US Warns of Pirates in Southern Gulf of Mexico
The U.S. government on Wednesday issued a warning about the threat posed by pirates to boats and oil installations in the southern Gulf of Mexico, in the latest sign of concern about ongoing security challenges facing Mexico."Armed criminal groups have been known to target and rob commercial vessels, oil platforms, and offshore supply vessels in the Bay of Campeche area in the southern Gulf of Mexico," the U.S.
US Trade Chief Vows to Push for 'Broad Reset' at WTO
The Trump administration will push for a broad reset of “outdated tariff determinations” at the World Trade Organization to fix what it sees as years of unfair treatment of the United States, a top trade official told U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday.U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the Geneva-based body was “a mess” and changes in the tariffs set by the Geneva-based WTO were urgently needed…
SDARI and ABS to Pioneer 3D Model-based Class
Classification society ABS and the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) have signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) to use 3D Models in an attempt to streamline the class process.The JDP will develop a process for ingesting SDARI 3D models into Class supporting software to allow 3D Model-based Class reviews.“Together, ABS and SDARI are designing the next generation of Classification.
VLSFO: Threats Remain for Shipowners
The IMO low sulphur fuel cap introduced in January 2020 has not eradicated the potential threats from cat fines, sludge, compatibility issues, asphaltene and fuel stability - the five key issues that can damage the health and maintenance of diesel engines, according to Aderco, a fuel treatment technology supplier.Aderco has recently released a new report to improve fuel performance and prevent damage to maritime diesel engines.
Interview: William Doyle, Incoming Head of the Port of Baltimore
William P. Doyle is the incoming Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration. A former U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner, Doyle currently serves as CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America – and the group's member companies have recently made a series of announcements to build new dredges of several types and sizes. We caught up with the incoming Port of Baltimore head to discuss his initial goals for the new role.
Baltic Index Logs Record Jump as Capesize Demand Spikes
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index recorded its biggest ever daily percentage jump on Wednesday, propelled by surging capesize rates due to a spike in iron-ore shipments.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, rose 192 points, or about 18.2%, to 1,246, its highest since Dec. 17.The Baltic capesize index jumped 601 points, or about 32.4% to 2,455, its highest since Dec.
US Approves $600 Mln Patrol Boat Sale to Ukraine
The U.S. State Department approved the possible sale to Ukraine of up to 16 patrol boats and related equipment for an estimated $600 million, according to a statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday.The 85-foot Mark VI patrol boats would be delivered by Bremerton, Wash. shipbuilder SAFE Boats International."The proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a modern, fast, short-range vessel.
Maersk Says Q2 Demand Beat Expectations
A.P.
Video: Pope Francis Delivers Message for Seafarers Stuck at Sea
Pope Francis paid tribute on Wednesday to hundreds of thousands of seafarers stuck on ships due to the coronavirus pandemic, a situation the United Nations has said poses a risk to the safe operation of the world's merchant fleet.In a special video message for sea workers, Francis said the work of maritime personnel and fishermen had been made even more important during the pandemic because it was…
Oceaneering Launches Maritime Data and Tracking Service
Oceaneering International launched a new business aiming to eliminate waste and increase transparency within the bulk commodity cargo logistics industry, the Houston-based company announced Wednesday.OceanSMART Cargo Logistics and Maritime Technology will be led by Managing Director Bryan Phillips, who comes to the team with over 25 years’ experience in the marine shipping and cargo logistics industry, most recently as chief innovation officer at Inchcape Shipping Services.
BAE Systems Builds RIBs for Trinidad and Tobago Patrol Ships
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract worth almost £2 million ($2.5 million) to provide six Pacific 24 (P24) rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) to Austal, based in Australia. The RIBs, built and customized in BAE Systems’ Boats factory in Portsmouth, U.K. are being supplied to Austal to equip two Cape-class Patrol Boats under construction for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.The P24 is a small and…
Total Lubmarine Opens Chicago Lab
Total Lubmarine has extended the global reach of its technical support services with the opening of a new Diagomar Plus Laboratory in Chicago, Ill.The new lab opening means the marine lubricant specialist now has five centers around the world – with Chicago joining Ertvelde (Belgium), Singapore, Shanghai and Panama City.“North America is an increasingly busy market for us and the opening of the Chicago…
Shipyards Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku Swap Leadership
The Meyer Group announced Wednesday it will rotate leadership at its shipyards in Papenburg, Germany and Turku, Finland as the cruise ship builder grapples with market turmoil created by the coronavirus pandemic.Effective after the summer, Jan Meyer, the CEO of Meyer Turku since 2014, will become Managing Director of Meyer Werft, while Tim Meyer, managing director of Meyer Werft since 2016, will take over as CEO at Meyer Turku.The COVID-19 crisis has hit the cruise industry…
Wärtsilä to Supply Propulsion for MSCL Newbuild
Wärtsilä will design and deliver a fully integrated main propulsion system for a new 8,200 dwt multipurpose cargo vessel being built for Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd (MSCL) at the Huanghai Shipyard in China.The newbuild is expected to commence commercial operations in 2022, replacing an existing vessel transporting goods and passengers between the Republic of Mauritius and the islands of Reunion…
Maersk Supply Service Sells Two 2004-built AHTS Vessels
Danish offshore vessel operator Maersk Supply Service has sold two of its older Anchor Handler Tug Supply Vessels (AHTS), citing the global oversupply in the market and the current market situation.The vessels in question are the Maersk Advancer and Maersk Asserter. Both vessels were built in Germany in 2004.Chief Commercial Officer of Maersk Supply Service Carsten Gram Haagensen: "As a response to the recent downturn in the oil and gas industry…
OOS Joins LR, Worley Offshore Decommissioning Consortium
Dutch offshore services provider OOS International has joined an offshore decommissioning consortium created by Lloyd’s Register and Worley, in a push to drive down the costs of offshore decommissioning."Decommissioning, for many, remains an uncertain cost burden, potentially even more so in the current climate,” says Julie Copland, LR’s Decommissioning lead. “What is certain is that, with our combined expertise…
Nord Stream 2 Seeks Updated Permit to Complete Pipeline in Danish Waters
The Nord Stream 2 has requested a permit allowing it to use pipe-laying vessels with anchors to complete the final roughly 120-kilometer stretch of pipeline in Danish waters…
Maersk Drilling Joins Offshore CO2 Storage Project
Danish offshore drilling company Maersk Drilling has joined a consortium whose aim is to develop an offshore storage solution for CO2 captured in Danish onshore facilities.Maersk Drilling said Wednesday it was joining a new CO2 storage consortium formed by INEOS Oil & Gas Denmark and Wintershall Dea. "The consortium is maturing one of the most progressed carbon capture and storage projects inside Danish…
