Making a Conscious Change: Seaspan Marine’s Conversion to EALs
Vessel fleets face an increasing number of environmentally focused regulations, adding complexity to their operations and creating urgency around compliance. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Vessel General Permit (VGP), requires that all vessels over 79 feet use an “Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant” (EAL) in oil-to-water interfaces unless technically infeasible. The 2013…
Marathon Petroleum Repowers Three Towboats
When Marathon Petroleum wanted to repower its inland river towboats, the company turned to its Cat dealer Whayne Power to get the job done. Marathon had installed…
US Navy Deploys Shipboard Laser Weapon
Officials at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced the laser weapon system (LaWS) - a cutting-edge weapon that brings new capabilities to America's Sailors and Marines - was for the first time deployed and operated aboard a naval vessel in the Arabian Gulf. The operational demonstrations, which took place from September to November aboard USS Ponce (AFSB[I] 15), were historic not only because they showed a laser weapon working aboard a deployed U.S.
EnerMech Secures $53.4m Cranes Contracts
EnerMech has secured six new or renewed cranes and lifting contracts in the UK North Sea sector valued in excess of $53.4 million. The Aberdeen headquartered mechanical engineering group agreed extensions to contracts with Apache North Sea, Maersk Oil and Marathon Oil, and first time or additional workscopes with Centrica Storage/HRL, Aker Solutions and a number of projects on behalf of Technip. The…
KOC Names Tug Newbuild in Romania
A naming ceremony for the Kuwait Oil Company’s (KOC) new ASD 3212 tug vessel, KOC Shahem, was held October 30 at Damen Shipyards Galaţi. The KOC Shahem is the second in a series of 14 tugs that Damen is building for KOC to assist tankers at near shore loading terminals and at new single point moorings offshore. The two companies have a lasting relationship that spans over 25 years. KOC awarded Damen the contract to design, construct and deliver the series of tugs in September 2012.
NASSCO Licenses LNG Containment Tech to Braemar
General Dynamics NASSCO and Braemar LNG BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Braemar Shipping Services PLC, have signed a technology licensing agreement for Braemar to use NASSCO’s intellectual property in its design and construction of Flat-Panel, Semi-Membrane, Prismatic-Shaped (FSP) LNG containment systems. FSP is a new multipurpose Type B flat-panel, semi-membrane, prismatic-shaped LNG tank-containment system which uses flat plate technology and a universal joint configuration.
Libra Ramps Up Container Ship Buying, Bets on Upturn
Global conglomerate Libra is snapping up container ships, betting on a sector recovery and lower oil prices which will cut costs and boost profitability, the group's chief executive said.
Overtonnage, Regulations Bruise Shippers' Confidence
Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry fell during the three months to November 2014 to their lowest level for two years, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. The survey revealed increasing concern about the high cost of achieving compliance with new regulations, and ongoing doubts about overtonnaging. But it was not all bad news…
ZF Gearboxes for MPI Workboats
MPI Workboats, an operator of purpose-built aluminum wind farm support catamarans, has received ZF gearboxes installed in six of its latest vessels. Designed and constructed to work in challenging environments to transport passengers in comfort and safety , the boats are less than 12 months old and supply installations in British and European waters and further afield. Andrew Wragg, Superintendent at MPI Workboats…
Vessel Hijacking Reported on Niagara River
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Customs and Border Protection, Canada's Niagara Regional Police and the Niagara County Sheriff's Office are investigating a reported hijacking of a Canadian-flagged charter vessel by two Canadian men Tuesday afternoon. About 1:30 p.m. the master of an 18-foot Canadian charter vessel took his boat to Coast Guard Station Niagara, New York, to report that just moments ago two men…
Two New Tugs to Serve Western Australia
Robert Allan Ltd. The RT Discovery and RT Endeavour, ART 80-32 class Rotortugs, have been delivered by Cheoy Lee Shipyards to Owner’s Elisabeth Ltd. The vessels are currently in Hong Kong and are ready for deployment to a busy commodity Port in Western Australia. These two vessels represent the first half of Elisabeth Ltd’s four boat order with Cheoy Lee Shipyards. The Advanced Rotortug (ART) designs incorporate the patented triple Z-Drive Rotortug…
Final Gate Transits the Panama Canal for New Locks
The Panama Canal Expansion has completed today the transfer of all gates belonging to the new locks of the Expansion in the Pacific side. The last gate that transited today completes the transfer of the eight gates to the Pacific construction side. The transits began on October 22 to move all eight gates through the waterway aboard a barge from the Atlantic temporary dock to the Pacific, assisted by Panama Canal tugs.
Bollinger Adds Drydock Lift Capacity
Bollinger Shipyards has taken delivery of two drydocks with a total lifting capacity of 12,000 tons. Terms and conditions of the purchase were not made available. One of the docks, a 10,500 ton dry-dock will be located at the Bollinger Port Fourchon facility, and measures 320-ft. x 100-ft. between the wing walls. Bollinger now has three commercial drydocks located in Fourchon with a combined lifting capacity of over 22,000 tons.
Damen Building 2 Vessels for Sharjah Ports
Sharjah Ports Authority and Damen Shipyards officially celebrated the keel laying of two new vessels on December 11 at Damen Shipyards Sharjah, the Dutch group’s new facility. Mohammed Meer Al Sarrah, Director of the Department of Seaports and Customs at the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone presided over the ceremony. A long-term Damen customer, the United Arab Emirates port and customs authority already has eight Damen Stan Tugs in its fleet.
CSV Delivered to Bibby Subsea
Bibby Offshore’s Houston-based division, Bibby Subsea, welcomed the Olympic Ares, a multifunctional subsea construction support vessel (CSV) which is due to arrive in the port of Galveston on December 16, 2014. The 115-meter Olympic Ares features a 250-metric-ton heave compensated crane for subsea use to 3,000-meter water depth and 1,300-square-meter of clear back deck space. Ahead of arrival in Galveston…
Congress Urges Obama to Encourage Ports Resolution
U.S. Members of Congress Dave Reichert (WA-8), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5), Doc Hastings (WA-4), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-3), Kurt Schrader (OR-5), Greg Walden (OR-2)…
Rolls-Royce, VTT Unveil Futuristic Bridge Concept
Rolls-Royce, together with VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, unveiled its latest vision of Ship Intelligence, a bridge concept which it said could become reality by 2025. Rolls-Royce has worked together with VTT’s researchers and Aalto University to develop the new bridge, known as the Future Operator Experience Concept or ‘oX’. It offers the crew smart workstations, which automatically recognize individuals when they walk into the bridge and adjust to their own preferences.
Tallink, Meyer Turku Ink LOI for New LNG Fast Ferry
The trend toward the procurement of high-spec, environmentally friendly vessels continues with news that AS Tallink Grupp and Meyer Turku Oy signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the construction of an environmentally friendly car-passenger ferry for Tallinn-Helsinki route shuttle operations. The ship will cost around $286 million and will be built at Turku shipyard for delivery in the beginning of 2017. The new ferry will be about 212 m long with a gross tonnage of 49 000.
SBM Offshore Cutting 1,200 Jobs Worldwide
Dutch oil platform leasing company SBM Offshore is cutting 1,200 jobs, or slightly more than 11 percent of its global workforce, as part of a cost-saving programme.
Asia Dry Bulk-Capesize Market 'Imploding'
Capesize rates fall to six-year lows; rates below ship operating costs, according to accountancy firm. Rates for capesize bulk carriers on key Asian routes, which…
