Long Beach Extends Congestion Relief Depot
The action temporarily extends the life of the existing 30-acre storage depot that opened in December 2014, and also allows for the storage of loaded cargo containers and chassis in addition to the empty containers already permitted there. Conditions at the port have changed since the storage depot's opening. A tentative agreement has been reached on the dockworkers' contract, federal regulators granted…
GTT Receives Order for MOL LNGC
Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT), a designer of membrane containment systems for the maritime transportation and storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has received…
Liberia Leads on Wreck Removal Certification
The Liberian Registry said delivery of Wreck Removal Convention certificates is now faster and more convenient for shipowners following the launch if its new online application system. The system was set up to expedite shipowners’ compliance with the requirements of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks 2007 (WRC), which comes into force on April 14, 2015, requiring owners of…
Derecktor Shipyard Named Licensed Damen Builder
Damen licenses another U.S. Robert E. Derecktor Inc. and Damen Shipyard Group have entered into a license agreement authorizing Derecktor to act as an official builder of Damen designs. The agreement will see Derecktor offer its customers pilot boats and wind farm support vessels combining the range and international experience of Damen designs with its own American craftsmanship, which Derecktor says creates an innovative…
Fishing Boat Adrift Near Nantucket
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a stranded fishing vessel 32 miles east of Nantucket, Massachusetts, Wednesday. Watchstanders at Sector Southeast New England in Woods Hole, Massachusetts received a distress call via channel 16 VHF from the five-person crew aboard the 75-foot scallop vessel Hunter, that they were adrift without power after their main engine failed. The Coast Guard attempted to reach nearby mariners to assist the Hunter, but none were able.
CMR Opens New Korea Office
Aiming to boost its operations in the Asia-Pacific territory, control instrumentation and electrical engineering specialist CMR Group has invested in a new Korea office. CMR Group Korea has opened in Busan under managing director Brian Kim who will be leading the company’s operation there. According to the company, the initial focus will be on new business development as CMR returns to the domestic market…
Oil Prices Extend Losses in Late Trading
Losses in benchmark Brent and U.S. crude oil briefly accelerated in Thursday's late trade as the dollar pared its earlier weakness, weighing on commodities priced in the currency.
New Lineup for NOAA Hydrographic Services Panel
NOAA administrator Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., has appointed six members to the Hydrographic Services Review Panel, a federal advisory committee that gives NOAA independent advice for improving a range of services and products that support navigation and coastal resilience. Capt. “Providing coastal communities, boaters, and the commercial maritime industry with timely, reliable, accurate, and authoritative information is essential as we strive to keep commerce flowing through our nation’s ports…
YPF Tenders for 11 Shipments of LNG
Argentina's state-controlled YPF is tendering to buy 11 shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG), traders said on Thursday. The traders said the tender includes…
NAMEPA Welcomes New Members
Norwegian Cruise Line and Nature Environmental & Marine Services, LLC have joined the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) the organization announced today. “The principles and aspirations of our organizations to promote sound environmental practices are closely aligned,” said Carleen Lyden-Kluss, NAMEPA Co-Founder and Executive Director. “This is an excellent opportunity to collaborate our strategies to a more sustainable world with cleaner seas.
Interferry Calls for Closer Cooperation in Regulations Process
Interferry has joined other co-organizers in praising last week’s inaugural European Shipping Week (ESW) in Brussels, and is now urging the industry and regulators…
Ghana Slashes 2015 Oil Revenue Forecast by 64%
Ghana's finance minister said on Thursday that the forecast for oil revenues in 2015 had been slashed to 1.5 billion cedis ($416.7 million), down from 4.2 billion…
Enel Green Power 2014 Net Profit Falls 32%
Enel Green Power, Italy's biggest renewable energy company, said on Thursday its net profit in 2014 fell 32 percent to 359 million euros ($381 million). The company…
AUV Helps Locate Sunken Japanese Warship
Bluefin Robotics underwater robot helps locate historic sunken Japanese battleship Musashi; located by philanthropist and entrepreneur Paul G. Bluefin Robotics underwater autonomous vehicles (AUV) scour the ocean floors around the world looking for items critical to the defense industry, oceanographic researchers and the oil and gas industry. Most recently, a Bluefin vehicle was used by Paul G. Allen and his team of researchers in their search for the sunken Japanese battleship Musashi…
Maersk to Retrofit VDRs on 100 Containerships
Maersk Line will retrofit 100 vessels with Danelec Marine’s DM100 Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) and Simplified Voyage Data Recorders (S-VDRs). “The fleet retrofit program will take advantage of our newly developed conversion kits, which we designed to facilitate replacement of older models of VDRs and S-VDRs,” said Hans Ottosen, CEO of Danelec Marine. “Some of these older products are 10 or more years old and are nearing the end of their service life.
Faltering Capesize Demand Drags Baltic Index
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, slipped further on Thursday on extended weaker demand for bigger vessels.
Hong Kong Introduces Clean Fuel Rules
The Government of Hong Kong’s Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation, which mandates oceangoing vessels (OGV) to use clean fuels while berthing in Hong Kong for reducing emissions so as to improve air quality, will be gazetted Friday, March 13. The compliant fuels required by the regulation are low-sulphur marine fuel (sulphur content not exceeding 0.5 percent), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and any other fuels approved by the Director of Environmental Protection.
Oil Price Fall May Aid Long-term Arctic Exploitation
A fall in oil prices may help long-term exploitation of fossil fuels in the Arctic by averting a short-lived "gold rush" into the vulnerable icy region, Norway's Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said on Thursday. Exploitation of oil and gas required long planning to safeguard the fragile environment, which is heating up faster than the world average because of global warming, he said. "It is safe to assume that Arctic gas will have its day…
Air Hoists Give Tank Cleaning a Lift
More and more companies are turning to air-operated hoists for effective ways to clean storage tanks, manufacturer J D Neuhaus (JDN) reports. Typically, injector heads with nozzles are used to clean inside these inherently dirty vessels by dispensing hot/cold water or steam at high pressures. If required, solvents are sometimes included in the cleaning solution. JDN hoists lift, support and accurately position the injector heads to ensure a thorough clean.
NYK Shipping Exec Jailed for Price Fixing
An employee of Japan-based Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) pleaded guilty today and was sentenced to 15 months in a U.S. prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to fix prices, allocate customers and rig bids of international ocean shipping services for roll-on, roll-off cargo, such as cars and trucks, to and from the United States and elsewhere, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. According to the one-count felony charge filed in U.S.
