MHI Consolidates 5 In-house R&D Facilities
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) will reorganize its research and development structure. The reorganization initiative calls for the creation of a new Research…
JRC, Alphatron Open Houston Location
JRC and Alphatron Marine announced the opening of the Center of Excellence in Houston, a new 7,500-square-foot industrial building that helps expand the partnership between the two companies. Alphatron Marine USA in Houston will be one of the four worldwide centers of excellence to offer local sales and support, marketing, training, technical support, onboard service (repair and inspection) and distributor management for the Americas.
Ballast Water Rules Create Conundrum for Shipowners
Speaking today before a conference on ballast water treatment regulation, World Shipping Council President Chris Koch outlined the conundrum facing the maritime…
Van Wijngaarden Orders Damen Workboat
Damen has begun work on the latest and one of the largest yet in its shallow draft Shoalbuster range. Ordered by Van Wijngaarden Marine Services, the Shoalbuster 3512 is 35 meters in length, has a draft of 2.9 meters and GRT of 498 metric tons. The completely new design brings a range of benefits including a larger bridge, a working deck of 134m² and accommodation for up to 11 personnel. The propulsion system is based on three engines delivering 2…
Intelsat, Kymeta Enter Satellite Tech Partnership
Intelsat S.A. and Kymeta Corporation today announced an agreement to design and produce flat, electronically steerable, Ku-band satellite antenna solutions for the Intelsat EpicNG high throughput satellite (HTS) platform. The first Intelsat EpicNG satellite is expected to launch in late 2015. Kymeta’s flat and thin satellite tracking antennas will be designed to work with Intelsat’s satellite fleet…
Maersk Line Returns to Boston
Maersk Line, the world's largest container shipping line, resumed operations at the Port of Boston’s Conley Container Terminal with the arrival of the Sealand Illinois on Thursday, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced. Maersk, which last operated out of Boston in 2000, is the seventh major global container line currently servicing the city's port. Boston will be the second U.S. port of call after New York on Maersk Line’s TA5 service, part of their East-West Network.
Ecuador to Lift 21% Duty on Colombian Imports
Ecuador will cancel a 21-percent tariff on imports from Colombia by the end of the month, the Colombian trade ministry said late on Wednesday, reversing an effort…
European Palm Oil Prices Rise on Indonesia Biodiesel Plan
Palm oil prices on the European market rose sharply on Thursday as top producer Indonesia proposed to increase biodiesel subsidies in a move which could significantly boost demand.
Libyan Army Fights to Capture Benghazi Port
Clashes erupted in the center of Libya's main eastern city Benghazi on Thursday as pro-government forces pushed to take the port district from Islamist militants…
UN: No Miracle Fix at Paris Climate Summit
The world will take years to limit climate change to manageable levels, with no miracle fix at a Paris summit this year despite growing signs of action by governments and companies, the United Nations climate chief said on Thursday. Senior officials from almost 190 nations will meet from Feb. 8-13 in Geneva to work on a draft U.N. deal to limit global warming. The agreement, built on national plans for curbs on rising world greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020…
SENER’s FORAN System Celebrates 50 Years
The FORAN System celebrates half a century in 2015. With 50 years of active service, FORAN is the longest standing CAD/CAM/CAE software on the market and a technological asset for the engineering and technology group SENER, which has placed its trust in this project throughout its history as a hallmark of its identity. To commemorate this anniversary, SENER will host an event in Spain with the presence of FORAN customers worldwide.
Hull Form Optimization Yields Fuel Savings
Hull form optimization and hydrodynamic design contribute to fuel consumption savings to be achieved by a new generation coastal general cargo ship. Finnish owner Meriaura Group signed for two 4,700DWT Ice Class 1A VG EcoCoasterTM general cargo newbuilds at Dutch yard Royal Bodewes in mid-January, with the first due for delivery at the end of July, 2016. According to Foreship , hull form and machinery…
IMOIIMAX Stena Impression named in Singapore
The first of Stena Bulk's $400M, ten-vessel order was named in Singapore yesterday. The Stena Impression is a IMOIIMAX 50,000 DWT MR chemical tanker owned by Stena Bulk and Indonesian's Golden Agri Resources (GAR). The ten ordered vessels will be operated by Stena Weco and will trade within the company’s logistical systems, which will include a fleet of more than 60 tankers. The IMOIIMAX tankers have been designed to transport both vegetable oils and chemicals…
Oil Tankers Run Gauntlet in Nigeria's 'Pirate Alley'
A pirate attack that killed a supertanker crewman off the coast of Nigeria this week has highlighted a growing threat off oil-rich West Africa, as vessels carrying millions of barrels of crude traverse a region that has become known as "pirate alley". The 2 million barrel Kalamos Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was heading to Nigeria's main oil terminal when it was attacked late on Monday, leaving the ship's Greek deputy captain dead and three crew members taken hostage.
New Electronic Cummins After 45,000 Hours
The hours that a Cummins Marine engine can run between rebuilds will vary depending on operating conditions. However it is not unusual for operators to report 45,000 hours of operation. Such was the case for the owners of the Belgian-registered, 110x12-meter inland waterways vessel OliMar. The dry cargo vessel was built in 1998 and fitted with a 16-cylinder 1,600 HP Cummins KTA50-M2 engine. Running primarily in daylight hours, the engine meter approached the 45,000-hour mark in early 2014.
CMA CGM, Hamburg Süd Expand Cooperation
The CMA CGM Group and Hamburg Süd have reached an agreement to further enhance their cooperation, adding several new initiatives to the already existing joint services between North Europe and both East- and West coasts of South America. Since mid-January Hamburg Süd has taking slots between Asia and the Caribbean on CMA CGM’s PEX 2 service as well as on the Brazex service which provides it with a connection to Manaus from the Caribbean.
Former US Navy Contracting Officer Arrested
Former senior federal contracting officer Paul Simpkins was arrested Tuesday for conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with his alleged role in a scheme to…
Sri Lanka Backs China Port City Deal After Threat to Cancel
Sri Lanka's cabinet said on Thursday it would allow a $1.5 billion "port city" deal with China to go ahead, apparently dropping its earlier threats to cancel the project…
Trearddur Bay Completes Sea Trials
BMT Nigel Gee Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced that windfarm support vessel Trearddur Bay, its latest design for Turbine Transfers, has successfully completed sea trials in the Solent, achieving 31 knots with 8 metric tons DWT. With sea trials completed Trearddur Bay has immediately started work for Dong Energy. Built by Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) on the Isle of Wight, Trearddur Bay was launched in December 2014.
Senate to Hold US Ports Hearing
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) will convene the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security on Tuesday, February 10 for a hearing to focus on the U.S. supply chain, particularly the importance of efficiently functioning U.S. ports. During the hearing, entitled “Keeping Goods Moving,” the panel will take expert testimony from witnesses on what it takes to maintain an efficient and reliable U.S.
