Waterways Council, Inc.’s 2020 Vision
Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) is the national public policy organization that advocates for a modern, efficient inland waterways system. Abiding by our mission has meant success over our 17-year history. In 2020, WCI’s top priority is to conform the cost-share for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF)-financed construction projects to require 25% of the project cost be derived from the IWTF and the remaining 75% from General Revenues.
Market Insights: Cruise Shipping ... Now What?
Heading into 2020 the cruise industry was booming. The number of passengers who went on cruises in 2019 was at an all time high, a trend mirrored by the exponential fleet growth since the 1950s. However, COVID-19 caused an industry wide shut down. Since the start of the year, ordering activity has fallen nearly 50%. This is a dramatic decrease and is unprecedented in the cruise industry, especially when compared to last year which during the same period, activity never dropped more than 10%.
Baltic Index Rises to Over 6-month High
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose to more than a six-month high on Tuesday, boosted by stronger demand for capesize and panamax vessels.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, rose 81 points, or about 8.3%, to 1,054, its highest since Dec. 24.The Baltic capesize index jumped 206 points, or about 12.5% to 1,854, its highest since Dec.
IMarEST Names Lewis Chief Executive
The Insitute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) has appointed a new chief executive - Gwynne Lewis - who will begin the role on June 29.David Loosley, the IMarEST’s current chief executive, previously announced that he will be stepping down in June of 2020, after leading the organization for over eight years, to take up the role of Secretary General and CEO of BIMCO.Gwynne has a background in marine consultancy and…
DNV GL Grants AiP for Hydrogen Electric System
In November 2019, electric mobility solutions provider eCap began a partnership with fuel cell technologies company Re-Fire Technology for the joint development of cross-sector fuel cell projects.The first milestone of this partnership was reached in May 2020 by achieving the “Approval in Principle“ through the international classification society DNV GL for a concept of maritime Re-Fire fuel cell application.
Vigor Wins $30 Mln Ship Maintenance Contract
U.S. West Coast shipbuilder and repair provider Vigor Marine has been awarded a $30,269,098 firm-fixed-price contract for a 120-calendar day post shakedown shipyard availability of the expeditionary sea base ship Miguel Keith (T-ESB 5), owned and operated by the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command.Work will be performed in Portland, Ore. and is expected to be complete by December 2020.Work will include the furnishing of general services…
COVID-19 Measures Prove Costly for Crewing Sector
Measures being taken by ship operators in an effort to to ensure the safety of seafarers around the globe and the trade of vital food and supplies amid COVID-19 are proving costly as well as tricky warns a crew specialist.Henrik Jensen of Danica Crewing Services reports that they recently placed a crew of 19 of Ukrainian and Filipino nationality on to a vessel and the necessary pandemic-related procedures cost some $10…
MARIN, IHC Assess DP for Autonomous SOV Project
MARIN and Royal IHC completed the dynamic positioning (DP) assessment tests for the autonomous-enabled T60-18 service operation vessel (SOV) at MARIN’s basins in Wageningen, The Netherlands.For the project, which is part-funded by a subsidy from TKI Wind Op Zee, shipbuilder IHC has developed technology that will allow one of its SOVs to navigate safely through an offshore wind farm and provide access to the turbines.
NORDEN, Diamond S Partner in Product Tanker Market
Two of the world’s largest owners/operators of product tankers, Denmark-based NORDEN and U.S.-based Diamond S Shipping, have created a strategic partnership, DiaNor, to facilitate the commercial consolidation of the product tanker industry.Diamond S will initially contribute 28 medium range (MR2) product tankers to the endeavor, which will be marketed and operated through the Norient Product Pool (NPP).
Australia Orders Shipowner to Recover Lost Containers
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is ordering CMA CGM's APL to find and recover the remaining containers lost from the APL England off the coast of New South Wales last month.So far, Australian authorities have recovered 15 containers from the 5,510 TEU capacity containership that spilled at least 50 boxes overboard after temporarily losing propulsion while sailing from Ningbo, China to Melbourne in May.
Petrobras Charters DOF Offshore Vessel Trio
Norwegian offshore vessel operator DOF has secured long-term charters for a trio of anchor handling units with Petrobras in Brazil.DOF said Tuesday Petrobras had…
Ship Power: WinGD Debuts X-DF2.0 Technology
As shipowners mull ‘the fuel of the future’ and eye ever-stricter emission mandates from the International Maritime Organization, companies throughout the ship design, construction and supply chain continue to innovate to deliver optimum fuel efficiency and emission reduction.Today WinGD unveiled a new technology development to its dual fuel line of engines, a technology designed to significantly cut methane slip…
Weary Sailors Pose Risk to World Merchant Fleet -Kitack Lim
Hundreds of thousands of weary seafarers stuck on ships for many months and unable to go home due to the coronavirus pose a risk to the safe operation of the world’s merchant fleet, the UN’s shipping chief said on Tuesday.About 90% of world trade is transported by sea and continued complications with changing over ship crews due to restrictions in some jurisdictions is still affecting supply chains despite an easing of lockdown in many parts of the world.Kitack Lim…
Suez Canal Ship Transits Rise Amid COVID-19
Transits through the Suez Canal, the beating heart of the Egyptian economy, have stayed remarkably resilient to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic if judging by total transits of the three commercial shipping sectors which are up 8% year-on-year. This is despite bleak economic growth prospects world-wide following the pandemic, and highlights that shipping remains the backbone of the global economy.It is often said that a picture says more than 1…
Long-term Charters for Solstad Offshore Anchor Handlers in Brazil
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured long-term charters for two of its anchor handling tug and supply vessels in Brazil.Solstad said Tuesday that Petrobras had chartered its AHTS vessels Far Sagaris and Far Statesman for a period of three years.Petrobras will use the anchor handlers to support its exploration and production activities on the Brazilian continental shelf. "Both…
Eidesvik Equips Fleet with Energy Efficiency Software
The Norwegian offshore shipowner Eidesvik has signed a contract with Yxney Maritime for the use of Yxney's Maress energy efficiency software on its vessels, as a step towards further emissions reduction.Maress is a cloud-based system using available data produced by the vessels to create insight and transparency about the fuel consumption and emissions from operations. As part of the agreement, the…
Pilot Dies after Fighter Jet Crashes in North Sea
A US Air Force F-15 fighter jet pilot died in an accident Monday after crashing into the North Sea, off Flamborough Head, UK.Immediately after the crash, a search and rescue operation was launched for the pilot of a United States military aircraft from RAF Lakenheath base.However, on Monday evening local time, the U.S. Airforce 48th Fighter Wing division said the pilot had been found and confirmed deceased, and the UK coast guard said the SAR had been called off.
ABB's Hybrid Power and Propulsion for Færøysund Live Fish Carrier
ABB will provide a hybrid power and propulsion solution with integral energy storage for the under-construction Færøysund live fish carrier.This will be the first live fish carrier to feature ABB hybrid power and propulsion solution with integral energy storage.The 77m-long diesel-electric vessel is being built at the Aas Mek. Verksted AS shipyard in Vestnes, Norway, for Nova Sea Service AS, one of Norway’s largest producers of Atlantic farmed salmon.
2nd Wind Marine Reveals Design for U.S. Offshore Wind Feeder Vessel
Louisiana-based company 2nd Wind Marine plans to design, finance, build and operate two Jones-Act-compliant jack-up vessels aimed at the growing U.S. offshore wind market. The company has this week revealed the SuperFeeder design for the vessel planned to be used for transporting next-generation offshore wind turbines from the US marshaling ports out to awaiting wind turbine installation vessels."The MiNO Marine SuperFeeder design being built in coordination with 2nd Wind Marine is a modern…
Van Oord to Lay Off 500 Employees
Dutch offshore and dredging contractor Van Oord said Tuesday it would lay off 500 people, citing effects of COVID-19 on its business.Van Oord said: "As a company operating on a global scale, COVID-19 is having a major impact on our business. Market conditions in the dredging industry are under pressure and the volatility in oil- and gas prices also triggers a decrease of offshore field services. Consequently…
