Green Marine
DNV GL to Class ALP Future Class Tugs
DNV GL has been encharged with the classification of ALP Maritime Services’ next-generation “ALP Future Class” ocean going tugs. The vessels, developed by Ulstein Design & Solutions in close cooperation with ALP Maritime Services (ALP), are SX157 design with a 300-ton bollard pull, capable of oper
U.N. Ro-Ro Sold to Turkish Buyers
Turkish private-equity firms Esas Holding AS and Actera Partners LP agreed to buy the local ferry business U.N. Ro-Ro from KKR & Co, after Danish ferry operator DFDS group pulled out from the bidding race. U.N. Ro-Ro, bought by KKR in 2007, has experienced business growth in both sales and number
VIDEO: Launching of Sapura Ônix
The Sapura Ônix was launched at the Royal IHC shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, near Rotterdam on Friday 1st August. She is the 3rd of 5 identical sister vessels in the order placed with Royal IHC in 2013 by Sapura Navegação Marítima, a joint venture between SapuraKencana and Seadrill. All of th
Antwerp Port Posts Healthy Figures
The Port of Antwerp handled 98.2 million tonnes of freight during the first six months of this year. This represents growth of 2.7% compared to the same period in 2013. The container volume was up by 4% to 53.5 millon tonnes, or 4.4 million TEU (up 2.9%). The ro/ro volume rose by 1.3% to 2.3 [&hel
Port of Zeebrugge Cautiously Optimistic
During the first half of 2014, freight tonnage at Belgium’s Port of Zeebrugge was up 3.7 percent in comparison with 2013’s first semester. The port handled a total of 22,040,932 tonnes. The best results were set in the container sector and the roll-on/roll-off traffic, as informed by the port. Rol
Huge Section of HMS Prince of Wales Arrives in Rosyth
A huge section of HMS Prince of Wales’ hull has arrived in Rosyth as the dockyard gears up for the final assembly of the second Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier which will begin in September, Bae Systems said. The section of the hull for the second aircraft carrier being delivered to the Roy
BW Offshore Secures USD 800 Mln Loan
BW Offshore has signed the facility documentation for the new USD 800 million ten year senior secured credit facility for the Catcher FPSO project, the company said in a press release. The loan is a combined construction and long term financing facility. According to BW Offshore, the credit facili
Ship Size Revolution Boosts Port Productivity
The top 25 port and terminal operators in each region around the globe all increased productivity in 2013, according to the latest data on port productivity provided by the Journal of Commerce (JOC). The JOC database relates to specific data from individual terminals based on average moves per hour,
Image of the Day: Head-Spinning View from CMA CGM Containership
The giants of the seas, as new-age containerships are often referred to, definitely inspire feelings of awe. The fleet of French container shipping company CMA CGM falls just within this sea giants category. It takes just a look at the bow, like this one, from CMA CGM Amerigo Vespucci to get an id
Idle Containership Fleet Shrinking
The global fleet of idle containerships has seen its lowest level since 2011, according to the figures reported by analyst Alphaliner. The idle fleet stands at 119 vessels over 500 teu, totalling 230,900 teu as of 28 July and at 85 units in 500 – 2,000 teu range over the last two weeks. The [&hell
Egypt to Build New Suez Canal
Egypt is looking to build a new Suez Canal parallel to the existing one in a USD 4 billion project aimed at boosting the trade along the Canal, which offers the fastest shipping link connecting Europe and Asia, according to Reuters. “This giant project will be the creation of a new Suez Canal para
UK Bankrolls Maritime Autonomous Systems Research
The UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) is making £9 million (USD 15.16m) available to support the future of Maritime Autonomous Systems. The Ministry of Defence through the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and in partnership with a number of associations and industry bodi
Global Shippers Issue Ebola Risk Guidance
Three global shipping organisations issued on Monday guidance to their members on the risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus. The ICS (International Chamber of Shipping), IMEC (International Maritime Employers’ Council), and the ITF (International Transport Wo
VIDEO: Brace Yourself for Freefall!
Rough sea can be relentless and unforgiving for those trying to abandon ship as fast as possible. Open lifeboats became a thing of the past now replaced with freefall lifeboats which can be launched quickly and safely. But before one opts to purchase these freefallers, they should see them in acti