Norwegian Plans US Trips in July with Mandatory Vaccinations
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd said on Monday it had sought the approval of U.S. health authorities to restart trips from U.S. ports from July 4 with mandatory vaccinations for travelers, bringing new hope to the ravaged industry.The company’s announcement follows the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest guidance last week to the cruise ship industry, including the need for COVID-19 vaccinations.In a letter…
Suez Canal May Expand Southern Channel, Chairman Says
The Suez Canal Authority is considering expanding the southern section of the waterway where the container ship Ever Given became stranded, its chairman said on Tuesday.It is also looking into procuring cranes that could potentially offload cargo at heights of up to 52 meters, Osama Rabie told Reuters in an interview.“Our procedures are sound, we are just aiming to improve the service,” he said.The…
Repair Work Begins on USS William P. Lawrence
USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, docked at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) for the ship’s docking selected restricted availability (DSRA).Vigor, a Titan Company, and Hawaii Regional Maintenance Center (HRMC), responsible for surface ship maintenance at PHNSY & IMF, will partner to complete the DSRA. The work is expected to continue into early January 2022.William P.
More Than 65% of Ships Contain Asbestos
A significant number of existing and newbuild vessels are operating systems and machinery containing asbestos despite regulations introduced 10 years prohibiting the use of the hazardous substance on board, according to maritime testing facility Maritec.Maritec, which carried out asbestos surveys for IMO compliance between 2011 and 2020, said more than 55% of in-service vessels and 50% of all newbuilds were found to contain asbestos materials.John Rendi…
Underwater Propeller Repairs in Winter Conditions in Europe
In just over a week Hydrex diver/technicians traveled to Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and France to assist shipowners with damaged propeller blades. On two bulkers the blades were cropped while on a third bulker and a general cargo vessel the bent blades could be straightened.In all cases the best solution was offered to the customer to restore the propeller’s efficiency as close to the original condition as possible.One of the propeller blades of a 180-meter bulker was severely bent.
Oldendorff Orders Two Ultramax Bulk Carriers
German shipowner Oldendorff Carriers revealed on Tuesday that earlier this year it ordered two 61,300 dwt Ultramax newbuilds from Dalian Cosco Kawasaki Ship Engineering Co Ltd (DACKS) for delivery July 2022.The 61,300 Ultramaxes are of the Kawasaki eco design, of which Oldendorff had previously built nine units at DACKS and sister yard NACKS until 2019. The vessels feature Masada / Mitsubishi cranes…
China Ramping Up Naval Drills Near Taiwan
A Chinese carrier group is exercising near Taiwan and such drills will become regular, China’s navy said late on Monday in a further escalation of tensions near the island that Beijing claims as its sovereign territory.Taiwan has complained of an increase in Chinese military activity near it in recent months, as China steps up efforts to assert its sovereignty over the democratically run island.China’s navy said the carrier group…
MISC Takes Delivery of VLEC Seri Elbert
MISC Berhad (MISC) has taken delivery of its sixth Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) – Seri Elbert, from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea. Seri Elbert and her sister vessels - Seri Everest, Seri Erlang, Seri Emei, Seri Emory and Seri Emperor are a series of second generation VLECs – all of which were acquired by MISC from Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (STL) in July 2020.See related story on Seri Everest…
Iskenderun Selects FASTAR Coating for Five Bulkers
Nippon Paint Marine said it has secured a first reference for its new self-polishing antifouling paint FASTAR following an agreement with Turkey’s Iskenderun Ship Management to apply the coating to five bulk carriers scheduled to drydock in China this year.The Panamax ships Ata-M and Toros-M will drydock at COSCO’s Guangzhou shipyard in May and June respectively, with the 31,700dwt Selin-M, 32,949dwt Nihat-M…
Suez Canal Traffic Slows as Oil Tanker "Faces Difficulties"
Marine traffic slowed in the Suez Canal on Tuesday as oil tanker M/T Rumford appeared to face difficulties in the south of the canal, shipping websites MarineTraffic and TankerTrackers said.A trade source said that the canal notified companies that the M/T Rumford faced engine trouble in the canal and that it had sent tug boats Tim Hope and Mosaed 3 to its aid.TankersTracker said on Twitter that the…
Favorable Offshore Winds Blowing from the Biden Administration
As part of his Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (EO 14008)—issued on the first day he took office—President Biden made significant commitments to renewable energy. These commitments include collaborating with multiple federal agencies in the United States and promoting critical industry support for the acquisition of electric vehicles for the federal fleet, as well as rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement…
VIDEO: Dutch Cargo Ship Adrift Off Norway after Crew Evacuated in Stormy Weather
The crew of a Dutch cargo ship was evacuated in stormy weather off the coast of Norway late on Monday, leaving the abandoned vessel adrift and in danger of sinking and causing an oil spill, local authorities said on Tuesday.Footage released by the Norwegian Rescue Coordination Centre showed some of the 12 crew members jumping into the ocean from the badly listing Eemslift Hendrika before being rescued by helicopter.
VARD to Build North Star's Dogger Bank SOV Fleet in Vietnam
Norwegian shipbuilder VARD has won contracts to build three Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) for the UK-based North Star Renewables. The vessels, to be built in Vietnam, will operate on the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea, the world's largest.The shipbuilding contract announcement comes three weeks after North Star said it had won a deal worth around $375 million to supply SOVs for the giant wind farm off the UK.
Divers Find Deepest Known Shipwreck USS Johnston
A privately funded mission has found, surveyed and filmed the USS Johnston, the world’s deepest known shipwreck, offshore Samar Island in the Philippines Sea.The expedition was backed by Victor Vescovo, is an entrepreneur, explorer and retired U.S. Navy Commander who personally piloted his submersible DSV Limiting Factor down to the wreck during two separate, eight-hour dives 21,180 feet (6,456 meters) below the ocean's surface.
Bouchard Pays $375,000 to Whistleblower
Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc. and three former and current management officials from the Long Island-based petroleum barge company have paid $375,000 in restitution to the brother of one of two seamen killed in a 2017 barge explosion off Port Aransas, Texas.The seaman alleged the company fired him for cooperating with investigators and reporting safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard following the deadly blast on board Buster Bouchard/B. No. 255.
Survey Seeks to Gauge COVID-19's Impact on Mariner Mental Health
The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) COVID-19 Working Group (C-19 WG) is encouraging mariners from all segments of the U.S. maritime industry to anonymously complete the “Mariner Mental Health Needs during Covid-19” online survey here.The confidential survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and asks mariners about COVID-19, mental health, and their experiences and feelings when on board vessels during the challenges of this pandemic.
Seaspan Buys Two 8,500 TEU Containerships
Seaspan Corporation said on Monday it has acquire two 8,500 TEU scrubber-fitted containerships as the Atlas Corp. subsidiary continues to grow its fleet amid strong market demand. The scrubber-fitted vessels are are on long-term charter with a global liner customer, and they are expected to be delivered during the second quarter of 2021, Seaspan said. The pair will be financed from additional borrowings as well as cash on hand.Seaspan chairman…
2021: A Year of Offshore Energy Potential
After what has seemed like the longest year ever, the offshore energy sector is emerging from a position of strength, from the standpoint of both economics and sustainability. Between the lockdowns implemented to reduce COVID-19, which reduced energy demand, to the oil price war between state-backed producers, 2020 was an unprecedented storm that hit the American offshore energy market. Now, there are unmistakable signs of a recovery, and policy makers in Washington, D.C.
European Countries Helping Taiwan with Submarine Project
European countries are providing help for Taiwan’s indigenous submarine project, the island’s defense ministry said, in a rare admission that the sensitive program is not getting assistance solely from the United States.Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has worked for years to revamp its submarine force, some of which dates back to World War Two. It is no match for China’s fleet, which includes vessels capable of launching nuclear weapons.The U.S.
New Great Lakes Bulk Carrier Delivered to Algoma
Canadian shipping company Algoma Central Corporation announced Monday that it has taken delivery of its new dry bulk carrier Captain Henry Jackman from the Jiangsu Yangzi-Mitsui Shipbuilding Company in China.The vessel is expected to begin trading on the Great Lakes in late June following its transit from China to Canada via the Panama Canal. The voyage is scheduled to commence in mid-April.The Captain…
