US Navy Mobile Landing Platform Christened
![Martha Puller Downs, daughter of General Puller christens USNS Lewis B. Puller. (Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/martha-puller-downs-daughter-of-39676.jpg)
General Dynamics NASSCO christened the U.S. Navy’s newest ship, the USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP-3 AFSB), on Saturday during a christening ceremony held at the San Diego builder’s shipyard. This third Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) is the first ship of the class to be configured as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB), adding a flight deck, berthing, fuel storage, equipment storage, repair spaces and accommodations for up to 250 personnel.
India to Raise $2B in Foreign Funding for Ports
![The Mumbai cargo terminal (Photo courtesy of the Mumbai Port Trust)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/the-mumbai-cargo-terminal-photo-39675.jpg)
The Indian government is planning on raising $2B in overseas funding for major port expansion, the Economic Times of India reported today. The funding will also be used to construct rail and road projects to connect the ports to the country's interior. Indian officials told the Times that the proposal is soon to be finalized, and funds will be used to invest in 12 major ports. Officials also added that the plan will require approval from the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India.
Cold Kills 29 on Italian Coast Guard Boats
Twenty-nine migrants died of hypothermia aboard Italian coast guard vessels on Monday after being picked up from a boat adrift near Libya, reigniting criticism of…
Navy Leaders: Uncertainty Will Drive Innovation
![Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Mat Winter, moderates a research, development, test and evaluation corporate board panel session during the Naval Future Force Science and Technology Expo. (U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/chief-of-naval-research-rear-39673.jpg)
Department of Navy leaders at the Naval Future Force Science and Technology (S&T) EXPO in Washington D.C., February 5 called for investment in new ideas and scientific research to keep the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps technologically superior in increasingly uncertain times. Sean J. Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, said tight budgets at home and technological…
Zenith Acquires Bantry Bay Oil Terminal
International liquids and bulk terminaling company Zenith Energy has acquired the Bantry Bay Oil Terminal in West Cork, Ireland, from Phillips 66. The terminal, located on Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay…
$13B Needed to Repair US Locks
There are 192 locks on 12,000 miles of American rivers, and most have lived far beyond their life expectancy, the NY Times reported last week. The Times reported…
Kvichak Marine Awarded Duqm Pilot Boat Contract
![An artist's rendering of the pilot boat (Photo by Kvichak Marine Industries)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/an-artists-rendering-of-the-39671.jpg)
Kvichak Marine Industries has been awarded a contract for the construction of two 19m all-weather pilot boats for the Port of Duqm Company SAOC, Sultanate of Oman, the company announced today. Designed by Camarc Design, Ltd., UK, the vessels will also function as search and rescue and oil spill recovery vessels. The all-aluminum vessels will be powered by twin Cummins QSK-19 marine diesel engines…
US West Coast Port Operations Resume
![Photo: Port of Los Angeles](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-port-of-los-angeles-39670.jpg)
U.S. West Coast port operations resumed in full on Monday after shipping companies suspended loading and unloading of freighters for the weekend, citing chronic cargo backups the shippers and dockworkers have blamed on each other during months of labor tensions. Reopening of the ports to cargo vessels idled by the slowdowns and weekend suspension came as the shippers and dockworkers' union were scheduled to return to the bargaining table for further labor negotiations later in the day…
SharpEye Radar Ordered for NZ Frigates Upgrade
![Image: Kelvin Hughes](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-kelvin-hughes-39669.jpg)
As part of the Lockheed Martin Canada prime contract for the Frigate Systems Upgrade project, a contract has been awarded to Kelvin Hughes to supply SharpEye radars and with an Agile Tracker to the New Zealand (NZ) Ministry of Defense. Kelvin Hughes will supply its S-Band solid state upmast 2D navigation and surveillance radar SharpEye, for two ship sets along with their tactical Naval MantaDigital display software and processors.
GSL to Acquire 8,063 TEU Vessel
Global Ship Lease, Inc. (GSL) has agreed to acquire an 8,063 TEU containership from a leading container liner company for a purchase price of $53.6 million, the company announced today.
Diamond Offshore Scraps Special Dividend on Weak Market
![Ocean Endeavor (Photo: Diamond Offshore)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/ocean-endeavor-photo-diamond-offshore-39665.jpg)
Rig contractor Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc said it expected a significant number of ultra-deepwater rigs to be idled across the industry by year-end as oil producers' capital budget is likely to be lowered by a fifth this year. The company also said it would not pay a special dividend as it had been doing since 2006 to save cash to take advantage of opportunities in a distressed market. "...This action saves the company about $415 million over the next year…
Servowatch Technology Puts Cathelco BWTS Ahead
![Photo courtesy of Servowatch](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-servowatch-39664.jpg)
Servowatch Systems’ cooperation with UK-based Cathelco has resulted in what is claimed to be the most technically advanced new generation ballast water treatment system (BWTS) on the market. UK-based Servowatch has been working closely with Cathelco to develop a fully integrated alarm, monitoring, and process control system for its combination filtration and UV BWTS, a key component of the IMO approval process and U.S Coast Guard AMS acceptance.
Grupo CBO Selects Huisman Winch Packages
![Photo courtesy of Huisman](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-huisman-39663.jpg)
In January 2015, Huisman, the worldwide specialist in lifting, drilling and subsea solutions, and Brazilian shipping company and shipyard group Grupo CBO, signed a contract for the delivery of four anchor handling and towing winch packages for four new Havyard 843 AHTS vessels. The winch packages will be built by Huisman’s new production facility in Navegantes, Brazil, and delivery is planned for 2016 and 2017. The winches will be delivered with 50% Brazilian content.
Japan Backs Beaching Yards in India
![Leela Ship Recycling](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/leela-ship-recycling-39661.jpg)
Ship recycling yards in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh need to be part of the global scheme of sound ship recycling and those yards in Alang which have invested in fully upgrading their facilities to meet the terms of internationally-agreed rules should be rewarded by winning more business. This was the view expressed by Akihiro Tamura, Director of Shipbuilding Policy at the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro)…
New Communication System for Canadian Ferries
![Ferry Blue Putees from Marine Atlantic Inc](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/ferry-blue-putees-from-marine-39659.jpg)
Marine Atlantic Inc. (MAI) selected Imtech Marine Canada to replace its ship to shore wireless communication system. Given a short timeframe, installation took place in just three weeks. Owned by the Canadian government, Marine Atlantic Inc. operates four of the largest ferries in North America and sails between the Provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia on a daily basis. In the government tender for the contract Marine Atlantic Inc.
Venezuelan Sales of New Crude Blends to US Double in Jan
Sales to the United States of new Venezuelan crude blends made with imported oil nearly doubled in January to 176,000 barrels per day (bpd), but the rise was not…
Ship Engines, Thruster Packages Awarded
Nautilus Minerals Inc. announced that the order for the engines and thruster packages for the company’s production support vessel has been awarded to Rolls Royce Marine of Norway.
Hamburg Achieves Record Throughput in 2014
![Photo: Port of Hamburg](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-port-of-hamburg-39657.jpg)
The Port of Hamburg achieved its best-ever result in 2014, reporting total throughput of 145.7 million tons, representing growth of 4.8 percent. Up by 6.1 percent at 102.7 million tons, general cargo throughput was outstanding. A 1.7 percent increase in bulk cargo throughput to 43 million tons also contributed to the new record for Germany’s largest universal port. In 2014 the Port of Hamburg set a new record for seaborne cargo handling.
WWL Launches Post Panamax Vessel
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics launched the first of its new generation of Post Panamax HERO (High Efficiency RoRo) PCTC vessels, M/V Thermopylae. The Thermopylae…
25 Migrants Die After Being Picked up at Sea
At least 25 migrants died of hypothermia aboard Italian coast guard vessels after being picked up from an inflatable boat adrift near Libya, the chief health official…