A Nautical Miscellany – The solution to cabotage and how not to find it

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. …

A Nautical Miscellany – ‘Comparing Apples & Oranges’: New Report Urges US to Develop Arctic Like Russia

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 …

Fixing one thing and making another thing worse, Arctic style

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 …

RAL scraps P+S five

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 …

Icebreakers on block

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 …

Azipods for icebreaker

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 …

Australian tycoon Clive Palmer has unveiled plans for his new Titanic replica cruiseship – but will bar pensioners from its casino.

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 …