New US-flagged Laker is First to Be Launched in Nearly 40 Years
A ceremony held at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding on Thursday marked the launch of the first U.S.-flagged Great Lakes bulk carrier to be built in nearly four decades. The 639-foot Mark W. Barker, currently under construction for Ohio-based The Interlake Steamship Company, was floated in the large drydock at the Sturgeon Bay, Wis. shipyard.“Today is truly gratifying for our company to commemorate the first time the completed hull of our new ship has touched water,” said Mark W.
Stephaich, Pyne Honored by National Rivers Hall of Fame
National Rivers Hall of Fame will honor marine towing industry veterans Peter Stephaich and Joseph H. Pyne during the Annual Waterways Symposium hosted by Waterways Council, Inc. in St. Louis, Mo., in November.Stephaich, the current Chairman and CEO of Blue Danube Incorporated and Campbell Transportation Company, Inc., and Pyne, Kirby Corporation’s former CEO, will receive the Hall's Achievement Award…
Dredging Contractors of America Honors Sen. Shelby
Trade association Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) honored U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) with its Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his leadership in support of critical maritime infrastructure investments.The award particularly notes his advocacy of the Mobile Harbor expansion, as it is formed from a cutting tooth used on the dredging vessel Ellis Island during the project.“DCA…
More than 100 Containers Lost from Zim Kingston
More than 100 containers have been lost from a fire-stricken containership off British Columbia, well above original estimates, the Canadian Coast Guard said.Initial reports indicated that the Malta-flagged Zim Kingston lost roughly 40 boxes near the Strait of Juan de Fuca, on October 22, after heavy weather caused the vessel to list 35 degrees while traveling from Busan, South Korea to Vancouver, Canada.A fire that broke out on board on October 23 led to the loss of additional containers…
Finance: UK Shakes-up its Shipping Tax to Attract Global Players
In an attempt to bring more international shipping firms onshore to the UK, the British chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak provided the biggest shake-up to the UK’s domestic tonnage tax since its introduction 20 years ago.The British government explained that In order for global shipping companies to benefit from paying less tax, there are two routes for companies to benefit: they can either show that they are investing in the net carbon zero transition…
Thordon Celebrates 110 Years in Business
Navies, shipowners, shipyards, and organizations have offered the best of birthday wishes to Canada’s Thomson-Gordon Group, the parent company of water-lubricated polymer bearing pioneer Thordon Bearings, as it celebrates its 110th anniversary this fall.Among several well-wishers, Claude Tremblay, Directorate General Maritime Equipment Program Management National Defence, Royal Canadian Navy, wrote: “Congratulations to Thomson-Gordon Group for 110 years of Canadian innovation and pioneering.
Wightlink Aims to Build All-electric Ferry
Wightlink, operator of England's first hybrid-electric ferry, said it is striving to put into service another national first: a passenger vessel that will run on all-electric power.The ferry company that connects the Isle of Wight with the south coast introduced the hybrid-electric Victoria of Wight in 2018. The vessel operates round-the-clock between Portsmouth and Fishbourne, carrying passengers…
UN Deep-sea Mining Rules Unlikely to be Completed by 2023 Deadline, Latam Countries Say
Regulations governing deep-sea mining will take longer to finalize due to the global pandemic, a group of Latin American countries said, creating uncertainty for companies looking to mine the sea bed for metals, including cobalt and nickel.The delayed negotiations also pose a potential difficulty for companies seeking financing from investors to mine the sea floor.The U.N.’s International Seabed Authority (ISA) is working on global rules covering sea bed mining…
Singapore Court Dismisses Oil Tycoon Family's Appeal Against Ocean Tanker Suit
Singapore's highest court has dismissed an appeal by oil tycoon Lim Oon Kuin and his two children after they were successfully sued for breach of fiduciary duties by the court-appointed managers of a company they once owned.Lim is the founder of defunct Hin Leong Trading Pte Ltd and Ocean Tankers, once one of Asia's largest oil trading and shipping firms, which both went under judicial management in 2020…
Singtel to Provide VSAT for 33 PIL Containerships
Singapore based shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) is installing satellite communication, or VSAT, on its entire fleet as part of its digitalization efforts to enhance seafarer wellbeing and improve productivity on board its ships. Communications technology group Singtel said it is one of the partners providing PIL with communications and cybersecurity solutions for 33 vessels in PIL’s fleet.“As a progressive company…
UKHO Launches ADMIRALTY Small Craft Charts Service
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has launched its ADMIRALTY Small Craft Charts service - formerly known as ADMIRALTY Leisure Chart Folios – to bring important safety, quality and flexibility benefits to all marine users who depend on these charts.The launch of this new service follows the announcement in May 2021 that UKHO will withdraw the regional folio structure for these charts. Instead users…
Industry Looks to UN Climate Talks to Steer Cleaner Shipping
World leaders attending COP26 climate talks from the end of the month must ratchet up pressure to make shipping decarbonize by 2050, a senior industry official involved in the meeting said.Shipping, which transports about 90% of world trade, accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions.U.N. shipping agency the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has said it aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050.
Marine Biofouling in Ports: Wet Docks Acting as ‘Hot Spot’ Biofouling Transfer Stations
The GEF-UNDP-IMO Glofouling partnership (2017) is a global initiative to counter the environmental issue of invasive aquatic species (IAS) and the resulting harmful ecological and financial damage that can occur when such invasion events are introduced through the medium of biofouling on ships hulls and other marine structures such as those found in the oil and gas industries.One of the key objectives…
Eidesvik Offshore CEO to Retire after 16 Years in Position
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Eidesvik Offshore said Thursday its CEO and President Jan Fredrik Meling would as planned, retire from the position at the age of 65 effective December 31, 2021, after more than 16 years in the position.Starting January 1, 2022, the company’s CCO Gitte Gard Talmo will replace Meling who has served as President & CEO since 2005.Arne Austreid, Chairman of the Board said…
'Emission-free' Swedish Ferry to Sport Battery, Hydogen-based Fuel Cell Power
Echandia secures order for the world's first emission-free high-speed catamaran – planned for commercial traffic in StockholmStockholm-based Echandia signed an agreement to supply what is touted as the 'world's first' emission-free high-speed catamaran with an integrated battery and hydrogen-based fuel cell system for Green City Ferries AB, a ferry planned for commercial traffic in Stockholm. The…
Interview: Hiroaki Sakashita, CEO, ClassNK
While the maritime industry faces a long ‘to do’ list for the coming three decades, Hiroaki Sakashita, CEO, ClassNK, sees decarbonization as the definitive trend that will most dramatically impact the design, construction and life-cycle operation of ships.“It is decarbonization.”Hiroaki Sakashita, CEO, ClassNK, is definitive when asked to discuss the biggest challenge facing shipowners today. “Decarbonization will change the structure of seaborne trade…
Performance Intelligence: The Key to Decarbonizing Maritime
How technology can bring data to life, from design through to operations, helping improve efficiency and reduce emissionsOver the last year, climate change – or more appropriately climate action – has emerged as the critical issue impacting the future of global industries. Companies are under pressure to outline plans to transition to a more sustainable way of doing business – and the shipping and maritime communities are no exception.Transportation emissions – which typically include road…
Siem Offshore's PSV to Feature Wärtsilä Energy-saving Hybrid Propulsion
Finland-based marine equipment and technology provider Wärtsilä will upgrade Siem Offshore's platform supply vessel ‘Siem Pride’ for hybrid engine and battery propulsion. The upgrade will enable the vessel to reduce the number of engines in use during operations and lower its energy and fuel consumption. "Central to the conversion will be the Wärtsilä HY Module, which is a containerized solution on the deck of the vessel…
Companies to US Shipping Regulator: Enough Probes, Start Enforcing
A U.S. trade group representing companies selling luggage, backpacks and other travel products has written President Joe Biden asking that regulations on shipping and other fees be strictly enforced to help bring down the cost of shipping.The Travel Goods Association, whose companies do some $1 billion in U.S. sales annually, asked for "immediate action – aggressive enforcement, leadership to bring the full gamut (of) stakeholders to the table…
Final Section of Golden Ray Shipwreck Removed
The largest shipwreck removal project in American history is drawing to a close.On Monday, salvage personnel removed the final section of the overturned car carrier Golden Ray, which capsized in the St. Simons Sound near Georgia's Port of Brunswick in September 2019.The ensuing salvage project—considered to be the largest and most complex in U.S. waters—required more than 3 million collective manhours…
