Ruby Princess Inquiry Blames NSW Health Officials for Debacle
The inquiry commissioned by the Berejiklian government into the Ruby Princess COVID-19 disaster has laid blame on NSW health officials, who made “inexcusable” and “inexplicable” mistakes. It also exonerated the Australian Border Force.In the report, the federal government was sharply criticized for refusing to allow an official to appear before the inquiry, with commissioner Bret Walker SC saying this belied Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s promise of full cooperation.Some 2…
Maersk Tankers Hires Bisgaard as Chief Commercial Officer
Maersk Tankers announced it has appointed Eva Birgitte Bisgaard as its Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) effective October 1.Bisgaard will joining Maersk Tankers after 19 years with the Danish Telco operator TDC, during which time she held a wide range of senior management positions. For the past three years, she was Senior Vice President of the consumer unit YouSee. Previously, she held commercial vice president positions in the company’s business-to-business divisions.At Maersk Tankers…
Cheoy Lee Delivers First of Two New Tugs for Yiu Lian Dockyards
The first tug of a two vessel contract, Hai Kun, built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, was delivered to Yiu Lian Dockyards Ltd., Hong Kong on July 15, 2020.This delivery marks the 21st vessel built and delivered by Cheoy Lee of the Robert Allan Ltd. RAstar 3200-CL design. Unique modifications were implemented to this hull to accommodate both the owner’s selected Niigata propulsion package and the required escort capability of the tug.
Torqeedo Drives Toward Marine Electromobility
The future is painted bright for companies dealing in hybrid and electric marine propulsion, as vessel owners and operators pursue cleaner technologies to comply with ever-stricter environmental regulations while also seeking ways to improve their bottom line.Case in point is Germany-based electric drives manufacturer Torqeedo, which has to date delivered more than 100,000 electric propulsion products…
Erdogan: Turkey will Retaliate to Any Attack on Seismic Vessel in Mediterranean
President Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece on Friday that Turkey will retaliate against any attack on its survey vessel Oruc Reis in the eastern Mediterranean in an escalating row between the NATO allies over gas and oil exploration in the region.Turkey and Greece are vehemently at odds over overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources in the region, and tensions rose after Ankara launched exploration operations in a disputed area of the Mediterranean on Monday.
Who Pays for Mauritius Oil Spill and How Much?
A Japanese bulk carrier struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius on July 25, spilling about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil and triggering a state of "environmental emergency".Scientists say the spill is the country's worst ecological disaster, killing wildlife and damaging pristine waters that attract tourists from around the globe. The full impact is still unfolding. As residents scramble to mop up the oil slicks…
What will Cruise Ships Look Like Post-COVID-19? Look to Marine Interiors @ SMM 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, talk turns to all aspects of interior design of ships, particularly cruise ships that can carry thousands of passengers in relatively close quarters. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, SMM has been postponed to February 2-5, 2021. According to the organizers, as of today, about 90 percent of exhibitors have committed to the new date. Apart from Green Shipping…
Mauritius Oil Spill Could Impact Country's Economy for Decades
Some corals have lived for centuries at the fringes of Mauritius. Now smothered for days in heavy fuel oil spilled from a wrecked Japanese ship nearby, parts of those reefs may be in trouble.The full impact of the toxic spill is still unfolding, scientists say. As the Indian Ocean island's residents scramble to mop up the oil slicks and clumps, they are seeing dead eels and fish floating in the water…
Training Tips for Ships #15: Using Student Exam Results to Measure OUR Performance
Exams are a staple of training. We know what they are, we know what they are for, and we know how to write and deliver them. And, of course, we all use them to test trainee knowledge. But there is another benefit of exams that the vast majority of maritime trainers are ignoring. And since we give and grade exams all the time, this benefit is already there for the taking!The value I am referring to is that of providing outstanding…
Marine Electronics: New Display Aims to Simplify Ship Docking
Raytheon Anschütz is introducing a new “Docking Display” as an optional feature for the Conning NX navigational ship software.The Docking Display provides a navigator an overview of ship data at a glance and a chart window to facilitate docking. It is designed using Conning NX “widgets” that can be adapted and combined, as needed.“Operators will experience a never before possible situational awareness of the ship…
Greek, Turkish Warships in 'Mini-Collision' Amid Mediterranean Exploration Dispute
A Greek and a Turkish warship were involved in a mini-collision on Wednesday during a standoff in the eastern Mediterranean, a Greek defense source said, describing it as an "accident".Tensions have risen this week after Turkey sent a survey vessel to the region, escorted by warships, to map out sea territory for possible oil and gas drilling - an area where Turkey and Greece both claim jurisdiction.
Port of LA Reports Rising Box Volumes
The U.S.' busiest seaport reported a rise in monthly cargo volumes following the steep drop caused by the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions.The Port of Los Angeles said it moved 856,389 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in July, its busiest month thus far of 2020. It was also the second-best July in the port’s history, trailing July 2019 by 6.1%.“Fewer canceled sailings and…
IMSC Issues Statement on Iran Boarding Liberian-flagged Tanker
The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) has issued a statement on Wednesday's boarding of the commercial tanker Wila by Iranian forces in the Gulf of Oman, calling the incident a "blatant violation of international law"."Iran's use of its military forces to conduct an armed boarding of a commercial vessel in international waters constitutes a blatant violation of international law that undermines freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce…
Four Tankers Carrying Iranian Fuel Cargoes to US for Seizure
Tankers carrying Iranian fuel cargoes covered by a U.S. warrant for seizure are sailing to the United States after talks between U.S. authorities and ship owners, a U.S.
Schottel to Equip Kenya's Powerful New Tug
German propulsion systems manufacturer Schottel says it has secured a contract with Turkish shipyard Med Marine to provide azimuth thrusters for a powerful new salvage tug ordered by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). The vessel will be equipped with main and auxiliary propulsion systems from Schottel, achieving a bollard pull of more than 120 tonnes. The Robert Allan RAstar 4200 (MED-A42120) design vessel is considered the largest tugboat on the East African Coast of the Indian Ocean.Recai Hakan Şen…
Beirut Port Explosion Echoes the 1917 Halifax Harbor Blast
As the scope of the August 4 explosion at the port of Beirut becomes clear, the tolls of the loss of life, injuries, homelessness and property damage are staggering. In the immediate chaos of large explosions, it can be difficult to make sense of what has happened.There are numerous similarities between the 2020 Beirut port explosion and the 1917 Halifax Harbor Explosion that can help us make sense of what has happened in Beirut.In 2017…
Armstrong Launches RHIB Tour Boat
Armstrong Marine USA Inc. launched the 11.3- by 4.2-meter Naiad rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) Bay Voyager II in late July. Builder sea trials in Port Angeles, Wash. indicate a cruise speed of 25 knots.The vessel was originally built for San Francisco-based tour company Bay Voyager, but is now for sale from Armstrong Marine.The USCG Subchapter T vessel has capacity 28 passenger plus two crew. It features Naiad’s heavy-duty fendering system and a full width aft canopy.
Containerships Overtake Tankers as Most Scrubber-fitted Sector -BIMCO
Containerships with a collective cargo carrying capacity of 5.3 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) are now fitted with an exhaust gas cleaning system (scrubber) to remove sulphur oxides (SOx) from the exhaust gasses generated by the combustion processes in marine engines and thereby comply with the IMO 2020 global sulphur regulation which came into force on January 1, 2020.By the start of July…
COVID-19 to Weigh on US Seaport Peak Shipping Season
Imports at major U.S. container seaports could hit their lowest level in four years as the novel coronavirus pandemic pummels a U.S. economy that was already grappling with negative effects of the U.S.-China trade war, experts said.Total container imports could fall 9.4% in 2020, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates' Global Port Tracker report.That reflects pain in the U.S.
Furuno Equips New US Navy Tug
The first of the U.S. Navy's new YT-808 tugs being built by Dakota Creek Industries (DCI) has been outfitted with a sophisticated marine electronics package from Furuno. Mackay Marine selected and installed a comprehensive suite of electronics that will assist YT-808 in fulfilling its ship-handling duties for the full range of U.S. Navy surface warships, barges and submarines. The helm aboard the new vessel includes a 12kW FAR2218BB Radar…
