Solomons Retrieve Five Bodies Swept off Ferry
Solomon Islands police said on Sunday they had retrieved five bodies in their search for 27 people who were swept off a ferry during a tropical cyclone that is now threatening the nearby South Pacific nation of Vanuatu as category four storm.The MV Taimareho set sail early on Friday in strong winds with 738 passengers including crew and the captain on board. Police said the missing are believed to…
US Defense Chief Backs Navy Ouster Amid Report Captain has Coronavirus
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper defended the Navy’s controversial decision to remove the commander of a coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier, who was reported on Sunday to have tested positive for COVID-19 as the number of its sailors with the highly-contagious disease also grew.Captain Brett Crozier started showing symptoms of the virus before he was relieved of his command of the Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday and has tested positive…
Coronavirus-hit Carnival Cruise Ship Docks in Australia
Carnival Corp’s troubled Ruby Princess cruise liner, the biggest single source of coronavirus infections in Australia, docked south of Sydney on Monday to get help for sick crew members requiring urgent medical treatment.The Ruby Princess, now the target of a criminal investigation led by the homicide squad in the state of New South Wales (NSW), has more than 1,000 crew still on board, after passengers disembarked in mid-March without health checks.There have been at least 360 COVID-19 cases…
USCG Oversees Disembarkation of 250,000 Cruise Ship Passengers Due to COVID-19
The disembarkation of more than 1,200 passengers from the cruise ships Zaandam and Rotterdam in Port Everglades, Fla. on Friday, combined with one remaining disembarkation being coordinated, add to the U.S. Coast Guard's processing of more than 120 vessels in the last three weeks to remove 250,000 passengers from cruise ships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Coast Guard, under guidance from the Centers…
Malaysia Intercepts Boat Ferrying 202 Suspected Rohingya
Malaysian authorities said on Sunday they had intercepted a boat ferrying a group of 202 people believed to be ethnic Rohingya.Malaysia, which does not recognize refugee status…
ONE, Maersk, MSC Suspend China-Australia Service
Container shipping companies Ocean Network Express (ONE), Maersk and MSC will suspend their jointly operated China Australia service (CAE) until at least the second quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The last CAE sailing before the suspension will be scheduled to depart Xiamen April 22. The CAE port rotation is as follows: Xiamen – Nansha - Hong Kong – Yantian – Melbourne – Sydney – Brisbane – Xiamen.Alternate coverage will be provided by the North East Asia Australia (AUN) Service…
Containership Crewman Medevaced
An injured crewmember aboard a Taiwanese flagged containership was medevaced approximately six miles from the San Francisco Bay, Friday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard said.San Francisco Vessel Traffic Service personnel contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders, reporting a crewmember of the 1,092-foot containership Yang Ming Unanimity had fallen and struck his head on the ship’s radar…
Cloud Tech: An Enabler in the Digital Revolution
The shipping industry is finally embracing technology that is changing how companies operate. Despite lagging behind other industries, the shipping industry is currently experiencing an exciting period of digital transformation, with cloud technology and mobile apps welcomed by leading global shipping companies, changing ship management forever.Companies are increasingly using mobile apps to manage all aspects of their business – to automate tasks…
Diego Aponte: MSC CEO Offers Insight on COVID-19 Impact
In an open letter posted on the MSC website, MSC Group President & CEO Diego Aponte offered public comment and perspective on the COVID-19 situation for MSC's cargo business. “The spread of COVID-19 has created a public health issue unprecedented in our lifetimes, triggering an unexpected shock for societies and economies,” said Aponte.Calling the industry “as an essential cog for global trade” Aponte’s…
HII Wins 1.5B Deal to Build 15th LPD for U.S. Navy
Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) said that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $1.5 billion fixed-price-incentive modification to a previously awarded contract for the procurement of the detail design and construction of amphibious transport dock LPD 31. The ship will be the 15th in the San Antonio class and the second Flight II LPD.Ingalls’ LPD Flight II program vendor base consists of more than 600 manufacturers and suppliers in 39 states, including 387 small businesses.
Navy Probe to Decide Future of Fired US Carrier Commander
Even as he is hailed as a hero by his crew, the fired commander of a coronavirus-stricken U.S. aircraft carrier is being reassigned while investigators consider whether he should face disciplinary action, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told Reuters on Friday.Captain Brett Crozier was relieved of his command of the Theodore Roosevelt on Thursday after a scathing letter in which he called on…
Viking Launches Mississippi River Cruises
Viking announced it will launch a Mississippi River cruise line with its first vessel, Viking Mississippi, scheduled to sail voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi, between New Orleans and St. Paul from August 2022.Purpose-built for the Mississippi and is currently under construction in Louisiana, the five-deck ship will accommodate 386 passengers in 193 all outside staterooms.“At a time where many of us are at home…
Dismissed US Carrier Captain Gets Hero's Ovation From Crew
The captain of a U.S. aircraft carrier relieved of his command after seeking stronger measures in response to a coronavirus outbreak aboard his ship was given a hero’s ovation by his crew when he left the vessel, video posted on Twitter showed.A brief clip showed Captain Brett Crozier walking down the gangplank of the Theodore Roosevelt as crew members repeatedly chanted “Captain Crozier, Captain Crozier!”Crozier turned to wave at the crew after he stepped ashore in Guam.The removal of Crozier…
Inland Marine Expo (IMX) 2020 Postponed
The 2020 Inland Marine Expo (IMX) will be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers of the inland and intracoastal commercial marine industry trade show announced on Friday.Originally scheduled to take place May 18-20, the rescheduled event will be held September 29-October 1. It will still be held Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo."The health of our attendees and exhibitors is our first priority," organizers said.
Port Canaveral Furloughs Cruise Personnel
One of the world's busiest cruise ports announced it will furlough some of its employees following a shutdown of cruise line operations due to the coronavirus outbreak, Port Canaveral announced on Friday.The Florida seaport, which remains operational for the flow of commercial cargo and to support naval operations, said it will temporarily furlough employees dedicated to its cruise operations and recreation…
Salvors Working to Refloat Cargo Ship Aground in the UK
Salvage operations continue on board the cargo vessel MV Kaami after it ran aground in the Minches in March in northwest Scotland.A HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter winched all of the eight-person crew to safety from the cargo vessel which ran aground in adverse weather conditions in the early hours on March 23.The vessel, which made contact with the Coastguard and reported taking on water…
HydroComp Launches PropCad 2020
HydroComp launched its new PropCad 2020 software for the geometric design of marine propellers. PropCad automatically prepares 2D drawings, 3D CAD models and much more.All HydroComp 2020 products have been upgraded with a new internal code-and-control set. This has increased the speed and stability of the program across existing Window’s platforms. These changes are largely behind the scenes, but users…
Lubrication Selection Fundamentals
As an operator of vessels, you understand that lubricants play an important role in helping you achieve your operational objectives. Yet, finding the right one can be overwhelming since there’s an almost unlimited number of different lubricant formulations. An understanding of lubrication chemistry, performance expectations and operational objectives will help you select a lubricant that will improve…
Bollinger Delivers USCGC Harold Miller
Bollinger Shipyards on Thursday delivered the USCGC Harold Miller to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 161st vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35 year period and the 38th Fast Response Cutter delivered on the current program. The USCGC Harold Miller is the third of three FRCs to be home-ported in Galveston, Texas. “We are very proud to announce our latest FRC delivery…
Concordia Damen to Build Training Vessel for STC Group
Concordia Damen said it has been selected to build a new training vessel for the STC Group for delivery in 2022.The new, environmentally conscious vessel will replace two training vessels – the Princess Christina and the Princess Beatrix – that the Rotterdam-headquartered maritime training institution has used to train students for more than 50 years.In 2018, students and teachers at STC Group, along with supporters from the business community, began to develop the ideas behind the vessel.
