Operator of Grounded Bulker in Mauritius Apologizes for Oil Spill
![(Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/satellite-image-2020-maxar-technologies-115386.jpg)
The operator of a Japanese bulk carrier which ran aground off Mauritius in the Indian Ocean apologized on Sunday for a major oil spill which officials and environmentalists say is creating an ecological disaster.The MV Wakashio, operated by Mitsui OSK Lines, struck the reef on Mauritius' southeast coast on July 25. Fuel started leaking from the cracked vessel on Thursday."We apologize profusely and deeply for the great trouble we have caused…
Considering an All-electric Future
![Glosten is working with Ray Hunt Design and the Canaveral Pilots Association on a pilot/demonstration project for the design, construction and operation of an electric pilot boat. Marking a first for a pilot boat in the U.S., the vessel will feature a battery-electric propulsion system with an emergency ‘get home’ diesel engine. (Image: Glosten)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/glosten-is-working-with-ray-115385.jpg)
One can hardly read industry news these days without seeing mention of hybrid vessels or batteries. We’ve all heard the praise and the pitfalls discussed by proponents and critics alike. This article is not intended to convince you if batteries are right for you or not. Instead, for owners wondering if batteries are feasible for their operation, the optimal vessel characteristics and operational parameters for all-electric vessels are presented and discussed.Hybrid vessels…
Svitzer Announces Leadership Changes
![Videlina Georgieva (left) with Lise Dumant (right) (Photo: Svitzer)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/videlina-georgieva-left-with-lise-115377.jpg)
Towage operator Svitzer announced Monday that effective September 1, 2020, Lise Demant will leave her role as global chief commercial officer and take up the position of managing director for Svitzer’s Europe region, succeeding Kasper Friis Nilaus, who was recently appointed CEO of Svitzer A/S. Also effective September 1, Videlina Georgieva will succeed Demant as global CCO and enter Svitzer’s global…
Libya's NOC Warns of Dangers at Oil Ports
![© Haris Andronos / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/haris-andronos-adobe-stock-115381.jpeg)
The chairman of Libya's National Oil Corp (NOC) on Saturday warned against the risk of a disaster at the country's oil ports due to a growing military presence with storage tanks held at capacity for months due to a blockade."Oil ports are closed, exporting is halted.
Wakashio Spill Leads Mauritius to Declare Emergency
![(Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/satellite-image-2020-maxar-technologies-115379.jpg)
Fuel spilling from a Japanese bulk carrier that ran aground on a reef in Mauritius two weeks ago is creating an ecological disaster, endangering corals, fish and other marine life around the Indian Ocean island, officials and environmentalists say.The MV Wakashio, owned by the Nagashiki Shipping Company, struck the reef on Mauritius' southeast coast on July 25.On Thursday, the government said fuel…
Ecuador Navy Surveils Huge Chinese Fishing Fleet Near Galapagos
![(Photo: Ecuador's Navy)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-ecuadors-navy-115375.jpg.jfif)
Ecuador’s navy is conducting surveillance of a massive Chinese fishing fleet that is operating near the protected waters of the Galapagos Islands, amid concerns about the environmental impact of fishing in the area of the ecologically sensitive islands.The navy conducted a patrol mission on Friday that included a flyover of the region where the hulking vessels are fishing, as well as reconnaissance by military patrol ships.
Royal Caribbean Reports Bigger-than-expected Loss
![(Photo: Royal Caribbean)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-royal-caribbean-115374.jpg)
Royal Caribbean Group reported a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss on Monday, as the cruise operator suffered from a coronavirus-driven halt to sailings that is now on course to last deep into the second half of 2020.The company’s shares, which have lost over 60% of their value this year, fell nearly 2% in premarket trading.Royal Caribbean, which dropped “Cruises” from its corporate name last month, expects to burn $250 million to $290 million of cash on average per month, while its operations
Greece Calls Turkey's Seismic Survey in Mediterranean Illegal
Turkey dispatched a vessel to conduct a seismic survey in a disputed area in the eastern Mediterranean, a move which Greece said was illegal and is likely to heighten…
Equinor's Incoming CEO Wants to Be Best in Offshore Oil, Gas
![(Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland, Equinor)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-ole-jrgen-bratland-equinor-115372.jpg)
Anders Opedal, who on Monday was named Equinor's new chief executive, said he wanted the Norwegian oil company to be both best in offshore oil and gas and at the same time have higher climate targets and develop new low-carbon solutions."I want Equinor to be best in offshore oil and gas," Opedal told a news conference at the company's headquarters, adding that he also wanted the company to create a platform for growth for low-carbon solutions."I want to go further ...
Opedal Tapped for Top Spot at Equinor
![Anders Opedal, next CEO of Equinor. (Photo: Ole Jørgen Bratland)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/anders-opedal-next-ceo-of-115368.jpg)
The Equinor Board of Directors appointed Anders Opedal as its new president and CEO starting November 2, 2020. Eldar Sætre will retire after six years as CEO and more than 40 years in the company.Opedal ascends to the top spot coming from the position as Executive Vice President Technology, Projects and Drilling. He joined Equinor as a petroleum engineer in 1997, spent many years in Drilling and Well and served as Chief Procurement Officer.
BAE Systems Wins Modernization Contract for USS Carney, USS Winston S. Churchill
![USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) (U.S. Navy video by Louis Thompson Staats IV)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/uss-winston-s-churchill-ddg-115376.jpg)
BAE Systems received a $83.5 million contract from the U.S. Navy to modernize the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64) and USS Winston S Churchill (DDG 81). The modernization work will be performed sequentially by the company’s shipyard in Jacksonville, Fla. The contract include options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $211.6 million.The USS Carney will be first in the shipyard, arriving in September 2020.
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Union Reach Agreement
General Dynamics announced today that the negotiating teams from Bath Iron Works and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local…
Bay Shipbuilding Gearing Up to Support Navy Builds
![(Photo: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-fincantieri-bay-shipbuilding-115366.jpg)
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) says it will upgrade its shipyard equipment and facilities this year as it prepares to assist with work on the Navy’s new guided-missile frigate FFG(X) program.FBS is partnering with its sister shipyard Fincantieri Marinette Marine, who was awarded the $795 million contract for the Navy’s first-in-class frigate April 30, 2020. Building a quality ship in Wisconsin…
Robert Allan Ltd. Celebrates 90 Years of Business
![(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-robert-allan-ltd-115364.jpg)
In business, as in life, after major anniversary milestones like 60 (Diamond) and 75 (Diamond or Sapphire), it seems that every year after that is worth celebrating. However, 90 years is somewhat in the nether regions of celebrations; certainly, a major achievement after say 75, but not quite the centenary either. However, Robert Allan Ltd. has been an active and growing business now for 90 years and we believe that is worth celebrating in a time when it feels…
Florida Current is the Weakest Its Been in a Century
![A new study uses a method of tracking the strength of near-shore ocean currents from a distance via measurements of coastal sea level. (Photo by Carol Anne Clayson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/a-new-study-uses-a-115356.jpg)
The Florida Current, which forms the start of the Gulf Stream, has slowed over the past century and is the slowest it has been at any point in the past 110 years, a new study reveals.Researchers have developed a method of tracking the strength of near-shore ocean currents using measurements made at the coast, offering the potential to reduce one of the biggest uncertainties related to observations of climate change over the past century.“In the ocean…
Volvo Penta Navigating an Emerging Landscape
![Volvo Penta led a completely remote installation of quad IPS units to repower Northern Offshore Services (NOS) vessel, the M/V Traveller, for operation in the North Sea. (Photo: Volvo Penta)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/volvo-penta-led-a-completely-115363.jpg)
The past few months have been full of uncertainties and even as we look ahead, we don’t know exactly what the future will hold. But we do know that as an industry, we’ll need to prioritize and plan differently. Within the Volvo Penta organization, the team is working hard to understand how to adapt our business as the world around us continues to adjust to a changing economic and societal landscape.As I reflect on what’s transpired since the start of the pandemic…
Sandy Hook Pilot Killed in Boarding Accident
![(Photo: Sandy Hook Pilots Association)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-sandy-hook-pilots-association-115357.jpg)
A Sandy Hook Pilots Association captain died from injuries suffered during a boarding accident on Wednesday.Capt. Timothy Murray reportedly fell from a pilot ladder while boarding a tanker inbound to the Port of New York & New Jersey at approximately 10:30 p.m., the pilots association said in a statement. Murray was evacuated to a local hospital, where he died from the injuries.The U.S. Coast Guard…
Pentagon Chief Concerned About Beijing's Activity in South China Sea
![Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper (DoD photo by Marvin Lynchard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/secretary-of-defense-mark-t-115359.jpg)
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper expressed concerns about Beijing’s “destabilizing” activity near Taiwan and the South China Sea in a call with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, the Pentagon said on Thursday, the first time the two are believed to have spoken since March.The call came as U.S.-China ties have rapidly deteriorated this year over a range of issues, including Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus…
Port Manager Among 16 Arrested in Beirut Blast Probe
![(UN Photo/Pasqual Gorriz)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/un-photopasqual-gorriz-115360.jpg)
Lebanese authorities have arrested 16 people in an investigation into the Beirut port warehouse explosion, state news agency NNA said on Thursday, and a judicial source and local media said the port's general manager was among those being held.NNA did not name the individuals, but quoted Judge Fadi Akiki, a government representative at the military court, as saying authorities had so far questioned…
Beirut Blast a Wake-up Call on Dangers of Ammonium Nitrate
![© nordroden / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/nordroden-adobe-stock-115362.jpeg)
The devastating explosion in Beirut should be a wake-up call for countries on the dangers of ammonium nitrate, which caused the blast, experts say.Lebanese authorities said 2,750 tonnes of the industrial chemical had been stored for six years at Beirut port without safety measures. That stockpile exploded on Tuesday, killing more than 150 people, injuring thousands and leaving about a quarter of a million people homeless.Commonly used in fertilizers and as an industrial explosive…