Interview: Tracy Zea, President & CEO, Waterways Council Inc.
We recently checked in with Tracy Zea, Waterways Council Inc.’s new President & CEO, on what’s in store for the U.S. inland waterways for the remainder of 2020.To start, give us some insight on your background and how you came to lead WCI.I was born and raised in Chandler, Ariz., and attended South Dakota State University, receiving a degree in Political Science. After college, I found my way to Washington, D.C. via an internship with Senator Thune (R-S.D.).
Shipbuilders Council Announces Shipyard Safety Awards
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipyard industry, today announced the 2020 annual shipyard safety awards. SCA honors shipbuilding and repair organizations with the “Excellence in Safety” Award and “Improvement in Safety” Award each year for enhancement of operations and promotion of safety and accident prevention.Over the past several years…
Mauritians Angered by Government Response to the Wakashio Oil Spill
On the evening of Saturday July 25, the MV (Merchant Vessel) Wakashio grounded on coral reefs in the south-east of the Indian Ocean tropical island of Mauritius. The ship, a Japanese-owned but Panama-registered bulk carrier designed to transport unpackaged goods such as coal or grain, was empty of cargo but had an estimated 200 tons of diesel and 3,800 tons of heavy fuel oil onboard. The ship sat for…
VIKING Delivers Ambulance Boat for the Hellenic Coastguard
VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has delivered the first vessel in a series of three new ambulance boats for the Hellenic Coastguard.For many years, the Coastguard and the Hellenic National Center for Emergency Care (EKAB) have worked together to support patient transfer requirements from the Greek islands to larger hospitals. Today, a call for transport services is almost a daily occurrence.The new closed…
Indian Solar Ferry Flies Flag for Cleaner, Cheaper Water Transport
Over the past three years, P. Ravindran’s commute from his southern Indian village has been about more than getting to work - the SIM card seller sees his daily trip on India’s first solar-powered ferry as doing his bit for the green revolution.“I am proud to be a frequent traveler on the Aditya... I am being part of cleaning the Earth,” said Ravindran, who uses the boat most days to travel to the…
AIDA Cruises Seeking German Government Aid
Carnival Corp’s AIDA cruise operator is among a list of companies seeking state aid from the German government, the Business Insider website reported on Thursday.AIDA is seeking about half a billion euros ($591 million) in state aid, Business Insider said, citing a government list of companies requesting support, which also includes shipbuilder MV Werften and steel producer Georgsmarienhuette.The finance ministry declined to comment.AIDA is examining whether financing schemes offered by the gove
Baltic Index Rises for 12th Straight Session
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose for the 12th straight session on Thursday, helped by an uptick in demand for all vessel segments.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, was up 37 points, or 2.4%, at 1,577, its highest since July 21.The Baltic capesize index rose 52 points, or 2.2%…
Maran Tankers Takes Suezmax Delivery from Daehan
Greek operator Maran Tankers Management (MTM), part of the Angelicoussis Group, has taken delivery of the 157,000 dwt oil tanker Maran Orpheus, built by Daehan Shipbuilding Co. in South Korea. The Suezmax delivery follows the 157,946 dwt Maran Phoebe handed over from Daehan in June. Both ships are Greek-flagged and classed by DNV GL.Daehan is also building the ABS-classed, 157,000 dwt Maran Aspasia and Maran Solon scheduled for delivery to MTM in October and December respectively.
Engineering for Tier 4
As one of the largest, most widely known naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the world—celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2020—Robert Allan Ltd. is no stranger to being approached by marine engine manufacturers seeking input on their products. But no one’s ever come to the Vancouver, Canada-based company as early in the process as Caterpillar did during the development of its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Final solutions.Like many in the industry…
Meyer Turku to Lay Off 166 Employees
Finnish shipbuilding company Meyer Turku will permanently lay off 166 people due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on its business.The company which builds cruise ships had in April said it would lay off up to 450 of its roughly 2,000 employees, with talks also in place for another 900 to be affected by other measures, such as temporary layoffs of different length, work time adjustments, and other arrangements.
MacGregor Equipment for RoPax Vessels in Japan
Cargotec's subsidiary MacGregor has secured orders to deliver equipment for two RoPax vessels and two material supply vessels.The orders, from an unnamed client in Japan, are booked into Cargotec's third quarter 2020 order intake.Deliveries under the order are planned to start during the first quarter of 2022 and completed during the first quarter of 2023.Magnus Sjöberg, Senior Vice President, Merchant Solutions Division…
Shell to Shut Down Philippine Refinery and Turn It into Import Terminal
The Philippine unit of Royal Dutch Shell said on Tuesday it will permanently shut one of the country's two oil refineries, blaming a pandemic-led slump in margins, with other regional closures likely to follow, according to analysts.Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp said its 110,000-barrel-per-day Tabangao facility in Batangas province, which began operations in 1962, was no longer economically viable and would be turned into an import terminal.Singapore's complex refining margin…
France to Increase Mediterranean Military Presence over Turkish Oil & Gas Exploration
France will increase its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, calling on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration…
Cargo Ship Grounds After Officer On Watch Falls Asleep
A Vietnamese-flagged cargo ship ran aground near the Philippines' Antique province Thursday after the officer on watch fell asleep, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.The 90-meter, 2,551-gross-ton Globe 6 was transporting a rice cargo from Ho Chi Minh City to Davao City and had 25 crew members on board at the time of the incident. The ship's master Nguyen Hoai told the PCG that the officer on watch…
Student Ferry Design Contest's Rules Changed amid COVID-19
The Worldwide Ferry Safety Association (WFSA) said it is adding new requirements for its 8th Annual International Student Design Competition for a Safe Affordable Ferry, in an action reflecting the unprecedented developments of 2020. This year, students have been tasked with designing a RoPax ferry for the Amazon River, between Manaus and Tefé, some 200 miles further inland.Due to the widespread impacts of COVID-19…
Mitsubishi Names New US West Coast Distributor
Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine America (MTEA) has appointed Cascade Engine Center, located in Seattle, as its marine engine division's new West Coast distributor effective August 11, 2020Cascade Engine Center will have responsibility for Alaska, Washington State, Oregon, California and Hawaii.“The addition of the Mitsubishi Heavy Duty engine lineup to Cascade Engine Center will complement our current commercial engine business…
Hermitage Offshore Services Files for Chapter 11
Offshore vessel owner Hermitage Offshore Services, hit by prolonged low oil prices and business fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, said it has voluntarily filed…
Mauritius Says Almost All Oil Removed from Damaged Bulker Wakashio
Mauritius’ Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said on Wednesday nearly all remaining oil had been removed from a damaged Japanese ship, which leaked about 1,000 tonnes in a threat to tourism already hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.“At the time I’m talking to you, almost all the oil has been removed from the ship,” Jugnauth told reporters, according to remarks shared by his office.All fuel had been removed from tanks…
Video: Iranian Forces Board Liberian-flagged Tanker in International Waters
The United States military on Wednesday said that Iranian forces had boarded a civilian vessel in international waters in the Gulf.The U.S. military's Central Command released a grainy black-and-white video on Twitter showing a helicopter near a large ship."Today in international waters, Iranian forces, including two ships and an Iranian 'Sea King' helicopter, overtook and boarded a ship called the 'Wila,'" the U.S.
Rolls-Royce to Boost Output for the US Navy
Rolls-Royce and the Defense Production Act Title III office will invest millions of dollars to upgrade the company’s capability and capacity for U.S. Navy ship propulsion components in its facility in Pascagoula, Miss.The DPA Title III office has already agreed to invest $22 million for equipment, with Rolls-Royce making an additional investment for building improvements, supplemented with support…
