|  On Saturday United Arab Emirates forces stormed a hijacked oil tanker, the MV Arrilah-1, in the Arabian Sea. The vessel, owned by a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, had been hijacked the day before by two skiffs carrying three pirates each. The ships crew found shelter in the citadel where they sent out distress calls. The UAE Anti-Terrorist Unit, Air Forces, and Air Defense units, along with the US 5th fleet, boarded the vessel and arrested the pirates. Officials say the crew is safe and the vessel is continuing on its original voyage to Jebel Alil in Dubai, this time with an armed guard onboard. The six pirates will be taken back to the UAE, where they will face trial. Read More>>> Back to Top |  A massive operation to save ten of thousands of penguins from an oil spill is underway on an island chain, halfway between Argentina and Africa. Officials from the British territory, Nightingale Island – part of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago, worked tirelessly over the weekend to save the islands population of Northern Rockhopper penguins who are threatened by an oil spill from a bulk carrier that ran aground March 16. Rescuers have been working since the accident to save the endangered penguins; so far 5,000 have been moved to safety. However, at t least 300 penguins have died from the spill. Officials taking part in the rescue operation say that the spill occurred at the worst time- the end of the birds malting season, during which they don’t eat. The birds are now coming out of that season and are very hungry. The Malta flagged M.S. Olivia ran aground at Spinner Point, a rocky... Read More>>> Back to Top |  By Dr. Giermanski, Chairman of Powers Global Holdings, Inc. CURRENT U.S. SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY PROGRAMS At the present time we have a number of supply chain security programs. Of those programs, three stand out as particularly significant in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) decision making, especially as it relates, but not limited to the maritime supply chain:
1. The Container Security Initiative (CSI);
2. Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT); and
3. The Ten + Two Program. 1. Brief Discussion of Weaknesses in CSI, C-TPAT, and Ten + Two a. The Container Security Initiative was announced as an initiative of U.S. Commissioner of Customs after Sept.11, 2001. It was codified into U.S. Law in the SAFE Port Act, signed October 13, 2006, and supports cooperative... Read More>>> Back to Top |  On Wednesday ten sailors were injured onboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier when the engine of a fighter jet exploded and caught fire. The USS John C. Stennis was in waters off the coast of southern California when an F/A-18C Hornet fighter jet “suffered a catastrophic engine failure and subsequently caught fire,” the said in a statement Wednesday. The ten sailors were working on the flight deck at the time of the incident. Four were flown to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego; they are reportedly in stable condition. The pilot of the fighter jet was no injured. The ship’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Paul Storum commended the sailors onboard for their quick and professional response to the incident. The fire was extinguished quickly and the ship suffered only minor damage. Cmdr. Storum also told reporters that the Hornet sustained at least $1 million worth of... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Maritime Executive Magazine’s March-April 2011 edition features Noboru Ueda, Chairman and CEO of ClassNK, which is the largest classification society in the world. The Maritime Executive finished the edition just after the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. The MarEx is grateful to the ClassNK staff for assisting us in finishing this edition while under great stress and concern for families and friends in Japan.
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Read More>>> Back to Top |  A Turkish ship rescued 230 wounded rebels from the Libyan city of Misrata over the weekend. The evacuees have given reporters detailed accounts of the fighting in the streets. The wounded describe snipers everywhere and told officials that Gahdafi forces are hiding from NATO planes in mosques, grocery stores and houses, which they blow up after the planes pass. The rebels say there is very little food to eat and many believe Gadhafi is ordering troops to destroy grocery stores as a tactic to starve and control people. The wounded, mostly men, were transported onboard a car ferry chartered by the Turkish government, known as the ANKARA. Turkish medics onboard treated the wounded as they lay on mattresses on the car decks of the ship. Turkey’s foreign minister ordered the ship to Misrate after it spent four days at sea awaiting permission from port authorities to dock in Misrata.... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Strong winds from a storm pulled a Carnival cruise ship away from the dock at Port Canaveral on Wednesday afternoon. The Carnival Pride was docked in Port Canaveral for a daylong call during a seven-day voyage from Baltimore, Maryland. Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen said some crew and some guests were aboard the ship when the strong winds hit but no one was injured. The Pride was quickly returned to its dock and where it remained overnight Twelve hours behind schedule, the Carnival Pride set sail Thursday morning around 6:15 a.m. The cruise line had cancelled the ships next scheduled port, Nassau. The itinerary has been changed to include an overnight stay in Freeport, where it is expected to arrive at 4:00 Thursday. Read More>>> Back to Top |  Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) today announced that it has completed the previously announced spin-off of its subsidiary Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HII). Northrop Grumman stockholders of record at the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 30, 2011, received one share of HII common stock for every six shares of Northrop Grumman common stock held. Stockholders will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of HII. As a result of the spin-off, Northrop Grumman will report Shipbuilding financial results as discontinued operations for the 2011 first quarter and all prior periods. "Today's completion of the separation of Huntington Ingalls from Northrop Grumman is an important milestone benefitting both companies. We thank HII for their many contributions to our company and the defense of our nation, and wish them the... Read More>>> Back to Top |  ITF urges government and industry to adopt single strategy for UK oil and gas technology development ITF’s Managing Director will today call on government and industry to create a single strategy for oil and gas technology funding to help secure the recovery of remaining reserves in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). Neil Poxon, who heads up the organisation that facilitates the development and deployment of technology for oil and gas operators and service companies, will outline his concerns at the Oil and Gas Outlook conference in Aberdeen today. He is urging a more joined up approach, similar to the model used in Norway, which helps bring oil and gas technology to market at least six years faster than the 16 year average in the UK. Mr Poxon said: “There is a huge amount of duplication in oil and gas technology development in the UK, which is not only wasting millions of... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Mr. Munoz: We are writing in response to Dr. Frankel’s editorial piece found in today’s MarEx edition entitled Challenges for America's East Coast Shipping, Ports and Trade in order to correct several misconceptions regarding preparations underway at the Port of New York & New Jersey to handle larger pPx vessels. While Dr, Frankel correctly describes Savannah’s challenges with their proposed 48-foot harbor deepening program, he erroneously states that of the other USEC ports “none seems to plan the major expansions required to take advantage of these new services provided by the large ships expected to serve the US East coast.” The Port Authority of NY & NJ, together with the US Army Corps of Engineers, are in the final phase of completing a 50-foot channel deepening project to all major container terminals in our Port. The project will be... Read More>>> Back to Top |  By the deadline of March 31, 2011, six candidates had been nominated by their Governments for the position of Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The election for the post will be held at the 106th session of the 40-Member strong IMO Council, which meets from 27 June to 1 July 2011. The decision of the Council will be submitted to the IMO Assembly, which meets for its 27th session from 21 to 30 November 2011, for its approval.
The nominations received are listed below in alphabetical order by candidates’ name.
Candidate Government
Mr. Lee Sik Chai Republic of Korea
Mr. Andreas Chrysostomou... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Koo’s Shipping Sentenced to Pay $1 Million for Violating U.S. and International Laws Protecting Oceans WASHINGTON – Koo’s Shipping Company S.A., a Taiwanese corporation, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of making false statements, knowingly failing to fully and accurately maintain an oil record book as required by international treaty and U.S. law, and for knowingly discharging oily bilge waste into Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa, without using proper pollution prevention equipment, announced Assistant Attorney General Ignacia S. Moreno and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ronald C. Machen Jr. The plea took place before the Honorable Gladys Kessler in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The company was sentenced to pay a $750,000 criminal fine and pay $250,000 towards community service projects in American Samoa,... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Lourdes M. Pineda-Garcia, a 12-year veteran of the cruise industry, has been named vice president and controller at Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator. Pineda-Garcia has been the acting controller for Carnival Cruise Lines since mid-January. In her new role, Pineda-Garcia is responsible for directing the activities of a number of the company’s financial and accounting functions including general ledger, fixed assets, financial reporting and disbursements. “Lourdes’ extensive experience in both accounting operations and financial management make her a welcome addition and valued member of the Carnival team,” said Anne Bramman, Carnival Cruise Lines’ senior vice president and chief financial officer. Prior to joining Carnival, Pineda-Garcia served as chief financial officer for Seabourn and also worked in a variety of... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Leading Class Society Establishes New Office in Shenzhen ClassNK officially announced the opening of a new exclusive surveyor office in Shenzen today. The ClassNK Shenzhen Office becomes the 11th office the society has opened in China, marking the continued growth of ClassNK’s presence in the Chinese market. Located between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, the Shenzhen region is one of the fastest growing maritime hubs in Southern China, serving as both an important shipping hub, and an increasingly popular stopover for maintenance and ship repair. ClassNK’s new Shenzhen office will serve all major ports in the region, including Mawan, Shekou, Chiwan, and Yantian, and the region’s leading shipyards. The continued growth of China as one of the world’s leading maritime nations is of great of importance to entire maritime industry, including ClassNK. Newbuilding tonnage... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Inmarsat has announced the acquisition of Ship Equip International, a leading provider of VSAT maritime communications services to the shipping, offshore oil and gas and fishing markets. Ship Equip is ideally positioned to support the evolution of parts of the maritime market to higher speed services such as Inmarsat's forthcoming Global Xpress™ service, planned for launch in 2013. The company, which is based in Norway, will operate as a separate Inmarsat subsidiary alongside Stratos Global and Segovia. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
Perfect partner "We are delighted to welcome Ship Equip and their management team into the Inmarsat group," said James Parm, president and chief executive officer of Stratos.
"Ship Equip is the perfect partner for Inmarsat, bringing a large installed base of maritime VSAT customers, who we expect to be in the... Read More>>> Back to Top |  UK-based Swire Oilfield Services, the world’s leading supplier of specialist DNV rated offshore cargo carrying units (CCU) and modular systems, today announces further expansion in South America, with the establishment of a Brazilian incorporated entity, headquartered in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, the first of its kind in the continent.
Swire Oilfield Services do Brasil Ltda has invested more than £20 million in Brazil following the recent pre-salt discoveries in the south-east of the country. Globally, Swire Oilfield Services has over 150 standard unit designs, a fleet of over 50,000 CCUs and supports the world’s largest fleet of DNV 2.7-1 and EN 12079 rated equipment.
Marcelo Nacif, director & general manager of Swire Oilfield Services do Brasil Ltda, said: “We see definite opportunities for growth in Brazil. Being ultra-deep water, the pre-salt activity...
Read More>>> Back to Top |  Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has issued guidelines for the Risk-Based Qualification of New Technology. Qualification is a process by which a new technology or an existing technology used in a new context is validated. The qualification process is intended to prove with an acceptable level of confidence and in a cost effective manner that a technology is fit for purpose, that it complies with the specifications that the designer developed and that it is sufficiently reliable and is safe for the people and the environment. “The pace of change in offshore energy is now so fast that industry is pushed to use new technologies to cope with new challenges and we can no longer only extrapolate from experience to check that things are going to be safe and effective,” explains Jean-Claude Astrugue, Offshore Equipment and Safety Technical Manager. “We need a... Read More>>> Back to Top |  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) announced today a U.S. Navy contract awarded to its Ingalls Shipbuilding division for the construction of the 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock. The contract, worth $1.5 billion, will be used to build John P. Murtha (LPD 26), with construction expected to start in May. Huntington Ingalls Industries, America's largest military shipbuilder, was previously a business sector of Northrop Grumman Corp. until effectively separating on March 31 in a spinoff of the company to shareholders. "This is the first contract awarded to our new company, and our shipbuilders are excited about continuing the LPD product line," said Irwin F. Edenzon, corporate vice president and general manager, Gulf Coast Operations. "More than 1,500 shipbuilders will be working on LPD 26 over the next four years, and our focus will be on... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Federal Advisory Committee provides advice on NOAA’s navigation services NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco recently appointed nine new members to the Hydrographic Services Review Panel, a federal advisory committee that gives NOAA independent advice for improving ocean and coastal navigation products, information, data and services. “Optimizing the benefits of navigation services and products is a priority for the agency,” said Margaret Spring, chief of staff for NOAA and the agency’s representative to the Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS). “We look forward to hearing perspectives and receiving advice from our new committee members, who represent a wide variety of maritime and coastal zone stakeholder interests. New members of the panel are: |  Whippoorwill Commits $10 Million in New Financing to Support Ongoing Operations during Sale Process Windstar Operations Continuing as Usual; Honoring All Fares and Reservations and Maintaining High Customer Service Levels Sale to Be Implemented Through Chapter 11 Process SEATTLE -Ambassadors International, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMIE) (“Ambassadors”) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Whippoorwill Associates, Inc., as agent for its discretionary funds and accounts (“Whippoorwill”). Under the terms of the agreement, Ambassadors proposes to sell substantially all of its assets, including its principal operating unit, Windstar Cruises (“Windstar”), through a court-supervised sale process. In accordance with the terms of the agreement with Whippoorwill, and to facilitate the... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Drilling Permit Meets Critical New Safety Standards NEW ORLEANS – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today approved a deepwater permit for the drilling of an eighth well that complies with rigorous new safety standards implemented in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill. This includes satisfying the requirement to demonstrate the capacity to contain a subsea blowout. The approved permit is a permit to sidetrack for ENI U.S. Operating Company, Inc.’s Well #SS001 in Mississippi Canyon Block 460 in 2,823 feet water depth, approximately 57 miles southeast of Venice, Louisiana. “This is the eighth deepwater well permitted to drill since February 17, when industry demonstrated that it had the capacity to handle subsea blowouts and spills,” said BOEMRE Director... Read More>>> Back to Top |  All company's West Coast tugs finish voluntary exams for towing vessel safety; customers and crews both benefit U.S. Coast Guard admirals from commands in Puget Sound and the San Francisco Bay Area agree: When it comes to safety and compliance, Foss Maritime is an industry leader. The two U.S. Coast Guard admirals - G.T. Blore from the Seattle-based 13th Coast Guard District and J. R. Castillo from the Alameda, CA,-based 11th Coast Guard District - wrote letters to Foss officials praising the company for its completion of voluntary towing vessel examinations. Rear Admiral Blore wrote: "Through this proactive initiative, you have demonstrated Foss Maritime to be an industry leader in safety and compliance. Your actions embody the intended cooperative spirit of the Coast Guard's Towing Vessel Bridging Program and have bolstered towing vessel... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Markey Machinery announced today that it is creating an international network of factory-trained sales and service centers. Markey is currently evaluating candidate companies around the world. The current focus is on qualified system integration/service companies, located in key markets distant from Markey’s US facility. The company expects to conclude an agreement with an Australian firm shortly, establishing a center there. A series of recent extraordinary success stories has placed Markey directly center stage in the international maritime spotlight. Proof-of-concept of Markey Render/Recover Regeneration; is displayed by Foss Maritime’s fully hybrid Carolynn Dorothy. The “hard data” from the world’s first fully hybrid tug is hard to ignore. Foss is clearly ahead developing and providing green operation, while Markey winches can return wasted energy, thus... Read More>>> Back to Top |  CD-adapco announced today the formation of a new Internal Combustion Engine Team, to be led by Dr. Richard Johns, a globally recognized expert in bringing advanced automotive engine CFD to industry for over 35 years.
In his new role as Vice President of the Internal Combustion Engine Team, Dr. Richard Johns will be in overall control of all aspects of CD-adapco’s engine simulation technology, including STAR-CD v4 solver development, pre and post processing development, ICE related technical support, testing and project management.
Dr. Johns joined Perkins Engines in 1969 as a student and, after graduating in 1973 with a degree in mechanical engineering, joined their research department. After 2 years of developing cycle simulation and thermal analysis software, Perkins supported his PhD study at Imperial College under Prof. David Gosman in engine CFD. During his 5 years at Imperial College... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Donjon Marine Co., Inc., along with partner SEACOR Holdings Inc. have announced the completion of the tugboat, Ken Boothe, Sr. The 10,700 Horsepower tug will work as an Articulated Tug/Barge (I.E. ATB) in conjunction with a 34,000 ton capacity self unloading bulk cargo barge. (see specifications, below) The tugboat was constructed in the Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair facility over the last 14 months. The still-to-be-named cargo barge is scheduled to be delivered in early Spring of 2012. "We are very pleased to see the completion of this state-of-the-art towing vessel, and to share in the success with our partner SEACOR. This represents a new and exciting chapter in our companies' stories," said J. Arnold Witte, President and CEO, Donjon Marine Co., Inc. Donjon Marine Co., Inc. (www.donjon.com) provides a broad spectrum of marine services, including dredging, marine... Read More>>> Back to Top |  Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions has received orders for five Unitor Ballast Water Treatment Systems (Unitor BWTS) from Chinese yards. Three systems are to be installed on general purpose cargo vessels built at Baibuting Shipbuilding Co. Shandong. The remaining two systems are to be installed on asphalt carriers built at Nanjing East Start Shipbuilding Co. The cargo vessels being built at Baibuting Shipbuilding Co. Shandong are for Shipowner Bluarrow Shipping SA with technical consultant La Prora Ship Management. The vessels require ballast water systems with a capacity of 350m3/h each. The vessel deliveries are due in Q2 and Q4 in 2011. The asphalt carriers built at Nanjing East Start Shipbuilding Co are for the Singapore based ship owner Stolt Bitumen Services, a new division of the Stolt Nielsen Group. Each system has a capacity of 200m3/h and the vessels will be delivered in Q4 2011 and Q1 2012. With an... Read More>>> Back to Top | | |
Copyright © 2011 The Maritime Executive.
Copyright © 2011 The Maritime Executive.