Panama Canal Sets Daily Tonnage Record
In February 2017, the Panama Canal set a new daily tonnage record of 1.18 million Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) after welcoming a total of 1,180 vessels through both the expanded and original locks, the Panama Canal Authority reported. The previous record was established the month prior in January 2017 when the canal recorded a daily tonnage average of 1.16 PC/UMS. February is the third-consecutive record-breaking month for the Panama Canal.
Dry Bulk Fleet Grows as Supply Surges -BIMCO
As the dry bulk fleet grew by 2.6 percent year on year in January 2017 it exceeded 800 million DWT. This was due to dry bulk demolition being half of what is was in January 2016, while total dry bulk deliveries reached its highest level since January 2013. In February 2017, fleet growth reached 2.8 percent. If the fleet growth remains above 2 percent, the dry bulk shipping industry cannot rely on global demand to cure the oversupply caused by this fundamental imbalance in the market.
Towboat Capsizes in Kentucky
A towing vessel has reportedly capsized and sank at 11:35 p.m., Wednesday, at a pier near Wickliffe, Ky., mile marker 951 on the Lower Mississippi River. The U.S. Coast Guard is responding.
SKF to Double Marine Stabilizer Production Capacity
In response to growing demand from the cruise liner, large ferry and exploration vessel sectors, SKF has upgraded its marine stabilizer production facilities in Hamburg, Germany. The new investments include a 130-metric-ton capacity heavy duty overhead crane, two new assembly stations for large stabilizers and additional production space dedicated to the manufacture of smaller units. The expanded facilities…
Damen Delivers Tug to Foyle Port
Damen Shipyards Group has delivered an ASD 2310 Tug to Foyle Port. The official handover of the new vessel – named Strathfoyle – took place at a short ceremony attended by the port’s staff, clients and stakeholders. Taking the position as most powerful tug at the port, the Strathfoyle marks a commitment to ongoing safe and efficient harbor assistance operations at Foyle Port. Foyle Port is in the North West of Ireland.
Pacific Basin Equips 99 Ships with KVH Mini-VSAT
Dry bulk shipping company Pacific Basin Shipping Limited has deployed KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband solution on its entire fleet of 99 owned ships as part of its effort to modernize ship-shore communications. “Satellite communications continue to become more cost-effective over time as requirements rapidly grow for bandwidth and speed,” said Capt. Uttam K. Jaiswal, general manager – marine at Pacific Basin, a Hong Kong based owner and operator of Handysize and Supramax dry bulk ships.
BMT Secures RoPax Ferry Design Contract
BMT Group subsidiary BMT Nigel Gee (BMT) said it has secured a new project to design an 85-meter steel-hulled catamaran RoPax ferry for Strategic Marine, a subsidiary of Triyards Holding Limited. The ferry is for Scottish ferry operator Pentland Ferries, and BMT will be responsible for concept through to production design, working closely with Strategic Marine. The vessel will replace Pentalina that has been operating on the route from the Scottish mainland to the Orkney Islands since 2008.
NCL Hires Consultant for Ballast Water Compliance
Foreship said it has secured a design consultancy contract covering the first post-Ballast Water Convention treatment systems to be specified by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). The contract calls for independent naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy services to ensure installations on five NCL ships are fully IMO-compliant. After an initial project involving the surveying, installation feasibility study…
Baltic Index Boosted by Stronger Capesize Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Thursday, helped largely by stronger rates for capesizes.
River Cruise Ship Gets Water Treatment Upgrade
The company River Advice started to make its Avalon fleet environment-friendly a few years ago. The Avalon Scenery was the first ship to use the MERUS water treatment technology, which was installed in 2012, marking the beginning of a cooperation between River Advice and Pronomar. Now several Avalon ships have the MERUS rings on board, including most recently the Monarch Empress. The Monarch Empress is a luxurious river cruise ship with 72 cabins which can accommodate 144 passengers.
Sydney Harbour Wears Out its Cruise Ship Welcome
A parking nightmare in Sydney harbour left the giant cruise liner Radiance of the Seas unable to dock because the single berth big enough to take her was already occupied.
Royal Caribbean cuts South Korean Ports from China Cruises
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd will remove visits to South Korean ports from its China cruises, the firm said in a statement, amid rising tension between the two countries…
Stena Impeccable Delivered to Stena Bulk
Sten Bulk has taken delivery of Stena Impeccable, the 10th of 13 new IMOIIMAX tankers ordered from Guangzhou Shipbuilding International (GSI) in China. The tanker, which is wholly owned by Stena Bulk, will be operated by Stena Weco and will sail in the company’s logistics system, which currently employs more than 60 vessels. The chemical and product tanker Stena Impeccable has a length of 183 meters, a beam of 32 meters and a deadweight of 50,000 tons.
Large Rogue Waves More Common than Previously Thought
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science scientist Mark Donelan and his Norwegian Meteorological Institute colleague captured new information about extreme waves…
Warfighting Women Winning at Sea
Sailing on the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia in a Royal Australian Navy frigate is just another day in the life of Seaman Boatswain's Mate Paige Powers.
Star Bulk Acquire Two Modern Kamsarmax Vessels
Star Bulk Carriers, a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire…
Myanmar Study Looks at Port Data Exchange
A feasibility study looking into the possible expansion of the Northeast Asia Logistics Information Service Network (NEAL-NET) has been undertaken in Myanmar, as…
Diana Shipping Announces Time Charter Contracts for Philadelphia
Diana Shipping has announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Koch Shipping Pte. Ltd., Singapore…
MPA to Enhance Singapore’s Hub Port Competitiveness
The maritime sector is undergoing significant transformation. To enhance Singapore’s hub port competitiveness, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)…
UK Chamber for Including Marines in New T-Level Qualification
The UK Chamber of Shipping has welcomed Government’s plans to introduce new technical qualifications, but raised questions as to why marine engineering is absent from the plans.
