US Kicks off Evaluation of Offshore Oil, Gas Leases
The U.S. Department of the Interior took its first steps on Friday to develop the next five-year schedule of potential offshore oil and gas lease sales. Interior…
Norway Police Want to Reopen 1990 Ship Fire Case
Norwegian police on Friday recommended reopening an investigation into a ferry fire in 1990 that killed 159 people after a police review cast doubt on findings that…
Suspected WWII Sea Mine Found off Kiribati
![Suspected Explosive Remnant of War was discovered in late May near the main wharf in Betio Lagoon, South Tarawa in the Republic of Kiribati, beneath the wreck of the MV Tovota by salvage workers from The Dive Centre Pty Ltd Fiji. The Australian Defense Force has been requested by Kiribati authorities to dispose of the object as it poses a potential hazard to local shipping.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/suspected-explosive-remnant-of-war-28680.jpg)
A team of Australian Defense Force (ADF) personnel has headed to the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati to dispose of a suspected World War II sea mine. The object was discovered beneath a sunken vessel that is being salvaged by commercial operators in Betio Lagoon, South Tarawa. Six Royal Australian Navy clearance divers and a support team are flying to the island nation on a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft.
Fincantieri Eyes Valuation of up to 1.8b Euros in Float
![Photo: Fincantieri](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-fincantieri-28679.jpg)
Italian state-owned shipmaker Fincantieri aims to make its debut on the Milan bourse in July with a stock market value of up to 1.84 billion euros ($2.5 billion), it said on Friday. Fincantieri, maker of vessels ranging from luxury yachts to military aircraft carriers, said in a statement it would offer a stake of up to 38.2 percent stake, mostly made up of new shares, at a price range between 0.78 euros and 1 euro per share.
Today in U.S. Naval History: June 13
!["The Sinking of the Jeannette," Engraving by George T. Andrew after a design by M.J. Burns. (U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/the-sinking-of-the-jeannette-28678.jpg)
Today in U.S. Naval History - June 13 1881 - USS Jeannette crushed in Arctic ice pack 1967 - Operation Great Bend in Rung Sat Zone, Vietnam For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Cheniere's Texas LNG Terminal Closer to Approval
Cheniere Energy's proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Corpus Christi, Texas will not lead to widespread harm to the environment, a draft review concluded on Friday…
Harley Marine Orders Two Tractor Tugs
![Michelle Sloan (courtesy of Harley Marine Services)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/michelle-sloan-courtesy-of-harley-28676.jpg)
The construction of two new tractor tugs has begun at Diversified Marine in Portland, Oregon. The twin sister tugs, designed by Robert Allan, LTD, are each 80 feet in length, with approximately 5,200 horsepower and a 65 tons bollard pull. They are expected to be completed in March and June of 2015. Harley Marine Services has chosen to name the tugs the Michelle Sloan and the Lela Franco after two remarkable women that are very important to the company.
WQIS to Release New Policy Form for 2014
On June 16, 2014 the Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS) will offer a new 2014 Worldwide Vessel Pollution Form. The new policy form will contain enhanced coverage…
Corsica Ferries First with VAVE
![Corsica Ferries' Mega Express Five (Photo courtesy of Corsica Ferries)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/corsica-ferries-mega-express-five-28674.jpg)
Corsica Ferries is first to tap into MCPs new entertainment and information platform for the ferry and cruise industry. Following a successful pilot, five vessels in the Mediterranean Ocean will be equipped with Value Adding Voyage Experience platform (VAVE) this summer. MCP said passengers will enjoy rich digital leisure opportunities from an innovative onboard digital entertainment and information solution.
USCG Awards Flag of Quality to UK Ship Register
The U.K. Ship Register has become one of only around 20 in the world to keep the prestigious United States Coast Guard (USCG) award for excellence. The register…
MARAD: Call for Projects for America’s Marine Highways
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced it is now accepting project applications for Marine Highway designations until September 30, 2016. Eligible projects…
DHT Announces Shareholders Meeting Results
![DHT Ann (Photo courtesy of DHT)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/dht-ann-photo-courtesy-of-28672.jpg)
DHT Holdings, Inc. announced the results of its 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual Meeting was held on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. At the Annual Meeting, the shareholders voted to elect Robert N. Cowen as a Class I Director for a term of three years and Einar Michael Steimler as a Class II Director for a term of two years, to approve the 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan and to ratify the…
Eni Norge Enters Agreement with DNV GL
Eni Norge AS awards DNV GL a framework agreement for the supply of inspection services to the Goliat platform in the Barents Sea. The term of the contract is three years…
Line-Handler M/T Brage Shipped North
![Photo courtesy of Sanmar](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-sanmar-28668.jpg.bmp)
Sanmar Marine’s modern, custom built yard in Turkey has completed the construction of a new design of RAscal class, the 1500, for Norwegian owner operator, Buksér og Berging AS. This compact class of tug is a series of high-performance but relatively straight forward smaller tugs, all less than 24m in length. Designed exclusively by Robert Allan Ltd, to address the challenges of modern, high-performance Z-drive line-handling and smaller ship-handling tugs…
PPG Completes Acquisition of CSI
PPG Industries announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Canal Supplies Inc. (CSI), a privately-owned…
Damen’s First Hybrid Tug Delivered
![The Bernardus is Damen’s first ASD 2810 Hybrid tug. (Photo: Damen)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/the-bernardus-is-damens-first-28665.jpg)
Iskes Towage & Salvage took delivery of the Bernardus, the first Damen ASD 2810 Hybrid, Damen announced in a press release today, stating the delivery represents a turning point for the tug industry as operators and port authorities demand innovative solutions to rising fuel costs and stricter emissions regulations. Based in IJmuiden near Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Iskes has been operating a conventional Damen ASD Tug 2810 since November 2011.
The Swedish Club Returns Strong Performance
![Lars Rhodin, Managing Director Swedish Club](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/lars-rhodin-managing-director-swedish-28662.jpg)
“Last year was a good year for the club with results showing a positive return on investment and a very good contribution from the underwriting side,” said Lars Rhodin, The Swedish Club’s Managing Director, during his address to the Club’s 142nd AGM in Gothenburg on June 12. During the year, the Club reinforced its office in Norway, decided to offer its Maritime Resource Management (MRM) program free of charge to members and saw its free reserves rise to a historically high level of $168m.
Marad News Digest
![Acting U.S. Maritime Administrator Paul Jaenichen](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/acting-us-maritime-administrator-paul-28661.jpg)
MARAD Announces Call for Projects for America’s Marine Highways. The U.S. Maritime Administration is accepting project applications for Marine Highway designations until September 30, 2016. Eligible projects should establish new or enhance existing Marine Highway services that reduce landside congestion and increase the use of domestic marine transportation. Proposed projects no longer have to have parallel landside routes.
Ukrainian Forces Raise Flag over Port City
Ukrainian forces regained control of the port of Mariupol on Friday, raising the national flag over the southeastern city's main administrative building, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said.
China: No Military Force to Settle Oil Rig Spat
A Chinese official said on Friday that China will never send military forces to the scene of an increasingly ugly spat with Vietnam over an oil rig in the South China Sea…