MSC Granted Approval for New PortMiami Cruise Terminals

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April 12, 2019

The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners has granted approval for MSC Cruises to design, construct, operate and maintain a large building that hosts two cruise terminals (AA and AAA) as well as two berths.

Designed by the architecture firm Arquitectonica, MSC Cruises' exclusive new PortMiami terminals will be capable of hosting two mega cruise ships at the same time, allowing the company to conduct two turnaround operations simultaneously, handling up to 28,000 passenger movements per day. With the new terminals, MSC Cruises plans to expand its presence in North America and in the Caribbean in particular.

MSC Cruises currently operates four vessels out of PortMiami: MSC Seaside and MSC Armonia year-round; MSC Divina seasonally; and MSC Meraviglia, which will join the ships sailing from Miami this fall, seasonally. With the new cruise facilities, MSC Cruises will bring a total one million guests through PortMiami each year.

Work on the new terminals is due to commence in early 2020. MSC Cruises currently estimates that the work will be completed by late 2022, at which time the company will transfer all its PortMiami operations to the new facilities.

The MSC Cruises fleet currently comprises 16 ships. Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman, said: "With another 13 cruise vessels due to join our fleet in the next eight years, our ambition is to have our most innovative ship classes represented at PortMiami, bringing a wealth of choice to our North American as well as international guests."

In particular, the new terminal – which will be one of the most innovative the industry has seen – will ensure that we can provide our guests an enhanced end-to-end high-quality experience while both embarking and disembarking, thus adding to their ability to fully enjoy every moment of their vacation.

Source:maritime-executive

Ensco, Rowan complete merger

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April 12, 2019

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Ensco Rowan plc has reported the completion of the merger of Ensco plc and Rowan Companies plc.

This follows the satisfaction of the transaction’s closing conditions including approval by each company’s shareholders and sanction by the UK Court of the scheme of arrangement implementing the transaction.

The company will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ESV. EnscoRowan will maintain its headquarters in London, with a significant presence in Houston.

Under the terms of the transaction agreement, Rowan shareholders received 2.750 Ensco shares for each Rowan share they owned immediately prior to closing. Legacy Ensco and Rowan shareholders own approximately 55% and 45%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of EnscoRowan. Following the closing of the transaction, ordinary shares of the combined company have been consolidated through a 4:1 reverse stock split, resulting in approximately 197 million ordinary shares outstanding.

Tom Burke, EnscoRowan’s president and CEO, said: “The successful completion of our merger further enhances our market leadership with a fleet of high-specification floaters and jackups and diverse customer base. Our growing geographic presence, technologically-advanced drilling rigs and talented employees position us exceptionally well to meet increasing and evolving customer demand. I look forward to executing on the significant long-term growth opportunities we believe we can capture from our combined strengths as the offshore sector recovers.”

Carl Trowell, EnscoRowan’s executive chairman, said: “The combination of Ensco and Rowan creates an industry-leading offshore driller across all water depths, establishing a stronger company capable of thriving throughout the market cycles. Our increased scale, diversification, and financial strength will provide significant advantages to better serve our customers and unlock long-term value for our shareholders. We are excited to move forward together as a combined company.”

Source:offshore-mag

Silversea Unveils Details of New Galapagos Cruise Ship

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April 12, 2019

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Silversea has unveils new details of Silver Origin, the cruise line’s first ever destination-specific ship, which will sail the Galapagos Islands from the summer of 2020.

The 100-passenger, all-suite vessel claims the highest Zodiac-to-guest ratio in the region, at 1:12.5. Silver Origin also claims the highest crew-to-guest ratio (1:1.16) and the highest ratio of qualified guides per guest (1:10) in the Galapagos Islands. She will also be the only ship in the Galapagos Islands to offer butler service to all suites.

The interior design of Silver Origin is inspired by understated Italian elegance as well as taking influence from the Galapagos’ unique natural environment. Silver Origin’s public spaces were designed by HBA Miami, while GEM – Design for Cruise Ships, the team behind the interior design of Silver Muse, oversaw the interior design of the ship’s suites.

Basecamp, a lounge area will connect with the ship’s Zodiac embarkation area and host educational activities and will feature a large, interactive digital wall providing pictures, videos, excursion previews and scientific presentations.

Silver Origin will feature eight different suite categories, and, a first for Silversea, selected suite categories will incorporate an ocean-view bathtub and an ocean-view shower that is accessible from the balcony.

Silver Origin will feature a dynamic positioning system to maintain position and each suite will have a fresh water purification system to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bottles.

Silversea signed a contract with Dutch shipbuilder Shipyard De Hoop last year to construct the new expedition vessel. Silversea also signed a memorandum of understanding with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft to build two new vessels in a new “Evolution Class.” The first Evolution-class ship is expected to deliver in 2022.

Yang Ming to charter four more 11,000 TEU new container ships

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April 12, 2019

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Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. (Yang Ming) and Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (Shoei Kisen) signed charter agreements for four 11,000 TEU containerships yesterday(10th April, 2019) in Hong Kong. During the ceremony, the time-charter agreements were signed by Yang Ming’s Chairman Bronson Hsieh and Shoei Kisen’s President Yukito Higaki. The four new vessels will be delivered in the first three quarters of year 2022.

In order to enhance the company’s mid- to long-term operational efficiency and competitiveness, Yang Ming continues its fleet optimization plan during recent years. In addition to these four new 11,000 TEU containerships, Yang Ming had ordered another ten 11,000 TEU newbuildings through long-term charter agreements with Owners Costamare and Shoei Kisen since 2018, which will enable Yang Ming to have a total of fourteen 11,000 TEU newly-built full containerships during the years 2020 to 2022. These eco-type newbuildings with modern designs will gradually replace some of Yang Ming’s high-cost, older ships.

The IMO (International Maritime Organization) regulation on limiting sulphur content of bunker fuel will be enforced from year 2020. Every carrier has prepared accordingly to ensure a smooth transition in operation next year. All the newbuildings Yang Ming has ordered are designed in compliance with the IMO regulation with lower bunker consumption. With the new ships which will mitigate the pressure of high bunker prices and increased operating costs following the implementation of IMO 2020, Yang Ming will become more cost-competitive and environmentally friendly in the future.

Source:portnews

Wärtsilä Transverse Thrusters the preferred choice for cruise ships

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April 12, 2019

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During the past year, the technology group Wärtsilä has received orders to supply more than sixty of its transverse thrusters for twelve new cruise ships being built in four shipyards on behalf of six different owners. This represents the dominant share of newbuild vessels within the cruise sector during this period.

The efficiency and performance of Wärtsilä’s transverse thrusters is particularly important for large cruise ships, since manoeuvring and mooring in often crowded harbours is mission critical, the company said in its release.

The Wärtsilä series of transverse thrusters represents the latest generation in thruster technology, combining a compact design with high thrust performance and low levels of noise and vibration. Following a quality audit held at Wärtsilä’s production facilities in Wuxi, China, a major cruise ship builder indicated that it was one of the most successful audits they had ever held, and that the factory’s quality system was among the best they had experienced.

The latest generation Wärtsilä WTT series of thrusters covers variants up to a maximum power rating of 5500 kW. The hydrodynamic performance of each thruster unit is optimised based on state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses. Furthermore, the WTT series is full prepared for use with environmentally acceptable lubricants (EAL), and complies with the latest environmental requirements.

Wärtsilä in brief:

Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2018, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.2 billion with approximately 19,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

Source:portnews

Shearwater awarded seismic acquisition contract by Shell

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April 12, 2019

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Shearwater GeoServices has secured a multi-project marine seismic 3D and 4D acquisition contract from Shell International Exploration & Production.

The contract covers four separate surveys including three in the North Sea and one off the coast of Western Australia. The surveys are expected to provide a total of 5 vessel-months of utilisation in 2019.

“We are very pleased with the award of this significant acquisition contract for exploration and production seismic by Shell. Our clients remain cost focused. The award represents an innovative contract structure which enables us to achieve additional cost efficiencies and share the benefit with our client. As the leading acquisition specialist, driving operational efficiencies and cost savings within acquisition is at the core of our business,” said Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater GeoServices.

In the North Sea, the Polar Empress will execute a 4D survey on the Ormen Lange field of Norway and 3D surveys on the Greeves and Blue Water fields in the UK sector.

In Western Australia, the Polar Duchess will execute the Factory 3D survey over a 2 month period covering over 3,000 km in the second half of 2019.

Source:splash247

Eidesvik awarded PSV contract by Aker BP

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April 12, 2019

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Norwegian OSV owner Eidesvik has been awarded a contract by Aker BP for the charter of its 2012-built platform supply vessel Viking Prince.

The firm contract duration is for 12 months, commencing in the third quarter of this year, and may be extended beyond the fixed period.

Viking Prince has just completed a two-month contract with Equinor.

Last month, Aker BP also chartered Eidesvik PSV Viking Lady for one year.

Source:splash247

Pacific Drilling clinches drillship contract with Equinor

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April 12, 2019

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US offshore driller Pacific Drilling has secured a new contract from Equinor for the deployment of its 2013-built drillship Pacific Khamsin.

Under the contract, the drillship will operate in the US Gulf of Mexico for one firm well with three option wells starting from November.

Last month, Pacific Drilling found work for three of its drillships Pacific Santa Ana, Pacific Bora, and Pacific Sharav.

source:splash247

Bremenports eyes Arctic traffic, buys into Icelandic terminal development

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April 12, 2019

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Germany’s Bremenports signed a deal yesterday to lead the development of new Icelandic deepsea port with a view to profiting from growing traffic volumes across the Northeast Passage in the Arctic.

Bremenports will initially own two-thirds of the joint venture, while Icelandic engineering firm Efla will control about a quarter. The rest will be co-owned by two Icelandic municipalities.

The port, which will take up to five years to complete, will be located at the northern tip of the Scandinavian island at Finnafjord.

“If the Northeast Passage between Asia and the US becomes navigable all year round, the journey times between these continents will be reduced by more than two weeks,” Bremenports said.

The port is also aimed at becoming a hub for Greenlandic commodities exports, as well as Icelandic hydrogen.

Source:splash247

Seafarer murdered on cargo ship off India

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April 12, 2019

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A crew member onboard the 1985-built 7,100 dwt cargo ship Oasis III was murdered when the ship was en route to a shipbreaking yard in Alang from Yemen.

According to local reports, the ship left Yemen on February 24 and the ship’s cook Abdul Hakim Mohsin got into a fight with another crew member Masel Mohammad Quaid, both Yemeni nationals, and the latter stabbed the former with a knife, which led to the death of the cook.

The ship’s captain locked up Quaid and put the body of the deceased crew into a deep freezer after the incident, and he informed the Yemen Embassy in India about the murder when the ship reached the coast of Bhavnagar of India on Sunday.

The local police detained the perpetrator and will charge him according to international law after an investigation is completed.

Ship registration information shows that the Palau flagged ship is owned by UAE’s Oasis Global Marine Services.

Source:splash247