Ukraine's Zelenskiy Urges Italy to Seize Yacht Believed to Belong to Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Italy on Tuesday to seize a mystery yacht worth some $700 million that has been linked to Russian President Vladimir…
Crowley Completes First Vessel Acquisition for MARAD's Ready Reserve Force
Crowley Maritime Corporation announced it has managed the first vessel acquisition under its contract to help recapitalize a sealift fleet with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD).In 2021, Crowley was awarded a multi-year vessel acquisition and management (VAM) contract to help recapitalize MARAD's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). It is now spearheading the acquisition and conversion of two vehicle carriers from American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group in collaboration with Stena RoRo…
Ukraine Could Lose $6 Billion in Grain Exports with Ports Blocked
Ukraine faces a possible grain revenue loss of $6 billion as the blockade of its ports by Russian forces prevents it from selling millions of tonnes of wheat and corn that had been earmarked for export by June, a senior industry official said.Countries that rely on imports of Ukrainian wheat - including Egypt, Turkey and Yemen - will need to find alternative supplies, aid agencies have warned.Ukraine…
Suez Canal Increases Tolls for Laden Crude Oil Tankers
Egypt's Suez Canal Authority said on Tuesday it will temporarily increase a surcharge levied on laden crude oil tankers and petroleum products tankers transiting the canal in both directions to 15% of normal dues from 5%, effective May 1.It said that ballast crude oil tankers and petroleum products tankers transiting the Canal in both directions are still required to pay a surcharge of 5% of normal transit dues.The changes come "in line with the significant growth in global trade, the improvemen
Snow & Company Delivers New Launch to the Savannah Pilots
Seattle shipbuilder Snow & Company earlier this month delivered Savannah, the first of two new 64-foot pilot boats for the Savanah Pilots Association. Designed by Camarc Design, the single chine, flush deck 5086 aluminum vessel is the third pilot boat the U.K.-based firm has designed for the Savannah pilots.Savannah is powered by MTU 12V2000M86 marine engines, Hamilton HTX 52 waterjets with electronic AVX controls…
ABB Turbocharging Launches Digital Tools to Save Fuel
ABB Turbocharging has launched a new digital solution designed to offer shipowners simplified management of propulsion efficiency and CO2 emissions monitoring and reporting, and potentially unlock up to 20% fuel savings.The new digital suite, called Tekomar XPERT marine, comprises three modules—engine, hull and propeller, and emissions—which, combined, provide actionable insights into ship performance to help shipping companies make better operating decisions and potentially reduce fuel usage.
New Zealand Suspends Antarctic Patrol Ship Project
New Zealand’s Ministry of Defense said it has suspended plans to build an Antarctic and Southern Ocean patrol vessel because planned spending is being reassessed due to the impact on the government’s budget of costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Ministry of Defense in mid-2021 issued a request for information on the cost and potential design of a Southern Patrol Ocean Vessel, reinforced to cope with ice.
Edda Wind's New CSOV Launched in Spain
Norwegian offshore wind vessel operator Edda Wind last Saturday launched Commissioning Service Operation vessel (CSOV) C490 at Astilleros Gondan Shipyard in Spain. The vessel will serve the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in the UK.The newbuild is a purpose-built CSOV of a similar design as all five vessels being built at Gondan plus additional two vessels ordered at Colombo Dockyards, Sri Lanka. Together with the two SOVs being built at Astilleros Balenciaga…
Russia Allegedly Seizes Ships Carrying Ukrainian Grain
Ukrainian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the alleged forceful seizure by Russian troops of five ships carrying Ukrainian grain in the port of Berdiansk, the general prosecutor's office said on Monday.The criminal case is being handled by prosecutors in southern Zaporizhzhia region, it said. Russia did not immediately comment on the statement by the general prosecutor's office.(Reuters - Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Writing by Alessandra Prentice, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Wärtsilä Propulsion Solutions Chosen for New Faroe Island Trawler
Wärtsilä said it booked an order in February to provide a range of propulsion solutions for the Finnur Fridi, a new pelagic fishing trawler under construction at the Karstensen shipyard in Denmark. The vessel is being built for Faroe Island based Krossbrekka P/F, a member of the Vardin group.The 88-meter-long trawler will operate with a Wärtsilä 31 main engine, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most efficient four-stroke diesel engine.
TECHCROSS Rolls Out New Service Software
Ballast water management systems (BWMS) manufacturer TECHCROSS announced it is expanding its offering to include a tank level gauging system (TLGS ) and valve remote control system (VRCS). The company has also rolled out TECHCROSS IBTV (Integrated BWMS/TLGS/VRCS), a control platform that can integrate all the equipment for optimal operation, and service software called TECHCROSS Smart Platform.Developed to help improve efficiency and reduce expenses…
Fincantieri Wins US Navy Minesweeper Fleet Maintenance Contract
Fincantieri Marine Systems North America (FMSNA) has been awarded the maintenance contract for the U.S. Navy’s “Avenger”-class minesweepers. The program has a combined value up to more than $78 million.The Navy operates eight “Avenger”-class vessels, which are homeported in Bahrain and Japan. All of the vessels have diesel engines produced by Isotta Fraschini Motori, another Fincantieri’s subsidiary, of which FMSNA technicians are experts.
Russian Billionaire's Yacht Detained in Gibraltar
A luxurious super-yacht linked to the owner of Russia's largest steel pipe maker, who is currently under British and European Union sanctions, docked in Gibraltar…
Armach Robotics Set to Take the Pole Position on Ship Hull Maintenance, Intelligence
Melding advanced software, intelligence, robotics and navigation, Armach Robotics – a spinoff of Greensea Systems – leads a step change in ship hull cleaning and maintenance with its Robotics as a Service model. Ben Kinnaman, the CEO of Greensea Systems, explains.Ben, to start us off, please give us a background on Armach Robotics? Where did the idea come from and where are we today?Greensea Systems is a software company, well-known for our software platform on ocean robotics.
Intellian Unveils Two New Terminals
Intellian Technologies and SES have unveiled two new user terminals approved for O3b mPOWER, the mP130 for fixed enterprise and the X130D PM for government vessels.This follows on from the multi-year agreement that was signed in October 2021, for Intellian to supply user terminals for SES's O3b mPOWER communications system. These user terminals are the first to be unveiled from the portfolio Intellian is developing…
Reach Subsea Set to Complete Acquisition of iSurvey
Norway-based subsea services company Reach Subsea is set to close the acquisition of the offshore survey company iSurvey, first announced in mid-February.As previously reported, Reach Subsea said on February 17 it had agreed to buy the offshore survey services firm iSurvey in a transaction valued NOK 135 million. Separately, it was announced that Wilhelmsen had acquired a 21% stake in Reach Subsea.The…
Low Water Hampers Rhine River Shipping in Germany
Low water after recent dry weather continues to prevent cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded on the river Rhine in Germany, traders said on Monday.Low water is hampering shipping in much of the river in Germany south of Duisburg and Cologne to southern regions around Maxau, traders said.Shallow water means vessel operators impose surcharges on freight rates, increasing costs for cargo owners.The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil prod
Eye on Maritime Design: Can Wind Propulsion Work by Keeping it Simple?
While it is starting to look like some clever wind/power sail technologies are starting to appear, too often I have looked at the cargo cranes of geared bulkers and wondered if it makes sense to rig some sort of sail on them.I think the fancier approaches fight the “build a little, test a little, learn a lot” engineering maxim in new technology development, and maybe doing more simple stuff may be…
Integrated Wind Solutions Orders Another Skywalker-class CSOV in China
Norway-based offshore vessel owner Integrated Wind Solutions (“IWS”) has ordered two Walk-to-Work Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (“CSOV”). The vessels are scheduled for delivery in H1 2024 from China Merchants Industry, Hong Kong. Currently, IWS has two identical vessels on order for delivery in 2023 and option agreements for up to two additional vessels for potentially H2 2024 delivery.The firm yard price for the two vessels is about EUR 48 million per vessel (around $52,76 million).
Australia's First LNG Import Terminal Seen Ready by Late-2023
Squadron Energy, the private company building Australia's first LNG import terminal, expects its Port Kembla facility in New South Wales to be ready to take its first gas shipment by the end of 2023, its commercial director said on Tuesday.Squadron Energy, owned by Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, is vying against four other proposed LNG import projects looking to fill a shortfall in gas supplies expected in southeastern Australia from as early as 2024, and across eastern Australia
