New Rescue Mission Aims to Curb Migrant Death Toll
A new sea rescue operation is to be launched in May to try to reduce the number of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers killed making the treacherous crossing from Africa to Europe…
Who Should Pay to Prevent Further Damage of Stricken Ships?
Who – shipowner or insurer – should bear the costs of any action taken to prevent a stricken vessel from getting into further costly difficulties? A seminar organized jointly by the Association of Average Adjusters and the International Underwriting Association heard that the market had long wrestled with the arguments, and that considerable uncertainties remain. The London event was given an outline…
China Mounts Defence of South China Sea Reclamation
China on Thursday sketched out plans for the islands it is creating in the disputed South China Sea, saying they would be used for military defence as well as to…
LATC Orders Damen PSVs for Nigerian Offshore Sector
Africa-focused proprietary investment firm L.A.T Cleveson (LATC) has signed an order with Damen Shipyards Group for the supply of two PSV 3300 Platform Supply Vessels and two FCS 5009 Fast Supplier Vessels. This transaction will bring next generation Damen PSVs to the offshore industry of Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea for the first time. The purchase is being made by LATC Marine Ltd, a subsidiary of L.A.T Cleveson…
Seminar to Cover Port Waste Facilities
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is set to host an Environmental Intelligence in Maritime Seminar Series to focus on Port Waste Reception Facilities. The seminar, to be held in Norfolk, Virginia on April 16, will include speakers and discussion from regulators, industry and port interests. “MARPOL regulations include requirements for port waste receptions facilities.
Spotlight on Intermodal River Transport
Ingram Barge Company’s towboat, the M/V Miss Shirley, arrived at America’s Central Port in Granite City, Illinois, transporting containers via barge as part of a demonstration to show the viability of intermodal river transportation. “Currently our nation’s highways and railways are operating near full capacity, while our inland waterways are vastly underutilized,” said Dan Mecklenborg, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Ingram Barge Company.
Chesapeake Launches Tugboat for Vane Brothers
Chesapeake Shipbuilding has launched another tugboat for Vane Brothers, the builder announced today. The tugboat, named Fort Schuyler, represents the 11th tugboat that Chesapeake Shipbuilding has built for Vane Brothers of the 14 contracted. The new tugboat is nearly identical to the previous 10 tugboats built for Vane Brothers - equipped with twin Caterpillar 3512 main engines producing a combined 3,000 horsepower, and a single drum hydraulic towing winch.
Sovcomflot’s New LNG Carrier Named
A naming ceremony was held on April 9, 2015 in South Korea for SCF Mitre, the fourth vessel in a series of state-of-the-art Atlanticmax-type LNG carriers built for Sovcomflot (SCF Group). The vessel, as with her sistership SCF Melampus that joined SCF Group’s fleet in January 2015, will be operated under a long-term time charter to Royal Dutch Shell. A series of Atlanticmax-type LNG carriers have been constructed under a joint project developed by Sovcomflot and STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.
ClassNK Releases Steel Ships Rules and Guidance
Classification society ClassNK has released its 2015 Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships. The 2015 edition’s amendments, made between March 1…
Wheat Ship Barred from Entering Yemen Port
Warships from the Saudi-led coalition have blocked a vessel carrying more than 47,000 tonnes of wheat from entering a Yemeni port, demanding United Nations guarantees…
Two New Patrol Boats for Tunisian Navy
SAFE Boats International informs it has recently completed an order for two SAFE 65-Foot Full Cabin Inboard Boats for the Tunisian Navy. The first boat has recently arrived in Tunisia and the second boat is in the process of being delivered, the builder said. The new patrol vessels will provide the Tunisian Navy with enhanced capability to conduct search and rescue operations (SAR) and extended offshore patrols.
Hearing to Examine USCG's Missions
The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, chaired by U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), will hold a hearing next week to examine how the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) allocates hours and resources among its multiple statutory missions, as well as how the Service measures mission performance. The Subcommittee hearing, entitled, “An Overview of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Missions,” is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 in 2253 Rayburn House Office Building.
Baltic Sea Freight Index Steady, Vessel Activity Muted
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, remained flat on Thursday due to muted vessel activity.
Vessel Cranes Ordered for Nautilus Vessel
An order for cranes to be used on Nautilus Minerals Inc.’s production support vessel has been awarded to MacGregor, headquarter in Kristiansand, Norway. The contract marks the third major long lead time equipment package to be awarded by the shipyard, Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Limited. Nautilus' CEO Mike Johnston commented, "We are very pleased to have such a world class supplier providing key equipment for use on our Production Support Vessel.
Terragon: Next-Step in Ship Waste Handling
Terragon Environmental Technologies Inc., a developer of waste-to-resource technology solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Green Marine Capital (GMC). Terragon CEO and Co-founder Dr. Panayotis Tsantrizos said the partnership will allow the company to commercialize its products in the marine sector. Terragon’s first commercially available product, the Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS)…
Statoil Reports GoM Oil Discovery
Statoil has made an oil discovery in its Miocene Yeti prospect located in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), the company announced today. “The Yeti discovery expands the proven sub-salt Miocene play further south and west of the Big Foot field,” said Jez Averty, Statoil’s senior vice president, exploration for North America. The Yeti discovery was made in Walker Ridge (WR) block 160, which is located approximately 15 kilometers south of the Big Foot field, and 11 kilometers from the Cascade field.
How to Approach Maritime Cyber Security
Maritime security professionals understand the value of a layered approach to risk management. Cyber security posture continues to develop as a critical component of a maritime security strategy, and cyber security insurance has become a valuable layer of protection that risk managers must consider. While the insurance industry has decades or more of actuarial data on various kinds of risk (typhoons, tornados, earthquakes, etc.), no such substantive data exists yet for cyber risk.
MLP3 AFSB NASSCO Delivers for the Navy
General Dynamics National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) christened the USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP 3 AFSB) in early February in San Diego. USNS Lewis B. Puller, the third vessel of the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class, is the first of which to be configured as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB). While the Lewis B. Puller is the third in the series, in some respects it has lead ship qualities as it is designated MLP 3 / AFSB…
IFC Plans $2 bln Investment in Egyptian Infrastructure, Power
The World Bank's development arm plans to invest between $1.2 billion and $2 billion in Egypt over the next four years, including around the Suez Canal, its regional director told Reuters.
Thunderbolt: Eastern Delivers Innovative Towboat
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. introduced its new 120-ft., 4,200-hp Inland Towboat design, Thunderbolt, combining twin electric V-Pod propulsion and diesel-electric technology for what the builder calls its “vision of the future for the U.S. Eastern said the idea for the Thunderbolt came from a conversation at a trade show. On the rivers, thruster propulsion systems are starting to get noticed and…
