Biden Signs $1 Trillion Infrastructure Bill into Law
President Joe Biden signed into law a $1 trillion infrastructure bill at a White House ceremony on Monday that drew Democrats and Republicans who pushed the legislation through a deeply divided U.S. Congress.The measure is designed to create jobs across the country by dispersing billions of dollars to state and local governments to fix crumbling bridges and roads, and expanding broadband internet access to millions of Americans.The bill-signing ceremony…
FMC Examining How Data Can Improve Ocean Cargo Velocity
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said it has set out to identify data constraints that impede the flow of ocean cargo and add to supply chain inefficiencies as severe bottlenecks continue to hamper global supply chains.Launched at the direction of FMC Chairman Daniel B. Maffei and spearheaded by Commissioner Carl W. Bentzel, the initiative seeks to to pinpoint how data can contribute to the long-term reliability of the domestic cargo delivery system.
Italian Coast Guard Orders New Multi-mission Ship
The Italian Coast Guard on Monday signed a contract for the design and construction of a new multi-role offshore unit (UAM) for missions ranging from sea rescue to maritime safety, from marine conservation to fish resources protection, as well as civil protection.The signing took place in Rome at the headquarters of the General Command of the Harbor Authorities - Coast Guard between the Commanding General, Adm.
Biden Names Landrieu to Oversee Infrastructure Plan
President Joe Biden named former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to oversee implementation of the $1 trillion infrastructure plan, the White House said on Sunday.Landrieu, also a Democratic former Louisiana lieutenant governor, led New Orleans from 2010 to 2018. He played a key role in helping the city rebound from the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Biden, who will sign the infrastructure bill into law on Monday…
Industry Veteran Ullman to Retire; Lewenhaupt tapped for CEO spot at Concordia Maritime
Erik Lewenhaupt will take over as CEO of Concordia Maritime on January 1, 2022, succeeding Kim Ullman, who informed the Board his wish to step down as CEO and retire.Lewenhaupt has a long track record in tanker shipping. He started his tanker career at Nordström & Thulin in 1996, and was later recruited to Stena Bulk, where he was tanker chartering manager in both Gothenburg and Singapore. His most recent position has been Head of Sustainability at Stena Line…
Worley, Hexicon in Floating Wind Project Off Norway
Swedish developer of twin offshore wind turbine technology Hexicon has partnered with Australia-based engineering giant Worley for FEED, Engineering Procurement Fabrication (EPF), and installation management of Hexicon's technology demonstrator project TwinWay, in Norway.As reported back in May this year, Hexicon said it would develop a demonstrator project - TwinWay- for floating wind power at Metcentre’s deepwater area off Norway’s coast.
GE Power Conversion Wins Contract for Military Sealift Command Vessel Maintenance
The U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command (MSC) has awarded GE Power Conversion an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to maintain the electric and hybrid electric power and propulsion systems aboard its vessels. The five-year contract potentially could be worth $125 million.The contract covers maintenance, modernization and upgrades, training, repairs, parts, remote technical support…
Ukraine to Speed Up Naval Base Construction in Sea of Azov
Ukraine said on Saturday it would speed up the construction of a naval base at the port of Berdyansk to prevent what Kyiv calls a gradual attempt by Moscow to take control of the Sea of Azov that flows past Russian-annexed Crimea.Ukraine's newly-appointed defense minister announced the plans after a trip to Berdyansk that followed Western warnings this week about Russian troop movements near Ukraine's…
US Navy Submarine New Jersey (SSN 796) Christened
Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) christened pre-commissioning unit New Jersey (SSN 796) at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division.“The christening is a Navy and shipbuilder tradition that celebrates the hard work and dedication of the women and men who are building this magnificent submarine, readying her for the next phase of construction, which includes launch, testing, sea trials and delivery to the Navy,” said Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding.
SCF gets $110m Credit Facility to Finance Ice-Class Shuttle Tankers
PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) signed a $110 million credit facility, for 10 years, with ING BANK N.V., SMBC BANK EU AG and UNICREDIT BANK AG, to finance two new ice-class shuttle tankers.The ships…
ClassNK grants Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to SEAHARMONY’s “SEAWALKER web platform”
ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to “SEAWALKER web platform”, the software solution for remote assistance and complex maintenance…
Marine Concept Design: Ocean "Plastic Harvester" Completes Prototype Testing
Our Cleaner Planet, a non-profit startup with an 'innovative technique to remove plastics from our oceans', said it has completed prototype testing of its first plastic harvester and is now ready to move forward with larger unit testing. The program is scheduled to launch the first of its full-sized, plastic harvesters into ocean operation in 2025.“The test parameters for our 1:164-scale prototype were set up to evaluate speed and control and the first stage of the filtration process…
Shipowners Make Payoffs to Free Vessels Held by Indonesian Navy
More than a dozen shipowners have made payments of about $300,000 apiece to release vessels detained by the Indonesian navy, which said they were anchored illegally in Indonesian waters near Singapore, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter.The dozen sources include shipowners, crew and maritime security sources all involved in the detentions and payments, which they say were either…
Shipbuilding: EPF-13 Christened for US Navy at Austal USA
Austal USA christened Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF-13) USNS Apalachicola at its shipyard in Mobile over the weekend.Austal has delivered 12 EPFs since December 2012, and USNS Apalachicola is slated for delivery in the summer of 2022.The Honorable Kelly Loeffler, ship sponsor of USNS Apalachicola, performed the ceremonial bottle break over the bow of the ship, the 13th EPF designed and constructed by Austal USA and the second U.S. Navy ship to be named after the Florida coast city.
Amplify Energy Pulls Full-year Outlook after California Offshore Oil Spill
Amplify Energy Corp withdrew its full-year forecast on Monday, saying that a large oil spill from one of its subsea pipelines in southern California last month forced it to shut its operations in the region.In mid-October, the U.S. Coast Guard said about 588 barrels (25,000 gallons) of crude oil was spilt, about a fifth as much as it initially estimated, from a pipeline connected to an offshore facility…
Boskalis Clinches $515M Offshore Wind Installation Deal
Dutch marine contractor Boskalis has won a contract to transport and install the monopile foundations and substations for an offshore wind farm development.Boskalis did not say who the client was…
ABB to Deliver Magnet Shaft Generators for Himalaya's Bulk Carriers
ABB will deliver an equipment package for Himalaya Shipping's ultra-large bulk carriers that will feature innovative shaft generators with a Power-Take-Off (PTO) solution, comprising new drive systems and permanent magnet technology.The equipment will improve the energy efficiency of the ultra-large bulk carriers by up to four percent while enhancing operational flexibility, and save about 20 percent…
Eni: Coral Sul FLNG Complete and Ready to Sail Away to Mozambique
Italian energy industry giant Eni said Monday it had held the naming and sail away ceremony for the Coral-Sul FLNG unit, the first floating LNG facility ever to be deployed in the deep waters of the African continent. The event took place at Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, in the presence of Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, and H.E. Moon Jae-in…