Damen Signs with Repair Deal Dutch MoD
On July 11, 2019, Damen Shipyards Den Helder signed a midlife upkeep (MLU) contract with the Netherlands Ministry of Defense. With this contract, support ship HNLMS Pelikaan, along with hydrographic survey vessels HNLMS Snellius and HNLMS Luymes, all of the Royal Netherlands Navy, are heading to Damen Shipyards Den Helder for an maintenance and modernization.The scope of work that the Damen yard will perform will include equipping the vessels with new hull plating…
Will High-Speed Container Transport Ever Work?
Every few years I am handed a high-speed container transport proposal. Generally it consists of some type of high speed vessel design that would be able to move containers at high speed and thereby attract a new market by taking a chunk out of the air cargo market and the premium ocean market. Occasionally we are asked to look at the economics for potential investors, and it always falls short of being economically viable.
Tropical Storm Barry Forms in Gulf of Mexico
Tropical Storm Barry formed on Thursday with heavy rains expected across the north-central U.S. Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center said.Barry, the second named storm of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, was located about 95 miles (150 kilometers) south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River at about 11 a.m. EDT with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles (65 km) per hour, the Miami-based weather forecaster said.
Gibraltar Police Arrest Captain of Detained Iranian Tanker
Gibraltar police said they have arrested the captain and chief officer of the detained Iranian Grace 1 supertanker accused of violating EU sanctions on Syria and have seized documents and electronic d
Go-slow at Port Hits South African Car and Commodity Exports
A go-slow by workers at a major South African port is hitting exports of cars and other commodities, the country's Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said…
UK: Ships Should Adopt a Heightened Security in the Strait of Hormuz
Britain has recommended all British-flagged ships go to a heightened state of security in the Strait of Hormuz, Sky News reported on Thursday, citing unnamed maritime industry sources.A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "The Department for Transport, as competent authority, regularly provides Security Advice to UK and Red Ensign Group Shipping on how they should operate in areas of high risk." (Reuters, Reporting by William James, editing by Elizabeth Piper)
Shipping Losses Lowest This Century as New Dangers Emerge
The Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2019 provides a unique and in-depth look at the emerging risks facing international shipping…
PROPULSION TECH: How to Get to Hybridization
Hybridization in the marine world is transitioning from the latest fad to a key part of vessel design and retrofits. Driven in part by a demand for increased efficiency and new waves of global legislation, hybridizing or electrifying a vessel is quickly becoming necessary for organizations. In fact, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules and guidelines for the marine industry call for reduced emissions globally…
DP World to Issue $700 million in Bonds, Sukuk
Port operator DP World plans to raise at least $700 million through conventional and Islamic bond issues on Thursday, documents issued by banks involved in the deal showed.Majority owned by the Dubai government, DP World plans to issue benchmark sukuk with a 10-year maturity. Benchmark bonds are generally meant to be over $500 million.The Islamic paper is being marketed with an initial guidance of around 230 basis points over mid-swaps.Barclays…
National Hurricane Center Miami Issues Hurricane Watch
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for: Mouth of the Pearl River to Intracoastal City. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for: Mouth of the Mississippi River to Cameron. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for: Mouth of the Mississippi River northward to the Mouth of the Pearl River.A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
USCG Receives Another BWTS Application
The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety Center has received new application for ballast water management system type-approval, according to a post on the Coast Guard Maritime Commons blog. The Marine Safety Center received its 27th application for type approval for the EcoGuardian ballast water treatment system manufactured by South Korean firm HANLA IMS Co., Ltd.MSC will review the application for compliance with U.S.
UK to Insist on Zero Emission Ships from 2025
Britain's government on Thursday said all new ships ordered from 2025 and aimed for its waters must be equipped with zero emission technology, as part of a new plan to cut maritime pollution.Britain last month announced a target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, making it the first among the major G7 countries to set such a goal.As part of a new "Clean Maritime Plan" unveiled on Thursday, the government said ships ordered from 2025 onwards must have zero-emission capabilities.
Britain Foils Iranian Attempt to Block Tanker
Three Iranian vessels tried to block a BP-operated tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz but backed off when confronted by a Royal Navy warship, the UK government said on Thursday.Britain urged Iran to "de-escalate the situation in the region" after the British Heritage, a Suezmax oil tanker operated by BP under an Isle of Man flag, was approached."HMS Montrose was forced to position herself between the Iranian vessels and British Heritage and issue verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels…
Wrist Ship Supply Acquires Van Hulle
Danish ship supplier Wrist Ship Supply acquires Belgian competitor Van Hulle in order to strengthen its position in Belgium and the Netherlands.According to a press…
Floating Windpower Partnership Formed
Japanese engineering giant Hitachi Zosen Corp and French marine renewables technology outfit Naval Energies will work together in the field of floating wind power.The…
Novatek Signs LNG Equipment Deal
The Russian natural-gas company Novatek and Atomenergomash, a mechanical engineering division of the Rosatom State Corporation, have signed a memorandum on strategic…
Port of Los Angeles June Volumes Up 5.8%
The Port of Los Angeles moved 764,777 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in June, the busiest June in the Port’s 112-year history.The month marked the end of Fiscal Year 2018-19 in which the Port moved 9,688,252 TEUs, a 5.7 percent improvement over the previous fiscal year, a press release from the American port said.“Completing the busiest 12-month period in the Port’s history makes me proud of our extraordinary capabilities and grateful to all our stakeholders…
SC Ports Reports Record Cargo Volumes
South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) handled record cargo volumes at the Port of Charleston in fiscal year 2019.SCPA handled nearly 2.4 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) from July 2018 through June, an 8.8% increase in annual TEU container volume.SCPA moved 200,406 TEUs across the Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals last month. As measured by the total number of boxes handled…
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down 5.7% in June
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.7 million tons in June, a decrease of 5.7 percent from 2018. Shipments were, however, nearly even with the month’s 5-year average, said a release from Lake Carriers’ Association.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 20.19 million tons, almost matching the previous year’s total of 20.15 million tons.Iron shipments are ahead of their 5-year average for the first half of the year.
Quieting Ships to Protect Environment
Acentech, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based noise, vibration and acoustical consulting firm, has issued its final report to Transport Canada concerning the Quiet…
