Op/Ed: Fix the HMTF Now … or in 2027
![Shane Skelton](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/shane-skelton-62446.jpg)
The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) has been misused and underutilized for years, leaving U.S. ports and harbors in subpar conditions and disadvantaging the very shippers that pay to modernize and maintain them – to the tune of nearly $2 billion per year. In May, the U.S. House of Representatives’ (House) Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Committee) took a major step in the right direction by passing the Water Resources Development Act of 2016…
18 Saved from Whale-watching Boat off Alaska
Eighteen people were rescued from a 35-foot whale-watching motor vessel taking on water in Favorite Channel near Juneau, Alaska, Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.
Eastern Launches Impala Soledad for IWL River
![Photo: Eastern Shipbuilding Group](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-eastern-shipbuilding-group-62437.jpg)
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. launched the Impala Soledad, the first in a series of four inland river towboats for IWL River, Inc. This series of CT Marine designed 134 ft. ABS Classed Inland River Service towboats are Triple Screw with a Retractable Pilothouse and all are currently under construction at Eastern’s Allanton facility. The vessel series is scheduled for delivery starting in late 2016 into 2017.
This Day In Naval History: August 1
![Pope Pius IX (Photo: public domain)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/pope-pius-ix-photo-public-62436.jpg)
1801 - The schooner, USS Enterprise, commanded by Lt. Andrew Sterett, encounters the Barbary corsair, Tripoli, west of Malta. After a three-hour battle, USS Enterprise broadsides the vessel, forcing Tripolis surrender. 1849 - Pope Pius IX and King Ferdinand of the Two Sicilies, briefly visit USS Constitution and marks the first time that a Roman Catholic pope steps foot on American territory. 1921 - A high-altitude bombsight…
BP's Glen Lyon FPSO Hook-up Underway
![File photo: Glen Lyon FPSO (Courtesy BP)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-glen-lyon-fpso-62432.jpg)
Mechanical engineering specialist EnerMech said it is in the process of delivering a £5-million-plus contract to support the turret delivery team on BP’s Glen Lyon FPSO, which has arrived for hook-up operations West of Shetland. The Glen Lyon is a key element of the multibillion pound Quad204 project, which includes redeveloping the Schiehallion and Loyal fields, extending production out to 2035 and possibly beyond.
New Ship Lift for Casablanca Port
TTS Group ASA said it has secured a new contract for delivering a 10,000-ton ship lift to Casablanca Port in Morocco with an order value of approx. MNOK 135. The…
ABS Expands in India
Classification services provider to the global marine and offshore industries ABS has expanded its captive delivery center in Pune, India with a move to the new…
Fog Halts Shipping at Brazil's Biggest Port
Dense fog halted the movement of ships in and out of Brazil's biggest port, Santos, early on Monday, according to port administrator Companhia Docas do Estado de São Paulo (Codesp)…
COSCO not seen bidding for Greek Rail Centre
Greece is still struggling to find investors for a rail freight hub that it has been trying to set up since 2008, sources close to the process said on Monday. China's…
Transocean Ltd. to Acquire Transocean Partners LLC
Transocean Ltd. and Transocean Partners LLC (NYSE: RIGP) today announced that Transocean has agreed to acquire all of the outstanding common units of Transocean…
DSME to Build Two VLCCs for BW Group
South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has received a 200 billion won (US$179.2 million) order to build two oil tankers for Singapore…
ISC Files for Chapter 11 Protection
International Shipholding Corporation (ISHC) and certain of its subsidiaries have each filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of title 11 of the United…
GE Shipping Takes Delivery of a New Building Resale Kamsarmax
Great Eastern Shipping Company (GE Shipping) took delivery of a new building resale Kamsarmax Dry Bulk Carrier ‘Jag Aalok’ of about 82023 dwt. According to a report in the Livement…
Coastal Contracts Buys Stake in Indonesian LNG Supply Chain
Malaysian offshore service provider Coastal Contracts is tapping into the growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain in Indonesia with the purchase of a 49%…
China Activates Four Lighthouses in South China Sea
Four out of five lighthouses planned for use in the South China Sea have been activated to boost navigation and the fifth lighthouse will be completed and put into use soon.
Westports Q2 Profit Up
Malaysian port operator Westports Holdings saw second quarter net profit jump 31% to MYR159.9m ($39.6m) from MYR122.1m in the previous corresponding period due to an increase in container volumes.
MPA Revokes Bunker Supplier Licences of AC Oil
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has revoked the bunker supplier and bunker craft operator licences of AC Oil Pte Ltd with effect from 29 July 2016.