Internet of Ships Open Platform Establishes Testbed

A testbed was established for an Internet of Ships Open Platform (IoS-OP), and for the test NYK provided a next-generation onboard IoT platform that the company has been developing with MTI Co. Ltd., an NYK Group company, and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT).The NYK Group will proactively make use of the IoS-OP to improve safety and reduce environmental loads, and thus create an innovative, new business model.The IoS-OP consortium was launched in June 2018 by ShipDC…

CMA CGM Enters Sustainability Partnership with Panalpina

French ocean carrier CMA CGM and Panalpina, the world’s fourth biggest ocean freight forwarder by transport volumes, have signed a sustainability agreement aimed at reducing their respective carbon emissions by 2025.As of 2020, newbuild LNG-powered mega-vessels with a capacity of 22,000 twenty-foot containers (TEUs) will help achieve the environmental goals.Aiming at responsible development in ocean freight, Panalpina and CMA CGM have signed a sustainability agreement for maritime…

Greek Shipowners Meet Danish Shipping

The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) has welcome to its premises the Board of Directors of Danish Shipping in the context of the bilateral meetings of the two national shipowners’ associations.Representing two traditional maritime nations, the Board of Directors of Danish Shipping, headed by its Chairman, Niels Smedegaard, met with the President,Theodore Veniamis and members of the UGS Board of Directors and engaged in what was described by both sides as “an open and constructive…

Marco Ryan Plots a Digital, Connected Course for Wärtsilä

When talk turns to the digital revolution sweeping through the maritime industry, one need look no further than Wärtsilä, which has evolved from a shipbuilding company to an engine manufacturer, and is now embarked on a historic digital transformation led by Marco Ryan, Chief Digital Officer & EVP. We met with Ryan recently in Hamburg, Germany, to discuss the path and pace forward.To start, please lay out the scope of your responsibilities.At a high-level my job is to architect and deliver the transformation (of Wärtsilä) to a smart technology company.

The Standard Club Withdraws from Underwriting at Lloyd's

The world’s fourth largest P&I club announced Thursday that it is withdrawing from underwriting at Lloyd’s from 2019.The Standard Club had established a syndicate in 2015 to underwrite marine and energy risks. It represented one strand of the club’s broadly-based strategy to provide its members with a wider range of insurance covers to meet their needs and diversify the club’s source of revenues.The club said it in press release that remains committed to these strategic aims but…

SpecTec Partners with iMarine Software

AMOS now offers integration with SeaProc, providing seamless electronic quotation management for an optimized procurement cycle. Seaproc also offers sourcing tools within it platform to achieve cost efficiency.Marine buying organizations can now enjoy significant speed, accuracy and ease in handling transactions. Requests for Quote, Quotations, Purchase Orders, Contracts, Invoicing and Delivery Receipts are directly interfaced with Amos. This allows buyers to conduct all their daily activities within the Amos platform as all communications…

Ship Managers Look for Areas to Collaborate

Ship managers gathered in London this week for the Annual General Meeting of their industry trade body – InterManager – where they discussed plans to work together to identify solutions to the challenges facing today’s ship management sector.Addressing the AGM gathering at the London offices of Willis Towers Watson, InterManager President Björn Jebsen said, “Going forward, InterManager members will pool resources and share experience to seek solutions and identify best practices to meet the challenges our sector faces and identify innovative and successful solutions.”He pointed out…

Predictive Analytics Drives Better Crew Travel Management

Managing crew travel is just one area that can cause sleepless nights for shipping industry professionals. As someone who works in this specialist and incredibly dynamic sector, I know first-hand how quickly things can change. Overcoming challenges is just part of the day-to-day.Maritime organizations have a very particular set of needs when it comes to having the right personnel available at the right time. Seafarers’ travel is mission-critical and their working patterns are governed by tight regulations.

Interview: Jeong-kie Lee, Chairman, Korean Register & IACS

This month we caught up with Jeong-kie Lee, Chairman and CEO of the Korean Register and also the Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), for his insights on the dominant trends moving the maritime industry into the future.The maritime industry has been challenged, to say the least. Today, where do you see challenge? Where do you see opportunity?The maritime industry is in a state of extreme upheaval, with private and public organizations having to deal with a wide range of ever changing…

U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook released

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl L. Schultz has issued the Coast Guard's 40-paged document that outlines their "VISION for Enabling Maritime Commerce." He introduces the new paper in an open letter to industry, as shown below:America is a maritime Nation. It is a Nation shaped by seafarers who recognized the tremendous economic potential derived from unrestricted access to the oceans, internal waterways, deep-water ports and protected straits and bays. This geostrategic advantage favorably shapes our Nation’s security…

Maritime Administration Issues RFP for NSMV Training Vessels

Vessel Construction Manager Will Deliver National Security Multi-Mission Vessel. Today, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit for a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) to deliver a new class of training ships referred to as a National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV). The VCM selected by MARAD will contract with a qualified shipyard to ensure that commercial best practices are utilized in delivering the NSMV on time and on budget.“A new multi-mission vessel built by an American Shipyard will not only create new jobs…

CMA CGM Says No Plans to Take Over Ceva Logistics

French shipping company CMA CGM has no plans to launch a full takeover for Ceva Logistics after the Swiss transport company on Thursday said it had rejected a $1.5 billion takeover offer from a third party.CMA CGM, Ceva's biggest shareholder with a 25 percent stake, has now been allowed to increase its holding to one third -- the trigger point where it would have to launch a full takeover under Swiss regulations."The end of the standstill agreement means CMA CGM now has the right to increase its shareholding in Ceva…

Optimism in Multipurpose Shipping: Drewry

Surging growth in renewable energy generation around the world and a construction boom in South East Asia that is expected to run for the next 10 years bode well for the once ailing multipurpose shipping fleet.In the latest edition of Drewry’s Multipurpose Shipping Forecaster report we declare that we remain cautiously optimistic on the outlook for the sector. There are some caveats to this optimism as global general cargo demand is forecast to grow at a rate of just 2% per year to 2022…

AGL LNG Import Project Slowed by Environment Review

Plans by Australia's AGL Energy to start importing liquefied natural gas from 2021 will be delayed after the state of Victoria called for the company and its pipeline partner to submit a full environmental assessment of their project.The review process typically takes nine to 12 months, which means AGL will not be able to reach a final investment decision on the A$250 million ($178 million) jetty project by June 2019, as it had hoped.AGL had been on track to be the first of four…

Star Bulk Carriers Announces $310mln Loan for Vessels, 50 Scrubbers

Star Bulk Carriers announced that it has entered into a $310 million loan agreement, which includes a $70 million tranche (Green Loan Tranche) that will exclusively finance the procurement and retrofitting of scrubbers for up to approx. 50 vessels in Star Bulk’s fleet. According to a press release from the global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, DNB Bank, acted as the Mandated Lead Arranger, Facility Agent and Coordinator, along with ABN AMRO Bank…

New Mental Wellbeing Guide for Seafarers

In a joint initiative, the American Club and Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) have cooperated to produce a new guide, Caring for Seafarers’ Mental Wellbeing, due for release on October 10 in recognition of World Mental Health Day, 2018.The document provides guidance on responding to both routine and extreme stressors impacting the quality of life and safety of seafarers both ashore and afloat, and seeks to promote awareness generally of the importance of seafarer mental well being.Numerous…

ClearLynx to Launch Lite Version

ClearLynx, LLC said it will launch a brand new ‘Lite’ version of its platform in mid-October 2018. Aimed at all parties in the marine fuel industry interested in accessing bunker data for their businesses, ClearLynx Lite focuses on data information to provide up-to-date visibility into a new supply environment.“Our platform is more than just a toolbox for bunker buyers,” said Tammi Ingannamorte, VP of ClearLynx. “Our products are already used by a diversified group of clients, in a variety of ways.

Hapag-Lloyd to Introduce Cleaner Fuel Charges from 2019

German container shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd said on Monday it is preparing customers for a mechanism to charge more for cleaner fuel starting next year to comply with tighter environmental rules.The Hamburg-based firm said on Monday that it has developed what it will call a marine fuel recovery mechanism (MFR), which it will gradually introduce from Jan.

Decarbonization: 34 Maritime CEOs Call for Action

A who’s who list of maritime industry executives have signed on to voice their support for a zero-carbon future in shipping.The not-for-profit foundation the Global Maritime Forum brought together a group of 34 CEOs and industry leaders from across the global maritime sector to sign a call for action and lead the industry in a transition toward decarbonization.To achieve this, these leaders believe the maritime industry needs to accelerate both technological and business model innovation…

Milestone LNG Bunkering for Shell and Sovcomflot in Rotterdam

Shell delivered its first ship-to-ship bunkering of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from specialized LNG bunker vessel Cardissa in the Port of Rotterdam on Tuesday, marking a number of key milestones as the maritime sector increasingly turns toward cleaner burning LNG fuel.The bunkering of the Sovcomflot's Aframax tanker Gagarin Prospect with LNG is the first operation under a fuel supply agreement between Shell and Sovcomflot signed in 2017, which helped pioneer the expansion of LNG fuel into the tanker industry and…

Singapore Funds Green Marine Fuel Program

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has allocated about USD 3.64 million under the Green Energy Programme to support the development and use of cleaner alternative marine fuels such as biofuels and methanol. Senior Minister of State, Dr Lam Pin Min announced initiatives by Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said that companies can use the fund in their research and development in alternative fuels to meet future greenhouse gas emissions regulations.He said…

Singapore Bunkering Hub Ready for IMO 2020

Singapore authorities are taking measures to ensure the availability of low-sulphur marine fuels ahead of upcoming emissions regulations in 2020, Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health Lam Pin Min said on Wednesday."(The) MPA is working closely with the industry to ensure that Singapore is ready to supply low-sulphur compliant fuels ahead of 1 January, 2020," said Lam at the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition.The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will make available a list of licensed bunker suppliers of low-sulphur fuels by mid-2019

Exxon Mobil Eyes Major Investment at Singapore Refinery

Exxon Mobil Corp is considering a multi-billion dollar investment at its Singapore refinery, the company's largest, ahead of new global shipping fuel regulations starting in 2020, a senior executive said on Wednesday."We are currently assessing a multi-billion project in our integrated manufacturing facility here in Singapore," Matt Bergeron, vice president of Asia Pacific Fuels Business at Exxon, said at a bunkering conference."Should the project proceed, we plan to implement…

NYK Signs LNG Charter Deal with Total

NYK Line has signed a contract with Total Gas & Power Chartering Limited (TGPCL), a subsidiary of Total, a leading oil and energy company headquartered in France.The contract calls for TGPCL to charter from NYK a newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for seven years, with an optional extension period of one year. The new vessel will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in Korea and is due to be delivered in 2021.The LNG carrier will be equipped with a WinGD-made dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine (i.e.…

South Korea's SK Group to Sell SK Shipping

South Korea's large family-owned business conglomerate SK Group is planning to get out of shipping by offloading shipping subsidiary SK Shipping Co., on account of the debt burden amid an industry slowdown.According to a report in the Pulse, SK Holdings Co., the holding entity of SK Group, is reportedly seeking to sell a majority of its stake in SK Shipping to local private equity firm Hahn & Co. for an estimated 1.5 trillion won ($1.3 billion).Hahn & Company is said to be reviewing…

Glander International Bunkering Goes to Spain

The marine fuel and lubricant trading firm Glander International Bunkering has opened its  seventh office globally and third service point in Europe in Valencia, Spain, to  service clients in the Mediterranean and Spanish-speaking regions.As the new Managing Director of the Spain office, Hernan B. Ortiz has officially moved to Valencia from Dubai to assume this new important role.With more than 28 years of industry experience and 9 years within the company, Hernan will leverage…

Polish Fairway Dredging Contract Awarded

A major modernization contract for the deepening and widening of a 62 km section of the Świnoujście – Szczecin fairway in Poland has been awarded to Van Oord and DEME Group subsidiary Dredging International.The investment by the Maritime Office in Szczecin will improve access to the Szczecin seaport and increase the port capacity to handle a growing volume of cargo.The project is a design and build contract to deepen and widen the fairway along a section of approximately 62 km from -10.5 to -12.5 m. The dredged materials will be used to build two artificial islands in the Szczecin lagoon.

BV Launches BV Solutions M&O

Bureau Veritas announced the launch of a newly branded and separate family of experts, ‘Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore’ (BV Solutions M&O).Aimed at the marine and offshore markets, BV Solutions M&O brings together services and people from within Bureau Veritas to create a proactive and dedicated capability, offering value to clients through technical services and solutions.BV Solutions M&O is focused on four service lines: Engineering & Risk Solutions, Asset Management Solutions…

How Refiners Plan to Grapple With Fuel Oil Output After 2020

High-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO), essentially the leftovers of an oil refiner's output, will still flow from refineries around the world even after new rules start up in 2020 curtailing its use in the global shipping fleet, a Reuters survey showed.Sixty percent of the 33 refineries contacted by Reuters in a global survey will still produce HSFO in 2020 although the supply will tighten as 70 percent of these refiners plan to reduce their output.Starting that year, ships will have to use marine fuel…

Us to Be 'Strong Supplier' of Compliant Marine Fuels

Owing to its booming shale industry, the United States is likely to become an important supplier of low-sulphur marine fuels ahead of major new emissions regulations in 2020, Vienna-based consultancy JBC Energy said on Monday."The (United States) is likely to emerge as a strong supplier of compliant fuels in the coming quarters in the context of the IMO sulphur spec switch," said JBC.The U.N. International Maritime Organization (IMO) is introducing new rules on marine fuels from 2020…

Port of Long Beach Joins World Ports Climate Action Program

The Port of Long Beach and six other international seaports recognized for advancing innovative environmental initiatives are combining forces to launch the "World Ports Climate Action Program."Long Beach will join port authorities in Los Angeles; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Hamburg, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; Antwerp, Belgium; and Vancouver, Canada in developing projects to address global warming and meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement, a United Nations-led effort…

Maersk Tests Russian Arctic Route

The Danish-flagged cargo ship Venta Maersk, owned by the world's biggest shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk, has successfully passed through the Russian Arctic, in a trial voyage showing that melting sea ice could potentially open a new trade route from Europe to east Asia.Palle Laursen, the chief technical officer of A.P. Moller-Maersk saying that the cargo vessel has made the journey as a one-off trial. “The trial allowed us to gain exceptional operational experience, test vessel systems…

Moore Stephens: Ship Operating Costs Decline Again

International accountant and shipping consultant Moore Stephens says total annual operating costs in the shipping industry fell by 1.3% in 2017. This compares with the 1.1% average fall in costs recorded for 2016. For the third successive year, all categories of expenditure in 2017 were down on those for the previous 12-month period, most notably for insurance costs and stores.The findings are set out in OpCost 2018 (www.opcostonline.com), Moore Stephens’ unique ship operating costs benchmarking tool…

Total Marine Solutions and TGM Sign MoU

Total Marine Solutions (TMS) and TGM Fleet & Consulting Services (TGM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to strengthen and promote the development of port specific information incorporated into TMS’ Ocean Guardian product.Developed by TMS, in collaboration with Brenock, Ocean Guardian is a digital tool that provides shipboard operators with immediate access to environmental regulations around the world. The software system removes the guesswork from environmental compliance…

AIDA Cruises Receives Green Cruising Award

In the context of the 32rd two-day long Stuttgart Controlling and Management Forum, the Green-Controlling-Award 2018 was granted by the Péter-Horváth foundation on September 19, 2018.This year’s awardee is AIDA Cruises with its “Green Cruising” Project. Senior Vice President & CFO AIDA Cruises and CIO Costa Group Dr. Ali Arnaout accepted the price. He convincingly illustrated the innovative approaches of AIDA Cruises to present the “Green Cruising” strategy as a fundamental part of AIDA’s corporate planning and controlling.“Ecology and economy are no contradiction for AIDA Cruises…

Don’t Wait to Install BWMS -ClassNK

There are thousands of vessels worldwide that still need to be fitted with ballast water management systems (BWMS), and regulatory deadlines are only drawing nearer.Owners and operators who have yet to bring their ships into compliance are better to do so earlier rather than later. This is the advice of classification society ClassNK, who analyzed the retrofitting status of its registered ships and confirmed that installation deadlines based on the Ballast Water Management Convention…

ECSA Mulls More Capacity on EU Recycling

The European Shipping industry welcomes the European Commission’s current inspections of ship recycling facilities in order to enlarge the list of approved facilities that will ensure safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.When non EU facilities such as Indian facilities are found to be compliant with the requirements, they should be included in the EU list, as it will facilitate and encourage further positive developments taking place in South Asia and worldwide.By 31st…

Kalmar, DP World Southampton Pact for Hybrid Straddle Carriers

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has signed a contract with DP World Southampton to supply 12 hybrid straddle carriers for use at their container terminal, said a press release.The Southampton agreement also includes maintenance and operator training as well as six months of on-site maintenance support. The order was booked in Cargotec's 2018 third quarter order intake, and delivery is scheduled for Q2 of 2019. DP World Southampton is the UK port of choice for many global leaders in the container shipping industry.

Maersk: New Cargo Guidelines After Containership Fire

Maersk has implemented new guidelines on dangerous goods stowage that aim to improve safety practices across its fleet in the wake of the fire aboard containership Maersk Honam that killed five crewmembers earlier this year.Following the deadly fire, Maersk evaluated more than 3,000 United Nations (UN) numbers of hazardous materials in order to further understand and improve dangerous cargo stowage on board container vessels and developed a new set of principles called Risk Based Dangerous Goods Stowage.Together with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)…

Liberia Calls for Early Reporting on 2020-compliant Fuel Availability

Liberia has submitted a paper to the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) calling for early reporting on the availability of fuel oil that is compliant with the new 0.50 percent global fuel oil sulphur limit well in advance of January 1, 2020, the effective date the new fuel oil must be used on board ships.David Pascoe, Senior VP, Maritime Operations and Standards, Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the U.S.-based manager of the Liberian Registry…

No Delays to Implementing 2020 Sulphur Cap -IMO Official

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will not delay implementing a reduction in the amount of sulphur in marine fuel in 2020, an IMO official said on Tuesday."I can categorically say there will not be a delay," said Edmund Hughes, the head of air pollution and energy efficiency at the IMO, during the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC) in Singapore.IMO, the United Nations' shipping agency, will require that vessels start in 2020 using fuel oil with 0.5 percent sulphur…

Rowan Gets New Contract by Turkish Petroleum

Offshore driller Rowan Companies has been awarded a two-well contract for its Rowan Norway jack-up rig in the Mediterranean Sea by Turkish Petroleum.Rowan Companies announced that the Rowan Norway, an N-Class ultra-harsh environment jack-up rig, has been awarded a two-well contract in the Mediterranean Sea by Turkish Petroleum with an estimated duration 100-140 days.The contract is expected to commence in late 2018. The Rowan Norway is currently warm-stacked in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea.

EU Backs European Maritime Single Window

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Maritime Single Window environment, stated a ESPO Secretariat.For European ports though, reducing the administrative burden in maritime transport and facilitating trade is a top priority. ESPO wants more ambition on the harmonisation of data definitions and data sets, while maintaining the existing reporting systems, it said in a press release.This would further reduce the administrative burden and would facilitate trade.

CMA CGM Estimates Low-sulphur Rule Will Cost $160 Per TEU

Container shipping group CMA CGM said it estimates the cost for it to comply with a new global low-sulphur shipping fuel regulation at around $160 per TEU, or standard container, at current conditions.In a statement on Monday, the French firm, one of the world's largest container lines, said the cost would be absorbed by adjustment of fuel surcharges for customers.CMA CGM reiterated it would use several solutions to meet the low-sulphur standard, which will come into effect on Jan.

Shell to Deploy AI Applications

Royal Dutch Shell and C3 IoT have announced that Shell has selected C3 IoT as its artificial intelligence (AI) platform to enable and accelerate digital transformation on a global scale.By deploying the C3 IoT Platform globally on Microsoft Azure, Shell expects to realize substantial economic value by rapidly scaling and replicating AI and machine learning applications across its upstream and downstream businesses and by improving operating performance, with an emphasis on health…

Noble Corporation Buys Gusto MSC CJ46 Design Jackup Rig

Noble Corporation has announced the purchase of a new Gusto MSC CJ46 design jackup rig from the PaxOcean Group (PaxOcean) in connection with a concurrently awarded drilling contract.Noble paid $33.75 million of the $93.75 million purchase price in cash, with the remainder of the purchase price, or $60 million seller-financed at a 4.25% interest rate paid in cash and 1.25% paid in kind over the term of the financing.The Company used existing cash balances for the initial payment and the secured seller-financed amount is to be repaid in four years.

Kongsberg to Deliver Simulator Package to GasLog

Kongsberg Digital (KDI) will deliver to GasLog a comprehensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) simulator package designed to enable new levels of safety and operational training for the owner/operator’s professional crews.GasLog operates 27 LNG vessels through its subsidiary, GasLog LNG Services and has seven ships currently on order. The KDI contract represents a commitment and investment on GasLog’s part to provide a high-level training environment for their crews, solely focused on LNG operation.The scope of supply is based on an integrated…

San Pedro Bay Ports Ready Cleaner Truck Rules

New trucks entering service at the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles as of October 1, 2018, must be model year 2014 or newer, as the San Pedro Bay ports move forward with efforts to improve air quality and reduce the health impacts of air pollution.As part of the Clean Trucks Program, all trucks going into marine terminals in the two ports must be on the Port Drayage Truck Registry (PDTR). The new requirement applies only to trucks registering in the PDTR for the first time. Trucks that are already registered as of Sept.

Coles joins Wallem as CEO

Following the purchase of Transas by Wärtsilä, Transas' ubiquitous CEO Frank Coles will depart the newly merged company, finding a spot on top as the CEO of Wallem Group. Coles offers a diverse background and long career in maritime, spanning law, shipping services and maritime communications.Coles replaces Simon Doughty, who announced his decision to step down earlier this year.“The opportunity to lead and help grow a prestigious and diversified company like Wallem was something I could not pass up," said Coles in a statement.

Canada to Study Shipping's Environmental Impact

The Government of Canada is acting to preserve and restore marine ecosystems that are vulnerable to increased marine shipping and development.Transport Canada has awarded a contract to ESSA Technologies Ltd. under the Oceans Protection Plan to look at methodologies and tools to assess the cumulative impacts of marine shipping on coastal marine ecosystems.Transport Canada’s national cumulative effects assessment framework for marine shipping will identify regionally specific tools…

Port of San Juan: A Case Study in Port Security Innovation

Thirty-six hours after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, the port of San Juan was back up and running, scanning the incoming relief cargo as it arrived. Now, nearly a year after the historic storm, San Juan remains one of the most secure and efficient ports in the world, scanning and adjudicating cargo shipments at an unprecedented speed, with wait times similar to pausing at a stop light. It was the first and only port in the Western Hemisphere to scan near-100 percent of incoming containerized cargo (bulk, un-containerized cargo is not scanned).

Maritime Industry's Slow Boat to Cyber Security

Ports making up for lost timeDespite the critical role the maritime transportation system plays in the economic health of the United States, and despite its fairly recent embrace of all things automated – cranes, vehicles, surveillance and even vessels – the sector has been slow to warm to the need to protect its digital systems and assets.Post 9/11, security concerns about the nation’s borders, air space and infrastructure, including ports, moved front and center for a brief moment before other concerns…

Maritime Welfare Training: More Important than Ever

The shipping industry is facing unprecedented change. With topics such as new environmental regulations and the opportunities and challenges of digitalisation dominating the conversation, seafarers’ welfare has tended to be overlooked.This trend is slowly changing as the industry continues to recognize the need to professionalize its approach to maritime welfare, but there is a long way to go. True, that there are model owners and operators within the industry who uphold the highest standards of welfare for their crew…

Crowley Opens Retail Shipping Center in Miami

Crowley LOGISTICS has opened a new walk-up retail shipping service center in South Florida to better serve consumers shipping small parcel and retail cargo to Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Central America.The new space is devoted to less-than-container load (LCL) shipments and is housed within the company’s expanded Medley warehouse in Miami. Catering to non-commercial shippers, the retail center is staffed with service-oriented team members who will guide consumers through the packing…

APM Terminals to Focus on VGM Accuracy

Two years since the introduction of Verified Gross Mass (VGM) regulations, the industry appears to have achieved compliance but, “the accuracy of recorded weights still needs attention,” said a press release from APM Terminals.According to Praful Waghela, Global Product Manager VGM Services at APM Terminals, an additional validation step prior to final loading could help.Since July 2016, the verification of a container’s weight (VGM) has been a requirement under the International…

MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy Opened

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that an inauguration ceremony for MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy (MMMA), jointly operated by MOL and Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC), was held on September 12 in Salitran, Dasmariña City, the Philippines.Around 700 people attended the event, including Senator Grace Poe, Secretary of the Department of Transportation Arthur Tugade, H.E. Koji Haneda, Japanese Ambassador-designate to the Republic of the Philippines, President and CEO Doris Teresa Magsaysay-Ho of A.

CMA CGM Celebrates 40 Years of Entrepreneurialship

40 years ago, on September 13th, 1978, Jacques R. Saadé launched the first maritime line between Marseilles and Beirut, with only one ship and 4 employees. The day marked the beginning of an extraordinary humane and entrepreneurial adventure, said a press release.According to the statement, 40 years later, CMA CGM has become a recognized world leader, with 34,000 employees and a presence in more than 160 countries. History: It is amid the Lebanese war that Jacques R. Saadé decided to settle in Marseilles to protect his family.

BT Delivers Wireless Solution for DP World Antwerp

BT has announced the completion of an innovative, secure and resilient wireless backbone network on behalf of DP World Antwerp for its Antwerp Gateway in Belgium, one of Europe’s busiest container terminals.The solution is a vital part of DP World’s digital transformation of the terminal, which handles 2.5 million containers every year, 3,000 trucks every day and almost 950 ships annually.It is designed to provide secure and resilient connectivity for not only the 900 people working at Antwerp Gateway but also the growing demands of connected devices.

Total E&P South Africa Contract for Solstad Farstad

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Farstad has been awarded contact  for two of its vessels by French oil major Total Total E&P South Africa."Total has awarded Solstad a contract for one Large Anchor Handling Vessel (AHTS) Normand Ranger (2010, VS 491 Design) and one Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) Far Starling (2014, PSV 08 CD Design)," said a press release from the company.The contracts are to support Total E&P South Africa’s drilling campaign in Block 11B/12B for 1 well firm + 1 well option, which is expected to commence Q4 2018. The duration of the contracts are likely to be approx.

Maersk to Install Scrubbers on Select Vessels Ahead of 2020

A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world's biggest container shipping group, will add devices to reduce harmful exhaust emissions to some of its ships ahead of new global fuel regulations starting in 2020.To combat air pollution, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations' shipping agency, has set global regulations to cap the sulphur content in marine fuels, known as bunkers, at 0.5 percent down from 3.5 percent now.Shipowners could meet the new regulations by installing sulphur-stripping exhaust cleaning systems…