StingRay: Adapting to the Market
There is no question that these are challenging times for offshore oil in the Gulf of Mexico. However, while some vessel operators are tying up boats, Bordelon Marine is continuing with its aggressive build program. Designed for flexibility, the firm’s Stingray 260 Class DP 2 platform supply vessels are proving their design concept. Its most recently vessels are the M/V Shelia Bordelon, and M/V Brandon Bordelon, number two and three in the series, due for launch later this year.
WISTA USA Hosts 2015 AGM & Conference
This year's WISTA USA Annual General Meeting (AGM) brought together more than 120 maritime industry professionals from across the United States and around the world. Declared a major success by WISTA USA president, Alexandra Anagnostis-Irons (president, Total Marine Solutions), the event was hosted by the New York/Jew Jersey chapter in Manhattan. WISTA USA membership, as well as the WISTA International Executive Committee and several international WISTA members including Canada…
New DPO Training from Kongsberg
Kongsberg Maritime has become the first global maritime training provider to offer a new DNV-GL approved Dynamic Positioning Operator (DPO) training scheme at its training centers worldwide. The new KONGSBERG Training Scheme for DP Operators is based on a combination of new and established DNV training standards, with the learning process designed by Kongsberg Maritime. The scheme is a step-change in the critical area of DPO training…
LA Container Volumes Up Slightly in May
May 2015 containerized cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles edged up 0.8 percent compared to the same period last year. The port handled a total of 694,791 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in May 2015. Imports decreased 0.8 percent, from 351,403 TEUs in May 2014 to 348,427 TEUs in May 2015. Exports declined 3.5 percent, from 158,473 TEUs in May 2014 to 152,917 TEUs in May 2015. Combined, total loaded imports and exports decreased 1.7 percent…
SCI Presents Silver Bell Awards 2015
A shared passion and concern brought together a diverse group of people from several segments of the maritime industry to celebrate the milestone achievements of three careers and to raise funds to support mariners served by SCI. More than 770 individuals assembled on Thursday, June 4, 2015, at the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) 38th Annual Silver Bell Awards Dinner in New York City to honor the maritime industry contributions of three individuals.
Seaspan Appoints Human Resources VP
Brent Hale has joined Seaspan as vice president of human resources, the company announced. As part of Seaspan’s senior executive team, Hale will provide leadership for strategic plans, and guide the development and implementation of human resources and labor relations initiatives and processes to achieve its corporate goals. “I am very pleased to welcome Brent to the Seaspan family and our world-class leadership team, said Jonathan Whitworth, CEO, Seaspan.
UK Coastguard Searching for Vessel Taking on Water
The U.K. Coastguard is currently coordinating the search for a vessel which may be in distress and taking on water somewhere in the Newhaven area, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported.
Ultra-large Containership Towing Capabilities Tested
Worldwide shipping group the CMA CGM Group and the German Authority Havariekommando tested Havariekommando´s capability to tow ultra-large container vessels during an exercise held on June 13, 2015. The vessel used for this exercise was the CMA CGM Jules Verne, the CMA CGM’s 16,000 TEU flagship. During the exercise, the Havariekommando ordered the CMA CGM Jules Verne to alter its geographical position…
Kohler Marine Sets Sail Aboard the Hermione
Kohler Marine, manufacturer of diesel and gasoline marine generators for a wide range of pleasure and commercial craft applications, announced its participation in the Hermione-Lafayette Voyage 2015.
Shell Arctic Rig Departs Seattle Surrounded by Protesters
A Royal Dutch Shell PLC drilling rig that will search for oil in the Arctic pulled out of its temporary base in Seattle on Monday for the trip north to Alaska as…
NASSCO Delivers USNS Lewis B. Puller
Shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO delivered the U.S. Navy’s newest ship, the USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP 3 AFSB) on Friday, June 12. The ship is named in honor of the late U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Lewis “Chesty” Puller, the most decorated Marine and the only one to be awarded five Navy Crosses. The AFSB modifications add a 52,000 square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment storage, repair spaces, magazines, mission planning spaces and accommodations for up to 250 personnel.
Pilot of Grounded Tug Sentenced for Negligence
The pilot of a tow vessel that ran aground in June 2014 was sentenced for negligence. Gerold Holt Bosarge was sentenced June 12 in United States District Court for…
Chevron: No Production Impact from US Gulf Storm
Chevron Corp has evacuated some workers not essential to oil production from its Gulf of Mexico operations as a low-pressure storm system moves through the basin…
Battery System Selected for Largest Electric Ferry
Swiss battery manufacturer Leclanché was selected as a battery system supplier to the world’s largest battery operated ferryboat to be built by Danish shipbuilder Søby Shipyard Ltd.
RTG Cranes for New Baltic Port of Bronka
On June 11, the freighter Meri was the first vessel handled in the new Russian Baltic port of Bronka, delivering the first three of 10 RTG cranes from Konecranes in Finland. Arriving from Hanko in Finland, the Meri was the first merchant ship to transit the new, recently constructed canal providing access to Bronka, then making fast at the already operational Berth 3. Discharge of the three RTG cranes constituted a dress rehearsal for clearance of a vessel at the new terminal in Bronka…
Supertankers Set to Take North Sea Crude to Asia in June
As many as four VLCC tankers could take North Sea crude oil to Asia this month, shipping fixtures show, after an Atlantic Basin supply glut forced prices to multi-year lows.
Storm Carlos Moves West, Nearing Mexican Pacific Port
Tropical storm Carlos threatened Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain on Monday as it churned west near the port of Lazaro Cardenas, and it is forecast to become a hurricane again by early Tuesday…
Diver Pleads Guilty to Fraud Involving Historic Cannons
A commercial diver has pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court to a fraud offence in excess of £46,000 following a two year investigation by the U.K. Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). The diver, Vincent Woolsgrove of Ramsgate, Kent, reported finding five cannons during the summer 2007, two from the wreck of the warship, London, and three in international waters off the coast of Kent. The cannons recovered from the warship were both very rare bronze Peter Gill and commonwealth cannons.
The Powerful TGS Salvage Grab
The TGS Salvage grab is reported to be the only one of this type in the world with four independent claws of 250 Mt each and a total pinch force of 1,000 Mt. Its lifting capacity reaches more than 1,000 Mt. This grab is built out of the latest high tense steels in order to achieve a super light empty weight of 165 Mt. The grab operates on a sheer legs crane or any other type of lifting crane. This giant machine is equipped with four heavy duty hydraulic cylinders to open and close the claws.
DW: Tomorrow, It’s Surely Nearer Now?
A sustained supply glut has maintained Brent oil prices through the first five months of 2015 at some 47 percent lower than the same period in 2014. Industry observers expect low oil prices to eventually take supply out of the market and drive a price correction, noted Douglas-Westwood. So, when will this happen? To-date, supply appears unaffected - latest figures from the EIA indicate that US production has risen almost 13 percent in the last 12 months.
