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27 Aug 2014
Editorial: software ... is it ‘evolution’ or ‘revolution’ ...
The August “Shipbuilding Annual” is one of my favorites to research and produce every year, but even more so when this edition coincides with the SMM exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, which is the largest, best shipbuilding fair in the world. Early next month more than 50,000 visitors from around the world will walk through the halls of the Hamburg Messe und Congress, for meetings, conferences and social occasions for sure…
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29 Jul 2014
Private Equity Drives New Ship Buys
Ship Registries are an excellent bellwether of industry health and trends, and when Maritime Reporter & Engineering News sought answers to some topical questions, it went to two of the top organizations in the world, speicifically Theo Xenakoudis, Worldwide Business Operations Officer, International Registries, Inc. & Christian Mollitor, Vice-President, Liberian Registry/LISCR, LLC. Give a brief description of the market you serve.
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28 Jul 2014
Interview: Roberto Cazzulo Talks Class Trends
As Roberto P. Cazzulo, RINA, steps down as the Chairman of the IACS Council, Maritime Reporter caught up with him to discuss the current state and future direction of global class. Given your experience, aside from the creation of IACS, what has been the most important change to the way in which “class” has conducted its business in the past 20 years? In my view, it is the Quality System Certification Scheme (QSCS) adopted by IACS in 1991. Quality is a pillar for IACS.
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22 Jul 2014
Editorial: Gas ... It's Both the Question & the Answer
When the time comes to pull an edition together, sometimes the content simply takes on a life of its own, as is the case with the July 2014 edition and the proliferation of ‘gas’ throughout. While the advent of gas and all that this little word encompasses is hardly breaking news, to put it in context we literally are in the infancy of a historic course correction that will last generations. Following up on last month’s interview with Edward Scott…
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24 Jun 2014
Marine Salvage Saves Time, Money, Lives & the Environment
Though maritime transportation is unequivocally proven as the safest and most environmentally benign means to move goods from ‘point A to point B,’ it is a given that accidents do happen. When they do, having a qualified, competent marine salvage company around can be the difference between minor incident and major tragedy. For insights on the maturation and future of marine salvage sector, MR reached out to the leadership of the American Salvage Association (ASA) for answers.
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20 Jun 2014
Excelerate Energy & the Year of LNG
This being the “Yearbook” edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, it would be remiss to not have coverage of LNG, one of the hottest fueling trends in maritime circles, particularly in North America. For a unique insight on a rapidly evolving market, MR caught up with Edward Scott, COO, Excelerate Energy, which is making big strides in the LNG Regasification sector, and recently received on the of the world’s largest and most capable units…
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19 Jun 2014
Internet at Sea: Staying Connected
The maritime industry is at a crossroads, with a dearth of next-generation talent willing and available for a life at sea, yet increasing demands for efficiency and clarity of operations. At this crossroads lies modern communication technology, the connective tissue that can help to cure many of the industry’s ills, as Frank Coles, President of Inmarsat Maritime, contends. Commercial shipping will always remain a pivotal link in the global transport chain…
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19 Jun 2014
Maritime Communication: A Bold New Shape and Direction
Richard Simonian is the President of Maritime Solutions, a business unit within Harris CapRock Communications. MR picked his brain for insights on the shape and direction of maritime comms. We understand that you recently unveiled your Advanced VSAT solutions at Satellite 2014. Can you give us a brief on exactly what this is? The problem increasingly being faced by ship and rig operators is that their communication needs are dynamic, yet the traditional buying approach is static.
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17 Jun 2014
2014 . . . And the Story Continues
Having sat in this seat for more two decades I am sometimes asked if I’m tired of the job and ready to move along. (Thankfully, though, that question has never come from my boss.) Unequivocally the answer is “no.” While the maritime industry is often erroneously labeled as conservative and behind the technological times, it is in fact a vibrant and multi-faceted transport niche, a literal cast of characters with a liberal mix of international…
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19 May 2014
Interview: Rich Hobbie, Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS)
An interview with Rich Hobbie, the leader of the Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS), the largest underwriter of pollution liability insurance for marine vessels in the United States. Can you give our readers an overview of your business today. The Premium income and growth factors in the marine insurance industry are very stagnant right now. And competition is quite heavy in all areas. In the U.S. market and in the marine market in general, there are new players.
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16 May 2014
Classification Leaders Weigh in on Marine Propulsion
When talk turns to marine propulsion and the host of surrounding topics – emissions, efficiency, fuel consumption – we turn to class for answers. While there are just two questions, the ensuing answers from leaders at ABS, BV, ClassNK, DNV GL, LR and RINA are voluminous & enlightening. The stricter environmental regulations and rising fuel costs lead to technology development in design, size, propulsion and operations.
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15 May 2014
Experts Weigh Training Factor into Sewol Tragedy
While the investigation is still fresh regarding the sinking and the tragic loss of life of the South Korean ferry Sewol, early reports point to a multitude of potential problems, including a critical breakdown among the crew. As work continues to secure the ship and recover the remaining dead onboard, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News reached out to maritime training and education experts for insights on that sector’s role in helping to reduce the risk of disaster at sea.
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23 Apr 2014
Cool Runnings: R.W. Fernstrum's Engineered Solutions
A hallmark of the global maritime industry is the proliferation of smaller, family founded and managed businesses. R.W. Fernstrum is one such company: a ubiquitous presence for more than 65 years providing engineered cooling solutions to maritime and offshore markets. MR went to Menominee, MI, to meet with Sean Fernstrum and his team for insights on the unique products it produces and the markets it serves. R.W.
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26 Mar 2014
The Crowley Way
Walk in the front door at Crowley Maritime Corporation HQ in Jacksonville, Fla., and you learn nearly everything you need to know about the company. With your visitor’s badge, you are handed a “Safety and Evacuation” brochure, and the person you are there to meet – in our case Tom Crowley, Jr. – walks down to greet you personally. Safety and People; The Crowley Way. The rest is just details. Crowley Maritime was founded in 1892 by Thomas Crowley in San Francisco.
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17 Mar 2014
USCG ... Past, Present & Future
Ebeneezer Scrooge would be proud. This is our annual United States Coast Guard edition, and it could best be dubbed the “Christmas Carol” edition as we examine USCG Past, USCG Present and USCG Future. First looking back (but not too far back), and in step with our continued celebration of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News’ 75th Anniversary, Patricia Keefe takes an insightful look at the times, tribulations, leadership and legacy of Thad Allen, past Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
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26 Feb 2014
Five Minutes with WSS's Simon Hutt
The business of ship service has changed mightily in recent years, with many new regulations and technical mandates on modern ships, the continued and rapid consolidation of major players and a historic shift in vessel trading patterns driven by the shale energy revolution in the U.S. To help put it all in perspective, MR reached out to Simon Hutt, the new VP of the Americas for Wilhelmsen Ships Service. Please encapsulate your maritime experience to date. My career has always been in maritime.
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24 Feb 2014
Five Minutes With Tomas Tillberg
Modern cruise ships can cost upwards of a billion and built to last more than 25 years, so the platforms must be built for change, as evolving style & taste, material innovation & maritime regulation dictate. “Built to stand the test of time” is the mantra, so in seeking insight on modern cruise design we sought insights from a designer that also has stood the test of time, Tomas Tillberg of Tillberg Design International. Mr.
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24 Feb 2014
MIOX Safe Water Management for Cruise Ships
Safe water management onboard any ship is a challenge, a challenge magnified exponentially onboard the world’s largest cruise ships with thousands of passengers and crew in close quarters. Just last month it again made global headlines as Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of Seas was forced to cut its 10-day cruise short due to an estimated 700 passengers dropping ill with a with a gastrointestinal illness.
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24 Feb 2014
Cruise Industry Poised for Global Growth
The global cruise industry and its fleet of increasingly large, ultra-modern ships is projected to continue its steady growth in 2014, powered by growth overseas, particularly in the German market, as well as the adoption of faster, stronger and generally better satellite communication technology that is moving toward the level of seamless, cost-effective communication connections that can be expected at a land-based vacation destination.
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24 Feb 2014
You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide
Windward Ltd. has taken advances in satellite communications at sea plus the massive amounts of new data available from ships, and created a satellite based maritime analytics system that provides information and insight on unusual vessel movements globally. Co-founder and CEO Ami Daniel explains. Until now. In 2010 this pair of naval officers founded Windward Ltd., a maritime analytics company that brings the power of smart analytics to the oceans.