MPT to Break Ground on 25,000-sq.-ft. Expansion
For anyone keeping score, the south Florida maritime training and education infrastructure is enjoying rapid growth, driven largely by an outreach for lucrative offshore oil and gas training and education business. Case in point, today Maritime Professional Training (MPT)—the largest private maritime training school in the nation— said it selected Fort Lauderdale-based Gulf Building Corp. as the general contractor for the construction of its planned 25…
Britain to Screen Passengers for Ebola
Britain said on Thursday it would start screening passengers entering the country through London's two main airports and the Eurostar rail link with Europe for possible cases of the Ebola virus.
Austal Expands to San Diego
Office to provide local support to LCS and JHSV programs. On October 8th, Austal celebrated the opening of our San Diego, Cal., Operations Office with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Joining Austal’s representatives at the ceremony were Mayor Cheryl Cox of the City of Chula Vista; City Councilwoman Pamela Bensoussan; Michael Meacham, Director of Economic Development for the City; and Admiral Jose Betancourt, USN (Retired).
Lego Drops Shell Contract, Criticizes Greenpeace
Denmark's Lego has said it would not renew a branding contract with oil major Royal Dutch Shell in the wake of comments from environmental lobby Greenpeace saying…
Maersk and MSC Ship-Sharing Pact Gets U.S. Clearance
Top container shipping companies A.P. Moller-Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co cleared the last regulatory hurdle to launch a vessel-sharing pact, but companies…
Barge Fleet Lighting
Within the U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District alone, marine casualty data indicates that over the past 12 years, 44 recreational vessels have struck (allided) moored barges within barge fleets…
Preventing Barge Explosions
Recent casualties involving explosions aboard barges conducting tank cleaning operations alongside marine terminals have resulted in serious injuries to vessel crews and facility workers…
GPA Marks 13 Percent 1Q Growth
Harbor deepening moves into construction phase. On the heels of a state-federal agreement allowing the Savannah Harbor deepening to begin, the GPA has posted nearly…
Dyrad Releases Latest Piracy Statistics
UK-based maritime intelligence provider, Dryad Maritime has released its Q3 maritime crime figures which show that piracy is continuing across the globe at similar levels to Q2, with incidents of cargo theft in Southeast Asia continuing to rise. Dryad’s figures show a 27% drop in crime overall between Q2 to Q3, but point to the continuing attacks that are happening across the globe as reported in Q2.
El Niño Could Kick Off in 1-2 months
The El Niño weather phenomenon is favored to occur in the next 1-2 months and last into next spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC), an agency of the National Weather Service, said on Thursday. The forecast marks the strongest prediction yet from the U.S. weather forecaster after CPC went on El Niño watch earlier this year. "This El Niño will likely remain weak throughout its duration," CPC said in its monthly forecast.
Maersk: 2M Shipping Alliance to Start Jan 2015
Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday its shipping alliance with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co would begin operations in January next year after receiving approval from U.S. regulators.
AMP's Allegretti Questions Jones Act Critics
Tom Allegretti, Chairman of the American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, today highlighted the continued renaissance of the nation’s maritime sector, particularly its robust response to meet new water transportation demands created by the surge in domestic energy production. “The domestic maritime industry, with the Jones Act as its statutory foundation, is investing heavily to meet the transportation demands of a booming energy economy,” Allegretti said.
Rolls-Royce Waterjets for Spanish Patrol Vessels
Rolls-Royce has secured a contract to supply waterjets for two Spanish Police Guardia Civil 20m Patrol boats in Spain. These vessels will be built by Astilleros Gondan Shipyard.
Maersk: 2M Alliance at 32 pct Asia-Europe Share
An alliance between A.P. Moller-Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping would give the two top container shipping companies a 32 percent market share on Asia-Europe trade routes…
Indonesia Building Sea Wall to Protect Jakarta
Indonesia on Thursday officially launched a $263 million project to build a giant sea wall along the coast of its capital, Jakarta, in an attempt to protect businesses and homes from flooding.
Dry Bulk Drought: Asia Rates Fall
Rates for capesize bulk carriers on key Asian routes could continue to fall next week in the absence of major charterers although lower freight rates could tempt top iron ore miners back into the market and potentially buoy rates, brokers said. Charterers, including Vale, BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals, kept out of the market on Thursday, shipbrokers said. "Without the likes of Vale and Rio Tinto in the market, rates are not going to rise.
Maersk, MSC Win U.S. OK to Launch Shipping Pact
Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), the world's two largest container shippers, won approval from U.S. maritime regulators for a planned vessel sharing pact, bringing it a step closer after a bid for a larger alliance failed. The so-called 2M alliance would see the two carriers pool 185 ships on European, transatlantic and transpacific services, which Maersk Line says would save it $350 million a year.
Saipem in Subsea Deal with Chiyoda, Xodus
Italian oil service group Saipem said on Thursday it had set up a venture with energy consultant Xodus Group and Japanese engineering company Chiyoda to develop business in the subsea sector. Saipem, 43 percent controlled by Italian oil major Eni , said the new company called Xodus Subsea would provide services focusing on the early phase of projects. "We believe that the subsea sector is continuing…
ICS Lobbies on BWT Issues on Eve of IMO Meeting
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and its member national shipowners’ associations are engaged in a flurry of lobbying on the eve of a crucial meeting…
USCG & Mariners Rescue 3 in Eastern Pacific
The Coast Guard and commercial mariners rescued three people who were reported overdue on a skiff near the Chuuk Atoll, Thursday. The motor vessel, Nord Venus located…
