Port of Rotterdam Throughput Dips in 2016
![Photo: Port of Rotterdam Authority](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-port-of-rotterdam-authority-62146.jpg)
Compared to the first half of 2015, which saw throughput increased by 6.8 percent, the Port of Rotterdam handled 3 percent less cargo in the first six months of 2016, according to the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The most pronounced decrease could be observed in the dry bulk segment, which slid 9.9 percent. Although the port handled a slightly lower volume of liquid bulk (down 1.1 percent), the volume of crude oil and oil products put through so far in 2016 is still at a historical high.
Two DNV GL Approvals for GTT Training Software
GTT Training, a GTT subsidiary dedicated to training liquefied natural gas (LNG) professionals and to the development of associated simulation tools, has obtained…
Libyan Deal to End Oil Ports Blockade Needs Signing
Libyan Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) commander Ibrahim Jathran said on Monday he was ready to end a blockade at key oil terminals, but the U.N.-backed government…
C. Raymond Hunt Associates Celebrates 50 Years
![(Photo: C. Raymond Hunt Associates)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-c-raymond-hunt-associates-62145.jpg)
C. Raymond Hunt Associates, a boat design firm that continues to expand on the legacy of its founder, C. Raymond Hunt, to produce innovative boats with rugged seaworthiness, is now celebrating its 50th year. “Ray Hunt was a genius, able to intuitively know how boats work and with the courage to experiment,” said C. Raymond Hunt Associates President, Winn Willard. “We have taken Ray's ideas and applied them, honing our expertise and knowledge from the days of the early deep-v hulls.
Seago Line Introduces New Vessel to Liverpool Service
![Photo: Seago Line](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-seago-line-62141.jpg)
Maersk subsidiary Seago Line has introduced a new vessel to its recently created feeder service calling at Liverpool. The Independent Accord has already started operating on the new cargo route between Algeciras-Liverpool-Dublin that began in April. The service was established to provide direct cargo connections to and from the north west of England to Ireland and onwards to the Mediterranean, providing trade links to North and West Africa.
GAC Russia Expands Eastwards
GAC Russia said it is expanding eastwards with the opening of new branches at Nakhodka and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk to meet demand for shipping services as opportunities open up in Far East.
Funding Approved for Georgia’s New Inland Terminal
At its July board meeting, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) approved a spending package of $19.7 million to construct the Appalachian Regional Port in Chatsworth, Murray County, Ga.
Quick Propeller Repair Prevents Drydocking
![One of the propeller blades was missing parts of its tip. (Photo: Hydrex)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/one-of-the-propeller-blades-62140.jpg)
Recently a team of Hydrex diver/technicians performed a propeller blade cropping on a 190-meter container bulker berthed in Hamburg. Two parts of the tip of one of the four propeller blades were damaged and needed to be cropped to restore the propeller’s efficiency. Having developed different procedures for different kinds of damage, Hydrex teams are equipped and trained to make the best out of a bent or broken propeller. Ideally, the in-house developed cold straightening technique is used.
How to Avoid Claims for Self-cooking Cargo
North P&I Club has advised its members to be extra vigilant during loading and transport of soya beans to ensure they do not get blamed for cargoes that start ‘cooking’ at sea.
MSC Invests in TRAXENS Container Monitoring
![Photo: MSC](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-msc-62129.jpg)
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has reached an agreement to back French start-up TRAXENS, a developer of cargo logistics solutions and creator of a container monitoring and coordination system. Founded in 2012 and already backed by CMA CGM, TRAXENS will now also receive capital investment from MSC, with both container shippers also represented on the Board of Directors. With a combined fleet of 4.5 million units…
ASEAN Breaks South China Sea Deadlock
Manila drops request to refer to court ruling in statement. Southeast Asian nations overcame days of deadlock on Monday when the Philippines dropped a request for…
Passenger Vessel Runs Aground off Hawaii
![Photo: U.S. Coast Guard](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-us-coast-guard-62128.jpg)
The 65-foot commercial passenger vessel Spirit of Kona ran aground on the island of Hawaii, Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu watchstanders received notification Sunday morning that the vessel ran aground on the rocks near the Kailua-Kona Lighthouse. The vessel reportedly broke free of its mooring in Kailua Bay as Tropical Storm Darby passed over the region early Sunday. No one was aboard the vessel at the time of the incident.
Baltic Index Falls on Weak Freight Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Monday due to weaker rates across all segments, except handysizes.
As Market Sours, LPG Tankers Anchor off Singapore
Record U.S. LPG exports to Asia flip market into a glut. Last year, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplied to Asia was being snapped up by petrochemical makers. Now, after a flood of U.S.
China sets up South China Sea environment protection fund
China has set up a 15 million yuan ($2.25 million) environmental protection fund for the South China Sea having already spent double that in the past four years…
Piracy Drops to 21-year low - IMB
Piracy and armed robbery at sea has fallen to its lowest levels since 1995, despite a surge in kidnappings off West Africa, according to a new report from the International…
Los Angeles Pushes for Valero Terminal Improvements
The Port of Los Angeles has released an Initial Study/Notice of Preparation (IS/NOP) — the first step in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process — for a Marine…
Eni Cancels Vessel Deal with Viking Supply Ships
Viking Supply Ships A/S (VSS) has received an early termination notice of the contract for the Ice-class 1A AHTS “Njord Viking”. The vessel has been working for…
B&G Software Upgrade for Zeus2 and Vulcan Chartplotter
B&G, the world’s leading sailing navigation and instrument specialist has upgraded its latest software for the full range of Zeus2 and Vulcan chartplotters. The…
Navig8 Acquires Chemical Tanker from STX
Navig8 Chemical Tankers Inc (the “Company”) (N-OTC: CHEMS), an international shipping company focused on the transportation of chemicals, today announced that it…