Metal Shark Delivers Towboat to FMT
Metal Shark announced Monday its Bayou La Batre, Ala. shipyard has delivered its first newbuild, a 120’ x 35’ river towboat for Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. (FMT) of Mandeville, La.The four-decked, welded-steel, USCG Subchapter “M”-compliant towboat Stephanie Pasentine, which bears the distinction of being Louisiana-based Metal Shark’s first-ever steel newbuild and also its first inland towboat, was designed by John W.
Petrobras' Oil Exports Hit New Record
Brazilian state-owned oil giant Petrobras said on Monday it exported a record 1 million barrels of oil a day in April, beating the previous record of 771,000 barrels a day in December last year.In a securities filing, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the firm is formally known, said that it marked an increase of 145% over the same month a year ago.In the first four months of 2020, exports were up 25% on the same period last year…
DK Marine Boss Pleads Guilty in US Navy Bribery Case
The owner and Chief Executive Officer of a South Korea–based company, DK Marine, that provided ship husbanding services to the U.S. Navy pleaded guilty for his role in a bribery conspiracy.Sung Yol “David” Kim, 49, a citizen of the Republic of Korea, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery before U.S. District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith of the Eastern District of Michigan. Sentencing has been scheduled for November 17…
Kotug Acquires Marsol
KOTUG International B.V. has completed the 100% acquisition of Marsol International Ltd., an offshore and marine terminal service center, specialized in offshore single point mooring (SPM) buoy terminals and its related infrastructure.The core business of Marsol is integrity management based commercial and technical marine service solutions for SPM and offshore terminals. Over the years Marsol’s management has operated on 32 offshore marine terminals in more than 20 countries.
Singapore Aims to Incentivize Environmental Protection During Salvage Ops
A statement from a Singapore Ministry of Law spokesperson outlines details of a Bill for read in Parliament today regarding maritime salvage:The Singapore Ministry…
Mapping the Maritime Software Landscape in 2020
Another year has passed since our last mapping of the maritime software landscape, and it is once again time to review the latest developments and trends in this space.Overall, 2019 was another turbulent year for most shipping markets, overshadowed by preparations for the IMO 2020 sulfur regulations, rising geopolitical tensions, the trade war between the USA and China, as well as natural disasters disrupting global supply chains.
First Moray East Offshore Wind Farm Jackets Arrive in UK
Global Energy Group's Port of Nigg facility has announced the arrival of the heavy-lift vessel OHT Osprey with the first eight of what will be 103 jacket structures for the Moray East Offshore Windfarm project for DEME Offshore.The Port of Nigg was chosen as the foundation staging port for the construction of the 950MW offshore wind farm which will see 100 turbines and 3 offshore substation platforms…
VIDEO: Crane Collapses on Deme Offshore's New Vessel
A giant crane collapsed on Saturday on Deme Offshore's flagship offshore vessel Orion at Liebherr's yard in Rostock, Germany, during crane load tests.Deme said Saturday that "a few persons suffered minor injuries." Deme Offshore said: "A serious accident has occurred today on board of offshore installation vessel ‘Orion 1’ at the occasion of and during crane load tests. The vessel is under construction and owned by COSCO (QIDONG) OFFSHORE CO., LTD.
Solstad Wins Medium-Term Charters for Six Vessels
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has entered into medium-term contracts for six of its vessels.The contracts are for a period of 80 to 170 days each with undisclosed clients. The contracts are expected to start around July 1 and the operations are outside the North Sea.The nominated vessels are the PSVs Normand Supra, Normand Surfer, Normand Serenade, Normand Sitella, and Sea Spear…
ABB CEO Rosengren Outlines Decentralization Plan
ABB’s new Chief Executive Bjorn Rosengren is determined to decentralize the Swiss engineering group to improve its performance, he told Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung in an interview.The company, whose products range from circuit breakers to electric motors for ships, has been weighed down by a business model that was too complicated, said the former Sandvik boss who took over in March.“I do intend to further decentralise…
Carnival Cruise Ships Rendezvous to Repatriate Crew Members
Eighteen Carnival Cruise Line ships rendezvoused in The Bahamas over the past several days in line with plans to sail nine of the ships to repatriate more than 10,000 healthy crew members who have remained on board after the cruise line suspended operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.The ships have been at various U.S. homeports provisioning supplies and bunkering fuel for their journeys, and their crews stuck on board due to restrictions limiting air travel to Asia…
American Cruise Lines Reports Bookings Uptick
American Cruise Lines says it is seeing growing demand across its domestic portfolio of river and coastal cruises, reporting advance bookings for its 2021 season have brought passenger counts more than 25% ahead of the same time last year.The company cites increased awareness of U.S. cruise options along with guests’ desire to support all-American businesses as the primary reasons for the increase.The growth is also supported by the company's fleet and itinerary expansions, it said.
Tanker Crewman Medevaced off Alaska
The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced a man Thursday from a U.S.-flagged oil tanker approximately 170 miles southwest of Cold Bay.A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak hoisted the ailing man at about 8 a.m. and flew him to Cold Bay where he was placed in the care of an awaiting LifeMed aircraft crew.Coast Guard watchstanders in the 17th District command center in Juneau received the request at about 1 p.m.
US, UK Navies Conduct Antisubmarine Drills in the Arctic
U.S. 6th Fleet (C6F) conducted a bilateral naval anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise with the U.K., above the Arctic Circle, May 1, 2020.Four ships from two nations, a U.S. submarine, and a U.S. P8-A worked together, in the Norwegian Sea, to conduct training in the challenging conditions in the Arctic.For the exercise, Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyers USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and USS Porter (DDG 78)…
MarAD Extends Comment Period for SPOT Terminal Services LLC
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced the extension of the period for the public to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed SPOT Terminal Services…
IMO Postpones More Meetings Due to COVID-19
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said its meetings scheduled to be held in July, including the next regular session of the IMO Council, have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the UN shipping agency moves to revise its meeting program for the remainder of 2020.The IMO said it has drawn up a priority list of meetings to be considered by the Council at its 32nd extraordinary session that will be held by correspondence from May to July.
Malta Refuses to Let Migrant Ship Dock
Malta plans to keep 57 rescued migrants aboard a private ship anchored just outside territorial waters until the European Union finds a way to rehouse them, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Friday.The migrants were plucked from a dinghy earlier this week inside Malta’s search and rescue zone by a commercial fishing vessel that had been chartered by the Maltese government to intercept possible asylum…
Rear Adm. Bert Makes History with New USCG Role
The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday Rear Adm. Melissa Bert has been invested as judge advocate general and chief counsel of the Coast Guard. Bert is the service’s first woman to hold that office.Bert was most recently the director of Governmental and Public Affairs for the Coast Guard, where she was responsible for external engagement with Congress, the media and other inter-governmental entities.As judge advocate general and chief counsel…
SCIENCE: Seafloor Microplastic Hotspots Controlled by Deep-sea Currents
New research has revealed the highest levels of microplastic yet recorded on the seafloor, with up to 1.9 million pieces in an area of just one square metre.Published this week in the journal Science, this study shows how deep-sea currents act as conveyor belts, transporting tiny plastic fragments and fibers across the seafloor. These currents can concentrate microplastics within huge sediment accumulations, which the authors of the research term ‘microplastic hotspots’.
Victaulic Names Bucher President
Mechanical pipe-joining systems manufacturer Victaulic announced Rick Bucher has been appointed to the position of President and COO, effective immediately. Bucher will continue reporting to John F. Malloy who has served as Chairman, President & CEO for the past 16 years. Malloy will remain Chairman and CEO.Bucher began his career with Victaulic in 2009 as Vice President, Product Development, and rose to the position of Executive Vice President, Technology & Product Development.
