General News

Malta is to start the process to privatize the island nation's shipyards, amid plans for a reduction in the workforce, Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced yesterday. Several companies, especially from northern…

The Danish based OW Bunker, one of the world?s largest providers of marine fuel oil, lubricants and ship services, announced the launch of five new state-of-the-art bunker fuel delivery vessels for its…

Samsung Heavy Industries had agreed to buy a 10% stake in Brazil's Estaleiro Atlantico Sul shipyard for some $22 million. The purchase is expected to help Samsung Heavy win orders for drill…

The Norwegian shipyard Ulstein Verft AS wants to purchase the ?Nowa? Shipyard in Szczecin, northwest Poland and the company ETA Ascom Star from Dubai, owned by Star Holding, owner of a shipyard…

The first locally built, double-hull oil tanker made by a Filipino company was recently launched from the ship repair and shipbuilding firm Herma Shipyard, Inc (HSI) in Bataan. Named ?Matikas?, the newbuilding…

Ukrainian shipyard Zaliv plans to build ten 175,000 dwt bulk carrier for a Ukrainian company. The technical project of the ship designed by Chernomorsudoproject (Nikolaev) is at the final stage of approval…

The Newfoundland and Labrador government in Canada has awarded long-awaited contracts to replace two of the vessels in its aging domestic ferry fleet. The $50.5-million contract will be managed by Peter Kiewit…

Aker Yards has not yet received confirmation from FLC West that they have received approval from Ukraine competition authorities for FLC's acquisition from Aker Yards of 70% of the shares in the…

Speed limits in the world's shipping lanes will be proposed today by Ruth Kelly, the transport secretary, when she announces plans to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Studies suggest that, although ships use…

Korean shipbuilder Daewoo has won a 697.3 billion won ($669.3 million) order to build a drill ship for an unidentified company in the Oceania region. Delivery is slated for December 2011.

Multi-trade shipping line Safmarine, a subsidiary of the AP Moller-Maersk group, has recently named its second post-Panamax container vessel, the ?Safmarine Komati?, after the Komati river that runs through South Africa, Swaziland…

The European Commission has cleared German car maker Volkswagen?s proposed takeover of Scandinavian commercial vehicles maker Scania, in which VW bought a majority stake in March. Volkswagen took sole control of Scania…

The Polish Minister of the Economy Aleksander Grad has reportedly failed to convince the European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes to accept a plan on the restructuring of the Polish shipyards in…

ABG Shipyard Ltd in India has secured an order worth Rs 127 crore ($30 million) from Marnavi Spa, Italy, for the construction of a 130 tonne bollard pull AHTS vessel with a…

Aker Yards has, through the media, been informed that the French government, after discussions with the company STX, intends to buy a total of 34% of the shares in Aker Yards France.…

Influential industry bodies including Intercargo and Intertanko have endorsed the Korean Register (KR) of Shipping?s initiative to raise quality standards throughout the industry at the class society?s European Committee meeting held in…

P&O Ferries has signed a Letter of Intent with Aker Yards to construct two new ships for the Dover-Calais service at a reported cost of 360 million Euros ($556 million). They will…

Norwegian naval architects Vik-Sandvik reports that Ultrapetrol Offshore has ordered two VS483 PSV Mk II vessels from Chinese shipyard Wison. The vessels will be 87.40m overall with a length between perpendiculars of…

Pelican Offshore Services Pte Ltd in Singapore (previously known as Penguin Boat International Limited), is to acquire four new anchor handlers scheduled for delivery between the fourth quarter of FY2009 and second…

Some of the maritime industry?s leading practitioners have urged global shipbuilders and suppliers not to let the current shipping boom distract them from what must remain their top priority: the construction of…