General News

China has witnessed a decline of 44% in new shipping orders on a yearly basis during the January-November period, compared with a fall of 37% worldwide, and analysts predict a continuation in…

Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has developed a guide outlining major methods and procedures involved in ship lay-ups. The guide gives technical assistance to shipowners focussing on the maintenance of class, ship's safety as…

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and STX France Cruise SA, STX Europe's French shipyard, have reached an agreement and are moving forward with the construction of a new third generation Freestyle Cruising project…

Transpetro, the shipping and transport arm of Petrobras, has signed a contract with the Eisa shipyard for the construction of four Panamax tankers. The $349 million deal is part of Transpetro's fleet…

The biggest containership ever classed by Germanischer Lloyd (GL) was recently delivered at Samsung Heavy Industry Shipyard in Geoje, Korea. The newbuilding named MSC Daniela has a capacity of 13,800 TEU.MSC Daniela…

The Canadian government's plan to buy $10-billion worth of new navy ships, including a fleet of Arctic icebreakers, needs to get "back on track," Defence Minister Peter MacKay says. This is growing…

With the entry into service of the 3,950-passenger MSC Fantasia, MSC Cruises has raised the Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) bar for all cruise operators. MSC has entrusted Bureau Veritas with…

Keppel Verolme BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore and Marine Limited, has decided, after evaluating all possible options, to terminate the MPU Heavy Lifter project and commence the scrapping process…

The recent inauguration in Rijeka, Croatia, of ABB Turbocharging?s 100th service station has set a new milestone for ABB?s Turbocharging global service network. Besides serving the local maritime community in Croatia the…

Sembcorp Marine in Singapore is pleased to announce the award of an evergreen favoured customer contract (FCC) from International Gas Transportation Company Limited (IGTC) to provide repairs, upgrades and other marine services…

Antwerp-based Euronav NV has taken delivery of the first VLCC built to the industry?s new Common Structural Rules (CSR) by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Korea.The 318,000 dwt Olympia, constructed to Lloyd?s…

A new edition of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, the standard guide to all aspects of handling dangerous goods and marine pollutants in sea transport, has been published by the…

Brazilian iron ore producer Vale denies that it is cancelling its $1.6bn order for 12 VLOCs from the Jiangshu Rongsheng shipyard in China. Despite some reports in the international media suggesting that…

India?s shipbuilding industry could suffer cancellations of about 15% of their total orders, worth at least Rs 3,750 crore, as the global economic crisis takes its toll on the sector, industry experts…

Nippon Yusen K.K., Japan?s largest shipping line by sales, cut its fleet expansion plan by up to 60 vessels as slowing economic growth curbs demand for transporting steelmaking commodities including coal and…

China Ocean Shipping Group (COSCO), China?s largest shipping company, cancelled plans to purchase some 120 vessels in 2009, a source from the company said. According to the original plan, three-quarters were dry…

Fuel testing agency Lintec Testing Services has warned that owners, operators and charterers should not be tempted as a result of financial pressures induced by the global credit crunch into using non-accredited…

Wärtsilä's long established presence in South Korea has been further strengthened with the inauguration of its new service centre and office in Eomgung, Busan. By opening these premises, Wärtsilä will be able…

Ricardo UK Ltd, a global technology and engineering consultancy, has been awarded a 26-month gas engine contract by the world's largest marine diesel engine builder, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). Ricardo and the…

Up to 50 of 190 newbuilding orders at German shipyards may be cancelled due to the financial crisis, according to German media reports. The German shipyard association VSM claims that 25 orders…

Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T), India's largest private sector engineering and construction firm, has deferred its entry into the commercial shipbuilding business and has also decided to scale back its investment for…

Japan?s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has postponed plans to return to cruise ship building. The announcement came as a major cruise liner operator, reported to be Carnival Corp, delayed orders on two vessels.…

South Korea's Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. said that it has finalized a $610 million deal to build a shipyard in north-eastern Qatar. Under the deal with state-run Qatar Petroleum Co., Daewoo…