Large Flag States Continuing Excellent Performance -ICS
Many of the largest flag states—including the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China), Singapore as well as the Bahamas and Cyprus—continue to perform to an exceptionally high standard, with traditional flags and open registers performing equally well, according to the International Chamber of Shipping's (ICS) recently published Flag State Performance Table (2020/2021)."The table clearly indicates that distinctions between 'traditional' flags and open registers are no longer meaningful.
Guam Shipyard Settles EPA Pollution Violations
Ship repair yard Guam Shipyard will pay nearly $70,000 and take measures to improve its facilities following multiple pollution violations discovered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2018.The EPA said on Tuesday its settlement with Guam Industrial Services, Inc., doing business as Guam Shipyard, includes a $68,388 penalty as well as mandatory installation of preventative measures…
Teresa Peacock Joins Dryad Global as Non-executive Director
Maritime security risk management firm Dryad Global announced Tuesday it has appointed Teresa Peacock as its first non-executive director.Peacock is currently managing director at maritime staffing and recruitment firm Spinnaker Global and a member of the Maritime UK’s Diversity Taskforce, a board member of the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA UK) and a part of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Women and Work.
Maine Maritime Academy Partners with SailPlan
Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) announced Tuesday it is partnering with maritime technology company SailPlan to accelerate the development of an intelligent vessel’s navigation platform and shoreside vessel control.The academy said it equip its fleet, including the autonomous 41-foot workboat R/V Quickwater, with the Reston, Va. based startup’s intelligent navigation platform. SailPlan will provide real…
Op/ed: Investing in America’s Critical Maritime Infrastructure
Congress recently made a major, if little noticed, new investment in American infrastructure. As part of the year-end budget deal, lawmakers released $10 billion that had been locked away in the Harbor Maintenance Tax Trust Fund to be used for its intended purpose: dredging U.S. harbors to keep our ports open and support U.S. economic and national security.Maritime infrastructure is an indispensable national asset, which is why the U.S.
Tug Malta Takes Delivery of New Tug from Damen
Maltese tug operator Tug Malta has taken delivery of Senglea, a new Damen RSD Tug 2513 to be used for maneuvering container vessels in and out of the harbor.Handed over on January 15, the newbuild joins a fleet that already has a number of Damen ASD tugs, but is the first RSD tug to operate in the region.Tug Malta, owned by Rimorchiatori Mediterranei Spa, ordered the vessel in November 2019. Built at Damen’s Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam, she has a bollard pull of 80 tonnes.
Boomsma Cargo Ship Equipped With Wind Propulsion Units
Boomsma Shipping announced its general cargo vessel Frisian Sea has been fitted with wind-assisted propulsion units to help reduce the ship's fuel usage and emissions as the shipping industry continues work to reduce its environmental footprint. “We believe it is necessary and very important to meet sustainability challenges to reduce our environmental footprint. Together with the IMO decarbonization…
Over 300 Companies Sign 'Neptune Declaration' to Ease Crew Change Crisis
Over 300 leading companies said on Tuesday they would work together to help hundreds of thousands of merchant sailors stuck on ships for many months due to COVID-19 in a crisis that risks creating more dangers at sea.About 90% of world trade is transported by sea, and coronavirus restrictions in many jurisdictions are affecting supply chains.In December the U.N. General Assembly urged all countries to designate seafarers and other maritime personnel as key workers.
Indonesia Escorts Seized Tankers to Dock for Investigation
The Iranian and Panamanian-flagged vessels seized by Indonesian authorities for suspected illegal oil transfers are making their way to dock at Batam island in the…
Managing Risk: Shipowners Not Meeting Emission Regs Face a Big Business Risk
There is increasing pressure for shipowners to sharpen their environmental performance, driven by an IMO target to halve greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 2050, regional regulations and market pull from charterers, banks and investors.“This represents a whole new ball game for the industry. Optimization of ship operations has traditionally been dictated by the efficiency of delivery around the globe that has typically meant being able to sail at full speed…
Seismic Surveyor Polarcus Sees Shares Nosedive as it Defaults on Debt Payment
Oslo-listed seismic surveyor Polarcus has defaulted on its bank loans and bonds, it said on Tuesday, sending the company's shares plunging more than 30%.Polarcus and other seismic surveyors have been hit by weak demand as oil companies slash spending on geological data amid the coronavirus pandemic and last year's crash in the price of crude."The company intends to pursue all available options with…
Hyundai Heavy Industries Plans IPO for Green Tech Investment
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd said on Tuesday that it plans an initial public offering (IPO) to raise funds toward a 1 trillion won ($905 million) investment over five years into green technology.Hyundai Heavy will issue a stake of about 20% in new shares within the year, the shipbuilder said in a statement.The money will go toward the development and construction of green ships and facilities, advancement of technologies such as dual-fuel propulsion and autonomous sai
US Maritime Industry Praises Biden's 'Buy American' Order
President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order aiming to use government spending to strengthen domestic manufacturing and create markets for new technologies, in a move widely praised by America's maritime industry.The executive order, titled Strengthening "Buy American" Provisions, Ensuring Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers", calls for increasing the amount of U.S.
Saga Sees Resilient Cruise Bookings Despite COVID Concerns
Britain’s over-50s holidays group Saga said on Tuesday total cruise bookings stood at 140 million pounds ($191.3 million) as it prepares to restart sailing in May…
Fairbanks Morse Wins USCG Engine Service Contract
Engines manufacturer Fairbanks Morse said it has been awarded a six-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The agreement, worth approximately $53 million, enables Fairbanks Morse to maximize and improve engine lifecycle support for the USCG’s 270-foot WMEC Famous Class Cutters.As part of the USCG 270-foot WMEC Service Life Extension Program (SLEP)…
Propulsion: ME-GI to Power Ultra-Large Hapag-Lloyd Containerships
MAN Energy Solutions won an order for six MAN B&W 11G95ME-GI Mk10.5 main engines in connection with the building of six ultra-large, 23,500+-teu container vessels for Hapag-Lloyd.The engines will be built in Korea and will offer the option of operating on LNG or conventional fuel, meeting Tier III emission standards through SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction). The first engine delivery is scheduled for May 2022.
BIMCO: Tanker Market Hangover Continues
Tanker shipping was in many ways the odd one out of the shipping sectors in 2020; at the start of the pandemic, the market was strong, only to finish off the year in the doldrums, while the other sectors stayed profitable. Even a demand boost in December only managed to lift earnings slightly, raising the question, what will it take for tankers to return to profitability?In the immediate aftermath of the pandemic being declared…
U.S. Offshore Wind Developer Asks Biden to Restart Permitting Process
Vineyard Wind, the developer of the first major U.S. offshore wind farm, said on Monday it has asked the Biden administration to restart its permitting process after former President Donald Trump's government abruptly canceled it last month.The company said in a statement it had notified the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management that the project would not need to change its construction plan as a result of switching to a new turbine supplier…
Forum Builds Advanced Submarine Rescue Vehicle
ROV manufacturer Forum Energy Technologies has completed the construction of what it says is a highly advanced submarine rescue vehicle (SRV), which may be utilized to extract submariners from distress situations.According to Forum, the LR-class SRV is capable of rescuing up to 17 people at a time and operate at depths of up to 600 meters. "The new model has increased power and an advanced auxiliary thruster control system that allows for speeds of up to four knots…
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aims to Replicate LNG Supply Chain with Hydrogen
Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries is aiming to replicate its success as a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker producer with hydrogen, a key element that may help decarbonize industries and aid the global energy transition.A A$500 million ($385 million) pilot project, led by Kawasaki and backed by the Japanese and Australian governments, plans to ship its first cargo of liquefied hydrogen from Australia to Japan this spring…
