Columns – Pacific Maritime Magazine

From the Publisher

Dear Readers, It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to let you know that future issues of Pacific Maritime Magazine will be presented in digital format only. While I am a big believer in print publications, and it is my preferred medium for reading magazines, the economics of printing and mailing magazines continues to move in the wrong direction. Our revenues simply cannot keep pace with the ever-increasing costs. When I revived Pacific Maritime back in 2021 after the former publisher decided to cease the publication, I really felt that the magazine needed to be saved, as it…

AIS and GPS Spoofing: Can it Happen on the West Coast?

Imagine this scenario. Your ship is operating out of Long Beach, Calif. It’s a sunny day with calm winds and a flat sea. Suddenly your Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) show your vessel off the coast of Nigeria. What happened? Well, this scenario isn’t that farfetched. In June 2019, the offshore supply boat Princess Janice was operating from a Nigerian oil terminal when the AIS abruptly showed the ship circling above Point Reyes, Calif. and then eventually deviating to above Utah. This false AIS reading lasted for almost 400 hours. On that same…

MOL Adding Wind Propulsion, Investing in U.S.-Based E-Fuels Company

Tokyo-based shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) revealed Sept. 13 that it has an agreement in place with multinational energy corporation Chevron to install the Wind Challenger, a hard sail wind-assisted ship propulsion system, on a new build LNG carrier under long term charter from an MOL subsidiary to Chevron Asia Pacific Shipping Pte. Ltd. The system was developed by MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding, and the vessel’s addition of it would mark the world’s first LNG (liquified natural gas) carrier equipped with Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion Systems, according to MOL. Wind Challenger is expected to help reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse…

MSC Marie Sets Record for Largest Cargo Vessel Through Panama Canal

The container ship MSC Marie marked a milestone on Aug. 30 by becoming the largest capacity Neopanamax to transit through the Panama Canal. With a length of 366 meters (1,200 feet) and a width of 51 meters (167.4 feet), the MSC Marie boasts a maximum capacity of 17,640 TEUs, a new record for the interoceanic route. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by the Ever Max vessel, which made the transit at a capacity of 17,312 TEUs during its inaugural passage in August 2023. The MSC Marie’s arrival in Panama, coming from Mexico’s Port of Manzanillo, not only highlights…

How To De-Risk New, Greener Marine Technologies Using a Digital Twin

The marine sector lags far behind other transportation sectors when it comes to implementing greener technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Because marine infrastructure is relatively expensive and the life of each vessel can be 40 years or more, stakeholders are understandably slower to adopt new technologies. But with an urgent need to decarbonize the marine industry, how can operators accelerate the implementation of newer technologies such as all-electric vessels? When attempting to add new innovative marine transportation offerings to complement an established maritime operation, the challenges go beyond the electric vessel technology itself. Current marine infrastructure and schedules are…

The Critical Role of Freight Visibility in Modern Port Logistics

In the ever-evolving world of global commerce, the shipping and logistics industry plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the gears of the global economy continue to turn smoothly. The industry is fundamentally supported by port technologies designed to manage and streamline the complex flow of goods along the West Coast and across continents. As operating challenges become more intricate, the need for advanced technologies –specifically those that provide real-time freight visibility – becomes more pronounced. Port stakeholders, including beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) and logistics service providers (LSPs), are increasingly turning to visibility solutions that include data originating from underlying…

The Economics of Electric Ferry Vessels

Interest in electrically powered ferry vessels has grown dramatically in recent years. In the U.S., electric ferries – either fully electric powered by shore charging or hybrid powered by on-board generation – are in operation or development in California, Washington and elsewhere. An established mode of transportation in the Scandinavian region, electric ferries first operated in Norway in 2015, and about 80 electric ferries operate in Norway currently. Other projects are planned, in development, or in operation across Europe, Asia and Australia. Reduction or elimination of emissions is the most commonly cited benefit of electric ferries and is often the…

Navigating Challenges at Sea: Lessons Learned from the Loss of El Faro

When contemplating technology in the maritime context, the mind often gravitates towards sophisticated electronic tools like GPS, AIS and ECDIS. However, it is essential to broaden our perspective. Technology – defined as “the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes” –encompasses not only the technical skills associated with electronic tools, but also the soft (or human) skills crucial for human interaction and decision-making. The tragic loss of the El Faro and her crew serves as a somber reminder that the intricate balance required between advanced technology and human expertise is a critical determinant of safety and success. (El Faro and…

Risks with Old and Outdated Digital Systems, Plus a New Maritime Cybersecurity Organization

The maritime industry has been busy during May and June relative to cybersecurity. I recently came across an interesting opinion article on csoonline.com entitled “Legacy Systems are the Achilles heel of critical infrastructure cybersecurity” by Christopher Burgess. As I read the article and pondered the headline, I immediately thought that “legacy systems” are also an Achilles heel in both shipboard and seaport digital environments. So, the first section of this commentary is an expansion of this thought. Secondly, in June, there was an announcement about a new maritime cybersecurity group called the International Maritime Cyber Security Organization (IMCSO). I’ll tell…

Maritime Piracy Incidents Fall, But Crew Safety Remains at Risk, ICC Reports

The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is calling for sustained vigilance to protect seafarers amid increasing violence despite an overall drop in the number of incidents reported in IMB’s mid-year report for 2024, released July 11. Sixty incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were recorded in the first half of 2024, a decrease from 65 incidents for the same period last year. “While we are reassured to see a fall in the number of overall reported acts of piracy, the concerning rise in incidents of a violent nature underscores the need for continued vigilance from…