OCIMF Offering Remote Inspection Option
The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) said it is now providing a remote inspection option as an additional tool within its Ship Inspection Report (SIRE) program as a temporary measure to help guard against the spread of COVID-19.Rob Drysdale, Managing Director, OCIMF, explained, “In some circumstances, COVID-19 is limiting the ability of an OCIMF inspector to be physically present on board a vessel to carry out a vessel inspection.
SS Cape Florida Arrives in Brownsville for Recycling
It's the end of the line for decommissioned barge carrier SS Cape Florida, which recently arrived at a scrapyard in the Port of Brownsville in Texas for recycling.International Shipbreaking LLC, (ISL) part of EMR, has been awarded a U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) contract to transport, strip and recycle the decommissioned vessel, which has been out of service since 2006.After being awarded the contract on July 6…
Mack Boring to Supply OXE Diesel Outboards for USCG
OXE distributor Mack Boring & Parts Co. will supply four OXE Diesel Outboard units to the U.S. Coast Guard through a DLA Tailored Logistics Support Contract.The engines will be part of a project to refit existing vessels with diesel outboards for various operations. This purchase comes after a long period of rigorous testing and evaluation of the OXE Diesel product performed by the USCG R&D center…
Plaquemines Port to Build Mississippi River Container Terminal
Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District (PPHTD) said it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with several potential partners to development a multi-modal container terminal on the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, La.The signing of the LOI kicks off a six-month due diligence period during which the parties will conduct multiple studies prior to making a final investment decision (FID).The proposed container terminal would encompass up to 1…
ABS Grants AiP for Crew Transfer Vessel for U.S. Offshore Wind Ops
BAR Technologies and Chartwell Marine have received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the design and construction of a BAR 30m crew transfer vessel (CTV) aimed for operations in the growing U.S. offshore wind sector.In a joint statement on Tuesday, BAR and Chartwell said that securing AiP offered the highest level of assurance that these innovative vessel designs will be built in-line with specific US requirements.
Kongsberg Hybrid Power System for Island Offshore PSV Trio
Norwegian offshore support vessel owner Island Offshore has awarded a contract to Kongsberg Maritime to supply turnkey hybrid battery solutions for three platform supply vessels.Two vessels Island Crusader and Island Contender, previously operated with a combination of Bergen LNG engines and Bergen Diesel engines, while the Island Commander deploys four diesel engines. Now, they will be equipped with…
Shipping through the Pandemic: Perfect Storm or Wake up Call?
The global pandemic news has been horrific and certainly an historic moment in domestic and worldwide shipping. For many businesses, the action was simple; hang the “closed” sign, furlough or layoff staff and wait for the approval to re-open. Or not, depending how long the virus will linger and continue to cause hundreds or thousands of deaths and rising numbers of cases. Make no mistake, there will be many businesses associated with our industry that will not return.
ZIM Taps AI to Detect Misdeclarations
Israeli shipping company ZIM said it has developed and implemented an artificial intelligence (AI)-based screening software to detect and identify incidents of misdeclared hazardous cargo before loading to vessel.Misdeclaration of hazardous cargo has been at the root of major marine incidents, causing loss of life and severe damages. Last year, several carriers announced the imposition of additional…
Carnival Hit by Ransomware Attack
Cruise operator Carnival Corp said on Monday it launched an investigation into a ransomware attack on one of its brand’s information technology systems.Carnival, which operates AIDA, Carnival and Princess cruises among others, in a regulatory filing said the attack included unauthorized access to personal data of guests and employees.The company did not identify the brand that was affected and declined to provide more details, as the investigation process was at an early stage.The attack adds to
MAIB Publishes Report on Thea II Grounding
The U.K.'s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has issued its report on the investigation of the December 2018 grounding and recovery of the container feeder vessel Thea II and the tug Svitzer Josephine in the approaches to the Humber Estuary.The vessels ran aground in storm force conditions on the evening of December 15, 2018, while the tug was towing the container feeder ship after the latter…
Altera Names Samsung-built Shuttle Tanker Trio
Altera Infrastructure held a remote naming ceremony for three new shuttle tankers built by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in South Korea.The 130,000 dwt Current Spirit and 103,000 dwt Altera Wave and Altera Wind are constructed based on Altera's E-shuttle design, which incorporates technologies intended to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, using liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel and recovered volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a secondary fuel…
Matson Promotes Ashton
U.S.-based ocean carrier Matson announced it has promoted Marc Ashton to the role of Director, Equipment, Vehicle and Reefer Operations.Ashton will be responsible for planning and directing all container equipment positioning efforts, including container equipment fleet, equipment control, asset management, and inland logistics departments, throughout the Matson network. He will also manage Matson’s company-wide vehicle operations and all processes and systems related to automobiles…
Eastern Delivers Tug to Bisso Offshore
Eastern Shipbuilding Group said it has delivered the second of two 80-foot, 5,100-horsepower Z-drive tugs for Bisso Offshore, a division of E.N. Bisso & Son of New Orleans, La.Following delivery on June 11, the newbuild ship-handling tug A. Thomas Higgins completed its bollard pull testing witnessed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and received its USCG Sub-M Certificate of Inspection (COI). In addition to A. Thomas Higgins, E.N.
Scienco/FAST Acquires InTank BWTS
U.S.-based water treatment company Scienco/FAST announced it has acquired the InTank ballast water treatment system (BWTS) from Envirocleanse, a division of Charter Brokerage, LLC, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. Scienco/FAST will offer the InTank BWTS under its Scienco Water Treatment and MarineFAST Type II MSD product lines.With patented nozzles inside the ballast tanks and a robust hypochlorite generator…
NSW Premier Apologizes for Cruise Ship Failures After COVID-19 Spike
The leader of Australia’s New South Wales state apologized on Monday for failing to stop people carrying the novel coronavirus from disembarking from a cruise ship in Sydney in March, triggering what was at the time Australia’s worst outbreak.The apology from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for her government’s poor handling of the outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess came as the number of deaths from a second wave of infection in Victoria state hit a record 25.Australia has reported 23…
China Ramps up US Oil Purchases Ahead of Trade Deal Review
U.S. crude oil shipments to China will rise sharply in coming weeks, U.S. traders and shipbrokers and Chinese importers said, as the world’s top economies gear up to review a January deal after a prolonged trade war.Chinese state-owned oil firms have tentatively booked tankers to carry at least 20 million barrels of U.S. crude for August and September, the people said, moves that may ease U.S. concerns…
India Sends Team to Mauritius to Tackle Wakashio Oil Spill
India has sent technical equipment and a team of specialists to Mauritius to help local authorities deal with an environmental crisis after an oil spill from a Japanese ship, a government official said on Sunday.The Japanese bulk carrier Wakashio struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation on July 25, spilling about 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil and triggering a state of “environmental emergency”.The carrier split on Saturday…
Turkish Coastguard Orders 122 Patrol Boats
ARES Shipyard in Antalya, Turkey has been awarded a contract to build 122 patrol boats for the Turkish Coastguard.“The project represents the largest volume serial production in Turkey’s shipbuilding history, and it will certainly put a significant record in the world’s shipbuilding archives as well,” said Utku Alanc, CEO of ARES Shipyard.“The project is planned to last five years and will involve construction and delivery of 122-ARES 35 FPB boats to meet the needs of the Turkish Coastguard.
Ocean Tankers Seeks to Reclaim $19 Mln from Lim Family
The court-appointed manager of Singapore Ocean Tankers (Pte.) Ltd is seeking to reclaim about $19 million from the Lim family directors of the firm, who allegedly…
US' FBI to Help Lebanon Probe Beirut Explosion
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation on Friday confirmed that it will assist authorities in Lebanon investigating the cause of the explosion that devastated Beirut and killed 172 people."At the request of the Government of Lebanon, the FBI will be providing our Lebanese partners investigative assistance in their investigation into the explosions at the Port of Beirut on August 4th," FBI headquarters said in a statement to Reuters."As this is not an FBI investigation…
