US Navy Names Cherokee Nation
Gulf Island Shipyard held a keel laying ceremony for the USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7) on Thursday afternoon (February 13) at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.Cherokeeā¦
Fincantieri Delivers Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady
![Photo courtesy of Fincantieri](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-fincantieri-109953.jpg)
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri said it has presented Scarlet Lady, the first of four new cruise ships it is building for new cruise ship operator Virgin Voyages, part of Richard Bransonās Virgin Group.The 110,00-gross-ton Scarlet Lady, constructed at the builder's shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente, is 278 meters long and 38 meters wide. Virgin Voyages second ship, Valiant Lady, currently under construction in the same yardā¦
44 New Coronavirus Cases on Diamond Princess
![Diamond Princess (Photo: Princess Cruises)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/diamond-princess-photo-princess-cruises-109957.jpg)
Japanese health officials said there have been 44 new positive tests for the novel coronavirus on board the Diamond Princess, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 218 aboard the cruise ship currently quarantined in Yokohama.Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess, owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp, has been placed on quarantine upon arriving at Yokohama on February 3 after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus now called COVID-19.This weekā¦
World's First Nuclear Ship Exits Drydock
![(Photo: MARAD)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-marad-109956.jpg)
The worldās first nuclear-powered ship is making its way back to Baltimore flowing a repair stay in Philadelphia.On Thursday, the N.S. Savannah began its journey back from drydocking in preparation for decommissioning.Having spent the last few months at Northeast Ship Repair undergoing general inspection, repairs and structural modifications, the ship will be back at home at the Canton Marine Terminal by Friday.While the last nuclear fuel was removed from the ship more nearly 50 years agoā¦
Cruise Ship Stranded by Virus Fears Docks in Cambodia
![MS Westerdam (Photo: Holland America Line)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/ms-westerdam-photo-holland-america-109955.jpg)
Cambodia has agreed to allow a cruise ship, that has been turned away by five countries over fears that someone aboard may have the coronavirus, to dock and disembark its passengers, the Holland America Line said.The MS Westerdam, which has 1,455 passengers and 802 crew on board, docked at the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville on Thursday, the company said. Guests have been cleared to begin disembarkingā¦
Five Coastal Ferries for Zanzibar
![Photo: Damen](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-damen-109944.jpg)
Damen Shipyards signed a contract with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications & Transport of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for the supply of five inshore ferries to carry tourists visiting Pemba Island and others nearby in the Zanzibar Archipelago.The contract is for three vessels of the Damen Ferry 804 design and two of the Damen Ferry 1204 design, together with a spare parts packageā¦
Oil Prices Climb on Hopes of Deeper OPEC+ Production Cuts
![AdobeStock_45230 / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/adobestock45230-adobe-stock-109952.jpg)
Oil prices edged higher on Thursday as investors focused on the possibility of deeper supply cuts from the world's biggest producers, whilst largely shrugging off reports which cut demand forecasts after the coronavirus outbreak in China, the biggest oil importer.Brent crude was up 32 cents, or 0.6%, at $56.11 a barrel by 10:52 a.m. ET (1552 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up 14 cents at $51.31 a barrel.The energy complex was led higher by U.S.
Ship Efficiency: Improve Hull Performance
![Photo credit: JOTUN](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-credit-jotun-109946.jpg)
While owners have long recognized the link between clean hulls and lower fuel costs, lack of reliable data has slowed investments in optimizing hull performance. But with improved sensor technologies and data analysis tools, hull performance is getting a second look. Owners seeking to lower fuel costs and comply with pending regulations on emissions and invasive species often look to equipment manufacturers to meet their needs.
Baltic Index Remains Flat
![Ā© Infinitum Produx / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/infinitum-produx-adobe-stock-109945.jpg)
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index remained flat on Thursday, as higher rates for panamax vessels offset weaker rates for other vessel categories.The Baltic index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels that ferry dry bulk commodities, was unchanged at 421.The main index slid to a near 4-year low of 411 earlier this week.The capesize index fell 25 points to negative 284.Average daily earnings for capesizesā¦
Automatic Ferry Enters Regular Service in Norway
![(Photo: KONGSBERG)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-kongsberg-109939.jpg)
The worldās first adaptive ferry transit conducted during normal service took place last week on a vessel fully loaded with passengers and vehicles, demonstrated fully automatic control from dock to dock, Kongsberg Maritime announced. The landmark crossing, a key step forward in the integration of autonomous technology into everyday shipping operations, was made possible by collaboration between shipping company Bastø Fosenā¦
NOAA to Order New Research Ships in 2020
![(Photo: NOAA)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-noaa-109934.jpg)
The U.S.' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it expects to award contracts for the construction of two new oceanographic ships by the end of the year. Once in service, the new large oceangoing, multi-mission research vessels will support missions ranging from general oceanographic research and exploration to marine life, climate and ocean ecosystem studies, NOAA said.āWhen completedā¦
Bulker Captain Missing
![Ā© Andy Ru / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/andy-ru-adobe-stock-109933.jpg)
The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force and regional partners are searching for the master of a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier who has gone missing about 174 miles northwest of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia.At 5:44 p.m., Tuesday, JRSC Guam watchstanders received a report from Rescue Coordination Center Australia watchstanders stating they received a call from the first mate of the 751-foot Rising Wind reporting the vesselās 47-year-old master was missing.
Schlumberger Intros Egypt Upstream Gateway
The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Schlumberger introduce the Egypt Upstream Gateway, a unique and innovative national project for digitizing subsurface informationā¦
Mammoet Completes Mexican Terminal Expansion
Mammoet, a Dutch company specialized in engineered heavy lifting and transport of over-sized and heavy objects, said that its team has successfully completed theā¦
Holland Shipyards to Build Electric Double-Ender Ferry
Norwegian ferry operator Brevik Fergeselskap has ordered a new electric passenger/ vehicle double-ender ferry from Holland Shipyards in Hardingxveld-Giessendam.Theā¦
Euronav Acquires 3 Newbuild VLCCs
Belgium's tanker shipping company Euronav NV has entered into an agreement for the acquisition through resale of three very large crude carrier (VLCC) newbuilds.Theā¦
CMA CGM Joins Energy Observer in Hydrogen Project
French shipping giant CMA CGM is joining forces with Energy Observer within a project focusing on testing the potential of hydrogen as a marine fuel.Energy Observerā¦
Diana Shipping Fixes Philadelphia with BHP
Diana Shipping announced that through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with BHP Billiton Freight Singapore Pte. Ltd.ā¦
Scorpio Bulkers to Sell, Leaseback 3 Bulkers
The provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities Scorpio Bulkers has agreed to sell and leaseback two Ultramax vessels (SBI Cronos and SBI Achilles)ā¦
Kongsberg Revenue Up in Challenging Maritime
Norwegian technology enterprise Kongsberg Maritime announced that it increased operating revenue to NOK 5,490m (USD 593mln) from NOK 2,041m (USD 220mln) in the fourthā¦