Maritime news

An important milestone was reached on 23rd of February, 2013 with the semi-launch of the 1st Triple-E at the shipyard in Okpo, Korea.

In order to make room for accomplishing the next vessels, the drydock was filled with water and the partially finished hull towed into the bay. A bulkhead wall sealed off the end to keep this ‘half vessel’ dry during the exercise. Fortunately, everything went as scheduled, and the huge vessel could return to the dock where the final assembly is going to take place. The vessel is well set to be ready for the delivery deadline of 28th of June, 2013.

The drydock is sealed off by heavy steel walls with a system of ballast tanks that make it potential to open and close the gate. To fill the dock, the gates are opened and the water rushes in at a rate of 2,500 cubic meters of water per minute. It takes 4 hours before the dock is sufficiently filled, and the gate can be towed away. In the reverse process, a series of pumps empty the drydock again so work on the vessel may continue.

by VesselFinder

The container shipping arm of Singapore’ Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), APL, has taken its 3rd of ten 14,000-TEU vessels constructed by Hyundai Samho for service on its Far East-Europe service.

American President Line is to deploy the suezmax ultra large container vessels, the APL Raffles, on Loop 7 of the G6 Asia-North Europe service. Of the 2 already delivered, the APL Temasek, is deployed on Loop 4 of the same service while the other vessel went to MOL as MOL Quest.

The units from this series may do a speed of 23 knots, propelled by a completely electronically-controlled slow speed engine of 63,910 kW assembled by Hyundai under licence from MAN-B&W (model S90ME-C9 in eleven cylinder version).

by VesselFinder

The biggest international shipping company, Maersk Line Limited (MLL), has purchased and is going to reflag 8 second-hand container vessels to secure American ships for the government and merchant clients restricted to national flag shipping.

Reflagging a vessel assures that it meets strict American safety, environmental, operational and compliance standards enforced by the United States Coast Guard and other maritime officials.

The 8 second-hand container ships are Maersk Atlanta, Maersk Chicago, Maersk Columbus, Maersk Denver, Maersk Detroit, Maersk Hartford, Maersk Memphis, and Maersk Pittsburgh. The Maersk Chicago was the 1st of the 8 ships to be reflagged on 1st of May, 2013.

iMLL has earmarked $500,000 dollars for 8 ships bound for service in the Middle East and Mediterranean Sea from the United States east coast. Maersk Line has already spent US$1,75 billion to modernise its fleet in support of the US government and military since 2000.

"These 8 newer second-hand ships demonstrate our commitment to our clients," told the president and CEO of Maersk Line Limited, John Reinhart.

by VesselFinder

Maersk Line, Limited has purchased and is currently re-flagging 8 newer and bigger container vessels to upgrade the ocean transportation services secured to its US military, government and merchant clients.

The investment of Maersk Line Limited (MLL), of almost half a billion dollars in 8 container ships is going to enhance the quality of service to the Middle East and Mediterranean Sea from the US East Coast. Since 2000, Maersk Line Ltd. has invested over US$1,75 billion to modernize its fleet in support of the US government and military. The new ships are about ten years younger than the outgoing vessels, offering enhanced fuel efficiency and environmental performance.

“These 8 newer container vessels, along with the global transportation network, which links them, demonstrate our commitment to our merchant clients. We are really proud to serve the US military and to deliver U.S. food aid worldwide,” stated John Reinhart, President and CEO of Maersk Line Limited. “Maersk Line is focused on continual improvement, and these vessels are further going to increase reliability and shrink our environmental footprint.”

The new container ships are going to join Maersk Line’s weekly Middle East Container Line service (MECL1) throughout May and June. This route serves merchant customers and the US military, and it transports US-grown food aid. MECL1 is going to be the industry’s only direct U.S. flag service to and from the US East Coast and Pakistan, and the service includes a new stop in Algeciras, Spain.

All 8 new container ships are going to join the Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA). “We are very pleased to bring more modern and useful assets into the fleets of MSP and VISA,” added Reinhart. “The ships are going to augment our nation’s security and sustain jobs for the US Merchant Marine, the 4th arm of our national defense.”

The 8 new incoming container ships are named in honor of American cities, which have brought industrial vitality to the economy of the United States through manufacturing, finance, transportation, and exports. This vessel names are: Maersk Atlanta, Maersk Chicago, Maersk Columbus, Maersk Denver, Maersk Detroit, Maersk Hartford, Maersk Memphis, and Maersk Pittsburgh. Maersk Chicago was the 1st of the 8 container ships to be re-flagged; she came under the US flag on 1st of May, 2013.

by VesselFinder

On April 30, 2013, the cargo ship Antonis G. Pappadakis has docked at Portsmouth Marine Terminal in Portsmouth. The ship was detained by the US Coast Guard.
The owner of the ship is looking opportunities to free its property. The US Coast Guard claims that some crew members of Antonis G. Pappadakis violated environmental regulations and the ship will stay docked until the end of the investigation.

A "surety bond" of $3 millions is asked by the Coast Guard in order the ship to leave the port. The Malta based owner announced that the bond was too much and added :"The Coast Guard’s demands are unreasonable, insatiable, arbitrary, and capricious".

by VesselFinder