Damen Opens Joint Venture Yard in Vietnam
On March 20, Vietnamese Minister of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong, carried out the official Vietnamese ribbon-cutting ceremony for the latest addition to Damen Shipyard Group’s portfolio. Damen Song Cam, a brand new yard, is one of the largest in the group and represents Damen’s first formal Joint Venture yard in Vietnam. Damen said Song Cam is considered state-of-the-art, bringing a western shipyard designed to meet European health…
Australian Navy Supports Rescue Near Mallacoota
The Royal Australian Navy reported that its assets on both sides of Australia were active last night in search and rescue operations. As HMAS Success continued her…
“Shale Gas Needed to Reduce UK Gas Imports”
Speakers set to fuel energy debate at Unconventional Gas Aberdeen 2014. Leading figures from industry and government speaking at Unconventional Gas Aberdeen 2014 will tomorrow highlight the impact U.K. shale development could have on reducing costly gas imports but admit that more needs to be done to reassure communities on aspects such as fracking. With more than 50 percent of U.K. gas supplies now coming from imports…
Passenger Medevaced from Cruise Ship
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reported that its boatcrew from Station Mayport in Atlantic Beach medically evacuated an injured Carnival Fascination cruise ship passenger near Atlantic Beach Saturday evening. According to the USCG, one of the cruise liner’s onboard doctors requested a medevac after the 56-year old man was reportedly experiencing stroke symptoms. A discussion with a Coast Guard flight surgeon then led to the decision to transport the man to shore via Coast Guard small boat.
New Manager’s Guide on Drugs and Alcohol
Videotel launched the new addition to its suite of programs on the subjects of alcohol and drug abuse, Drugs and Alcohol – A Manager’s Guide, which is aimed directly at supporting management ashore and on board. This new program makes managers aware of their responsibilities and of the need to ensure that an effective drugs and alcohol policy is in place. Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel said, “The use of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol are serious concerns within the maritime industry.
MHI Reports $586M Loss on Cruise Ship Builds
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) booked an extraordinary loss of approximately 60 billion yen (roughly $586 million USD) on the build of two cruise ships as a loss provision related to the construction work in its consolidated financial results for fiscal year (FY) 2013 (ending March 31, 2014). In November 2011, MHI received an order for two large-sized cruise ships for the AIDA Cruises brand, a company that belongs to the COSTA Group, a European subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Kongsberg Delivers Simulator Upgrades
The Simsea AS maritime training center in Haugesund, Norway, has chosen Kongsberg Maritime to support the extension of its offshore simulation facilities with new simulators and significant upgrades to existing simulators. Kongsberg Maritime has also recently delivered a new rig simulator model at Simsea, based on the Floatel Superior accommodation unit, which is currently in operation in the North Sea.
New Versatile Medium-Speed Engine from Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä announce their new medium-speed 46DF engine which is capable of operating on natural gas, heavy fuel oil, or marine diesel oil. “With this newly launched product, Wärtsilä has raised the industry standard even higher, since it offers simultaneously drastically lower specific fuel consumption, both in gas and diesel fuel mode, remarkably higher output, and extremely attractive lifecycle costs compared to any other alternative currently available on the market…
World's Largest Jack-up Rig Named
In a ceremony held at the Keppel FELS shipyard in Singapore, the ultra harsh environment jack-up rig Maersk Intrepid was named in the presence of the Guest of Honour Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport in Singapore. With a leg length of 206.8 m (678 ft) the rigs are the world’s largest jack-up rigs and are designed for year round operation in the North Sea, in water depths up to 150 m (492 ft).
Port Metro Trucker Strikes: Coordinated Action to Address Disputes
British Colombia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) inform that the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and Port Metro Vancouver are taking coordinated action to address the work disruption at Port Metro Vancouver, Canada’s Asia-Pacific gateway. Port Metro Vancouver will begin its planned reform of the licensing system and move to terminate licenses. The Government of British…
Korea's HHI Shows Diverse LNG Carrier Models at Gastech
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), claimed to be the world’s biggest shipbuilder, and the only one in Korea capable of constructing both Membrane type and Moss type LNG carriers, informs it will exhibit at the upcoming Gastech 2014 show in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The shipbuilder says it has taken the lead in introducing cutting-edge LNG-related ships, and developing independent LNG storage system and technology.
Pirate Activity Nil off Horn of Africa, Kidnappings in Gulf of Guinea
In its latest 'Piracy Analysis and Warning Weekly Report' OPINTEL inform of two kidnappings from tugboats on the coast of Nigeria; zero incidents off the Horn of Africa. Pirate and maritime crime activity in East African waters is at low levels. There were no reported suspicious events or pirate attacks during this one-week period. The captains of two separate tugboats, the SOMKE and the EBIZAR, were…
Oman Children Get Taste for the Sea Aboard GAC Pindar
Ship service company, GAC, inform that 5 boys and girls from Oman Childcare Centre joined the GAC Pindar crew on board their 40ft racing catamaran on Day 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series. The children's visit to the boat was part of GAC’s continuing support for the local communities that host it around the world and its commitment to nurturing a love of healthy outdoor activities for young people. The gesture was not lost on the youngsters: after the experience…
Navy Seals Hand Rogue Tankship Back to Libya
The North Korea-flagged tanker had been loaded at a rebel-held port and evaded a naval blockade before being boarded by US Navy Seals south of Cyprus. Its evasion of a naval blockade prompted the Libyan parliament to sack Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, reports BBC News. Rebels had loaded the Morning Glory with oil at the port of Sidra and it was unclear where it was heading. Citing US Government sources the BBC reports that the ship…
China Shipbuilding Industry Midgets Reigned In
China signaled that it will cut its vast shipyard army to get industrial growth back on a healthy track this year, as its earning ability falters amid cheap vessel prices, blind expansion and speculation in the shipbuilding sector, according to Xinhua. China will drastically curb the number of shipyards, docks, berths and maintenance facilities it opens, reports Xinhua, citing Li Dong, deputy director…
NAMJet Wins Huge US Army Bridge Boat Propulsion Contract
Marine waterjet manufacturer NAMJet says it has been contracted to provide propulsion systems for Birdon America's US Army Bridge Erection Boat (BEB) 400-boat replacement platform. At the same time NAMJet announces its manufacturing and operational HQ has moved to Denver, Colorado. Bridge Erection Boats are primarily used to provide propulsion and maneuverable thrust to support temporary floating bridges…
Horizon Lines Continue to Improve Performance in Q4 2013
Horizon Lines has released its fourth-quarter 2013 financial results showing an adjusted EBITDA increase of 33.1%, which is its 4th consecutive quarter of double-digit Improvement
. "Horizon Lines fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA increased 33.1% over the same period a year ago and the company generated GAAP operating income of $1.8 million in the quarter, the first fourth-quarter GAAP operating profit since 2009.
Houston Ship Channel Restricted for Oil Spill Recovery, Tankbarge Salvage
Part of the Houston Ship Channel has been closed to marine traffic to enable response operations following the recent collision between UTV MISS SUSAN and the bulk carrier M/V SUMMER WIND approximately 100 yards off the Texas City Dike, near lights 25/26 which led to the partial sinking of the Kirby Marine tank barge. Coast Guard inform that progress continued throughout the day Sunday in response…
SECNAV Mabus Delivers Keynote at Jackson Christening
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus delivered the keynote address at the christening ceremony of the future USS Jackson (LCS 6) March 22 at Austal in Mobile, Ala. Dr. Katherine Holmes Cochran, daughter of Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran, sponsors Jackson, the third Austal-constructed littoral combat ship to be christened. "Kate now becomes an honorary member of the Jackson's first crew," said Mabus. Mabus went on to discuss not only Cochran's role in the future of the ship…
Newest Navy Warship Christened in Mobile
Dr. Katherine Holmes Cochran, Ph.D., ship's sponsor for the littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Jackson (LCS 6), breaks a bottle across Jackson's bow during a christening ceremony at Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. LCS 6 is the first U.S. Navy vessel christened in tribute to the capital city of Mississippi, and honors the state's ties to the U.S. Navy and the shipbuilding industry.