Maritime Industry Top News
Louisiana Slams EPA over Lack of Urgency on Carbon Reduction Project Approvals
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving too slowly to allow states to permit and oversee carbon-reduction projects, according to Louisiana's governor, slowing millions of dollars in investments designed to tackle greenhouse gas reduction.Louisiana and other top oil-producing states say they can speed up permitting of carbon sequestration projects if allowed to handle decisions that currently fall under the EPA.
Salvors to Remove Partially Sunk Tug in Alaska
Removal operations for a tug partially submerged at the National Guard Dock in Gastineau Channel, near Juneau, Alaska, are scheduled, weather pending, to be conducted this week and into the weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard said.Melino’s Marine Services, the contracted salvage company, plans to remove the vessel utilizing a barge and crane system that are currently enroute from Bellingham, Wash.The operation is expected to take multiple days pending weather conditions.
First Vessel Arrives at Freeport LNG Plant Since 2022 Fire
The first liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel arrived on Friday at Freeport LNG's long-idled export plant in Texas since the facility shut in a fire in June last year…
Vigor Awarded USS Gridley (DDG 101) Repair Work
Vigor Marine has been awarded a contract for the maintenance, modernization, and repair of the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101).The $37,398,872 firm-fixed-price contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $39,776,408.Work will be performed in Everett, Wash., and is expected to be completed by October 2023. If all options are exercised…
Iskenderun Port Resumes Operations After Large Fire Extinguished
A fire at Turkey's Iskenderun port has been extinguished and maritime operations have resumed in the region, Turkey's maritime authority said on Friday, four days after the blaze broke out after following earthquakes that struck the country.More than a thousand containers which had caught on fire are being separated and the rehabilitation of the port will begin swiftly, it said.A source at the port…
Marco Santoro Takes Over as CEO at RMK Merrill-Stevens
Industry veteran Marco Santoro has taken the helm as chief executive officer at Miami yacht repair yard RMK Merrill-Stevens.A naval architect and marine engineer, Santoro began his career in yachting as part of the technical department at Italy's Rodriquez Yachts. In 2003, he joined Italian yacht builder the Ferretti Group as an intern in the after sales and service department, and over the course of 20 years worked his way up through a number of leadership roles…
Baltic Dry Index Logs Sixth Straight Weekly Fall
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell for the sixth straight week as demand for the panamax segment remained weak.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was up 10 points, or 1.7%, at 602 on Friday.The index, however, was down 3.1% for the week.The capesize index gained 34 points, or 7.5%, at 486.
ABS to Help CARB Implement Harbor Craft Emissions Rules
Classification society ABS announced it has signed on to support the California Air Resources Board (CARB) with the implementation of new requirements to reduce harbor craft emissions.The newly amended State of California Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation requires most harbor craft vessels to meet performance standards equivalent to a lower emission Tier 4 engine and diesel particulate filter, and some vessel categories to upgrade to zero-emission or advanced technology.
Boluda to Acquire Smit Lamnalco, Tugboat Fleet to Top 600
Boluda Corporación Marítima, through its Boluda Towage division, has reached an agreement to acquire Smit Lamnalco, the world's fifth-largest towage operator.With the acquisition of Smit Lamnalco, Boluda Towage will boast a fleet of 600 tugboats with its tendrils reaching 50 countries and 148 ports around the world.Smit Lamnalco is 50% owned by Boskalis Group and Rezayat Group currently employing more than 1…
HST Marine's Second Hybrid-Electric CTV Welcomed by British Maritime Leaders
Offshore crew transfer firm HST Marine has welcomed the arrival of its new UK-built hybrid-electric crew transfer vessel (CTV), HST Frances.The ceremony was attended by Nusrat Ghani MP, UK Minister of State (Dept. for Business and Trade and the Cabinet Office) and senior British maritime industry leaders.HST Frances is HST Marine’s second hybrid electric CTV. The 25-meter vessels can carry 12-24 industrial personnel…
Michelin's WISAMO Wing Sail System Gets DNV Approval
DNV has awarded an approval in principle for Michelin's WISAMO wing sail system, which is the first AiP to have been awarded to an inflatable wing sail design. The WISAMO wing sail system is currently being installed for testing on the DNV-classed MN Pelican ro-ro cargo vessel.An Approval in Principle is an independent assessment of a concept within an agreed framework, confirming that the design is feasible, and no significant obstacles exist to prevent the concept from being realized.
Regulators Green Light Freeport LNG to Return Ship Loading at Texas Plant
U.S. federal energy regulators on Thursday approved Freeport LNG's request to return ship loading to service at its long-idled Texas liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant.Freeport, the second biggest U.S. LNG export plant, shut after a fire in June 2022. The energy market expects gas prices to rise once the plant starts producing LNG again.When operating at full power, Freeport can turn about 2.1 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas into LNG each day. That is about 2% of total U.S.
HII Breaks Ground on New Submarine Facility
Global all-domain defense partner HII recently broke ground on a new project that will support nuclear submarine construction at its Newport News Shipbuilding division.The Multi-Class Submarine Production Facility is one of three new facilities, enabling NNS to further support the construction and delivery of Columbia- and Virginia-class submarines.“The Navy has made it clear how important both the Columbia- and Virginia-class submarine programs are to our nation’s defense…
Canada Says 'Rigorous' Regulations Needed for Subsea Mining
The Canadian government said on Thursday it would not allow mining in its domestic ocean seabeds without a "rigorous regulatory structure" and that the need for natural resources does not override Ottawa's environmental commitments.Sea floor nodules contain critical minerals used in batteries that are needed to fuel the world's transition to clean energy, but trawling the sea floor for them could disrupt ecosystems."Canada does not presently have a domestic legal framework that would permit seab
TOTE Sells LNG Bunker Barge to Seaside LNG
Seaside LNG announced the acquisition of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling barge the Clean Jacksonville from TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC, a subsidiary of TOTE Group, LLC.Seaside LNG’s maritime transportation company, Polaris New Energy, has contracted to continue fueling TOTE’s Marlin Class LNG-powered containerships and other commercial customers with its fleet of LNG bunker barges. The Clean…
Name & Shame: Xeneta CEI Tool Highlights Best, Worst Enviro Performers
Xeneta has taken the first step in a campaign to identify the carrier industry’s best and worst environmental performers across the world’s 13 leading shipping trades. With the help of the Carbon Emissions Index (CEI), a tool from Xeneta and Marine Benchmark, carriers have been assessed on the main Far East to South America East Coast container corridor. With first results out, Hamburg Süd is likely celebrating…
Western Bulk Reports $66 Million Profit for 2022
For the second half of 2022, Oslo-headquartered dry bulk shipping company Western Bulk generated a record net profit after tax of $28.6 million, reaching a full-year net profit after tax of $66 million from $1.6 billion in gross revenues. That is the second-best full year result in the company’s history, only outperformed by last year’s net profit after tax of $81 million for the full-year of 2021.Entering the second half of 2022…
Pakistan Navy to Host 50 Nations in Maritime Exercises
Pakistan's navy said on Wednesday it will host 50 countries for regular maritime exercises that are held every two years involving ships, aircraft and special operation forces from Feb.
Chevron Shipping Taps ABS Wavesight for GHG and Sea Cargo Charter Reporting
ABS Wavesight, an ABS-affiliated company, has been selected to provide greenhouse gas (GHG) and Sea Cargo Charter reporting services to Chevron Shipping Company (CSC).
EverWind Gets Approval for North America's First Green Hydrogen Facility
EverWind Fuels, a company founded by private equity veteran Trent Vichie, told Reuters it became the first green hydrogen producer in North America to secure the necessary permits for a commercial-scale facility on Tuesday.Provincial authorities in Canada granted environmental approval for EverWind to begin converting a former oil storage facility and marine terminal at Point Tupper in Nova Scotia…
