Industry Body Calls for More States to Ratify MLC
In a statement submitted to the Special Tripartite Committee (STC) meeting held last week, SRI, the international pan-industry body researching maritime and seafarers’ law, called for more States to ratify the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) to ensure a level playing field in the shipping industry.At the meeting, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, executive director of SRI said, “More ratifications are needed to bring the Convention on a par with SOLAS…
ISS Issues RFP to Construct North America’s First Zero-emissions Towboats
Houston-based Industrial Service Solutions (ISS) announced Thursday it is seeking bids from U.S. shipyards to build up to four hulls for what will become North America's first fully-electric towboats.The zero-emissions vessels, which will be constructed for New York-based Zeeboat and available for charter from 2025, will run entirely on battery power, without the use of diesel engines—a first for towboats in North America.
NOAA Issues RFP for Design and Construction of Ocean Survey Ships
NOAA is seeking proposals from U.S. shipbuilders for the design and construction of new ships for the agency. The new vessels will primarily support NOAA’s coastal, continental shelf and deep ocean data collection requirements.The solicitation, which opens today and closes on August 16, 2022, is for a firm, fixed-price contract for two vessels, with options for NOAA to purchase two additional vessels of the same design.
Water Treatment: Inside WETT Technology for Oily and Black Water Treatment on Ships
Attracted by the environmental mission of Terragon Environmental Technologies, Dr. Ramona Pristavita, Terragon’s Vice President of Engineering, discusses the operational advances and advantages that Wastewater Electrochemical Treatment Technology (WETT) offers to shipowners.Handling a variety of shipboard waste water efficiently, effectively, is a central tenant to ship operations.Operating in the harsh saltwater environment…
Greece Emerging as Hub for Russian Ship-to-ship Fuel Oil Exports
Russian fuel oil arrivals offshore Greece jumped to record levels in April, as sanctions on Moscow drive traders to find new ways to export Russian oil via ship-to-ship (STS) loadings, Refinitiv Eikon data showed and sources said.Trading Russian crude and oil products remains legal for now as the European Union is yet to fully agree on a proposed embargo, but banking and other financial sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine on Feb.
Corvus Energy to Open US Battery Factory
Corvus Energy, supplier of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for marine applications, announced plans to open a new factory in the state of Washington to help meet demand for marine BESS in the Americas as the marine industry accelerates its adoption of decarbonization technology to meet global emissions reduction targets.The manufacturing facility—located just north of Seattle in the Port of Bellingham…
Greensea Promotes Allen to VP of Operations
Marine robotics technology specialist, Greensea, has promoted Chelsea Allen to Vice President of Operations in response to the company's ongoing growth and subsequent strategic management and operational needs.Ben Kinnaman, Founder and CEO at Greensea, welcomes the promotion: "The ocean robotics industry has entered a period of rapid change, and we need to have the best leaders positioned to take full advantage of these changes. Chelsea is a natural leader.
Baltic Dry Index Gains as Rates Firm for All Vessels
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose on Thursday, due to higher rates for all vessels.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was up 100 points, or 3.1%, at 3,289 points, the highest since December 9.The capesize index gained 221 points, or 5.31%, to 4,385 points.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, were up $1,837 at $36,368.Strong demand for
Braemar inks deal with UK MOD
Braemar signed a seven-year contract with the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide global shipbroking services across all commercial maritime sectors. Under the contract…
Ship Attacked Off Yemen
A vessel has been attacked 34 nautical miles (63 km) southwest of Yemen's Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) reported on its website on Thursday, adding an investigation is underway.British maritime security company Ambrey Intelligence said the incident involved a sailing vessel that managed to escape an attempted boarding from occupants of skiffs, and that the crew has…
Sercel Acquires Geocomp
CGG announced today that Sercel, its Sensing & Monitoring division, has acquired Geocomp Corporation, specialized in high-value services and products for geotechnical risk management and infrastructure monitoring. This acquisition gives Sercel access to the US infrastructure market and will accelerate deployment of its S-lynks and S-scan infrastructure monitoring solutions.
Containershipping's Long-term Reefer Rates Soar to All-time Highs, says Xeneta
According to the latest crowd-sourced data from Xeneta, long-term rates for reefer containers on the key US West Coast to Far East route soared almost 60% in April.In its report Xeneta notes a surge in rates of around $2000 per 40-ft. unit after the latest 12-month contracts came to a close. The average contracted rate recorded on 15 May stood at $5850 per container, while the average for new agreements running from Q2 2022 to the end of Q1 2023 was even higher, at $5945 per 40-ft.
Opening Ukraine's Black Sea Ports Would Need Review of Sanctions on Russia, Moscow Says
Moscow said on Thursday that sanctions on Russia would have to be reviewed if it were to heed a U.N. appeal to open access to Ukraine's Black Sea ports so that grain could be exported, according to an Interfax news agency report. Read full storyUkraine, one of the world's biggest grain producers, used to export most of its goods through its seaports, but since Russia sent troops into Ukraine, it has been forced to export by train or via its small Danube River ports.U.N.
Golden Energy Offshore Looking to Power Vessels with Hydrogen
Norwegian offshore vessel operator Golden Energy Offshore has signed a letter of intent with Gen2 Energy to explore the use and availability of hydrogen-based fuel on vessels in its fleet."We hope that Golden Energy Offshore and Gen2 Energy together can find zero-emissions solutions that are attractive to our customers and capable of being implemented both on existing vessels in the fleet and newbuilds.
ClassNK Certifies NAPA Fleet Optimization Solutions
ClassNK certified NAPA Fleet Intelligence and NAPA Performance Monitoring and Optimization, developed by NAPA, as its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions, after the solutions demonstrated support for saving fuel and optimizing voyages for Japanese shipowner Nissen Kaiun. Following the certification, the society has upgraded notations for all the Nissen Kaiun vessels in its fleet using the…
Tech File: Wärtsilä Delivers Last of 15 LPG Fuel Supply Systems
Wärtsilä said it completed delivery of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel supply system (LFSS) to 15 very large gas carrier (VLGC) vessels owned and operated by BW LPG, which has the world’s largest fleet of VLGC vessels.BW LPG ordered the first four of these 15 systems in 2018, immediately following Wärtsilä’s full-scale testing of a full-sized two-stroke marine engine operating with LPG fuel.
New Minimum Wage for Seafarers
The world’s seafarers are set to see their monthly minimum wages rise incrementally over the course of the next three years.The change is the result of a a resolution agreed by a subcommittee of the the International Labor Organization's (ILO) Joint Maritime Commission (JMC).The meeting agreed to raise the ILO minimum basic wage for an able seafarer to US$658 as of January 1, 2023. The rate will be increased to US$666 as of January 1…
US Navy Sets Up Unmanned Surface Vessel Division
The U.S. Navy is moving full speed ahead toward wider adoption of autonomous unmanned surface vessels, having recently established a dedicated Unmanned Surface Vessel Division (USVDIV).Cmdr. Jeremiah Daley assumed command of the newly established USVDIV One during a ceremony on May 13. “To meet the challenges of the 21st Century, we must continue to innovate the surface force,” Daley said. “USVDIV…
Cargill to Build Soybean Processing Plant in Missouri
Cargill has unveiled plans to build a new soybean processing facility located in Pemiscot County, Mo. near Hayti and Caruthersville to support growing domestic and global demand for oilseeds driven by food, feed and fuel markets. The facility will be the first of its kind for Southeast Missouri with an annual production capacity of 62 million bushels of soybeans. Cargill anticipates breaking ground on the project early next year with plans to be operational in 2026.
Callan Marine's New CSD General Bradley Christened
Callan Marine's newest fleet asset, the 28” cutter suction dredge (CSD) General Bradley, was christened in Morgan City, La. on Tuesday. The General Bradley will immediately commence work at the Port Bolivar Ferry Landing for the Texas Department of Transportation.At 341 feet in length and 54 feet wide, General Bradley has a maximum digging depth of 60 feet and a dredge pipe diameter of 28” inches.
