Keppel O&M, EMA Launch Call for Smart Solutions in Offshore Sector
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Singapore-based offshore rig builder Keppel Offshore & Marine has partnered up with Energy Market Authority (EMA) to develop energy solutions in the areas of distributed energy resources, digitalization and emerging low carbon alternatives.As part of the $10 million partnership, EMA and Keppel O&M are launching a grant call for solutions relating to energy storage systems and smart power grids for the offshore and marine environment.
NSM Signs with L3Harris to Support LHDs
![Front row L-R: Nigel Bagster, Managing Director, Communications Australia, L3Harris, and Joe Smith, General Manager, Naval Ship Management.
Back row L-R: Commander Dane Wilson, Sustainment Manager, Amphibious Combat and Sealift SPO, RAN, and Captain Bradley Smith, Director, Amphibious Combat and Sealift SPO, RAN.
(Photo: NSM)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/front-row-lr-nigel-bagster-111932.jpg)
Naval Ship Management (NSM) has partnered with L3Harris Technologies to provide engineering, maintenance and supply chain solutions to support Australia’s largest warship - the Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ship, also known as the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), and its associated assets.Under the 4.5-year subcontractor agreement, L3Harris will be responsible for the Integrated Communication Systems (ICS) maintenance and support…
This Day in Maritime History: RMS Titanic Strikes Iceberg
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Late on the night of April 14, 1912, the “unsinkable” passenger ship RMS Titanic, on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, struck an iceberg. It sank about three hours later, at about 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912. Of the 2,224 persons on board, 1,514 lost their lives.In the century that followed, ships are better-constructed. They carry more lifeboat capacity than there are persons on board. They have radios for instant communication with shore and with other ships.
Armed Men Board Vessel in Gulf of Oman
![(Photo: Dryad Global)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-dryad-global-111950.jpg)
Armed men boarded a vessel at anchor in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday but the ship was later released, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said."Vessel and crew are safe," it said in an updated advisory, urging all vessels in the vicinity to remain vigilant.UKMTO had earlier said the vessel had been at anchor around three nautical miles (nm) off Ras Al Kuh.Maritime security firm Dryad Global separately tweeted that a Hong Kong-flagged vessel had been released.
Penflex Receives DNV GL Certification
![(Photo: Penflex)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-penflex-111949.jpg)
Flexible metal hose manufacturer Penflex Corporation said Penflex Vietnam has received DNV GL certification for its products used in marine and offshore applications.Penflex single and double braided 700 Series sizes 2 ½â€ť to 12” and P3 Series sizes ¼â€ť to 2” comply with all DNV GL standards pertaining to metal hose.DNV GL rules for classification: Ships Pt. 4 Ch. 6 Piping SystemsDNV GL offshore standards…
Cargo Ship Catches Fire off the Coast of Italy
![(Photo: Guardia Costiera)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-guardia-costiera-111942.png)
Twelve crew members were rescued Wednesday from a cargo ship ablaze off the coast of Italy.At about 7 a.m. local time, the Reggio Calabria port authority received a mayday call reporting an uncontrollable fire in the engine room aboard Bolivian-flagged freighter Bellatrix, in the Mediterranean Sea, about 180 miles southeast from Catania, Italy's Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard assumed coordination of the rescue effort and arranged for multiple air and surface assets to be sent to the scene.
Enterprise Offers Crude Shipments From Gulf Coast to Cushing
![© Jim / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/jim-adobe-stock-111946.jpg)
Enterprise Products Partners LP said it would offer spot shipments of crude on an existing pipeline from the U.S. Gulf coast to Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for benchmark U.S. crude futures, as demand to store oil inland surges.The move marks a sharp reversal from recent pipeline projects that were all built connecting inland markets to the Gulf Coast as U.S. crude exports climbed to record highs after Washington lifted a ban in late 2015.However…
Wärtsilä to Install Route Exchange on 50 Ships
![Photo: STM](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-stm-111940.jpg)
Wärtsilä Voyage won a contract to update the ECDIS on-board 50 tankers. More than 400 ships already has the capability to share routes through their ECDIS. With focus on increasing tanker safety, the STM BALT SAFE project is signing up 50 tankers that frequently sail in the Baltic Sea, with Wärtsilä winning the contract. Cajsa Jersler Fransson, Ship Testbed Manager, says, “Wärtsilä Voyage has the know-how, the installed base and the dedication to a more connected future.
Record Oil Output Cuts Fail to Make Waves in Coronavirus-hit Market
The minimal impact on oil prices from a global deal for record output cuts showed that oil producers have a mountain to climb if they are to restore market balance…
North Korea Test Fires Anti-ship Missiles
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North Korea launched multiple short-range anti-ship cruise missiles into the sea and Sukhoi jets fired air-to-surface missiles on Tuesday as part of its ongoing military exercises, South Korea’s military said.The missile tests came on the eve of a national holiday in North Korea to celebrate the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the country and grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong Un.Launched at around 7 a.m.
OSV Powers Up for Deepwater Efficiency the Island Offshore Way
![Photos: Island Offshore/Droneinfo](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photos-island-offshoredroneinfo-111933.jpg)
While facing the same challenging market conditions as offshore vessel owners and service companies worldwide, Norway’s Island Offshore recently broke free from the enforced conservatism of the E&P sector, by adding not just a new ship to its fleet, but one that re-writes the rulebook in capabilities, technology and despite its size and power, environmental credentials.Simply put, Island Offshore’s…
Coast Guard Academy to Hold Virtual Graduation
![File photo: The cadets of the class of 2019 throws their covers into the air as they officially become ensigns during the 138th commencement exercises at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., May 22, 2019. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Matthew Thieme)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-the-cadets-of-111931.jpg)
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy announced it is preparing to hold a virtual graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic.The graduating Class of 2020, along with the rest of the Academy Corps of Cadets were on spring break when travel restrictions were imposed and they were ordered to remain home. The Corps then shifted to virtual remote classes which are ongoing.During the virtual ceremony…
Saipem Crew in Isolation after COVID-19 Case on Pipelaying Vessel
![File Photo; Saipem FDS Vessel - Image by Juan J.Diaz Cantizano](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-saipem-fds-vessel-111930.jpg)
Several crewmembers aboard Saipem's offshore vessel FDS in a port in the Netherlands have been placed in isolation after a confirmed COVID-19 case aboard.As reported by Saipem last Friday, one crewmember on the pipelayer was disembarked and transferred to isolation after he was confirmed positive.Responding to Offshore Engineer's requests on how many people were tested, and how many were on board the vessel…
Port Improvements Continue in Mobile
![(Photo: APM Terminals)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-apm-terminals-111928.jpg)
The Alabama Port Authority completed its 400-foot container dock extension at the APM Terminals Mobile facility on March 20, and three days later, the terminal for the first time simultaneously handled two containerships at the newly expanded berth.Part of Alabama’s seaport modernization program to accommodate larger vessels, the berth extension enables two x 8,000-10,000 TEU be handled simultaneously.
Samsung Heavy Scores $209M Order for Two LNG-Fueled VLCCs
![Image Credit: Samsung Heavy Industries](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-credit-samsung-heavy-industries-111919.jpg)
South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries has signed a contract worth $209.2 million (KRW 253.6 billion) with a Bermudan ship owner to build two LNG-fueled VLCCs, which will be delivered by April 2022.The Very Large Crude Carriers will be equipped with S-Fugas, an LNG fueling system independently developed by SHI, that will see the vessels will comply with IMO 2020 which took effect early this year and reduce the emission of SOx by 99%…
Suez Canal Zone Announces Deal to Boost Competitiveness, Investment
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Egypt's Suez Canal Zone and its Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) announced an agreement on Tuesday committing to $50 million of investments that they said would help boost competitiveness at Port Said East port.SCCT opened in 2004 and is operated by majority shareholder APM Terminals, part of Denmark's A.P.Moller-Maersk. It has struggled to attract container and transshipment business in recent years.(Reporting by Patrick Werr Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
China's Commodity Imports Remain Robust
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The new coronavirus caused barely a blip in China's imports of major commodities, but this likely underscores the ways China differs from the rest of the world, rather than providing a template for the globe's recovery from the pandemic.China's crude oil imports in March, the month when much of the world's second-largest economy was in lockdown, were equivalent to 9.68 million barrels per day (bpd)…
Stena RoPax Ferry to Become a Hospital Ship
![Stena Saga (Photo: Stena Line)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/stena-saga-photo-stena-line-111926.jpg)
Stena RoRo said it is preparing to convert an out-of-work vehicle and passenger ferry into a hospital ship to assist in response to the coronavirus pandemic.The large roll-on/roll-off passenger vessel Stena Saga previously sailed on Stena Line's Oslo–Fredrikshamn route from 1994 but has been idled since the service was permanently suspended in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak and travel restrictions imposed by several countries.Seeking an alternative use for the vessel…
China's GCL, Shell Working on LNG Trading JV
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GCL Oil& Natural Gas Co Ltd has entered a framework agreement with Royal Dutch Shell to explore setting up a joint venture based in eastern China to market and trade liquefied natural gas (LNG), the privately-owned Chinese company said on Tuesday.The proposed JV would secure LNG supplies from Shell and market the fuel to a receiving terminal which GCL is planning in Jiangsu province, GCL said in a statement.A Shell spokeswoman confirmed the agreement.The companies provided no further details.
Hornbeck Offshore Strikes Restructuring Deal with Lenders
![A Hornbeck Offshore vessel - Image credit: Hornbeck Offshore](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/a-hornbeck-offshore-vessel-image-111927.jpg)
US-based offshore vessel provider Hornbeck Offshore has struck a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring support agreement with its lenders.The announcement on Tuesday follows Hornbeck’s previous announcement earlier this month when the company said it was in talks with lenders over the terms of the balance sheet restructuring, to be implemented through a prepackaged chapter 11 filing in the Southern…