Five PSV Charters for Solstad Offshore in UK
![Platform Supply Vessel Sea Frost - Credit: Solstad Farstad](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/platform-supply-vessel-sea-frost-111077.jpg)
Norway-based offshore support vessel operator Solstad Offshore has secured contracts and extensions for five of its platform supply vessels in the UK Sector of the North Sea.The longest term charters of the five have been awarded to Solstad Offshore by its Equnior's UK subsidiary Equinor UK Limited. Equinor has extended contracts for the platform supply vessels Sea Frost and Normand Skipper."Both vessels have been supporting Equinor's operations since July 2017 and January 2019 respectively.
Rotterdam Cargo Lags Due to Coronavirus
![© Gudellaphoto / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/gudellaphoto-adobe-stock-111079.jpg)
The Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest, expects the flow of goods over the whole of 2020 to be "clearly below 470 million tonnes last year" as the coronavirus epidemic spreads across the continent, spokesman Leon Willems said on Wednesday.The outbreak of the virus in China had been seen cutting 2 million tonnes off monthly goods traffic. The impact will be far greater as Europe's economy is hit, Willems…
Shell Books Supertanker to Store Crude Oil at Sea
![© Nightman / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/nightman-adobe-stock-111070.jpg)
Royal Dutch Shell has booked a supertanker to store 2 million barrels of oil at sea to park mounting global stocks, shipping sources said on Wednesday.Shell declined to comment.The sources said Shell had booked a very large crude carrier (VLCC), which can store up to 2 million barrels of oil, for a five-month charter.
Port of Callao to Install Wärtsilä VTS
![Traffic safety will be enhanced with the installation of Wärtsilä’s VTS in the busy Peruvian port of Callao. Copyright: Dmitrii Vinogradov](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/traffic-safety-will-be-enhanced-111068.jpg)
Wärtsilä said it will install its Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) solution at Peru's main harbor, one of Latin America’s most important ports.Dense fog and haze are a consistent challenge for Callao’s port operations, often making shipping conditions dangerous. Wärtsilä said its VTS solution will provide the technology needed to ensure uninterrupted port operations, while increasing safety levels and facilitating arrival…
Opinion: Maritime Freedom & the Global Commons
![Freedom of Navigation: The guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) escorts the merchant vessel Tomahawk through the Strait of Hormuz.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael H. Lehman/Released)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/freedom-of-navigation-the-guidedmissile-111067.jpg)
“Freedom” – the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic governmentIt has been decades since international relations in the world order dictated true competition for sea control, sea lines of communication, access to world markets, and diplomatic partnerships. However, it is becoming increasingly alarming that nations such as Iran, China and Russia seek to accumulate/consolidate power and re-define international maritime norms…
COVID-19: Maritime and Coastguard Agency Issues "Unprecedented Exemption" for Car Ferry
![Photo: Red Funnel](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-red-funnel-111064.jpg)
MCA grants temporary ability for Red Funnel passengers to remain in vehicles on select crossingsRed Funnel worked with the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to identify exceptional solutions to support the government’s social distancing guidance in response to COVID-19 and respond to passengers’ requests to remain in vehicles during crossings.“We’d like to thank the MCA for working with us to identify solutions to allow our passengers this option during this exceptional time…
Indonesia Revokes Rule Requiring Domestic Ships for Some Exports
![© Stephane Rochon / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/stephane-rochon-adobe-stock-111065.jpg)
Indonesia's government will revoke rules requiring exporters of coal and palm oil to use domestic shipping companies for shipments, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan told reporters on Wednesday.Indonesia, the world's biggest thermal coal exporter, issued regulations in 2018 requiring its coal and palm oil exporters to use domestic shipping companies, which were…
Today in Maritime History: Grounding of the Supertanker Torrey Canyon
On the world stage, the grounding of the supertanker TORREY CANYON on Pollard’s Rock in the Seven Stones reef between Cornwall and the Scilly Isles is more significant…
USCG Advises on Minimizing Novel Coronavirus at Sea
![© Inna/AdobeStock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/innaadobestock-111062.jpg)
The Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy has published an update March 16, 2020 to MSIB: Novel Coronavirus – Update (Change 2)An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) may affect mariners and maritime commerce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their Interim Guidance for Ships on Managing Suspected Coronavirus Disease…
Sakashita Takes the Helm at ClassNK
![Hiroaki Sakashita has been appointed as President & CEO as well as a Representative Director of classification society ClassNK,](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/hiroaki-sakashita-has-been-appointed-111059.jpg)
Hiroaki Sakashita has been appointed as President & CEO as well as a Representative Director of classification society ClassNK, effective March 18, 2020. Current Senior Executive Vice Presidents Tetsuya Kinoshita, Junichiro Iida, and Dr. Toshiyuki Shigemi will continue in their present roles on the team, joined by Hirofumi Takano and Taira Narisawa as Executive Vice President.Koichi Fujiwara has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors…
South Africa Quarantines Two Ships
South Africa is holding the cruise liner MV AIDAmira and a cargo vessel off Cape Town after a crew member on board one of the ships showed signs of the coronavirus…
Baltic States Send Ships for Stranded Citizens
![(File photo: Tallink)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-tallink-111049.jpg)
Estonia and Latvia will send ships to bring back hundreds of their citizens stranded on the border between Germany and Poland, following Warsaw’s decision last week to shut its borders in response to the coronavirus outbreak, officials said.The three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - have criticized Poland for preventing their citizens in transit from returning home.Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki came under fire over the move during a coronavirus videocall of all 27
COVID-19 and Supply Chain Implications for Ocean Shipping
![© hanohiki / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/hanohiki-adobe-stock-111048.jpg)
Only 10 days ago, reports indicated that China cargoes were returning to pre-coronavirus levels, and there appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel. Today, however, a barrage of new headlines has underscored the impact on the rapidly changing global supply chain, including in the United States. In addition to the aggressive spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), new economic developments indicate a decreased trend in global manufacturing.
Maersk Suspends Crew Changes
![(Photo: Eric Haun)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-eric-haun-111047.jpg)
The widespread coronavirus outbreak has led the world's largest container carrier to suspend crew changes aboard its entire fleet of operated vessels until April 14, a Maersk spokesperson confirmed to MarineLink.The full statement from A.P. Moller - Maersk is below:With the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extraordinarily fast-paced closing of borders and cancellations of airline services…
Seatronx Launches River Radar Display
![(Photo: Seatronx)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-seatronx-111046.jpg)
Seatronx, manufacturer, distributor and designer of rugged electronics catering specifically to the military, maritime and industrial markets, launched of the sunlight-readable RRD-19T River Radar Display designed for river-based commercial vessels.The RRD-19T features a 19-inch display with portrait orientation designed specifically for river radar systems. The portrait format allows operators to see further down the river, while highlighting traffic, weather and markers in narrow channels.
Port of Virginia Providing Berth Space for Cruise Ships
![Norwegian Bliss (Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/norwegian-bliss-photo-norwegian-cruise-111044.jpg)
The Port of Virginia said it has opened its doors to cruise ships idled by the coronavirus pandemic.Since the outbreak of the virus and the cruise industry’s voluntary suspension of U.S. operations, empty cruise ships have been seeking temporary berth opportunities at multiple ports, with Florida taking the greatest share of the vessels. For a cruise ship, it is more economical to idle at a port rather…
Bouchard Says All Back Pay Processed
![(File photo: Bouchard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-bouchard-111043.jpg)
Bouchard Transportation Co. reports all back pay has been processed as the company continues to work to raise capital that would allow it to return its vessels to service, the company's president and CEO Morton S. Bouchard III said Tuesday in a letter to staff, customers and vendors.The full letter is below:To Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. Valued Staff, Customers and Vendors:On Monday, March 16, 2020 Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc.
DMC to Equip Three New TSHDs
![Photo: DMC](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-dmc-111027.jpg)
Damen Marine Components has won an order to supply three sets of steering and rudder systems for three dual-fueled trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHDs) currently being built at Keppel Offshore & Marine’s shipyard in Singapore for Van Oord.The vessels will be 138-meters in length and have a hopper capacity of 10,500 cubic meters. They will represent the very latest in sustainable, energy-efficient dredging and are due for delivery in 2021.
Baltic Index Falls on Softer Panamax Demand
![© Alexey Lesik / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/alexey-lesik-adobe-stock-111040.jpg)
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index dipped on Tuesday, weighed down by a fall in rates for panamax vessels, which registered its seventh straight day of decline.The Baltic index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels that ferry dry bulk commodities, declined 11 points, or 1.8%, to 612The panamax index dropped 40 points, or 4.1%, to 930. Average daily earnings for panamaxes…
Naval Shipyards Recruiting Robots
![(U.S. Navy photo by Amanda R. Gray)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/us-navy-photo-by-amanda-111039.jpg)
Inspecting fuel and ballast tanks. Sand-blasting old paint coatings and applying new ones. Removing corrosion on ships, submarines, aircraft and other vehicles.These are some of the unpleasant jobs in naval shipyards and maintenance facilities that could be made safer by pairing human workers with robots. Experts say this could improve the speed and efficiency with which the U.S. Navy sustains its…