Saudi-led Alliance Destroys Explosive Boats in the Red Sea
The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen destroyed two explosive-laden boats in the Red Sea on Thursday, its spokesman said.The two remotely controlled boats belonged to Houthi forces and were threatening navigation, his statement carried on Saudi state news agency SPA said.They were destroyed 6 km (3.7 miles) south of the Yemeni port of Salif in the early hours of Thursday morning…
OCIMF Publishes New Guidance on DP System Failures
A new information paper on assurance of dynamic positioning (DP) system failure mode and effects analysis (FMEAs) seeks to improve the process of identifying all possible consequences and failures of DP systems.Entitled ‘Dynamic Positioning Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Assurance Framework, Risk-based Guidance’, the new information paper has been published by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF)…
Berlin’s new "Editorial Ship" Powered by Schottel
Having been in the marine publishing business for nearly three decades, it is increasingly rare to find a purpose-built vessel that is truly unique, but across my desk today comes news of the delivery of “The Pioneer One”, Germany’s first “editorial ship.”Delivered to Berlin-based media company Media Pioneer, the vessel is envisioned as a “floating editorial hub”, providing a workplace for around 30 journalists.“The Pioneer One” was built by the Lux-Werft shipyard in Niederkassel…
Japan to Develop Offshore Wind Farms at 30 Sites in 10 years
Japan will craft new rules and support infrastructure in a drive that aims to build offshore wind farms at 30 sites during the next decade, the Nikkei business daily said on Thursday.Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama is expected to announce policy measures soon to target the goal, the paper said, without identifying sources.The new policy aims for three or four projects each year with total generation capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW)…
Cox Powertrain Ships Its First Diesel Outboards
Cox Powertrain's production line has been in full flow over the last few weeks with the company’s team of engineers working around the clock to meet their next big milestone. This week Cox watched the first ever production CXO300 diesel outboards come off the assembly line, ready to leave the factory to the company's global network of distributors.Cox’s distributors have been awaiting the delivery…
Grand Bahama Shipyard Reopens After COVID-19 Pause
Ship repair yard Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited (GBSL) reports it has resumed its summer dry-docking program June 2, after a short period of lockdown as a result of COVID-19.A spokesperson for the shipyard told MarineLink that the yard had no COVID-19 cases but was partially shut for portions of April and May due to government imposed travel restrictions on the island. The yard focused on fabrication…
Amels Launches 77m Luxury Expedition Yacht La Datcha
Damen's luxury yacht builder Amels has launched a new 77-meter expedition yacht La Datcha.La Datcha’s emergence from her building hall in the Netherlands this week marks the start of the final stages of her build process before she heads on a global charter itinerary which is set to include heli-skiing in Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands and dive adventures off Papua New Guinea. This a yacht built for…
US LNG Exports at 20-month Low
Natural gas flows to U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants plunged this month after falling to a 20-month low in June as coronavirus lockdowns cut global demand for the fuel.Before the pandemic slashed energy demand, U.S. producers counted on LNG exports to keep growing fast as an outlet for their record gas output. But after soaring 68% in 2019 and 53% in 2018, U.S. LNG exports were only expected to rise about 7% in 2020.Gas pipeline flows to U.S.
PCCI Hires Carey as Chief Engineer
PCCI, Inc. announce that Todd Carey has joined the company as a chief engineer based in Ventura, Calif. He will be responsible for providing engineering, design, installation and program/project management services to U.S. government and commercial clients in the ocean facility and offshore energy industries.Carey is a Mechanical Engineer with experience supporting U.S. Navy, and upstream oil and gas clients on the U.S. West Coast.
Samson Introduces New Mooring Lines
Samson, developer of high-performance synthetic rope solutions, introduced three new products designed to enhance safety in mooring operations: EverSteel-X, Amsteel-X and SureSteel.EverSteel-XDesigned for semi-permanent mooring, Samson has implemented several new features designed to improve rope lifetime, operational efficiency and safety. Enhanced and proprietary coating technology brings superior abrasion resistance…
Austal Delivers Fast Ferry Bajamar Express to Fred. Olsen Express
Shipbuilder Austal Australia has delivered a new 118-meter fast ferry to Fred. Olsen Express.The high-speed trimaran ferry Bajamar Express is the first of two identical vessels ordered by Fred. Olsen Express in a €126 million ($142.8 million) contract in October 2017. The second vessel, Bañaderos Express, is under construction at Austal Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, and is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2021.Capable of transporting 1…
Zea Named WCI President & CEO
Waterways Council, Inc.’s (WCI) Board of Directors unanimously elected Tracy R. Zea as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. He will assume the new duties effective today.With a broad range of Capitol Hill, policy development and government relations expertise, Zea most recently served as WCI’s Vice President-Government Relations, advocating for WCI’s goals for authorizations and appropriations which support a modern…
Navy Mine Countermeasures Contract Awarded
ECA Group awarded UMS SKELDAR a procurement contract to supply the UAV SKELDAR V-200 as part of the naval mine countermeasures capability replacement, a program led by Belgium Naval & Robotics – a consortium including Naval Group and ECA Group – which will supply 12 mine hunters equipped with drone systems (Toolbox) to the Belgian and Royal Netherlands navies.Working across 12 new generation ships (six each for the Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies)…
Ecochlor Hires Scheid as Europe Business Development Manager
U.S.-based ballast water treatment systems manufacturer Ecochlor announced Sören Scheid will be managing the company's new office in Germany as the Regional Business Development Manager for Europe, Scandinavia and the U.K.Scheid brings to the role more than 10 years of work experience in the maritime industry, including roles in sales, process engineering and operational environmental protection.The Ecochlor ballast water management system (BWMS) uses a two-step process to treat ballast water…
Corps Continues Legacy of Dredging at Port of Alaska
All summer long, a crimson and white boat moves back and forth through the waters near the Port of Alaska collecting silt, sand and gravel off the seafloor to allow vessels to navigate the harbor in Anchorage. The boat is a dredging vessel called the Westport, operated by Manson Construction of Seattle, Wash., which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District contracted to maintain the mooring areas for the past three years.An estimated 2…
Guards Block Oil Tanker from Loading in Libya
Petroleum facilities guards prevented a tanker from entering Libya's Es Eider port to load a cargo of crude oil from storage on Wednesday, the National Oil Corporation…
SCG Opts for Castor 4G Package on 30 Ships
Shipping Company Groningen (SCG) has contracted offshore internet services provider Castor Marine to install its Global 4G Connectivity package on all 30 of its vessels. With this, the coasters will have a fast, global 4G-LTE internet connection for its crews. On its fleet, SCG offers its personnel a Crew Welfare Zone with free internet within the 12-mile (4G) zone. To realize this, SCG wanted a plug-and-play…
BV Appoints Gregg-Smith as China Chief Executive
Testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services company Bureau Veritas (BV) announced Alex Gregg-Smith has joined the BV group as Marine & Offshore Country Chief Executive, China.Reporting to Claude Maillot, Senior Vice President North Asia Zone, Gregg-Smith is based in Shanghai."We are delighted to have Alex back onboard with BV – and in such an important role," Maillot said. "China is so central to our activities…
CMA CGM Halts Timber Exports from Gambia Over Rosewood Risk
Shipping group CMA CGM said on Wednesday it was suspending timber exports from Gambia due to suspected trafficking of rosewood in the West African country.Demand for furniture in China has led to widespread felling of rosewood in West Africa in recent years, despite the variety being protected under the United Nations' Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)."Following several suspicions that undeclared rosewood may have been part of cargo shipment
CGG's Sercel Buys Stake in Autonomous Robots Start-Up
France-based seismic data company CGG has informed that its subsidiary Sercel has acquired a 34% shareholding in AMBPR, a start-up company that designs and markets autonomous robots.The AMBPR robots are used for repairing (sanding and painting) of large metallic structures, used in the maritime and energy industries. "Sercel recognized the potential of AMBPR through Axandus, Sercel’s Industrial Accelerator program, which helps start-ups to scale up their industrial growth.
