McKay Buys Stake in WEBBCo
New Zealand-based electrotechnology company Mckay announced it has reached an agreement to take a 35% stake in compatriot shipbuilder Wellington Electric Boat Building Company (WEBBCo).WEBBCo builds and supplies composite-constructed all-electric ferries, and McKay has been the electrical systems partner to WEBBCo for design and construction of Ika Rere, a 19-meter 132-passenger carbon fiber ferry for East by West Ferries.
Expedition Cruise Ship Viking Octantis Delivered
Shipbuilder VARD announced it has delivered Viking Octantis, the first of two new expedition cruise vessels built for Viking Cruises.The vessel is 205 meters long with a 23.5 meter beam and is ice-strengthened Polar Class 6 for expeditions in the Arctic, Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes. It features a straight bow, longer hull and state-of-the-art fin stabilizers that allows it to glide over the waves, with u-tank stabilizers to decrease rolling when the ship is stationary, VARD said.
New Device Aims to Improve Docking Safety
A new innovative device has been engineered to improve docking safety.Designed to be installed on quay walls, the Dynamic Protective Barrier features a novel mechanism to dissipate energy for short duration impact caused by docking vessels.Matthew Czerniatewicz, founder of Dynamic Protective Barriers (DPB), said other solutions available on the market today typically absorb and accumulate the kinetic energy at the point of docking…
US CBP Takes Delivery of Final 41-foot Patrol Boat
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) said it has accepted delivery on the last of 52 new coastal interceptor vessels.The new boat was contractually accepted by the agency on December 15, and it will arrive at AMO’s San Diego Air and Marine Branch in early 2022.AMO, which set out to streamline its aircraft and vessel acquisition and installation of technology applications as part of its Vision and Strategy 2030…
Over $241 Million in MARAD Grants Awarded for US Ports
More than $241 million in discretionary grant funding has been awarded for projects to improve U.S. port facilities, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on Thursday.The grants, which will go to 25 projects in 19 states and one territory through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), are intended to help strengthen America's supply chains to meet heightened demand and help address inflationary pressures…
Shell Charters Avenir LNG Bunker Vessel
Avenir LNG announced it has entered into a time charter party (TCP) with Shell for the newbuild 20,000-cubic-meter capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering supply vessel Avenir Achievement.Avenir LNG, a joint venture between Stolt-Nielsen, Hoegh LNG and Golar LNG, said the time charter is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2023 and will run for a period of three years with an option to…
ClassNK Launches App for Ship Management and PSC Performance
Japan-based classification society ClassNK announced the release of its PrimeShip-PSC Intelligence mobile app designed to assist the improvement of ship management system and port state control (PSC) performance. The application is the mobile version of PSC Intelligence PC version for ship management companies released in 2018.The free application, which has been developed for seafarers, enables them not only to manually input the reports by PSC into data on their smartphones…
UAF’s GINA Provides a Guiding Hand in Arctic Ocean Research
The research vessel Sikuliaq navigated among and around the chunks and slabs of Arctic sea ice above Alaska for several weeks on two voyages this fall, breaking through frozen slabs when it had to, just as its sturdy hull is designed to do. It's now on a third trip.The Sikuliaq, a 261-ft. ice-capable research vessel operated by UAF, pauses in the Arctic Ocean in June 2021 during its fifth year of operation.
Eye on Design: The Truth Behind Great Ships
Last year I provided a list of my favorite historical ships as my contribution to the Great Ships issue. Even though I received some pushback on the list, I see no need to amend it.I created that list to avoid having to judge today’s Great Ships, but the second time around I suppose I cannot evade my mission and should focus on present day vessels, and there is a lot of interesting stuff being produced in the U.S.
USCG Concludes Investigation into Auger Lifeboat Accident
A U.S. Coast Guard investigation into a fatal lifeboat drill accident has resulted in 10 safety and eight administrative recommendations, the agency announced.In July 2019, two people were killed and another was injured while testing lifeboats at Shell's Auger tension leg platform (TLP) in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, about 210 miles southwest of New Orleans. The incident occurred during a routine…
Stadt Naval Partners in Development of Modular Multirole Patrol Corvettes
Stadt Naval was invited and approved as a partner in the European Naval Industry Consortium led by Fincantieri, Naval Group and Navantia (coordinated by NAVIRIS). The consortium submitted a proposal to the European Defence Fund (EDF) for the MMPC-call earlier this month.The Consortium aims to maximize synergies and collaboration between European shipbuilding companies and suppliers, through conceptual studies and a design-phase…
OXE Marine Buys Diesel Outboards and Outdoor Network
OXE Marine AB announced it is joining forces with U.S. distributor Diesel Outboards and Outdoor Network Manufacturing to strengthen the focus on commercial and distribution development.The diesel outboard engine manufacturer said it agreed to acquire 100% of Diesel Outboards and Outdoor Network Manufacturing’s U.S. distribution and manufacturing business. Through the transaction, OXE strengthens its position in the U.S.
Equinor Extends Charter for Eidesvik Offshore PSV
Oil and gas company Equinor has declared options to extend the contract for Eidesvik Offshore's supply vessel Viking Queen.The contract extension runs from the end…
LI Council of the Navy League Recognizes Three WWII Veterans
Members of "The Greatest Generation" honored for Valiant U.S. Military Service by the Long Island Council of the U.S. Navy LeagueThe Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States earlier this year held a World War II Veterans Recognition Event in conjunction with Veteran’s Day. The event honored the heroic service efforts of three Long Island World War II veterans during their service in the United States military: Lieutenant Commander Jules V.
Port Sudan Struggles to Recover from Blockade and Turmoil
A blockade of Sudan's main Red Sea port by a local tribal group and threats of more disruptions have hurt efforts to lift the country out of economic crisis and could push trade flows to another regional route, officials and shipping executives say.Several shipping firms were forced to pause bookings via Port Sudan, the African nation's main international trade gateway that generates vital revenue…
Shipbuilder Austal USA Delivers USS Canberra (LCS 30)
The U.S. Navy took delivery of the future USS Canberra (LCS 30) at Austal USA on December 21. This is the second Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) that shipbuilder Austal has delivered to the Navy in 2021.“With two ship launches, two christenings, and now the successful completion of sea trials and delivery for LCS 30, it has been a busy last couple of months at Austal USA,” said Rusty Murdaugh, President of the Mobile, Alabama-based shipbuilder.
Inmarsat Launches I-6 F1, Latest Tech Communication Satellite
With a rapid evolution of communication connectitivity need, Inmarsat launched I-6 F1, the first of seven new Inmarsat satellites to be launched by 2024, a key piece of the satcom giant's platform to deliver enhanced ELERA (L-band) and Global Xpress (Ka-band) for Indo-Pacific.Inmarsat confirmed the successful launch of its first Inmarsat-6 satellite (I-6 F1) by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) from…
Interfax: Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline to be Filled by Year-end
Russia's Gazprom will complete the filling of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline by the end of this year, Chief Executive Alexei Miller said on Thursday, according to the Interfax news agency.The first of the two lines of the pipeline, which runs from Russia to Germany, had already been filled and had reached operational pressure, Miller said.(Reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Edmund Blair)
Taylor Energy, U.S. Feds Reach $475M Settlement in Longest-running Offshore Oil Spill
Oil company Taylor Energy Co LLC agreed to transfer a $432 million cleanup trust account to the U.S. government and pay an additional $43 million to resolve a lawsuit over its role in the longest-running oil spill in U.S. history under a proposed deal filed in New Orleans federal court on Wednesday.The New Orleans company and federal officials filed a proposed consent decree to resolve claims arising…
Solstad Offshore Finds Work for Normand Maximus CSV
Norwegian offshore vessel operator Solstad Offshore has said Wednesday it had secured a contract for its Normand Maximus construction support vessel.The contract is with an unnamed "major energy company." The contract starts immediately, and the vessel will be busy under it for the main part of the first quarter of 2022.The Normand Maximus vessel was built in 2016 by Vard in Romania and Norway.Solstad Offshore, Saipem Settle Vessel Contract Termination Fee Dispute
