New Zealand's KiwiRail to Order RoPax Pair
![(Image: OSK-ShipTech)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-oskshiptech-113477.jpg)
New Zealand's state-owned KiwiRail has issued a request for proposal to find a preferred shipyard to build two new RoPax ferries for operator Interislander.The international tender follows a NZ$400 Million (US$256.1 million) contribution to the 2020 Budget that enables KiwiRail to procure two new modernized vessels for service between capitol Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island.
CMA CGM Aims to be Carbon Neutral by 2050
![© Kara / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/kara-adobe-stock-113478.jpeg)
French-based CMA CGM, the world’s fourth-largest container shipping group, said on Tuesday it would aim to become carbon neutral by 2050.The company, headquartered in the Mediterranean port of Marseille, also announced in a statement a target for 10% of its energy supplies to be made up of alternative fuels by 2023.CMA CGM, which was citing objectives set out by Chairman and Chief Executive Rodolphe Saade during a United Nations conference…
ChartWorld Launches Digital Voyage Planning Tool
![(Image: ChartWorld)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-chartworld-113474.png)
ChartWorld has launched MyFleet, a free-of-charge cloud-based tool designed to support onshore teams to check and assess risk in a ship’s voyage plan,Following recent legal decisions, voyage plan due diligence by the vessel owner or ship manager has taken on increased, and urgent importance. Oliver Schwarz, ChartWorld’s Business Development Director, said, “A ship being ‘at sea’ is no longer a viable or legal defense for lack of shore-based oversight.
Allseas to Cut Crew Headcount 'By a Few Hundred'
![Allseas' Pioneering Spirit vessel removing the Valhall QP 3,800 t QP topsides in June 2019 - Image Credit: Allseas](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/lseas-pioneering-spirit-vessel-removing-113473.jpg)
Offshore installation, construction, and decommissioning company Allseas is planning workforce cuts due to a bleak outlook for offshore projects in the wake of low oil prices and COVID-19 pandemic.In a statement sent to Offshore Engineer, Allseas said the market situation has caused current and future projects to be deferred or canceled and has thus forced the company to reduced its workforce by "a…
Future Floating Homes: Naval Arch Students Meet the Challenge with Green Tech
![First place (2000 Euros) was won by DAO Innovation, from Romania. Image courtesy: ShipDX/GLO Marine](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/first-place-2000-euros-was-113471.png)
Naval architecture students in Galati, Romania and Gdansk, Poland, used their technical and soft skills to compete in the final of ShipDX (Ship Design Exercise), the first naval architecture competition in Romania.GLO Marine, the organizer of the competition, looked at current industry trends to propose the theme of this year’s edition: the concept design of a highly autonomous, self-propelled floating house, with a focus on integrating green and sustainable technologies into the smart design.
Eni, Fincantieri in Decarbonization Co-op
![Eni's CEO Claudio Descalzi (File Photo - Credit: Eni, Shared under CC BY-NC 2.0 license)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/enis-ceo-claudio-descalzi-file-113468.jpg)
Italian industrial giants, energy firm Eni and shipbuilding group Fincantieri have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore innovative initiatives in the field of decarbonization and circular economy, including offshore renewable technologies.According to Eni, the activities will focus mainly on waste to energy, production and transport of energy carriers as natural gas, methanol or hydrogen…
Svitzer Awarded Contracts in Mozambique and Egypt
![(Photo: Svitzer)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-svitzer-113455.jpg)
A pair of new contract wins is helping Maersk's towage services arm Svitzer strengthen operations in Africa.Svitzer announced Tuesday it recently signed a five-year contract with Nacala Logistics in Mozambique for harbor towage, occasional pilot transfer and potential salvage work in the Port of Nacala. At the same time, Svitzer also secured a five-year extension of its current contract with Egyptian LNG assisting the land-based Idku liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant with four tugs…
Abu Dhabi Ports Launches Feeder Service
![SAFEEN FEEDERS’ vessels will operate a pendulum loop of transhipment services to mainline operators at ports across the upper Arabian Gulf and Indian Sub-Continent, on weekly 21-day rotations from Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi. (Image: Abu Dhabi Ports)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/safeen-feeders-vessels-will-operate-113449.jpg)
Abu Dhabi Ports has established a new feeder services company, SAFEEN FEEDERS, to serve the group’s mainliner shipping clients in the Gulf region.SAFEEN FEEDERS will introduce a new feeder service linking Abu Dhabi to ports serving the UAE, the broader Gulf region and Indian Sub-Continent. The service will be executed in partnership with feeder service operator Bengal Tiger Line (BTL) through a vessel…
Sonardyne USBLs Installed on Brazilian Geoscience Vessels
![OceanPact’s RV Seward Johnson (Photo: OceanPact)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/oceanpacts-rv-seward-johnson-photo-113454.jpg)
Brazilian geoscience services company OceanPact Geociências has chosen deep water positioning technology from Sonardyne Brasil Ltda. to support its geophysical, geotechnical and environmental research operations across the region.Ranger 2 Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) systems have been installed on board OceanPact’s research vessels Seward Johnson and Austral Abrolhos, both currently on hire to Brazilian oil major Petrobras.
Mammoet Helps Austal Philippines Float Its Largest Ferry Build
![(Photo: Mammoet)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-mammoet-113453.jpg)
Dutch heavy lift and transport specialist Mammoet was hired to help shipbuilder Austal Philippines carry out a full scope load-out and float-off of its largest ever high speed catamaran ferry launched earlier this year.During its conceptualization phase, Mammoet’s engineers proposed a revised methodology that reduced the volume of heavy lifting equipment required to complete the maneuver, helping to bring down costs for the operation.
Enger Named CEO of Höegh Autoliners
![Andreas Enger (Photo: Höegh Autoliners)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/andreas-enger-photo-hegh-autoliners-113452.jpg)
Andreas Enger will replace Thor Jørgen Guttormsen as CEO of Höegh Autoliners effective September 8, 2020.Enger has served as an advisor to Höegh Autoliners for more than a year and became CFO in September 2019.Prior to joining Höegh Autoliners, he was a partner at Deloitte, leading its Nordic strategy practice. Earlier in his career Enger was a partner at McKinsey & Co and subsequently held senior executive positions at Norske Skog, PGS and Peterson Packaging.
DEME's New Dredger Completes Sea Trials
![New dredger Meuse River will join the DEME fleet this month (Photo: DEME Group)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/new-dredger-meuse-river-will-113451.jpg)
DEME Group's newbuild trailing suction hopper dredger Meuse River has completed sea trials in the North Sea and will join the Belgium-based contractor's fleet in June 2020.Built by Royal IHC in the Netherlands, the 7,950-cubic-meter Meuse River has the same design as DEME's existing hopper Scheldt River, which entered service in 2017. The dredgers feature several energy smart technologies developed by DEME and Royal IHC…
Gulf Copper Hires Irelan
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-113450.png)
Ship repair and marine services firm Gulf Copper & Manufacturing has hired Robert “Bob” Irelan as Director, Federal Business Development.In his new role, Irelan will leverage his experience doing business with the federal government to head up Gulf Copper's government services business development, focusing primarily on the federal market. Ireland previously served as a Naval Officer for over 25 years, including the command of three different U.S. Navy vessels.
Virus-hit Cruise Ship leaves Japan After a Month's Quarantine
The Costa Atlantica cruise ship, which docked in southern Japan with over 100 crew members testing positive for COVID-19, has left the country and is en route to the Philippines…
US Sanctions Four Shipping Firms for Transporting Venezuelan Oil
![© Fotos von Schiffen / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/fotos-von-schiffen-adobe-stock-113447.jpeg)
The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday said it had sanctioned four shipping firms for transporting Venezuelan oil, the latest escalation in Washington's effort to oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro by cutting off the OPEC nation's crude exports.Marshall Islands-based Afranav Maritime Ltd, Adamant Maritime Ltd and Sanibel Shiptrade Ltd, as well as Greece-based Seacomber Ltd, all own tankers that lifted Venezuelan oil between February and April of this year…
DNV GL Launches Infection Prevention Certification for Maritime
![Explorer Dream under the Dream Cruises brand is the first cruise vessel undergoing DNV GL's new certification in prefection prevention. (Photo: Genting Cruise Lines)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/explorer-dream-under-the-dream-113446.jpg)
Classification society DNV GL launched a custom infection prevention certification aiming to help the maritime industry resume operations better prepared for COVID-19 or other emerging pathogens. Genting Cruise Lines is the first customer working toward the CIP-M certification for its cruise ship Explorer Dream under the Dream Cruises brand.As the coronavirus crisis begins to recede and the world begins moving to return to business…
Partners to Trial Emissions-free Barging Concept in the Netherlands
![(Photo: ZES)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-zes-113444.jpg)
A group of partners in Europe aims to use battery containers on board barges to supply environmentally friendly fully-electric propulsion in lieu of diesel for inland waterway shipping.Supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the concept is being spearheaded by the Zero Emission Services B.V. (ZES), a consortium including technology group Wärtsilä, ING Bank, energy and technical service provider Engie and the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
Stena Line is 10 Years Ahead of IMO Emissions Goals
![Stena Lines' new vessel Stena Estrid on the Irish Sea: The E-Flexer vessels represent the next generation RoPax vessels in terms of energy efficiency and can lower CO2 emissions by about 25% compared previous generations of ships. (Photo: Stena Line)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/stena-lines-new-vessel-stena-113439.jpg)
Ferry shipping company Stena Line reports it is 10 years ahead of international shipping's emissions reduction targets thanks to measures such as new, larger and more energy efficient vessels, AI assisted captains and an increased punctuality.The Sweden-based operator says that during 2019 it reduced its total CO2 emissions 1.7 %, corresponding to 24,000 metric tons of CO2 in total, while CO2 emissions…
Dalian Exchange Calls for 'Rational' Iron Ore Trade
![© Peter / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/peter-adobe-stock-113442.jpeg)
China's Dalian Commodity Exchange on Tuesday asked members to act "rationally" in iron ore futures trade after prices for the steelmaking ingredient held above $100 per tonne."The iron ore market has been facing many uncertainties recently," the Dalian bourse said on its website, adding that it would strengthen investigations and strictly crack down on any irregularities.Dalian's most traded iron ore futures contract, for September delivery, has jumped more than 8% since May 26 on concerns of ti
Gunvor Returns to Profit in 2019
![© Andrea Izzotti / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/andrea-izzotti-adobe-stock-113441.jpeg)
Energy trader Gunvor Group returned to profit in 2019 after its first net loss a year earlier, helped by record earnings in its U.S. division, and said business so far in 2020 remained strong.The Geneva-based firm, which reported a 2019 net profit of $381 million after a loss of $330 million in 2018, said on Tuesday it was also helped last year by earnings from gas trading and its European refining business.But the group…