Munkebo Maersk becomes the biggest ship to sail the Thames

Munkebo Maersk becomes the biggest ship to sail the Thames
Munkebo Maersk becomes the biggest ship to sail the Thames

The 399 metre long Munkebo Maersk, which weighs in at 195,000 tonnes and is 60 metre wide became the largest vessel ever to sail up the Thames. The Munkebo Maersk is one of the largest container vessels in the world. She was helped into port by pilots from the Port of London Authority.

Munkebo Maersk can carry 18,300 x 20 foot containers.

Simon Moore, chief executive of DP World London Gateway, said: “This is yet another record and landmark moment for DP World London Gateway.

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Oceanco Delivers the first superyacht of 2015 – INFINITY

Built by Oceanco, INFINITY is the first superyacht to be delivered in 2015
Built by Oceanco, INFINITY is the first superyacht to be delivered in 2015

The new 89 metre INFINITY is the superyacht industry’s first delivery in 2015 – constructed by Oceanco. Built under the project name Y710, this magnificent yacht boasts a commanding exterior design by Espen Øino and an exceptional interior design by Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design and David Kleinberg Design Associates. Continue reading “Oceanco Delivers the first superyacht of 2015 – INFINITY”

Fincantieri lays keel for the Seven Seas Explorer

Fincantieri has laid the keel for the luxurious Seven Seas Explorer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Fincantieri has laid the keel for the luxurious Seven Seas Explorer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The first building block for Seven Seas Explorer was placed on 21 January 2015 during a special keel laying ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The keel laying signals a significant milestone in the construction for what will be the most luxurious ship ever built, and brings the vessel one step closer to its July 2016 maiden voyage.

In a ceremony befitting of the world’s most luxurious ship, a sleek black Rolls Royce Phantom transported the three symbolic coins to the keel laying event. Upon arrival, a dapper butler emerged with a red velvet pillow carrying the coins to be welded into the keel, including a rare 1921 U.S. silver coin known as the Peace Dollar symbolizing the safe passage of Seven Seas Explorer; a 1959 silver Italian Lire representing the year the Fincantieri shipyard was established; and a commemorative coin specially minted for this occasion.

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Royal Huisman to build 56 metre classic ketch

An impression of what the new 56 metre classic ketch to be built by Royal Huisman will look like
An impression of what the new 56 metre classic ketch to be built by Royal Huisman will look like

A classic ketch for family oriented Caribbean cruising and more is being built for an American couple, Royal Huisman has announced. The 183’7” (56-metre) megayacht, to be christened Aquarius, is set for delivery in late 2017.

Aquarius bears styling and naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects. The wood clad deckhouse, teak decks, long overhangs, rich-blue hull, and oval ports give her the profile the owners wanted. Royal Huisman has yet to release full specifications on her sailplan and structural dimensions, though the yacht is intended for good performance in light airs. Aquarius may further participate in some bucket regattas.

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Fincantieri Yachts delivers one of the tenth largest mega yachts in the world

Fincanteiri Yachts has delivered one of the tenth largest mega yachts in the world and the largest to be built in Italy
Fincanteiri Yachts has delivered one of the tenth largest mega yachts in the world and the largest to be built in Italy

At 140 metres long, the “Ocean Victory” is the largest yacht ever built in Italy and, according to the sector rankings, one of the tenth largest ever built in the world. The new mega yacht is positioned on the top market segment in terms of quality and performance and is characterized by complexity, high technology content, innovation, extreme care to details in the interior and exterior design.

The new ship has been acquired also thanks to the commitment of Alex Lees Buckley, broker with more than 30 years of experience in the most prestigious projects of the internationally renowned brokerage company Camper & Nicholsons. “Ocean Victory” has been designed on the basis of a new, unique concept, brainchild of the Monaco based naval designer Espen Oeino and the Paris based interior designer Cabinet Alberto Pinto. The new unit has been developed by the team of Fincantieri Yachts – business unit of Fincantieri specifically focused on this area.

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Naming of the world’s largest containership

The world's largest containership has been named CSCL Clobe. Photo: HHI
The world’s largest containership has been named CSCL Clobe. Photo: HHI

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co, Ltd. (HHI) announced today it held a naming ceremony for the world’s largest containership, the first of five 19,000 TEU containerships ordered from China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) in May 2013.

The naming ceremony for the world’s largest containership was attended by Xu Li Rong, chairman of China Shipping Group; Zhao Hong Zhou, managing director of CSCL; Qiu Guo Hong, Chinese ambassador to Korea; Choi Kil-seon, chairman and CEO of HHI and 150 other guests.

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Edith Maersk docks at DP World London Gateway

The Edith Maersk, the largest vessel ever to enter the River Thames, docked at DP World London Gateway
The Edith Maersk, the largest vessel ever to enter the River Thames, docked at DP World London Gateway

The Edith Maersk, the largest vessel ever to enter the River Thames, arrived at DP World London Gateway on Sunday 19 October.

The 396 metre long, 56 metre wide ship has a draught of 16 metres and can carry up to 15,500 teu.

The ship, which is just weeks shy of celebrating its first anniversary, left the terminal on Sunday night bound for Singapore.

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Mariners Alerting and Reporting Scheme (MARS)

Mariners Alerting and Reporting Scheme (MARS)
Mariners Alerting and Reporting Scheme (MARS)

What is MARS?

There is an important free resource available to the whole of the shipping industry that makes a major contribution to safety and that surveyors can help to improve. This is the Mariners Alerting and Reporting Scheme (MARS) operated by The Nautical Institute. MARS is a free resource and The Nautical Institute hopes that surveyors will help to make its existence known to the maritime world. The Nautical Institute wants as many mariners and, indeed, as many in shipping as possible, to benefit from lessoned learned from accidents and near misses. Surveyors can spread the word to let mariners and companies know the resource is there.

The background to MARS is known to all; across the major transportation modes and in many other fields, human error looms as the leading cause of both accidents and incidents. In recent years, the definition of human error has been expanded to include concepts such as unsafe supervision and organisational influences (e.g. resource management and operational processes). In the maritime industry approximately 90 percent of accidents can be traced to human error despite the promotion of regulations, training and quality management systems.

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First UK aircraft carrier centre blocks completed

Pictured are Cammell Laird's head of construction Jeff Jones, project director John Drummond and steelwork supervisor Joe Dawber.
Pictured are Cammell Laird’s head of construction Jeff Jones, project director John Drummond and steelwork supervisor Joe Dawber.

Cammell Laird has completed its first aircraft carrier centre blocks for a second ship set to become the centrepiece of Britain’s military capability.

The Birkenhead marine and engineering services company has fabricated and outfitted two aircraft carrier centre blocks for the new PRINCE OF WALES aircraft carrier, which are being transported by sea to the Rosyth shipyard in Scotland.

Construction of the blocks began in July 2013 and has involved a workforce of 250 including contractors. Cammell Laird is playing a key role in the aircraft carrier project, the biggest UK engineering project since the London Olympics.

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Alang – the Indian graveyard of ships

Alang - the ship graveyardIf you’re planning your next vacation, you probably won’t find Alang in any travel guides. You may not even find it on the map. This desolate six-mile stretch of land was once one of the most impoverished areas in India. But, in recent years, this piece of the Indian coastline in Gurajat state has become the world’s largest shipbreaking yard.

Where is Alang?

Alang, 185 miles (298 kilometers) northwest of Bombay, serves as the final stop for about half of the world’s maritime vessels. Alang is literally a graveyard for ships — the world’s once most powerful ships come here to die. Shipbreaking is just what it sounds like. Piece by piece, workers use basic tools to dismantle ships that are too old or too costly to maintain.

But why choose this remote spot to serve as the final destination for so many of the world’s obsolete ships? For one, Alang’s beachfront location is ideal for shipbreaking. Tides are heavy there, and the natural slope of the beach makes it easy for a ship to be run on shore.

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Plastic main propellers fitted for the first time

Black Plastic Boat Propellers
Black Plastic Boat Propellers

Japanese classification society ClassNK and Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd., have installed the world’s first carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) propellers on a main propulsion system of a merchant vessel.

The CFRP propeller was installed on the Taiko Maru, a domestic 499 GT chemical tanker owned by Sowa Kaiun YK by Marugame-based Koa industry Co., Ltd. in May 2014. The CFRP propeller installed on the vessel was developed and produced by Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd., with support from ClassNK, which granted approval for the design and manufacturing process of the CFRP propeller, as well as provided research and funding support for the project as part of the ClassNK Joint R&D for Industry Program. Despite its ultra-lightweight composition, CFRP exhibits the same, if not superior strength, to the aluminum-bronze composite materials used in conventional propellers, according to ClassNK. Due to the light weight of the propeller, propeller shafts can be manufactured with smaller diameters, contributing to a significant reduction in weight and fuel costs.

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New Panama Canal means increased insurance risks

As the Panama Canal prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, insurers are warning of the increased risks that will arise from its plan to double the cargo carrying capacity of ships transiting one of the world’s most important waterways. Every year, over 12,000 oceangoing ships navigate the canal, a figure which could increase significantly following the anticipated opening of the new locks in 2015. It is forecast the expansion will enable between 12 and 14 larger vessels per day (approximately 4,750 additional ships per year) to pass through the canal. Significantly, many of these ships are expected to be new-Panamax class container vessels of 12,600 teu, which are far larger than the existing largest vessels able to access the canal (4,400 teu).

AGCS experts warn the increased traffic and larger vessels may challenge the Panama Canal’s improved safety record over the past decade with the risks exacerbated through the initial period of the canal opening. Captain Rahul Khanna, AGCS’s Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting, explains the potential risk management impact of this expansion: “Larger ships automatically pose greater risks. The sheer amount of cargo carried means a serious casualty has the potential to lead to a sizeable loss and greater disruption. For example, a fully-loaded new-Panamax 12,600 teu container ship is as long as four football fields with a beam of up to 160 feet and could have an insured cargo value alone of $250 million.”

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