Maritime Industry Top News
Baltic Index Snaps 11-session Rally as Rates for Larger Vessels Edge Lower
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, snapped its 11-session winning streak on Thursday as rates for capesize and panamax vessels edged lower.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell by 15 points to 1,569.The capesize index shed 60 points, or 2.9%, to 2,007, its worst day since Sept.
MSI: Dry Bulk Trade Volumes Positive but Prospects Hold Downside Risks
According to Maritime Strategies International, the unwinding of supply chain inefficiencies and rising vessel orders are expected to dampen positive deadweight demand in the dry bulk market.COVID-related supply chain inefficiencies and associated port congestion have almost fully unwound, and while the MSI outlook on the prospects for trade volumes this year is considered positive, growth in actualâŠ
USS Fallujah Keel 'Truly and Fairly Laid'"
HIIâs Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel on Wednesday for the America-class amphibious ship Fallujah (LHA 9).The shipâs sponsor, Donna Berger, former first lady of the Marine Corps and spouse of Gen. David H. Berger, 38th commandant of the Marine Corps, was in attendance to declare the keel âtruly and fairly laid.âDuring the authentication ceremony, Ingalls welder Seveta Gray weldedâŠ
BSG Acquires Maritime Software Company
Bleecker Street Group (BSG), a global software holding company, announced the acquisition of Ripple, an integrated maritime software company. The acquisition underscores BSG's commitment to the maritime sector, solidifying its position as an emerging force in the broader Supply Chain Software industry.Ripple has earned acclaim for its mission-critical solutions designed to address unique operating challenges faced by maritimeâŠ
Russia Cuts September Seaborne Diesel Exports to Meet Domestic Shortage
Russia cut its seaborne diesel and gasoil exports by nearly 30% to about 1.7 million metric tons in the first 20 days of September from the same time in August, as local refineries went into seasonal maintenance and the domestic market faces a fuel shortage and rising prices, traders said and LSEG data showed.Idle primary oil refining capacity for September is estimated at 4.657 million tons, up 45% from AugustâŠ
US' MARAD Announces Grants to Boost Supply Chain Efficiency
The U.S. Department of Transportationâs Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded nearly $12 million in grants to eight marine highway projects across the nation under the United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP). The funding will improve the movement of goods along our navigable waterways and expand existing waterborne freight services in Alaska, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, and WisconsinâŠ
PortLiner to Construct Electrolyte Bunkering Station in Hartelkanaal
The Port of Rotterdam Authority and inland shipping operator PortLiner signed a contract for the construction of a charging and storage pontoon for flow batteries in the Hartelkanaal.From this bunkering station, PortLiner will supply electrically powered inland vessels with flow batteries. Construction is set to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, with completion of the Netherlandsâ first electrolyteâŠ
MSC Confirms Order for Hydrogen Cruise Ship Pair
The total investment in six luxury ships for Explora Journeys worth $3.7BMSC Group Cruises Division confirmed the order of two hydrogen ships for its luxury brand Explora Journeys with Fincantieri, confirming its commitment to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. The contracts are conditional on obtaining financing for the shipowner.The two new ships will pursue the use of liquid hydrogen fuel cells for hotel operations while in port, to eliminate carbon emissions with engines turned off.
Baltic Workboats Delivers New Launch for the Laurentian Pilotage Authority
The Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA), based in Montreal, Canada, provides pilotage services in Canadian waters in and around the province of Quebec where cold weather can often be an issue for marine operators. So when it came time to order a new pilot boat, the LPA sought a vessel that could stand up to the regionâs frigid conditions.The pilots turned to Estonia-based Baltic Workboats for the design and construction of the ice-capable ShipekuâŠ
Dredging Expected During Desperate Times
Maintaining a nine-foot channel on the Mississippi River is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island Districtâs critical navigation mission, especially during low-water conditions. Although early spring snowmelt caused flooding throughout the upper Midwest this past year, water levels receded quickly, causing large amounts of material to settle in the channel.To aid in channel maintenance, geological surveyors regularly monitor water levels throughout the District.
U.S. Revives Cold War Submarine Spy Program to Counter China
On a windswept island 50 miles north of Seattle sits a U.S. Navy monitoring station. For years, it was kept busy tracking whale movements and measuring rising sea temperatures. Last October, the Navy gave the unit a new name that better reflects its current mission: Theater Undersea Surveillance Command.The renaming of the spy station at the Whidbey Island naval base is a nod to a much larger U.S.
Product Tanker Newbuild Contracting hits 10-year high
âDuring the first eight months of 2023, contracting of product tanker newbuilds hit a 10-year high, reaching 140 ships and 10.72 million deadweight tons (DWT). The last time more than 10 million DWT were contracted from January through August was in 2013,â said Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Newbuild contracting activity during the past five years has been low at about 5.46 million DWT per year.
ABB's Power, Propulsion, and Automation for Samskip's Hydrogen-powered Container Ships
ABB has won a contract to deliver a power, propulsion, and automation system for two new-built short-sea container ships for Rotterdam-based global logistics company Samskip Group.According to ABB, the vessels will be among the worldâs first of their kind to use hydrogen as a fuel. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Built by India-based Cochin Shipyard, the 135-meter ships are due for delivery in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, respectively.
Partners Agree Emission Reductions on Rotterdam-Singapore Corridor
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Port of Rotterdam Authority and 20 partners in the Green & Digital Shipping Corridor are working to reduce 20% to 30% of emissions from international shipping by 2030. This was agreed at the third Green Corridor workshop, held this week in Rotterdam.The Green & Digital Shipping Corridor was established in August 2022 to bring together partnersâŠ
Europeâs Ports See First Signs of Business Leakage
The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has reiterated its support for an emissions trading scheme (ETS) as instrument for greening the shipping sector, but expresses its serious concern about first signs of carbon and business leakage due to the limited scope of the current legislation.For ESPO, the principle to consider calls to some transhipment ports neighbouring the EU as a âport of callâ in the counting of the ETS charges is only a partial solution to the problem.
Positive Volumes for Dry Bulk Trade, but Prospects Set to Dampen
The unwinding of supply chain inefficiencies and rising vessel orders are set to dampen positive deadweight demand in the dry bulk market, according to Maritime Strategies International (MSI).COVID-related supply chain inefficiencies and associated port congestion have almost fully unwound and while the MSI outlook on the prospects for trade volumes this year is considered positive, growth in actualâŠ
Portugal and Norway Team Up on Floating Offshore Wind
The Portuguese cluster Forum Oceano and Norwegian Offshore Wind have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between the supply chains in the two countries.The MoU aims to lay the ground work for new contracts between companies from the two countries.The agreement was signed at a reception this week, during a visit to Portugal organized by Norwegian Offshore Wind andâŠ
Japanese Yard Orders 16 HiMSEN Methanol Engines
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries - Engine & Machinery has announced that it recently signed a contract for 16 sets of HiMSEN methanol dual-fuel engines (8H32DF-LM) and selective catalytic reduction systems with Tsuneishi Shipbuilding in Japan.The engines are for four vessels which will be built at the Tsuneishi Zhoushan Shipyard in China, and the engines will be delivered to the shipyard starting in January 2025.Earlier this yearâŠ
Tanker Involved in US Seizure of Iran Oil Cargo Changes Name
An oil tanker confiscated by the United States for carrying Iranian oil and diverted to the U.S. Gulf Coast, was headed to the Bahamas on Wednesday under a new nameâŠ
All American Marine Delivers Research Vessel for the University of Hawaiâi at MÄnoa
Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine (AAM) announced it has delivered a new research vessel for the University of Hawaiâi at MÄnoa on behalf of the Hawaiâi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB).The state-of-the-art research vessel, Imua, is a 68.5â x 25â semi-displacement aluminum catamaran hull that was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand. The vessel containsâŠ