US DARPA to Build, Test, Demonstrate Uncrewed Ship
The U.S. Department of Defense's research and development agency is moving into the second phase of a project to to build and demonstrate a new seagoing unmanned surface vessel.The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on Monday announced it is moving into Phase 2 of the No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program, which seeks to build and demonstrate a revolutionary new medium unmanned…
Canada Exploring Feasibility of Direct LNG Exports to Europe
Canada is exploring ways to see if there is a business case to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) directly to Europe from its east coast, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday.Speaking alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Montreal, Trudeau said "we will do what we can" to contribute to the global supply of energy by increasing capacities in the short term.Canada will also "explore ways…
Experts to Gather in Helsinki to Examine Littoral Operations in Baltic Sea
Naval and maritime experts will be convening in Helsinki, Finland, for the Littoral OpTech Baltic Sea workshop. The event will take place August 30 and 31 at the Finnish Naval Academy.The conference will examine the integration of multi-domain operations – to include air, land, surface, undersea, space and cyber—in the crowded and cluttered coastal waters and adjacent land, and will investigate the technology and operational concepts to successfully deal with conventional…
Electric Eel: Electric Pusher Vessel Design Unveiled
Lithuanian ship designer Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) is unveiling new designs for what it believes is the first ever electric pusher vessel for use on Europe’s inland waterways called the Electric Eel.Klaipeda headquartered WBE said the first electric pusher is due to be built next year for the Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority, a public body operating under Lithuanian Government Ministry of Transport and Communications.WBE’s Head of Sales & Marketing Eglė Mikalauskienė…
Malaise Takes Hold of Ship Recycling Markets
The international ship recycling malaise that has gripped the markets over these recent / summer months continues for another week, with minimal-to-no activity and barely any firm interest from recyclers, while fundamentals remain ever so fragile.Steel plate prices have once again started to display their share of volatility in India, in addition to the currency that showed signs of firming towards Rs. 79.20 against the U.S. dollar, whilst weakening back towards Rs.
ABS Hires Hernandez to Head its Offshore Division
Classification society ABS announced it has appointed veteran offshore industry leader Miguel Hernandez to head its offshore division. The former MODEC general manager of sales and marketing is now ABS Senior Vice President of Offshore Business Development, leading global offshore including the FPSO, FPU and floating offshore wind sectors.“As the world’s leading offshore class, we are always looking to innovate and develop our services for clients.
What Impact Will Strike at Britain's Busiest Container Port Have?
More than 1,900 workers at Britain's biggest container port, Felixstowe, have begun eight days of strike action that will cause disruption to trade and supply chains.The staff at Felixstowe, on the east coast of England, are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay, becoming the latest workers to strike in Britain as unions demand higher wages for members facing a cost-of-living crisis. read…
Baltic Dry Index Dips Further as Demand Weakens for Larger Vessels
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index extended its slide on Monday, hitting a fresh 18-month low, as demand for capesize and panamax vessel segments remained subdued.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 9 points, or 0.7%, to 1,270 points, its lowest level since December 2020.The capesize index fell for the third straight session, shedding 9 points, or about 1.2%, to 747 points, its lowest in more than six months.Average daily
Waters Near Somalia Removed from List of High-risk Piracy Areas
An area of the Indian Ocean near Somalia—once known as a piracy hotbed—has been removed from the shipping industry's list of high-risk areas following more than a decade of military, political, civil society and the industry measures to secure the waters. No piracy attacks against merchant ships have occurred off Somalia since 2018.On Monday, shipping industry groups International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)…
Chinese Military Ship Leaves Sri Lanka After Controversial Visit
A Chinese military survey ship that docked at Sri Lanka's Chinese-built port of Hambantota despite opposition from neighboring India left on Monday after a week-long stay…
Japanese Firms Working on Ammonia Floating Storage & Regasification Barge
NYK Line, Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY), ClassNK, and IHI Corporation (IHI) have signed a joint research and development agreement for the commercialization of an ammonia floating storage and regasification barge (A-FSRB). Specifically, the parties will work on the R&D of the world's first barge equipped with a floating storage and regasification facility for ammonia.Since ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when combusted…
Ecochlor Launches “EcoOne Container Unit” for Offshore Market
Ecochlor launched a containerized version of the EcoOne filterless ballast water management system (BWMS), targeting the Semi-Submersible Rigs, Jack-Up Rigs, Drillships, FPSOs, FSRUs and other vessels with infrequent ballasting operations at medium to high flow rates.“The EcoOne Container Unit offers incredible benefits to Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU),” said Andrew Marshall, Ecochlor CEO.
ABB, Keppel O&M Verify Next-level of Harbor Tug Autonomy with Collision Avoidance Trials
ABB said Monday its digital technologies have enabled the harbor tug Maju 510 to become the first vessel in the world to receive Autonomous and Remote-Control Navigation Notation from ABS classification society, and first Singapore-flagged vessel to receive the Smart (Autonomous) Notation from MPA. The notations acknowledge the breakthrough performance of the tug, demonstrating autonomous collision avoidance capabilities in trials conducted at Raffles Reserved Anchorage…
Germany Aims to Train More Inland Waterways Boatmasters
Seeking to grow its inland navigation workforce, Germany is offering new programs to train inland waterways boatman/boatwoman and boatmasters."In the light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the importance of inland navigation for the supply of goods to our society has become once again more than clear. Unfortunately, the sector has been suffering under an extreme lack of young professionals for years…
Container Prices, Leading Rates Decline
Average container prices have declined by more than half from the last year in August as China picks up containerized trade volumes more recently, according to an analysis published by Container xChange.Trade in China was impacted in the first half of the year, but the containerized trade seems to have picked up since July (2022) according to the analysis put together by Container xChange. “Shippers…
Siem Offshore Inks 18-Month Charter Extension for AHTS Vessel in Canada
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Siem Offshore has secured a contract extension for one of its AHTS vessels in Canada.The extension is related to the Ice Class AHTS vessel "Avalon Sea," covering a firm duration of 18 months upon completion of the current term. The extension will ensure continued operations for the vessel well into Q2 2024. The 87-meter-long vessel was built in Poland's Remontowa Shipyard in 2015.According to MarineTraffic.com…
Conflict in the South China SeaThreatens Australia’s Fuel Imports
China’s saber-rattling around Taiwan underlines the need for Australia to be prepared for conflict in the South China Sea.With its growing navy and air force, and the bases it has built throughout the area, China is increasingly capable of disrupting shipping lanes crucial to Australia’s exports and imports.Chinese military bases across the South China Sea (© OpenStreetMap contributors)Of particular concern is our reliance on liquid fuels imported via South China Sea shipping routes.
Serbs Wade in Shrinking Danube as Dredgers Work Flat-out
Serbian sunseekers flocking to the riverside beaches of Novi Sad have adopted new pastime this summer—wading across a vast stretch of the Danube usually reserved for cargo barges and cruise ships.The navigable channel of western Europe's longest river, a trade and transport artery that passes through ten countries, is usually several hundred meters wide where it flows through Serbia's second-largest…
Workers at UK's Biggest Container Port to Begin 8-day Strike
More than 1,900 workers at Britain's biggest container port are due on Sunday to start eight days of strike action which their union and shipping companies warn could seriously affect trade and supply chains.The staff at Felixstowe, on the east coast of England, are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay, becoming the latest workers to strike in Britain as unions demand higher wages for members…
UK's Felixstowe Port: Disappointed Strike Action Will Go Ahead
The company that operates Britain's biggest container port, Felixstowe, said on Friday it believed its pay offer to workers was fair and it was disappointed strike action due to begin on Sunday had not been called off.More than 1,900 workers at Felixstowe represented by the Unite union plan eight days of strikes from Aug. 21 in a dispute over pay."The company is disappointed that Unite has not taken…
