How Difficult is it to Obtain a Jones Act Waiver?
The American Salvage Association’s Jon Waldron provides the ultimate cabotage primer. There always seems to be constant chatter about waiving the Jones Act. In reality…
Energy’s Promising Future Threatened
Unrealistic Fears and Overstated Risks obscure the benefits of new seismic data. The United States stands poised on the edge of a bright energy future. After decades…
What’s All the Noise at IMO?
Shipping may think they hear the sound of new regulations as they are slammed onto their desks. What is all the noise concerning noise at IMO? This may very well be the question from ship owners, operators and builders closely following activities at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In 2013, IMO issued mandatory regulations for shipboard airborne noise and earlier this year IMO internal committees approved new draft guidelines for minimizing underwater noise.
World’s Largest Containership First Tested at MARIN
MARIN was delighted to take part in a truly historic milestone in the industry when Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) asked MARIN to investigate the seakeeping ability of what would become the largest container vessel in the world - Maersk Line’s Triple-E. MARIN carried out an extensive scope of work, combining numerical predictions and basin model tests to provide the most complete qualification of the vessel’s behavior in various sea conditions.
Will Congress Pass Any Maritime Legislation in 2014?
Following its usual summer break over August 2014, Congress came back from its five-week summer recess and spent a whopping eight days or so back in session before recessing once again, approximately a week early, to hit the campaign trail for the November elections. This essentially means that including the summer recess, Congress will have been in session for a total of about eight days between the end of July and the middle of November 2014.
ICS Addresses OECD Shipbuilding Working Party
The OECD should be cautious about becoming involved in the question of what constitutes an ‘eco-ship’, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) said to governments…
Avoiding the Edges of the Sea
Mariners do best when they avoid the edges of the sea – the shoals, rocks, and other hard spots. Coming into contact with the edges of the sea at other than a slow walking speed can ruin an otherwise pleasant voyage. Unfortunately, though, vessels have been making hard contact with the edges since Noah’s Ark grounded on Mount Ararat, rendering the Ark unseaworthy. For a while, it was thought that the leadline would reduce groundings, but one can’t be swinging the leadline constantly.
The Legal Consequences of 46 CFR Subchapter “M”
As the holiday season and the end of another year quickly approaches, the towing industry patiently waits for the Coast Guard to finalize the long-awaited towing vessel inspection rule. More than 10 years ago, Congress passed the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004, requiring more stringent regulation of uninspected towing vessels (UTVs). Since that time, the Coast Guard and several industry groups (including the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC)…
Is Glycerine the Next Marine Fuel?
Following a year described as “intense activity,” the Glycerine Fuel for Marine Sustainability project (GLEAMS) concluded that Glycerine is a viable, exceptionally clean alternative marine fuel. The GLEAMS project claims that it has been particularly successful in dispelling the notion that glycerine is unsuitable for use as a fuel due to its physical and chemical properties, as it demonstrated that…
Editorial: 75, 150 ... What’s in a Number?
It is not often that I break out the tux for my editorial picture, but this special edition dictates. I know that I should argue that all of our editions are special, but this one in particular, I must admit, stands out in a number of ways. In fact, all of 2014 has been somewhat ‘special,’ as the domestic maritime business has rebounded with a vigor, driven in no small part by an unprecedented energy boom in the U.S. that looks like it will make the country energy independent by 2020.
Brunswick Updates IMPACT Model Vessels
Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) introduces 2015 model year updates to the 10-, 11- and 12-meter IMPACT models. Updates include a wider beam for more usable deck space, as well as additional motor mounts to accommodate quad outboard engines. “The new 1000, 1100 and 1200 IMPACT models afford users about 30 percent more deck space than the previous models,” said BCGP Director of Sales, Jeremy Davis.
Norwegian Buys Ship from Princess Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced a definitive agreement with Princess Cruises, Ltd. to purchase Ocean Princess for its newly acquired Oceania Cruises brand. The 684-passenger ship, to be named Siren, joins Oceania Cruises' trio of recently refurbished sister ships Insignia, Regatta and Nautica. Upon delivery in March 2016, Sirena will immediately undergo a 35-day…
Thrustmaster Names Pineda Director of Sales and Marketing
Marcela Pineda has been promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing at Thrustmaster of Texas. Pineda, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, is a seasoned professional with over 20 years experience in oil and gas, heavy construction and manufacturing. She joined Thrustmaster in 2012 as a Project Manager, and in 2013 was promoted into the role of Director of Projects.
SENER Presents at SNAME Convention
SENER took part once again in the Annual Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) Convention in the U.S., this time in Houston from October 20-24. Between the different activities during this event that congregates most part of the ship design and production community, it is organized the Ship production Symposium, with the aim of showing the most innovative innovations in this sector.
Ship Broker Clarkson Looks to Acquire Platou
Top ship broker Clarkson is seeking to acquire Norwegian brokerage and investment bank RS Platou for 281.2 million pounds ($441 million) in a deal that would create…
Pile Testing for Wikinger Wind Farm Launched
In October 2014 the first phase of the pile testing campaign for the Wikinger offshore wind farm project was launched after the site’s geotechnical investigation on the Baltic Sea had been completed. German engineering and services group Bilfinger was awarded the test pile contract and chose SAL Heavy Lift as subcontractor to transport and install the test piles and equipment with their DP Class II vessel MV Lone.
DNV GL Examines Container and Bulk Shipping Trends
DNV GL’s latest Container Ship Forum and Bulk Carrier Forum looked at a broad spectrum of topics including environmental regulations, trends in ship design as well as the new DNV GL rule set. Some 150 representatives from the container and bulk industry met with DNV GL experts at the forums in Hamburg to hear the presentations and participate in informal discussions. As economy of scale is reducing transportation costs per box, the demand for ever bigger vessels is continuing.
Fire Departments Choose Sea-Fire Systems
Metalcraft Marine's Firestorm high-speed, aluminum fireboat represents a new generation in vessel technology, especially when fitted with Sea-Fire H Series engineered fire suppression systems. Recently, four fire departments selected this combination. The City of Alexandria, Virginia now has a Firestorm 50 fitted with Sea-Fire's H Series. Captain Rodney Masser's positive prior experience with Sea-Fire led him to this decision.
New Hamburg Süd Ships to Feature Nacos Platinum Systems
L-3 SAM Electronics has announced that, via its L-3 Marine Systems Korea subsidiary, it has been awarded a contract to provide its NACOS Platinum navigation, automation and control system, as well as communications equipment, aboard three new container vessels for the global shipping company, Hamburg Süd. The 10,600-TEU ships, built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea, are scheduled for delivery in 2015.
Damen to Refit Helix Well Intervention Vessel
After having docked and repaired the MSV Seawell in 2012 and DSV Well Enhancer earlier this year, Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen (DSV) was contracted by Helix UK to perform a major upgrade on the light well intervention/dive support vessel MSV Seawell. The Seawell is expected to arrive at the yard during second half of December 2014. As the upgrade will be executed over the winter season, DSV has offered its covered drydock with a 300 tons overhead crane.
