General News

The Drew Marine has introduced the New Era portable wire-welding package. The package includes the Amerarc I-400GMS inverter arc welding machine, Merarc F-4 wire feeder and Merarc No.4 MIG gun. The equipment…

With most sectors of the shipping industry in crisis, Drewry Shipping Consultants argue that secondhand vessels bought now could prove to be bargains. Its analysis of market potential through to 2003 shows…

Solar Solve Marine has won two orders for its anti-glare screens and roller blinds together worth over £20,000 ($31,572). Five Solasafe screens were installed on the bridge windows of Ben-My-Chree, a 12,600gt…

After finding that incorrect use by the shipowner was usually the reason for claims of damage to tank coating, German shipbuilder Aker MTW Werft is issuing checklists to purchasers of its chemical…

A general guide to current safety and pollution prevention requirements for ships, and the thinking behind their development, has been published by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). The 28-page guide,…

The International Commission on the Regulation of Shipping, a new body that will seek to reform the rules governing the shipping industry, has been launched by the ITF. The three-man commission is…

A low-cost internet-based satellite e-mail system called Sat.400 has been introduced by Station 12 which is said to cut communication costs by up to 30 per cent. The system selects whether to…

MEPC 44 will look at the issue of ship scrapping in March 2000 with the aim of developing safety and environmental measures, and safeguards for ship dismantlers. The proposal from Norway follows…

The completion of the Iridium network enables global telephone calls to be placed and received on a hand-held phone with an integral antenna, says O’Gara Satellite Networks. The Iridium system is made…

Daewoo Heavy Industries is continuing to secure itself a foothold in the luxury passenger newbuilding field by winning a contract to build two fast cruise ferries for a European operator. Moby Lines,…

HydroComp has announced the release of NavCad 3.7, its naval architect`s tool designed to predict resistance, power, and optimum propeller parameters. This version includes new prediction methods and optimum trim analysis, says…

P&O’s Princess Cruises has announced that it has signed letters of intent for four new cruise ships (see design feature) which will, along with the three ships it already has under construction,…

Raytheon Marine has installed its first DNV-W1 integrated BridgeControl system on Norway`s latest newbuilding Doris, a product tanker designed for one-man bridge operation, built by Aukra shipyard for Anders Utkilen`s Rederi. The…

Despite a downturn in trading and continued poor freight rates, container ship owners are ordering new tonnage, expanding services and introducing new routes. Evergreen’s fleet continues to grow. Last year, the Taiwanese…

Following in the wake of Princess Cruises’ new order, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that it has decided to exercise its option to build another 84,000g cruise ship at Kvaerner Masa-Yards Helsinki…

EuroMarine Electronics was created in July by the merger of SAIT-RadioHolland and STN Atlas. Their respective marine activities cover the development, marketing, production, assembling, sale and servicing of maritime electronics, power and…

With its announcement that it has signed letters of intent for a further five newbuildings P&O has also altered shipbuilding’s future. Although the order itself is significant, of greater importance is that…

Following the two-ship order placed at Kvaerner Floro by Odfjell in June, the Norwegian yard, which is part of the stricken Kvaerner Group, has received more much-needed good news. Navale Francaise has…

Spliethoff Bevrachtingskantoor`s new multi-purpose freighters will be fitted with Kelvin Hughes radar sets. The 10 ships will each feature a Nucleus2 6000 arpa split radar system with display; a Nucleus2 5000 True…

The second register, the Asian crisis, and domestic shipping reforms have provided benefits and challenges for Korean owners. At the end of last year, the Korean Shipowners Association’s members owned and operated…

Castrol has introduced an Internet based raft of services for shipowners in the form of its Marine Lubricants Information Network (Marlin) and Fluid Management system. Marlin users can review their oil consumption…

Woodside Energy’s 150,000 dwt FPSO Cossack Pioneer sailed on June 28 following a major upgrade at Dubai Drydocks. The 140-day programme prepared by the yard involved over one million man-hours of yard…

Korean shipyards refute European accusations that ships are being sold too cheaply, and that IMF funds are being used to bail out ailing yards. Despite heavy criticism from European shipbuilders, the Koreans…