Update: Israel Blames Iran for Tanker Attack that Killed Two
A Briton and a Romanian were killed when an Israeli-managed petroleum product tanker came under attack on Thursday off the coast of Oman, the company said on Friday, in an incident that Israel's foreign minister blamed on Iran and said deserved a harsh response.There were varying explanations for what happened to the Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned ship, with Israeli-owned Zodiac…
German NGO Sea-Watch Rescues 100 Migrants in Mediterranean Sea
German NGO Sea-Watch said on Friday it had rescued nearly 100 migrants in the Mediterranean overnight, many of whom were injured, some with severe "fuel burns" - chemical burns caused by exposure to gasoline mixed with seawater.Migrant boat departures from Libya and Tunisia to Italy and other parts of Europe have increased in recent months with better weather.According to the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration (IOM)…
Halter Marine to Build Fifth U.S. Navy Berthing Barge
U.S.-based Halter Marine, an ST Engineering North America company, has been awarded a contract option for the U.S. Navy’s fifth Auxiliary Personnel Lighter–Small (APL(S)) 67 Class berthing and messing barge. APLs are used by the Navy to house crewmembers when ships are in port for availabilities and Inter-Deployment Training Cycles. The barges are mobile and can be towed to new bases or shipyards to…
New Push Tug Delivered to Vane Brothers
Jones Act marine transportation provider Vane Brothers announced it has taken delivery this month of the third in a series of four 3,000-horsepower push tugs. Named the Rock Hall, Vane’s newest addition is the nineteenth Maryland-built towing vessel to join the Baltimore-based company’s fleet since 2008.Chesapeake Shipbuilding and Naval Architects of Salisbury, Maryland has delivered 16 3,000-horsepower, model bow tugs and three 3,000-horsepower square-bow push boats.
FBI: Amount of Chemicals in Beirut Blast Was a Fraction of Original Shipment
The amount of ammonium nitrate that blew up at Beirut port last year was one-fifth of the shipment unloaded there in 2013, the FBI concluded after the blast, adding to suspicions that much of the cargo had gone missing.As the first anniversary approaches on Aug. 4, major questions remain unanswered, including how a huge quantity of ammonium nitrate - which can be used to make fertilizer or bombs -…
Seacor Power Capsizing: Public Hearing Scheduled for Aug. 2
The U.S. Coast Guard will next week hold a formal public hearing to consider evidence related to the April 2021 capsizing of the liftboat Seacor Power and the death of 13 of its 19 crewmembers in the Gulf of Mexico.The Seacor Power liftboat capsized, April 13, 2021, about seven miles south of Port Fourchon, La., in the Gulf of Mexico with 19 crewmembers aboard. Six crewmembers were initially rescued, and six were recovered unresponsive during the course of the response.
Invasive Pest-infested Cargo Ship Ordered to Leave U.S. Waters
A cargo ship was ordered to leave the U.S waters after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at the Port of New Orleans discovered invasive…
TechnipFMC to Take Full Ownership of Well Intervention Firm TIOS
Oilfield services giant TechnipFMC plans to acquire the remaining 49% of shares in TIOS AS from Island Offshore.TIOS is an offshore well intervention joint venture formed in 2018 between TechnipFMC and Norwegian offshore vessel owner Island Offshore.TechnipFMC said Thursday the move would speed up the development of TechnipFMC’s integrated service model "focused on maximizing value to our clients."TIOS provides fully integrated Riserless Light Well Intervention (RLWI) services…
'David vs Goliath' - Venice Ban May not End Cruise Ship Battle
When the first cruise ship since the start of the pandemic sailed through the Venice lagoon last month, hundreds of people rallied on land and small boats in protest.A few weeks later, the government seemed to listen, announcing that to defend Venice's ecosystem and heritage, cruise liners would be banned from the lagoon from Aug. 1.The move ended years of political hesitation, apparently putting the…
Fincantieri Delivers New Cruise Ship to Holland America Line
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on has delivered a new cruise ship 'Rotterdam' to the cruise line Holland America Line, part of Carnival Corporation.This is Holland America Line's eleventh ship in the fleet. A handover ceremony took place at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard in Italy on the evening of July 29.As the third vessel in the Pinnacle Class series and the seventh ship to bear the name for Holland America Line, Rotterdam will carry 2,668 guests in 1,340 cabins.
Itochu-led Ammonia as Marine Fuel Study Attracts 23 New Firms
Japan-based Itochu Corporation has this week formed a joint study framework of 23 companies and organizations with the objective of collaboratively discussing common issues in pursuit of the utilization of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel, Bureau Veritas said Friday.The aim of the Joint Study Framework is to verify and organize common issues regarding the use of ammonia as a maritime fuel, which is a new challenge for maritime stakeholders.
Update: Tanker Attacked Off Oman. Two Crew Members Killed
Two crew members, a Briton and a Romanian, were killed when a petroleum products tanker managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime came under attack on Thursday off Oman's coast…
Schottel Propulsion for Five Turkish-built, Canada-bound Tugs
German propulsion firm Schottel has secured an order to deliver a total of ten rudder propellers and two transverse thrusters for five tugs that will serve the LNG carriers stopping at an LNG export facility in Canada.Schottel's equipment will be installed on two LNG-fuelled escort tugs, as well as in three battery-powered harbor tugs. Ordered by Canadian HaiSea Marine, a partnership between the Haisla Nation and Seaspan ULC…