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Connecting Crew During COVID-19

Inmarsat Maritime President Ronald Spithout says providing crews with enhanced levels of connectivity and support is critical at this unprecedented time, and offers an insight into the work already underway with welfare organizations to assist seafarers in need.Given Inmarsat’s position as the leading provider of maritime VSAT and L-Band services at sea, it is hardly surprising that we have been alert to the direct connection between coronavirus and surging demand for crew voice call and data services.

Valletta Cruise Port Honored

Valletta Cruise Port has received the Best Mediterranean Port & Destination award conferred at the Cruise Excellence Awards. The award was presented to Valletta Cruise Port in Cartagena (Spain) during a gala ceremony taking place on the evening of February 18th. The Cruise Excellence Awards recognizes the protagonists of the cruise industry in 13 categories. The awards are based on the results of a macro survey to cruise travellers that has been conducted in 2015. The event brought together the senior executives of the main cruise companies…

New Zealand Promoting Maritime Careers

A worldwide shortage of more than 42,500 ship officers is expected by 2019, prompting New Zealand’s maritime industry and Maritime NZ to collaborate in an effort to encourage young people to train for maritime careers. Maritime NZ’s Director, Keith Manch, said with the large shortfall in officers, competitive salaries (Masters of large vessels earn $250,000 a year, according to Maritime NZ), and more than 90 percent of the world’s goods being transported by sea, it’s a good time to start a maritime career.

Refinery Strike Talks Unlikely This Week

Talks to end the largest U.S. refinery strike in 35 years are not expected to resume this week, sources familiar with the negotiations said on Monday after the number of plants hit by walkouts increased over the weekend. Face-to-face meetings between the United Steelworkers union (USW) and lead refinery owner representative Shell Oil Co, the U.S. arm of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, might remain on hold until the second week of March, the sources said. The halt in talks comes after the…

Union Rejects Oil Refinery Contract Offer

Union negotiators on Thursday rejected the latest contract offer from oil companies and said the largest U.S. refinery strike since 1980 may spread to more plants beyond the 11 where walkouts are underway. The United Steelworkers union (USW) said in a message to members and news media that the latest proposal from lead oil company negotiator Royal Dutch Shell Plc failed to improve safety at refineries and chemical plants in an "enforceable way." The union also told workers not on strike to be prepared to walk out in the coming days. Reporting by Erwin Seba

Thomas Miller Launches App

Thomas Miller, the international insurance, professional and investment services provider, has launched an app to make its news, media and communications available to brokers, members and clients. The app is a digital library providing access to a range of communications from brochures and circulars through to the latest news. Users can view updates and market news published by the group in real time across the globe, allowing greater visibility and access to Thomas Miller publications.

PortVision CEO to Testify at U.S. Congressional Hearing

Hearing before U.S. Coast Guard & Marine Transportation Subcommittee will focus on how technology can improve maritime domain awareness, response capability and efficiency. PortVision CEO will testify about vessel-tracking technology advances and successes, and benefits of applying latest commercial solutions and best practices to federal agency initiatives. Testimony will draw on company’s experience serving 3,000 users including marine service providers, vessel operators, third-party terminal operators and every major oil company.

Waterways Council Urges Support For WRRDA Bill Passage

Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) says it praises the final conference agreement for the Water Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, which contains four major recommendations of the Capital Development Plan (CDP), and urged passage of a final bill. WCI explain that the CDP is a comprehensive consensus package of recommendations to improve the continued vitality of the inland waterways that was developed in concert with the U.S. Olmsted Federalization: permanent cost-sharing for the remaining cost of the Olmsted project will be 85% General Fund…

Students Asked to Name One of Canada’s Largest Cranes

From March 3-14, 2014, Seaspan is calling on all Grades 4-7 students in NVSD, to put their thinking caps on, come up with their one best idea in two words or less, and help cement their spot in the history of Vancouver Shipyards. “The arrival of our new 300-metric-ton Gantry Crane marks a major milestone in Seaspan’s Shipyard Modernization Project and the future of the North Vancouver community as a whole,” said Brian Carter, President of Seaspan Shipyards. More than 4,400 students…

ICS Reports on Lessons from Somali Piracy

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), a global trade association for shipowners, has issued a paper drawing upon the international shipping industry’s experience of Somali-based piracy during the period 2007 to 2013. “The intention is to identify lessons learned in order to shape future policy responses, wherever in the world they might be needed,” explained ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe. The ICS paper has been submitted to the International Contact Group on Piracy…

WCI Names Colbert SVP

The Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) Board of Directors has named Debra A. Colbert as Senior Vice President, effective June 1, 2012. Colbert currently serves as Director of Communications and Media Relations for the organization and has served with WCI since its inception in 2004, developing the communications program of its predecessor organization, Waterways Work! Prior to her work with WCI, Colbert served as President of Colbert Communications, a communications consultancy practice that offered media relations…

Speakers for 8th Annual WCI Annual Meeting and Symposium Announced

Meeting takes place in Pittsburg, PA on October 19-21, 2011. Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Corbett; PNC Financial Services Group Chairman/CEO James Rohr; Rep. Mike Doyle; The Honorable James Oberstar; and among keynoters. A variety of distinguished speakers and panelists have been announced for the Eighth Annual Waterways Symposium and WCI Annual Meeting, sponsored by Waterways Council, Inc., Informa Economics and The Waterways Journal. The Symposium will take place October 20-21…