Tanker Captain Gets Prison Sentence Over Environmental Crimes
The operators of a Panama-registered tanker have been fined $2 million and the ship's captain sentenced to eight months in prison over charges stemming from environmental violations in the United States, the Department of Justice announced. Dubai-based Prive Overseas Marine LLC and Turkey-based Prive Shipping Denizcilik Ticaret, the two corporations that operated the motor tanker P/S Dream, were sentenced…
East Coast Dockworkers Strike Halts Half of US Ocean Shipping
Dockworkers on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast began a strike early on Tuesday, their first large-scale stoppage in nearly 50 years, halting the flow of about half the nation's ocean shipping after negotiations for a new labor contract broke down over wages.The strike blocks everything from food to automobile shipments across dozens of ports from Maine to Texas, in a disruption analysts warned will cost the economy billions of dollars a day…
Liebherr’s Third STS Container Crane Makes Its Way to North American Port
Crane specialist Liebherr has delivered its third ship to shore (STS) container crane to PSA Penn Terminals in Philadelphia.PSA Penn Terminals received its third Liebherr STS crane in September 2024, complementing the two commissioned in 2018.The new STS crane features a 157 ft (48 m) outreach, a 60 ft (18.288 m) span, and a 50 ft (15 m) back reach, with a lift height of 115 ft (35 m) over rail and…
Brent Oil Traders Use Little Known Rule to Reroute US Cargoes
Big energy merchants trading oil cargoes that form the basis of the Brent benchmark have used an obscure clause to reroute U.S. shipments from Europe, in a practice that raises doubts over whether reforms to the crude price marker have succeeded.Brent, the most significant benchmark across commodity markets, is used to price more than 60% of globally traded crude and underpins oil futures. Its value affects fuel prices paid by consumers and businesses.The 2023 addition of U.S.
MET Group to Build Its First LNG Vessel in Partnership with Celsius
As part of its LNG growth strategy, Swiss-based MET Group has reached a partnership agreement with Celsius to build its first LNG vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2027.The LNG carrier will be constructed by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) and will support the growing LNG activities of MET Group.MET’s JV equity partner Celsius is a leading ship owner and operator focusing on sustainable, infrastructure…
Wärtsilä Lands System Order from Chinese Shipyard for Five New VLECs
Technology group Wärtsilä has secured an order from Jiangnan Shipyard to supply cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems for five new very large ethane carrier (VLEC) vessels.The ships are being built for Chinese owners. The order follows a similar order for cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems placed by the yard in 2023 for four VLECs.The new 99,000 m3 capacity VLECs are mainly designed to transport ethane…
Cadeler Gets Turbine Installation Job at Equinor’s and Polenergia’s OW Farms
Danish offshore wind installation firm Cadeler has signed contracts with Equinor and Polenergia for the installation of turbines at 1440 MW Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms in the Polish Baltic Sea.The total potential value of these contracts to Cadeler is expected to be in the range of $134-162 million (€120-144 million), with operations scheduled to begin in 2027.Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms…
Australia Appoints Independent Inspector for Live Animal Exports
Dr Katherine Clift has been appointed Australia’s new Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports for five years with her term commencing on September 30, 2024. The appointment comes after the federal government made a commitment to strengthen animal welfare assurance and increase accountability and transparency in livestock exports at the last election. Clift’s tenure will see her…
Dark Tanker Fleet Activity Morphs
A new analysis from Windward reports a 20% decrease in the volume of direct oil voyages out of Russia in Q3 2024 compared to Q2.Q3 2024 marked the lowest monthly average of direct voyages from Russia to China since March 2023. When compared to Q2 2024 averages, there is a decrease of 12% in such voyages.This is the first total volume decrease since the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine and is likely related to the slight decrease in port calls in Russia this quarter.However…
Caribbean States Want IMO to Agree Universal Fuel Levy
The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC82) opened on Monday, and the Caribbean islands – Jamaican, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Dominica, the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, St Kitts, St Lucia and St Vincent – are calling for participants to agree on a fuel levy as part of IMO’s mid-term measures for reducing GHG emissions.The states want a universal GHG levy on shipping emissions which ensures that all carbon emitters contribute proportionately.
NOAA Reveals Names of its New Mapping Vessels
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revealed the names of two new charting and mapping vessels it ordered from Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors in 2023.The names Surveyor and Navigator were chosen from a list of suggestions by NOAA staff, adhering to the agency’s naming policy that emphasizes vessels named for their missions.The name Surveyor holds significant historical weight.
US Navy Decommissions USS Antietam
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) was recognized for its more than 37 years of naval service during a decommissioning ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on September 27.During the ceremony guest speaker Rear Adm. Christopher Moe (USN, Ret.) spoke about Antietam’s history and accomplishments, wishing this final crew fair winds and following seas as they bid farewell to their ship.Moe served as Antietam’s commanding officer from 1997 to 1999.
Maine DOT Commissions New Ferry Charles Norman Shay
The Maine Department of Transportation and Maine State Ferry Service commissioned the Charles Norman Shay ferry in Rockland on September 12.The 104-foot passenger/vehicle ferry, which will primarily serve Matinicus Isle, was designed by Gilbert Associates and built by Bayou la Batre, Ala. shipbuilder Steiner Shipyard. It has capacity to carry 149 passengers and seven cars. The Maine Department of Transportation…
Delmar Systems Acquires IKM Mooring Services
Delmar Systems AS announced it has acquired IKM Mooring Services, expanding its footprint in Norway.As part of the acquisition, Delmar Systems will integrate IKM Mooring Services' operations into its existing framework."We are excited to welcome the IKM Mooring Services team and their valued clients into the Delmar Systems family," said Jørund Havnerås, Managing Director – Delmar Systems AS. "This…
Philly Shipyard Begins Building New Aloha Class Vessels for Matson
Philly Shipyard on Monday held a steel-cutting ceremony to signal the start of construction on the first of three new Aloha Class liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled containerships to be built for U.S. ocean carrier Matson. Matson placed the $1 billion three-ship order with Philly Shipyard in 2022 following the deliveries of Aloha-class vessels Daniel K. Inouye and Kamina Hila from the same yard in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Ship Design & Construction: Laurie Balan, COO, Genoa Design
Genoa Design International has been providing production design and 3D modeling services to shipbuilding and offshore industries from Newfoundland and Labrador for nearly 30 years. With a team of more than 200, Laurie Balan, COO, Genoa Design International, sees ample opportunity for future growth, with defense budgets booming around the world and the recently signed Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (“ICE PACT”) between the Canada, Finland and the U.S.
A Shocking Success Story: How a Navy Doctor Revolutionized High-speed Boat Safety
For years, operators of high-speed boats have silently endured the physical toll of their profession. Repeated slamming impacts from rough seas caused serious injuries—many of them life-altering. However, one Navy doctor saw these challenges not as an unavoidable consequence but as a problem that could be solved. His solution? A seat that would change the course of high-speed boat safety.The hidden…
Carnival Lifts Profit Outlook on Strong Cruise Demand
Carnival Corp raised its annual profit forecast for the third time on Monday and beat market expectations for third-quarter results, helped by strength in demand for cruise vacations as well as easing costs of operations.Cruise operators benefit from increased demand for vacations at sea during the summer, boosting an already robust year for the companies as more travelers opt for the cruise experience."Strong…
Sanctioned LNG Carrier Passes via Suez Canal
The Pioneer tanker, sanctioned by the United States over its links to Russia-sourced liquefied natural gas (LNG), has passed through the Suez Canal with an LNG cargo, LSEG data showed on Monday.The source of the LNG and Palau-flagged Pioneer's destination were not immediately clear. The tanker is registered to Zara Shipholding Co, which has offices in Dubai and India's Mumbai.Shippers have largely…
US Election Awash with Maritime Implications
With a critical election fast approaching – in which the Executive Branch, House and Senate are all up for grabs – it is essential to consider the election’s potential impact on the maritime industry before heading to the voting booth.Maritime impact on the electionAt the time of writing, we are two weeks away from the expiration of the current six-year master agreement between the United States Maritime…
