Robbers Pull Off Multimillion-dollar Copper Heist in Chilean Port

Chilean authorities said on Wednesday they were investigating a violent heist in Chile's main seaport where thieves stole several shipping containers filled with copper belonging to state-owned giant Codelco.Juan Carlos Catalan, the local prosecutor, said in a statement that ten armed men entered the San Antonio port early on Tuesday morning, attacked workers and stole 13 containers, 12 of which had…
Callan Marine Hires Broussard as Business Development Director

Galveston, Texas based dredging and marine construction company Callan Marine announced it has hired Marc Broussard as its new director of business development.
Eagle Bulk Trials Biofuels

U.S.-based dry bulk shipowner Eagle Bulk Shipping on Wednesday revealed it recently tested biofuels as a means to reduce carbon emissions from its vessel Stamford Eagle.The voyage, completed on GoodFuels' MDF1-100 sustainable biofuel, provided an approximately 80% reduction in net well-to-wake CO2 emissions compared to equivalent fossil fuel, the company said. A broad range of vessel owners and operators…
Freeport LNG May Extend Texas Plant Restart to February

Top U.S. gas exporter, Freeport LNG, is expected to further extend the seven-month-long outage of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Texas to February, as it awaits regulatory approvals, three sources told Reuters on Wednesday.Accounting for 20% of U.S. LNG exports, resumption of the facility is important to ease the squeeze of global LNG supplies, especially as Europe is rebuilding its…
Techcross Reports Strong Start to 2023

South Korea-based Techcross reported it has started off 2023 strong with its first order in a new business area.The company, widely known for its ballast water management systems (BWMS), in 2022 expanded its product lineup to include a tank level gauging systems (TLGS ) and valve remote control systems (VRCS). The company also rolled out an IBTV (Integrated BWMS/TLGS/VRCS), an IoT-applied control platform that can integrate all the equipment for optimal operation…
Ingalls Promotes Nastasi to VP

HII announced on Wednesday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division promoted Kimberly Nastasi to vice president of the newly formed integrated communications and stakeholder engagement department. This new department will enhance communication and engagement with key stakeholders inside and outside of the shipbuilding community.As vice president of integrated communications and stakeholder engagement…
Navalrocha Shipyard Completes Dredger Repair for Jan De Nul

Portugal’s Navalrocha Shipyard announced it has completed a multimillion-dollar repair project for Luxembourg-based company Jan De Nul Group as it targets growth across the Benelux dredging sector.The cluster-contract involving repair work to two split hopper barges and one trailing suction hopper dredger - Tiger, De Bougainville, and Le Guerrier - was finalized at the end of November 2022. Key elements of the project involved complex heavy-lift operations…
German Green Group Seeks to Cut Wilhelmshaven FSRU License by 10 Years

A German environmental group has lodged a complaint calling for the operating licence of a new floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Wilhelmshaven to be shortened by a decade citing its discharging of chlorine and risks to Germany's climate targets.Germany plans to use so-called Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRUs) to import LNG as it weans itself off of piped Russian gas. The group…
The Dutra Group Names Stewart CEO

The Dutra Group has named Harry K. Stewart as its Chief Executive Officer. Stewart, who previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Dutra, assumes his new role as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary. Bill T. Dutra, who led the company since its founding, will move into the role of Executive Chairman.Bill Dutra, who founded the company at age 26, is immediately recognizable by the trademark Borsalino and Stetson hats he wears in tribute to his grandfather, Antone Dutra.
Jones Act Uncertainties Persist in US Offshore Wind

The Jones Act is a single sentence long, and yet somehow that reservation of U.S. domestic maritime commerce to qualified U.S.-flag vessels has spawned numerous complications with respect to offshore wind energy projects. Although not supported by prior experience, maybe 2023 will bring some clarity.U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the primary source of guidance for how the Jones Act applies.
Belgian Oil Tanker Firm Euronav Disputes Frontline's Right to Break up Merger

Belgian oil tanker and storage company Euronav said on Wednesday it disputed Frontline's right to end a merger agreement between the two firms and was considering options, including arbitration and legal action. Oslo-listed oil transporter Frontline said on Monday it was canceling the $4.2 billion merger deal. "Euronav has determined that Frontline's unilateral action in pursuing the termination of the combination agreement has no basis under (its) terms (...)…
Chinese Inbound Coal Shipments Plummet 12.2%, Says BIMCO

Weak economic activity, a 10.5% increase in domestic coal mining, and a recovery in coal imports from Mongolia via rail alleviated coal shipments to China in 2022. However, the end of China’s zero Covid policy and an anticipated recovery of the Chinese economy have strengthened expectations for the country’s coal imports in 2023. A return of import tariffs, the end of China’s unofficial ban on Australian coal…
Tom Perrine, Austal VP of Engineering, Retires

Austal USA Vice President of Engineering, Tom Perrine, has retired after eight years of service with the company and over 40 years in the shipbuilding industry. During his tenure, Perrine led Austal USA’s engineering department overseeing the work of over 250 engineers, naval architects, designers, and other engineering support staff and overseeing the department’s shift to include steel design and construction.During Perrine’s tenure with the company…
Marlink Equipping Solstad Offshore Fleet with Starlink Connectivity

Maritime satellite communications services firm Marlink is equipping Solstad Offshore vessels with Starlink connectivity integrated with the Sealink VSAT, L-band backup, and 4G services."Solstad Offshore is the first offshore vessel operator on the Marlink network to trial Starlink testing the network in harsh weather conditions. In September 2022, the company completed the migration of its fleet connectivity to Marlink…
Miros Group Names Aarset as New CEO

Wave measurement specialist Miros Group has hired Marius Five Aarset as its new CEO to lead the company as it looks to grow in renewable energy, oil and gas, offshore operations, and shipping markets.Marius Five Aarset has joined Miros from ABB, succeeding Andreas Brekke, who is taking on the role of CEO at the joint-venture Miros Mocean."With more than 25 years’ experience in digital and engineering-based roles, Mr.
Canadian Coast Guard Takes Delivery of Two SAR Lifeboats

The Canadian Coast Guard on Monday marked the delivery of the 13th and 14th search and rescue lifeboats: the CCGS Gabarus Bay and the CCGS Chedabucto Bay. The vessels were built by Hike Metal Products Ltd from Wheatley, Ontario and Chantier Naval Forillon from Gaspé, Quebec, respectively.The CCGS Chedabucto Bay will be stationed in Clark’s Harbour, Nova Scotia while the CCGS Gabarus Bay will be stationed in Burgeo…
Maersk Announces New Executive Leadership Team

Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller - Maersk on Tuesday announced a new organizational structure and a new executive leadership team.The changes are effective February 1, 2023 and follow the appointment of Vincent Clerc as CEO of A.P. Moller - Maersk effective January 1, 2023."The business has executed well during the past years, and we have a highly engaged and competent global team ready for the next miles of our transformation, Clerc said.
Campbell Shipping Extents Contract with Inmarsat

Bahamas-based ship-management group Campbell Shipping has extended its relationship with mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat with an agreement that adds Fleet Care and Fleet Secure Endpoint to its existing 12-vessel Fleet Xpress solution. Campbell Shipping will now be able to carry out remote maintenance, support and repairs, and comprehensive network protection, on top of fast, reliable…
Elizabeth Klein Named BOEM Director

The U.S. Interior Department on Tuesday named Elizabeth Klein, a lawyer who worked in the Obama and Clinton administrations, to head the bureau that oversees offshore oil, gas and wind development.Klein will take over for the current head of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Amanda Lefton, who has resigned from the post effective Jan.
Dry Bulk: Panamax Rates Hit Lowest in Two Years

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, slipped on Tuesday, on lower rates for all vessel segments as panamaxes hit their lowest level in two years.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax shipping vessels, was down 43 points, or 3.8%, to 1,096.The capesize index lost 60 points, or 3.8%, to 1,536.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore