Video: Pope Francis Delivers Message for Seafarers Stuck at Sea
![In a video message, Pope Francis thanked seafarers for the hardships they are enduring to provide the world with food and other primary needs throughout the coronavirus pandemic.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/in-a-video-message-pope-113908.jpg)
Pope Francis paid tribute on Wednesday to hundreds of thousands of seafarers stuck on ships due to the coronavirus pandemic, a situation the United Nations has said poses a risk to the safe operation of the world's merchant fleet.In a special video message for sea workers, Francis said the work of maritime personnel and fishermen had been made even more important during the pandemic because it was…
Oceaneering Launches Maritime Data and Tracking Service
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Oceaneering International launched a new business aiming to eliminate waste and increase transparency within the bulk commodity cargo logistics industry, the Houston-based company announced Wednesday.OceanSMART Cargo Logistics and Maritime Technology will be led by Managing Director Bryan Phillips, who comes to the team with over 25 years’ experience in the marine shipping and cargo logistics industry, most recently as chief innovation officer at Inchcape Shipping Services.
BAE Systems Builds RIBs for Trinidad and Tobago Patrol Ships
![(Photo: BAE Systems)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-bae-systems-113906.jpg)
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract worth almost £2 million ($2.5 million) to provide six Pacific 24 (P24) rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) to Austal, based in Australia. The RIBs, built and customized in BAE Systems’ Boats factory in Portsmouth, U.K. are being supplied to Austal to equip two Cape-class Patrol Boats under construction for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.The P24 is a small and…
Total Lubmarine Opens Chicago Lab
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Total Lubmarine has extended the global reach of its technical support services with the opening of a new Diagomar Plus Laboratory in Chicago, Ill.The new lab opening means the marine lubricant specialist now has five centers around the world – with Chicago joining Ertvelde (Belgium), Singapore, Shanghai and Panama City.“North America is an increasingly busy market for us and the opening of the Chicago…
Shipyards Meyer Werft and Meyer Turku Swap Leadership
![The Meyer Group leadership (from left): Thomas Weigend, Jan Meyer, Bernard Meyer and Tim Meyer. (Photo: Meyer Werft)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/the-meyer-group-leadership-from-113903.jpg)
The Meyer Group announced Wednesday it will rotate leadership at its shipyards in Papenburg, Germany and Turku, Finland as the cruise ship builder grapples with market turmoil created by the coronavirus pandemic.Effective after the summer, Jan Meyer, the CEO of Meyer Turku since 2014, will become Managing Director of Meyer Werft, while Tim Meyer, managing director of Meyer Werft since 2016, will take over as CEO at Meyer Turku.The COVID-19 crisis has hit the cruise industry…
Wärtsilä to Supply Propulsion for MSCL Newbuild
![(Photo: Wärtsilä)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-wrtsil-113902.jpg)
Wärtsilä will design and deliver a fully integrated main propulsion system for a new 8,200 dwt multipurpose cargo vessel being built for Mauritius Shipping Corporation Ltd (MSCL) at the Huanghai Shipyard in China.The newbuild is expected to commence commercial operations in 2022, replacing an existing vessel transporting goods and passengers between the Republic of Mauritius and the islands of Reunion…
Maersk Supply Service Sells Two 2004-built AHTS Vessels
![Image Credit: Maersk Supply Service](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-credit-maersk-supply-service-113897.jpg)
Danish offshore vessel operator Maersk Supply Service has sold two of its older Anchor Handler Tug Supply Vessels (AHTS), citing the global oversupply in the market and the current market situation.The vessels in question are the Maersk Advancer and Maersk Asserter. Both vessels were built in Germany in 2004.Chief Commercial Officer of Maersk Supply Service Carsten Gram Haagensen: "As a response to the recent downturn in the oil and gas industry…
OOS Joins LR, Worley Offshore Decommissioning Consortium
![Artist's impression of OOS Walcheren and the OOS Serooskerke performing a joint topside lift - Credit: OOS](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/artists-impression-of-oos-walcheren-113893.jpg)
Dutch offshore services provider OOS International has joined an offshore decommissioning consortium created by Lloyd’s Register and Worley, in a push to drive down the costs of offshore decommissioning."Decommissioning, for many, remains an uncertain cost burden, potentially even more so in the current climate,” says Julie Copland, LR’s Decommissioning lead. “What is certain is that, with our combined expertise…
Nord Stream 2 Seeks Updated Permit to Complete Pipeline in Danish Waters
The Nord Stream 2 has requested a permit allowing it to use pipe-laying vessels with anchors to complete the final roughly 120-kilometer stretch of pipeline in Danish waters…
Maersk Drilling Joins Offshore CO2 Storage Project
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Danish offshore drilling company Maersk Drilling has joined a consortium whose aim is to develop an offshore storage solution for CO2 captured in Danish onshore facilities.Maersk Drilling said Wednesday it was joining a new CO2 storage consortium formed by INEOS Oil & Gas Denmark and Wintershall Dea. "The consortium is maturing one of the most progressed carbon capture and storage projects inside Danish…
New Report Outlines Big Potential for Offshore Wind
![(Photo: Ørsted)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-rsted-113882.jpg)
Offshore wind currently represents just a small piece of the world’s energy supply. But that’s changing faster than ever before as new and existing players look to tap the huge resource potential—and market opportunities—being unlocked by shrinking costs and technological advances, as outlined in a recent comprehensive market report.In the coming two decades, the rapidly maturing offshore wind market…
USS Fitzgerald Exits Shipyard 3 Years After Fatal Collision
![USS Fitzgerald prepares to depart the Ingalls shipyard to return to her homeport in San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Derek Fountain/Huntington Ingalls Industries)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/uss-fitzgerald-prepares-to-depart-113862.jpg)
The USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), which suffered heavy damage and nearly sank off the coast of Japan after a fatal collision with a containership in 2017, departed Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. Saturday following two years of extensive repairs and upgrades. Seven U.S. Navy sailors died when the guided-missile destroyer collided with the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal on June 17, 2017.
Djibouti Offers Crew Change Support
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Djibouti announced at the United Nations Monday its readiness to facilitate crew change operations for any ships passing through the Bab el Mandeb strait, with the necessary support provided by the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA).The East African country is responding to a joint statement from the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) and UN Conference on Trade and Development…
Venezuela's Oil Exports Plummet as Shipping Contracts Get Suspended
Venezuela's oil exports have fallen nearly 28% in the first half of June, on course for the lowest level in over 70 years as tanker owners and operators suspend contracts for transporting crude oil…
Offshore Wind Will Bring Jobs, Growth to New Jersey, Other Coastal States
NOIA President Erik Milito issued the following statement after New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced the creation of the nation's first purpose-built marshalling…
Containership Crewman Pleads Guilty in $1 Bln Drug Bust
![MSC Gayane at the Port of Philadelphia (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/msc-gayane-at-the-port-113866.jpg)
A crew member from the containership MSC Gayane pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking stemming from a $1 billion bust in the Port of Philadelphia, one of the largest drug seizures in U.S. history.The 27-year-old Montenegrin Vladimir Penda entered a plea of guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced Monday.
Waterways Council, Inc.’s 2020 Vision
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Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) is the national public policy organization that advocates for a modern, efficient inland waterways system. Abiding by our mission has meant success over our 17-year history. In 2020, WCI’s top priority is to conform the cost-share for Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF)-financed construction projects to require 25% of the project cost be derived from the IWTF and the remaining 75% from General Revenues.
Market Insights: Cruise Shipping ... Now What?
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Heading into 2020 the cruise industry was booming. The number of passengers who went on cruises in 2019 was at an all time high, a trend mirrored by the exponential fleet growth since the 1950s. However, COVID-19 caused an industry wide shut down. Since the start of the year, ordering activity has fallen nearly 50%. This is a dramatic decrease and is unprecedented in the cruise industry, especially when compared to last year which during the same period, activity never dropped more than 10%.
Baltic Index Rises to Over 6-month High
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The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose to more than a six-month high on Tuesday, boosted by stronger demand for capesize and panamax vessels.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, rose 81 points, or about 8.3%, to 1,054, its highest since Dec. 24.The Baltic capesize index jumped 206 points, or about 12.5% to 1,854, its highest since Dec.
IMarEST Names Lewis Chief Executive
![Gwynne Lewis (Photo: IMarEST)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/gwynne-lewis-photo-imarest-113860.jpg)
The Insitute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) has appointed a new chief executive - Gwynne Lewis - who will begin the role on June 29.David Loosley, the IMarEST’s current chief executive, previously announced that he will be stepping down in June of 2020, after leading the organization for over eight years, to take up the role of Secretary General and CEO of BIMCO.Gwynne has a background in marine consultancy and…