US Announces $220 Million to Modernize Ferry Service
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of $220 Million to Modernize Ferry Service and Better Connect Rural CommunitiesThe U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Friday announced the availability of $220 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support or modernize passenger ferry service in rural and urban communities across the country. Across the country, there are approximately three million ferry riders each month.
Future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) Completes Acceptance Trials
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. announced Friday the completion of acceptance trials for Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125).Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) is the first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer being built for the U.S. Navy by Ingalls and incorporates a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability.
Asian Spot LNG Prices Slip to Two-year Low
Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices slipped to their lowest level in two years on weak demand and high inventories, while European LNG prices also fell below the $10 mark amid healthy stock build and limited need for additional supply.The average LNG price for July delivery into northeast Asia was down 6.6% from the previous week at $9.8 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), the lowest since May 2021…
New Manned Barge Designed for Rocket Transport
A new barge has been designed to transport rockets for spacecraft launch service provider United Launch Alliance (ULA).Naval architecture firm Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) said it was recently selected by ULA to design a river and oceangoing manned roll-on / roll-off barge for the transportation of its Vulcan Centaur rockets. The barge will be supported by an operations and cargo monitoring crew.In support of ULA’s competitive solicitation for ship fabrication this summer…
Fincantieri Awarded Contract to Build Fourth Constellation-class Frigate
Marinette, Wis. shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) has been awarded a $526 million contract to build a fourth Constellation class frigate for the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Defense announced. The contract for the lead frigate and nine option ships, signed in 2020, has a cumulative value of $5.5 billion, including post-delivery availability support and crew training. FMM received the $795 million contract for the first frigate in the Constellation class program…
Austal USA Awarded US Navy TAGOS-25 Contract
Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA announced it has been awarded a contract potentially worth more than $3 billion for the detail design and construction of new TAGOS-25 class ocean surveillance ships for the U.S. Navy.The $113.9 million fixed-price incentive (firm target) and firm-fixed-price contract includes options for detail design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ships which, if exercised…
South Africa Grants Turkey's Karpowership Deal to Ease Power Crisis
South Africa has granted Turkey's Karpowership access to the three ports of Ngqura, Durban and Saldanha Bay for a period of 20 years, the transport ministry said on Thursday, as it tries to find solutions to the country's power crisis.Karpowership aims to generate power on its floating gas ships and distribute it through South Africa's electricity grid. The plan received a boost from President Cyril…
Sakhalin Energy Sues Svitzer over Tugboats
Russia's Sakhalin Energy operating company has filed a lawsuit in a Russian court over tugboats owned by Denmark's Svitzer, a unit of shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk, court documents showed on Thursday. The Russian court on the Pacific island of Sakhalin last month ordered the seizure of four tugboats belonging to Svitzer at the request of Sakhalin Energy, which claimed that the Danish company had unilaterally annulled the freight contract with it.
US West Coast Ports Regain Lost Volume as Competitive Pressure Mounts
Some U.S. importers who shifted cargo away from West Coast ports to rival gateways over fears that labor contract talks could disrupt shipments have begun bringing some of that volume back, even as those negotiations stretch into their 13th month, company supply chain executives said.But anxiety over labor negotiations only explains part of the market share losses at West Coast container ports, including the nation's busiest at Los Angeles/Long Beach…
Black Sea Gain Corridor has Not Yet Resumed Operations
The Black Sea grain corridor designed to ensure the safe supply of Ukrainian food to world markets has not yet resumed operation despite statements by Turkey and Russia on extending the agreement, a senior Ukrainian official said on Thursday.The deal has been extended for two more months, in what U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed on Wednesday as “good news for the world,” a day before…
Ukraine Black Sea Grain Deal Extended for Two Months
The Ukraine Black Sea grain deal has been extended for two more months, in what U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed as "good news for the world," a day before Russia could have quit the pact over obstacles to its grain and fertiliser exports.Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced the extension in a televised speech and it was later confirmed by Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations.The…
Cultivating Tomorrow’s Waterways Workforce
The American Waterways Operators (AWO) is taking action to help address an industry need and a national imperative to recruit, retain and develop the next generation of maritime employees.As much as the tugboat, towboat and barge industry contributes to our nation’s prosperity and security today, we are an industry with an incredibly bright future that has even more to offer in the years to come. Our…
Manson Awarded Dredging Work in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida
Seattle-based dredging and marine construction contractor Manson Construction Co. has been awarded a contract for dredging in Alabama, Mississippi and FloridaThe $49 million firm-fixed-price contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received.Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 15, 2024.
US Maritime Industry Working to Solve the People Puzzle
For companies active in all parts of the commercial maritime sector, finding and holding onto the workers they need to build, operate and service the industry’s wide range of vessels has been challenging. Simply put, the labor market is tight, and the problem is not getting any easier to solve.Mike Ellis, CEO at American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL), said a continued shortage of qualified personnel has been the most pressing issue for ACBL—and probably for the barging industry as a whole.
NY Waterway to Restore Port Liberte Ferry Service
NY Waterway has been selected to provide ferry services five days a week on Jersey City’s southernmost coast in Greenville, N.J.Mayor Steven M. Fulop, Councilwoman Denise Ridley and the Department of Infrastructure announced a resolution awarding the contract for services out of the Port Liberte Ferry Terminal, which the City of Jersey City recently acquired.Additionally, utilizing $4 million in State grant funding…
US, UK, Others Seek to Target Illicit Oil Shipping Transfers at Sea
The U.S., UK, Denmark, and other countries have called for more action, including increased surveillance, over the booming practice of unregulated oil transfers at sea, as fears grow over potential pollution, according to a paper submitted to the U.N."These transfers undermine the rules-based international order and increase the risk of pollution to nearby coastal States. This threatens global efforts to prevent pollution from ships…
SHI European 'Road Show' Showcases New Ship Designs
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) held aTechnology Road Show in Europe as an official debut of its new design ship.SHI held its "Samsung Technical Seminar in Athens" at the Marriott Hotel in Athens, Greece, and announcing details on a pair of new designs: an LNG carrier and a container ship.SHI reports the event attracted 70 people from 35 companies, including shipowners such as Minerva, GasLog, Shell…
China Urges Australia to Help find Crew of Capsized Fishing Boat
China's ambassador to Australia urged Canberra on Thursday to step up its rescue efforts to help locate the 39 missing crew members on board a Chinese shipping boat that capsized in the Indian Ocean early this week.President Xi Jinping has ordered that all efforts be made to search for the missing crew, which includes 17 Chinese nationals, 17 Indonesians and five from the Philippines, state media reported on Wednesday."This is within Australia's search and rescue area ...
Third Medical Evacuation in Three Months: Coast Guard Assists Ailing Crewmember on Solitaire Pipelayer
The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced a crewmember from Allseas' pipelayer Solitaire Tuesday approximately 13 miles south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.Coast Guard Eighth District and Coast Guard Sector New Orleans command center watchstanders received a report at approximately noon Tuesday from the Solitaire of a 65-year-old male crewmember experiencing heart attack-like symptoms. Sector New Orleans watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew to assist.
Alliance Says No Link Between Offshore Wind Surveys and Mammal Deaths
The EnerGeo Alliance has sent a letter to New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy and Assemblyman Christopher Tully, Chairman of the state’s Committee on Science, Innovation and Technology in advance of the Assembly’s hearing on marine mammal deaths scheduled for Thursday May 18, 2023.There have been at least 11 whales that have washed up dead along New Jersey's coastline since December 5, prompting concern…
