Corpus Christi, Rotterdam Ports Announce Partnership

The U.S.’ largest energy export gateway and Europe’s leading industrial deepsea port have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow the two global entities to collaboratively improve their global maritime operations.The Port of Corpus Christi and the Port of Rotterdam have outlined a number of shared objectives, which include codeveloping trade and commercial opportunities, fostering an exchange of information, and advancing the development and deployment of innovative technologies specifically related to navigational safety and environmental protection.Sean Strawbridge…

Wärtsilä and Ocean Technologies Group Partner on Maritime Training

Simulation and training solutions provider Wärtsilä Voyage and knowledge and technology solutions provider Ocean Technologies Group (OTG) say they have partnered in an effort to enhance safety and efficiency in the maritime sector.With complementary converging digital technologies and platforms, Wärtsilä Voyage and OTG will provide industry stakeholders an opportunity to be connected on a single end-to-end learning journey, combining on-demand digital training and assessment, virtual and simulation events via cloud-based solutions…

Tech File: COBRA Battery System Receives Class Certification

With DNV GL certification obtained in February 2021, the COBRA battery system from Becker Marine Systems can be used for a wide range of inland waterway and maritime shipping applications, and due to demand, Becker is expanding COBRA production at its Winsen (Luhe) location.Tailor-made for maritime, the COBRA system now has full certification including IEC 62619 and IEC 62620 and can now be installed on board inland waterway and ocean-going vessels. “We have achieved the highest…

RECOTUG: Development Starts on 'World-First' Remote-Control Tugboat

Svitzer, Kongsberg Maritime and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) signed a deal to jointly develop the RECOTUG, touted as the world’s first commercial tug to be fully operated from a remote operations center on shore.Each organization delivers a unique perspective: Svitzer brings operational experience; Kongsberg brings remote control systems and autonomous technology; and ABS brings guidance for regulatory approval.The RECOTUG project's aim is to develop a remotely controlled…

Port Houston Reports Solid Container Volumes

Container activity at Port Houston remained solid in January, easily surpassing the 250,000-unit mark and setting the stage for a strong 2021 if that pace continues.The number of containers handled in January 2021 was the second-highest January on record, behind only January of 2020. Port Houston handled 255,039, twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared to January of last year, when 268,773,000 TEUs were handed.Loaded container imports totaled 121,578 TEUs last month, which was the fourth highest month on record for imports.

Demystifying Cyber Security

Recent cyber attacks to the US Government, the IMO, Maersk, amongst others has caused the world to pay attention to criminal cyber activities by foreign states, terrorists, and criminals. The cyber attack against CMA CGM shut down services for close on two weeks. Two days later, on October 30th the IMO was held hostage by a cyber attack. These attacks follow attacks earlier this year against MSC and COSCO.As of January 1, 2021 all vessels that have a safety management system must address cyber security in order to maintain ISM certification.

DNV GL Advises ‘Mind the (Safety) Gap’ as Maritime Transforms

A new approach to safety is necessary along the maritime industry's rapid transition to a decarbonized, digitally smart future, says classification society DNV GL in a new white paper released this week, and as discussed on Maritime Reporter TV with Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL - Maritime and Fenna van de Merwe, Principal Consultant at DNV GL, the report’s author.The white paper entitled “Closing the Safety Gap in an Era of Transformation”, identifies a looming “safety gap”…

DNV GL Sees 'Safety Gaps' on Path to Digitalization, Decarbonization

A new approach to safety is necessary along the maritime industry's rapid transition to a decarbonized, digitally smart future, says classification society DNV GL in a new white paper released Tuesday.The white paper, “Closing the safety gap in an era of transformation”, identifies a looming “safety gap” between shipping’s existing approach to safety risks and its ambitions for greater digitalization and the adoption of alternative fuels. According to DNV GL, the new technologies…

Port of Baltimore Bests Its Container Moves Record

The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore reports it has again topped its record for most container moves from a single ship.The 6,000 container moves conducted by longshore workers from the Maersk Edinburgh at the Seagirt Marine Terminal this week are the most ever in the port's the 315-year history. Maersk Edinburgh arrived at the port on Monday, February 8, and left early Thursday, February 11. The final container move was completed at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday.The new high mark—which counts the number of times an imported container is unloaded from a ship…

Ship Tech: GHG Emission Reduction focus of NYK LNG-Fueled PCTC Newbuilds

NYK has concluded a shipbuilding contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co. Ltd. for four LNG-fueled PCTCs to be delivered from 2022 to 2023, intended to transport vehicles mainly to/from Europe and/or to the Middle East.The ships are designed with GHG emission reduction, and to that end they will be outfieed with WinGD’s X-DF2.0 iCER main engine, the first time they will be utilized in the world. According to NYK, the engine consumes less gas and reduces GHG by cutting methane emissions from exhaust gas by approximately 50%.

Yara Marine Technologies Revisits Shore Power

While the EU parliament call for an emissions ban at berth, Yara Marine Technologies announced a partnership with NG3 signaling the return of cold ironing to its green tech portfolio."We used to do shore power projects on ships some years ago, but the market was too slow. Now however, with new regulation and grants supporting shipowner’s shore power investments, we are back in the business of shore power," said Aleksander Askeland CSO at Yara Marine Technologies. "Together with…

India Lines Up Port for Rice, Exports to Surge Amid Global Shortage

India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh will use a deepwater port to export rice for the first time in decades amid a global shortage of the grain, according to a government order seen by Reuters, which could raise shipments this year by a fifth.The order, issued late on Wednesday, allows Kakinada Deep Water Port to handle rice until more capacity is created at the adjoining Anchorage Port.Congestion at the Kakinada Anchorage Port, India’s biggest rice-handling facility, had led to a waiting period of up to four weeks compared with the normal wait of about a week…

Callan Marine Wins Dredging Work at Port of Corpus Christi

Texas-based dredging contractor Callan Marine said it has been awarded the long-term contract for maintenance and new work dredging of the Port of Corpus Christi.The Port of Corpus Christi is the third most profitable port in the United States and is the second-largest exporter of crude oil. The channel itself is 36-miles long, with 30+ ship berths serving the cargo, dry and liquid bulk, breakbulk, and wind energy industries.Under its multi-year contract, Callan Marine will provide maintenance and new work dredging of the various docks at the port…

Ocean Technologies Learning Platform for Wallem

Wallem has signed an agreement with the Ocean Technologies Group to implement its recently launched OCEAN Learning Platform.The OCEAN Learning Platform is designed to deliver blended learning, assessment and competency management solutions to improve knowledge, skills and behavioural development. The new platform will boost learner interaction and engagement and drive the very best learning outcomes. Wallem’s 7,000 seafarers will access training content on board and ashore, track…

Maine Maritime Academy Partners with SailPlan

Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) announced Tuesday it is partnering with maritime technology company SailPlan to accelerate the development of an intelligent vessel’s navigation platform and shoreside vessel control.The academy said it equip its fleet, including the autonomous 41-foot workboat R/V Quickwater, with the Reston, Va. based startup’s intelligent navigation platform. SailPlan will provide real-time fleet location and health monitoring to MMA’s Shore Control Center resulting in unparalleled vessel telemetry being made available shoreside.

Managing Risk: Shipowners Not Meeting Emission Regs Face a Big Business Risk

There is  increasing pressure for shipowners to sharpen their environmental performance, driven by an IMO target to halve greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 2050, regional regulations and market pull from charterers, banks and investors.“This represents a whole new ball game for the industry. Optimization of ship operations has traditionally been dictated by the efficiency of delivery around the globe that has typically meant being able to sail at full speed, thereby burning more fuel, to minimize costs for the charterer.

ORE Catapult taps Oceanspace Communication for PR Services

The UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Selects Oceanspace Communications for Public Relations & Campaign SupportSpecialist maritime and offshore PR firm joins new team tasked with elevating the British businesses, people and technologies leading the charge against global warmingThe Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has appointed Oceanspace Communications to its new Public Relations, Graphic Design and Filmography Framework Agreement to provide Public Relations & Campaign Support services.

DP World Antwerp Gateway Orders Fleet of Automated Stacking Cranes

DP World Antwerp Gateway has ordered a fleet of 34 Automated Stacking Cranes for its container terminal in Antwerp, Belgium. The Konecranes Gottwald ARMGs will be an expansion to the current fleet of 20 currently in operation. The first batch will be delivered in Q2 2022, the last batch by 2026. This order was booked in December 2020.DP World Antwerp Gateway was very motivated to continue their current operating concept, using their current ASC system delivered by Gottwald in 2006.

MSC Eyes Hydrogen as Containership Fuel

Container shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said it is working to advance the exploration viability of hydrogen and fuels derived from it as potentially viable fuel sources for its vessels.The initiative is part of the Swiss-Italian shipping line’s wider approach to decarbonization which has already seen the company pioneer the use of biofuels as a blended marine fuel, and on Tuesday MSC said it joined the Hydrogen Council, an industry body, to help drive R&D…

Carisbrooke Shipping, SMT Shipping Partner with Nautilus Labs

Nautilus Labs, a technology firm aiming to advance the efficiency of ocean commerce through artificial intelligence, announced its partnership to optimize fleet performance with joint venture partners Carisbrooke Shipping and SMT Shipping. Both Carisbrooke, based in Cowes UK, and SMT, based in Limassol, Cyprus, are dry cargo and multipurpose vessel owner/operators.Having first teamed up in October 2019, Carisbrooke and Nautilus have since expanded their partnership to over half of the Carisbrooke fleet.

Schulte Group Acquires Rescompany

Schulte Group invests in digital technology for the cruise sector by acquiring software provider Rescompany. Rescompany Systems Ltd. (Resco) is a provider of advanced hospitality software solutions to the cruise industry, and with its integrated ship to shore software systems, was seen as a perfect match to the services offered by Schulte Group member and digital technology company MariApps Marine Solutions (MariApps). Together, the two companies will be able to offer a comprehensive…

Sævik Named Managing Director of New Havyard Ship Technology

Karsten Sævik has been named managing director of the New Havyard Ship Technology AS (NHST) shipyard in Leirvik, Norway, replacing outgoing managing director, Erlend Hatleberg, who has chosen to seek new opportunities outside the Havyard Group, the company announced Tuesday.Sævik brings to the role high-level experience in vessel construction and operations, having previously held roles as VP of projects and newbuilding at Odfjell ASA, CEO at Remøy Shipping and CEO at Ulstein Verft.The new managing director joins NHTS at a time of transition following last year's bankruptcy.

Partners Developing Electric, Hydrogen and Automation-ready Terminal Tractors

Working to address growing demand for environmentally sustainable terminal tractor solutions in port, terminal and distribution center markets, Hyster-Yale Group and Capacity Trucks are joining forces to codevelop electric and hydrogen-powered terminal tractors with automation-ready capabilities. Having signed a memorandum of understanding, the partners say initial prototypes are targeted to be available in 2021 for market testing.The collaboration leverages each company’s product expertise in the global material handling solutions market…

Via Kaizen Project Aims to Deliver AI-powered Ship Ops Support System

A group of Swedish technology entrepreneurs and academics joined forces to accelerate the research and development of an AI-based, semi-autonomous system for planning and executing more energy efficient sea voyages.Leading the effort is Lean Marine, aiming to deliver a ground-breaking R&D project to accelerate the tech development, realization, and adoption of AI-powered ship operation support technology by ship crew and management. The Via Kaizen project is funded by the Swedish Transport Administration…

Inmarsat's Most Powerful Satellite Enters Service

Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat confirmed commercial service introduction (CSI) of its newest, most powerful geostationary satellite to date. GX5 is the 14th satellite currently in service with Inmarsat and provides additional capacity to Europe and the Middle East on the Fleet Xpress (GX) Ka-band high-speed satellite broadband service designed for the maritime industry.The satellite, launched in November 2019, delivers approximately double the combined capacity of the entire existing GX fleet (GX1-GX4).

Japan's Maritime Industry Powers Forward on "Green" Ships

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Participating in "Planning and Design Center for Greener Ships" focussed on R&D toward Achieving Decarbonized Shipping, and on December 10, 2020, a presentation was held in Yokohama to announce the establishment of the Center.Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. has become a member of "Planning and Design Center for Greener Ships," a core organization established to plan and propose state-of-the-art ships on a continuing basis through integration of the accumulated expertise of Japan's shipbuilding industry.

US Maritime Industry Seeks $3.5 Billion in COVID-19 Relief

In a joint plea to Congressional leadership and Treasury Secretary Steven Munchin this week a host of maritime transportation entities asked that $3.5 billion in COVID-19 relief funding be made available for the U.S. maritime transportation sector, citing “significant hardships” and “unique and unexpected challenges” posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.The letters ask Congress and the Administration to take immediate action to provide the whole of the maritime transportation system…

Seafarers Are Key Workers: It’s “All Hands on Deck” @ WMU to Solve the Seafarer Crisis

Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President, World Maritime University, discussed the ongoing seafarer crisis plus the new report from WMU, A Culture of Adjustment, which outlines systemic failures in the implementation of the regulatory regime for seafarers’ work and rest hours.Search as you like, but you will be hard-pressed to find anyone as passionate about all matters surrounding maritime and seafarers than Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry. Prior to taking the helm as president of the World Maritime University (WMU) six years ago…

CMT Expands Its Leadership Team

Cooper Marine & Timberlands (CMT) has expanded its logistics and business development team through its promotion of Strickler Adams to Director of Marine Logistics and hiring of Alan Dodd as Director of Business Development.As Director of Marine Logistics, Strickler will lead the Cooper Marine & Timberlands vessel and barge logistics team, coordinating the movement of the company’s 400+ barges and 20 towing vessels on the Tennessee-Tombigbee River system and Gulf Intercoastal Waterway.Strickler began his career with Cooper Marine & Timberlands in 2013 as a management trainee…

Wärtsilä Delivers LNG Training Solutions for Anglo-Eastern

Anglo-Eastern has partnered with technology group Wärtsilä to further enhance its simulator training for crew, with the delivery and installation of state-of-the-art, customized LNGPac bunkering and liquid cargo handling simulators at the ship management group’s largest maritime training center in Mumbai this October.Developed by Wärtsilä Voyage, this is a new product for the marine market, reflecting the increasing adoption by fleet owners of LNG fuel and the consequential need…

Maritime Training: Non-Traditional Maritime Simulation

Our COVID-19 maritime world continues to change as our perspectives on education and training with the availability of online learning and conferencing, an increased use of webinars, and the use of simulation technology must evolve if we are to be able to continue to train and maintain skill sets as we navigate the current and predicted restrictions on movement. Changes made now may eventually become fully integrated in to future iterations of training in many industries.An increasing…

CMA CGM Sees Strong Final Quarter on Shipping Recovery

Container shipping group CMA CGM said on Friday shipping activity remained strong in the final quarter of 2020 after a rebound from initial coronavirus-related disruption boosted the French company's third-quarter profits.CMA CGM, the world's fourth-largest container shipping line, said its EBITDA margin rose to 21.0% in the third quarter from 17.2% in the previous quarter and 13.3% in the year-earlier period.Brisk shipping activity should allow CMA CGM to increase the EBITDA margin further in the final quarter, it said.Like market leader Maersk, which this week raised its full-year earnings t

US Grain Exports Via the St. Lawrence Seaway Up 10.7%

Slow progress continues for U.S. Great Lakes-Seaway shipping: U.S. grain exports up 10.7%According to the latest figures, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway shipping recorded improvements in October with U.S. grain and project cargo shipments helping to lift tonnage volumes in an otherwise turbulent season.A total of 27.7 million metric tons of cargo moved through the St. Lawrence Seaway (April 1 to October 31), down 7.9% from 2019.Year-to-date U.S. grain shipments (wheat, soybeans and corn) via the Seaway totaled 1.3 million metric tons, up 10.7%.

Michels Inks Long-term Lease at Port Milwaukee

Port Milwaukee and Michels Corporation have formally signed a lease agreement for nearly 17.5 acres at the port’s Grand Trunk site along the Kinnickinnic River. The agreement has an initial term of 20 years, and, with extensions, could continue for a total of 99 years.The lease signing is the culmination of a process that included a nationwide request-for-proposals along with approvals by the Board of Harbor Commissioners, the Milwaukee Common Council, and Mayor Tom Barrett.“Michels has made it clear the company wants to grow in Milwaukee, and we welcome that,” Mayor Barrett said.

Oi 50th "Voices": Professor Edward Hill, OBE, Chief Executive, National Oceanography Centre

Oceanology International, the world's largest exhibition and conference for the subsea sector, was originally scheduled for March 2020, subsequently rescheduled to December 2020 due to COVID-19. The organizers last month announced the need to take this iconic event 100% virtual due to the lingering pandemic. Below are insights from Professor Edward Hill, Chief Executive, NOCS, as published in the "Oi 50th Anniversary Edition", published by Marine Technology Reporter and included with the November/December 2020 edition.

Virtual Conference to Focus on Transatlantic Marine Renewables

Marine industry experts from Portugal and Canada are staging a special Blue Economy conference to spark transatlantic business growth. WavEC Offshore Renewables is teaming up with the Embassy of Canada to Portugal to host ‘Advancing the Blue Economy through Intercontinental Collaboration’. It runs on December 09 and 10.The two-day online event includes a world-class roster of speakers. They will share knowledge on floating offshore wind, alongside latest advances in wave power…

World's Largest LNG-fueled Containership Bunkers In Rotterdam

The world’s largest containership powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) began its first gas bunkering operation in Rotterdam on Thursday, French shipping company the CMA CGM Group said.The CMA CGM Jacques Saadé, which has an 18,600 cubic meter tank, will be refueled with LNG while port handling operations are underway, marking the largest LNG bunkering operation ever undertaken for a containership.Once bunkering is complete, CMA CGM’s flagship will continue its maiden voyage…

Op/Ed: Overcoming Obstacles to Maritime's Tech Evolution

The incorporation of information and communications technologies (ICT) is transforming the way the maritime industry is doing business. While the sector is beginning to reap the benefits of integrating smart solutions in its operations, there are barriers that it needs to overcome to ensure that it optimally leverages the adoption of technology.ICT has disrupted the way many sectors do business, and the maritime industry is no exception as advances in technology are increasingly nullifying traditional ways of working.

ABS Reaches an IHM Century with Seaspan

Classification society ABS reports it has scheduled its 100th Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) Certification for Seaspan Ship Management, 98% of which are remote surveys.ABS says it is on course to ultimately certify more than 100 vessels for the world's largest containership lessor as part of a huge increase in demand for ABS remote surveys of around 300% since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic.“COVID-19 has provided the maritime industry with unprecedented challenges. But it has also forced the industry to embrace the opportunities arising from digitization and technology.

Norwegian Shipyard Downsizes, Flips Focus to Repair and Service

One Norwegian shipyard has opted to focus on ship repair and service versus newbuild -- and downsize too -- to ride out COVID-19 and its impact on the world economy.New Havyard Ship Technology announced that it will restructure its operations into a repair and service yard and reduce the number of staff, as employees were informed today at the yard in Leirvik."The strategy of becoming a service and repair yard is absolutely necessary to keep as many jobs as possible," said Gunnar Larsen, CEO, Havyard Group.

KONGSBERG's Vessel Insight Gains DNV GL Acceptance

KONGSBERG’s ship-to-cloud data infrastructure service Vessel Insight has been qualified by technical advisor to the maritime industry DNV GL. Safety and cyber security were the critical parameters in the recently completed Technical Qualification.The subscription-based service is designed to help operators to begin standardizing their data collection and contextualization, leveraging KONGSBERG’s long history as a system integrator and provider of automation and information management  systems.

Cargill Looks to Use Wind to Cut Carbon in Shipping

Cargill, one of the world's biggest charterers of ships, is working with technology partners to fit sails on vessels in its fleet to cut carbon emissions through harnessing wind power, the U.S. agribusiness group said on Wednesday.About 90% of world trade is transported by sea and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has said it aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050.Carbon emissions from shipping rose in the six-year period to 2018 and accounted for 2.9% of the world’s CO2…

Interview: Sam Ruda, Director, Port of NY/NJ

Ports are economic engines for the regions they serve, and the impact from business activities at the Port of New York/New Jersey runs as big as the area it serves: 46 million consumers in a four-hour radius. The port is an economic giant in and of itself, providing for nearly a half a million jobs, a cumulative $35 billion in personal income and a cumulative $98 billion in business income. Sam Ruda, Director, Port NY/NJ, discusses a record 2019, continued investment in infrastructure…

Lombardi to Succeed Blust as IICL President

Trade association the Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) announces that Dennis Lombardi will become president of the association, effective January 1, 2021. Lombardi replaces Steven R. Blust, who will be retiring from his role as president, but will stay on with IICL as a senior advisor. “Dennis Lombardi brings to this position the right balance of operations expertise, business acumen and extensive experience as an active advocate for the industry. We are confident he will serve as a strong leader who will guide the organization as the industry continues to evolve…

Alibaba Group and Zim Partner on Sea Freight

Alibaba Group Holdings and Israeli shipping group Zim have entered a strategic cooperation agreement for the direct purchase of sea freight, which will improve logistic services to merchants selling on Alibaba, Zim said on Monday.Zim said it will provide sea freight and services through a direct interface with the e-commerce giant’s logistics platform.The companies have been cooperating since earlier this year, the shipper said in a statement.Zim is 32% owned by Kenon Holdings.(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Tova Cohen)

ABS CEO Calls for Cooperation on Decarbonization

The successful decarbonization of the shipping industry will require teamwork and cooperation, said ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki.“Building the future is clearly a team sport – even if not all players see it that way all the time,” he said. “In our industry, the more all stakeholders in the supply chain cooperate on meeting the challenges of getting to 2030 and 2050, the sooner we will reach those goals, and the better we all will be.”In a keynote address to the Shipping Insight 20/20: A Vision For The Decade conference titled Leaning into the Future…

CMA CGM Resumes Online Services After Cyber Attack

CMA CGM, the world’s fourth-largest container shipping group, said it has restored its online business services after a cyber attack last month paralyzed activity.France-based CMA CGM first reported the incident on September 28, saying it had shut down access to its online services after malware targeted its peripheral servers.“The CMA CGM Group’s e-commerce sites are once again live with all their main functionalities up and running,” the company said in a statement on Sunday. “Applications and essential functionalities are now operational and secured.”In a separate incident, U.N.

Training Tips for Ships Tip #17: Getting Serious About Assessing Skills

Ours is both a knowledge-based and skill-based industry. We know this. Yet our training does not address both aspects equally. And until it does, we are needlessly sacrificing safety and performance. There is more we can do.Maritime workers require a high degree of both knowledge and skills to perform efficiently and safely. Knowledge enables officers and crew to react intelligently to novel situations and to operate safely in challenging environments. Yet knowledge, while necessary, is not sufficient for safe and performant operations.

Port Milwaukee Director Tindall-Schlicht Honored by AntwerpXL

Leaders of an international shipping conference have named Milwaukee’s Port Director, Adam Tindall-Schlicht, as an AntwerpXL 40 Under 40 honoree. The award showcases rising stars, under the age of 40, in an important sector of marine commerce.AntwerpXL is a major conference focusing on breakbulk shipping – that is cargo not transported in containers. Port Milwaukee is a significant destination for breakbulk on the Great Lakes.This award is designed to identify and celebrate younger players within the industry…

Port of Virginia Cycling In New Chassis Fleet

The Port of Virginia’s continual investment in new equipment is helping to build one of the youngest chassis fleets in the U.S., with the average age of chassis in the port’s pool being 3.5 years old.Experts in the field estimate the average age of an intermodal chassis to be 15-years to 20-plus-years-old. But with a continual cycle of adding new units and retiring old ones, the port is ensuring a young, safe, road-worthy chassis fleet for the motor carriers servicing the port.In fiscal year 2020 (July 1…

Wärtsilä Names Håkan Agnevall as President and CEO

Finland-based marine engine and technology provider Wärtsilä has appointed Håkan Agnevall as its next president and CEO.Agnevall, who is currently president of Volvo's bus division, will start in his role no later than in April 2021, succeeding Jaakko Eskola, who will continue with the company as a senior advisor and executive until he retires on June 30, 2021, after 22 years with the group.Agnevall has been with the Volvo Group  since 2013. In the decade prior to that he held various leadership positions in Bombardier and in ABB…

On Watch: International Coalition Monitors, Protects Middle East Shipping Lanes

The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) was created July 2019 as a way to deter unprofessional behavior in the waters of the Middle East region through its operational arm, Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel.The IMSC comprises eight nations – Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States – who deploy personnel, ships and aircraft throughout the region as part of the international surveillance and detection effort.Since establishing CTF Sentinel…

IUMI: Insurers, Underwriters Must Jump Onboard Maritime's Digital Transformation

Speaking at the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) annual conference, IUMI Data and Digitalization Forum Chair, Patrizia Kern discussed big data, the use of digital technologies, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has put digitalization on the fast track.“Digitalization is not an option anymore - it is here to stay - and the marine insurance sector needs to keep pace," said Kern. "For some time now, the shipping industry has been seeking cost-effective ways to operate and key logistics players have already begun to partner and digitalize the global marine supply chain.

World's Largest LNG-fueled Containership Delivered

The world's largest containership to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) has officially joined the fleet of French container shipping group CMA CGM, during a digital naming ceremony at CSSC’s shipyard in Shanghai.CMA CGM Group’s new flagship, CMA CGM Jacques Saadé, named after the group's founder, is the lead vessel in a series of nine LNG-powered, 23,000 TEU containerships ordered in 2017.Rodolphe Saadé, CMA CGM Group’s chairman and CEO, announced in November 2017 that the vessels would be equipped with LNG-powered engines…

Panama Canal Launches Tender for Water Management System

The Panama Canal will implement water management solutions to improve the quantity, quality and control of its water supply, which it says is "a critical priority" as it continues to grapple with constrained water levels.As a result of climate variability, the Panama Canal watershed experienced its fifth driest year in 70 years in 2019. This unprecedented drought constrained water levels severely at Gatun and Alhajuela Lakes, the main sources of water for the Canal and half of Panama's population.

CMA CGM Sees Strong Shipping Rebound After Coronavirus Storm

Container shipping group CMA CGM on Friday reported higher second-quarter profits and said it expects results to improve again in the current quarter as the shipping sector recovers quickly from disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.French-based CMA CGM recorded a net profit of $136 million for the second quarter compared with a year-earlier $109 million loss.Core earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 26% to $1.2 billion as favourable freight rates and reduced costs, linked to lower oil prices and an efficiency programme, offset a drop in sales caused by the

Chevron Tanker Receives ABS SMART-MHM Notation

ABS and Chevron Shipping Company LLC have embarked on a digital fleet management journey.As a first step, the Suezmax lightering vessel Pegasus Voyager has become the first vessel in Chevron’s fleet to qualify for the ABS maintenance optimization notation SMART-MHM (Machinery Health Monitoring), with more vessels expected to follow. The ship is also the first ABS-classed to receive the notation.ABS says this is just the beginning of the journey to condition-based maintenance for the Chevron’s fleet of 28 vessels.

All-electric Autonomous RoRo Ships Under Development

Kongsberg Maritime and Massterly (a Kongsberg Wilhelmsen joint venture) have signed contracts with the Norwegian grocery distributor ASKO to equip two new all-electric vessels with autonomous technology, and to manage their operations at sea.ASKO, which currently transports its cargo by more than 800 trucks daily, is investing heavily in environmentally friendly technologies such as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. At present, road transport is the single mode of transportation…

Yara Marine Launches Start-up Accelerator Program

Norway-based Yara Marine Technologies says it is running a competition for start-ups to accelerate the growth of technologies and solutions that will contribute to a greener maritime industry.“Our corporate mission is to nurture the next generation of high value, high performance sustainable ocean technologies,” says Yara Marine CEO Thomas Koniordos. “With this new program, we are seeking to position Yara Marine in the global start-up space while developing new opportunities for…

Chinese Buyers Snap up Indian Steel in Face of Trade Tensions

India's steel exports more than doubled between April and July to hit their highest level in at least six years, boosted by a surge of Chinese buying in defiance of tensions between Beijing and New Delhi.Traders said reduced prices had driven the purchases as Indian sellers sought to get rid of a surplus generated by the impact of COVID-19 on domestic demand and generate much-needed income.It was unclear whether the sales broke any trade rules, but the China Iron and Steel Association…