Great Lakes Shipyard to Build Damen Tugs
First Damen tugs to be built under license in the U.S. An agreement was signed between Damen Shipyards Group and Great Lakes Shipyard for the latter to build two Stan Tugs 1907 ICE at its facility in Cleveland, marking the first instance in which Damen tugs will be built under license in the United States, according to the Ohio shipbuilder. The ICE Class vessels will be operated by the yard’s affiliate company, The Great Lakes Towing Company, and will replace existing tonnage.
US Trade Deficit Widens as Exports Hit 5.5-year Low
The U.S. trade deficit widened more than expected in January as a strong dollar and weak global demand helped to push exports to a more than five-and-a-half-year low, suggesting trade will continue to weigh on economic growth in the first quarter. The Commerce Department said on Friday the trade gap increased 2.2 percent to $45.7 billion. December's trade deficit was revised up to $44.7 billion from the previously reported $43.4 billion. Exports have declined for four straight months.
IMO Extends ECDIS Transition Period
The IMO subcommittee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) has extended the transition period for software updates to existing ECDIS for one year to August 31, 2017. The NCSR accepted the IHO’s proposal to give all ship owners using ECDIS more time to be able to obtain the correct software updates to the new IHO -52 presentation library and thus ensure compliance with the guidelines on Maintenance of ECDIS software contained in IMO MSC 1.circ 1503.
South Carolina Ports to Harness Solar Power
The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) announced plans to bring solar power to the Wando Welch and Columbus Street terminals, making SCPA the largest rooftop solar host in the state.
Dieleman Takes over as Cargill Shipping Head
Commodities trader Cargill has appointed a new head of its shipping business, weeks after announcing it would close its London freight unit amid a worsening global seaborne market.
Drew Marine Acquires NAL Research Corporation
Drew Marine, a provider of technical solutions and services for the maritime, defense and aviation industries, announced its acquisition of NAL Research Corporation…
Fincantieri Launches Seabourn Encore
Seabourn Encore, the first of two ultra-luxury cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for Seabourn Cruise Line, brand of Carnival Corporation, was launched today at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, Venice. The ceremony was attended, among others, by John Delaney, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales, while Fincantieri was represented by Antonio Quintano, the Marghera yard manager.
HSOG Named a Distributor for Marine Armor Systems
HSOG Limited appointed antipiracy and ship hardening distribution and installation agents for Marine Armor Systems. Global marine and offshore service provider HSOG…
China Orders 'Blacklist' of 31 North Korean Vessels
Chinese maritime authorities must "blacklist" 31 boats operated by a North Korean firm that came under U.N. Security Council sanctions this week, according to a…
Leadership Changes for Cargill
On March 1, Jan Dieleman assumed the leadership of Cargill’s Ocean Transportation business with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Dieleman took over the position…
Fuel Spill on the Mississippi River
A vessel transiting Lock and Dam 27 on the Mississippi River near Granite City, Mo. was reportedly damaged, rupturing a fuel tank and leading to a fuel spill, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Van Heck’s Sea Trophy Now Available Globally
Van Heck announced that its patented Fast Oil Recovery (FOR) pump, Sea Trophy, is now available globally. A number of Sea Trophy emergency response kits have been mobilized to strategic locations over the globe, Van Heck said. These sets are suitable for FOR systems on board vessels as well as with the standalone Milk Can solution, making tank access through holes as small as 200 mm diameter possible.
Pentagon Chief: 40 LCS 'enough' for U.S. Navy
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday defended the Pentagon's decision to buy just 40 Littoral Combat Ships instead of the 52 originally planned, saying…
Baltic Index Extends Winning Streak
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, continued its recovery on Friday driven by improved rates for panamaxes and smaller vessels.
Asia-Europe Box Rates Plunge 10 pct
Shipping spot freight rates for transporting containers from ports in Asia to Northern Europe fell 10.1 percent to $231 per 20-foot container (TEU) in the week ended on Friday…
Crude Prices Firm Ahead of US Data
U.S. payroll, jobs data may support oil prices; demand outlook improving. Crude oil futures edged up on Friday, building on the week's gains, as traders and analysts eyed U.S.
U.S. NatGas Futures Test 1995 Lows
U.S. natural gas futures on Friday sank to within a penny of a 1995 low as drillers continue to pull near record amounts of gas out of the ground despite forecasts…
Panama Canal Focuses on Services on Expanded Waterways
Today, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) hosted an Open Forum, giving shipping line representatives and steamship agents the opportunity to discuss the Panama Canal’s…
South of Africa on the head haul?
Since the end of October 2015, SeaIntel Maritime Analysis showed that 115 vessels deployed on Asia-USEC and Asia-North Europe services have made the back-haul trip…
Fincantieri Delivers "Itarus”
Trieste, 3 March 2016 – “Itarus”, the semisubmersible floating platform built by Fincantieri for the Russian RosRAO, the Federal State Unitary Enterprise for radioactive waste management…
