Eastern Launches First Offshore Patrol Cutter USCGC Argus
The lead ship in the U.S. Coast Guard's Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program, USCGC Argus (WMSM-915), was launched and christened during a ceremony at Eastern Shipbuilding Group's Nelson St. Shipyard in Panama City, Fla.Attended by more than 3,000 guests, the event featured a keynote address delivered by Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.“The Offshore Patrol Cutter…
Nichols Brothers Wins Contract to Build NOMARS Uncrewed Vessel
Freeland, Wash. shipbuilder Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) announced it has been awarded a contract to construct an uncrewed autonomous vessel for the U.S. Department of Defense's research and development agency.The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) project was awarded by Serco North America, the prime contractor and designer of the vessel, for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).The…
Bath Iron Works Shipyard Employee Killed in Maine Mass Shooting
An employee of General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works shipyard was killed during a mass shooting event in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday.The Bath, Maine shipyard, which designs, builds and supports surface combatants for the U.S. Navy, released the following statement on social media on Thursday: "All of us at Bath Iron Works are heartbroken to share that we have lost a member of our BIW family. We send our deepest condolences…
Royal IHC to Build Mega 31,000m3 Hopper Dredge for Boskalis
Shipbuilder Royal IHC announced it has signed a contract to construct a large trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) for dredging contractor Boskalis.The new TSHD, with a hopper volume of 31,000 m3 will be one of the largest in Boskalis' fleet. It will be built at Royal IHC's yard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, in the Netherlands, for scheduled mid-2026 delivery.Royal IHC and Boskalis—both based in the Netherlands—have been formally working on the project since 2020…
VIDEO: Allseas Inaugurates New Barge for Shallow-water Offshore Construction
Offshore installation services firm Allseas has inaugurated 'Sandpiper', its new barge for shallow water offshore construction activities.Allseas said Thursday that the 170-meter barge was inaugurated this week in Singapore with a special ceremony after several upgrading activities in 2022/2023. The vessel is is a flat-bottom, anchored barge for shallow water offshore construction activities, purchased…
Cargo Ships Moving via Ukraine's Black Sea Corridor after 3-day Pause -STC
Four vessels left Ukrainian Black Sea ports in the Odesa region on Friday as shipping via a new export corridor resumed after a three-day pause, independent transport sector consultancy STC said."On October 27, vessel traffic in the temporary Black Sea corridor announced by Ukraine resumed," STC said in a report. It said the Propus, Iasos, Gloria G and Manassa Queen had sailed from Odesa ports while the tanker Mavka…
Kongsberg Digital Unveils Vessel Performance Merchant Application
Kongsberg Digital has launched an application called Vessel Performance Merchant, to meet the merchant fleet's need for optimised voyage decision-making.The application is designed for the merchant fleet to enhance fuel efficiency and optimise the overall performance of both the vessel and its crew."By collecting and contextualising data from the vessel's onboard sensors, automation systems, and manually reported data through the vessel-to-cloud cloud infrastructure Vessel Insight…
Samsung Heavy Industries and DNV in Autonomous Shipping Collaboration
South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and leading classification society DNV have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Kormarine, committing to establishing SHI's state-of-the-art Remote Operation Centre (ROC) for real-time monitoring and control of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). The MOU will underpin DNV and Samsung Heavy Industries’ collaboration to drive innovation and redefine the future of marine transportation…
Three Baltic Pipe and Cable Incidents "are related", Estonia Says
The three incidents that resulted in damage to a gas pipeline and two telecom cables between Estonia, Finland and Sweden "are related", Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.Finnish police leading the pipeline investigation have named the Hong Kong-flagged container carrier NewNew Polar Bear as the prime suspect in damaging the Balticconnector Finland-Estonia gas pipeline early on Oct. 8.A large anchor was found near the pipeline…
U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Sale Expansion, Pending Appeal
A U.S. appeals court on Thursday temporarily paused a federal judge's order last month that had required the Biden administration to expand a planned offshore oil and gas auction in the Gulf of Mexico by 6 million acres (2.4 million hectares).The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit stayed the September decision pending an appeal, according to a court document. Oral arguments are scheduled for Nov.
Lloyd's Register to Classify Methanol-Ready North Star CSOVs
Lloyd's Register (LR) will classify two methanol-ready Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOVs) being built by VARD for the UK-based offshore vessel operator North Star."The new tonnage will increase North Star’s offshore wind capabilities as it progresses its ambition to add 40 hybrid-powered SOVs to its fleet by 2040. The introduction of the two CSOVs will expand North Star’s capabilities…
Royal Caribbean Raises Profit Target Again on Robust Cruise Vacation Demand
Royal Caribbean Group on Thursday lifted its full-year profit forecast for a third time and said bookings for the next year were "significantly outpacing" pre-pandemic levels by a wide margin, sending its shares up about 3%.Cruise operators are reaping the rewards as travelers gravitate to cruise vacations that are cheaper compared to taking a land-based holiday.This has given the companies the ability to hike itinerary prices…
LR Grants AIP for LNG Dual-fuel VLCC Design
GTT and Deltamarin have obtained an approval in principle (AIP) from Lloyd's Register for their design of a dual-fuel very large crude carrier (VLCC), which incorporates a 12,500m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank equipped with GTT's Mark III Flex membrane technology.The concept developed by GTT aims at maximizing vessel autonomy thanks to a large-capacity tank, giving shipowners and charterers the benefit of longer trade navigation with a single refueling operation…
Israel to Pay Compensation for Ships Damaged in Gaza War
Israel will provide compensation for ships that are damaged due to the war in Gaza and the government is taking steps to minimise risks for vessels using the country's ports, government advisories said.Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas Islamist group after its fighters stormed through Israeli towns from Gaza on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people and seizing more than 220 hostages in the worst attack…
USCG Eases Firefighting Training Requirements for Towboats
The U.S. Coast Guard has moved to ease firefighting training requirements for towing vessels operating on America's inland waterways.The agency this week issued a final rule revising the training requirements for national Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements as master of towing vessels (limited) or mate (pilot) of towing vessels on inland and western rivers routes, excluding the Great Lakes.Consistent…
Metal Shark Building Fireboats for Anne Arundel County FD
Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark is building two welded-aluminum fireboats for Anne Arundel County Fire Department in Maryland.The new 50 Defiant NXT monohull pilothouse fireboats were designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team and are now under construction at the company’s Franklin, La. shipyard. The newbuilds were ordered to replace the department's 20-year-old main fireboat, Lady Anne, delivered from MetalCraft Marine in 2023.
Silverstream and MAN Ink Collaboration Agreement
Silverstream Technologies announced it has signed a collaboration agreement with marine engine designer MAN Energy Solutions to explore solutions to drive retrofits and newbuild installations of its air lubrication system aboard vessels featuring MAN's two stroke engines.With approximately half of the world’s commercial ships powered by MAN Energy Solutions, the collaboration will help further accelerate the adoption of Silverstream’s air lubrication technology…
Sea Forrest's Marine Battery System Earns BV Approval
Sea Forrest (SF), a provider of specialist marine electric propulsion and energy management solutions, has been awarded type approval from Bureau Veritas (BV) for its SEAGEN 11 modularized marine propulsion battery module system.SEAGEN 11 is the first marinized lithium-ion battery system for marine propulsion to be designed, built and assembled in Singapore. Together with the battery management system…
Container Shipping Fleet gets 'Long in the Tooth'
Global container ship fleet is showing its age, reaching highest average age on record of 14.2 years.“Container ships have reached their highest average age yet at 14.2 years, the highest average age of the three main shipping sectors. The dry bulk fleet has an average age of 11.9 years whereas tankers on average are 12.8 years old,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.The average…
Europe's Offshore Wind Power Goal Hits New Snag: Security
As Europe turns to renewable sources to diversify energy supplies away from Russian oil and gas, a peaceful marine scene conceals a billion-dollar security headache.Rising above the Baltic Sea less than 10 km (6 miles) off the coast of Denmark, 161 wind turbines spin slowly. They supply around 4% of the country's power, sent to shore through two cable connections.The turbines have no barriers or surveillance."Our technicians are only here until five o'clock in the afternoon…
