ABS CEO Wiernicki Emphasizes Sustainable Shipping
Donât Overlook Shippingâs Critical Role in U.S. Sustainable Transport Future, ABS Chairman and CEO Urges Washington.âMany of our sustainable transportation programs and initiatives tend to become mode-centric, but it is critically important to optimize the overall sustainable freight transportation across modes from origin to destination, which requires a system of systems focus.âThat was the message to U.S. transportation industry and Government leaders from ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J.
Port of Oakland wins $50 million Marad grant
Federal funds to upgrade aging docks to accommodate ultra-large vessels and expand economic benefits to region.The Port of Oakland was awarded approximately $50 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) to modernize wharves and terminal infrastructure at the Outer Harbor. The Portâs Outer Harbor will be upgraded to accommodate Ultra Large Container Vessels, which are now a regular part of the shipping fleet calling on West Coast ports.
ABS Reports Fleet Growth, Superior Safety Record
"Safety is more than just compliance. It is now synonymous with security, reliability, collective relationships and people. Safety is also becoming systems based rather than rooted in prescriptive rules or specific component procedures. Only by embracing a proactive, systems-oriented approach to safety, can the maritime industry navigate the path to a decarbonized future while ensuring the well-being of its seafarers and the protection of the marine environment.â That was the message from Christopher J.
Crowley Breaks Ground on Salem Offshore Wind Terminal
A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony was held to signal the start of construction at the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal in Massachusetts.The Crowley Wind Services-led project involves transforming a former oil- and coal-fired power plant into Massachusettsâ second wind port, to support the construction of offshore wind farms in New England and future floating turbines in the Gulf of Maine.Crowley also announced it has awarded Massachusetts-based joint venture DW White JF White to be the projectâs general contractor.
Offshore Wind: Inside the Financial Web
Early 2024 saw a group of financial deals that have implications, in a broad sense, for how offshore wind projects may be financed. While offshore wind projects might be thought of as being in the âutility financeâ basket, they are ultimately high-risk deals that might better suit the portfolios of âinfrastructure investmentâ which, in recent years, has taken a shift towards tolerating more uncertainty when it comes to cash flows.A 2022 article from consultants McKinsey, titled âInfrastructure investing will never be the sameââŠ
Crowley Christens the US' First Electric Tug eWolf
Crowley on Tuesday christened its new vessel, eWolf, the first all-electric ship assist tugboat in the United States.Set to enter commercial service at the Port of San Diego this week, the 82-foot tug was built by Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders and designed by Crowleyâs engineering services team to operate on full electric power, producing zero carbon emissions and 70-ton bollard pull strength.âThe eWolf is a historic milestone in the maritime industry and Crowleyâs legacy and underscores our companyâs commitment to serve as global sustainability leaders and innovatorsâŠ
Hanwha to Acquire Philly Shipyard
South Korea's Hanwha Group has agreed to acquire U.S. shipbuilder Philly Shipyard in a $100 million cash deal, the companies announced on Thursday.Under the deal, which is expected to close in Q4 2024, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean will purchase purchase of Philly Shipyard, Inc., the sole operating subsidy of Aker-owned Philly Shipyard ASA, based in Oslo.Kristian Røkke, Chairman of Philly Shipyard ASA, said, âAfter two decades of stewardship, it is with great honor that we transition the ownership from Aker to Hanwha.
Help Wanted: US Maritime Industry Struggles to Fill Key Gaps
A shortage of U.S. mariners presents a major threat to the United Statesâ national and economic security, and the problem is growing day by day.According to a 2017 study prepared by the Maritime Workforce Working Group and released by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), the estimated pool of U.S. mariners actively sailing with unlimited tonnage credentials was comprised of 11,768 mariners. Assuming that all these mariners would be both willing and available to sail as neededâŠ
U.S. National Maritime Strategy in the Spotlight @ MRS '24
The Maritime Risk Symposium will convene in Monteray, CA next month, a small conference with a high-profile speaker line-up from across government, industry and academia. Here we look at Panel 3 â Maritime Policy vis a vis a new National Maritime Strategy, facilitated byCAPT Jon Kaskin, US Navy Reserve (retired)This panel will inform participants and generate discussion regarding the forthcoming National Maritime Strategy (NMS). Congress originally mandated that the NMS be developedâŠ
US Coast Guard Orders Two More Fast Response Cutters
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has opted to extend its Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutters (FRC) build program, exercising a contract option with Bollinger Shipyards for two additional vessels.The move brings the total number of FRCs awarded to Bollinger up to 67 vessels since the programâs inception. To date, the U.S. Coast Guard has commissioned 55 FRCs into operational service.âWeâre incredibly proud of our long history supporting the U.S. Coast Guard that now stretches four decades,â said Bollinger Shipyards President and CEO Ben Bordelon.
Marine News' 2024 US Shipbuilding Report
If nothing else, building vessels in the U.S. is a complicated business.In a session on the domestic shipbuilding marketplace, at Marine Moneyâs late-November 2023 conference held in New Orleans, Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards (with more than a dozen facilities, in Mississippi and Louisiana), described his companyâs architecture as a âthree-legged stool approach: commercial newbuilds, government newbuilds and repair/conversion capabilitiesâ.On the same panelâŠ
On Board the eWolf: The First Electric Tugboat in the US
Crowley Maritime Corporation has owned and operated a lot of vessels since its founding in 1892. But the latest vessel to join its fleet is unlike any other that has come before it.Crowleyâs new harbor tug, eWolf, is unique in that it runs 100% powered by batteries, not diesel engines, meaning it produces zero emissions and nearly no noise. Not only is the vessel the first fully electric tug in the Crowley fleet, but it is also the first of its kind in the United States.Faced with stricter regulations and commercial pressure to prioritize environmentalâŠ
Houthis Keep Up Pressure with Near Miss on US-flagged Tanker
Yemen's Houthis fired a missile that likely targeted the Torm Thor in the Gulf of Aden on Feb. 24 but missed the U.S.-flagged oil tanker, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday, as the Iran-aligned militia steps up attacks on ships.Shipping risks have escalated due to repeated Houthi drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait since November in support of Palestinians in Gaza. U.S. and British forces have responded with several strikes on HouthiâŠ
Biden Executive Order Targets Cybersecurity at US Ports
President Biden on Wednesday signed an Executive Order aiming to strengthen cybersecurity at U.S. ports amid growing threats to America's vital maritime supply chains.The directive bolsters the Department of Homeland Securityâs authority to address maritime cyber threats, including through the creation of new standards to ensure the security of networks and systems throughout the nationâs marine transportation system (MTS), which supports $5.4 trillion in economic activity each year."Most critical infrastructure owners and operators have a list of safety regulations they have to comply withâŠ
Edison Chouest Withdraws Title XI Application
An affiliate of Edison Chouest Offshore has withdrawn its application for financing under the U.S. Maritime Administration's (MARAD) Title XI program.Title XI is a government loan program with the Federal Financing Bank as the lender. It is intended to promote the growth and modernization of the United States' merchant fleet and shipyards by offering repayment terms and interest rates that are generally better than those available from the commercial lending market.ECO EdisonâŠ
Crowley's All-electric Harbor Tug eWolf Delivered
Crowley on Wednesday announced it has taken delivery of its groundbreaking vessel eWolf, the first all-electric, ship assist harbor tugboat in the United States.The 82-foot tug, designed by Crowleyâs engineering services team and built by Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders, will enter service at the Port of San Diego this spring following final demonstration trials and completion of Crowleyâs microgrid shoreside charging station. The vessel will operate with zero emissions while providing the complete performance capabilities of a traditional tugâŠ
Crowley's All-electric Tug eWolf Starts Sea Trials
The first all-electric tugboat built in the United States, Crowley's eWolf, has started sea trials along the U.S. Gulf Coast.The 82-foot ship assist tug, built by Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders, is expected to enter service at the Port of San Diego in 2024. Video footage of the vessel on sea trials was shared by Crowley on social media.The eWolf is designed to operate on full electric power, producing zero carbon emissions and expected 70 ton bollard pull strength.
What Do MARAD Title XI Changes Mean for Offshore Wind?
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has recently announced an amendment to the Federal Ship Financing Program, commonly referred to as Title XI. The amendments have aligned the programâs financial requirements and tests with common current federal credit and maritime lending best practices. In particular, the amendments aim to move away from inflexible static metrics and Title XIâs limited amortization requirements. The amendments respond to concerns that previous terms acted as a barrier to some companies seeking to apply for Title XI support.
Crowley to Pilot Carbon Ridge's Onboard Carbon Capture Technology
Crowley announced it will pilot carbon capture technology on board one of its containerships under the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program.The Jacksonville, Fla. based shipping company said it has reached an agreement with Sana Monica, Calif. based Carbon Ridge and MARAD to operate, measure and optimize the technologyâs effectiveness in actual maritime environments at port and ultimately at sea. The collaboration includes the engineeringâŠ
Will the Effort to Reach Zero Emissions Go Nuclear?
On December 8, 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed the 470th Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. The speech he delivered is often recognized as his effort to introduce âAtoms for Peaceâ, a program to move nuclear fission and technology away from weapons development and into clean energy.As a result of that effort and program, the NS Savannah was built and delivered as the first nuclear-powered merchant ship. She was built in the late 1950s at a cost of $46.9 million and launched on July 21, 1959.
Maritime Partners Acquires Maersk's USMMI
Maritime Partners, a Louisiana-based provider of maritime financing solutions primarily focused on Jones Act vessels, announced that on September 20, 2023, one of its managed funds acquired Norfolk, Va.-based U.S. Marine Management LLC (USMMI) from Maersk Line, Limited.USMMI owns and operates U.S. flag vesselsâincluding one owned maritime support vessel, three owned tankers, and one bareboat chartered tankerâfor charter to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command. It also performs operation and maintenance of U.S. government-owned vessels, and currently has one O&M contract supporting U.S.
White House Appoints ARC CEO Eric Ebeling to Kingâs Point Board of Visitors
American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) President and CEO Eric P. Ebeling was appointed by President Joe Biden to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academyâs Board of Visitors.The Board of Visitors provides independent advice and recommendations concurrently to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Transportation, Congress, and Superintendent of the Academy on matters related to the state of morale and discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairsâŠ
Captain McManus Preps to Take the Helm of Empire State VII
Captain Morgan McManus will serve as the Shipâs Master on the Empire State VII, the first in a series of five National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), which at press time was getting its post-sea trial finishing touches at Philly Shipyard. The project to design, build and deliver the NSMV series is one of the most exciting shipbuilding programs in the U.S. â a government shipbuilding project leveraging commercial shipbuilding efficiencies. For insights, we visited with Captain McManus to discuss the ship, itâs technology suite and its role in helping to educate a new generation of U.S.