Rolls-Royce Acquires VT Controls

01 Sep 2003

The VT Group has sold the marine division of Portsmouth UK based VT Controls Ltd to Rolls-Royce for £11m cash. 

Thames Craft Correction

01 Sep 2003

Wind Blows Briggs' Way

01 Sep 2003

Briggs Marine has signed a contract with Vestas - Celtic Wind Technology for part of the work installing one of the UK's first offshore wind farms. The turbine manufacturer, in consortium with Mayflower Energy Ltd , has secured a £74m wind farm contract from National Wind Power to install 30 two-megawatt turbines at Wind Power's North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm. The development a few miles off Prestatyn and Rhyl in North Wales is one of 18 offshore wind farms planned for UK waters. 

Early Warning Saves Bear Necessities

01 Sep 2003

Bear Grylls and his crew, who last month crossed the North Atlantic via the Arctic Circle in an 11m Ocean Dynamics open RIB, had a potential power failure averted by their remote monitoring and tracking service. 

Boom boxes at Hamburg

01 Sep 2003

The Port of Hamburg achieved a 14.9% increase in container handling over the first half of 2003, with a record 2.9 million teu handled at the Hamburg Container Terminal . It is the fifth consecutive year that Hamburg can claim double-figure growth in box turnover. The Port also saw a 7.2% growth rate in seaborne cargo loaded and unloaded, with some 51.3 million tonnes passing through the cargo handling terminal. 

Germany's Biggest SWATH Ship Takes Shape

01 Sep 2003

The biggest SWATH ship ever built in Germany has been named and launched for the Bundesmarine at the North Sea shipyard Nordseewerke NSW , in Emden. 

Works in Progress

01 Sep 2003

The small family firm of David Ferran & Sons of Belfast recently had the distinction of taking delivery of the first steel tug/workboat to be completed by Hampshire boat builders VT Halmatic . 

Success for Atlantic Crossing

01 Sep 2003

Bear Grylls and his team have succeeded in a record setting effort to make the first ever unassisted crossing of the North Atlantic just south of the Arctic Circle in an open 11m RIB. 

Silent Running 'Celtic Explorer' Garners Praise

01 Sep 2003

Ireland's first deep-sea research vessel, the Irish Marine Institute 's new RV Celtic Explorer , appears to have drawn nothing but praise since she was commissioned in April after completion at Damen/Royal Schelde . 

New Cheetah Hungry for Power

01 Sep 2003

Cheetah Marine of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight has launched the first example of its new Cheetah 7.9m design to coincide with the opening of the new Ventnor Haven sheltered mooring facility. The new catamaran has been designed specifically to make use of the new generation of powerful four stroke outboard engines while still being road transportable by trailer. 

Expansion Opens at Trinity

01 Sep 2003

The Port of Felixstowe officially opened the first phase of its Trinity Terminal expansion by adding six hectares of back-up land which will boost storage capacity by 6,500 teu. A further section of storage area will be opened early next year, ahead of the quay becoming fully operational by July 2004. When complete, an additional 270m of quay dredged to 15m alongside will extend deepwater berthing at Trinity to 900m. 

Tyne Online

01 Sep 2003

Newcastle UK based Tyne First has launched a website to promote, serve and support marine and offshore technology companies on and around the River Tyne. The website, www. tynefirst. com , focuses on the capacity and capability of a range of local companies and will be used to promote the area's marine and offshore sector worldwide. 

Name Change for Barkemeyer

01 Sep 2003

The Van der Velden Group of companies, which includes Barkemeyer GmbH & Kg , has celebrated its 40th anniversary with a change of name. Oceangoing manoeuvring equipment specialists Barkemeyer will henceforth operate under the trade name Van der Velden Marine Systems . The Barkmeyer brand name is associated with its BARKE high-lift flap rudder, Timon flap rudder, conventional and fishtail rudders, and advanced steering gears. 

ABP Opens 3rd Southampton Cruise Terminal

01 Sep 2003

Associated British Ports officially opened its third cruise terminal in the Port of Southampton last month, with the £1.5m City Cruise Terminal bringing ABP 's investment in Southampton cruise facilities to over £10m this year. 

Successful 'Tricolor' Removal Underway

01 Sep 2003

One of the largest wreck removal operations ever undertaken continues in the English Channel with the consortium Combinatie Berging Tricolor (CBT) having already removed two sections cut from the sunken car carrier Tricolor to Zeebrugge. 

Double-up Research Ship is 'Immense Challenge' Say Dutch

01 Sep 2003

A unique new research vessel boasting a double propeller plant and two separate engine rooms is now under construction at Dutch shipyard Niestern Sander in Delfzijl. 

UKHMA Autumn Seminar Set

01 Sep 2003

The UK Harbour Masters' Association Autumn 2003 Seminar takes place on Wednesday, 29 October 2003 at the IMarEST Conference Centre in London. 

Supersonic Legend Makes Final Flight By Water

01 Sep 2003

Dutch marine transport specialists Van der Wees Watertransporten made front page news in the Netherlands and Germany recently when their pontoon Lastdrager wasused to sail a decommissioned Concorde aircraft 50 miles down the Rhine. 

IHC To Close van der Giessen-de Noord Shipyard

01 Sep 2003

The Netherlands' IHC Caland offshore and shipbuilding group has announced the pending closure of its van der Giessen-de Noord shipyard in Rotterdam with the loss of 400 jobs. Completion of existing orders will keep the yard open until early next year.