Drug Gang Used Commercial Ships & Chinese Money Brokers, Italian Police Says
Italy police said on Wednesday they had arrested 61 people across four countries and seized 60 million euros ($67.1 million) following an investigation into international drugs trafficking and money laundering.The case had revealed criminal drugs ties between Albania and Latin America, and once again showed how criminals in Europe are using shadow networks of illicit Chinese money brokers, police said.Finance police in the northern city of Brescia said 400 officers had carried out the arrests an
Bill Sanson Joins LeeWay Marine as President
LeeWay Marine, a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia based owner and operator or survey and research vessels, announced Bill Sanson will be joining the team as President, taking on the day-to-day oversight of LeeWay operations.Sanson comes to LeeWay from the Royal Canadian Navy and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the maritime domain. “With his extensive marine background, deep operational experience and fresh perspective…
Hildyard to Lead Operations for Raymarine and FLIR Maritime
Marine electronics company Raymarine announced Michelle Hildyard as the Vice President of Operations, responsible for managing supply chain, engineering, product management and operational functionsHildyard brings to the position 19 years of experience in the marine industry, all within Raymarine and FLIR. Her previous roles within the company include Supply Chain Manager, Commercial Director, Vice President of Customer Service…
Trafigura Names Richard Holtum CEO
Richard Holtum will take over as chief executive of global trading house Trafigura from Jan. 1 next year, the company said on Tuesday.Holtum will take over the helm at a time when trading firms are set to see reduced profits following windfall years after the COVID-19 pandemic, while sharp equity growth in recent years will also mean hefty expenses in paying out departing shareholders.Holtum becomes the group's third ever CEO after around 10 years at the company.
Betting on Dry Bulk: Newbuild Market Stands Strong in Q3
In its Q3 Dry Bulk report, Maritime Strategies International (MSI) estimates dry bulk newbuilding orders in the first eight months of the year above 25m dwt, with the potential for further upside on the back of late-reported deals. Despite a slight August lull, second-hand bulker values remain firm.MSI expects more than 30m dwt of dry bulk capacity to be delivered in 2024, with the orderbook forecast to rise still further by the end of the year…
Shippers Race to Find Alternatives as US Port Strike Looms
U.S. companies that rely on East and Gulf Coast seaports have been importing early, shifting goods to the West Coast, and even putting cargo on pricey flights to hedge against a threatened Oct. 1 strike that could jam supply chains and reignite inflation ahead of the U.S. presidential election."This is just another headache after everything else we've been dealing with," said Kenneth Sanchez, CEO of Chesapeake Specialty Products…
Vattenfall and BASF Pick Havfram for Nordlicht Offshore Wind Cluster Job
Havfram, a provider of transport and installation services for the offshore wind industry, has been awarded a contract by Vattenfall and BASF for their Nordlicht offshore wind farm cluster.The Nordlicht wind farm zone, located 85 kilometers north of the island of Borkum in the German North Sea, consists of two separate sites: Nordlicht I, with an expected capacity of 980 MW, and Nordlicht II, with an expected capacity of 630 MW.For Nordlicht I…
DNV Acquires CyberOwl
DNV acquired CyberOwl, a global presence in cyber risk monitoring and threat management onboard maritime vessels, which comes at a time when maritime must comply with a wealth of new cyber security regulation and invest in incident detection, response and recovery as increasing implementation of digitally connected systems onboard vessels create new vulnerabilities. CyberOwl provides vessel operators with analytics to identify…
Over-Correction Led to Grounding of General Cargo Vessel
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its preliminary assessment of the grounding of the general cargo vessel Baltic Arrow which ran aground on June 25, 2024 near New Dyke Farm on the River Nene while enroute to Wisbech, England.Baltic Arrow had set sail from Riga, Latvia, carrying a cargo of timber. The day before the grounding, the vessel anchored at the Wisbech anchorage off the east coast of England.
HII Awarded Procurement Contract for Four New Amphibious Ships
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has been awarded a $9.6 billion multi-ship procurement contract for the construction of three San Antonio-class (LPD 17) amphibious ships and a contract modification for the next America-class (LHA 6) large-deck amphibious ship.This combined procurement — the first of its kind for amphibious ships — begins the journey for the construction of LPDs 33, 34, 35 and LHA 10 for the U.S. Navy.Ingalls President Kari Wilkinson said.
Floating Dock Set to Position Takoradi as Ship Repair Hub
Specialist provider of offshore support services, Interocean Marine Services is supporting a floating dock ship project at the port of Takoradi in Ghana, Africa.Interocean is working in partnership with Prime Meridian Docks Ghana to build and operate the dock, and the project has already secured full financial backing of $137 million.When finished, it will feature a 13,500-tonne lift capacity floating dry dock…
Canadian Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships to have MAN Propulsion Packages
MAN Energy Solutions has won the order to deliver the propulsion systems for two Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) for the Canadian Coast Guard as part of a consortium with GE Power Conversion.MAN will deliver the engines, shafts and propellers for the AOPS’ integrated diesel-electric propulsion systems and is also providing a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system with each engine.Each vessel will feature 4 × MAN 6L32/44CR engines…
African Maritime Security Takes Center Stage
Fincantieri, Vard Marine (VARD) and Sandock Austral Shipyards forged a partnership to build ships in Africa -- aiming to effectively reshape the African maritime security landscape -- a collaboration centered on the Afrika Offshore Patrol Vessel (VARD 7 055), a 53-meter patrol vessel tailored for the country's operating environment. The deal gives exclusive marketing and manufacturing rights for the VARD 7 055 to Sandock Austral Shipyards across sub-Saharan Africa.Image courtesy VARD
Centus Marine Orders SES Crew Boat from Strategic Marine
Centus Marine, a Malaysian operator of fast crew boats, has selected Singaporean shipbuilder Strategic Marine to build the next generation of high-speed personnel transfer vessels, developed by AIRCAT.The new vessel, developed in partnership with AIRCAT Vessels and based on the AIRCAT 35 Crewliner surface effect ship (SES) platform, will be designed to achieve speeds exceeding 50 knots while ensuring…
Tugboat Captain's Error Led to Bridge Strike in Tacoma
A tugboat captain's error caused an articulated tug and barge (ATB) to strike and damage the fending system protecting the Hylebos Bridge in Tacoma, Wash., last October, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday.The tugboat Olympic Scout, operated by Olympic Tug & Barge, was assisting the ATB Montlake/Sodo, also operated by Olympic Tug & Barge, as it transited outbound on the Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma, on October 12, 2023.
Lisa Young Joins SEACOR Marine Board
SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. announced it has appointed Lisa P. Young as an independent member of its board of directors, in a move that expands the marine services company's board from five to six members.Young is a seasoned professional with 36 years of cross-sector, international experience in public accounting and professional services. As a retired senior partner with Ernst & Young, Young has served in a number of leadership roles…
Fincantieri Begins Building Italy's Next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on Tuesday held a steel cutting ceremony marking the start of construction on the first of four next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Italian Navy.The four new ships will be built at Fincantieri's Riva Trigoso shipyard in Genoa for scheduled delivery from 2027 onward. The contract also includes options for two additional vessels.The overall value of the first four ships…
US, Canada to Negotiate Maritime Boundary in Beaufort Sea
The United States and Canada on Tuesday said they will create a task force this autumn to negotiate the maritime boundary in the Beaufort Sea and resolve the overlap along the continental shelf.The group will work toward a final agreement covering the border area, which lies north of Alaska and the Canadian provinces of Yukon and the Northwest Territories, the two countries said.The negotiations come amid a rise in cooperation between Russia and China in the Arctic Sea…
Hanwha Ocean's Rotor Sails Earn DNV Type Approval
Classification society DNV has awarded Hanwha Ocean Type Approval Design Certification (TADC) for its innovative rotor sail technology, the first certification of a rotor sail approved for installation in hazardous zones in South Korea.The TADC confirms that Hanwha Ocean's Rotor Sail, designed with composite materials, is in line with DNV and international safety standards, guidelines and regulations and ready for practical application on commercial vessels.
Israeli Seaports Open for Business Despite Lebanon Conflict
Israel's ports in the northern city of Haifa were operating at normal capacity despite an escalation in fighting with Hezbollah in nearby Lebanon and the city being targeted by rocket fire, Israeli authorities said on Tuesday.Haifa is Israel's third largest city and handles much of the country's vital seaborne trade. On Monday, sirens sounded across the city for the first time after months of border…
