OMSA’s Smith: Defending US-Flag Vessels is about Economic, National Security
Anyone who knows Aaron Smith, president and CEO of OMSA, knows that he is passionately focused on the U.S. maritime industry and staunchly defending the U.S. Jones Act fleet and mariners. We caught with Smith on the sidelines of the Workboat Show in New Orleans last week. Highlights of the conversation are below – including an update on the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act – the full interview can be seen on Maritime Reporter TV.Let’s talk a bit about the offshore energy industry today.
VPS and DNV’s Veracity Integrate Vessels MRV Reporting Services
Maritime digital decarbonization services provider VPS has entered a partnership agreement with Veracity, DNV’s independent data platform, to streamline monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) services for offshore vessels.The partnership will enable a transfer of validated and checked operational MRV data from VPS’ Maress system, to the Veracity data platform, where it is connected to the DNV's real-time data verification services.By streamlining data collection…
SSI Expands to meet EMEA Demand
SSI, a leader in software, services, and expertise for the business of shipbuilding, announced the establishment of a dedicated subsidiary to service a growing client base in the EMEA region. Based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, SSI EMEA will build on SSI’s 30-year presence in European shipbuilding markets and expand coverage for SSI’s ShipConstructor and ShipbuildingPLM solutions.The new entity will continue to be supported by long-standing partners NDAR…
Karneus to Retire, McCall to take Sales Helm at Shaver
Shaver Transportation (Portland, Oregon) reports that Peter Karneus, Vice President of Sales for the ship assist division, is retiring effective January 2025, succeeded by Bo McCall.Karneus is retiring after twenty-seven years during which he has been instrumental in ship assist sales, including building a new sales team, growing customer relationships, and navigating the changes in the tug and barge industry in the Pacific Northwest.
AAL Shipping’s New Heavy Lift Vessel Ready for Maiden Voyage
AAL Shipping (AAL) has held a formal naming ceremony for the AAL Antwerp, the fourth vessel in its eight-strong, third-generation Super B-Class fleet.With the new vessel, AAL has reached the halfway mark in its latest fleet expansion program, aimed at meeting demand demands of the multipurpose (MPP) project heavy lift shipping sector.The 32,000 dwt AAL Antwerp – a methanol-ready, multipurpose heavy…
MOL and KEPCO Launch Joint Study for Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and the Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the joint study of a liquefied hydrogen carrier.This is the first such agreement in Japan between a shipping company and a power generation regarding marine transport of liquefied hydrogen, which is a key element in the establishment of a hydrogen fuel supply chain.Under the MoU…
Iran Deems European and British Sanctions on Its Shipping Lines Unjustified
New EU and British sanctions are based on false claims of missile transfers to Russia and are "unjustified", Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday.Brussels on Monday added the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its director to its list of sanctions on Iran, which it said were a consequence of Tehran's support of Russia in its war with Ukraine.On the same day, Britain imposed sanctions against Iran's national airline and shipping carrier, measures it
ONE and Seaspan Form Ship Management JV
Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Seaspan Corporation have established OneSea Solutions, a company focused on technical ship management and maritime talent development.ONESEA is jointly owned and operated by the companies and headquartered in Singapore. ONESEA will offer technical ship management services for container vessels owned by ONE and vessels chartered by ONE from vessel owners. It will pursue the best of safety…
IACS Publishes UR on Synthetic Materials in Propeller Shaft Bearings
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has published a new Unified Requirement, UR M85, providing comprehensive technical guidelines for type approval testing of synthetic materials used in aftmost propeller shaft bearings.Recognized as a critical component of a vessel’s propulsion system, these bearings are essential for long-term operational safety and efficiency.The new…
Hong Kong Maritime Week Summit Highlights Threats to Free Trade
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board, convened for a trade summit on November 18.The Hong Kong Global Trade Summit drew nearly 300 delegates from 28 countries, including ministers and senior policymakers from 12 nations, the European Commission and…
Maersk Retrofits First Large Container Ship to Methanol
The container ship Maersk Halifax has been converted into a dual-fuel vessel able to operate on methanol. The industry-first retrofit for a large container ship was conducted at the Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard in China over 88 days with completion at the end of October 2024.Maersk Halifax, which is one of 11 vessels in Maersk’s Hong Kong-class, departed anchorage at the yard on 4 November 2024.The vessel…
LNG Tankers Divert to Europe After Russia Halts Austrian Supplies
At least five cargoes of LNG have diverted from Asia to Europe in the past few days, drawn by higher gas prices on the continent after Russia's Gazprom halted supplies to Austria's OMV, data from analytics firm Kpler showed.On Saturday Gazprom halted supplies to top Austrian gas importer OMV after OMV threatened to impound some of the Russian state firm's gas as compensation for an arbitration it had won over a contractual dispute.Gazprom notified OMV of the planned halt on Friday…
Sabotage: Two Undersea Cables Cut in Baltic Sea
Two undersea fibre-optic communications cables in the Baltic Sea, including one linking Finland and Germany, were severed, raising suspicions of sabotage by bad actors, countries and companies involved said on Monday.The episode recalled other incidents in the same waterway that authorities have probed as potentially malicious including damage to a gas pipeline and undersea cables last year and the 2022 explosions of the Nord Sea gas pipelines.The 1…
Port Everglades Celebrates Banner Year
Preliminary fiscal year-end figures show Port Everglades enjoying healthy increases in cruise, cargo and petroleum volumes resulting in record revenues."Port Everglades is one of Broward County's vital economic engines, which supports more than 11,000 local jobs. That is a direct result of the success of the amazing leadership at Port Everglades and diverse array of companies served by our port," said…
NOLA's Thomas Delivers State-of-the-Port Address
Michael A. Thomas outlines plan to Deliver Louisiana’s Future in competitive global trade market and complex geopolitical landscape. During the 36th annual event in partnership with the International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans (IFFCBANO), Michael A. Thomas, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission…
ABS Reports Fleet Growth, Superior Safety Record
"Safety is more than just compliance. It is now synonymous with security, reliability, collective relationships and people. Safety is also becoming systems based rather than rooted in prescriptive rules or specific component procedures. Only by embracing a proactive, systems-oriented approach to safety, can the maritime industry navigate the path to a decarbonized future while ensuring the well-being…
TBS, Wombat to partner on Safety Management System
TBS Safety, with Wombat Safety Software this week announced new safety and compliance management technology to industrial and maritime businesses.Through this partnership, TBS Safety will serve as an official reseller of Wombat, delivering a digital solution that complies with OSHA standards and regulations, streamlines safety operations, and ultimately enhances workplace safety. The new software combines to offer a simple to use digital platform where companies can access compliance training…
SC Ports: Box Volume Steady, Rail Expands
With highly productive port service and expanding rail capabilities, South Carolina Ports looks to speed goods to market and support growth in the Southeast.SC Ports has three big-ship capable terminals and a total of 10 million TEUs on the horizon; the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet; two rail-served inland ports; and a near-port rail yard under construction.Construction is progressing on the Navy Base Intermodal Facility…
UKMTO: Vessel off Yemeni Coast Reports Missile Splash
A vessel 60 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Aden reported on Monday a missile splashing into the sea in its close proximity, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.UKMTO added that the vessel and its crew were safe. The same vessel was passing through the Red Sea 25 nautical miles west of Yemen's Mokha on Sunday when it reported a missile splashing into the sea nearby, UKMTO…
EU Ramps Up Iranian Shipping Sanctions
The European Union has widened its sanctions against Iran over Tehran's support of Russia in its war with Ukraine, the European Commission said on Monday.The Commission said it had added the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani, among others, to its sanctions list.The fresh sanctions are against vessels and ports used for transporting Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components.
