IMO Endorses Shipping Industry's 12-step Plan for Crew Changes
The need for ships to change crews and for the world's 1.2 million seafarers to be able to fly home at the end of their periods of service have emerged as two of the biggest challenges facing the shipping industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.To help governments put in place coordinated procedures to facilitate the safe movement of seafarers, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued a 12-step plan to 174 member states…
Chinese Tug Has Coronavirus Quarantine Space
A Chinese tug has been fitted with a space to quarantine crew members as the global maritime industry continues to implement precautionary health and safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.The vessel, Jin Gang Lun 32, owned and operated by Tianjin Port has been equipped with a 20-foot container fitted to the aft deck as an isolation/temporary quarantine space.The air-conditioned container features large watertight windows and contains basic living facilities including a sofa settee…
Wicker Urges Congress to Stay on Course to 355 Ship Navy
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., on Thursday participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to consider nominations for the Department of Defense. At the hearing, Wicker pressed members of the committee and the nominees to devote more resources to meeting the needs of America’s military, including shipbuilding and aviation.At the hearing, Wicker asked Kenneth Braithwaite, nominee for Secretary of the Navy…
Norwegian Has Enough Cash to Stay Afloat for 18 Months
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd’s $3.5 billion in cash on hand will be enough to bankroll the company for “at least 18 months” without any new revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic that has halted voyages, Chief Executive Frank Del Rio said on Thursday.“That’s enough to cover our cash burn under a zero-revenue environment for at least 18 months, not 12, 18 months,” Del Rio told Reuters in a phone interview.Norwegian’s shares…
Princess and Other Cruise Lines Extend Service Suspensions
Carnival Corp’s Princess Cruises said on Wednesday its voyages would remain suspended through the end of summer as reduced flights and travel bans around the globe bring the industry to a virtual standstill.Holland America Line, Carnival’s another unit, said it has canceled all cruises for Alaska, Europe and Canada and New England for the year, as well as its Amsterdam vessel that was scheduled to depart in October to Fort Lauderdale…
Ruby Princess Reaches the Philippines
A cruise ship at the heart of Australia’s biggest coronavirus cluster arrived off the Philippines on Thursday to repatriate more than 200 crew, leaving behind weeks…
Signs Led to Japan's Second Coronavirus Cruise Ship Hot Spot
Seven days before Japan quarantined a cruise ship near Tokyo early this year, in what became one of the first coronavirus hot spots outside China, another cruise ship docked in southern Japan.For the next five weeks, as the virus took hold in Japan and the Diamond Princess in Yokohama port grabbed global attention, the Japanese authorities issued no warnings to the Costa Atlantica 1,200 km (750 miles)…
Vard Marine Names Carson CEO
Naval architecture and marine engineering firm Vard Marine Inc. announced Thursday that Wade Carson will succeed Dave McMillan as president and CEO upon McMillan's retirement on May 31.Carson has been with Vard for 18 years. For the past six years he has led the business’s strategic direction as VP Business Development and most recently was on assignment as interim Managing Director of affiliate company Vard Electro Canada.Following his 30-year tenure with Vard Marine…
Cyprus Adopts Formal Crew Change Process
The Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) formally announced it has adopted a new process to facilitate crew changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crew changes for vessels are possible in Cyprus provided certain conditions are met. The relevant decrees issued by the Ministry of Health also permit the long-term stay in anchorage of vessels, including cruise ships (warm lay-up).Cyprus is actively supporting and implementing such measures…
Vendors Sought to Inform Electric Ferry Design
Skagit County Public Works and vessel designer Glosten say they are seeking technical information and cost estimates from vendors to inform design decisions related to the electrical system, the propulsion system, the shore side electrical system, and the automated charging plug of the all-electric ferry design to replace the 41-year-old M/V Guemes currently in operation on the U.S. West Coast.“This is relatively new propulsion technology – we need to make sure we get this right.
US Barging Industry Navigating Black Swan Events
The combination of the coronavirus pandemic and oil price freefall have affected most maritime markets, including inland waterway shipping. Looking at U.S. river transport in particular, the impacts of these two black swan events vary greatly depending on the type of cargo being carried.David Grzebinski, CEO of the America’s largest tank barge operator, Kirby Corp., said in a March conference call…
COVID-19 Economic Recovery Should Include Infrastructure Investment
As the nation continues to be impacted by COVID-19, there are silver linings to the crisis: family time and togetherness, gratitude for what we had before it was taken away, and a chance to seek opportunities to be better and more productive.As funding bills related to the COVID-19 crisis move forward, there may be an opportunity for the nation to better itself by modernizing its infrastructure.Congress has, to date as of this writing, passed three phases of a coronavirus relief package.
Royal IHC Awarded Dredger Contracts
Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC said Thursday it has signed three contracts with the Jordan-based Arab Potash Company (APC) to deliver two cutter suction dredgers (CSDs) and implement a new maintenance agreement. The first contract comprises the delivery of a custom-built CSD, the second is a three-year maintenance contract for the IHC dredgers Jarash and Mutah, and the third involves another dredger, which will be a copy of Jarash.The newly built CSD Alkaramah is based on a modified…
Hydrographic Survey Vessel to be Converted for Unmanned Operations
A hydrographic survey vessel will operate in multiple areas of the Wadden Sea, commanded from shore by personnel in an office in Amersterdam.U.S.-based Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and advanced perception systems, said Thursday that Dutch company Deep BV will equip one of its vessels with a Sea Machines SM300 autonomous control system to enable remote command of the vessel…
Brazil's Itaqui Port Open Despite Lockdown, Grain Shipments Up
Brazil's Itaqui port, from where more than 10% of the country's soybeans were exported in 2019, has not been affected by lockdown measures imposed this week in Maranhão state, said Ted Lago, the port's president, on Thursday.Port activity is considered exempt from the order and personnel, rail services and trucks continue to have normal access, Lago said, adding that grain export volume is set to rise thanks to the resilience of the domestic farm sector.
China's Iron Ore Imports Jump in April
China's iron ore imports in April rose 11.4% from a month earlier on robust demand from steelmakers, as downstream sectors started to emerge from lockdowns to contain the coronavirus epidemic.Arrivals of the steelmaking ingredient were 95.71 million tonnes last month, data released on Thursday by the General Administration of Customs showed.That compares with imports of 85.91 million tonnes in March and 80.77 million tonnes a year earlier…
China's Crude Oil Imports Rebound in April
China's crude oil imports rebounded in April from a month earlier on daily basis as refiners ramped up output amid a recovery in fuel demand with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak easing while crude prices crashed on slumping consumption elsewhere.Crude oil arrivals were 40.43 million tonnes last month according to a full data table released by the General Administration of Customs on Thursday…
MAN PrimeServ Expands Omnicare Concept
MAN PrimeServ, MAN Energy Solutions’ service brand, has extended its ‘PrimeServ Omnicare’ concept from turbomachinery into the marine and power segments. This one-stop service solution now also focuses on maintenance that covers non-MAN as well as MAN machinery, including engines, turbochargers and related auxiliaries.In the marine and power segments, PrimeServ Omnicare provides a maintenance service with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) spare-parts, based on global agreements.
Foreship Unveils Anti-coronavirus Plan for Cruise Ships
A Finnish naval architecture and marine engineering firm said it has devised an initiative to limit the presence and spread of coronavirus and other pathogens on passenger ships and get the cruise sector back up and running.Foreship Business Development Director Mattias Jörgensen says that there is no “silver-bullet” solution for fighting viruses in the cruise industry. “However, by combining our own expertise with the knowledge of medical professionals and that of our extensive partner network…
Crowley Wins NATO Fuels Services Consulting Contract
Crowley Solutions, a provider of energy, maritime, technology and supply chain services for the U.S. government, said it has been awarded a multi-year contract from NATO Support & Procurement Agency (NSPA) for global fuels services consulting.Crowley’s technical experts will be supporting and participating in a NSPA project management team (PMT), while assisting in planning and developing technical…
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