Not All Underwater Reefs are Made of Coral
When people hear about underwater reefs, they usually picture colorful gardens created from coral. But some reefs are anchored to much more unusual foundations.For more than a century, people have placed a wide assortment of objects on the seafloor off the U.S. coast to provide habitat for marine life and recreational opportunities for fishing and diving. Artificial reefs have been created from decommissioned ships…
USCG Approves ABS Wavesight eLogs for US-flagged Vessels
ABS Wavesight on Thursday announced its eLogs software has received formal approval from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for use by U.S.-flagged ships. The ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service company is now one of three maritime software providers to receive such approval on the basis of the USCG’s guidance under USCG NVIC 01-23."The maritime industry is entering an era of rapid digitalization,” said Gurinder Singh, Director of Solutions Engineering at ABS Wavesight.
Baltic Dry Index Snaps Eight-day Losing Streak
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index snapped an eight-day losing streak on Thursday as rates increased across larger vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 49 points, or 3.8%, to 1,357.The capesize index rose by 120 points, or 6.9%, to 1,853.Average daily earnings for capesize vessels, which typically transports 150,000-ton cargoes such as iron ore and coal, increased by $990 to $15,365.Iron ore futures pr
Indian Navy Rescues Crew from US-Owned Ship After Attack Off Yemen
The Indian Navy said on Thursday it had rescued the crew of a U.S.-owned vessel in the Gulf of Aden after an attack by Yemen's Houthi movement as tensions in the region's sea lanes disrupted global trade.Following the attack on the U.S. Genco Picardy late on Wednesday, the U.S. military said its forces had conducted strikes on 14 Houthi missiles that "presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S.
GTT Gets Tank Design Order for Three VLECs
French engineering company GTT has received two orders for the tank design of three new Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC) newbuilds.The order is from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries on behalf of an Asian shipowner, GTT informed.The French company will design the tanks for these three vessels, which will each offer a total capacity of 98,000 m3.The tanks will be fitted with the Mark III membrane containment system developed by GTT.
Brunvoll to Deliver Propulsion System for Toyo’s Hybrid Cable Layer
Brunvoll has signed a contract with Vard for the delivery of propulsion and maneuvering system for Toyo Construction’s new cable laying vessel.Toyo Construction’s new vessel will have three azimuth propulsion thrusters in the aft of the vessel. The foreship of the vessel will have two tunnel thrusters and a retractable azimuth thruster.Furthermore, the vessel will feature Brunvoll’s control system for propulsion and maneuvering…
Saudi Arabia Unveils Oil Platform-Inspired Adventure Tourism Rig
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has launched the masterplan for THE RIG – a world-first adventure tourism destination to be built on an offshore platform in the Arabian Gulf.The vision for THE RIG project is to redefine the sea sports and leisure experience while celebrating the legacy of Saudi Arabia's rich oil and gas heritage.The project will be developed by PIF’s subsidiary the Oil Park Development Company (OPDC), under its CEO Raed N.
US Conducts Strikes on 14 Houthi Missiles
The U.S. military said on Wednesday that its forces conducted strikes on 14 Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired from Yemen.U.S. Central Command said on social media platform X that the Houthi missiles presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region.(Reuters - Reporting by Eric Beech and Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Caitlin Webber)
EU Report Recognizes Need for Port Investment Stability
The European Parliament has officially adopted the Berendsen report, an own-initiative report on “building a comprehensive European Port Strategy” (585 in favor, 21 against, 26 abstentions).The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomed the support for the strategic and vital role that Europe’s ports play for European society and economy. ESPO supports the Parliament’s plea to further harmonize the measures to strengthen the resilience and protection of Europe’s critical infrastructure…
Van Oord Contracted to Build FSRU Jetty in Germany
Van Oord has been contracted by FSRU Wilhelmshaven, a joint venture between ENGIE and Tree Energy Solution (TES) to construct a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) jetty at Wilhelmshaven in Germany.Responsibility for the operation of the second FSRU-Project in Wilhelmshaven lies with the state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal GmbH (DET), which is implementing – together with its partners TES and Engie – one of the priority projects backed by Germany’s LNG Acceleration law…
Panama Canal Toll Revenue Shrinking Due to Drought
The Panama Canal's toll revenues have dipped by about $100 million per month since last October, the canal's administrator said on Wednesday, adding that if the trend continues reduced income from tolls could total some $700 million by around April.The falling revenue stems from drought conditions that have forced the canal's managers to impose shipping restrictions on the more than century-old waterway, a key global trade route linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.The canal's fiscal year beg
Another Ship Attack Reported Near Yemen
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization and British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Wednesday they had received reports of incidents near Yemen's Aden.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization said in an advisory note that a ship had been attacked 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden.The "vessel has been hit on port side by an uncrewed aerial system…
RIBCRAFT Delivers Rescue Boat to Fire Department in Maine
The volunteer fire department in Greene, Maine recently took delivery of a 16-foot RIBCRAFT 4.8 rescue boat. This specialized RIB expands the department’s response capabilities while providing a safe platform for rescue missions. Funded by a grant through Firehouse Subs, RIBCRAFT worked with the department to build a boat that met all of their operational requirements.Located on several rivers and lakes in Androscoggin County…
US Lists Houthis as Terrorists, Business Fears Lengthy Red Sea Disruption
The United States on Wednesday returned the Yemen-based Houthi rebels to a list of terrorist groups, while business chiefs warned that disruption to shipping in the Red Sea caused by their attacks could affect supply chains for months.Attacks by the Iran-allied Houthi militia on ships in the region since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers - an escalation of…
Menoyo Joins Great Lakes Towing Company in VP Role
The Great Lakes Towing Company (GLT) has hired Salvadore Menoyo for its business development team.Sal has been named Vice President-Special Projects, reporting to Joe Starck, President of GLT. He will be based in Jacksonville, Fla. and use his extensive experience and expertise to identify, develop and manage new business opportunities on the East Coast, including the Gulf and Puerto Rico. In this new role…
Italy Pushes for Quick Decision on EU Maritime Red Sea Force
Italy would like a political decision made to create an EU maritime security mission for the Red Sea by next week so that it can become operational as soon as possible, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.European Union member states gave initial backing on Tuesday to the mission to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia in the Red Sea on concern that disruption in one…
EDF Backed EUROGUARD Project Sets Sail in Estonia
The European Defense Fund (EDF)backed EUROGUARD project has officially kicked off in Estonia as Europe seeks to bolter its sea defense capabilities.The project's primary objective is to develop a modular and semi-autonomous surface vessel platform equipped with a remote control system. The initiative aims to enhance Europe's maritime defense capabilities while promoting cooperation and innovation in…
Stena Drilling Takes Delivery of Stena Evolution Drillship
Offshore drilling contractor Stena Drilling has taken delivery of its 7th generation Stena Evolution ultra-deepwater drillship from Samsung Heavy Industries.After a decade in the making, Stena Evolution drillship has finally been completed and is ready for its first job.The technologically advanced drillship is capable of operating at water depths of up to 12,000ft (around 3,500 meters) and drilling depths up to 40…
Fratelli Cosulich Inks Charter Deal for LNG Bunkering Vessel
Italian shipowner Fratelli Cosulich and PETCO Trading Labuan Company Limited (PTLCL), a trading arm of Malaysian energy company Petronas, have signed a two-year charter agreement for Paolina Cosulich LNG bunker barge.Operating under PTLCL, a global energy solutions provider in key bunker hubs with network in Southeast Asia, Japan, Middle East and South Africa, Paolina Cosulich will cater to the increasing…
“This is not a decision against THE Alliance,” says Hapag-Lloyd Chief
Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk signed an agreement for a new long-term operational collaboration called Gemini Cooperation, aiming to start in February 2025.Simultaneous with the announcement, Hapag-Lloyd informed its partners in THE Alliance that it would end its participation in January 2025. In a press call with journalists, Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO, Hapag-Lloyd stressed this is “not a decision against THE Alliance…