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.
SUNY Maritime Approved as NY Tax-free Site
The State University of New York Maritime College is officially open for business, after receiving formal designation as a tax-free area under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s START-UP NY program. In a March 2 letter to Maritime College President Michael A. SUNY Maritime College has designated 1,700 square feet of vacant space on its campus in Fort Schuyler. The college will target businesses in the formative stage of development or engage in the design…
Houston Ship Channel Fully Reopened
The Houston Ship Channel has been fully reopened today following Monday’s ship collision and subsequent salvage operations. The Houston Ship Channel was reopened Thursday morning after responders completed initial salvage plans on damaged chemical tanker Carla Maersk and moved the vessel to Barbour's Cut turning basin, the Central Texas Coastal Area Committee (CTCAC) reported. The Carla Maersk incurred…
Petrobras Begins Output Test in Buzios Offshore Field
Brazilian state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA said on Thursday that it began to test output from its Buzios offshore oilfield off Rio de Janeiro in the Santos Basin.
LNG Hybrid Barge Passes Technical Trials
Becker Marine Systems informs that the program of technical trials for its Hummel LNG Hybrid Barge has been completed. The commissioning of the barge for low-emission power supply to cruise ships lying at port in Hamburg can thus start in May 2015. “The operation of all five of the Hummel’s generator sets recently took place as part of class acceptance,” stated Dirk Lehmann and Henning Kuhlmann, both Managing Directors of Becker Marine Systems.
Collaboration Sought for Arctic Emergency Strategies
As offshore field developments in the North and Norwegian Seas face maturity, operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) are looking to the more remote areas of the Barents Sea for further development. Here harsher environmental conditions, prolonged periods of darkness and long distances to shore make evacuation and rescue of personnel on Arctic offshore installations more challenging. A new…
Potential Problems with ECA-busting Low Sulphur Fuels
New 0.1% sulphur limits in emission control areas (ECA) have increased the use of distillate fuels, but without careful management and treatment, they can cause significant harm to engines, according to Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) experts. Distillate fuels can cause blockages in fuel lines, in addition to damaging fuel pumps and injectors and in some cases contribute to the loss of engine power, according to Jonas Östlund, Product Marketing Manager Marine Chemicals, WSS.
Maritime Security Experts Meet in Jacksonville
Maritime security experts are gathering this week at Maritime Security 2015 East in Jacksonville, Florida, to exchange information and ideas, as well as learn about and see emerging technologies and operational concepts in action. Presentations were made by speakers from the Navy and Coast Guard, along with state, city and local organizations with maritime security and law enforcement responsibilities. The event is taking place at the Jacksonville JAXPORT Cruise Terminal.
Theodore Roosevelt Deploys for World Tour
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) departed its homeport in Norfolk for an around-the-world deployment, March 11. TR and its Sailors will conduct operations in the U.S.
Wärtsilä Dual-fuel Engines for Baltic Sea Ferry
A new fast ropax ferry ordered by the Estonia based Tallink Grupp for its Tallinn - Helsinki route, will feature Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines running primarily on liquefied natural gas (LNG).
AKPS, Crowley JV Secures $ 325 mi Commitment
The joint venture between Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA (AKPS) and Crowley has received a firm and fully underwritten commitment from a group of banks and other…
