Bangladesh: Deadly Container Depot Fire Under Control
Firefighters in Bangladesh brought a blaze at a container depot under control on Tuesday, three days after fiery explosions killed at least 43 people at a facility that a senior fire service official suspected had not followed safety guidelines.Drone footage showed smoke and rows of burnt-out containers from the fire that began late on Saturday, triggering blasts and blazes at Sitakunda, 40 km (25 miles) from the southeastern port city of Chittagong.
Vessel Incidents on the Rise, Inmarsat Report Finds
Tankers, fishing vessels and bulk carriers were the three highest sectors for sending distress signals between 2018-2021, Inmarsat's The Future of Maritime Safety Report 2022 reveals.Among the findings from the Inmarsat data was an abrupt spike in GMDSS calls in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, according to the report, is likely to have been caused by “issues with crew change, rapid turnaround in ports and fatigue on board”.Peter Broadhurst…
Berge Bulk, Kongsberg Maritime Ink MoU on Decarb Tech
Kongsberg Maritime (KM) and dry bulk owner Berge Bulk signed memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and advance the deployment of decarbonization technologies onboard dry bulk cargo vessels.Berge Bulk aims to be carbon-neutral by 2025, and to have a zero-carbon ocean-going dry bulk carrier by 2030. There are two elements of the joint development project. The first will be to evaluate and test emerging decarbonization technologies for use in the maritime sector.
Israel-Lebanon Sea Boundary Row Obstructs Energy Development
A dispute between Israel and Lebanon over their maritime boundary has obstructed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and risks exacerbating tensions between two foes.After months of deadlock in U.S.-mediated talks, Beirut on Sunday warned against any activity in the disputed area, responding to the arrival of a vessel to develop a field for Israel. Lebanon has said the field in question, Karish, is in disputed waters.
Strategic Marine's New Fast Crew Boat Can Carry 80 Passengers
Singapore's Strategic Marine has announced its latest offshore fast crew boat, a 38-meter extra fast crew transfer catamaran vessel (FCTV). "The new vessel has been designed in collaboration with One2Three naval architects in Sydney Australia, incorporating direct feedback from customers," Strategic Marine said.Greg Daniel, Technical Manager of Strategic Marine, said: “Our offshore customers are increasingly asking for faster transfers but still want to reduce their costs.
Esteban Guerra Named BND Commission Chairman
Brownsville Navigation District (BND) Commissioner Esteban Guerra was unanimously appointed to serve as chairman of the BND Board of Commissioners during the board’s regular meeting held Wednesday, May 18, 2022.Guerra serves as chairman alongside BND Vice Chairman Ralph Cowen and BND Secretary of the Board John Wood, also unanimously appointed to serve as part of the executive board. Commissioners John Reed and Sergio Tito Lopez round out the board as assistant secretaries.Wood…
LR Approves Neda Maritime’s Power Limitation Technology
The Shaft Power Limitation (ShaPoLi) system, engineered to help optimize tanker engine output ahead of impending EEXI (Energy Efficiency Existing ship) regulations, has gained approval from classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR).Developed by SELMA in conjunction with Tankers Technical Department of Neda Maritime Agency Co Ltd, the system will be fitted on board the Neda-operated 319,000 dwt very large crude carrier (VLCC) Aragona…
Port Houston Begins $1 Billion Ship Channel Expansion Project
A $1 billion project to expand the Houston Ship Channel kicked off with an official ceremony last week, leading the way for greater safely, efficiency and economic growth in one of America’s busiest waterways.Known locally as Project 11 because it is the eleventh major construction project of the waterway in its more than 100-year history, the Houston Ship Channel expansion will widen the channel by 170 feet along its Galveston Bay reach, from 530 feet to 700 feet.
IMTRA: Growth from Within
IMTRA, the New Bedford, Mass.-based manufacturer and importer of solutions and products for the marine, energy and transportation markets, recently underwent a change in ownership. But even under new owners, so much about the company, including its makeup and offering, will remain unchanged. And that’s because the new owners are the company’s existing employees.Eric Braitmayer, president and CEO, said IMTRA’s leadership—including vice president of recreational sales Chip Farnham…
Do California’s Proposed Harbor Craft Rules Threaten America’s Supply Chain?
Americans became aware of our nation’s supply chain problem when they witnessed a hundred cargo ships anchored off the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, stymied from moving cargo to store shelves throughout the United States. Such circumstances could become all too common, especially as recently adopted engine emission regulations force maritime companies out of the country’s most impacted ports…
Towboat Runs Aground in Florida
A towboat suffered a hull breach after running aground in the Okeechobee Waterway, near Clewiston, Fla.The captain of the 46-foot towing vessel Catherine notified U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami watchstanders at approximately 8:30 p.m., Friday, stating the vessel and deck barge Mobro 130 ran aground, resulting in a breached hull and ruptured fuel tank. No injuries have been reported. While the towing vessel was initially reported to have approximately 2…
The ZouZou: MII to the Rescue?
A ship financier’s primary security is the mortgaged ship. If the ship becomes a total loss, the mortgage will provide no valuable security, leaving the financier to rely on its rights as assignee and loss payee (and occasionally as co-assured) under the shipowner’s marine insurance policies. However, the owner’s insurers may decline a claim, for example on grounds of breach of warranty or material non-disclosure…
Optimarin Maintains BWTS Deliveries Amid Supply Chain Challenges
Norwegian ballast water treatment systems manufacturer Optimarin said it has so far been able to overcome global supply chain challenges by leveraging a flexible delivery model for key components for its systems.While the world continues to deal with supply chain issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, the company has implemented a dual-supplier strategy that has enabled…
DNV Approves Maritime Digital Infrastructure Projects
Classification society DNV said it has recently approved several projects for digital infrastructure solutions developed by COSCO, Kongsberg Digital and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).According to DNV, digitalization of the maritime industry is set to radically enhance the operational efficiency, safety and environmental performance of ships, but right now is taking place in a fragmented way, with…
Sinopec Fuel Oil Singapore Targets 50% Increase in Bunker Sales
Sinopec Fuel Oil (Singapore) Pte Ltd aims to raise its monthly bunker sales volumes by more than 50% after it received a license from the Singapore government this month, the company’s general manager said on Monday.Chinese refiners are expanding their foothold in the global marine fuels sector by increasing sales and output of 0.5% low sulphur fuel oil at key ports in Zhoushan, in China, and Singapore in recent years.The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) awarded the bunker license
W&O Launches Digital Valve Management Service
W&O Supply, a supplier of valves, actuation, pipe and fittings to the global maritime industry, is launching a digital valve management service underpinned by the use of RFID technology to identify critical valves on board.Many vessel operators lack even basic identifying information about the valves they have on board, such as type, material, age, or size and struggle to maintain a clean valve database in their ERP system to allow automatic purchasing by their teams ashore.
Shipowners Struggling with Lack of Clarity on Sanctions -Prokopiou
Shipowners are struggling to know what trades are still legal as a raft of sanctions against Russia and tough measures on other countries including Iran remain confusing…
Two Days After Deadly Blasts, Bangladesh Container Depot Still Burns
Firefighters battled for a third day on Monday to control a huge fire that killed dozens when it triggered explosions at a Bangladesh container depot, as officials warned of the risk of further blasts if the flames spread to chemicals stored nearby.Drone footage from the BM Container Depot at Sitakunda, 40 km (25 miles) from the southeastern port city of Chittagong, showed thick columns of smoke still…
Lebanon to Invite U.S. Envoy for Maritime Talks After Spat with Israel
Lebanon said on Monday it would invite a U.S. mediator to Beirut to continue negotiations over a disputed maritime boundary with Israel to prevent any escalation after accusing Israel of encroaching on contested waters.The issue flared up on Sunday when a vessel operated by London-based Energean arrived off the coast to develop a gas field which Israel says is part of its exclusive economic zone but…
Langh Tech BWMS Receives IMO Approval
Finnish marine technology manufacturer Langh Tech Oy Ab said it has received the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) type approval certificate for its LanghBW ballast water management system (BWMS) on May 12, 2022. The type approval project was carried out in cooperation with classification society DNV.The LanghBW BWMS uses fine filtration and UV-C treatment.
