China's Civilian Fleet a Potent Force in Disputed Seas
![Photo: Reuters](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-reuters-24027.jpg)
From harassing Filipino fishing boats and monitoring oil exploration off Vietnam to playing cat-and-mouse with the Japanese coastguard, China's expanding fleet of civilian patrol vessels have become the enforcers in disputed Asian waters. The ships of the recently unified Chinese coastguard are a fixture around the disputed islands and shoals of the South and East China Seas. While the ships don't have the weaponry of military vessels…
Today in U.S. Naval History: March 5
![USS Newport News (CA-148). (U.S. Navy photo)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/uss-newport-news-ca148-us-24026.jpg)
Today in U.S. Naval History - March 5 1942 - Name "Seabees" and insignia officially authorized 1943 - USS Bogue begins first anti-submarine operations by escort carrier. 1960 - USS Newport News (CA-148) and personnel from Port Lyautey complete emergency relief operatons at Agadir, Morocco after earthquake on February 29. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
EMAS Wins Subsea Projects Worth More han $125M
![Image: EMAS](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-emas-24025.jpg)
EMAS, the operating brand of Ezra Holdings, a global offshore contractor and provider of integrated offshore solutions to the oil and gas industry, today announced that the group has been awarded subsea construction and offshore support contracts in Asia Pacific and West Africa with a combined value exceeding $125 million, including options. Following contract wins in January, EMAS AMC continued its momentum with subsea contracts awarded in West Africa and Asia…
ABS to Class Two US-built OCVs
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Offshore and maritime classification society ABS has been selected by Edison Chouest Offshore and Island Offshore through the company Island Ventures II LLC to class two next-generation offshore construction vessels (OCVs). The ULSTEIN SX165 design vessels, ordered through Island Ventures II LLC, will be built at Ulstein Verft in Norway and Edison Chouest's LaShip yard in Houma, Louisiana, in the U.S. The OCVs will be 28 m wide and 145.7 m long with accommodations for 200 people.
Navigation Training Delivered aboard EUNAVFOR Flagship
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-24021.jpg)
On March 4, 20 trainees from the Basic Training course for the Seychelles Coast Guard took part in a training exercise covering the use of electronic navigation equipment. The training was delivered by Seychelles Coast Guard trainers and EUNAVFOR with support from EUCAP Nestor on board the French EUNAVFOR Flagship Siroco. The trainees received practical and theoretical instruction in how to use equipment such as GPS, AIS, ECDIS, radar and gyrocompass.
Bourbon's Revenues up in 2013
Net Income Group share up 174% to €115 million. Increased operating margin1 and capital gains generated €575.7 million EBITDA, up 41.7% compared to 2012. Return…
Coast Guard Assists Grounded Vessel Near Cat Island
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that it assisted one person aboard a grounded vessel north of Cat Island, Monday. The operator of the vessel contacted Coast Guard…
Chartpilot Training Series Available Online
Full Range of SAM ECDIS’ now feature online training. Hamburg-based ECDIS training specialist Safebridge extends its portfolio by a new type-specific familiarization…
Exxon Says Pursuit of Ukraine Skifska Block on Hold
Reuters - Exxon Mobil Corp said its pursuit of the Ukraine Skifska block in the Black Sea has been stalled due to the unrest in that country. Swiger's comments, broadcast on the internet…
US Lifts Iran Economic Sanctions against ASM
On February 7, 2014, the United States, acting through the U.S. State Department (the foreign ministry of the United States) terminated all economic sanctions imposed against Associated Shipbroking…
New Vessel in MMT's Survey Fleet
![Stril Explorer (Photo: MMT)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/stril-explorer-photo-mmt-24012.jpg)
In what it calls a natural step in the process of expanded subsea services in the oil and gas industry, MMT has signed a two-year charter contract for M/V Stril Explorer, operated by Simon Mökster Shipping AS. MMT said it has conducted various survey assignments from this vessel during several projects in the past. M/V Stril Explorer is an DP2 offshore vessel with a large open deck and is very suitable for launch and recovery operation, for example with ROVs, AUV and geotechnical equipment.
Golden Ocean Sees 10% Growth
Reuters- Dry bulk carrier Golden Ocean Group Ltd expects double-digit growth in global iron ore trade in 2014, helping its markets pick up momentum and improving rates…
Odfjell Pleads Guilty to Pollution Charges
![Odfjell's tanker vessel involved in the incident, M/T Bow Lind (Photo: Odfjell)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/odfjells-tanker-vessel-involved-in-24015.jpg)
Company agrees to pay $1.2 million penalty; $300,000, will fund Long Island Sound projects. Singapore-based Odfjell Asia II Pte Ltd and one of its senior crew members pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Hartford, Conn., for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), announced Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Robert G. Dreher, United States Attorney Deirdre M. Daly and Rear Admiral Daniel B.
AIDA Cruises Records 20% Passenger Increase in 2013
![Photo courtesy AIDA Cruises](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-aida-cruises-24011.jpg)
In 2013, 763,700 guests from Germany chose to travel with AIDA Cruises – 20 percent more than in the year before. This means that the cruise company has grown twice as fast as the market as a whole. A new study by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the German Travel Association DRV shows that the German market for ocean cruises grew by 9.2 percent in 2013 to 1.69 million passengers. The cruise company said it is also set for further growth in the coming years.
Iraq Returns as World's Fastest-Growing Oil Exporter
Iraq is reclaiming its rank as the world's fastest-growing oil exporter, cushioning consumers from Libyan supply outages for now and, perhaps, reviving OPEC market share rivalries down the road.
SENER Opens Office in India
![Photo: SENER](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-sener-24010.jpg)
The engineering and technology group SENER has opened a division in India with offices in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. This new geographical location responds to SENER’s globalization strategy and follows the development of previous engineering and construction projects in the country in the fields of Infrastructure & Transport, Aerospace, Marine and Power & Process. SENER has recruited a high…
BMT SMART Appoints McKelvie Product Manager
![Laura McKelvie](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/laura-mckelvie-24009.jpg)
BMT SMART Ltd. (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd., an international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, announced the appointment of Laura McKelvie as Product Manager. A University of Southampton graduate in Naval Architecture, Laura has been working with BMT for five years specializing in vessel performance monitoring and analysis. She has been involved in all aspects…
Singapore, UK Researchers Team up for Maritime R&D
![L to R - H.E. Antony Phillipson, British High Commission; Prof. Don Nutbeam, Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton; The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science of the United Kingdom; Prof. Raj. Thampuran, Managing Director, A*STAR; Prof. Alfred Huan, Executive Director of Institute of High Performance Computing, A*STAR; Prof. Ajit Shenoi, Director, Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute; Dr Lou Jing, Institute of High Performanc](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/l-to-r-he-antony-24004.jpg)
Building on the fruitful past decade of U.K.-Singapore cooperation in scientific research and development, A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) and the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) officially launched a joint laboratory in Maritime and Offshore Engineering R&D today, to develop innovative technological solutions through modeling and simulation using high performance computing technology…
MacGregor K50 Cranes Ordered from Indonesia
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-24008.jpg)
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has won an order for two 50-metric-ton SWL versions of its heavy-duty grab cranes. The K5036-4HD MacGregor cranes are destined for a 68m floating crane barge, which is being built by Batam-based PT. Karya Tekhnik Utama (KTU), in Indonesia. “Indonesia has one of the world’s fastest growing bulk export industries, and this order further increases our presence in this significant market,” said Anders Berencsy, Sales Manager for Transloading cranes at MacGregor.
Peel Ports Invests £8m in the Port of Liverpool
![Photo courtesy Peel Ports](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-peel-ports-24003.jpg)
An £8 million investment in the Port of Liverpool’ animal feed warehouse facility makes it the largest of its type in the U.K., increasing capacity by 60% to 400,000sq.ft, allowing Peel Ports Group to add value to its customer supply chains and create effective logistics solutions, the company said. The Port of Liverpool is the U.K.’s most centrally positioned port and can uniquely connect by water to the major conurbations of Glasgow…