Damen Hooks Another CSOV Order from Taiwanese Firm
Dutch shipbuilder Damen has signed a deal with Ta San Shang Marine (TSSM) for the construction of the second commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) for Taiwanese offshore wind operations.TSSM, the joint venture between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Ta Tong Marine, placed an order for the second Damen 9010 CSOV, set for delivery at the end of 2026.When the new vessel is delivered, TSSM will deploy it at Taiwanese offshore wind farms…
United Heavy Lift Names New Vessel UHL Fable
Hamburg-based heavy lift shipping company United Heavy Lift held a naming ceremony for its newest heavy lift ship, UHL Fable.Built at the CSSC Hudong shipyard in Shanghai over a relatively short period of time, the newbuild is the 19th and final vessel in United Heavy Lift's F900 Eco-Lifter series. The construction time from keel laying in July 2023 to delivery to the German bridge crew led by Captain…
WIND Group Welcomes Draftec
WIND Group has announced that equipment engineering and manufacturing company Draftec will join the WIND family. Together, they will enhance the support and services provided to their shared clients in international offshore and renewable projects.Draftec was founded in 2009 by Martijn Boone who, together with fellow Director Martijn Holtkamp, will continue to manage the company, bringing with them extensive experience in mechanical design…
Canadian Safe Boating Council Welcomes Mustang Survival as Sponsor
The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) has welcomed Mustang Survival as a presenting sponsor.This partnership, solidified through a Memorandum of Understanding, spans a three-year term and spotlights a shared commitment to promoting safe and responsible boating in Canada.In 2024, Mustang Survival will be a Platinum-level sponsor of the CSBC’s annual symposium “Many Partners, One Goal,” to be held in Whistler, BC, from October 1-3.
Panama Ship Registry Launches Digitized Queries Service
The General Directorate of the Public Registry of Ship Ownership of the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has implemented an exclusive email address to monitor and resolve all user queries.The email address [email protected] is attended by a group of specialists who will respond as soon as possible to queries, which will be documented and monitored until users see their questions resolved.The director of the Registry Marta Aparicio González…
Hydrogenious LOHC Receives Multi-Million Euro Grant
The German government has granted Hydrogenious LOHC Infra Bavaria 72,5 million Euro towards the Green Hydrogen @ Blue Danube project. The federal government is providing 70% of the funding, while the state of Bavaria is contributing 30%.The project has already been designated an “Important Project of Common European Interest” (IPCEI) in the hydrogen “Hy2Infra” wave by the European Commission in February 2024…
Spiraling Container Shipping Market Set to Peak
The dramatic spike in the ocean freight container shipping market is reaching its peak as importers push back against spiraling spot rates.Data released by Xeneta today, Monday, shows average spot rates from the Far East to US East Coast increased by 3.7% on July 15 to stand at USD 10,045 per FEU (40ft equivalent shipping container). Into the US West Coast, spot rates increased by 2.0% to stand at USD 8…
Windward Launches Generative AI Solution
Maritime AI company Windward has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) ISV Accelerate Program and has collaborated with AWS to launch a generative AI solution. The solution leverages Amazon Bedrock to improve risk management for the shipping, logistics and public sectors.Windward’s collaboration with AWS aims to address the growing challenges faced by these industries, particularly in managing unstructured data…
Oil Tanker Capsized Off Oman
A Comorian-flagged oil tanker was capsized 25 nautical miles southeast of Oman's Ras Madrakah in Duqm port town, Omani state news agency ONA reported on Monday, citing Oman's Maritime Security Centre.(Reuters - Reporting by Jaidaa Taha and Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Chris Reese)
Houthis Target Three Vessels, Including Oil Tanker
Yemen's Houthis targeted three vessels, including an oil tanker, in the Red and Mediterranean seas with ballistic missiles, drones and booby-trapped boats, they said on Monday.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the latest Houthi military operations were a response to the Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Saturday, an attack that killed at least 90 Palestinians and wounded 300 others…
One Dead, One Missing After Tanker Strikes Passenger Boat in Texas
One person has died and another is missing after a commercial tanker struck a recreation vessel near Port Aransas, Texas.The U.S. Coast Guard said it received a call from a good Samaritan via channel 16 at 5:28 a.m. reporting the collision between. The recreational vessel, reported to be a commercial pleasure boat, became partially submerged, and the four people on board went into the water.After receiving the call…
Holt Lock Closed Due to Stability Concerns
The Holt Lock on the Black Warrior River in Holt, Ala. is expected to be closed for as long as five more months after cracks and leaks were discovered within the lock infrastructure.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the lock on June 22 following an initial stability analysis performed by the Mobile District Engineering team."The analysis, which utilized known data and certain assumptions, revealed critical stability issues with the monolith structure of the Holt Lock," the Corps said.
US Offshore Player Laborde Marine Enters the Inland Market with New Division
Laborde Marine, a New Orleans-based offshore support vessels (OSV) operator, announced it is entering the U.S. inland marine market with the creation of a new division to provide towing and pushboat services.LabMar Inland will initially charter Ivy Steiner, a 2,000-horsepower pushboat newly built by Steiner Construction in Bayou La Batre, Ala. The 78-foot-long vessel has a 34-foot beam and max draft of 8 feet, six inches.
Great Lakes Towing Christens New Tug Minnesota
The Great Lakes Towing Company held a christening ceremony in Cleveland for its newest tug.The vessel, named Minnesota, was delivered in 2023 as part of a series of 10 new Damen 1907 ICE tugs built by Great Lakes Shipyard, a sister company to the Towing Company—both part of The Great Lakes Group.The 64’x24’x11’ tug is powered by two 1,000-horsepower MTU 8V4000 Tier III diesel engines, and generates over 30-tons of bollard pull.
Canada Plans to Acquire Up to 12 Submarines
Canada, looking to shore up its defense of the Arctic, is moving ahead to acquire up to 12 submarines and has started a formal process to meet with manufacturers, the defense ministry said.Canada updated its defense policy this year with a focus on protecting the Arctic and dealing with challenges from Russia and China. The procurement of submarines is a critical step in implementing that strategy…
CBP Cracking Down on Maritime Auto Theft
Each year, criminals try to smuggle countless stolen vehicles through U.S. ports, attempting to load them onto merchant vessels for destinations overseas.The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been cracking down on these efforts. During fiscal year 2023 (Oct.1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023), CBP recovered 1,316 stolen vehicles nationally before they could be exported from the United States—an increase of about 6.5%.To help stop the thieves…
Oil Tanker Seized by Iran in 2023 Anchors Near UAE Coast
A Chevron-chartered oil tanker seized by Iran more than a year ago has dropped anchor near the United Arab Emirates port of Khor Fakkan, ship tracking data showed on Monday.The Marshall Islands-flagged Advantage Sweet was boarded by Iran's military in the Gulf of Oman in April 2023 after an alleged collision with an Iranian boat.After sailing away from Iran last week, its latest position was located close to the UAE, LSEG data showed on Monday.A Chevron spokesperson said on Saturday it was aware
US Army Corps of Engineers Names New Chief
The U.S. Army has selected Maj. Gen William H. "Butch" Graham Jr. to be its next chief of engineers and commanding general of the Corps of Engineers, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced on July 10.Graham is currently serving as the deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding general for civil works and emergency operations. His long Army career includes leadership positions supporting both civil works and military construction.If confirmed by the Senate…
TORM Buys Eight Secondhand MR Tankers
Danish pure play product tanker company TORM on Monday announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire eight secondhand MR vessels in a $340 million cash and stock deal. TORM did not name the seller.The vessels have all been built by South Korea's Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in 2014 and 2015, and six of the vessels have been fitted with scrubbers. TORM said it expects to take delivery of the vessels during the third and fourth quarters of this year.The purchase price…
US Importers Balk at Return of $10,000 Container Shipping Rate
The cost to ship a standard 40-foot container of toys, auto parts or other goods from Shanghai to New York has jumped to nearly $10,000, fueling frustration among importers and prompting some experts to say the market is in a bubble.The Drewry World Container Index's spot rate for such a shipment hit $9,387 on July 11. That is more than double the rate from February but still below the peak of $16…