Surveillance & Maritime News for January 2022

MBARI – Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, a private non-profit oceanographic research centre based in Moss Landing, California is building a new research vessel at Freire Shipyard in Spain. The R/V David Packard will be a state-of-the-art vessel, 50 metres long and able to accommodate 12 crew and 18 scientists on MBARI’s missions to explore and understand a changing ocean. The basic design of the R/V David Packard was developed by Glosten, with the detailed design develope...

Kongsberg Maritime’s scope of delivery encompasses a combination of systems that will enable the operator to maximise operational windows whilst minimising overall energy consumption. Key to this is the propulsion technology, which for the CSOVs will include new permanent magnet (PM) PMAZ 2600PM azimuth thrusters, PM tunnel thrusters, and a retractable azimuth thruster. The return of investment is greater propulsion efficiency and manoeuvrability with reduced operational noise, lower em...

Industry 4.0 is the automation of traditional practices using modern innovative technology and it was already transforming manufacturers’ operations before the pandemic. In the maritime industry, pivoting to more efficient and effective technology will enable ship operators to achieve the benefits of improved productivity and reducing the risk of disruption to ship operations. Shipboard welding and cutting are critical aspects of the repair and maintenance process to ensure that vessels r...

The return of commercial cargo trains, a multi-million-pound expansion, and soaring exports have left a North East port in ship-shape condition post-COVID. Port of Sunderland welcomed its first cargo freight train in two decades last year, as port chiefs and representatives from DB Cargo and Network Rail welcomed 21 wagons pulled by a Class 60 Engine. The return of intermodal ship-to-rail cargo topped off what was an already stellar year for the municipally-owned port, having seen exports soar...

The government of Benin has awarded a contract to Norwegian technology company, Vissim to deliver a coastal monitoring system designed for improved environmental monitoring and safer passage along Benin’s coastline and ocean area. The ultimate objective is to increase international trade with Benin. The contract is funded by Export Finance Norway. Vissim secures contract from Benin government The contract was signed at a ceremony in Cotonou, Benin, by Minister of Defence, Fortunet Alain...

Sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT is equipping the German-Norwegian submarine project U212 CD with a fully digital sensor suite. The optronics division of HENSOLDT has received a corresponding order worth over 50 million euros from kta naval systems, a consortium of Kongsberg, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systeme, and Atlas Elektronik. Optronic mast and panoramic surveillance system The order comprises six optronic systems, consisting of an OMS 150 optronic mast system, an OMS 300, and an i360°OS...

Green shipping corridors are a shortcut path to achieving zero-emissions shipping. The strategy of focusing green initiatives on a limited number of routes between major port hubs will lower obstacles and costs as the industry transitions to more environmentally friendly shipping. The goal is to create specific trade routes where zero-emission solutions are demonstrated and supported. Green initiatives Targeting certain shipping corridors for environmental efforts allows policymakers to create...

Maritime UK partnered with EngineeringUK, as part of The Tomorrow's Engineers Code, to address the maritime sector’s future workforce skills and shared commitment to increase the number and diversity of young people entering engineering careers. Part of this partnership included Maritime UK, BAE Systems and EngineeringUK taking part in an online conversation, where they talked about the challenges facing the maritime sector and how this is going to impact future workforce skills. The Tom...

Svitzer, a renowned global towage operator and part of A.P. Moller - Maersk, converts its whole fleet of 10 towage tugs in London, United Kingdom, to be powered by carbon neutral marine biofuel. This enables DP World-owned Unifeeder to reduce its emissions and boost its green agenda. Ecotow towage service Replacing marine fuel oil with the carbon neutral biofuel enables Svitzer to offer a new towage service, called Ecotow, which unlocks approximately 90% CO2 reduction in Scope 3 emissions from...

Shipping over 30% of Kenyan imports and 50% of the country’s export volumes, A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) plays a key role in partnering with Kenyan businesses, in order to help them grow and expand to other markets. Expands landside offering in Kenya With over 300 employees in both commercial and operational functions, Maersk is also strengthening its organisation in Kenya to expand its landside offering, in order to further address customer needs and pain points, in line with it...

Almost two years on from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is still operating in testing times. Volatility and uncertainty continue to be seen across global networks, and the importance of the supply chain to the success of organisations has also increased, making operational resilience a vital need of the hour. In October 2020, A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) had conducted a successful webinar that focused on the key steps for building supply chain resilience in the chemical in...

Vasiliy Golovnin, diesel electric ship of FESCO Transportation Group (‘FESCO’), has left port Cape Town, in the Republic of South Africa, on January 5, 2022 and embarked on a new expedition to Antarctica, carrying cargo for Indian research stations. This is the first voyage within the framework of a new five-year contract concluded between FESCO and the National Center for Polar and Oceanic Research of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of India (NCPOR). Prior to this, FESCO had been su...

Notice is hereby served that an extraordinary general meeting of MPC Container Ships ASA (the ‘Company’) will be held on January 28, 2022, at 12:00 hours CET, at the Company’s offices at Munkedamsveien 45 A, N-0250 Oslo, Norway. The notice is attached hereto. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, shareholders are encouraged to abstain from appearing in person, at the general meeting, but rather participate by means of advance votes or by granting a proxy. Shareholders not enrolled by...

Lamor is currently delivering a 3-year agreement for the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) in Saudi Arabia to strengthen the Oil Spill Response capabilities in the Red Sea Area.The aim of the project is to establish the equipment and resource capability to respond to oil spill incidents in the area. The Red Sea is one of the world’s busiest sea routes and the coastline has absolutely pristine environments that could suffer irreparable damage in case of a major oil...

Virtu Ferries is pleased to announce the purchase of a new High Speed Ferry for the Mgarr, Gozo to Valletta, Malta route. This €7 Million investment indicates Virtu’s commitment to the Gozo route. The HSC “Gozo Express”, will be registered under the Malta flag and was designed by the Australian high speed ferry designers Incat Crowther. The “Gozo Express” has an overall length of 42.2 meters, with a carrying capacity of 322 passengers, in airconditioned lounge...

The technology group Wärtsilä has again been selected to supply a broad scope of solutions for new LNG-fuelled container ships ordered by CMA CGM, a pioneer of shipping and logistics based in France. This latest series comprises 12 container vessels to be built in China. Six 13,000 TEU container vessels are being built at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) CO. Ltd, with the other six 15,000 TEU container vessels under construction at the Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd. The v...

The technology group Wärtsilä has signed a long-term Optimised Maintenance Agreement with Singapore-based NYK Shipmanagement. The 13-year contract is designed to ensure maximum uptime and equipment reliability, with assured maintenance costs, for an LNG carrier vessel featuring three Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines. The agreement was signed in November 2021. The agreement covers maintenance and planning support. It includes Expert Insight, which enables dynamic, data-driven...

To make sure the customers’ sustainability objectives are met, when transporting their products across the globe, A.P. Moller – Maersk has announced a more ambitious climate neutral target. The goal is to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, across the entire business, by 2040, one decade ahead of the initial 2050 ambition. Maersk's Net zero carbon targets Mads Stensen, the Senior Sustainability Advisor at Maersk, said “More than half of Maersk’s top 200 customers...

A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) announces new aspiring emissions targets, expected to align the company with the Net Zero criteria of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C. They include a societal commitment to act now and drive material impact in this decade, and a commitment to deliver net zero supply chains to customers by 2040. The targets go beyond previous efforts to reduce emissions related to the ocean fleet, as they cover all direct and...

Atlas Copco has appointed Sara Hägg Liljedal Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer and member of Atlas Copco’s Group Management. She will assume her new role on February 1st, 2022. Sara Hägg Liljedal joined Atlas Copco in February 2018 as Media Relations Manager for the Group. Before joining Atlas Copco, she held several communication roles in both the private and public sectors. Several communication roles “I’m very happy to welcome Sara as the new C...

Wilhelmsen Ship Management has strengthened its position in the tanker market with a newly signed agreement to acquire a majority stake in Hamburg-based Ahrenkiel Tankers. The transaction will result in Wilhelmsen Ship Management taking over the management of five tankers. Wilhelmsen Ship Management will gain 80% ownership of Ahrenkiel Tankers under the deal, with the remaining 20% to be held by existing owners MPC Capital Group. Ahrenkiel Tankers will be rebranded as Barber Ship Management. S...

SHIPPING INNOVATION, owner and manager of London International Shipping Week (LISW), is delighted to announce the appointment of its chairs for the LISW23 Board of Advisors and LISW23 Steering Group. Baltic Exchange Chair Denis Petropoulos will succeed Lord Mountevans as Chair of the LISW23 Board of Advisors while John Hulmes, Chair of Mersey Maritime, will assume a third term as Chair of the LISW23 Steering Group. Welcoming the appointments and thanking Lord Mountevans for his hard work chair...

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding started construction on the largest LNG (liquefied natural gas) bunkering barge ever built in the United States. Bay Shipbuilding is expected to complete construction on the barge in late 2023 under contract with Crowley, the largest independent operator of tank vessels in the U.S. Crowley will operate the vessel under a long-term charter with Shell NA LNG, LLC (“Shell”). The 416-ft. vessel, which will have the capacity for 12,000 m3 (3.17 million ga...

In addition to having a COVID requirement for all guests and crew, Viking is also the first and only cruise line to have built full-scale PCR labs on board their ocean and expedition ships. All guests and crew are tested every day and the company’s medical team is able to quickly get the results. Without onboard PCR laboratories, there is no way to screen the samples and determine the results while on the move at sea.&nb...

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the execution of their respective mandates in the country’s common interest. Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), said this recently, when Jamoh paid a courtesy visit to Marwa. They admitted that success in the fight against maritime crimes and drug...

Unifeeder begins the new year with some exciting news. From 14th January 2022, Unifeeder Shortsea will be launching a new service linking Rotterdam to/from the ports of Dublin, Cork, and Belfast - with connections into the entire network of Unifeeder in Europe.  Quick booking process This new service in the Irish Sea offers an enhanced carrying capacity, as well as all-new routes between Rotterdam and key ports in Ireland, giving Unifeeder customers the benefit of connecting markets bet...

Tufail Chemical Industries and Maersk Pakistan signed a partnership earlier this week wherein Maersk would provide ‘Maersk Flow’, a digital tool, to Tufail Chemical to streamline and manage their supply chains efficiently. The partnership marks a significant step towards modernising logistics and improving supply chain performance with less time and effort. Tufail Chemical Industries conducts business with tech and appliance industries and has been importing plastic raw material, in...

PARAT Halvorsen will replace an old fired boiler with a new modern high voltage electrode boiler, designed and produced in Flekkefjord. BioMar in Myre has ordered a new 8MW high voltage electrode steam boiler. The boiler has a capacity of 12 tons steam/h, 22kV connection, 13 barg design pressure, and 195°C design temperature. Boiler installation and commissioning The steam boiler will be installed in the customer's existing boiler house, where it will replace the old fired boiler with a n...

The value of the competitively awarded contract could reach $101.2 million if all options are exercised. Under the docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) contract awarded, BAE Systems will dry-dock the ship, perform underwater hull preservation work, support the Navy’s efforts to upgrade the ship’s Aegis combat system and its command and control equipment, and refurbish the living spaces for the ship’s 285 crewmembers. The work is expected to begin in March 2022 and t...

Iridium Communications Inc. announced that Manjula Sriram has joined the company as Vice President & Chief Information Officer (CIO). Reporting to Chief Financial Officer Tom Fitzpatrick, Sriram is now responsible for leading Iridium's Information Technology (IT) organisation in implementing information systems to support both distributed and centralised business operations. Iridium® is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Irid...