increasing the Oxnard Harbor District's borrowing authority from its current $1 million to $10 million, the legislation will help The District upgrade and modernize its facilities.
Report: Ports Lack Maintenance Support
The latest Barometer Report from Trelleborg has revealed a huge gap in the maintenance requirements of port owners and operators, and the support that suppliers are able to provide. While 75% of those surveyed think that itās essential or important to have the supplier involved in the maintenance and audit of jetty based equipment, it is also seen as suppliersā weakest area. Trelleborg believes the findings point to the need for more supplier involvement across the whole supply chainā¦
Northern Sea Route Opens Earlier than Last Year
The Global Ice Center at Weathernews Inc. announced that the Northern Sea Route (NSR) bordering Russia is open to commercial shipping traffic as of August 21, 2014 ā two weeks earlier than last season, when lower than average temperatures resulted in slow pace of melting in the Arctic Ocean. Last summer, the northeastern passage opened at the beginning of September. Meanwhile, large areas of sea ice still remain in the northwestern passage along the Canadian coast.
SBI Offshore Negotiating Contract for Rig Builds
SBI Offshore Limited has announced that the Middle East-Chinese consortium, which recently awarded its subsidiary a contract to provide design and engineering services for a jack-up drilling rigā¦
Brazilian PSVs Get Rolls-Royce Offshore Cranes
Rolls-Royce signed a contract with Detroit Chile SA to supply offshore cranes to nine Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) presently under construction at Detroit Brasil Ltda. shipyard, in Itajaì, Brazil. The delivery will include nine ship sets of the dual draglink crane, making eighteen cranes in total. Upon completion, the vessels, designed by Guido Perla, will enter service on an eight-year contract with state-owned Brazilian oil company Petrobras.
ABS to Class First Self-elevating Unit Built in Qatar
ABS, a provider of classification services to the global offshore industry, was selected by Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM) to class its LB310S liftboatā¦
Pine Galaxy to Arrive SF Bay Wednesday
The disabled mixed-products tanker Pine Galaxy is expected to arrive in San Francisco Wednesday morning. The ship is being towed by commercial tug to San Francisco Bay.
Industry Partnership to Enhance BOP Maintenance
The maintenance of blowout preventers (BOPs) has significant financial, logistical and safety implications for drilling operators and rig owners. DNV GL has now established a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop a risk-based maintenance methodology with the aim to deliver more effective and cost-efficient BOP maintenance. Several BOP manufacturers, operators, rig owners and shelf state regulators have already joined the JIP, and others may still come on board.
