Maritime Industry Top News
German Parliament Greenlights Rescue Plan for Shipbuilder Meyer Werft
Germany's lower house of parliament and the state parliament of Lower Saxony have approved the rescue of Meyer Werft, one of the world's biggest cruise ship builders, members of the budget committee told Reuters on Wednesday.Although the shipbuilder's order books are full, it has an almost 2.8 billion euro ($3.1 billion) financing gap due to the delayed effects of a demand dip during the COVID-19 pandemic.The German government and that of the state of Lower Saxony…
Marine Fuels Supplier Peninsula Splits Off Shipping Operations
Marine fuels supplier Peninsula has spun off its shipping operation into a separate entity named Hercules Tanker Management (HTM), a Peninsula press release said on Wednesday, seeking to expand in the tanker freight sector.Hercules will take over Peninsula's vessel assets and operate as an independent ship owner, trading its vessels in tanker freight markets as well as continuing to service privately owned Peninsula's cargo and supply operations."Now…
$54 Million Worth of Cocaine Seized in the Caribbean Sea
The U.S. Coast Guard worked alongside international partners to seize tens of millions of dollars worth of cocaine from drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea.The Coast Guard said its cutter Diligence offloaded more than 4,125 pounds of cocaine, worth an assessed street value of approximately $54 million, in Port Everglades, Fla. on Monday.The illegal narcotics were seized in international waters during three separate interdictions, involving U.K. Royal Navy ship HMS Trent (P 244), U.S.
Offshore Driller Seadrill Has Its Sights Set on Asset Acquisitions, M&A
Offshore drilling contractor Seadrill is looking to buy more assets or create a larger player by merging with peers, the company's CEO said on Wednesday.Norwegian-born billionaire John Fredriksen lost the control of the company, once the world's largest driller by market cap, to its creditors over two debt restructurings since 2014.Now a much leaner and smaller company, New York-listed Seadrill itself is looking to buy distressed assets or players with "distressed balance sheets"…
Key Louisiana Energy Port Operations Halted as Hurricane Francine Approaches
The U.S Coast Guard on Wednesday suspended operations at the offshore energy services hub Port Fourchon, Louisiana, as hurricane Francine bore down on the coast, according to a shipping advisory.The temporary closure of Port Fourchon, home to marine and equipment suppliers to offshore oil producers, follows the suspension of marine traffic at the deepwater Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), and the commercial ports of New Orleans…
UK Hits at Russia's 'Shadow Fleet' with Fresh Vessel Sanctions
Britain has slapped sanctions on 10 further ships in Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of vessels which it says use illicit practices to avoid Western restrictions on Russian oil.Russia rejects Western pressure to limit its oil exports, and in the past year there has been a growth in the number of tankers transporting cargoes that are not regulated or insured by conventional Western providers."Today’s sanctions further undermine Russia’s ability to trade in oil via its shadow fleet," British for
Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd Will Expand Alliance Fleet if Red Sea Disruptions Persist
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd could add more container vessels to an alliance announced earlier this year if shipping disruptions in the Red Sea continue, the companies said on Tuesday.Attacks in the Red Sea by Iran-aligned Houthi militants have since late last year forced shipping companies to reroute traffic away from the Suez Canal and instead sail around Africa, a longer journey that ties up more capacity.Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd in January said they had agreed on a new collaboration, starting in Feb
Italian Court Ends Detention for MSF Migrant Rescue Ship
The international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders - MSF) on Wednesday obtained the release of its migrant rescue ship, which had been grounded two weeks ago by Italy's right-wing government.MSF's Geo Barents vessel was handed a 60-day detention order, the longest on record, for allegedly failing to properly coordinate with Italian and Libyan authorities as it picked up migrants off Libya on Aug.
Canadian and Norwegian Coast Guards Ink New Partnership Agreement
Canada and Norway have signed a deal to expand cooperation between the two allied nations' coast guards, in a move to boost marine safety and environmental protection in high latitudes.The Canadian Coast Guard this week announced it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Norwegian Coast Guard "formalizing joint efforts in data analysis, education and training, decarbonization, and Arctic scientific research…
The ‘Boat Nerds’ Ringleader – Morgan Fanberg, CEO, Glosten
When he joined Glosten more than 26 years ago as an intern, little did Morgan Fanberg know that one day he’d be at the helm leading one of the largest privately owned naval architecture firm in the United States. But this USMMA-grad was well outfitted for the task, and in this Maritime Matters: The Marinelink Podcast, Fanberg’s passion for the maritime industry and his company is clear as he candidly discusses the challenges he…
Van Oord’s Brand New Calypso CLV Set for Debut at RWE’s Offshore Wind Project
Van Oord’s new cable laying vessel (CLV) Calypso is gearing up for its debut at RWE’s 1.4 GW Sofia offshore wind farm in the UK.The inter-array cables have been loaded onto Calypso CLV at the Port of Blyth in the UK, ahead of its first job at RWE’s biggest offshore wind, according to Van Oord, which secured the contract for the installation of monopile foundations and cables back in 2021.Built by Vard…
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd Provide More Detail on Network Cooperation
In February 2025, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will launch their Gemini Cooperation aimed at delivering a flexible and interconnected ocean network with schedule reliability above 90% once fully phased in.The companies unveiled the concept in January 2024 and have been working on finalizing the details of a joint ocean freight network on East-West trades. Depending on which network the cooperation will phase in, the new network will consist of either 300 or 340 vessels:Trans-Suez Network: Approx.
Industry Confidence Rising Despite Transformative Changes Underway
Data from the International Chamber of Shipping’s Barometer Report 2023-2024 indicates that improved clarity from governmental bodies such as the IMO has had a positive impact on the industry.Following a formal agreement at the IMO’s MEPC 80 to reach net zero GHG emissions by or around 2050, confidence is on the up. Almost 50% of C-suite maritime stakeholders responding to the ICS Barometer in 2023…
Offshore Charging Station Tested on Hybrid Construction Vessel
Norwegian lifting and handling specialist Seaonics has tested its Ocean Charger solution on an electric service operation vessel (SOV).High-voltage charging tests were conducted to charge the batteries on Rem Offshore’s diesel-electric hybrid construction SOV, REM Power, in port as well offshore from a charging point (cable reel, winch and control system) mounted on a wind turbine."At 10 years old…
Australia Seeks to Establish Strategic Fleet
The Australian government is seeking vessels to participate in Australia’s Strategic Fleet Pilot.The aim is to provide maritime capabilities that bolster resilience, providing assistance in times of crisis or natural disaster, and to support industries reliant on shipping, such as heavy manufacturing.Recent supply chain disruptions and geopolitical events have underlined the importance of a strong domestic maritime sector…
Jad Mouawad Responds to “Getting the Numbers Right”
Wendy Laursen’s article Getting the Numbers Right, published in the August issue of Maritime Reporter, sparked debate from ballast water management experts. Here Jad Mouawad, CEO of Mouawad Consulting, provides his feedback on the article which outlines the challenges the industry has faced trying to reduce the occurrence of invasive marine species transferred by ballast water.We have now the vast majority of ships fitted with ballast water management systems (BWMS).
Damen Buys Ship Repair Robots for Yard in Dunkirk
AMBPR, a SERCEL company, announced that it has signed a contract with Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque for the sale of the first five ship repair robots. Damen in Dunkerque is thus the first shipyard in the world to acquire the GreenDock Robot, an autonomous solution for washing, UHP and abrasive blast cleaning, and painting of ships.The official signing took place at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg on September 4 following several years of collaboration between the robot manufacturer and DSDu…
Low Danube Water Levels Expose Sunken WWII Ships in Serbia and Hungary
The wrecks of explosives-laden Nazi ships sunk in the River Danube during World War Two have emerged near Serbia's river port town of Prahovo, after a drought in July and August that saw the river's water level drop.Four vessels dating from before 1950 have also come to light in Hungary's Danube-Drava National Park near Mohacs, where the Danube's water level stood at only 1.5 metres on Tuesday, the…
US Imports Surge Amid Threat of East Coast Port Strike
Imports of U.S. container cargo in August jumped 12.9% from a year ago as a summer volume surge delayed cargo at major ports and anxiety builds over a threatened longshore worker strike on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico on Oct. 1, trade data provider Descartes Systems Group said on Tuesday.U.S. seaports processed almost 2.5 million 20-foot equivalent units in August. That was 3% less than in July, when imports hit a 26-month high.
Putin Frames Naval Drills with China as Strategic Move to Counter US in the Pacific
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday warned the United States against trying to outgun Moscow in Asia as Russian and Chinese warships held joint drills as part of the biggest Russian naval exercises since the Soviet era.Putin said the wider "Ocean-2024" strategic exercise would be conducted from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and would test units' combat-readiness and the use of high-precision weapons…
