North Star Inks Contract with Siemens Gamesa for New East Anglia THREE SOV
North Star has secured a contract with Siemens Gamesa to build a hybrid service operations vessel (SOV) bound for long-term charter at the East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm in UK.Cochin Shipyard has been confirmed to build the SOV of VARD 4 19 design for North Star’s growing fleet.The high specification vessel will accommodate up to 60 of its client’s wind technicians as they support maintenance operations across all 95 wind turbines at the East Anglia Hub development.
J-Power’s Coal Carrier to Sport Wind Challenger Propulsion System
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Electric Power Development (J-Power) have agreed to install the Wind Challenger hard sail propulsion system, which converts wind energy to propulsive force, on the coal carrier Kurotakisan Maru.The installation of the Wind Challenger sail, which transports steaming coal to J-Power's power stations, is schedule for the second half of 2025.This marks the first installation of the Wind Challenger on a vessel currently in service by retrofitting…
Carimin Buys Crew Boat Newbuild from Penguin Shipyards for $5M
Malaysia-based offshore services provider Carimin Resources Services, a subsidiary of Carimin Petroleum, has signed an agreement with Penguin Shipyard Asia for the acquisition of unregistered crew boat newbuild, worth $4.96 million.The newbuild multi-role executive crew boat is of Penguin's proprietary Flex-42X design.Penguin’s Flex-42MX and Flex-42X can transport up to 60 tons of deck cargo on a 110-square meter cargo deck…
Damen’s Tugs to Run on CMB.TECH’s Dual-Fuel Hydrogen Technology
CMB.TECH and Damen have signed collaboration agreement for four hydrogen-powered tugs.Built by Damen, the vessels will use CMB.TECH's dual fuel hydrogen technology that will significantly reduce emissions.The agreement was signed on May 23, 2024, the same day the classification society Lloyd’s Register presented CMB.TECH and Damen with an approval in principle (AiP) for the hydrogen solution that will be installed in the tugs.The dual fuel hydrogen ASD Tugs 2812 FF-H2…
China's Second Day of War Games Around Taiwan Tests Ability to “Seize Power”
China's military carried out a second day of war games around Taiwan on Friday, with drills to test their ability to "seize power" and control key areas, exercises it has said were launched to punish Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te.The two days of drills in the Taiwan Strait and around groups of Taiwan-controlled islands near the Chinese coast started just three days after Lai took office. Taiwan has condemned China's actions.China…
Has Container Peak Season Come Early?
A combination of the ongoing Cape of Good Hope diversions, a stronger-than-expected demand rebound and weather delays in major Chinese ports is the most likely explanation for the freight rate rally of the past four weeks, according to MSI.MSI’s HORIZON monthly containerships report points out that the speed and strength of the unexpected rally took shippers in mainlane East Asia to Europe and North America trades by surprise.Similar dynamics were soon seen in second-tier trade lanes as well…
Sixth Edition of Guidelines on the ISM Code Released
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has released the Sixth Edition of Guidelines on the IMO International Safety Management (ISM) Code.Print and ebook copies of the Guidelines are now available to buy.The sixth edition replaces the Guidelines on the Application of the IMO International Safety Management (ISM) Code, Fifth Edition, which has now been withdrawn from sale.The new edition includes…
Columbia Shipmanagement Opens Office in Dubai
Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM), member of Columbia Group, is stepping up its presence in the Middle East with the launch of a new office in Dubai.Building on its 45 years of shipmanagement expertise, the strategic expansion will complement CSM’s existing operations in Saudi Arabia, aimed at strengthening the shipping industry and fostering partnerships across the region.The new office will offer the…
Corvus Energy to Supply Battery Systems for Panama Canal Tugs
The Panama Canal Authority ordered 10 hybrid tractor tugboats from European shipbuilder, Astilleros Armón, with options for another 10 similar vessels, and Corvus Energy will supply the battery systems for the hybrid-electric vessels.The Panama Canal Authority / Astilleros Armón contract signed in October 2023 was valued at $150 million total for the first 10 vessels, each 30-meter tugboats with 70…
Strong Outdraft Current Caused Ohio River Tow Strike
A barge tow struck a mooring cell on the Ohio River last year after encountering a strong outdraft current above the McAlpine Dam during high-water conditions, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday.The 103-foot-long towing vessel Queen City, Owned and operated by C&B Marine Equipment, was transiting the Ohio River with 11 barges in tow when the tow struck the Vane Dike at the arrival point for the McAlpine Locks and Dam in Louisville, Ky., on March 28, 2023.
Tidewater Plans to Order New Liquid Product Barges
Tidewater, a provider of marine transportation and terminal services on the Columbia Snake River System, revealed plans to invest in up to four new refined liquid products barges.The Vancouver, Wash. based company said its board of directors has approved the barge design and is progressing toward the construction phase. The new barges will replace older, less efficient assets, enhancing fleet safety…
Pirate Attack Confirmed Off the Coast of Somalia
A possible pirate attack off the coast of Somalia has been confirmed by Operation ATALANTA, the European Union's anti-piracy force in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.The confirmation comes after the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Thursday that it received a report of a merchant vessel being boarded 420 nautical miles southeast of Merca, Somalia. UKMTO's statement said…
Kelly Teichman Elected as AWO's First Female Chair
Members of the U.S. tugboat, towboat and barge industry trade group the American Waterways Operators elected a new slate of leaders last week during the association's Spring Convention and Annual Membership Meeting.Kelly Teichman, Executive Chairman, T&T Marine, was elected Chairman, succeeding outgoing Chairman Rick Iuliucci, Vice President, the Vane Brothers Company.In addition, Patrick Sutton, Chief Operating Officer…
Help Wanted: US Maritime Industry Struggles to Fill Key Gaps
A shortage of U.S. mariners presents a major threat to the United States’ national and economic security, and the problem is growing day by day.According to a 2017 study prepared by the Maritime Workforce Working Group and released by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), the estimated pool of U.S. mariners actively sailing with unlimited tonnage credentials was comprised of 11,768 mariners. Assuming that all these mariners would be both willing and available to sail as needed…
Houthis Expand Target Area with Claimed Mediterranean Ship Attack
The leader of Yemen's Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, said on Thursday that one of their operations this week targeted the Mediterranean Sea.Earlier this month, al-Houthi had said that all ships heading to Israeli ports would be targeted by the Iran-backed group, not just those in the Red Sea region which it has targeted before.No incident from the area was reported this week, and Reuters could not independently verify the contents of the statement.(Reuters - Reporting by Jana Choukeir and Yomna
Port of Seattle Breaks Ground on Maritime Innovation Center
The Port of Seattle has commenced the renovation of the historic Ship Supply Building at Fishermen’s Terminal, aiming to transform it into a modern Maritime Innovation Center (MInC). This new facility will support the maritime industry by bringing together students, businesses, public agencies, and community stakeholders. The port is partnering with Miller Hull for the construction.“Today’s groundbreaking…
Seaman’s Manslaughter
How to avoid and address potential prosecution following marine-incident deaths.In recent years, there has been a resurgence in criminal prosecutions of maritime personnel, vessel owners and operators and other individuals and corporations under the federal Seaman’s Manslaughter statute (18 U.S.C. § 1115). Recent examples of such prosecutions include the guilty verdict against Jerry Boylan, who was the captain of the Conception…
Merchant Vessel Reportedly Boarded off Somalia
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Thursday that it had received a report of a merchant vessel being boarded 420 nautical miles southeast of Merca, Somalia.UKMTO said in a statement that an unknown number of unauthorized people from two small craft were reported to have boarded the vessel.Between 2008 and 2018, Somali pirates caused havoc in the waters off the country's long coastline.
Estonia Says Russia Removed Navigation Buoys on Border River
Russian border guards have removed navigation buoys from the Estonian side of a river separating the two countries, the Baltic nation said on Thursday, adding that it would seek an explanation as well as a return of the equipment.Some 24 out of 50 buoys recently placed on the Narva river to mark sailing routes were removed in the early hours of Thursday the Estonian police and border guard said in a statement.Natural changes to the riverbed make it necessary to retrace shipping routes annually,
As China's Renewable Energy Soars, Coal Peak in Sight
Between January and April 2024, China’s electricity generation from renewables surged 12% year on year, significantly outpacing the 6% growth in generation from fossil fuels. While steam coal shipments to China rose 29% year on year, they are starting to feel the pressure from stronger renewables. Between March and April, the shipments fell 7% as electricity generation from fossil fuels only rose 1%…
