New mega-ships raise hydrographic concerns

Marsh Insurance broking and risk management company warns that new mega-ships are causing concern for national governments & increasing risks for marine operators and calls for a higher priority to be given to hydrographic survey work to protect mega-ships at sea.

Megaships could diminish economies of scale

Global shipping consultancy, Drewry, has carried out a simulation study of the operational and financial impacts on lines, terminal operators, ports and other supply chain stakeholders as vessel size increases up to and beyond 18,000 teu (twenty-foot equivalent units, the standard metric used to measure a ship’s cargo carrying capacity). The study results suggest that the economies of scale, that have been a key feature of the liner industry, may be running out.

Port services: improving efficiency to boost trade

Draft rules designed to boost the efficiency and cut the cost of services supplied at EU maritime ports, such as mooring and towage, were voted by Parliament. Ensuring transparency in the setting of fees for using port services and infrastructure, and in any public funding that ports receive, should help to prevent price abuse and market distortions and thus boost trade, MEPs say. But current port service arrangements could remain, provided they meet minimum requirements, they add.

ECDIS: Transition from paper to digital

Panagiota P. Chrysanthi, DPA & QSE Manager, Andriaki Shipping presented ‘’lessons learned from the ECDIS transition from paper to digital’’ during the 2016 SMART4SEA Forum. She advised that the industry can benefit from the advantages of the electronic navigation and control the safety risks with a smooth and methodical transition considering in the process the following key issues: Evolution, Consistency, Diligence, Integration and Safety.

ClassNK to participate in the US Alternate Compliance Program

USCG announced that after satisfactorily performing a delegated function on a U.S. Flagged vessel for a two-year period, ClassNK met all of the eligibility requirements to receive Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) authorization.

Maersk Tankers: Flown out by drone

USCG announced that after satisfactorily performing a delegated function on a U.S. Flagged vessel for a two-year period, ClassNK met all of the eligibility requirements to receive Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) authorization.

Software Quality and Cyber Safety

Paul R. Walters, Assistant Chief Engineer, ABS, explained why ‘Smart Ships Demands Quality Software and Cyber Security’ during the 2016 SMART4SEA Forum. He highlighted the need to improve software quality onboard marine and offshore assets. He addressed cybersecurity and Cybersafety pointing to four key elements for achieving safety and security objectives: traceability, documentation, transparency and verification.

Port of Long Beach breaks another record

The arrival of the biggest ship to visit North America catapulted the Port of Long Beach to its highest cargo volume for the month of February and extended cargo growth for an eighth consecutive month. The Port saw strong gains last month by moving 561,412 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a 35.9 percent increase over the same month last year.

Bigger ships call at the Port of London as trade increases

The Port of London saw larger ships than ever calling last year as the tonnage of cargo handled at Thames terminals climbed to 45.4 million tonnes (up 2% on 2014).

Managing the Smart Ship

Christos Emmanouilidis, Business Development, DANAOS gave a presentation on ‘’Managing the Smart Ship’’ during the 2016 SMART4SEA Forum. He showcased a case study to address the benefits of big data analysis which are as follows: situation awareness and forecasting, managing end to end processes within the company and partners, capitalizing on mobility to react on time to the upcoming challenges, fully meeting statutory requirements.

Rotterdam to redirect Betuwe Route port area

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is going to redirect approximately 4km of the port (or first) section of the Betuwe Route. As a result, the railway line will no longer run over the Caland Bridge, so that shipping and rail traffic will cease to get in each other’s way from 2020 onwards. It will also bring an end to all the noise nuisance caused by the rail track near the village of Rozenburg.

Euronav invests in seafarers’ welfare programme

Euronav has agreed a four-year sponsorship of Sailors’ Society’s Wellness at Sea programme. Wellness at Sea, which was launched in 2015, is a coaching and support programme devised by the international maritime welfare charity to promote health and well-being among the world’s seafarers.