Bulgargaz to Book Capacity at Greek LNG Terminal
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Bulgaria's state-owned gas company Bulgargaz will reserve 500 million cubic gas annually for 10 years at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal now being built in northern Greece, the government said on Tuesday.Greek natural gas company Gastrade, which handles the project near the city of Alexandoupolis, has extended the deadline for companies to file binding bids to reserve capacity to March 20.The LNG terminal…
No Coronavirus Found on Marseille Cruise Ship Passengers
![Photo courtesy of AIDA Cruises](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-aida-cruises-110796.png)
Tests carried out on two passengers from a cruise ship currently near the French port city of Marseille showed a negative result for the coronavirus, said a spokesman for the Marseille port authority.The passengers had been tested after falling ill with flu-like symptoms, which in turn had led to the other passengers being kept on board the German-owned AIDAsol cruise ship.(Reporting by Marc Leras Writing by Sudip Kar-Gupta Editing by GV De Clercq)
Chantiers de l’Atlantique Orders 'Goliath' Shipyard Crane
![(Image: Konecranes)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-konecranes-110789.jpg)
Konecranes and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, a shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, have signed a contract for the delivery of a Konecranes Goliath gantry crane. It will handle large ship blocks and panels over the dry dock, playing a leading role in ship assembly at the shipyard. The order was booked in the fourth quarter of 2019.The Konecranes Goliath crane will be delivered with the cooperation of both parties. It will be manufactured in Europe by Konecranes in its entirety.
The National Freight Strategic Plan and the Inland Waterways
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The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was enacted in December 2015. The FAST Act required the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a National Freight Strategic Plan to address multimodal freight transportation. In the Federal Register of December 27, 2019, DOT requested information from the public, including industry trade groups, to aid development of the National Freight…
Stena Edda Enters Service
![Stena Edda (Photo: Stena Line)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/stena-edda-photo-stena-line-110786.jpg)
The next generation of ferry travel went into service Monday as Stena Line reaffirmed its commitment to freight and travel operations on the Irish Sea.Stena Edda, the biggest ferry ever to sail on the Belfast to Liverpool route, embarked on its maiden voyage on Monday evening as it left Merseyside.With 40% more deck capacity, 40% more cabins and 30% more fuel efficiency than current vessels on the route…
Ship Hull Cleaning: Shipowners Should Be Proactive to Improve Hull Performance
![Image courtesy Jotun](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-courtesy-jotun-110781.jpg)
While owners have long recognized the link between clean hulls and lower fuel costs, lack of reliable data has slowed investments in optimizing hull performance. But with improved sensor technologies and data analysis tools, hull performance is getting a second look. Owners seeking to lower fuel costs and comply with pending regulations on emissions and invasive species often look to equipment manufacturers to meet their needs.
Capesize Remains Submerged in the Depths of Despair
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While the Capesize segment has been massively impacted by the coronavirus, the smaller dry bulk segments are starting to recover towards profitable territory, partly on the back of seasonally higher grain exports from South America. Nonetheless, as the coronavirus continues to spread, the risks are skewed towards the downside.Capesize remains extremely unprofitable, but what about the rest?The Baltic Exchange Capesize index drew headlines lately…
KR Grants AIP to HHI for LNG Dual-fuel Car Carriers
![Representatives from KR and HHI at the AIP presentation ceremony (Photo: KR)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/representatives-from-kr-and-hhi-110779.jpg)
The Korean Register has granted approval in principle (AIP) to verify the suitability of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual fuel propulsion car carrier developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). The AIP covers two pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessels with a respective capacity of 7,000 car equivalent units (CEU) and 8,100 CEU.Both vessels are equipped with International Maritime Organization (IMO) type C tanks which are independent self-supporting LNG fuel tanks.
Passengers Sue Over Coronavirus-hit Cruise Ship
![(Photo: Port of Oakland)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-port-of-oakland-110778.jpg)
A Florida couple who was aboard the coronavirus-hit Grand Princess ocean liner has sued the ship’s owner for more than $1 million, claiming the company put profits over safety and did not have proper screening protocols in place.Ronald and Eva Weissberger of Broward County, Florida sued Princess Cruise Lines Ltd, a unit of Carnival Corp, alleging the company caused them emotional distress and trauma as they fear they will develop the COVID-19…
Grand Princess Docks in Oakland
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Weary passengers aboard a cruise ship idled at sea for days by a coronavirus outbreak erupted in cheers on Monday as the vessel sailed into San Francisco Bay en route to the Port of Oakland and the next, unexpected phase of their voyage - two weeks of quarantine.The 2,400 passengers, who have been largely confined to their staterooms since Thursday, were to begin disembarking on Monday for transport to quarantine stations or hospitals…
ABB Power & Control for Japan's Wind Turbine Installation Vessel
![Credit; ABB](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/credit-abb-110772.jpg)
ABB will equip Japan-built self-elevating wind turbine installation vessel with its power and control technologies.The company said Tuesday that the 28,000-GT jack-up unit on order from builder Japan Marine United Corp, and due for delivery to Shimizu Corp. in 2022, will feature ABB's closed ring configuration for the vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) operations This will enable safe and predictable…
AAL Kembla's Maiden Call at Hamburg Port
Port of Hamburg welcomed the ‘AAL Kembla’ on her first call in Germany’s largest universal port. She berthed at C. Steinweg’s multi-purpose Süd-West-Terminal.AAL…
OSC Acquires 2 Ultramax Ships
Oman Shipping Company (OSC), a member of the ASYAD Group, has announced the acquisition of two modern Ultramax Dry Bulk vessels, SBI Taurus and TR Omaha.The new…
Brittany Completes Condor Acquisition
French ferry operator Brittany Ferries said that the takeover of of Condor Ferries has been completed. The deal, announced last year, had been subject to scrutiny by competition authorities…
EMP Tests EnergySail
Japanese technology company Eco Marine Power (EMP) has announced that the EnergySail, a sail-assisted propulsion and solar power device for ships, is ready for demonstration…
Sanmar Launches Odin of Scapa
Turkish tug boat builder Sanmar Shipyards said that it has launched Odin of Scapa, first of the Orkney Islands Council (OIC) two new tugs, at its shipyard at Altinova…
Solstad Lines Up Contract for Far Stream
![Far Stream (Photo: Solstad Offshore)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/far-stream-photo-solstad-offshore-110754.jpg)
Norwegian ship owner Solstad Offshore said it has secured work for its 2006-built anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) Far Stream supporting a six-well drilling program for a major Malaysian operator.The 285-day contract is due to commence in March 2020 and includes an optioin to extend the charter for an another 60 days.
SAAM Towage Orders Tug Pair from UZMAR
![(Photo: SAAM Towage)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-saam-towage-110753.jpg)
SAAM Towage said it signed a contract with Turkish shipbuilder UZMAR Shipyards to begin building two new tugs that will provide services for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project being developed by Energía del Pacífico (EDP) in El Salvador.The new RAstar 3200W azimuth tugs were designed by Canadian firm Robert Allan Ltd. and will be built in Turkey by UZMAR. They will measure 32 meters in beam, have a bollard pull of 75 tons and can reach a maximum speed of 12.5 knots.
Big Ship Ready Port Dredging Kicks off 2020
![Photo: Weeks Marine](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-weeks-marine-110752.jpg)
The end of the 2019 saw some unprecedented funding measure pass through Congress and signed into law by President Trump. The Gulf and East Coast have continued to receive significant funding to help deepen and widen navigational channels and gateways. One of the projects passed into law included the Gulf Coast Regional Demonstration Project. Some of the ports receiving funding and underway include Mobile, Baltimore, Houston, Port Everglades and Norfolk.
Alewijnse to Equip Diamond Mining Ship
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Alewijnse reports it has been awarded a contract to perform the complete electrical installation on board what will be the world’s newest and largest offshore diamond recovery vessel. Designated an additional mining vessel (AMV) by its owner De Beers Marine Namibia (Pty) Ltd, the ship will be the seventh member of the fleet of operator Debmarine Namibia.Alewijnse said it is once again working with the Damen Shipyards Group, this time at Damen Shipyard Mangalia in Romania.