Eight More Merchant Mariners Charged in Test-score Fixing Scheme
Another eight current and former merchant mariners have been indicted in a a test score-fixing scheme at a U.S. Coast Guard exam center in Louisiana.The defendants are charged with obtaining, and intending to use, officer-level licenses that were procured through falsified exam scores. The fraudulent scores were for examinations designed to test the mariners’ knowledge and training to safely operate…
USACE Vicksburg Welcomes Home the Dredge Jadwin
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District welcomed home the Dredge Jadwin and crew Nov. 18, 2021, to the Vicksburg Harbor just in time for the holidays.The dredge and crew of around 50 set out May 3, 2021, for their annual season of dredging on the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers as well as the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. “The Dredge Jadwin crew’s job is so very important, and we are thankful everyone made it home safely,” said Col. Robert Hilliard, Vicksburg District commander.
Baltic Dry Index Gains as Vessel Rates Firm
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index rose for a fourth straight session on Tuesday to its highest level in a week as rates rose across its vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, gained 70 points, or 2.7%, to 2,715 points.The capesize index rose 171 points, or 4.4%, to 4,055, its highest in more than three weeks.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, rose $1,4
Wärtsilä Developing Smart Port Solutions in Singapore
Wärtsilä Voyage has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to further strengthen their collaboration in smart port innovation and digitalization. The main objectives of this strategic partnership are to initiate, develop and promote innovative solutions that accelerate digitalization; foster interoperability in e-navigation and ship-to-shore secure data communications to enable port-to-port optimization and establish reliable…
Langh Ship Orders Three New Ships
Finnish shipping company Langh Ship announced it has ordered three 7,800 dwt newbuild cargo ships from Wuhu Shipyard in China.The first vessel is expected to be delivered in summer 2023 followed by its two sisters soon thereafter.The vessels will operate in a regular service between Outokumpu’s steel mills in northern Finland and the Netherlands. The cargo holds will be equipped with tween decks for steel coil carriage…
Two New Tugs Enter Service at Port of Acajutla
A pair of new new tugs at the Port of Acajutla will provide services for the first project to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) to El Salvador, a joint initiative from Energía del Pacífico (EDP) and the U.S. group Invenergy.The SAAM Towage vessels SAAM Acaxual and SAAM Centzunat were christened as part of the festivities to celebrate the arrival of the first floating storage and regassification unit (FSRU), the BW Tatiana, at the city’s port.
Metal Shark Delivers Pilot Boat to Pascagoula Pilots
Boat builder Metal Shark said it has delivered a 55- by 17-foot welded aluminum pilot boat to the Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association in Mississippi.Designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team and built at the company’s Franklin, La. shipyard, the new Singing River Island is the second Metal Shark pilot boat to join the Pascagoula Pilots fleet. It represents the latest evolution in the Louisiana-based builder’s Defiant-class pilot boat lineup…
BAE Systems Debuts Next-gen Boat Propulsion System
BAE Systems launched its next-generation power and propulsion system for the marine market: the HybriGen Power and Propulsion system. According to the company, the system uses smaller and lighter components with modular accessory power system (MAPS) and modular power control system (MPCS) that allow for a scalable, tailor-made solution to fit the specific power and propulsion requirements of a range of vessels…
WinGD Sets Development Timeframe for Methanol and Ammonia Engines
Swiss engine designer WinGD announced that its engines will be able to run on methanol and ammonia from 2024 and 2025 respectively.WinGD’s multi-fuel solutions will be based on their well-established diesel-fueled X engines and dual-fuel X-DF engines. The ability to use zero-carbon or carbon-neutral fuels such as ammonia and methanol in both of its core engine types will give ship operators unprecedented flexibility in how they reduce emissions.Dominik Schneiter…
Tech File: OATECH Fish-Farming "Superyacht" Earns RINA AIP
A fish-farming superyacht developed by Ocean Ark Tech of Chile (OATECH) and its strategic ally, London-based Ocean Sovereign, is one step closer to delivering fish to market after winning a key approval from marine classification society, RINA.Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) announced the Approval in Principle (AiP) of the new-concept offshore fish-farming system, Ocean Ark. The vessel delivers a new approach to aquaculture and looks set to disrupt by dramatically improving fish health…
EU Regulators Set New Decision Deadline for Hyundai, Daewoo Tie-up
EU antitrust regulators have resumed their investigation into Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co Ltd's bid for rival Daewoo Shipbuilding after a temporary halt of more than a year, setting a Jan. 20 deadline for their decision on the deal.The European Commission, which paused its probe in July last year while waiting for the companies to provide requested data, had previously expressed concerns that…
Fred. Olsen 1848: Bonheur's New Firm Developing Mobile Ports, Floating Wind, Solar Solutions
Bonheur, a Norwegian holding company for the Olsen family, has established Fred. Olsen 1848, described as a company dedicated to developing technologies and solutions for the renewable energy industry."In Fred. Olsen 1848 we are determined to act now, and we aim to be the frontrunner in developing tomorrow’s technologies within renewables and thereby becoming the preferred partner for businesses and organizations looking for the right solution.” Sofie Olsen Jebsen, CEO, Fred.
Havfram, J.P. Morgan to Order 'Series' of Wind Turbine Installation Vessels
Institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives, in cooperation with Norwegian offshore services firm Havfram, have signed a letter of intent with China's CIMC-Raffles to build "a series of next-generation, state-of-the-art wind turbine installation vessels (“WTIV”)."The jack-up installation units will be offered for market entry in 2024, Havfram said.The first vessels will be built at CIMC-Raffle’s Yantai yard in China for delivery in 2024.
SFL Buys LR2 Tanker Pair from Frontline
SFL Corporation Ltd. on Monday announced it has agreed to acquire four Aframax LR2 product tankers from tanker shipping company Frontline for an aggregate purchase…
Marine News' Top Boats of 2021
Sea Change - America’s first hydrogen powered ferrySWITCH Maritime’s new 70-foot passenger ferry Sea Change is navigating uncharted waters as the United States’ first zero-emissions, hydrogen fuel cell-powered, electric-drive ferry.The pioneering aluminum newbuild, constructed by Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine, Inc. (AAM), has been completed and was launched this summer, though permitting of hydrogen fuel systems for maritime vessels is still being worked out with the U.S.
GLDD Wins Contract for Houston Ship Channel Widening
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation announced it has signed a $92.5 million dredging contract for the Houston Ship Channel Widening and Improvement Project 11. This is the first phase of the extensive, multi-phase Houston Ship Channel billion-dollar expansion and deepening program. Dredging is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022 with estimated completion in the fourth quarter of 2022.Project…
New Pilot Boat Delivered to Port of Waterford
The Port of Waterford Company on the south coast of Ireland has taken delivery of a new pilot boat received by the crew at the Dunmore East pontoon.The new vessel built by Safehaven Marine is a 15-meter interceptor which has been christened Port Láirge, a name of well known maritime heritage in Waterford. The previous namesake was a much-loved steam-powered dredger that served on the Suir for over 70 years until the 1980s.Port of Waterford currently operates two pilot boats…
Gains in Bigger Vessels Lift Baltic Dry Index
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index climbed to its highest in a week on Monday, helped by improved rates for the larger capesize and panamax vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, gained 93 points, or 3.6%, to 2,645 points, rising for a third straight session.The capesize index rose 274 points, or 7.6%, to its highest in three weeks at 3,884.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such
Ingalls Wins $113.6 Million Procurement Contract for LHA 9
America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a contract modification from the U.S. Navy for $113.6 million to enable long-lead-time material and advance procurement activities for amphibious assault ship LHA 9. This modification brings the total advance funding for LHA 9 to $651 million.Ingalls is the sole builder of large-deck amphibious ships for the Navy. The Pascagoula, Miss.
Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Suspension Could be Short-lived
The suspension of the approval process for the Russian Nord Stream 2 pipeline by a German regulator could be short-lived as Europe is hungry for more gas, an analyst said on Monday after meeting officials of Russian state gas giant Gazprom.Last week, Germany's energy regulator temporarily halted the certification process for the new pipeline that will carry Russian gas into Europe, throwing up a new…
