Second P&O Ferry Detained Amid Sackings Scandal
Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is detaining a second P&O ferry, the Pride of Kent, following safety checks by the authorities, Sky News reported on Monday.The MCA earlier in the day said the ferry was undergoing checks to ensure it was safe to put to sea without passengers or cargo, ahead of a full inspection at a later date, Sky News said.The report comes after Britain said it will force ferry operators docking in its ports to pay the minimum wage as it stepped up pressure on P&
Britain to Force Ferry Firms to Pay Minimum Wage After P&O Row
Britain said on Monday it will force ferry operators docking in its ports to pay the minimum wage as it stepped up pressure on P&O Ferries to rehire 800 workers who the company fired without notice in favor of cheaper staff.P&O, which is owned by Dubai ports firm DP World, said it had decided to break the law and fire workers on the spot so it could instead hire cheaper agency staff after losing 100…
Metal Shark Awarded $36 Million Patrol Boat Deal
Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark has been awarded a contract to establish fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023 pricing for Near Coastal Patrol Vessels (NCPVs) seven through 10, and accompanying outfitting, testing, spares, tools, travel, reactivation, crew familiarization, exportation and transportation, the U.S. Department of Defense announced.Awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command, the deal is a $36…
Clean Canaveral Completes Inaugural LNG Bunkering
The Clean Canaveral, a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge operating along the coast of the southeastern United States, recently completed its inaugural bunkering in Jacksonville, Fla. The Clean Canaveral has a capacity of 5,500 cubic meters, making it the largest Jones Act LNG bunker barge. The vessel operates as an articulated tug barge unit (ATB) and is owned by Polaris New Energy LLC,…
Salvors Gear Up to Refloat Grounded Containership Ever Forward
Salvors will attempt to refloat the Ever Forward on Tuesday following a week of dredging to free the grounded containership outside the Port of Baltimore.According to the port's executive director William Doyle, a team of five tugs, including two pushing on the ship's starboard side, two pulling from port side and one long pull from stern, will aim to dislodge the 1,095-foot ship, which went hard aground outside of the Craighill Channel near Gibson Island on March 13.During the refloat attempt…
Cocaine Seized from Shipping Container in Tasmania
Authorities intercepted a shipment of cocaine from a shipping container at Bell Bay near Georgetown, Tasmania on March 16.Tasmania Police and Australian Border Force (ABF) are working to identify the source of the 15-kilogram cocaine seizure, which was found in a refrigerated container originating from Sydney, Australia. A search was conducted in partnership with Tasmania Police detectives from Northern Drug Investigation Services and the Drug Dog Handler Unit.
US Navy Destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) Christened
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) christened pre-commissioning unit Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) at the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss.The new 513-foot-long Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is the first of the Flight III variants and 75th overall in the class. It is expected to be commissioned in 2023.Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations…
Philippines Slams Chinese Ship's 'Close Distance Maneuvering'
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Sunday reported a recent incident of "close distance maneuvering" by a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel in the disputed South China Sea that "constrained" the movement of a Philippine ship sailing nearby.The March 2 incident took place during the PCG's maritime patrol operations around the Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, the PCG said in a news…
Savannah Harbor Deepening Complete
Dredging work to deepen Savannah Harbor has wrapped up, reducing tidal restrictions for mega-ships transiting the Savannah River to clear the way for expedited cargo movement.Dredging for the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project started in September 2015, adding five feet in depth to the shipping channel. Initial feasibility studies for the harbor deepening began in 1997.“After more than 20 years in the making…
Master Boat Builders Delivers Hybrid Tug Spartan to Seabulk
Master Boat Builders, Inc. announced that earlier this month, Spartan, an electric-hybrid tugboat was delivered to Seabulk. This modern and unique tug was built at MBB’s Coden, Ala., yard for Seabulk.“The Spartan is the latest addition to our fleet and constitutes the first of two hybrid diesel-electric vessels commissioned from Master Boat Builders. She is representative of their advanced workmanship and ability to deliver modern, cutting-edge marine technology.
Turkey Defuses Stray Naval Mine in the Black Sea
A military diving team deactivated a stray naval mine off Turkey's northwest coast on Monday, Turkey's defense ministry said, the second such device to be defused in the area in days amid the war in Ukraine.NATO member Turkey borders the Black Sea, as does Russia and Ukraine, which Moscow invaded on February 24.Russia's main intelligence agency last week accused Ukraine of laying mines to protect ports and said several hundred of the explosives had broken off from cables and drifted away.
Brunswick Names Cattelan CTO
Brunswick Corporation announced it has appointed Alexandra Cattelan as its chief technology officer, effective immediately. Cattelan will be responsible for continuing to advance Brunswick’s ACES strategy and, more generally, for maintaining Brunswick’s position of technology leadership in the marine industry.Cattelan has more than three decades of experience leading electric propulsion and advanced mobility programs and organizations…
Markets: Volatility Remains in the Ship Scrap Market
It has been another challenging week in the sub-continent markets, with a resurgent India and a Bangladeshi market that is still reeling from some of the recent falls in local steel, which have seen nearly $50/LDT knocked off the prices this week alone, according to GMS.India has managed to regain over half of the falls seen over the previous few weeks, but the market overall does remain extremely volatile.Commodity prices and volatile currencies show few signs of cooling off any time soon…
Tech File: Foldable 'Workboat in a Box' Goes to Work for Bahrain Defense Force
The military force for the Kingdom of Bahrain purchased the self-propelled WorkFloat, a 12 x 6m WorkFloat platform which has the unique ability to fold up -- including all equipment -- and fit into a standard 40-ft. shipping container.The WorlkFloat platform is designed for a range of support tasks, with the version for Bahrain equipped with a 10-tm crane that can lift just under half a ton at 13m…
UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency Detains P&O Ferry Unready to Sail
Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on Friday detained a ferry operated by P&O in Northern Ireland because it was not ready to sail, the agency and P&O said.The British government has already said it will take legal action over P&O Ferries' decision to fire 800 staff earlier this month with immediate effect.The ferry European Causeway, which operates between Cairnryan in Scotland and Larne in Northern Ireland, will be detained until the company resolves all the issues, a spokesperson
NYK Takes Delivery of Plumeria Leader Car and Truck Carrier
Japanese shipping company NYK last week took delivery of the Plumeria Leader, an LNG-powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC).The vessel, delivered on March 24, was built at the Shin Kurushima Dockyard of Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. This is NYK's second LNG-fueled car carrier following the delivery of the Sakura Leader."By vessel modification and the switch to LNG, Plumeria Leader…
Norway Labor Unions Threaten Strike of 28,500 Workers from April 1
About 28,500 workers at Norwegian shipyards, oil industry fabrication plants, and other manufacturers will go on strike from April 1, unless labor unions and employers reach a new wage deal, a state-appointed mediator said on Monday.Firms that stand to be affected are suppliers to the oil and gas industry, such as Aker Solutions, where 736 workers may strike; Aibel, with 661 employees, and Kaefer Energy…
