SCI’s New Chapter in Maritime Training
On December 10, 2014, SCI launched a major initiative to transform training for America’s inland mariners at its Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, KY. The day before its 15th Annual River Bell Awards ceremony, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) pushed the proverbial boat out on a new era of maritime education. In prior months, SCI had installed new simulators and renovated the hospitality areas at its Center for Maritime Education in Paducah, KY.
Imports Rising as West Coast Issues Continue
Year-over-year import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to continue to rise during most of the first half of 2015 despite significant congestion still impacting West Coast ports, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “Now that a federal mediator is on the scene, we hope the mediator…
Boskalis Raises Stake in Fugro
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) announced that it has increased its holding in Fugro N.V. to 20.01%, stressing that the move is not a step towards making an offer.
Odfjell Announces Personnel Reductions
In an announced effort to improve its financial results through a more competitive cost structure, Odfjell SE began a review of all aspects of its business model in May 2014 targeting organizational changes to increase competitiveness in the chemical tanker market. The company’s board has today approved a restructuring plan which, fully implemented, is estimated to improve the net result by in excess of $100 million on a yearly basis within 2016.
Floating Production: What’s New in January?
2014 Floater Orders – We thought it would be useful to provide a summary of floater orders placed last year. As listed below, 25 units were ordered during the year - 10 FPSOs, one Barge, four FLNGs, seven FSRUs and three FSOs. 2015 Outlook for Floater Orders – The drop in oil/gas prices and ongoing implosion in Petrobras have combined to create a perfect storm in the deepwater sector. More than 170…
Update: Hoegh Osaka Remains at Anchor
Car carrier vessel Hoegh Osaka has been held by an anchor on the Alpha Anchorage overnight as weather conditions on scene have eased and the salvors boarded the vessel at 8:30 a.m.
MCP Inks Mobile, Internet Deal for 33 Carnival Ships
MCP has signed a long-term contract with Carnival Corporation to provide 33 cruise ships with advanced mobile cellular communication services. The agreement provides close to 130,000 people each day mobile voice, texting (SMS) and data (mobile internet) coverage while at sea. In order to deliver mobile solutions to crew and passengers, Carnival Corporation has signed a multi-year contract serving six of the company’s nine brands.
Ferry Fixation: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
It all adds up to the global effort to strengthen bottom lines, safety margins and the collective environmental footprint. The future for ferries seems to be on fire; both in good ways and bad. The good is always a good place to start. And, that’s because it is ferry fabrication time. The most notable ferry routes in America are jumping into the construction queue for new vessels and soon the next generation of ferry vessels will be hitting the piers (not literally of course).
Canada’s Ferry Industry Sets Course for Success
Our country’s past and its future are fundamentally linked to the transportation of people, vehicles and goods over our lakes, rivers and sea. Ferries have always been an integral part of Canada’s transportation infrastructure. Today, the geo-political relevance, the economic impact and the environment footprint of ferries continue to show that the sector is a crucial part of Canada’s infrastructure.
Offshore Cable Layer Delivered to Van Oord
Damen delivered a new DOC 8500 cable laying vessel, Nexus, to international offshore contractor Van Oord on December 22. The 126-metre vessel is intended for the installation of electricity cables for offshore wind farms. Van Oord is currently making preparations for the Gemini offshore wind farm which will be constructed 55 kilometers to the north of Schiermonnikoog, one of the Dutch Wadden Islands, and the cable-laying vessel will be deployed initially at that site.
ROV Key to Safety in Concordia Salvage
With Concordia finally in dock, Italian marine contractor Micoperi reports that the Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV played a vital role in diver safety during the largest maritime salvage operation in history. Fabio Bartolotti of Micoperi, the contractor responsible for the project, said that the Falcon worked every day of the salvage operation, spending more than 1,000 hours in the water. He noted that every…
New RAmparts Tugs for PSA Marine
A year after PSA Marine, Singapore took delivery of Rubicon, its first ever RAmparts 3200CL tug from Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Hong Kong in December 2013, the same builder has now put four more similar tugs, OLNG Sur, OLNG Seeb, OLNG Masirah and OLNG Muttrah into the hands of PSA Marine Qalhat SAOC. These tugs are similar to their predecessors in this design series, with modifications to suit the owner's requirements for operations at the LNG terminal in the Port of Qalhat in Oman.
Wicker to Chair US Seapower Subcommittee
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., was chosen by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., to lead the Subcommittee on Seapower. The Subcommittee on Seapower is responsible for Navy and Marine Corps programs and procurement, maritime issues, and strategic lift programs for the Department of Defense. “Mississippi has a proud tradition of supporting our Navy and Marine Corps. I look forward to continuing that tradition as Chairman of this subcommittee…
Enclosed Space Management System Launched
Videotel, in conjunction with Mines Rescue Marine, has launched the Enclosed Space Management System, designed to help assess, audit and manage the safety of enclosed spaces on board ship and combat the number of accidents and fatalities that all too often occur when problem areas are overlooked. Beneficial to crew; contractors; surveyors; port state inspectors and office staff; this is currently the…
Eurotunnel Seeks Buyer for Ferry Business
Groupe Eurotunnel, which runs the undersea rail link between Britain and France, is putting its ferry service between the two countries up for sale after a ban on…
Statoil Evacuates North Sea Platforms Ahead of Storm
Norwegian oil and gas producer Statoil is moving some workers off seven North Sea platforms in anticipation of a weekend storm, but production should not be affect, a spokesman said on Friday.
Search for Missing Hunter Near South Pass
The Coast Guard, state and local agencies responded to a report of a missing duck hunter in the vicinity of South Pass on the lower Mississippi River, Thursday.
Russia Sets Clear Agenda for Competitive Opportunity
Russia’s renewed focus on the commercial shipbuilding industry was set as a key aim by Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev in his recent discussions on the development of the sector through 2015.
Holland America Line’s 'Zuiderdam' Rescues 8 in the Caribbean
At 2:10 a.m. Jan. 3, 2015, while en route to Oranjestad, Aruba, Holland America Line’s ms Zuiderdam answered a distress call from the Bahamian inter-island vessel…
Navy to Christen High Speed Vessel
The Navy will christen the future USNS Trenton (JHSV 5) Jan. 10 during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony in Mobile, Alabama. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will deliver the ceremony’s principal address.
