OCTOBER 8, 2015—Leading classification society ClassNK has begun actual verification tests of its next-generation condition-based monitoring (CBM) system ClassNK CMAXS e-GICSX for Mitsui’s MAN B&W engines. The system is being jointly developed
OCTOBER 7, 2015—The U.S. Coast Guard has told family members of the crew of the lost cargo ship El Faro that it will suspend the search for survivors at 7 PM ET.
OCTOBER 7, 2015—Propulsion and steering specialist Schottel Group announced Dr. Christian Strahberger will take over as the Managing Director of SCHOTTEL GmbH in 2016. Strahberger, 42, is an industry expert with extensive
The three – Yoshiyuki Aoki, Masahiro Kato and Shunichi Kusunose – have been charged with allocating customers and routes, rigging bids and fixing prices for the sale of international ocean shipments of roll-on, roll-off cargo to and from the United States and elsewhere, including the Port of Baltimore. The affected cargo included cars, trucks, construction equipment and agricultural equipment.
Aoki, formerly of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line), and Kato and Kusunose, formerly of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), are among seven executives who have been charged in the investigation so far. Four have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison. NYK, K-Line and one other company have also pleaded guilty and paid more than $136 million in criminal fines.
“The companies and executives who conspired to restrict competition and raise prices for shipping these products must be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the Antitrust Division. “We previously charged NYK and K-Line for their role in this long-running conspiracy. Today we are continuing our effort to ensure that the executives at those companies who orchestrated the ocean shipping conspiracy face the consequences as well.”
“These felony charges indicate to those intent on corrupting our economy they will be identified and brought to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Kevin Perkins of the FBI’s Baltimore Division. “Our job is to protect victims who don’t see these crimes occurring, but who always end up paying the price.”
The indictment, which was returned by a grand jury in the District of Maryland, charges Aoki with participating in the conspiracy from at least as early as 2001 until at least September 2012; Kato with participating from at least as early as April 2002 until at least September 2012; and Kusunose with participating from at least as early as April 2004 until at least September 2012.
The investigation is being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal I Section and the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Internal Affairs, Washington Field Office/Special Investigations Unit.
The ship was enroute from Jacksonville, FL to San Juan, PR. On Monday, four days after the ship vanished, the Coast Guard concluded it sank near the Bahamas in about 15,000 feet of water. One unidentified body in a survival suit was spotted, and the search continues for the other 32 crew members. The search continues today.
Commissioner Doyle sailed as an engineer aboard the SS Mayaguez on the Philadelphia – Jacksonville – San Juan trade route in 2001. Doyle issued the following statement today:
“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the employees, contractors, families and friends of TOTE Maritime, including my brothers and sisters of the Seafarers International Union and the American Maritime Officers Union, on the recent disappearance at sea of the vessel El Faro. I am praying for the safe rescue of any survivors, as well as for those who have passed.
“It is with a heavy heart that my deepest sympathies are extended.
A Mariners Version of Psalm 23:
The Lord is my pilot; I shall not drift.
He lights me across the dark waters. He steers me through deep channels.
He keeps my log.
He guides me by the star of Holiness for His name’s sake.
As I sail through the storms and tempests of life, I will dread no danger, for You are
near me; Your love and care shelter me.
You quieten the waves with oil, my ship rides calmly.
The Lord looks over me while waiting at sea for a safe harbor
And at the end of my voyage, I shall rest in the port of my Lord.”
Yesterday the U.S. Coast Guard announced that the vessel, which was en route from Jacksonville, Fla., to San Juan, Puerto Rico, was lost in last week’s storm. The Coast Guard will participate in the NTSB’s investigation.
The team will be led by the NTSB’s Tom Roth-Roffy as investigator-in-charge. NTSB Vice Chairman Bella Dinh-Zarr is accompanying the team and will serve as the principal spokesperson during the on-scene phase of the investigation.
Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D. FL.) said that, as a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, she will be asking for “a complete investigation into this tragic incident.”
The Coast Guard said yesterday that search and rescue crews continued searching for possible survivors from the cargo ship El Faro Monday night, covering a total search area of more than 160,574 square nautical miles.While searching in the vicinity of the ship’s last known position 35 nautical miles northeast of Crooked Islands, Bahamas, the Coast Guard located a deceased person in a survival suit in the water.
A heavily damaged life boat with markings consistent with those on board the El Faro was also located Sunday. Additional items located by Coast Guard aircrews within a 225 square nautical mile search area include a partially submerged life raft, life jackets, life rings, cargo containers and an oil sheen Sunday.Coast Guard assets involved in Monday’s search include:
Sea and weather conditions during Monday’s search include one-foot seas and 15 knots winds with unrestricted visibility.All three Coast Guard cutters remained on scene to search through the night.
The contract will see Crowley provide full turnkey operation and management of the fleet, including crewing and scheduled/unscheduled repair and drydocking services initially for one year with four, additional one-year options. The turnover phase for the ships began on October 1.
Of these five vessels, two will remain berthed in Jacksonville and three will be homeported in Norfolk – all within the service area of Crowley’s local offices. This contract will have a positive economic impact through the creation of several new jobs in both Jacksonville and Norfolk. The ships – USNS 1st LT Harry L. Martin, USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat, USNS SGT Matej Kocak, USNS PFC Eugene A. Obregon and the USNS MAJ Stephen W. Pless – will be used to transport cargo throughout the world in support of the U.S. military.
“Crowley is proud to have been selected to provide technical management for this government fleet,” says Crowley Government Services General Manager Paul Varghese. “This contract is a perfect fit for us, and would not be possible without the hard work and determination of our remarkable government team and the tremendous support we received from MSC.”
OCTOBER 5, 2015 — French ballast water treatment system (BWTS) manufacturer Bio-UV has just supplied the Piriou Groups Concarneau shipyard with the first skid-mounted versions of its Bio-Sea 100 BWTS. They will
Coast Guard spokesman CAPT Mark Fedor said during a press conference in Miami this morning that one body was found in a survival suit in a 225-square mile debris field near the Bahamas. The body was “unidentifiable” and was not recovered. CAPT Fedor said the Coast Guard also recovered one of the ship’s two lifeboats with no one on board. He said that the Coast Guard was still hopeful of finding survivors among the 33 crew on board. Despite the difficult conditions of being subjected to 140 mph winds and 50-foot waves, “I’m not going to discount someone’s will to survive,” says Fedor.
According to Fedor, there were 46 survival suits on board and each lifeboat is certified to carry 43. “These are trained mariners and they know how to abandon ship.”
The search for survivors will continue with aircraft and commercial ships in the area.
The Coast Guard said Sunday evening that the search teams, which also include personnel and resources from U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy, have covered more than 70,000 square miles.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, with involvement from the U.S. Coast Guard, is expected to conduct a full investigation. Fedor says the Coast Guard is also expected to conduct its own investigation.
The El Faro, owned by Tote Maritime, was built in 1974 and updated in 1992 and 2006. It was carrying 391 containers and 294 trailers and cars.
OCTOBER 5, 2015—The U.S. Coast Guard is reporting that it has located a debris field of in the vicinity of the U.S.-flag containership El Faro’s last known position 35 nautical miles northeast