Baltic Index Rises to Over One-year High
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose to over one-year high on Friday as rates for capesize vessels surged on higher iron-ore demand.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was up 151 points, or 8.1%, at 2,020 points, rising to its highest level since Sept.
Grounded Bulker Refloated Near Norfolk
A 738-foot bulk carrier that ran aground near Sewell’s Point in Norfolk, Va. was refloated during high tide on Friday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard said.It took seven tugs to refloat the Panamanian flagged Hong Dai, which grounded late Wednesday night with 22 crewmembers aboard. The ship was said to be carrying a cargo of coal, as well as 188,000 gallons of low sulfur fuel oil, diesel and lube oil, collectively.
Cruise Shipbreaking Booms in Turkey
Business is booming at a sea dock in western Turkey, where five hulking cruise ships are being dismantled for scrap metal sales after the COVID-19 pandemic all but destroyed the industry, the head of a ship recyclers’ group said on Friday.Cruise ships were home to the some of the earliest clusters of COVID-19 as the pandemic spread globally early this year.In March, U.S. authorities issued a no-sail order for all cruise ships that remains in place.On Friday…
USCG National Security Cutter Stone Passes Acceptance Trials
The U.S. Coast Guard’s ninth national security cutter, Stone (WMSL 758), has completed acceptance sea trials, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division announced Friday.Having recently spent two days in the Gulf of Mexico proving its systems, Stone is scheduled to deliver later this year and will be homeported in Charleston, S.C.Ingalls in Pascagoula, Miss. has delivered eight…
Ulstein Designs "Zero-Emission" Offshore Wind Turbine Installation Vessel
Norwegian shipbuilding and design company Ulstein has launched the design for a "zero-emission" hydrogen-powered offshore wind turbine installation vessel."Ulstein's second hydrogen hybrid design for the offshore wind industry, the ULSTEIN J102 zero-emission wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), can operate 75% of the time in zero-emission mode. Using readily available technology, the additional cost is limited to less than 5% of the total CAPEX…
DNV GL’s Ørbeck-Nilssen Calls for Action Now on the Seafarer Issue
The plight of the seafarer during the COVID-19 pandemic has garnered global attention, but according to Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime, more action is needed.“This is quite remarkable. After all of the attention, from public addresses by the Secretary General of the IMO and even having the Pope engaged to have the seafarer crisis resolved, and still we are in the very unfortunate situation with more than 300…
Founder of Singapore's Marine Fuel Supplier Charged in Shell Oil Theft Case
The founder of one of Singapore's biggest marine fuel suppliers has been charged for his involvement in a large-scale oil theft from Shell's refinery in the city-state…
