Today in U.S. Naval History: June 5
Today in U.S. 1794 - First officers of the U.S. Navy under the Constitution are appointed. 1945 - Typhoon off Okinawa damages many U.S. For more information about naval history…
Bourbon, Tanjung Discussing OSV Part Ownership Deal
Malaysian Group Tanjung Offshore Berhard and Bourbon Far East Pte. Ltd. have entered exclusive discussions for the sale of 51% ownership of nine Bourbon Offshore…
Florida Ship's Crew Arrested on Gun Charges in Honduras
The crew of a Florida-based shipwreck salvage company has been held for a month in a Honduras jail after authorities accused them of gun smuggling, a company spokesman said on Thursday.
Libyan Coastguard Detains 114 African Migrants
Libya's coastguard detained 114 African migrants in a packed boat headed for Europe on Thursday, officials said. Some 43,000 migrants have crossed from North Africa to Italy so far this year…
Greece Shortlists Cosco, Four Others for Piraeus Port
China's Cosco Group and four other suitors have been shortlisted as potential buyers of a majority stake in Piraeus Port Authority OLP, Greek privatisation agency HRADF said on Thursday.
Okawa Joins Hawboldt’s Marine Cranes Division
Hawboldt Industries Ltd., a manufacturer of deck equipment and a member of the Timberland Group of Companies, announced the hiring of Reed Okawa as Business Development Manager, Marine Crane Division.
Possible Vancouver Tug Strike – Update
![Photo: Port Metro Vancouver](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-port-metro-vancouver-28321.jpg)
Tug company operator Seaspan and GUILD (the union representing captains, mates and engineers) have agreed to enter blind arbitration. GAC reported in its daily Hot Port News report. Seaspan will defer the imposition of new terms and GUILD will not take a strike vote. The situation is different, however, with the International Longshoremen Workers' Union (ILWU) representing deckhand and cook. Seaspan has withdrawn the contract imposition.
Vigor Delivers Washington’s First 144-car Ferry
![MV Tokitae (Photo: Washington State Dept of Transportation)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/mv-tokitae-photo-washington-state-28320.jpg)
Vigor Fab delivered the Tokitae, the state’s newest ferry, to Washington State Ferry officials this week. The Olympic class Tokitae is the first of three 144-car ferries currently planned. It will enter service this summer on the Clinton-Mukilteo route. The second vessel, the Samish, is currently under construction at Vigor with delivery planned for early next year. State lawmakers have provided funding for a third ferry and construction is expected to start toward the end of this year.
RSC Bio Solutions Busts Myths Surrounding Readily Biodegradable Fluids
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-28319.jpg)
There’s a lot of conflicting information related to readily biodegradable lubricants and fluids. What’s the real story? The U.S. EPA’s 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) requirements are now in place requiring the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) in oil to water interfaces for vessels over 79 feet. The VGP revision also requires any above water line hull cleaning or deck washdowns resulting in discharge to be conducted with appropriate cleaners and detergents.
New Fixed Pitch Propeller Design from Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä introduced the FPP Opti Design, a new fixed pitch propeller (FPP) design concept. According to Wärtsilä, the new design offers fuel savings of up to 4 percent…
Boskalis Sets Stock Dividend Conversion Rate
![Photo: Boskalis](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-boskalis-28316.jpg)
On May 13, 2014 the dividend of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) for the financial year 2013 has been determined at EUR 1,24 per ordinary share. This dividend shall be distributed in the form of ordinary shares, unless a shareholder opts to receive the dividend payment in the form of cash. With the dividend distribution as stock, shareholders will receive one new ordinary share per 33.8 dividend rights of ordinary shares.
Carnival Donates $2.5m to Nature Conservancy
![Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-the-nature-28311.jpg)
To Celebrate World Oceans Day, World's Largest Cruise Company Announces Gift to Support Ecologically Important Lands and Waters. To help celebrate World Environment Day today and in advance of World Oceans Day on June 8, Carnival Foundation in partnership with Carnival Corporation & plc is providing a $2.5 million gift over five years to support The Nature Conservancy’s global marine protection priorities.
Kurdish Oil Tanker Leaves Moroccan Port Without Unloading
Iraqi Kurdistan's bid to sell its first tanker of crude oil appeared to suffer its second setback in as many weeks on Thursday after the ship left a port in Morocco…
Shippers Eye Trade Boost from El Nino Threat
![Source: Reuters](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/source-reuters-28304.jpg)
A potential El Nino weather phenomenon, which could wreak havoc on global crops, is set to disrupt shipping patterns and raise freight costs, leaving suppliers and importers to cover their food needs from longer-haul destinations. El Nino, a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific, can trigger floods and drought in different regions, hitting production of key foods such as rice, wheat and sugar.
Body Found Miles from South Korea Ferry Wreckage
![Photo courtesy of South Korea Coast Guard](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-south-korea-28303.jpg)
A victim from the South Korean ferry disaster was found in waters roughly 25 miles from the site of the capsized vessel, the Associated Press reported. The body is the first recovered since May 21, bringing the death toll to 289. Government officials said fingerprint scans identified the body as one of the passengers from the ferry Sewol that sank on April 16. Fifteen people remain missing as divers continue o search the wreckage.
NAT Buys Two Suezmax Tankers
![Photo courtesy of NAT](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-nat-28301.jpg)
Nordic American Tankers Limited (NAT) today announced that the company has agreed to acquire two Suezmax vessels, delivered from a "top shipyard" in 2005. The agreed purchase price is $36.5 million each. The vessels are expected to be delivered to us no later than August, 2014. The acquisitions will be financed from the company's financial resources. Including the delivery of the current acquisitions…
MPS Holds Open House
![Photo: MPS](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-mps-28300.jpg)
There was record attendance at the Maritime Propulsion Services BV (MPS) open day on May 23 when more than 200 delegates from shipyards, classification societies and workshops around the world gathered together in Drunen. Apart from the four propellers which were in the workshop for repair, on display were some of the latest developments in quality control as well as repair procedures and technology.
Rolls-Royce Opens Marine Service Center in Bergen
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-28296.jpg)
Rolls-Royce has announced the opening of a new marine service center in Bergen, Norway. The facility will service the North Sea fleet, giving access to on-shore power and a shorter sailing time to service, providing a favorable environmental profile. The service center’s workshop is an area of nearly 1,300 square meters and the length of quay is sufficient for two vessels to berth simultaneously. The quay area has ISPS approval for port security…
Record Cocaine Haul Found Hidden Under Bananas
Customs officers in Montenegro have seized 250 kilograms of cocaine smuggled beneath a shipment of bananas, authorities said on Thursday, in what was described as…
US Forecast Sees 70% Chance of El Nino
The U.S. weather forecaster said there was an increased likelihood of an El Nino weather phenomenon striking during the Northern Hemisphere summer in its monthly outlook on Thursday.