Infrastructure Bill a Huge Boost for US Inland Waterways
The $1 trillion infrastructure package headed to President Joe Biden to sign into law will provide a welcome funding injection for America’s inland waterway infrastructure.The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was approved by Congress on November 6 and is expected to be signed by President Biden next week. The plan has money for everything from roads, bridges, ports and rail transit…
IMO Creates International Day for Women in Maritime
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, meeting from November 8-12, established an International Day for Women in Maritime, to be observed on May 18 every year.Once adopted by the IMO Assembly in December 2021, the observance will celebrate women in the industry, promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector, raise the profile of women in maritime…
UAE, Bahrain, Israel and US Conduct First Joint Naval Drill
Forces from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Israel and the United States Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) began a multilateral maritime security operations exercise in the Red Sea on Wednesday, NAVCENT said on Thursday.This is the first publicly acknowledged naval exercise between the United States, Israel and the two Gulf countries.An Israeli naval officer, briefing reporters in Israel on the drill, said the start of such military cooperation under U.S.
New Patrol Boat Features Unique Hybrid-electric Propulsion System
A new patrol boat just launched by Ribcraft in Dubai is powered by a unique hybrid electric system supplied by Transfluid and Elcome International.The two companies collaborated to design and install the cost-effective diesel-electric system for the nine-meter Ribcraft professional-grade rigid-hull inflatable boat. A Middle Eastern customer required a patrol RHIB intended for the surveillance of the environmentally protected areas with zero environmental footprint…
Baltic Dry Index Records First Weekly Gain in Five
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index eased on Friday, but posted its first weekly rise in five weeks, helped by stronger rates for the larger capesize vessel segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, was down 37 points, or 1.3%, at 2,807.The main index gained 3.4% for the week.The capesize index eased 36 points, or 0.9%, to 3,836, snapping a five-session winning streak.
Master Boat Builders Launches Hybrid Tug for Seabulk
Seabulk's new electric-hybrid tugboat Spartan was launched on November 1 at Master Boat Builders' Coden, Ala., shipyard.Scheduled to be delivered in January 2022, the Robert Allan Ltd.-designed vessel has overall length of 98 feet, beam of 43 feet and bollard pull of 90 tons. The integrated hybrid propulsion system was provided by Thompson Tractor and includes two EPA Tier 4 certified Caterpillar 3512E main engines…
In the Shipyard: Austal USA Opens Ship Repair Business in Mobile
Known best for its construction of U.S. Navy warships, Austal USA in September 2020 acquired waterfront property along the Mobile River and established a commercial ship repair facility. Mike Bell, Austal’s VP Operations and Harley Combs, Director, Austal West Campus Ship Repair discuss the plan. Austal USA’s long-established shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Ala., is a modern ship manufacturing factory, one of the largest aluminum warship builders in the world producing new ships for the U.S.
Austal USA Picks Up the Lease on the Marine Group Boatworks' Ship Repair Yard
Marine Group Boat Works (MBGW) transfered the lease of its National City facility to Austal USA. The deal is scheduled to close mid-December 2021. This announcement comes after a period of unprecedented growth for MGBW in its yacht, commercial and specialty government craft divisions. The San Diego-based company will continue their focus on the growing superyacht industry and servicing commercial vessels, with emphasis on the high-speed ferry and tug and barge industries.
Serbia Restores Warship that Fired First Shots of World War One
Serbia has finally recalled to service as a floating museum a warship that fired the first shots that began World War One, following years of lobbying from navy ship enthusiasts who wanted it restored.The SMS Bodrog was one of two Austro-Hungarian heavy gunboats that sailed into the confluence of the rivers Sava and Danube around midnight on July 28, 1914. Its two canons hurled shells at Serbian positions in Belgrade…
SHI SVESSEL "Smart Ship" Design gets BV Cyber Secure AIP
Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd (SHI) received an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an LNG carrier design under Bureau Veritas’ (BV) Cyber Managed Prepared notation. The certificate was delivered to the Hyun Joe Kim, Vice President of SHI, by Christophe Capitant, Chief Country Executive of BV Korea, at a ceremony on SHI R&D Center in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.SHI has received the AiP for its SVESSEL smart ship solution, which focuses on complete digitalization of the ship and its applications.
Hapag-Lloyd Profit Soars 10-fold on Record Freight Rates
German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd reported a more than 10-fold surge in nine-month net profit on Friday, citing record freight rates amid scarce transport capacity and rising transport volumes.The world's fifth biggest operator said net profit climbed to 5.6 billion euros ($6.41 billion) in the January-September period, from 538 million euros a year earlier.It expects earnings momentum to…
Shooting the Messenger? Shipping Carries the Can as Investors Shun Coal
Shipping companies that transport the world's coal are in the crosshairs of some financial backers who are cleaning up their businesses in the absence of a truly global drive by nations to renounce the dirtiest fossil fuel.In a sign of investors taking the initiative, six European firms collectively representing over 5% of the estimated annual $16 billion capital financing requirements of the dry bulk…
Solstad Offshore Sells Platform Supplier
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore is continuing with divestments of non-core vessels and has now sold the Rem Provider platform supply vessel.The vessel, built in 2007, was sold by Solstad Offshore's subsidiary Solstad Rederi AS and the vessel was delivered to the new owner took on Friday. "The sale of the vessel will result in an immaterial accounting effect for Q4 2021," Solstad Offshore said, without sharing further details on the buyer or on the sale value.
Interview: Five Minutes with Susan Ludwig, President, Coast Guard Foundation
COVID has presented numerous challenges, particularly to the members of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Foundation has stood strong throughout to assist, as Susan Ludwig discussed with Maritime Reporter TV.Susan, when COVID effectively shut down the world in 2020, everyone had to make adjustments. How did the Coast Guard Foundation respond?We did what everybody else did; we planned for the worst on a weekly basis.
Report: Exxon, SBM Offshore in Talks to Build Fourth FPSO for Guyana
Exxon Mobil is in discussions with Dutch contractor SBM Offshore NV to build a fourth multibillion-dollar production unit to develop its Guyana oil discoveries, two people close to the negotiations said.The talks include the potential for some future platform assembly in Guyana, the people said. Guyana hopes to develop an oil industry infrastructure to boost the economy and job growth. Officials are…
