SafeSTS Offers new ‘Green’ Tech for STS Transfers
A new ship-to-ship cargo transfer system has been developed and patented by SafeSTS for the Dynamic Positioning (DP) shuttle tankers sector, designed to increase flexibility and efficiency for the export of oil from offshore fields.Traditionally, shuttle tankers are only used in DP mode to load from floating production, storage and offloading platforms, with subsequent transfer to export tankers taking place in side-by-side ship-to-ship transfer operations.
New Riverboat Delivered to American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines Accepts Delivery of American Melody and Announces the Names of the 5th & 6th Modern RiverboatsAmerican Cruise Lines announced it has taken delivery of its newest riverboat, American Melody, from Chesapeake Shipbuilding. The vessel was handed over on time despite various challenges as the Maryland shipyard continued building through the pandemic.Immediately following last week’s successful Sea Trials…
NOAA's Revised Hurricane Outlook Sees More Storms in 2021 Atlantic Season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Wednesday revised upward its outlook for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, estimating there was a 65% chance of an above-normal season compared with a previous report that called for a 60% chance.The U.S. government agency anticipates there will be between 15 and 21 named storms this season. A previous outlook had called for 13 to 20 named storms.The first hurricane of the season, Elsa, came onshore in Florida in July.
Keppel AmFELS Lays Keel for Manson's New Hopper Dredge
Manson Construction Co. and Keppel AmFELS, Inc. reached another on-time milestone on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, celebrating with a Keel Laying Ceremony for the hopper dredge Frederick Paup. The keel laying represents the official commencement of construction of a maritime vessel in its final build position, in this case the starboard half of Hopper Bay No. 3.The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from the shipyard and Manson…
Beirut Marks Year Since Port Blast with Demands for Justice
Thousands of Lebanese gathered near the port of Beirut on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of a catastrophic explosion that devastated the city, demanding justice for the victims.One year since the disaster, caused by a huge quantity of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port for years, no senior official has been held to account, infuriating many Lebanese as their country also endures financial collapse.One of the biggest non-nuclear explosions ever recorded…
Venezuela's Oil Exports Up in July, Fueled by Ship-to-ship Transfers
Venezuela's oil exports increased for the second consecutive month to 713,097 barrels per day (bpd) in July, as state-run PDVSA offset loading delays at its main port by boosting ship-to-ship transfers, according to tracking data and documents.That was Venezuela's highest level of oil exports since February, according to the data.A growing number of mostly unknown clients with no record in oil trading have helped PDVSA increase shipments, most of which now goes to Asia.
Trelleborg Opens Houston HQ for Marine Solutions
Trelleborg said its marine and infrastructure operation in North America has recently moved into its new sales office in Houston, Texas, in a move aimed at meeting the growing demands across all North American markets and providing more localized and coordinated customer support for its complimentary product offerings, which include marine fender systems, docking and mooring equipment, transfer link systems…
Royal Caribbean Sees Entire Fleet Sailing by Spring 2022
Royal Caribbean International, which operates the biggest cruise ships in the world including "Symphony of the Seas", said on Tuesday its complete fleet of ships would resume sailing by spring 2022.The division of Royal Caribbean Group said its next group of returning ships would restart sailing in September.Cruise operators, who have gradually restarted operations after more than a year of being docked at ports, are facing uncertainties caused by rising Delta variant cases globally.Royal Caribb
DNV, Nakilat Team to Improve Vessel Software Quality
Nakilat, DNV, and a group of yards and system suppliers – ABB, Honeywell, Kongsberg and Wärtsilä + Hudong-Zhonghua – have teamed on a joint development project (JDP) to elevate software reliability and maintenance during operations. The JDP, which was initiated in 2020 by Nakilat, has resulted in the launch of a new DNV Recommended Practice (DNV-RP-0582), published in June 2021.“With one of the largest LNG shipping fleets in the world…
KOTUG Australia to Manage Towage Ops in Port Hedland
KOTUG Australia Pty Ltd (KOTUG) and WESTUG PTY Ltd (Westug) have successfully concluded an agreement to re-shape the towage services for Pilbara Marine, a subsidiary of Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue) in Port Hedland. The service includes the operation of nine state of the art Rotortugs at Port Hedland, which have been servicing Fortescue and other port users since the commencement of operations…
ClassNK Grants Ffirst DSS (Hull Monitoring) Notation for 211,000-dwt Bulk Carrier
ClassNK granted its notation indicating that the vessel is provided with the cutting edge hull monitoring system, for Dream Clover, a 211,000-dwt bulk carrier which was built by Japan Marine United Corporation for Daiwa Kisen Co., Ltd., and to be chartered by NYK Line (delivery date: July 28, 2021). The vessel is marked with the first DSS (Hull Monitoring) on its notation in ClassNK’s registry.The…
U.S. Manufacturing of Durable Goods hits $270.5B Record High - BIMCO
U.S. manufacturing of durable goods, which has been lagging the wider recovery of the U.S. economy, hit an all-time high in June when $270.5B worth of goods was produced. This brings total manufacturing of durable goods so far this year to $1,482 billion, a 15.5% increase compared with the first half of 2020.Since the production of durable goods in the first half of 2021 is up 1.6% from the first half of 2019…
Oman Confirms Asphalt Princess Hijack in Arabian Sea
Oman provided first official confirmation on Wednesday that the Asphalt Princess tanker was involved in a hijacking in the Arabian Sea after Britain's maritime trade…
Boarders Exit Tanker off UAE Coast, Ship Safe
Boarders have left a tanker that maritime sources had said was seized off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and the vessel is safe, Britain's maritime trade agency reported on Wednesday.Three maritime security forces had told Reuters on Tuesday that the asphalt/bitumen tanker Asphalt Princess had been seized by suspected Iranian-backed forces, which Iran denied.The AIS tracking status of the Panama-flagged Asphalt Princess was "Underway Using Engine" early on Wednesday…
Tugboat Crew Member Medevaced off Galveston
An ailing mariner was medically evacuated from an articulated tug and barge approximately 65 miles off Galveston, Texas, Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Watchstanders…
OpEd: HEMEXPO Brings Impetus to Shipping’s Collaborative Agenda
HEMEXPO President, Helen Polychronopoulou, says Greek marine technology developers see collaboration between shipping industry stakeholders as the key to innovation and decarbonization.Helen Polychronopoulou has dedicated her career to the successful growth and development of the marine equipment manufacturing industry in Greece and today leads HEMEXPO – Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters.Established in 2014…
Ship Officer Shortage on the Horizon - Report
The maritime industry must significantly increase training and recruitment levels if it is to avoid a serious shortage in the total supply of officers by 2026, a new report from BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping warns.Given the growing demand for STCW certified officers, the Seafarer Workforce Report predicts that there will be a need for an additional 89,510 officers by 2026 to operate the world merchant fleet.
Australian Maritime College Partners with IAMPE
The Australian Maritime College (AMC), part of the University of Tasmania (UTAS), and the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) have…
Report of Ship Attack Underway Off UAE Coast
A non-piracy incident is under way off the coast of the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Tuesday.The UKMTO warning notice, based on a third party source, advised vessels to exercise extreme caution in the area, around 61 nautical miles east of the emirate of Fujairah.UKTMO provided no details regarding the vessel or vessels involved.However…
Port of Galveston Signs LNG Bunkering Deal with Stabilis
Galveston Wharves at Port of Galveston and Stabilis Solutions Inc. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to facilitate the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel at the port.Under the terms of the MOU, the port and Stabilis will work together to provide turnkey LNG fueling solutions to marine vessels calling on the port, including identifying suitable dock space for shore-to-ship fueling operations…
