UK: King Puts Live Export Ban Back on Agenda
The King's Speech on November 7 set out the UK Government's agenda for the coming political year, and the animal welfare charity RSPCA is pleased that a live export ban - via an Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill - was amongst the issues raised in the supplementary notes.The RSPCA has campaigned to outlaw live exports for more than 50 years. Today, around 1.6 million farm animals – cattle, sheep…
WSC Releases Global Whale Chart
Accidental collisions between ships and whales are a global concern, and can occur wherever there is an overlap between whale activity and vessel traffic. To help seafarers plan their voyages to minimize the risk of collisions, the World Shipping Council (WSC) has launch the WSC Whale Chart.This navigational aid is the first global mapping of all mandatory and voluntary governmental measures to reduce harm to whales from ships.
Oldendorff and MIT Report on Biofuel Contamination Study
In 2019, Oldendorff Carriers signed a research agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Center for Bits and Atoms to investigate disruptive improvements in ship design, propulsion, and alternative energy sources to help achieve the enhanced decarbonization targets to 2050. As part of their agreement, Oldendorff Carriers asked MIT to conduct a study on the long-term stability and degradation of a B20 advanced biofuel blend.Biofuels offer a drop-in fuel option…
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Orders MAN Engines for Dual-Fuel Car Carriers
RoRo shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen has ordered 4 × MAN B&W 7S60ME-C10.5-LGIM (Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) dual-fuel engines capable of running on green methanol in connection with the construction of four pure car/truck carriers (PCTCs).The 9,300 CEU (Car Equivalent Unit) vessels will be built in China at the Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) and are scheduled for delivery from mid-2026 on. The order contains options for a further eight such vessels.Xavier Leroi…
Ponant Enhances Connectivity on Luxury Icebreaker
Digital solutions company Marlink has partnered with LEO internet operator Eutelsat OneWeb to provide digital connectivity solutions to cruise company Ponant.Ponant will deploy the Eutelsat OneWeb service on its polar exploration icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, providing guests and crew with high throughput and low latency internet access across the vessel’s itinerary.Leveraging Marlink’s expertise in smart hybrid networks…
RINA Appoints Carlo Luzzatto as Next CEO
Carlo Luzzatto has been appointed as the future CEO and General Director of classification society RINA.The appointment is set to be formalized by the end of 2023, coinciding with Fondo Italiano d'Investimento's acquisition of a minority stake up to 33% in RINA S.p.A. This transition aligns with the joint growth objectives established with Fondo Italiano d'Investimento, reinforcing the Group's intention…
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Up 8.5% in October
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.1 million tons in October, an increase of 8.5% compared to a year ago, according to latest figures from the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Shipments were a near match to the month’s five-year average.Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 41.8 million tons, an increase of 23.3% compared to the same point in 2022, LCA said.Through October iron ore loadings are 5.7% above their five-year average for the January-October timeframe, LCA added.
New Hybrid-drive Tug is First on South America’s West Coast
The PSA Wayra ASD tug will soon enter service for PSA Marine Peru, a wholly owned subsidiary of PSA Marine (Pte) Ltd, as the first tug with a hybrid drive system on South America’s west coast. Hong Kong-based Cheoy Lee Shipyards has built the PSA Wayra on the RAmparts 2400W design from Robert Allan Ltd. The tug is propelled by SCHOTTEL RudderPropellers featuring patented SYDRIVE-M technology. This…
Weichai, Bosch Group Advance Technical Partnership
China's Weichai and Germany's Bosch Group have signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the aim to advance technological innovation in areas such as new energy, high thermal efficiency diesel engines and intelligent transport, among others.On November 2, Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Bosch Board of Management Directors of Bosch Group visited Weichai Group. He met Tan Xuguang, Chairman of Shandong Heavy Industry Group and Chairman of Weichai Power…
US-flagged Laker Grounds in the St. Clair River
A U.S. registered laker ran aground in the St. Clair River near Marine City, Mich. on Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Coast Guard said it was notified at 7:21 a.m. that the 617-foot-long vessel American Courage grounded with a cargo of 20,000 tons of stone on board. No injuries or pollution have been reported.The river remains open to navigation, though a marine safety broadcast has been issued…
Russian Firm Says Baltic Telecoms Cable was Severed as Chinese Ship Passed Over
A Russian fiber optic cable under the Baltic Sea was completely severed last month when a Chinese container ship passed over it, state company Rostelecom said on Tuesday.Finnish investigators have already said they suspect the vessel, the NewNew Polar Bear, of causing serious damage to the nearby Balticconnector gas pipeline by dragging its anchor over the sea bed during the same voyage.Two other Baltic telecoms cables were damaged on the same night of Oct.
Damen Delivers Dredge Packages to Mexico
Earlier this year Damen Shipyards received the order for four complete dredge packages to be installed in trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHDs) currently under construction in Mexico for SEMAR. The identical TSHDs will be fitted out with dredge packages including the trailing pipe, a dredge pump, and various hopper loading and discharging equipment.At present, the four hopper dredgers are under construction at three different Mexican yards.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Bunkers First HSFO-Biofuel in Korea
The world's largest RoRo shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen reports its vessel Torrens is the first to bunker B30 HSFO-biofuel in South Korea. The bunkering took place during a call at Masan Port as part of the vessel's regular sailing schedule.A drop-in fuel that can be used in existing engines without any modification or tank cleaning, HSFO biofuel is a HSFO blended with UCOME (bio feedstock).
Russia Says Telecoms Cable Damaged Last month Just Before Nearby Baltic Gas Pipeline
A Russian fibre optic cable under the Baltic Sea was damaged last month only 28 km (17 miles) from where a gas pipeline linking Finland and Estonia was damaged soon afterwards, Russian state company Rostelecom said on Tuesday.Finnish police believe damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline was caused by a Chinese container ship dragging its anchor along the seabed but have not concluded whether this…
Harland & Wolff's US Subsidiary Secures Maiden Contract
UK-based Harland & Wolff Group said Tuesday that its recently opened Miami-based office had been awarded its first contract for circa $1.5 million.Under the contract, the company will support TampaShip - part of the Edison Chouest Group, based in Tampa, Florida - in the completion of the construction of a floating dock for the Bollinger shipyard facility in the Gulf of Mexico.Fabrication work has started…
California Boat Captain Guilty of 'Seaman's manslaughter' in Fire Deaths of 34 People
The captain of a dive boat that caught fire and sank off the California coast in 2019, killing 34 people on board in one of the state's deadliest maritime disasters, was found guilty on Monday of a federal charge of seaman's manslaughter.Jerry Boylan, 70, was convicted by a U.S. District Court jury in Los Angeles on a single charged count of "misconduct or neglect of a ship officer" under a federal homicide statute dating from steamboat accidents in the early 1800s.The felony conviction…
AD Ports Group Acquires 10 Offshore Vessels in $200 Million Deal
AD Ports Group said Tuesday it had acquired offshore vessels from E-NAV, for around $200 million, to bolster offshore operations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.According to AD Ports, the vessels make up a well-maintained, diversified fleet with an average age of around 9 years, significantly less than the industry average. All 10 vessels are expected to be delivered in Q4 2023 with financial consolidation taking place from Q1 2024 onwards."The acquisitions…
Study Highlights Ammonia Bunkering Potential of Australia’s Pilbara
A feasibility study has highlighted the potential for using clean ammonia to refuel ships, particularly iron ore carriers, visiting the Pilbara region of Western Australia.The study, commissioned by Yara Clean Ammonia (Yara) and Pilbara Ports, was undertaken by Lloyd's Register, and looked at key areas including the estimated demand and likely availability of ammonia as a replacement shipping fuel.
Wärtsilä Announces Restructure
Wärtsilä has announced plans to further streamline its marine business portfolio by divesting its Gas Solutions business unit.Gas Solutions is a provider of gas processing systems. However, the business unit has limited synergies with the rest of Wärtsilä’s marine product portfolio. Therefore, Wärtsilä plans to move Gas Solutions to the Portfolio Business in preparation for a divestment. The net sales…
KR Launches eXtended Reality Ship Familiarization Solution
Korean Register (KR) has launched KR-Real360, a 360-degree XR (eXtended Reality)-based ship education and training program.KR-Real360 has been developed to provide users with the educational information necessary for ship operation and maintenance using the latest XR technology. Users can effortlessly locate educational resources, such as operation manuals, survey data, and checklists, available in diverse formats including images…