I admit I have been on both sides of cabotage; I have temporarily imported ships to carry cargoes (though only for short periods), imported ships that created new employment opportunities and conversely swore profusely when the government allowed charterers to use imported ships to take away opportunities from the national flag fleet that I managed. …
Continue reading “A Nautical Miscellany – The solution to cabotage and how not to find it”
World’s 1st Icebreaking LNG Carrier Joins Sovcomflot http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/216210/worlds-1st-icebreaking-lng-carrier-joins-sovcomflot Pause for a moment and imagine the decision to build 15 of the world's most expensive ships, purpose built to export a commodity that's only fallen in value. You make that decision based on the commodity price and the construction price prevalent at the time, …
Continue reading “A Nautical Miscellany – It’s all about timing kid”
https://sputniknews.com/world/201703261051984201-russia-arctic-us-development/ I’m in violent agreement with Heather Exner-Pirot, the US Arctic and Russia/Canada are completely different in terms of mass, stage of development, even hydrography. I think the US thinks of their Arctic as a forward operating post rather than an area to be developed. I’m not sure there’s even the interest or the suitable resources …
http://moneyweek.com/right-side-russia-northern-sea-route/ Not a bad article on the whole, written by someone more interested in the investment opportunities perceived to flow out of an opening NSR than in the details of that same opening unfortunately. The problem is that the average Joe or Josephine would read this and accept it as fact. And …
A few times now I've been flattered when someone who is about to set out on their own as a consultant takes me out for coffee, hoping for advice on getting started. Needing a summary of what it's all about and I suppose, having survived for 5 years as an independent consultant this is what I've distilled …
Continue reading “Loughnanes’ 10 rules of independent consulting ©”
This from a Ship Safety Bulletin 06/2013 I received today from Transport Canada, concerning the implementation of the North American Emission Control Area (NA-ECA): ——————————————————————————— Overview of the Amendments Sulphur oxides For vessels inside the NA-ECA and throughout Canadian waters south of 60°N, the Amendments set a limit of 1.00% on the sulphur content of marine …
Continue reading “Fixing one thing and making another thing worse, Arctic style”
Insolvent German shipyard P+S Werften has lost its last merchant vessel order as Royal Arctic Line (RAL)cancelled its five-ship deal. P+S loses last merchant ships The Greenland owner said it had already paid almost DKK 400m ($70.12m) for the ice-class ships and is now seeking refunds through bank guarantees. The vessels are listed as a …
Denmark's government is to sell three unwanted icebreakers to the highest bidder. Icebreakers on the way out The veteran ships have not been in continuous use over the last 16 years, but have been well-maintained, the state said. The vessels are the 2,200-gt Thorbjorn (built 1980) and the 3,000-gt Danbjorn (built 1965) and Isbjorn (built …
ABB has won a $35m deal to supply the propulsion plant for a new icebreaker vessel on order at the Baltic Shipyard. The vessel has been ordered by Russia’s state shipping company Rosmorport FSUE and is due for delivery in 2015. ABB will provide integrated power generation and distribution systems, thruster motors, fire-fighting pump motors …
Palmer bars OAPs Australian tycoon Clive Palmer has unveiled plans for his new Titanic replica cruiseship – but will bar pensioners from its casino. Titanic II: plans unveiled Revealing drawings for the 40,000-gt Titanic II in Brisbane on Tuesday, the mining magnate said he wanted to ensure that gamblers could afford the risk. The casino …