News

Eight stowaways were found on board the 'Flex Emden' which berthed at Belview port, Waterford, on Dec 4, 2019, coming ofrom Saint Nazaire. Three of them tried to flee but were seized by the Garda Immigration Bureau. All eight were Albanians.

The 'Synthesis 21', 1710 ts (EU-No.: 04030280), allided with a pillar of the railway bridge over the Waal near Zaltbommel in the night of Dec 4, 2019. The raiway traffic between Utrecht and Den Bosch and the A2 motorway were barred after the accident, as was the river for shipping until damage investigations were carried out. The accident occurred in heavy fog. After several hours, the important land-side traffic routes were released again. The cargo of potassium hydroxin, a hazardous cargo, which was transported by the tanker, was to be ligherted onto another ship, the 'Synthese 3' (MMSI: 244660048), in the run of Dec 5. The damaged vessel was being stabilized by the Dutch barge 'Jacobus' (MMSI: 244650495) under the Martinus Nijhoff motorway bridge. The patrol boats 'RWS 42' and 'RWS 77' of Rijkswaterstatt secured the site. After daybreak, rail operator ProRail began to investigate the pillar which the ship had hit. The tough fog complicated the investigations. Dutch reports with photos: https://www.omroepgelderland.nl/nieuws/2431744/Geen-schade-aan-spoorbrug-Zaltbommel-na-botsing-met-tanker https://www.destentor.nl/binnenland/tanker-botst-tegen-spoorbrug-in-zaltbommel-hulpdiensten-voorkomen-verkeersinfarct-op-a2~a082ce8c/

Following the first steel cutting, MV Werften has officially started with the construction of the second 208,000gt Global Class cruise ship for Genting Hong Kong. This not-yet named unit will be delivered in 2022, following GLOBAL DREAM in 2021.

The UK government and the Port of Southampton have teamed up to launched the UK’s first Port Economic Partnership (PEP), a way of creating stronger links between ports and government in order to long-term trade and economic growth. For the partnership, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) will work with ABP’s Port of Southampton to focus on leveraging public and private sector investment and ensuring that planning processes are as efficient as possible. The unique partnership was launched this week during an event at London International Shipping Week. The creation of PEPs was outlined back in January as part of the launch of the UK’s ‘Maritime 2050 – Navigating the Future’ strategy, envisioning creating a strong business environment for ports which, in turn, will help trade and benefit the UK economy.

On Dec 4, 2019, the 'Beti Gure Iskander' with three crew members on board, was disabled after its propeller got entangled with a net off Santurtzi. The ship issued a distress call and was taken in tow by the SAR ship 'Salvamar Alcyone' of Salvamento Marítimo. At 11 a.m. it berthed at the Astilleros Zamakona Shipyard in Bilbao.

for $9.5m to German buyers

Sodraco International, a French subsidiary of Jan De Nul Group, has signed a contract to transport and install 80 offshore wind turbines on the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm offshore France. The contract was awarded by Parc du Banc de Guérande, a joint venture between the French renewable energy company EDF Renewables and the Canadian energy infrastructure company Enbridge. It is the first offshore wind contract in France for Jan De Nul. “We are excited to contribute to the further development of renewable energy, and offshore wind in particular, in France. Next to that we are looking forward to working again with EDF Renewables and to confirm our skills and competencies by making the installation of the Offshore Wind Turbines in collaboration with GE a great success,” said Philippe Hutse, offshore director at Jan De Nul Group. The turbine installation works are planned to commence in spring 2022 and will be completed by the end of 2022.

(Sept. 8, 2019) – As Carnival Cruise Line continues to work closely with its partners to deliver relief to the people of Grand Bahama and Abaco islands recovering from Hurricane Dorian, it also plans 41 calls to Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays for the remainder of September as those destinations eagerly await cruise guests. Bahamian officials have expressed great appreciation for the support Carnival and its employees and guests have provided but also stressed that the other parts of The Bahamas are open for business and stand ready to welcome guests.

In the evening of Dec 4, 2019, the 'Tornado' suffered an engine failure in Talgsjøen an ran aground at 6 p.m. outside Kristiansund in stormy weather in pos. 3 10 12.0 N, 007 48 18.0 E. The NSSR boat 'Erik Bye' was called to assist and took the ship in tow at 9.15 p.m. It was successfully refloated and pulled it to Husøya in Kristiansund. The ship was carrying sand and coming from Kyrksæterøra at the time of the accident. Norwegian report with photo: https://www.nrk.no/mr/lastebat-trekt-til-land-1.14809099

for $11.6m to EGPN

Washington States Ferries has officially launched its new hybrid-ferry newbuild program at Vigor’s Seattle shipyard. Washington’s legislature authorized a contract extension earlier this year for Vigor to build up to five 144-car Olympic class, hybrid-electric ferries over the coming years for the Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry system in the United States. Vigor has constructed the last twelve ferries in the WSF system and has been actively engaged in the evolution of hybrid-electric solutions, including sending a team to Norway to meet with experts on best practices and available technologies for low carbon ferry systems. Vigor and WSF will again visit Norway as part of a second delegation in September 2019. The Olympic class hull form is one of the most efficient in the fleet with less drag through the water and a small wake for a positive environmental impact. The new hybrid vessels will utilize the existing Olympic class hull form, but will be capable of 100% electric operation on most routes once the infrastructure needed for charging is installed.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian which caused widespread devastation across the Bahamas, Norwegian oil giant Equinor is setting about cleaning up the spills from its South Riding Point oil terminal on Grand Bahama. The South Riding Point oil terminal has sustained damage from the hurricane and oil has been observed on the ground at the terminal site and in neighbouring areas. The size of the spill is not yet clear. Equinor has secured vessels and equipment for oil spill response in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, and from various ports across southeast Florida.