Wight Shipyard Launches Hybrid Ferry for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
British aluminum shipbuilder Wight Shipyard has launched Earth Clipper, the first in a series of series of two new Clipper-class hybrid passenger vessels for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.One of the key features of the new ferry is its hybrid propulsion system, which combines electric and diesel engines to reduce emissions and minimize our environmental impact making it one of the most eco-friendly…
Russia Conducts Surprise Inspection of Its Pacific Naval Fleet
Russia will conduct missile launches and torpedo tests as part of a surprise inspection of its Pacific naval fleet, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday.The drills come amid heightened tension in the Asia-Pacific region, as the United States and South Korea conduct joint air exercises following an intercontinental ballistic missile test by North Korea."The main objective of this inspection…
Baltic Dry Index Logs Worst Week in Two Months
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Friday to mark it worst week since mid-February as demand waned across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 28 points, or 1.9%, to 1,435.The index was down 8% for the week — its biggest weekly percentage fall since Feb. 17.The capesize index shed 38 points, or 2%, to 1,850.
Northern Lights Carbon Storage Project Advances as Construction of Specialized Ships Kicks Off
Construction of two ships for the Northern Lights carbon storage project in Norway started Thursday with a keel laying ceremony at the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. (DSIC) yard in Dalian, China.Keel laying is a ceremonial recognition of the shipbuilding start in the construction dock at the shipyard. First steel for the ships was cut in November 2022."The keel laying is a major milestone in building the world’s first large-scale LCO2 transport ships.
Japanese Leaders Collaborate on Ammonia-Fueled Gas Carrier
ClassNK issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an ammonia-fueled gas carrier which has been jointly developed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding.Ammonia is expected to be used as a ship fuel for decarbonization since it does not emit CO2 when combusted. While still in development, some project that it will be the dominate 'alternative fuel' starting in the mid-2030s.In the meantime…
Belov Engenharia Shipyard Delivers 'E-Pushboat' HB Poraque
Belov Engenharia Shipyard, located in Salvador, Brazil, delivered the first Robert Allan Ltd. designed RApide 2000-E pushboat – HB Poraque. It is the first of two battery/diesel electric vessels for Hidrovias do Brasil S.A. HB Poraque is a battery electric shallow draft pushboat, with a second vessel, HB Enguia, due for delivery in May 2023. The vessels will provide terminal assistance in the Amazon…
World's Largest FSRU Arrives in Hong Kong
The world's largest floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) has arrived in Hong Kong to serve the city's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal, said CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd and Hong Kong Electric Co. Ltd.The FSRU arrived on April 13 and will set sail after checks and port clearance procedures to the offshore Hong Kong LNG terminal next week for final commissioning of the project…
Cyclone Ilsa Hits Australia's Northwest, Misses Iron Ore Export Hub
A tropical cyclone smashed into Australia's northwest coast as a category 5 storm, setting new wind speed records, but has largely spared populated regions including the world's largest iron ore export hub at Port Hedland, authorities said on Friday. Cyclone Ilsa made landfall early Friday morning with the highest intensity rating on a 1-to 5 scale and then moved inland as emergency crews urged several remote communities along the storm's path to seek shelter and remain indoors."Port Hedland ...
ABS Wavesight Partners with ActZero on Maritime Cybersecurity
ABS Wavesight, an ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, today announced a new alliance with ActZero, a managed detection and response (MDR) service provider, to help safeguard fleets from the growing threat of cyberattacks.ActZero will provide cybersecurity protection to ABS Wavesight clients alongside ABS Wavesight’s portfolio of vessel and voyage management tools. “Offering ABS Wavesight users a cyber solution is not just a natural next step…
Chevron and Angelicoussis Group Exploring Maritime Ammonia Transport
Chevron and the Angelicoussis Group have come together to explore how tankers can be used to transport ammonia, a potential lower carbon marine fuel.Under a newly announced Joint Study Agreement (JSA), Chevron, through its subsidiary Chevron Shipping Company, and the Angelicoussis Group, through its Energy Transition division, Green Ships, will initially evaluate the ammonia transportation market, existing infrastructure…
Biden Admin Greenlights LNG Exports from Alaska LNG Project
The Biden administration on Thursday approved exports of liquefied natural gas from the Alaska LNG project, a document showed, as the United States competes with Russia to ship natural gas from the Arctic to Asia.The Department of Energy approved Alaska Gasline Development Corp's (AGDC) project to export LNG to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement.Backers of the…
Employers Say Union is Disrupting Work at Southern California Seaports
The Pacific Maritime Association on Thursday said the largest longshore union local on the West Coast disrupted work at the nation's busiest seaport complex for the second week in a row, as labor talks covering 22,000 dockworkers from California to Washington state approach the one-year mark.Frustration is growing over the lack of resolution in the talks, which started in May.
Russia Says Black Sea Grain Deal May Be Nearly Over
Russia on Thursday said there would be no extension of the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 unless the West removed a series of obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer.The Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July last year to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by conflict disrupting exports from two of the world's…
Bunge Port Deal in Southern Brazil Ends, Opening Door to Rivals
The end of a contract between a Bunge agent and a state-run port company in southern Brazil could make room for rivals interested in the public grains terminal, documents and court filings showed.The contract between Bunge port agent Litoral and the Sao Francisco do Sul port authority ended on April 11 and does not foresee an extension.Bunge declined to comment. Litoral did not reply to a request for…
Floating Offshore Wind: New Seascape, New Challenges
Offshore wind energy planners are giving close review to fixed-tower systems in order to extend lessons learned to floating wind towers, under development now. In the U.S., floating towers have been most closely associated with plans for new wind energy areas (WEA) in the Pacific, off of California and maybe Oregon and Washington. But important research is also taking place in Maine, at the University of Maine…
Hempel Announces Executive Leadership Changes
Denmark-based coatings manufacturer Hempel announced changes to its executive management team.The company appointed Peter la Cour Gormsen as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Executive Vice President of Finance, and René Overgaard Jensen has been named Chief Transformation & Information Officer (CTIO) and Executive Vice President of Digital, Strategy & Transformation.Peter la Cour Gormsenjoins Hempel on 1 June 2023 from the position of Group CFO at GN Store Nord A/S.
25 People Die as Migrant Boat Sinks Off Sfax, Tunisia
Tunisia's coastguard has recovered 15 more bodies of migrants, bringing the death toll from a shipwreck off Tunisia to 25, a security official told Reuters on Thursday.A wooden boat packed with about 110 migrants sank on Wednesday off the coast of the city of Sfax. Seventy-six people were rescued while the rest are still missing.Drowning accidents off Tunisia have dramatically increased in recent weeks…
Baltic Index Steady as Capesize Bounce Offsets Dip in Smaller Vessels
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, was flat on Thursday as higher rates for capesizes countered a dip in smaller vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, and supramax shipping vessels, remained unchanged at 1,463.The capesize index gained 66 points, or 3.6%, at 1,888 — its biggest rise in a week.Average daily earnings for capesizes…
China to Ban Vessels from Area Near Taiwan Over Rocket Debris
China will ban vessels from an area near Taiwan on Sunday because of the possibility of falling rocket debris, its maritime safety agency said on Thursday, as Japan sought details from Beijing on a reported no-fly zone in the same location. China has not commented on the no-fly zone, but South Korea, which was also briefed on the plans, said it was due to a falling object related to a launch vehicle.
Markets: The Challenges of Developing Floating Wind at Scale
Tens of gigawatts of floating wind projects are slated for development in this and the next decade, but many obstacles remain.There has been much focus on the emerging floating wind market of late.The U.K. is forging ahead with commercial scale floating wind developments through the Scotwind and INTOG awards of at least 24 gigawatts (GW) of floating wind capacity representing close to 1,500 floating turbines that will come on stream through 2030.
