US Senate Approves Bill to Ease Export Shipping Backlogs
The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a bill to improve oversight of ocean shipping, a step supporters say will help ease export backlogs.The Ocean Shipping Reform Act, led by Senators John Thune and Amy Klobuchar, would strengthen the investigatory authority of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the U.S. agency that oversees ocean shipping, and boost transparency of industry practices.Senate…
Campbell Buys Assets of E Squared Marine
Campbell Transportation Company, Inc. (CTC), a fully integrated marine services company headquartered in Pennsylvania, announced Thursday that it has purchased the…
Caterpillar Marine to Invest in Methanol Engine Tech
Engine maker Caterpillar announced it is investing to develop methanol engine technologies as the commercial maritime sector continues to engineer and implement new solutions to reduce emissions.The company called the cleaner burning fuel a key to decarbonization in the marine industry. Compared to conventional fuels, methanol produces fewer emissions such as SOx, NOx and particulate matter.“This commitment…
Strong Outdraft and Wind Contributed to Tow Striking Guide Wall
The contact between a tow and a section of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton, Ill., was caused by the pilot of the towing vessel not effectively compensating for a strong outdraft and wind, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday.On March 19, 2021, the 177-foot-long towing vessel Kevin Michael was pushing 15 barges down the Mississippi River when the tow struck the bull nose of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam upstream main lock chamber guide wall…
Evergreen Declares General Average Following Containership Ever Forward Grounding
Evergreen Marine, the owner of a containership stuck aground in the Chesapeake Bay, has declared general average after two failed attempts to refloat the vessel.The Ever Forward has been stuck near the Port of Baltimore since March 13 despite the efforts of dredgers and salvors who have been working for more than a week to dig out and refloat the 1,095-foot vessel. Separate attempts to refloat the ship on Tuesday and Wednesday were unsuccessful…
VIDEO: SBM Offshore's Prosperity FPSO Leaves Dry Dock in Singapore
The hull of the FPSO Prosperity, which will be Guyana's third offshore production unit after the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity, has recently left the dry dock in Singapore, in preparation for topside installation works.The hull arrived in Singapore last year from China where it was built. In Singapore, Keppel will install the topside modules and all other major structures, after which the vessel will set sail for Guyana…
Bureau Veritas Expands Remote Inspection Capabilities
Classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) said it can now provide owners and operators with new ways to survey their ships through Remote Inspection Techniques operated by BV’s own surveyors in France. The company said it aims to leverage digital technologies to deliver its inspection services more safely and efficiently.BV’s key objective with the use of RIT is to limit the use of costly and dangerous means of access…
Keppel Offshore & Marine, Sembcorp Marine Working on Merger
Keppel Corp's offshore and marine (O&M) arm and smaller rival Sembcorp Marine are working towards having an agreement over their business unification in place by the end of April, the companies said on Thursday.The companies had first announced plans to combine their loss-making O&M businesses in June last year. The deal would see Keppel spin off the new business into a listed entity, with Singapore state investor Temasek becoming the largest shareholder in the combined company.
Yara Marine to Supply Shore Power Systems for Three Finnlines Vessels
Ro-ro and ro-pax operator Finnlines has inked a deal to install Yara Marine’s shore power solution on board three vessels to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and noise in port. The installations are scheduled for completion in 2022.The turnkey solution will allow these vessels to connect to the local power grid when in port, switching to electricity rather than using auxiliary engines running on fuel.Thomas Doepel…
ClassNK Grants AIP for GTT’s Upgraded LNG Fuel Tank
Classification society ClassNK said it has issued an approval in principle (AIP) to GTT’s technical solution fitted with Mark III membrane tank.The design developed…
CSL's New Diesel-electric Laker Arrives in Halifax
CSL’s new diesel-electric self-unloading bulk carrier—the first of its kind on the Great Lakes—arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on March 27, following its maiden voyage from the Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China.The new purpose-built Nukumi will enter service in late April, transporting deicing salt from Windsor Salt’s Mines Seleine mine in the Magdalen Islands to stockpiles throughout Quebec and Eastern Canada.The 26…
XLCC to Order New Cable Laying Vessel
XLCC, the new high-voltage direct current (HVDC), renewable energy focused business in the U.K., said it has completed the concept design for a new cable laying vessel for planned delivery in the first half of 2025.The newbuild is slated to support the Morocco – UK Power Project, XLCC's first client project, through the delivery of four 3,800km subsea HVDC cables from a wind and solar generation site in Morocco to the U.K.Alan Mathers…
Baltic Dry Index Drops to 3-week Low, Ends Quarter Higher
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index fell to its lowest level in over three weeks on Thursday, dragged by sliding panamax and supramax vessel rates, although the main index posted monthly and quarterly gains.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, dipped 11 points, or about 0.5%, to 2,358 points, its lowest since March 8.The main index has gained about 6.4% this quarter and 15.6% in March…
UK Tightens Sanctions Targeting Russian Oligarchs' Yachts
Britain put in place new legal powers on Wednesday to prohibit maintenance on aircraft and ships belonging to specific sanctioned Russian oligarchs or their businesses.The government is acting in concert with Western allies to try to cripple the Russian economy as punishment for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. It has targeted Russia's access to the international financial system, industries like shipping and defense…
Scorpio Tankers, Carbon Ridge Partner for Onboard Carbon Storage
Scorpio Tankers Inc. has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Carbon Ridge to collaborate on the development of onboard carbon capture for maritime vessels.Carbon Ridge is a U.S.-based startup working to commercialize existing gas separation technology without the need for large structural modifications. The agreement addresses the collaboration for detailed front-end engineering,…
PPG Rolls Out New Tank Coating
PPG has lunched a new phenolic epoxy tank lining, PPG Phenguard 985, geared for the marine and tank storage sectors. The tank lining is designed to deliver high chemical resistance to a wide range of aggressive chemicals and higher temperature resistance for chemicals that contain fatty acids.“The latest addition to our PPG Phenguard range, PPG Phenguard 985 tank lining features a patent-pending formulation…
Euronav Suspends Operations with Russian Customers
Euronav has suspended operations with Russian customers, the oil tanker firm said on Thursday, adding this business accounted for less than 5% of its turnover.The Antwerp-based group, which provides crude oil shipping and storage services, joins the growing ranks of Western companies scaling back ties with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls "a special military operation."The company also said it could be adversely affected by trade tariffs and embargoes in light of the
ConocoPhillips Extends Solstad PSV Trio
Three Solstad Offshore platform supply vessels (PSV) have secured new contracts with energy company ConocoPhillips Skandinavia, the Norwegian offshore vessels owner…
Hurtigruten Plans First Emissions Free Ship by 2030
Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express partners with SINTEF to create zero emission ships for the Norwegian coast by 2030.Since 1893, Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express has carried local passengers, goods, and tourists between 34 ports. The company is currently upgrading its existing fleet through what is one of the biggest environmental upgrade programs of it's kind in Europe, that will see CO2-emissions cut by 25% and NOx by 80%.
The Path to Zero: RightShip Launches Maritime Emissions Portal
RightShip launched its new Maritime Emissions Portal (MEP), designed to help ports and terminal operators accelerate ship-based emissions reductions initiatives with more accurate and granular data.MEP is the first part of a planned broader Environmental Social Governance (ESG) solution for the ports and terminals sector from RightShip. As the nexus between land and sea in global supply chains, ports…
