|  Last week in Xiamen, a Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. Vessel sailing from Japan was detected to have abnormal amounts of radiation on the decks and surface of containers upon inspection according to the Xiamen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. The contaminated ship, the MOL Presence, had passed 67 nautical miles off of Japan’s prefecture of Fukushima, part of nuclear-power station Daiichi that has been crippled by the recent disasters. Authorities also assured that the crew areas did not harness above-average levels. The MOL Presence is headed back to Japan after being rejected by Chinese officials, and is expected at the port of Kobe on March 30th. The berth used at Xiamen before leaving has been contaminated, Xiamen port bureau reported. The Chinese government has banned imports of dairy, fruit, vegetables, seafood and other “water... Read More>>> Back to Top |  According to EU NAVFOR reports, “at approximately 0900Z on 28 March, the Crude Oil Tanker the MV ZIRKU was pirated approximately 250 nautical miles South East of Salalah in the eastern part of the Gulf of Aden. The UAE flagged and Kuwaiti owned vessel was on its way to Singapore from Bashayer (Sudan) when it was attacked. The vessel was attacked by 2 pirate skiffs firing RPGs and small arms. The MV ZIRKU has a crew of 29 (1 Croatian, 1 Iraqi, 1 Filipino, 1 Indian, 3 Jordanians, 3 Eqyptians, 2 Ukrainians and 17 Pakistanis). There is no further information about the crew at present.” Despite this report, Kuwait’s state oil company denied that pirates have hijacked a Kuwaiti tanker, in a statement by state news agency KUNA. A spokesman from the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has gone on record to declare the incident report by EU NAVFOR to be "totally... Read More>>> Back to Top |  On Monday, investigators continued their search for the Disney Cruis Line crewmember who went missing last week. The 24-year-old crewmember, Rebecca Coriam, was last seen onboard the Disney Wonder while it was sailing from California to Mexico. Over the weekend Disney along with authorities conducted several shipboard searches, with no luck. Rebecca Coriam, works in the Wonder’s youth center. The ship was on a seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera last week when the Chester, England native didn’t show for duty Tuesday. Because the Wonder is registered in the Bahamas, the Royal Bahamas Police Force is conducting the investigation. Officials there say the investigation is ongoing and that Disney has fully cooperated. Rebecca’s parents flew from England to meet with investigators in hopes of finding their daughter. Officials reportedly told the family that Rebecca... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Memo Provides Additional Clarification to Assist Offshore Operators with Permit Applications WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today issued additional guidance summarizing and clarifying previously issued offshore deepwater drilling safety requirements. This guidance document also highlights BOEMRE’s process for reviewing subsea containment plans for deepwater operations. The guidance contains no additional regulatory requirements, but instead provides clarifying information to assist the oil and gas industry in complying with existing regulations and guidance. “Our goal remains the same as it has been from Day 1 – to ensure that offshore operations are conducted as safely as possible,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich. “This guidance document gives deepwater drilling operators additional information... Read More>>> Back to Top |  The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued a circular letter advising shipmasters to comply with the latest navigational warnings issued by the NAVAREA XI Coordinator (Japan), in the wake of damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan.
The circular letter notes that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan has confirmed that, at present, all international sea ports not damaged by the 11 March earthquake, and the resulting tsunami, operate normally and, based on the results of measurements of radiation levels by local governments, no health risk has been detected around the ports.
NAVAREA warnings are disseminated by the designated NAVAREA coordinators and can also be downloaded by following the relevant links from http://weather.gmdss.org/navareas.html, in particular: Read More>>> Back to Top |  Fincantieri has been awarded a contract to build two PSV vessels by Tidewater, the world’s largest provider of marine support services for offshore industries. The ships, the first scheduled for delivery before the end of 2012 and the second within mid 2013, will be built at Sturgeon Bay shipyard (Wisconsin, USA), which is owned by Fincantieri Marine Group, a company in Fincantieri Group. The ships are Platform Supply Vessels, used to provide services to drilling platforms and to support offshore activities. Innovative characteristics of these vessels are their diesel-electric propulsion and their ability to operate in deep seas at Artic temperatures. Designed in accordance with strict regulations regarding fire prevention and reduction of environmental impact, the 92.5 meter long, 19 meter wide vessels - which will be certified by the American Bureau of Shipping – will... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Michael R. Bromwich today announced that the Department is initiating the process to offer the first commercial wind lease under the “Smart from the Start” Atlantic Offshore Wind program, off the coast of Delaware. The decision follows a determination that there is no competitive interest for commercial wind energy development in this area of the Outer Continental Shelf, precluding the need for competitive bidding. “This is a significant milestone for our nation’s energy future,” said Secretary Salazar, “allowing Interior officials to move toward a non-competitive lease agreement with NRG Bluewater Wind Delaware for potential offshore wind development. This is another major step forward in tapping the enormous offshore wind potential of the... Read More>>> Back to Top |  By Ernst G. Frankel, Professor Emeritus, MIT Many of our existing and planned nuclear power plants are in earthquake prone locations which may in some cases also be exposed to potential tsunamis as shown by the recent Japanese disaster. While nuclear power is environmentally and in many cases economically attractive, we must develop approaches which permit the exploration or use of this important source of energy generation while greatly reducing exposure to damage or destruction which affect population centers and economic assets. As many of the most desirable locations are along coasts such as the U.S. West Coast states and Western Europe, it may be desirable and attractive to locate nuclear power plants on large floating platforms or ships which can be positioned with flexible tension anchors places in the ocean bottom by explosive anchor placements. Such platforms... Read More>>> Back to Top |  In a time-honored traditional ceremony, Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Shipbuilding sector, with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps participating, christened its latest warship Arlington (LPD 24). Arlington County, Va., Fire Chief James Schwartz, who was Deputy Fire Chief and Incident Commander on 9/11 at the Pentagon coordinating the rescue response efforts on the ground, delivered emotional comments as principal speaker. "In its remembrance, 9/11 taught us that life is precious; so too is the American way of life," said Chief Schwartz. "Today, we christen a Navy vessel whose chief responsibility is to preserve that way of life and to enable us as Americans to pursue our hopes and dreams in freedom. This way of life is only possible because of the sacrifice of men and women in uniform who protect our nation here and around the world. "The nation mourns each... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Coast Guard responds to reports of oil in Gulf of Mexico
NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office are working with Anglo-Suisse Thursday, to oversee the cleanup of oil that has made landfall in the Grand Isle, La. area. Tests were done by LSU and Coast Guard marine safety labs and confirmed that the samples collected from West Delta 117 and samples collected from both Elmers Island and Grand Isle are a match. Anglo-Suisse has been identified as the responsible party for this cleanup. "While a responsible party has been identified, the Coast Guard and state of Louisiana, in consultation with parish, local, and tribal leaders, has direct oversight of the response and we are working to ensure the effective and thorough cleanup of all of the affected areas," said Coast Guard Capt. Jonathan Burton, federal on scene coordinator for the... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Secretary-General Mitropoulos Applauds WISTA USA Focus on Issue at Annual Luncheon In recognition of the International Maritime Organization’s “Year of Piracy”, WISTA USA hosted world renowned piracy negotiator, Suzanne Williams QPM, as their keynote speaker at its sixth annual WISTA USA luncheon on Monday, kicking off the Connecticut Maritime Association’s Shipping 2011 conference. The conference was attended by nearly 250 industry professionals and maritime cadets. Ms. Williams described first hand experiences in her dealings with pirate negotiations, and offered suggestions for combating the scourge. “First and foremost, our governments and the population at large need to better understand what a significant risk is posed by these pirates to our seafarers and supply chains,” stated Ms. Williams. “Only through awareness can we generate action... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Alan C. McClure Associates (ACMA), one of the industry’s premier naval architecture and engineering firms, announced today that it has formed a professional alliance with Iceberg Project Services (IPS) (www.icebergps.com). When supplemental support is required, ACMA will provide engineering services to IPS and IPS will provide ACMA project management assistance. ACMA’s Vice President Darrel Harvey sees this new alliance of complementary services as a win/win situation for both companies. “In today’s market, most customers are looking for a complete project service package that has a tendency to favor the larger Engineer, Procure, Install and Construct (EPIC) companies,” commented Harvey. “This alliance of equals puts both AMCA and IPS a step closer to providing those turnkey solutions to our customers on a worldwide basis.” Harvey went on to note that... Read More>>> Back to Top |  The SpecTec Group has opened their newest office in Rio de Janeiro: officially, AMOS Brasil Sistemas de Gestão de Recursos e Consultoria de Software Ltda., or SpecTec Brazil, will serve as region headquarters.
“With our recently opened office in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, SpecTec Latin America is on a strategic course for continued expansion and growth in both the shipping and oil & gas industries”, says Giampiero Soncini, CEO of the SpecTec Group, “and we’re now better positioned to provide superior service and steadfast support to our customers throughout the region.”
SpecTec’s new local team has been formed and includes professional technical consultants to provide project management and customer support, as well as a business development team. The region is managed by David Reyes, Managing Director, Latin...
Read More>>> Back to Top |  New Strategy Helps Ships Screen for Unwanted Passengers The global economy depends on marine transportation. But in addition to cargo, the world’s 50,000-plus commercial ships carry tiny stowaways that can cause huge problems for the environment and economy. A new model created by Smithsonian scientists will facilitate accurate screening of vessels for dangerous species before they unload. The team’s findings are published today in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Ballast water taken up by ships in coastal waters teems with plankton and microbes. When discharged at the next port of call, these hitchhikers can wreak havoc on receiving ecosystems. Under current federal regulations, ships exchange their ballast water in the open ocean to flush out unwanted species. However, some survive the process, and not all ships travel across oceans. Environmental... Read More>>> Back to Top |  VICKSBURG, Miss. — The Coast Guard temporarily suspended salvage operations, Saturday, on a soybean barge that partially sank after a towing vessel allided with the Old Vicksburg Bridge on the Mississippi River. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Vicksburg received a report that the towing vessel, Kay A. Eckstein, allided with the Old Vicksburg Bridge, causing the barges being pushed by the towing vessel to come free. One barge allided with the I-20 bridge, partially sank, and is considered a hazard to navigation. The unified command will discuss further salvage plans as equipment arrives on scene and environmental conditions permit. I-20 bridge vehicle traffic will remain unaffected during salvage operations. Based off the current river conditions and the hazard to navigation that the partially sunken barge presents, southbound barge traffic will be... Read More>>> Back to Top |  RESOLVE Marine Group has successfully raised and refloated the “Machinist” drydock at Guam Shipyard in Apra Harbor, Guam. The 825 ft drydock sank on January 2, 2011 during a rough weather event. RESOLVE, a marine salvage and emergency response company with extensive worldwide experience -- including prior experience raising drydocks,-- was the successful bidder for the job. RESOLVE began the salvage job on January 31 and successfully refloated the drydock on March 3. RESOLVE’s Salvage Master, Salvage Engineer, and salvage divers first conducted a comprehensive casualty assessment to determine the structural and watertight conditions of the drydock and to ascertain the status of drydock systems. A detailed engineering analysis was undertaken and a Salvage Plan was developed and implemented, involving extensive preparatory work both topside and underwater. Given the deep submergence... Read More>>> Back to Top | | High Court Judgment received on Costs and Appeals in Fiona Trust/Intrigue Shipping vs Yuri Nikitin and Others Case Further to the judgment of the London High Court (Commercial Court) announced on 10 December 2010, in the case between Fiona Trust & Holding Corporation & Others and Intrigue Shipping Inc & Others (the “Claimants”) - now part of SCF Group, against Mr Yuri Nikitin (the principal of Standard Maritime Ltd) and others (the “Defendants”), Mr Justice Andrew Smith has today handed down his supplemental Judgments on the Claimants’ relief, interest, litigation costs and appeals. During hearings held at the London High Court between 24 and 28 February 2011 Mr Justice Andrew Smith reviewed, amongst other things: substantive relief for the Claimants; the apportionment of costs between the various parties; applications to appeal aspects... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Students Ali Stevens and Michael Roy are getting the chance to attend the Maritime Studies Program of Williams College and Mystic Seaport this spring, thanks in part to Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships, which were presented recently by Crowley Maritime Corporation.
Stevens is a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire majoring in political science and minoring in marine biology. Growing up on Long Island, N.Y., Stevens was minutes away from the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean and said that water is something she cannot live without. At Williams-Mystic, Stevens is studying the connections between individuals and the sea through an interdisciplinary curriculum that also allows for original research opportunities.
Roy, a student at the University of Rhode Island and native of Westerly, R.I., grew up along the beaches, waterways and fishing communities of New England. He said... Read More>>> Back to Top |  SpecTec continues its 15-year partnership with the Mercy Ships Organisation with the recent donation of AMOS Shipdex Interface (ASI). Shipdex is the International Business Rules (The Shipdex Protocol) developed to standardise the production and the exchange of technical and logistic data within the shipping community (for more info, please, visit www.shipdex.com). AMOS Shipdex Interface is the SpecTec module designed to take the best advantage from Shipdex Protocol datasets. This is because, ASI is capable to read and import Shipdex datasets into AMOS Business Suite Database, without retyping the manufacturer technical information. The depicted architecture is the common scenario of a fleet managed by a ship-owner by means of the land office, which is generally in charge of the technical, operational and procurement tasks. Mercy Ships will be using AMOS Shipdex Interface to automatically... Read More>>> Back to Top |  A message from Copland Events Buyers from 11 different nations from across the Americas joined us in Ft. Lauderdale for our inaugural MTB “Meet the Buyer” networking forum in the Americas. The general feeling about the launch was extremely positive. Everyone involved confirmed that they have made some valuable contacts, taken firm leads and generated future opportunities from meetings and networking at the forum. Over 50 buyers from ship owners/operators of vessels ranging in size from Tugs to Cruise Liners benefitted from the brilliant range and quality of supplier companies they met with in Ft. Lauderdale. Suppliers of everything in the Marine industry, from Navigation Lights to Electrical Controls, were present from 18 nations to make new business contacts, build relationships and generate new leads from the buyers. Many thanks are... Read More>>> Back to Top | | |
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