Viking Ocean Cruises Extends Order at Fincantieri
Viking Ocean Cruises and Fincantieri signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction of two additional cruise ships, with an option for another two. The new…
Russia Tells Turkey it Expects Lifting of Grain Export Curbs
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich told a visiting delegation of Turkish ministers on Tuesday that it expected Ankara to lift restrictions on Russian grain exports to Turkey, the Russian government said in a statement. Russian and Turkish ministers meeting in Moscow on Tuesday reached "a common understanding" that further work was needed to resolve differences over trade, and agreed to hold intensive consultations over the next two weeks, the statement said.
US Shipyards: Building for America, Jobs for Americans
The shipbuilding and ship repairing industry has always been a core strength of our nation. It has enabled the United States to protect and project its prosperity, power and influence internationally. A book in my office signed by shipbuilder William Webb illustrates the point. Mr. Webb inherited his father’s shipyard in 1840 and built over 130 of the fastest clipper sailing vessels; he later built the largest and most celebrated steamships of his era. Those were glory years for the U.S.
Brunswick Celebrates 10-year Safety Milestone
April 14 marked 10-years without a lost time incident for Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP). BCGP's employees have worked 1,817,000 hours without a lost time incident and maintained a recordable incident rate of zero in 2016. "This monumental milestone illustrates our dedication to safety and manufacturing excellence, said John Ratto, BCGP Director of Manufacturing and Plant Operations.
Brazilian Shipyard BECONAL Uses FORAN
The SENER engineering and technology group has signed a contract with shipyard Bertolini Construção Naval da Amazônia Ltda (BECONAL), providing it with a license to use its marine design and construction system, FORAN. The scope of the contract covers installation of the FORAN system and provision of permanent licenses, including the Hull Forms, General Arrangement, Naval Architecture, Hull Structure, Machinery and Outfitting, Electrical Design, and Drafting disciplines.
Hydrex to Expand Antwerp Facility
Antwerp Port Authority has supported Hydrex Underwater Technologies’ plan to expand its existing 5000m² site on Asiadok on the River Scheldt with new workshops and offices. As part of its expansion, the result of organic growth over the past two years, Hydrex has also refurbished its dive support workboats and increased its manpower by 25 percent to strengthen its diver-technician capability. Hydrex Chairman Boud Van Rompay said…
Watermaker Offers Installation Flexibility
Even on large vessels, machinery spaces tend to be cramped and have reduced accessibility. Knowing this, FCI Watermakers offers its high-efficiency Neptune+ Series in a convenient, modular configuration for a wide variety of flexible installations. It delivers 1,275-9,500 gallons of pure, fresh water every day. Refitting large framed or skid-mounted watermakers commonly requires cutting the deck—an enormous added expense.
Wärtsilä to Power LNG Offshore Construction Vessel
Wärtsilä is to supply the engines and other propulsion machinery for a new offshore construction vessel being built at the Cosco shipyard in China. The ship owner is Belgian operator Dredging International (DEME). This will be the first vessel of its kind to be fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and in addition to the dual-fuel engines, Wärtsilä will also provide its LNGPac fuel storage and supply system and propulsion systems.
First User-Defined ECDIS
Raytheon Anschütz introduces what it claims is the world’s first user-defined Electronic Chart Display and Information System, a system it will officially launch at NorShipping in Oslo. Raytheon Anschütz designed the new Synapsis ECDIS NX software based on direct input from customers. The software features a state-of-the-art design and stands out with an intuitive user interface, a clearly structured display…
Ektank Chem Tankers to Sport Hybrid Propulsion
The Switch received an order from WE Tech to deliver its permanent magnet (PM) shaft generators to two 18,600 dwt chemical tankers currently under construction for Sweden’s Ektank AB. Sweden's Ektank AB is family-owned with a modern fleet of five chemical tankers in size ranging from 13,700 DWT to 17,000 DWT. The PM-based shaft generator is a powerful proposition for today’s cost and environmentally conscious shipowners.
USCG Cutter Munro Powered by GE
GE’s Marine Solutions announced that the U.S. Coast Guard commissioned Munro, a new National Security Cutter (NSC), on April 1 in Seattle, Washington. All of thenew Legend class cutters use the same COmbined Diesel And Gas turbine (CODAG) propulsion system featuring one GE LM2500 gas turbine and two diesel engines. According to a U.S. Coast Guard press release, Munro is the fourth NSC to be homeported on the West Coast in Alameda, Calif.
Scorpio Sells Two Kasamax Bulkers
Scorpio Bulkers Inc. said it has reached agreements with unaffiliated third parties to sell two Kamsarmax bulk carriers approximately $45 million combined. The two vessels…
BMT, UK’s MAIB Ink Rembrandt Deal
BMT Ship & Coastal Dynamics (BMT) announced a new contract with the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB). BMT has installed its marine navigation and maneuvering simulator, Rembrandt and will provide ongoing specialized training, to allow MAIB personnel to benefit from its unique attributes. Richard North, Technical Manager at MAIB said “Rembrandt is a well-regarded and trusted solution…
Low Water hinders Rhine, Danube River Shipping
Water levels on the Rhine and Danube in Germany remain low despite recent rain and freight vessels cannot sail fully loaded on the German sections of the rivers, traders said on Tuesday.
Banned at Sea: Venezuela's Crude-stained Oil Tankers
In the scorching heat of the Caribbean Sea, workers in scuba suits scrub crude oil by hand from the hull of the Caspian Galaxy, a tanker so filthy it can't set sail in international waters.
Daewoo Shipbuilding unlocks $2.6 bln Bailout
Bondholders at final meetings agree to debt-to-equity swap; shipbuilder needs about $400 mln in operating funds by April-end. South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding &…
FSL Aframax Tanker Enters Teekay RSA
FSL Trust Management Pte. Ltd. (FSLTM), as trustee-manager of First Ship Lease Trust (FSL Trust), announced that the Trust has agreed to employ the 115,000 DWT Aframax crude oil tanker FSL Hong Kong, post dry docking, in the Teekay Group Revenue Sharing Agreement (RSA). This agreement continues the Trust’s relationship with Teekay, which started back in 2013.
Weaker Capesize Rates Weigh on Baltic Index
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Tuesday on weaker rates for capesize vessels. The overall index…
Nearly 9,000 Med Migrants Rescued over Weekend
Nearly 9,000 mainly African migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean this past long weekend after being put by smugglers in Libya onto unseaworthy boats heading toward Italy, U.N.
Sovcomflot Holds PDVSA Oil Hostage over Debts
Venezuela's state-run oil company, PDVSA, sent a tanker in October to the Caribbean with the expectation that its cargo of crude would fetch about $20 million -…
