Amazon's Pink Dolphins Threatened by End of Fishing Ban
The Amazon river dolphin is an intelligent and friendly mammal that appears to grin and flush like a human blushing when it gets excited.But some are concerned about the world's largest freshwater dolphin coming under threat again in Brazil, where fishermen hunt and kill it illegally to make bait for a catfish called piracatinga.A legal moratorium on fishing the piracatinga ended last month, prompting calls for its renewal from environmentalists and researchers such as biologist Vera da Silva…
Total Rejects Force Majeure Notice From Chinese LNG Buyer
French oil major Total has rejected a force majeure notice from a buyer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in China, a Total executive said during the company's full-year results presentation on Thursday."Some Chinese customers, at least one, are trying to use the coronavirus to say I have force majeure," said Philippe Sauquet, head of Total's gas, renewables and power segment."We have received one force…
Panamax Gains Buoy Baltic Sea Freight Index
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index edged up on Thursday, snapping a 14-session long streak of losses, propped up by gains in the panamax segment and slightly higher earnings for capesize vessels.The Baltic index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels to ferry dry bulk commodities, rose one point, or 0.2%, to 431.The capesize index slipped four points to a negative 187…
Eastern Launches Tug for Bisso Offshore
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. has launched the second of two 80’ 5,100 HP Z-Drive tugs for Bisso Offshore, LLC, a division of E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc. The A. Thomas Higgins, currently under construction at Eastern’s Allanton facility, was launched on January 31, 2020.The RAL RApport 2400 Z-Drive ship-handling tug design was provided by Robert Allan Ltd located in Vancouver, Canada. The C.D. White, the first vessel of the series, delivered in January of this year.Long-term customer E.N.
The igus Factory Travels Around the World
A new app from German manufacturer igus offers unique insight into its production and development. Equipped with virtual reality (VR) headsets, the company's technical sales consultants now have the capability to show customers the igus factory in Cologne, Germany regardless of where the customers reside.Guided factory tours, popular among customers in the industrial community, offer an opportunity to experience products and witness manufacturing on site.
US Trade Deficit Narrows for First Time in Six Years
The U.S. trade deficit fell for the first time in six years in 2019 as the White House’s trade war with China curbed the import bill, keeping the economy on a moderate growth path despite a slowdown in consumer spending and weak business investment.The report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday also showed the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda decreased the flow of goods last year, with exports posting their first decline since 2016.
Hong Kong Checks Quarantined Ship for Virus
Hong Kong authorities quarantined a cruise ship for a second day on Thursday as they checked thousands of passengers and crew for the new coronavirus, forbidding…
Petrobras Charters AET Shuttle Tanker Trio for $525.6M
Tanker operator AET has won a long-term deal with the Brazilian oil company Petrobras for the charter of three shuttle tankers that will offload oil from Petrobras' offshore oil platforms and FPSOs.AET said Thursday the long-term charters would be for three Suezmax class Dynamic Positioning Shuttle Tankers (DPSTs).The company will own and operate the newbuilding Suezmax DP2 Shuttle Tankers for operations in Brazilian international waters.
DEME JV Wins Kiel Canal Contract
Belgian dredging group DEME has been awarded a contract as part of a joint venture for the widening of the Kiel Canal in Germany.Two DEME subsidiaries are to carry…
India to Buy Russian Crude Oil
Russian oil and gas giant Rosneft has signed a contract with India’s largest fuel retailer Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for supply of 2 million tonne (MT) crude…
Silverstream in Retrofit Design Pact with ICE
United Kingdom-based maritime company Silverstream Technologies has entered into a framework agreement with European ship design consultancy International Contract…
ICE Wins AIP for FPSO Hull Design
European naval architecture and marine engineering consultant International Contract Engineering (ICE) group was awarded an Approval in Principle (AIP) by the American…
Vinalines to Join Global Shipping Alliances
The Vietnam National Shipping Lines Corporation (Vinalines) has set sights on joining the global shipping alliances (GSA).As part of this move, Vinalines will devise…
Vattenfall Steps Up Offshore Wind Market
Swedish multinational power company Vattenfall said that it had reached a number of important milestones during the year 2019. In Denmark the Horns Rev 3 (407 MW) wind farm was inaugurated…
ABS Grants AIP to KHI's LPG System
ABS, a global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries, has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Hapag-Lloyd Launches Reefer Monitoring Tool
The German company Hapag-Lloyd announced the adoption of a new real-time remote monitoring system for its reefer containers - Hapag-Lloyd LIVE.The tool increases…
NYK Orders 2nd LNG-Fueled PCTC
Japanese shipping and logistics company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has placed an order to build a second LNG-fueled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) with…
S.Korea Announces $690M Shipping Aid
South Korea' Financial Services Commission has announced 820 billion won ($690 million) in funding to help modernize aging passenger boats and cargo ships.According to a Yonhap…
Finnlines Ferry Trio to Go with Wärtsilä
Finnish corporation Wärtsilä will supply its hybrid power conversion system for three new roro ferries being built at the Nanjing Jinling shipyard in China for Finnlines…
Japan to Use Ferry for Quarantine as Virus Spreads
Japan's military prepared a chartered ferry on Wednesday to use as a quarantine ship that could house hundreds of suspected coronavirus cases as the number of infected…
