Global Supply Lines Struggle to Clear Container Backlog After Suez Chaos
A backlog of container ships carrying consumer goods has grown in some key strategic ports after a near week-long blockage in the Suez Canal, adding to ongoing disruptions to global trade, industry sources say.Dozens of container ships were stuck when the 400-metre-long (430-yard) Ever Given ran aground in the canal on March 23, with specialist rescue teams taking almost a week to free the vessel.The…
GTT Bags VLEC Tank Design Order from Hyundai Heavy Industries
French engineering firm GTT announced on Thursday it has received an order from Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to design the tanks for two newbuild…
Hybrid-electric Pilot Boat Delivered in Singapore
Singaporean shipbuilder Penguin said it has delivered Singapore’s first hybrid-powered pilot boat.Built, owned and operated by Penguin, the 15-meter vessel Penguin Tenaga is certified by Bureau Veritas with a "ZE" (zero emission) class notation and is capable of running in pure electric mode at 5 knots for more than 30 minutes. In conventional diesel mode, the vessel can reach a maximum speed of 24 knots.In addition…
CMA CGM Box Ship Sets Loaded Containers Record
French shipping company CMA CGM said its 23,000-TEU mega ship CMA CGM Jacques Saade has set a new world record for the highest number of full containers loaded on board a single vessel.The ultra-large containership (ULCS)—the world's largest powered by by liquefied natural gas (LNG)—departed the port of Singapore on Thursday carrying 21,433 full (20-foot equivalent units (TEU) on board, besting its previous record of 20…
Reinsurers Set to Bear Brunt of Costs for Suez Canal Grounding
Reinsurers are set to foot most of the bill for the grounding of the ship that halted traffic in the Suez Canal, industry sources said, with payouts expected to run into hundreds of millions of dollars.International supply chains were thrown into disarray when the 400 meter Ever Given ran aground in the canal on March 23, with specialist rescue teams taking almost a week to free the vessel.Around 400 vessels were affected by the canal’s closure…
Video: Intellian’s v45C Antenna Approved for Intelsat FlexMaritime Network
Intellian's newly-launched compact v45C antenna has been qualified for operation on the Intelsat FlexMaritime High Throughput Satellite (HTS) service, delivering global connectivity to customers in the smallest package available to date.Satellite communications services provider Intelsat released the smaller antenna class for its FlexMaritime network on Wednesday, stating the service is geared for leisure…
Harvey Gulf Adds Battery Power to Harvey Champion PSV
U.S.-based offshore vessel operator Harvey Gulf International Marine has said it has converted its Harvey Champion platform supply vessel into a dual-fuel vessel. The Harvey Champion is now operating on both battery power and diesel. "The Champion now boasts 754 kWh of battery power, which will reduce harmful emissions both in port and while underway, while simultaneously reducing the vessel’s fuel burn…
Autonomous Vessel Seahawk Delivered to the US Navy
Leidos announced Wednesday that it has completed delivery of a cutting-edge autonomous vessel to the U.S. Navy, known as Seahawk. The Office of Naval Research awarded Leidos the cost-plus-fixed fee contract to build the vessel, with an approximate value of $35.5 million, in December 2017. Work was principally performed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.“As technology continues to accelerate and adversaries become more sophisticated, our customers must constantly evolve,” said retired Rear Adm.
Carnival Considers Shifting Home Ports if US Sailing Ban Not Lifted
Carnival Corp may shift home ports of its cruise ships to other parts of the world if a ban on sailing from the United States is not lifted, Chief Executive Officer Arnold Donald said on Wednesday.Cruise ships in the United States remain under a “no-sail order”, and Carnival has said recent guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on resuming voyages, including ensuring all passengers are vaccinated…
VIKAND Hires Holmes as Director of Business Development
Maritime medical operations and public health provider VIKAND Solutions, LLC said it has appointed Russ Holmes as director of business development.Perhaps best known for providing end-to-end medical solutions to the cruise industry for its guests and crew, the company said bringing Holmes onboard positions it to further extend its medical best practices and results to the global maritime industry, including commercial shipping…
Carnival Avoids Stance on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations for Travelers
Carnival Corp, the world’s largest cruise operator, is currently not taking a position on mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers before traveling, a company spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday.The company’s statement comes just a day after rival Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd said it would mandate travelers be vaccinated under a proposed plan to restart U.S. cruises in July.The U.S.
Industry Partners Developing Medium-speed, Ammonia-fueled Engine
The AmmoniaMot (Ammonia Engine in German) project initiated by MAN Energy Solutions with partners from industry and research institutes aims to define the steps necessary to produce a dual-fuel, medium-speed engine capable of running on diesel-fuel and ammonia. Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), and due to run for three years from December 2020, project partners include the University of Munich…
New Towage Dispatching Automation Tool Launched
Marine operations software developer Helm Operations and AIS services provider ShipTracks launched a new set of integrated features for harbor docking companies designed to streamline and automate the creation of towage orders directly from the AIS system.By linking Helm CONNECT Jobs dispatch software and ShipTracks’ AIS technology, operators are able to achieve greater operational awareness, reduced…
Norway Says Drifting Cargo Ship Secured, No Longer at Risk of Grounding
A Dutch cargo ship that was abandoned at sea during a storm off the coast of Norway this week has been attached to two large tugboats and is no longer at risk of running aground, local officials said late on Wednesday.The Eemslift Hendrika, badly listing after parts of its cargo shifted in the rough weather, had been adrift since Monday, leading to fears it would spill some or all of the 350 tonnes…
Intelsat Adds Compact FlexMaritime 45cm Antenna Class
Satellite communications services provider Intelsat on Wednesday released a smaller antenna class for its FlexMaritime high-throughput satellite (HTS) service geared for leisure, fishing and commercial maritime vessels globally.The new maritime mobility solution enabled by the 45cm antenna is designed to bring a new level of broadband connectivity performance and affordability for fishing, leisure…
Saga Posts Surprise Profit Amid Cruise Shutdown
Saga on Wednesday reported a stronger than expected annual profit, sending its shares sharply higher, as lower motor insurance payouts during lockdowns offset losses…
Norwegian Partners Developing Cloud-based Maritime Training
Kongsberg Digital (KDI) and the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) are partnering to develop cloud-based simulation exercises for the international maritime education market.As a developer of cloud-based simulation software, KDI is aiming to drive the evolution of cloud simulation technology as a sustainable and immersive supplementary tool for building competencies within the maritime industry…
Carnival Says Cruise Bookings Accelerate on Pent-up Demand
Carnival Corp said on Wednesday booking volumes for cruises increased in its first quarter, as pent-up demand for global travel offers hope of a turnaround for a sector decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.The company’s shares rose 4.6% to $29.91 as investors looked past a quarterly loss of nearly $2 billion.The rapid global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines could jump-start the cruise industry, analysts have said…
A Record 45 Ultra-large Containerships Were Ordered in March
The number of 15,000+ TEU ultra-large containership (ULCS) ordered reached record heights in March, reflecting the confidence of shipowners and investors amid continued…
SCHOTTEL Upgrades Austrian Passenger Vessels
Several passenger vessels from Austrian operator WolfgangseeSchifffahrt were recently fitted with a SCHOTTEL PumpJet type SPJ 30, including the new CoaGrid. With the SPJ 30 (100 kW), which is driven by an electric motor with a battery storage device, the ship owner benefits from zero-emissions propulsion power and low-loss power electronics.SCHOTTEL noted the maneuverability of the vessels is further increased by means of the two previously installed SCHOTTEL RudderPropellers…
