McVea Tapped to Lead the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Virginia McVea has been named as the next chief executive officer of the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) effective April 3, 2023.Damien Oliver has been serving as the MCA's interim CEO since October 2022, following the retirement of the agency's former head Brian Johnson.U.K. Maritime Minister Baroness Vere said, "[McVea] joins at a pivotal time for the agency as it faces both challenges and exciting opportunities, and I look forward to working with her to grow the U.K.
TB Waterwerk Orders New Workboat from Werft Shipbuilding
TB Waterwerk has placed an order with Werft Shipbuilding for a new Werft Hybrid Cat 2411e workboat scheduled for delivery at the end of 2023.With dimensions of 23.85m LOA by 11.45m beam, the newbuild Leon H will be an ultra-shallow draft cat-type, with accommodation for 12 persons, 15 tons bollard pull and an operating draft of only 1 meter. It will be equipped with Tier III engines to lower NOx emissions.
Shipping Industry Urges UN to Help Free Seafarers Trapped in Ukraine
The maritime industry is urging the United Nations to help free hundreds of seafarers and dozens of ships that remain trapped in Ukrainian waters a year after Russia's invasion.In a letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres, an international group of shipping companies and organizations urgently called for diplomatic efforts toward the immediate release of the 331 seafarers still trapped on 62…
Mejia to Lead World Maritime University
Professor Max Mejia has been named as the next president of the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden.Selected following a competitive selection process, Mejia—the university's current PhD program director and associate academic dean— will succeed Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, whose term as WMU president will expire on June 29, 2023.WMU was founded by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1983…
U.S. Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale Set for March
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said Friday that it would hold an oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico in March 2023.The Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sale 259 will offer approximately 13,600 blocks on 73.3 million acres in the Western, Central, and Eastern Planning Areas on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Lease Sale 259 was one of three offshore lease sales initially cancelled by the Biden Administration in May 2022.
Singapore Companies Should Manage Own Risks in Russian Oil Trade, Minister Says
Companies in Singapore will have to consider and manage any potential impact on their business activities, transactions, and customer relationships when dealing with Russian crude oil and refined products, a government official said on Friday.Russia's oil trade faces multiple restrictions imposed by the West and Moscow in the wake of the Ukraine war.The European Union has imposed bans on Russian crude and oil products imports while the Group of Seven nations, EU and Australia agreed to ban the u
Insurers Count the Cost of Ships Snagged in Ukraine Crisis
Insurers are facing half a billion dollars in claims for up to 60 commercial ships still stuck in Ukraine a year after the start of the war with Russia, industry sources said.When the conflict started, more than 90 merchant ships - many with food cargoes onboard - and some 2,000 crew members were caught in Ukraine and unable to leave due to the fighting.Curtailed shipments from major grain exporter…
Gram Car Carriers Inks $61M Charters for Distribution Vessel Duo
Oslo-listed car carrier operator Gram Car Carriers has secured three-year time charter contracts for the distribution vessels "City of Oslo" and "Viking Odessa with…
Take a Hyke: Swarm Tech for Ferries
Apps, big data, tech, software and cutting-edge innovation were hallmarks at last year’s Sea Tech conference in Brest, France. During one session, for example, on electronic charting, the speakers made reference to “data as fuel.” For vessel operations, data was called a resource just like diesel or LNG or lithium batteries. The reference was usually to big data, i.e., almost boundless information flowing like a gusher from a firehose…
Malaysian FPSO Giant Yinson Invests in Norwegian Autonomous Vessel Start-up
Yinson GreenTech (YTG), a green tech investment branch of the Malaysian FPSO giant Yinson, has announced its strategic investment in a Norwegian startup specializing in autonomous solutions for the maritime industry called Zeabuz."The investment provides the foundation for YGT to work closely with Zeabuz in the development of autonomous solutions for YGT’s future fleet of electric vesselsm," Yinson said…
Marine Power - CEO in Focus: Chris-Marine’s Jens Groth
Malmö, Sweden-based Chris-Marine is long-tenured in the business of keeping engines running smoothly, efficiently. Led by its energetic young CEO Jens Groth, this 60-year-old- company finds itself in transition: firmly rooted in its traditional business of creating the tools and technique to keep commercial ship engines running smoothly, but at the same time transitioning its revenue to include services, particularly as ships at sea increasingly run with fewer, less experienced crew.
Pushing the Envelope: A H2 Project Highlights French Teamwork on Alt-Energy
At the Sea Tech Week Maritime Transport conference this past September, held in Brest, France, there was no shortage of big-picture, creative ideas pertaining to maritime shipping and alternative energy.One such project, called Seaguel, was presented as part of a larger discussion on hydrogen (H2) as maritime fuel. The full session was titled “Distributing Hydrogen from Offshore Wind Farms as a Fuel for Ships.” The topic was developed by France Energies Marines (FEM)…
Emissions Winners, Losers on Far East to U.S. West Coast Trade
Xeneta returns this week with a second ranking of carrier carbon emissions, this time focused on the Far East to U.S. West Coast Trade."Why are we doing this? We want to shine a light on the importance of green shipping and spotlight the progress of carriers,” said Peter Sand, chief analyst, touting the results as "Name & Fame." Results are based on the Xeneta and Marine Benchmark Carbon Emissions Index (CEI).Name & Shame: Xeneta CEI Tool Highlights Best…
MOL Sees Cow Manure as Path to Slash Vessel Emissions
Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) said it is seeking to use cattle manure as part of its strategy to reduce vessel emissions.The company announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Air Water Inc. to study the use of liquefied biomethane (LBM) derived from cattle manure in vessels fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG).MOL, which has set a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050…
Seaway7 and Saipem Partner in Pursuit of Offshore Wind Work
Subsea 7's renewables-focused offshore installation subsidiary Seaway7 on Thursday announced it has struck a deal with offshore services company Saipem to collaboratively pursue projects in the growing offshore wind industry.Under the commercial collaboration agreement, the companies plan to jointly identify, bid and execute fixed offshore wind projects, seeking those "where the combined utilization of the companies’ complementary world-class assets…
CLdN Car Carrier Fitted with Rotor Sails
CLdN announced one of its RoRo car carrier vessels is ready for its return to service after being fitted with a rotor sail wind propulsion system.The Luxembourg based company is the latest in a string of ship owners and operators to have turned to wind propulsion systems as a means to reduce fuel burn and emissions amid its journey to improve operational efficiency and its environmental footprint.Now fitted with two 35mx5m rotor sails…
Gastrade Sees Decision On Second LNG Terminal This Year
Greece’s Gastrade said on Thursday it expects to take a final investment decision on developing a second gas floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) off the country’s northern port of Alexandroupolis by the end of the year.With Europe racing to cut its reliance on Russian gas in the wake of the war in Ukraine, Greece is slowly becoming a key transit route for LNG in southeastern Europe.Last year…
Dry Bulk Vessel Rates Rebound
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index posted its second-biggest jump ever on Thursday, as rates for all vessel segments rebounded from their multi-year lows, led by capesizes.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was up 142 points, or about 21.1%, at 816, an over one-month high.The index, extending gains to a fifth session, recorded its biggest jump since mid-June 2020…
Help Wanted: Build a New Industry
When Atlantic offshore wind (OSW) projects move into high gear they will kick-start a series of impacts affecting almost the entire East Coast economy, from logistics to transportation to utility projects and, of course, just about every aspect of port and maritime activities.The related topics of workforce development and employment are among the fundamental issues being pushed and pulled by OSW.
ACBL Names Gard SVP of Its New Interchange & Logistics Business
U.S. inland marine transportation and logistics solutions company American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) announce it has hired Joel Gard as senior vice president of its newly established Interchange & Logistics business unit.With the associated realignment, ACBL is now comprised of three uniquely integrated strategic business units (SBU): Dry Cargo, Liquid Cargo and Interchange & Logistics.A veteran of the transportation and supply chain sector…
