Inside Cruise Shipping's Fight for Survival
In early 2021, the somber news from the cruise sector continued. For some cruise brands, their own version of “lockdowns” will have spanned an entire year. By late January, 2021, Carnival and others were hesitantly pegging their restarts for April/May 2021, and for some markets, late summer, under a Conditional Sail Order promulgated late last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What else to do but look ahead?In preliminary earnings guidance…
Castor Maritime Buys Kamsarmax Dry Bulk Carrier for $14.8M
Dry bulk shipping firm Castor Maritime has struck a deal to buy a 2010 Korean-built Kamsarmax dry bulk carrier from an unaffiliated third-party for $14.8 million. It did not reveal the identity of the seller.The acquisition is expected to be consummated by taking delivery of the vessel sometime in the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter of this year and is subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.
UK Royal Navy Seizes $15,3M Worth of Drugs in Arabian Sea
Royal Marines from the UK Navy's HMS Montrose Frigate have seized £11 million (USD 15,3 million) worth of illegal drugs in two raids of suspect vessels in the Arabian Sea, the UK Ministry of Defence and the Navy said in statements on Wednesday.The Royal Marines seized 2.4 tonnes worth of illegal drugs from a suspect boat in the Northern Arabian Sea, on a counter-narcotics patrol. This was the second drug bust by the HMS Montrose crew in two days.According to the statement by the UK government…
Offshore Wind Firm Atlantic Shores Signs Deal with Six Unions to Train and Hire New Jersey Workers
Offshore wind developer Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind - a U.S. joint venture between Shell and EDF, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with six unions operating in New Jersey as part of its bid submission, "committing to help develop and employ a productive, safe, well-trained local workforce."The company in December 2020 submitted its bid to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to supply the state with up to 2,300 MW of renewable wind energy.
LNG Tankers to Arrive in Mexico's Ports to Offset Gas Shortage Caused by Cold Snap in U.S.
Two tankers carrying U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Mexico are expected to arrive on Thursday in the country's Altamira and Manzanillo ports, government officials…
Baltic Index near Four-week Peak on Surging Supramax Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index scaled a near four-week high on Thursday as a jump in supramax rates offset weakness in the larger vessel segments.The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose 14 points, or 0.8%, to 1,770, hitting its highest since Jan. 22 and recording a sixth straight session of gains.The capesize index retreated from a three-week high touched on Wednesday to fall 20 points…
Canadian Car Ferry to Feature Schottel Propulsion
German propulsion maker Schottel has been awarded a contract to deliver main propulsion units for one car ferry of the Canadian company Western Pacific Maritime.The newly built vessel ordered by the British Columbia Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure will be equipped with four high-efficiency Schottel TwinPropellers (STP). The main propulsion consists of four Schottel TwinPropeller units type STP 150 L (360 kW each), driven by PEM motors.
DNV GL Advises ‘Mind the (Safety) Gap’ as Maritime Transforms
A new approach to safety is necessary along the maritime industry's rapid transition to a decarbonized, digitally smart future, says classification society DNV GL in a new white paper released this week, and as discussed on Maritime Reporter TV with Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL - Maritime and Fenna van de Merwe, Principal Consultant at DNV GL, the report’s author.The white paper entitled “Closing the Safety Gap in an Era of Transformation”…
3t Energy Buys Petrofac's UK Training Business
UK-based 3t Energy Group has agreed to buy oilfield services giant Petrofac's UK training business.The purchase includes Petrofac’s Survival and Marine, Health and Safety, Fire, and Major Emergency Management capability and facilities in Scotland. The value of the acquisition is undisclosed.3t Energy said the acquisition would expand its offering into marine & major emergency management training markets.
Turkey Deploys Research Vessel in Aegean Sea Sparking Protests from Greece
Greece said on Thursday it had protested to Turkey over its deployment of a research vessel in the Aegean Sea, in what it called an "unnecessary" move as the NATO…
Borssele III & IV: Giant Dutch Offshore Wind Farm Fully Commissioned
Borssele III & IV, one of the largest offshore wind farms in the Dutch sector of the North Sea, has reached full commissioning, Van Oord a partner in the Blauwwind consortium behind the 731.5 MW wind farm's development, said Thursday.Blauwwind is a consortium between Shell, Partners Group, Eneco, DGE and Van Oord.Located 22 kilometers off the Dutch coast and the Province of Zeeland, the wind farm is capable of powering 825,000 Dutch households with electricity.
Hamworthy Pumps Bags Babcock Contract
Hamworthy Pumps was tapped to supply the pump solutions for five Type 31 military vessels for delivery through 2028.“The Hamworthy business was founded in 1914 on Poole Quay in Dorset, and we are proud to once again have the opportunity to contribute to an important frigate program in the United Kingdom," said Jim McGookin, key account manager at Hamworthy Pumps. "We are currently expanding our Poole capabilities…
WinGD Rolls Out Four New Versions of its X72DF Maritime Powerplant
WinGD updated its X72DF dual-fuel engine platform with four new versions, new versions aimed to provide ship design flexibility while helping to reduce installed power and emissions.Popular on LNG carriers, the X72DF is also applicable on Suezmax tankers, Panamax and sub-Panamax containerships and Capesize bulk carriers, too.“Our most successful engine model is now available in four configurations,” said WinGD Global Sales Director Volkmar Galke.
Offshore Wind Seen as Lucrative Side Gig Option for US Fishermen, Mariners
The growing U.S. offshore wind industry will offer "a substantial number of opportunities" for the local fishermen and mariners to supplement their income, a study commissioned by the New York State Economic Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), has found.The study – compiled by The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG) – concluded that as the offshore wind industry grows, the option for mariners…
U.S. Lawmakers ask Blinken for Briefing on Nord Stream 2 Pipeline
Several U.S. Representatives on Wednesday raised pressure on the State Department to share plans on potential sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline…
Siemens Gamesa to Take Care of Gemini Offshore Wind Farm until 2036
Wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa has secured an extension of the operations and maintenance services agreement at the 600-MW Gemini offshore wind farm in the Dutch North Sea until 2036.The company said in a social media post that the original 15-year long-term service program has been extended by another five years. It did not share the financial details of the agreement."This new agreement builds…
Aker Horizons, Statkraft, Yara Working on Europe's First Industrial-scale Green Ammonia Project
Aker Horizons has signed a Letter of Intent with Statkraft and Yara with the aim to establish "Europe's first industrial-scale green ammonia project in Norway, enable the hydrogen economy, and accelerate the energy transition." The company said the first project in the partnership will be to electrify Yara's existing ammonia facility in Porsgrunn, "which has the potential to be one of the largest climate…
Fortescue CEO: Iron Ore Market to Remain Strong for Some Time
The global iron ore market is likely to remain robust for some time, given supply concerns and stronger-than-usual demand from top consumer China, Fortescue Metals Group Chief Executive Elizabeth Gaines said on Thursday."Not only in China, but the ex-China activity is also picking up to pre-COVID levels," she told a media call. "Our view is that the market will remain robust for some time."In China…
Golden Ocean to Acquire 18 Modern Dry Bulk Vessels
Dry bulk shipping company Golden Ocean Group has entered into a Heads of Agreement to acquire 18 modern scrubbers fitted dry bulk vessels from affiliates of John Fredriksen's Hemen Holding, which is Golden Ocean's largest shareholder, for $752 million.Of the 18 vessels, ten are Newcastlemaxes built 2019-21, and eight are Kamsarmaxes built 2020-21 "The transaction will add significant scale to Golden Ocean’s operating fleet…
Med Marine Builds New Tug for Israeli Coal Company
A new 32-meter ASD tug was has been built and delivered from Med Marine’s Eregli shipyard in Turkey for The National Coal Supply Corporation of Israel.The newbuild Hadera is named after the port in which it will operate. It is a RAmparts 3200-SD ASD tug with escort notation and firefighting capabilities. It is the third tug designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd. for operations in Israel.
