New Depth Map Over the Arctic Ocean
Details of a new depth map of the Arctic Ocean have been published in the nature journal Scientific Data. The new portrayal of the Arctic Ocean floor is in the form of a digital gridded database and comprises Version 4.0 of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO).The gridded compilation has been completed under the auspices of the Regional Center for the Arctic and North Pacific Ocean of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project.
Profiles in Training: Marcus Cheesman, Founder, Seven Seas Preparatory Academy
Marcus Cheesman started his maritime training in 1987 at the early age of 13, attending Trinity House Navigation School, the UK’s only Nautical school. Upon graduation he was selected for a deck cadet apprenticeship with P&O Cruises and continued to progress through the ranks with P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line (including Windstar Cruises) and Disney Cruise Line, ultimately obtaining his Master Mariners license in 2002.
Lithium Ion Battery Fires: A Threat to Container Shipping
From 2015 to present an estimated 250 incidents related to electric hoverboard fires have been recorded according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The same commission reports that 83,000 Toshiba laptop batteries were recalled in 2017 due to fire and safety concerns.In January 2017 a NYC garbage truck was the source of a neighborhood surprise when a Lithium ion battery exploded in the compactor of the truck.
Crowley Logistics Hires Bennett as SVP, GM
Crowley Maritime Corporation announced Brett Bennett will join the company August 3 as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley Logistics, succeeding Steve Collar, who retired last month after a 43-year career with Crowley. He will report to Ray Fitzgerald, Crowley’s chief operating officer, and work from the corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla.Bennett comes to Crowley from Wallenius…
US Warship Assists Distressed Sailing Vessel
A U.S. Navy warship came to the aid of a sailing vessel drifting about 150 nautical miles east of the Bahamas on Saturday.After the distressed vessel radioed for help on Friday morning, U.S. Coast Guard District 7 coordinated with USS Mitscher (DDG 57) , the closest ship able to render aid. Mitscher rendezvoused with the vessel later that evening and towed it overnight to the closest port of San Salvador, Bahamas.The 51-foot sailing vessel had a damaged steering shaft and was unable to maneuver.
Denmark to Allow Crew Changes
Denmark will allow merchant sailors stranded on the high seas since the outbreak of the coronavirus to come ashore and be reunited with their friends and families, the Business Ministry said on Monday.Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, 200,000 seafarers have been stranded on merchant ships, some for more than a year, because travel restrictions have made it almost impossible to rotate crews."While many Danes have used the corona crisis to spend more time with the family…
Iron Ore Under Pressure as China Port Stockpiles Grow
Iron ore futures slipped on Monday on rising port inventory of the steelmaking ingredient in China, though optimism over prospects of strong domestic steel demand for the rest of the year kept losses in check.The Dalian Commodity Exchange's most-traded September iron ore contract closed down 0.3% at 817 yuan ($116.91) a tonne, stretching losses into a third consecutive session.Iron ore's August contract on the Singapore Exchange dropped 0.7% to $106.31 a tonne in afternoon trade, extending losse
Posidonia 2020 Canceled
Another major maritime trade fair has been called off due to health concerns and travel challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Posidonia 2020, originally planned for June 2020 and subsequently postponed to October 2020, has been canceled."We have reached this difficult decision following close consultation with many exhibitors and with our shipping community stakeholders, after assessing the current state of COVID-19 in countries around the world…
Halter Marine Wins US Navy Contract for the T-AGOS Program
Pascagoula, Miss. shipbuilder Halter Marine Inc. said Monday it has been awarded a contract for industrial studies for the auxiliary general ocean surveillance ship (T-AGOS(X)) program.The U.S. Navy awarded the $981,000 contract for the T-AGOS class series of vessels, which ultimately will replace the existing fleet of four T-AGOS 19 and one T-AGOS 23 small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH) ships, which are reaching the end of their service lives.
ABS Unveils New Mobile App
Classification society ABS launched a new suite of fleet management and vessel compliance services powered by its smart functionality and advanced analytics which will also be available through a new mobile app.An enhancement to the ABS MyFreedom client portal, the new portal and digital tools are designed to simplify access to operational, technical and compliance fleet intelligence and all ABS Class…
River Cruising Returns on the Danube
River cruises are making a quiet comeback on the Danube after the COVID-19 pandemic brought global tourism to a standstill and forced companies to suspend voyages.Holiday makers are adapting to strict new safety measures on the elegant ships with Germany’s Nicko Cruises the first to restart Danube trips on June 22.The company is now operating three vessels for the six to eight-day trips from Passau…
Trelleborg Names Nilsson as New CFO
Fredrik Nilsson has been hired to take over as the new Chief Financial Officer of Sweden-based engineered polymer solutions company Trelleborg Group, replacing Ulf Berghult who is leaving the role to take a position outside the company.Berghult, Trelleborg's CFO since 2012, will stay on until Trelleborg's 2020 year-end report is completed, leaving Nilsson to assume the position during the first quarter of 2021.Nilsson most recently worked at vegetable oil company AAK for nearly 14 years…
Crew Kidnapped from Tanker in the Gulf of Guinea
Armed pirates have reportedly kidnapped 13 seafarers from a Liberian-flagged product tanker in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa, continuing a rise in attacks on…
Maritime Cyber Attacks Increase 900%
Cyber-attacks on the maritime industry’s operational technology (OT) systems have increased by 900% over the last three years with the number of reported incidents set to reach record volumes by year end.Addressing port and terminal operators during an online forum last week, Robert Rizika, Naval Dome’s Boston-based Head of North American Operations, explained that in 2017 there were 50 significant OT hacks reported, increasing to 120 in 2018 and more than 310 last year.
Gallery: Heerema's Sleipnir Breaks Offshore Jacket Removal Record
Heerema Marine Contractors' giant heavy-lift vessel Sleipnir has broken a record for the largest single lift jacket removal. HMC said Monday that the record was broken in the Norwegian North Sea, where Sleipnir removed the 8100-tonne Jotun-B jacket for client Vår Energi. The platform was installed in 1998 by Heerema's Thialf, which returned to the Jotun Field last year to remove the topsides and conductors.For the jacket removal…
Video: High-speed Ferries Sprint Side-by-side
Two high-speed trimaran ferries built by Austal Australia recently sprinted side-by-side off the coast of Perth, Western Australia.As the 118-meter Bajamar Express was departing Australia on her delivery voyage to the Canary Islands, she was joined by the 83-meter Queen Beetle undergoing sea trials, in an historic moment capturing two Austal trimaran ferries.The two vessels are the latest designs of a proven hull form first developed for Fred.
Shipments Resume from Pemex FPSO After Collision
An oil production and storage vessel operated by Mexican state oil firm Pemex in the Gulf of Mexico has resumed crude shipments after a tanker collision halted exports earlier this month, according to a person with knowledge of the matter and data from Refinitiv Eikon.The FPSO facility (floating production, storage and offloading), which has the capacity to store up to 2.2 million barrels of crude…
ProZero Wins Order for High-speed Inspection Workboat
ProZero International says it has signed a contract for a new ProZero 15m FR Workboat set up for inspection and workboat operations in Norwegian waters.The Danish boat builder will deliver the Prospero 15m FR Workboat though the Norwegian subsidiary ProZero Norway AS. The client is a main contractor to the aquaculture business in Norway, offering services within environmental surveys, impact assessments…
Oldendorff Presses on With Its Newbuild Program
German shipowner Oldendorff Carriers says it has recently taken delivery of two new bulk carriers, continuing a string of newbuild deliveries from Chinese and Japanese shipyards.The 63,000 tdw Ultramax Britta Oldendorff and 100,000 tdw Post-panamax Diane Oldendorff, both built by Japanese yard Oshima Shipbuilding and handed over during the second quarter of 2020, are among 23 bulk carrier delivered to Oldendorff since early 2019.
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.
