Fugro to Convert Two PSVs to Geotechnical Vessels
Dutch offshore survey firm Fugro will convert the Fugro Resilience and the Topaz Endurance, two ULSTEIN PX121 platform supply vessels (PSVs), to geotechnical vessels, targeting their deployment in the global offshore renewable energy market.Fugro acquired the two platform supply vessels, the Topaz Endurance and the Topaz Energy (renamed Fugro Resilience), in February 2023.Ulstein Design & Solutions AS is responsible for the redesign of the two vesselsâŠ
Mideast-Asia Oil Shipping Rates Rebound, Capped by OPEC+ Supply Cuts
The cost of chartering a supertanker to load Middle Eastern crude oil for Asia has rebounded from a 19-month low in September, but industry sources expect output supply cuts, led by Saudi Arabia, to cap freight rates for the rest of the year.The world's benchmark very large crude carrier (VLCC) export route from the Middle East Gulf (MEG) to Japan, known as TD3, rose to W50.46 on Monday in the Worldscale measure of freight rates, LSEG data showed.
Arbitration Tribunal Delivers Verdict: Hanwha Triumphs in Deepwater Drillship Dispute
An arbitration tribunal has delivered a verdict in a drillship order cancellation case involving offshore drilling contractor Northern Drilling and Daweoo Shipbuilding Marine and Engineering (now known as Hanwha Ocean), ruling in favor of Hanwha.Billionaire John Fredriksen-owned offshore drilling company Northern Drilling canceled the West Aquila and West Libra drillship orders with South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in 2021âŠ
HD KSOE Engineering Vice Chairman Receives Industrial Award
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Vice Chairman Ga Sam-hyeon has received the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit for his contribution to national industrial development.The award was made in recognition of his achievements as a manager who contributed to the development and take-off of Korea's shipbuilding industry.The award was presented at the 20th Shipbuilding and Maritime DayâŠ
Samsung Heavy Industries Acquires Shipbuilding Industry First ISO Certifications
Samsung Heavy Industries has acquired the International Organization for Standardization's 'Compliance Management System (ISO 37301)' and 'Anti-Corruption Management System (ISO 37001)' certification from Lloyd's Register (LRQA), claiming a first in the shipbuilding industry.ISO 37301 and 37001 are international certifications that are awarded by strictly evaluating the systematic management of a company's compliance management and anti-corruption management system.
250,000 Seafarers Have Pay Boosted by 6%
Seafarersâ unions and maritime employers have signed a four-year agreement that will see significant wage increases and dozens of workplace protections and improvements for over 250,000 seafarersâ serving on more than 10,000 vessels.The International Bargaining Forum (IBF), the forum that negotiates the worldâs largest global collective bargaining agreement, agreed terms for the 2024-2027 IBF FrameworkâŠ
ICS Opens New Representative Office in Shanghai
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has announced the inauguration of a new ICS Representative Office in Shanghai.This strategic move follows the admission of the China Shipownersâ Association as a full ICS member in January 2023 and extends the presence of the ICS China Liaison Office which will continue to have a presence in the Hong Kong SAR.The new ICS office, within the offices of the China P&I ClubâŠ
Japanese Shipping Companies Partner on Liquefied Hydrogen
Japanese shipping companies, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (âKâ Line), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), have agreed to join JSE Ocean, a subsidiary of Japan Suiso Energy (JSE).JSE remains the majority shareholder with 50.2% of stock, whilst the shipping companies hold 16.6% each.Japanâs Basic Hydrogen Strategy, revised by the Japanese government in June 2023, identifies hydrogen as the alternative to fossil fuels as it targets decarbonisation.
Arctic and Antarctic Sea Ice Reach Minimum Extent for 2023
Arctic sea ice likely reached its minimum extent for the year at 4.23 million square kilometers (1.63 million square miles) on September 19, 2023, according to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder.The 2023 minimum is ranked sixth lowest in the nearly 45-year satellite record. The last 17 annual minimum extents are the lowest 17 in the satelliteâŠ
GMS Reports Feverish Buying in Ship Recycling Markets
Cash buyer GMS reports another week of âastonishingâ activity in sub-continent ship recycling markets, with owners and cash buyers primarily focusing on the Indian market where several extraordinarily priced container sales reportedly took place over the recent weeks.The $600/ton mark was even exceeded on a container unit once again, in what seems to be the surest sign yet, that sentiments and demand in Alang are back on trackâŠ
2023 Robert Allan Memorial Scholarship Award Recipients Announced
The Trustees of the Robert Allan Memorial Scholarship Trust and Robert Allan Ltd. Have awarded two scholarships for the 2023/2024 academic year.Awards have been made to Samuel Shanks of Port Alberni, BC, and Zachary Greenham of St. Johnâs, Newfoundland.Shanks is a second-year student of mechanical engineering at the University of Victoria, focussed on a career in marine engineering. Throughout highâŠ
USACE Working to Prevent Saltwater from Rising Up the Mississippi
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District is working to delay upriver progression of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico by augmenting the sill initially constructed in July 2023.Construction is underway to increase the existing underwater sill from a depth of -55 feet to a depth of -30 feet. A 620-foot-wide navigation lane will be kept to a depth of -55 feet to ensure deep-draft shippingâŠ
Ørsted to Deploy Rutter's Wave Prediction Tech on CTVs
Offshore wind developer Ørsted is deploying Rutterâs wave prediction technology on board selected crew transfer vessels (CTV) worldwide within its contracted fleet to improve the safe transfer of personnel to offshore wind turbines.Roots of the initiative stretch back to 2018, when the two companies launched a project to investigate wave prediction applications for improving safety during transfers from CTVs to offshore wind turbinesâŠ
Honda Unveils V8 Outboard Engine
Honda Marine has unveiled its first V8 outboard engine, the BF350.âThe advent of the 350-horsepower engine is a highly important development for Honda Marine. This engine demonstrates Hondaâs commitment to improving customer experience through our precision engineering and drive for innovation,â said Katsuhisa Okuda, Chief Officer and President, Honda Motor Europe.The BF350 is powered by a 60-degree five-liter V8 engine with VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) technologyâŠ
White House Appoints ARC CEO Eric Ebeling to Kingâs Point Board of Visitors
American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) President and CEO Eric P. Ebeling was appointed by President Joe Biden to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academyâs Board of Visitors.The Board of Visitors provides independent advice and recommendations concurrently to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Transportation, Congress, and Superintendent of the Academy on matters related to the state of morale and disciplineâŠ
Baltic Dry Index Rises to Over Four-month High
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose to its highest since mid-May on Monday, supported by gains in the capesize vessel segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 21 points, or 1.3% to 1,614, its highest level since May 10.The capesize index added 65 points, or 3.1% to 2âŠ
AI Unlocks RIB Safety & Efficiency Gains
Facing rising costs, an Icelandic tour operator is using technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance safety and slash insurance premiums for its fleet of high-speed rigid inflatable boats (RIB).Reykjavík-based Whale Safari runs tourist RIBs for whale and bird watching excursions in Iceland. From an insurerâs standpoint, the endeavorâwhich sees vessels that seat up to 12 passengers achieving high speeds and g-force wave impactsâis inherently risky.
Tidewater Inks Global Support Deal with Caterpillar
Tidewater Inc., the world's largest fleet operator in the offshore support vessel (OSV) industry, has signed a Global Value Agreement (GVA) with engine manufacturer Caterpillar to ensure comprehensive parts, service, monitoring and maintenance support to help reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and increase uptime and availability.Tidewaterâs fleet of more than 200 OSVs, including platform supply vessels (PSV)âŠ
Taiwan Expects to Deploy Two New Submarines by 2027
Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two new, domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles, to strengthen deterrence against the Chinese navy and protect key supply lines, the head of the program said.Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous sub program a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.President Tsai Ing-wenâŠ
KCC to Pilot Starlink Internet Service at Sea
Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA (KCC) announced it is exploring the potential of improved vessel connectivity with a pilot of Starlink, a satellite internet service provisioned by Marlink. The move focuses on improving digital collaboration and data exchange between shore and ship, a key step in reaching KCCâs targets set for crew safety/welfare and carbon emission reductions, the company said.Taking traditional VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity to the next levelâŠ
