CITB Adds Shallow-draft Tug in Alaska
Cook Inlet Tug and Barge (CITB) is adding a versatile shallow draft tugboat, the Bristol Wind, to its fleet in mid-April. The uniquely designed tug will join her sister vessel, the Capt. Frank Moody, in support of the construction, and oil and gas industries' remote cargo transportation needs along the Arctic coastline."Drawing just 3.2 feet, the Bristol Wind is uniquely designed to operate efficiently as a coastal tug.
Baltic Index Edges Up On Stronger Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose on Thursday, helped by higher rates for capesize and supramax vessels.The Baltic index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels that ferry dry bulk commodities, rose 2 points, or 0.3%, to 633 - its highest level since Jan. 21.The capesize index fell 5 points to -355.However, average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170…
Murphy Charters Pacific Drilling Drillship for Mexico Wells
Deepwater drilling rig contractor Pacific Drilling has found more work for its Pacific Sharav drillship.The drilling company on Wednesday revealed that Murphy Oil…
Coronavirus-hit Princess Cruises Suspends Operations
Princess Cruises, the operator of two coronavirus-stricken ships, said on Thursday it would suspend global operations of its 18 cruise ships for two months, sending shares of its parent company Carnival Corp down 22% in premarket trading.The Grand Princess was denied entry to San Francisco Bay last Wednesday en route back from Hawaii as authorities learned some passengers and crew had developed flu-like symptoms…
Reygar's BareFleet Remote Monitoring Hit Milestone; New Hires Announced
Reygar announced that its BareFLEET remote monitoring system is now in use on 100 vessels worldwide. The growth is in step with a general migration to digital solutions across the maritime sector, and the milestone is punctuated as Reygar expands its control system capabilities across dynamic positioning, autonomous vessels and consultancy, with two new engineering hires and a larger premises in Bristol: James Cook and Richard Crowder.
IMO Shuts Headquarters due to Coronavirus
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has closed its headquarters in London as a precautionary measure due to the coronavirus outbreak, the United Nations' shipping agency said on Thursday.The IMO said the move follows an assessment on Wednesday by the World Health Organization, which said the virus can be characterized as a pandemic.IMO headquarters will be closed to staff and visitors on Thursday and Friday…
Booking Frenzy Sends Tanker Rates Soaring
The cost to transport oil on supertankers soared on Thursday as major producers scrambled to secure vessels to ship more crude in a bid to regain market share and buyers took advantage of plunging oil prices.Freight charges to ship oil in very large crude carriers (VLCCs) from the Middle East, which is home to the largest OPEC producers, to China, the world's top crude oil importer, nearly doubled overnight.VLCC tanker rates along the busy Middle East Gulf to China route jumped to about $160…
Corvus ESS for Hybrid Coastal Cargo Carrier
Corvus Energy has been selected by Westcon Power & Automation (WPA) to supply the lithium-ion battery-based energy storage system (ESS) for a new hybrid coastal cargo vessel being built for Arriva Shipping at Dayang Offshore Equipment in China.The ship is of MDC 1309 Ecolution design made by Marine Design and Consulting (MDC) in Bergen and defines a whole new standard for this type of ship. Energy efficiency has been taken into account throughout the entire design phase.
UK Royal Navy Testing Unmanned Equipment
Operational trials of unmanned equipment in Norway offered a glimpse of the UK Royal Navy's autonomous future. Royal Marines small boat specialists 47 Commando have been working alongside HMS Albion, the Royal Navy’s autonomous accelerator NavyX and the Office for the Chief Technology Officer to see how the kit can be put to use in real world situations.Exercise Autonomous Advance Force put unmanned boat Mast 13…
Euro Shipyard Deal Faces Regulatory Headwinds
Fincantieri risks an EU antitrust veto against its bid for Chantiers de l'Atlantique because of the difficulty of addressing regulators' concerns, people familiar with the matter said, in what would be a setback to Italy's industrial ambitions.Italy sees the deal by Europe's largest shipyard as an opportunity to create a European industrial champion in the shipbuilding industry to stave off competition…
BIMCO: US-China “Phase One” Fails to Boost Trade Volumes
Even before the effects of the coronavirus, the ‘Phase One’ agreement between China and the US failed to boost volumes of the implicated goods in January. In fact, exports of the manufactured, agricultural and energy goods included in the deal were down 26% from January 2017, which serves as the base year for the agreement.The ‘Phase One’ agreement which was signed on 15 January 2020 to lowered some US tariffs on imports from China…
NOAA-Viking Public Private Partnership, a Win-win for Research
There was important cruise news in January: Viking – a premier European ocean and river cruise company - will offer two new “destination-focused travel experiences,” starting in 2022. One set of cruises becomes Viking’s first foray in the inland North American market, in this case the Great Lakes. Another set of cruises will head to the Arctic and Antarctica. Viking is building two new vessels: the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris…
24/7 Voyage Security Risk Assessment … at the click of a mouse
Risk Intelligence provides security data, information, analysis and assessment to enable safe navigation in areas of risk in an increasingly uncertain worldSince its founding in 2001, Denmark-headquartered security information specialist Risk Intelligence has developed a fully integrated risk assessment and planning tool that provides valid, actionable intelligence to any fleet, on land, in port or at sea, 24/7/365.
Offshore Oil Rig Infection Exposes Coronavirus Dangers
Equinor reported the oil industry's first coronavirus infection on an offshore installation on Wednesday, highlighting the challenge in preventing contamination…
Saudi's Bahri Books 14 VLCCs
Saudi Arabian shipping company Bahri chartered more than a dozen very large crude carriers (VLCCs) in Persian Gulf in 24 hours.According to Reuters, the Saudi Arabia’s…
A&P Group Now Works on Renewables Only
The global ship repair, conversion and fabrication specialist A&P Group is now using 100% renewable energy across all three of its facilities as it aims to improve…
DP World Expresses Concern on Future
Dubai state controlled port operator DP World's revenue grew 36.1% in 2019, but it says the near-term outlook remains “a cause for concern” due to global trade disputes…
Kawasaki Delivers Newbuild Market Cooper
Japanese shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has delivered the bulk carrier Market Cooper to an unnamed shipowner.The 61,000DWT vessel was built jointly…
Damen Launches Support Vessel Blue Ocean
Dutch shipbuilding major Damen Shipyards Group launched its new 55-meter support yacht named Blue Ocean in its yard at Antalya, Turkey and will soon be ready for…
IMO Pushes for Cape Town Agreement
International Maritime Organization (IMO) said that the he entry into force of its Cape Town Agreement on fishing vessel safety will be crucial for improved safety…
