Maritime Industry Top News
Rhine in South Germany Reopens to Shipping
The river Rhine in south Germany reopened to cargo shipping on Friday after being closed by high water since the weekend, navigation authorities said.Falling water levels after dryer weather this week mean Rhine river shipping has re-started around Maxau in south Germany, the German inland waterways navigation agency said. This means sailings to Switzerland are again possible.The river had been closed…
Sovcomflot Says Revenues Took a Hit from Western Sanctions
Russia's leading tanker group Sovcomflot said western sanctions and changing market conditions may cut its revenues this year, a rare admission from a major Russian business of the damage western restrictions against Moscow are having.The U.S. imposed sanctions on Sovcomflot, which was previously one of the world's leading tanker operators, in February, in an attempt to reduce Russia's revenues from…
US Coast Guard Aids Supply Ship Taking on Water in the Caribbean Sea
A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew came to the aid of a Vanuatu-flagged supply vessel that was taking on water in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 22 nautical miles south of Puerto Rico.On May 25, the Sea Falcon was transiting to Tortola, British Virgin Islands with four people on board when the vessel's master reported to watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan that the 121-foot-long ship was taking on water through a crack in its hull.
Great Lakes Trade: Limestone Up, Iron Ore Down in May
Great Lakes shipments of limestone rose and iron ore fell in the month of May, according to latest figures published by industry trade group the Lake Carriers' Association (LCA).Shipments of limestone on the Lakes totaled 3.9 million tons in May, an increase of 33.9% compared to a year ago. May’s loadings were also above the month’s 5-year average by 6%.Limestone loadings from U.S. quarries increased 42.2% compared to 2023 to 3.2 million tons…
World’s Largest Car Carrier Receives LR Approval
Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) reports it has awarded approval in principle (AIP) to the Marine Design & Research Institute of China (MARIC) for a dual-fuel 12,800 CEU capacity pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) design - the world’s largest car carrier. The ship is part of a new generation of Ultra-Large environmentally friendly roll on-roll off (ro-ro) car carriers with a load capacity of around 12,800 vehicles. The vessel is equipped with an advanced ammonia-fuel power system.
Port of Antwerp Closes a Dock and a Lock Due to Oil Spill
Authorities at the port of Antwerp have closed a dock and are using drones to monitor the fallout from an oil spill that occurred while a ship was bunkering at one of its docks, a port spokesperson said on Friday."We are doing everything we can to make sure the oil stays locally," the spokesperson said.Belgium's biggest port closed its Deurganck Dock as well as the Kieldrecht lock, the largest lock in the world when considering water volume…
Dutch Dredging Orders Hopper Dredge from Royal IHC
Royal IHC announced it has won a contract from Baggerbedrijf de Boer - Dutch Dredging BV for the design and construction of a custom-built trailing suction hopper dredger with a hopper capacity of 2,300 m3.The Dutch shipbuilder noted it has already built four custom-built vessels for Dutch Dredging, and the new trailing suction hopper dredger will be an upgrade of the Lesse, delivered by Royal IHC to Dutch Dredging in 2019.
Certification Bodies Approve GTT’s NEXT1 LNG Cargo Containment System
French engineering company for liquefied gas storage GTT has secured approvals from Bureau Veritas and Lloyd's Register for its NEXT1 LNG cargo containment system.Bureau Veritas issued a Design Approval (DA), while Lloyd's Register granted a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) to GTT.The two approvals, officially granted at the Posidonia 2024 maritime show in Athens, mark a major milestone for the company's NEXT1 technology.Through them…
ABS Joins EU’s Liquid Hydrogen for Commercial Vessels Research Project
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has joined the LH2CRAFT project, a research initiative funded by European Union with the goal of revolutionizing liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage on a massive scale, catering to commercial vessels and emerging applications.Administered by Hydrus Engineering and Technische Universitat Dresden, the research consortium is comprised of 14 members from nine different countries.The consortium is working to design a membrane-type containment system…
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Launches LNG-Powered RoRo Vessel
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has held a christening and launch ceremony for the Trans Harmony Green, the first of two LNG-powered roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ships built for Toyofuji Shipping.The ceremony took place at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture.The ship's handover is scheduled for late January 2025…
CTS-VMS Partnership Targets Maritime Industry Decarbonization
CTS Offshore and Marine (CTS) and Varuna Marine Services (VMS) have entered strategic partnership to offer vessel owners and operators an informed pathway for carbon emission management.By combining their respective strengths, the two companies will provide a comprehensive suite of services to help the maritime industry navigate the complexities of decarbonization and comply with evolving regulations…
Jumbo Offshore Completes Monopile Removal Job in Taiwan
Dutch heavy lift shipping and offshore transport and installation contractor Jumbo Offshore has completed the removal of two monopiles on the Yunlin offshore wind farm in Taiwan.The Jumbo Offshore crew carried out the work by deploying its DP2 heavy lift crane vessel Fairplayer from Europe to support the onsite operations.Jumbo Offshore was awarded the contract by Yunneng Wind Power (YWPC) earlier…
KR Signs MoU on Ammonia Fuel Cell Systems
KR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hanwha Ocean, Amogy, and Hanwha Aerospace at Posidonia 2024 for the technical collaboration and certification of ammonia reformers and ammonia fuel cell systems on ships.The ammonia reformers, used to produce gas with hydrogen as the main component and supply it to fuel cell stacks, are essential equipment for the adoption of fuel cell systems…
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Sets Out Five-Year Fire Safety Plan
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has selected Star International to provide safety maintenance for its three-strong fleet of smaller-sized cruise ships.The five-year partnership includes the annual inspection and repair of firefighting systems and life-saving equipment (including SOLAS inflatable lifejackets) onboard the Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral.Star’s Managing Director, Matthew Ball, commented: “Having worked with Fred.
Auramarine Supplying Methanol Fuel Supply System to Mein Schiff 7
Auramarine has won an order from Meyer Turku shipyard for a methanol fuel supply system and associated equipment for the luxury Mein Schiff 7 cruise vessel owned by TUI Cruises.Auramarine’s equipment deliveries began in 2023 and continued over the spring of 2024. Sea trials were conducted in May 2024, and the vessel is scheduled for delivery over the summer this year. The methanol-ready newbuild is…
GEA Expands Marine Portfolio
GEA is supporting the shipping industry on this path to sustainability with new products to reduce emissions of NOx, SOx, particulate matter and soot, and new biofuel separators and solutions for the treatment of process water in exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).GEA biofuel separatorBy using biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) as an alternative for diesel engines, greenhouse gas and sulphur emissions can be reduced.
Saab R6 NAV NEO Approved for Panama Canal Transits
Saab TransponderTech has announced that its latest navigation system, the R6 NAV NEO, has received approval from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). This makes it the first SOLAS-approved navigation system for general use in any waters that also meets the stringent requirements of the Panama Canal.The R6 NAV NEO is engineered to meet the increasing global demand for high precision navigation sensors…
BOEM Clears Way for Central Atlantic Offshore Wind Leases
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued on Thursday its final environmental analysis that found "no significant impacts" from leasing Central Atlantic coastal areas for potential offshore wind development off the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia coasts.“BOEM is proud to continue to support the clean energy transition in a responsible manner in the Central Atlantic region,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein.“We will continue to work closely with Tribes…
USCG Seeks Feedback on Training Requirements for New Fuels
The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking public input on the training and experience requirements necessary for mariners working aboard vessels using alternative fuels, including methyl/ethyl alcohols, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), fuel cells, batteries and ammonia. Recent newbuild statistics show that owners of commercial vessels are embracing alternative fuels as a means to reduce emissions of nearly all types from their operations.As new ships using alternative fuels come into service…
Houthis Claim to Attack Ships at Israel's Haifa Port
Yemen's Houthi group said on Thursday it launched two joint military operations with the Iraqi Islamic Resistance against ships at Israel's Haifa port."The first targeted two ships carrying military equipments in the port of Haifa, while the second targeted a ship that violated the decision to ban entry to the port," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement.The Houthis…