Hydrogen One: Innovative Towboat Set to Shake Things Up in the US
Rarely does a vessel come along with the potential to radically change the way an industry operates, but one such vessel is set to hit the water in 2023.This new vessel, a towboat named Hydrogen One, is being developed by Louisiana-based Maritime Partners, the largest lessor of marine equipment in the U.S. It will be the first of its kind globally to run on emissions-reducing methanol-to-hydrogen generator…
Royal IHC Hands Over Converted Amazon J-Lay Vessel to McDermott
Dutch maritime equipment and technology firm Royal IHC has handed over the converted J-lay vessel Amazon to McDermott International.Royal IHC said: "For this project, Royal IHC has converted Amazon into the modern and state-of-the-art J-lay vessel it is today. The patented system, with dynamic top tension capacity of 1.500 tonnes, can handle a variety of pipes, including normal flowlines, export lines…
Congress: Short-term Funding Decisions Create Long-term Domestic and National Security Issues
Year after year, America’s shipyards that make up the defense industrial base get their hopes up that the annual federal government funding process will produce stable and predictable budgets for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard acquisition programs. Every year, the yards are disappointed as the U.S. Government bounces from spending crisis to spending crisis.At the same time, the yards look favorably upon the shipbuilding plans that significantly grow our Nation’s fleet beyond today’s 296 ships.
NTSB Issues Recommendations Following Fire on Laid Up Laker
The United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued three safety recommendations following its investigation into the February 1, 2021, engine room fire aboard the bulk carrier Roger Blough.The Roger Blough was docked in winter layup at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding facility on Sturgeon Bay, Wis. when a fire started in the engine room. The cargo-unloading conveyor belts then ignited, causing extensive damage throughout the aft section of the vessel.
DNV Grants AIP to MOL and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for LCO2 Carrier
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. have received approval in principle (AIP) for their jointly developed liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier from the Norwegian classification society DNV. The presentation ceremony took place on September 5 at the Gastech 2022 conference in Milan, Italy.The LCO2 carrier that underwent a Hazard Identification Study (HAZID) and received an AIP is a 50…
Baltic Dry Index Rises on Higher Rates for Larger Vessels
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Monday as rates for larger vessel segments increased.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax shipping vessels, was up for the fourth consecutive session, gaining 43 points, or about 3.5%, at 1,256.Market conditions are expected to improve for the rest of 2022 and further in 2023 as the EU's ban on Russian coal will add tonne miles…
GTT Develops Balast Water-Free LNG Feeder & Bunker Vessel Concept
French firm GTT has developed a versatile LNG feeder & bunker vessel concept for worldwide operation without the use of ballast water.Every day, many ships carry on board a considerable quantity of seawater as ballast over the oceans. Technically, this is needed in empty or partially loaded conditions, in order to maintain seaworthiness, reach sufficient draft for propeller immersion, and avoid excessive…
Amplify Energy to Pay $5M to Settle Criminal Charges over California Oil Spill
California officials [last] Thursday said Amplify Energy Corp agreed to plead no contest to six criminal charges and pay nearly $5 million in penalties and fines in connection with a crude oil spill last year that killed birds and fouled beaches.The announcement was the latest legal effort to hold the Texas-based oil company accountable for a subsea pipeline leak that released some 558 barrels (25…
Exmar Pens LNG Carrier Deal with Eni. Closes Tango FLNG Sale
Belgian shipowner Exmar said on Friday it had signed a 10-year charter deal for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel Excalibur with Eni as the Belgian shipowner…
Edda Breeze CSOV Visits Oslo
Edda Breeze, the first of seven of Norway-based Edda Wind's offshore wind service vessels, is visiting Oslo this week.Edda Wind took delivery of the CSOV earlier this year. The vessel was built by Astilleros Gondán shipyard in Spain.The vessel is 88.3 meters long with a beam of 19.7 meters. It can accommodate up to 120 persons onboard.Kenneth Walland, CEO of Edda Wind, said: "It is special for us to take Edda Breeze to Norway, where Edda Wind was established in 2015.
Iran Guards Seize Foreign Ship for Smuggling Diesel
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have seized a foreign vessel in the Gulf for allegedly smuggling 757,000 liters of diesel out of the country, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.The unnamed vessel's seven crew members, who are foreign nationals, have been handed over to legal authorities, IRNA reported without elaborating on the nationalities of the ship or its crew.Iran, which has some of the world's cheapest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the plunge in value of it
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding Breaks Ground on New Facility
Great Lakes shipbuilding and repair yard Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding broke ground on a new 19,000 sq. ft. machine shop at its Sturgeon Bay, Wis. location on Friday.Inside the future 300-ft. long building, shipbuilders will have access to two overhead cranes capable of lifting 5 and 30 tons, respectively. At the other end of the building there will be offices, restrooms, a lunchroom and a tool room.
MacGregor to Supply Deck Handling Solutions for Van Oord's New WTIV
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has been chosen to supply two auxiliary offshore telescopic cranes for Van Oord’s new generation wind turbine installation vessel. The new vessel will mainly operate to support European wind farms.The vessel is being built by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd, and is a new generation of wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV). The 175-meter offshore installation vessel will…
Alfa Laval and WinGD Partner on Methanol Fuel Solution
Alfa Laval and Swiss engine designer WinGD have established a joint program in which Alfa Laval will develop the fuel supply system for WinGD methanol engines. The agreement was signed on September 8 at the SMM exhibition in Hamburg, Germany.To support shipping decarbonization, WinGD has announced that its engines will be able to run on methanol as of 2024. In making that promise reality, the company has turned to Alfa Laval for the development of a fuel supply solution.
Gibbs & Cox Chief Executive Christopher Deegan Passes
Christopher Deegan, former president and chief executive of the venerable naval architecture firm Gibbs & Cox, has passed away, the company shared on social media."It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of our former president and chief executive of Gibbs & Cox, Christopher Deegan’s passing. Chris joined Gibbs & Cox as the vice president of engineering in 2013 after an outstanding career as a Navy civilian program manager and senior executive service leader.
Robotic Pipe Cutting Provides the Answer for JDN Group
While the average person may have a little trouble placing the name Jan De Nul, as in “JDN Group”, that’s not necessarily the case throughout parts of Europe and in nautical circles. There the Belgium-based company is known for its dredging capabilities and high-profile projects in Dubai and the Suez Canal.In addition to dredging, JDN is building a reputation as a global player in its other business segments: offshore services, civil engineering, and environmental.
Aurelia’s 100% Hydrogen-powered Design Gets RINA Approval
Aurelia Green Ship Concept Design's newly unveiled ship design featuring 100% hydrogen propulsion has received approval in principle (AIP) from RINA based on the newly published RINA Rules for Hydrogen Fueled Ships and the RINA Guide for the Approval in Principle of Novel Technologies.The new design concept is the ACD01 1000, a RoRo vessel with electric propulsion using highly compressed H2 as fuel.
Baltic Dry Index Rises on Panamax Gains
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose on Friday and recorded its best week in about four months as panamax rates marked their biggest weekly gain in more than eight years. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax shipping vessels, was up 35 points, or about 3%, at 1,213. The index recorded a weekly gain of about 11.7%, its highest since mid-May.The capesize index snapped its three-day falling streak, gaining 20 points, or about 3%, to 672.
Ingalls Begins LPD 31 Fabrication
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division started fabrication of the U.S. Navy’s newest San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Pittsburgh (LPD 31) on Wednesday. The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100 tons of steel have been cut for the ship.“The start of fabrication on LPD 31 demonstrates our ability to continue manufacturing quality ships for our Navy and Marine Corps partners,” said Mike Pruitt, Ingalls Shipbuilding LPD program manager.
Kongsberg Digital and Shell Marine Partner to Spur Decarbonization
Kongsberg Digital, a subsidiary of KONGSBERG, and Shell Marine signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together on new ways to accelerate decarbonization initiatives and assist the energy transition in the maritime industry.During the international maritime trade fair SMM this week in Hamburg, Kongsberg Digital and Shell Marine signed an MoU to strengthen their service offerings to the maritime industry by developing joint solutions…