Wightlink unveils plans for new Fishbourne Portsmouth ferry

An artist's impression of the new Wightlink ferry for the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route
An artist’s impression of the new Wightlink ferry for the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route

Wightlink has unveiled the dates and locations for its public exhibition of its proposed £45 million investment plans, which include a new ferry for the Fishbourne to Portsmouth route capable of taking 1,000 passengers, plus port improvements on both sides of the Solent.

Senior managers from Wightlink are looking forward to hearing views from customers, stakeholders and local people in both Fishbourne and Portsmouth during the first weekend in June:

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The government of British Columbia sets out an LNG investment plan

bcAgreements reached between the government of B.C. and Pacific NorthWest LNG establish the path to a final investment decision on the project and set the stage for a potential US$36-billion investment in Northern B.C. that will be a key driver of jobs and economic activity in the province.

B.C. Premier Christy Clark and Michael Culbert, president of Pacific NorthWest LNG, signed a memorandum of understanding that sets out the steps leading toward ratification of a project development agreement between government and the company. Michael de Jong, Minister of Finance, signed the project development agreement on behalf of government, which initiates a ratification process by both the company and the British Columbia Legislature. Rich Coleman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development, signed the Province’s long-term royalty agreement with the company.

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New software to calculate a ship’s speed trial launched by ClassNK

A freely available piece of software called PrimeShip-GREEN/ProSTA, which analyses and calculates a ship's speed trial has been launched by ClassNK
A freely available piece of software called PrimeShip-GREEN/ProSTA, which analyses and calculates a ship’s speed trial has been launched by ClassNK

Classification agency ClassNK has introduced a new software called PrimeShip-GREEN/ProSTA to analyse and calculate a ship’s speed trial, which is freely available.

Results can be used to calculate the energy efficiency design index (EEDI) in compliance with the latest International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines. In its guidelines on survey and certification of the EEDI, the IMO has provided two methods to avoid the effects of external factors during sea trials and deliver a way to analyse and calculate a ship’s speed in calm sea conditions.

IMO’s assigned approaches include ISO 15016: 2002 and the International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC) Recommended Procedures. ISO and ITTC collaborated to create the new harmonised international standard after the IMO requested to eliminate this dual standard.

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Global demand for LNG ships is growing

Worldwide demand for LNG ships is growing fast and Korean yards are expected to be the main beneficiary
Worldwide demand for LNG ships is growing fast and Korean yards are expected to be the main beneficiary

Ship owners around the world are placing orders for new LNG ships one after another. Many of them are expected to go to Korean shipbuilders.

According to industry sources, Gail of India is planning to purchase nine LNG ships, three from Indian shipbuilders and the rest from foreign ones. BP Shipping is discussing LNG ship order placement with three ship owners to reach a conclusion within this month, too. Engie of France is expected to buy up to four ships for the Cameron LNG Project. Korean shipbuilders boasting of a high level of technical strength are appealing to the ordering parties.

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Dual-Fuel L35/44DF engine moves towards market entry

At an official event in Augsburg representatives from all major classification societies awarded type approval to MAN Diesel & Turbo’s L35/44DF engine.
At an official event in Augsburg representatives from all major classification societies awarded type approval to MAN Diesel & Turbo’s L35/44DF engine

At an official event in Augsburg representatives from all major classification societies awarded type approval to MAN Diesel & Turbo’s L35/44DF engine. The engine showed a perfect performance and is now certified for GenSet and Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) operation all over the world. Lasting from March 30 to April 2 this has been the longest type approval test (TAT) MAN has run so far. Within the shipping industry, all new engines require type approval before installation on board a ship. Class certificates are valid for 5-7 years.

The first L35/44DF’s FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) will take place at MAN Diesel & Turbo’s Frederikshavn, Denmark facility in May, for which the Type Approval Test in Augsburg is a prerequisite.

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The first electric car ferry in the world starts work

Norwegian shipbuilder Fjellstrand has built the world's first electric car ferry for Norled
Norwegian shipbuilder Fjellstrand has built the world’s first electric car ferry for Norled

The world’s first electric car and passenger ferry powered by batteries – the MF Ampere – has entered service in Norway.

The vessel’s owner Norled has started operating the electric car ferry on a route across Sognefjord between Lavik and Oppedal. The fully electric ferry travels six kilometers across the fjord 34 times a day, with each trip taking around 20 minutes.

The ferry, which is 80 meters long and 20 meters wide, is driven by two electric motors, each with an output of 450 kilowatts. It is made exclusively of light aluminum, which makes it only half as heavy as a conventional ferry, despite its ten ton batteries and a capacity for 360 passengers and 120 vehicles.

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Rolls-Royce celebrates 50 years of Azimuth Thruster production

The renowned azimuth thruster by Rolls-Royce has recently celebrated 50 years since it launched
The renowned azimuth thruster by Rolls-Royce has recently celebrated 50 years since it launched

Rolls-Royce has celebrated 50 years since it delivered the first azimuth thruster. Today, the product range is one of the Group’s most successful marine products, powering and positioning some of the world’s largest floating structures.

Azimuthing thrusters rotate through 360 degrees, providing propulsion and maneuverability, without the need for a rudder.

At an event in Rauma, Finland, John Rishton, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce and Mikael Makinen, President – Marine, Rolls-Royce, joined employees to mark the occasion.
John Rishton said: “Today marks a hugely significant milestone for our Marine business and particularly the team here in Rauma, our centre of excellence for large thruster production.

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UK Government urged to get its slice of the valuable maritime sector

Red Ship in PortFollowing the election of the new Conservative Government in the UK, Nautilus has welcomed new research showing that the maritime sector is worth almost £10bn a year to the UK economy.

A report from Oxford Economics values the combined direct contribution of the UK maritime services sector – including the shipping, ports and business services industries – to have been £9.9bn in 2013.

The sector directly employed a total of 239,200 people in 2013 and the combined direct contribution of maritime industries to the exchequer was £2.5bn.

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World’s most environmentally friendly ultra large container vessel named by UASC

UASC has named the industry’s most eco-efficient container vessel at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), Mokpo South Korea
UASC has named the industry’s most eco-efficient container vessel at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), Mokpo South Korea

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) named the industry’s most eco-efficient container vessel at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), Mokpo South Korea today. M.V. ‘Barzan’ is a part of the industry’s first LNG-ready ultra-large container vessel fleet.

With a loading capacity of 18,800TEU, the DNV GL classed vessel M.V. ‘Barzan’ is first in a new class of leading ultra-large container vessels that will be the largest in UASC’s fleet to date and will set new standards for fuel and energy efficiency, due to optimized vessel design and an array of propulsion and equipment efficiency technologies. Preliminary calculations indicate an EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) value that is close to 50% below the 2025 limit set by IMO. UASC is working to establish a range of additional metrics and targets through which the efficiency of UASC’s vessels can be managed to drive further reduction in carbon emissions across all UASC vessels.

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New Panama Canal tolls structure approved

New Panama Canal tolls structure has been approved and will start from 1 April 2016
New Panama Canal tolls structure has been approved and will start from 1 April 2016

The Cabinet Council of the Republic of Panama has officially approved a proposal to modify the Panama Canal tolls structure, following a recommendation from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors. The accepted proposal, which modifies the pricing structure for most Canal segments, will better facilitate the Canal’s goal of providing outstanding service and reliability to the global shipping and maritime community while allowing the ACP to safeguard the competitiveness of the waterway.

Today’s passage follows more than a year of informal consultations with representatives from various industry segments, an open call for comments, and a public hearing to solicit industry feedback on these changes.

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Cheeki Rafiki report published by the MAIB

The MAIB report into the loss of the Cheeki Rafiki and her crew has been published. Photograph courtesy of United States Coast Guard
The MAIB report into the loss of the Cheeki Rafiki and her crew has been published. Photograph courtesy of United States Coast Guard

Nearly a year on from the loss of the Cheeki Rafiki in the Atlantic with the loss of her four crew, the MAIB has published its report into this distressing matter. The incident, which received massive UK media coverage at the time, sent shockwaves through the marine and yachting world.

Despite an extensive search that found the upturned hull of the Cheeki Rafiki, the four crew remain missing. The hull was not recovered and is assumed to have sunk. In the absence of survivors and material evidence, the causes of the accident remain a matter of some speculation. However, it is concluded that the Cheeki Rafiki capsized and inverted following a detachment of its keel.

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Carriage of bauxite cargoes and liquefaction risks

Writing in the London P&I Club's bulletin StopLoss, Dr Martin Jonas considers the potential liquefaction of bauxite cargoes
Writing in the London P&I Club’s bulletin StopLoss, Dr Martin Jonas considers the potential liquefaction of bauxite cargoes

The potential liquefaction of bauxite cargoes has been the subject of a number industry bulletins in recent years. These concerns have been renewed following the recent sinking of the bulk carrier Bulk Jupiter, which was reportedly carrying 46,400 MT of bauxite loaded at Kuantan in Malaysia.

Writing in the April issue of the London P&I Club’s bulletin StopLoss, Dr Martin Jonas, Brookes Bell LLP, Liverpool, makes the following observations.

Similar to other unprocessed ores, such as iron ore fines and nickel ore, grades of bauxite that contain a high proportion of fines capable of retaining significant moisture are potentially at risk of liquefaction, resulting in cargo shift which may cause the capsizing of the carrying ship. Such Continue reading “Carriage of bauxite cargoes and liquefaction risks”

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