Baltic Dry Index Rises to Over Four-month High
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose to its highest since mid-May on Monday, supported by gains in the capesize vessel segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 21 points, or 1.3% to 1,614, its highest level since May 10.The capesize index added 65 points, or 3.1% to 2…
AI Unlocks RIB Safety & Efficiency Gains
Facing rising costs, an Icelandic tour operator is using technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance safety and slash insurance premiums for its fleet of high-speed rigid inflatable boats (RIB).Reykjavík-based Whale Safari runs tourist RIBs for whale and bird watching excursions in Iceland. From an insurer’s standpoint, the endeavor—which sees vessels that seat up to 12 passengers achieving high speeds and g-force wave impacts—is inherently risky.
Tidewater Inks Global Support Deal with Caterpillar
Tidewater Inc., the world's largest fleet operator in the offshore support vessel (OSV) industry, has signed a Global Value Agreement (GVA) with engine manufacturer Caterpillar to ensure comprehensive parts, service, monitoring and maintenance support to help reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and increase uptime and availability.Tidewater’s fleet of more than 200 OSVs, including platform supply vessels (PSV)…
Taiwan Expects to Deploy Two New Submarines by 2027
Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two new, domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles, to strengthen deterrence against the Chinese navy and protect key supply lines, the head of the program said.Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous sub program a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.President Tsai Ing-wen…
KCC to Pilot Starlink Internet Service at Sea
Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA (KCC) announced it is exploring the potential of improved vessel connectivity with a pilot of Starlink, a satellite internet service provisioned by Marlink. The move focuses on improving digital collaboration and data exchange between shore and ship, a key step in reaching KCC’s targets set for crew safety/welfare and carbon emission reductions, the company said.Taking traditional VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity to the next level…
Meyer Werft Cuts Steel for NYK Cruise Ship Asuka III
German shipbuilder Meyer Werft announced it held a steel cutting ceremony for a new cruise ship it is building for NYK Cruises, a company of the Japanese shipping group NYK. The vessel will be named Asuka III and is scheduled for delivery in 2025.The 52,200 GT newbuild will be 230 meters long and 29.8 meters wide, with space for 744 passengers.Meyer Werft said it will use numerous customized solutions for the new cruise ship.
U.S. BOEM Completes Environmental Review of Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said Monday it had completed its environmental review of the proposed Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project.“The completion of our environmental review marks another step towards a clean energy future—one that benefits communities and co-exists with other ocean users,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “The best available science and knowledge shared by Tribes…
Kent Young Joins GIT Board of Directors
Canadian marine coatings company Graphite Innovation & Technologies (GIT) announced Kent Young has joined its board of directors.A former senior director of technology for the global supply chain R&D at Sherwin Williams, Young will provide strategic guidance and expertise across a range of areas as GIT scales-up its business. Young’s extensive background in coatings, along with his experience in supply chain…
Blakeley BoatWorks Building New Tug for Crescent Towing
Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Blakeley BoatWorks is building a new EPA Tier 4 ship assist tugboat for fellow The Cooper Group company Crescent Towing. Upon completion, Crescent will operate the new tug in New Orleans as part of its Mississippi River ship assist fleet.“The addition of this new 6,000-hp z-drive in support of our Mississippi River operations highlights our continued commitment to providing our customers with the most powerful and technologically advanced equipment in the industry…
Maersk Supply Service's Vessel Bags Contract Extension for Angola Subsea Operations
Maersk Supply Service has secured a contract extension in Angola for its Subsea Support Vessel Maersk Involver for an additional 15 months.The Danish vessel owner said Monday that under the extended contract, the vessel and crew would support various subsea operations off the coast of Angola.
SEACOR to Sell U.S. Harbor Towing Operations
SEACOR Holdings said Monday it had agreed to sell its U.S. harbor towing operations and assets from its Seabulk subsidiary to two parties, E.N. Bisso & Son, Inc. and Bay-Houston Towing Co.The E.N. Bisso transaction includes 12 harbor towing vessels across ports in Florida and Alabama. Bay-Houston is acquiring eight vessels operating in Texas along the Sabine Neches Navigation District and in the Port of Lake Charles, La."E.N.
Russia Lifts Export Ban on Low-quality Diesel, Marine Fuel
The Russian government has approved some changes to its fuel export ban, lifting the restrictions for fuel used as bunkering for some vessels as well as diesel with high content of sulphur, a government document showed on Monday. It also lifted restrictions on the export of fuel already accepted for export by the Russian Railways and Transneft before the initial ban had been announced last week. The ban on all types of gasoline and high-quality diesel remains in place.
DNV and Light Structures in Structural Health Monitoring and Digital Twins Partnership
Independent energy expert and assurance provider DNV and Light Structures AS, a supplier of fiber optic condition monitoring systems based on Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the development of new methodologies and solutions at the intersection of structural health monitoring and digital twin functionalities.
US Buyer Scoops Pyxis Product Tanker for $40.75 Million
Greek shipping company Pyxis Tankers announced it has agreed to sell the vessel Pyxis Epsilon, a 2015 built 50,295 dwt. product tanker, for a sale price of $40.75…
Pope Says Impeding Migrant Rescues at Sea is 'Gesture of Hate'
Pope Francis said on Friday that migrants who risk drowning at sea "must be rescued" because doing so was "a duty of humanity" and that those who impede rescues commit "a gesture of hate".Francis, 86, spoke at an inter-religious prayer service before a monument dedicated to those lost at sea. Earlier, the city's archbishop, Cardinal Jean Marc Aveline, an Algerian-born Frenchman, criticized politicians…
Two New Members Join SAFE Boats Board of Directors
Bremerton, Wash. based boatbuilder SAFE Boats International announced that retired Vice Admiral William “Dean” Lee and Tom Norton have joined its board of directors.Vice Admiral Lee served in the U. S. Coast Guard for more than 36-years, most recently serving as the Commander, Atlantic Area (LANTAREA), responsible for all Coast Guard operations from the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf. During his service to the Nation…
Next-Gen Naval Defense: Laser Weapon System Takes Aim at Drones, Missiles and More
Laser Weapon Demonstrator (LWD) trials onboard the German frigate Sachsen have successfully been completed, following on from the integration of the LWD in June 2022, MBDA, a multi-national European group specializing in the field of complex weapon system.The High-Energy Laser Naval Demonstrator Working Group (or ARGE), consisting of MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall, is responsible for development and construction of the LWD…
Ship with Ukraine Grain Back in Turkey under "Humanitarian corridor"
The cargo ship "Resilient Africa" arrived off Turkey's Bosphorus Strait on Thursday, the first vessel loaded with grain from Ukraine to sail in and out of the Black Sea using a temporary corridor.
Edda Wind Secures Further Work for Edda Passat SOV
Norwegian offshore wind vessel owner Edda Wind has secured a contract for its service operation vessel Edda Passat.The Edda Passat SOV has operated for Ørsted at Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm since it was built in 2018, and the charter is expiring in October 2023.Edda Wind said Friday that it had entered into an agreement with Vestas for a short-term charter for the majority of the fourth quarter including options at rates "significantly above" the previous contract.
U.S. Judge Orders Expansion of Gulf of Mexico Oil Lease Auction
A federal judge in Louisiana has ordered an expansion of next week's sale of oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico, saying the Biden administration must include additional acreage, according to a court ruling issued late on Thursday.The oil and gas industry, which had sued the administration, welcomed the decision to restore 6 million acres to the auction after the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean…
