Excessive Speed Leads to Tugboat Collision with Containership -NTSB
Excessive speed during an advanced harbor-assist maneuver led to a tugboat colliding with a containership in the Houston Ship Channel last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday.The tugboat George M and containership MSC Aquarius collided on April 14, 2022, while the tugboat was positioning for a ship-assist maneuver and the containership was transiting north in the Houston Ship Channel. No injuries were reported.
Why Ammonia Is the Fuel of the Future for Maritime Shipping
Commercial maritime shipping has a fuel problem. While the industry has cemented its position as the essential piece of the global supply chain—moving more than 80% of all international goods by volume—its dependence on carbon-emitting fuel has come with a high cost.Maritime shipping is responsible for roughly 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization.
Contracting of Product Tankers Jumps
The product tanker orderbook to fleet ratio has surged from 5.4% in December 2022 to 9.3% in June 2023, driven by a remarkable 337% y/y rise in contracting during the first half of this year.“A spike in freight rates and product tanker demand is likely behind the surge in contracting,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.By June 2023, product tanker contracting reached 8.9 million DWT. This…
US Invests Nearly $10 Million to Advance Marine Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced nearly $10 million for seven projects that will accelerate development and testing of marine energy technologies. These investments advance research on wave-powered technology for use in seawater desalination and support a feasibility study for a potential ocean current test facility. “Marine energy technologies have incredible potential to provide clean electricity as well as clean water…
EU Council Adopts FuelEU Maritime Law
More renewable and low-carbon fuels will reduce the carbon footprint of the maritime sector in the EU following the adoption of the FuelEU Maritime initiative by the EU Council.The main objective of the FuelEU maritime initiative, as a key part of the EU’s Fit for 55 package, is to increase the demand for and consistent use of renewable and low-carbon fuels and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector…
GTT to Design Cryogenic Fuel Tanks for Ten LNG-Powered 24,000 TEU Container Ships
The French engineering company GTT has received an order from the Chinese shipyard Yangzijiang, to design the cryogenic fuel tanks of ten ultra large container vessels fueled with liquefied natural gas (LNG)."Used as a marine fuel, LNG is today the best available industrial tool to preserve air quality, a major public health issue. It reduces sulphur oxide emissions by 99%, fine particles by 91% and nitrous oxide emissions by 92%.
Subsea 7's New Semi-Submersible Vessel Equipped for XXL Offshore Wind Foundations En Route to Europe
Subsea 7's recently delivered Seaway Alfa Lift offshore wind foundation installation vessel is in transit to Europe and is expected to join Subsea 7's fleet in the third quarter of 2023.The semi-submersible heavy installation vessel, designed by Ulstein, will be used to install the next-generation XXL offshore wind foundations.The newbuild heavy lift crane vessel Seaway Alfa Lift (CMHI-207), was originally ordered in 2018 by OHT on speculation.
In a First for the U.S., DEME Installs 3,000 Ton Offshore Substation for Vineyard Wind 1
Offshore installation firm DEME Offshore said Tuesday it had installed the approximately 3,000 ton offshore substation for the Vineyard Wind 1 project - the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the United States."The installation of the offshore substation, a first in the US, took place after months of preparation with collaboration and dedication of all partners involved in the construction of the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project…
Ship Carrying 3,000 Cars Burns off Dutch Coast, One Dead
A fire blazed on a cargo ship off the Dutch coast with nearly 3,000 vehicles on board on Wednesday, killing one member of the crew and injuring several others, the coastguard said.Several crew members were forced to jump overboard after the fire began on Tuesday night on the 199-metre (655-foot) Panama-registered Fremantle Highway as it was en route from Germany to Egypt.The Indian Embassy in the Netherlands…
ABS Grants AiP for 15,000 TEU Ammonia-powered Container Ship
Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has awarded Seaspan Corporation and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) in collaboration with Foreship an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the design of a 15,000 TEU ammonia-powered container vessel.Ammonia is seen a promising alternative marine fuel. However, there are currently no ships capable of sailing on ammonia…
New Incat Crowther-designed Fast Ferries Delivered for Germany’s North Sea Island Residents
Three new Incat Crowther-designed fast ferries have been delivered to serve the residents of Germany’s North Sea Island communities, who are set to receive a new commuter ferry service to the mainland.The new ferries will service three busy routes between the North Frisian Islands and Neuharlingersiel, located on the north coast of Germany’s mainland.The three vessels, named WattnExpress, Inselexpress I and Watt Sprinter…
Siem Offshore's AHTS Vessels Win Work in Australia
Norwegian offshore vessel operator Siem Offshore has secured a medium-term contract for two AHTS vessels.Siem Offshore said Tuesday that the contracts were for its…
Rain Raises Rhine River Levels in Germany; North Still Too Shallow
Heavy rain has raised water levels on the Rhine in Germany, but the river is still too shallow in central northern areas for cargo vessels to sail fully loaded, commodity traders said on Wednesday.The river is a major western European shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil products. Dry weather in June meant it became too shallow for vessels to sail fully loaded and operators imposed surcharges on freight rates to compensate for ships sailing partly empty…
Chemical Tanker Owners Seek Fleet Renewal
An easing of chemical tanker earnings in Q2 has not discouraged owners tempted to place newbuilding orders. After a period of extremely strong vessel earnings and asset valuations, an unwinding of the support that created the earnings boom has seen spot and time charter rates fall from their highs, though still remain at elevated levels.This bifurcation of the market has seen owners tempted back to the shipyards with ordering picking up steadily from Q1 and into Q2…
Wärtsilä Supplies Energy Saving Propulsion Devices to Vitol Tankers
Wärtsilä has delivered propulsion efficiency devices to two tankers owned by Vitol.The vessels, Elandra Sea and Elandra Star, managed by Latvian operator LSC Group, had tailored Wärtsilä EnergoFlow and EnergoProFin systems installed during summer 2022.EnergoFlow is a pre-swirl stator that creates an optimal inflow for the propeller, reducing fuel consumption and emissions in all operating conditions.
Rei Misa Wins 2023 Lüddeke Prize
The Nautical Institute (NI) has announced Rei Misa as the winner of its 2023 Lüddeke Prize.The Lüddeke awards were made possible by a generous legacy endowment from the estate of Captain Christof Lüddeke. The prize recognises an exceptional maritime student – many previous winners have gone on to become leading practitioners in their field with some becoming President of The Nautical Institute.Misa already has wide-ranging maritime experience having worked as a Deck Cadet…
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard to Design CSOV
HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard has started joint development of a commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) with Korea Register of Shipping (KR).The two companies agreed to develop their own design and cooperate with domestic companies to ensure a local offshore wind farm operation technology industry so that they can actively advance into overseas markets.Hyundai Mipo Dockyard plans to develop an optimised…
Fincantieri to Study Feasibility of SMR Technology in Shipping
Fincantieri, reactor developer newcleo and class society RINA have agreed to carry out a feasibility study for nuclear applications to the shipping industry, including newcleo’s lead-cooled small modular reactors (SMRs) technology.The deployment of newcleo’s lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) for naval propulsion would involve placing a closed mini reactor on vessels as a small nuclear battery producing a 30MW electric output.
Nexans to Build Third Cable Laying Vessel
France-based Nexans has announced an expansion in its presence in the offshore wind and interconnection market, by adding a third cable laying vessel to its fleet.This strategic decision will allow the Group to meet the increasing demand for electrification, especially in the American and European markets, driven by a record project backlog and recently strengthened by contracts for TenneT and the…
Iranian Oil Remains Stuck Off US Coast
A cargo of sanctioned Iranian crude oil that was confiscated by the U.S. has sat off the Texas coast for eight weeks, unable to unload because commercial agents…
