US National Maritime Strategy Needs to Empower Tier 2 Shipyards
A few weeks ago, a U.S. Coast Guard cutter spotted several Chinese military ships within the U.S. exclusive economic zone just 200 nautical miles off the shores of Alaska. This incident underscores how brazen our adversaries are becoming in the face of a diminished U.S. maritime presence. China’s brazen actions are backed by the world’s largest naval fleet that they have accumulated over the past several years while our maritime capacity has declined.
Video: Injured Crewmembers Airlifted from Fire-hit Liftboat in the Gulf of Mexico
Two crewmembers were medecaved on Sunday after being injured in a fire aboard a U.S.-registered liftboat in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard said.At approximately 7:53 p.m. Coast Guard District Eight watchstanders received a notification from the Laredo Offshore Services' liftboat Brazos that two men needed medical attention following a fire on board.The Coast Guard coordinated the launch of…
Maritime Professional Training Names Flanagan Academic Principal
Maritime Professional Training (MPT), the largest private maritime training school in the U.S., announced it has appointed John F. Flanagan as the school’s Academic Principal, an expansive role that includes overseeing the overall academic management at MPT, including regulatory compliance, curriculum development, faculty training, and strategic planning. This role also involves serving on the Board of Directors…
US Charges Three for Smuggling Iranian Weapons to Yemen's Houthis
A U.S. federal court has charged three men, including two Iranian brothers and a Pakistani national, for an attempt to smuggle Iranian weapons that would be used by Houthi rebels for attacks on maritime shipping.According to the court documents, Shahab Mir’kazei and Yunus Mir’kazei work for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while Muhammad Pahlawan, is a Pakistani citizen who allegedly worked…
Yilport Planning $1.6 Billion Ports Expansion in El Salvador
Turkish holding company Yilport will invest an expected $1.62 billion to expand two ports in El Salvador and operate them jointly with the local port authority, the government of the Central American country said.Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, in a post on X on Sunday evening, said the investment is part of his broader economic revitalization plan.Yilport, which also operates ports in Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru and in Europe, is set to invest to triple capacity at Acajutla, El Salvador's bigge
Vale Inks Five-year Deal with Wilson Sons for Vessel Maintenance
Vale has signed a five-year contract with Brazil's Wilson Sons covering scheduled maintenance for seven of its vessels.Under the contract, scheduled maintenance will be carried out on Vale’s five tugboats and two ferryboats operating in Rio de Janeiro, at Wilson Sonss shipyards in Guarujá, Port of Santos.Operating on all five continents, Vale produces iron ore, pellets and nickel, and its vessels in Brazil provide port support…
Propane Cargo Handling Equipment Safety Tips
As the adoption of propane-powered equipment in ports continues to grow, implementing proper safety measures becomes more crucial.Supply chain professionals throughout the country rely on cargo handling equipment (CHE) to keep containers, trailers, and other materials on the move. With rapidly changing conditions in a port, it’s important to keep operators abreast of important safety considerations when working with equipment like forklifts and port tractors.Propane offers a clean…
The Transition to Zero – Spin the Wheel of Fortune
Current shipping discussions at both foreign and domestic venues are overflowing with the single subject of emissions while a growing number of companies make their reach for a net zero target. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) tightens regulations to advance that reach, efforts to address climate change are coupled with a new understanding of the challenge at hand. Net zero will require a transition away from fossil fuels…
US Navy Christens the Future USNS Point Loma
A ceremony was held on Saturday to mark the christening of the future USNS Point Loma (EPF 15), one of 16 expeditionary fast transports (EPF) the U.S. Navy has contracted Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA to build.EPF Flight II provides a Role 2E (enhanced) medical capability which includes, among other capabilities, basic secondary health care built around primary surgery; intensive care unit; ward beds; and limited x-ray, laboratory and dental support.
Bulk Carriers: Baltic Dry Index Down for Third Straight Day
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, slipped for a third straight session on Monday, weighed down by weaker rates across vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 15 points, or 0.9%, to 1,655.The capesize index fell 24 points, or about 1%, to 2,413.Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which typically transport 150,000-ton cargoes, such as iron ore
ASRY Appoints Ahmed AlAbri as CEO
The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) announced that Dr. Ahmed AlAbri has been appointed the new chief executive officer (CEO) of the shipyard, effective August 2024.AlAbri has more than 25 years of experience in the field, having served a variety of executive roles in the regional maritime industry. He holds a PhD in operational and environmental management of shipyards and ports from…
COTECMAR, Damen Join Forces for Construction of Frigate for Colombian Navy
Damen and COTECMAR have signed the contract for technical support and the supply of components for the construction of the first frigate to be built in Colombia.COTECMAR, short for the Corporación de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo de la Industria Naval, Marítima y Fluvial, will be in charge of the construction, based on Damen’s SIGMA 10514 model.The ship, Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES - Strategic Surface Platform)…
TotalEnergies Makes its First Supply of Cooking Oil-Based Marine Fuel in Singapore
TotalEnergies has supplied its first B100 biofuel bunker in Singapore, marking an expansion in its low-carbon fuels offer in an effort to support the decarbonization goals of global shipping.On August 5, TotalEnergies Marine Fuels used an IMO Type II chemical bunker tanker, MAPLE, owned by Global Energy Group, to transfer 700 metric tons (mt) of the 100% Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester (UCOME-based) biofuel to a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC)…
GMS: Push the Pause Button on Ship Recycling
The Middle East and global ship recycling markets need a serious push on the pause button, says cash buyer GMS, as this week the world has seen:• increasing security bulletins surrounding an imminent Iranian / Hezbollah threat against Israel,• the U.S. repositioning two aircraft carrier / destroyer fleets off the Gulf of Oman & Eastern Mediterranean leaving the entire region on high alert,• PM Sheikh…
Watch: Reenactment of Real-Life Enclosed Space Incident
Recent data from InterManager, submitted to the IMO in a recent paper (III-10-INF.18), highlights that in 2023 more than 30 seafarers lost their lives due to asphyxiation in enclosed spaces.This figure marks the second-highest annual number of fatalities recorded in nearly three decades.Most of these tragic incidents occurred during planned work, underscoring the need for comprehensive training and heightened safety measures, says MarinePALS.In the interest of saving lives of seafarers, MarinePA
Esgian Week 32 Report: Second Round of Saudi Jackup Suspensions
Esgian provides an update on the second round of jackup suspensions in Saudi Arabia in its Week 32 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsArabian Drilling has confirmed that Saudi Aramco has initiated discussions with the drilling contractor over the suspension of an additional leased offshore rig, following an initial round of contract suspensions that began earlier this year. Arabian…
WISTA Germany Picks Top Glory Marine MD for President
Cathrin Prikker has been appointed President of WISTA Germany and plans to use her platform to promote empowerment, connection and dialogue in the industry.Prikker heads up waste management company Top Glory Marine along with fellow Managing Director (MD), Silke Fehr.After entering the maritime industry and seeing it was largely dominated by men, Prikker became passionate about diversity and empowerment…
Australia Tests Fires Advanced Air Defense Missile
The Australian government said on Saturday it had for the first time test-fired a Raytheon SM-6 missile from a Navy ship, a major step in acquiring and integrating the air-defense weapon into its inventory.The HMAS Sydney conducted the test near the U.S. state of Hawaii as part of the Pacific Dragon 2024 exercise, Australia's defense ministry said, calling it a "significant milestone" in a deal first approved in 2021.The SM-6 is the most advanced naval air defense missile in the U.S.
US Ship Ready to Support Civilians if Middle East Hostilities Flare
A U.S. amphibious assault ship has docked in Cyprus as part of a pre-arranged visit, but could be used to support civilians if hostilities flare in the Middle East, the U.S. ambassador to Cyprus said.EU member Cyprus has offered to assist, if needed, in the evacuation of Europeans and third-country nationals should tensions spill over in the Middle East amid a standoff between Israel, Iran and Iran…
Crawlers to Inspect Blades After Vineyard Wind Failure
Vineyard Wind and GE Vernova on Friday released a plan outlining the steps to be followed after a turbine blade failure last month at the Vineyard Wind offshore project off the coast of Massachusetts, which left potentially dangerous debris on beaches on the island of Nantucket.Vineyard Wind, the first major U.S. offshore wind farm, was shut down by federal authorities after the turbine blade failure.The plan outlines the steps to be followed to recover the remainder of the blade on the turbine.
