|  On Saturday the England-bound MSC Opera lost power in the Baltic Sea. MSC Cruises says a problem with the electrical panel caused an engine power outage, leaving the 1,716 passengers onboard without lighting, water and access to working toilets. The 10-day cruise that began in Southhampton, England on May 7 was cut short by the power outage. The cruise ship was towed to Nynamshamn port near Stockholm, Sweden. A team of engineers from the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire, France was brought in and worked through the night to restore partial power. The cruise company says that power to the toilets and galley were restored by Sunday afternoon and guests were treated to a hot breakfast and complimentary beverage service at the ships bars. In addition passengers will be refunded the full amount of their 10-day cruise due to the inconvenience. MSC Opera’s next voyage, scheduled... Read More>>> Back to Top |  The Danish Navy killed four pirates and released 16 hostages last Thursday after an encounter with a pirated vessel. The Danish warship ESBERN SNARE was approached by a pirate mother ship Thursday morning odd the coast of Somalia. When the warship told the pirate ship to stop, the vessel opened fire, and the warship immediately returned with fire. The pirates onboard finally surrendered, throwing their weapons in the water. Four pirates were killed during the firefight and 24 were taken into custody – 10 of the 24 were treated for injuries onboard the warship. No Navy personnel or 16 Iranian hostages onboard the dhow were injured during the mission. The four dead pirates were buried at sea in following with NATO procedures and Muslim traditions. Read More>>> Back to Top |  Royal Caribbean’s ALLURE OF THE SEAS picked up nine Cubans in a raft on Saturday while on its way back to Port Everglades, FL. Crew spotted the makeshift raft and yellow tarp in waters off the northern tip of Cuba. The eight men and one woman onboard were given food and medical treatment onboard the cruise ship before the U.S. Coast Guard took them into custody. Cubans picked up at sea are usually returned back to Cuba. Read More>>> Back to Top |  PaxOcean Signs Letter of Intent to Build Levingston 415WC
PaxOcean Engineering Zhoushan Co., Ltd. of Singapore, Singapore and The Levingston Corporation, Boerne, Texas, USA announced today that they have signed a Letter of Intent to build a Levingston designed 415WC (World Class) with an option for one additional similar vessel for an undisclosed contract value. The announcement was made at the new Elevating Boats LLC’s (EBI) facility at Ponchatoula, Louisiana. The Levingston 415WC Jack-up MOU (Mobile Offshore Unit) will be the world’s largest liftboat with 415 feet of legs, an open deck area of 18,300 square feet (1,700 square meters), a net deck load capacity of 1,654 tons (1,500 metric tonnes) with accommodations for 100 personnel including navigation crew. This vessel follows in the footsteps of the Levingston 320E, the world’s current largest liftboat. Levingston... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Two obsolete vessels, the Reclaimer and Sagamore, are scheduled to be towed from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet on Monday, May 16, 2011. The departures mark the 20th and 21st ships to leave the National Defense Reserve Fleet since October 2009, when the Obama Administration announced its commitment to clean up the site and improve the surrounding environment. As a result, the U.S. Maritime Administration is more than four months ahead of schedule in removing obsolete U.S. ships from the Reserve Fleet. Further, the vessels Bolster and Clamp are currently scheduled for departure from the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet on Monday, May 23, 2011. The disposal schedule calls for 20 ships to be removed from SBRF by September 30, 2011. The Reclaimer, formerly the USS Reclaimer (ARS-42) is a Diver class auxiliary salvage and rescue ship built for the U.S. Navy specifically for salvage... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Holland America’s Westerdam was damaged last week after striking a large chunk of ice in Alaska’s Yakutat Bay. Holland America reported in a statement, that the ships “…hull was not breached and the ship continued on its published itinerary as planned,” arriving in Sitka the same day. The 1,916-passenger ship reportedly hit the ice while maneuvering through the bay during high winds. The damage has been described as a “mild indentation in the hull,” 15-feet below the waterline. The U.S. Coast Guard says that no one was injured and no pollution resulted from the incident. The Coast Guard met the ship in Sitka on Wednesday where a full investigation has been launched.
Read More>>> Back to Top |  The following is advisory 2011-02, issued by The United States Maritime Administration on May 18, 2011: 1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO VESSELS TRANSITING TO OR FROM PORTS IN JAPAN OR IN WATERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE NORTHEAST COAST OF THE ISLAND OF HONSHU. 2. U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS WITH SHIPS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MEANS. 3. A 8.9/9.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK THE PACIFIC OCEAN NEAR NORTHEASTERN JAPAN AT AROUND 1446 ON MARCH 11 (JST) CAUSING DAMAGE WITH BLACKOUTS, FIRE AND A TSUNAMI. NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NEAR FUKUSHIMA WERE DAMAGED AND RADIATION RELEASE WAS DETECTED AND IS BEING MONITORED BY JAPAN. 4. IN RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION AT THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC), THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND OTHER TECHNICAL EXPERTS IN THE U.S.... Read More>>> Back to Top |  WASHINGTON – Hundreds of U.S. maritime industry representatives visited Capitol Hill this spring to highlight the critical role the industry plays in boosting America’s economic, national and homeland security. Three broad grassroots education events: the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) Spring General Membership Meeting; the “Barge-In;” and the “Sail-In” brought representatives of shipyards, mariners and companies from throughout the country to Washington, DC. “The domestic maritime industry plays a critical role in protecting America’s economic, national and homeland security, and these events are focused on making that point to Congress,” said James Henry, President of the Transportation Institute and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Maritime Partnership. “Hundreds of industry representatives from throughout the nation,... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Chris Gray appointed as Executive Chairman of the Boards of Directors. Javier Mira Prieto-Moreno, José María Michavila Núñez, Antonio González-Adalid García Zozaya, Juan José Nieto Bueso, Borja García-Nieto Portabella and Luis Conde Moller appointed as Independent Directors. NOATUM, the leader in maritime terminals, port operations and port services in Spain, has appointed six independent Directors and an Executive Chairman to the Noatum Boards of Directors. . Chris Gray, who has been appointed as the Executive Chairman of Noatum, brings with him over 40 years’ experience in international transport and maritime industry and will be in charge of chairing the Boards of Directors for Noatum in this new phase the company has entered. “Our position as market leader in Spain is further strengthened with the appointment of Chris Gray... Read More>>> Back to Top |  The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) received six proposals from around the world for the design of the first-ever bridge on the Atlantic side of the waterway, at a public event held Tuesday in Panama. Currently, the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge, on the Pacific side, provide the only routes for vehicles to cross the Canal. This new bridge will be the third across the Canal and the first located near the Gatún Locks, spanning the west and east sides of the city of Colon. The contract consists of both the design of a bridge made of braced concrete and the design for access roads to the bridge. The bids were solicited according to a 2006 law based on the referendum to move forward with the expansion of the Panama Canal, which requires an option for vehicular crossing over the Atlantic side of the Canal. The following proposals were... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Loaded export container volume outpaces import growth to move nearly two million tons The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announced today that the Port of Savannah posted its second highest monthly volume ever in April with 260,035 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which was a 8.5-percent increase compared with April 2010. “Savannah’s surprisingly strong container volume for April reflects continued overall demand tied with the global economic recovery,” said GPA’s Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz. “Export volume growth remained robust due to increased demand for semi-finished/raw materials and grain-based commodities, as well as a competitive U.S. dollar.” Export loaded container volumes continued to outpace import growth, reflecting record container tonnage for April with 1,996,346 tons. “Georgia’s ports serve as an... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Broker Launches Innovative Solution to Protect Owners’ Revenue Streams Ship owners are becoming increasingly concerned about the financial consequences of a rise in ship charterers filing for bankruptcy. In order to protect owners’ vital revenue streams from this risk, Marsh today launched Charter Default, an innovative solution that provides a mix of fixed recovery guarantee and credit insurance, tailored to the ship owner’s particular requirements. Charter Default is backed by both insurers and a leading investment bank. Covering both outstanding debt at the time of insolvency and the loss of future revenue for a set period, Charter Default de-risks important revenue streams, thereby assisting owners to attract better terms from lenders by reducing counterparty credit risk. Nick Roscoe, a Managing Director in Marsh’s Global Marine... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Designation Represents Continued Expansion of Company Services for the U.S. Government Crowley Maritime Corp. announced today that the U.S. State Department has designated the company's Miami logistics warehouse as a Consolidated Receiving Point (CRP) facility. The CRP designation allows Crowley to act as a subcontractor, providing complete logistics services to the State Department for high-security U.S. Embassy construction and renovation projects around the world. These projects make up a $1.6 billion industry. To be approved as a CRP, Crowley built a secure facility within the warehouse to the exact specifications of the State Department and only allows qualified employees with exclusive security clearance to work in the area. Before Crowley was approved as a CRP warehouse, the company couldn't handle this type of sensitive cargo and often routed it... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Gov. Nathan Deal today endorsed building an estimated $140 million highway, the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway Connector, to improve truck access to and from the Port of Savannah – America’s fourth-largest and fastest growing container port. The project will result in a 3.1-mile, four-lane extension of the parkway built to the east of its interchange with I-95. It will extend south directly to Bourne Avenue near the port’s gate and become the main truck route between the port and I-95, relieving traffic and enhancing safety on crowded State Route 21 in the Port Wentworth area. “This is an investment in infrastructure that is crucial not just for the port, but for the entire economy of Georgia,” said Deal. “This roadway will help in the prompt delivery of valuable cargo to and from every corner of Georgia and, in turn, preserve and create jobs in our logistics and transportation... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Strong support for inaugural TradeWinds Offshore Marine conference reflects rising market. TradeWinds Offshore Marine conference is set to play to a full house at the Grand Hotel Oslo on the 24 May. With the theme Catching the Rising Market, the event recognises the pivotal role offshore shipping now plays in the Norwegian maritime sector. Breaking with the traditional conference format, the event features an innovative Brokers’ Panel comprising Norway’s leading offshore shipping brokers who will offer comments on a market outlook paper delivered by shipping’s economics guru, Dr. Martin Stopford, Managing Director of Clarkson Research. Jon Chaplin, managing director of NHST Events, commented “Never before has such a public discussion among Norway’s major offshore brokers taken place. This event is primarily about being ready for the massive... Read More>>> Back to Top |  FDNY purchases its first Marine Travelift 50 BFMII The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) is the largest fire department in the United States and protects 560 miles of waterfront through the use of a fireboat fleet by response to and mitigation of fires and other emergencies on the waterways, emergency towing, and firefighting; as well as providing life safety to those in the water such as swimmers and jet ski riders. To increase its boat haul out abilities the FDNY Marine Operations opened up a competitive bidding process for a new mobile boat hoist. Marine Travelift won the new account with its 50 BFMII mobile boat hoist and delivered it in September of 2010. The most common vessels the FDNY transports ranges from 25-foot open center console vessels to 27-foot full cabin crafts up to and including its new 65-foot fireboat that weighs approximately 88,000 pounds.... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Environmental Intelligence in Shipping: Safety at Sea May 23, 2011, 3:00-6:00
National Press Club 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC Safety at Sea Panel Discussions: Emergency Preparedness & Response Regulatory Update
· Deepwater Horizon Legislative Response
· Jones Act issues
· Salvage and Firefighting regulations
· Shipowner readiness -Break- Seafarer Issues
· Piracy impact and implications
· STCW update and implementation
· Terminal Access for seafarers Panelists include (to date): RADM Kevin Cook, USCG; Clay Maitland, International Registries Inc. (Marshall Islands), RADM... Read More>>> Back to Top |  The first ever Seatrade Africa Cruise Forum opened its doors yesterday to over 180 delegates, gathering from 15 countries for in-depth conference discussion on the region’s cruise market development, and workshops between regional destinations and cruise line decision makers. Setting the scene, Seatrade’s Chairman, Chris Hayman said, ‘The Seatrade Africa Cruise Forum in Durban is the first event of its kind to spotlight Africa’s current role and great future potential in cruise tourism. As the globalisation of cruise ship deployment continues, Africa represents the next frontier in the expanding geography of the cruise industry.’ Key cruise line decision-makers from a cross section of the major brands, including Silversea, Azamara, Seabourn, The World, Princess, MSC Cruises, Fred. Olsen, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity gathered in... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Washington, DC Area (Linthicum Heights, Maryland), USA
June 6-7, 2011
MITAGS
An international survey (Michel et al., 2005) has identified over 8,500
sunken shipwrecks in marine waters around the world, including more than 1,500 sunken tank vessels (≥ 150 gross tons) and nearly 7,000 sunken non-tank vessels (≥ 400 gross tons). These wrecks may contain as much as 20 million tons (140 million barrels) of oil and other hazardous materials. Sporadic or continuous leakages or potential sudden massive spillages from these wrecks, 75 percent of which stem from World War II, pose a con/nual risk across the globe.
The problem of potentially-polluting wrecks has long been discussed and recent incidents around the world have caused government agencies and responsible parties to look... Read More>>> Back to Top | | NEW ORLEANS – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today announced the approval of a deepwater Gulf of Mexico Exploration Plan (EP) following the completion of a site-specific Environmental Assessment (SEA) for deepwater oil and gas exploration. Shell Offshore, Inc.’s Supplemental EP includes five proposed exploratory wells in approximately 7,160 to 7,259 feet water depth, as well as three previously approved wells approximately 72 miles offshore Louisiana. "This exploration plan was reviewed under the heightened standards we are now using to conduct site-specific environmental assessments,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich. “The standards are higher than they used to be, and further support our goal of ensuring that deepwater exploration is done more safely and with greater protections for the environment... Read More>>> Back to Top | | |
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