Gangway Safety Highlighted After Fatal Fall
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report on a fall overboard from the sail training vessel Pelican of London.The incident occurred at 2308 on October 2, 2023 when the volunteer relief cook on Pelican of London fell from the top of the vessel’s gangway into the flooded drydock while under the influence of alcohol. His absence was not noted until the next morning and a search was started.
European Shipowners and Fuel Producers Unite on New Fuels Availability
The recently published Draghi report on the Future of European Competitiveness identifies shipping as one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise, requiring around 40 billion in annual investments between 2031 and 2050.The report highlights that the EU has limited installed capacity and planned production. The EU needs to start building a supply chain for clean fuels, or the costs of meeting its targets will be significant…
Philippines Fishermen Call for Justice After Oil Tanker Sinks
Efren Dominico has been a fisherman in the Bay of Manila in the Philippines for 43 years and survived countless storms, but nothing prepared him for the day when an oil tanker sank off the coast in July and cut him off from his livelihood.The motor tanker Terranova capsized and sank off the tow of Limay, on the western side of Manila Bay, carrying 1.4 million litres of oil, the largest oil spill in the country since 2006.Days later…
Titan Taps Francesco Valente to Succeed Jim Marcotuli as CEO
Titan, a ship repair and fabrication company with yards on the U.S. West and East Coasts, on Thursday announced it has appointed Francesco Valente to replace CEO Jim “Marco” Marcotuli, who is retiring after five years leading the company.Valente will lead Titan from its Portland, Ore. headquarters starting on September 23, with Marcotuli taking on a role as a board member and advisor.Valente possesses more than 20 years of experience running business operations globally…
Seaspan Completes Life Extension of Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker
Seaspan on Thursday announced its Vancouver Drydock has completed a Vessel Life Extension (VLE) program for the 38-year-old Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker vessel CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier. After undocking at the end of April 2024, the vessel completed an in-water work period in preparation for ship commissioning and sea trials, finally departing Seaspan on August 17, 2024.According to Seaspan, the…
Containership Under Investigation Over Oil Spill off South Africa
Investigators have placed a Cyprus-registered containership in their crosshairs as the possible source of an oil spill in Algoa Bay off South Africa's East Coast.The spill, which has spread at sea and is impacting the region's wildlife, is believed to have originated from the MSC Apollo, a container vessel anchored in the bay, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).MSC Apollo…
US LNG Exporters Expected to Escape Brunt of Hurricane Francine
U.S. liquefied natural gas export terminals on the Louisiana coast may have escaped the brunt of Hurricane Francine and put off a major test of their ability to withstand a direct storm hit to another day.Francine was on track on Wednesday to lash south-central Louisiana, east of Cameron Parish that is home to several of the newly operating projects, with 90 mile-per-hour (145 kph) winds. Three of the four largest U.S.
Trump's Tariff Increase Would Dramatically Raise Shipping Costs, Experts Say
U.S. presidential contender Donald Trump's plan to hike tariffs on imports if he is elected back to the White House in November would send cargo rates soaring and accelerate inflation, just like it did during his 2017-21 term, shipping and retail experts said.Trump, who is running against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election, has floated second-term plans for blanket tariffs of 10% to 20% on virtually all imports as well as tariffs of 60% or more on goods from China…
USACE Opens Channel for Commercial Navigation at Monongahela River Locks and Dam 3
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District opened a 100-foot-wide navigation channel for commercial vessels through the center of the dam at Monongahela River Locks and Dam 3 near Elizabeth, Pa. The first commercial navigation vessel passed through the channel on Thursday, September 5.“Opening the navigation channel ahead of schedule was a significant achievement,” said Col. Nicholas Melin…
Hellenic Maritime Forum 2024: Exploring the Future of Maritime Industry
On November 19th and 20th, maritime professionals from Greece and beyond will gather in Athens for the highly anticipated Hellenic Maritime Forum. This esteemed event will provide a dynamic platform for industry stakeholders—including shipowners, ship managers, port authorities, regulators, classification societies, technology firms, and suppliers—to address key issues affecting the maritime sector.A major focus will be the need for decarbonization.
Russia Strikes Civilian Grain Vessel in Black Sea, Ukraine Says
Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of using strategic bombers to hit a civilian grain vessel with a missile in the Black Sea in NATO member Romania's maritime economic zone, in what it described as a "brazen attack" on freedom of navigation.President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the vessel carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt had been hit by a Russian missile just after it exited Ukrainian territorial waters…
Risky Salvage of Houthi-hit Tanker Sounion to Restart This Week
Experts will this week resume a risky operation to salvage the Sounion tanker which was attacked by Yemen's Houthis in the Red Sea last month and still holds about one million barrels of crude oil, maritime sources said on Thursday.The towing of the Greek-registered vessel - which was struck, lost power and caught fire on Aug. 21 - was paused after it was deemed unsafe by the companies initially involved in the project.Officials have said the towing operation will be particularly delicate…
Maritime Robotics Lands $12M Investment to Power International Growth
Maritime Robotics, a provider of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and autonomous navigation systems in the maritime industry, has closed a $12 million capital raise, which will be used to accelerate business growth and international expansion.The funding round was co-led by the Nordic cleantech fund NRP Zero and the Norwegian state-owned fund Nysnø Climate Investment, with significant participation from Umoe and Holta Invest.As the market for maritime autonomous vessels continues to grow rapidly…
US Navy Sets November Date for USS Nantucket Commissioning
The U.S. Navy has set November 16, 2024, as the date of commissioning of future USS Nantucket (LCS 27), a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship.The commissioning will take place at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts.The naming of LCS 27 honors the rich heritage of the people of Nantucket and the maritime legacy that the island represents.As the sponsor of LCS 27, Polly Spencer, the wife of the 76th Secretary of the Navy…
Valmet Books Methanol Retrofit Order for Two CMA CGM’s Container Ships
Finland-based Valmet has been selected CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China to deliver automation solutions for methanol fuel conversion projects aboard two CMA 9300SHI container ships.The vessels will be upgraded at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China for the French operator CMA CGM.The delivery includes applying a methanol control system and a methanol safety system.The order, whose value has not been disclosed…
DNV, Brinav Team Up for Autonomous Shipping Technologies
Classification society DNV and Navigation Brilliance (Brinav) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in fast-tracking the development and approval of autonomous and remote-controlled shipping technologies.The signing of the MoU signifies a wider collaboration effort between DNV and Brinav and a strategic step towards realizing the potential of the autonomous technology for maritime industry.Brinav…
Ten Start-Ups Jump into Decarbonization Innovation
Dutch maritime start-up accelerator PortXL has presented its 2024 cohort and connected them to partners and mentors.The Matchmaking Monday event took place at the RDM, the Rotterdam space for innovative companies, technology education, high-quality test facilities and field labs.For the partners and PortXL’s team this was the conclusion of months of gathering industry questions and problems, and finding and evaluating start-ups and scale-ups to match these challenges.
New Formula Biodegradable Hydraulic Fluid Promises High Performance
Chevron has introduced Clarity Bio EliteSyn AW. The new formula, biodegradable hydraulic fluid is suited to marine, construction and other environmentally sensitive applications.Chevron says that with a Total Oxidation Stability Test (TOST) life of over 10,000 hours, it outperforms existing products in the market.The zinc-free fluid has a high level of renewable carbon of ≥90% and meets or exceeds the biodegradation, toxicity and bioaccumulation limits of government regulations.
German Parliament Greenlights Rescue Plan for Shipbuilder Meyer Werft
Germany's lower house of parliament and the state parliament of Lower Saxony have approved the rescue of Meyer Werft, one of the world's biggest cruise ship builders, members of the budget committee told Reuters on Wednesday.Although the shipbuilder's order books are full, it has an almost 2.8 billion euro ($3.1 billion) financing gap due to the delayed effects of a demand dip during the COVID-19 pandemic.The German government and that of the state of Lower Saxony…
Marine Fuels Supplier Peninsula Splits Off Shipping Operations
Marine fuels supplier Peninsula has spun off its shipping operation into a separate entity named Hercules Tanker Management (HTM), a Peninsula press release said on Wednesday, seeking to expand in the tanker freight sector.Hercules will take over Peninsula's vessel assets and operate as an independent ship owner, trading its vessels in tanker freight markets as well as continuing to service privately owned Peninsula's cargo and supply operations."Now…
