US O&G Industry Reaps the Benefits of International Trade
Rising exports have thrown a lifeline to U.S. shale producers and refiners, giving them an additional outlet at a time when the domestic market has been at risk of becoming saturated. The United States exported record quantities of natural gas, propane, gasoline, distillate fuel oil and light crude last year while continuing to import the heavy oils needed by its refineries. Gas exports increased by almost 30 percent in 2016 and have more than tripled in the last decade…
Baltic Index Snaps 14-day Winning Streak
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, snapped a 14-session winning streak on Tuesday as rates for larger vessels fell. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, closed down 5 points, or 0.41 percent, at 1,200 points. The capesize index lost 25 points, or 1.01 percent, to end at 2,441 points.
Clean Shipping on the Great Lakes
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently spoke with Mark Barker, president of The Interlake Steamship Company, who has sent its fourth vessel — its second 1,000-footer — to be outfitted with exhaust gas scrubbers. After seriously pursuing the possibility of converting its ships to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) several years ago, U.S. based Great Lakes shipper The Interlake Steamship Company found that the region’s LNG infrastructure was simply not present to support such conversions.
CFE Extends 2-Cargo LNG Tender Close by One Day
Mexico's state-run power utility CFE has extended the close of a buy tender seeking two liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes in April by one day to Wednesday, trade sources said.
Royal Australian Navy Conscripts MAN
Navantia, the major Spanish shipbuilder, has chosen MAN main and GenSet engines to power two fleet-support-tanker newbuildings it is currently constructing for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Each vessel will feature 2 × MAN 18V 32/40 main engines and 4 × MAN 7L21/31 GenSets with shipset deliveries scheduled for December 2017 and June 2018, respectively. Lex Nijsen – Head of Four-Stroke Marine – MAN Diesel & Turbo…
Thessaloniki Port Workers Plan Stoppage to Protest Port Sale
Workers at Greece's second-biggest port, Thessaloniki Port, will walk off their job for a few hours on Wednesday to protest the port's sale, a key condition of the country's international bailout. The sale was launched in 2014 but has been plagued by delays and political resistance. As part of its privatisation drive under its latest bailout, Greece has given investors until March 24 to submit binding bids for a 67 percent stake in the port and taking over its operation for 40 years.
SM Group Mulls More Takeovers
South Korea’s Samra Midas Group (SM Group) said that it is looking to acquire some overseas shippers, among other businesses in an effort to expand its foothold in the maritime sector…
Emas Offshore Braces for Ezra’s Bankruptcy
The EMAS Offshore (EOL) board of directors warns that the Chapter 11 filing of parent company Ezra Holdings may negatively impact EOL and its subsidiaries, which…
DP World’s Net Income Exceed USD 1 Bln for First Time
Dubai-based port and terminal operator DP World announced strong financial results from its global portfolio for the twelve months ending 31 December 2016, despite…
Ship Systems and Equipment Meeting Underway
The first set of international requirements for onboard lifting appliances and winches are expected to be finalized during this week’s meeting of the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE).
Market Volatility Affects Sovcomflot
Sovcomflot is one of the world’s leaders in energy shipping as well as in servicing offshore upstream oil and gas projects. It has reported lower time charter equivalent revenue (TCE) of USD 1…
Australian Navy: Torpedo Firings on the Mark
The Royal Australian Navy has tested its primary anti-submarine warfare weapon during Exercise OCEAN EXPLORER off the coast of Western Australia recently. HMAS Melbourne…
An Undeterred Determination to Be On the Water
Mercury Marine develops and manufactures technology designed to enhance the boating experience. The marine engines manufacturer recently teamed up with Belzona boats to “Go Boldly” on the water with former University of Wyoming basketball star and lifelong boating enthusiast Nichole Rider. “My dad bought a power boat when I was five years old; it just changed my life,” Rider said. But while in college, Rider was involved in a near-fatal car accident.
Alfa Laval Continues to Develop PureSOx
Alfa Laval’s SOx scrubber platform PureSOx is available in multiple operating arrangements, two scrubber designs and a range of compliance profiles for meeting the 2020 global sulphur cap. Working closely with customers, Alfa Laval said it is pursuing improvements and options to make it even more flexible and optimized. PureSOx was launched in 2012 to let vessels meet SOx limits while continuing to use economical heavy fuel oil.
Fishing Vessel Captain Pleads Guilty to Pollution Charges
A captain of the fishing vessel (F/V) Native Sun pleaded guilty in federal court in Seattle for discharging oily-waste directly into the ocean in violation of the…
Odfjell Inks LOI for Additional Chemical Tankers
Odfjell SE said it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for two additional chemical tankers to be built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in China. The capital…
Potential Maritime Disaster Averted
Collaboration between the Ports of East London and Ngqura, together with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), helped avert another potential maritime disaster in the Eastern Cape during the past week. Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) towed the BBC Shanghai, a 101 meter long general cargo vessel with 11 crew members on board, safely into the Port of East London on Friday, March 17, after she suffered engine failure en route from Durban to Lagos.
Four New Expedition Cruise Vessels Ordered
SunStone Ships, Inc. and China Merchants Industry Holdings Co., Ltd. (CMIH) have signed a framework agreement for the construction of four expedition vessels with options for an additional six vessels. The new vessels will be part of the SunStone Fleet and chartered to new and existing clients. CMIH has entered into an agreement with Ulstein Design & Solutions, who will supply the vessel’s design and equipment package, as well as the supervision for the building of the vessels.
Damen OPV Roadshow Tours Australia
Damen Shipyard Group’s Australian team has delivered two more industry briefings to potential suppliers from Australian industry ahead of its bid submission for the design and build of 12 offshore patrol vessels (OPV). Following February’s events held in Adelaide and Perth, Damen hosted a third in Brisbane on March 15 and a fourth two days later in Melbourne. The Damen group is one of three international…
Rolls-Royce, Stena Line Partner on Ship Intelligence
Rolls-Royce said it has signed a deal with Swedish ferry company Stena Line AB to collaborate in the development of its first intelligent awareness system. Intelligent awareness systems will make vessels safer, easier and more efficient to operate by providing crew with an enhanced understanding of their vessel’s surroundings, according to Rolls-Royce. This will be achieved by fusing data from a range of sensors with information from existing ship systems…
