Crowley tanker first to get ABS LNG-Ready approval

The LNG-Ready Level 1 approval was issued, along with an approval in principle for the first vessel in a series built by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and operated by Crowley Maritime Corporation, the recently delivered Ohio.

By achieving compliance with the ABS Guide for LNG Fuel Ready Vessels, Crowley has the option to convert the product tankers in the series to LNG fueled propulsion at a later date having already been granted a conceptual review.

“ABS has played a fundamental role in supporting the ambitions of the maritime industry as it moves to embrace the opportunity of LNG as fuel,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. “This milestone builds upon our work to provide owners with the guidance and support they need to move ahead with shipbuilding projects that allow them the flexibility to respond to changes over the lifetime of their vessels.”

ABS published the Guide for LNG Fuel Ready Vessels in 2014. The LNG-Ready endorsements allow shipowners and yards the flexibility to limit their initial investment while planning for the future conversion to dual fuel or gas-powered combustion engines. A well-thought-out plan can prepare shipowners to face ever-increasing stricter environmental regulations as well as help save time and money by considering basic gas-fueled ship requirements during the preliminary design and minimizing the potential changes during the future conversion.

“Crowley is proud to be the first company to actually receive this designation from ABS,” says Rob Grune, SVP and general manager petroleum services for Crowley. “As our business continues to shape itself to better meet the requirements of our customers, these vessels that stand ready and able to operate on a cleaner, alternative fuel source are our way of anticipating future demands.”

“Working with ABS and Crowley to build the first LNG-Ready product tanker has been a valuable process and has allowed the shipyard to deliver a vessel with the flexibility to evolve in the future” says Scott Clapham, SVP of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.

Crowley tanker first to get ABS LNG-Ready approval

The LNG-Ready Level 1 approval was issued, along with an approval in principle, for the recently delivered Ohio, the first vessel in a series built by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and operated by Crowley Maritime Corporation.

By achieving compliance with the ABS Guide for LNG Fuel Ready Vessels, Crowley has the option to convert the product tankers in the series to LNG fueled propulsion at a later date having already been granted a conceptual review.

“ABS has played a fundamental role in supporting the ambitions of the maritime industry as it moves to embrace the opportunity of LNG as fuel,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. “This milestone builds upon our work to provide owners with the guidance and support they need to move ahead with shipbuilding projects that allow them the flexibility to respond to changes over the lifetime of their vessels.”

ABS published the Guide for LNG Fuel Ready Vessels in 2014. The LNG-Ready endorsements allow shipowners and yards the flexibility to limit their initial investment while planning for the future conversion to dual fuel or gas-powered combustion engines. A well-thought-out plan can prepare shipowners to face ever-increasing stricter environmental regulations as well as help save time and money by considering basic gas-fueled ship requirements during the preliminary design and minimizing the potential changes during the future conversion.

“Crowley is proud to be the first company to actually receive this designation from ABS,” says Rob Grune, SVP and general manager petroleum services for Crowley. “As our business continues to shape itself to better meet the requirements of our customers, these vessels that stand ready and able to operate on a cleaner, alternative fuel source are our way of anticipating future demands.”

“Working with ABS and Crowley to build the first LNG-Ready product tanker has been a valuable process and has allowed the shipyard to deliver a vessel with the flexibility to evolve in the future” says Scott Clapham, SVP of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.

Falsifying oil record book costs Chandris $1 million

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas reports that Chandris, the operator of the the 158, 519 dwt Suezmax tanker M/V Sestrea, which made calls in multiple ports in Texas, pleaded guilty to a violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for failing to properly maintain an oil record book as required by federal and international law, as well as a violation of making a false statement for making a false entry in the ship’s oil record book.

Shortly following the plea, U.S. District Judge Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered the company to pay an $800,000 criminal fine along with a $200,000 community service payment to the congressionally-established National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The money will be designated for use in the Flower Garden and Stetson Banks National Marine Sanctuary, headquartered in Galveston, to support the protection and preservation of natural and cultural resources located in and adjacent to the sanctuary.

Chandris was also sentenced to three years probation. As a condition of the probation, all ships Chandris manages and that are involved in transporting crude oil will be forced to comply with an Environmental Compliance Plan.

According to a joint factual statement, on or about Dec. 18, 2014, the chief engineering officer on board the M/V Sestrea acting on behalf of Chandris used a hose to pump fresh water through the Oil Content Meter. Because of this, the meter was “tricked” into sensing that all of the oily bilge water being run through the Oil Water Separator within normal limits.

As a result, the system discharged oily water in excess of 15 parts per million overboard into the sea.

According to court documents, the chief engineer knowingly failed to make the required entries into the oil record book including the fact that oily waste had been discharged directly into the sea. The chief engineer also made false entries in the oil record book to conceal the fact that the pollution control equipment had not been used. The crew members then attempted to conceal the discharge on Dec. 18, 2014, during a Coast Guard boarding at the port in Corpus Christi by providing the falsified oil record book to the boarding crew.

The investigation was conducted by the Coast Guard – Corpus Christi Sector and the Coast Guard Investigative Service in Corpus Christi.

Crystal ups river cruise orders at Lloydwerft, buys Mozart

Crystal Cruises’ parent company, Genting Hong Kong, entered into an agreement to acquire the shipyard in September, investing EUR 17.5 million for 70% of the new shipbuilding business and a 50% ownership of the shipyard’s land.

The decision to double the number of river cruise vessel newbuilds comes just months after Crystal Cruises unveiled its intention to embark on what it calls the “most significant brand expansion in the luxury travel and hospitality history” with the addition of Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Yacht Cruises, Crystal Exclusive Class ocean vessels and Crystal Luxury Air.

President and CEO Edie Rodriguez reported today that in addition to adding two more river vessels at the Bremerhaven shipyard, responding to strong demand from travelers and agents for an earlier Crystal river experience, Crystal has also completed the purchase of the German built MS Mozart, the largest river cruise vessel in Europe.

Following an extensive drydocking to create the upscale Crystal experience on board, the revamped vessel will be renamed Crystal Mozart and start Danube River cruises in July next year.
 

“In response to travelers and travel agents’ enthusiasm for Crystal River Cruises, and through Crystal’s innovation, we are upping the ante once again, bringing ‘true luxury’ to the river cruise sector with the largest guest suites and public spaces, the highest crew-to-guest-ratio and Crystal’s award-winning service,” said Mr. Rodriguez. “Once the transformation of Crystal Mozart is completed, it will truly be the crown jewel of the European rivers.”

Crystal Mozart is designed to fit into the wider locks of the Danube River from Passau in Germany to Budapest in Hungary, and holds the record of being the largest river cruise vessel on European rivers, measuring 75.1 feet wide (22.9 meters), which is double the width of an average industry river boat. The 160-guest capacity Crystal Mozart has window suites of 203 square feet, deluxe suites of 215 square feet, a penthouse suite of 322 square feet and two, two-bedroom Crystal Suites of 860 square feet, the largest suite on any river vessels. Due to its impressive width and size, the vessel’s unique features will remain, such as the public area that spans a single level and yacht-like amenities including multiple dining rooms, a wraparound promenade, a luxurious spa and fitness center, an indoor pool, beauty salon, and library.

The four new all-suite luxury river yachts will debut in June and August 2017, boasting suites of 220 square feet, deluxe suites of 250 square feet, a penthouse suite of 500 square feet and a two-bedroom Crystal Suite of 750 square feet.

The new vessels will feature a Palm Court with dance floor and glass domed roof, a library, fitness center, spa, and sporting equipment such as electric assisted bicycles, kayaks, and jet skis.

Designed with the maximum size to fit into the locks of rivers and under bridges, two of the Crystal River Yachts will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers with 110 guests. The other two will each have an 84-guest capacity, one will be cruising the Seine River and the other the Garonne and Dordogne rivers as well as navigating through the Gironde Estuary.

Itineraries, fares and bookings for the four new vessels will be available on November 30, 2015 (Cyber Monday).

Costamare and York Capital order two 3,800 TEU newbuilds

NOVEMBER 2, 2015 — Athens headquartered Costamare Inc. (NYSE: CMRE) and York Capital have ordered two 3,800 TEU containerships from China’s Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for first and second quarter

Alfa Laval EGR water treatment system has smaller footprint

NOVEMBER 2, 2015 — For many shipowners, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is emerging as an attractive option for compliance with the Tier III NOx emission limits that will soon apply in the

Alfa Laval gives EGR water treatment a smaller footprint

NOVEMBER 2, 2015 — For many shipowners, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is emerging as an attractive option for compliance with the Tier III NOx emission limits that will soon apply in the

BW Pacific IPO set to raise at least $250 million

NOVEMBER 2, 2015 — Singapore based BW Pacific Limited, the product tanker operation of Andreas Sohmen-Pao-led BW Group, is looking to raise at least $250 million from the initial public offering and

Construction of new Shanghai Wartsila factory begins

 

After the ground breaking ceremony, CWEC signed strategic cooperation agreements with the Hudong Zhonghua and Shanghai Waigaoqia (SWS) shipyards. It also signed a Letter of Intent ]with SWS for the delivery in 2017 of Wärtsilä Auxpac 32 generating sets for three large container vessels being built at the shipyard.

The CWEC joint venture was established in July 2014 for the manufacture of medium and large bore, medium speed, diesel and dual-fuel Wärtsilä engines. The new factory will be the first in China capable of producing locally large bore medium speed diesel and dual-fuel engines. By being able to produce and deliver locally, the new joint venture will provide CSSC Group and other Chinese shipyards with closer access to the Wärtsilä range of engines with the benefits of faster delivery times and competitive pricing. Wärtsilä’s share of the joint venture is 49 percent.

Products to be manufactured at the new facility will include the Wärtsilä 26, Wärtsilä 32, Wärtsilä 34DF, and Wärtsilä 46F engines, the first of which are expected to be ready for delivery in 2016. The production capacity is planned at 180 engines per year.

“It is an honor and a privilege to celebrate this latest milestone in our joint venture journey. By combining the strengths of our two companies; CSSC’s strong capabilities as the number one ship builder in China and Wärtsilä’s industry leading technologies, we can together make an important difference in today’s challenging global marine market,” said Roger Holm, Senior Vice President, Engines, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.
“

This is an important occasion for the shipping industry in China. The new factory will produce state-of-the-art marine engines that will serve our customers with value adding efficiencies. We are pleased to cooperate with Wärtsilä in this exciting joint venture,” said Wu Qiang, President of CSSC.

The CWEC joint venture will target the offshore and LNG markets in particular, both of which are growing significantly in China. It will also serve the large container vessel segment.

Australia names preferred tenderer for new icebreaker

Computer–generated images and video of the new ship were showcased October 29 at an event attended by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull MP, at the AAD’s headquarters in Kingston, Tasmania.

The icebreaker, designed by Danish naval architect firm, Knud E. Hansen, will be built by DMS Maritime’s subcontractor Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding at Damen’s Galati, Romania, shipyard with commissioning expected in October 2019. DMS Maritime would then operate and maintain the vessel in support of the Australian Antarctic program on a long-term basis.

Replacing the Aurora Australis, which has been in service since 1989, the new icebreaker will be faster, larger, stronger and offer increased endurance.

According to a fact sheet released by the Australian Antarctic Division, the new icebreaker will have an icebreaking capability of 1.65 meters at 3 knots compared to the existing vessel’s 1.23 meters at 2.5 knots.

The vessel will supply Antarctic research stations with cargo, equipment and personnel, and will serve as a research ship with extensive laboratory facilities on board and a multi-beam bathymetric echo sounder to enable seafloor mapping,

The vessel is expected to accommodate 34 DMS Maritime crew and up to 116 AAD scientific personnel, and has the ability to embark up to four helicopters, two landing craft and a dedicated science tender. Its physical specification is expected to be 156 m in length and 23,400 tonnes displacement.

Media Factsheets 2

 

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