Transferring personnel to offshore installations using crew boats and crane-lifted carriers is a common operation around the world, however, practices, levels of training, standards and the equipment used vary greatly. Risk assessments currently use outdated statistics, and there is no central syste
United Arab Chemical Carriers (UACC) has added the 45,612 DWT chemical tanker, UACC Manama (ex Bunga Balsam), built 2010 in SLS ShinaSb Shipyard, South Korea to its fleet. The addition follows the delivery of UACC Riyadh and UACC Doha. The UACC Manama joins the company’s Chemical Tanker fleet of alr
A $1.5 billion in pledges to support marine conservation efforts was announced by the US Secretary of State John Kerry on the closing day of the Our Ocean Conference in Washington on June 17th. The international two-day conference, gathering several heads of state, international environmental protec
Shipping is the only industry with a mandatory global regime in place, agreed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), to reduce its CO2 emissions, Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), said yesterday in his keynote speech at a conference in Liv
Every year, June 25th is celebrated globally as the Day of the Seafarer, an official United Nations observance day. This year, once again, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is asking people everywhere to show their appreciation, through social media, for seafarers and their contribution
Viking Supply Ships (VSS) has entered into a contract with a major oil company for the charter of “Tor Viking” in the Far East region, commencing in June 2014. “Tor Viking” is a 3,382- tonne anchor handling vessel built in 2000 and homeported in Skarhamn, Sweden. The duration of the contract is for
China Customs Head Office has ordered all Chinese ports to stop using old manifest system and implement the new CCAM system as of June 30, 2014. In order to facilitate this CCAM requirement, China Shipping (North America) Agency will be implementing a ‘No Document-No Load’ rule. The new rule will ta
A merger of two shipping giants worth $1.3 billion, the biggest in the Saudi Arabian history, has been sealed, Saleh N. Jasser, Bahri’s CEO said at a press conference in Saudi Arabia‘s capital, Riyadh, Arab News reports. Namely, the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia or NSCSA (Bahri) and Vela
UNESCO and cruise operator Seabourn have announced a six-year, $1m partnership agreement aimed at reinforcing protection for World Heritage and promoting sustainable tourism. “With this partnership, UNESCO and Seabourn truly demonstrate our shared commitment in safeguarding World Heritage by promoti
At the 103rd International Labour Conference, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has, with a staggering majority, adopted new provisions on the protection of abandoned seafarers and seafarers who have been injured in occupational accidents, the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) said in a rele
Polarcus Limited has received a Letter of Intent for a 3D marine seismic acquisition project for an undisclosed client offshore West Africa. The project, subject to the execution of a service contract, will commence in July 2014 and is expected to run for approximately three months. Polarcus is a pu
The current shortage of officer corps seafarers is forecast to worsen and risks impacting carrier profitability, according to Drewry’s recently published Manning 2014 Annual Report. Owners and managers need seafarers – and they want experience, expertise and quality. However, they do not have the re
DP World has announced the final terms of its offering of $1 billion senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2024 convertible into ordinary shares of DP World. The Bonds will bear interest at an annual rate of 1.75% and the conversion price has been set at $27.1396, a 37.5% premium over the share pri
The recent surge in VLGC (very large gas carrier) freight rates will not be sustained given the current size of the order book, according to Drewry’s recently published LPG Forecaster. Freight rates for VLGC vessels surged to historical highs in April, thanks to rising LPG supply from the US and inc
