Coast Guard Issues RFI for Offshore Patrol Cutter
On October 18 the U.S. Coast Guard issues a Request for Information (RFI) for information and planning purposes only.On October 10, 2019, the U.S. Department of…
LR Grants Jiangnan AiP for VLGC Design
Classification society Lloyd's Register has awarded Chinese shipbuilder Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd with Approval in Principle (AiP) for its 91,000-cubic-meter very large gas carrier (VLGC).The design, named “Panda 91T”, includes an liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fueled main engine and relevant fuel gas system, as well as an optional air lubrication system and the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) is approximately 40% lower than the base value…
Training Tips for Ships: Tip #5
– The Simple Secret to Making Randomized Exams Fair – In last month’s Training Tips for Ships, we made the important point that we must never give different people the same exam. If we use an exam over and over, our trainees will very quickly learn what questions are on the exam and share the answers with their friends. Suddenly exam scores begin going up, and time spent learning goes down – both for the wrong reasons.
W. Africa Crude-Freight costs ease, especially for VLCCs
Freight rates eased further on Friday, especially for the largest oil tankers, promising some recovery for West African oil prices which had touched multi-year lows. VLCC freight costs eased more rapidly than smaller Suezmaxes, making it less advantageous to ship on the latter. Prices for Suezmaxes were estimated around world scale 190-200, with one European buyer estimating further relief to around…
Pipe Freezing for Quick Pipe Repairs
Avoiding the requirement to drain down pipelines for repair work or to carry out maintenance can save a considerable amount of time and potential loss of product.Qwik-Freezer Pipe Freezing System eliminates the need to drain pipework by creating a freeze plug. Available from the Pipestoppers Division of Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT Qwik-Freezer is a very cost effective and quick way to perform pipeline maintenance without draining the system…
New Concept Ice Class Tugs for Svitzer
Med Marine has recently signed a newbuilding contract with Danish operator, Svitzer for two icebreaking tugboats.The design is new in Med Marine’s portfolio and comes with some great features for extreme climate conditions.TundRA 3000 is a concept design by Canadian designer Robert Allan Ltd. As the designer has experience in working with different companies operating in harsh winter conditions, TundRA was a great fit for Svitzer’s North European fleet.
Boxship Fires: Time for Action, says IUMI
This year has already seen an alarming number of container ship fires including Yantian Express, APL Vancouver, Grande America, E.R. Kobe and KMTC Hong Kong.The escalation is of growing concern to IUMI (International Union of Marine Insurance) who used a recent forum to call for an urgent improvement to onboard firefighting systems.At a conference in Arendal, Norway, organised by marine insurer and P&I Club…
USCG Announces Key Changes to NVIC's
The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing published changes to five Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVICs) concerning qualification for certain Merchant Mariner Credential Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW) endorsements.NVICs 04-14, 08-14, and 09-14 were revised to provide guidance on renewal of STCW endorsements for Proficiency in Survival Craft…
Shell Publishes White Paper for IMO 2020 Preparedness
Shell Marine has published a new White Paper that offers ship owners and operators the critical guidance they need on cylinder oils and engine care to transition successfully through the IMO global cap on fuel sulphur content from January 1, 2020.‘IMO 2020 Ready’ from Shell Marine sets out the commercial, operational and technical challenges faced by customers before, during and after the regulatory deadline.
SAFE Recently Delivered 19th Boat to FDNY Fleet
SAFE Boats International (SAFE), delivered boats 17, 18 and 19 to the marine division of the New York Fire Department during the month of August. Since 2006 SAFE has successfully built and delivered a variety of boats to FDNY ranging in size from a 27’ full cabin vessel with firefighting equipment all the way up to the 64’ “Bravest” with three separate fire pump stations that went into service in 2011.The three latest additions to the FDNY fleet are 33’ full cabin boats.
Singapore Company Fined for Illegal Scrapping Attempt
A Singapore company has paid a NOK 7 million ($763,000) fine after it was caught trying to illegally export a barge carrier vessel from Norway for scrapping on the beaches in Pakistan, Norwegian authorities said.In 2017, inspectors from the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) detained the Harrier, previously named Tide Carrier, when it suffered an engine failure and started to drift outside Jæren in Rogaland.
Total’s First LNG Bunker Vessel Launched
Total said its first large liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker vessel has been launched, following the signature of a long-term charter contract between Total and Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) in February 2018.After delivery in 2020, the bunker vessel will operate in Northern Europe, where it will supply LNG to commercial vessels, including 300,000 tons per year for CMA CGM’s nine ultra-large newbuild containerships in Europe-Asia trade…
Canadian E.Coast LNG Export Plans Progress Shell Deal
Pieridae Energy moved closer to building a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal on Canada's East Coast after taking ownership of fields from Royal Dutch Shell…
Tankers Defer Retrofits to Cash in on Record Freight Rates
Tankers that had been scheduled to install emissions-cutting equipment ahead of stricter pollution standards starting in 2020 have deferred their visits to the dry docks to capitalize on an unexpected surge in freight rates, three trade sources said.U.S. sanctions on subsidiaries of vast Chinese shipping fleet Cosco in September sparked a surge in global oil shipping rates as traders scrambled to find…
Baltic Index Sags as Rates Slip
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, extended losses for a sixth consecutive session on Friday, on weak demand across all vessel segments.The Baltic index, which reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, dropped 6 points, or 0.3%, to 1,855. The overall index posted its fifth weekly loss in six, closing 3.6% lower.The capesize index was down by 17 points, or 0.6%, at 3,064, falling for a sixth straight session.
Exxon, Trafigura Tap Lower Freight Rates
U.S. crude exports to Asia, which have slumped due to record freight costs, stirred on Thursday as rates slid and the premium in Asia for Russia's ESPO Blend oil sent buyers back to U.S. grades, according to market sources.Oil shipping costs for United States Gulf Coast to Asia cooled this week from record highs on the prospect of more vessels becoming available. Nearly 300 oil tankers globally were placed off limits due to U.S.
Tankers Defer retrofits as Record Freight Rates Beckon
Tankers that had been scheduled to install emissions-cutting equipment ahead of stricter pollution standards starting in 2020 have deferred their visits to the dry docks to capitalise on an unexpected surge in freight rates, three trade sources said.U.S. sanctions on subsidiaries of vast Chinese shipping fleet Cosco in September sparked a surge in global oil shipping rates as traders scrambled to find…
USCG Makes Plans for new Waterways Commerce Cutter
The U.S. Coast Guard announced its plan to replace the capabilities of 13 Inland Construction Tenders (WLIC) and 18 River Buoy Tenders (WLR), releasing a draft specification…
Turkish Yard to Build New Ice Class Tug Design
Med Marine based in Istanbul signed a newbuilding contract with Danish operator, Svitzer for two icebreaking tugboats. The design is new in Med Marine’s portfolio, the TundRA 3000 concept a design from Robert Allan Ltd. Once delivered, the vessels will operate across Scandinavia, predominantly serving ports in Denmark and Sweden.The tugs are designed for operations in the full range of ice conditions…
Interview: Tore Morten Olsen, President Maritime, Marlink
Tore Morten Olsen, President Maritime, Marlink, discusses the pace and direction of high speed comms in maritime.Using metrics of your choice, put in perspective where we are today in terms of getting shipowners to adopt high speed communication solutions.The term broadband has been used in the maritime industry for at least a decade and if we are to follow the FCC’s definition which was upgraded to 25mbps from 4mbps (download) in 2015…
