GTT Inks Services Deal with Knutsen
France-based GTT said it signed in June a global technical services agreement (TSA) with the Norwegian shipowner Knutsen OAS Shipping AS. This new agreement covers a fleet of 17 vessels by 2022, including 12 currently in service and five under construction, all equipped with Mark III Flex or NO96 technologies, developed by GTT.GTT will support Knutsen with the maintenance and operation of the vessels.
USNS Brittin Arrives at Port of Vancouver USA for Extended Stay
U.S. Navy vehicle carrier USNS Brittin arrived at the Port of Vancouver USA Friday for a stay that will last approximately 90 days while the ship undergoes annual maintenance and inspections required by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the U.S. Coast Guard. The ship and approximately 30-member civilian crew will be docked at the port’s terminals 13 and 14.The USNS Brittin is returning from a six month deployment in the Persian Gulf.
VOS Contracts Three Vessels with Total
Vroon Offshore Services (VOS) Aberdeen has secured contracts with Total E&P UK Ltd. for three emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRV) in the U.K. North Sea.The vessels VOS Enterprise, VOS Prospector, and VOS Vigilant will support Total’s North Sea operations in the Dunbar, Culzean, and Elgin/Franklin fields, respectively."The contracts, which will commence in June and July, are for an initial period of three years…
Dubai Reopens For Crew Changes
The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) announced it is allowing crew changes to resume across all ports and anchorage areas in the region after crew changes in the major global shipping hub had been paused due to the coronavirus outbreak.Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and border closures imposed by governments around the world have caused significant hurdles to…
Holland Shipyards Group Delivers Hybrid Ferry
Holland Shipyards Group recently delivered a newbuild hybrid ferry Gaarden to Schlepp- und Fährgesellschaft Kiel (SFK) in Germany. The vessel will operate as a cycle- and footferry within the waters of the Kieler Fjord.Gaarden, measuring 32.4 by 8.8 meters, is equipped with a hybrid drivetrain that can be powered by either generators or by means of a battery bank. The battery system will be used for…
Bulgaria in Talks with Lürssen on Two Patrol Ships
Bulgaria is in talks with Lürssen to finalize in October a deal for the German shipyard to build two patrol ships for its navy for 984 million levs ($574.90 million), Defense Minister Krasimir Karakachanov said on Friday.The Black Sea country is looking to replace its three ageing Soviet-made patrol ships with the new vessels and improve its compliance with NATO standards."Both of the ships will be built in Bulgaria, which means that about 20% of the project's budget will stay here," Krakachanov
USA: Orsted-bound Windserve Odyssey CTV Hits the Water
WindServe Marine's offshore wind crew transfer vessel Windserve Odyssey, built by its sister company Senesco Marine, is embarking upon sea trials on the U.S. East Coast.The news of the vessel launch was shared Thursday by the world's largest offshore wind developer Orsted, via social media.The Windserve Odyssey will support Orsted's U.S. offshore wind projects along the U.S. the East Coast. "After sea trials at Ørsted’s Block Island Wind Farm…
ClassNK Publishes Maritime Cyber Security Guidelines
Japan-based classification society ClassNK has released the second edition of its Guidelines for Designing Cyber Security Onboard Ships outlining current best practices for newbuild design.In the latest iteration, which is available to download at no cost via ClassNK’s website, the control measures and the framework to implement such measures were updated to incorporate the international cyber security…
Chinese Ports Hit Capacity as Virus Tests Slow Clearing
Testing of imported foods for the new coronavirus is pushing capacity at some major Chinese ports to their limit, major shippers told customers this week, warning of additional fees and possible diversions to other ports.China stepped up inspections of imported food last month after an outbreak of the coronavirus among people working at and visiting a major food market in Beijing."Import container pick-up activities have been severely impacted and as a result reefer plugs are highly utilized esp
Baltic Index Inches Up on Rising Capesize Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index edged up on Friday, helped by rising rates for capesize vessels.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, rose 11 points, or about 0.6%, to 1,710.The Baltic capesize index rose 54 points, or 1.8%, to 3,025.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport cargoes of 170,000 tonnes to 180,000 tonnes, including iron ore and coal, was up by
Cruise Shipping's Return: Genting Cruise Lines Gears Up for July 26 Sailing
Genting Cruise Lines said it will be the first international cruise company to restart operations with the deployment of Dream Cruises’ Explorer Dream to Taiwan, where it will begin “Taiwan Island-Hopping” itineraries on July 26 2020.Upon the ship’s arrival in Keelung on June 40, 2020, Explorer Dream underwent a thorough deep cleaning in accordance with EU standard, in addition to her crew immediately…
Wärtsilä’s Eskola: Impact of COVID-19 "Clearly Visible" on 1H Results
Wärtsilä Corporation’s half year financial report through June 2020 was littered with bad news due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with order intake and order book both down – 19% and 12% respectively in the January to June 2020 period. But the bad news was countered with a report of stable net sales and strong cash flow.“The adverse impact of COVID-19 on both our own operations and those of our customers increased during the second quarter.
U.S. Aircraft Carriers Return to South China Sea Amid Tensions
For the second time in two weeks, the United States has deployed two aircraft carriers to the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy said on Friday, as China and the United States accuse each other of stoking tensions in the region.The USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan carried out operations and military exercises in the contested waterway between July 4 and July 6, and returned to the region on Friday, according to a U.S.
Polarcus Nadia on the Move after Long Layup
Polarcus' seismic vessel Polarcus Nadia is on the move, after more than five years in lay-up in the Netherlands, according to information released Friday by Dutch…
