Germany to Sail a Warship Across the South China Sea
The United States on Wednesday hailed plans by NATO ally Germany to sail a warship across the contested South China Sea, calling it welcome support for a “rules-based international order” in the region, something Washington says is threatened by China.German government officials said on Tuesday a German frigate would set sail for Asia in August and, on its return journey, become the first German warship…
Wood-chip Carrier Delivered for Hokuetsu Corp., NYK
A new wood-chip carrier for the Hokuetsu Corporation was delivered on March 2 at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Saikai city, Nagasaki, Japan. NYK and Hokuetsu have a long-term contract for this vessel.Dubbed Southern Ace, the vessel will transport wood chips made from logs that have been confirmed to have been legally obtained through sustainable plantations in the Southern Hemisphere and the ship…
Marine Transportation System Innovative Conference Set for March 15-17, 2021
The 6th Biennial Marine Transportation System Innovative Science and Technology Conference, hosted by the CMTS and the Transportation Research Board, will be held virtually from March 15-17, 2021.
Subsea Miner DeepGreen to Go Public Via $2.9 Billion SPAC Deal
DeepGreen Metals, an EV battery metals maker, said on Thursday that it will be acquired by blank-check firm Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corp in a $2.9 billion deal.The deal will consist of a $330 million private investment from investors along with Allseas, adding to the list of existing strategic investors such as Maersk Supply Service and Glencore.Vancouver-based DeepGreen intends to produce metals from polymettalic rocks…
US FMC Commissioners Urge Vaccinations for Maritime Workers
This week, U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioners Daniel B. Maffei and Carl W. Bentzel sent letters to the Governors of major port states urging them to prioritize the vaccination of the maritime workforce to protect the nation’s supply chain.Letters were sent to the Governors of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas and Washington following…
Tug Crewman Medevaced Off Louisiana
An ailing mariner was medevaced from a U.S.-flagged tug approximately 18 miles southwest of Atchafalaya Bay, off Louisiana, on Wednesday.The U.S. Coast Guard said its watchstanders at Sector New Orleans received a call via VHF-FM radio channel 16 from the 78-foot tug boat Lady Loren stating a 35-year-old crewmember was reportedly suffering chest pains and shallow breathing.Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to assist…
Elaine Chao Used DOT Resources for Family Business - Report
The U.S. Justice Department declined to investigate or prosecute then-Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao after the inspector general’s office referred allegations of potential misuse of office for review, a report made public on Wednesday said.The report included allegations that Chao directed staff to research or purchase personal items for her online using her personal credit card or performed…
Norwegian Seismic Firm Reactivates Vessels Citing Pick Up in Activity
Norway-based marine seismic surveyor PGS said Thursday it was experiencing an increase in seismic acquisition project activity, and that it would reactivate some previously stacked vessels."Based on project awards so far, PGS has started preparations to activate Ramform Vanguard for the summer season, with the acquisition expected to commence in April," PGS said.In addition, the company said it would…
Royal Doeksen Acquires Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam from Royal IHC
Royal IHC and Royal Doeksen reached an agreement on the acquisition of all shares in Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam, a continuation of IHC's plan hatched in mid-2020 to return its core business and divest itself of pieces that did not fit. The decision was taken that Vuyk, among others, would be divested.According to the companies involved the management of Vuyk was involved during the divestment process and is pleased to be a part of theRotterdam based Royal Doeksen.
Solstad Offshore CSVs Net Offshore Wind, Seismic Survey Contracts
Norwegian offshore vessel provider Solstad Offshore said Thursday it had won new contracts for two of its subsea construction vessels (CSV), the Normand Fortress and the Normand Mermaid, in offshore wind and seismic sectors, respectively.The CSV Normand Fortress has secured a contract with the UK-based contractor Manor Renewable Energy for operation on a UK offshore wind farm. The contract is scheduled to start in October 2021…
Italian Magistrates Set to Level Charges Against Sea Rescuers, NGOs
A German aid group that operated a migrant rescue boat in the Mediterranean said on Wednesday Italian magistrates were set to charge 21 individuals and three human…
RSS Sir David Attenborough Delivered to LR Class
Britain’s new polar research ship, the RSS Sir David Attenborough, has been formally presented with Lloyd's Register (LR) certification after a four-year-long construction period, the classification society said.The high-profile vessel, the U.K.’s largest commercial newbuild for over 30 years, was delivered to Natural Environment Research Council and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) by Cammell Laird Shipbuilders.
Sunken Vessel Leaks Oil Near Sitka, Alaska
The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a report of a diesel fuel discharge after a vessel sank near Sitka, Alaska.Sector Juneau personnel received a report, February 26, that the 52-foot fishing vessel Haida Lady sank and was completely submerged between Cobb Island and Silver Point south of Sitka. The vessel reportedly discharged an unknown amount of unrecoverable diesel near Cobb Island.Hanson Marine has been contracted by the Coast Guard to mitigate pollution and recover the vessel.
exactEarth to Provide AIS Services for MDA's Dark Vessel Detection Program
exactEarth Ltd. has signed an agreement with MDA to provide advanced Satellite-AIS data services as part of MDA's recently announced Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) program for the Government of Canada. The DVD program is intended to detect and identify vessels that have switched off their AIS transponders and are engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.IUU fishing is a global problem…
Sea Machines Hires Moran David as CCO
Sea Machines Robotics, a Boston-based developer of autonomous command and control systems for commercial vessels, has hired Moran David as chief commercial officer (CCO).Effective immediately, this new position gives David responsibility for the company’s global sales and marketing of Sea Machines’ advanced technology to the builders and operators of the world’s commercial and defense fleets. Reporting to the company’s CEO Michael G.
Israel Says It Tracked Down the Ship Linked to Recent Oil Spill
Israel accused Iran on Wednesday of being linked to a recent oil spill off its shores that caused major ecological damage, calling the incident environmental terrorism.The…
Thai Navy Scrambles to Save Cats from Sinking Ship
Thai navy sailors braved choppy waters to launch a dramatic rescue this week after discovering four cats had been abandoned on a sinking ship that caught fire off a paradise island.After the crew had been taken to safety on Tuesday, the navy was sent to the site of the capsized vessel to check for an oil spill, but discovered a few crew members had been forgotten.“I used my camera to zoom in to the boat, and I saw one or two cats popping their heads out,” said First-Class Petty Officer Wichit Pu
Shipping Groups Tap Algorithms to Cut Carbon Emissions
Leading shipping group Maersk Tankers is investing tens of millions of dollars in digital technology to speed up cuts in carbon emissions across the industry, its chief executive told Reuters.Global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world’s CO2 emissions, putting the sector under pressure to clean up. About 90% of world trade is transported by sea.Maersk Tankers, which commercially manages the world’s largest fleet of more than 220 product tankers…
Baltic Exchange Adds LNG Powered Seaborne Gas Assessments
A new set of independent indices for the liquified natural gas (LNG) seaborne trade went live this week (2 March), based on the carriers burning LNG, rather than marine fuel oil or marine gas oil, as their primary fuel.Published twice weekly, the new indices have been given the acronym (BLNGg) and will be published alongside the current LNG indices which are based on LNG carriers burning Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO).
Newport News Launches US Navy Submarine Montana
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said on Wednesday that the Virginia-class submarine Montana (SSN 794) was launched into the James River at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division in Virginia.The 7,800-ton submarine, which had been in a floating dry dock since being transferred from a construction facility in October, was submerged and moved by tugboats to the shipyard’s submarine pier…
