Thursday 16 October 08 - 04:57
 

Hydrographic Survey by David Goodfellow

  • MMF FORUM

    Fugro Geos, specialists in providing metocean services for offshore and coastal engineering applications, is to host the 40th Marine Measurement Forum at the Shillingford Bridge Hotel, near Wallingford UK on 16 May.  

  • UKHO’s Future Under Review

    The Ministry of Defence has announced a review into the best possible structure and ownership options for the future of the UK Hydrographic Office.  

  • Statoil Survey Contract for Acergy

    Acergy SA, the seabed-to-surface engineering and construction contractor, has been awarded a $120m contract by Norway’s Statoil for survey services in the North Sea over a period of five years.  

  • GeoChirp Sings for Shallow Water Survey

    GeoChirp 3D provides shallow survey operators with a new tool for imaging sub-surface structures and buried objects, say GeoAcoustics of Great Yarmouth who have developed the system in association with the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.  

  • PC Maritime Boosts ECDIS Sales

    PC Maritime of Plymouth reports further sales of its Navmaster ECDIS units to three new customers, John H Whitaker (Tankers) Ltd of Hull, Scotline in Romford and Dublin based Irish Ferries.  

Insurance, Legal & Financial

  • Insurers Advise on Floating Box Risk

    The recent and ongoing loss of containers from the grounded ‘MSC Napoli’ has drawn attention to the risk of hitting semi-submerged objects, (containers included) in most oceans.  

  • Owners Beware of Inadvertent Pollution

    The recent bad weather in which ‘MSC Napoli’ was grounded in Lyme Bay UK has caused more than the usual headaches for port authorities trying to ensure that vessels do not pollute or become contaminated by pollution.  

  • Shipping Loss Total Tumbles

    There has been a dramatic reduction in the number of total losses of merchant ships since the year 2000.  

Marine Civils by David Foxwell

  • Lerwick Port Seeks Permission for Dredging

    According to reports, Lerwick Port Authority is to lobby the Scottish Executive to issue a harbour revision order which would allow the port to create new land for development.  

  • CEDA Stakes Out Position on WFD

    The Central Dredging Association (CEDA) participated in the recent Seminar 'Navigation and the EU Water Framework Directive' which took place on 31 January in Brussels. CEDA provided input on a range of subjects relevant to the WFD and the dredging industry.  

  • Dutch and Danish Assist Dredging Project in Mozambique

    The Dutch government is to contribute US$18m to two emergency dredging projects.   

  • Dredging JV Acquires Energy Contract in India

    Dutch dredging company Royal Boskalis Westminster and Dredging International of Belgium have acquired a major energy related contract in India.  

  • Royal Haskoning Leads Upgrade of Ferry Facility

    Royal Haskoning in the UK is leading a project that will add years to the life of the ferry facilities at Holyhead, Stena Line’s busiest ferry port in the UK.  

  • Newport Unlimited Secures Marina Study

    Urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited has secured £75,000 funding from the Welsh Assembly to consider the possibility of a developing a marina in Crindau.  

  • First African Xbloc Project Completed

    The construction of the first Xbloc shore protection project in Africa has been completed at Bar Beach, Lagos, Nigeria following a year long construction project that has seen 1km of shore protection structures built using armoured 1.5m3 Xblocs.   

  • Green Masterplan for the Expansion of Tianjin

    The Netherlands based DHV Group has won a contract to provide a masterplan for the development of the harbour at Tianjin in China.  

Navigation & Communication

  • ‘Future of Marine Navigation’ Demonstrated

    Specially adapted Kongsberg Norcontrol IT C-Scope software formed the platform for an in depth MarNIS (Maritime Navigation and Information Services) demonstration, held at the MCA's Highcliffe Training Centre on 13 & 14th Feb 2007.  

  • Pocket Navtex Links to Any PC

    Bristol UK based Marine Electronic Services has introduced the new Wetterbox WIB2 Navtex Black Box Receiver, a cigarette packet sized unit which incorporates an internal Navtex receiver and PC interface.  

  • Car Carrier Captains Drive Digital NavComms

    Wallenius Marine AB in Stockholm have placed a landmark order through Admiralty Distributor Nautic Center AB for over thirty complete sets of the recently launched Admiralty Digital Publications (ADP) portfolio developed by the UK Hydrographic Office.  

  • Dredgers Scoop Savings on Satellite Use

    Belgium based contractors Dredging International is using new software to cut the cost of transferring business critical data over satellite between its ships dispersed worldwide and its onshore offices.  

  • ‘Video Wall’ VTS for Port of Antwerp

    Two Belgian companies, Barco, which designs and develops visualisation products, and technical installations specialists Fabricom GTI, are installing a high performance VTS system, including new radars, for the Port of Antwerp.   

Navigation Aids

  • Wind Farm Marking Challenge

    Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar, is working with the Civil Aviation Authority, wind farm developers and government departments to solve the problem of marking wind farms.  

  • Auto-Dimming Range Lights for Esbjerg

    A range light system supplied by Tideland Signal Limited to the Danish Lighthouse Authority (Farvandsvaesenet) for the port of Esbjerg is equipped with a range of auto-dimming facilities to provide appropriate light levels for all conditions from bright sunlight to fog and dark nights.   

  • AIS Enabled Buoy Launched in Oz

    A truly ‘smart’ Sealite buoy was launched last month by Toll Westernport in Westernport Bay, Australia.  

  • Germany Certifies New Zealand Nav Lamps

    New Zealand based Hella Marine, which has distributors throughout Europe, has had their NaviLED Pro navigation lamps certified by the German Maritime Authorities (BSH) for boats up to 50m in length.  

News

  • ‘Personal Everest’ Sails in May

    Disabled yachtsman Geoff Holt launches his challenge this month to be the first disabled person to sail solo around the coast of Great Britain, a voyage of over 1600 miles.  

  • Opportunity Knocks at Gulf Maritime 2007

    The fifth annual Gulf Maritime event, Gulf Maritime 2007, will take place from 16 to 18 April in the United Arab Emirates at Expo Centre Sharjah, which is in close proximity to the business centres of Sharjah and Dubai.  

  • A Fascia Lift for Westminster Bridge

    The UK’s seat of Government backs on to waters that are part of the country’s third largest port by volume of trade and even so far inland, the River Thames at Westminster still sees a fair amount of commercial traffic passing through the ‘17 Bridges to Wandsworth’.  

  • River Boat Expansion

    Chester UK riverboat operator Bithell Boats, which has been providing passenger vessels and commercial services such as dredging on the River Dee for over 100 years, has expanded its operations to the River Ouse in York with the acquisition of YorkBoat.  

  • Marine Workers’ Support

    The Hampshire UK based Marine, Engineering and Manufacturing Skills (MEMS) Partnership has launched a programme to support employees whose jobs are at risk or whoface being made redundant within these industries.  

  • Ferry Good Numbers

    Particularly strong growth in goods traffic between eastern Europe and Scandinavia helped Scandlines Denmark A/S boost the volume of lorries carried last year.  

  • New Scotland Power House

    American diesel marine generator manufacturer Northern Lights has opened a dedicated warehouse in Scotland to service their European and UK sales. The warehouse stocks generators and sound enclosures on the 5 kW to 30 kW range.  

  • Kalmar Buys Tagros

    Cargo handling equipment supplier Kalmar has purchased Slovenia based service contractor Tagros d.o.o., which provides general maintenance for rubber wheeled container handling equipment at the Balkan Port of Koper.  

  • SOSREP IS HONOURED BY THE ISU

    The International Salvage Union (ISU) has recognised the stirling work done by Mr Robin Middleton, Britain’s Secretary of States Representative for Maritime Salvage and Intervention (SOSREP) with the presentation of an ‘Industry Award’.   

  • Blank Bolsters Weser Terminal Expansion

    Now supporting Bremerhaven’s ever increasing need for round the clock berth and basin dredging is the new €4.4m water injection dredger Hol Blank following its completion at Lloyd Werft.  

  • New coastal and ports surveying conference welcomed

    Coastal and Ports Surveying, is a new one-day conference for hydrographers, port and harbour authorities and engineers.  

  • Osthafen Expansion Ends, Kaiserschleuse Rebuild Begins

    The multi-million Euro expansion of Bremerhaven’s Osthafen car handling hub is ending late next month as work gathers speed on the €233 million rebuilding of the neighbouring Kaiserschleuse, a project described as the biggest of its kind in Europe.  

  • Gdansk Terminal Readies for June Start

    Poland’s new deepwater container terminal, DCT Gdansk, is being readied for first phase commercial operation starting in June and plans, in time, to be the biggest on the Polish Baltic capable of handling a million TEUs a year.  

  • Gardline Adds Consultancy

    Great Yarmouth UK based Gardline Environmental Limited (GEL), part of independently owned survey company Gardline Marine Sciences, has acquired the environmental consultancy Marine Ecological Surveys Limited.  

  • Wartsila Powers Forward

    The full year operating profit for Finnish marine engine manufacturer Wartsila soared by 29.2% during 2006 to reach €261.6m.  

  • Propulsion Website Launched

    Southampton UK based CJR Propulsion Ltd, which designs and manufactures propellers and stern gear systems, launched a new website last month.  

  • Green Light For Offshore Gas/Wind Co-Development

    Eclipse Energy UK plc has been granted consent to construct and operate the Ormonde offshore wind farm and to generate and export electricity from the adjacent Ormonde Gas Fields development, thus completing the series of principal permissions necessary to construct the world’s first co-development of offshore gas and wind.  

  • Pan-European Coastal Flooding Project Launched

    A pioneering EU funded project to promote the innovative use of multi-national maritime search and rescue (SAR) resources when dealing with major coastal inundation, caused by events such as tsunamis and tidal surges, was launched in London last month.   

  • Dragon Boats Battle for Charity

    The British & International Sailor’s Society (BISS), a charity operating in almost 100 ports worldwide, has launched the BISS Dragon Boat Challenge 2007 fundraising event.  

  • Ocean Theme for Irish Attraction

    An interactive exhibition examining the Atlantic Ocean is a feature of the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience in Ireland, officially opened last month by An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., more than 17 years after the €31.5m project was first proposed.  

  • UK Wind Farm Beyond Territorial Waters

    The British government has granted planning permission for one of the world’s largest wind farms, which will also be the first UK offshore facility to be built outside of territorial waters.  

  • Dockside Regasification Facility Opens at Teesport

    The arrival of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo at Teesport UK last month marked the opening of the first ever dockside regasification port and second operational LNG facility in the UK.  

  • Boeing Going to Sea

    The Boeing Company continues to grow the marine division of its wholly owned subsidiary Jeppesen with the purchase of digital maritime cartography, data services and navigational information providers C-Map.  

  • Aberdeenshire Support for RNLI

    Aberdeenshire Council in Scotland has solidified its support for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution with a visit from chief executive Alan Campbell and a £1,000 donation.  

  • Mustang/Camarc Formalise Collaboration

    A close working relationship has been in place between naval architects Camarc and Wales based boat builder Mustang Marine for some time.  

  • Biggest Dredgers Yet for Jan De Nul

    Family owned Belgian dredging giant Jan De Nul has overturned the current industry form book with an order for what will be by far the world’s highest capacity trailing suction hopper dredger.  

  • WaterBridge Webster

    Based in Northumberland UK, The Engineering Business has appointed the experienced marine engineer Ben Webster as Business Developer for Renewable Energy Projects.  

Seawork07 Preview

  • Marine Corrosion On the Run at Seawork

    Based at Biggin Hill Airport in Kent UK, Corrosion Block is part of the Adams Aviation Supply Company, which has been supporting the aviation industry since 1968.  

  • Met’s Favourite Returns to Seawork Pontoon

    The finely crafted Targa patrol boats built in Finland by Botnia Marin and displayed at Seawork by Wessex Marine have become a much enjoyed regular feature on the exhibition’s floating pontoon.   

  • Seawork Telemetry Beats Interference

    Seawork exhibitor Ohmex have just released the 'LR' modem, a new long range digital radio telemetry modem to complement its tide gauge and weather station products.  

  • Mustang Rounds Up Chinese Breakthrough

    One of the highlights of Seawork 2006 was ‘Skomer’, the new 19m pilot boat for Milford Haven Port Authority built by Mustang Marine (Wales) Ltd. 

  • Seawork Celebrates 10 Years of Success

    A decade has passed quickly since Mercator Media created the first Seawork exhibition at the Queen Elizabeth II cruise terminal in the Port of Southampton.  

  • Underwater Engineering from Seabed to Seawork

    By the end of this summer a new offshore wind farm will be operational on Burbo Bank in Liverpool Bay at the entrance to the River Mersey.  

  • Unique Newbuild to Debut at Seawork

    Seawork exhibitor South Boats is building a ‘revolutionary’ first of class 14.1m aluminium offshore ship supply vessel for MBL Supply AB of Gothenburg in Sweden.  

  • Cat Sandwich Sails to Seawork

    The international flavour of Seawork has been further enhanced with confirmation that Baltec Werft, one of Germany leading shipyards, specialised in working with high tech sandwich build technology, will be a first time exhibitor in Southampton this summer.  

  • BBEx Victors Sail to Seawork

    The winners of the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ last month at Seawork’s sister event, the Boating Business Exhibition in Bournemouth, will bring their fast expanding network of online boat brokerages to Seawork this summer.  

  • Lights Out for Old Buoys at Seawork

    XJF Plastics has confirmed that it will be displaying an Eason Marine Class 2 Lightweight buoy at Seawork International this year.  

  • Seawork Exhibitor Builds Wind Farm ‘Xplorer’

    The Northumberland UK based designer and builder of aluminium workboats Alnmaritec will be exhibiting one of their vessels on the floating pontton at Seawork 2007.  

  • MST a Site to See at Seawork

    Marine Specialised Technology, the commercial rigid inflatable and high speed workboat builder, has had an unprecedented year of growth that has seen the manufacturing facility on the waters in Liverpool double in size and the employees grow to 18 people.  

  • Aluminium Workboats debut at Seawork 2007

    Through their agents, Wave Seven Marine Ltd, Anytec Marine AB will introduce their range of high speed aluminium boats to the UK and Irish market at Seawork 2007.  

Ship & Boat Building

  • Innovative ATP Will Go North to Alaska

    One of the more interesting American tug deliveries of 2007 will be an innovative ATB currently being built to a Frank Basile/Entech design for Brice Construction of Alaska. The 84ft by 36ft tug will be coupled to a 284ft by 54ft barge using an Articouple system from Taisei Engineering of Japan.  

  • CAD Tools: Not Just For the Big Fish

     The benefits of using CAD software for designing vessels are not limited to the engineers of ocean going ships.  

  • IHC Holland Merwede Boosts Capacity Again

    The busy IHC Holland Merwede Group has joined as a majority share holder in a new company to be established jointly with Van Sluisveld Beheer which will further boost its shipbuilding throughput.   

  • Mustang Rounds Up Chinese Breakthrough

    One of the highlights of Seawork 2006 was ‘Skomer’, the new 19m pilot boat for Milford Haven Port Authority built by Mustang Marine (Wales) Ltd. 

  • ‘Wilkit’ Bolsters William’s Fleet

    Hampshire UK based Smith’s Tugs have handed over their newbuild 15m multi-role vessel to purchasers Williams Shipping Marine Ltd.   

  • AES 2007: The Vision Redrawn

    A Call for Papers has been published for AES 2007, a milestone event marketing its 10th anniversary. With the theme ‘A Vision Redrawn’ it is aimed at recording the experience, recognising the ambition and refining the balance of the development of the All-Electric Ship.  

  • Corrosion Protection for Airbus Ro-Ros

    Two new ro-ro vessels which are being built at the Singapore Technologies Marine (STM) shipyard will be used to carry oversize A380 Airbus sections made at manufacturing sites in Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and France to a special port facility near Bordeaux.  

  • Build Underway for New Orkneys Ferry

    FBMA Marine Inc, the Aboitiz Corp owned shipbuilders based in Cebu, Philippines signed a contract last month with Pentland Ferriesto supply a 70m catamaran ferry for operation from Scotland to the Orkney Isles.  

  • New Composites Group Targets Marine

    A new international player in advanced composite components has been created in the UK and is targeting the marine sector.  

  • Fusion Forges Boatbuild Bond

    Plexus, a division of Northants UK based ITW Performance Polymers Europe, has been promoting the benefits and savings that major transportation, marine, automotive and engineered construction manufacturers are achieving by using the company’s latest high performance range of methacrylate adhesives to bond many dissimilar materials.  

  • ‘Guardian’ Maintains Lawn Order in Bermuda

    The sister ship to the recently delivered six New South Wales Water Police boats officially entered service on December 4 with the Bermuda Water Police. 

  • Interest in Interceptors Extended in North-East

    Safehaven Marine has launched a new Interceptor 42 Workboat version for operator Wave Crookes of Scarborough on the UK’s east coast.    

Tugs & Towing by Jack Gaston

  • A New Contract for Ostensjo

    Østensjø Rederi AS of Haugesund, Norway has signed a contract with Norske Shell to provide towage services at the new Shell Nyhamna terminal now under construction at Aukra in Norway.  

  • Towlines

    Dutch towage company International Transport Contractors (ITC) now has both of its latest acquisitions in service.  

  • ‘A Turtle’ Goes to the Bottom

    A long period of anxiety for the residents on the remote island of Tristan du Cuhna came to an end on 11 February when the wreck of the errant oil rig ‘A Turtle’ was finally scuttled by salvors in deep water well away from their coastline.  

  • Busy Sanmar Has Ten Tugs Under Construction

    In keeping with other specialist tug builders the Turkish yard Sanmar Denizcilik Ltd is working hard to meet the current high demand for new tonnage. 

  • More Rotor Tugs for German Operators

    Kooren Shipbuilding and Trading B.V. has announced the sale of two Rotor Tug RT-80r class vessels to Unterweser Reederei GmbH (URAG) of Bremen.  

  • Svitzer-Adsteam Takeover Moves Rapidly

    Following publication of the Competition Commission report on the proposed takeover of Adsteam Marine by SvitzerWijsmuller, matters have progressed rapidly.  

Vessel Launch - Cheetah

Works In Progress- Damen

  • Damen Tugs & Workboat Division Moves Up a Gear

    With the world’s towage industry experiencing an unprecedented demand for new vessels and shipyards reporting full order books, Damen Shipyard’s Tug & Workboat (T&W) Division is in a unique position to respond.  

MTU IRONMEN