Keel Laid for Future USS Pierre (LCS 38)
Austal USA hosted a keel laying ceremony for the future USS Pierre (LCS 38) Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship at the company’s Gulf Coast shipyard. Ship sponsor Larissa Thune Hargens, with the assistance of Hon Tran – a 13-year Austal USA veteran A-class welder, authenticated the keel by welding her initials into a keel plate that will be welded to the hull of the ship.The future USS Pierre is the final Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship being built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.
FarSounder Receives 8th Patent
FarSounder expanded its IP portfolio with the issuance of its 8th Patent, number 11,609,316. This US patent expands the company’s patent portfolio for its unique…
Engine Overhaul for Tidewater PSV in Aberdeen
Marine engineering and propulsion specialist Royston has completed the rapid overhaul of a diesel power plant system onboard a Tidewater Marine operated platform support vessel.Royston engineers undertook the 18,000 running hours service of a Scania DI12 harbor generator, which is onboard the 80m length Highland Chieftain, while the vessel was moored in Aberdeen.The work involved the generator being disassembled with manifolds…
Saudi Arabia Urges Improved Maritime Security in Gulf
Saudi Arabia wants enhanced maritime security in the crucial Gulf region as part of its rapprochement with long-timerival Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Saturday.Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in March, in a deal brokered by China, to end a diplomatic rift and reestablish relations following years of hostility that had endangered regional stability including in the Gulf, Yemen…
ECDIS is Not a Replacement for Terrestrial Navigation
I guess it was only a matter of time. After years of debating whether or not Celestial Navigation should be taught it is now time to debate the relevance of Terrestrial Navigation. The argument is same: why do I need to know this if there is technology available to do it for me?The answer is also the same. If you want to be a professional mariner than your knowledge base and skill sets should far exceed…
Fourteen Suspects Arrested in Pakistan Over Greece Boat Disaster
Pakistani authorities have arrested 14 people in connection with the alleged trafficking of several migrants who drowned last week after their overloaded boat capsized in the sea off Greece, police said.Hundreds of people, including from Pakistan, are thought to have died when the vessel capsized and sank in one of Europe's deadliest shipping disasters in recent years.The Pakistani government has ordered a high-level inquiry to investigate the human trafficking network thought to be involved…
Inside the “Hot Demand” for Subsea Construction Vessels
A rising tide lifts all boats, as the saying goes, and while the offshore industry is currently experiencing a wide-ranging surge, there are vessel types and specific market segments that are expected to benefit more than others.One such segment is the offshore construction vessel (OCV) types, which to an increasing degree have found themselves in hot demand from both oil and gas developments as well as offshore wind activities.While vessel definitions and abbreviations in this space can vary…
SeaARCTOS Emissions Monitor Secures LR Type Approval in Principle
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded type approval in principle to SeaARCTOS for its emissions monitoring technology ARCTOS-1, which monitors carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) exhaust levels with a dedicated sensor attached to a vessel’s exhaust stack.Designed to provide transparency on emissions monitoring and help support compliance with local and regional sulphur regulations…
Austal USA to Build Fifth T-ATS Ship for the US Navy
Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA has been awarded a $71,706,745 fixed-price incentive contract option from the U.S. Navy for the construction of an additional Navajo-class Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship (T-ATS 15).With the award, the company is now under contract for five T-ATS, having received awards for T-ATS 13 and 14 in July 2022 and T-ATS 11 and 12 in October 2021.Paddy Gregg, CEO of Austal USA's Australian parent company Austal…
Fincantieri Wins $436m Four Season Yachts Ship Order
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri said on Monday it had signed a contract worth more than $436 million to deliver a second luxury vessel for Four Seasons Yachts. Fincantieri had won a first order from Four Season Yachts last year."Today's result also bears witness to the start of the orders recovery for the sector, at the same time reinforcing Fincantieri's leadership in the new extra-luxury segment based on haute hotellerie…
WindWings Gains Type Approval Design Certificate
BAR Technologies (BARTech) announced it has been awarded a full type approval design certificate (TADC) for its wind propulsion technology from classification society DNV.Since being awarded an approval in principle (AIP) for its WindWings wind propulsion solution in 2021, inventor and designer BARTech, and industrialization partner Yara Marine Technologies (YMT), have focused on progressing the WindWings design through to the next level of DNV certification.
IMO to Review GHG Strategy and More at MEPC 80
The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) - 80th session will meet at IMO Headquarters in London from July 3-7, and amongst key agenda items, the MEPC 80 session is expected to adopt an upgraded IMO greenhouse gas strategy.The revised IMO GHG Strategy will contain concrete greenhouse gas reduction targets for the sector and is expected to outline a range of technical and economic measures.
Gasum to Supply LNG to MSC Euribia
Gasum and the Cruise Division of MSC Group have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of LNG to the new flagship MSC Cruises vessel MSC Euribia.The companies have also signed a Letter of Intent with the goal of cooperating on the supply of synthetic e-LNG made with renewable energy as part of MSC Cruise Division’s strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from its marine operations…
Anti-Vibration Paint Developed in South Korea
South Korean shipyard Hanwha Ocean has developed its own anti-vibration paint designed to improve operational performance by reducing vibration and noise.The material is designed for surface warships.For the past 30 years, damping materials have been dependent on imports from the US and Germany, says Hanwha, which has meant that the yard has sometimes had to over-order to meet minimum order requirements, resulting in waste.“The anti-vibration material developed by Hanwha Ocean is cheaper than im
Minimum Safe Manning Levels Questioned
The confidential and impartial incident and near-miss reporting scheme CHIRP Maritime has released its analysis of maritime reports received between April 2022 and March 2023.A key outcome of the analysis of reported incidents was the identification of inadequate leadership and supervision as a contributing factor. Adam Parnell, Director Maritime, said: “This analysis identifies the key causal factors of safety incidents reported to CHIRP Maritime over the past year.
Fire Out on Esperanza Star
The Philippine Coast Guard has declared “fire out” on the ferry Esperanza Star after attending then scene when a distress call was made at 0400 on June 18. The vessel was sailing in the waters of Panglao, Bohol, with 78 passengers and 59 crew onboard when the fire broke out at the aft of the vessel. Those onboard are reported to be safe and without injury after being taken to Bohol.The vessel is operated by Kho Shipping Lines…
LD Tide Orders Hybrid-ready CTV from Strategic Marine
France-based LD Tide has ordered a new crew transfer vessel (CTV) from Singaporean aluminum boat builder Strategic Marine.The newbuild will by a hybrid-ready StratCat 27 (SC27) designed by BMT.LD Tide, joint venture between top French shipping company Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and UK-based partner Tidal Transit, currently owns and manages a fleet of three CTVs to transfer technicians to the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm…
Cadeler and Eneti Agree to Merge
Offshore wind turbine and foundation installation companies Cadeler and Eneti announced they have agreed to merge through a stock-for-stock exchange.The combined company will be named Cadeler, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with its shares to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in addition to its current listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE) with a proforma market capitalization in excess of €1.2 billion.
Two Seafarers Charged Following Bulk Carrier Drug Bust
Two seafarers have been brought up on charges for their alleged roles in smuggling cocaine into Western Australia on board a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier.The men, both from Montenegro, were serving as master, 43, and chief engineer, 39, on board the 58,000-dwt supramax St Pinot. They have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and…
Dealing with the Whale in the Bight
This is going to be about whales, but it will actually be an engineering discussion rather than a nature discussion. Let’s start with an easy truth. Whale deaths due to offshore wind activities is utter nonsense. It has no basis in fact, and is a total fabrication by truly malicious characters.There, now let’s get into more interesting stuff. Whale deaths caused by humans is a complex issue that will never be solved completely, but, with careful adjustments, can be reduced.
