Platypus Marine Inks LOI with Damen for Jones Act CTV
Port Angeles, Wash. shipyard Platypus Marine has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Dutch shipbuilding conglomerate Damen for the construction of a new Jones Act-qualified crew transfer vessel (CTV) to service the U.S. offshore wind industry. The agreement covers design license and material package.The vessel, which Platypus will build on spec, will be of Damen's FCS 2710 design. The 26.8-meter aluminum catamaran has already been proven in the European market.
WSF Invites Bids to Convert Its Largest Ferries to Hybrid-electric Propulsion
Washington State Ferries (WSF) this week launched an invitation for bid to convert its three largest vessels to hybrid-electric propulsion.The conversion will remove two diesel generator sets from each of WSF's Jumbo Mark II ferries and replace them with batteries and associated support systems. The conversion will incorporate energy storage technology and rapid charging of the batteries from each…
First of 10 New Electric Ferries Delivered in Portugal
The first of 10 new, all-electric ferries has been delivered for emission-free commuter services along Lisbon’s Tagus River.Built by the Astilleros Gondán shipyard for operator Transtejo, the vessel features an integrated power, automation, energy storage and propulsion solution from ABB.Replacing a fleet of older, fossil fuel-burning ferries, the 40-meter, 540-passenger vessels will also improve passenger…
Rosario Ports Operating Normally Despite Strike
Argentina's Rosario agro-port hub terminals were operating normally on Thursday in the midst of a strike by the Urgara grain receivers union aimed at storage centers, the country's Chamber of Port and Maritime Activities (CAPyM) said."The ports are not affected," Guillermo Wade, manager of CAPyM, told Reuters, adding that, at most, "those who have stocks will be receiving a little less merchandise or less than the estimated…
Valero Seeks US Approval to Import Venezuelan Oil
Valero Energy Corp, the second-largest U.S. oil refiner, is seeking Washington's permission to import Venezuelan crude, according to four people close to the matter, hoping for a repeat of the approval granted to Chevron Corp in November after a four-year ban.President Joe Biden's administration has eased some U.S. sanctions on the OPEC-member nation in an effort to encourage a political dialogue with the country's opposition.
Syria Reopens All Ports Except Two
Syria's ports authority reopened all ports except Baniyas and al-Bassit ports on Thursday, after shutting them down a day earlier due to bad weather, state media reported. The war-ravaged country operates seven sea ports through which it brings in basic needs including food and petroleum (Reuters - Reporting by Nayera Abdallah, Writing by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
Object Near Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Poses No Safety Risk - Denmark
An object found close to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea appeared to be a maritime buoy and does not pose a safety risk, the Danish Energy Agency said on Wednesday. The object, which was retrieved on Tuesday by the Danish navy, was discovered during an inspection of the last remaining intact pipeline by Swiss-based operator Nord Stream 2 AG. "Investigations indicate that the object is an empty maritime smoke buoy, which is used for visual marking.
Florida Marine Transporters Refinances with TCW
Florida Marine Transporters LLC Holdings has completed a refinancing with a unit of TCW Asset Management Company LLC.Investment bank Carl Marks Advisors announced it facilitated the transaction.FMT, headquartered in Mandeville, La., is one of America’s largest independent, family-owned, Jones-Act-compliant marine transportation companies, providing liquid petrochemical, chemical cargo, and dry cargo transportation services in the inland waterways of the United States…
NORDEN Buys Bigger Ships to Capitalize on Reopening of China's Economy
Shipping group NORDEN has acquired larger capesize dry bulk ships, aiming to benefit from China's economy reopening and expectations of a pick up in commodities trade, the Danish company's CEO said. Three years of rigid border controls and sweeping lockdowns during the pandemic have sapped business confidence in China, especially among foreign firms, according to sentiment surveys. China has set itself a target for gross domestic product growth of around 5% this year…
JF Subtech Charters Olympic Taurus Offshore Vessel. Deploys It for UXO Survey Gig
James Fisher Subtech has chartered the multipurpose offshore vessel Olympic Taurus from Olympic Subsea with plans to use it in the UK offshore energy industry.The Olympic Taurus has already been mobilized for work from Montrose Port, Aberdeenshire, and fitted with a work class remotely operated vehicle (WROV), in support of an unexploded ordnance (UXO) identification, survey, and disposal campaign…
Austal USA Launches EPF14 and LCS 36
Austal USA launched two Navy ships this past week, USNS Cody (EPF 14) and the future USS Kingsville (LCS 36).With both ships in the water, production efforts will transition to final outfitting and system activation to support the ships getting underway for sea trials. The USNS Cody, which was christened last month, is the Navy’s first Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) Flight II vessel. As the first EPF Flight II…
Japan’s Dry Bulk Imports Fall 4%, says BIMCO
“Having narrowly avoided a recession in the fourth quarter of 2022, the Japanese economy appears to be recovering. However, Japan’s demand for steel remains weak and as a result, the country’s bulk imports are estimated to have fallen by 4% y/y in the first quarter of 2023,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.The steel industry in Japan relies on iron ore and coking coal imports, which combined account for 41% of the country’s bulk imports.
VARD Electro, Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch Ink Deal
Vard Electro signed a multi-million-euro agreement with Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch to supply full DC distribution systems along with its protection devices. With the deal, Vard Electro will be able to serve its clients with design and engineering services that take advantage of DC distribution solutions.The Switch DC-Hub is a technology for a multi-megawatt DC distribution system, designed and optimized from the start for DC distribution.
Headwinds Hamper the Poseidon Principles
The Poseidon Principles provide a platform for financing shipping’s sustainable future, but the technical guidance underpinning the initiative remains under scrutiny.In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will consider revising the UN agency’s strategy on greenhouse gas emissions from ships. Moving on from a current target to reduce CO2 emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050…
MacGregor to Supply RoRo Equipment for Sallaum Lines' LNG PCTC Vessel Duo
Marine equipment firm MacGregor, part of Cargotec, said Thursday it had won a large order for RoRo equipment packages for two dual-fuel LNG Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels. The PCTC vessels will be built at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Ltd. for Sallaum Lines. Sallaum Lines specializes in global RoRo cargo shipping, and these two newly ordered vessels will be the company’s first newbuildings.The…
Big Oil Splits Over Production vs Carbon Storage in Gulf of Mexico Auction
Exxon Mobil Corp on Wednesday bid for offshore blocks to store carbon dioxide underground during a government oil and gas lease sale in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, while rivals Chevron Corp and BP Plc targeted areas for production.The largest U.S. oil company has been selling oil production blocks in the U.S. Gulf since 2018 as it shifts to more lucrative fields elsewhere. And yet, it bought dozens of…
Fire on Philippine Ferry Kills 29; 225 Rescued
Philippine rescuers searched the smoldering ruins of a burnt-out ferry on Thursday for any survivors or more victims of a fire that swept through the inter-island vessel killing 29 people, including a 6-month-old baby, authorities said.Investigators have yet to identify the cause of the fire that started at about 11 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Wednesday off the southern island of Basilan, when many passengers were asleep in air-conditioned cabins on the ferry's lower deck.
Maryland Gears Up for Massive Offshore Wind Power Increase
Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Wednesday announced goals to more than quadruple the state's offshore wind capacity to 8.5 gigawatts - enough to power nearly three million homes - as part of an effort by the state to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035.Moore is working "to establish new lease areas and strengthen the offshore wind supply chain," as well as establish grants to support the effort, the governor's office said in a statement.Maryland is among a growing number of U.S.
BV Introduces Cyber Health Check Tool
Bureau Veritas (BV) has launched a new Cyber Health Analysis Report Tool (CHART) to help shipowners understand their ships’ digital architecture (OT/IT), specific vulnerabilities and level of preparedness to potential cyber threats.The aim of the tool is to enable a comprehensive technical assessment of a vessel’s cyber resilience at specific moments throughout its lifetime, responding to the need to constantly review…
