Op/Ed: Australian Naval Shipbuilding in Limbo
The Abbott Government is committed to a sustainable Australian naval shipbuilding industry. Sadly, years of neglect by the former Labor government has left shipbuilding in a precarious and uncertain state. Labor’s ‘valley of death’ – which will soon be upon us – could have been avoided. For all their posturing, in six years they did not commission a single naval vessel from an Australian yard. Decisions…
Rotork Acquires Masso
Rotork announced it has acquired Masso Ind s.p.a., a manufacturer of shipboard valve remote control systems (VRCS), to enhance its range of flow control products and services for the worldwide marine and offshore industries. Masso VRCS solutions include hydraulic and electro-hydraulic systems that are compatible with most integrated automation systems required for critical safety applications. The Masso product range also includes hydraulic quarter-turn and linear actuators…
Naust Marine Wins Huge Winch Order
Hradfrystihusid Gunnvor (HG) and Vinnslustodin (VSV) recently awarded Naust Marine contracts to provide a complete suite of electric winches for their newbuild trawlers. Naust will supply no less than 29 winches per vessel, including three trawl winches and three Gilsons; six sweepline, two outhaul, two codend, four backstrap, three retriever and two net-lifting winches are included as auxiliaries.
Tug Crew Commended for Emergency Rescue Tow
Crowley crews commended by U.S. Captain Rodney Layton and his crew aboard Crowley’s Prevention and Response tugboat (PRT) Alert were recently recognized by U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Capt. Paul Mehler III, sector commander captain of the port, for their “professionalism, courage and flawless performance in extreme conditions” during the emergency rescue tow of the drill barge Kulluk off the southern point of Kodiak Island. Capt.
Vessel Forebody Launched for Rand Logistics
Rand Logistics, Inc. announced the launch of its new vessel forebody. The new forebody, built by Chengxi Shipyard Co., will be affixed to the aft section of the company's recently acquired Danish-flagged vessel and is set to become the first new Canadian-flagged river class self-unloader introduced into service on the Great Lakes in over 40 years. The new vessel is expected to be introduced into service in the fourth calendar quarter of 2015 and will increase the size of Rand's fleet to 16…
Funding Boosted for USACE Civil Works Program
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee, led by Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY), today approved by unanimous voice vote the FY ’16 Energy & Water Development (E&WD) and Related Agencies appropriations bill, increasing funding in Fiscal Year 2016 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works Program. WCI President Michael J. Toohey expressed thanks to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers and Ranking Member Rep.
Great Lakes Shipyard Awarded Ferry Repair Contract
Great Lakes Shipyard has been awarded a drydocking contract for Miller Boat Line’s M/V Put-In-Bay. The ferry was hauled out using the 770-ton capacity Marine Travelift at Great Lakes Shipyard. The repair contract includes drydocking, inspection and repairs, hull cleaning and miscellaneous fabrication and steel repairs. This is the first drydocking for M/V Put-In-Bay at Great Lakes Shipyard since Spring 2010…
The Need for Marine Spatial Planning
The sea is not empty. Ports, harbors and waterways have to manage an ever growing volume and mix of recreational activity and heavy commercial activity - at times across the same compact waterspace. This creates a series of challenging marine planning requirements that need to be addressed. While land use is often well zoned and tightly regulated, there is frequently limited designation of waterspace outside of specific fairway / anchorage demarcations and protected ecological marine areas.
China's WSDDI Extends FORAN Licenses
China’s Wuhan Ship Development and Design Institute (WSDDI) extended its FORAN contract with SENER. At the end of December 2014, WSDDI signed a contract with SENER’s partner in Beijing, United Force Corporation (UFC), about additional licenses of FORAN system and relevant services. The extended licenses include FORAN packages of Hull Structure, Machinery & Outfitting, Electrical, Drafting, Import/Export JT, FORAN-PLM Link and FORAN-FEM Link.
Seapilot Class B AIS Available in North America
True Heading, a manufacturer of Automatic Identification System (AIS) solutions, GPS compasses and app navigation, announced its complete line of Graphene Class B AIS transponders have received type approval and are now shipping in the North American market. The Seapilot Class B AIS is offered in four different versions, the CTRX Graphene, WiFi-AIS CTRX Graphene, CTRX Graphene+ and WiFi-AIS CTRX Graphene+.
Bulker Aground in St. Marys River
A 603-foot bulk carrier ran aground in the St. Marys River near De Tour Village, Michigan, early Wednesday. The motor vessel Mississagi, a Canadian-flagged bulk carrier with a load of stone, was transiting downbound the St. Marys River from Bruce Mines, Ontario, when it ran aground in the Potagannissing Bay approximately 4 miles northeast of De Tour Village, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. There are no reported injuries to the crew and no reported pollution.
Baltic Index Slips on Lower Capesize Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell slightly on Wednesday on lower capesize rates. The overall index…
Twelve Cranes Unload Mega Box Ship
The 398-meter-long containership CMA CGM Kerguelen made its first call at the Port Klang Port Terminal in Malaysia, arriving to a very unique arrangement, the CMA CGM Group announced. No less than 12 cranes were used simultaneously to match the vessel's exceptional length and capacity (17,722 TEU), setting a new record for CMA CGM. Delivered in March, U.K.-flagged CMA CGM Kerguelen is the first of six new vessels of its type to enter the CMA CGM fleet in 2015.
Eastern Launches MPSV for Hornbeck Offshore
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. launched the HOS Warland (Hull 241) on Friday March 6, 2015 for Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. The HOS Warland is Eastern’s first of two 302’x76’x26’ multipurpose service vessels (MPSV) launched with the Hornbeck designation HOSMPSV 310ES. The second vessel, the HOS Woodland (Hull 242), will launch this summer. The launching event was held at Eastern’s Allanton facility with hundreds of Eastern employees and guests in attendance.
EPA Awards Clean Diesel Grants to US Ports
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $5 million in grant funding for clean diesel projects at U.S. ports. The selected projects in California, Oregon…
GAC's Hull Cleaning Solution Debuts in Singapore
GAC EnvironHull’s eco-friendly, diver-free hull cleaning technology makes its Asian debut at this year’s Sea Asia exhibition, marking its introduction at one of the world’s busiest ports, Singapore. The HullWiper Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system was launched in late 2013 in the United Arab Emirates and has since been rolled out to other countries in the Middle East and in Sweden. It is now being offered to vessels in Singapore…
Drydocks World, Maritime World Win ADNOC Awards
Drydocks World and Maritine World, international service provider to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors, have been recognized at the ADNOC HSE awards for bringing safety and environment benefits to the industry in partnership with the National Drilling Company (NDC). The award ceremony was held at the InterContinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi on April 21 with numerous national companies in attendance such as ADGAS, ADNATCO-NGSCO, ZADCO, NDC and GASCO.
New Marine Certification Services Company Launched
Seaworthy Ltd. A new service provider for marine equipment manufacturers and system developers has entered the industry. Seaworthy Ltd. specializes in marine approval and certification services…
Lloyd’s Register Issues Emissions Guidance
This new guidance addresses operational and in-service considerations reflecting further accumulated experience from working with clients, industry groups and regulators. As well as a focus on exhaust gas treatment (scrubbers) the guidance also examines the wider scope of options for SOx/NOx compliance beyond exhaust gas treatment. Since an earlier version of this report was issued in 2012, early adopters of the technology…
House Speaker Boehner Calls U.S. Ships off Yemen 'right thing to do'
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said on Wednesday that sending U.S. warships into waters off Yemen was the "right thing to do," adding that he hoped their involvement there was not needed. U.S. officials have said the ships were sent to conduct maritime security operations, not to intercept Iranian arms shipments into Yemen. Reporting by David Lawder
