Beluga launches P-series multipurpose super heavy lift project carrier

Beluga Shipping, based in Bremen, Germany, has recently launched the Beluga P-series, a new state-of-the-art multipurpose super heavy lift project carrier.

The P-series will represent the next generation of flexible carriers operating more independently from local port infrastructure. It is an ideal strategic answer to the current market situation marked by growth and expansion. A total of 16 units are under construction and due to be delivered as from 2009 onwards. Ice class E 3 will enable these vessels to travel the north-east-passage for presumably two or three months a year. Ballast water treatment systems based on electrolytic disinfection will be installed on all P-series carriers to prevent environmentally harmful marine invasions in alien habitats. Furthermore, two of these super heavy lift vessels will also be equipped with the innovative towing kite propulsion system “SkySails”. On the Beluga P-series vessels the kites will provide for sail surfaces of 600 square meters each. Fuel savings in the dimension of up to ten tonnes daily can then be anticipated according to present-day-estimates.

Read More

EMEC partners with Marine BizTV

EMEC initiated a strategic partnership with MarineBiz TV, the first satellite TV channel covering the marine industry worldwide in July, 2008.

The main intent of the partnership is for EMEC to provide content to MarineBiz TV from an European perspective, keeping a worldwide audience up to date with the latest opportunities and developments in the field, and at the same time reaching a wider audience interested in the activity of the leading companies in the industry. The partnership is strategically important for the Marine Equipment industry as a whole, as it is especially targeted towards students and young professionals specialising in the Marine field. EMEC and MarineBiz TV are both developing new and compelling ways to promote interest in marine research and innovation, and expect the results to be beneficial to the whole industry by ultimately addressing the skill shortage which has been affecting it for years. Also, this joint effort by MarineBiz TV and EMEC is aimed at bridging the gap between different practices and policies in the European and Asian Marine Industry, opening new channels of communication between different perspectives and promoting the European Marine Equipment industry across the global market.

Read More

Panama’s fleet posts record figures

The Panama Register has reported an increase of 4.7% in its fleet size during the first six months of 2008 to 7, 965 vessels of 177.09M gt in June 2008, up from 7,605 vessels of 168m gt at December 2007.

“The registration of newbuildings constituted 50% of the six month increase,” said Alfonso Castillero, Panama Maritime Authority director of merchant marine. The increase in fleet size, which have helped Panama maintain its position as the world’s first largest merchant fleet, have been attributed to friendly registration procedures. Reforms to three maritime laws –a maritime commercial law, a general port law on future national and international port concessions and reforms to the merchant marine were approved and signed into law at the beginning of August 2008. “The new legislation will improve the age of the fleet and create mechanisms that will help Panama’s flag to quickly respond to eventual accidents abroad,’’ said Castillero. “It is a very modern law which will benefit our loyal customers and the registration of newbuildings,” he added. The merchant marine law is expected ease administrative and legal procedures and offer incentives for newbuildings and loyalty to the flag. The legislation will grant incentives for registering newbuildings and to users that register fleets, depending of gross tonnage and type of ships.

Read More