Venezuela's Oil Tankers at Risk of Sinking, Fires, Spills, Report finds
More than half of the 22 oil tankers in Venezuela's fleet are so run down that they should be immediately repaired or taken out of service, according to an internal report from state-run oil company PDVSA that was shared exclusively with Reuters. The report by PDVSA's maritime branch, entitled "Critical deficiencies and risks of PDV Marina's tanker fleet," said years of deferred maintenance had left the entire fleet with "low levels of reliability…
How Will China's Clampdown on Mislabelled Cargoes Affect Sanctioned Oil?
Chinese customs authorities are stepping up inspection checks on cargoes of heavy crude oil after uncovering several Iranian shipments that were mislabelled as diluted bitumen in an effort to bypass import quotas.The checks, begun a month ago, are delaying oil discharges into the eastern refining hub of Shandong province.They are also adding to uncertainty over the risk of disruption to shipments from Iran and Venezuela, while cutting into refining operations just as fuel demand recovers.
Huisman Launches Digital Portal for Equipment Owners
Huisman has launched myHuisman©, an online client portal which offers equipment owners a parts shop, a knowledge base and a technical library.Huisman developed the system in co-creation with its clients Fred. Olsen, Van Oord, amongst others.The parts shop allows equipment owners to browse their equipment. It offers a practical breakdown structure in which all available parts can be ordered.The knowledge…
ZeroNorth and Vitol Team Up on Emissions Reporting
Technology company ZeroNorth has signed a long-term strategic partnership with energy and commodity company Vitol.The deal will see Vitol gain full access to the ZeroNorth platform, and ZeroNorth customers will in turn gain access to Vitol’s carbon reduction solutions and bunkering services through subsidiary Vitol Bunkers.Vitol will use the ZeroNorth platform to optimise operations in a number of key business areas…
Video: First Look at AAL’s Mega Heavy Lift Vessel Design
AAL Shipping has released a short film highlighting the design of its mega size 32,000dwt Super B-Class heavy lift vessels. The first, the AAL Limassol, is expected to be launched next year.The Super B-Class design was a collaboration between AAL’s engineering and commercial teams and sister company, Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM). The vessels were designed to be the most efficient and competent multi-purpose vessels (MPVs) available…
American Cruise Lines Christens Two New Riverboats
In a canyon at the Idaho border and alongside a bayou in Louisiana, two nearly identical cruise ships were just christened. American Cruise Lines announced the christening of sister ships American Jazz and American Serenade, two of the lines’ six new riverboats.“The two christenings, one in a desert canyon and one on the bayou, show the incredible breadth of river cruise options in the USA,” said Charles B. Robertson, President & CEO, American Cruise Lines.
Video: Burn Victim Airlifted from Bulk Carrier off US East Coast
An injured crewmember was medevaced Wednesday from a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier approximately 173 miles east of Morehead City, N.C., the U.S. Coast Guard said.Watchstanders with Coast Guard 5th District Command Center received a notification from the the 200-foot-long vessel PRT Ace, that a 29-year-old crewman on board had suffered burns while using the ship’s incinerator.The watchstanders launched…
Crowley Launches Multimodal Service Between Mexico, US and Canada
Crowley announced it will launch an end-to-end, integrated ocean and rail service between Mexico and the U.S. Midwest region and into Canada. Featuring Crowley’s new Mexico-U.S. ocean route in the Gulf, the service will leverage the inland rail network of Canadian National Railway Company and its U.S. rail subsidiaries (CN). The companies’ combined network provides broad reach across the Midwest and into Canada to increase solutions for global customers in North American market…
Greece Warned Shipowners Days Before Iran Seized Tankers
Greece issued a series of warnings to shipowners to avoid sailing close to Iranian waters days before Tehran seized two tankers amid heightening tensions in the region, according to documents and industry sources.Iran seized a second oil tanker in a week on Wednesday in Gulf waters, the U.S.
A New Generation of WTIVs
WTIVs have always been fuel-hungry. Now they are being tasked with installations that are further, deeper and heavier.Offshore wind farms continue their march into deeper water, further from shore, with turbines that can now reach more than 270 meters high with blades 120 meters long. Designers and OEMs are pushing efficiency to new levels to contain OPEX on the new-generation jack-up WTIVs taking them up there.Danish ship design firm Knud E.
Marlink Launches Telemar Yachting
Marlink, the smart network and ICT solutions company, is bringing together its Telemar US, UK and Italy leisure market operations to create Telemar Yachting, to provide a portfolio of managed services to the yachting market.This combination installation and maintenance of safety and navigation equipment coupled with OmniAccess’ connectivity and cyber security solutions for the yachting segment.Telemar…
'Hydrogen Hubs' to the Fore
The path to decarbonization is defined by partnership and fueled by government funding. This month we examine the players, partnerships, and evolution of Hydrogen Hubs in the Gulf of Mexico.The Green Shipping Challenge, organized by the United States and Norway at COP 27 held in late 2022, brought about dozens of announcements on maritime decarbonization. Among these was a joint statement from the…
Austal Launches High-speed Ferry for French Polynesia's Degage Group
Shipbuilder Austal Vietnam announced Wednesday that it has launched a new high-speed catamaran built at the company’s shipyard in Vung Tau for the Degage Group of French Polynesia.The 66-meter Apetahi Express is undergoing final fit-out, prior to sea trials which are due to commence in May. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in June 2023. The new ferry is anticipated to commence operations between…
Concordia Maritime Sells 13-year-old Product Tanker
Concordia Maritime announced Wednesday it has entered into an agreement to sell its 13-year-old product tanker Stena Penguin to an unnamed European buyer.The 65,200 dwt Stena Penguin is scheduled to be delivered to its new owner during the second quarter of 2023.Overall, the sale is expected to have a positive liquidity effect of approximately SEK 215 million (about $20.9 million) after repayment of the remaining bank debt to Svenska Skeppshypotek…
MARAD Awards $20.8 Million in Grants to Small Shipyards
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) on Wednesday announced $20.8 million in grant awards to 27 small shipyards in 20 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program. The funds will help shipyards modernize, increase productivity, and expand local job opportunities while competing in the global marketplace.“Small shipyards strengthen America’s commercial fleet, bolster our economic security, and generate good jobs,” said U.S.
Kongsberg Digital's 'Vessel Insight' Receives Double Certification from ABS
Kongsberg Digital's cloud infrastructure Vessel Insight has received the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Product Design Assessment Certificate for SMART (INF) for data infrastructure in accordance with the ABS Smart Functions Guide, in addition to ABS CyberSafety PDA certification. This is the first time ABS has awarded this combination of endorsements to a single product.According to Kongsberg Digital…
Second Oil Tanker in a Week Seized by Iran in Gulf - U.S. Navy
A second oil tanker in a week was seized by Iran on Wednesday in Gulf waters, the U.S. Navy said, the latest escalation in a series of seizures or attacks on commercial…
Austal USA Hires New Chief Compliance Officer
Austal USA has hired Adam Overstreet as vice president of legal affairs and chief compliance officer.Overstreet will manage a broad spectrum of legal issues, including employment and labor law matters, commercial transactions, and litigation. As the company’s chief compliance officer, Overstreet will oversee and strengthen the execution of compliance activities throughout the organization.“Austal USA takes compliance with all laws and government regulations seriously…
Zinus Awarded Contract to Supply Shore Power to Port of Oslo
Zinus has won a contract with PowerCon to supply the Port of Oslo with a shore power solution.The aim of the project is to make shore power available for all cruise ships that visit the Port of Oslo.Zinus’s CRU500 is an all-in-one cable management system that integrates with PowerCon’s shoreside electro distribution station and the cruise vessel. The CRU500 can be moved and operated as one unit with cables and cable management system…
MMA Honors Thomas B. Crowley, Jr.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) has honored Thomas B. Crowley, Jr., CEO and Chairman of the Crowley Corporation, as Person of the Year.The Academy has an established tradition of honoring a civilian or military leader with a distinguished career of excellence, innovation, and service to the maritime industries and other related industries with the Emery Rice Medal, named for an 1897 Academy graduate and WWI hero.
