News

ICS Electronic has launched a GMDSS A2/A3 communication system called the ICS Touchcomm TC2. A touch screen display allows control of both the VHF and MF/HF radios via one common control panel,…

Stratos Mobile Networks has introduced Stratos Mail, a messaging service that allows Inmarsat-A/-B Telex or -C equipped vessels to communicate directly via satellite with Intemet e-mail subscribers. On the vessel, Stratos Mail…

Dubai Drydocks will commence an extensive refit of the FPSO Cossack Pioneer during February 1999. The contract was awarded by Woodside Energy after competitive tender, and is seen as an important step…

Cegelec Projects has supplied a triple voting dynamic positioning system to R & B Falcon`s FPSO Seillean. The upgraded vessel will be used on the world`s deepest production well, at 1,900m, by…

San Diego`s Southwest Marine officially acquired the Norfolk, VA shiprepairer Norshipco on October 1. This gives Southwest significant repair capacity on both coasts. Terms were not disclosed, but Norshipco has not been…

Two of Incat`s latest newbuildings have both recently made record-breaking Atlantic crossings. On June 10, the 91m wave-piercer catamaran Catalonia completed the 2,972 nautical mile Atlantic crossing from New York to Tarifa,…

Clipper Viking is the first of a pair of 12,500m3 gas tankers featuring an innovative nitrogen generation plant. Based on a 15,000m3 design developed by German shipyard Meyer Werft towards the end…

Fortunes are mixed for both French shipowners and especially for its shipbuilders. After a fall in 1995, the French fleet has slowly recovered and has been static at 210 vessels grossing 4.2…

An Indonesian/German joint venture has seen the delivery of the first in a series of five fast passenger ferries built to enhance Indonesia`s island transportation network. In 1995 the Indonesian state-owned line…

Knut Andresen, Technical Director for Brunvoll A/S explains the need for and the measures to reduce noise from tunnel thrusters. With increasing environmental pressures and restrictions on anchoring at some of the…

Revised lub oil formulations appear to have tackled problems of black paint. The problem of so-called black paint and sludge in medium-speed engines caused by fuel contamination of the lub oils seemed…

The ability to achieve a key target is helped by the launch of a new product at this year`s SMM exhibition. Alstom Turbochargers aims to achieve sales of 2,000 units by 2000…

SMM, Hamburg`s biennial gathering of shipbuilding industries, has grown again and many exhibitors will use the show to launch new products. Each day, The Motor Ship will publish a daily newletter/paper providing…

In its first launch since acquiring a number of suppliers Litton Marine Systems offers an improved version of a Decca radar Decca`s BridgeMaster radars have established their mark in the marine market…

The economic turmoil in Asia has weakened the markets for raw materials and has contributed to the downward pressure on shipping rates globally. :Despite the dramatic fall in the value of all…

Further efforts are being made to eliminate substandard shipping. The Committee for the Elimination of Substandard Ships (CESS) meeting in Pusan came up with a seven-point plan while the OECD is exploring…

There are encouraging signs that the shipbuilding market may have bottomed out and could start to recover next year. The Gothenburg-based Institute of Shipping Analysis predicts orders for vessels over 400g will…

According to Intercargo, in 1997 five bulk carriers were actual total losses and two constructive total losses - only one was attributable to structural failure. These figures show a considerable improvement on…

Japan The Evergreen Group, of Taiwan, has ordered five 5,364 TEU U-class container vessels from Japan`s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The vessels will be delivered at regular phases until the second quarter of…

Norway Kvaerner Fjellstrand has secured an order from Maltese Shipping Company Virtu Ferries Ltd for the construction of a FlyingCat 50, the yard`s proven high-speed passenger/vehicle ferry design. The ferry newbuilding will…

USA The Halter Marine Group`s Halter-Moss Point yard is to build a 6,000g roro vessel for the transportation of rocket booster cores. Seattle-based Foss Maritime, which has been selected to transport Boeing-built…

Medium-speed MaK has secured orders for its new M43 engine ahead of its official launch at SMM as it did with the M25. Three 7,200kW (9,790 bhp) eight-cylinder units have been ordered,…

Low-speed Following the enlargement of MAN B&W`s Alpha Diesel factory at Fredrikshaven, the first large bore two-stroke produced in the Danish plant has been delivered to the German yard of Jos Meyer.…