Photo: Allseas' Pioneering Spirit Removes Brent Alpha Platform
Allseas' giant Pioneering Spirit heavy lift vessel has completed its first decommissioning job of summer 2020, with a single-lift removal of Shell UK’s 17,000-tonne Brent Alpha platform from the North Sea. The Pioneering Spirit will now deliver the 44-year old platform to Able UK’s Teesside decommissioning yard in North East England for dismantling and recycling."The removal of Alpha is the first offshore lift to utilize our in-house developed “horseshoes”…
NZ Extends Cruise Ship Ban, Tightens Rules for Visitors
New Zealand on Monday extended a ban on cruise ships arriving in the country and tightened measures for visitors to exit quarantine, after reporting more coronavirus cases linked to overseas travel.The country, which has recorded just 22 deaths from COVID-19, was among the first in the world to end all restrictions after declaring it had no active cases, but has seen a small number of new cases in…
CNOOC Buys Two Carbon-neutral LNG Cargoes from Shell
China National Offshore Oil Corp, or CNOOC, has agreed to buy from Royal Dutch Shell two cargoes of liquefied natural gas with offset carbon emissions, marking China's first gas imports of this kind, said the Shanghai Oil and Gas Exchange.CNOOC and Shell will use carbon credits won in projects in China's northwest Xinjiang and Qinghai region to offset the carbon emissions involved in producing and consuming the two gas cargoes…
Cruises from US Ports Suspended Through Mid-September
A number of ocean-going cruise lines said they will voluntarily suspend cruise operations from U.S. ports until September 15 due to COVID-19, industry body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced Friday.The extended operational pause goes well beyond the current no sail order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set to expire on July 24.“Although we had hoped that cruise activity could resume as soon as possible after that date…
Navy Won't Reinstate Coronavirus-hit Carrier Captain
The U.S. Navy will not reinstate Captain Brett Crozier after finding fault with his response to the outbreak of the coronavirus aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and is also putting an admiral’s promotion on hold, sources told Reuters on Friday.The decisions, first reported by Reuters, are expected to be announced later on Friday at a news conference by the Navy’s top leaders.Crozier was…
BV Aids PONANT Fleet Reactivation
Bureau Veritas (BV) is working with PONANT, a cruise company with a fleet of 11 smaller-scale ships, to help implement effective infection prevention measures.PONANT will use a suite of solutions developed by BV for passenger ship clients to address biological risks, as posed by COVID-19 and other infections. ‘Restart your Business with BV’ provides procedures and measures to protect passengers, company personnel…
Carnival Corp Names Weinstein COO
Carnival Corp on Friday named Josh Weinstein as its new chief operations officer as the company continues to grapple with the global COVID-19 pandemic.Reporting to Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald, Weinstein's responsibilities will include oversight of major operational functions, including global maritime, global ports and destinations, global sourcing, global IT and global auditing.Weinstein will retain oversight of Carnival UK…
Damen-led Consortium Awarded Contract to Build German Navy Frigates
Damen Shipyards Group and the German Bundesamt fur Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr on Friday signed the contract for the construction of four MKS-180 frigates for the German Navy. Damen is the main contractor for this complex project which it is undertaking, together with partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, in Germany.The combination of companies was previously declared the winner of a European tender; the largest in the history of the German Navy.
Chinese Demand Lifts Baltic Index to Record Weekly Gain
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry commodities around the world, posted its biggest weekly gain ever, underpinned by a rebound in global commodities trading as iron ore demand from China picked up.The 35-year old index, which reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax ships, has now surged nearly 300% since tumbling to a low of 393 points…
UK Inspecting Cruise Ships Over Crew Welfare Concerns
Several cruise ships idled without passengers due to the coronavirus pandemic are being inspected in British ports in response to crew welfare concerns.Surveyors acting for the U.K.
Released by Australia, Containership APL England Sails to China for Repairs
Singapore-flagged containership APL England, detained in Australia after losing dozens of containers off the country's southeastern coast in May, has been released and is sailing to China for repairs, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said Friday.The ship departed the Port of Brisbane without cargo and with a new master after AMSA's inspectors attended the ship and determined it is fit to sail.
'Strong Interest' in China's New Marine Fuel Contract
China's marine fuel futures contract that debuts on Monday on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) is likely to attract strong interest, despite weakened ship fuel demand amid the coronavirus pandemic, industry participants said. The new low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) contract features marine fuel meeting stricter international emissions rules and is the latest commodity futures product - and second oil contract after Shanghai crude - open to foreign investment.
Aker BioMarine to Raise $225M Before Listing
Norway's Aker BioMarine plans to raise 2.15 billion Norwegian crowns ($225 million) in a private share sale valuing it at 8 billion crowns, followed by a listing of the company's stock, its owners Aker ASA and Aker Capital said on Friday.Aker BioMarine harvests off Antarctica small ocean crustaceans known as krill, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and eaten by whales, fish, seals and penguins, and turns it into food supplements and animal feed.Arctic Securities, DNB Markets, and Skandinaviska Enskild
Hospital-grade Infection Risk Management Applied to Ships
Managing infection risk during the COVID-19 pandemic requires a new approach to disease control and prevention.A new infection risk management approach has been developed by DNV GL to assess, manage and mitigate infection risk in management systems, business processes and operations. My Care incorporates local regulations and guidelines – it can be applied to any vessel type, as well as terminals.My…
HamiltonJet Unveils Electro-Hybrid Drive (EHX)
Waterjet propulsion specialist HamiltonJet unveiled its new Electro-Hybrid Drive (EHX) system, which it says offers all the advantages of electric drive with the full capabilities of diesel.The system delivers lower fossil fuel consumption (reduced further when dock charging, as infrastructure allows) combined with the speed, maneuverability, efficiency and safety of waterjets, the manufacturer says.With EHX…
Bulk Carrier Rescues Fishermen Off Manila
A bulk carrier picked up four fishermen stranded at sea on June 12 off the coast of Manila, the ship's operated NYK said.The Singapore-flagged CSK Zephyr, owned by Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co. (Shanghai) Ltd., was sailing from Port Hedland, Australia, to Caofeidian, Tangshan in China, when its crew spotted four fishermen clinging to their boat, which had reportedly capsized in bad weather.The master of the 108…
BC Ferries’ Hybrid-electric Newbuilds Enter Service
Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries said its newest vessel, Island Aurora, officially entered service Thursday on the Port McNeill - Alert Bay - Sointula (Vancouver Island-Cormorant Island-Malcolm Island) route. This follows last week’s start of service for sister vessel Island Discovery on the Texada Island-Powell River run.The two new ferries are the first in the company’s new Island Class, based on Damen’s 81-meter Road Ferry 8117E3 design and built at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania.
MN100: Time Is Running Out. Apply Now
Marine News magazine is accepting entries for its annual MN100 awards edition. Each year, the publication's August issue profiles 100 of the top firms in the shallow-draft, brown water, workboat space. Is your company one of the best? Apply now.The 100 companies selected will be featured in the largest BPA-audited b-to-b publication in this genre. OEMs, service providers, shipyards, operators and the full gamut of marine-related businesses are eligible.
The Shearer Group Hires Toerner
The Shearer Group, Inc. (TSGI) announced a new addition to its naval architecture, marine engineering & marine surveying firm, Daniel Toerner.A recent graduate from Texas A&M University, College Station, with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering, Toerner joins TSGI as a naval architect. During his time at Texas A&M, he interned at Electro-Mechanical Industries, Kiewit Offshore Services, and Clarus Subsea Integrity.
Alfa Laval Inks BWTS Frame Agreements
Alfa Laval announced it has signed two frame agreements, running over the coming three years, for ballast water treatment systems. The agreements comprise firm orders to deliver Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 to about 40 vessels, with options covering another 40 systems.The value of the firm orders is approximately SEK 100 million, including Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 systems and in some cases, also deck houses…
