Johnson Joins Birdon as Ship Design Director
Spencer Johnson has joined Birdon as the ship design director building on his extensive career in shipbuilding, naval architecture and engineering. Johnson will lead Birdon’s engineering and integrated product teams to deliver 27 vessels to the U.S. Coast Guard for the Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program.“Spencer’s background leading large ship design and construction projects make him a great fit for Birdon’s team,” said Birdon president, Rob Scott.
Siem Topaz Vessel's Contract in Taiwan Extended to Q4 2024
The Norwegian offshore vessel Siem Offshore said Monday it had secured a contract extension for the AHTS Siem Topaz with a local client in Taiwan. The contract will start in direct continuation of the current contract, for a firm period reaching into Q4 2024. The vessel will continue to be employed within the offshore wind industry.Offshore Engineer reported back in March that Siem Offshore had secured a medium-term contract for the AHTS Siem Topaz for client Helix Robotics Solutions Inc.
MOL and Shell Partner to Advance Maritime Decarbonization
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Shell Marine Products Singapore, a business division of Shell Eastern Trading Pte. Ltd (Shell), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly focus on the advancement of alternative maritime solutions and managing carbon emissions liabilities holistically, particularly in the development of green future marine fuels. As part of the agreement, the two…
G2 Ocean Adds Two More Ammonia-ready Vessels to Its Fleet
Gearbulk and Grieg Maritime Group joint venture G2 Ocean is adding two more ammonia-ready 82,300 dwt open hatch vessels to its fleet. Chinese shipbuilder CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Longxue will build the vessels for scheduled delivery in 2026.Following its commitment to only purchase newbuilt vessels with zero-emission technology, Grieg signed a contract in May 2023 with the shipyard CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Longxue which included two firm plus two optional 82…
Bibby Marine to Build Zero-emission eSOV
Bibby Marine and its consortium partners are moving forward with plans to build the world’s first zero-emission electric service operation vessel (eSOV) after securing funding for the project from the Zero Emission Vessel Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition.The award, announced Monday at London International Shipping Week, comprises of match funding to build the pioneering vessel, which will operate…
US West Coast Ports Gained Market Share After Labor Deal
U.S. West Coast ports, which reached a labor deal with their workers this summer, gained market share in August from the previous month, while their main rivals on the East Coast lost ground, Descartes Systems Group DSG.TO said on Monday.For more than a year, as worker labor talks dragged on, West Coast ports lost market share. Worried shippers diverted containers filled with everything from furniture…
Greek Shipping Minister Resigns Following Comments over Ferry Death
Greece's shipping minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has resigned following a controversy over his comments about the death last Tuesday of a 36-year-old man who had fallen into the sea after being pushed back by crew members of a ship he was trying to board.Varvitsiotis announced his resignation on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday. Video footage released on social media after…
Norwegian Offshore Firm DOF Completes Transfer of Skandi Neptune Vessel
Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF has completed the sale of the Skandi Neptune construction support vessel.DOF had agreed to sell the 2001-built vessel to an unnamed "international buyer…
AST Harnesses the Power of Connectivity, Digitalization
Latest advances in digital technologies and faster, cheaper connectivity walk hand-in-hand as vessel owners of all sizes aim to cut fuel consumption, cut emissions and increase efficiencies. AST is aiming to do both, offering connectivity plus a suite of productivity solutions courtesy of its new Integrated Remote Asset Management System (IRAMS) solution, as CEO Andrew Peters explains.The maritime industry is often lamented as slow on the uptake of new technologies…
Svanehøj's Equipment for Northern Lights' Third LCO2 Carrier
The Northern Lights carbon capture and storage JV in Norway is increasing CO2 shipping capacity with its third LCO2 carrier. Like the first two vessels, the gas equipment specialist Svanehøj will supply the cargo pump system. "The three ships are the world's largest of their kind, and the order represents a significant milestone for Svanehøj's ambitions in Carbon Capture and Storage," Svanehøj said.In 2022…
Japan's MOL Invests in TouchWind's Innovative Floating Wind Turbine Tech
Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) will invest in a floating wind technology start-up, TouchWind.TouchWind is developing the tilting angled one-piece rotor wind turbine which is expected to reduce wind interference between wind turbines that tends to occur in large wind farms and improve overall wind farm power generation efficiency. In addition, MOL said, its unique design enables the wind turbines to operate in strong winds…
ABS Invests Electrification Center in Singapore to Support Green Shipping
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is launching a global ABS Electrification Center in Singapore to support maritime decarbonization projects.Comprised of ABS engineers and technical specialists, the center will support a range of cutting-edge electrification projects for shipowners, shipyards and other stakeholders across the Asia Pacific region and around the world, ABS said.The center will also…
Van Oord Christens Calypso Cable Layer
Dutch offshore installation contractor Van Oord on Saturday held a christening ceremony in Rotterdam for its new cable laying vessel Calypso."The Calypso is equipped with the latest sustainable technologies and will be a key strategic addition to Van Oord’s offshore wind fleet," Van Oord said.The vessel was christened by Ms. Inca Cerutti. She is the wife of Niek Hoek, chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Equinor to Supply Fuel for Maersk's Methanol-powered Containership
Danish shipping company A.P. Moller - Maersk announced it has signed an agreement with Norwegian energy company Equinor to secure supply of methanol for its new methanol-enabled feeder vessel during its initial months of operation from September 2023 and into the first half of 2024.The agreement ensures methanol supply for the ship from its entry into operation on a loop from Northern Europe into the Baltic Sea after the name giving ceremony later this month in Copenhagen.
Failure to Maintain Crane Barge Led to $6 Million Loss
A barge owner’s lack of inspection and maintenance led to the capsizing and sinking of a crane barge last year in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.The crane barge Ambition was being towed when it capsized and sank on June 15, 2022, releasing an estimated 1,980 gallons of oil. No injuries were reported. The Ambition, owned by Rigid Constructors, and its crane were a total loss estimated at $6.3 million.Due to the height of the crane…
First NSMV Empire State Delivered
Philly Shipyard on Friday delivered Empire State, the lead vessel in a series of five new training ships being built to serve America's state maritime academies. Delivered to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) under its National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program, Empire State will serve SUNY Maritime College.Scheduled to be delivered through 2026, each of the five purpose-built NSMVs will feature instructional spaces…
Glamox to Install LED Lighting on Eight PGS Seismic Vessels
Lighting solutions specialist Glamox has won a contract from the Norwegian marine seismic survey firm PGS to provide marine LED lighting for eight of its seismic data acquisition vessels.This first phase of the retrofit project will involve replacing fluorescent tube lighting with around 2,500 marine-certified LED luminaires fitted on the exterior and interior of the eight vessels. PGS’s switch to…
North Korea Is Growing Its Navy with Submarines and Nuclear Drones. But Why?
Over the past year North Korea has moved to boost its navy with new nuclear weapons, including an underwater drone, warships, and its first operational missile submarine, unveiled on Friday.North Korea's navy has historically been dwarfed by the country's land forces, and overshadowed by its rapidly advancing ballistic missile program.Now, leader Kim Jong Un has said the navy will play a key role in the country's nuclear deterrence…
Virgin Voyages Raises $550 Million in Ares Management-led Fundraise
Virgin Voyages, the cruise brand from Richard Branson's Virgin Group, said on Friday it has raised $550 million in fresh capital to expand into new international markets.The funding was led by Ares Management with participation from existing investors, including British conglomerate Virgin Group and venture capital firm Bain Capital.Launched at the end of 2021, Virgin Voyages operates three ships servicing the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
Philippines Condemns Chinese Harassment of Supply Boats to Disputed Atoll
The Philippines condemned China's coast guard and "maritime militia" on Friday for what it described as "illegal, aggressive and destabilising" behaviour towards its boats during a routine rotation and resupply mission in the South China Sea.Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said that despite the Chinese actions supplies were delivered on Friday to Philippine troops stationed on a warship that had been deliberately…
