Cruise Line Viking Installs First COVID-19 PCR Lab at Sea
A cruise ship has been fitted with the world's first at-sea PCR laboratory to test passengers and crews for COVID-19 as cruise lines look for ways to safely resume voyages amid the prevailing coronavirus pandemic. The full-scale lab installed aboard Viking's luxury cruise ship Viking Star has capacity to perform daily non-invasive saliva tests for every passenger and crew member, the company said on Monday.Viking's announcement comes days after the U.S.
Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Suspend Cruises Through Year End
Cruise operator Royal Caribbean Group said on Monday it would stop all its cruises through the end of the year, extending previous suspensions, as coronavirus infections continue to increase globally.The company's announcement comes days after the U.S.
Venezuela's Oil Exports Fall to New Low
Venezuela's oil exports fell to a historic low of 359,000 barrels per day (bpd) in October as most of state-run PDVSA's long-term clients paused trade to meet a U.S. deadline to halt business with the firm, according to data seen by Reuters on Monday.The United States set an October-November deadline for PDVSA's long-term customers - including Italy Eni, Spain's Repsol and India's Reliance Industries…
HHI Awarded Digital Twin Certification for Fuel Tank Safety
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has developed a Digital Health Management system (DHM) for safety and operational efficiency of IMO Type-B LNG fuel tanks, and this new industry-first system has achieved Approval in Principal (AIP) of its “Digital Twin READY” Type-B LNG fuel tanks.This AIP was achieved through cooperation with the Liberian Registry (LISCR) as Flag State, and Lloyds Register (LR) as Class Society through JDP.
US Sanctions: Spotlight on Russia
This article will focus on U.S. sanctions on Russia/Ukraine. The Russia/Ukraine sanctions program is a complex mix of comprehensive, noncomprehensive and “sectoral” sanctions. It includes both primary sanctions aimed at U.S. persons and secondary sanctions aimed at non-U.S. persons. It encompasses broad sectors of the Russian economy and significant dealings with sanctioned individuals and entities, while generally permitting most transactions with Russia. Accordingly, it stands alone in U.S.
Maintenance Projects to Begin at Port Everglades
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will soon begin work on two important maintenance projects at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Port officials say they do not foresee any interruption of services during the construction. The South Jetty, located at the north end of Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, will be restored to its original profile and cross section. A notice to proceed was issued to the contractor in October 2020.
IMO SG Emeritus William O’Neil Passes Away
William A. O’Neil, Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has died in the United Kingdom, aged 93.O’Neil was elected Secretary-General of the IMO for a first term of Office beginning in 1990, a second term beginning in 1994, a third term beginning in 1998 and a further two-year term from 2002 to 31 December 2003. He was the second longest serving Secretary-General…
Charterers Preventing Crew Change Must Be Held Accountable -INTERCARGO
In a number of instances, charterers in the dry bulk sector have been preventing much needed crew changes from taking place during the period of the charter, despite the ship owner agreeing to accept the associated costs, says INTERCARGO, the body representing the interests of dry bulk sector operators.In these instances, charterers have been seen to simply ignore relevant provisions and charter party clauses that could be employed.
US Shipyards: Always on the Job Hunt
American shipyards form an important economic engine, supporting nearly 400,000 jobs, $25.1 billion of labor income and $37.3 billion in gross domestic product (GDP), according to figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD).It’s a good thing, then, that U.S. shipyards were deemed essential businesses amid COVID-19 and have remained up and running throughout the pandemic.
VIDEO: SkillGrader Takes Officer, Crew Skills Assessment to the Next Level
Marine Learning Systems introduces SkillGrader, a mobile application designed to enable vessel operators and training institutions to objectively evaluate officer and crew skills, and to generate instant reports on workforce insights.“SkillGrader completes the learning technologies picture," said Murray Goldberg, founder and CEO of Marine Learning Systems. "For some time now, we have had tools to help teach and assess knowledge – the Learning Management System…
Austal Builds Patrol Boat for Tonga
Shipbuilder Austal Limited announced that its Austal Australia division has delivered the eighth Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defense.The vessel, VOEA Ngahau Siliva, was gifted by the Australian Government to the Kingdom of Tonga during a handover ceremony at Austal Australia’s Henderson shipyard on Friday.Austal Chief Operating Officer and CEO Designate Patrick…
More Ecospeed Protection for Eckerö RoRo Ferry
In 2019 Finnish shipping company Eckerö coated the open cargo deck of their roro passenger ferry Finbo Cargo with Ecospeed. This was done to protect the deck against damage from cars and cargo. One year later the deck was still in excellent condition, in strong contrast to previous years. As a result, Eckerö decided to coat the ice belt and most of the hull with Ecospeed to offer it the same lasting protection.“We coated the weather deck with good result…
ClassNK Publishes New Gas Carrier Guidelines
Classification society ClassNK said it has released new guidelines that specify the technical requirements for evaluating structural strength using finite element analysis when designing membrane-type liquefied gas carriers.As with the society’s other guidelines for structural strength evaluation, its new Guidelines for Liquefied Gas Carrier Structures – Membrane System are based on ClassNK’s expertise evaluating technology for the wave load acting on the hull…
Marell M15 Quad Outboard Open High-Speed Interceptor Launched
Marell Boats of Sweden launched the M15 Quad outboard open high-speed interceptor that includes fine tuning of the M15 hull and the addition of four Mercury 450HP Outboard engines on an extended platform.The M15 is designed for high speed interception and boarding, with a center steering position for a helmsman to optimize control and allow for full view of the surroundings during boarding maneuvers and high speed turns.
Pacific Drilling Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Again
Offshore drilling firm Pacific Drilling and certain of its subsidiaries have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with the aim to eliminate $1.1 billion debt.The company, which had previously filed for Bankruptcy in 2017, said Friday that it and certain of its domestic and international subsidiaries had filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United…
DSME Orders ABB Propulsion Package for Six New LNG Carriers
South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has awarded ABB a contract worth more than $300 million for the delivery of a power and propulsion package for six new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers that will transport LNG along the Northern Sea Route.According to ABB, each of the six newbuild vessels will feature a trio of ABB's largest and most powerful Azipod propulsion units ever supplied for ships operating in ice.
Mitsui OSK Inks 30-year LNG Carrier Charter for Russia's Arctic LNG 2 Project
Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) said on Monday it has signed a 30-year charter contract with the operator of the Arctic liquefied natural gas (LNG) 2 project, led by Novatek, for three ice-breaking carriers for the Russian project.The three vessels will be built by South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd, costing about 90 billion yen ($859 million) in total, and are scheduled for delivery in 2023…
