For a first time ever, US naval ship Charles Drew docked at Larsen & Toubro’s shipyard at Kattupalli in Chennai on Sunday for undertaking repairs and allied services, in the first such voyage to India by an American vessel. The defence ministry described it as a “huge boost” to ‘Make in India’ and said the visit added a new dimension to the burgeoning Indo-US strategic partnership. “This is the first ever repair of a US Navy ship in India. The US Navy had awarded a contract to L&T’s Shipyard at Kattupalli for undertaking maintenance of the ship,” the ministry said in a statement. The USNS Charles Drew will be at the Kattupalli shipyard for 11 days.

In a brief interaction with reporters at the L&T’s shipyard in Chennai, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said the government has accorded in principle approval for design and development of high capacity diesel marine engine for naval ships. The diesel marine engines in our ships are presently imported. It is one of those items which we do not have the indigenous capability, he said answering a question.

To address this, it has been decided to develop the engine under the Make-1 procedure. Under the plan, government provides 70 percent assistance of the project cost for design and development of the engine.

The approval in principle has been given and very shortly follow-up steps would be taken to design and develop the engine. In the next 2-3 years, the big size ‘6 MW and above’ marine diesel engines used for naval ships would be designed and developed in the country, he said.

To a query, a top L&T official said that the contract for repairing the US ship has opened the doors for many more similar opportunities.

The ministry said: “The event signifies the capabilities of Indian shipyards in the global ship repairing market. Indian shipyards offer wide-ranging and cost-effective ship repair and maintenance services, using advanced maritime technology platforms”.

Ajay Kumar, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral SN Ghormade and other senior officials of the defence ministry visited the shipyard to welcome the vessel.

US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin and Defence Attach at the US Embassy at New Delhi Rear Admiral Michael Baker were also present.

Kumar described the visit by the US ship to undertake repairs as a “red-letter day” for the Indian shipbuilding industry and the Indo-US defence relationship.

“We are indeed pleased to welcome US Naval Ship USNS Charles Drew to India, for making her voyage ready. India’s initiative also assumes special significance in furthering the strategic partnership between India and the US,” he said.

“It marks the beginning of a new chapter for deeper engagements,” Kumar added.

He also called the arrival of USNS Charles Drew for repairs a sign of maturing Indian shipbuilding industry.

“Today, India has six major shipyards with a turnover of nearly USD 2 billion. We are making ships not only for our own requirements,” he said.

“We have our own design house capable of making all kinds of state-of-the-art ships. The country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant is a shining example of the growth of the Indian shipbuilding industry,” he said.

The defence secretary said that under the new innovation ecosystem, vessels capable of undertaking autonomous missions have been built by Goa Shipyard Limited.

“The shipbuilding industry today is not just carrying out conventional things, but is also amalgamating the latest technologies with it,” he said.

The defence secretary also asserted that the ties between India and the US have been expanding in scale and scope and are based on common values and beliefs of an open, inclusive and rule-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

He added there has been a tremendous amount of traction in the defence industry cooperation over the last couple of years between the two countries.

“Indian defence exports have seen a massive increase in the last four-five years. Exports, which were worth about Rs 1,500 crore in 2015-16, have now grown by 800 per cent to around Rs 13,000 crore,” he said.

Kumar said a major destination for Indian exports is the US and hoped that defence exports will increase further in the times to come.

US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin said: “In April, at the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin affirmed their intention to explore utilising Indian shipyards for repairs on US Navy vessels.”

“This inaugural repair of USNS Charles Drew is a landmark development to be celebrated as a symbol of our strengthened US-India partnership,” the US diplomat said.

Source: India.com


The General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego has received $1.4 billion in U.S. Navy contract modifications for construction of a sixth Expeditionary Sea Base ship (ESB 8) and two additional John Lewis-class fleet oilers (T-AO 211 and 212).

The award comes in addition to $600 million already received to procure long-lead time materials for the same ships.

The ESB contract modification is worth $535,021,375 while the T-AO award is worth $890,000,000 and includes an option for the Navy to procure an additional oiler, T-AO 213, that, if exercised would bring its cumulative value tp $1,625,000,000 — and the total potential value for the four ships to $2.7 billion.

“NASSCO is committed to working together with the Navy to deliver these much needed ships to the fleet,” said Dave Carver, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. “As partners with the Navy, we remain dedicated to ensuring the success of both of these programs to help enhance and expand the Navy’s forward presence and warfighting capabilities while providing sustained growth for our workforce.”

Construction of the four ships is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2023 and continue into 2027.

In 2011, the Navy awarded NASSCO with a contract to design and build the first two ships in the newly created Mobile Landing Platform program, USNS Montford Point and USNS John Glenn. The program evolved, adding USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), the future USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) and the future USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), configured as ESBs. ESB ships are highly flexible platforms designed to support multiple maritime-based missions, including Air Mine Counter Measures, Special Operations Forces, and limited crisis response. Acting as a mobile sea base, this 784-foot ship has a 52,000 square-foot flight deck to support MH-53, MH-60, MV-22 tilt-rotor, and H1 aircraft operations. The future USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) and USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7) are currently under construction.

In 2016, the Navy awarded NASSCO with a contract to design and build the first six ships in the next generation of fleet oilers, the John Lewis-class. Designed to transfer fuel to U.S. Navy ships operating at sea, the 742-feet vessels have a full load displacement of 49,850 tons, capacity to carry 157,000 barrels of oil and significant amounts of dry cargo, as well as providing aviation capability while traveling at speeds up to 20 knots. The first ship, USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205), was delivered to the U.S. Navy in July 2022. The USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207), and USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208) are currently under construction.

Source: https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/shipyards/shipyard-news/nassco-wins-1-4-billion-in-navy-contract-mods/


Maritime NZ has announced recipients of the annual Fuel Excise Duty (FED) funding for safer boating initiatives to help reduce fatalities and injuries.

In total, 25 projects and initiatives around the country will share $863,000 worth of funding.

Too many people die each year while participating in recreational boating, says Maritime NZ Director Kirstie Hewlett.

Maritime NZ research shows that 98 people died in various incidents between 2015 and 2020.

Ms Hewlett says the fund will help various national and regional campaigns and initiatives to turn that number around.

“We want to ensure all boaties enjoy the water and come home safe,” she says.

“We want to help boaties know, understand and follow the rules each and every time they head out on the water.”

Initiatives which have received funding include Coastguard’s Old4New lifejacket upgrade programme and the Bar Safety Video Series, which received $125,000; Northland Regional Council’s Nobody’s Stronger Than Tangaroa campaign, which received $70,000; and $60,000 for Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Kia Maruatau ki te wai and Safety is Our Wai scheme.

Many of this year’s grants focus on communities most in need of support, says Ms Hewlett.

“The funding is specifically targeted at on-water compliance activities for people and areas that don’t currently have it, such as ethnic minority groups, low socio-economic and hard-to-reach areas,” she says.

These include Northland, Bay of Plenty and the West Coast.

Pasifika, Asian and Māori communities are the targets of a number of programmes.

These include Coastguard’s Folau Malu campaign, Drowning Prevention Auckland’s Wai Wise initiative and the NZ Underwater Association’s Dive Pacific Māori programme.

A key purpose of the fund is to support campaigns and collaboration of New Zealand’s Safer Boating Forum, a group of organisations dedicated to improving safety in the recreational boating sector.

Forum members include Coastguard, Jet Boating NZ, NZ Search and Rescue Council, Surf Lifesaving NZ, and a number of regional councils.

Ms Hewlett says that collaboration and the allocation of FED funding is essential to saving lives.

“More than two million New Zealanders take part in recreational boating every year and this funding allocation will hopefully ensure their lives are safer as a result,” she says.

Note to editors

All of Maritime New Zealand’s recreational boating work is funded through fuel excise duty on petrol (about $5.4 million). This is from contributions to the tax take boaties make when refuelling their boats. That is redirected to support recreational boating safety.

Source: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU2208/S00061/maritime-nz-announces-safer-boating-funding.htm


  • No fixed alternative routes between Taiwan and the Philippines and Japan
  • Taiwan transport authorities say Taipei air control units are coordinating with Philippine and Japan counterparts based on the airspace situation
  • On the last day of its live-fire drills around Taiwan, China said it will begin on August 8 a month-long series of live-fire drills in Bohai Sea and similar drills for a week from Sunday to August 15 south of the Yellow Sea

Taiwan has not established fixed alternative routes with the Philippines and Japan for cargo flights to and from those two countries amid China’s live-fire drills that virtually blockaded the island, transport authorities of Taiwan told PortCalls.

Month-long live-fire drills in the Bohai Sea and south of the Yellow Sea will be held by the People’s Liberation Army, China announced on August 7, as it prepared to end massive live-fire exercises around Taiwan that halted commercial ships calls to ports the island.

The Taiwan authorities were replying to queries from PortCalls last Thursday about reports coming from Taipei that it is coordinating with the Philippines and Japan the setting up of alternative routes for cargo flights due to China’s live-fire drills around Taiwan.

Air traffic control units are coordinating with Philippine and Japan air traffic controllers based on the situation in Taiwan’s airspace, one source said.

Airlines have cancelled flights to Taipei and rerouted others to avoid nearby airspace that has been closed to civilian traffic during the Chinese military exercises.

The Maritime Safety Administration of China said military operations will be held in part of the Bohai Sea from Monday until September 8, and in parts of southern Yellow Sea from Sunday to August 15, South China Morning Post reported. SCMP said the waters will be off limits to shipping during the drills.

The live-fire drills at the newly identified zones would affect airline operations and commercial shipping to Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong and the ports on their coasts.

The PLA mounted  unprecedented war games near Taiwan in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island.

The military exercises have led some ships to sail around the Taiwan Strait and give the island a wide berth, disrupting key trading routes for cargo and commodities on Saturday, analysts said. Potential delays for shipments of electronic goods are expected, they said.

The newly announced live-fire drills on Bohai Sea and south of the Yellow Sea are expected to cause potential substantial disruption to trade in the region.

VesselsValue’s data shows that there are 256 containerships, tankers, and bulkers in Taiwanese territorial waters, with a further 60 estimated to arrive before the conclusion of the drills on Sunday.

Of the containerships, tankers and bulkers that have a predicted destination of Taiwan the current count is 308, of which 60 are estimated to arrive between Thursday and Sunday when the military drills will be performed.

Although Taiwan’s ports are operating normally, some cargo ships and oil tankers are circumnavigating the island to avoid confrontation with the Chinese military, adding around half a day to voyages, analysts and shipowners said.

It reminds everyone of the severe impact a conflict over Taiwan could have on global trade given the 180-km wide Taiwan Strait and a shipping lane to the island’s east are major routes for ships transporting goods from East Asia to the United States and Europe.

“Some ships have already taken precautions and are proceeding east of the island instead of through the Taiwan Strait,” said Niels Rasmussen, chief analyst at shipowner association BIMCO, was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Source: https://www.portcalls.com/no-fixed-routes-for-ph-japan-cargo-flights-taipei/


BEIJING — China on Friday said it is canceling or suspending dialogue with the United States on a range of issues from climate change to military relations and anti-drug efforts in retaliation for a visit this week to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The measures, which come amid cratering relations between Beijing and Washington, are the latest in a promised series of steps intended to punish the U.S. for allowing the visit to the island it claims as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary. China on Thursday launched threatening military exercises in six zones just off Taiwan’s coasts that it says will run through Sunday.

Missiles have also been fired over Taiwan, defense officials told state media. China routinely opposes the self-governing island having its own contacts with foreign governments, but its response to the Pelosi visit has been unusually vociferous.

The Foreign Ministry said dialogue between U.S. and Chinese regional commanders and defense department heads would be canceled, along with talks on military maritime safety.

Cooperation on returning illegal immigrants, criminal investigations, transnational crime, illegal drugs and climate change will be suspended, the ministry said.

The actions were taken because Pelosi visited Taiwan “in disregard of China’s strong opposition and serious representations,” the ministry said in a statement.

China has accused the Biden administration of an attack on Chinese sovereignty, although Pelosi is head of the legislative branch of government and Biden had no authority to prevent her visit.

China’s actions come ahead of a key congress of the ruling Communist Party later this year at which President Xi Jinping is expected to obtain a third five-year term as party leader. With the economy stumbling, the party has stoked nationalism and issued near-daily attacks on the government of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, which refuses to recognize Taiwan as part of China, in order to solidify its support among the public.

China said Friday that more than 100 warplanes and 10 warships have taken part in the live-fire military drills surrounding Taiwan over the past two days, while announcing mainly symbolic sanctions against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her family over her visit to Taiwan earlier this week.

The official Xinhua News Agency said Friday that fighters, bombers, destroyers and frigates were all used in what it called “joint blockage operations.”

The military’s Eastern Theater Command also fired new versions of missiles it said hit unidentified targets in the Taiwan Strait “with precision.”

The Rocket Force also fired projectiles over Taiwan into the Pacific, military officers told state media, in a major ratcheting up of China’s threats to attack and invade the island.

The drills, which Xinhua described as being held on an “unprecedented scale,” are China’s most strident response to Pelosi’s visit. The speaker is the highest-ranking U.S. politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years.

Dialogue and exchanges between China and the U.S., particularly on military matters and economic exchanges, have generally been halting at best. Climate change and fighting trade in illegal drugs such as fentanyl were, however, areas where they had found common cause, and Beijing’s suspension of cooperation could have significant implications for efforts to achieve progress in those issues.

China and the United States are the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 climate polluters, together producing nearly 40% of all fossil-fuel emissions. Their top climate diplomats, John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua, maintained a cordial relationship that dated back to the Paris climate accord, which was made possible by a breakthrough negotiated among the two and others

China under Kerry’s prodding committed at last year’s U.N. global climate summit in Glasgow to working with the U.S. “with urgency” to cut climate-wrecking emissions, but Kerry was unable to persuade it to significantly speed up China’s move away from coal.

On the Chinese coast across from Taiwan, tourists gathered Friday to try to catch a glimpse of any military aircraft heading toward the exercise area.

Fighter jets could be heard flying overhead and tourists taking photos chanted, “Let’s take Taiwan back,” looking out into the blue waters of the Taiwan Strait from Pingtan island, a popular scenic spot in Fujian province.

Pelosi’s visit stirred emotions among the Chinese public, and the government’s response “makes us feel our motherland is very powerful and gives us confidence that the return of Taiwan is the irresistible trend,” said Wang Lu, a tourist from neighboring Zhejiang province.

China is a “powerful country and it will not allow anyone to offend its own territory,” said Liu Bolin, a high school student visiting the island.

His mother, Zheng Zhidan, was somewhat more circumspect.

“We are compatriots and we hope to live in peace,” Zheng said. “We should live peacefully with each other.”

China’s insistence that Taiwan is its territory and its threat to use force to bring it under its control have featured highly in ruling Communist Party propaganda, the education system and the entirely state-controlled media for more than seven decades since the sides were divided amid civil war in 1949.

Taiwan residents overwhelmingly favor maintaining the status quo of de facto independence and reject China’s demands that the island unify with the mainland under Communist control.

On Friday morning, China sent military ships and war planes across the mid-line of the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said, crossing what had for decades been an unofficial buffer zone between China and Taiwan.

Five of the missiles fired by China since the military exercises began Thursday landed in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone off Hateruma, an island far south of Japan’s main islands, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said. He said Japan protested the missile landings to China as “serious threats to Japan’s national security and the safety of the Japanese people.”

Japan’s Defense Ministry later said they believe four other missiles fired from China’s southeastern coast of Fujian flew over Taiwan.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday that China’s military exercises aimed at Taiwan represent a “grave problem” that threatens regional peace and security.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China’s actions were in line with “international law and international practices,” though she provided no evidence.

“As for the Exclusive Economic Zone, China and Japan have not carried out maritime delimitation in relevant waters, so there is no such thing as an EEZ of Japan,” Hua told reporters at a daily briefing.

In Tokyo, where Pelosi is winding up her Asia trip, she said China cannot stop U.S. officials from visiting Taiwan. Kishida, speaking after breakfast with Pelosi and her congressional delegation, said the missile launches need to be “stopped immediately.”

China said it summoned European diplomats in the country to protest statements issued by the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the European Union criticizing the Chinese military exercises surrounding Taiwan.

Its Foreign Ministry on Friday said Vice Minister Deng Li made “solemn representations” over what he called “wanton interference in China’s internal affairs.”

Deng said China would “prevent the country from splitting with the strongest determination, using all means and at any cost.”

The ministry said the meeting was held Thursday night but gave no information on which countries participated. Earlier Thursday, China canceled a foreign ministers’ meeting with Japan to protest the G-7 statement that there was no justification for the exercises.

Both ministers were attending a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Cambodia.

China has promoted the overseas support it has received for its response to Pelosi’s visit, mainly from fellow authoritarian states such as Russia, Syria and North Korea.

China had earlier summoned U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns to protest Pelosi’s visit. The speaker left Taiwan on Wednesday after meeting Tsai and holding other public events. She traveled on to South Korea and then Japan. Both countries host U.S. military bases and could be drawn into a conflict involving Taiwan.

The Chinese exercises involve troops from the navy, air force, rocket force, strategic support force and logistic support force, according to Xinhua.

They are believed to be the largest held near Taiwan in geographical terms and the closest in proximity — within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of the island.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday called the drills a “significant escalation” and said he has urged Beijing to back down.

U.S. law requires the government to treat threats to Taiwan, including blockades, as matters of “grave concern.”

The drills are an echo of the last major Chinese military drills aimed at intimidating Taiwan’s leaders and voters in 1995 and 1996.

Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills, but the overall mood remained calm on Friday. Flights have been canceled or diverted and fishermen have remained in port to avoid the Chinese drills.

In the northern port of Keelung, Lu Chuan-hsiong, 63, was enjoying his morning swim Thursday, saying he wasn’t worried.

“Everyone should want money, not bullets,” Lu said.

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-summons-european-diplomats-statement-taiwan-87981101


The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) r on Thursday said that it has concluded plans with the terminal operators to begin the reconstruction of the collapsed berths at the Rivers Port in Port Harcourt with a view to enhancing productivity in the Eastern ports.

NPA PORT HARCOURT

Disclosing during his maiden tour of the Rivers’ ports, NPA’s Managing Director, Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, said the NPA has given BUA Terminal; one of the terminal operators, the final approval for the submitted design, which means the NPA expects construction would commence soon.

According to him, the berths 5 to 8 of the BUA Terminal that were built in the 1920s, collapsed years back.

“They have really decayed which was why we decommissioned some of them, but the agreement is for BUA to reconstruct some of them,” he said.

Bello-Koko however said the NPA is dissatisfied with the speed at which BUA is carrying out the repair works as it expected that the reconstruction should have started a few months ago.

“We understand the need to plan properly but that plan is over and we expect that they should have resumed reconstruction on those berths,” he said.

NPA Port

For the Ports and Terminal Operators Nigeria Limited (PTOL), he said, the operator has a development plan that involves bringing down some of the sheds in the terminal to improve the stacking areas and increase the terminal’s ability to handle more cargoes.

The NPA boss also said that the PTOL terminal also has some collapsed berths, which the NPA is discussing with the terminal operator on how to rehabilitate, so that bigger vessels will be able to berth at Rivers Port.

“We are very serious about the need to increase traffic to the Eastern Ports, that way we can decongest Lagos Ports. Though, most of these ports have draft limitations and we are looking at dredging deeper so that bigger vessels can come and enable economy of scale. We are beginning to see increase activities in Onne Port, which we are happy about”, he said.

On the access road, Bello -Koko said there is need to rehabilitate the roads, which is outside the purview of the Nigerian Ports Authority, but that they are working with the relevant government agencies to see to that.

He said there is synergy between the Federal Ministry of Transportation and Federal Ministry of Works, adding that government is very serious about repairing all access roads to the port, which has happened in Lagos.

On using tariff rebate to attract patronage to the Eastern Ports, Bello-Koko said that years ago the NPA gave the terminal operators a tariff rebate that did not translate to traffic as relate to the port.

He said that his management is currently reviewing the request for 30 percent rebate put forward by terminal operators, but that rebate must come with conditions.

“We are discussing with the terminal operators and we may come up with a higher or lower rebate but we will put a timeline to see the impact of the rebate. Some of the terminals have started getting involved with processing export which is key to the NPA and the country at large. It is one of the things that would determine the amount of rebate to give to the terminal operators,” he added.

Source: https://shippingposition.com.ng/npa-plans-to-reconstruction-of-collapsed-berths-in-rivers-port/


The NSW Government has committed a one-off $2 million funding program to support maintenance and repair works to boating infrastructure as part of a $28 million Boating Now Program.

Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said the NSW Government allocated the additional funds to help boating infrastructure owners across NSW undertake maintenance works to boat ramps, pontoons, wharves, jetties, boat ramps and car and trailer parks.

“NSW boasts some of the best waterways in the world which are not only enjoyed by recreational water users but vital for local tourist operators and commercial vessels, therefore it is important to ensure boating communities have easy access to modern maritime facilities,” Mr Elliott said.

“We understand the challenges of maintaining boating facilities and recognise that repairs can be costly for asset owners and managers.

“We’ve listened to feedback from boating stakeholders and as a result we’ve made up to $2 million available as part of Round Four of the Boating Now Program to help owners return boating assets to their optimal operational condition,” Mr Elliott said.

Applications are now open for the Boating Asset maintenance sub-program, which will fund up to $30,000 per asset and up to a maximum of $60,000 per applicant for multiple assets.

To be eligible, the boating asset must be available for general boating public use and provide direct benefits to recreational boaters. The asset must also be included in an existing annual maintenance schedule or have its own asset maintenance plan in place at the time of application.

Source: https://www.marinebusinessnews.com.au/2022/08/nsw-government-provides-2-million-to-improve-boating-infrastructure/


The Waypoint programme is dedicated to improving the commercialisation of revolutionary safety and risk management technologies in the marine industry.

Throughout the 12-week process, ShipIn will collaborate with experienced mentors to refine its market positioning, expand customer reach and receive support for piloting the use of its FleetVision platform with a broad range of vessels to gain valuable feedback from owners and operators.

FleetVision uses visual analytics to improve ship-to-shore collaboration for maritime fleets by alerting shipowners, managers and seafarers to onboard events in real-time, reducing losses by 40 per cent and increasing efficiency by 8 per cent. The technology taps into a vessel’s live camera footage and overlays it with analytics powered by machine learning to reduce the risk of incidents and improve cargo operations across the global international shipping fleet.

The platform provides insights into operations including navigation, security, cargo handling and maintenance, enabling vessels owners, managers and crew to collaborate and make smarter decisions to improve fleet safety, efficiency and profitability.

“The sharing of real-time operational data between ship and shore is one of the latest tech developments that will help deliver a safer and lower-risk marine professional environment,” said Osher Perry, co-founder and CEO of ShipIn Systems.

Perry added: “We are thrilled to be working with like-minded tech and maritime experts who share our passion for making safer shipping operationally and commercially attractive, and look forward to fast-tracking our significant growth plans.”

Nadia Echchihab, head of innovation programmes at Safetytech, commented: “Entry onto the Waypoint programme is highly competitive, which signals a strong tranche of innovation coming into the maritime market. As we work to make operations safer and more sustainable, the potential of ShipIn’s offering stood out due to the tangible impact its insights have already made on improving onboard processes, preventing incidents and finally connecting crew and shore-based teams more closely.”

This article has been posted as is from Source


Tailored to different vessel needs, AuraNow enables customers to downgrade bandwidth or even suspend their service without penalty, to achieve cost savings should a vessel be on a lengthy port stay or in dry-dock.

Mr. Ron Fong, head of fleet IT for PCL, said: “With the industry going through a significant transition to digitalisation, there is a massive demand for remote services, data collection, enhanced cyber security, and improved crew welfare. Through our accelerated effort in digital transformation, we are continuously driving operational excellence and building resilience in our fleet management. We hope to continue our existing partnership with Satcom Global to deliver seamless communication connectivity to optimise our navigational and operational performance.”

James Tucker, president, Asia Pacific at Satcom Global, added: “It speaks volumes when a forward-thinking and sector-leading shipping company like PCL renews its VSAT contract and continues to partner with us. For PCL, achieving operational excellence is at its core, and this principle is perfectly aligned with AuraNow VSAT proposition. Satcom Global is proud, not only to meet but to exceed customer expectations, offering groundbreaking levels of contract and service flexibility. We are seeing a huge trend with the rapid adoption of AuraNow, especially is the SE Asian market, as flexible bandwidth you control becomes the ‘must have’ service onboard vessels.”

AuraNow offers a communications management portal for 24/7/365 control over vessel connectivity, allowing fleet managers to manage VSAT bandwidth as needs and requirements change. With bandwidth on demand, customers can instantly upgrade or schedule future downgrades and suspensions of their service at the touch of a button.

Users only pay for the bandwidth they need in 24-hour increments without any hidden charges or penalties, or a Fair Use Policy restricting data use.

The one-stop-shop also gives visibility of vessel connectivity status and performance, as well as weather and sea conditions, satellite beam overlay and vessel tracking.

Source: https://thedigitalship.com/news/maritime-satellite-communications/item/7979-pacific-carriers-renews-satcom-global-contract-for-5-years


Global coatings pioneer Nippon Paint Marine has added a new anti-corrosive universal primer to its E-Marine range of paints.

E-Marine 2000 is the Japan-headquartered company’s first general-purpose epoxy primer manufactured in China for the Chinese newbuilding market.

While the universal primer is suitable for application to all areas of a newbuild ship, such as the underwater hull, boot tops, topsides, decks and cargo holds, it has been specially formulated to meet market demand for a MSC.215(82)-compliant preparatory primer. The IMO resolution, adopted in 2006, governs the performance standards for protective coatings (PSPC) for ships’ ballast tanks.

Taking two years to develop the formulation, E-Marine 2000, available in grey, red or cream, is an abrasion-resistant, high-volume, epoxy coating with an 80% solid content and capable of providing long-term corrosion protection.

For ballast water tanks, the required nominal dry film thickness of 320µm can be achieved in two coats but for other parts of ships a range of film thicknesses can be applied in one coat. E-Marine 2000 has a minimum and maximum dry film thickness of 80µm and 1800µm respectively.

Gerald Mao, Senior Director, Nippon Paint Marine (Shanghai), said: “A general purpose, universal primer is a key priority for shipyards as a primer that can be applied to all parts of ship – including ballast water tanks – offers significant commercial technical advantages. As this anti-corrosion paint has been certified for use as a ballast tank coating, more than 70% of a newbuild’s undercoat requirement can be met with just one system.”

Another key benefit, compared to other primers in the marine marketplace, is its curing and short coating interval time. Depending on the temperature, a full cure can be achieved in seven days.

A low temperature version of the primer, E-Marine 2000 LT, is also available for application in ambient temperatures between -5°C and 10°C. At 0°C a full cure can be achieved within 18 days.

Since its market introduction last year, more than 640,000 litres of E-Marine 2000 and E-Marine 2000 LT have been ordered from Chinese shipyards for 26 newbuilds scheduled for delivery in 2023 and 2024. These include 15 bulk carriers,11 PCTCs, four 7000TEU containerships and a 6300m3-capacity LPG carrier.

Source: https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime-events/new-universal-primer-for-newbuilds-is-released/


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