Shippers Plan 4-day Partial Shutdown of US West Coast Ports
Shipping lines plan a partial four-day shutdown of U.S. West Coast ports, starting on Thursday, amid stalled labor talks between the companies and the union representing 20,000 dockworkers, the companies said on Wednesday. Loading and unloading of cargo vessels at the 29 ports will be suspended anew, as they were last weekend, on Thursday and again on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, a spokesman for the companies' bargaining agent, the Pacific Maritime Association said.
Maersk Vessels Returns to Port of New Orleans
Maersk Kotka called the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal on February 9, signalling Maersk Line’s return of vessel service to the Port of New Orleans. The weekly Northern European service is teamed with a weekly Mediterranean service through the 2M Alliance Maersk formed with Mediterranean Shipping Company. Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company are the largest- and second-largest container carriers in the world. At 7,400-TEU, Maersk Kotka is the largest ship in the seven-vessel service.
Nine Voith Tugs for Pemex
Nine Voith Water Tractors will be built under an agreement signed with Mexico's petroleum company, Pemex, for use at oil and gas maritime terminals on both coasts of the country. Construction on four of the nine tugboats began after a keel laying ceremony at Astimar 20, Mexico's biggest shipyard, located in the port of Salina Cruz on Mexico's Pacific Coast. In attendance was Mexico's President, Enrique Peña Nieto, who spoke about the importance of the project for the country.
WR Systems Awarded NAVSUP Contract
WR Systems, Ltd. (WR) of Norfolk, Virginia has been awarded an order for the establishment of a Mini Stock Point for wireless communication and navigation systems…
Long Beach CEO Expects Port Cutbacks This Weekend
Shipping lines are expected to curtail cargo operations at U.S. West Coast ports again this weekend amid stalled labor talks between the companies and the union representing 20,000 dockworkers, the chief executive of the Port of Long Beach said on Wednesday. "This weekend is going to be yet another limited operating weekend, just like last weekend was," Long Beach port CEO Jon Slangerup said in an interview with Reuters in New York.
JaxPort Selected as VW's Southeastern US Port
The Volkswagen Group will begin importing Volkswagens, Audis and Bentleys through Jacksonville on May 5th, after selecting JaxPort as the company's Southeastern U.S. port, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced at a news conference Wednesday. 100,000 Volkswagen group vehicles will be imported from Mexico and Germany through JaxPort in the next year, with 550,000 expected over the next five years, the Florida Times-Union reports.
Statoil Exercises Skandi Vega Option
DOF ASA announced that Statoil has exercised its first one year option for the 2010-built anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) Skandi Vega. The option also includes ROV, DOF ASA said, noting that the vessel is firm until mid-May 2016. Skandi Vega is an anchor handler/construction vessel of Aker AH 04 CD design with approximately 350 ton bollard pull.
Costa Concordia Captain Sentenced to 16 Years
Captain Francesco Schettino was sentenced to 16 years in prison after an Italian court found him guilty of manslaughter today for his role in the 2012 sinking of the Costa Concordia.
Update: 3 Dead, 10 Injured in FPSO Explosion
An explosion at an offshore Petrobras oil and natural gas platform killed three workers and injured 10 more, Brazil's oil regulator ANP confirmed in a statement on Wednesday. The explosion, caused by a gas leak, occurred on a floating oil platform (FPSO) called Cidade de São Mateus which is owned by Norwegian-listed BW Offshore and contracted to Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as Petrobras is formally known.
Cruise Industry Executives to Hold Panel in Miami
The chief executives of the world's largest cruise companies will participate in a wide-ranging discussion on the health and future of the global cruise business at Cruise Shipping Miami 2015's State of the Industry session on March 16-19 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The panel will be moderated by Richard Quest, CNN's foremost international business correspondent and presenter of "Quest Means Business" and the monthly "CNN Business Traveller" programs.
"Hyperloop" Development Underway: Forbes
The next phase of transportation technology, which could eventually replace the entire shipping industry, is under development, Forbes reported today. In a 3,500 word feature that will appear in the March 2nd issue, Forbes staff writer Bruce Upbin examines two companies that are racing to design and test a "Hyperloop," an 800 mph vacuum tube transport system concept proposed in a 2013 white paper by Tesla and Space-X founder Elon Musk.
Rolls-Royce Sets Up MTU Middle East Subsidiary
Rolls-Royce has set up MTU Middle East as a new regional sales and service subsidiary with head office in Dubai to support distributors and business partners of MTU…
Oil Tanker Detained for Safety Violations
U.S. Coast Guard personnel on Monday detained the oil tanker Overseas Jademar in Port Angeles after several safety violations were discovered during a port state control exam.
At Least Three Dead in FPSO Explosion
At least three oil workers were killed and others were injured in an explosion on Wednesday at an offshore oil and natural gas platform in Brazil operated by state-run energy company Petroleo Brasileiro SA , union officials said. The workers were killed in an explosion aboard the Cidade de São Mateus, a floating oil production, storage and offloading ship (FPSO), said Davidson Lombo, finance director of Sindepetro-ES, the union representing workers on the platform.
Abu Dhabi Ports’ Training Centre Reports Successful 2014
Abu Dhabi Ports’ Maritime Training Centre looked back on what it called a successful year, noting a number “success stories” throughout 2014 as the number of trainees at the center increased by 15% in 2014 compared to 2013. Highlighting its success, the training center noted that five new courses have been added to the program which covers the Channel Familiarization course, the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) course…
Van der Velden Marine Systems: Innovating Efficiency
After celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013, Van der Velden Marine Systems, a daughter company of the Damen Group, is not resting on its laurels as the Netherlands-based company’s R&D department works to continue advancing maritime maneuvering and propulsion efficiency. “We are currently building a 97m2 Energy Saving Package (ESPAC) system for a series of three 18,000 TEU vessels being built for CMA CGM at the CSSC-affiliated Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard in China…
MTN Expands Cruise Client Base
MTN Communications (MTN) has expanded its cruise client base with three additional operators leveraging enhanced services for passenger, crew and corporate communications. MTN provides products, solutions and content to address each line’s passenger segment with Internet and calling communications, entertainment and content. Noble Caledonia specializes in “small ships delivering big experiences.” With the goal of generating lasting memories for like-minded travelers…
Regulator Approves Rumo's Takeover of Brazil Railway Firm ALL
Brazil's antitrust regulator Cade on Wednesday approved the takeover of the country's main railway operator America Latina Logistica SA by Rumo Logistica SA with…
New Code Aims to Protect Dolphins near Aberdeen
A joint taskforce has launched a Code of Practice to protect Bottlenose dolphins near Aberdeen’s Harbour mouth, and provide guidance to vessels operating in the port. The code has been developed by a joint taskforce who have come together as a result of increased interest in the dolphins. The group includes Aberdeen Harbour Board, East Grampian Coastal Partnership, Police Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage…
Imports Rising as Threat of West Coast Ports Shutdown Looms
Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to rise 10.1 percent this month over the same time last year even as West Coast ports come closer to a possible shutdown due to the lack of a contract with dockworkers, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “With cargo volume growing as the economy continues to recover…
