Maritime Industry Top News
All-Women Crew Circumnavigating the Globe
Indian vessel INSV Tarini entered Port Stanley, (Falkland islands on January 22, 2018 during it’s maiden voyage to circumnavigate the globe. This is the first-ever…
Call for Carriage Ban on Non-Compliant Fuel
A group of leading environmental and maritime shipping organizations have called for the prohibition of transporting non-compliant marine fuels once the global 0.5…
PPA Presents Proposals for Piraeus Port Master Plan
The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has presented its proposals for the master plan for the development of Greece's largest port of Piraeus under “Master Plan of the Port of Piraeus".
Transas Conference to Plot Industry’s New Course
Moving from smart talk to practical solutions and learning from other industries will be the twin themes of an industry event scheduled for Vancouver in March. Technology will be an enabler, but the maritime industry will have to be prepared to change its model to be a candidate for a smarter digital future. Meeting the real enterprise challenges blocking shipping’s digital journey is the focus for the Transas Global Conference 2018…
Armenia Joins the IMO
The Republic of Armenia has become the latest member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), following the deposit of an instrument of acceptance of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on January 19, 2018. With Armenia’s acceptance of the convention, the number of IMO member states stands at 173, with a further three associate members.
Date Set for Fifth Iridium NEXT Launch
Iridium Communications Inc. announced that the fifth Iridium NEXT launch has been targeted by SpaceX for March 18, 2018 at 8:19 a.m. PDT from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Coast Guard Cutter Elm Heads to Baltimore for Overhaul
The 20-year-old U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Elm is scheduled to make its way to the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore this month for a planned major dry dock overhaul. The cutter’s departure from Atlantic Beach, N.C. will mark its last from its current homeport. After the overhaul work is completed, the Elm will report to a new homeport in Astoria, Oregon. Coast Guard Cutter Maple, which is presently undergoing a midlife overhaul of its own, will replace the Elm in Atlantic Beach this April.
Cooperation is the Key to Ferry Industry's Future
Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan explains how the trade association’s ‘stronger together’ mission is helping to shape outcomes on the pressing issues of safety, security and the environment. Last April, I took the helm of Interferry after 14 years in leadership positions with Canada’s BC Ferries – the last five as president and CEO. The past ten months in my new role have reinforced a core conviction forged during my previous experience in the industry.
Tech File: Propelling Hybrid Electric Solutions
Growing interest in hybrid-electric power systems is expanding the search for new propulsion and energy-storage systems in the workboat sector, where compliance with emerging environmental regulations and a relentless pursuit of operational efficiency are driving change. To meet demands for cleaner more efficient power, owners are examining the potential for less conventional methods of energy generation and storage – such as fuel cells…
Ten Institutes Join the Nereus Program
Ten new research institutes from Europe, North America and Australia have joined the Nereus Program research partnership, bringing the total to 17. Launched in September 2011, the program is an international collaboration between The Nippon Foundation and the University of British Columbia with the aim to make comprehensive forecasts of the ocean’s future, the program has grown into one of the world’s largest research initiatives in its field.
New Tug Named for KT-Maritime Services
A naming ceremony was held for RT Raven in Sharjah, UAE, where the new tug was built at the Albwardy Damen yard. RT Raven is managed by KT-Maritime Services Australia, owned by the KOTUG group, and will be deployed by ConocoPhillips in the Bayu Undan field, north of Australia. The ART 100-46 class Rotor tug is designed by Robert Allan Ltd and DAMEN Hardinxveld. The RT Raven will provide offshore services…
Sabine Pass LNG Plant Suffers Outage
Production at Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Louisiana is running well below capacity, resulting in disruption to cargo loadings, trade sources said. Feed gas supply into the liquefaction plant plunged sharply during the weekend, data on the Thomson Reuters Eikon terminal showed. Flows fell to 630 million cubic feet/day on Jan. 19 from 3.2 billion cubic feet/day on Jan. 15.
Unpaid Seafarers Stranded in Durban
A group of seafarers are stuck in the port of Durban, South Africa after their vessel was detained for non-payment of wages. The multinational crew working aboard tug/supply ship PSD2 had not been paid for as long as 15 months and were in need of food and fresh water. Two crew members were also in need of immediate medical attention while all of them desperately needed money to send home to their families.
'K' Line takes Delivery of 14,000-TEU Containership
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Tokyo, (“K” Line) has taken delivery a new 14,000-TEU containership, Milano Bridge, built at Hiroshima Shipyard of Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, Japan and handed over on January 18, 2018. This new ultra-large containership (ULCS) is the same as a series delivered in 2015 and is the first ship of the second generation. Milano Bridge will be deployed on the Asia-Mediterranean service (MED2) under THE-Alliance.
Group Ocean Orders Two Damen Workboats
Dutch based Damen Shipyards Group said it has signed a contract with Canada’s Group Ocean for the delivery of two new workboats that will provide dredging support services at an oil sands project in northern Canada. The new vessels, both Modular Multi Cats 1205, are made of standard, container-sized units that enable easy transport. The versatile Multi Cat workboat used in many sectors for operations such as towing and anchor-handling…
Milaha Acquires its Largest Containership
Qatar-based maritime and logistics conglomerate Milaha said it has acquired its largest container vessel to date, Majd, a 3,768 TEU vessel. Majd was built by STX Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in South Korea, and has a length overall of 246.87 meters and a deadweight of 44,985 metric tons. The new vessel will be one of the 17 container vessels that the group operates, and is part of the ongoing expansion of the group’s overall fleet.
China Says US Warship Violated its South China Sea Sovereignty
A U.S. Navy destroyer this week sailed near the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed lagoon claimed by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials said on Saturday, and Beijing vowed to take “necessary measures” to protect what it said was its sovereignty. China’s foreign ministry said USS Hopper missile destroyer came within 12 nautical miles off Huangyan island, better known as the Scarborough Shoal and subject to a rival claim by the Philippines, a historic ally of the United States.
Philippine Senators Question Navy's $310 Million Frigate Deal
A group of Philippine opposition senators has sought a public inquiry into the navy’s 15.7 billion peso ($310 million) acquisition of a frigate from a South Korean firm…
Gulf Navigation Refinances Two Carriers
Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC has announced refinancing 'Gulf Mishref' and 'Gulf Mirdif' petrochemical carriers in less than a month after increasing its capital…
Minimizing the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species
Shipowners should take action to reduce the impact of invasive aquatic species (IAS) carried by hull biofouling. The UK P&I Club has published its top tips on how…
