Bay Shipbuilding Gearing Up to Support Navy Builds
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) says it will upgrade its shipyard equipment and facilities this year as it prepares to assist with work on the Navy’s new guided-missile frigate FFG(X) program.FBS is partnering with its sister shipyard Fincantieri Marinette Marine, who was awarded the $795 million contract for the Navy’s first-in-class frigate April 30, 2020. Building a quality ship in Wisconsin…
Robert Allan Ltd. Celebrates 90 Years of Business
In business, as in life, after major anniversary milestones like 60 (Diamond) and 75 (Diamond or Sapphire), it seems that every year after that is worth celebrating. However, 90 years is somewhat in the nether regions of celebrations; certainly, a major achievement after say 75, but not quite the centenary either. However, Robert Allan Ltd. has been an active and growing business now for 90 years and we believe that is worth celebrating in a time when it feels…
Volvo Penta Navigating an Emerging Landscape
The past few months have been full of uncertainties and even as we look ahead, we don’t know exactly what the future will hold. But we do know that as an industry, we’ll need to prioritize and plan differently. Within the Volvo Penta organization, the team is working hard to understand how to adapt our business as the world around us continues to adjust to a changing economic and societal landscape.As I reflect on what’s transpired since the start of the pandemic…
Beirut Blast a Wake-up Call on Dangers of Ammonium Nitrate
The devastating explosion in Beirut should be a wake-up call for countries on the dangers of ammonium nitrate, which caused the blast, experts say.Lebanese authorities said 2,750 tonnes of the industrial chemical had been stored for six years at Beirut port without safety measures. That stockpile exploded on Tuesday, killing more than 150 people, injuring thousands and leaving about a quarter of a million people homeless.Commonly used in fertilizers and as an industrial explosive…
Port Manager Among 16 Arrested in Beirut Blast Probe
Lebanese authorities have arrested 16 people in an investigation into the Beirut port warehouse explosion, state news agency NNA said on Thursday, and a judicial source and local media said the port's general manager was among those being held.NNA did not name the individuals, but quoted Judge Fadi Akiki, a government representative at the military court, as saying authorities had so far questioned…
Pentagon Chief Concerned About Beijing's Activity in South China Sea
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper expressed concerns about Beijing’s “destabilizing” activity near Taiwan and the South China Sea in a call with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, the Pentagon said on Thursday, the first time the two are believed to have spoken since March.The call came as U.S.-China ties have rapidly deteriorated this year over a range of issues, including Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus…
Sandy Hook Pilot Killed in Boarding Accident
A Sandy Hook Pilots Association captain died from injuries suffered during a boarding accident on Wednesday.Capt. Timothy Murray reportedly fell from a pilot ladder while boarding a tanker inbound to the Port of New York & New Jersey at approximately 10:30 p.m., the pilots association said in a statement. Murray was evacuated to a local hospital, where he died from the injuries.The U.S. Coast Guard…
Florida Current is the Weakest Its Been in a Century
The Florida Current, which forms the start of the Gulf Stream, has slowed over the past century and is the slowest it has been at any point in the past 110 years, a new study reveals.Researchers have developed a method of tracking the strength of near-shore ocean currents using measurements made at the coast, offering the potential to reduce one of the biggest uncertainties related to observations of climate change over the past century.“In the ocean…
Sanmar Delivers Tug to Latvia's Port of Ventspils
Sanmar Shipyards reports it has delivered another new tug to Latvia on schedule, to join the AS PKL Flote fleet in the port of Ventspils.The latest delivery is a Robert Allan Ltd. designed Ramparts 2200 Class 50t BP ASD tug, the eighth of the series from Sanmar. Originally named Sirapinar VIII, AS PKL Flote has renamed her Altair. Sanmar is currently building the 18th sister of the series.Sergejs Odincovs…
Nigeria: FPSO Workers Released after Kidnapping
Offshore workers kidnapped from an FPSO offshore Nigeria in an armed pirate attack in July, have been released, the owner of the floating production unit said Friday.In…
Auckland Port and Pilot Fined for Excessive Speed
Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) and the master of one of its pilot boats have been fined a total of $432,400 (US$286,000) after they admitted exposing people to risk of death or serious injury because pilot boats traveled at excessive speed in the Waitemata Harbor over a period of time involving thousands of voyages.Maritime NZ Director, Keith Manch, said POAL has also agreed to pay $220,000 (US$144…
The Beirut Explosion Was Exceptional but Events Leading up to It Were Not
At the time of writing at least 100 people have lost their lives and a further 4,000 have been wounded following an explosion in the Port of Beirut. While the actual cause remains uncertain, the tragedy calls to attention the tremendous consequences of a lack of port security.The explosion, on August 4, at around 6 p.m. local time, appears to have been fueled by 2,750 tons of the highly reactive chemical ammonium nitrate.
Largest Jack-Up to Install Largest Turbines at World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm
Offshore services company Jan De Nul has signed a final contract to transport and install offshore wind turbines for what will be the world's largest offshore wind farm complex - the 3.6GW Dogger Bank in the UK.Jan De Nul will use its Voltaire jack-up vessel, the largest of its kind in the world, to install the 12MW GE Haliade-X wind turbines, also the largest in the world, at a wind farm that will as mentioned earlier…
Jamaica Opens for Crew Changes and Repatriations
In order to enable crew changes, the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has listed seafarers among the class of “essential workers” under its Disaster Risk Management Act and has put in place measures to speed up the transit of registered seafarers through its borders.An estimated 600,000 seafarers are waiting for crew changes – 300,000 on vessels and 300,000 waiting to embark – according to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF).
Solstad Offshore's Vessels Score Extensions with Total and Equinor
Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner Solstad offshore has secured several contract extensions with oil companies Total and Equinor in Brazil.France's Total has extended the contracts for the platform supply vessel Normand Swift and the AHTS vessel Far Sagaris until December 2020. The vessels will be used to support Total’s activities in the Lapa field in Brazil.During the charter period, Far Sagaris will be replaced by Far Scout…
China's Crude Imports Surged 25% in July
China's crude imports surged 25% in July from a year earlier, as massive purchases made while prices collapsed in April arrived and as some shipments delayed at ports in June finally cleared customs.China, the world's top crude oil importer, brought in 51.29 million tonnes of oil last month, equal to 12.08 million barrels per day (bpd), data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Friday.That…
