New Mississippi Riverboat Launched
![Photo courtesy of American Cruise Lines](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-american-cruise-29599.jpg)
American Cruise Lines announced today that it launched the new paddlewheeler being built for the Mississippi River at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland. Immediately after being launched Sunday into the Wicomico River, tugboats nudged the new riverboat into Chesapeake Shipbuilding’s East Outfitting Basin where the upper decks and outfitting will be completed. “This is a significant milestone in the construction process and also for American Cruise Lines…
Marine News July Editor's Note
I couldn’t possibly kick off this edition of MarineNews without first acknowledging – and applauding – the passage of the long-awaited, much needed Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA).
Zeebrugge Orders Seagoing LNG Bunkering Vessel
![Port of Zeebrugge (Photo: Port of Zeebrugge)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/port-of-zeebrugge-photo-port-29603.jpg)
On May 13, 2014 Mitsubishi Corporation, GDF SUEZ and NYK signed a framework agreement aiming to develop the LNG bunkering market worldwide, in the context of international regulations that seek to reduce the impact of shipping activities on the global environment. This partnership now resulted in two concrete contracts: a joint order of an LNG bunkering vessel, the world’s first LNG bunkering vessel with the aim of providing LNG to LNG-fueled vessels…
Maritime Reporter @ 75: The Daily Cartoon
![© New Wave Media](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/new-wave-media-29597.jpg)
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.
Today in U.S. Naval History: July 1
![Commodore Richard Dale, U.S.N. (Image: Naval History and Heritage Command)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/commodore-richard-dale-usn-image-29595.jpg)
Today in U.S. 1800 - First convoy duty; USS Essex escorts convoy of merchant ships from East Indies to U.S. 1801 - U.S. 1911 - Trial of first Navy aircraft, Curtiss A-1. The designer, Glenn Curtiss, makes first flight in Navy's first aircraft, A-1, at Lake Keuka, NY, then prepares LT Theodore G. Ellyson, the first naval aviator, for his two solo flights in A-1. 1916 - Establishment of informal school for officers assigned to submarines at New London, Conn.
Brazil Soy Exports Fall, Sugar Rises
Brazil's exports of coffee, iron ore and soybeans eased in June while shipments of raw sugar picked up last month, monthly data from the trade ministry showed on Tuesday.
US Tankers Built on Spec Face Choppy Waters
![Aker Philadelphia Shipyard](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/aker-philadelphia-shipyard-29590.jpg)
U.S. shipbuilders are making a $500 million bet on robust domestic demand for crude oil from newly-tapped shale fields by building new tankers without having lined up customers to lease them. Philly Tankers AS, majority-owned by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is building four ships on spec, and Seabulk Tankers Inc, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc, is building another two. The 330…
Greece Promises Tax Cut to Attract O&G Majors
![Ionnis Maniatis](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/ionnis-maniatis-29589.jpg)
Greece is planning to cut tax rates for oil and gas companies as it wants to attract them to help exploit its untapped offshore hydrocarbon resources, its energy minister said on Tuesday. Under the plan, oil and gas explorers will pay 25 percent tax, down from 40 percent currently, and 5 percent of the tax will go to local communities. "We have done this in order to incentivize our investors to invest in the future of Greece…
Update: 8 VLCCs Disembark at Euronav
![Delivered Vessel Fact Chart (Credit: Euronav)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/delivered-vessel-fact-chart-credit-29588.png)
This past January 5, 2014, Euronav NV announced the acquirement of 15 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) from Maersk Tankers Singapore Pte Ltd. Today, Euronav has affirmed that eight of these VLCCs have been delivered. Deliveries of the 7 remaining VLCCs from the Maersk fleet are scheduled to take place this July, with the exception of one vessel, Maersk Sandra, which is planned to be delivered no later than March 30, 2015.
Port Manatee Reports Dynamic Trade Boost
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-29587.jpg)
Port Manatee reported a dynamic increase in trade activity, and said exports are poised to get a further boost when Air Products begins exporting liquefied natural gas heat exchangers from the port next year. Figures recently released by WorldCity Trade Numbers show the value of Port Manatee’s trade with the world totaled $257.57 million through the first four months of 2014 – up 17.15 percent over the comparable period in 2013.
Trimble Opens Registration for Dimensions Conference
Trimble announced today that registration has officially opened for its International User Conference—Trimble Dimensions—being held November 3-5, 2014 at the Mirage…
ISOA Award Recognizes SCI’s Offshore Outreach
The International Support Vessel Owners Association (ISOA) has made an award to support maritime industry workers served by the Seamen’s Church Institute. The International…
Habben Jansen Takes over as Hapag-Lloyd CEO
![Rolf Habben Jansen](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/rolf-habben-jansen-29586.jpg)
Hapag-Lloyd announced changes in its Executive Board resulting from departure of Michael Behrendt and Ulrich Kranich; Anthony J. Rolf Habben Jansen, who has been a member of the Hapag-Lloyd AG's Executive Board since April 1, has assumed the position of CEO effective July 1. He succeeds Michael Behrendt, who left the Hapag-Lloyd AG's Executive Board as scheduled on June 30, as did COO Ulrich Kranich. The new COO is Anthony J.
New Compliance Challenges for Tanker Owners
Herbert-ABS says use of an approved damage stability computer program is the “only logical option” to meet new International Maritime Organization (IMO) Damage Stability…
New Online Tool Aids Communications Management
![Image courtesy of Airbus Defence and Space](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-courtesy-of-airbus-defence-29579.jpg)
Airbus Defence and Space has launched SkyFile Mail Manager, the latest addition to its SkyFile messaging portfolio. Designed to improve management of SkyFile Mail traffic and user accounts, SkyFile Mail Manager, as the latest value added service to work on the Aurora Global network, is a new online tool that provides IT management efficiency on board and ashore. The new tool provides detailed reporting and control of all accounts and features flexible user rights and ship/fleet grouping options…
Jeppesen Wins IHMS Contract in Singapore
Jeppesen has been awarded a contract to develop and implement an Integrated Hydrographic Management System (IHMS) for the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore…
Hammond Commends DP World London Gateway
![RT Hon Stephen Hammond MP and London Gateway Team](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/rt-hon-stephen-hammond-mp-29578.jpg)
The UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport and Wimbledon MP, Rt. Hon. Stephen Hammond MP has paid a visit to DP World London Gateway to congratulate the team on their success. During Hammond’s last visit in January 2013, the port had only just started to install the first of its yard cranes. Since opening in November 2013, DP World London Gateway has seen a continued increase in ship traffic and is due to see a new West Africa service start in a few weeks.
Van Oord Cable-layer Launched by Damen
![Van Oord’s new DP2 cable-laying vessel Nexus was launched at Damen Shipyards Galati (Photo courtesy of Damen)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/van-oords-new-dp2-cablelaying-29568.jpg)
Van Oord’s new DP2 cable-laying vessel, Nexus, was officially launched at Damen Shipyards Galati on June 30. The 123 m multipurpose vessel will be deployed installing electricity cables for offshore wind farms. The international contractor for dredging, marine engineering and offshore energy projects has made the investment in this vessel to pursue its strategy to offer Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts to offshore wind farm developers.
Dinner Cruise Vessel Built for Sydney Harbor
![MV Epicure (Photo courtesy of Incat Crowther)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/mv-epicure-photo-courtesy-of-29557.jpg)
Incat Crowther announced the launch of MV Epicure, a dinner cruise vessel operating on Sydney Harbor. The vessel, built by Aluminium Boats in Queensland, has been delivered to Epicure, a brand of the Spotless Group. Incat Crowther was approached to create a vessel catering to the high-end market. In response to the brief, Incat Crowther developed a heavily glazed vessel focused on a large forward atrium.
XL Group Grows in Asia
XL Group strengthened its Insurance Marine team with the appointment of Mike Davies as Chief Underwriting Officer, Marine, Asia Pacific and Ian Picton as Senior Upstream Underwriter.