Desperate Times for US Coal Mean Desperate Port Proposals
It’s a spectacularly atrocious time for U.S. coal companies. Demand for coal domestically is not what it was—and likely never will be—so producers have cast their gaze abroad, where they hope Asian markets respond as domestic ones fail. It’s a long shot, though, because there’s too much supply and too little demand, and the strong U.S. dollar continues to keep exports of all kinds less competitive.
UK Shadow Energy Minister Visits Centrica, Bibby Offshore
Integrated energy company Centrica Energy and Bibby Offshore, an oil and gas industry subsea services provider, today hosted Tom Greatrex MP, the UK's Shadow Energy Minister, as part of an oil and gas industry fact-finding initiative. Greatrex, the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, visited Centrica’s Aberdeen offices to gather information about the company’s new and existing developments on the UK Continental Shelf.
Propellers: One Size and Shape Does Not Fit All
Hydrocomp’s newest release of PropCad incorporates 3 years of enhancements. Propellers are surprisingly complex devices, especially considering most are a solid piece of metal with no moving parts. The variation in vessels and operational requirements leads to wildly different designs, from noise-sensitive propellers for luxury cruiseliners to wide-blade sets for tugs. With different combinations of diameters…
A Gift to US Inland Waterways
The nation and its inland waterways received a great gift at the end of 2014. On December 16, 2014, the Senate voted 76-16 to pass H.R. 5571, tax extenders legislation that included a 9-cent increase in the inland waterways diesel user fee. The increase will be effective April 1, 2015 and funds – around $40 million from industry levies – will be deposited into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund for the benefit of priority navigation project construction and major rehabilitation.
Avoiding Pitfalls on the Water
When a land-based contractor decides to work on water, risk can arise from unexpected places. It doesn’t have to be that way. In the past, companies involved in the marine industry, whether they were vessel operators, riggers, longshoremen, ship builders, repairers, or construction companies were, by and large, specialized and most companies focused on one niche aspect of the industry. Fast forward to 2015 and it is clear that our industry has changed.
Moving Ahead With the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
“How can we have a 21st century economy with a 20th century infrastructure?” Vice President Joe Biden recently posed this question to an audience at the American…
SGMF Releases First LNG Bunkering Safety Guidelines
The Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) released the 1st edition of its LNG Bunkering Safety Guidelines yesterday. The goal of the document is to provide the bunkering industry with best practices in order to ensure that gas-fuelled ships are re-fuelled with high levels of safety, integrity, and reliability, the group said in a press release. The 82-page document was created by a working group featuring employees from the Swedish Marine Authority…
Victoria Shipyards VP Barker to Retire
Seaspan’s vice president and general manager of Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd., Malcolm Barker, will retire Spring 2015, following more than 21 years with the company. Barker began his shipbuilding career at the age of 16 and has been in the B.C. marine industry for nearly four decades. Formerly with Yarrows Shipyard in Esquimalt, he has spent the last 21 years with Victoria Shipyards, providing dynamic…
WAGO Appoints Regional Sales Manager for Northwest Region
Electrical interconnect and automation solution manufacturer WAGO has appointed Jeff Zimmerman as Regional Sales Manager for the Northwest region, the company announced today. Zimmerman will coordinate WAGO’s sales and marketing activities in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. He previously held senior management and marketing roles at AOP technologies and Kinequip Incorporated. “We are excited to have Jeff join our growing sales team in the region.
Long Beach Cargo Dips with Congestion
Lingering congestion at West Coast seaports drove down container cargo by 18.8 percent in January at Long Beach compared to the same month last year, the port announced. Overall, 429,490 TEUs of containerized cargo moved through the Port of Long Beach in January. Imports numbered 213,667 TEUs, a 23.5 percent decline from January 2014. Exports slid 19.6 percent to 98,462 TEUs. Empty containers declined 7.6 percent to 117,361 TEUs.
Stolt-Nielsen Secures $250m Financing
Stolt-Nielsen Limited has closed a $250 million private placement with American International Group (AIG). The private placement has a term of 10 years and is secured…
Arctic Rescue Vessels Named in Wismar
After a construction period of around 17 months, two identically designed icebreaking rescue and salvage vessels have been named Beringov Proliv and Murman during a ceremony at Nordic Yards in Wismar. In addition to representatives of the customer Rosmorrechflot, other participants in the naming ceremony included Russia's Deputy Transport Minister Viktor Olerskiy. During the naming ceremony, Dr. Vitaly Yusufov…
Ledwidge Named CFO of Irish Continental Group
David Ledwidge has been appointed to the position of chief financial officer at Irish Continental Group Plc (ICG). A Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a Bachelor of Science graduate from Dublin Institute of Technology, Ledwidge joined ICG from accountants Deloitte in 2006. Ledwidge has held various financial positions within the group, first as group risk accountant followed by his appointment as Irish ferries financial controller…
US, German Agencies Partner for BWMS System Testing
New cooperation provides manufacturers of ballast water management systems (BWMS) with an opportunity to obtain German and U.S. NSF International, the first Independent…
Egypt: Vitol to Supply 9 LNG Cargos, in Talks with BP
Vitol will supply Egypt with nine LNG cargos for two years starting June 2015, an Egyptian oil ministry statement said on Thursday. The statement said the ministry…
Puget Sound Container Volumes Slide
The ports of Seattle and Tacoma saw combined container volumes fall 13 percent in January, continuing a trend that started in November. The Puget Sound gateway handled 226,906 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last month. Containerized imports plunged 21 percent to 89,982 TEUs, while exports dipped 7 percent to 81,213 TEUs. Domestic volumes to Alaska and Hawaii fell 7 percent to 55,711 TEUs. Issues related…
Wal-Mart: Port Issue Impacting Supply
Wal-Mart Stores Inc is experiencing delays in some merchandise due to the West Coast port disruptions, although moves to diversify its logistics have limited the impact…
Catamaran Tour Vessel Under Construction
Construction of a 19m Catamaran Tour Vessel has commenced at Aluminium Marine. Offering Incat Crowther’s hull form and design, the vessel offers operators a competitive edge in tour operations. According to the designer, the vessel’s platform can be customized to the operator’s requirements, with existing arrangements available for sightseeing, dive tour and passenger ferry operations. Provisions have been made for the fitment of a bow loading ramp and stern lifting platform.
Baltic Index Rebounds Slightly from Record Low
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, edged up slightly on Thursday on higher rates for panamaxes and smaller vessels.
CMA CGM Opens 3CTC Terminal
The CMA CGM Group inaugurated its new logistics platform, the 3CTC Terminal (CMA CGM Cameroon Container Terminal), on February 19, 2015. The 3CTC platform has been operational since January 7, 2015, and its concession attributed for 25 years. It is located in an area between Douala and the port, where it occupies two hectares. With this new platform, the CMA CGM Group offers its clients a range of logistics solutions…
