Kepler Confirms Launch, Deployment of Four New GEN1 Satellites
Kepler Communications confirmed the successful launch and deployment of four new satellites into its constellation yesterday, expanding the active its constellation to 19 satellites in total. "Every satellite we add to our constellation increases our capacity and transfer frequency of remote and maritime connectivity, increasing the quality of our service and ensuring that our customer's data ends up where they want in a timely mannerā¦
Prysmian Group Wins MidEast Submarine Cable Contract
Prysmian Group entered into a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) for the supply of power cables in the context of a landmark HVDC submarine cable project in the Middle East, worth around $252m. The LNTP was awarded to Prysmian by Samsung C&T as part of its EPC consortium with Jan De Nul Group. The new link, part of the strategic HVDC transmission system for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) Lightning Projectā¦
Training Tips for Ships: Are Mariners Knowledge Workers?
What is the difference between knowledge and skills? Which should we focus more on in our training, and how does one influence the other?When we think about the most important mariner quality, often the first thing that comes to mind is skill. Can the officer or crewmember safely perform the skills required of him or her? After all, if everyone performs their necessary skills correctly, what more is there?There is, in fact, much more. Letās see what the experts have to say:āA study by the U.S.
Maersk Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
Shipping group Maersk on Friday posted better than expected fourth-quarter revenue and earnings, fuelled by record freight rates for container shipping.A fall in ocean-going container volumes by 4% in the last three months of the year was more than offset by freight rates improving 80% compared with a year earlier."The strong result in the quarter reflects the continuation of the exceptional market situation within (the) Ocean (division) caused by global disruptions to supply chainsā¦
DOF Subsea Secures Work for Skandi Acergy, Skandi Constructor Vessels
Norway-based offshore vessel owner DOF Subsea has secured a contract extension for the Skandi Acergy construction support vessel. It has also won a new contractā¦
BP Files Petrojarl Foinaven FPSO Removal Plan
British oil major BP has filed a decommissioning plan for the removal of the Petrojarl Foinaven FPSO and the recovery of associated mooring systems, the risers andā¦
Making Shipping Greener: Michelin in Deal to Test Inflatable Sail
French tire maker Michelin and Compagnie Maritime Nantaise said on Thursday they will jointly test Michelin's inflatable wing sail this year on a merchant ship for the first time, in a move that may help the shipping industry cut its emissions.The Wing Sail Mobility (WISAMO) project is centered on an inflatable, retractable and automated wing that can be fitted on commercial vessels and pleasure boatsā¦
EU Blocks Korean Shipbuilding Merger
Hyundai Heavy Industries' proposed takeover of rival Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd to create the world's biggest shipbuilder was hit with an EU veto on Thursday on concerns that the deal would hurt competition.Hyundai, one of the largest shipbuilders in the world, announced the deal in 2019 in part to tackle overcapacity in the sector.The shipyard, which sought EU antitrust approval for the takeover in November 2019ā¦
China 2021 Iron Ore Imports Retreat from Record on Steel Curbs
China's iron ore imports dropped in 2021, down 4.3% from the previous year's record annual high, as steel production curbs imposed to combat pollution dented demand and pulled prices of the key steelmaking material off historical highs.The world's top iron ore consumer brought in 1.12 billion tonnes of the commodity last year, compared with 1.17 billion tonnes imported in 2020, data from the General Administration showed on Friday.For Decemberā¦
Is Baltic Sea Special Area for Passenger Ships Really Special?
The persistent eutrophication (being too rich in nutrients) of the Baltic Sea prompted the IMOās Baltic Member States to tackle shippingās < 0.1% contribution by designating the Baltic Sea as the first Special Area under Annex IV of IMOās MARPOL Convention [1]. Passenger ships must give sewage to wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) ashore via the port reception facilities (PRFs) or operate a nutrient removal sewage treatment plant (STP) on board prior to discharge.
Course Correction for DDG 1000, Navy Will Replace Main Battery for Guided Missile Destroyer
The U.S. Navyās controversial USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) class of guided missile destroyers raises the legitimate question of whether a ship is too transformational, or not transformational enough.While the Navy Fact File states that DDG 1000 is the ālargest and most technologically advanced surface combatant in the world,ā itās a program that has been in existence for many years. It began as the SC-21 (Surface Combatant for the 21st century) research and development program in 1994ā¦
Singapore Remains World's Top Maritime Hub
Singapore has held onto its spot atop the list of the world's best maritime cities, according to a recent report from classification society DNV and Menon Economics.The 2022 edition of the Leading Maritime Cities (LMC) report launched Thursday provides fresh insights into which global hubs offer the best infrastructure, technology, finance, and world-class talent, to help the maritime community connectā¦
McLean Contracting Company Acquires Shugart Manufacturing
Maryland-headquartered heavy civil and marine contractor McLean Contracting Company announced it has acquired South Carolina-based Shugart Manufacturing, designer and builder of sectional barges, barge propulsion units and accessories, screeds, barge ramps, bridge steel, concrete forms, and other miscellaneous equipment and materials for marine and construction use.The asset purchase agreement is effective as of December 30ā¦
Dutch Windship Company Opens Funding Round
EcoClipper, a shipping company which has developed a wind-driven, emission-free cargo ship, has started to raise capital in cooperation with blockchain partner Bondex, to fit out a sustainable fleet.Founded in 2018, EcoClipper plans to launch retrofitted and purpose-built sailing vessels capable of carrying cargo and passengers on a variety of international routes. The company has developed a series of shipping lines: Trans-Atlantic, Eastern, Trans-Pacific and Global.
New Guidance Aims to Curb Maritime Pilot Transfer Fatalities
A guide to maritime pilot transfer safety has been updated amid industry concerns about poorly rigged ladders causing severe injuries or fatalities.The āShipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangementsā, produced by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in partnership with the International Maritime Pilotsā Association (IMPA), features a new section with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)ās guidance on combination embarkation platform arrangements.
SMS Towage Buys Tug from Sanmar
Sanmar Shipyards said it has reached a deal to sell one of its 2020-built tugboats to SMS Towage, the UKās largest family-owned towage company.The contract is for the purchase of Sirapinar XV, a vessel based on the RAmparts 2200 design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, which is currently operating as part of Sanmarās fleet.Designed for maximum efficiency in the performance of ship-handling duties for seagoing shipsā¦
More Shuttle Tankers Needed, Rystad Says
More shuttle tankers will be needed in the years ahead to keep pace with a projected rise in oil volumes needing transport, Rystad Energy said.Produced volumes requiring transport key shuttle tanker markets Brazil, Canada, Norway, the U.K. and Russia are expected to rise to 3.3 billion barrels per year before the end of the decade, jumping 35% from 2.5 billion in 2021, according to a recent reportā¦
Fincantieri Floats Out Viking Neptune
Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri said Thursday it has floated out the newest ocean cruise ship it is building for shipowner Viking.The new ship, Viking Neptune, was floated out at Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard. The vessel is the eight in a series of ships built for the small cruise ship segment. As its sister ships, she is about 47,800 tons, 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers.Viking Neptune has been designed by experienced naval architects and engineersā¦
Chevron Oil Gains Unique Approval for MAN Engines
Chevron Marine Lubricants announced its low sulphated ash trunk piston engine oil Chevron HDAX 9700 has become the first lubricant to gain time-unrestricted approval for use with MAN Energy Solutionsā four-stroke engines running on either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or distillate fuels (with a sulphur content of up to 0.10%).Chevron said the first-of-its-kind approval offers simplicity for operators switching between the two fuelsā¦
Final Zulmwalt-class Destroyer Departs Bath Iron Works
The third and final Zulmwalt-class destroyer built for the U.S. Navy sailed away from General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard in Bath, Maine on Wednesday.Crewed by BIW shipbuilders, the warship Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) is heading to Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding in in Pascagoula, Miss. for final outfitting, combat systems installation, testing and activation.At 610 feet long with an 80.7-foot beam and 15ā¦
