Nakilat, Damen Shipyards Join Forces

Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd. (NAKILAT) has signed a joint venture agreement with Damen Shipyards Qatar Holding B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Damen Shipyards Group, to jointly operate a shipbuilding facility in the Port of Ras Laffan, Qatar. His Excellency Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah,

Deltamarin, New Ferry Design Contracts

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and Société des Traversiers du Québec have both ordered new passenger ferry designs from Deltamarin. Both companies named sustainable design and excellent energy efficiency as important criteria in the designs.The order of the Scottish

HMT Trust Fund Coalition, 2011 Budget

The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Fairness Coalition expressed disappointment in President Obama's budget proposal for the 2011 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Civil Works Program. The Coalition said the proposed budget of $4.887b continues to inadequately invest in our nation's water resources infrastructure,

Clarifying In-Port Sulphur Limits

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has moved quickly to dispel the apparent confusion currently surrounding implementation of the EU directive requiring all ships to use low-sulphur fuel while at berth in EU ports.EU Directive 2005/33/EC requires that, with effect from January 1,

EPE to Prep Hazmat Inventory for Ship Recycling

Environmental Protection Engineering S.A. (EPE) attends to prepare the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) for the entire Reederei Thomas Schulte fleet (33 container vessels) according to the new IMO Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention). Reederei Thomas Schulte GmbH & Co.

USS Ashland Loads Supplies for Haiti

Amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) moored at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Feb. 1-2 to on load food, water and supplies for the Haiti relief effort.Ashland took on more than 200 pallets of supplies, including more than 35 cases of bottled water, approximately 10,000 meals-ready-to-eat (MREs),

Sunken Sub in Balabac Strait is USS Flier

Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC), Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny announced that a sunken vessel located in the Balabac Strait area of the Philippines is in fact the World War II submarine USS Flier (SS 250). “I am honored to announce that, with video evidence and information

Hyundai Heavy Buys Stake in Brazilian Yard

According to a Feb. 4 report from JoonAng Daily, Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed a deal to acquire a 10 percent stake in the Brazilian shipbuilder OSX Estaleiros in order to secure more ship orders and insulate itself against the country’s rising buy-Brazilian agenda, Hyundai said.(Source: JoongAng Daily) 

Easier Access to Electronic Charts

ENCs from Primar can now be downloaded directly to an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) after type-approval of the first such unit able to communicate with the internet.Certified by Det Norske Veritas, the new ECDIS-4000 from Sweden’s Adveto Advanced Technology

Greater Access to INTERTANKO Database

Access to INTERTANKO's Terminal Vetting Database (TVD) is now available to those who are tanker owners/operators, terminal owners/operators, PSC authorities and others with a legitimate interest in improving safety, but who are not Members or Associate Members of the Association. Access to the TVD continues to remain free of charge,

North Korean M/V Rim Hijacked, Gulf of Aden

The General Cargo vessel, M/V Rim is reported to have been hijacked the morning of Feb. 3 in the Gulf of Aden to the north of the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). M/V Rim is not registered with MSC HOA and has had no communications with UKMTO.The Rim was in the North

Pirates Release Bulk Carrier Filitsa

The Bulk Carrier Filitsa, hijacked in the Somali Basin on Nov. 11, 2009, has been released after payment of a ransom. The Marshall Island Flag Filitsa, with her crew of 22 (19 Philippino and three Greek) had been held at the pirate stronghold of Hobyo, on the Somali coast.The Filitsa was

New Wilhelmsen Office in Russian Baltic Port

Wilhelmsen Ships Service has opened an office on the port of Primorsk on the Russian Baltic Sea. The company started providing its broad range of ships agency services there in December 2009, supplying first MT Atalandi, which sailed on Dec. 16, and then MT Atlas Voyager, which sailed on Dec. 20. Since

Bristol Harbor Helps Convert Trico Moon

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc.(BHGI), of Bristol, RI, recently completed design plans for modifications to Trico Moon, a 210-ft platform supply vessel (PSV) for Trico Marine Services Company, Inc. of Texas. Trico Marine Services and Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc. performed the modifications in Mexico, which included the addition of a habitation module,

This Day in Coast Guard History – Feb. 4

1859- U.S. signs "Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation" with Paraguay at Asuncion after the revenue cutter Harriet Lane, as part of a US Navy expedition, forced the opening of the Paraguay and Parana Rivers.1863-  Commissioned officers of the Revenue Cutter Service

Star Bulk Sells Capesize Vessel Star Beta

Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (NASDAQ: SBLK), a global shipping company focusing on transportation of dry bulk cargoes, announced it has entered into an agreement to sell the Star Beta, a 174,691 dwt Capesize vessel, built 1993, to a third party for a contracted sale price of $22m. The company expects to

Hijacked Dhow Faize Osamani Freed

The M/V Asian Glory put to sea on Friday Jan. 29 and headed south to rendezvous with suspected pirate groups in the Indian Ocean. On Saturday Jan. 30, she headed north and eventually made a rendezvous with the hijacked Dhow Faize Osamani.The Faize Osamani was last reported leaving Karachi,

This Day in Coast Guard History – Feb. 3

1801- Treaty of peace with France was ratified on this date, thereby ending the "Quasi-War," in which cutters of the Revenue Marine had rendered outstanding service.1880- Date of a terrific gale on the New Jersey coast. Six vessels came ashore with 47 persons on board all but two survived.

UAE, NAMEPA Environmental Summit

The United Arab Emirates is an emerging force as a global maritime center.  Since 2006 is has launched its ship registry, developed its extensive maritime resources, and experienced continued growth in every maritime sector.The UAE will be presenting a summit on environmental vigilance

Titan Refloats the Monongahela

Leveraging the strength of Titan's 300-metric ton linear hydraulic pullers, Titan safely refloated the Monongahela, a decommissioned tanker ship on the James River in Virginia last week.  The salvage team, led by Capt. Guy Wood, executed several test pulls on the tanker before last