Geoquip Marine Accused of Jones Act Violations
An American offshore services trade group is accusing Swiss-headquartered Geoquip Marine of violating the Jones Act, a U.S. law requiring seaborne cargo shipped between two U.S. points to be carried by American-built, -crewed and -owned vessels.A report published by the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) alleges that Geoquip Marine's Geoquip Saentis—a Chinese-built, foreign-crewed and Bahamian-flagged vessel—transported subsoil samples from points on the U.S.
NTSB Determines Cause of 2020 Towboat Accident
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completed its investigation of the November 22, 2020, accident involving barges towed by the Trent Joseph and George C and the Barataria Bridge near Barataria, Louisiana.The towing vessels Trent Joseph and George C were towing two barges southbound in the Barataria Waterway. While passing through the open Barataria Bridge, the second barge contacted the bridge’s swing span.
Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale Pulls in $191.6 Million
The Biden administration's auction of oil drilling rights in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico generated more than $190 million in high bids, bringing in more money for taxpayers than any government offshore lease sale since early 2019.The Department of Interior auction came days after the U.S. joined a global agreement that for the first time asked governments to accelerate emissions cuts by phasing down coal and fossil fuel subsidies.It was the first auction under President Joe Biden…
Heddle Shipyards Wins CCGS Amundsen Life Extension Contract
Heddle Shipyards said it has been awarded the vessel life extension of the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Amundsen.This week, the CCGS Amundsen will arrive at the Port Weller Dry Docks in Canada, the St. Catharines, Ontario, where it will stay through June 2022. The eight-month refit valued at approximately $12,000,000 CAD will sustain over 100 direct jobs and support subcontractors and suppliers across the Niagara Region…
Galveston LNG Bunkering Infrastructure FEED Contract Awarded
Pilot LNG, developer of the Galveston LNG Bunker Port (GLBP) project, announced that it has awarded the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the project’s marine infrastructure engineering to W. F. Baird & Associates.Baird will provide a variety of services to Pilot LNG including design of marine structures, metocean modeling including storm surge and tidal currents, dredging design and dredged material placement analysis, and support for vessel maneuvering assessments.
Samson Rope’s Training Materials Now Available on OTG’s Platform
Samson and Ocean Technologies Group (OTG), a global learning and operational technology company serving the maritime industry, have agreed to collaborate to provide seafarers with on-demand access to Samson’s comprehensive set of online courses in rope handling, inspection, fabrication, and installation.The courses will be available on OTG’s Ocean Learning Platform, which was specially created to deliver blended learning…
Rear Admiral Hann Confirmed to NOAA Leadership Post
The U.S. Senate confirmed on Tuesday evening President Biden’s nomination of NOAA Rear Admiral Nancy Hann to lead the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps), one of the nation’s eight uniformed services.“From flying into hurricanes to crewing remote explorations to the deepest depths of the ocean, the NOAA Corps drives NOAA’s science forward,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo.
Missouri River Shipping Channel Dredged
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, collaborated with the St. Paul District, of the Mississippi Valley Division, to bring the Dredge Goetz onto the Missouri River from late October through early November 2021 to participate in a pilot project to dredge sediment that had created shallow areas in the shipping channel.The Goetz has provided critical assistance to the Kansas City District through this pilot program, said Maj.
Asia's First Newbuild SOV Launched in Vietnam
Asia's first newbuild service operation vessel (SOV) has been launched in Vietnam.The hybrid-electric TSS Pioneer is being built by Vard Vung Tau for owner Ta San Shang Marine Co., Ltd, a joint venture between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) and Ta Tong Marine Co., Ltd. (TTM). It is scheduled to be delivered in early 2022.The 6,000 GT vessel will be time-chartered to Orsted Taiwan Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Denmark-based Ørsted…
Chinese Data Law Adds to Global Shipping Disruption
Ships in Chinese waters are disappearing from tracking systems following the introduction of a new data law in China, frustrating efforts to ease bottlenecks that are snarling the global economy, according to three shipping sources directly impacted.China's Personal Information Protection Law, which came into effect on Nov. 1, has added to a raft of new rules designed to increase government control…
Baltic Dry Index Extends Losses as Vessel Rates Drag
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index fell for a fifth straight session on Wednesday to its lowest in more than five months, as rates slipped across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, dropped 161 points, or 6.2% - the most in two weeks - to its lowest since June 8 at 2,430 points.The capesize index shed 319 points, or 9.4%, to its lowest since early June at 3,064.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which transpor
Report: Germany's Nord Stream 2 Move May Delay Start-up to March
A German regulator's decision to suspend licensing of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline could delay commissioning of the infrastructure to March 2022, government sources told Reuters."I expect that the start of Nord Stream 2 could be delayed until March 2022," a government source said on Wednesday.The source cited the need for Russia's Gazprom to create a limited liability company under German law, adding…
U.S. Offshore Oil Auction Starts Under Court Order, Shadow of Climate Deal
The Biden administration on Wednesday will auction oil drilling rights to 80 million acres in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico days after joining a global agreement that for the first time targeted fossil fuels as the main driver of global warming.The sale by the Department of Interior will be the first under President Joe Biden, whose administration paused drilling sales under a promise to end development on federal properties.
Inmarsat, Maersk Supply Service Strike Deal for Fleet Xpress Digital Portfolio
Inmarsat, the mobile satellite communications provider, has extended its Fleet Xpress service agreement with offshore vessel owner Maersk Supply Service. The extension includes fleet-wide IoT-based ship management connectivity on separate, dedicated bandwidths. The extension has also enabled Maersk Supply Service to evaluate new vessel performance tools for selection, available through Inmarsat’s Certified Application Provider (CAP) program.Operating off Europe…
SBM Offshore to Build Fourth FPSO for Exxon in Guyana
Dutch FPSO specialist SBM Offshore has won contracts to perform Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) for an FPSO for Exxon's Yellowtail development offshore Guyana. This will be SBM Offshore's largest-ever FPSO.The FEED contract for what will be Guyana's fourth FPSO, and fourth delivered by SBM Offshore, triggers the initial release of funds by ExxonMobil to begin FEED activities and secure a Fast4Ward hull.
