Scientists Turn Leaves into Oil Factories for Biofuel Production
An Australian-led scientific breakthrough to increase oil yield from plants is expected to advance the production and use of biofuels globally. Oils from plants are typically produced in seeds and fruits, but scientists from Australia’s research agency CSIRO studied how to extend that to the biomass of the plant, including the leaves and stem. CSIRO’s Dr Thomas Vanhercke, who has been working on the project for more than a decade…
CMB Tech Eyes India, Ship Disposals as Q3 Results Shine
Belgian oil tanker company CMB Tech says it will focus on the fast growing market in India as it reported third quarter results above market expectations on Thursday, boosted by vessel disposals as it diversifies its fleet.After last year's Euronav-Compagnie Maritime Belge takeover, the group shifted strategy by selling 24 tankers to Frontline and acquiring CMB.Tech's fleet. It now operates a diversified fleet of around 160 vessels…
Silverback Wins DoD Tug Contract
Silverback Marine has been awarded a multimillion-dollar DoD contract for its new OX series truckable tractor tug.Designed in collaboration with Elliot Bay Design Group of Seattle, Silverback Marine partnered with Darley Defense to secure the contract. Thespecific department of the DoD will remain anonymous until the first vessel is delivered, scheduled for late 2025.For illustrative purposes, Silverback Marine received permission from industry friends including Tradewinds Towing…
Yet Another Port Everglades Cruise Passenger Record
Port Everglades bested its own cruise passenger record with a preliminary count of 4,010,919 guests embarking and disembarking during Fiscal Year 2024, which ended September 30, 2024. The new record is expected to be short lived, however, as 4.4 million guests are anticipated during FY2025.In just one year, from FY2023 to FY2024, cruise passenger counts grew 39% and cruise ship calls rose 23% as the cruise lines fully recovered from the pandemic.
Bollinger 58th Delivers FRC to USCG
Bollinger Shipyards announced the delivery of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) John Witherspoon at Coast Guard Sector Key West. This is the 58th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the U.S. Coast Guard's current program and the 184th vessel built by Bollinger for the U.S. Coast Guard over a 40-year partnership and will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. The John Witherspoon will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska.
Venture Global gets FERC Nod for LA LNG Plant
Federal regulators on Wednesday gave Venture Global LNG permission to introduce natural gas into its Plaquemines export plant in Louisiana, documents show, moving the plant a step closer to producing the superchilled gas.The 20 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) Plaquemines LNG plant will be the second-largest U.S. export facility when fully operational. It and other projects due to start next year…
EPA Tier 3 Nod for Baudouin 6F21 Engine
Moteurs Baudouin has announced that its 6F21 engine has obtained the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Tier 3 Recreational Certification.Introducing the Baudouin 6F21 EngineThe 6F21 is a state-of-the-art, EPA Tier 3-compliant engine designed for efficiency, power, and environmental responsibility. With its advanced engineering, this engine offers high fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and robust performance, making it ideal for recreational and light commercialvessels.
Three Industrial Projects for Le Havre Announced
The French government has selected winning proposals for a hydrogen import terminal, a renewable fuels facility and a lithium production factory to be built at the state-run port of Le Havre as part of an effort to attract industrial investment, the finance ministry said on Thursday.The land around the port was labelled a turnkey investment site under the 30 billion euro "France 2030" plan, allowing Haropa Port — the public entity that manages the ports of Rouen…
Alcoa Suspends Bauxite Liftings Juruti
U.S. aluminium maker Alcoa AA.N said on Thursday it had halted bauxite shipments from Brazil's Juruti port due to a stranded vessel in the waterway.This was the latest in a series of disruptions to hit the aluminium raw material supply chain, which have pushed alumina prices to record highs and supported aluminium prices.Alcoa declared force majeure at its bauxite mine in the Juruti region on Wednesday as an inaccessible waterway hindered its ability to supply its customers…
Fincantieri Promotes its 'Shipyard of the Future'
Aiming to show the excellence of Italian shipbuilding, while describing the transformations taking place within and the technological evolution, too, Fincantieri launched "Open shipyards, view on the future", a roadshow that opens the doors of its construction sites to institutions. The initiative, which is in the beginning stage, saw the participation and visit of the plant by the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi…
US Extends Protections for CITGO to March 2025
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday extended a license protecting Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum from bondholders to March 2025, a key decision amid a seven-year-long legal case in which the refiner's parent might be auctioned to pay creditors.Citgo's parent, PDV Holding, was found liable by the court for Venezuela's debts from asset expropriations and debt defaults. The case has opened a route for creditors to fight for a piece of Venezuela's crown jewel - Citgo's 807…
10,000 Cadets Attend Sailors’ Society Virtual Conferences
Record-breaking numbers of cadets and ratings from across the globe have attended the 2024 Sailors’ Society’s cadet conferences.The four virtual interactive events held for North and South East Asia, Africa, and this month for the UK and Europe, explored wellness and mental health with a focus on key and current issues facing today’s cadets and seafarers.Now in their fourth year, the conferences which form part of the global maritime charity’s ongoing work with maritime cadets…
Philippines Confident in US Support under Trump
The Philippines expects U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific and support for its treaty ally amid South China Sea tensions to remain steady under Donald Trump, driven by bipartisan resolve in Washington, its ambassador to the U.S. said on Thursday.Both Democrats and Republicans prioritize countering China’s influence, including in the South China Sea, Jose Manuel Romualdez said, suggesting that military cooperation…
U.S. Navy puts Sofar’s Wayfinder to the Test
The U.S. Navy’s Fleet Weather Centers are piloting Sofar’s Wayfinder platform and data from its global network of ocean sensors to advance the Navy’s capability to ensure safe and efficient ship routing for the U.S. Fleet.Sofar Ocean announced the partnership with the U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command’s (CNMOC) Fleet Weather Centers in Norfolk (FWC-N) and San Diego (FWC-SD).FWC-N and FWC-SD…
Key Strategies to Strengthen Maritime Cyber Security
Some of the key strategies to strengthen maritime cyber security include vigilance and proactive measures, timely incident reporting, and continuous improvement of security defenses, according to Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) cyber security threats report.Vigilance and proactive measures are essential. Regular training, strong e-mail security, and advanced detection systems play a vital role in reducing the risk of phishing…
Beating the Heat: R.W. Fernstrum & Company Turns 75
R.W. Fernstrum & Company, founded by Robert W. Fernstrum 75 years ago, is a quintessential U.S. manufacturing story. The company was born in the aftermath of WWII, founded on an invention developed during the war by Robert Fernstrum to help solve an engine overheating problem that was plaguing U.S. Navy landing craft. Family owned and operated from day one, today the company includes a fourth generation of family that aims to continue the legacy of its founder…
ADNOC L&S Inks $4.4B Deals for 23 New Supertankers
ADNOC Logistics & Services signed contracts worth $4.4 billion to build 23 supertankers for ethane, ammonia and liquefied natural gas, the UAE's state news agency reported on Thursday.ADNOC's CEO Abdulkareem Al Masabi said the company through its AW Shipping joint venture awarded contracts worth $1.9 billion to build nine Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) and four Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs)…
QatarEnergy Inaugurates Four New LNG Vessels in Korea
QatarEnergy has inaugurated four new conventional-size LNG vessels built in Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean shipyards in the Republic of Korea as part of its historic fleet expansion program.The four new vessels - Id’asah, Nuaijah, Umm Swayyah, and Lebrethah - are part of 128 total vessels ordered from Korean and Chinese shipyards as part of the largest shipbuilding program in the history…
Friday Shipbrokers Arranges Transport of Car Carrier to China for Repair
Friday & Co. Shipbrokers completed a chartering deal between Boskalis and a Chinese charterer to transport the car carrier Floor (formerly Fremantle Highway) from the Netherlands to China. The project entails transporting the vessel — damaged by fire last year — aboard Boskalis' semi-submersible heavy lift flagship, the Boka Vanguard, for repairs and modifications in Asia.Fremantle Highway, en route from Bremerhaven to Singapore in 2023…
ExxonMobil Delivers Bio Marine Fuel Blend to Hapag-Lloyd
Hapag-Lloyd’s vessel Colorado Express has bunkered a B25 bio marine fuel blend comprised of ExxonMobil’s bio fuel, which is able to deliver an estimated 20.1% greenhouse gas well-to-wake reduction compared with conventional marine fuel formulations on an energy basis.ExxonMobil’s Premium HDME 50 fuel consists 0.10% sulphur Emission Control Area (ECA) fuel, and waste-based fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)…
