Colonna’s Shipyard is a fifth-generation, family-owned medium-sized shipbuilder, led by Randall Crutchfield, Chairman & CEO, today. Founded in 1875 by 26-year-old ship carpenter Charles J. Colonna with a $2,000 loan from his brother, he founded a company that has not only withstood the test of time
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced that the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded $8.75 million in grants to revitalize U.S. shipyards and advance America’s maritime dominance.The funding is part of the Small Shipyard Grant program, which supports advanced training, workforce development and new technologies that strengthen U.S. shipbuilding and repair capabilities.
At the 163rd ABS Annual Members Meeting, the classification society says it has never been stronger, with substantial growth and leading safety performance reported. Key numbers in 2004 included the fleet growing to 300 million gross tons, giving it pole position in global class in global new order share with 22 percent.
[The following are exerpts and paraphrasing from testimony given by Matthew O. Paxton, President of the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), to Congress on the morning of February 26, 2025.]While maritime strength and shipbuilding historically have been a cornerstone of global power, shifting times and geopolitical pressures impact readiness and output.
The Scythian philosopher Anacharsis (6th century B.C.) said: “There are three sorts of people: those who are alive, those who are dead and those who are at sea.”Many of those onboard the Nella Dan when she grounded in December 1987 never went to sea again. Such was their passion for the ship.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize shipping by enhancing safety and efficiency, Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO, said, while also noting the growing importance of the human touch in this high-tech era.“Maritime 5.0 will be defined by the ever-expanding capabilities of artificial intelligence, driving our complex industry to be safer
The United Seamen’s Service (USS) announced that the 56th annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards will honor three champions of American maritime: Captain Willie Barrere, National President of American Maritime Officers; Edward F. Hanley, Chief Operating Officer of Maersk Line, Limited and Vincent J. Marino, Chief Executive Officer of CMC-ITI-CCS.
On July 4, the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA), a merchant marine academy jointly operated by NYK and the Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) near Manila, Philippines, held a commencement ceremony for 80 students, the academy’s 14th batch of graduates.The ceremony was attended by many distinguished guests, including Kazuya Endo
North Star, a U.K.-based service operation vessel (SOV) operator, has become the first organization in the world to have ships achieve Lloyd’s Register’s Cyber Resilience classification.The classification is in line with mandatory International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) standards implemented for all newbuilds from July 1, 2024.
Investment group Eurazeo has made a $73.1 million investment in MPC OSE Offshore, a joint venture established by MPC Capital and German offshore services firm O.S. Energy, with the aim of building and managing new service operations vessels (SOVs) for offshore wind farms.Eurazeo made the investment through its Eurazeo Transition Infrastructure Fund (ETIF)
Norwegian shipbuilder Vard, part of Fincantieri Group, has secured Lloyd’s Register’s Approval in Principle (AiP) of the methanol fueling system for two offshore wind Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) being built for North Star.With the AiP, the two ships will be amongst the first prepared for conversion to green fuels in the wind market.
The Liebherr portal slewing crane of type LPS 600, the first of its kind in Germany, has been delivered J. MÜLLER Weser to enhance its bulk and general cargo operations at the port of Brake.The project marks the first rail-mounted portal crane at the port of Brake, designed for an extended 650-metre travel path in one direction