News – Page 152 – Pacific Maritime Magazine

01 May

New Research Ship for Belgium

Pacific MaritimeNews

Spain’s Freire shipyard at Vigo has launched the 71.4-meter by 16.8-meter oceanographic research vessel Belgica for operation by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. The Rolls-Royce Marine-designed ship is to be delivered before the end of this year and will replace a 36-year-old research vessel of the same name. The new ice-classed ship, which is 20-meters longer than the previous Belgica, will be able to accommodate 28 scientists and carry up to seven containers of supplies.

01 May

Next-Generation Coal Carriers

Pacific MaritimeNews

Japan’s Oshima Shipbuilding has been contracted to build two EeneX next-generation coal carriers for compatriot shipowner Mitsui O.S.K. Line which will operate the 235-meter by 38-meter vessels under individual contracts signed with Japan’s Electric Power Development Company and Hokuriku Electric Power Company. To be of 89,900-dwt the twin ships will feature a double-hull structure for all seven semi-box cargo holds, without ballast holds, and will utilize a highly efficient propulsion system and optimized hull form.

01 May

Port of Oakland Chief Makes Case for Support

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks In a recent video conference, Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan urged the State Lands Commission to support efforts to financially stabilize the port as it copes with the business impact of COVID-19. Wan told commissioners that declining airport and seaport revenues may mean major financial losses in fiscal years 2020 and 2021. He asked the commission to support the port’s efforts to seek help from government relief programs. “We can no longer expect any semblance of business as usual in our operations,” Wan said, adding that the Port has halted discretionary spending, hiring and…

01 May

Port of Los Angeles Chief Gives Cargo Update

Sarah SpanglerNews

By Karen Robes Meeks April’s cargo numbers at the nation’s busiest seaport are expected to be higher than the last month, but lower than April 2019. The Port of Los Angeles continues to operate without disruption and is working with stakeholders to keep goods flowing, said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka in a new video update released Thursday. “With labor shifts down 17 percent from the average over the past 39 months, we recognize the hardship that many of you are feeling due to our troubled economy,” Seroka said. “Together, we will get through this crisis. In…

01 May

Salvage Operation off Brazil

Pacific MaritimeNews

In what is expected to be Brazil’s largest savage job in some time Ardent Global and Smit Salvage have been removing bunker fuel from the stranded 300,663-dwt very large ore carrier (VLOC) Stellar Banner that has been aground off the Brazilian coast since departing São Luís, Brazil in late February. The 2016-built bulker, owned by Seoul-based Polaris Shipping, ran aground shortly after departing the Ponta da Madeira ore terminal for China. An underwater inspection disclosed that a 25-meter long section of the ship’s hull toward the starboard bow was badly damaged in the incident. The vessel is estimated to have…

01 May

Qatar to Order a New Fleet of LNG Tankers

Pacific MaritimeNews

Three South Korean shipbuilders, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, along with China’s Hudong-Zhounghua Shipbuilding, are competing for a mega order from Qatar Gas, a subsidiary of Qatar National Petroleum Company, for 80 large LNG tankers. Qatar, the world’s leading LNG producer, is expected to order 40 of the ships for delivery between 2023 and 2027 with another 40 to be held on option. South Korean shipbuilders have supplied Qatar with more than 50 large LNG carriers over the past fifteen years while Chinese yards are just entering the LNG carrier sector.

01 May

New Ferry for French Polynesia

Pacific MaritimeNews

Spain’s Astilleros Armon expects to deliver the new ferry Terevau Piti to Papeete-based shipowner SNGV2 for operation between the islands of Tahiti and Moorea in French Polynesia by the middle of this year. Designed by MAURIC of France, the 77-meter by 17-meter vessel is powered by twin medium-speed ABC diesels producing 2,652 kW each at 1,000 rpm to give a service speed of 16-knots and a maximum speed of 17.5-knots. The vessel can carry 675 passengers and will have more than 500 lane meters of deck space for autos and commercial vehicles. SNGV2 currently operates a single fast catamaran between…

01 May

Largest LNG Bunkering Operation Completed at Rotterdam

Pacific MaritimeNews

The largest LNG bunkering operation ever completed was accomplished at the Port of Rotterdam in late March when almost 3,300 metric tons of the fuel was placed aboard the world’s most powerful semi-submersible crane vessel, Heerema’s Sleipnir, by Anthony Veder’s LNG carrier Coral Fraseri. The operation took less than 24 hours to complete with all those involved following strict government guidelines to protect workers during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

01 May

Crowley Charters Brusco Tug

Pacific MaritimeNews

Crowley Maritime Corporation’s marine services group has taken Brusco Tug and Barge’s latest Diversified Marine-built tractor tug under bareboat charter and will base the 82-foot tug, renamed Hercules, in Puget Sound. Built to a Robert Allan Ltd design, the 6,000-horsepower tug is powered by twin Caterpillar 3512 Tier IV-compliant engines driving two Rolls-Royce azimuth stern drives to provide of bollard pull of better than 80 tons.

01 May

New BC-Designed Ferry for Chile

Pacific MaritimeNews

Chilean ferry operator Navimag Ferries has taken delivery of the 150-meter ro/pax ferry Esperanza from China’s Guangdong Bonny Fair Heavy Industry Limited for operation between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales in southern Chile. Designed by Vancouver, BC-based Naviform Consulting & Research, the vessel offers 1,800 lane meters of deck space for vehicles and can carry up to 274 passengers. Propulsion is provided by twin Wärtsilä 20 main engines driving two controlled-pitch propellers through Wärtsilä-supplied gearing.