UK Tug Operator Extends Turkish Built Fleet
By purchasing a brand new tug from Sanmar Shipyards, U.K. operator SMS Towage has taken delivery of its seventh ASD tug built by the Turkish tug builder. The new tug is named Superman, continuing an established pattern – the previous six Sanmar built tugs in the SMS fleet are called Statesman, Scotsman, Yorkshireman, Masterman, Englishman and Merchantman. The new tug is of the Sanmar exclusive Robert Allan Ltd RAmparts 2400 SX design, designated by the builder as the Bogacay series.
Prelude FLNG Enters into Lloyd’s Register Class
Shell’s floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility Prelude has officially entered into Lloyd's Register (LR) class. At 488 meters long, 74 meters wide and displacing about 600,000 tonnes of water, Prelude is the largest floating offshore facility in the world. Last month Prelude arrived at its operating location in the Browse Basin, offshore northwest Australia. It will be moored at a depth of…
Raytheon Anschütz INS for Spliethoff’s R-type Vessels
The Dutch shipping company Spliethoff selected Raytheon Anschütz to engineer and deliver Synapsis NX integrated navigation systems (INS) for six new ice-classed multipurpose vessels scheduled to be delivered in 2019. Spliethoff’s new R-type vessels are built at the Zhejiang Ouhua Shipbuiling in accordance with the polar code and the LR NAV1 notation requirements to ensure safe operations in remote regions, including the Arctic.
LNG Carrier Sets Northern Sea Route Record
On August 17, 2017, the Sovcomflot-owned icebreaking liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Christophe de Margerie completed her first commercial voyage, transporting LNG through the Northern Sea Route (NSR) from Norway to South Korea. During this voyage, the vessel set a new time record for an NSR transit of 6 days 12 hours and 15 minutes. Moreover, Christophe de Margerie has also become the world’s first merchant vessel to travel the full length of the NSR without any icebreaker escort.
CMA CGM to Build World's Largest Boxships at Chinese Yard
French shipping group CMA CGM plans to build nine of the world's largest container ships at two Chinese shipyards, the China Daily newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Maersk Tankers Invests in Quantitative Hedge Fund
Maersk Tankers said on Wednesday it has entered into an equity agreement with U.S. hedge fund CargoMetrics, giving it access to analytical models and algorithms to better manage its tanker operations.
U.S. Navy Relieves Seventh Fleet Commander
The U.S. Navy on Wednesday said it had removed Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin after a series of collisions involving its warships in Asia as…
Typhoon Batters Hong Kong, China
Destructive winds, waves batter Hong Kong, south China. Typhoon Hato, a maximum category 10 storm, slammed into Hong Kong on Wednesday lashing the Asian financial…
Hutchison Ports, Basra Port in Management Deal
Hong Kong-based port operator Hutchison Ports has agreed to partner with NAWAH Port Management (NPM) to manage existing and future operations at the Port of Basra in southern Iraq.
Maersk to Face Price War
A.P. Moller-Maersk's main sea freight business faces the threat of a new price war in a consolidating industry, though the company has been fortified by the $7.5…
MPA Chairman Opens International Safety@Sea Conference
The International Safety@Sea Conference was officially opened yesterday by Mr Niam Chiang Meng, Chairman of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). Organised…
MPA, IBM Complete Pilot Trial on Project SAFER
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and IBM today announced at the opening of the International Safety@Sea Conference that they have jointly completed…
CMA CGM Invests in NYSHEX Market
CMA CGM, a world leader in container shipping, is pleased to announce its participation in the first ever New York Shipping Exchange (NYSHEX) fundraiser, the first…
IMO, Liberia to Enhance Maritime Security
International Maritime Organization (IMO) is helping Liberia to develop a national maritime security strategy. The initiative got underway with a week-long fact…
Panama Canal Welcomes Largest Capacity Containership To-date
The Panama Canal today welcomed the largest capacity vessel to ever transit the Expanded Locks, the Neopanamax containership CMA CGM Theodore Roosevelt, which began its voyage from Asia, will be making stops along the U.S. East Coast. The ship has a total TEU allowance (TTA) of 14,855 and measures 365.9 meters in length and 48.2 meters in beam. “Today’s transit not only represents the growing success and adoption of the Expanded Canal…
Wight Shipyard Delivers Ferries for London
Sydney has its Harbour Ferries, Hong Kong its Star Ferries and New York the instantly recognizable Staten Island Ferries. Add to that list London, for increasingly the fleet of MBNA Thames Clippers is becoming as identifiable with the British capital as its famous red double decker buses. Wight Shipyard Company has delivered to MBNA Thames Clippers the latest, most technically advanced and energy efficient fast ferries in the expanding London fleet…
MAN Engines Expands Sales & Service Network
MAN Engines said it is expanding its sales and service network for marine engines with bases in the U.K., Poland, Sweden and Chile. These partnerships will build on existing commercial ties between the service companies and MAN Engines, some of which go back decades. “MAN Engines is responding to the increasing quality requirements for a global service network,” explained Claus Benzler, Head of Marine MAN Engines.
Research Vessel Repowered with Volvo Penta Diesel Sterndrives
When the Panama-based Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution (STRI) decided to repower their 11-year-old launch Morpho, as good scientists the team researched the alternatives thoroughly before selecting a triple Volvo Penta diesel sterndrive rig for the boat. Constructed in 2005, the 48-ft. Morpho makes daily runs for scientists and visitors between the STRI laboratory facility in Gamboa and the Barro Colorado Island nature sanctuary in the Panama Canal waterway.
Crowley Swaps US West Coast Tugs
Crowley Marine Services said it will relocate the tugboat Veteran to the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach to service all vessels, including large petroleum tank vessels with deep drafts greater than 65 feet calling on Long Beach Berth 121. With a bollard pull rating of over 90 short tons, the powerful Veteran is better suited to serve the very large crude carriers (VLCCs) that are calling more regularly in Long Beach.
Baltic Index Posts First Drop in 3 Weeks
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, on Tuesday snapped a 16-day winning streak, weighed down by weaker demand for capesize vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, fell 17 points, or 1.34 percent, to 1,249 points. The capesize index shed 95 points, or 3.68 percent, to close at 2,489 points, notching its first drop since July 27.