US Army Corps to Upgrade Lock and Dam Critical for Grain Exports
![(Photo: USACE)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-usace-129048.jpg)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will use $732 million in federal infrastructure funding to modernize a lock and dam on the Upper Mississippi River that are crucial for shipping grain and soybeans to export markets, officials said on Wednesday.Upgrading infrastructure is essential for the United States to maintain its place as a top global agriculture exporter, as competitors including Brazil have…
BIMCO Force Majeure Clause Launched
![(Photo: BIMCO)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-bimco-129001.jpg)
The unforeseen events of recent years have demonstrated how beneficial it can be for parties to contractually “expect the unexpected” – whether the event is extraordinary weather conditions caused by climate change or a pandemic. To help parties prepare for the unexpected, BIMCO has published a new clause.The new BIMCO Force Majeure Clause 2021 provides a comprehensive “code” for the parties to help resolve situations arising from unexpected events impacting the performance of the contracts.
Hornblower Acquires Two Offshore Vessels
![(Photo: Hornblower Group)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-hornblower-group-129041.png)
Hornblower Group announced on Wednesday it has acquired two offshore vessels: the Seaward Explorer and Seaward Endeavor, previously the California Responder and Pacific Responder, respectively. Seaward Services, Inc. (SSI), part of the Hornblower Group of maritime businesses, is offering the multipurpose supply vessels for charter, with prompt availability.The Seaward Explorer and Seaward Endeavor were built at VT Halter Marine in Mississippi…
Fairbanks Morse Defense Acquires Maxim Watermakers
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Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has acquired Maxim Watermakers, a privately-owned provider of desalination and water treatment technologies for marine defense applications based in Shreveport, La. The company’s water treatments systems, which provide life-sustaining water for crews during ship deployments, position Maxim as an essential addition…
Crowley Hires Jadotte as SVP of Government Relations
![Marcus Jadotte (Photo: Crowley)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/marcus-jadotte-photo-crowley-129046.jpg)
Marcus Jadotte has joined Crowley as senior vice president of government relations, leading the company’s advocacy activities across all its businesses.Jadotte will spearhead the company’s continuing advocacy for laws and regulations that support the domestic maritime industry, while expanding awareness of Crowley’s growing defense and civilian government services among federal, state and local officials.
Alfa Laval Sees Growing Orders for FCM LPG Fuel Supply Systems
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Alfa Laval reports it is experiencing increased demand for solutions related to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel, having seen notable orders for the Alfa Laval FCM LPG in recent months as the marine industry focuses on decarbonization. The low-flashpoint fuel supply system (LFSS) that can work seamlessly with LPG cargo handling systems.Given its lower CO2 footprint compared to traditional marine fuels, LPG is a logical step in decarbonizing the vessels that transport it, Alfa Laval said.
Dredging Companies Keeping a Close Eye on New Infrastructure Dollars
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For dredging company executives, the recently passed $550 billion federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) sits like the proverbial Horn-o’-Plenty, ready to disgorge billions of federal dollars for maritime, port, harbor, coastal, inland waterways and flood projects, many of which will require dredging. This is a really big deal because this new money will go toward existing projects, work that’s been on the books, so to speak, but, until now, couldn’t be funded.
US Army Corps Announces Spend Plan
![© Elena Milovzorova / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/elena-milovzorova-adobe-stock-129043.jpeg)
The U.S. Army on Wednesday announced the Civil Works studies, projects and programs that the Corps would implement in Fiscal Year 2022 with the $22.81 billion in supplemental funding provided in two recently enacted laws — the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; and the 2022 Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.The spend plan supports the Administration hitting the ground running by focusing on current Fiscal Year 2022 spending.
WasteFuel to Launch Bio-methanol Marine Fuel
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Low-carbon biofuels developer WasteFuel announced the launch of WasteFuel Marine, a renewable fuel solution for the shipping sector. WasteFuel Marine’s initial product will be bio-methanol for container ships.WasteFuel said it aims for its marine fuels to reduce CO2 emissions by 95% and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fuels.“Methanol has exceptional appeal as a renewable fuel - it can use existing logistics infrastructure…
DSC Dredge Hires Duplantis in IT Role
![Mitchell Duplantis (Photo: DSC Dredge)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/mitchell-duplantis-photo-dsc-dredge-129039.jpeg)
DSC Dredge announced it has welcomed Mitchell Duplantis as the newest member of its information technology (IT) team.As a former IT support analyst and helpdesk specialist, Duplantis brings experience in applying technical and problem-solving skills to improve both team and organizational performance and the ability to leverage existing technology with internal resources to facilitate DSC achieving its technological goals.
Tech File: Yara Birkeland Equipped with Survitec Fire Fighting System
![(Photo: Survitec)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-survitec-129038.jpg)
Survitec’s advanced fire fighting system and safety equipment aboard Yara Birkeland – the world’s first fully autonomous containership – has successfully completed its first annual service ahead of the 3200dwt ship’s first laden voyage.The zero-emission, fully electric Yara Birkeland is preparing to carry its first fertilizer cargo on the Herøya-Brevik route in early 2022.The groundbreaking vessel…
Wozair Appoints New Group MD
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-129036.jpg)
Wozair appointed John Foley as Group Managing Director to the Board on January 1, 2022.Foley is an experienced senior executive who previously held positions as Managing Director, OTIS Elevator Co. in Norway and most recently, served as Managing Director Volution Ventilation, part of Volution Group PLC.Wozair Group are a designer, manufacturer and distributor of high integrity HVAC systems, specializing in applications operating in extreme environments…
American Cruise Lines Reveals Plan to Build 12 New Ships
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U.S. river and coastal cruise shipping company American Cruise Lines announced plans for 12 new identical sister ships that will more than double the nation’s current capacity for domestic coastal cruises.The new U.S.-built fleet, announced as part of ACL's newly revealed Project Blue expansion plan, will operate exclusively in the United States, with a focus on small towns and close-to-home adventures…
Wärtsilä to Power Seven New Arctic Shuttle Tankers
![(Image: Wärtsilä)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/image-wrtsil-129029.jpg)
Wärtsilä will supply the main and harbor engines for a series of seven new arctic shuttle tankers being built at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) yard in South Korea. The order, which is valued at more than EUR 100 million, was placed with Wärtsilä in December 2021.The 120,000 DWT vessels are Arc 7 classified and have icebreaking capability. The Wärtsilä engines are designed to operate reliably at temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees C.
China Sinopec Tenders to Sell Up to 45 LNG Cargoes for 2022
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China's Sinopec Corp has issued a tender to sell up to 45 cargoes of liquefied natural gas for 2022 deliveries, in a rare sell tender of the super-chilled fuel to take advantage of high Asian spot prices, said traders who were invited to bid.Under the tender, Sinopec offered two to five cargoes each month between February and October on a delivered ex-ship basis.Prices will be linked either to Europe's Title Transfer Facility pricing or North Asian benchmark Japan Korean Marker.The tender closes
Shipbuilding Interview: Rusty Murdaugh, President, Austal USA
![A recent aerial image of most of Austal USA, including the new steel panel line addition. Photo courtesy Austal USA](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/a-recent-aerial-image-of-129024.jpg)
Austal USA has been investing mightily, more than $600 million to expand its repair and services business for both commercial and military customers; and in the opening of a state-of-the-art steel panel line in Mobile to complement its established aluminum shipbuilding operations. Rusty Murdaugh, President, Austal USA, discusses the rationale behind the investment as Austal USA drives quickly toward a $500m services model.Most of our readers know the Austal USA brand…
Germany Signals it Could Halt Nord Stream 2 Pipeline if Russia Invades Ukraine
![On September 10, 2021, the sections of the second Nord Stream 2 pipeline laid from the German shore and Danish waters was connected in a so-called above water tie-in. The opposing pipe strings were lifted from the seabed by the lay barge Fortuna and the pipe ends were cut and fitted together. The welding to connect the two lines took place on a platform located above the water on the side of the vessel. Then the connected pipeline was lowered to the seabed as one continuous string.©NordStream2](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/on-september-10-2021-the-129019.jpg)
Germany signaled on Tuesday that it could halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia if Moscow invades Ukraine, and Western nations rallied behind Kyiv over a Russian troop buildup that has stoked fears of war.Stepping up diplomacy after talks with Russia ended in stalemate last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Kyiv on Wednesday before heading to Berlin to discuss "joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine" with German…
Delfin Plans Louisiana Floating LNG FID in 2022
![Credit: Delfin LNG](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/credit-delfin-lng-129015.jpg)
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) developer Delfin LNG said it plans to make a final investment decision (FID) to go forward with its Gulf of Mexico floating LNG export project off Louisiana in 2022."This is the best macro-environment that the LNG business has ever seen," Delfin Chief Executive Dudley Poston told Reuters this week, noting he was "very confident" the company would make FID this year.Delfin…