Maritime Industry Top News
NTSB Unable to Pinpoint Cause of Research Vessel Fire in Alaska
![Qualifier 105 on fire in the Northern Enterprises Boat Yard in Homer, Alaska on Jan. 19, 2023. (Source: Homer Volunteer Fire Department)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/qualifier-105-on-fire-in-151694.jpg)
The exact cause of a 2023 fire aboard a research vessel in Alaska has eluded investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which issued its final report on the incident on Tuesday.On January 19, 2023, small vessel Qualifier 105 was being stored ashore for the winter in the Northern Enterprises Boat Yard in Homer, Alaska when a fire started in a stateroom below the main deck. The local fire department extinguished the fire and no pollution or injuries were reported.
Global Cruise Industry Sees Growing Demand, Wary of Port Protests
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The global cruise industry expects to carry 10% more passengers by 2028 than the 31.7 million who took cruise holidays in 2023, when the sector surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but sees some routes exposed to protests over overtourism.Long criticized for its impact on the environment and coastal communities, the industry has ordered 57 more cruise ships in addition to some 300 now in operation to meet the projected demand, said the European director of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)
Maritime Implications of Recent US Supreme Court Rulings
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In recent weeks the U.S. Supreme Court has fundamentally changed the ways that laws are interpreted and enforced by federal agencies. These decisions will have far-reaching impacts on heavily-regulated sectors, such as the U.S. maritime industry, potentially altering the balance of power between stakeholders and federal regulators.Civil penalties require 7th Amendment protectionsOn June 27, 2024, in SEC v.
OceanPal to Acquire an MR2 Tanker Vessel
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OceanPal on Tuesday announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire a 2009-built MR2 tanker vessel for $27 million, marking the Greek dry bulk shipowner's entry into the tanker market.The 49,999 dwt vessel, Zeze Start, is being purchased from an entity controlled by a director of the company and is scheduled to be delivered to OceanPal in the third quarter of this year.OceanPal—which…
Mack Boring Parts Ways with OXE Diesel
![File photo courtesy OXE Marine](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/file-photo-courtesy-oxe-marine-151689.jpg)
Somerset, N.J. based Mack Boring & Parts Co. on Tuesday announced it has discontinued its representation of OXE Marine diesel engines effective immediately.Mack Boring was an early investor in the OXE brand, originally signing on as a distributor in 2015 and secured the first orders of OXE diesel outboards for the U.S. Coast Guard following joint management of a CRADA research project in 2017.“Current OXE distribution strategy for North America is not a match for Mack Boring going forward…
Scottish Government to Tender for Seven New Electric Ferries
![The image provided by naValue, who worked with CMAL to develop the vessel concept design.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/the-image-provided-by-navalue-151688.jpg)
The Scottish government is set to tender for a series of seven new electric ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides network.The first stage of the competitive tender process will assess if shipyards interested in bidding for the contract meet the financial and technical criteria to take on the project, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the government-owned entity that owns ferries, ports, harbors and infrastructure for ferry services on the west coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary…
Crew of Capsized Oil Tanker Off Oman Still Missing
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The 16-strong crew of a Comoros-flagged oil tanker that capsized off Oman are still missing, the country's maritime security center said on Tuesday, a day after the sinking was reported.The crew of "Prestige Falcon" comprised 13 Indian nationals and three Sri Lankans, the Omani center said in a post on the social media platform X.Separately, the center told Reuters that the vessel remains "submerged, inverted".
Newport Shipping Partners with Unithai Shipyard
![Image courtesy Unithai Shipyard and Engineering](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/image-courtesy-unithai-shipyard-and-151685.jpg)
Newport Shipping announced a strategic partnership with Unithai Shipyard and Engineering in Thailand. Unithai Shipyard and Engineering is known for its advanced facilities and technical capabilities, including:Land area 688,000 m2Unithai 2 191 x 34.4 m Up to 50,000 DWTUnithai 3 300 x 49.6 m Up to 180,000 DWTQuay 380 m, 1 x 45 t craneFloating Crane, 1 x 100 tAdvanced Workshops: Equipped with modern machinery and technology for comprehensive ship repair…
Damen Hooks Another CSOV Order from Taiwanese Firm
![(Credit: Damen)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/credit-damen-151684.jpg)
Dutch shipbuilder Damen has signed a deal with Ta San Shang Marine (TSSM) for the construction of the second commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) for Taiwanese offshore wind operations.TSSM, the joint venture between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Ta Tong Marine, placed an order for the second Damen 9010 CSOV, set for delivery at the end of 2026.When the new vessel is delivered, TSSM will deploy it at Taiwanese offshore wind farms…
United Heavy Lift Names New Vessel UHL Fable
![UHL Fable (Photo: United Heavy Lift)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/uhl-fable-photo-united-heavy-151677.jpg)
Hamburg-based heavy lift shipping company United Heavy Lift held a naming ceremony for its newest heavy lift ship, UHL Fable.Built at the CSSC Hudong shipyard in Shanghai over a relatively short period of time, the newbuild is the 19th and final vessel in United Heavy Lift's F900 Eco-Lifter series. The construction time from keel laying in July 2023 to delivery to the German bridge crew led by Captain…
WIND Group Welcomes Draftec
![Source: WIND Group](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-wind-group-151676.jpg)
WIND Group has announced that equipment engineering and manufacturing company Draftec will join the WIND family. Together, they will enhance the support and services provided to their shared clients in international offshore and renewable projects.Draftec was founded in 2009 by Martijn Boone who, together with fellow Director Martijn Holtkamp, will continue to manage the company, bringing with them extensive experience in mechanical design…
Canadian Safe Boating Council Welcomes Mustang Survival as Sponsor
![Source: Mustang Survival](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-mustang-survival-151675.jpg)
The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) has welcomed Mustang Survival as a presenting sponsor.This partnership, solidified through a Memorandum of Understanding, spans a three-year term and spotlights a shared commitment to promoting safe and responsible boating in Canada.In 2024, Mustang Survival will be a Platinum-level sponsor of the CSBC’s annual symposium “Many Partners, One Goal,” to be held in Whistler, BC, from October 1-3.
Panama Ship Registry Launches Digitized Queries Service
![Source: Panama Ship Registry](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-panama-ship-registry-151674.jpeg)
The General Directorate of the Public Registry of Ship Ownership of the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has implemented an exclusive email address to monitor and resolve all user queries.The email address [email protected] is attended by a group of specialists who will respond as soon as possible to queries, which will be documented and monitored until users see their questions resolved.The director of the Registry Marta Aparicio González…
Hydrogenious LOHC Receives Multi-Million Euro Grant
![Source: Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-hydrogenious-lohc-technologies-151673.jpg)
The German government has granted Hydrogenious LOHC Infra Bavaria 72,5 million Euro towards the Green Hydrogen @ Blue Danube project. The federal government is providing 70% of the funding, while the state of Bavaria is contributing 30%.The project has already been designated an “Important Project of Common European Interest” (IPCEI) in the hydrogen “Hy2Infra” wave by the European Commission in February 2024…
Spiraling Container Shipping Market Set to Peak
![Source: Xeneta](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-xeneta-151672.jpg)
The dramatic spike in the ocean freight container shipping market is reaching its peak as importers push back against spiraling spot rates.Data released by Xeneta today, Monday, shows average spot rates from the Far East to US East Coast increased by 3.7% on July 15 to stand at USD 10,045 per FEU (40ft equivalent shipping container). Into the US West Coast, spot rates increased by 2.0% to stand at USD 8…
Windward Launches Generative AI Solution
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Maritime AI company Windward has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) ISV Accelerate Program and has collaborated with AWS to launch a generative AI solution. The solution leverages Amazon Bedrock to improve risk management for the shipping, logistics and public sectors.Windward’s collaboration with AWS aims to address the growing challenges faced by these industries, particularly in managing unstructured data…
Oil Tanker Capsized Off Oman
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A Comorian-flagged oil tanker was capsized 25 nautical miles southeast of Oman's Ras Madrakah in Duqm port town, Omani state news agency ONA reported on Monday, citing Oman's Maritime Security Centre.(Reuters - Reporting by Jaidaa Taha and Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Chris Reese)
Houthis Target Three Vessels, Including Oil Tanker
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Yemen's Houthis targeted three vessels, including an oil tanker, in the Red and Mediterranean seas with ballistic missiles, drones and booby-trapped boats, they said on Monday.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the latest Houthi military operations were a response to the Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Saturday, an attack that killed at least 90 Palestinians and wounded 300 others…
One Dead, One Missing After Tanker Strikes Passenger Boat in Texas
![(File photo: U.S. Coast Guard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/file-photo-us-coast-guard-151667.jpg)
One person has died and another is missing after a commercial tanker struck a recreation vessel near Port Aransas, Texas.The U.S. Coast Guard said it received a call from a good Samaritan via channel 16 at 5:28 a.m. reporting the collision between. The recreational vessel, reported to be a commercial pleasure boat, became partially submerged, and the four people on board went into the water.After receiving the call…
Holt Lock Closed Due to Stability Concerns
![The Holt Lock has been closed since June 22. (Photo: Chuck Walker / U.S. Army)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/the-holt-lock-has-been-151665.jpg)
The Holt Lock on the Black Warrior River in Holt, Ala. is expected to be closed for as long as five more months after cracks and leaks were discovered within the lock infrastructure.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the lock on June 22 following an initial stability analysis performed by the Mobile District Engineering team."The analysis, which utilized known data and certain assumptions, revealed critical stability issues with the monolith structure of the Holt Lock," the Corps said.