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…
World's First Continual Cruise Set for Launch After Repair Delay
Cruise passengers are to set sail from Belfast on Monday on a three-and-a-half-year world voyage after being stranded in the city for months as the ship underwent unexpected repair works. Some plan to make it their forever home.Passengers of the Villa Vie Residences' Odyssey, described as the world's first continual cruise, can either buy their cabins for the entire operational life of the ship or rent them to travel segments of the journey.The ship…
Death Toll Climbs in Oil Barge Sinking Off Venezuela
At least four people have been reported dead following the sinking of an oil barge operated by a contractor of Venezuela's state-run energy company PDVSA at the country's Lake Maracaibo, according to a report of the accident on Thursday and sources.Another 19 people had been successfully rescued by Thursday morning at the accident site, the report added.Incidents involving barges that carry Venezuelan oil and fuel between domestic ports and to the Caribbean have become frequent.
Ammonia Ship-to-Ship Bunkering Boom earns ClassNK AIP
NYK and TB Global Technologies Ltd. (TBG) received a certificate for approval in principle (AiP) from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) for the ship-to-ship supply of fuel ammonia. The AIP was conferred last week at Gastech in Houston.The most distinctive feature of the boom is a TBG-developed emergency-release system that allows the connection between an ammonia-fueled vessel and an ammonia bunkering vessel (ABV) to be disconnected instantly in an emergency.In acquiring the AiP…
Majestic Fast Ferry Takes Two New Vessels
Singapore’s Majestic Fast Ferry expands its fleet courtesy the delivery of a pair of new, Incat Crowther-designed 42-m ferries. There are additional sisterships under construction at Indonesia's PT Cahaya Samudra.The 343-passenger ferries operate at a maximum speed of 39 knots and a cruising speed of 36 knots. The main deck has seating for 295, with five bathrooms – including one handicap accessible bathroom and luggage storage space.
PortPic Gathers in Italy to Discuss Hull Cleaning
This week [September 30 to October 2] about 40 companies, stakeholders and NGOs gather in Pontignano, Italy, to discuss and share insights about the developments taking place within hull cleaning and in-port inspections for the shipping industry.PortPic, the sister conference to HullPic which takes place in the spring, is a Jotun and VB Conferences initiative and aims to bring the industry together…
Electric Boat to Fuel Oyster Farm Ops
Maine Ocean Farms is investing in custom-built electric workboats and Aqua superPower's marine fast charging to power its oyster farming operations, a project is made possible courtesy of a $500,000 grant from the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy plus another $500,000 in matching funds.Aqua superPower leads this electrification project, in partnership with Maine Clean Communities.
MSI: Offshore Vessel Market Rebounds as Investors Reactivate Earlier Contracts
Strong confidence in the offshore vessel market has seen orders placed in the previous market upcycle re-activated to take advantage of renewed investor interest, according to a new report from Maritime Strategies International (MSI).In its third quarter offshore support vessel (OSV) sector report MSI notes that of the 17 vessels delivered to date in 2024, 13 were ordered more than a decade ago, leaving just over 50 vessels still pending from the previous upcycle…
Van Oord Concludes Construction of Wilhelmshaven FSRU Jetty in Germany
Van Oord has successfully completed the construction of the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) jetty at Wilhelmshaven in Germany for its client Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET).The project was managed by FSRU Wilhelmshaven, a joint venture between ENGIE and TES. By leveraging its experience in dredging, infrastructure and offshore energy, the client and Van Oord developed a tailor-made integrated solution for the project.In order to expedite the process…
