蓼食う虫も好き好き

Japanese Captain Faces Prosecution for Ferry Grounding   The captain of a K Line-operated ferry has been referred for prosecution in connection with a grounding on the island of Hokkaido last year.  In the early hours of July 2, 2024, the ferry Silver Breeze was arriving at Tomakomai, Hokkaido when it struck a breakwater. No…

Hybrid SOV Design Lowers Costs Supporting More Wind Farms As the offshore wind energy sector continues to evolve, operators especially in the maintenance and operations phase are faced with the challenges of lowering costs and increasing efficiency.  Norway’s Ulstein has developed a new hybrid design for a smaller service vessel that they believe fills a…

NTSB: Wake From Passing Ships Pushed Barge Tow Into Algiers Lock Gate   The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report on the allision of the towing vessel Kitty (and its tow) with the Algiers Lock in New Orleans. A deluge of water coming into the lock from the wake of passing vessels…

Italian Navy and Messina Hold Exercise Practicing Boarding and Inspection   The Italian Navy is highlighting one of its regular training exercises working with the merchant fleet. It is part of a long-term project also involving the trade association Assarmatori designed to build cooperation and familiarize the navy personnel and merchant sailors in the routine…

Gibraltar Calls for Use of Pilots Saying OS 35 Master Misjudged Departure Two and a half years after the accident which caused the loss of the bulker OS 35, Gibraltar’s maritime authority issued its report finding poor planning and that the captain misjudged the maneuver resulting in the casualty. The report calls for considering the…

Changes in Oil Trading Raise Doubts About SPOT Terminal A lack of customer interest and a delay in permitting have created doubt about the future of Enterprise Products Partners’ Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT), a deepwater tanker loading facility off the Texas coast. If built, Enterprise’s SPOT would be the largest offshore terminal in the…

ReCAAP Sounds Alarm About Tripling of Robberies in Singapore Strait in 2025   The monitoring and coordination operation for piracy and criminal activity against shipping in Asia, ReCAAP ISC, issued a new alert on February 3 highlighting that the number of robberies has nearly tripled in the Singapore Strait this year. They report that just…

Government Inquiry Finds Evidence of Crime in Failed Greek SAR Response   Greece’s government ombudsman has completed an inquiry into a disastrous migrant shipwreck off Pylos in 2023, and has recommended a disciplinary investigation for eight senior officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard.  On June 10, 2023, the aging trawler Adriana got under way from…

Project to Develop High-Power Methanol Fuel Cells Targeting Cruise Ships A new project uniting leaders in German industry and funded by the German government looks to develop a new generation of fuel cells using methanol to provide power for cruise ships. In the zero4cruise project, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), will be working with Meyer…

Hanwha and Baker Hughes Partner for New Carbon-Free Ammonia Gas Turbines   Hanwha Group through its shipbuilding and power systems divisions is partnering with energy technology company Baker Hughes to develop a new generation of small-size ammonia gas turbine engines. By using the proven design of gas turbines, the companies believe it will be possible…

Northern European RoRo Operator Wallenius SOL Expands Acquiring Mann Lines Regional RoRo operator Wallenius SOL is further consolidating the market reporting it has acquired the UK-based Mann Lines. The companies highlighted the complementary nature of their operations saying the combination expands the customer base and reach they can provide. Wallenius SOL, based in Sweden, calls…

After Trump’s Threats, Panama Offers Free Canal Passage to U.S. Warships   Panama’s government has promised to give free passage to U.S. warships through the Panama Canal, a U.S. official informed Bloomberg on Sunday. The bilateral U.S.-Panama treaty on canal operations requires neutral treatment for vessels of all nationalities. President Donald Trump has pledged to…