Shipping

BC Ferries announces its second LNG ferry is under construction

Posted on by News Hound
BC Ferries announces its second of three LNG ferries is under construction
BC Ferries announces its second of three LNG ferries is under construction

The first steel cut on BC Ferries’ second of three new intermediate class ferries (ICF) took place at Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdansk, Poland recently. The steel cut is another significant milestone in the construction of three new dual-fuel ferries, capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) or diesel.

These brand new vessels will replace ageing ships in the fleet and are part of a vessel replacement plan for standardized ships by BC Ferries to allow for greater interoperability. Standardization will provide the company with more flexibility to best utilize ships over their 40-year lifespan. This strategy will save on training and operating costs, and will better match capacity with demand throughout the system.

Continue reading “BC Ferries announces its second LNG ferry is under construction”

Munkebo Maersk becomes the biggest ship to sail the Thames

Posted on by News Hound
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.

Continue reading “Munkebo Maersk becomes the biggest ship to sail the Thames”

UK shipping fleet contracts

Posted on by News Hound
The UK shipping fleet contracted to its lowest level in 2014 since 2006
The UK shipping fleet contracted to its lowest level in 2014 since 2006

Shipping is a complex international business and many different parties, often based in different countries, may have a commercial interest in a single vessel.

The chart in the full document illustrates four of many ways that the UK shipping fleet might be presented, in each case looking at the deadweight tonnage (dwt – a measure of cargo carrying capacity) of the vessels concerned.

By all four measures – registered, direct owned, parent owned and managed – the UK shipping fleet experienced substantial growth between the late 1990s and 2008/09, when the industry started to feel the impact of the global recession.

Continue reading “UK shipping fleet contracts”

Nautical Institute puts communications under the spotlight in issue 8 of The Navigator

Posted on by News Hound
Issue 8 of The Navigator magazine by the Nautical Institute is available to read now.
Issue 8 of The Navigator magazine by the Nautical Institute is available to read now.

Communicating effectively on the bridge, between ships or to the shore is the topic under discussion in the eighth issue of The Navigator – the free publication from The Nautical Institute. The 12-page magazine, aimed at marine navigational officers at all stages in their career, is now being distributed to SOLAS vessels around the world.

Editor of The Navigator, Emma Ward, said: “Miscommunication or the use of poor information is a leading cause of accidents at sea. In this issue of The Navigator, we aim to encourage readers to adopt effective communication techniques onboard ship. We also want to open a discussion about best practices across the industry.”

The new issue looks at the importance of different methods of communications at sea and examines the difference between data and information. There is an interview with a serving third officer and a brand new letters page offering insight into a number of maritime issues from members of the magazine’s readership.

Continue reading “Nautical Institute puts communications under the spotlight in issue 8 of The Navigator”

Dublin Port Company opens new Alexandra Quay Container Terminal

Posted on by News Hound
Dublin Port Company has officially opened its newly completed Alexandra Quay Container Terminal
Dublin Port Company has officially opened its newly completed Alexandra Quay Container Terminal

The opening marks the completion of the third and final phase of the development of the new facility. This third phase will enable the terminal to cater for an additional 80,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) per annum bringing the terminal’s total capacity to over 400,000 TEU per annum.

The initial two phases of the project created new runways for three rows of rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), a type of large mobile crane used for stacking shipping containers. The third and final phase added a fourth runway for RTGs and deepened and strengthened the quay wall to allow bigger container ships to be loaded and discharged with modern high speed ship-to-shore gantry cranes.

Continue reading “Dublin Port Company opens new Alexandra Quay Container Terminal”

Immediate thoughts on the successful salvage operation of the Hoegh Osaka

Posted on by News Hound
The righted Hoegh Osaka car transporter ship finally under tow back to Southampton Docks. Photo: Mick Hopley
The righted Hoegh Osaka car transporter ship finally under tow back to Southampton Docks. Photo: Mick Hopley

Words by Capt. John Noble

The rather dramatic grounding of the large car carrier Hoegh Osaka on the 3rd January raised the spectacle of first, how did it happen and second, how would it be removed.

As I write this article the salvors, Svitzer, have successfully brought the ship into Southampton.

The ship sailed from Southampton at about 2020 hours on the 3rd January. It has been reported that soon after leaving the berth she developed an alarming list. The Master and pilot became extremely concerned and just after passing the notorious Bramble Bank located between the mouth of Southampton water and Cowes on the Isle of Wight a Continue reading “Immediate thoughts on the successful salvage operation of the Hoegh Osaka”

World Shipping Council advises to prepare for Container Weight Verification

Posted on by News Hound
The World Shipping Council warns to prepare for Container Weight Verification changes and legislation coming in July 2016
The World Shipping Council warns to prepare for Container Weight Verification legislation coming in July 2016

At the end of 2014, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) that will require every packed export container to have a verified container weight as a condition for loading aboard a vessel.

This requirement will become legally binding on July 1, 2016.

All parties involved in the international transportation of maritime containers – including shippers, freight forwarders, packers, NVOCCs, carriers, and marine terminal operators – will Continue reading “World Shipping Council advises to prepare for Container Weight Verification”

Continuing saga of the Hoegh Osaka

Posted on by News Hound
The stricken Hoegh Osaka that has provided an extraordinary spectacle for people living on the UK south coast could soon be on the move back to port
The stricken Hoegh Osaka that has provided an extraordinary spectacle for people living on the UK south coast could soon be on the move back to port

The car transporter ship, Hoegh Osaka, was deliberately grounded following the decision made by the Captain and Pilot on Bramble Bank in the Solent early in January after it began to list heavily. The ship was only 50 minutes into its voyage from the port of Southampton and was carrying a full load of Landrover Jaguar cars and heavy duty construction equipment. It is felt that the quick thinking and decision making, taken to protect the lives of the 25 crew on bard, was courageous and correct.

At that time, the Hoegh Osaka was listing at more than 50 degrees and a salvage operation is expected to take several days. She became an instant tourist attraction for not only locals on the south coats, but also further afield. Such a sight as this is rarely seen.

Continue reading “Continuing saga of the Hoegh Osaka”

Nautilus welcomes plans to scrap ferry safety rules

Posted on by News Hound
Nautilus welcomes the decision by the UK Government to plans to scrap ferry safety rules
Nautilus welcomes the decision by the UK Government to plans to scrap ferry safety rules

Nautilus International has welcomed the UK government’s decision to abandon controversial proposals to scrap ferry safety rules requiring ro-ro passenger ships to be fitted with lockers containing emergency equipment.

Following an eight-week consultation and talks between the Union and shipping minister John Hayes, the government said ‘persuasive’ arguments had been made in favour of retaining the regulations, which were introduced following the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in 1987.

Continue reading “Nautilus welcomes plans to scrap ferry safety rules”

Danish Maritime Authority launches new ship survey

Posted on by News Hound

dma_logo_ukFrom 1 January, the Danish Maritime Authority has started to survey all Danish passenger ships in a new way. Shipping companies are positive towards the new passenger ship survey which will, to a greater extent, involve the crew and the daily safety work.

In cooperation with a number of passenger ship companies, the Danish Maritime Authority has developed a new way of surveying passenger ships. The project has just been evaluated and the involved companies and crews have received the new survey method well.

Continue reading “Danish Maritime Authority launches new ship survey”

US West Coast ports at gridlock says Pacific Maritime Association

Posted on by News Hound
Pacific Maritime Association says US West Coast ports are in a state of gridlock
Pacific Maritime Association says US West Coast ports are in a state of gridlock

Eight months since contract talks began, and after more than two months of ILWU-staged slowdowns that have methodically reduced terminal productivity at the five largest ports on the West Coast, operations are approaching complete gridlock Pacific Maritime Association reports.

Since late October 2014, the ILWU has crippled what were fully productive terminals in the Pacific Northwest and Oakland, and exacerbated a difficult congestion issue at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach by intentionally withholding dozens of essential skilled workers each shift for the past 10 weeks.

Continue reading “US West Coast ports at gridlock says Pacific Maritime Association”

Ships face lower sulphur fuel requirements

Posted on by News Hound

Ships trading in designated emission control areas will have to use on board fuel oil with a sulphur content of no more than 0.10% from 1 January 2015, against the limit of 1.00% in effect up until 31 December 2014.

The stricter rules come into effect under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution form ships (MARPOL) Annex VI (Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships), specifically under regulation 14, which covers emissions of Sulphur Oxides (SOx) and particulate matter from ships. These requirements were adopted in October 2008 by consensus and entered into force in July 2010.

Continue reading “Ships face lower sulphur fuel requirements”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine