Maritime Industry Top News
MAN to Supply Propulsion Packages for Israeli-built Patrol Boats
![Graphical rendering of the OPV-45 (picture courtesy Israel Shipyards)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/graphical-rendering-of-the-opv45-117672.jpg)
MAN Energy Solutions announced Thursday it has won the contract to supply complete propulsion packages to two OPV-45 offshore patrol vessels currently under construction at one of the largest privately owned shipbuilding and repair facilities in the Eastern Mediterranean.Israel Shipyards in Haifa is constructing the new patrol boats for an undisclosed African navy. The vessels are designed for a wide range of missions…
Wärtsilä Inks Deal to Sell Rotor Sails
![Wärtsilä will include Anemoi Marine Technologies’ Rotor Sails as part of its propulsion offering. (Photo: Anemoi Marine Technologies)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/wrtsil-will-include-anemoi-marine-117673.jpg)
The technology group Wärtsilä said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) tied to a License and Cooperation agreement with U.K.-based Anemoi Marine Technologies for the future sales and servicing of Rotor Sail solutions to the shipping industry.Rotor Sails, also referred to as Flettner Rotors, are comprised of vertical cylinders which, when driven to rotate, harness the renewable power of the wind to propel ships.
Frequent Hurricane Shutdowns Weigh on US Energy Results
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As crews began returning to U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore facilities on Thursday, this year's repeated oil and gas production halts were already hitting energy firms' results.Eight named storms entered the U.S. Gulf of Mexico this year, most spiraling up to damaging storms that required offshore facility evacuations or temporary well shutdowns."It has been a difficult and challenging year because of the number of storms…
Thrustmaster to Equip US Navy’s First Constellation-class Frigate
![An artist rendering of the guided-missile frigate FFG(X). The new small surface combatant will have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare and information operations. (U.S. Navy graphic)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/an-artist-rendering-of-the-117675.jpg)
Thrustmaster of Texas, Inc. said it has been awarded a contract from Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) for the design, development and manufacture of the auxiliary propulsion unit (APU) on the U.S. Navy’s future guided missile frigate (FFG 62). Thrustmaster will be supplying the complete APU package consisting of the 1MW retractable azimuthing thruster, controls, prime mover electric motor, variable frequency drive and steering and retraction power unit.
Marine Learning Systems Launches SkillGrader
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Marine Learning Systems has unveiled SkillGrader, an enterprise solution that enables vessel operators and training institutions to objectively evaluate officer and crew skills, and generate instant reports on workforce insights.SkillGrader is a mobile application that supports simple and objective evaluation of mariner performance, assessing any observable skill, such as routine drills, simulation training, assessment of qualification or on-the-job performance.
Interferry Names New Chair and Board Member
![Christophe Mathieu (Photo: Interferry)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/christophe-mathieu-photo-interferry-117658.jpg)
Ferry industry trade group Interferry announced Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu as the new Chair of its board of directors. He was elected at the association’s annual general meeting on October 27 - held virtually due to COVID-19 travel restrictions - in succession to John Steen-Mikkelsen, former CEO of Denmark’s Danske Faerger. The meeting also confirmed the appointment of a new director extending Southeast Asia representation on the board.Mathieu…
ABS Publishes Guidance on Ammonia as a Marine Fuel
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Classification society ABS has published guidance on Ammonia as Marine Fuel, evaluating the challenges in design and operation of ammonia-fueled vessels.The latest in an ongoing series of ABS sustainability focused whitepapers examining different fuel options for the marine industry, Ammonia as Marine Fuel provides information for shipowners considering ammonia as an option in both the near-term and…
Royal Caribbean Posts Third Straight Billion-dollar Loss
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Royal Caribbean Group reported a billion-dollar net loss for a third straight quarter on Thursday, as the cruise operator suffered from a COVID-19-driven halt to voyages.The cruise industry has virtually come to a standstill as the pandemic halted voyages that had become a hotbed of infection. Some operators in Japan, Australia and California have even become the subjects of lawsuits for onboard outbreaks.Royal Caribbean…
Malaysia: Petronas Launches Investigation into Fatal Offshore Incident
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Malaysian oil and gas giant said Thursday it was investigating the cause behind the incident that happened earlier this week when the Dayang Topaz offshore vessel crashed into its platform at the Baram field, off Sarawak."A thorough assessment of the platform structures is being carried out. Petronas is committed to undertaking all the necessary measures to ensure that the platform structures remain safe and secure…
Singapore Seeking LNG Bunker Suppliers
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Singapore is looking to add liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker suppliers amid increasing demand for the cleaner burning marine fuel in the world's top shipping hub.The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Wednesday launched a request for proposal (RFP) for parties seeking to supply LNG fuel to ships in the Port of Singapore.The city state’s annual LNG bunkering capacity is expected to hit 1 million tonnes by 2021…
IRClass Classes India's First LNG-FSRU
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Ship classification society Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has classed India’s first LNG-FSRU.Built at Hyundai Shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, the 180,000 cu.m, the Indian-flagged, is designed for continuous operations without the need for drydocking over a period of 20 years. The unit is assigned class notation for 20 years extended interval between successive dry-dockings and complies with the requirements of IRClass Rules and Indian Flag for this purpose.
Search Called Off for Overboard Mariner in the Port of Savannah
![(File photo: Anthony L. Soto / U.S. Coast Guard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/file-photo-anthony-l-soto-117638.jpg)
The U.S. Coast Guard said it has suspended its search Tuesday evening for a containership crewmember who went missing after he fell while transiting the gangway to the motor vessel Maersk Tukang in the Port of Savannah.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received the initial notification from the Georgia Port Authority at approximately 3 a.m., Tuesday, stating a man had fallen into the water and had not resurfaced.The man has been identified as Joe Williams…
First Harvest Taps Sea Machines to Make Its Hybrid Cargo Vessel Autonomous
![First Harvest Navigation's Captain Ben Moore is the first autonomous hybrid cargo vessel in the U.S. (Photo: First Harvest Navigation)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/first-harvest-navigations-captain-ben-117635.jpg)
Norwalk, Ct.-based First Harvest Navigation, a marine transportation company that connects family farms to urban and suburban neighborhoods, has selected Boston-based Sea Machines’ technology to launch the first autonomous hybrid cargo vessel in the U.S. Powered by Sea Machines’ SM300 autonomous command and remote-helm control system, the U.S.- built, electric-powered Captain Ben Moore will also be…
Video: Heavy-lift Ship Arrives at Golden Ray Wreck Site
![(Photo: Michael Himes / St. Simons Sound Incident Response / U.S. Coast Guard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-michael-himes-st-simons-117636.jpg)
The heavy-lift vessel VB 10,000 arrived Tuesday at the Golden Ray wreck site in Georgia's St. Simons Sound, where the specialized vessel will be used by salvage crews to cut and lift sections of the overturned car carrier. The Korean-owned Golden Ray, which capsized after leaving the Port of Brunswick in September 2019, will be dismantled in place and removed in sections. Salvors have installed 16 lifting lugs on the wreck to provide connection points for the U.S.-flagged VB 10…
DSME to Build Six Second-generation Arc7 LNG Carriers
![File photo: The world's first icebreaking LNG carrier Christophe de Margerie entered service in 2017 (Photo: SCF Group)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/file-photo-the-worlds-first-117632.jpg)
South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has signed shipbuilding contracts with Russia's Sovcomflot and Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines for the construction of six icebreaking Arc7 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers based on a newly developed design.The new ships will be the second generation of vessels engineered to transport LNG from the Russian Arctic, with special…
Join the Webinar Now: 5 Easy Ways to Ruin Your Offshore Equipment: Lessons Learned in Hydraulic Maintenance
![Image Courtesy Bosch Rexroth](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/image-courtesy-bosch-rexroth-117630.jpg)
It’s easy to skip critical maintenance tasks, especially when operational budgets are being reduced. Are you prepared for the risks to vital equipment? Right now, taking steps to assess and prep your equipment so you reduce downtime later can help pay dividends when offshore activity ramps up. It’s also far less costly than equipment replacement.Click Here to Join!In the world of industrial hydraulics…
Silver Ships Wins $6.12 Mln Patrol Boats Contract
![(Photo: Silver Ships)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-silver-ships-117628.jpg)
Alabama-based boatbuilder Silver Ships said it has been awarded a contract award worth $6.12 million from the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to supply six Riverine Patrol Boats (RPB).The Riverine Patrol Boat is a U. S. Navy Foreign Military Sale (FMS) that will benefit a Pacific region ally. The 40-foot vessels are a rugged, center console design and are powered by twin Yanmar 440-horsepower engines and waterjets.
Baltic Index Retreats on Lower Capesize Rates
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The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, fell on Wednesday, pulled down by decreasing rates of capesize vessels.The Baltic index fell 29 points, or 2.1%, to 1,384.The capesize index slipped 88 points, or 3.9%, to 2,156.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, declined $725 to $17,881.The panamax index inched up 5 points, or 0.4%, to 1,300.Average daily earni
Cargill Looks to Use Wind to Cut Carbon in Shipping
![(Photo: Cargill)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-cargill-117623.jpg)
Cargill, one of the world's biggest charterers of ships, is working with technology partners to fit sails on vessels in its fleet to cut carbon emissions through harnessing wind power, the U.S. agribusiness group said on Wednesday.About 90% of world trade is transported by sea and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has said it aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from ships by…
In Beirut Port, All of Lebanon’s Ills Are Laid Bare
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The first of many warnings about a deadly cargo in Beirut’s port came in February 2014, about three months after its arrival. It was made by Colonel Joseph Skaf, described by his family as a diligent customs official.Skaf, then the head of the anti-narcotics and money laundering division, informed the customs authority that the shipment of ammonium nitrate was “extremely dangerous” and posed a risk to the public.In his handwritten letter…