Japan Receives First Low-carbon Ammonia Shipment from Saudi Arabia
Japan received its first low-carbon ammonia cargo from Saudi Arabia on Friday, which it plans to use for co-firing with fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions, a joint statement from the four companies involved in the deal said. Energy-poor Japan wants to add hydrogen and ammonia to its energy mix, a move criticized by climate activists as costly and not fully effective. Japan has agreed with a number of countries to study hydrogen and ammonia supply chains.
Baltic Dry Index Logs Best Day in Over Five Weeks
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, posted its biggest single-day gain since mid-March on Thursday, steered by higher shipping rates for all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 60 points, or 4.4%, to 1,432 — its biggest daily percentage rise since March 14.The capesize index snapped its four-session losing streak…
Tug and Yacht Collide Near Bay St. Louis, Miss.
Three boaters were rescued Wednesday after their yacht collided with a tug near Bay St. Louis, Miss.The U.S. Coast Guard said its watchstanders at Sector Mobile received a report Wednesday of a 53-foot yacht and a tug vessel pulling two barges were involved in a collision. Sector Mobile watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Station Gulfport 45-foot Response Boat–Medium boatcrew to assist.The response boatcrew arrived on scene…
OSV to be Converted for Human Space Flight Launches
Space tourism company Space Perspective is converting an offshore support vessel (OSV) to function as the world’s first "marine spaceport". The Florida-based company in November 2022 announced it had acquired the 292-foot-long vessel from Edison Chouest Offshore as the first in its planned global fleet of converted spaceport vessels to support the mobile launch of its balloon-driven passenger spacecraft.The…
Seaspan Names Two New LNG Containerships in Korea
Two of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled containerships were named and commissioned during a ceremony at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea.The newly built ZIM Mount Everest and ZIM Mount Blanc are the second and third 15,000 TEU LNG-Powered vessels in a series of 10 vessels being built for Seaspan Corporation for long term charters to Israeli carrier ZIM, Both vessels will join ZIM Sammy Ofer, delivered in February 2023, as the first LNG containerships to call the U.S.
West Coast Port Union, Employers Reach Tentative Deal
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) said on Thursday it had reached a tentative agreement with an association representing the U.S. West Coast employers of port laborers on some key issues.Negotiations over a new deal have dragged on for roughly a year since the contract between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the union expired on July 1, 2022.Any strike in the absence of a deal may prove costly as supply chain issues persist…
Krewsky Named President of TAI Engineers
S&B announced updates to the management team of TAI Engineers, which include the promotion of Captain William Krewsky, PE (USCG Retired), to President and Krishna (Kris) Karri to Senior Vice President Operations and Chief Engineer. Krewsky succeeds Anil Raj, PE, TAI’s Founder and President, who will remain in an executive advisory role with TAI.Captain Krewsky, a 38-year marine-industry veteran, most recently served as Vice President of Government Programs for TAI.
Preventing Oil Spill Disaster: Boskalis to Lead UN-coordinated Operation to Remove Oil From Decaying FSO off Yemen
Dutch marine services firm Boskalis has, through its subsidiary SMIT Salvage, reached an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to remove the oil from the decaying FSO Safer moored off Yemen’s Red Sea coast in a push to avoid environmental disaster. This project is a part of the UN-coordinated operation to remove and transfer more than one million barrels of oil from the decaying tanker into a safe modern tanker and the responsible disposal of the Safer.
World’s First Methanol-Fueled Containership Launched
The world’s first methanol-fueled containership has been launched for A.P. Moller - Maersk as the Danish shipping giant makes headway toward its goal to decarbonize its operations.“The launching was successfully completed on April 4 at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, and the construction is continuing with delivery in the summer,” said Henrik Ekmann, Head of Newbuilding & Retrofit at Maersk.The 2,100 TEU, ABS…
HST Marine Nets Long-term Contract in North Sea with Otary
Offshore energy industry services provider HST Marine said Thursday it had secured a long-term contract in the North Sea for its HST Hudson fast crew supplier, to continue working with Belgium-based offshore wind firm Otary."In order to assist Otary with its emission reduction journey, we will also be installing an SCR IMO Tier III system onto the HST Hudson once on project. This will reduce the NOx and SOx in the vessel exhaust gases for cleaner…
Keppel's Profit Boosted by Sale of Offshore & Marine Business
Singaporean conglomerate Keppel Corp Ltd on Thursday posted a higher net profit for the first quarter, boosted by a significant one-off gain recognized from the sale of its offshore & marine unit.In February, Sembcorp Marine completed a S$4.50 billion ($3.37 billion) buyout of Keppel's offshore & marine unit after receiving the necessary shareholder approvals.Keppel recognized a gain of S$3.3 billion and received S$500 million of cash in the first quarter following the transaction, it said.The c
Ulstein to Design Cyan Renewables' Offshore Foundation Installation Vessels
Singapore-based Cyan Renewables has contracted Ulstein Design & Solutions BV to design a series of new floating foundation installation vessels (FFIV) dedicated to offshore wind. Ulstein said that the new FFIVs would feature adequate deck space and crane capacity to meet developments in foundation design, including monopiles and jackets. In addition, they will also have low emission capability, using a hybrid power system consisting of dual-fuel engines (methanol)…
HMM Plans Onboard Carbon Capture Field Test
Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has announced plans to conduct field tests of an onboard carbon capture system following a feasibility study of the technology for container ships.The project is being conducted with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and PANASIA in the second half of this year.The feasibility study revealed that the system could be installed without changing the existing equipment of the…
DNV Launches Real-Time Emissions Data Verification Solution
DNV has launched Emissions Connect, an emissions data verification engine and data management platform designed to help the maritime industry accurately assess and work with emissions data.The solution provides a trusted, verified source of emissions data that can be shared securely with all relevant stakeholders along the maritime value chain. High-quality emissions data provided by the shipowner…
ONE Orders Wind-Assist Technology from Econowind
Singapore-based Ocean Network Express (ONE) has decided to install two containerized wind assist units on one of their operated container feeder ships before the end of 2023.The 143-meter, 1036 TEU capacity Kalamazoo is owned by Singapore-based Norse and the wind assist systems will be supplied by the Netherlands-based company, Econowind.The two containerized units will be equipped with the latest wing design from Econowind, the VentoFoil.
Transocean's Big Move: Adapting Offshore Drilling Vessels to Install Wind Foundations
Transocean, best known for its deepwater drilling services in the oil and gas space, is looking to expand into the offshore wind sector and is planning to convert some of its offshore drilling vessels into wind foundation installation vessels.The company said Wednesday it had executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with offshore wind installation services firm Eneti with a plan to form a…
Castor Sells 2007-built Panamax for $12.6 Million
Shipping company Castor Maritime announced it has completed its sale of a a 2007-built Panamax bulk carrier for $12.6 million. The company had revealed in March that it sold the 73…
US Navy Sends a USV Through the Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. Navy on Wednesday sent an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) through the Strait of Hormuz as it ramps up its use of high-tech unmanned assets for patrols and monitoring at sea.The transit was reportedly the Navy's fist for a USV through the busy and strategically important strait, demonstrating the continued operational integration of unmanned and artificial intelligence systems by U.S. maritime…
Oil Exports from Russia's Western Ports Hit 4-year High
Oil loadings from Russia's key western ports in April will rise to the highest level since 2019, above 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd) despite Moscow's pledge to cut output, trading and shipping sources said.Russian crude exports and transit from the ports of Primorsk, Ust-Luga and Novorossiisk in Arpil will rise above 10 million tonnes, up from 9.7 million tonnes in March.Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Feb.
Maintenance Dredging at the Port of Weipa to Begin in May
North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBP) will soon begin maintenance dredging at the Port of Weipa. NQBP Acting Chief Executive Officer Belinda Kenny said the dredge vessel TSHD Brisbane is due to begin work from early May 2023.“Maintenance dredging works are an integral part of port operations,” Kenny said. “In the same way we maintain roads and rail lines for freight transport, we need to look after our port infrastructure to keep trade flowing.
