MarEx Newsletter | Supermoon Blamed For Grounding of 5 Vessels, U.S. Coast Guard Monitors Radiation Risk To Pacific Ports

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Volume 9, Edition 24 (March 24, 2011)

Supermoon Blamed For Grounding of 5 Vessels   Between the Isle of Wright and Hampshire Coast, 5 ships ran aground within hours in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.  The Solent sandbanks the vessels hit are not normally exposed, but it is believed that the “supermoon” phenomenon led to unexpectedly lower tides.  Known to affect the progression of tides, the moon was closest to the Earth as it had been in 19 years when the groundings took place, only 221,567 miles away, leaving it hard to believe the super moon wasn’t the culprit for the low tides.  Tides are strongest at new or full moon, and even stronger at lunar perigee, resulting in a more disparate range of high and low tides.  Usually, a supermoon will only lower tides around 1 inch, but sometimes a sea can lose more a depth of 6 inches, like in the case of Solent. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) stated that there had been a... Read More>>> Back to Top Bulk Carrier Runs Aground and Spills Fuel in South Atlantic   Last week a large bulk carrier, the MS Oliva, ran aground Nightingale Island in the UK-territory Tristan da Cunha chain in the South Atlantic, spilling an unknown amount of the 1,500 tons of heavy fuel oil into the sea of the uninhabited and largely pristine island.  According to salvage sources, a great deal of the fuel is still contained on the Panamax-sized bulk carrier, however there are fears that this could become a major environmental disaster as the oil is heavily affecting the bird species of the island, and the economically lucrative rock lobsters.  Currently of most concern to environmentalists is the already endangered species, the Northern Rock Hopper penguins, in which around 40% of the world’s population of these penguins are located on the Cunha island chain. 200,000 penguins and millions of sea birds are at risk from the oil slick, which is now surrounding the... Read More>>> Back to Top USCG Civilian Employee Nominated to Become Secretary-General of IMO   The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday that a civilian employee of the service is the U.S. candidate for Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization. Jeffrey Lantz, the Coast Guard’s Director for Commercial Regulations and Standards, will be a candidate in the International Maritime Organization’s elections scheduled for the 106th International Maritime Organization Council in London, June 27 to July 1, 2011. Lantz is responsible for developing U.S. national maritime safety and environmental protection regulations and policies.  He also oversees U.S. initiatives in the development of international maritime safety, security and environmental protection standards. “Jeff is one of the Coast Guard's best senior leaders who has superbly managed commercial maritime regulation with the care and precision it requires," said Coast Guard Commandant... Read More>>> Back to Top U.S. Coast Guard Monitors Radiation Risk To Pacific Ports   The U.S. Coast Guard is working to ensure the safety of the maritime transportation system in the aftermath of the tragedy in Japan. Based on an analysis by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, there is no indication that harmful radiation will reach the U.S., whether it is the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories including Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The U.S. government has determined that radiation levels outside a zone of 50 miles centered on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant do not pose a human health hazard. As a result, the Coast Guard has issued a Navigational Warning advising vessels to avoid transiting within a precautionary area of 50 miles of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. As vessels and cargo which remain outside of the precautionary area do not pose any human health hazard, they will not be subject to additional... Read More>>> Back to Top Department of Interior Approves First Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Exploration   Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Director Michael R. Bromwich today announced that the bureau has approved an Exploration Plan, submitted by Shell Offshore Inc., following the completion of a site-specific Environmental Assessment (SEA) for deepwater oil and gas exploration. This is the first new deepwater exploration plan approved since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill. An exploration plan describes all exploration activities planned by the operator for a specific lease or leases, including the timing of these activities, information concerning drilling vessels, the location of each planned well, and other relevant information that needs to meet important safety standards. Once a plan is approved, additional new applications for permits to drill can be issued. “The reforms we have implemented have... Read More>>> Back to Top Indian Navy Commended By IMB For Robust Action Against Pirates   The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) commends the Indian navy’s latest action against piracy off the country’s west coast, which saw a mother ship neutralised and 61 pirates captured. The action, undertaken on 14 March 2011, saw the MV Vega-5 captured some 600 nautical miles off Mumbai. The vessel itself had been hijacked by Somali pirates on 28 December 2010, and her position and the number of pirates found onboard suggest that the vessel had been used to stage multiple attacks on shipping in the Indian Ocean. The captured pirates have been taken to Mumbai to be questioned. IMB Director Pottengal Mukundan commented: “IMB congratulates the Indian navy on the firm stance taken by them against the pirates and particularly the capture of a large number of pirates. This instance shows that the pirates were planning attacks against ships on an industrial scale. This action has... Read More>>> Back to Top Third Deepwater Drilling Permit Approved By BOEMRE   The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today approved a third  additional deepwater drilling permit that complies with all of the new safety standards, including demonstrated containment capacity, implemented in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill. The approved permit is a revised permit to drill a new well for ATP Oil & Gas Corporation’s Well #4 in Mississippi Canyon Block 941, located approximately 90 miles south of Venice, La.   “This permit approval demonstrates that deepwater drilling can and will continue in the Gulf of Mexico provided that operators have successfully demonstrated their ability to operate safely,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich. “Further deepwater energy development is necessary and appropriate so long as it is done safely and in an environmentally responsible... Read More>>> Back to Top Dredging Around Coral Reefs   Facts About Dredging Around Coral Reefs Coral reefs are large, long-lived bio-geological structures that include all associated marine plants and animals. Although Coral Reefs are robust and have often withstood the forces of storms, climatic change, sea level change and predators, the living elements are just a very thin veneer of delicate tissue, highly sensitive to the surrounding environment. Healthy coral reefs provide an array of services to human communities, including food, especially protein, shoreline protection, support for the livelihoods of local communities, such as fishing and tourism and they help sustain cultural traditions. In contrast, unhealthy or degraded coral reefs are often linked to a decline in natural resources. One estimate puts the economic value of... Read More>>> Back to Top Castrol GreenField Takes Environmental Lead   GreenField lubricants from Castrol Offshore are likely to remain the only products fully tested to environmentally-responsible standards set by Norwegian authorities through 2011. Changes to Norwegian Activities Regulations introduced on January 1st 2010 require discharged lubricants and chemicals, used in closed systems in amounts of more than 3000kg a year per facility, to be registered for use offshore. Applications including crane hydraulics, thrusters, drilling system hydraulics and mooring winch gears, require Harmonised Offshore Chemicals Notification Format (HOCNF) registered products. Castrol Offshore proactively registered its products before the January 1st 2010 deadline. Castrol Offshore’s environmental specialist, Susannah Linington, explains, “We believe we remain in the unique position of being... Read More>>> Back to Top Extra Year In Office For Baltic Exchange Chairman Mark Jackson   The Baltic Exchange has announced that at the request of the Board, current Chairman Mark Jackson will continue in the role for one further year, extending his current two year term which commenced on 8 July 2009. The plan was initiated by the Baltic Exchange’s Vice-Chairman Paul Over and unanimously ratified at a recent Board meeting. "Right now the Baltic needs both stability and continuity of leadership. Mark has done an excellent job in broadening the activity of the Baltic in step with the developments of its markets and the Board is very keen that he should stay on to complete the task. His leadership in the freight derivatives arena has been indispensible. With the Baltic on the cusp of launching Baltex, a centralised trading screen for the dry freight derivatives market, we are pleased that our constitution permits the flexibility to extend Mark’s tenure,” said Paul... Read More>>> Back to Top Over-Tonnaging Fears See Confidence Dip Again As Shipping Finance Costs Rise   Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry dropped for the third successive quarter in the three months ending February 2011, to reach their lowest level for fifteen months, according to the latest survey by leading accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. Over-tonnaging and the uncertainty created by political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa were the dominant themes running throughout the responses to the survey, which also revealed an increase across all categories in the number of respondents who expected finance costs to rise over the coming year. In February 2011, the average confidence level expressed by respondents in the markets in which they operate was 5.8 on a scale of 1(Low) to 10(High), compared to 6.0 in the previous survey in November 2010. Confidence over the three-month period covered by the latest survey fell most noticeably on the part of brokers (down... Read More>>> Back to Top No Restrictions On Travel To Japan   International flight and maritime operations can continue normally into and out of Japan’s major airports and sea ports, excluding those damaged by the tsunami, according to the latest information available from the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization. While there is currently no medical basis for imposing restrictions, the United Nations organizations are monitoring the situation closely and will advise of any changes.  Screening for radiation of international passengers from Japan is not considered necessary at this time. Currently available information indicates that increased levels have been detected at some airports, but these do not represent any health risk. Further information is available on the website of the World... Read More>>> Back to Top Thuraya Satcom Solutions Deployed for Japanese Relief Operations   Following the devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake which struck Japan, triggering the 23-foot Tsunami that damaged the terrestrial fixed and mobile networks, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in coordination with Thuraya have deployed vital satellite communication equipment to enable relief efforts. This includes the world’s smallest broadband solution, Thuraya IP and satellite handheld phones. Satellite communications are providing reliable and robust communications which are being used by local government organisations responsible for coordinating search and rescue efforts. “Thuraya has always played a pivotal role in providing reliable communications during and after natural disasters to facilitate search and rescue operations and assist humanitarian efforts within our 140-country coverage area. Thuraya IP is easily deployable, rugged and backed by a robust satellite network... Read More>>> Back to Top MARAD Gives Brazil Green Light For 5 PSV’s at Eastern Shipbuilding   The U.S. Maritime Administration has approved the request from Boldini, S.A. of Brazil for financing guarantees reaching $227million over the span of 25 years for construction of 5 platform supply vessels at Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Florida.  This appears to be the last hurdle for Eastern Shipbuilding and Boldini in the 2-year long Title XI loan process.  Pre-engineering work will begin for the 282-foot long platforms destined for the growing offshore industry in Brazil.  Florida Senator, Bill Nelson, has been an integral advocate in the entire recruitment process with Brazil and stated that the work can commence in as little as 6 months.  The contract is integral for the recovery of Florida’s waning economic climate, especially after the dramatic spill in the Gulf.  Senator Nelson says it will create as many as 300 well-paying jobs for multiple... Read More>>> Back to Top APM Terminals Shines Again at PMA Safety Awards   Both APM Terminals Pier 400 Los Angeles, and APM Terminals Tacoma are recognized for Accident Prevention performance in 2010.  APM Terminals’ Pier 400 Los Angeles facility, the largest container terminal in the Port of Los Angeles, was awarded First Place for the fourth consecutive year in the Pacific Maritime Association’s Coast Accident Prevention Awards ceremony in the category of Terminal Operations, Group A, representing terminal operations with one million or more man-hours worked in 2010. APM Terminals Tacoma won Second Place in the Group C category, which includes facilities of between 100,000 and 499,999 man hours worked for the year. “I join with the Americas Safety Council in congratulating our Pier 400 and Tacoma terminals for a difficult job well done” said APM Terminals Americas Region President Eric Sisco. The Accident Prevention Awards... Read More>>> Back to Top International Transport Forum 2011 Update   The International Transport Forum is an Intergovernmental Organisation within the OECD family that acts as a global transport policy think tank and organises an annual summit with transport ministers, decision-makers from business, top academics and leading figures from civil society from its 52 member countries and beyond. The 2011 summit will take place on 25-27 May in the city of Leipzig, Germany, and focus on the theme of Transport for Society. To enable journalists from outside Europe to attend the 2011 summit, the International Transport Forum offers a number of Media Travel Grants for overseas journalists to travel to Leipzig in May. Journalists from the following countries are eligible for travel grants: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Korea, Turkey, USA. Journalists from other countries may... Read More>>> Back to Top Aberdeen Businessman Appointed To Romar International Board   Grampian Industrialist of the Year 2009 George Yule has joined the Board of Aberdeenshire-based Romar International as executive Chairman and will lead the company’s growth across the global oil and gas sector. Formerly CEO of Dominion Gas, where he led the company through an MBO in 2007 and two follow-on acquisitions, Mr Yule will join co-owners Robbie Gray and Martin McKenzie as a shareholder in Romar International. Mr Yule said: “This is a terrific opportunity for me to join an established SME with an impressive track record. The company has a firm focus on international growth, having already built a strong reputation as the market leader in the North Sea drilling fluids and magnetic separation sectors.” Romar International, with a turnover in excess of £2million, provides magnetic separation products and services to operators and drilling contractors.... Read More>>> Back to Top SpecTec Group Opens Newest Office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil   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

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MarEx Newsletter | U.S. Maritime Gets No Money from DOT or MARAD in 2012 Budgets, Great Lakes Leaders Declare State of Emergency

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Volume 9, Edition 21 (March 15, 2011)

Lakes Leaders Declare State of Emergency After Proposal To Let Dredging Sink To Lowest Level In 50-Plus Years   The Administration’s proposal to slash the Great Lakes dredging budget by 32 percent in FY12 has the Great Lakes shipping industry declaring a State of Emergency.  The Administration’s proposed appropriation for Lakes dredging next year will remove the smallest amount of sediment since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started keeping records more than half a century ago.  As a result, only 11 of the 83 U.S ports on the Great Lakes will be dredged.   “Never in my 51 years in this industry have I seen such a total abandonment of the Federal government’s responsibility to maintain the Great Lakes Navigation System,” said John D. Baker, President of Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the largest labor/management coalition ever to promote shipping on America’s Fourth Sea Coast.  “Cargo movement on the Fourth Sea Coast can top 200 million tons per...   Read More>>> Back to Top U.S. Maritime Gets No Money from DOT or MARAD in 2012 Budgets   It’s “MARCH MADNESS” as Administration slights the U.S. Maritime Industry Again By Tony Munoz, Editorin-Chief of the Maritime Executive Magazine and MarEx Newsletter Secretary LaHood and Administrator Masuda went before Congress this March with their respective DOT and MARAD budgets for 2012. And, as usual, the U.S maritime was left out of America’s plans for cleaner, safer, and more fuel efficient modes of transportation for domestic commerce. DOT-MARAD essentially shelved the marine highways program and job creation for waterfront and shipyard workers till later in the decade. On March 1st, the administrator for MARAD went before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to deliver its $357.8 million budget request, which is $5 million less than the 2010 budget. While eighty-six percent of the... Read More>>> Back to Top Implications of the Japan Crisis   Earthquake will have significant impact across dry bulk commodity markets   In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that has hit Japan, fears are growing over the potential for radiation leaks from damaged nuclear plants. Equity markets have been hit while FFA prices have also sustained significant losses. With the situation still unfolding, the longer term impact of the disaster on commodity markets is unclear, although some initial conclusions can be drawn.     Read More>>> Back to Top Up to 50 Pirates Hijack Bulk Carrier In N. Arabian Sea   Pirates hijacked the MV SINAR KUDUS approximately 320 nautical miles northeast of the island of Socotra Wednesday morning, the EU NAVFOR said. The Indonesian flagged ship was sailing to Suez from Singapore when she was attacked. The 20 Indonesian crewmembers sent out a distress signal and reported that 30 to 50 pirates had boarded and taken control of the ship. According to EU NAVFOR, on Thursday pirates used the SINAR KUDUS as a mother ship to attack the Liberian flagged bulk carrier, MV EMPEROR. Five pirates launched a skiff and attempted to board the vessel. An onboard security team deterred the pirates and the EMPEROR continued on her route. Also on Thursday, Tunisia’s transport ministry announced that the MV Hannibal II had been released, after a $2 million ransom had been paid. The MV Hannibal II was hijacked on November 11, 2010. According to the IMB Piracy Reporting... Read More>>> Back to Top The Crisis In Bahrain Must be Solved Through National Dialogue   The Director-General of the International Labour Office, Juan Somavia, expresses his grave concern at today's declaration of a state of emergency in Bahrain. This constitutes a serious setback to civil liberties, including the rights to legitimate trade union action. In the current volatile situation it is even more urgent to intensify efforts towards the dialogue that has started between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the key actors of society. The Director-General shares fully the concern expressed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and other world leaders about the recent violence and the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators, which have included many trade unionists. Director-General Somavia emphasizes that "the ILO's long-standing activities with the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation... Read More>>> Back to Top Pirates Release MV Hannibal II for $2 Million   The EU NAVFOR reports that Somali pirates have released the Panamanian flagged chemical tanker, MV Hannibal II, after holding the vessel and crew for more than four months. The ship was hijacked on November 11, 2010 approximately 860 nautical miles east of the Horn of Africa. The 30-crew members from Tunisia, Philippines, Croatia, Georgia, Russia and Morocco are currently sailing to Djibouti. The Hannibal II had 31 crewmembers onboard when she was hijacked but in December one crewmember was allowed to be medically evacuated through a joint effort between the Combined Maritime Force and the EU NAVFOR. The crewmember was thought to have appendicitis and the ships captain negotiate with pirates to get him the treatment he needed. The ships owner, Polo Navigation Ltd. reports that the crew is safe and healthy. In a statement released Thursday Tunisia’s transport authority said that... Read More>>> Back to Top Panama Canal Authority Awarded for its Ethical Leadership and Sustainable Business Practices   ONE OF THE TOP RECIPIENTS OF THE 2011 “WORLD’S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES” AWARD Recognized internationally for its innovative work and ethical business practices, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies.  According to the Ethisphere Institute, the ACP secured a spot on the list from a record number of nominations by “going the extra mile and implementing upright business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to the company’s success, benefit the community, and raise the bar for ethical standards within the industry.” “We are truly honored by this award. At the Canal – we have a set of Guiding Principles – our True North if you will, that inform and inspire our work. At the very core of these principles is our commitment to transparency,... Read More>>> Back to Top IMarEST Establishes Special Interest Group On Ballast Water   The introduction of non-native species via the discharge of ship's ballast water is one of the main threats to marine biodiversity, with alien species often capable of out-competing native species – effective ballast water management (BWM) and the dissemination of good practice are thus essential throughout the marine community. The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) is playing a key role.   IMarEST is the host of a new BWM Special Interest Group (SIG), the Ballast Water Expert Group (BWEG). SIGs are formed by IMarEST members sharing a common interest. They use certain facilities at IMarEST HQ, share knowledge among SIG members and disseminate that knowledge to a wider audience, including via a dedicated web page on the IMarEST website.    The BWEG held its inaugural meeting in May 2010, its second on 1 October...   Read More>>> Back to Top SOCP Announces Release of Exhaust Gas Cleaning System Selection Guide   The Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) is pleased to announce the release of a recently completed study on Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS). SOCP conducted the study in light of new EPA regulations that become mandatory to ships operating in Emission Control Areas (ECA) in 2015 requiring low sulfur emission. The objective of the study is to assist ship operators in the dilemma of switching to expensive distillate fuel in ECA or install EGCS and continue to burn hi-sulfur heavy fuels. The Guide will assist ship operators in determining their emissions requirements, calculating potential cost savings, and understanding the integration and operational challenges of various EGCS technologies available today. The development of this Guide is made possible through the financial support of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP). Read More>>> Back to Top Arrest Order Forces Cruise Ship Owner To Settle Outstanding Ship Agency Bill International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has warned that failure to pay ship agents promptly in accordance with contractual agreements can have serious consequences for shipowners, and can potentially involve them in costs which far exceed any unpaid invoices.   In the latest issue of its Claims Review, ITIC cites the case of aSouth American ship agent which was owed $25,000 by the owners of a cruise ship in respect of crew costs and supplies. The costs had been incurred over the course of a number of port calls and, when reminders and chasers to the owners failed to elicit payment, it was decided that more aggressive action was needed.   ITIC ascertained that the ship was chartered to a cruise line, was due to sail from a port in the Canadian Arctic for the High Arctic, and had no apparent plans to revisit South American waters. ITIC instructed Canadian lawyers to arrest the... Read More>>> Back to Top Naming Ceremony For Seven Havila Held In Stavanger   Subsea 7, a leading seabed-to-surface engineering and construction services contractor, Havila Shipping and Havyard Design & Engineering held an official naming ceremony for the new-build diving support vessel, Seven Havila, in Stavanger on Thursday 17 March 2011. The vessel, one of the most sophisticated of its kind, is 120 metres long with 1050 m2 of deck space and is capable of travelling at a fast transit speed of 17 knots. Owned through a Joint Venture with Havila Shipping and Subsea 7, she is a DP Class III vessel, equipped with fully computerised diving systems  and a 250 tonnes heave-compensated main offshore crane. Designed by Havyard Design and Engineering, Norway and built by Havyard Ship Technology (previously Havyard Leirvik), the ship is capable of high speed transit, is classed for operations in ice and is fully NORSOK compliant.  Accommodating a crew of 120, the... Read More>>> Back to Top InterManager: Put Ship-Based Decision Making Back In the Hands of the Crew   Decision-making needs to go back to the hands of crew and away from shore-based managers, says InterManager President Alastair Evitt. "I regret to say it - but in many cases shipboard management teams have to be retrained to think for themselves, to understand the commercial issues and to have an awareness of product and service delivery," he will tell delegates at the influential CMA conference in the USA today (March 21st). Taking part in the opening round table debate, entitled: The State of the Industry Today, Mr Evitt will outline modern issues affecting the recruitment and retention of quality seafarers.  Describing how he believes current maritime legislative and methods are "driving decision making from the bridge and control room of the vessels to the respective shore-based management office", Mr Evitt will... Read More>>> Back to Top Keppel FELS Delivers 7th KFELS SSDT to Seadrill Ahead of Schedule   Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has delivered its seventh KFELS semisubmersible drilling tender (SSDT), West Jaya, to Seadrill Limited (Seadrill). Completed two weeks ahead of schedule, the vessel was delivered with a perfect safety record and within budget. West Jaya is built to Keppel's proven KFELS SSDT 3600E design which was conferred the ASEAN outstanding engineering achievement award in December 2009 for its eco-friendly features and sustainable operations. Seadrill are in negotiation with BP Trinidad & Tobago LLC for West Jaya to work in the Immortelle field for two years. The vessel was named at Keppel FELS by Lady Sponsor Mrs Marie Chew, spouse of Mr Marcus Chew, Director of Business Development at Seadrill. Mr Alf Ragnar Løvdal, Senior Vice President of Seadrill Asia Pacific, said, "The six previous tender rigs we built here have established... Read More>>> Back to Top Cargotec Joins Forces With Navis   Cargotec has completed the acquisition of terminal operating system (TOS) provider Navis from Zebra Technologies Corporation. Cargotec announced its decision to acquire Navis on 31 January 2011. The acquisition combines Navis' flexible and scalable TOS software with Cargotec's leading cargo and load handling equipment and services. Together, Cargotec and Navis will be able to offer integrated solutions putting them in a better position to deliver turnkey operations to customers. "Joining forces with Cargotec presents many exciting opportunities for us to better serve terminal operators all over the world. Together we can provide seamless integration between the critical elements of terminal operations.  Navis will continue to operate independently under its own company name and we will maintain our well-known brand and preserve our valuable customer, technology and equipment... Read More>>> Back to Top Marlink Secures Contract Renewal With Fugro-Geoteam   Reliable and flexible VSAT essential for seismic vessel operator Marlink, the global provider of maritime satellite communications, has recently extended its contract with seismic vessel operator Fugro-Geoteam for a further five years. As part of the latest agreement, Marlink will supply its innovative Sealink(TM) VSAT service to the seismic vessels via Marlink's Eik teleport in Norway, providing 512 Kbps of bandwidth and 10-15 telephone lines for each vessel.  "For safe, efficient and reliable operation of our vessels worldwide, it's important to have satellite communications solutions that we can trust. Marlink has proven to supply us with high quality services and bandwidth, reliable connectivity and great flexibility to tailor solutions to our specific needs," comments Øyvind Haddal, ICT-Manager, Fugro-Geoteam AS. "We are very satisfied with the... Read More>>> Back to Top IMSN Offers Triton Shield Anti-Piracy System   The International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize will evaluate IMSN's Triton Shield APS aboard a Horizon Lines vessel. Panama Maritime Authority certifies the IMSN's system. With seafarers' safety and lives at risk, along with the billions of dollars maritime piracy costs the global economy every year, International Maritime Security Network (IMSN) has developed a solution to combat piracy with its Triton Shield Anti-Piracy System (APS). The multi-layered defense package is designed to detect, deter and defend against piracy on the high seas by incorporating training, education, technological deterrents and security. After five years of research and testing, the final phase of testing for the Triton Shield APS will be completed by the end of March on a voyage from Jacksonville, Fla., to San Juan, Puerto Rico, aboard a Horizon Lines vessel. A representative from the... Read More>>> Back to Top America’s Women Seafarers Tell Their Stories     Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m. Community Church of New York  40 East 35th Street  Manhattan     This special Women at Sea program features a screening of the documentary "Shipping Out – The Story of America’s Seafaring Women" followed by a conversation with seven women mariners who work as mates aboard cargo ships, tug captains, marine engineers, pilots, port officials and more.   In honor of Women’s History Month, the Working Harbor Committee, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the history and present-day importance of...   Read More>>> Back to Top APM Terminals Honors MAGNUM Graduates   20 Participants representing 13 nations complete program in terminal management to become poised for leadership roles in the company. The Hague, The Netherlands – APM Terminals CEO Kim Fejfer was joined by Tiemen Meester, Vice President of APM Terminals Human Resources and Labor Relations in a ceremony at the Universidad de San Andres in Buenos Aires, Argentina bestowing diplomas upon the graduates of the latest APM Terminals Management (MAGNUM) training class. Chosen from applicants within the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network in a highly competitive selection process, MAGNUM participants proceed through a three-module program featuring practical terminal hands-on training assignments as well as rigorous classroom curricula. This year’s class was accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management and consisted of classes in Leadership, Finance and Operations; ... Read More>>> Back to Top Blowout: Legal Legacy of the Deepwater Horizon Catastrophe     APRIL 13, 2011 ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND   One of our nation's worst environmental and human disasters began on April 20, 2010 when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 people and injuring 17 others, and spilling millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.  What is the state of the law one year later as the human and environmental toll rises?  This conference will convene national leaders, elected officials and legal experts to examine the law's response to this calamity to date and consider the future legal legacy.  We will consider issues of tort liability, natural resource damages, and changes to law and regulation contemplated by Congress... Read More>>> Back to Top 8th Annual N. American Marine Highways & Logistics Conference   April 5-6, 2011, at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, near Baltimore, Maryland Theme: INTERMODAL’S ROAD AHEAD The supply chain of the future will be intermodal, but the fundamentals remain the same. Companies want the best value for shipping their products: the most efficient transportation for the lowest cost, and the value proposition may not be truck or rail alone. Shippers will face complex decisions to make as carriers contend with congestion, air quality issues, rising fuel costs, driver shortages, and new regulations. We would like to introduce the waterways as the newest piece of the intermodal mix. The marine highway can be a link in an intermodal supply chain that moves goods to their destination by ocean, inland river or Great Lakes in a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly way. Marine transportation can... Read More>>> Back to Top

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