Argentine Port Workers Hold Another 48-hour Strike
Argentine port workers said on Tuesday they would hold a 48-hour strike starting at midnight (0300 GMT Wednesday), after paralyzing agricultural exports from the country last week with an initial work stoppage over demands they be vaccinated against COVID-19.Cargo traffic at the ports hub of Rosario, from which about 80% of the country's grains exports are shipped, was snarled by last week's strike by tugboat captains and other maritime port workers.
Lindblad Expeditions Returning to Iceland
Expedition cruise ship operator Lindblad Expeditions announced it will be reactivating National Geographic Explorer for a series of voyages in Iceland this summer, more than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the cruise industry to a virtual standstill.The Iceland season will include six- and 11-day voyages commencing from July 7.All guests 16 years of age and over will be required to be vaccinated prior to travelling onboard for July voyages.
UK's Queen Elizabeth Visits New Aircraft Carrier Before Asia Voyage
Britain's Queen Elizabeth visited the country's new aircraft carrier on Saturday, named in honor of Elizabeth I, before it leads a flotilla of Royal Navy ships to Asian waters on its maiden operational voyage.The queen, aged 95, stepped aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth, seven years after she named the vessel alongside her late husband Prince Philip who died last month.The 65,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth will carry eight British F-35B fighter jets and 10 U.S. F-35s as well as 250 U.S.
Moose Boats Delivers Fireboat to Rochester, NY
California-based boatbuilder Moose Boats has delivered a new fireboat to the Rochester, N.Y. Fire Department. The M2-38, dubbed Marine 1, is the first Moose in the Great Lakes. With a roof monitor, a cockpit monitor, a 5” large diameter hose Storz discharge, and the ability to pump over 1,500 gallons per minute, this boat will offer greatly increased capabilities to the city and its surrounding communities…
Boat Carrying Some 200 People Capsizes in Nigeria
A boat ferrying about 200 people capsized in the northwestern Nigerian state of Kebbi on Wednesday but the number of casualties remains unclear, a state spokesman said.The wooden boat capsized near Wara, a town on the shores of Kainji Lake, part of the Niger River, said Yahaya Sarki, a spokesman the governor of Kebbi.It had about 200 passengers on board, coming from the neighboring country of Niger."Bodies are still being recovered.
Gondan Launches CSOV for Edda Wind
Spanish shipbuilder GONDAN said Wednesday that its yard in Figueras launched a new commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) for Norwegian shipowner Edda Wind AS. The newbuild is the first in a series of four CSOVs scheduled for delivery from 2022. The ships are designed for service operations during the commissioning and operation of offshore wind farms.Designed by Salt Ship Design, the vessel is 88.3 meters long with a 19.7-meter beam…
Norwegian Plans to Redeploy Eight Additional Cruise Ships
Norwegian Cruise Line on Wednesday announced it plans to redeploy eight additional vessels for U.S. and international voyages starting this fall, more than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the cruise industry to a virtual standstill.Passengers will once again sail aboard Norwegian Breakaway, Encore, Escape, Pearl, Jewel, Sun, Spirit and Norwegian's Pride of America to explore Hawaii, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Asia and more.
Brazil's Santos Port Workers to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
The Brazilian government will send the first doses of COVID-19 shots to immunize Santos port workers, with vaccinations slated to begin this week at Latin America's largest port, according to a statement from maritime agent Williams on Wednesday.Williams said Infrastructure Ministry Tarcísio de Freitas made a public commitment to vaccinate the workers, citing an audio message dated May 23 that was shared publicly by the National Federation of Port Operators (Fenop).The move is a response to grow
ClassNK Grants AIP for Vessel Wind and Solar Power System
Classification society ClassNK said it has issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Eco Marine Power for the development of a renewable energy system for ships, Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy with EnergySail.New technologies are increasingly being introduced toward the goal of decarbonizing the global shipping industry in line with the IMO's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping and to phasing them out as soon as possible.
Denmark to Send Frigate to Protect Shipping in the Gulf of Guinea
Danish Parliament on Tuesday approved plans to send a naval warship to boost maritime security in one of the world's top piracy hot spots. In the fall of 2021 the European country will deploy its frigate Esbern Snare to the Gulf of Guinea off Africa's west coast where it will contribute to international efforts to curb rampant piracy.As the world’s fifth largest marine nation Denmark said on average 30-40 Danish operated ships sail through the Gulf of Guinea daily…
Austal Vietnam Delivers New Ferry to Mauritius
Shipbuilding group Austal announced its Austal Vietnam arm has delivered the new catamaran ferry Maria Galanta Express to Oceanoi Limited of Mauritius. The 41-meter high-speed ferry will be operated by Société de Gestion et de Transport Maritime (SGTM) in the Comoros Islands, situated off the southeastern coast of Africa.Austal was awarded the A$15.5 million (US$10.7 million) contract to design and construct the vessel in January 2020…
Fincantieri Delivers Second of Three Lengthened Ships for Windstar Cruises
Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri announced it has handed over Star Legend, the second of three lengthened and refurbished ships for U.S.-based boutique passenger yacht operator Windstar Cruises. The vessel was was delivered from Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo.The Star Plus Initiative program, worth $250 million and involving the cruise ships Star Breeze, delivered last year, Star Legend and Star Pride…
Signal Maritime Launches MR Tanker Pool
Commercial ship manager Signal Maritime announced it is launching a new pool for MR product tankers building upon the success of its Aframax pool launched in 2018.
'RoboRat' Takes to the Water for 'Intelligent' Autopilot Test
Robosys Automation, developers of Voyager autonomous navigation systems, built in close collaboration with Ring Powercraft, Ambex Marine and DTC, Domo Tactical Communications have put the 'RoboRat' on trial in the Solent area, a trial showcasing Robosys’ latest intelligent autopilot software for commercial and recreational vessels and demonstrations for a multitude of applications are being scheduled throughout the summer.
BIMCO: All Eyes on US Gasoline; Will Demand Exceed 9.2M Bpd?
“Fill her up, son; unleaded. I need a full tank of gas where I'm headed,” former Police-front man, Sting, sang back in 1999 on his solo album Brand New Day. This country-inspired song could be the anthem for what is coming around next week, as Monday. May 31 is Memorial Day in the U.S., the day that kicks off “the U.S. driving season”. The season runs for about three months from Memorial Day to Labor Day on September 6…
Stolt Tankers Joins Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
Stolt Tankers and Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping signed a partnership agreement making Stolt Tankers an official partner to the center.The tanker shipping company is among a wide range of industry partners who have teamed up to develop zero carbon solutions for the maritime industry. Other active companies include Alfa Laval, American Bureau of Shipping, A.P. Moller - Maersk…
Tufton Invests in Wind Power for 82,000 dwt Bulk Carrier
TR Lady Shipping Ltd, a portfolio company of Tufton Investment Management Ltd (“Tufton”), signed a contract Anemoi Marine Technologies to supply and fit the bulk carrier TR Lady with three large Rotor Sails and Anemoi’s patented Rail Deployment System, a system designed to allow the Rotor Sails to be moved across the deck to minimize impact on port operations.TR Lady is a CS Marine design 82,000DWT Kamsarmax bulker, built in 2017 by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group, and managed by Tufton.
Damen Launches Trawler for Rederij Long Ships
Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam reached a milestone in its construction of a 38-m trawler for Belgium-based Rederij Long Ships, with the hull launched into the water in Poland and transported to Stellendam for further outfitting.Rederij Long Ships owner Eddie Cattoor said, “I expect a lot from Franson. First and foremost to bring in food from the wide seas. Food that will supply a growing world population.
Biden: Sanctions Against Nord Stream 2 Would Harm European Relations
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he decided to waive sanctions against the company behind the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline because the project was nearly complete, and doing so could have harmed ties with Europe.Biden, who is preparing for his first visit to Europe and his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month, told reporters he had opposed the new pipeline since its inception…
BSEE Investigating Fatal Incident on GoM Platform
The U.S. offshore safety regulator BSEE has formed a panel to investigate a fatal incident that happened earlier this month at a Fieldwood Energy-operated oil platform, in the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Louisiana.As previously reported, an offshore worker died on Saturday, May 15, in an incident that, according to Fieldwood, happened during a non-emergency casing pressure test on a shut-in well, at Eugene Island Block 158…
