Austal Philippines Launches Ferry for Fred. Olsen Express
![(Photo: Austal)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-austal-122848.jpg)
Austal Philippines in April launched the high-speed trimaran ferry Bañaderos Express for Fred. Olsen Express in Balamban, Cebu.The newbuild is the second in a series of two 118-foot Auto Express ferries ordered by the Canary Islands-based operator under a A$190 million contract that has already seen sister vessel Bajamar Express delivered by Austal Australia in July 2020.Scheduled for delivery in the second half of CY2021…
Teledyne Acquires FLIR
![(Image: Teledyne FLIR)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-teledyne-flir-122846.jpg)
Industrial conglomerate Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) said it has completed its acquisition of thermal imaging cameras and sensors company FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLIR). FLIR will now be included in Teledyne’s Digital Imaging segment and operate under the name Teledyne FLIR.Under the terms of the cash-and-stock deal announced in January, FLIR stockholders received $28.00 per share in cash and 0.0718 shares of Teledyne common stock for each FLIR share…
Sabine Pilots Association Opens New HQ
![(Photo: Sabine Pilots Association)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-sabine-pilots-association-122845.jpg)
The Sabine Pilots Association on Monday formally opened its new headquarters located in Port Arthur, TexasThe new structure is designed and built to enable the Sabine Pilots to handle the growth and challenges of expanding shipping demands on their waterway.Present at the opening ceremony were some 500 maritime community stakeholders as well as elected and appointed governmental and port area leaders. Speakers were Captain Charles A.
Brix Marine Building Water Taxi for QXMC
![(Image: Brix Marine)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-brix-marine-122844.jpg)
Boatbuilder Brix Marine (formerly Armstrong Marine USA) is currently constructing the 32’ x 12’ catamaran for the Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC). QXMC is the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation, located on Cortes Island, B.C, Canada. The corporation, whose activities include industries such as forestry, aquaculture, tourism, and retail, will operate the twelve-passenger vessel as a water taxi.
Remotely Operated Locks: Progress, But Still Under Study
![Locks & Dam 4, Monongahela River, also known as Charleroi Locks and Dam. (Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/locks-dam-4-monongahela-river-122843.jpg)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is evaluating remote operation of locks within the U.S. inland waterways system. Timetables are hazy, but the Corps plans to include remote operations capabilities during rehabilitations or new construction, in the work planned, for example, in the Upper Ohio Navigation Project, part of the USACE’s Pittsburgh District.In fact, the first install project is being readied at Lock & Dam 4 on the Monongahela River.
TECH FILE: The Scrubber Uptake - Economics & Technologies
![Should the economics driving scrubber uptake appear compelling for an individual owner, they must first consider, for instance, space availability and any structural changes and reinforcements that may be needed, said Olli Somerkallio, COO, Foreship. Image courtesy Foreship](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/should-the-economics-driving-scrubber-122841.jpg)
Expectations are high that exhaust gas scrubber technology demand will soon be resurge. But what lessons have been learned from installations and which type will dominate?Installing scrubber systems on ships that were never envisaged to have them on board has brought well documented challenges for older tonnage, with accurate drawings and documents sometimes hard to source. Where class documentation is concerned…
GTT to Design LNG Tanks for CMA CGM's New Containerships
![(Photo: CMA CGM)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-cma-cgm-122840.jpg)
Engineering firm GTT said it has been chosen to design the cryogenic fuel tanks of 12 new liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled containerships for the CMA CGM group.The vessels have been ordered from Chinese shipyards Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co. Ltd. and Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., who will each build six vessels, able to carry 13,000 and 15,000 containers respectively. The order of the six 15…
Training Tips for Ships - Tip #24: For your Disaster Recovery Plan, Hope for the Best; Plan for the Worst
![Photo: © Thitichaya/AdobeStock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-thitichayaadobestock-122838.jpg)
Very few people live day-to-day expecting a disaster. However, disasters do happen and a critical component of business continuity is ensuring that when disaster strikes, our critical systems are returned to normal operations as quickly and efficiently as possible. Last month’s training tips for ships discussed a catastrophic fire that occurred in France last month at one of the world’s largest data centres.
ABS Publishes Guidance on the Use of Biofuels in Shipping
![© moofushi / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/moofushi-adobe-stock-122839.jpeg)
Classification society ABS continues its series of alternative fuels guidance with the publication of its latest whitepaper examining the potential of biofuels in shipping.The Sustainability Whitepaper: Biofuels as Marine Fuel gives an overview of the various types of marine liquid biofuels that are “drop-in” fuel options for replacing conventional fuels in both the near- and long-term and their potential to contribute to industry decarbonization goals.
Back to the Drawing Board: Analyzing Social Impact of Sustainable Energy
![Photo: Martin & Ottaway](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-martin-ottaway-122836.jpg)
The future could be bright for small island nations. Cheap sustainable energy is the core component of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Engineers like making things, but rarely think of the social impact that flows from their creations. Today, while we are standing at the threshold of sustainable energy, we should take a moment to reflect on the social impact of sustainable energy.
Cavotec Wins Port Power Supply Deal for Malta’s Valletta Grand Harbor
![Image courtesy Cavotec](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-courtesy-cavotec-122835.jpg)
Cavotec won a contract by Nidec ASI as part of its $14.5 million deal to provide ShorePower to five cruise liner berths at Malta’s Valletta Grand Harbor. The project is part of a major EU funded initiative by Infrastructure Malta to electrify the entire harbor and reduce portside ship emissions by 90%.Cavotec's ShorePower solution has been designed to meet the specific requirements of the Valletta Port and connect vessels over their entire port length.
Taiwan Navigation Selects Inmarsat's Fleet Connect
Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat said JRC (Japan Radio Company Co. Ltd.) has joined its group of Certified Application Providers (CAP) offering applications…
DNV Certifies NYK's Online Cargo-handling Training
![On February 3, NYK released the NYK Group ESG Story,*** which aims to further accelerate the integration of ESG into the company’s management strategy. This online cargo-handling training achieves this ambition. To strongly promote ESG management, NYK is encouraging new value creation as a sustainable solution provider.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/on-february-3-nyk-released-122828.png)
Cargo-handling simulator training for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and oil tankers conducted by NYK SHIPMANAGEMENT PTE LTD (NYKSM) in an online environment has been certified classification association DNV.The DNV certification confirms that the training content follows the guidelines provided in the IMO model courses and that the training is conducted effectively. According to NYK, this is…
Flex LNG Bags 3-year Charter for Flex Constellation LNG Carrier
Flex LNG has secured a charter deal with a minimum firm period of three years on a prompt basis for the LNG carrier Flex Constellation, with an unnamed client.Flex…
Suez Canal Starts Dredging Work to Extend Double Lane
![Lieutenant General Osama Rabie witnesses the start of dredging work in the Suez Canal (Photo: Suez Canal Authority)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/ieutenant-general-osama-rabie-witnesses-122827.png)
The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has started dredging work to extend a second lane that allows for two-way traffic in a southern section of the canal near to where a giant container ship got stuck for six days in March, it said on Saturday.The SCA announced this week that it was planning to extend a second canal lane that opened in 2015 by 10 km to make it 82 km long, and would widen and deepen a single lane stretch at the southern end of the canal.The work had begun following directives from Egyp
Royal Caribbean Cancels New Cruise Line from Israel Over Unrest
![(Photo: Royal Caribbean)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-royal-caribbean-122825.jpg)
Cruise operator Royal Caribbean is cancelling a new line that had been scheduled to run from Israel to Greece and Cyprus from next month, citing regional security concerns.The sailings out of Haifa port would have been the first for Royal Caribbean's new ship Odyssey of the Seas and were intended to exploit a travel corridor being set up among the three countries for travelers vaccinated against COVID-19."Due to the unrest in Israel and region, Odyssey has not been able to complete the preparati
WE Tech Tapped to Help Power Finnish Corvettes
![Pohjanmaa Class Corvettes in the Finnish Archipelago. (Illustration source: The Finnish Defence Forces)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/pohjanmaa-class-corvettes-in-the-122824.jpg)
WE Tech Solutions Oy in Vaasa, Finland won an order for its WE Drives to control the RENK Advanced Electric Drive (AED) onboard the Pohjanmaa-class Corvettes for The Finnish Defence Forces. The WE Drives are essential for smooth operation in the different operating modes of the Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas (CODELAG) Propulsion system. The WE Drives are supplied to RENK Augsburg, Germany, who is…
Stena RoRo E-Flexer Côte d'Opale Delivered to DFDS
![Image courtesy Stena](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-courtesy-stena-122822.jpg)
The RoPax vessel Côte d'Opale – Stena's fifth E-Flexer vessel from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai) – was delivered May 17, 2021 in a ceremony with representatives from Stena RoRo, DFDS and the shipyard.The ship, at 214m long will become the longest ferry operating in the English Channe will enter service during the summer.“Our focus is to adapt the design to our customers' specific wishes…
BSM Debuts Digital Pay Platform for Seafarers
![Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/bernhard-schulte-shipmanagement-bsm-122821.jpg)
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) launched BSM NiumPay, a digital payment platform for its seafarers and their families to manage finances. The new payment platform provides seafarers with a multi-currency eWallet and a complimentary VISA card. In addition, a supplementary VISA card is available for the seafarer’s family.With BSM NiumPay, seafarers can receive and send funds home in real-time, exchange money at best trading rates as well as withdraw cash at most ATMs worldwide.
EU to Toughen Rules on Offshore Platform, Ship Recycling
![Credit: JOHN/AdobeStock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/credit-johnadobestock-122820.jpg)
The European Union on Monday said it would toughen its rules on ship recycling and decommissioning offshore oil and gas sites, and set new targets to restore damaged marine ecosystems.Sectors linked to seas and oceans, such as shipping, fishing and offshore electricity generation, employ more than 4 million people in the EU. They are also facing a clutch of challenges, from climate change's disruption of fish habitats…