Christmas @ Sea: “Seas and Greetings” from NOC
Have you ever wondered what happens on ships when they’re at sea for Christmas? Crews onboard the National Oceanography Centre’s (NOC’s) research vessels, based in Southampton, have given a glimpse into the holiday season out on the ocean waves, including Christmas carols and – if one captain has his way – watching Frozen.Both research ships that the center operates, the Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Cook and RRS Discovery…
Shipwreck Podcast: Exploring Tragedy, History & Humanity with James Delgado
“Our connections to the maritime world are far more profound and diverse than I think most of us realize.” James P. DelgadoJim talks about his long, storied career, starting with his budding interest in archaeology and history at age 10, and how his career path changed when he was exposed to the buried San Francisco Gold Rush ship Niantic while working for the National Park Service.He also gives moving accounts of famous shipwrecks that have had a profound emotional impact on him.
Russian Cargo Ship Sinks in Mediterranean, Two Crew Missing
A Russian cargo ship called Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea after an explosion ripped through its engine room and two of its crew are still missing, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.The vessel, built in 2009, was controlled by Oboronlogistika, a company that is part of the Russian Defence Ministry's military construction operations, which had previously said it was en route to…
Saab Inks $72M Contract to Modernize Sweden’s Anti-Ship Missiles
Saab has signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration for the modernization of Sweden’s coastal anti-ship missile capability.The contract includes Saab’s RBS15 Mk3 anti-ship missile integrated on a launcher module installed on a truck.Sweden currently uses the predecessor RBS15 Mk2. The coastal anti-ship missile capability was reintroduced in the Swedish Armed Forces in 2016 and…
Inside Fairbanks Morse with CEO George Whittier
You would be hard pressed to find a corporate leader more passionate about the company they lead; more dedicated to the customer they serve. In this case it’s George Whittier, CEO, Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) and the U.S. Navy. Upon his return less than five years ago, Whittier has driven FMD to the top of the U.S. Navy supply heap, with a string of strategic acquisitions. Whittier discusses with Maritime Matters: The Marinelink Podcast…
Black Sea Spill Volunteers Beg Putin for Help
Volunteers helping to clean up a major oil spill along Russia's Black Sea coast appealed in a video released on Monday for President Vladimir Putin to urgently send federal aid, saying that they and local authorities were overwhelmed.The pollution, which has coated sandy beaches at and around Anapa, a popular summer resort, has caused serious problems for seabirds and everything from dolphins to porpoises.The oil is from two ageing tankers hit by a storm on Dec. 15.
Baltic Index Ticks Up as Large Bulkers Post Gains
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Monday, as rates increased across larger vessel segments.The index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, edged up 4 points to 994 points.The capesize index was up 17 points to 1,132 points. Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which typically transport 150…
ABS, Akselos Sign Floating Wind MOU
ABS and Akselos have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance engineering and certification processes for floating offshore wind projects.The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on solutions aimed at optimizing design, reducing costs, and improving efficiency for the floating wind sector globally.The collaboration utilizes ABS's expertise in offshore certification…
Petrobras inks deal to build four Support Vessels
Brazil's Transpetro, a unit of state-run oil firm Petrobras PETR4.SA, said on Monday that local shipbuilding firms Ecovix and Mac Laren had won a tender to build…
Maine Maritime Cadets win Crowley Scholarships
Cadets Anna LaDue and Odegaard Fields from Maine Maritime Academy have been awarded the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship. These students were selected based on their performance during the cadet training periods aboard Crowley-operated or -managed ships and their intent to pursue maritime careers.LaDue, a junior from Canterbury, New Hampshire, is studying marine transportation operations, with a minor in sail training.
USCG Takes Ownership of Commercial Icebreaker
The Coast Guard announced it accepted ownership of the motor vessel Aiviq, a 360-foot polar class 3-equivalent icebreaker, from an Edison Chouest Offshore subsidiary Friday.The vessel, acquired Dec. 11, will enhance U.S. operational presence in the Arctic and support Coast Guard missions while awaiting delivery of the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) class.Upon commissioning, the ship will be renamed Coast Guard Cutter Storis (WAGB 21), marking the second cutter to bear that name.
Trump Threatens to Retake Control of Panama Canal
President-elect Donald Trump threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal on Sunday, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage and drawing a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Arizona, Trump also said he would not let the canal fall into the "wrong hands," warning of potential Chinese influence on the passage.After the event…
Clock is Ticking on German Shipyard to find Investors to Survive
The financing of the FSG-Nobiskrug Shipyard sites in Rendsburg and Flensburg are secured until January, 31 2025, via the insolvency substitute benefits and a loan secured by the guarantee bank of the state of Schleswig-Holstein. However, the future is dependent on the successful search for investors to revitalize the sites by completing existing and new orders.Despite the difficult situation, several…
Electric Ferries, Assembled on Site Delivered in Italy
Stralsunder Ostseestaal GmbH & Co. KG and its Ampereship business unit delivered two electric solar ferries to Lago d'Iseo near Bergamo in northern Italy as planned. The client was the responsible local authority of the operator Navigazione Lago d'Iseo, and the new vessels are the first fully electric ferries in Italy.Measuring 25 x 6.6m, the Iseo ferries each have two electric drives with 100 kW output. Electricity is supplied by two battery banks with a total capacity of around 750 kWh.
Great Ships of 2024: Ane Mærsk - World’s First Large Methanol-Fueled Containership
When talk turns to fuel transition in the maritime sector, the conversation usually starts with: ‘yes, change is happening, but the majority of the world fleet continues to operate as it always has; with diesel fuel’ and ends with ‘change is being driven by a handful of pioneers: the big companies.’Enter Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller - Mærsk, one of the biggest and most innovative companies operating ships globally today…
Vard Delivers CLV Newbuild to Danish Subsea Specialist
Vard has delivered a new cable laying vessel (CLV) to Denmark’s subsea specialist NCT Offshore less than two years after the contract was signed.The newly delivered vessel, based on the VARD 9 01 design, has been specially designed and equipped for subsea cable laying operations.In less than 18 months since the first steel was cut, the vessel has been assembled, outfitted, commissioned, and is ready to commence her maiden voyage towards Denmark where she will be further fitted and tested…
Al Seer Marine Expands Fleet with Two New Tankers
Abu Dhabi's Al Seer Marine, a subsidiary of International Holding Company (IHC), has taken delivery of two new Medium Range (MR) tankers, M.T. Saiph and her sister ship from K Shipbuilding Korea.Each vessel is equipped with an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS) and engineered to accommodate alternative fuels such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), ammonia, and methanol.With a deadweight of 49,757 MT each…
The U.S. Navy’s New Navigation Plan: Anticipating the Impact on Uncrewed Surface Systems
In September 2024, the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, issued her Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy. Admiral Franchetti describes this Navigation Plan as the strategic guidance to the U.S. Navy.This Navigation Plan embodies “Project 33” in recognition of the fact that Admiral Franchetti is the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations. Project 33…
One-on-One: Sameer Kalra, President, Marine, Alfa Laval
Tech leaders across maritime have the unenviable task of plotting for, at best, a fuzzy future. Make no mistake, the mission is clear: emission reduction leading to decarbonization. But the means to that end – and the realistic timeframe to get there – is less than clear. Sit with Sameer Kalra, President, Marine, Alfa Laval for awhile and it becomes abundantly clear he has a firm handle on the means…
Colombian PES Frigate Deal Announced
Damen Naval signed a contract with Nevesbu for the platform engineering scope of the Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) frigate for Colombia. This scope includes both basic engineering and detailed engineering. The collaboration highlights the strength of the Damen Shipyards Group, with Damen Naval and Nevesbu joining forces as sister companies within the organization.Based on Damen Naval’s SIGMA 10514 series…
