SAAM Places $42 Million in Bonds
![(Photo: SAAM)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-saam-114122.jpg)
SAAM, operator of port, towage and logistics services in the Americas, placed a total of UF 1.2 million (US$42 million) in bonds on the local market Tuesday. The funds will be used primarily to finance the companyâs investment plan, it said.âThe placement drew strong demand from local capital market investors. This issuance reinforces the marketâs confidence in SAAM even in these times of crisis. TheâŠ
Geopolitics Dominate the Oil Tanker Market -BIMCO
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Developments in the oil tanker market in the past decade dominated by geopolitics, says shipping association BIMCO.Crude oil and product tanker markets alike have faced high volatility in recent weeks and months, largely due to geopolitics and the constantly evolving situation in the global oil markets. The first major disturbance since the fall in the oil price between the fourth quarter of 2104 and first quarter of 2016 came in the fourth quarter of 2019âŠ
Berge Bulk Digitalizes Its Procurement
![(Photo: Berge Bulk)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-berge-bulk-114110.jpg)
A dry bulk shipping company looking to enhance efficiency, cut costs and create complete procurement transparency has turned to digital procurement through Ligimatic's SERTICA fleet management system.Singapore-based Berge Bulk, which controls a fleet of 70 vessels, including some of the largest in the world, equating to over 10 million DWT, invested in SERTICA in 2014, but has recently added MoscordâŠ
Bernhard Schulte Takes Delivery of Hybrid SOV from Ulstein
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Norwegian Ulstein shipyard has delivered service operation vessel (SOV) Windea Jules Verne to Bernhard Schulte Offshore.The battery hybrid vessel will work at the Merkur offshore wind farm offshore Germany, where it will be operating for GE Renewable Energy.The vessel is based on the ULSTEIN SX195 design from Ulstein Design & Solutions AS. The Windea Jules Verne measures 93.4 meters in length and 18 meters in the beam. It has accommodation for 120 people.
Chinese Shipments Held for Extra Customs Checks in India
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Customs officials at Chennai, one of Indiaâs biggest ports, have held shipments originating from China for extra checks, sources aware of the delays told Reuters, amid a backlash against China over a border clash in which 20 Indian soldiers died.The increased scrutiny on shipments from China at Chennai Port, which handles various cargo including automobiles, auto components, fertilizers and petroleum productsâŠ
Marine Salvage and SMFF Regulations
![THE GOLDEN RAY response project, although still unfinished, provides a stark example of how easily the US spill response program can get off track. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Brian McCrum](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/the-golden-ray-response-project-114115.jpg)
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA, often called the Clean Water Act), as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), provides:If a discharge, or a substantial threat of a discharge, of oil or a hazardous substance from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore facility is of such a size or character as to be a substantial threat to the public health or welfare of the United States (including but not limited to fishâŠ
Kooiman Marine Completes Vessel Conversion for Van Stee Offshore
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Dutch shipbuilding group Kooiman Marine has completed the conversion of Van Stee Offshore's new Multi-Purpose DP-2 Support Vessel Zwerver I.Kooiman Marine said Wednesday that the final work on the vessel has been completed and the âZwerver Iâ is ready to be deployed. After having already designed and built three vessels for Van Stee offshore, former HvS Dredging Support, this is the first vessel conversionâŠ
Containership Markets Plot Uncertain Course to Recovery -MSI
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New HORIZON Monthly report shows freight rates remain high, blanked sailings have hit charter markets and coming quarters continue to hold riskContainership markets are exhibiting contradictory signals as the global economy continues its tentative emergence from lockdown. In the first of its new HORIZON Monthly reports, Maritime Strategies International (MSI) analyzes the forces at play in freight and charter markets as well as the impact of global policy on demand.On nearly all trade lanesâŠ
Steerprop Names Rekola Director of Sales & Project Management
![Juho Rekola (Photo: Steerprop)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/juho-rekola-photo-steerprop-114113.jpg)
Azimuth propulsion expert Steerprop said it has merged sales and project management with the appointment of Juho Rekola as the company's new Director Sales and Project Management, effective from June 1, 2020.Rekola has been with Steerprop since 2017, and has a deep knowledge of companyâs products and solutions. Rekola joined Steerprop from Alfa Laval, where he worked years in various responsible positions and was involved in international marine projects and R&D.
Cox Powertrain Leverages the Power of Digitalization
![(Photo: Cox Powertrain)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-cox-powertrain-114112.jpg)
It is not something that pops to mind often: the massive, market-changing advantages of a high-powered, fuel-efficient, cleaner V8 diesel outboard engine. Then, you arenât a salmon farmer with aquaculture farms in the Norwegian fjords or an islander in the Maldives who drives a Zodiac to work. But, if you are Joel Reid, these are just some of the many things on your mind.Joel Reid is the Global Sales Director of Cox Powertrain a British start-up based in Shoreham-by-Sea, close to Brighton, UK.
Austal USA Wins $43 Million LCS Services Contract
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Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA said it has been awarded a modification to previously awarded contract with a total potential value of $43,362,000 by the U.S. Department of Defense. This contract was modified to exercise the options for Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Class design services, material to support LCS Class design services, and the Integrated Data Product Model Environment (IDPME). AustalâŠ
Liebherr Launches Remote Service App
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Maritime cranes and equipment manufacturer Liebherr has developed a remote service tool aiming to improve assistance through visual information that ultimately leads to faster and easier troubleshooting.The service's launch comes as industry stakeholders increasingly turn to remote services and other digital offerings to help maintain operations amid travel restrictions in place due to the coronavirusâŠ
Tankers Carrying Venezuelan Oil Stuck at Sea
Tankers carrying nearly two months worth of Venezuelan oil output are stuck at sea as global refiners shun the nationâs crude to avoid falling foul of U.S. sanctionsâŠ
Carnival's Credit Rating Cut to Junk Status by S&P
![File photo: Carnival Corp](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-carnival-corp-114093.jpg)
Ratings agency Standard & Poorâs on Tuesday downgraded bonds of Carnival Corp to junk status, forecasting continued weak demand for the cruise industry hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic.Standard & Poorâs cut its rating on the worldâs biggest cruise operatorâs secured bonds to âBB+â from âBBB-â, and its unsecured bonds to âBB-â from âBBB-â. Both are now regarded as non-investment grade or junk bonds.Carnivalâs overall issuer credit rating was also lowered to âBB-â from âBBB-â.
China Extends Waiver on Port Construction Fees
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Chinaâs Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday it would extend a waiver on port construction fees for imported and exported cargoes until the end of 2020 from June 30.The ministry will also extend a reduction in fees paid to the compensation fund for ship pollution until the end of this year.The move is part of Beijingâs efforts to help business resume amid the coronavirus pandemic and to shore up its export industry.(Reporting by Muyu Xu and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
ABS Grants AIP to Dual Deadweight Bulker
![Bill Shi, ABS Vice President, Global Engineering (Photo: ABS)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/bill-shi-abs-vice-president-114090.jpg)
Classification society ABS said it granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to a dual deadweight neo-panamax bulk carrier design from the StandShip Joint Development Partnership (JDP).Available in 86,000- and 95,000-deadweight-ton design options, the bulk carrier is intended to be ready to order âoff the shelfâ for charterers and operators looking for flexibility. The 229-meter design includes a 38-meter beamâŠ
Malaysia to Detain, Charge Crew of 'Illegal' Vietnamese Boats
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Malaysia will detain and charge crew members of Vietnamese vessels caught illegally fishing in its waters instead of turning them away as authorities had done previously, the country's coastguard chief said on Wednesday.Vietnam and its neighbors have for years been involved in disputes over fishing in the resource-rich South China Sea, most of which is claimed by China.
Cardama Shipyard Records 1000th Ship Docking
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Founded in 1916 in Vigo, Northwest of Spain, Cardama Shipyard has had a large number of milestones over its 100+ year history. This week Cardama Managing Director Mario Cardama said 2020 heralds another significant landmark for the yard â which remains one of the busiest in Spain â after completing its 1,000th ship docking since 2000.The latest milestone follows a wide range of international projects and tenders secured from many countries throughout the decades including AngolaâŠ
LAVLE Launches Proteus ESS
![(Image: LAVLE)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-lavle-114071.jpg)
LAVLE launched its flagship Proteus Lithium-Ion .Battery Energy Storage System (Proteus ESS), engineered to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion storage technologiesProteus utilizes LAVLE's battery management system (BMS), which is designed to maximize reliability, lifetime and uptime, and further enhances Proteus' performance and safety characteristics, the manufacturer said.Designed and developed by LAVLE Chief Technology Officer Dr.
Video: Keel Laid For First New US-flag Laker in Decades
![(Photo: The Interlake Steamship Company, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-the-interlake-steamship-company-114078.jpeg)
A keel laying ceremony on Tuesday marked the official start of assembly on the first new U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built in more than 35 years.During the ceremony held by The Interlake Steamship Company and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, (FBS) the keel was laid within the shipyardâs large graving dock in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. following more than nine months of engineering and prefabricationâŠ