
Eastern Pacific Shipping, Techstars Launch Tech Accelerator
The international ship management company Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has joined force with entrepreneur network Techstars to launch the first global maritime technology start-up accelerator.The EPS MaritimeTech Accelerator will be based in EPS’ headquarters in Singapore and this mentorship-driven startup accelerator partnership will be the first of its kind to target the maritime industry, said a company press release.“The merchant maritime industry is one of the oldest in the world…

Klaveness Container Ship Completes World's First 'Digital Survey'
Norwegian shipping company Klaveness Ship Management has announced that it has performed what it believes to be the world’s first ‘digital survey’, carried out on board the container vessel MV Bardu in conjunction with classification society DNV GL.The survey gave full insights into the maintenance data from the vessel through live dashboards, said a press release.Surveyor and Principal Engineer from DNV GL Rolf Petter Hancke, put up dashboards that gave full insight to maintenance data on Klaveness container ships.

Thomas Schulte Vessels Implements Port-IT Solutions
The maritime cybersecurity provider Port-IT said that Thomas Schulte Ship Management, a bulk and container company, has chosen Port-IT’s state of the art E-mail solution ‘Orilla Mail’ to fit their critical communication needs.According to a press release, Orilla Mail was developed as an independent shore managed E-mail solution that gives customers the power of choice, as they are no longer tied to one airtime provider. Featuring a fully integrated portal web-interface, the settings of Orilla Mail can easily be managed per vessel or per fleet.

Verifavia Shipping Leads in EU MRV and IMO DCS IT System Certification
Verifavia Shipping claimed success in the independent certification of IT systems and solutions designed to support compliance with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Data Collection System (DCS) regulation and European Union (EU) Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV).With both regulations now in force, increasing numbers of IT systems are available to assist ship owners and operators in collating and reporting emissions data, all of which need to strictly adhere…

ABS, Fleet Management Join Force on Cybersecurity
Global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries ABS Advanced Solutions and Hong Kong-headquartered Fleet Management Limited signed an agreement to implement the ABS industry-leading cyber security solution for Fleet Management’s 220-vessel liquid cargo fleet.“Fleet Management Limited is one of the world’s leading ship management firms, and their decision to select the ABS FCI Cyber Risk model underlines its position as an industry leader…

V.Ships Hamburg Appoints Nils Aden as MD
V.Group has announced the appointment of Nils Aden as Managing Director of V.Ships Germany in Hamburg.The global marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider said in a press release that the announcement reaffirms its commitment to growing in, and leading the transformation of, the German shipmanagement market.Last year, V.Group announced that it would invest in a centre of excellence for container shipmanagement in Hamburg, bringing together the best expertise to deliver the highest quality service for its customers.As the shipmanagement segment consolidates…

Waypoint Singapore Opens New Office
Waypoint Port Services Singapore Pte Ltd (‘Waypoint Singapore’) celebrated the opening of its new office premises with an inauguration event last week.The guest of honor for the event was Schulte Group CEO, Ian Beveridge, COO of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, David Furnival, and CFO of Bernhard Schulte, Tobias Pinker, who cut the ribbon at the ceremony. Other guests included customers and partners of Waypoint Singapore, representatives from port operators PSA Singapore and Jurong Port…

Aden Appointed Managing Director, V.Ships Germany
V.Group has announced the appointment of Nils Aden as Managing Director of V.Ships Germany in Hamburg.Aden joins V.Group from Zeaborn Ship Management, where he held the position of Chief Executive Officer, with overall responsibility for ship management activities, 300 colleagues ashore and 4,250 at sea. He has also been an executive board member since 2013.He joined E.R.Schiffahrt in 2010 and since then has held a number of key roles, including Senior Project Manager and Managing Director with responsibility for chartering, marine operations, customer relations and insurance.

Grieg Star, Maas Capital Form Dry Bulk JV
Norwegean shipping company Grieg Star and investment management firm Maas Capital have established a joint venture for ownership of Supramax and Ultramax vessels.The new company is named GriegMaas AS, said the ship owner, manager and operator for over 40 open hatch and conventional bulk vessels.The joint venture was established in December 2018. The companies have each 50 percent ownership of the GriegMaas joint venture.The company aims to acquire high quality Supramax- and Ultramax bulkers.

Crowley’s LNG-Fueled ConRo Completes Maiden Voyage
The second of Crowley Maritime Corp.’s new combination container/roll-on roll-off “ConRo” ships - MV Taíno, one of the first of its kind to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) - completed its maiden voyage to Puerto Rico on Friday morning, Jan. 11. MV Taíno, which departed Jan. 8 from its mainland homeport of Jacksonville, Fla. (JAXPORT), is the second of two ConRo vessels constructed for Crowley. Sister ship MV El Coquí began its first-in-class service in July 2018.The ships…

MOL Conducts Test of Class Survey Using Drones
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that it participated in a demonstration test of ship class survey using aerial drones to inspect an MOL-operated coal carrier in service, along with Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), Hitachi Systems, and Mitsui Co.According to MOL, the demonstration test included a simulated ship inspection inside the cargo hold and ballast tank (which holds water used to balance the ship when it is not carrying cargo), using video shot from an aerial drone.The test verified the effectiveness of using drones to monitor rust…

Crew of Crowley-Managed RRF Ship Receive Awards
Officers and crewmembers of the SS Wright, a Crowley-managed, U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ship, were recently honored with Merchant Marine Medals for Outstanding Achievement for their duties in the wake of Hurricane Maria.The medals were awarded by Jeff McMahon, MARAD ship operations and maintenance officer (SOMO) for Atlantic Operations, while the vessel was recently in port in Morehead City, N.C.The medals and the MARAD Administrator’s Professional Ship Award recognize the crew’s participation in humanitarian operations in the U.S.

NYK in Charter Agreement with Mitsubishi
Japanese shipping and logistics giant Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has signed long-term contracts with Diamond Gas International Pte. Ltd. (DGI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) located in Singapore, for DGI to charter from NYK three newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.Previously, NYK concluded long-term time-charter contracts for three new LNG vessels for MC’s Cameron LNG project, so these most recent contracts bring the total to six carriers for MC.The NYK Group will be responsible for ship management for the three ordered LNG carriers…

V.Ships Wins Magellan Explorer Contract
The global marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider V.Group said that its V.Ships Leisure unit has been awarded a contract by Antarctica21 for the technical management of the expedition vessel, Magellan Explorer.The 100-guest Magellan Explorer is currently under construction at Asenav in Chile and due to be delivered in October 2019, the ship management company company said.The vessel, which is being built to the new polar code and is uniquely customised for fly-cruises in Antarctica…

Crowley Takes Delivery of Second LNG-Powered ConRo Ship
Crowley Maritime Corp. has taken delivery of Taíno – the second of two of the world’s first combination container/roll on-roll off (ConRo) ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) – from shipbuilder VT Halter Marine Inc., of Pascagoula, Miss.Taíno will soon join sister ship El Coquí, which was delivered in July, in providing fast, reliable and environmentally friendly shipping and logistics services between Jacksonville, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. This major milestone marks the final chapter in construction of Crowley’s $550 million investment in the two newly built…

Oman Shipping: Strong Domestic Performance
Oman Shipping Company (OSC) is reporting strong performance in domestic markets following long-term deals with local refineries and traders including ORPIC and OTI.OSC’s growth in the region is being driven by a 20-year contract to transport condensate for ORPIC (Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company) and a 15-year deal transporting methanol for OTI (Oman Trading International) from Salalah Methanol plant.The company is further supporting the export of LPG from Sohar Refinery to Yemen, Sudan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Verifavia Signs with Two Ship Managers
Verifavia, an emissions verification company for the transport sector (aviation and shipping), has announced major cooperation’s with two of the world’s largest ship managers, namely Wallem Ship Management in Hong Kong and Zeaborn Ship Management in Hamburg (a consolidation of E.R. Schiffahrt and Rickmers Shipmanagement), to conduct verification services for European Union (EU) Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) and the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Data Collection System (DCS)…

Swedegas Renewable Gas Bunkering at Gothenburg Port
Swedegas, the owner of the gas grid in Sweden, conducted the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operation at its new facility at the Port of Gothenburg.Gothenburg-based shipping company Terntank was the very first operator to take on LNG at a new bunkering facility, said the Swedish owner and operator of the high-pressure gas grid.Not only liquefied natural gas, LNG, but also liquefied biogas, LBG, it added.“Being able to offer this unique opportunity represents a major breakthrough…

N2Tankers Aframax Pool Launched
German shipowner Reederei Nord and Singapore-based ship manager Synergy Group, on behalf of Nissen Kaiun, have launched N2Tankers, a new Aframax tanker pool the two shipowning companies have set up as a joint venture (JV).The combined fleet currently pooled under N2Tankers consists of 13 state-of-the art Aframax tankers built to the highest standards over 2007-2018 in Japanese yards Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering Co., Tsuneishi Holding Corporation…

V.Group Showcases Seafarer App, Manila Training Facilities
V.Group, a leading provider of marine support services, has announced that it will unveil a new app for seafarers as well as an upgraded training center in Manila as progress accelerates on Project Embark, a program designed to transform the way the leading supplier of independent ship management and related marine services handles crewing for its pool of 44,000 seafarers.The app will enhance the seafarers’ experience, while enabling V.Group to utilize regularly updated seafarer data to improve crewing performance and assist in planning.

Bahri Targets Acquisitions in Asia, Middle East
Saudi Arabia's Bahri is targeting acquisitions in Asia and the Middle East as the exclusive oil shipper for state energy giant Saudi Aramco seeks to expand its reach, the chief executive said on Wednesday.Bahri is the world's largest owner and operator of very large crude carriers (VLCCs). Saudi sovereign wealth fund the Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns 22 percent of the company and Aramco has a 20 percent stake."We are looking at multiple acquisitions in the Middle East and Asia worth tens of millions of dollars…

V.Group Launches Seafarer App
The global marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider V.Group has announced that it will unveil a new app for seafarers as well as an upgraded training centre in Manila as progress accelerates on Project Embark.Project Embark is a programme designed to transform the way the leading supplier of independent ship management and related marine services handles crewing for its pool of 44,000 seafarers.A press release from the provider of marine support services said that The app will enhance the seafarers’ experience…

WISTA Elects New BoD, Honors 2018 Personality of the Year
Kathy Metcalf, CEO of the Chamber of Shipping of America, was honored as the 2018 WISTA International Personality of the Year.New WISTA BoardWomen's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) elected Connie Roozen, Director of C&B More (WISTA the Netherlands) as Treasurer and Angie Hartmann, Vice President Crew Affairs, Starbulk S.A. (WISTA Hellas) as Board Member, to the WISTA International Executive Committee at their 38th International Annual General Meeting in TromsØ, Norway on October 24, 2018.

NYK Line Signs TC for Two LNG Carriers with Total
Japanese shipping giant NYK has signed a long-term contract with a unit of French energy giant Total to charter two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.According to the contract, Total Gas & Power Chartering Ltd (TGPCL) will charter from NYK two newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers that will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in Korea and scheduled for delivery in 2021.The two LNG carriers will be equipped with a WinGD-made dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine (i.e.…

NYK Launches Ship-management Platform NiBiKi
Japenese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has announced the launch of its new ship management platform ‘NiBiKi’, which is expected to reduce complications for crew members.The new platform NiBiKi is useful for the onboard crew helping them to work comfortably and concentrate on ship operations, said a press release from the company.The data will be shared with five ship-management companies* overseeing about 260 vessels to realize further safety, it said.In accordance with the Safety Management System (SMS) manual…

Danish Compatriots Test Emissions Monitoring Solution
Danish shipping company Nordic Tankers, Dania Ship Management and Danfoss IXA have been cooperating on testing new innovative technology for monitoring emissions on an ongoing basis.The chemical tanker company hailed that the result is a front runner solution to ensure global enforcement of the IMO’s requirements for sulphur emissions way before any legislation is pushed through.“The sensor equipment from Danfoss IXA is an innovative piece of technology that enables ship owners to continuously prove compliance with the IMO’s requirements for sulphur emissions.