General News

China?s shipping and shipbuilding industries are benefiting from sweeping reforms of state enterprises, increased foreign investment and technical assistance. Plans for China to join the World Trade Organisation is likely to accelerate…

Chinese shipping interests Shipping Container Line (SCL) and China Shipping Container Line (CSCL) went on a spending spree in January, confirming orders for no less than 21 ships at yards in China…

A range of high-performance 12 and 16-inch radars, called the Radarpilot Atlas 1000 Series, has been introduced by STN Atlas Marine Electronics. Designed for stand alone or integrated use, the sets are…

While last year was very poor for operators of bulk tonnage there are now strong signs of a good recovery and people are more optimistic. From the coast of Brazil to the…

Having lately been displaced from their position as the world?s leading shipbuilders by Korea, Japanese shipyards received another major blow in December when Kawasaki of Japan decided to order five 5,600 TEU…

EAE has launched a global maritime communications system, which it says offers an alternative to existing satellite communications services. Applications available include e-mail, direct-dial telephone, fax, payphones and data transmission. The system…

In a world where position counts, NCL has always said it was the fourth largest. Now it looks to become equal third, but not of its choosing. Cruise lines love their branding…

National Steel & Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) on the US West Coast has received a $300 million order from Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) in Alaska for a pair of ice-strengthened, environmentally friendly…

Globe Wireless has release of the Globe Communications Centre (GCC) which it says is designed to streamline onboard messaging and data file transfers for commercial vessels. The GCC routes communications through the…

German builder Lindenau has adapted one of its Tanker Class designs to suit the needs of a domestic owner. The second of a pair of 13,050 dwt double-hulled IMO Type 2 chemical/oil…

Halter Marine is expected to be the beneficiary of a contract to build a car carrier for Pasha Hawaii Transport Line. The shipowner is seeking $80 million worth of loan guarantees from…

Inmarsat has decided to proceed with its fourth generation system, at a cost of $1.4 billion. The space segment of the system will consist of two in-orbit satellites plus one ground spare.…

Dutch orderbooks remain dominated by general purpose cargo ships, and dredgers, but more non-typical highly sophisticate vessels are appearing. While Dutch builders receive 4-5 per cent less in building subsidies than those…

Usually regarded as a source of inexpensive, but unsophisticated newbuildings, Chinese yards continue to gain orders for an increasingly diverse range of complex newbuildings. The latest is an order placed at Guangzhou…

Kockumation, maker of the Loadmaster vessel loading system, has signed deal with Kockums to make use of its Tribon shipbuilding design and information system. Kockumation says that the deal means that it…

Against a background of 25 per cent over-supply in shipbuilding capacity and a 20 per cent fall in newbuilding prices since 1997, OECD members cannot even agree on the size of the…

Sasebo Shipyard in Japan has been awarded an order for two capesize bulk carriers by Ceres Hellenic Shipping Enterprises. Due for delivery in late 2000 and early 2001, the 170,00 dwt vessels…

KPN, Royal Dutch Telecom of the Netherlands and Telstra of Australia are to merge their global mobile satellite communication businesses. KPN will hold 65 per cent of the shares with Telstra holding…

While the debate still rages over the loss of the 1975-built Maltese-flagged tanker Erika, its classification Society Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) has confirmed that conditions of class were imposed following a survey…

MaK has purchased the bankrupt two-stroke builder Dieselmotorenwerk Rostock (DMR), giving it extra space to accommodate engine production envisaged in its ambitious expansion plans. The Rostock factory will be converted to four-stroke…

Navtec has developed a portable emergency Inmarsat-E beacon that weighs less than 1,200g. Called the navtec epirb global-3 it has an alerting time of approximately three minutes and contains a GPS receiver…

DNV has made its register of ships freely available on-line through its homepage http://www.dnv.com/registerofvessels. Users can search for vessels using the name (or part of name), former names, IMO registration number, or…

The Siemens Schottle Consortuim is poised to sign a deal to supply its propulsor to Guangzhou Shipyard International to drive a pair of semi-submersible heavy lift vessels ordered by Cosco. Each of…