The combination of the coronavirus pandemic and oil price freefall have affected most maritime markets, including inland waterway shipping. Looking at U.S. river transport in particular, the impacts of these two black swan events vary greatly depending on the type of cargo being carried.David Grzebinski, CEO of the America’s largest tank barge operator, Kirby Corp.
Barry Parker, contributor to Maritime Reporter & Engineering News and MarineNews magazines, is – like many people around the world – sequestered and working from home. He is our designated “ship spotter” for the day.In the maritime business, most of us have been adept at working from home (or from remote locations).
Several major cruise operators have voluntarily suspended operations in response to the developing coronavirus pandemic. For most, the reason given has been "an abundance of caution".On Wednesday, Viking became the first major cruise line to temporarily suspend operations, canceling all river and ocean cruises scheduled to embark between March 12 to April 30.
Shipbuilder Bath Iron Works (BIW) has officially started construction of the future USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), the U.S. Navy announced. The new warship will be the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in the Flight III configuration at BIW.The milestone was marked by a ceremony on Tuesday at General Dynamics BIW's structural fabrication facility in Brunswick, Maine.
Bulk carrier owner Genco Shipping & Trading said it has completed a refit program that saw scrubbers installed on board its 17 Capesize vessels as part of the New York-listed owner's plan to comply with new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations that limit sulfur emissions from vessels to 0.5% down from 3.5%.John C.
The U.S. Navy’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was launched Monday at Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia.Following the launch, the Ford Class aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), was guided with help from six tugboats down the James River about a mile from Newport News Shipbuilding’s Dry Dock 12, where it has been under construction
The U.S. Navy’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) was christened Saturday during a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division.The second aircraft carrier in the Ford Class, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is also the second aircraft carrier built by Newport News Shipbuilding named for JFK.
Danish tanker owner and operator Maersk Tankers is set to add 11 ships to its managed fleet in a deal with BP Shipping and ICBC Financial Leasing.Under the terms of the agreement, Maersk Tankers will take each vessel from the owner under a bare-boat charter arrangement, which it will then hire out to BP under a time charter deal for a period of three years.
Canadian ferry owner and operator British Columbia Ferry Services Inc (BC Ferries) has made a further order of four additional electric-battery hybrid Island Class vessels from a major European shipyard.The ferry corporation announced that Damen Shipyards Group of the Netherlands has been awarded the contract to build the new vessels.
Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division lifted the upper bow section onto one of the new aircraft carrier being built for the U.S. Navy, signalling the completion of the ship's flight deck.The addition of the upper bow section is one of the last steel structural units, known as a superlift, to be placed on the newbuiild, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79).
Hungarian salvage crews prepared on Monday to raise the wreck of a pleasure boat that capsized on the Danube river in Budapest, killing 26 South Korean tourists and two local crew.The Mermaid sank after a large Swiss-owned cruise liner struck it from behind on May 29 as both vessels passed under a 19th century bridge in the Hungarian capital during heavy rain.
Danish ship owner Maersk confirmed it has exercised an option to order four additional product tankers from China's Dalian Shipyard.The order completes a a series of 10 newbuilds planned for delivery from 2020-2022 as part of Maersk's ongoing fleet renewal program in the LR2 segment. The first six vessels were ordered in May 2018.Søren C.