US Navy Destroyer DDG 114 Christened
Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the company’s 30th Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) Aegis guided missile destroyer, Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), April 2 in front of approximately 1,000 guests. “It’s been more than a quarter century since the start of construction of Ingalls’ first Arleigh Burke destroyer, the Barry (DDG 52),” said Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research…
Europe Gasoline, Diesel Barge Swaps Weaken
Gasoline and naphtha crack swaps fell slightly on the week but remained supported by strong export demand for gasoline. Tankers carrying around 1 million tonnes…
Danish Investors Summon OW Bunker Parties to Court over Bankruptcy
A group of 26 institutional investors has issued a summons against bankrupt Danish ship fuel supplier OW Bunker in the latest stage of a legal campaign for allegedly misleading them in its 2014 initial public offer (IPO). The investors had said last year they would sue Bunker, private equity fund Altor and the company's board over their responsibility for the company's flotation prospectus, after the company filed for bankruptcy just months after listing.
First Offshore Aquaculture Development Green Lighted
The Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Fisheries has approved Norway’s first development concession enabling Ocean Farming AS, supported by Kongsberg Maritime AS, to build the world’s first automated ‘exposed’ aquaculture facility. Situated outside of Trondheim, this new facility introduces a paradigm shift in salmon farming now, and other fish types in the future and is a significant step in Norway’s efforts to deliver technical solutions to address the impending global food gap challenge.
Study: Ship Efficiency Standards Too Weak to Drive Improvements
Shipping’s only legally binding climate measure is not stimulating the uptake of new technologies or driving efficiency improvements, according to a new independent study. Since 2013 newly-built ships subject to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) design fuel efficiency standard – known as the EEDI – have performed much the same as those not covered, the report for NGOs Seas At Risk (SAR) and Transport & Environment (T&E) finds.
ACK Marine & General Contracting Launched
Kim Shaughnessy, longtime chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Cashman Equipment Corp., officially announced the opening of ACK Marine & General Contracting, LLC, a global marine construction and contracting company based in Quincy, Mass. The firm is certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) at the national level. “I literally have grown up in the marine construction and services industry…
Port2Port, Neptune Maritime Security to Merge
Two global maritime security risk management providers Port2Port Maritime Security and Neptune Maritime Security announced they have agreed to merge. The combined group will provide significant scale and service advantages to the shipping and offshore industries, as well as improving the global reach of both companies. The merger follows an extensive strategic evaluation process between both companies…
West Calcasieu Port to Undergo Waterfront Upgrade
West Calcasieu Port officials have awarded a $1.6 million construction contract to Orion Marine Construction, Inc. for the replacement of bulkheading along the port’s…
Baltic Index Rises for Seventh Straight Session
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose for the seventh straight session on Monday, supported…
Unexploded Ordnance Presents Dredging Challenge
A dredging project currently underway by the Dutch contractor Martens and Van Oord in Cadzand, the Netherlands presents quite a challenge: unexploded ordnance (UXO). The village of Cadzand is located in the south west of the Netherlands, on the shores of the North Sea. Its old marina entrance needed to be updated and the harbor was to be deepened. Not a simple job taking into account that conventional Second World War explosives were hidden in the seabed.
SeaZip Continues Fleet Expansion
In a celebratory atmosphere, marking the sustained growth of its fleet, SeaZip Offshore Services has taken delivery of two Damen Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) 2610. Continuing the company’s vessel-naming trend, the new additions will be known as SeaZip 5 and SeaZip 6. The offshore service provider now has six Damen FCS 2610 vessels in its fleet. A key modification made to both vessels was to increase their draught.
Dry Bulk Market in Historically Bad State -MSI
Dry bulk sector revisits 1980s lows and faces uncertain longer term outlook; with the market near bottom, attention is turning toward the length of the downturn, the effect on asset values and the impact of broader demand side changes. In terms of annual average fleet employment rates, the dry bulk market has now dropped to levels last seen over 20 years ago in 1992, according to the latest quarterly dry bulk market forecast from Maritime Strategies International (MSI).
Shipyards Leading the Way on Safety in OSHA Partnership
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) has announced a new partnership with the National Shipbuilding Research Program and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a part of the Department of Labor (DOL), focused on continuing employee safety practices in U.S. shipyards. The Alliance Program will develop training and best practices to promote safety and health in the shipbuilding and repair industry including preventing worker exposure to electrical…
SOLAS Insufficient on Gas Detection -WSS
Ship operators must combine vigilance, structure and care with the new SOLAS X1-1/7 - MSC.1/Circ.1477 & MSC.1/Circ.1485 regulations to safeguard crews from the dangers…
Bryan Steps in as Interferry’s Interim CEO
Darrell Bryan, formerly president and CEO of Victoria Clipper, has started work as interim CEO of Interferry following the retirement of Len Roueche. The Interferry…
First of Nine New TNPA Tugs Sets Sail
The first of Transnet National Ports Authority’s nine new, powerful tugboats set sail from the Durban premises of contractor, Southern African Shipyards, on Saturday, April 2, destined for its new home at the Port of Port Elizabeth. The tug was ceremonially launched as MVEZO last October. It arrived in Port Elizabeth in the early hours of Monday, April 4. Port Elizabeth port manager, Rajesh Dana, said…
Volvo Penta Acquires Majority Stake in Humphree
Volvo Penta has signed an agreement to become the major shareholder of marine technology provider Humphree. The transaction is subject to conditions and expected to close within four weeks. Having a majority share in Humphree will further accelerate the next step in Volvo Penta’s journey to become a full marine system supplier, the company said, adding it will also gain the ability to extend its range of boat dynamics solutions with new trim and stabilization functions…
Migrants Returned from Greece arrive in Turkey
Three passenger boats return migrants from Lesbos, Chios; desperate migrants continue to cross despite deal. The first migrants deported from Greek islands under…
Container Shipping Approaching Crucial Trigger Point - Drewry
Further expected container shipping liner losses throughout the first half of 2016, exacerbated by the awful prevailing spot and contract freight rates will lead…
ABB To Help Save Venice From the Sea
ABB to deliver advanced integrated automation and electrical solution for largest Italian public work project of the last century. ABB will supply the complete integrated…